Chapter Twenty-Six: Audience with the Emperor (Part One)
On the seventeenth day of the sixth lunar month, the light rain that had fallen throughout the night was finally swept away by the wind. But the sky remained overcast, as if it would rain again at any moment.
Yang Yaozong, as always, rose early to exercise, but to his surprise, Xiaohua was already up. She had hung a set of dark blue, cross-collared long robes by his bed. “Sir, you should wear these robes today,” she said.
Yang Yaozong noticed he’d never seen these robes before. Seeing Xiaohua’s eyes were red, he frowned slightly, “Did you make these? You haven’t rested all night?”
Xiaohua nodded. “I finished them some time ago. You’ve grown taller and stronger, and your old robes no longer fit. I thought I should make a few new ones for you. I had nearly finished this set. Since you’re going to the imperial audience, you must be properly dressed, so I hurried to complete them overnight.”
“Good, I’ll wear them to the audience later. These are robes made by my dear little sister; I’ll look so handsome that His Majesty might even consider granting me an official position!” Yang Yaozong was deeply moved and felt a surge of affection for this girl, who was like a little sister to him.
Xiaohua nodded happily. “It doesn’t matter if you’re given a position, as long as His Majesty sees you happy, that’s enough.” She was still worried about Yang Yaozong’s audience with the emperor. As for an official post, since he was a son-in-law by marriage, she knew the emperor would never grant him such a title. She offered Yang Yaozong a few words of comfort.
After breakfast, Xiaohua helped Yang Yaozong dress. He wore the dark blue, cross-collared long robe, white linen trousers, a matching colored belt at the waist, and a loop-shaped jade pendant hanging on his right side. His hair was tied as usual but this time with a blue scholar’s scarf. His feet were clad in white socks and a new pair of black cloth shoes. Once dressed with Xiaohua’s attentive service, she nodded in satisfaction and handed him a bronze mirror. Yang Yaozong saw his reflection—elegant, refined, and dignified.
Xiaohua then produced several banknotes—fifty and a hundred taels each—and handed them to Yang Yaozong. “Sir, keep these with you. You’ll need to tip a few people when you enter the palace.”
Yang Yaozong hadn’t thought of this, but he accepted the banknotes. “If I don’t use them, I’ll return them to you.”
Blushing, Xiaohua replied, “There’s no need, sir. This silver was left for you by the young mistress.”
Soon after, a young eunuch arrived at the Nangong residence, riding a horse with a sedan chair carried by four men following behind. He reported his arrival to the gatekeeper but did not enter the residence, waiting quietly at the gate.
Accompanied by Xiaohua and Housekeeper Hao, Yang Yaozong exited the residence. The young eunuch was extremely courteous, lifting the sedan curtain for Yang Yaozong to enter. Before departure, Housekeeper Hao slipped the eunuch some silver, asking him to look after Yang Yaozong. Though there was some polite refusal, the eunuch eventually accepted and assured Housekeeper Hao that he would take good care of Master Yang. Yang Yaozong was touched by Housekeeper Hao’s gesture.
After about half an hour, the sedan chair came to a halt. The young eunuch lifted the curtain and respectfully said, “Master Yang, please step out. We’ve arrived at the imperial palace. From here, we must walk the rest of the way.”
Yang Yaozong understood and stepped out, following the eunuch.
At this time, the imperial palace of Tianjing was not particularly large. Red high walls, golden glazed roof tiles, and vermilion gates all proclaimed the authority of the place.
As Yang Yaozong followed the eunuch, he glanced around and asked, “May I ask your name, sir?”
The young eunuch smiled. “Master Yang may simply call me Xiao Xizi. I dare not be called ‘sir.’”
Yang Yaozong noticed the eunuch’s deference; clearly, someone had instructed him. The eunuch looked to be about the same age as Yang Yaozong, but a bit shorter, with a slender frame—perhaps even younger in years. His voice, though youthful, was not as thin or sharp as the eunuchs on television in his previous life. Smiling, Yang Yaozong asked, “Brother Xi, how old are you this year?”
Xiao Xizi quickly replied, “This humble servant is sixteen years old this year.”
Yang Yaozong laughed. “I am two years your senior. From now on, just call me Brother Yang or Yang. I won’t stand on ceremony with you. I’ll call you Brother Xi—how about that?”
Xiao Xizi turned and, looking anxious, said, “Master Yang, I dare not address you as an equal. You would be elevating me too much.”
Yang Yaozong frowned, feigning anger. “Ah, Brother Xi, you mustn’t say that. Our meeting is fate, and you’re leading me into the palace—it’s fate within fate. If you refuse to call me brother, I’ll be upset.” With that, he stopped walking and stood in the palace courtyard, frowning at Xiao Xizi.
Xiao Xizi was so anxious he was nearly in tears. He thought to himself, “This Master Yang is nothing like those other scholars who ignore people like me. Instead, he insists on calling me brother. What should I do? If I refuse, he really won’t move on, and this is the imperial palace—he’s certainly bold. No wonder the Crown Prince appreciates him, and the Emperor has instructed me to treat him with respect. If I can become sworn brothers with him, it would be a great thing.”
Seeing that Yang Yaozong’s expression was sincere, Xiao Xizi relented. “Master Yang—Brother Yang—this is truly a blessing from my ancestors, to be able to call you brother. If there’s anything you need, I will do my utmost.”
Yang Yaozong’s expression softened, and he smiled. “That’s right. Brother Xi, lead the way.”
