Free Web NovelChapter 251: Chapter 251: Patience Honed to Perfection, Don’t Put on a Brave Face
"According to Wei Ting’s current rank, he shouldn’t be able to attend the Longevity Festival banquet. I can, however, make the decision to add a spot for Madam Wei."
Ji Qingwu swung the roster in her hand as she walked away.
If she was expecting her to plead Wei Ting’s case before the Emperor, that was absolutely impossible.
’Wei Ting dared to challenge the Emperor repeatedly, which meant he was prepared to bear all the consequences.’
Wei Liru blocked her path, her eyes red with anxiety.
"Never mind how things are between you and my brother now. You were old acquaintances; you once had a bond. Why can’t you help him?"
Ji Qingwu suddenly found herself curious about one thing.
She stopped and asked, "Princess Wei, are you worried that General Wei losing command of his troops will affect your position in the palace and the Wei Family’s power? Or are you genuinely worried for his safety?"
Wei Liru said, "Of course I’m..." But the words died on her lips, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.
’Because it was both. To her, they were equally important.’
A cool breeze rustled by as Ji Qingwu walked to the edge of the pavilion, turning her back to Wei Liru.
"If it’s the former, then no amount of worrying will help, Princess Wei. If His Majesty wants to strip him of his command, who can possibly stop him?"
Ji Qingwu found the matter a bit strange.
’What was strange was that she had long ago realized the Emperor was the type to make major moves in silence. His self-restraint was masterful.’
’If Emperor Wu Su truly wanted to seize Wei Ting’s command, he wouldn’t do it this way—like slicing meat with a dull knife.’
Wei Liru stared at her back. "If you won’t even try, how do you know you can’t stop him?"
Ji Qingwu turned back, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Princess Wei, this is a matter for your Wei Family. Yet you come to me, a Ji, asking me to advocate on your behalf. Isn’t that asking for the impossible?"
Wei Liru pressed her crimson lips together tightly.
’She regretted ever bringing this up with Ji Qingwu. She must have been completely muddled to ask someone from the Ji Family for help.’
The pavilion was situated on high ground. Ji Qingwu gazed across the lake and noticed a massive, turtle-shaped boulder on the other side.
She said, "If it’s the latter, then there’s even less to worry about."
Wei Liru frowned. "You’ve seen my brother?"
Ji Qingwu immediately raised her voice. "Absolutely not! How could I possibly have seen General Wei?"
After speaking, she glanced up at the tree overhead and then toward a nearby patch of bushes.
’She wondered if Si Hai was still following her now that she was in the palace. If her words reached Emperor Wu Su’s ears, it could stir up another storm for no reason.’
Wei Liru asked, "Then why did you say that?"
Mo Lingling sent letters to Ji Qingwu daily, keeping her informed about everything happening at the medical hall. According to her, Wei Ting, despite his demotion to a seventh-rank official, still had enough free time to continuously send little trinkets to the hall. He had even sent over a green-haired turtle.
It seemed Wei Ting was still as carefree and unrestrained as ever.
Ji Qingwu said, "As long as he’s alright, isn’t that what matters? It seems to me he’s handling it much better than you think."
*
「Diligent Governance Hall.」
The large red gates were thrown wide open.
A cool breeze drifted in, carrying with it the fragrant smoke that spiraled up from the incense burner inside the hall.
Seated behind his grand desk, Emperor Wu Su’s handsome face wore a faint smile as he gazed at the memorial in his hands.
No one knew what the memorial contained.
Then, with a flick of his brush, he tossed the memorial to Li Yuzong.
"Have someone deliver this to Lu Juan. Tell him to oversee the execution at the marketplace at noon tomorrow."
Emperor Wu Su passed down the order for a beheading with a perfectly pleasant expression.
Li Yuzong accepted it respectfully, stepped outside to give a few instructions to Little Dongzi, then returned to the hall to wait upon the Emperor.
’Ever since Ji Qingwu had entered the palace, his duties in the imperial court had become simultaneously easier and more difficult.’
