What’s so difficult about it? Just snatch him out!
As the Dragon Boat Festival approached, the weather suddenly turned hot, and more people came seeking Yu Jinnian’s medical expertise. Most were cases of winter illnesses flaring up in summer—not urgent, just bothersome. However, juggling his management of Sanyu Pavilion and medical duties made him feel shorthanded. He even wished he could pull Su Ting up like sprouting seedlings to share his burden.
In the back courtyard of Jinyouting, the medicine hut was finally completed before the Dragon Boat Festival. Everything Yu Jinnian had envisioned in his mind was crafted by Ji Hong according to his blueprints. The seven-star cabinet made of red pine wood covered one side of the wall, with various premium herbs stored in hemp cloth bags, piled together awaiting sorting. Yu Jinnian eagerly led Su Ting and the others to organize the herbs, placing each one into the cabinet drawers marked with carved labels.
With proper work to do, Yu Jinnian stopped pestering others, giving Ji Hong time to handle official duties.
Duan Ming, who had been sent out, returned. Ji Hong took the reports he brought back—some related to official matters, others to personal dealings. A few letters from the south were marked with a “Yu” character by Duan Ming, so Ji Hong pulled those out first and gave them a quick glance, his brows furrowing slightly.
Seeing his displeased expression, Duan Ming asked, “Should we inform the young master?”
Ji Hong pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “No need yet… What about the other matters?” He put away those letters and opened a sealed one, his frown deepening after reading it. Duan Ming refrained from asking again. The matter concerned Ji Hong’s intention to promote a few clean and capable individuals and place them within the Twelfth Prince’s faction as informants.
Ji Hong had already picked a few bright and patriotic candidates, planning to recommend them shortly. However, unexpected complications arose—letters came back with strong words, accusing them of colluding with eunuch factions. Though unfair, the accusations weren’t entirely unfounded. It was well-known that the Ji and Min families had been close for generations. If the Prime Minister’s residence fell into trouble, convincing others that the Duke of Li’s estate remained untainted would be difficult.
Ji Hong sighed. “Where is Xuefei?”
Duan Ming replied, “He disappeared for a night. I heard he only left the palace yesterday afternoon, wandering the streets in a daze and even buying a box of rouge. When he returned, Minister Min caught him red-handed and punished him with two days of confinement.”
“He bought rouge? Did he say why?” Ji Hong asked curiously.
Duan Ming shook his head. “No one knows. Minister Min, furious over rumors linking him to the eunuch faction, forced the second young master to swear to sever all ties with the palace. Poetry Society was also in chaos, but there seemed to be no solution. It’s a simple matter, really. If the second young master hosted a poetry banquet, gathered a few noble heirs, and recited some criticism of the palace eunuchs—or even wrote a satirical poem—he could clear his name. But for some reason, he stubbornly refuses.”
Ji Hong chuckled. “He taught me this very trick, and now he’s the one stuck. That’s amusing… Enough! He must be miserable after being punished. I bet he’s waiting for me to save him. Send an invitation and say I’m hosting a banquet at my residence. Minister Min wouldn’t be too hard on me.”
Duan Ming quietly complied.
Suddenly, Ji Hong asked, “What’s Jinnian busy with?”
Duan Ming went out to check and returned shortly. “He just finished organizing the medicine hut with Su Ting. Now he’s urging a group of servants to collect lotus leaves from the pond, saying he wants to make… lotus-wrapped chicken.”
Ji Hong got up, grabbing a light robe. On his way out, he hesitated, glanced at the letters from the south, and left them under a stack of books. He headed to the lotus pond to find someone.
When he arrived, he realized his worries were unfounded. The boy wasn’t the least bit cold from the pond breeze. He was jumping around energetically, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead and nose as he fanned himself with his hands. His cheeks, flushed by the afternoon sun, glowed red.
The moment Ji Hong approached, the servants who had been laughing with Yu Jinnian quickly composed themselves and stepped aside. Yu Jinnian turned to see him, smiling brightly as he called, “Ah Hong!” He lifted a large, green lotus leaf above Ji Hong’s head and teased, “Hot, isn’t it?” Water droplets from the lotus leaf fell onto Yu Jinnian’s nose, making him cross his eyes to look at it. After a second, he shook his head like a cat to get rid of the droplet.
A flutter of affection filled Ji Hong’s heart, soft and tender. Life could be dull and flavorless, but with Yu Jinnian around, it always seemed vivid and colorful. He wiped a spot of mud splashed on Yu Jinnian’s ear and said, “I’ve invited Xuefei to visit.”
Yu Jinnian paused. “Why invite him all of a sudden?”
Ji Hong replied, “He’s been confined by Minister Min because of the eunuch faction rumors. I figured he’s waiting for me to save him.” Ji Hong then told Yu Jinnian about Min Xuefei’s troubles, treating it like a lighthearted story.
Sitting on the steps, Yu Jinnian rolled up his pants as he listened. Once Ji Hong finished, Yu Jinnian smacked his lips in amusement, immediately catching the irony. He laughed at the second young master’s plight. “So even he has his day!”
