The Quilt

Qi Yu lingered in the Eastern Palace until evening. He had finished the lychees and the walnut pastries, and turned to the last page of the picture book. Sitting in a chair in the east wing, he started leafing through it again from the first page. Fu Shun came in twice to replenish his tea. On the second visit, he found the Fourth Prince with the book over his face, his head tipped back against the chair, both legs stretched out on the low table, the toes of his boots bobbing.

"Your Highness, it's getting late." Fu Shun set the teacup on the edge of the low table, carefully avoiding the swaying boots.

Qi Yu took the picture book off his face and glanced outside. The persimmon tree's shadow had already stretched beneath the veranda, and the sun was sinking in the west. "It's still early." He covered his face with the book again.

Fu Shun closed his mouth. He carried the tea tray out and ran into A Ping at the door. They exchanged a look. A Ping shook his head, meaning that he could do nothing about this young master either.

In the main hall, Qi Ling finished reviewing the last document. He set the Vermilion Brush on the Brush Rest and rubbed his wrist. Xie Chen had already left, and the advisers had dispersed. The hall was quiet, save for a few sparrows chirping in the persimmon tree outside. He lifted the teacup beside him. The tea had gone completely cold. Setting it down, he rose and headed for the east wing.

The door to the east wing stood half-open. Qi Ling stopped in the doorway and saw Qi Yu leaning back in his chair, a picture book covering his face and both legs propped on the low table. A fox spirit in red robes adorned the cover. Her face lay directly over Qi Yu's, making it look at first glance as though he had grown a fox's pointed chin. Qi Ling went inside and pulled the book off his face.

Qi Yu squinted at the sudden light and reached to snatch the book back. "Brother, I'm still reading."

"You've gone through this book at least three times today."

"I haven't finished the third time. I haven't seen what happened to the fox spirit in the end."

"She left in the end." Qi Ling closed the book and put it aside, looking down at him. "It's almost dark. You should go back."

Qi Yu lowered his legs from the table, sat up, and began to dawdle. First, he adjusted his cuffs, smoothing the rabbit fur strand by strand. Then he looked down to inspect his boots and brushed nonexistent dust off them. Finally, he raised his head and blinked. "Brother, let me have supper in the Eastern Palace tonight. I'll send someone to tell Father."

"You already had lunch in the Eastern Palace."

"Lunch was lunch. Supper is supper. Your braised pork hock tastes better than the Imperial Kitchen's."

"That's because of what you said at lunch. You said the Eastern Palace's cook braised the pork hock more tender than the Imperial Kitchen did, so I had the cook make an extra dish especially for you. You've had the same pork hock twice, and you want it a third time?"

Qi Yu did not even blush at being exposed. "Then no pork hock. Something else is fine. Everything here tastes better than at Yuning Hall. Your cook is much better than mine."

Qi Ling watched him for a moment. Then he reached out and seized the back of his collar. Qi Yu let out a yelp, and before he could react, he had been lifted bodily out of his chair. His brother was more than half a head taller and stronger too. With one hand gripping his collar, he dragged him toward the door, his movements crisp and efficient, no different from carrying a sack of rice. Seeing this from the doorway, Fu Shun hurried aside. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he lowered his head.

"Brother, I can walk. I can walk." Dragged along by his brother, Qi Yu stumbled toward the door.

"Last time you said you could walk, you got to the door and circled back to ask when next year's lychees would ripen. The time before that, you reached the screen wall and came back saying you'd forgotten your wrist guards. You already returned your wrist guards to me today." Without stopping, Qi Ling dragged him all the way to the Eastern Palace gates. Zhao Wu, on guard duty, saw the Crown Prince emerge holding the Fourth Prince by the back of his collar. His expression twisted for an instant before swiftly returning to the impassivity expected of an imperial guard.

Qi Ling released him at the gates. Qi Yu found his footing, straightened his crooked collar, and turned to look at his brother. "Brother, you're really throwing me out just like that."

