Free Web NovelChapter 61: Chapter 61: Keeping the Verbal Decree to Heart, Daring Not to Overstep
The Chief of the Internal Affairs Office soon appeared before Ji Qingwu and conveyed the Holy Emperor’s decree.
’She just didn’t understand—the Emperor had summoned Yuan Heng, so why did she have to go too?’
’She was just an innocent bystander.’
Ji Qingwu gazed at the distant, ornate halls and said hesitantly, "Eunuch Li, I still have to wait for Jiu Jiu to finish his lessons."
Li Yuzong flicked his horsetail whisk and ordered a little eunuch at his side to step forward.
"Miss Ji, just let Little Dongzi wait here for you. He’ll come and get you if there’s any news. The Holy Emperor is waiting, and making him wait will only displease him."
Yuan Heng puffed out his little chest and said heroically, "Come with me. I’ll protect you."
Ji Qingwu sighed. ’There was no escaping this.’ She followed him into the Diligent Governance Hall and, with Yuan Heng, paid her respects to the Emperor.
"Rise." The voice from the throne was as cold as ever.
After rising, she stood in the center of the hall. Seeing Lu Juan seated on the right, she curtsied.
"Greetings, Mr. Lu."
Lu Juan gave her a gentle smile. ’It had been a while since he’d seen his fifth sister-in-law. He never thought they’d meet in the palace today.’
’But seeing how well she got along with the little prince, he was somewhat surprised. Young Master Yuan Heng had a temperament much like the Holy Emperor’s and disliked interacting with strangers.’
But then came something even more surprising.
The King on the throne parted his lips and said coldly, "Ziyou, did you not have a family matter to attend to?"
If the Emperor said there was a family matter, then there was a family matter.
Lu Juan immediately understood. He rose and strode towards the exit.
As he walked, he said, "My wife is pregnant and requires my care, so I must return home as soon as possible. Your servant takes his leave."
Ji Qingwu’s gaze followed Lu Juan intently. ’She wanted to ask if her eldest sister was well, and if her morning sickness was severe.’
But her brother-in-law walked away so quickly that he gave her no time to speak, not even sparing her a glance.
Emperor Wu Su said coolly, "Yuan Heng, come here."
The little one stepped forward. Emperor Wu Su stared at his wrist, his brow tightening. Yuan Heng pulled up his sleeve, discreetly covering the five-color thread.
Emperor Wu Su asked in a heavy tone, "Have you finished the assignments your Grand Tutor gave you?"
’Classes in the Upper Study Room had just ended; how could he have had time to do his schoolwork?’
"I haven’t finished yet."
With a cold expression, Emperor Wu Su dismissed him. "You should have grand ambitions for the world and its people. Do not waste time on play. Now go."
Yuan Heng said in a crisp voice, "I obey."
The exchange between father and son made Ji Qingwu sigh inwardly.
’What a hard life her son had lived all these years. Summoned and dismissed at a whim, without so much as a kind look.’
Yuan Heng glanced back at Ji Qingwu, his dark eyes filled with apology, a silent amends for his earlier boast.
Ji Qingwu gently shook her head, letting him know she didn’t blame him.
’She understood.’
’Because she couldn’t withstand Emperor Wu Su’s cold glare either.’
The man on the high throne saw their interaction. ’When had she ever shown him such a lively, reluctant expression?’
Emperor Wu Su’s expression grew a little colder.
Seeing that Lu Juan and the little prince had both been sent away, Li Yuzong, ever perceptive, retreated with swift feet without waiting for the Emperor’s command, even pulling the red gate to behind him.
In the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, only she and the Emperor remained in the Diligent Governance Hall.
She hadn’t felt it so much when others were around, but now that they were alone, Ji Qingwu’s heart began to pound with anxiety.
’It felt like a little mallet was knocking about inside her, CLANGING and BANGING, giving her no peace.’
’But after their last few encounters, she had a feeling that the head on her shoulders was probably safe. She wasn’t in mortal danger.’
’Still, the fear that came from the depths of her heart was not so easily dispelled.’
Emperor Wu Su watched her eyes darting back and forth, her lashes fluttering. She was a little flustered and lost, but at least she was no longer trembling in terror.
’This change was a good sign.’
’The last time she came to the Diligent Governance Hall, she had been like a frightened bird upon seeing him.’ freēwebnovel.com
’And the time before that, in the side hall of Cining Palace, he still remembered how her clothes had been soaked through, her slender waist trembling violently.’
