A visit

On the morning the Xiao Family left the Capital City, the sky was overcast, the clouds hanging low as though holding back a downpour. The Xiao Family's convoy passed out through the West City Gate, seven or eight carriages with their curtains lowered, concealing everything inside. The horses moved slowly, and the wheels made a muffled rumble over the bluestone paving, as though the sound were rolling underground.

A few vendors who had risen early to set up their stalls stopped what they were doing when they spotted the convoy in the distance. No one gathered around, and no one pointed or commented; they simply watched from afar. The teahouses on Chang'an Street had yet to open, but someone was already standing outside one, holding a bowl of tea they had forgotten to drink, their gaze following the convoy all the way into the gateway. The passage beneath the gate was deep and dark, and the carriages disappeared into it one after another. The rear wheel of the last carriage struck a raised paving stone and bounced, lifting a corner of its curtain before it fell again. Then the entire convoy passed beyond the city gate and vanished down the official road in the western outskirts.

When word reached the palace, Qi Xiao was reviewing memorials in the West Warm Pavilion. De'an entered quietly and waited beside the imperial desk for a moment. Only after Qi Xiao finished the memorial in his hand did he say softly, "Your Majesty, the Xiao Family has left the city." Qi Xiao's brush did not stop. "There is no need to make arrangements at the relay stations along the way." De'an bowed in acknowledgment and stepped back twice, then heard the emperor add, "Have the local officials keep an eye on them. I do not want their lives."

De'an withdrew through the door and turned those words over twice in his mind. The Xiao Family had, after all, produced an empress. His Majesty had killed no one, and that alone had preserved some dignity for her. Stripped of their titles, dismissed from office, their property confiscated, and banished from the Capital City-each punishment alone was enough to hurt the Xiao Family for a lifetime. The old madam's aged bones would likely be jolted into illness on the road. But at least their lives had been spared. Compared with those whose entire families were executed, this counted as a dignified outcome.

As he pondered this beneath the covered walkway, very soft footsteps sounded below the steps. De'an looked up to see A Ping hurrying toward him, his back bent. Once close, he lowered his voice and called him godfather. De'an saw that his face was still somewhat pale, but he looked much better than he had that day, scrambling along the walkway. "How is His Highness today?" De'an asked.

"He's awake. He had half a bowl of congee. Chun He is feeding him a second." A Ping licked his cracked lips. "He just doesn't talk much. Whatever you ask, he says yes. Tell him to lie down, and he lies down. Tell him to eat congee, and he eats it. He's so obedient it makes you uneasy." De'an was silent for a moment, then raised a hand and patted A Ping's shoulder. "Give him a few quiet days. He had a fright. That isn't something he can recover from in a day or two." A Ping nodded, then glanced back toward Yuning Hall.

The palace maid named A Rong had been put to death that very night. De'an had not let A Ping watch, nor had he allowed anyone from Yuning Hall to see it. He had gone to Ye Ting himself, where two eunuchs in charge of punishment were already waiting. It was over in the time it took to drink a cup of tea. When the eunuch from Ye Ting came to report, he said only, "It is done." De'an nodded and had the silver prepared in advance sent to A Rong's elder brother and sister-in-law, along with a travel permit, telling them to leave the Capital City and return to their place of origin. The couple knelt to receive the silver and permit, the sister-in-law's hands trembling so badly she could barely hold the thin sheet of paper. De'an did not look at them. He turned and left. Rewards and punishments had to be clearly distinguished. A Rong had done wrong and received the punishment she deserved. Her family had taken no part; the old madam had used them as reins to control her. Now that those reins had snapped, they would be given a way to live. These were the rules of the palace, and also the limits De'an observed in his dealings. As for where A Rong would be buried, he had ordered them to find somewhere quiet and not put her among those registered as criminals.

At morning court the next day, Xuanzheng Hall was brightly lit. Qi Xiao sat on the throne, listening to the Minister of Revenue report on the autumn tax revenues entering the treasury. Halfway through, the minister suddenly stopped. He had noticed that His Majesty was not looking at him, but had turned his head to glance outside the hall. The glance was brief, and he quickly looked back. But kneeling below, the Minister of Revenue had seen that look perfectly clearly. He thought His Majesty was probably waiting for someone.

De'an noticed it too. Standing beside the throne, he followed that gaze with a glance outside and understood. During morning court, the Fourth Prince would sometimes slip over from the West Warm Pavilion and hide behind the curtain at the side entrance to listen for a while. Then, once court was dismissed, he would run out and throw himself against His Majesty's legs. Today, there was nothing behind the curtain. Only the wind stirred it gently. Qi Xiao withdrew his gaze and nodded to the Minister of Revenue, signaling for him to continue.

After court was dismissed, Qi Xiao did not return directly to the West Warm Pavilion. He took a turn and headed toward Yuning Hall. De'an followed behind without having anyone announce their arrival. When they reached the entrance to Yuning Hall, Chun He was coming out with an empty bowl. Startled to see the emperor standing in the courtyard, she hurriedly dipped into a curtsey. Just as she was about to announce him, Qi Xiao raised a hand to stop her. He pushed the door open and went inside. The bedchamber was quiet. Qi Yu was propped against the head of the bed with two cushions behind his back. He wore a plain white sleeping robe, loosely tied at the neck. His face still had little color, and his lips were somewhat dry. Two rabbits, one gray and one light gray, were nestled on the quilt by his feet. Gray Rabbit rested its chin on Light Gray Rabbit's ear, its eyes narrowed as it dozed. Qi Yu looked down at the two rabbits, his fingers slowly rubbing the back of Gray Rabbit's neck.

At the sound of the door, Qi Yu raised his head. Qi Xiao stood in the doorway, the morning light shining in from behind him and casting a long shadow across the floor. Qi Yu blinked, then shifted the rabbits aside to make a little room. Qi Xiao walked to the bed, looked down at his face, and reached out to touch his forehead. It was not hot; in fact, it was slightly cool. He drew together the open collar of Qi Yu's sleeping robe and retied the loosened cord. The knot was neither tight nor loose, resting just against his collarbone. As he withdrew his hand, his thumb brushed lightly over Qi Yu's cheek.

"The osmanthus cakes are steamed. They're being kept warm in your little kitchen. Half the sugar," Qi Xiao said. Qi Yu's lashes fluttered, and he lifted his head to look at him. He reached out and gripped Qi Xiao's cuff. Qi Xiao looked down at that hand and sat on the edge of the bed. As he sat, the quilt beneath him gave Gray Rabbit a little bounce. It flicked its ears in displeasure, then settled down again. Outside the window, a few lingering yellow leaves rustled in the autumn wind on the branches of the persimmon tree.