Chapter 2

The Emperor sat there, half of his face obscured beneath the curtain, revealing only a hint of his jawline. Sharp and clean-cut, it resembled the rugged silhouette of Mount Wansui.

His thin lips curled slightly in a natural, faint arc, making it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or displeased. His right hand—the very hand that had not long ago wielded a blade to decapitate the Tatar Khan—was slender and distinct of joint. At this moment, it casually held a purple-clay teacup, resting loosely over his long knee.

Freshly poured Mansong tribute tea steamed within the cup, sending wisps into the air. The Emperor's long index finger traced the rim of the cup with leisurely elegance.

Perhaps because he had only recently returned from his campaign in the northern grasslands of Mobei, the supreme ruler still carried the lingering aura of slaughter. Simply sitting there in such a casual manner was enough to make others weak at the knees, compelling them to grovel at his feet.

"Y-Your Majesty," Li Mingfu stammered, his tongue tying in knots as cold sweat poured down his face. "Someone has broken the rules, and your servant was about to apprehend them. I did not expect Your Majesty to be here and have disturbed the imperial presence. Your servant deserves ten thousand deaths!"

He knocked his head against the ground. Within moments, his forehead was smeared with blood, yet he dared not raise a hand to wipe it away. His heart hammered wildly in his chest.

The Emperor's sudden appearance here was completely unexpected. After all, the sovereign had just returned to the capital and should have been busy reorganizing the court and handling state affairs within the Forbidden City. At least, before Lady Scribe Wang notified him to search for the eldest Miss Shen, he had heard no news of the imperial presence arriving at the West Park.

How had he appeared on a small boat on Taiye Lake in the blink of an eye?

Having failed to catch the target and instead disturbing the Emperor, Li Mingfu felt as though he could already see the executioner beckoning to him.

After a long, terrifying silence, he finally heard the Emperor utter a faint, indifferent "Mm."

It felt like a grand amnesty!

The Emperor appeared gentle, but that did not mean he actually possessed a mild temperament. A man who, in his youth, had beaten a concubine-born brother half to death simply for kicking his dog could hardly be considered good-tempered. It was only since ascending the throne that he had increasingly cultivated his mind and practiced self-restraint, making his temper less obvious in recent years.

Realizing his life was spared, Li Mingfu's body sagged, nearly collapsing. He hurriedly placed his hands beneath his forehead, kowtowed a few more times, and then withdrew with his men.

Only when they were far away did he regain his senses.

One of his subordinates murmured in lingering fear, "I thought it was the Young Master..."

The Emperor and Prince Ning were father and son, so they naturally bore a strong resemblance. However, Prince Ning was young after all; from his build to his features, he carried the tenderness of youth, quite unlike the Emperor's mature, steady, and seasoned demeanor.

Yet, with the Emperor sitting in the dark night like that, his figure obscured and indistinct, one could indeed mistake him at first glance.

Seeing Li Mingfu clutching his forehead in silent frustration, the young eunuch asked, "Isn't His Majesty at home? Why did he come to the West Park?"

Those in the inner palace liked to refer to the Forbidden City as "home" and other places as "outside."

Li Mingfu glared fiercely at the young eunuch. "Shut your mouth! Are His Majesty's movements something you and I can gossip about? How many heads do you have to lose?"

The young eunuch hastily begged for forgiveness. "Your servant was only worried that you wouldn't be able to report back, Godfather. After all, Lady Scribe Yao is favored by the Young Master, and Lady Scribe Wang has always been close to her."

In the palace, the Emperor was addressed as "His Majesty," while the Crown Prince was called the "Young Master." Prince Ning was the Emperor's only son. Although he had not yet been formally invested as the Crown Prince, he had always been highly regarded by the Emperor. During the year the Emperor was away on his military campaign, the sixteen-year-old Prince Ning had acted as regent in the capital. Although major affairs still required the grand secretaries to consult the Emperor before a final decision could be made, it was clear how much the Emperor valued him.

The title of Crown Prince was merely a matter of time.

Thus, the palace servants had begun calling him "Young Master" ahead of time.

The young eunuch's words were meant to remind Li Mingfu that today's matter was likely Prince Ning's doing.

How could Li Mingfu not know this? If not for that, he would never have had the audacity to lay a hand on the eldest Miss Shen.

Though she had no foundation in the palace, she had been brought in by the Empress Dowager's order. Even if it was not explicitly stated, everyone knew she was the Empress Dowager's choice for the future Princess of Ning.

Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager's plans had come to naught.

It was a case of unrequited affection; Prince Ning held the eldest Miss Shen in utter disdain.

At their first meeting, he had pulled a long face, showing nothing but displeasure. Only for the Empress Dowager's sake did he reluctantly meet her once across a screen, dismissing her before even a couple of sentences could be exchanged.

