Chapter 152: Wind Full (3)

Early the next morning, Qi Ying went to the palace to see the emperor.

He originally intended to see his father before entering the palace, but his father was still unconscious and unable to speak. Qi Ying had no choice; he knew that the new emperor must already be aware of his return to Jiankang, and he could no longer delay the audience with the emperor. Reluctantly, he changed into his court robes and hurried into the palace.

Little Qi had walked this path into the palace countless times in his life, but never had he felt so... alone. He knew he was now on his own, with his family frailly hiding behind him. He had to shoulder this immense burden alone to protect everyone.

He couldn’t afford to falter.

When he alighted from the carriage at the palace gates, Su Ping wasn’t there to greet him personally this time. Instead, an unfamiliar young eunuch escorted him inside. Qi Ying’s expression remained unchanged as he stepped through the palace gates and followed the palace attendants towards the imperial study.

Upon reaching the imperial study, the doors were tightly shut, unlike their usual state.

The late emperor had never made the Qi family wait; he even frequently came out to greet them in person before his health declined. But now, things had changed, and the Qi family would have to leave a waiting figure outside the doors of the imperial study.

Qi Ying waited quietly outside. After a while, Su Ping emerged from within and greeted Qi Ying politely, then said, “It’s unfortunate timing, Lord Qi. The Empress happens to be here, speaking with His Majesty. Perhaps you could come back another day?”

Qi Ying was the chief envoy of this peace negotiation. Even without considering the matters of the Qi family, it was only proper for him to come and report affairs of state to the Emperor. Now, the new emperor avoided seeing him, seemingly just unwilling to hear about the Qi family’s affairs.

Was it simply reluctance? Or...

Qi Ying’s eyes darkened.

His expression did not change, and he politely responded to Su Ping, “Thank you for relaying the message, Superintendent. I will wait here.”

At this moment, laughter from the Emperor and Empress inside the study could be heard by many palace attendants outside. Their faces displayed subtle reactions, but Qi Ying acted as if he hadn’t heard anything and stood calmly in place.

Su Ping stole a glance at Little Qi’s expression, thought for a moment, and said, “Well... then, please do as you wish, my lord.”

He then entered the imperial study and did not emerge again for a long time.

Qi Ying thus quietly waited outside the imperial study.

Even before the Southern Crossing, none of the sovereigns of the Liang dynasty had ever made members of influential families wait like this, let alone someone who was the eldest son of the foremost influential family and held real power as the prime minister. Palace attendants passing by saw Little Qi waiting outside the imperial study for a long time and were all astonished and fearful. However, they dared not say anything, quickly performed their courtesies, and hurried away, though they kept turning their heads to look back and whispered incessantly.

This wait lasted three hours. Qi Ying entered the palace at the Chen hour and didn’t see the door of the imperial study open until the Wei hour. In between, palace attendants even brought lunch for the Emperor and Empress.

Now the door finally opened, and out walked Empress Consort Fu.

The current empress consort and the prime minister were old acquaintances, having been involved in an ambiguous marriage proposal several years ago. Later, it caused quite a scandal involving Princess Liuyu, who created a scene at the flower festival on Qingji Mountain, slapping the then-future Empress hard across the face.

This incident had been the talk of the town at the time, passed down so widely that almost everyone knew about it. Even after many years, it still lingered in the minds of many. For instance, most of the palace attendants serving outside the imperial study at this moment remembered it well.

However, the once-neglected noble daughter was now transformed into the mother of a nation, clad in a phoenix robe and adorned with jewels, exuding an air of elegance and dignity beyond words. She was no longer the same naïve girl she once was, and even a renowned figure like Little Qi had to kneel before her according to protocol. Standing and kneeling clearly indicated their respective ranks.

Qi Ying slowly knelt at the feet of the empress consort to pay his respects and inquire about her well-being. Only after he had completed all the formalities did Her Majesty smile faintly and say, “Prime Minister is too courteous. Please rise.”

Though it was common for ministers to kneel before the empress consort, the palace attendants waiting outside the imperial study felt strangely uneasy. They couldn’t help but feel... that Little Qi shouldn’t have knelt, or at least not before the empress consort. They didn’t know why they felt this way, but seeing Little Qi kneel evoked some discomfort...

