PM - 59

Her bite was deliberate—though his skin wasn’t broken, he still sucked in a sharp breath.

He frowned at her, and she bared her teeth in defiance, looking utterly ferocious. He rubbed the spot she had bitten. “Are you part dog?”

She snorted. “I’m a rabbit, but even rabbits will bite when cornered! I saw everything—the hugging and clinging at Chunshengye. Do you still have me in your heart? I’ve been criticized by the Grand Tutor for being involved with you, and yet here you are, gallivanting around chasing flowers.”

He found it amusing. “Involved with me? It seems these ministers have too much time on their hands to gossip. But come to think of it, Your Majesty is indeed involved with me—they’re not wrong.”

She rolled her eyes. “Such things can be done but not spoken of—it embarrasses me.” She gestured. “If not for the fast approaching abstinence period before the ritual, I’d devour you tonight.”

The celestial worship was just two days away. Regardless of how debauched one usually was, reverence toward heaven and earth demanded solemnity. For the next two days, she would reside in Chengtian Hall, burning incense and chanting scriptures. Meat and sexual desires were forbidden. Even if she intended to force herself upon him, fear of divine retribution kept her from acting rashly.

The Chancellor’s response was brazen: “Your subject shares the same sentiment.”

Fu Wei knew that since their last entanglement in the greenhouse, his passions had been stirred. After over twenty years without a woman, the Chancellor was pitiable. She often clamored about wanting an heir, but given the current precarious transfer of power, pregnancy was out of the question. However, upon reflection, no children didn’t mean they couldn’t share a bed. There was a remedy called “conception avoidance soup.” An occasional dose shouldn’t cause harm.

As an emperor, there was no room for such coy and unbecoming behavior. Hands on her hips, she challenged: “Three days from now, deep within Wend Hall, will the Chancellor be willing to face me?”

He chuckled, raising his jade-like hands. “Your humble servant is willing, only hoping Your Majesty won’t flee at the last moment and leave me disappointed.”

Fu Wei blushed. Setting rules for such matters truly showed how unconventional their relationship was. Yet she worried—the reappearance of Yuan Huan posed a significant threat. Why hadn’t she surfaced when the Chancellor held absolute power, choosing instead this precise moment?

“I have something to remind you.” She motioned for him to sit on the low couch, pouring tea and handing it to him. “Princess Chaisang was the daughter of the King of Changsha. The entire Changsha royal family perished by your hand. If this Yuan Huan isn’t an imposter, you should be careful—she might be here to claim your life.”

Cradling the teacup, wisps of steam rose, framing his clear and cold features.

“I remember well, but after observing her these past two days, I haven’t noticed anything amiss.”

“Nothing?” Her temper flared. “Is Father-Chancellor jesting with me? The fall of Changsha meant their fiefs and slaves were long gone. How could she survive until now? Who has been supporting her? And most infuriating—how dare she flaunt the pomp of a princess? As the descendant of a criminal, what right does she have?”

Seeing her bristling with jealousy, the Chancellor felt compelled to explain: “Because the Dowager Empress of Changsha was Emperor Wen’s adoptive mother, in gratitude for her nurturing, Emperor Wen specially bestowed the title of princess upon her, granting her the fief of Chaisang. Thus, even though the Changsha royal family was exterminated, the princess merely suffered some collateral consequences—her title wasn’t revoked, and she was released after only two days in prison. However, after news of her death reached the court, the fief was indeed reclaimed. I once asked her how she survived these years; she said old friends of her father supported her, and life wasn’t difficult.”

“Who is this old friend?” Her eyes gleamed. “This excuse of ‘old friends’ is overused. I refuse to believe there’s so much charity in this world.”

“She wouldn’t say, and I couldn’t force her.”

“Wouldn’t say? Then hand her over to me—I’ll make her talk.” Perhaps her fierce expression alarmed him, so she moderated herself slightly and asked, “What’s her purpose in coming? To make you honor your promise?”

He immediately looked uncomfortable. Who could blame him for being reckless back then and casually agreeing to her? Now that she had come knocking, it was hard to turn her away.

Seeing his predicament, Fu Wei leaned forward and tightly gripped him. “No, you’re mine. If she dares to take you, I’ll make her die again.”

Holding the power of life and death, even her jealousy was domineering. The Chancellor hastened to assure her, “Alright, alright, I’m yours. Please don’t harm her for now. Allow your subject to investigate further...”

She exclaimed, “Your words are suggestive! Investigate further? What are you investigating?”

He had experienced her wild imagination before—no real battlefield experience, yet she could command armies on paper. With a look of resignation, he replied, “Investigate who’s behind her. What do you think?”

“What if there’s no one?” She was on the verge of tears. “Does that mean you’ll marry her if there’s no one?”

