PM - 61

The interior was quiet, with heavy white silk curtains hanging down. Behind the screen outside the inner chamber stood a long table, on which was placed a mountain-shaped incense burner. The smoke gently rose from the holes, filling the room with a deep and sweet fragrance, reminiscent of spikenard mixed with a hint of citrus.

The Empress’s chamber was warm, making one feel slightly dizzy. As soon as Fu Wei touched the bedding, she felt incredibly drowsy. Still half-asleep, she asked, “There’s a morning assembly tomorrow— is the Chief Eunuch outside?”

Her daily concern revolved around matters of the court, especially the movements of the Chancellor. Lingjun removed her formal robe, his fingers brushing against her neck, causing her to flinch slightly. At that moment, she truly resembled an innocent young girl.

“There are always many people outside the private chambers, Your Majesty need not fear oversleeping.” He wore a pale moon-colored sleeping robe, sitting amidst apricot-yellow bedding, leaning back on his arms as he looked up at her. After carefully observing her for a while, he reached out and removed the dragon-patterned jade hairpin from her coiffure, saying, “I still prefer seeing Your Majesty like this.”

This appearance—with her hair let down, the deliberate martial air subdued—gave her a more feminine charm in the bedchamber. Fu Wei ran her hands through her hair, pressing on her scalp, and remarked, “Wearing the crown every day has indeed become tiresome. I wish to style my hair like a woman’s and wear dangling hair ornaments.”

Having lived her entire life as a maiden yet never experiencing life as one, she found it rather poignant. Lingjun gazed at her with softened eyes, saying, “Your Majesty lives too hard a life. If it weren’t for the initial chaos, you would now be in your闺阁 (inner chambers), awaiting marriage as a young lady.”

She didn’t grow angry at his overly frank assessment but glanced at him, replying, “When I complain about the hardships of being an emperor, many ambitious women only lament not having my fate.”

Her words cut to the quick, but Lingjun merely smiled without responding. Reaching over, he gently cradled the back of her head, saying, “It is late; lie down.”

She relaxed her guard, no longer needing to tense her waist, allowing him to support her as she rested steadily on the soft pillow. Catching her breath, she murmured, “What a pity that the late emperor had only me as his child. How wonderful it would have been to have a brother like you—someone to confide in when things go awry.”

Lingjun hesitated for a moment, asking, “Does Your Majesty truly wish for a brother like me?”

She turned over, facing him with inquisitive eyes, saying, “Ning Yun, a military general, giving birth to a son like you—it’s quite inconceivable. If I were to say your origins stemmed from the imperial family, I might believe it more.”

She noticed his expression stiffen momentarily before returning to its usual calm. He replied, “I am not so fortunate, but being by Your Majesty’s side is already my greatest blessing.”

The more time they spent together, the more new discoveries arose. Her empress, it seemed, harbored many enigmatic qualities. Fu Wei drifted into a foggy state of mind, her thoughts gradually interrupted. With one hand resting on her forehead, she sighed, “Strange… is it almost spring? Why is it getting so warm…”

Lingjun moved closer, lifting the sleeve of his sleeping robe to fan her gently. She closed her eyes, the imperial aura fading away, making her seem approachable. He gazed deeply at her, noticing the flush rising in her cheeks and her slightly labored breathing. Suppressing his racing heart, he called to her softly, “Are you sleepy?”

She gave a slight nod, turning her face away, her lips red and defiant.

There was a rule regarding the emperor’s visits to the harem: if a concubine did not conceive within a month, she would typically be relegated to the cold palace for the rest of her life. However, the treatment of the empress was different—incense was usually added to enhance the atmosphere. This particular incense, known as Jin Ni, was developed by the Imperial Medical Bureau and kept under the jurisdiction of the Shao Fu. Though in limited supply, its use was considered reasonable and legal within the palace. Tonight, the young emperor stayed, and inevitably, the incense was lit. Its sweet, honey-like scent mingled with the warmth of the heated stove, creating an intoxicating atmosphere that stirred desire.

He lay beside her, his heart quietly stirring with agitation. Lingjun’s fingers tentatively explored, gradually finding their own will, parting the layers until they reached her ear.

His breath grew louder in her ear. Fu Wei lightly furrowed her brow, aware that the incense in the chamber had changed, but feeling too lethargic to move. His fingertips roamed along her waist, loosening the ties of her inner garment. A cool breeze brushed against her exposed skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

Today, she thought fleetingly, must be settled. Reluctantly, she reflected that thinking of that treacherous chancellor made her lose all fighting spirit.

