The next morning, while seated at his meal, a thought suddenly crossed Yan Si's mind, and he inquired, "Tell me, Xiao Yi, why did my Elder Brother establish a Male Imperial Consort?"
"This matter..."
Xiao Yi hesitated for a long while, reluctant to answer. Yan Si spoke on with a slight stammer, "I... I merely found it strange and wished to ask. If... if it is inconvenient to answer, then let it pass."
Though Yan Si himself harbored no fondness for women, he always understood that only they possessed the capacity to bear children. "Is it not the natural order for male and female to couple?"
Yet, his Elder Brother had... Could His Highness be like him? Fearing women?
Hearing this, Xiao Yi suddenly let out a burst of laughter. "My Master, that is not what men call it. Human beings are not mere beasts."
"Is that so... But some oft said it thus to me..." This sounded rather complicated. Yan Si, not quite comprehending, asked, "Then what is it called?"
"It is..." Xiao Yi replied with a hint of bashfulness, "It is... it is 'joyous intimacy'."
"Joyous intimacy!?" Yan Si instantly spat out the mouthful of tea he had just taken. It seemed he understood the meaning of the word and knew that performing such an act was a matter of utmost shame.
Seeing Yan Si choke, Xiao Yi quickly patted his back. "Master, are you well?"
Yan Si shook his head. After a long moment, he regained his composure and said, "Let... let us forget that! I merely... merely wished to know the reason."
Xiao Yi was momentarily speechless. How could he possibly be privy to the First Prince's affairs? Moreover, although he knew that intimacy between two men was a taboo, if His Highness preferred it so, who would dare to object or investigate the cause? Thinking thus, he merely sighed, "This servant only knows but a few things."
"But a few things?"
Xiao Yi nodded. "Some three or four years ago, His Highness suddenly sought the Emperor to report his wish to establish a Male Imperial Consort. That caused the Emperor to fly into a great rage..."
For the first time in his life, RongCheng was forced to kneel before the memorial tablets of the Song clan's past emperors and venerable ancestors... Thereafter, the Emperor personally flogged him with the Royal Sceptre until he was near death...
The Eldest Imperial Prince, originally so arrogant and proud, unexpectedly fell into such adversity, yet it seemed he never harbored regret... To gain that official marriage, the tale was truly a long and convoluted one...
Xiao Yi said, "This servant truly knows not much, but I have heard that the Male Imperial Consort was greatly favored by the Empress Dowager in earlier days. Later, she went to the mountains to cultivate, leaving His Highness to care for him. The last time the Empress Dowager was in the palace was on the day of their grand wedding."
And their bond might well have been arranged by the Empress Dowager. As for the true identity of the Male Imperial Consort...
Hearing this, Yan Si could only let out a quiet sigh. It must have taken immense effort for those two to reach where they were today. He should not intrude; yet...
"I truly cannot restrain my heart..." His affection for his Elder Brother transcended his own reason, leaving him utterly despairing at the moment.
Xiao Yi quietly observed Yan Si for a long while before softly reassuring him, "Yet, this servant perceives that... His Highness truly cherishes and cares greatly for my Master..."
But that devotion would eternally be bound by those three words: "fraternal bond."
"Fraternal bond..." Indeed, was there not this bond of brotherhood apart from romantic love?
Day after day, he could remain by RongCheng's side, receiving his care... occasionally even being held and indulged by him... Since things were already this fine, what more, pray tell, did he desire?
In that moment, Yan Si began to comprehend many things and knew what he must do from now on... so long as he did not cross the line of those three words, everything would be well.
Finishing his breakfast, Yan Si said, "I shall now proceed to the dispensary. You need not follow me."
For merely visiting the dispensary, Xiao Yi naturally had no need to attend him. He cheerfully nodded and replied, "That shall suffice. This servant shall return to escort you home at noon."
"Very well."
In truth, Xiao Yi had no need to go at all, but wandering alone at midday made one vulnerable to encountering esteemed nobles, which was quite hazardous...
Yan Si himself was utterly oblivious to the perils of the inner court, having never concerned himself with anyone. He simply believed that with his Elder Brother's presence, there was naught to fear, innocent as a young lamb with no defenses.
When Yan Si arrived at the dispensary, Supervising Official Liú Yu greeted him with immediate enthusiasm. He then continuously chattered on about sundry, irrelevant matters under the heavens.
Initially, Yan Si paid him no mind, but after listening for a prolonged time, he grew somewhat attentive, even responding and reiterating questions...
Much talking is not necessarily ill; sometimes it can ease one's spirit. Whether one speaks or listens to others, so long as one opens one's mouth, the heart's disposition is sure to improve.
"Perhaps he is not as ill-intentioned as I once thought." Thinking this to himself, Yan Si felt he ought to open his heart more to Liú Yu, feeling that having someone warmly to converse with was better than remaining silent alone.
At noon, Xiao Yi arrived as promised to escort Yan Si. Seeing his Master in good spirits, he asked, "How did my Master find his time here today? Was it pleasant?"
Yan Si lightly nodded. "It was quite well."
Thereafter, he fell silent, unwilling to speak more. Seeing this, Xiao Yi dared not question further, merely trailing behind him.
Not long after, the two inadvertently crossed paths with a procession moving in the opposite direction. Leading them was a beautiful lady, elegantly and nobly attired. Behind her followed four maids, four eunuchs, and a multitude of guards.
Seeing her, Yan Si instantly froze like a statue, unsure what to do. Xiao Yi, hurrying behind him, quickly bowed his head, "Greetings to the Third Princess!"
"The Third Princess?" So this was the Third Princess, Song Rong Liǔ? Yan Si had not encountered her since entering the palace, and having only heard Liú Yu speak of her today, he felt somewhat flustered.
Rong Liǔ glanced at Yan Si for a long time. She appeared displeased and pointed at him, her voice sharply ringing out, "Insolent servant! To dare encounter this Princess and strut without kneeling in obeisance, guards! Seize him!"
Upon her command, the eunuchs immediately stepped forward to seize Yan Si. Two of them pinned his arms, forcing him to writhe, and then forcefully kicked the back of his knees, shouting, "Hurry and kneel!"
Yan Si was instantly alarmed. Before he could react, he saw Rong Liǔ right before him. She rolled up her sleeve and said, "If you know no proper decorum, then let this Princess teach you a lesson!"
Seeing the perilous situation for his Master, Xiao Yi quickly cried out, "Princess, pray stay your hand! He is His Highness's sworn brother. I beg the Princess not to do this, lest it incur His Highness's wrath!"
"Silence!" Rong Liǔ shouted, "Sworn brother or not, does he think he can defy the heavens? Daring to treat this Princess with such disregard, watch as I punish you!"