SEHE Chapter 92

Face Paint

In the late seventh month of summer in the fifth year of Qingning, the Great Yu promulgated a new regulation. Each prefecture, each province, and each county would establish a new government office called the Educational Affairs Bureau. It would be formed by selecting personnel of both virtue and talent from the official schools of each province, prefecture, and county government. They would manage the official schools under their jurisdiction, preside over local ritual and sacrificial activities, promulgate management regulations and systems, and evaluate the promotion, demotion, and conduct of local official school erudite scholars and assistant instructors. All official school management would be the responsibility of the local Educational Affairs Bureau, while erudite scholars would only be responsible for teaching and daily administrative affairs.

Once the imperial edict was issued, the entire nation was shaken.

Some judged that this was the court officials fighting for power to the point of madness, actually coming up with such a muddled measure. Others wore deeply meaningful expressions, laughing and saying that without establishing new offices, how could those above have ways to get rich, and how could so many people wanting to become officials find pretexts to be placed in positions? There were also people making a huge fuss in the official schools and provincial government offices, saying this was stripping away their authority, that they had no autonomous management power, that teachers would cease to be teachers, losing their dignity.

There was also a small portion of people who detected the subtle aspects of this matter, privately contemplating that this would be another major reform after the imperial examinations. Sensing that a storm was approaching, they chose to hold their troops and wait quietly for news from the capital.

Pei Yanci had no time to pay attention to external voices. Since His Majesty approved and agreed, for the past month he had been running between the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites, discussing what personnel and funds would need to be matched simultaneously if this measure was to be implemented, as well as coordinating the interests and entanglements of all parties.

What was originally the most worrying fiscal deficit instead became the smallest problem, because most personnel were transferred from local official schools. An official school missing one or two people wouldn’t have much impact, and no new erudite scholar positions were added. However, the office directors of the provincial government offices had to come from the Ministry of Personnel, and these several hundred vacant positions became hot commodities. For a time, the thresholds of the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites officials’ residences were nearly trampled through.

Every year during summer, local officials and lower officials would give “ice tributes” to capital officials and superior officials. This year was especially excessive. Even before the imperial edict was promulgated, there were already people who got advance news when going to Anjing City to present ice tributes. They say “flowing fire in the seventh month” – the days were already turning cool, yet people presenting ice tributes still frequently appeared at various officials’ residences.

In early August of the fifth year, regardless of whether officials in each province and prefecture agreed or disagreed, the Educational Affairs Bureau had to be established, or at least they had to put on a show of responding.

Most people in the localities felt this was nothing more than the group of people in court who lined their own pockets creating pretexts. Seeing that the assigned office directors either had connections in the Ministry of Personnel or relationships with the Ministry of Rites, they became even more convinced of this point.

This was collusion tacitly understood between the Rites and Personnel offices.

As for problems like redundant court officials, bloated institutions, low work efficiency, and declining quality of students – these were not within the consideration of those above, and those below had no qualification to consider them.

But after just two days, the government office dispatched new people. They held no official position in the office, yet they wielded the power of life and death over everyone in the entire office. They all came from one government agency—the Elu Bureau.

The establishment of a new government office, which looked like an incomplete joke of a thing, actually had the notoriously evil Elu Bureau personally conducting surveillance.

For a time, not only the officials of the Educational Affairs Bureau, but officials in government offices and official schools within a hundred-mile radius softened their cursing tones considerably.

How could they have known that this was something Pei Yanci had obtained in exchange for three days’ time?

By the fourth day, he emerged from the Nine-Thousand-Years’ room supporting his waist, his two legs still trembling, barely able to stand steady.

Tang Xizhui followed out from the room in high spirits, considerately offering to carry him to the carriage and send him back.

“Get lost!” If he had the strength right now, he really wanted to kick the man flying away.

Unfortunately, at the moment even his cursing sounded like acting coquettishly. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, his lips slightly swollen, showing an abnormal bright red from being thoroughly tasted by someone. Both sides of his cheeks still had faint red marks left by cloth ties, especially conspicuous on his snow-white luminous skin.

Tang Xizhui stared at his cold and stubborn appearance with deep, profound eyes, licking his lips imperceptibly, and stepped forward attentively again. “Xiao Pei’er, stop being stubborn. It pains me to see you like this.”

“You didn’t say that two hours ago.” Pei Yanci frowned, his eyes wet and glistening, the corners still carrying the lingering red from the aftermath, three times more intoxicating than the patches of crabapple petals outside the corridor.

He supported himself against the long pillar under the corridor, legs weak and breathing labored, cursing the bone-eating Nine-Thousand-Years behind him a thousand times over in his heart. He shook off the hand reaching toward him and just kept walking forward on his own.

If he stayed at the Chief Overseer’s mansion any longer, he would definitely die in bed.

“You agreed to stay with me for three days.” He carefully used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat for him, but was avoided when he turned his head aside.

“You certainly calculated the time precisely – truly not a moment more, not a moment less.”

“So now, even if I hold you, I won’t do anything to you.”

Though he very much wanted to drag the person back into the room and keep him there.