The Chancellor sighed deeply. “Your subject doesn’t dare to marry anyone else. One day, you’ll send her to the silkworm chamber, and I’ll end up in the punishment hall. Where would we find such fearless love to sustain us? I value my life.”

Valuing his life was good enough. Finally, she found some solace in her imperial status. They sat facing each other across the dining table, and she sighed deeply with her hands cupping her face. “I don’t like other women being around you.”

The Chancellor sipped his tea, lowering his gaze. “Yet Your Majesty has many men around you—the childhood attendant Lingjun, and the empress, married through proper rites.”

His tone was indifferent, but Fu Wei detected a hint of concealed disappointment. Comparatively speaking, he did seem quite disadvantaged. A Wei woman finally came along, but due to her jealousy, she had to be sent away. Now another princess appeared, somewhat affirming his worth as a man, but she forbade it. If he dared to entertain any improper thoughts, she would kill.

Was it so easy to love an emperor? Once entangled, one could never hope for freedom. He had already prepared himself, but she remained oblivious, indulging in her jealousy without restraint.

“Lingjun was assigned to you—it’s not my fault. Azhao is my friend. You have Lian Zheng, and I have Azhao—it’s fair.” She desperately justified herself, hoping he wouldn’t overthink things. She was steadfast in her feelings.

He nodded slowly, pausing briefly before saying, “Recently, there have indeed been rumors about us in the court. We need to be more cautious moving forward. I’ve had people investigate, but the source remains elusive. Given the current unrest, there’s no shortage of those fueling the flames. I’m considering whether Yuan Huan’s appearance might not be entirely negative—it could help dispel rumors about Your Majesty.”

He made sense. Compared to the damaging rumors threatening her reputation, a dubious rival wasn’t significant.

“I won’t harm her, but you mustn’t meet her alone anymore.” Her voice was bitter. “You’re stubborn but soft-hearted—I’ve figured you out. Once someone leans into your embrace, you half-heartedly accept.”

She exasperated him. “I pushed her away—didn’t you see? Also, from today onwards, Your Majesty mustn’t recklessly leave the palace. Eyes inside and outside the imperial city are watching us closely. If we don’t want to lose the bigger picture over trivial matters, we must act cautiously.”

Head bowed, she felt infinitely desolate. “Must we keep fighting for others to find it normal?”

He agreed. “Keep fighting until death.”

But could he hold onto the imperial seals for life? She didn’t respond, suddenly remembering the Empress Dowager’s request. Muttering, “The Empress Dowager wants to request an official position. The great-grandson of Lord Mao wishes to join the Feathered Forest as a Lieutenant General. What does Father-Chancellor think?”

He set down the teacup in his hand without even raising his eyes. “The Commander of the Imperial Guard leads the Feathered Forest Army. Does Her Majesty the Empress Dowager know what kind of position that is? Half of the palace guards are under his command. Appointing an unknown person to such a post would be too great a favor.”

Fu Wei looked at him with difficulty. “I think so too, but it’s hard to refuse since Her Majesty has already spoken.”

He shrugged as if he had grown numb to troubles. “Just push everything onto me. After all, we aren’t enemies, but we’ve never been close either. What’s the difference between offering such an important post and casually bestowing a noble title? Allowing power to accumulate in the hands of relatives by marriage has always been taboo. If this matter were discussed openly in court, the result would be the same.”

This man was utterly ruthless. Even if she secretly wanted to promote her own relatives, it would be difficult to achieve with him standing in the way. She relented, saying, “Do as you see fit.”

He smiled. “Having a bad reputation sometimes spares me a lot of trouble.” As he spoke, he rose from his seat, bowed slightly, and said, “I should leave the palace now. If I stay any longer, rumors might spread that even during the Emperor’s fasting period, His Majesty cannot find peace.”

She stood up to see him off, reluctant to let him go. After taking a few steps, she tugged at his belt. “Ruchun...” she called out, her voice trailing off in a long, lingering tone.

He turned around abruptly and kissed her fiercely. Moving his lips to her ear, he gently nibbled her earlobe, his voice dripping with tenderness. “In three days, don’t forget.”

Her heart trembled, and her eyes shone brightly. “I know.”

He chuckled softly. For someone usually so severe, he was surprisingly considerate at this moment.

He left riding the night breeze, accompanied by over a dozen palace guards and eunuchs holding lanterns, still exuding grandeur. She stood under the corridor, feeling empty inside, as if once he left the palace, he would be out of her control. This parting felt more reluctant than ever before.

Shangguan Zhao approached after he had gone. “Is everything settled?” he asked quietly.

She nodded. “More or less.”

