Tan Hua - Chapter 13

The palace gate was about to close. Song Liqing withdrew his gaze after staring for a long time, turned around to leave, but bumped into someone, causing the person to exclaim in pain as a tablet fell to the ground.

In the collision, Song Liqing’s hand was scratched by the tablet.

“Sorry.”

Song Liqing apologized with his head bowed, then picked up the tablet and handed it back to the person.

“What kind of idiot doesn’t watch where they’re going?! If this had happened in front of the palace, you’d be charged with disrespect!”

The person cursed angrily, got up from the ground, and picked up their black gauze hat.

Song Liqing took a closer look and recognized them as two of the top scholars of his year, both of whom he had always had a good relationship with and had interacted with.

“Oh… I see who the clueless one is now. Turns out it’s the top scholar.”

Seeing that it was Song Liqing, the person’s anger subsided slightly, and they forced a smile, although there was little joy in it, and more mockery.

“Brother.” The top scholar corrected them, “He’s now the Crown Prince Consort, flying high like a phoenix after entering the palace. There’s a world of difference between us now!”

“Oh, I see.” The person pretended to bow respectfully, “Greetings to the Crown Prince Consort.”

“Good day, gentlemen.”

Song Liqing returned the greeting properly. These two had been appointed to fifth-rank positions by the emperor, making them rising stars in the court, acting more ostentatiously and looking down on him was normal.

Song Liqing had no intention of comparing himself to them, only saying, “Gentlemen must be busy with court affairs, so I won’t delay your time.”

“Hey!” The top scholar stopped him, saying, “Top Scholar… I mean, Crown Prince Consort, we have a bond as fellow scholars on the imperial list. We haven’t seen each other for several days, does the Crown Prince Consort look down on us lowly fifth-rank officials now that he’s flying high?”

“You’re now of noble status, why alienate us like this…” The top scholar added fuel to the fire.

Song Liqing and these two were not familiar at all, except for the one encounter when they were appointed, they had never interacted again.

“I see you both are in high spirits, must be handling your new positions well. Congratulations on your future success in the court.”

Song Liqing offered a perfunctory congratulation.

The top scholar chuckled and said with concern, “What’s wrong with the Crown Prince Consort? You look so haggard.”

Song Liqing forced a smile. “Just caught a chill, nothing serious. Thank you for your concern.”

The top scholar exchanged a glance with the other and said, “Serving the Crown Prince is not an easy task, is it?”

“Ha.” The top scholar pretended to sigh, “On the day you were crowned, the top scholar with both talent and looks, overshadowed both of us. That glory was enough to make us step aside… Farewell for now… still, it’s really eye-opening. Haha… Haha!”

The top scholar bowed to the heavens again, with a noble expression. “We’ve studied hard for twenty years, and now that we’ve been appointed by the imperial family, we must repay the emperor in the future.”

The other patted Song Liqing on the shoulder. “Crown Prince Consort, don’t be discouraged. As long as you serve the Crown Prince well, you’ll enjoy endless glory and wealth in the future!”

Song Liqing knew they were only keeping him here to mock him and to show off their superiority as literati.

“I am not only the Crown Prince Consort, but also the Crown Prince’s reader. We are all officials serving in the court. Both of you are well-versed in the classics and must not belittle others.”

This statement was neither humble nor self-deprecating, and the top scholar and the other were both stunned, unable to respond.

“Yes, yes, yes.” The top scholar nodded first, “In the future, please advise us, Crown Prince Consort. We will rely on you.”

Although there was little sincerity in their words, as long as they stopped harassing and mocking him, Song Liqing would be satisfied.

“The palace gate is about to close. Aren’t you two going in?” 

A clear voice came from beside them, but with an unclear pronunciation.

Song Liqing turned his head and saw a young man dressed strangely.

This person was probably only a few years older than him, but their chin was covered in blue beard, their hair was thick, their eyebrows were as black as ink, their eyelashes were curled, their pupils were emerald green in the sunlight, their high nose and thin lips gave off a foreign charm, and their facial features were deep and distinct. This appearance… was somewhat similar to Hu Nu’er.

Seeing him, although dressed in a white robe like a Han Chinese, there were emerald green gemstones on his belt, and he wore a white crown, something unheard of in the Central Plains. In the center of the crown was a large ruby, presumably quite valuable.

Song Liqing guessed he was of foreign descent, but observing his demeanor, he carried himself gracefully, without the barbarism typically associated with foreigners.

The top scholar bowed first, this time genuinely, his back curved like a cooked shrimp.

“I have met the Prince of Loulan.”

The second scholar followed suit.

“Do you recognize me? I haven’t even visited your palace to pay respects to His Majesty yet.”

“I was appointed to receive the Prince of Loulan the other day. Originally, it should have been me, an official from the Ministry of Rites, but I had just taken office, so a senior official from the ministry stood in for me.”

The top scholar smiled obsequiously, making no effort to conceal his goodwill.

“Oh!”

The Prince of Loulan nodded knowingly, then also nodded at the second scholar, before shifting his gaze to the silent Song Liqing.

“And who is this?”

“This is the Crown Prince…” The top scholar intervened.

“The Crown Prince’s attendant.”

Song Liqing interjected, nodding slightly.

He preferred to introduce himself this way.

“The Crown Prince’s attendant… Is the Crown Prince in need of… a beauty to accompany his studies?” The Prince of Loulan smiled, “Does the Crown Prince of Jingguo require a… beauty to keep him company while studying?”

Song Liqing didn’t like being referred to as a “beauty,” and even felt a bit repulsed.

The top scholar whispered something in the ear of the Prince of Loulan.

The Prince of Loulan’s gaze shifted from admiration to disappointment, tinged with disdain when he looked at Song Liqing.

“I know of the custom in the Central Plains where beautiful women assist their masters, but… for a grown man to rely on looks to please his superior, to be a man’s plaything, is hardly admirable.”

Implicit yet direct.

In fact, he was not wrong. Throughout history, attendants and scholars often engaged in private affairs with their masters, poets and literati especially reveled in such arrangements.

Song Liqing couldn’t be bothered to explain to this foreigner; they were likely just acquaintances.

“Alright, time is running short. Please, Prince of Loulan, go ahead.”

The top scholar and the second scholar moved aside, allowing the Prince of Loulan to proceed.

“Please, gentlemen.”

They exchanged pleasantries as they walked towards the palace gate, and Song Liqing breathed a sigh of relief.

The Prince of Loulan took a few steps, then stopped and turned around.

“Aren’t you coming with us, attendant?”

The top scholar quickly explained, “The rank of the Crown Prince’s attendant does not yet qualify him to attend morning court.”

“I see.” The Prince of Loulan paused for a moment, then said loudly, “Attendant, perhaps you should find a physician to look at your injury when you have the time.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Song Liqing replied simply, “A slight cold will heal on its own in a few days.”

Why could everyone see his illness? Song Liqing had clearly used powder to conceal his scars and paleness.

“I wasn’t referring to the cold.”

The Prince of Loulan pointed to the back of Song Liqing’s hand. When Song Liqing looked down, he noticed a slight scratch, not severe, yet blood was oozing out. It hadn’t stopped bleeding or coagulated. His sleeve was stained red.

Just as he was about to inquire, the Prince of Loulan had already walked away with a smile.

Author’s Note:

This foreigner is male….