Fang Linyuan truly didn’t know.

Seeing the unexpected and somewhat worried gaze of Juan Su, he paused for a moment and vaguely replied, “Ah, yes.”

However, Juan Su hesitated for a moment and lowered her voice to say, “But, His Highness has never celebrated a birthday.”

This surprised Fang Linyuan.

“Why is that?” he asked Juan Su.

“On His Highness’s fifth birthday, His Majesty’s mother, the Empress, was stripped of her position and cast into the cold palace,” Juan Su hesitated before replying. “It was because of the venison His Majesty gifted His Highness that day.”

Fang Linyuan was taken aback.

At that time, he was still in the capital. The matter had caused quite an uproar, and he had heard something about it in the backcourtyard of the Hou Mansion .

It was said that Empress Dowager Dou had poisoned the venison with safflower, causing Concubine Qing to miscarry and die. In his rage, the Emperor punished Empress Dowager Dou by sending her to the cold palace, they never met again.

But now, the poison was in a gift for Zhao Chu?

In his dazed thoughts, Juan Su, who was usually indifferent, bit her lip and added, “...It wasn’t the Empress Dowager’s doing.”

Fang Linyuan nodded.

He vaguely understood that the power struggles in the harem were ruthless and complicated, with people dying and others being scapegoated. The charges on the surface weren’t always what they seemed. Even if Empress Dowager Dou was cruel, she probably wouldn’t poison Zhao Chu’s food.

But after this incident, it was understandable that Zhao Chu didn’t want to celebrate his birthday.

Given the circumstances, it didn’t seem appropriate to disturb him.

Fang Linyuan hesitated for a moment and said to Juan Su, “Then I’ll come back in a few days. It’s not something precious anyway. It’s fine to give it after his birthday.”

Juan Su paused for a moment, observing his calm expression, which she assumed was a gesture of rationality and politeness.

But for some reason, she instinctively felt like she should keep Fang Linyuan here for Zhao Chu—though she didn’t understand why herself.

After a moment’s hesitation, Juan Su nodded and said, “Yes, I will respectfully see the Marquis off.”

Fang Linyuan gently stroked the dagger hidden in his sleeve, nodded at her, and turned to leave.

When he reached the front of the Huaiyu Pavilion, he turned around.

Before him stood an exquisitely designed pavilion surrounded by flowers and trees. The sound of birds singing filled the air, and servants moved about, with the soft summer breeze blowing gently.

If it were a five- or six-year-old child, they would likely be looking forward to their birthday, right?

When he was young, his mother would always make him new clothes on his birthday, and his father would happily bring him to the back garden pavilion, marking his height on the red-painted pillars.

"Yuan'er has grown so much this year; it won't be long before you catch up to your brother,"

A table full of delicacies and toys, the room filled with laughter and the warm gaze of family and relatives—who wouldn’t like that?

But Zhao Chu, after leaving the palace, was still as lifeless as ever, as if the dark past was etched deeply into his very soul.

Fang Linyuan stood silently, staring at the Huaiyu Pavilion for a while.

Then, as though he had made up his mind, he quickly turned around and walked briskly toward the pavilion, grabbing Juan Su, who was about to enter with a fresh pot of tea.

"Juan Su, please go in and ask His Highness for me," Fang Linyuan said.

"I’ve heard the lotus flowers are in bloom at Qujiang (NT: Qūjiāng, curved river) Pool, and there are still many people lighting lanterns there at night. Could you ask His Highness if he’d like to go boating and see the lanterns today?"

*

Zhao Chu had already lost all feeling for the past experiences. Every day felt the same, but today was different because he had known from early morning that Fang Linyuan was returning to the capital.

The case in Jibei was nearly wrapped up. The guards sent to the Eastern Depot had gathered significant information, and through Shi Shen’s investigation, it was confirmed that the officials hiding the harvests in Jibei were following the path of Sang Zhixin. These last few days, the court had been in uproar, with the Imperial Guards involved, and in a fit of anger, the Emperor handed the case over to the Eastern Depot.