The reason was simple: Prince Ning already had someone in his heart and was determined to make her his princess. Unfortunately, that girl came from a disgraced family. Twenty years ago, her grandfather's generation had followed Emperor Jingwen and hatched numerous schemes to obstruct the late Emperor, nearly causing the late Emperor to lose his life during the northern expedition. It was only because the current Emperor, who was then the Heir Apparent of Prince Yan, had protected him several times that he survived unscathed.

The daughter of such a criminal official was clearly unqualified to be the Princess of Ning; even becoming a concubine would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Yet, Prince Ning had set his heart on her.

Consequently, he naturally had no kind feelings toward the eldest Miss Shen, who had come to usurp his beloved's position, and sought by any means to drive her out of the palace.

Li Mingfu had grievances he could not voice. When the gods clash, it is the commoners who suffer. He would have been better off finding an excuse to drink and listen to music in the corridors today. Instead, for the sake of a promotion to attendant in the Directorate of Ceremonial, he had taken this risk and nearly had his soul frightened out of him.

If he hadn't been clever enough to know that His Majesty valued rules above all and fabricated a plausible excuse, who knew what would have happened to him today?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but grit his teeth in secret resentment toward Lady Scribe Wang.

Blind fool, where did she see the eldest Miss Shen boarding this boat? She had caused him such embarrassment.

"...Godfather, the person... do we still look for her?" the young eunuch whispered.

"Look for your grandmother!"

Li Mingfu spat in disgust and cursed under his breath, "Did you not see who was here? If we ruin His Majesty's mood, how many heads do we have to lose?!"

"As long as we can report back, what does it matter who we arrest?" Dizzy and clutching his head, Li Mingfu stumbled away, supported by his subordinates.

This meant they would find a scapegoat.

Watching his retreating figure, the young eunuch felt a chill run down his spine. After a moment of daze, he hurriedly caught up.

-

A thin mist rolled over Taiye Lake, clinging persistently to anyone nearby. It was only the fifth month, and the night remained cool, the damp mist seeping through clothing with a chilly bite.

Wang Zhi retrieved a heavy cloak from the cabin and draped it over the Emperor's shoulders. As the Director-in-Chief of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he had always attended to the Emperor's side and had only recently returned with him from the north. "Master, it is late."

Somewhat bored, the Emperor reeled in his fishing rod. He shook the creel, and seeing a few lively grass carp inside, he said casually, "I bestow them upon you."

This was a tremendous grace. Wang Zhi prostrated himself in gratitude.

The Emperor stepped off the small boat, which swayed gently on the water, making soft lapping sounds. Under the moonlight, his tall, upright stature cast a long, dark shadow on the ground.

"Has the banquet not dispersed yet?"

Wang Zhi listened closely and said, "It seems not. Would Master like to pay respects to the Empress Dowager?"

Today was the Dragon Boat Festival. The Empress Dowager, in high spirits, had ordered a banquet on Qionghua Island. The Emperor had been occupied with state affairs in the outer court and thus had not attended.

"No need." The Emperor walked forward with light steps. "If I go, the Empress Dowager will surely insist on speaking with me. It is better to let her rest early."

Wang Zhi bowed in assent.

Suddenly, the Emperor stopped, his brow furrowing slightly. Wang Zhi asked, "Master, do you have any commands?"

The Emperor asked, "Who permitted them to perform this opera?"

Wang Zhi was startled. Listening closely, he realized the Emperor was referring to the Kunqu opera drifting over from Qionghua Island—specifically, an excerpt from the classic play *Rain on the Wutong Trees*. After a moment's consideration, he said, "Perhaps the Empress Dowager enjoys it."

"Tell them to change it tomorrow."

Wang Zhi understood. *Rain on the Wutong Trees* told the story of Emperor Ming of Tang and Consort Yang. Emperor Ming had ruled diligently in his youth, only to grow muddled and incompetent in his old age, even going so far as to take his own daughter-in-law, Yang Yuhuan, as his consort—an act widely despised. Such a ruler, who disrupted the state and disregarded human relations, had always been looked down upon. The Emperor, striving to be a wise ruler, naturally disliked such a sovereign.

Perhaps because the Emperor had been away from the palace for so long, the newly arrived servants did not know this and had put it on stage.

Wang Zhi summoned an attendant and instructed him to notify the Office of Music and Drums that this play was forbidden in the future. After giving the orders, he resumed escorting the Emperor forward.

The Emperor's mood improved slightly, and he inquired, "Did you notice anything?"

Holding the colorful glazed palace lantern, Wang Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps due to the festival, the palace servants are excited and have behaved somewhat improperly."

"Only improperly?" The Emperor's voice was quiet, yet it carried a chill like the night wind.

Wang Zhi fell silent. After a moment, he said, "I heard that Consort Shu has been feeling unwell lately. It is understandable that there might be some oversights."