He detected uncertainty in her words. “If Your Majesty is displeased, I will immediately leave the palace and handle the matter.”

After hearing this, Fu Wei smiled. “I know your loyalty. Having a friend like you makes my life worthwhile.” She patted his shoulder lightly. “The previous imperial marriage decree was a farce. I know you’re lonely too. Find a suitable girl and settle down.”

But he laughed and declined gracefully. “I don’t have such intentions for now. Perhaps later.”

She didn’t press him, knowing that Langlang had passed away not long ago and that he probably hadn’t fully recovered from the loss. She folded her sleeves and gazed toward the palace gate, her mouth drooping. “He doesn’t want me to leave the palace to see him anymore. He’s afraid someone might spy on us, making those rumors even worse.” She mocked herself. “The Grand Tutor accuses me of being fond of handsome men. It sounds strange, but there’s no real fault...”

The official position requested by the Empress Dowager was something she couldn’t grant. When she reported back, Empress Dowager Liang was furious. “Prime Minister Yan is excessively arrogant. Lately, I’ve heard rumors about him and Your Majesty. I wanted to ask you—has he shown disrespect toward you? I know you’re in a weaker position now and may feel pressured by him. Such rumors don’t harm his reputation, but they reflect poorly on Your Majesty. Where did these rumors originate? I suspect he might have deliberately spread them to bind you closer. Yesterday, my Chamberlain told me that the Princess of Changsha, who supposedly died five or six years ago, has come back to life and come to the capital to find him. Is it true they had a marriage agreement?”

Fu Wei avoided addressing the issue directly. Nodding, she replied, “I’ve sent people to investigate. There is indeed such a princess, but I haven’t heard anything about her having a marriage agreement with the Prime Minister. Where did Mother hear this information?”

A peculiar expression flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. “How many secrets within the royal family can truly remain hidden? If someone had actually passed away, no one would investigate further. But coming back to life is an incredible event, naturally drawing much curiosity.”

Fu Wei sat upright, her face cold, her heart chilled. The Empress Dowager’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind. If secrets within the royal family couldn’t be concealed, then perhaps her painstaking efforts would eventually be exposed.

Leaning against a small table, the Empress Dowager continued to criticize the Prime Minister. “Tomorrow is the grand celestial sacrifice ceremony. If the timing is right, we must demand the Prime Minister relinquish his power. Remember how, when the late emperor passed away, the Prime Minister seized the imperial seals without hesitation. Now, the Empress, who is his adopted daughter, secretly holds the six imperial seals. These crucial instruments of state are entirely at his disposal. Where is the righteousness in ruling the land? Furthermore...” The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, as if the incense smoke from the nearby brazier irritated her. “Princess Chaisang is a member of the royal family. It’s inappropriate for her to remain outside the palace. Let’s bring her into the palace and settle her here.”

Fu Wei disagreed with this proposal. Frowning, she said, “Her origins are unclear. Bringing her into the inner palace could be dangerous. Mother, please reconsider.”

The Empress Dowager waved off her concerns. “Danger isn’t something to fear. We can arrange a secluded palace chamber and station guards to watch over her... I’ve been worried lately. So many things have happened recently—it feels like someone is stirring up trouble. The Emperor’s personal rule is approaching. We must ensure stability and avoid any mishaps.”

As the most powerful woman in the nation, the Empress Dowager had final say over the arrangements of the women in the royal family. Although Fu Wei was the Emperor, emperors traditionally didn’t manage palace affairs. Since the Empress Dowager had decided, Fu Wei remained silent and tacitly approved.

However, after the Empress Dowager issued her decree, both Princess Chaisang and the Prime Minister refused to comply. The edict sank like a stone into water, leaving barely a ripple.

The Empress Dowager was livid. Fu Wei maintained silence but harbored her own thoughts. Due to her position, she couldn’t meet the so-called princess. The more uncertain the situation, the more uneasy she felt. Moreover, the Prime Minister feigned illness and didn’t appear at the celestial sacrifice, which only deepened her suspicions.

The winter solstice sacrifice was a major event where the Son of Heaven personally presided over rituals to report to heaven and earth and pray for blessings. As Fu Wei, dressed in ceremonial robes, led the sacrificial ox to the altar, she noticed that the Grand Commandant, not the Prime Minister, was leading the officials. She realized then that the Prime Minister had deliberately avoided appearing to delay relinquishing power. Why was he doing this? Though she understood he had his reasons, the obvious calculation behind his actions saddened her. Distracted, she went through the motions of the ceremony and returned to the palace, sitting silently for a long time. Who was he with when he avoided seeing her? Was it Yuanhan? If she were just an ordinary girl, she could confront him directly. But trapped in her imperial role, she couldn’t speak out about her grievances. Sitting alone in the cold hall, she questioned what she had done wrong. After much thought, she found no answers.

