Frozen water fell onto the landscape and covered it in a pearly blanket. Smoke came from Di Xúe’s mouth as he exhaled onto his red hands. It was a cold winter, it was fortunate that the harvest had been plenty or this winter had been hard. Di Xúe watched servants move across the yard with their hands filled with trays.

The Plum Festival was being prepared. Every plate was decorated with beautiful plum blossoms. To many, this was merely the festival to celebrate the winter but to the Emperor and many nobles, the Plum Blossom Festival was to celebrate their harems. Making sure that each woman is appreciated even if they aren’t the main wife. They would get gifts of appreciation and eat cakes.

Di Xúe had always thought that this festival was a way to please the women who were disregarded in hope of preventing them to make mischief. His own court was buzzing as one of the concubines pretended to be ill. Fu Tián was in her third month and she had started to show. To ensure the child's safety she had been locked away and no one was allowed to see her. They had spread around that she had a contagious disease so that no one would want to visit her.

Because of this, many were on edge. It was a bad omen for one of the concubines to be so ill on the Plum Blossom Festival and more than one thinks that it was heavens way of punishing them. Some say it’s because their Emperor has no heir. Others say it was because the Emperor had taken a male lover ignoring his concubines and others claim that it was because of the absence of an Empress. Di Xúe merely snorted at their foolishness.

Lin Hai nodded to a maid as he walked past. Di Xúe noticed the servant girls sneaking glances at him with blushing cheeks. No one dared to look for long but most could not help themselves letting their eyes linger a bit as he passed.

“Huángdi,” Lin Hai said with a respectful bow. His face was still calm as a lake. Only small ripples ever gave away his true feelings underneath the façade.

“Shaofu Hai, what brings you here?”

“I have some disconcerting news,” Lin Hai said as he lifted his head.

“Oh?”

“I have received a rapport that one of the documents have been misplaced.”

“Misplaced?”

“Yes, we cannot find it.”

“What was it?”

“A message with the Imperial seal to Sichuan asking them to send aid to Donzhou.”

Di Xúe frowned as he listened. Why would such a message be stolen? It only asked the city to send supplies to Dongzhou in order to rebuild. It would not be much of a disturbance even if the supplies never arrived as they also got aid from the capital and Yunzhou.

“The other message to Yunzhou?”

“Has arrived safely,” Lin Hai replied without hesitation. He clearly knew what was on the Emperor’s mind. If both messages had been stolen then it was most likely someone trying to disturb the transport of supplies to Dongzhou. Maybe to undermind Di Xúe’s influence in the city. But only one was stolen. Why?

“Search for the document. Hopefully, it has only been misplaced by some lower Zhang who doesn’t know how to do their job properly,” Di Xúe ordered with a sigh. He should not rush this matter. There is no point in worrying about the lost document until it is for sure a plot. “And craft a new message to Sichuan.”

“Understood, Huángdi,” said Lin Hai and turned on his heels. The lost document still bothered Di Xúe but there was nothing he could do before they found something of substance. He instead went to wait for the night to arrive so the festival could begin.

All his concubines were eager to be spoiled by their husband and he made sure that they all would get proper gifts though he also made sure that the Little Plum’s would be the most lavished. His gifts were going to be filled with exotic fruits, cakes and fabrics from all over Tiandi. He even made sure that the little plum received a painting filled with colorful plums that fitted his name. Di Xúe could not help but to smile as he was sure that the little plum would be furious about it and looked forward to seeing his expression.

He was disappointed though as the night arrived and the little plum ignored his obvious taunt to eat cakes. Di Xúe frowned when he saw that the little plum had slowly started to go back to his original round form. He had heard the servants sigh that it sure was a shame as the little plum had clearly inherited his family's beauty underneath all that flesh.

“My brother thank you for all these gifts,” Yecao Ji said and raised his cup to the Emperor with a bow. Di Xúe forced a smile as he watched the man who he recently realized was far from a simple man.

“Only the best is suited for my beloved, Xiao Mei.”

“And he has returned to be a plum I see,” muttered Yecao Ji and frowned at his younger brother who slurped his plum blossom tea without a care in the world.

“The form I like best,” Di Xúe chuckled while his eyes turned to the rowdy family in the background. Four women talked loudly, all beauties beyond compare while a handsome man looking like a hero from an ancient tale sat in the middle and laughed at their antics. All while an old woman who barely could stand reprimanded them while telling stories about her youth. Neither of the Yecao family had even bothered giving respect to the Emperor.

