The day of the ceremony for good harvest has come. The sky is clear, as blue as the ocean. It's as if the weather knows that an important event that can only happen once a year is about to be held today.
Fortunately, the servants managed to prepare everything after pulling an all-nighter. The temple where the ceremony is going to be held is already all set. What's lacking are the spectators, as well as the emperor who will personally offer his prayers to the Gods in Heaven and the other rituals.
Just as planned, Emperor Yin Renshu will be the one who'll show up for this year's ceremony while his brother, Prince Yin Wenyan will secretly conduct an investigation in the grand empress dowager's hall.
Speaking of Emperor Yin Renshu, he's getting ready for today's event. His attire for today is more formal than any other event. He's wearing more layers of robes made of the finest brocade in the entire empire.
Speaking of robes, he's not wearing black and gold yellow robes just like he usually wears. Although black still dominates his overall attire, it's matched with red in the lower part with a white accent on it. Also, since today is a special day for the entire empire, the details of his robes are strictly designed to represent something such as the embroidered images of dragons, phoenixes and clouds, and other patterns.
His coronet is also different from his usual one. Today, it has a more exquisite design. Precious stones are used instead of beads.
"Renshu, it's almost time." The princess general made her way across the emperor's hall.
Her maids are following her in a lineup. Lieutenant General Liu Chen isn't around to assist her for a while since he's still tasked to secretly look for the missing empress. Even until now, they still didn't have a lead as to where the empress is. Well, except for the grand empress dowager's hall. Unfortunately, it's out of Liu Chen's capabilities to search inside her hall so he's looking somewhere else, in case the empress is not there. There's still a possibility that he'll find her around the palace, or maybe in the nearby places around the palace walls.
"Alright. I just finished wearing all these costumes." He said.
He looks at his reflection in the mirror for one last time before he turns his back to leave his hall. Her sister, Princess Yin Xiulan, is going to escort him together with the Ministry of War and Defense to the temple.
He's about to get into the carriage when he suddenly asks his sister, "Is it possible for me to drop by in the Lotus Hall for a second?"
"Why? You left something there?" She asks. "I'll order someone to get it for you. What is it?"
"No, that's not it." He replies. "I just want to see if he's doing fine." After Eunuch Xu's first time becoming berserk, he barely sees him. He's worried about this silly eunuch of his and wants to check him with his own two eyes.
"I actually went there earlier. Except for his physical appearance, nothing's strange about him as for the moment." Princess Yin Xiulan said. "And besides, Wenyan is right there so if anything happens, he'll be able to handle it."
"..."
Wenyan is right there. He unconsciously wishes he's there for him too. For sure, Eunuch Xu is very confused, upset, and sad. He's undergoing such monstrous physical change. Also, he just learned the truth about his father.
He thought, Eunuch Xu must be very down right now. He wants to be the one who'll stay by his side at times like this but it's his brother who is there, not him.
Princess Yin Xiulan taps his shoulder. "Let's get going. Everything is ready and everyone is waiting for you. We can't delay any further."
"Everyone? Including the grand empress dowager?" He asks for confirmation.
He hasn't heard anything from her about her disapproval of this sudden ceremony.
"Yes. Everyone including her." His sister confirmed.
With this, the plans should go smoothly.
"Okay, let's go." His majesty finally gets into the carriage.
On the other side of the imperial palace, Xu Zhengming and Prince Yin Wenyan are peacefully chatting about random topics inside the Lotus Hall.
Because of his current appearance, he can't get out of this hall. Well, he can actually, that is if he wants to be chased by the guards and soldiers.
"I'm really glad to know that I'm not dying anytime soon." Eunuch Xu said. "But does it mean I have to live the rest of my life hiding here?"
"Well... that, I'll think of a way to solve that." The prince smiles apologetically as he scratches his cheek with his forefinger.
Ignoring what the other said, Xu Zhengming continues his drama. "What about those ladies who are looking forward to seeing me? Won't they get lonely? I badly want to comfort them in my arms but I know I can't."
