While the palace attendants were still announcing their arrival, the group stood temporarily beneath the corridor awaiting Emperor Shuntian’s summons. Jia Yuan, with hands tucked into his sleeves, sidled up to Zhan Qin and smiled at him, lowering his voice to say, “Congratulations, Lord Zhan.”
Such words should not have been spoken within the palace grounds. However, Jia Yuan, following his father’s wishes, hoped to foster closer ties with Zhan Qin, the emperor’s favored minister. Since he rarely had the chance to see him in person, he could only seize this moment to strike up a conversation, racking his brains before finally settling on this topic as an opening.
Everyone in Yanjing knew that the relationship between the Grand Princess and her Imperial Consort had long been strained. Though no one knew exactly where the rumors originated, they had taken root like wild grass swept by the wind, and almost no one doubted them. Setting aside other matters, marrying and starting a family should be a joyous occasion, but wedding a princess was different—serving one’s wife was akin to serving a sovereign, a taste few ordinary men could endure.
“With Lord Zhan’s heaven-bestowed talents, why remain trapped in such…” Jia Yuan believed his flattery had surely struck a chord with Zhan Qin and eagerly awaited a favorable response. Before he could finish, however, he met a pair of eyes.
Zhan Qin towered over him, forcing Jia Yuan to tilt his head upward just to catch the faint downward glance Zhan Qin cast his way.
Sunlight sliced across the sharp, high bridge of his nose, leaving the other half of his face submerged in deep shadow. Those light-colored pupils held not a trace of emotion—neither displeasure at the offense nor joy at the prospect of relief from hardship—only a calm, indifferent glance.
Just that single glance.
A chill shot up Jia Yuan’s spine from the soles of his feet, and he involuntarily fell silent.
The chief female secretary, most trusted by His Majesty, emerged from the main hall and bowed, inviting them to enter. Zhan Qin spared Jia Yuan not even another glance, striding forward directly.
Jia Yuan instinctively moved to follow, but the female secretary had already stopped him: “His Majesty wishes to summon Commander Zhan alone. Please wait a moment, my lord.”
Jia Yuan tried to peer inside, but Zhan Qin’s figure had already vanished from sight. He could only gaze enviously as Zhan Qin, led by palace attendants, entered the study in the side hall of Chengqian Palace.
That place was not the Yushufang, yet it was comparable to the emperor’s inner cabinet.
At merely twenty-two years of age, Zhan Qin already held the position of Right General of the Jinwu Guard, a rank of the third class, with the privilege of attending the inner cabinet. His recent journey south had returned laden with achievements, ensuring his meteoric rise. How utterly unattainable he seemed!
Within the study, the warmth of ambergris incense kept the autumn chill at bay.
Emperor Shuntian, still in court attire, lowered her head to examine an unfinished game of chess on her lap, the beads of her imperial crown emitting faint jade-like sounds with each move she made.
Zhan Qin stood with bowed head three steps below, posture straight as a pine, eyes lowered, quietly awaiting the imperial audience.
“For your journey south, you have exhausted your efforts and should be rewarded,” the empress said without looking up, her tone carrying a note of praise. The female official standing beside her immediately announced, “Zhan Qin, receive the decree.”
Zhan Qin lifted the hem of his robe and knelt.
“By decree: Zhan Qin, Right General of the Jinwu Guard, was dispatched south to oversee salt administration, eradicate corruption, clear malpractices, and alleviate the people’s hardships, achieving outstanding merit. In recognition of his commendable loyalty and bravery, he is hereby promoted to Commander of the Jinwu Guard, with overall command of palace guard duties. Additionally, he is awarded: one hu of eastern pearls, one hundred taels of red gold, ten ingots of Huizhou tribute ink, and ten bolts of Cloud Brocade. So decreed.”
Attendants on both sides filed in carrying trays of pearls, red gold, and other treasures, presenting them one by one for Zhan Qin’s inspection.
Promotion in rank and office—even though Zhan Qin had anticipated it, he had not expected it to be the position of Commander of the Jinwu Guard.
No wonder the decree had to be bestowed in this study. The position of Jinwu Guard Commander held immense authority and power, one that could only be entrusted to the emperor's most trusted confidant. If the edict had been issued openly during a court assembly, the old ministers from the scholarly and noble families would surely have raised a storm of protest—something His Majesty certainly did not wish to see.
Zhan Qin kowtowed in gratitude for the imperial favor. As he rose, however, he noticed that before all the other rewards, there was a tray covered with crimson brocade.
Placed ahead of all the treasures, what could this be…
Emperor Shuntian summoned the maid holding the tray before him and removed the covering cloth. Beneath it was a jade box, its contents unknown.
She did not mention what was inside the jade box, merely placing a piece on the board. The crisp sound of jade striking the chessboard made Zhan Qin hold his breath for an instant.
Only then did Emperor Shuntian look up at him, his gaze as profound as ever, yet carrying a hint of something ineffable: "You must already be aware that Jinyang fell from her horse and suffered a head injury."
Jinyang was Rong Li's title.
She was the emperor's eldest daughter, granted the title "Jin" at birth—a clear testament to His Majesty's affection for her.