’Right now, things were easy.’
’When Emperor Wu Su reviewed memorials, no matter the contents, a steady smile remained on his lips, which put all the servants at ease.’
’The difficult part, however, was that His Majesty’s energy seemed inexhaustible; he simply could not stay idle.’
’The servants attending to him were relaxed in spirit but physically exhausted.’
Emperor Wu Su had even visited Hongsheng Hall for martial practice several times, destroying a number of wooden training dummies in the process.
But now, with General Wei Chi transferred to the Northern Border and General Wei on bad terms with His Majesty, there was no one suitable to spar with.
Lu Juan had sparred with him once. After that, he would slip away from court faster than anyone else; Li Yuzong couldn’t catch him even at a full run.
Having finished the memorials, Emperor Wu Su rose and stretched.
After a moment’s thought, he said, "Summon Duan Mingfeng to Hongsheng Hall."
Li Yuzong bowed his head in acknowledgment.
「A short while later.」
Duan Mingfeng stood opposite Emperor Wu Su, Soft Sword in hand, momentarily unsure how to begin.
The Emperor casually twirled his sword in a flourish before resting its tip on the ground. "Ming Feng," he said, "don’t be so formal. Let Us see how your skills have progressed."
Duan Mingfeng tactfully reminded him, "Your Majesty, the Duan family’s secret arts are the Tracking Technique and Qinggong."
’He wasn’t skilled in direct combat.’
"We know," Emperor Wu Su said. "That is why it is only your turn today."
The words had barely left his lips when he struck.
The Emperor had not chosen his Chixiao Sword, but rather a common Iron Sword. Yet, the speed of his attack was faster than even Duan Mingfeng’s flexible Soft Sword.
Duan Mingfeng moved nimbly, blocking and parrying, and managed to hold his ground.
Emperor Wu Su asked, "On the day of Qingyun’s wedding banquet, where were you?"
At these words, Duan Mingfeng’s hands faltered. The Emperor saw the opening, and Duan Mingfeng hastily raised his Soft Sword to defend.
"I went to escort Fifth Miss Ji over. She asked me to keep an eye on Mo Lingling, so I stayed in a room in the rear courtyard of the Princess Mansion."
’The sole of Mo Lingling’s foot had been cut by a stone in the lake. He’d seen it from the footprints outside her room, but she herself hadn’t seemed to notice.’
As Duan Mingfeng recalled the sensation of holding her foot, a flickering light entered his eyes.
Noticing the change in his expression, Emperor Wu Su asked, "Does Ming Feng wish to take a wife as well?"
’Where did that "as well" come from?’ Duan Mingfeng wondered for a brief moment, then met the Emperor’s gaze.
He answered without a trace of hesitation, "I am fated to live and die alone. To have a family is to have a weakness."
As if to prove his point, the attacks from Duan Mingfeng’s Soft Sword grew fiercer.
Hearing the word "weakness," Emperor Wu Su suddenly put more force into his arm.
The clean, sharp blow sent a numbing shock through half of Duan Mingfeng’s arm, forcing him back into a corner.
The tip of the Iron Sword was pointed directly at his throat as he gasped for breath.
Emperor Wu Su withdrew his sword at that moment, leaving him with three words.
"Don’t push yourself."
On the way back to Zhaoyang Hall, Emperor Wu Su was completely silent.
Li Yuzong followed silently behind him like a shadow.
’Originally, he had intended to bide his time, waiting for the spies Xijin had planted in the court to slip up.’
’But now, he could wait no longer.’
These last few days, at the Empress Dowager’s insistence, Ji Qingwu had been appearing before him more often.
’Not being able to see her every day before had been one thing, and bearable.’
’But now, with so many chances to see her, he dared not grow too close, wary of Xijin’s spies within the palace.’
Upon his return, Emperor Wu Su sat at his desk, lost in thought for a long while.
It seemed he was about to make a difficult decision.