The Jing Prince case urgently needed resolution. Wei Shihang, an experienced investigator, effortlessly connected the two cases.

The Vice Minister placed a prepared edict before her. “Please review this decree, Your Majesty. When the time is ripe, we can arrest the individuals and escort them to the capital. This operation is of utmost importance—one prince and one marquis. We must proceed with extreme caution to prevent them from uniting. General Li Jidao has already been dispatched to the north, and Chancellor Wei’s orders must reach him promptly to facilitate the operation.”

Sitting at the head of the room, Fu Wei clenched her fists and stared at the decree for a long while without speaking.

The officials in the chamber awaited the young emperor’s instructions. Her silence made everyone uneasy. Finally, they heard her mutter, “The imperial seals aren’t in my possession. How can I issue a decree...?”

Arresting princes and marquises was a monumental event that couldn’t be handled with mere verbal instructions. However, the absence of the Prime Minister meant the decree couldn’t be stamped, halting its issuance. She struggled to maintain her composure, her frustration mounting. Without her usual restraint, she might have slammed the table in anger.

She picked up a token from the desk and tossed it to Hu Lu Pu Zhao. “Order the Prime Minister to open the seal box immediately and stamp the decree. It seems he’s too busy to serve as Prime Minister. If he can’t handle affairs, he should step aside and let someone capable take over.”

In the end, the seal was used, but the Prime Minister still didn’t appear. Their planned confrontation in the greenhouse, naturally, never materialized.

Her heart felt dead. Carrying a jug of wine, she sat under the corridor and drank heavily under the moonlight. Jianye came to advise her to take care of her health, but she angrily chased him away. No one dared to offer advice until Shangguan Zhao arrived, becoming her savior.

“What’s really on Your Majesty’s mind? How long do you intend to endure this?” he asked, standing behind her, angrier than she was.

Drunk and dazed, she sighed. “These are big matters...”

“I’ll go find him.”

As he turned to leave, she grabbed his cloak. “What’s the point of finding him? Beg him?” She spat. “To hell with Chancellor Yan Xiangru!”

Shangguan Zhao pitied her, unable to understand how an emperor had reached this point.

Leaning against a pillar, she stared blankly at the sky. The moon was full tonight, but the person who should have been with her was nowhere to be found.

“I think he’s deceiving me,” she muttered despondently. “Telling me to be patient is just敷衍. He’s always felt guilty toward Yuanhan. Otherwise, why would he water a fake flower for five years? He tolerates me because I’m the emperor, but his heart truly belongs to the princess—not to me, this neither-male-nor-female monster.”

Hearing her describe herself this way pained him. Fearing she might drunkenly blurt out more, he quickly stepped forward to help her, coaxing her with gentle words to return to her private chambers. She refused, raising her sleeve to toast the moon, shouting loudly, “No return until drunk.”

With no other choice, he carried her back to her bedchamber. Cradled in his arms, she lay stiff like a salted fish, tossing aside her crown and loosening the collar of her robe to gasp for air. After her unfocused gaze wandered for a while, it finally landed on his face. With a sobbing voice, she asked, “Azhao, do you like me?”

His movements froze. “Your Majesty is drunk.”

“I have a high tolerance,” she boasted. “How could someone with a high tolerance get drunk? Don’t underestimate me.” Then she began to whimper. “I’m so miserable. He’s settled her in a villa, but I’ve never even entered the door.”

He ignored her struggles, refusing to let go, and carried her straight to the bed. After placing her down, he tried to rise, but she clung tightly to his neck. “Even if you don’t say it, I know—you like me.”

His face flushed red, and he stammered, “You should... rest.”

Her eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, giving her an unusual charm. She giggled. “You’ve always treated me like a brother. If you’d known I was a woman earlier, things would be different now, wouldn’t they?”

His beautiful eyes could intoxicate anyone. She lay there, tears slipping into her temples, sobbing. “Kiss me. Once you do, I won’t be good with him anymore.”

His mind was in chaos, and he instinctively repeated, “You’ll regret it... You’ll regret it...”

Her tongue was thick as she slurred, “What? Do you look down on me? Do you despise me too?”

How could he despise her? He simply didn’t want her to feel worse when she sobered up. Trying to comfort her, he said, “The Prime Minister is a reliable man. He’s been busy these past few days, but he’ll definitely come see you tomorrow.”

She burst out laughing. “See him? Let him live happily with his Princess Chaisang. I don’t need him anymore!” Childishly wrapping her legs around him, she mumbled, “Tonight, I appoint you to attend me. The emperor and the attendant spend their days together. With such proximity, who needs the Prime Minister anymore!”