MCUS Chapter 40

The Empress took the lead, and the consorts toasted to Huangfu Yuchen. When it came to Yan Ge, he took a sip and then drank the entire cup in one gulp.

Huangfu Yuchen reminded him, “This is a twenty-year-aged wine, quite strong.”

Yan Ge shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, although this wine has aged for twenty years, it is still not sufficiently mellow.”

Lady Tian covered her mouth and chuckled, “Listening to Yan Changzai, it seems he has tasted better wine than Your Majesty. Could it be that Yan Changzai is already drunk?”

Lady Rou and Lady Zhao exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with the same meaning. They didn’t need to step forward; someone would do it for them.

Yan Ge smiled faintly and said, “Even if there were such a wine, I would not offer it to Your Majesty.”

The Empress, Lady Rou, and the others all cast a gaze that seemed to say, “You are tired of life.”

Huangfu Yuchen gestured for a maid to refill Yan Ge’s cup and asked, “Why is that?”

Yan Ge replied, “Moderate drinking is beneficial to health, but excessive drinking is detrimental. I once heard a humorous verse, would Your Majesty be interested in hearing it?”

“Go ahead,” Huangfu Yuchen said.

Yan Ge eloquently recited, “This wine, it appears like water, but once it touches the lips, it burns; it enters the stomach and causes mischief, stumbling on the way, seeking water in the middle of the night, and waking up in regret come morning.”

Huangfu Yuchen burst into laughter, his black eyes brimming with amusement. “Amusing, truly amusing. This verse is vividly depicted.”

The Empress and the four consorts, who had been by Huangfu Yuchen’s side for a long time, had never seen him laugh so wholeheartedly. While joining in the laughter, they looked at Yan Ge with new eyes.

Lady Tian felt a sense of dissatisfaction. After her gaze swept around, she raised her cup and said, “Your Majesty, in celebration of Yan Changzai’s recent promotion, it is fitting for the consorts to offer him a toast.”

Huangfu Yuchen nodded.

Lady Tian raised her cup towards Yan from a distance, her smile sweet and captivating. “Yan Changzai, congratulations.”

“Thank you, Lady Tian.” Yan Ge stood up with his wine cup, downed it in one gulp, and then sat back down.

Lady Tian chuckled, “Among the four male consorts, Lady Song is gentle, Lord Du is handsome, and Lord Zhou is elegant… Yan Changzai was the first to be promoted, and surely he excels in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, poetry, and songs. Your Majesty, in my opinion, Yan Changzai has some insights into wine. How about composing a poem on the theme of wine to enliven the atmosphere?”

Before Yan Ge could respond, Huangfu Yuchen’s face darkened, and he abruptly set down his wine cup, looking at Lady Tian. His voice had lost all warmth, “In my view, you are the most talkative.”

Initially, he had only intended to have Yan Ge as company, but fearing that the other consorts would become jealous, he had allowed the Empress and the others to accompany him, so that Yan Ge wouldn’t be in the spotlight. Unexpectedly, his plan had backfired.

Under the luminous, pale lights, Lady Tian’s petite and sweet face suddenly turned pale. Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief and grievance as she looked at Huangfu Yuchen. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked pitiful.

The Empress and the others were all astonished. Lady Tian was the consort who had received the most favor from Huangfu Yuchen recently, yet today he had scolded her so severely for the sake of a male consort.

Huangfu Yuchen coldly said, “If Lady Tian is drunk, it would be better for her to return early and rest.”

The Empress was about to mediate the situation when Lady Zheng spoke softly, “Your Majesty, I believe that Lady Tian has no ill intentions. She is merely curious about Yan Changzai’s talents. Lady Tian has just entered the palace, so please don’t mind her.”

Yan Ge, the Empress, and Huangfu Yuchen were all on the elevated platform, and they clearly saw a slight change in the Empress’s expression when Lady Zheng interrupted her. The Empress pretended to wipe her mouth with a silk handkerchief, hiding her displeasure. Yan Ge calmly took a sip of tea, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes. On the surface, Lady Zheng’s words seemed like a plea for Lady Tian, but in reality, it was a subtle provocation—despite months in the palace, Lady Tian still lacked tact. But was Huangfu Yuchen unable to see through it?

Yan Ge glanced at Huangfu Yuchen discreetly and caught a fleeting sneer in his eyes, quickly followed by an expression of affectionate indulgence as he spoke to Lady Zheng, “Consort Zheng is truly considerate.”

Then, he turned his gaze to Yan Ge. “Why has Yan Changzai been staring at Us?”

Yan Ge remained composed and unhurried. “Yan Changzai dares not. Your Majesty, Yan Changzai offers a toast in respect.”

Huangfu Yuchen raised his wine cup in response, took a sip while looking at him thoughtfully. At the age of seventeen or eighteen, Yan Ge’s features still carried a hint of youthful immaturity, yet his temperament displayed a sharpness and elegance. Whether in speech or action, there was an air of dexterity and gracefulness. This male consort increasingly piqued his interest, and he looked forward to the day he would uncover the mask he wore.

Huangfu Yuchen’s defense of Yan Ge made the other consorts behave themselves, and no one dared to vent their displeasure. The atmosphere became convivial, with laughter and conversation flowing. The four consorts and Lady Tian, who had grown more astute, were particularly courteous to Yan Ge.

The Empress remained the most composed. Yan Ge was a man, and no matter how favored or elevated his position became, he couldn’t surpass her. She enjoyed watching others compete with him and found it entertaining.