Tang Xizhui saw he was truly somewhat annoyed and couldn’t help feeling a bit flustered. “Is Xiao Pei’er regretting it now? Thinking of ignoring me?”

“No.” In the end, it was he who came to the Chief Overseer’s mansion, he who actively removed his clothes, he who actively proposed making a deal. There was no talk of regret.

After evening out his breathing and feeling his body’s strength recover somewhat, he said, “Can you restrain yourself a bit next time?”

Although it was very enjoyable, it was too stimulating – his body couldn’t withstand it.

“There can be a next time?” The Nine-Thousand-Years’ expression immediately brightened, eyes crinkling with a smile.

“……” Pei Yanci wanted to bite off his own tongue. Why did he have to promise such a thing?

“We’ll see how you perform.” He coolly shook off his hand.

Really giving him face.

The next moment, he was swept up horizontally into the air.

“Tang! Xi! Zhui!” He was both angry and flustered, panicking for an instant.

The Nine-Thousand-Years let him struggle and pound away, steadily carrying him all the way out.

Seeing that this path led out of the mansion, Pei Yanci finally felt somewhat relieved and gradually loosened the force in his hands.

Tang Xizhui saw him calm down and smiled. “I already said I’d send you out, yet you insisted on being stubborn.”

“Who could have known?” Perhaps the impression these three days had left on him was too deep. Whether he was being coldly unyielding or softly begging, Tang Xizhui took tireless pleasure in it, showing no signs of stopping. Except for eating and sleeping, they were just doing it.

“When have I ever broken my word about things I promised you?” The Nine-Thousand-Years lowered his eyes slightly, his crow-black lashes trembling. When feigning hurt feelings, even an immortal would shed tears. “Xiao Pei’er, that you trust me so little truly breaks my heart.”

Pei Yanci thought carefully – it was true. He always had this feeling that this person was dangerous, so it was he who didn’t trust that Tang Xizhui would keep his promises.

Feeling the person in his arms move, Tang Xizhui looked down and couldn’t help but smile gently. Pei Yanci was clutching at his own clothes, burying his face in his embrace as if trying to cover something up, whether from shyness or guilt – the tips of his ears had quietly turned red.

Perhaps at this moment, some genuine emotion that he couldn’t suppress had revealed itself on his face and in his eyes, and he didn’t want anyone to see it.

He carried the person into the carriage and took many cushions to place under and around his body.

“It’s hot.”

“If we don’t cushion you, you’ll be uncomfortable. I’ll bring more ice in.” The Nine-Thousand-Years coaxed him into letting the cushions be rearranged properly. “Don’t go to the Imperial Academy these next two days. I’ll keep an eye on things there for you.”

“Will go directly to the Ministry of Rites now. I need to meet with that Minister of Rites.” Pei Yanci leaned against one side, rubbing his face. One good thing was that unless he permitted it, no matter how wildly or excessively Tang Xizhui played, he wouldn’t leave marks on his body that couldn’t be eliminated quickly, and even less would he dare injure him.

“You mean that Chen Sihong? Dealing with him, if you don’t let him strip a layer of skin off you, don’t expect to get any benefit from him.”

“Isn’t that so?” Pei Yanci sneered coldly. “The Bureau of Ceremonies agreed, but he didn’t. If Qi Xiang hadn’t listened to my words and reluctantly given up the co-hosting rights for the imperial examinations, he wouldn’t have relented at all.”

Gu Jiuqing had agreed, Tang Xizhui had also agreed. When Chen Sihong returned from completing business in another province and heard about this matter, he insisted on using the Imperial Academy’s failure to inform him as a pretext to obstruct things and negotiate conditions with Qi Xiang.

“Organizing the imperial examinations is a major undertaking – what a pity.” He echoed absentmindedly.

“There are still three years until then. Who will control the examinations at that time is still unknown. First, handle the current matters – that’s what’s important.”

“Then what are you going there for today?”

“The Educational Affairs Bureau has been established. If the Imperial Academy doesn’t reform itself, won’t things only become more chaotic the more they’re managed? All measures must keep pace in a timely manner……”

Tang Xizhui lovingly brushed aside the stray hairs at his temple. Seeing him suddenly stare directly at his own face while speaking, he was somewhat puzzled when he saw him purse his lips in a smile and say, “The makeup on your face is smudged.”

His expression stiffened as he turned to flee outside the carriage.

Pei Yanci promptly grabbed a corner of his wide sleeve. “Where are you going? Keep me company.”

The Nine-Thousand-Years’ expression was stiff and cold, also somewhat hesitant.

If the pattern wasn’t smudged, he would be very happy to accept this suggestion.

Ordinarily when in front of outsiders, he would wear a mask. After becoming familiar with Pei Yanci, Pei Yanci could also often see the patterns drawn on Tang Xizhui’s face with powder and rouge – it was extremely rare to see his plain white face. Even during these three days of intimacy, every time Pei Yanci woke up, he had never once seen the makeup on his face or his hair mussed in the slightest.

This time it was probably because his earlier struggling had rubbed off the design on the person’s face.

Pei Yanci pulled him back to sit beside him, ordered the carriage outside to start moving, kept his grip on the person without letting go, and maliciously rubbed his face hard.

