Zichen Hall had no lamps lit.
The moment they stepped inside, Yun Jichu unconsciously nestled closer into Helian Jin’s embrace.
The man holding her faltered slightly in his steps, but the next instant he resumed his normal pace, merely tightening the arm wrapped around her.
Yun Jichu assumed he would slow down and feel his way forward carefully.
Yet Helian Jin strode forth smoothly, as if he could see perfectly in the dark. He circled around the painted screen, passed the low couch, and even managed to scoop her up with one arm while retrieving a cup of warm water from the table with the other.
He seemed utterly familiar with the pitch-black Zichen Hall.
Yun Jichu sipped the warm water from his hand, a touch of embarrassment in her voice. “I can walk on my own…”
Helian Jin let out a low “Mm,” but made no move to set her down.
It was not until they reached the bed that Yun Jichu stopped mulling over the question plaguing her mind.
Were they simply going to start living together openly like this?
Visions of their past intimate moments flickered through her thoughts, and she bit her lower lip.
Just over a month ago, she had been a solitary soul, immersed in her work and wandering alone. Now, in the blink of an eye, she had two children and a husband.
She had been so young and foolish back then.
How could a mere game lead to such a monumental blunder…
“Shall we bathe first?”
Helian Jin placed her on the edge of the bed and went off to light the lamp.
“Ah?” Yun Jichu waved her hands hastily. “No…”
But she desperately wanted a bath. “Don’t trouble yourself. I can manage on my own.”
Helian Jin stood by the lamp, turning sideways to gaze at her. His massive shadow fell across her, engulfing her entire body.
“Ah Chu doesn’t look well. You should bathe and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll help you.”
Help?
Yun Jichu suddenly recalled those years ago when Helian Jin would always offer to “help” her, only for it to leave her waist and legs aching, and on more than one occasion, she had fainted outright.
Her face flushed crimson in an instant. Her body, still frail, shrank back instinctively as she crossed her arms protectively over her chest.
“You… your cough hasn’t fully healed yet. You can’t… can’t overexert yourself.”
She had picked up the term “overexert” from Lady Shuxiu.
Helian Jin’s lips curved into a smile as he drew near, bending down to peer at her until their noses nearly brushed.
“Ah Chu, what are you thinking about?”
“I mean help you undress and dress.”
Yun Jichu’s eyes widened, and she forced a dry laugh. “Ah, haha, I know. Let’s go, let’s go.”
She scrambled to her feet and staggered off in a random direction, only for Helian Jin to catch her hand.
“Ah Chu, you’re heading the wrong way.”
“…”
Zichen Hall was Helian Jin’s long-time bedchamber. Aside from that one time when he had suffered a headache and the two children had dragged her over to visit, she had never set foot inside.
Naturally, she had no idea where the bath was.
Yun Jichu hung her head, shuffling her feet forward slowly. Adopting an attitude of sincere communication, she ventured, “Helian Jin, you won’t… take advantage, will you?”
Helian Jin turned to face her, gripping her shoulders and meeting her gaze earnestly.
“I won’t. Don’t be afraid.”
“You don’t look well. Rest early tonight.”
Yun Jichu let out a sigh of relief, though she inwardly berated herself.
She was measuring a gentleman’s heart with a petty villain’s yardstick.
Yet when they rounded the screen and pushed open the door, Yun Jichu froze on the spot.
She stared at the scene before her, then glanced at Helian Jin, who stood equally stunned beside her.
“You…”
Helian Jin’s face, for once, betrayed a richly expressive look.
“I…”
The bathtub was enormous, large enough to accommodate several people. Steam rose in hazy curls, carrying colorful petals afloat on the surface. A wave of floral fragrance mingled with an unidentified warm scent washed over them.
Nearby, a clothing rack held two sets of pristine nightclothes—one in pearl white, the other in deep black—both gossamer thin.
A small table bore a jug of wine and two tiny cups, flanked by a vase of pomegranate blossoms. Beneath the flowers lay a pomegranate, split open and brimming with plump fruit.
“…”
Yun Jichu cast aside any talk of petty villains and gentlemen. She shoved Helian Jin out the door and slammed it shut tight.
By the time they had finished, the hour of Yin had arrived.
