Chapter 2 - His Majesty Comes To Watch Cuju Match (2/2)
As they were talking, the manservant of the Marquis of Pingchang came over, “Shizi, Master asked you to come quickly to meet the emperor.”
The Shizi of the Marquis of Pingchang was taken aback, “Meet the emperor?”
He was suddenly at a loss, “I, I, I, I am still wearing Cuju clothes.”
The manservant said in a hurry, “You(courteous) can put on any clothes first. Master is in a hurry.”
The Shizi of the Marquis of Pingchang quickly followed him and went to the pavilion with the Marquis of Pingchang to meet the emperor.
Gu Yuanbai happened to have invited the Headmasters of the two schools to speak. After receiving the announcement, he said, “Come in.”
Once Marquis of Pingchang and his son had performed the courtesies, he cautiously said, “Your Majesty’s dragon body is beginning to recover. Your servant wants to come and have a look.”
Gu Yuanbai laughed, “Why are you being overcautious with me? Sit down.”
Marquis of Pingchang meticulously sat not far from him with his back kept straight, still nervous.
How could he not be nervous? Those who hadn’t face the emperor would never understand their feelings. In the beginning, they thought that these ten years had let them understand the character of the emperor. Little did they knew, guessing was all a game of the emperor. How old was the emperor? He was capped last year!
His father sat down, but the Shizi of the Marquis of Pingchang didn’t dare to sit down. Gu Yuanbai glanced at the youngster who had been lowering his head and said, “This is Yan-ger, right. He’s already this big.”
Marquis of Pingchang said, “The boy is naughty and mischievous. He’s giving more headache to (me) your servant.”
“Youngsters ought to be like that,” Gu Yuanbai said with a smile. “Yan-ger, come and sit by Zhen’s side.”
Li Yan sat uneasily beside the emperor. Although he sat by the emperor’s side, they were separated by two people standing. It was unknown if it was an illusion, but after sitting down, Li Yan thought that he smelled a faint scent on the tip of his nose.
All the incense used in the palace was top-quality. The more one smelled it, the more one was intoxicated with it. Li Yan smelled it until his whole body limped and then heard the emperor joking, “Zhen heard many Darens say that the Shizi of the Marquis of Pingchang is handsome. But it’s a pity that they don’t have a daughter suitable for marriage in their family. Otherwise, they’ll strike first and gain the upper hand.”
Marquis of Pingchang felt very proud, but Li Yan was fidgety with shyness. The emperor felt good teasing him and deliberately said to him, “Yan-ger, look up and let Zhen see what you look like now.”
Li Yan’s head was rigid like a duck’s as he raised it so ferociously. The embarrassed young face was flushed, his eyes forgot to dodge, and directly saw the emperor’s face.
The emperor was slightly surprised to see him. Li Yan straightened up his neck, his chest up to his brain was a piece of blank space.
Marquis of Pingchang shouted, “LI YAN!”
Li Yan’s heart leaped violently. His whole person nearly jumped up. He immediately lowered his head and said helplessly, “Your Majesty, I’m7 ill-mannered…”
Gu Yuanbai liked such a lively, young, and strong youngster. He smiled, “Marquis of Pingchang, it ain’t necessarily so. Yan-ger’s true temperament is a good boy.”
The emperor praised for a few more before Marquis of Pingchang let his son retreat. Li Yan stepped out of the pavilion in a daze. Outside, Tang Mian was constantly peering from the Imperial Bodyguard’s post. When Li Yan came out, he quickly beckoned.
Li Yan walked over. The two boys looked at each other and walked silently towards the crowd. After a few steps, Li Yan suddenly stopped. He looked around, gulped, and then turned to follow Tang Mian as he said, “Say, did you see the emperor’s appearance when you entered the palace last time?”
Tang Mian gently nodded his head, “What’s the matter? Did you see it this time? Don’t you always listen to your father?”
Li Yan stroked his head and chuckled. Instead of answering this, he said, “How about we two cooperate to find a painter? I want to…” He pointed to the sky. Although he was afraid, he boldly felt the incomparable stimulation, “Draw that one down.”
Tang Mian jolted in shock, “Are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy,” Li Yan winked at him. “We don’t have to reflect all on a painting. The eyebrows and eyes are with me, while the nose and lips are with you. If we want to see the whole painting, we’ll meet and put the paintings together. We’ll hide the paintings in the bedroom on the days we’re free. Who can find out?”
Tang Mian gulped. A glimpse of the emperor’s appearance on that day streaked across in his mind. When he looked at Li Yan again, they both knew that it was a done deal.
Note
it’s an exaggeration
Heir of a noble title
literally “god dragon” or “spirit dragon”
capping ceremony for a young man on reaching 20
lit. “top escorted examinee”, the juren (a qualified graduate who passed the triennial provincial exam) who ranked first in the provincial exam.
哥儿 [gē ér] used to refer to the children of an official family or an address for a boy
He used 小子 [xiǎo zi] I (used by juniors to elders/betters)