Naturally, the Eastern Depot handled it flawlessly. Aside from the officials involved, officials like Yu Gaomin and the Secretary of the Dali Temple were all removed from their positions. Several scapegoats were forced to take the fall, all of whom suffered the same fate.

Most importantly, the Secretary of the Dali Temple, who had overseen criminal investigations, had hidden numerous cases of corruption on behalf of Sang Zhixin. His fall had dealt a fatal blow to Sang Zhixin’s network.

As for Sang Zhixin, he was now exposed to the surveillance of the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot. Over the last two days, he had been desperately seeking new people in the Ministry of Justice, but since the Jiangnan case hadn’t been resolved, no one dared to assist him.

All of this was part of Zhao Chu’s plan.

After finishing these letters, seeing the sun setting, it was almost time for Fang Linyuan to return to the manor. Zhao Chu remembered that he had specifically instructed the kitchen to buy fresh fish from the dock earlier. He thought to himself that today he could make some fish soup for Fang Linyuan—nourishing, cooling, and calming.

He actually found himself looking forward to it. As he looked out the window at the setting sun, he imagined the surprise in Fang Linyuan’s eyes when he smelled the fish soup.

Zhao Chu’s lips curled into a faint smile.

At that moment, Juan Su entered, reporting that Fang Linyuan had returned and was inviting him to go boating at Qujiang Pool. He was waiting for his response at the door.

Why suddenly want to go boating?

Zhao Chu looked at Juan Su and noticed her slightly uneasy expression, as if she had said something wrong outside.

Zhao Chu’s gaze swept past her, landing on the summer cooling picture hanging on the wall.

July 12th.

*

After receiving a positive reply, Fang Linyuan sent Yan Ting ahead to Qujiang Pool.

With Yan Ting making the arrangements, by the time their carriage stopped by the pool, the pre-arranged boat was already docked at the shore.

Qujiang Pool was a lake fed by running water. Although there were ripples, it remained calm.

As night fell, lanterns lit up along the shore, and boats in the lake also had lights on, creating a warm glow that made the night seem lively, not lonely.

It was almost summer, and the pool was filled with lotus flowers. The lotus leaves were lush, and the flowers swayed gently. Occasionally, a dragonfly would fly by, and a breeze brought a cool, refreshing scent, mingled with the fragrance of the flowers.

Indeed, it was a perfect place.

Fang Linyuan jumped out of the carriage first and saw many people scattered along the shore.

There were many shops and stalls selling lotus lanterns, and the area was filled with colorful lights. The people along the shore were bustling, and the lights on the boats sparkled, making it look like the lotus flowers in the lake were glowing on their own.

It was truly beautiful!

Fang Linyuan felt a sense of relief. Fortunately, he had chatted with the lietuenant general on the way back, who had praised the beauty of Qujiang Pool at night. Without that, he wouldn’t have known such a wonderful place.

Behind him, the carriage curtains were lifted, and Zhao Chu also got out.

He stood on a patch of green grass, surrounded by fireflies dancing around his robes, making his silk garments glow, creating an ethereal appearance.

“It’s really beautiful!” Fang Linyuan turned back and smiled at Zhao Chu.

Yan Ting, who was waiting by the boat, waved to them. Fang Linyuan placed a hand lightly on Zhao Chu’s back and walked with him toward the boat.

“You’ve traveled all this way. You should rest well today,” Zhao Chu said to him.

Fang Linyuan blinked.

He had already thought it through . Although Zhao Chu didn’t like his birthday, it was fine as long as it wasn’t mentioned in front of him. But how could he not celebrate? Just take it as just another ordinary day to go out and see the lanterns.

So, he turned to Zhao Chu and smiled. “On the way back, I kept hearing the generals in the army praising how beautiful this place was, and I couldn’t help but be curious. I really wanted to see if they were telling the truth. Anyway, I’m not tired, and walking around here is just as good as resting.”