"If I didn't, you could stay here until tomorrow morning." Qi Ling stood at the gates, his tone as unhurried as ever. "You've spent the entire day in the Eastern Palace. Father will be getting worried."

Qi Yu pouted. "Father must be very busy today. He's had so many memorials lately."

"Then all the more reason to let him know you're all right. Your arm has only just recovered since the hunt. Don't make him worry that you've fallen or hurt yourself again."

Qi Yu glanced at his brother. Qi Ling's face was still expressionless as he spoke, his tone mild. But Qi Yu heard what he meant. His brother was saying, of course it was good to have him here, but Father needed him more. Qi Yu tugged the last crease out of his cuff, then waved to his brother.

"I'm going, then. Remember to eat supper, Brother. Don't just keep reviewing memorials. You've been at it all day."

"I know."

Qi Yu turned toward the palace avenue. After a few steps, he looked back and called to his brother, "I'm coming again tomorrow."

"You have lessons tomorrow." Qi Ling stood at the gates, the setting sun stretching his shadow long. "If the Grand Tutor finds out you skipped lessons to read picture books in the Eastern Palace, his ruler will land on your hands."

Qi Yu huffed and left. A Ping followed him, carrying the wrist guards the Fourth Prince had once again "forgotten to return." Standing behind the Crown Prince, Fu Shun watched the Fourth Prince disappear behind the screen wall and said with a chuckle, "The Fourth Prince was happy today. He's happy every time he visits the Eastern Palace."

Qi Ling said nothing. He stood at the gates and watched that scarlet figure turn the corner at the end of the palace avenue and vanish. Then he returned to the main hall to continue reviewing documents. Two walnut pastries remained on the plate on his desk, deliberately arranged by Qi Yu before he left. One large, one small.

Qi Ling looked at the two pastries, picked up the smaller one, and took a bite.

After leaving the Eastern Palace, Qi Yu did not return directly to Yuning Hall. He headed toward Xuanzheng Hall. A Ping followed, no longer needing to ask. His prince had a fixed route after leaving the Eastern Palace. In the daytime, he headed for Xuanzheng Hall. At dusk, he headed for Xuanzheng Hall. When hungry, he headed for Xuanzheng Hall, and when sleepy, he headed there too. His only reasons for returning to Yuning Hall were to change clothes and see the rabbits.

The candles had already been lit in the West Warm Pavilion of Xuanzheng Hall. Qi Xiao sat behind the imperial desk reviewing memorials. Hearing that familiar string of footsteps outside, he did not even look up. De'an, grinding ink beside him, heard it too. The corner of his mouth stirred. He draped his fly whisk over his arm and took two steps toward the door, ready to open it.

The door was pushed open first. Qi Yu squeezed through the gap, still wearing the scarlet clothes from that afternoon. After an entire day of lingering in the Eastern Palace, his clothes carried walnut pastry crumbs and the sweet scent of lychees. He stopped before the imperial desk, and Qi Xiao lifted his eyes to glance at him.

"You spent the whole day in the Eastern Palace."

"Yes. Brother's braised pork hock tastes better than ours."

"You already had it at lunch."

"How does everyone know I had braised pork hock for lunch?" Qi Yu went around the imperial desk and sat in the chair beside his father. This chair had been placed there especially for him. Other princes knelt or stood when reporting on matters. Only this chair stood beside the imperial desk, complete with a soft cushion.

"It's late. Go back to your hall and rest."

Qi Yu did not move. He propped his elbows on the imperial desk, rested his chin in his hands, and watched his father review memorials. Candlelight shone on his face, his youthful eyes bright. "Father, I read a picture book in the Eastern Palace today. It was a story about a scholar and a fox spirit."

Qi Xiao turned a page of a memorial. "Mm."