“Oh my, now it’s even more smudged.” He laughed brazenly and wildly. “Like a little painted cat.”

Today around his right eye were painted blue wave patterns intertwined with twin fish, the wave crests and fish scales scattered with silver powder, seeming to chase after the purple-tinged pupils in his eyes.

The pleasures of fish and water.

This phrase suddenly popped into Pei Yanci’s mind, and the movement of his fingers unconsciously slowed.

Their breaths mingling, their faces so close they merged, gazing at those eerie eyes, his heart beat somewhat fast. He blinked and hurriedly moved his gaze away.

Tang Xizhui’s brows and eyes drooped listlessly. “Is it really that ugly?”

“No.” He seemed to sense what this person was thinking and placed a kiss at the corner of his right eye.

“Whether when bare-faced or now, you look good.” After thinking, he added a sentence, “You also look good wearing a mask.”

Leaning in his embrace and hugging the person, he couldn’t help but sigh – this person’s body was just right for hot weather, even better than ice blocks.

Tang Xizhui clearly didn’t believe it. He pulled at the corner of his mouth and turned his face to the other side, taking out from his bosom a small round mirror with a gold back inlaid with green jade and yellow bronze, examining it carefully.

Indeed very ugly – even he himself couldn’t stand it. Disgusting.

His finger pressed on the corner of his right eye, using more and more force. The blunt nail embedded into the flesh – with just the slightest deviation, he could gouge out his own eye.

Ugly and dirty.

He himself was an ugly, filthy, base, thoroughly mocked, extremely disgusting eunuch!

A head popped up from above his shoulder.

“Are you angry?” He thumped his back. “Why don’t you have any expression at all?”

Tang Xizhui turned the mirror slightly, just able to see the full face behind him.

The red marks on his face had already faded. His snow-white face was set with red lips and black eyes, looking at him gently with a smile.

He didn’t know whether Pei Yanci’s expression was genuine or fake, but he hoped that in this moment, this person truly didn’t disdain him.

“No.” He gripped the bronze mirror tightly, his tone stiff and somewhat uncomfortable.

Right now he felt like he was walking naked on the street, every gaze cutting flesh from his body, especially Pei Yanci’s gaze.

Unbearable.

“This lord needs to go back……” His voice was trembling.

He absolutely could not bear appearing before him in such a filthy state.

“Go back for what? I haven’t reached the Imperial City yet.” Pei Yanci reached past his body and seized the mirror from his hand. Seeing that the marks on his face had disappeared, only then did he relax.

For the first time, Tang Xizhui felt that Pingkang ward to the Imperial City would be this far, when they were clearly only separated by one major street.

He tapped his arm with the gold-bronze edge of the mirror and said, “I don’t know how many times I said words of begging beneath you, and I don’t feel it was anything. Yet you lose composure once in front of me, and it’s like it’s taking your life.”

“It can’t always be me losing face, right? You should also lose face once in front of me – then we’ll be even.”

Tang Xizhui knew what he was talking about. From beginning to end, he himself had worn undergarments, from waist to ankles covered strictly and thoroughly, not even a strand of hair out of place. This made it very difficult for the other party not to feel embarrassed.

“I’ve wronged you.” Not only tormented by a eunuch, but also having to suffer this indignity.

He suddenly realized that except for that one earlier test and tease, Pei Yanci had never demanded he remove his undergarments, and had never mentioned that opening below his body. Even when cursing most harshly during intimacy, he never used this as ammunition.

He was respecting his bottom line.

And he himself was thoroughly rotten.

Pei Yanci pulled down the hand at his eye and stuffed the mirror into that hand. Seeing the red mark pressed into the corner of his eye – if there had been even a bit of nail, he could have gouged a bloody hole in himself right there.

Sighing, he turned the person around, rolled up his sleeves and held them in his palm, bit by bit wiping clean the smudged mass of blue at the corner of his eye.

“It’s not such a big deal. You should be pleased – you haven’t lost face.”

“Really? You don’t mind?”

“What would I mind?”

“Dugong Daren, Pei Daren, we’ve arrived.” Through the curtain, the carriage driver called respectfully.

Pei Yanci acknowledged, finished wiping his face clean, and moved toward the carriage exit.

His face left the warmth of those fingertips. When the lifted curtain let a gust of wind surge in, Tang Xizhui came to his senses and, remembering Pei Yanci’s words, grabbed his sleeve.

“Xiao Pei’er,” he said in a low voice, “if I didn’t lose control in bed, didn’t feel embarrassed and lose face in front of you, would you feel it was unfair?”

“It’s something mutually desired, just a transaction.” Pei Yanci smiled gently, completely unconcerned as he said, “That earlier was just a joke. Perhaps it went too far with you – don’t take it to heart. You and I aren’t that familiar to begin with. We probably can’t even be called friends. You have no need to be open and honest with an outsider like me.”

A warm breeze lifted the door curtain, surging in unrestrained and unbridled, dispersing the lingering body scent in the carriage compartment, and chilling Tang Xizhui from head to toe.

They… weren’t familiar…

These were words even more despairing than a smudged face.