What he didn’t know was that he wasn’t the type to lie.

His eyes revealed everything, making it impossible for him to hide his thoughts. Zhao Chu looked at him, his gaze lingering on his eyes.

It wasn’t about checking if the place was as beautiful as they said. This little general was clearly finding an excuse to celebrate his birthday.

As for the day itself, Zhao Chu had never found it particularly special.

The meaning of any day was something people assigned to it. They looked for reasons to express emotions, show joy, and give their lives some purpose, like insects chasing after fireflies.

To survive in the palace, Zhao Chu couldn’t afford to act like one of those insects.

He knew the truth about his own birthday. Every year on this day, his father, the Emperor, would spend the night in the concubine Qing’s palace, lighting candles to honor her early death.

For Zhao Chu, this was both an opportunity and a convenience. He avoided whatever his father did on that day.

But today, it was different.

It wasn’t because he was turning nineteen, but because today, Fang Linyuan had traveled from afar to return to the capital and, despite being tired, insisted on taking him to see the lotus leaves and lanterns.

The lanterns in the pool flickered on and off, but Zhao Chu's gaze was fixed solely on Fang Linyuan.

Today was different.

After all, the meaning of any day is something assigned by people.

*

Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu boarded the boat.

The boat wasn’t large, and a small banquet table with the local lake delicacies was already set up under the canopy.

There were two paddles and a long pole at the bow. Fang Linyuan, skilled at rowing, didn’t leave anyone to serve them.

Once they boarded, he headed straight to the bow.

"Hold on tight!" he called out to Zhao Chu, then thrust the pole forcefully, and the small boat quickly lifted from the shore.

This was fun!

When Fang Linyuan was young, he loved rowing. Even with a few planks in the water, he and his friends at the border would row so fast it felt like they were flying.

The recent wars had kept him from rowing for years.

After a few strokes, his playful mood was reignited. The boat surged forward, cutting through the lotus flowers, and the evening wind whistled around them.

Just then, Zhao Chu’s voice came from behind, “Isn’t it heavy?”

Fang Linyuan turned to look at him.

Zhao Chu was sitting at the bow, his soft, light gauze dress fluttering in the wind. Some strands of his hair had loosened and were now blowing gently against his cheek, his eyes narrowing slightly.

After two days of seeing Zhao Chu in male attire, Fang Linyuan wasn’t used to this sight.

He really looked like a painting...

“Oh, it’s fine...” Fang Linyuan responded, perhaps a bit breathless from the rowing.

Then, Zhao Chu stood up.

The boat rocked with his movement. Fang Linyuan, distracted, lost his balance and almost stumbled.

In the next moment, Zhao Chu caught him by the arm.

As the boat swayed, his shoulder brushed against Zhao Chu’s neck.

The body that had been so stiff in male attire was now soft under the gauze, firm and solid yet surrounded by a gentle, fragrant breeze that seemed to envelop Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan couldn’t speak for a moment.

He watched as Zhao Chu helped him sit at the bow, then took out a silk handkerchief and handed it to him. "The wind makes you sweat, be careful of a headache."

Fang Linyuan wiped his forehead, realizing it was covered in sweat from the rowing.

Embarrassed, he wiped it away, and saw Zhao Chu take the long pole, gently tapping it on the lake’s bottom. The motion was delicate, like a long finger plucking the strings of a pipa.

The gentle breeze picked up, and the boat’s bow brushed against a patch of blooming lotus flowers, slowly moving forward on the lake.

Zhao Chu’s skirt billowed in the wind.

The soft fabric brushed against Fang Linyuan’s shoulder, making him feel a sudden, inexplicable tingle.

He quickly looked away, not daring to look at the floating gauze.

“How do you know how to row a boat?” he asked.

Fang Linyuan quickly tried to find a topic of conversation with Zhao Chu, so that he wouldn't confuse reality with fantasy again and mistake Zhao Chu for one of the ladies by the lotus pond.