Never mind… She tightly shut her eyes. Since the chancellor had abandoned her, she could make her own choices. After tonight, she would sever ties with him, engaging in open and covert struggles until death. Yet, she felt a pang of sadness, realizing that love had ultimately amounted to nothing, leaving her with only power as solace.

Lingjun whispered into her ear, “Your Majesty, please forgive my boldness.”

Hovering above her, he gazed intently before slowly descending, intending to kiss her. Suddenly, she turned her face away, overwhelmed by a surge of disgust. He missed, disappointment washing over his features.

The awkwardness was palpable, almost suffocating. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed beyond the screen. Someone, speaking in a hushed tone from halfway across the hall, announced, “Reporting to Your Majesty…”

Fu Wei jolted upright, the lingering fragrance still enveloping her. She shook her dizzy head vigorously, asking, “What is it?”

At first, she couldn’t identify the voice, but after some thought, she recognized Jianye’s muffled tones: “The chancellor has entered the palace at night with urgent matters to report to Your Majesty.”

Surprised, she felt a wave of joy. Hastily tying her inner garment, her mind still foggy, she stumbled out of the inner chamber.

Outside the pearl curtain, senior eunuchs and high-ranking officials stood with lowered heads. Spotting the mountain-shaped incense burner, she grew irritated, ordering, “Remove the incense, and never use it again.” Amidst the kneeling attendants, she left Changqiu Palace. The imperial carriage awaited on the vermillion steps, surrounded by palace lanterns that dazzled her eyes. Turning to Jianye, she asked, “Where is he?”

Jianye replied, “Awaiting Your Majesty in the outer chamber.”

In the outer chamber, it was clear that political matters would be discussed. She descended the steps unsteadily, Jianye rushing to support her as she staggered. “What is wrong with Your Majesty? Are you unwell?”

She couldn’t reveal the use of Jin Ni incense in the empress’s chamber and vaguely responded, “I was disoriented from sleep.” Climbing into the carriage, she opened half a window, the cool breeze clearing her mind slightly. Recalling what had just transpired, she felt both shame and regret. Had he not arrived in time, she couldn’t imagine what might have happened.

That incense truly made one’s body feel weak. Even entering the Wend Hall, she still felt somewhat unstable.

Inside the outer chamber, six lamp trees were lit, each bearing five lamp plates, illuminating the hall brilliantly like daylight. Squinting, she saw the chancellor standing facing inward, clad in a black robe overlaid with a translucent, colorful silk garment. The delicate weave revealed the dark fabric beneath, exuding an air of refined elegance.

Feeling humbled, she coughed lightly, asking, “Father Chancellor, what urgent matter brings you to the palace at night?”

This time, it wasn’t her but the chancellor who ordered everyone to withdraw. Turning around, he waved his sleeves, scrutinizing her from head to toe, smirking, “I pave the way for Your Majesty, yet you indulge recklessly in the palace. Today as an attendant, tomorrow as the empress—have you enjoyed yourself?”

“Today as an attendant, tomorrow as the empress…” She pointed to herself, feigning ignorance, “Are you referring to me?”

Her pretense of confusion was utterly contemptible! The chancellor approached, his towering figure imposing immense pressure. Without a word, he leaned down to sniff her collar, muttering, “Jin Ni… Has it succeeded?”

Fu Wei was taken aback, bewildered. Shouldn’t she be the one enraged? Why was he accusing her instead?

Furious, she flapped the wings of her crane cloak, the lingering fragrance from the sleeves wafting toward him. “Yes, Jin Ni! Very happy, what of it?”

His expression immediately darkened, and without a word, he turned to leave.

Panicked, Fu Wei grabbed the hem of his robe, asking, “Where are you going, Father Chancellor?”

He angrily flicked his sleeve, declaring, “I’m going to kill Nie Lingjun!”

Had the chancellor lost his mind, openly threatening to kill the empress? Fu Wei slowly released her grip, retreating back into the canopy, raising her chin outwardly. “Go ahead, I won’t stop you. Kill the empress, and I’ll charge you with treason. Please reconsider, Father Chancellor, and don’t regret it later.” Smiling bitterly, she added, “You disappear for days without a trace, yet have the audacity to shout at me. ‘If Chun returns and doesn’t find me, she’ll worry’…” Mimicking Yuanhan’s mannerisms, she frowned and murmured, then scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. “Have you and that fake princess become true spouses? From what I gather, you’re very much in love. Then what about me? What am I?”

