Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 27: Terribly Mistaken! You Are a Wise Monarch
Emperor Wu Su’s deep eyes took in Ji Qingwu’s panicked expression.
His deep voice held a rare trace of gentleness.
’Gentle?’
’Putting herself in his shoes, Ji Qingwu found it utterly inconceivable.’
’To have been taken advantage of because of a moment of carelessness, and then to see the culprit again years later... anyone would be flying into a rage.’
’Especially since he was now the Emperor who ruled over all under heaven. That night should have been the greatest shame of his life.’
Ji Qingwu’s eyes flickered, and her thoughts drifted into the past.
An image of the first time she saw that face surfaced in her mind.
At the time, she was a military doctor and had been at the Northern Army Camp for over a year.
But just the day before, she had discovered she’d been pursuing the wrong man.
Who would have thought that a single army camp would have two main generals—a General Dingbei and a General Zhenbei—with such similar titles?
Ji Qingwu had focused all her attention on General Zhenbei, Wei Ting. She not only meticulously cared for his daily needs but even learned horsemanship to train his horses, all just to win the handsome man’s favor.
She chased after Wei Ting every day, and the entire camp knew that the female military doctor was infatuated with General Wei.
After more than a year of this, Ji Qingwu had developed genuine feelings for Wei Ting. In her heart, she thought, ’This must be fate. I have to make it work.’
She planned to cultivate a relationship with her target first. Once the feelings were mutual, she would then methodically proceed to the ’child-bearing’ step of her mission.
As for General Dingbei, Zhao Mingyan, she had only ever seen him a few times from a distance, and never clearly. Her mind was consumed by her mission, her heart set on winning over Wei Ting.
So, no matter how divinely handsome or famed for his military achievements General Zhao was rumored to be, she remained convinced that Wei Ting was the best, paying no mind to anyone else.
That is, until the system, which had long been silent, suddenly reappeared. It prompted her to complete her mission as soon as possible and informed her that her progress was zero.
She and the system spent all night going over the details...
...only to discover how spectacularly she had failed.
’Time was running out. Survival was paramount.’
That day, Ji Qingwu stood at the camp entrance, waiting for her true target to return.
He wore a suit of silver armor, riding a magnificent steed as black as ink, galloping toward the camp.
She put on a delicate, high-pitched voice to call out, "Zhao—" but she only managed to get out the one word.
The iron-shod hooves thundered past without a shred of mercy, kicking up a cloud of dust that billowed into her face. He didn’t even spare her a glance.
After racking her brain in her tent for days, Ji Qingwu finally came up with a drastic plan. She drugged the entire army camp, adding an extra-potent dose of Yin Yang Harmony Powder just for Zhao Mingyan.
She still remembered the look in his eyes when she lifted the tent flap and appeared before him—cold and sharp enough to run her through right then and there.
It was a long, cold night.
The cold wind howled outside, but inside the tent, a rare passion bloomed.
Their shadows intertwined within the tent, yet there wasn’t a hint of romance between them.
After the deed was done.
Ji Qingwu vanished. Operating on the principle that the most dangerous place is the safest, she went to a relay post just a few miles from the camp to await the birth of her child.
The relay post was little more than a sentry station with a few tattered military tents, and it was there that she hid.
...
「Inside the Diligent Governance Hall」
Ji Qingwu met Emperor Wu Su’s gaze. She saw a brilliant light in his eyes and a profound, unreadable meaning—but not a trace of anger.
"Why aren’t you speaking?"
’For him to be so calm and collected... it’s not right.’
A sliver of rationality returned to Ji Qingwu.
’She suddenly remembered that her face was still disguised. It only resembled her true appearance by about seventy or eighty percent. She had deliberately altered the bone structure of her chin and forehead, making them quite different from before.’
’Besides, they had only spent one night together, and she had covered his eyes with a silk cloth.’
’Emperor Wu Su’s behavior suggested he hadn’t recognized her.’
After this round of self-reassurance, she gradually calmed the frantic beating of her heart.
She replied softly, "I came to thank Your Majesty for granting me a seat."
Ji Qingwu had just managed to take a steadying breath when she heard Emperor Wu Su’s deep voice ask, "If you wish to show your gratitude, how will you do it?"
’Can’t I just say thank you and be done with it?’
Unsure of his intentions, Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together, making them appear all the more vibrant.
Suddenly, Emperor Wu Su rose and came to stand before her. His tall, imposing figure instantly cast a shadow over her.
Ji Qingwu felt as though she were trapped in an inescapable net. The scent of ambergris grew stronger, and not only did her face flush crimson, but all her exposed skin took on a pinkish hue.
He held an object in his right hand, using it to tilt Ji Qingwu’s chin up.
The object’s sharp edge dug painfully into her skin. She didn’t dare pull away and could only tilt her head back, exposing the pale, soft skin of her neck.
"Your Majesty..."
She realized he was scrutinizing her face.
Ji Qingwu’s breathing grew ragged, her heart pounded like a drum, and her chest heaved violently.
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze shifted for a moment.
’Ah, so above the azure clouds, there were soft white ones as well.’
Ji Qingwu was already dizzy, but now she felt breathless. Her vision swam, and her legs gave out as she started to fall.
She desperately grabbed onto the nearest thing for support.
Her hand felt smooth brocade, and beneath it, taut, powerful muscle—even harder than the paper scroll pressing against her chin.
When her vision cleared, Ji Qingwu realized she was gripping the Emperor’s arm.
She let go and straightened up, her soft cheek accidentally brushing against his large, well-defined hand.
"Miss Ji’s gratitude... I’ve received it," came his soft voice from beside her ear.
’She really hadn’t meant to do that.’ Ji Qingwu’s face burned, a deeper crimson than any rouge.
Emperor Wu Su withdrew his hand first, his fingers brushing against each other as he lowered his arm.
But after that "intimate" contact, she found she was no longer so afraid of him.
He used the scroll in his hand to lightly tap her cheek. His gaze was scorching, but his voice was chillingly deep. "This is a memorial impeaching the Ji Family. Would Miss Ji care to take a look?" freeweɓnøvel.com
Ji Qingwu’s eyes fell on the memorial held between his long fingers. freewёbnoνel.com
She quickly shook her head.
"I won’t."
’Throughout history, when have emperors ever allowed others to meddle in their affairs? If it was some state secret, she’d be in an impossible position if she read it.’
"You really won’t look?"
Emperor Wu Su hadn’t expected her to refuse without the slightest hesitation.
Ji Qingwu blinked, testing the waters. "If Your Majesty wishes me to see it, I will. If not, then I won’t."
Seeing her obedient demeanor, Emperor Wu Su’s lips curled into a sneer. "So the Ji Family has produced someone truly clever."
But Ji Qingwu could hear the veiled sarcasm in the Emperor’s words.
She could only lower her head and adopt an even more deferential posture.
"Even a child in the street knows that Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler, the likes of whom is seen only once in a millennium. I believe that Your Majesty will neither wrongly accuse the Ji Family nor let the guilty go unpunished."
She meant every word.
The previous dynasty’s massive construction projects had devastated the people’s livelihood. After Emperor Wu Su took the throne in Phoenix Palace, he only had his own residence simply repaired.
On her journey from the borders of Nanchu, she had seen how the lands grew more prosperous the closer she got to Lin’an City. In just three years, he had brought peace and prosperity to the common people.
Although the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were not as amicable as they seemed, she believed Emperor Wu Su was not the kind of King to act recklessly on personal whims.
Staring at her cloud-like black hair, a thick, inky haze gathered in Emperor Wu Su’s eyes.