He saw Zhao Chu holding the pole with both hands, tilting his head slightly toward him, and saying, “It’s not difficult. Just try a few strokes, and you’ll get the hang of it.”

Fang Linyuan chuckled a bit awkwardly.

He had never rowed a pleasure boat before. He made the small boat feel like a dragon boat with his powerful strokes.

It wasn't his fault. The boys from the borderlands would always race to see who could row the fastest.

It wasn’t until now, with Zhao Chu rowing calmly, that Fang Linyuan began to realize they were slowly drifting into an idyllic scene, like stepping into a painting.

The boat gradually reached the center of the lake. The lotus leaves were sparse and dense, with other painted boats passing by. The boats moved slowly, leaving trails of light in their wake like glowing fireflies.

In the vast lotus pond, many lotus-shaped lanterns floated, and when one looked up, the sky was dotted with twinkling stars, silent and calm, as if the stars themselves were lotus lanterns.

Fang Linyuan looked up at the stars, momentarily silent.

Until the wind on the side grew quieter.

“What are you looking at?” Zhao Chu asked.

He slowly spoke, still gazing at the sky: “My mother used to say that when people die, they become stars in the sky. They twinkle, and that’s them watching over us.”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhao Chu, only to see that Zhao Chu had also turned his head and was looking at him.

“Of course, I know my mother was just telling fairy tales for children.” Seeing Zhao Chu’s serious expression, Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

“After all, so many people have died throughout history. If they all turned into stars, the sky might not be big enough to fit them.”

Then, he noticed Zhao Chu raising his head to look at the deep blue night sky.

Fang Linyuan followed his gaze.

Perhaps because they had drifted deeper into the lake, the surrounding area was so tranquil, with only the sound of the bamboo pole gently tapping the water, making one’s heart feel as though it was echoing.

Perhaps it was because Zhao Chu's experiences, in Fang Linyuan’s ears, felt like deep and long-lasting suffering. He couldn’t help but want to comfort him, but didn’t know where to start.

So, he simply said more, as if the ripples on the lake were drifting aimlessly.

“After my father and brothers died, I still went to the roof often, looking at the stars.” Fang Linyuan interlocked his hands behind his head, lifting his face slightly, and laughed softly.

“At that time, I thought, ‘What if they really became stars? I’ve never died, so I can’t just let them watch me from the sky every day without saying hello.’”

Zhao Chu remained silent, setting the bamboo pole down beside him and sitting down.

Fang Linyuan turned to look at him and saw him gazing at the sky, his eyes calm and profound.

After a moment, Zhao Chu spoke softly: “They must be proud of you.”

He paused, and then the next words seemed hard to say. He turned his head and looked at Fang Linyuan.

“What’s wrong?” Fang Linyuan, feeling Zhao Chu’s gaze, looked at him in confusion.

"I should apologize to your father and brother," Zhao Chu said.

Fang Linyuan froze for a moment, then quickly realized what Zhao Chu meant.

On his birthday, why bring this up?

"Oh, no need," Fang Linyuan quickly responded. "Didn't you forget? I was the one who proposed to you."

He said this with a playful tone, raising his hands toward the sky as if addressing the heavens.

"Please reassure my parents and brother, Zhao Chu said he owes me one. In the future, with the Anping Marquis family lasting forever, he will protect us as compensation."

Sure enough, Zhao Chu’s soft laughter followed.

Fang Linyuan looked at him and saw Zhao Chu gazing upward. The starry sky reflected in his eyes, and there seemed to be a profound emotion, lingering in those eyes.

After a moment, Zhao Chu’s voice, still carrying a smile, broke the silence.

"Alright," he said.

He was responding to Fang Linyuan’s words to the heavens.

Fang Linyuan blinked under Zhao Chu’s serious gaze, then spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"If the Empress could see you today, she would be very happy," he said.