Her anger boiled over, her face flushing red. How could he, who belonged to her, suddenly become affectionate with someone else? She sought him out, but he disapproved. She wanted to hear his explanation, yet he disappeared for days, refusing to show his face. She no longer knew whose side he was on. Feeling wronged, her eyes welled with tears as she choked out bitterly, “You never truly cared for me. The first thing you did upon entering the palace was to catch me in adultery, conveniently severing ties with me. Then you brought back your beloved, living happily ever after, right?”

He stood there, sleeves hanging, watching her sob, his mind in turmoil.

Her stubborn nature had never shed a tear even under the pressure of the entire court, yet now, it filled him with deep guilt. He could only go to her, wiping away her tears and consoling her gently, “You know Yuanhan is a fraud—what is there to be angry about? If I didn’t care for you, why would I bother catching you in adultery? Your words are incoherent—has the incense truly addled your mind?” Seeing her tears subside, he kissed her eyelashes softly, “Alright, no more crying. Do you want to hear about my recent findings?”

Her tear-soaked eyes fluttered a few times before she finally nodded reluctantly, “Fine, tell me.”

Her obstinacy amused and frustrated him in equal measure. Pausing briefly, he delivered shocking news in a light tone, “This Yuanhan’s origins are not simple. Strangely, I cannot uncover who is behind her, despite my best efforts. However, one thing is certain—others besides us know your true identity.”

This was a matter of life and death. Fu Wei’s heart jolted violently, her eyes widening in panic as she trembled, “How could this be? I’ve always been careful… how could this happen!”

He sighed, “There are no walls that do not let the wind pass through. Whether this secret was discovered by the Princess herself or deliberately exploited by someone else remains unknown for now. Perhaps the Princess and Lord Gai were merely a litmus test—someone wanted to gauge our strength in mobilizing the entire army, so they threw a stone to test the depth of the water. Fortunately, before issuing the decree, I had already discussed with the Grand Commandant the deployment to pacify the northern borders. Had it been any later, things would have been harder to handle. My absence from the office these past two days was indeed due to military preparations. When you mentioned the Hu cavalry on both sides of the Chang River that day, I thought, why not bring these two formidable armies into the imperial city? The Hu cavalry, composed of surrendered tribes, has always been under the emperor’s patronage and wouldn’t heed the commands of the feudal lords. Stationing them to guard the city walls would be a safeguard for you should anything happen in the future.”

Her mind was in turmoil. If only she knew who the enemy was, she could focus on eliminating them. But the most dangerous situation was when the enemy remained hidden while she stood exposed. She had considered many possibilities, knowing her true identity would one day come to light—but never expected it to happen so soon. Thankfully, he was thinking ahead for her. Yet she had doubted him all along, and reflecting on it now, she felt deeply apologetic.

“Something so important—why didn’t you tell me earlier?” she complained, aggrieved. “Even if I were dethroned, I wouldn’t fear it as much as I feared you and I weren’t united, loving someone else instead.”

His laughter echoed, “I asked Your Majesty to exercise restraint, but did you? Why do you think Princess Yuanhan appeared at this critical juncture? It was to test our relationship. Rumors of an affair between the emperor and the chancellor spread vividly, yet there’s no concrete evidence. How Your Majesty handles this princess will directly influence the court’s judgment. Do you understand?”

Indeed, a thorny predicament. “Tomorrow, I’ll restore her reputation, then return her fiefdom and send her back to Chaisang.”

He cradled her cold hand in his, gently stroking it as he spoke softly, “You may restore her name, but don’t send her back to Chaisang. Use their plan against them and keep her here. Your Majesty must continue to oppose me publicly, so the whole court knows.”

She hesitated, unsure of his intentions. “How exactly should we oppose each other? Explain it clearly to me.”

His smile turned bitter. “After the New Year, I’ll return the six imperial seals to you and focus on consolidating control over the capital’s military forces. One handling civil affairs, the other military—it will make them wary. As for Lord Gai, he cannot be brought to the capital—I’ve already sent orders to Li Ji Dao to execute him on the spot. From now on, you can suppress me until I have no foothold left in court. That’s when the mastermind behind all this will reveal themselves.”

She frowned deeply. “Are you mad? Planning to sacrifice yourself for righteousness?”

His gaze locked onto her face, eyes reflecting like fireflies dancing across the sky. “How can one capture a tiger cub without entering its den? Your identity is ultimately a complication. The future is unpredictable, but as long as I’m here, I’ll do everything in my power to turn the tide.”