Ji Hong didn’t mind the dirt and sat down beside him: “If he truly wants to protect that palace attendant, what then?”
Yu Jinnian burst out laughing: “What’s so hard about that? Just snatch him out!”
On the steps beside Jinyouting’s lotus pond, the two sat together under the night sky. Ji Hong wore a snow-colored thin robe, his black hair loose. Looking down at the boy lying on his lap, Ji Hong gently hooked a stray lock of hair from Yu Jinnian’s cheek with his finger and couldn’t help but chuckle: “You’re joking again.”
That palace attendant was, after all, a dignified assistant supervisor of the Palace Bureau—how could he simply be snatched away?
Yu Jinnian gazed at the shimmering water, half-seriously: “I’m just saying. After all, the world is unpredictable. Who knows what will happen in the next moment?” Ji Hong frowned, sensing something in his words, but before he could figure it out, the boy straightened up, smiling mischievously as he turned and hugged Ji Hong’s neck. “For example, how do you know whether I’ll kiss your lips or your cheek next?”
Ji Hong’s thoughts were abruptly derailed. Before he could react, Yu Jinnian had already leaned in and pressed his lips to Ji Hong’s. Only after a while did he pull back, grinning as he said, “I want some wine.” Without waiting for Ji Hong to respond—he took Ji Hong’s silence as agreement—Yu Jinnian immediately called out for Qing Huan.
Qing Huan hurried over but was stopped by Ji Hong before he could fetch the wine.
“No wine for him,” Ji Hong commanded with a furrowed brow, holding Yu Jinnian around the waist.
Qing Huan looked hesitantly between the two, unsure whom to obey. Yu Jinnian, draped bonelessly over Ji Hong, held up two fingers and murmured softly, “Just two cups, alright? If I take even one more sip, you can punish me.”
Ji Hong feigned sternness: “You always say two cups, but when have you not ended up drunk? Your drinking habit is terrible and bad for your health. You need to stop.”
Yu Jinnian’s eyes darted mischievously as he leaned closer, pretending to pout. “Ah Hong,” he called softly, whining into Ji Hong’s ear, “The other day at Sanyu Pavilion, you wore me out so much I didn’t complain about your ‘habit.’ My waist still aches, and I can barely walk. Now I just want a little drink, but you won’t even let me have that… Are you really so heartless?”
Saying this, he wiped at nonexistent tears, putting on a pitiful act worthy of a seasoned performer—all for the sake of two cups of wine.
Qing Huan glanced sidelong at him and thought: Barely able to walk? Wasn’t it just a moment ago that you tried to jump into the pond yourself to pluck lotus leaves for lotus-wrapped chicken? If not for the servants stopping you, you’d have been in the water by now!
But regardless of whether it was real or fake, Ji Hong always fell for Yu Jinnian’s insincere pleading. He knew perfectly well that Yu Jinnian would never stick to any “no drinking” promise. Still, he couldn’t bear to refuse him outright. Even though Yu Jinnian was undeniably charming and clingy when tipsy—like a pampered cat—Ji Hong compromised, instructing Qing Huan to bring him some mild, non-intoxicating sweet wine instead.
Before long, freshly brewed fruit wine was served, accompanied by a plate of colorful pine cakes.
The cakes were made by blending juice from various fruits and vegetables with glutinous rice, layered together and steamed to soft perfection. They were subtly sweet, melting in the mouth without being cloying—perfect for pairing with a drink.
The wine was a cherry red, brewed from fresh spring cherries. The cherries were cleaned, destemmed, and layered in a jar with sugar, then soaked in light, refreshing sake and sealed to ferment in a cool place. Over time, the wine turned red. When poured, the liquid shimmered like amber in a white jade cup, with plump cherries rolling into the glass—delightfully round and vibrant.
It was truly a serene scene: the slanting sun, a light breeze over the courtyard, and a pond full of green leaves glistening with red droplets.
Life was peaceful!
With such beauty beside him, Yu Jinnian felt content beyond words. He lifted his cup, ready to take a blissful sip, when—
A commotion erupted from the front gate, followed by the sound of clothes rustling and vigorous shouting: “Brother Nian! Look what I caught for you!… Hey, what are you running for? Can’t face the consequences now, huh?”
Yu Jinnian winced, his head throbbing. Why now of all times? Just when he finally had a quiet moment to enjoy his drink! He turned his head irritably and saw Min Mao dragging a young man by his collar, half-pulling and half-throwing him into Tingyue Residence like a sack of grain. The boy, his nose bruised, landed on the ground and immediately burst into teary protests: “Brother Nian, it wasn’t my fault… Save me!”
Min Mao paused to catch his breath, hands on his hips, then pulled a folding fan from his waistband and fanned himself vigorously. Spotting the wine on the table, he downed a few gulps to quench his thirst before pointing the fan at the disheveled youth on the ground. “Tell him what you did!”