Zhao Chu’s smile gradually faded as he looked at the sky.

A moment later, he turned his gaze away from the heavens and spoke.

"She left in disgrace," Zhao Chu said. "There's no question of happiness."

He knew his mother better than Emperor Hongyou, and naturally, he understood his mother more than the emperor did.

She was an incredibly talented woman with a strong will, yet she died slandered and disgraced, a victim of palace intrigue, jealousy, and wrongful accusations. This was the greatest humiliation the emperor could have imposed upon her.

What Zhao Chu did now was simply to survive, to live through it, just like a rat in a gutter, unworthy of anyone’s attention.

At that moment, Fang Linyuan spoke up from his side. "You understanding her disgrace is enough."

Zhao Chu turned to look at Fang Linyuan.

He saw his own reflection in Fang Linyuan’s eyes, brilliant and cold, filled with an unappealing, lifeless quality.

"Life always has an end, but if what she wanted to do came true, step by step, then she would still be in this world, living grandly and freely," Fang Linyuan said.

"Since you loved her, you must know what she truly wanted, right?"

Seeing that Zhao Qu remained silent for a moment, Fang Linyuan smiled awkwardly and still pulled out a dagger from his sleeve.

“I… actually didn’t know today was your birthday,” he said.

“I overheard Juan Su mentioning it by accident. Treat it as a gift—it’s nothing valuable, so don’t dislike it, okay?”

Zhao Qu lowered his eyes to look at the dagger.

The scabbard and hilt appeared very old, the bronze fittings and gemstones polished smooth from wear, clearly something Fang Linyuan had used for years—an old possession now given to him.

Zhao Qu’s throat moved slightly as he swallowed. After a moment, he said, “I don’t.”

“My father said that a blade is meant to punish evil and uphold justice,” Fang Linyuan said. “When I was stationed at the border, my father forced me to read Rectification Theory, written by the Empress herself during her examinations. I think the Empress would also hope that you could become such a person.”

Zhao Qu looked up at him then, the deep gaze in his eyes making Fang Linyuan inexplicably self-conscious.

“Of course, when I chose this dagger, I didn’t think about all that,” Fang Linyuan said. “It’s just that it’s been with me for many years, and by giving it to you, I want you to know that I remember everything you’ve done for me—protecting and helping me during this time.”

“You don’t need to remember those things,” Zhao Qu said.

He looked at Fang Linyuan, his voice so soft and light it seemed as though a gust of wind could carry it away.

“You just need to know…”

He paused slightly.

"What?" Fang Linyuan blinked, looking at him.

But Zhao Chu shook his head.

"Nothing," he said, reaching out to take the dagger Fang Linyuan had offered.

He didn’t need to know that he was important to him, nor did he need to know that everything he did was done willingly.

He was meant to fly high in the sky, like an eagle, like a bird, not bound by a thread, even if it was the beautiful but filthy dream of rats and snakes.

Fang Linyuan replied, half-understanding, "Oh..."

Then his eyes lit up, and a smile returned to his face.

"There’s another one!" he said. "This one is for you too."

He leaned into the boat’s cabin and pulled out a pair of lotus flower lanterns and a set of writing materials, placing them brightly on the boat's bow.

"Make a wish," Fang Linyuan said, holding out one of the lanterns to him. "Today is your day. Any wish you make will come true."

The candlelight inside the lantern gently swayed in the night breeze, casting a warm, bright glow on Fang Linyuan’s face, as if his soul and eyes were shining.

Zhao Chu fell silent again, just looking at him, as if he wanted to freeze this moment and never move again.

...Make a wish?

The humble, filthy serpent, in the presence of such bright stars, what wish could he make?

Amidst the vast sky and endless earth, there was only him, and him alone.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Fang Linyuan picked up another lotus lantern and wrote on it:

"To all students taking the college entrance exam tomorrow, relax, perform beyond expectations, and get into the university of your dreams. May every day from now on shine brightly!"

 

Translator : DarNan