Di Xúe saw a prominent vein on Yecao Ji’s forehead pulsate as he tried to hold back his rage. It was shortlived though as he soon turned around and with a deafening shout. “Shut the fuck up! Show some fucking decency in the presence of the Huángdi. What are you? A pack of wolves?”

The old woman snorted,” I was alive during that brat’s grandfather’s time. He should show me some respect!”

“Why do we have to show him some manners. Is it not enough that we offered him our brother?” said a red-haired woman.

“Older sister Honghua is right. We lost our poor little plum to the dragon,” sniveled a girl with vibrant clothes in a multitude of colors and patterns.

“Like you care, stupid Yue!” hissed the little plum with his mouth filled with cakes.

“Don’t speak to your older sister like that,” huffed the woman called Yue.

“I have no idea why the Huángdi likes him. I mean, he is the ugliest of us all. If he wanted a man why not take second brother Dadan? Or Eldest brother Ji?” muttered a girl who looked like she was in the little plum’s age.

“That is no good, little Xinnian. I am far to brawny and brother Ji has the Wang Yu,” laughed the only man in the group. He was far larger than his two brothers and Di Xúe could only guess that he was a soldier. From looking at his clothes, Di Xúe would guess that the brother was a Tíe, officer, in the army.

“Still though, he is so round.”

“Probably the reason why the Emperor had him running to Huángdi. A pity our little brother ate as much as he ran,” laughed the last sister who must be the oldest as she was clearly closer to Yecao Ji age than the little plum’s.

“So mean, sister Mi!”

“Can you women behave? I will never find suitable husbands for you if you cannot even pretend to be civil,” said Yecao Ji with a groan and turned to the Emperor with a tired expression. Di Xúe made a mental note to ensure that if any of the ministers insulted him they would get married off with one of the sisters. That would be a suitable punishment for his enemies.

“This Emperor is delighted to have the Yecao family here and I’m sure that my Xiao Mei is as well. I should surely invite you to more festivities so that my dear Xiao Mei won’t be lonely,” said Di Xúe with a grin as he felt the little plum’s glare at him.

“Oh, we of the Yecao family is always busy-“ said Yecao Ji politely only to interrupted by the family.

“No, we isn’t,” muttered the red-haired sister called Yecao Honghua.

“I haven’t done any work since the day I was born,” chippered the youngest sister Yecao Xinnian.

“You are busy avoiding any work,” said Yecao Ji with a bitter expression. He glared at his rowdy sisters who merely chuckled and drank their tea without giving him more of their attention.

Yecao Ji’s eyes turned to his brother Yecao Dadan who snorted,”Why are you looking at me? I am pretty much the only among your siblings that actually is busy so don’t give me that look. I have been requested to go to Dongzhou to guard their supplies for the time being.”

“See? very busy,” muttered Yecao Ji.

“And you?” asked Di Xúe politely.

“I’m occupying the Wang Yu Jían. Why do you think he hasn’t aimed for your throne yet, honored Huángdi. It’s because I keep him busy,” Yecao Ji replied with a smile and all present almost choked on their tea at his insolence.

Di Xúe frowned at the man. “I must ask, since when have you two been so close?”

“Since the fool almost starved to death when he traveled as a hermit and I had to buy him food. He ate himself full for weeks on end taking advantage of my hospitality. When he was finally done I handed him the bill and he has been indebted to me ever since.”

The room fell into silence and Di Xúe stared at the brother of his so-called Zhiji. He had scammed the Wang Yu…

Was his uncle actually a fool?

The little plum slurped his tea breaking the silence before giving off an expression of contentment. “So that’s why he was so frightened when I was in danger. He had mentioned something later to me that he feared that you would have killed him if anything had happened to me.”

“If I had lost my investment because of his negligence,” Yecao Ji chuckled. The sound was deep, rolling off his tongue in waves with an amused expression. His eyes though were sharp and send shivers through those who saw them. “Then he would surely not have the face to show himself to me again.”

“I’m so glad that my brother cares so much about me,” muttered the little plum and rolled his eyes.

“Well, I don’t have to worry anymore because after that last incident the most gracious Huángdi is sure to keep you close,” said Yecao Ji softly and Di Xúe tried to keep a straight face as he noticed everyone’s eyes peering at him. It was almost like a noose closed in on his neck as he gave them all a reassuring smile.

“My Xiao Mei is not going to be harmed ever again.”

This surely hindered his plans to use the little plum as a bait. His enemy would be suspicious if the little plum suddenly was thrown to the wolves after Di Xúe had made a public statement claiming that he would not let him out of his sight.

“That is good to hear, most wise Huángdi. It put’s this brother's heart to rest.”

This is becoming a bother.