But Little Qi had already knelt. After rising, he still humbly bowed his head and stood before the empress consort. The attendants then heard Her Majesty laugh and say, “In truth, I shouldn’t delay the discussion of state affairs between His Majesty and the Prime Minister. However, His Majesty is concerned for the royal child in my womb, which is why we spent more time. It has troubled the Prime Minister to wait so long.”

The Empress was pregnant?

Qi Ying’s eyes sharpened.

This news had been around for some time, but Qi Ying had been in the North and hadn’t heard about it. Last night, the Yao family had been preoccupied telling him about their household changes and hadn’t mentioned it. This wasn’t important. Fu Rong and Xiao Ziheng had been married for years without conceiving, yet now, less than half a year after the new emperor ascended the throne, joyful news came from the harem—perhaps this was the Fu family’s idea. Before the throne was secured, they wouldn’t easily allow their daughter to bear the imperial bloodline, likely out of a desire to avoid calamity.

Very clever.

Qi Ying lowered his eyelids and respectfully replied, “Your Majesty flatters me.”

The Empress Consort gave a light laugh, her demeanor elegant and dignified, but when she looked at the bowed Qi Ying, a flicker of satisfaction seemed to pass across her face.

She admired his humble posture for a moment, then smiled and said, “Then I shall not disturb any further. My lord, please go in.”

Qi Ying bowed again and said, “I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty.”

Fu Rong glanced at him, seemingly giving a faint smile, then, surrounded by her maidservants, slowly departed. At this point, Su Ping approached and said to Qi Ying, “Lord Qi, please follow me.”

As Qi Ying stepped into the imperial study, the new emperor was engrossed in painting at his desk, seemingly in high spirits. Even upon hearing movement at the entrance, he didn’t lift his head until Qi Ying knelt to pay his respects, at which point he seemed to snap out of his thoughts, looked up, and laughed, “Jingchen has arrived? Come, come, take a look at this painting of mine.”

Before the New Year, Qi Ying had met the emperor several times privately, where the new emperor always referred to himself as “I,” displaying a close bond reminiscent of their earlier years as companions. Unexpectedly, after merely two months, the word “I” had changed to “朕” (the imperial “we”), and his demeanor had taken on a sense of superiority, making it clear that the person before them was the sovereign and not an old friend.

Qi Ying was fully aware of these subtle changes, yet his expression remained calm and unruffled, as if he hadn’t noticed anything. Following the emperor’s request, he rose and moved to the side of Xiao Ziheng’s desk to look at the painting.

Xiao Ziheng had been skilled in painting since his youth, especially fond of detailed bird-and-flower paintings, earning him considerable fame among literati. Today, he had painted a mandarin duck scene: under wisteria flowers, the water was as smooth as a mirror, with a pair of mandarin ducks leisurely swimming beneath the blossoms, appearing most carefree and at ease. However, beneath the water swarmed numerous fish; the ducks feeding on the fish needed only to dip their heads underwater to take the lives of the fish in the blink of an eye.

Hidden peril.

At this moment, the new emperor smiled and asked, “What does Jingchen think of this painting?”

Qi Ying withdrew his gaze, concealing the sharpness in his eyes, and replied, “Your Majesty is skilled in painting. This work carries an ancient elegance, with a serene essence and expansive atmosphere.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ziheng laughed heartily and said, “With your words, will this work not become timeless?”

Seemingly in high spirits, he discussed the painting with Qi Ying for a few more moments before setting aside the conversation. He sat down and asked, “Has the conclusion of the peace talks been handled satisfactorily?”

When discussing state affairs, the new emperor’s expression turned serious, and the playful demeanor from moments ago vanished, replaced by an imposing countenance. Despite ascending the throne only a few months prior, he appeared far more regal than the previous emperor who had ruled for decades.

Qi Ying lowered his gaze and reported on the peace negotiations to the new emperor. Since the details of the treaty had been swiftly relayed back to Jiangzuo via fast horses, Xiao Ziheng had been informed early on. Thus, what Qi Ying was reporting now were merely trivial matters concerning the final stages, and he finished explaining everything in a short while.