Since the Empress had passed away, Consort Shu had managed the inner palace. Now that His Majesty had just returned, the servants were acting recklessly and playing tricks right before him, which naturally drew his displeasure.

However, Consort Shu was a kind-hearted woman, renowned as a virtuous consort. Wang Zhi could not help but speak up for her.

"Only an oversight?" the Emperor asked.

Wang Zhi lowered his head.

"Tell Consort Shu that if she continues to indulge Prince Ning, I will deal with her as well."

Wang Zhi hastily complied. The Emperor was indeed sharp-eyed; even after a long absence from the palace, he could see through the schemes at a glance.

Li Mingfu had immediately called out for the "girl," indicating he had targeted her specifically. Judging by her attire, she had some status. Without tacit approval from above, a mere attendant like Li Mingfu would never have dared to make such an arrest.

Consort Shu was proud and would not deign to trouble subordinates; the one behind this was likely Prince Ning.

Yet, it remained unknown how the girl had offended him.

But that was not for Wang Zhi to worry about. His only duty was to serve the Emperor well and keep him pleased; other matters had nothing to do with him.

Wang Zhi said, "Master, you have been busy all day. Please rest early."

Seeing that the Emperor did not object, Wang Zhi asked which consort he wished to visit so that he could arrange for preparations.

The Emperor's harem was small. Aside from the deceased Empress and Concubine Qing, there were only a handful of consorts. Except for Consort Shu, the others enjoyed similar levels of favor, with none particularly capturing the Emperor's heart.

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

Wang Zhi felt concerned for the Emperor. During his year away, he had not brought any consorts, nor even a maidservant to attend to him. Sleeping alone for so long, how could his body bear it?

It would be one thing if he were elderly, but the Emperor was only in his thirties—in the prime of his life. How could it be good for him to keep all that youthful vigor bottled up?

Seeing the Emperor pinch a trace of powder from his robe, Wang Zhi raised the lantern to look. Under the candlelight, the powder glowed with a soft, ginger-yellow hue. A sudden realization struck Wang Zhi.

Could His Majesty be interested in that young girl from earlier?

He immediately said, "Your servant will send someone to find the girl at once to attend to Your Majesty."

Although the moonlight was dim tonight, he had caught a glimpse of the pomegranate flower pattern embroidered on her collar when she stepped off the boat.

Currently, during the Dragon Boat Festival, everyone in the palace from the consorts down to the female officials and maids wore patches depicting the Five Poisons and Mugwort Tigers, varying only in material and style.

Among the common folk, the festival was also known as the Daughters' Festival, when betrothed but unmarried daughters wore clothes embroidered with pomegranate flowers. In the palace, only the newly selected maidens who had not yet met the Emperor and held no rank wore such designs.

While accompanying the Emperor in the grasslands, he had heard that the Empress Dowager, concerned for the imperial lineage, had ordered a batch of candidates to be selected for the palace, waiting for the Emperor's return to bestow ranks and carry on the family line. After all, having only Prince Ning as the sole child in the imperial family for all these years was indeed improper.

Judging by the clothes the girl wore, the embroidered pattern, her slightly accented, awkward capital dialect, and her residence in the Shouming Palace, she was undoubtedly one of the newly entered candidates.

The girl had spilled cosmetic powder all over the Emperor, yet he had not been angered or ordered her punishment.

Under such circumstances, even if he was not deeply enamored, he must have felt some favor toward her.

Just as Wang Zhi was about to send someone, the Emperor spoke quietly, "Wang Zhi, I see you are growing increasingly talkative."

Wang Zhi trembled and hastily begged for forgiveness.

Although he had reprimanded Wang Zhi's presumption, the Emperor could not help but recall the timid voice from the cabin earlier. Like a kitten, it sounded somewhat teasing in the dark night. She had looked up at him with an unspeakable pity and asked:

"Who are you?"

The cabin had been very dark, yet a sliver of light filtering through the gap in the curtain shone upon the girl's snow-white neck, so slender and delicate that it seemed as though it would snap at a touch.

Whether she was truly framed or had known he was on the boat and staged the encounter on purpose, he did not care. Without a few schemes in one's heart, it was hard to survive in the palace.

But if it were indeed the latter, it would ultimately be rather tedious.

He already had enough of such people around him.

"Master?"

The Emperor flicked the powder from his fingertips and said, "I shall go visit Consort Shu."

Wang Zhi bowed in assent. Consort Shu was unwell and recovering in the West Park. As a "considerate" husband, it was only reasonable for His Majesty to visit her.

Yet, Wang Zhi sighed inwardly.

A stroke of luck had finally fallen from the heavens onto that girl's head, yet she could not enjoy it immediately. What a pity.

Nevertheless, if His Majesty truly favored her, she would naturally receive her share of honor once the Directorate of Ceremonial completed the selection process and presented her for an audience.

There was no rush.