The floral scent clung to their bodies, permeating the entire bed. Yun Jichu lay on her side, facing inward, while Helian Jin held her from behind.
Perhaps because the time for sleep had passed, Yun Jichu’s mind remained wide awake.
A moment later, Helian Jin seemed to sense that she was still up.
“Ah Chu, all of that was Cui Cheng’s doing. Don’t be angry anymore.”
“Mm…”
Yun Jichu turned to face him. “I know.”
She peered into his eyes. “Helian Jin, is there something you want to ask me?”
Such as where she had been for the past five years, or where she had gone over these last three days.
She had already prepared her excuse.
This might well be the first lie she had ever told in her life.
Truth be told, she wasn’t very good at it.
Helian Jin caught the resolute glint in her eyes. He lowered his gaze without responding to her words, only asking, “Does Ah Chu have anything to ask me?”
Yun Jichu clearly hadn’t expected the question. She faltered. “I…”
“No.”
How had he spent these past five years? Why had he waited so stubbornly for her?
But she already knew the answers to those questions.
His life must have been difficult, because his favorability toward her was so high—and that favorability was something she had painstakingly built up.
Helian Jin’s palm gently covered her eyes, feeling the faint tremble of her lashes against his skin. “Sleep, Ah Chu.”
The breathing of the woman in his arms grew shallower and shallower until she finally drifted off.
Helian Jin’s gaze lingered intently on her face for a long, long time.
It wasn’t until the first hints of dawn crept into the bedchamber, illuminating Yun Jichu’s cheeks more clearly, that he stirred slightly. He rested his forehead against hers.
Warm, soft skin met his own.
His hand then caressed the curve of Yun Jichu’s neck.
The pulsing of her veins stirred against his palm.
Finally, he leaned down and, with utmost care, pressed a kiss to her lips.
When Helian Jin departed from Zichen Hall, Yun Jichu was sleeping deeply.
Crystal tears had fallen onto her cheeks like a sudden downpour, pooling and then sliding away.
The emperor had morning court today.
Cui Cheng attended at his side and shot a meaningful glance at Feng Rang.
Feng Rang understood at once. He fetched ice, placed it in a basin, wrung out a cloth, and presented it to the emperor.
Helian Jin shot Cui Cheng a cold look.
He took the chilled cloth and pressed it to his reddened eyes.
Feng Rang bowed his way out, only to return shortly with breakfast.
The meal was exquisite, and for once, Helian Jin sampled every dish.
Though he only took a single bite of each.
“The empress likes sweet flavors,” he said—that was his sole instruction—before heading to Xuanzheng Hall.
Cui Cheng gave Feng Rang, who stood there dumbfounded, a pat. “Fool, what are you waiting for? Go make the arrangements.”
“Hold on. First, summon Lady Shuxiu from the Side Hall. Her Ladyship is closest to her, so speak politely and don’t be rude.”
Feng Rang was Cui Cheng’s newly taken disciple. This time, Cui Cheng had been exceptionally thorough: he’d vetted the young man’s background, observed his conduct after entering the palace, and tested him rigorously before selecting him.
As Feng Rang turned to leave, he glanced back. “Did this disciple’s arrangements last night please Your Majesty?”
Don’t bring up the wrong thing!
Cui Cheng kicked him. “Hurry up and go!”
That morning, His Majesty had questioned him: “Who prepared the hot water last night?”
He had replied, “Feng Rang.”
“Feng Rang is efficient. This serv—”
“Penalize him with sweeping duty.”
Cui Cheng had dropped to his knees at once. “It was this servant. This servant ordered him to prepare the hot water…” His voice trailed off smaller and smaller.
The emperor fell silent for a moment. “Never mind.”
The imperial will was impossible to fathom!
After court, the emperor headed straight for Zichen Hall.
He hadn’t yet reached it when he spotted the Crown Prince standing outside.
“Ah Nian.”
The Crown Prince performed the proper obeisance between sovereign and subject. “Imperial Father.”
Cui Cheng was baffled. Why had both young masters suddenly become so distant with His Majesty overnight?
The emperor paid it no mind and asked, “What is it?”