Seeing Yang Yaozong happy, Xiao Xizi also beamed. Since entering the palace and serving by the Crown Prince’s side, he had met many scholars, officials, and nobles, but never one like Yang Yaozong who regarded him so highly. Though he knew Yang Yaozong was a son-in-law by marriage, he was still of the Nangong family and a renowned scholar, favored by both the Crown Prince and the Emperor. He was glad to have taken on the task of guiding him today.
No longer leading from ahead, Xiao Xizi walked alongside Yang Yaozong, only reminding him when it was time to turn.
Yang Yaozong, pleased to call Xiao Xizi brother, asked, “Brother Xi, do you serve the Emperor directly?”
Xiao Xizi replied, “I do not serve the Emperor, I serve the Crown Prince directly as his chief attendant.”
Yang Yaozong thought to himself that it was impressive for someone only sixteen to hold such a position, surely a sign of a promising future. Now that he himself was favored by the Crown Prince, he would inevitably need Xiao Xizi’s help in the future. “Brother Xi, don’t call yourself a humble servant in front of me. Just say ‘I.’ If you keep speaking that way, I’ll get upset.”
The more Xiao Xizi looked at Yang Yaozong, the more he felt like he’d found a real brother. He nodded quickly. “Then I will obey, big brother. I wouldn’t dare let you be angry with me again.”
Yang Yaozong smiled and nodded, then asked, “Brother Xi, do you know why His Majesty has summoned me?” This was the matter that concerned him most.
Xiao Xizi thought for a moment. “I truly don’t know. I only know the Crown Prince has spoken highly of you to His Majesty, and the Emperor seems pleased to hear it. But His Majesty has been busy for days without rest, and his health is not the best. When you speak to him, you should be cautious.” As he spoke, Xiao Xizi’s voice lowered considerably.
Yang Yaozong understood the well-meant warning and nodded. “Thank you, Brother Xi. I’ll remember your concern.”
Hearing Yang Yaozong’s sincerity, Xiao Xizi was genuinely happy, his smile growing wider.
Arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Xizi explained that His Majesty usually rested and read memorials here. At this hour, he was likely speaking with the Crown Prince. Xiao Xizi told Yang Yaozong to wait while he went in to announce him.
Soon, Xiao Xizi returned, running, and whispered, “Brother, let’s go. His Majesty is waiting for you. The Crown Prince is there as well.”
Yang Yaozong nodded, took out a fifty-tael note, and pressed it into Xiao Xizi’s hand. “Don’t refuse. This is your big brother’s pocket money for you. If you refuse, you’re looking down on me, or you think it’s not enough.”
Xiao Xizi was troubled. “Brother, you will overwhelm me. How can I face you again?” But realizing they were at the palace entrance, it wouldn’t do to argue, so he accepted it, feeling secretly delighted to have gained such a talented and generous brother.
Xiao Xizi announced him inside and let Yang Yaozong enter alone.
Inside the hall, Yang Yaozong saw three people: the Emperor, reclining on the dragon couch; the Crown Prince, standing to his left; and a eunuch, whose dress and posture suggested he was of some rank, standing by the Emperor’s side. Yang Yaozong briefly raised his head, then lowered it and proceeded to the center of the hall, where he knelt and bowed. “Your humble subject Yang Yaozong pays respects to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Crown Prince!”
Though Yang Yaozong would have preferred not to kneel and kowtow, this was the custom of the era and he had no choice but to obey, so he performed the ritual respectfully.
After a pause, the Emperor looked closely at the kneeling Yang Yaozong and said, “Rise.”
Yang Yaozong stood, still slightly bowed, tense and respectful. Indeed, he was a little nervous and had to take several deep breaths to calm himself.
The Emperor nodded, satisfied with Yang Yaozong’s attitude. “Yang Yaozong, raise your head and let me have a look at you.”
Yang Yaozong slowly raised his head, seeing the Emperor for the first time. The monarch lounged casually at one corner of the dragon couch, right arm resting on a yellow cushion, legs dangling over the side. He wore a bright yellow silk dragon robe, a soaring dragon embroidered on the chest. Though the Emperor was known to be fifty-five, to Yang Yaozong, he looked much older—his hair completely silver, his face ashen, deep lines etching his forehead and eyes, and a pronounced crease between his brows. Perhaps from lack of rest, his eyes, while imposing, were heavy with fatigue.
The Crown Prince, standing at the Emperor’s left, winked playfully at Yang Yaozong, his lively eyes full of mischief.
Noticing this, the Emperor’s stern lips curved with a gentle, doting smile. “Jingsheng, you may go. I wish to speak with Yang Yaozong alone.”
Jingsheng looked at his grandfather and smiled. “Very well, Grandfather, I’ll go. You haven’t rested in days—don’t talk for too long.”
The Emperor nodded, watching fondly as Jingsheng left the hall. As he passed, the Crown Prince whispered to Yang Yaozong, “I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
Yang Yaozong didn’t move, but gave a slight nod.
The Emperor focused on Yang Yaozong for a moment before saying, “Xiao Shunzi, you may go as well. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Yang Yaozong glanced at the eunuch called Xiao Shunzi, who seemed to be over forty, slightly plump, with graying hair, few wrinkles, fair skin, delicate brows, and a smiling face. From the fact that the Emperor called him Xiao Shunzi despite his age, and that he remained present during private conversations, Yang Yaozong surmised this eunuch must have long served the Emperor and was someone highly trusted.