The lotus is just emerging, the clear spring flows over rocks. In early summer of May, light silk gauze fills the streets. Charming laughter rises over courtyard walls, drizzling down like the warbling of orioles.  

A slender youth lazily leans on a stone chair in the manor's garden, wearing a white robe with dark silver front, lightly tapping a fan against his palm. In front of him at the foot of the stone steps stand a row of women, all in the prime of their youth. They should have been as pitiful as delicate flowers, but unfortunately each one is trembling with fear, afraid that any carelessness will bring them disaster.

Zhang Kuo sighed and said softly, "Young Master Mingde, all twenty beauties that Yangzhou presented to the Taishang Emperor are here. His Majesty said as soon as they reach the capital, send them directly to the Jiangnan Young Master's manor without even entering the palace gates."

Mingde was surprised, "The beauties given to Li Ji, why are they being sent to my house?"

Zhang Kuo just chuckled and laughed. Mingde swept his gaze over the faces of the row of women and asked, "Is Li Ji becoming a monk?"

Zhang Kuo quickly replied, "That's right, with you here, how could it be his turn..."

Mingde laughed, cutting him off. "Alright, this official is fortunate to be bestowed twenty beauties and has decided to respectfully present them to the current Son of Heaven. You can take them all back to the capital."

Upon hearing this, the women all let out a sigh of relief.

When they had first been sent to the capital, the senior palace matrons had secretly instructed them, saying the Taishang Emperor was going to send them all to serve as maids in the Jiangnan Mingde manor. That Young Master Mingde, he was ruthless. After he entered the palace, the rear palace hadn't produced a single prince. When a favored consort finally became pregnant, she ended up being strangled to death for no reason...

You know that Empress who was promoted from Consort Ding? She originally was not favored. Back then when Young Master Mingde fell gravely ill, she took care of him time and again. The Emperor, remembering her past grace, only then promoted her to Empress... You little girls better be careful! That young master looks like a celestial being but his methods are as cruel as the King of Hell!

Those matrons, not saying anything good and only speaking ill, scared these twenty delicate beauties out of their wits. On the way back they cried day and night as if arriving in Yangzhou would be the moment they entered the underworld. When they saw Mingde, they didn't even dare take a deep breath. Each one shivered and shook, appearing even more pitiful.

Now hearing that not only would he not kill them or make them maids, but was instead bestowing them back to the Emperor in the palace, it was an unexpected delight that left them feeling light as a feather, not knowing where they were.

Zhang Kuo said with difficulty, "The young master's kind intentions will surely be appreciated by His Majesty. But young master is unaware, these days in the rear palace, Consort Zui is favored. His Majesty is busy attending to her and doesn't dare... to suddenly take in twenty at once..."

Mingde glanced at him indifferently. "No matter. Send up a note saying: 'Your younger brother respectfully presents these to the Emperor to freely enjoy without need to worry about state affairs.' Then naturally His Majesty won't dare touch them."

This young emperor had three fears: First, he feared his own wife, because she was formidable and capable. Their son was biased and especially clingy to his mother. Second, he feared State Preceptor Zhuo, because when debating state affairs, the State Preceptor would cite the classics with righteous words, often refuting the entire court until their old faces looked like frost-bitten eggplants. Third, he feared his younger brother Shangguan Mingde far away in Jiangnan, because Mingde was truly too terrifying.

Although he could no longer control him now, the psychological shadows from their childhood remained, making it very embarrassing for him as the elder brother.

Zhang Kuo silently mourned for the young Son of Heaven for three minutes before bowing. "Your servant receives the decree."

The twenty beauties were whisked off to the capital, then whisked to Yangzhou. Before they could even drink a cup of hot tea, they were collectively put in a carriage and whisked back to the Chang'an Palace.

As a result, that day Consort Zui flew into a rage and little prince Mingxiu bawled. Mother and son both felt the emperor had cheated on them. The emperor was left in disgrace, kicked out to sleep in the study in the middle of the night.

Returning to the study, the twenty beauties all crowded around him. Everywhere he looked were fragrant, soft jade beauties with jeweled hairpins. But before he could embrace any of them, Zhang Kuo silently handed over a note. On it were twelve large characters, the ink seeping through, distinct in black and white:

- Beauties in your arms, misrule will ruin the country. Respectfully presented by your younger brother.

The force penetrated the paper, each word fierce. The young Son of Heaven seemed to see through the paper his younger brother's peerlessly stunning and awe-inspiring face.

The pitiful emperor - the consort in the bedchamber, the beauties in the study. He huddled in the cold palace, miserably enduring until daybreak.

As a result, the consort thought the emperor spent the night with the beauties while the beauties thought he spent the night with the consort. The next day, they all came to make a scene. The young prince Mingxiu even took advantage of the chaos to wipe his snot on the dragon robes several times.

The emperor thought this life was unbearable. He quickly took out a set of commoner's clothing he had stashed away, disguised himself and left the palace with a few guards to head to Jiangnan.