Prince Yin Wenyan's smile froze. Why is he still thinking about flirting when he's facing this problem? And besides, he's here for him. Why won't this man look at the prince's way?
"Don't worry, Eunuch Xu. Once I find the cure for your illness, you'll be able to show yourself to those ladies who are longing to see you. However, I believe you need not embrace them?"
Xu Zhengming finally looks at him. "Your majesty, have you ever wondered why you and her highness the empress lack intimacy?"
"..." The prince doesn't know how the conversation shifted to the married life of the emperor and the empress. Though it's actually his brother in question, he still goes with the flow. "Because we're forced to marry each other?"
Xu Zhengming blinks twice and gives it a thought. He realized that it must be the main reason. However, it's not what Mingming wants the other to know. "Well, that's one thing... but that's not my point."
"...?" Prince Yin Wenyan subconsciously tilts his head sideways. He wonders, there's actually another reason for it?
"It's because you won't make a move." Eunuch Xu said as he nods his head. He made it sound like he's a master of romance to make him look believable.
"Move? What am I supposed to do anyway? Is intimacy really matters in an arranged marriage?" The prince doesn't think that this conversation makes much sense. But since it's Xu Zhengming and he'll get to talk to him more, he doesn't mind hearing it.
Mingming smirks. His time to shine has come. "Renshu my friend, in times of uncertainty about these love matters, the right person to ask is me, Xu Xhengming! Don't you know I'm an expert in this field?" He pats Prince Yin Wenyan on his shoulder as he laughs as he's bragging.
The prince knows he's good with women, and women admire his looks. It wouldn't surprise him if he knows how to flirt with different kinds of women. But he wonders how will he react if he knows a man did fall for him?
"Tell me about it." The prince thought, if it somehow makes sense, maybe he'll share the tips he'll get from Eunuch Xu to his brother. Even the prince himself thinks that Emperor Yin Renshu should improve his relationship with the empress.
"First of all, you need to earn her trust. Did you know that trust is the most expensive thing in the world? You can't buy it with money. You can only earn it." Xu Zhengming says. "Sometimes, it would take you a long time before you'll have it but you can lose it all in just one mistake."
Prince Yin Wenyan thought, his statements aren't as nonsense as what he expected to be after all. In fact, it just makes sense, or at least to him. It wouldn't hurt to listen to him a little bit more.
But as for things like trust, does Xu Zhengming has the right to advise others? He himself got into countless relationships and none of these are serious to him. He even had multiple lovers at the same time.
"I see." A thought popped out of the prince's mind that made him smile mischievously. "Do you think I am trustworthy, Eunuch Xu? Do you trust me?"
Yes, he casually asked him that. Totally effortless. Does Xu Zhengming trust him?
Xu Zhengming thinks for a while. "Honestly, it's you who causes me to lose my trust in myself. One day, you're all nice and fluffy. Then sooner or later, you'll shift into a short-tempered person. It gives me trust issues."
"Fluffy?" He asks which made Xu Zhengming nod his head multiple times. The prince doesn't know what he means by that but he thinks fluffy doesn't mean anything bad.
"But all in all. I trust you." For some reason, Xu Zhengming felt a little uncomfortable saying all of these. However, he felt like the emperor has the right to know what he thinks about him. "I trust everything you said to me. You said you'll help me. I think... I think you won't just turn your back to your words, right?"
This made Prince Yin Wenyan smile sweetly. So, Xu Zhengming indeed trusts him. With that, the first tip is accomplished!
"Of course! I honor every word I say." He said. "What else?"
Xu Zhengming put his fingers under his chin. "This one's simple but you should do this often."
The prince nods, attentively waiting for his next words.
Eunuch Xu continues, "Always give her compliments. Women like it when a man compliments them. And oh! Don't forget to give affirmations too. That would make you sound dependable and supportive."