"The scholar saved a white fox, and she turned into a person to repay him. She cooked for him, helped him earn money, and even helped him place first in the imperial examinations. In the end, the scholar discovered she was a fox spirit, called her a monster, and drove her away." Qi Yu lowered his hands and traced circles on the desk. "I think that scholar had no conscience. She helped him so much, and he drove her away just because she was a fox spirit. She never harmed him."

"It's a story in a picture book. No need to take it seriously."

"But I think if someone treats you well, you should just treat them well too. What does it matter what they are?" Qi Yu took his hand off the desk and looked at his father. "Father, what do you think?"

Qi Xiao's brush paused. He raised his eyes and looked at Qi Yu. The boy's eyes were unusually bright in the candlelight. Qi Xiao put down his brush and reached out to feel Qi Yu's forehead. It was not hot.

"You've addled your wits reading picture books today."

Qi Yu took his father's hand off his forehead and clasped the fingers of that large hand in both of his. "I haven't. I just think the scholar was wrong. If it were me, whatever their identity, I'd be good to anyone who was good to me. If they gave me one measure of kindness, I'd give them ten."

"And who have you given ten measures of kindness to?"

"You, Father." Qi Yu held his fingers and swung his hand. "And my crown prince brother. And Chun He and A Ping. And my rabbits."

"Time to go back."

Qi Yu showed no intention of rising from his chair. "Father." He drew his legs up and folded them on the seat, resting his chin on his knees. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"You already stayed last night."

"Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today."

Qi Xiao looked at his little fox of an expression and fell silent for a moment. "You'll steal the quilt again tonight."

"I won't. I'll relieve myself before bed tonight. I promise I won't toss and turn in the middle of the night."

"You said that last time too. You even stole my pillow in the middle of the night."

"That was because your pillow was too high. I'm not used to high pillows, so I pushed yours back to you. I pushed a little too hard and accidentally knocked it under the bed." Qi Yu began laughing at his own words. He reached out and tugged Qi Xiao's cuff. "I really will behave tonight. I drank so much tea at my crown prince brother's this afternoon that I'm not sleepy at all now. I'll just lie quietly beside you and talk. I promise I won't fight you for the quilt."

The West Warm Pavilion fell quiet again. The candle flame flickered, and the charred wick burst with a faint crackle in the lamp. Qi Xiao leaned back in his chair, looking down at the hand that clung to his cuff. De'an returned from the tea room with a fresh pot of tea. He had just reached the doorway when he heard the emperor speak inside, his tone sounding somewhat resigned. "...Go wash your feet."

Holding the teapot, De'an turned around and beckoned to a young eunuch beneath the veranda. He told him to have the small kitchen prepare hot water. The Fourth Prince was spending another night in Xuanzheng Hall.

The lights in the rear palace went out one by one. Those in Jiaofang Hall still burned. Consort Jing sat before her dressing case, removing her hair ornaments one by one. Her personal maid, Cui Zhu, attended her, slowly combing her loosened hair. Consort Jing looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Fine lines had already appeared at the corners of her eyes. She had been in the palace for sixteen years, from sixteen to thirty-two. Her finest years had all been spent within these palace walls. Cui Zhu dared not continue the conversation. Consort Jing watched herself in the mirror for a while, then slowly closed the lid of her dressing case.

These women of the rear palace could not see the emperor. Xuanzheng Hall lay in the outer court, and consorts could not enter without being summoned. They lived deep within the lanes of the rear palace, seeing each day only that small patch of sky above their own palace walls. When the emperor occasionally visited, that day became a festival. When he did not, life went on as usual. Their longing, morning and night, amounted in Xuanzheng Hall to nothing more than the half-leafed-through book of name tablets in De'an's hand.