What was he going to do in Jiangnan?

Seek refuge with his younger brother who could eat, drink and sleep in peace.

_

In the morning, when Mingde opened the door and looked up to see his brother leaning against the wall, looking utterly aggrieved like a pitiful man who had suffered domestic abuse, Mingde laughed. Covering his mouth with his sleeve, he lightly coughed a few times and asked in a soft, slow voice, "With Your Majesty not defending the capital, what matter brings you thousands of miles south?"

The young emperor hesitated. "Mingde, I..."

Mingde solemnly said, "The emperor and officials are distinct. Your Majesty, please maintain your distance."

The Son of Heaven then realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself. "We..."

Mingde swiftly cut him off. "Has someone recently started a rebellion in Yangzhou?"

The Son of Heaven was stunned. "...No."

"Are there any corrupt officials sealing off cities and land?"

"...No."

"Are there any floods, disasters or plagues rampant?"

"...No."

"Are there any urgent or important matters?"

"...No..."

Mingde smiled, as if spring flowers were blooming in full splendor. Then his face turned stern, with a chilling light shining on people. "Then Your Majesty, wearing the white dragon robe, went down to Jiangnan, was it just to tour the mountains and waters, neglecting the government and ruining the country?"

The poor emperor was frozen in place. After a long while, he said with infinite grievance, "...I just missed my younger brother, couldn't help myself, and felt like days were like years..."

Unfortunately, the tactic of playing the victim was ineffective. Mingde's expression changed several times, from anger to rage, from green to white. Then it miraculously turned into a miserable look.

He flicked his sleeve, as if he was really sobbing, gently dabbing the corners of his eyes, looking fragile and pitiful. "...Your Majesty actually neglected the court affairs because of your unworthy younger brother. I feel ashamed before the ancestors and the world... I regret not being able to share Your Majesty's burdens. I never expected that my existence has become a burden to the country. How can I face the people! Your Majesty! I am willing to die to apologize to the world! I beg Your Majesty to execute me with a rod! Place my remains in the Imperial Study! I wish our dynasty will have eternal blessings for thousands of years..."

The poor emperor was petrified on the spot. A bleak cold wind blew by, rolling up two or three withered leaves.

"...Ming... Mingde... you... what do you want to put your remains in the Imperial Study for..."

Mingde gave him a slight look. "To supervise you day after day to serve the country and the people with utmost loyalty."

The emperor only felt his fragile little heart shatter with a crunch.

Mingde respectfully made way for a path leading to the main gate. "Your Majesty, please."

The young Son of Heaven was abandoned by his wife, son and younger brother at the same time. He wiped away tears miserably and turned to return to the capital. Just then, Mingde glanced at the guards he brought. With just one look, he suddenly stopped and said lightly, "Wait."

The emperor immediately turned around, like a little dog full of expectation. In an instant, Mingde saw the imaginary tail wagging behind him.

Mingde slowly turned and walked inside the main gate. "...Since you came from afar, it's not good to leave right away. Stay for a few days..."

The emperor didn't have to go back to face his wife, son and concubines anymore. He immediately followed happily, wagging his tail.

As a result, the dignified emperor in white dragon robe was only allocated a small side room to stay, making him very depressed. Late at night, he hugged a pillow and went to knock on Mingde's door, looking pitiful, indicating that he wanted to watch the snow, stars and moon together with his younger brother, discussing everything from poetry and songs to life philosophy.

But Mingde was unwilling to watch the snow, stars, moon or discuss poetry and life philosophy with his older brother. He directly threw out a pillow and said coldly, "If you don't go to sleep, I'll send you back to the capital!"

His brother sniffled sadly and obediently went back to sleep.

In the bedroom, red candles were burning high. On the table were a few plates of snacks, a pot of wine, and two porcelain cups. Mingde drank alone until late at night.

He only heard the wind blowing urgently outside, making the tree branches rustle. He got up to close the window, but didn't turn back. He just stood by the window for a long time and said quietly, "Do I still need to invite you to come out?"

Li Ji slowly stepped out from the dark, wearing only plain clothes, looking casual and at ease, yet his aura was not diminished, just like the majestic Son of Heaven commanding the army back then. He walked to the table and sat down, asking with a smile, "How did you recognize me?"

"It's just a human skin mask."

"I followed all the way, and no one discovered anything amiss. The palace's secretly made human skin masks, only you can treat them as child's play."

Mingde didn't say anything. He walked to the table, poured a cup of wine, and was about to bring it to his lips when a hand grabbed him. Li Ji grabbed his five slender fingers in his palm, then leaned over and drained the cup of wine from where Mingde's lips had just touched.

Mingde habitually wanted to mock him a few words, but Li Ji interrupted, "Mingde, are you able to see through all human skin masks, or do you only..."

...only recognize me?

Mingde's face changed. Before he could deny it, Li Ji laughed and hugged him tightly in his arms.