Fu Wei had always believed his love for her was conditional—that he would only spare attention for her after ensuring his own safety. Her petty suspicions had kept her guarded against him. Now, upon hearing his declaration, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Clutching his neck tenderly, she whispered, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll betray you in the end?”

Eliminating both factions and then reigning peacefully as emperor—she could certainly do such a thing.

He chuckled softly, teeth gleaming under the lamp trees’ glow. “Would you?”

She whimpered, shaking her head. “Do you lack security in our love, Father Chancellor?”

He pondered, speaking in a plaintive tone, “Then Your Majesty must quickly give me a child. That way, I’ll feel reassured.” He couldn’t help but chuckle afterward.

Hearing this, Fu Wei pulled him toward the corridor. “Stay in the greenhouse tonight? You broke your promise last time; let’s make up for it today.”

He wanted to go, but restrained himself. “Returning to the capital and spending the night in the palace with Your Majesty would only confirm the rumors about us. Besides, you just came back from the Empress’s chambers—your body won’t withstand it.”

It seemed he truly misunderstood. Panic-stricken, she blurted out the truth: “Nothing happened between me and Lingjun. They used Jin Ni incense in the palace—I still feel weak in the legs. But thanks to the Chief Eunuch’s timely message, we managed to pull back just in time…”

In her haste, she spilled everything. The more he listened, the worse he felt. “So the timing was perfect—just a step away from sealing the deal. After only a few days of my absence, Your Majesty couldn’t bear the loneliness? Who was it that said I was irreplaceable? Are those words meaningless now?”

Her face flushed red, but she stubbornly muttered, “Who told you to settle the fake princess in Chunsheng Hall? And you didn’t inform me beforehand—how could I know what you were thinking?”

“So you decided to retaliate by getting entangled with them?”

In theory, yes, but she wasn’t willing to admit it. “People do reckless things when jealous. Luckily, no harm was done. I’m still the same person.”

He sneered. “Did you think of me while embracing others?”

She retorted immediately, “When you were being affectionate with the fake princess, did you think of me?”

Thus began a heated exchange, their earlier tenderness forgotten as they accused each other of worse offenses, neither willing to back down.

The chancellor, exasperated, turned to leave. “I’ll take my leave.”

Her voice carried a note of provocation. “Good riddance—I won’t see you off.”

That she didn’t try to stop him infuriated him further. He shouted, “I’ll escort the princess out of the palace. Please grant permission, Your Majesty.”

She laughed mockingly. “Dream on. Shall I let you enjoy a honeymoon reunion? Tonight is too deep and damp. Tomorrow, I’ll order the eunuchs to escort her out. Father Chancellor may leave—I need to comfort my little empress. He must be heartbroken after I left midway.”

She moved faster than him, brushing past. Unable to contain himself any longer, the chancellor grabbed her arm.

“It’s my fault.”

Clearly, she had acted more excessively, yet he apologized. Perhaps this was the disadvantage of being a man—you had to unconditionally indulge the one you loved. She could set fires, but you couldn’t even light a lamp. Especially when the unreasonable one was also an indulged emperor—what choice did he have but to yield?

“So today, let’s clear the air,” he said dejectedly, hanging his head. “While I was away, I heard absurd rumors about Your Majesty. It pained me deeply. What were you thinking? Why did you go to the Empress’s chambers tonight?”

Having made him taste sorrow, Fu Wei achieved her goal but soon regretted it, fidgeting with her fingers. “Starting from the day of the suburban sacrifice, you avoided me for eight whole days. Everyone at court was gossiping, making me feel terrible inside and out. Before Yuanhan appeared, we met every other day at most. This time, it went on for so long—I panicked and thought of giving up.”

He was somewhat satisfied; she had spoken honestly, and he could understand her feelings. A young heart needed constant encouragement and affirmation to feel secure. His inability to communicate due to the gravity of the matter and his prolonged absence were indeed his mistakes.

His expression softened as he spoke gently, “Since entering the palace, Lingjun has become unpredictable. Your Majesty must remain vigilant.”

She nodded. “I understand. Earlier, when discussing the restoration of governance, you must prepare for some hardship. Don’t harbor resentment toward me—speak freely if anything troubles you. Today, I acted thoughtlessly. I should apologize—I won’t visit the Empress’s chambers again…”

He smiled indulgently, perhaps due to the age gap. There was an unconditional parental affection in his demeanor. Patting her head, he forgave her past grievances.