Chapter Nineteen: A Clash of Values

After their meal, Zhu Youxiao dismissed the palace maids, took her hand, and gently drew her into his embrace. Breathing in the fragrance of her hair, his heart was overcome with a profound sense of peace and contentment. He wished only to hold her like this forever, for all eternity, never to be parted.

“Baozhu, are you accustomed to living here? Do you ever miss your family?” he asked softly. The body in his arms trembled, and then her hands reached up to hold him tightly—truly tightly, as if she wanted to merge herself into him.

“Your Majesty, I have grown used to life in the palace. Occasionally, I do think of my brothers and sisters at home,” Zhang Yan replied, struggling to contain her emotions, though the slight catch in her voice betrayed her.

“See, you’re on the verge of tears, yet you say you don’t miss home,” he teased.

Zhang Yan slipped free of his grasp and withdrew from his arms, then sat properly opposite him. With those beautiful, luminous eyes fixed on him, she blinked once and said, “I am moved by Your Majesty’s consideration for me, and that is why I feel this way—it is not because I am homesick.”

Zhu Youxiao laughed, settling into his chair with his legs apart. “Is this how you show your gratitude? Come, come here yourself.”

“I dare not, Your Majesty. As the mistress of the inner palace, I should not behave thus in broad daylight,” she replied primly.

Zhu Youxiao could not help but laugh mischievously. If not by day, then by night? He rose, drew a chair to her side, took her hand, and caressed it tenderly as he asked about her family and childhood memories. Gradually, Zhang Yan relaxed and began to talk freely with him. The more they spoke, the happier they became; the more they shared, the closer their hearts grew. It was only after supper that their joy abruptly turned to disappointment—because Zhang Yan would not permit him to stay the night.

“Your Majesty, two other ladies were selected and ennobled alongside me. Tonight, you should spend the night with one of them, and not linger in my quarters.” Because Zhu Youxiao grew angry, Zhang Yan knelt on the floor. In truth, she was reluctant to send him to Consort Duan or Consort Wang, but as Empress, it was her duty. Otherwise, both the inner and outer courts would accuse her of seeking exclusive favor and preventing the other consorts from approaching the emperor.

Of course, Zhu Youxiao knew that in time he would have to spend nights with other consorts, but for now, he still regarded himself as an innocent youth. He and Zhang Yan had cherished each other for so long, and after just one night together, his beloved was already urging him into another woman’s bed. He could not accept it, not in his heart.

“Enough, rise,” Zhu Youxiao said at last. He turned and strode out of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, returning in a huff to his own quarters.

Keshi was surprised to see him return at this hour. “Your Majesty, why have you come back to your chambers so early?”

Finally finding someone to confide in, Zhu Youxiao recounted the entire episode, then fixed her with an expectant gaze, hoping for understanding and sympathy—hoping, perhaps, that she would join him in denouncing Zhang Yan’s inexplicable behavior. But Keshi, after hearing him out, only looked at him oddly and said, “Her Majesty is quite right. Why are you so upset, Your Majesty?”

Ah, forget it. There’s no reconciling my worldview with that of you ancient people. I won’t bother arguing with you. Disappointed and bereft of understanding, Zhu Youxiao retreated directly into his study, leaving Keshi outside, utterly bewildered.