Emperor Wu Su descended from the dais and slowly walked over to her.
Ji Qingwu kept her head bowed, not daring to meet his eyes. She had to force herself not to retreat, allowing his gaze to fall upon her.
Then came a long, slow sigh.
"Are you truly that afraid of me? Tell me why you fear me."
Ji Qingwu’s gaze wandered, not daring to land on his face. It drifted downward to the bright yellow belt with its gold-chiseled plum blossoms and inlaid pearls, cinching a lean waist.
’Her reasons for fearing him... How was she supposed to answer that?’
She stared at the plum blossoms on his belt until her eyes ached before replying respectfully, "I hold only reverence and awe for Your Majesty, which is why I am so apprehensive."
’It was an answer she had carefully selected in her mind; it shouldn’t be wrong.’
’The Mandate of Heaven is manifest, imperial power is supreme, and the common folk are but humble subjects. Who wouldn’t feel timid before the Emperor?’
’Very good.’ Ji Qingwu mentally applauded herself.
Seeing the hint of smugness in her expression, the Emperor lowered his gaze, a dangerous glint entering his eyes.
"Somehow, I feel your performance isn’t one of reverence, but more like..."
He paused deliberately for a few seconds, then raised a hand to lift her chin.
Ji Qingwu met his cool eyes and immediately looked away, her guilt showing.
Emperor Wu Su said casually, "...a guilty conscience."
Instantly recalling her own "guilty deed," Ji Qingwu’s legs pathetically gave way. Her clear eyes began to well up, on the verge of overflowing with tears.
Emperor Wu Su switched to pinching her cheek between two fingers. He leaned in a little closer, his eyes darkening slightly.
"So I can’t even mention it? The moment I do, you go weak in the knees, ready to cry for me."
’She didn’t want to be so useless, but she truly couldn’t hold back the involuntary tears.’
He stared at her face, not missing a single flicker of emotion. "It seems you really have done something to feel guilty about. Are you trying to win my pity?"
Ji Qingwu held back her stinging tears and looked up at him with moist eyes, saying pitifully, "I wouldn’t dare."
Emperor Wu Su said ambiguously, "You wouldn’t dare? Is there anything you wouldn’t dare to do, Miss Ji? So timid, yet you love to do such bold things."
Ji Qingwu’s pupils contracted. ’Did he mean something by that, or was he just speaking casually?’
While she was still reeling with alarm and uncertainty, he released her and walked back to the throne. He sat upon his high seat, his tall, imposing figure exuding a natural air of authority as he watched her with a profound gaze.
With some distance between them, Ji Qingwu found it much easier to breathe.
Once she had calmed down, Emperor Wu Su asked, "Let’s talk about something else. The five-color thread on Yuan Heng’s wrist—was that a gift from you?"
’The Emperor had noticed such a small detail.’ Ji Qingwu nodded.
"I wove it myself, to pray for the Young Master’s safety and well-being."
Emperor Wu Su picked up a jade cup. "In what capacity are you doing this? Since when does a Prince need a minister’s daughter to look after him?"
’Her mind raced. The reason she had given Yuan Heng was fine for placating a child, but it would never work as an answer for the Emperor.’
Then she heard Emperor Wu Su ask again, "You’ve gone to such lengths to get close to the Prince. What are your intentions?"
Ji Qingwu’s knees trembled, and she felt the urge to kneel again. She explained in a small voice, "I have no other intentions. I simply feel a connection with the Young Master."
"What was that? I can’t hear you. Come closer to speak."
She shuffled reluctantly up the steps of the dais to his side.
"Do you know what your actions look like to others?"
Ji Qingwu thought about the deeper implications.
’There was only one Prince in the entire imperial harem. He was previously raised in Princess Consort Wei’s palace, which gave Wei Liru immense power and influence.’
’By getting close to the Prince, outsiders would only assume that the Ji Family wanted her to enter the palace as a concubine, adopt the Prince, and achieve a meteoric rise in status.’
The move was indeed reckless. Now that he had spelled it out for her, Ji Qingwu quickly shook her head. "I absolutely have no such intention."
"Your Majesty, I have kept the verbal decree you gave me etched in my heart. I would not dare to have any thoughts of overstepping my bounds."
Emperor Wu Su’s expression darkened, and his fingers tightened around the jade cup.
’That verbal decree...’