Meanwhile, lights still burned in the inner courtyard of the Jinghai Marquis Residence. Xie Ting had just left his study, carrying a lantern. Passing through the moon gate, he heard sounds still coming from the Drill Ground. The dull thud of a staff striking a wooden post carried far into the night. He went over and found Xie Ning practicing alone. The boy wore only a light robe, his sleeves rolled to his elbows and his forehead covered in sweat. The wooden staff spun a flourish in his hands, then slammed into the post again, making it shudder.

"What madness has you out here instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?" Xie Ting hung the lantern on a rack and walked over.

Xie Ning lowered his staff and caught his breath. Sweat had soaked the hair over his forehead, plastering it to his skin. "I couldn't sleep."

"So you practice with a staff?"

"If I tire myself out, I'll be able to sleep." Xie Ning leaned the staff against the rack and bent to pick up the waterskin on the ground. Xie Ting got to it first and shook it. Empty. He handed it to a nearby guard and told him to fetch water. Then he turned to look at his youngest son. Moonlight fell over the Drill Ground, outlining the boy clearly. Xie Ning resembled him, his features a little gentler, but when he grew stubborn, that streak was exactly the same as his.

"The Fourth Prince sent someone over with a rabbit today," Xie Ning said out of nowhere.

"What rabbit?"

"The gray rabbit we caught at the hunting grounds last time. We agreed then that I could choose one. He said he'd send it over, and today he really did. It came in a cage, with a bag of carrots." As Xie Ning spoke, the corners of his mouth lifted.

Xie Ting looked at that slight curve of his son's mouth and said nothing. He went over, took the wooden staff from the rack, and weighed it in his hand.

"Come on. Exchange a few moves with your old man."

Xie Ning's eyes lit up. He turned and pulled another staff from the rack. Father and son began sparring beneath the moonlight. The clash of wooden staffs echoed across the empty Drill Ground. Xie Ting gave him several moves, then mercilessly struck his arm when he left an opening. Xie Ning hissed, rubbed his arm, then raised his staff and charged again.

After an hour of practice, both were drenched in sweat. Xie Ning slumped onto the stone paving of the Drill Ground and tipped his head back to look at the moon. Xie Ting took the waterskin from the guard, drank a mouthful, and tossed it to Xie Ning. Xie Ning caught it and gulped several mouthfuls, water running from the corners of his mouth into his collar.

"Father, the Fourth Prince told me to come to the palace after lessons tomorrow. He said his rabbit misses mine. Isn't that nonsense? Rabbits aren't people. How could they miss other rabbits?" Xie Ning set the waterskin on the ground and spoke between breaths.

Xie Ting sat beside him and looked up at the moon too. "He wants to see you. The rabbits are an excuse." Xie Ning turned his head toward his father. "How do you know?"

Xie Ting did not answer. He stood, brushed the dust from his knees, and reached down to pull Xie Ning up. "Go wash. Don't go to the palace smelling of sweat tomorrow. You'll disgrace the Jinghai Marquis Residence."

Pulled to his feet by his father, Xie Ning brushed the dirt from his backside. Father and son walked shoulder to shoulder toward the inner courtyard, the guard following far behind with the lantern. After a few steps, Xie Ning suddenly reached out and slapped his father from behind. Xie Ting swung a palm back at once. Xie Ning dodged sideways and ran a few steps ahead. Xie Ting chased him, and the two shadows, one large and one small, raced beneath the moonlight. Their footsteps mingled with laughter, carrying far through the deep courtyards of the Jinghai Marquis Residence.

In the distant imperial palace, the lights went out one after another. Only the two palace lanterns beneath the veranda of Xuanzheng Hall still burned, illuminating the night-duty eunuchs' hands tucked inside their sleeves and a thin layer of autumn dew on the white marble steps. The moon hung high overhead, round and bright, bathing the entire palace city in clear radiance. De'an yawned beneath the veranda, gathered his sleeves closer, and glanced toward the bedchamber. All was quiet inside, save for the faint sound of wind passing the window lattice and an occasional, indistinct murmur of sleep-talk from the dragon bed.

"Father...the quilt..."