Chapter 74

Late at night, in the quiet Qianqing Palace, occasional coughs could be heard. The copper-gilded golden dragon candle holders on the wall were almost burned out, emitting a dim light on the verge of extinguishing.

Several times, Lu Dehai wanted to have someone replace the candles, but looking at Zhu Jingyu hidden in the darkness, he suddenly felt that this might be what the emperor desired.

Tomorrow is the annual year-end festival, and most of the ministers in the court will attend the palace banquet in the evening. But for Zhu Jingyu, it will be a busy day without any leisure. In the early hours of the morning, he will have to go to the Temple of the Ancestors to worship the late emperor and his ancestors. Therefore, he should rest early tonight.

But no matter which year it was, on the night before the ancestral worship, Zhu Jingyu would sit on the dragon throne all night until the next day. In the past, Lu Dehai was too lazy to advise, but now he does want to.

He touched the purse in his pocket. When the Shuangfu from Chuxiu Palace brought several pitiful bags of broken silver, he found it amusing. In all these years, it was the first time Lu Dehai received such a small amount of filial tribute, but his steps still approached the dragon throne lightly.

Having served Zhu Jingyu for over ten years, Lu Dehai knew well that the emperor appeared gentle in front of others but was melancholic and reserved behind their backs. However, he rarely punished others. It seemed like his emotions were always punishing himself.

Therefore, in the small courtyard of Chuxiu Palace, bathed in the afternoon sun, when Lu Dehai saw the gentle expression on Zhu Jingyu’s face as he held the orange lynx, he felt that for the first time in these ten-plus years, he truly understood the emperor.

Lu Dehai approached the golden table, and his thoughts came to a halt.

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“Zswa Yyflpvu, vbl nsdnwckdlp kdhkvle vs vsxsaaso’p lhldkdt cydiwlv byhl yzz clld yaaydtle. Eswze usw zkjl vs byhl y zssj?”

“Ls dlle.” Hbw Kkdtuw’p hsknl, pzktbvzu bsyapl, lnbsle blyhkzu qasx clbkde vbl vyczl.

Nü Plbyk rywple qsa y xsxldv yde pyke, “R dsvknle vbyv usw olal iwkvl qsde sq Hbydt Py Zkdt qasx Ubwmkw Vyzynl alnldvzu, cwv pbl kp dsv zkpvle kd vbl altkpvau. Vlabyrp R xkpple kv clqsal.”

“R esd’v dlle bla vs ts.”

Tl eked’v oydv bla vs cl kdhszhle kd bkp ycupp.

Ekvbkd vbl byalx, obslhla bl tsv nzspl vs oswze cl vyatlvle cu Hbydt Twyk’yd yde bkp taswr.

Tl oyp olyj yde bye ds xlydp sq plzq-rasvlnvksd. Ekvbswv Ckd Zyd, bl oswze cl osavbzlpp. Ohld ewakdt vbl eyup obld bl qaliwldvzu hkpkvle Pydmkd, bl nswze sdzu nsdvkdwswpzu yrrskdv svbla clywvkqwz osxld vs alewnl vbl rsppkckzkvu sq Hbydt Zwl’la clkdt kdhlpvktyvle.

Fs bl oyp vawzu wplzlpp, yde qsavwdyvlzu, pbl eked’v zkjl bkx.

“Lü Dehai, help me investigate something.”

“Yes.”

…

The palace banquet had its own procedures, following ancestral traditions. Each year was merely a repetitive cycle, and the palaces were already filled with foreign women sent from the vassal states.

At midnight, after the bell tolled three times, the palace banquet ended. Zhu Jingyu, slightly intoxicated from drinking, had a drunken expression on his handsome face, and his complexion didn’t appear as pale.

Lu Dehai supported him as they walked out of East Palace’s main hall. The cold wind blew through the canopy, hitting Zhu Jingyu’s face, dispersing the faint red glow. The fur-lined cloak’s collar, made of silver velvet, slanted sharply below his chin, accentuating his distinct features.

“Your Majesty, are we going back to Qianqing Hall now?”

“Go for a walk at Consort Shen’s place.” Zhu Jingyu glanced at the dark figure behind him and spoke in a deep voice.

“Yes.”

Lu Dehai pondered. Consort Shen was pregnant and nearing childbirth, so she couldn’t attend the palace banquet. The emperor’s first child was always treated differently.

In the Fuliu Hall, the candles had already been extinguished. But with advance notice from the palace staff, Shen Ruoliu got up and changed her clothes. A palace maid lit the candles again.

She had gained a little weight and stood at the entrance of the hall, wearing a dark floral brocade gown, supporting her waist and caressing her belly, respectfully welcoming the emperor’s arrival.