As the banquet drew to a close, the Empress couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, Xi’er hasn’t seen you in a few days. Why not visit him tonight…” It had been a long time since Huangfu Yuchen had been to her Yongyi Palace. The Empress was the respected Mother of the nation, but because of her lofty status, she couldn’t openly vie for favor with the other consorts. If she gained a bad reputation, it would undoubtedly affect her image and position. Therefore, she couldn’t win Huangfu Yuchen’s favor herself and could only use the excuse of their son, Crown Prince Huangfu Yunxi.

Huangfu Yuchen replied, “There have been many matters recently. I will visit him tomorrow afternoon.”

The Empress was initially disappointed but then delighted, saying, “Xi’er will be happy to know his father is going to visit him.”

Huangfu Yuchen nodded.

“Your Majesty, let us depart,” Deng Mande shouted.

“Yan Changzai, accompany me,” Huangfu Yuchen said.

Yan Ge walked beside him. “Yes, Your Majesty. You’ve had quite a few drinks. How about I accompany you for a walk to clear your head?”

“Very well,” Huangfu Yuchen touched his face, feeling the heat.

The Empress, Lady Zhao, and others watched them leave side by side, knowing full well that the Emperor might summon Yan Ge to his chambers tonight. They couldn’t help but wonder what methods Yan Ge had used to become so close to the Emperor, who was known to dislike men.

It was customary in the palace for consorts to share the Emperor’s bed and bear his children. The thought of Yan Ge, who had recently been promoted and might even become Scholar, made Lady Tian grit her teeth in frustration. She wished she could pounce on Yan Ge and take a few bites.

Yan Ge shivered and sneezed suddenly.

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, looking at him with amusement. “It’s quite warm today. Why are you feeling cold?”

Yan Ge shook his head, rubbing his nose. “No, it’s nothing. Perhaps some pollen or willow fluff got into my nose.”

Numerous lanterns hanging along the roadside cast a warm yellow glow, illuminating the winding paths of the imperial garden. The familiar scenery of the night garden took on a different charm compared to the daytime, evoking a unique ambiance. Other than the sounds of cicadas and frogs, there were only the footsteps of the two of them. The cool night breeze caressed their faces, creating a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere. They unconsciously slowed their pace together.

Deng Mande and the other palace attendants followed several steps behind, carrying lanterns silently.

“At the banquet earlier, why were you laughing?” Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his forehead and suddenly asked.

Yan Ge noticed a hint of languidness and hoarseness in his voice, different from his daytime sternness. Knowing that Huangfu Yuchen wasn’t angry, he smiled and replied, “It’s self-mockery. I’ve managed to make so many enemies without doing anything…”

“Are you afraid?” Huangfu Yuchen stopped and smirked, “You don’t seem like someone who easily backs down.”

Yan Ge looked at him curiously, wondering if Huangfu Yuchen had a dual personality. The present him seemed softer than during the day, with slightly softened edges. He exuded a stronger masculine charm, and his eyes, tinged with the yellow light of the lanterns, gave off a gentle and affectionate vibe.

The Yan Ge in Huangfu Yuchen’s eyes was also different from the one when they were talking business. There was a sense of tranquility and a diminished fighting spirit, which made him even more endearing. He couldn’t help but approach Yan Ge, raising his right hand to ruffle his hair, savoring and reminiscing his first touch. Suddenly, an impulse surged within him, catching him off guard.

Deng Mande sensed the ambiguous atmosphere and gestured for the palace attendants to stop, holding his breath and quietly observing the situation.

Huangfu Yuchen leaned down and kissed Yan Ge’s lips, his tongue slipping between them.

Yan Ge barely had time to react, staring at him in astonishment. His heart pounded like a drum, and his already flushed face grew even hotter.

Huangfu Yuchen withdrew his hand, half-closing his eyes as he rubbed his throbbing temples, murmuring to himself, “I must have had too much to drink…”

Yan Ge was relieved and supported him. “Let me assist you onto the dragon sedan.”

“Mmm, my head is pounding,” Huangfu Yuchen clicked his tongue, his brows furrowing. “I shouldn’t have trusted you. Twenty years of aging hasn’t mellowed the wine enough…”

Yan Ge chuckled but didn’t dare to laugh out loud, helping him alongside Deng Mande. “I didn’t deceive Your Majesty. In the future, I’ll provide you with even finer wine.”

Deng Mande was puzzled and he glanced at Yan Ge. If it were any other consort, they would have eagerly taken advantage of this opportunity when the Emperor was drunk. Didn’t Yan Ge deeply love the Emperor? Why didn’t he seize this chance? But as a loyal servant of the Emperor, he couldn’t force Yan Ge to do anything. He quickly ordered a eunuch to return to the Tenglong Palace and prepare sobering tea.

“Your Majesty, you have become intoxicated. Please rest well tonight and do not allow others to disturb you,” Yan Ge said in a tactful manner. The fewer individuals who receive the Emperor’s favor, the fewer enemies he will have within the palace.

Deng Mande chuckled inwardly, thinking that Yan Ge truly loved the Emperor. Otherwise, why would he advise the Emperor not to indulge further tonight?

Huangfu Yuchen cast a glance at Yan Ge from his dragon sedan, and without uttering a word, closed his eyes to recuperate.

“Deng Mande, have them prepare a cup of sobering tea,” Huangfu Yuchen instructed.

Deng Mande responded, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I have already given the orders moments ago.”