The Crown Prince glanced toward the interior, seeing only tightly shut doors and windows. “I’ve heard that Mother Empress has returned.”
The emperor merely grunted in acknowledgment.
“This son wishes to see Mother Empress.”
“She’s sleeping. Come back after lunch.”
“This son won’t disturb her. I only want to take a quick look.”
“No.”
“…”
In the end, the emperor’s expression softened. “Go play with Ah Huan. You’re excused from lessons today.”
The Crown Prince said nothing. He cast another glance at the closed doors and windows, saluted, and left.
Cui Cheng flattered the emperor. “The young master is so filial.”
The emperor ignored him and entered the Grand Hall on his own.
Cui Cheng watched as the emperor deliberately lightened his steps, and he pressed his lips together. His Majesty cherished the empress so deeply. Now that she had returned, His Majesty’s illness would surely be fully cured!
Half an hour later, the emperor emerged from the hall, his robes carrying a heavy scent of flowers.
Cui Cheng asked, “Your Majesty, shall I summon a meal?”
It was nearly the end of the hour of the Dragon. Had the empress awakened yet?
“No need.”
“Where to next, Your Majesty?” Cui Cheng hurried to keep pace.
“Fengluan Palace.”
Inside Fengluan Palace.
Cui Cheng watched as His Majesty busied himself, but he didn’t dare step forward to assist.
The emperor was sorting through relics.
Over these past three days, various belongings of the Late Empress that His Majesty had taken out were now being carefully gathered and returned to their original places.
They were like emergency medicines: even after the crisis had passed, no one would simply lock them away on a high shelf. Instead, they were meticulously organized and kept within easy reach.
People always harbored lingering fear toward sudden emergencies.
The portraits were returned to the desk. Those stained with blood had been sent to the Painting Academy for repainting.
There was also one portrait that had been pieced back together. The emperor examined it over and over before tucking it away in a box.
The pearl hairpin and small mirror were wiped clean once more, and a few additional lotus incense balls were tossed into the censer.
Finally, His Majesty sat down at the desk, gazing at the single sheet of paper in his hand.
“Any new word from Funan?”
Cui Cheng replied, “We dispatched men from the Ministry of Works, but they failed to locate the item Your Majesty seeks.”
The Emperor dipped his brush in ink and drew another line across the paper.
“Good.” His voice carried a note of melancholy.
Cui Cheng looked up and saw that the Emperor’s gaze had settled on the window not far away.
The window bore a carving of hibiscus blossoms, their petals unfurling in soft, graceful curves.
Amid the intricate floral patterns, blood had seeped just days before, but now it was scrubbed away, leaving only the carefree blooms on display.
Cui Cheng suddenly recalled the tragedy that had unfolded at that very window. “Your Majesty, this window is far too perilous. Why not have this slave lead some craftsmen to seal it up?”
Silence fell over the Grand Hall.
Only after a long moment did the Emperor speak. “No.”
A little while longer passed.
“Cui Cheng.”
“This slave is here.”
“If one wishes to find something, how should it be done?”
Cui Cheng pondered briefly before replying with care. “Naturally, by deploying more hands to search every corner meticulously.”
“And if it still cannot be found?”
“Then expand the search radius—perhaps…”
“And if it comes to the point where expansion is no longer possible?”
Cui Cheng was at a loss. Over these years, His Majesty had conquered new territories, forcing countless neighboring petty kingdoms to bow in submission. At this rate… there might truly come a day when further expansion was impossible.
“Perhaps… the thing simply does not exist.”
How could anything desired by the Son of Heaven prove unattainable?
There was surely no such item in all the world!
“Does not exist.”
His Majesty’s voice turned cold.
“If it cannot be found anywhere on earth, perhaps it belongs to the heavens.”
He drew his gaze back from the window and let it fall upon the small box cradled in his hand.
Within the box lay two rings, starkly empty and utterly plain.
“If Zhen is but a mayfly, how dare he covet a fairy.”
The profound loneliness in those words left Cui Cheng stunned, unsure how to offer comfort. He could only drop to his knees and cry out, “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven—long live the Son of Heaven!”
Who would dare liken the sovereign of an empire to a fleeting mayfly?
His Majesty merely shook his head.
~~~