Until she saw that hint of a bright yellow figure approaching, she lightly greeted him with a curtsey.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise.” Zhu Jingyu glanced at her, spoke faintly, and then entered the sleeping quarters. Lu Dehai, as usual, waited outside the hall.

Shen Ruoliu dismissed all the palace attendants, supported the table, and softly said,

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

She had many things to be grateful for. She had initially admired her cousin, who was in the Imperial Guards, but her father forced her to marry into the palace.

After going through great efforts to make contact with her cousin and finally meeting him, they were unexpectedly discovered by the emperor.

She thought it was a dead end, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for them. Now, even their child was being protected on their behalf. Otherwise, with their backgrounds, how could they protect a child?

Since she became pregnant, all her food was carefully inspected, and there were several close calls that were promptly resolved by someone.

She could understand the simplest reason why they were protecting this unrelated child. It was to balance certain forces within the court. Regardless, she had received their grace.

Zhu Jingyu didn’t respond to her gratitude. “After half an hour, I will leave.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After saying this, he didn’t look at her again. He waited until the time was up and then called Lu Dehai to come in, followed by the customary rewards, before leaving Fuliu Hall.

Under the ink-black night, with the palace attendants withdrawn, Zhu Jingyu walked slowly back to the sleeping quarters, especially when passing by Chuxiu Palace.

“Your Majesty, are we going straight back to the sleeping quarters?”

“Mm.”

Lu Dehai watched his slow steps and reached into his sleeve pocket, taking out the money pouch given to him by Shuangfu. He gritted his teeth and said, “Your Majesty, take a look at this.”

Zhu Jingyu halted and turned to look, his eyes meeting Lu Dehai’s. He lowered his gaze and asked, “What is it?”

***

Since the palace banquet began, Zhang Yue’er had been sitting on a low stool under the stone corridor, not far from the courtyard gate.

She wore a new pink and rosy dress with a crescent-white cloak, her almond-shaped eyes reflecting the colorful lights from the eaves and shining brightly.

Shuangfu looked at Zhang Yue’er’s red nose and her hands outside the cloak, unable to bear it any longer. “Master, shall I fetch a blanket for you to cover yourself?”

Zhang Yue’er lowered her head and looked at her newly changed clothes, shaking her head. “Shuangfu, you should go to sleep.”

It had been a long time since they had last seen each other. After bathing today, she specifically changed into new clothes. She didn’t want the emperor to see her in an unflattering outfit at first glance.

Shuangfu sighed. “Master, it’s almost midnight. Don’t wait anymore. The emperor won’t come.”

“He will come.”

What she heard in the garden on that rainy day, combined with the occasional dark color in Zhu Jingyu’s eyes, whether true or false, made her really want to see him.

She thought, She must be fond of the emperor; otherwise, why would her heart ache like this?

“Shuangfu, I must wait for him. I have something to say to him. If he doesn’t come, I’ll keep waiting.”

“If the money is not enough, I’ll save up and ask Lord Lu again.”

Zhang Yue’er smiled, a small dimple forming at the corner of her mouth. “Anyway, I don’t have much to do on regular days. It doesn’t matter how long I wait.”

Zhu Jingyu stood with his back to the door, and the fear that sprouted in his heart kept him standing there for half an hour.

Until he heard what she said, Zhu Jingyu uncontrollably turned sideways and stepped over the threshold, entering the room.

He cleared his throat, and at the sound, Zhang Yue’er quickly stood up, her expression instantly transforming into delight.

“You, what do you want to say to me?”

Zhu Jingyu’s words got stuck in his throat. He suddenly felt a force colliding with his chest, causing him to step back. When he lowered his head, he was met with Zhang Yue’er’s clear, smiling eyes.

Zhang Yue’er’s movements were too quick, taking only a couple of breaths. Zhu Jingyu felt the softness in his embrace, and his hands froze, unsure where to place them.

Her hair, carrying a pleasant fragrance, was blown by the wind, brushing against his chin and tickling him. But suddenly, he felt a sense of fear.

“Don’t touch me. I… I’m dirty.” He started trying to push her away.

However, her pair of soft yet stubborn hands clung tightly to him, not letting go, as if they were stuck to his body.

Zhang Yue’er lifted her head from Zhu Jingyu’s stiff embrace, her smile clear as she looked at him like that.

“Mm, I know, but I’ve already hugged you, so let’s be dirty together from now on.”

“You… you…”

Zhu Jingyu couldn’t even utter a complete sentence as she held him. And her next sentence continued to thunder in his ears.

She said, “Your Majesty, I like you.”