Hearing this, the emperor nodded and said, “You’ve done an excellent job with this task. By rights, you deserve a substantial reward...”

Halfway through his sentence, however, a shadow passed over those peach blossom eyes, and his tone paused slightly before continuing, “...but the case involving the Right Vice Premier is complex, and even the Left Chancellor hasn’t provided a satisfactory explanation to me and the officials. Rewarding you now might not convince the public.”

Here it begins.

Qi Ying’s eyes sharpened, and he immediately lifted his robe to kneel again, saying, “The success of the peace talks is solely due to the prosperity of our nation and Your Majesty’s awe-inspiring presence. I have merely performed my duty like a loyal subject and dare not ask for rewards.”

Sitting behind the imperial desk, Xiao Ziheng gazed down at Qi Ying kneeling below, his expression complex—a mix of admiration and satisfaction. He heard this renowned second son of the Qi family, known throughout the land, say, “Regarding the matter of my brothers, thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolence towards my clan, I request permission to reinvestigate this case. Whether it results in exoneration or conviction, there will be a fair verdict, and we can provide an explanation to the people.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor raised an eyebrow. This gesture, once indicative of his youthful recklessness and charm, now seemed inscrutable and difficult to read. After pondering for a moment, he countered, “You want me to thoroughly investigate this case?”

Qi Ying bowed his head and said, “Please grant this, Your Majesty.”

The emperor remained silent for a long time, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk, producing faint sounds that seemed to weigh heavily on the hearts of those present, each tap feeling like a thousand catties.

This was the art of governing subjects.

Yet Qi Ying’s expression remained impassive and calm, offering no glimpse into his inner thoughts, denying Xiao Ziheng the pleasure of manipulating emotions. His peach blossom eyes dimmed slightly, then he said, “Very well. This matter is significant and should indeed have a fair resolution. I will order the Chief Justice to conduct a thorough investigation, and once there are results, they will be announced to all officials in court. What does Jingchen think?”

Qi Ying bowed and said, “I am deeply grateful.”

Xiao Ziheng smiled and gestured for him to rise. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked up at Qi Ying with a considerate expression and said, “I naturally trust the Right Vice Premier and your younger brother, but others may harbor doubts. Given your position in the Privy Council , some might suspect you of using your authority to pressure the Chief Justice. To prevent such disputes, perhaps you should temporarily step down from your position as prime minister until the matter is resolved, thereby silencing public gossip. Once the Qi family’s innocence is proven, you can resume your responsibilities. What do you think?”

With this statement, even a child could understand.

He wanted to strip Qi Ying of his power.

To make a powerful minister relinquish his boundless authority to buy his family a chance at survival.

If you willingly give up your power, you will be given the opportunity for a fair trial for your brothers and a dignified conclusion for the Qi family. If you resist, then it will end in mutual destruction. The Qi family holds little military power—how could they withstand the emperor’s open attack?

This wasn’t negotiation; it was coercion.

There was no choice.

Qi Ying’s brows drooped lower, and the darkness in his eyes deepened immensely, but he had no other option. Like the fish in the painting, he was utterly helpless. The new emperor merely heard him say, “I humbly obey Your Majesty’s decree.”

With these words, the smile in Xiao Ziheng’s eyes deepened further. He nodded and, as if bestowing a favor, said, “The Right Vice Premier and your younger brother are both imprisoned in the Chief Justice’s prison. You know the rules there—it usually doesn’t permit visitors. But I regard you as a friend, so I’ll make an exception. You may visit them after you leave the palace.”

This remark carried a hint of dismissal. Qi Ying understood and bowed again to the emperor before taking his leave. Just as he was about to step out the door, he heard the emperor call, “Jingchen.”

Upon hearing his name, Qi Ying stopped and turned back to listen respectfully to the emperor’s instructions.

At this moment, the new emperor picked up his brush again, adding finishing touches to the profoundly symbolic bird-and-flower painting. As he painted, he casually remarked, “The word ‘臣子’ (subject and son) implies being a subject first and a son second. In the future, if you return from afar, it would be more appropriate to see me in the palace before going home.”

The palace attendants waiting inside the imperial study felt a chill run down their spines, a bone-deep shiver at the emperor’s words. They then heard Little Qi say, “This humble servant will remember.”