"Got it." Prince Yin Wenyan said with a playful smile on his lips. He said, "Eunuch Xu, you're so good at things like this. And you're not only a love expert, but you're also a great poet. It's amazing how you can convey your feelings through writing. You should make new ones when you have some time! Will you let me read your upcoming poems?"
For the second time, Prince Yin Wenyan applied what Eunuch Xu just taught him like it's nothing. But then again, our protagonist is too dense to sense the moves that the prince just made.
Xu Zhengming forced a laugh. "I'll be having a lot of time here so I'll probably make some sooner or later." Since he'll be staying in the Lotus Hall until the emperor finds him a cure, he sure will have a lot of time since he has nothing to do.
"That must be the reason why women are after you. Your good looks are one thing but your talent in literature is something else." The prince added.
With his looks being mentioned, his gloomy face instantly turns into a proud one. He laughs loudly and replies, "You flatter me, your majesty! Hahahaha! Your looks aren't bad too! Just a step inferior to mine."
This silly eunuch is lucky that it's Yin Wenyan who's with him this time. If it happens to be Yin Renshu, his foot being stepped at would be the least thing he'll get.
Since it's Prince Yin Wenyan, he just laughed too and said, "I won't argue with you in that matter." Being praised with his majesty himself, Xu Zhengming couldn't be more proud. Even the emperor acknowledges his good looks!
While busy boasting his handsome face to the other, the prince poured jasmine tea into a cup. He then offered it to Xu Zhengming which the other subconsciously takes. His mind is too occupied with him being full of himself. Seeing this, the prince couldn't help but chuckle.
This works for almost everyone. Whenever he hands over a random thing to a person who's too busy talking, that person will take whatever he gives. (A/n: Perhaps you should give it a try too? LOL. I, myself, am a victim of this. XD)
He poured himself a cup of tea as he asks for more advice, "Anything else?"
"Let's see..." He thinks of some other useful things to apply in women. Only by then did he realize that he is holding a cup of tea. He looks at the prince with a confused look.
This time, the prince finally couldn't suppress his laughter. "I offered that to you earlier."
"Oh." He looks at the cup of tea again and then took a sip on it.
The sensual scent of jasmine becomes stronger as the tea pours through his throat. "This tea isn't bad." He thought. The tea is sweet since it's blended with honey. As sweet as the smile of this person talking to him. He knows how to laugh after all. The silly eunuch said in the back of his mind, "He should laugh often than frown and bully this beau."
Xu Zhengming clears his throat and continues, "I know you, as the emperor, have a lot of things to deal with. However, these duties you have must not be an obstacle for the two of you. You should spare time to be with her."
The prince nods, "Mn. That makes sense." Prince Yin Wenyan said then took a sip on his cup of tea. He thought, he should spend more time with Eunuch Xu for them to get closer.
"And last but not the least!" The silly eunuch draws a wide grin on his lips. "You two must be sexually satisfied."
Prince Yin Wenyan didn't expect this at all. To his surprise, the tea he's drinking went out through his nose! Never in his wildest dreams did he think about it. Yes, he attempted to kiss him but what the eunuch said is too much! But now that he mentioned it... The prince's earlobes start to have a tint of red.
"Ah? Are you alright?" Xu Zhengming went closer to the other to check him as he rubbed his back. However, the prince subconsciously moves away from him like it's his caused by reflexes.
"I'm alright! Fine! Definitely okay!" Prince Yin Wenyan put his cup on the nearby table and headed to the exit of the Lotus Hall as he said, "I have things to do, I'll be back soon!"
"Oh, okay." Eunuch Xu said as he looks at the other leaving the hall in a hurry.
But before he opens the door, he looked back at Xu Zhengming and said in a low yet audible voice, "Stop being so flirty with women."
"...?"
Xu Zhengming tilts his head sideways. He silently thought, "Well, I am a man? Of course, I'll flirt with women. Is he saying that I should flirt with men instead?"
After that, the prince really left the hall without waiting for the eunuch's response.