Speaking of Rong Li, Emperor Shuntian's tone finally carried a trace of warmth absent from his usual discussions of state affairs, tinged with a faint hint of helplessness: "At present, Jinyang's temperament… is different from before. Her memories are confused, and she has become even more willful and proud than she used to be."
Zhan Qin lowered his head, remaining silent and offering no response.
Although His Majesty spoke with complaint, everyone knew of the emperor's deep affection for the eldest princess—this was merely gentle reproach.
"I know that Jinyang and you have not always gotten along well in the past. This daughter of mine, spoiled by me since childhood, has an exceedingly proud and willful nature. And your temperament is also rather rigid and unyielding."
He paused, his fingertips lightly tracing the chess piece: "But now things are different. Jinyang believes herself deeply in love with you. She married you at such a young age and has always been delicate and clingy. I understand the difficulty of your position."
Emperor Shuntian's gaze lingered for a moment on Zhan Qin's lowered head before finally settling on the jade box: "But Minister Zhan, on the day you married Jinyang, you vowed to me that you would never fail her in this lifetime. Do you still remember that?"
Without waiting for Zhan Qin's response, Emperor Shuntian continued: "Minister Zhan, with the loyalty of a subject and the responsibility of a husband, can you obey Jinyang and tolerate your wife?"
Zhan Qin finally spoke, his voice still steady: "Your subject understands. Her Highness is ill, and I shall naturally do my utmost."
Emperor Shuntian nodded slightly, unsurprised by his perceptiveness and tact.
He pondered for a moment, his tone softening somewhat: "I know this matter may be somewhat difficult for you. But you are an intelligent man and should understand how to weigh the situation. Stabilizing her condition is a blessing for her, stability for the court, and for you…"
His words paused here, perfectly timed, leaving a meaningful silence, "…it is also a cause and effect you understand. If Jinyang and you are harmonious as husband and wife, naturally all matters will be peaceful."
In the end, it was Secretary Zhang himself who escorted Zhan Qin out of Chengqian Palace.
Secretary Zhang was an old retainer who had accompanied His Majesty through twenty years of military campaigns and governance. For him to be tasked with seeing someone off truly made the other ministers waiting for an audience burn with envy.
When they caught sight of the procession of imperial rewards following behind Zhan Qin, they all craned their necks and sighed.
Secretary Zhang escorted Zhan Qin to the palace pathway before taking his leave to return.
Zhan Qin gave a slight bow to see her off. She took a few steps, then turned back to offer careful advice: "Your journey south was arduous, Lord Zhan. Your promotion and generous reward are well-deserved honors. In the coming days, you may familiarize yourself with the new duties of the Jinwu Guard as soon as possible, so that in the future you can spend more time accompanying His Highness."
Zhan Qin bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Secretary Zhang."
Secretary Zhang hailed from a prestigious family and had been renowned for her keen insight since the Emperor's days as a hidden dragon. Her words carried layers of meaning, and Zhan Qin naturally understood which line was the most important.
After a few moments of contemplation, he headed toward the palace exit.
Yet the little tail that had vanished earlier now reappeared, skulking behind him once more.
Zhan Qin, with his exceptional martial skills, had sensed her presence the moment she appeared.
Like a curious bird, she flitted from one spot to another, peeking and craning her neck, believing herself to be stealthy while he saw through her at a glance.
In the past, whenever she saw him, she would rather pretend not to have noticed him. Yet now, she followed at a distance—neither too close nor too far—and even without turning around, he could feel her gaze fixed on his back.
Rong Li nearly hid her entire body behind a pillar, only occasionally peeking out. Then, while the Imperial Consort walked away with his back to her, she would dash forward to the next hiding spot.
Her bright, dark phoenix eyes gazed at Zhan Qin’s retreating figure. At one moment, she thought him uniquely handsome, like a towering pine or a row of jade, truly delightful to behold. At another, she prided herself on her flawless concealment, unaware that the jade ribbon tied in her hair had already drifted out from behind the wall, swaying and fluttering like her restless heart.
Zhan Qin pretended not to notice, proceeding to the final covered corridor leading to the palace gate.
He slowed his pace slightly, smoothing the slightly wrinkled hem of his robe. Seeing this, Rong Li’s heart leapt with joy, and she quickly lifted her skirt to dash forward, hoping to draw closer—
She—she hadn’t yet figured out how to face him, but she hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the embroidery pattern on the front of his official robe!
Yet in a flash, she had taken only two steps when she unexpectedly collided with something firm and cool, carrying the scent of pine. In that split second, her thoughts scattered—Rong Li knew her Imperial Consort was much taller than her, but she hadn’t realized just how tall. She didn’t even reach his chest, and now, with this collision, it felt as if she had buried her face into his firm waist!
"Oof!" Rong Li’s nose turned red from the impact. She instinctively stepped back two paces, nearly stumbling to the ground.
But a force gripped her wrist—it was Zhan Qin holding her.
Her autumn attire was thin, and even through the layers of fabric, she could feel how his two fingers could easily encircle her slender wrist. His fingertips bore slight calluses, prickling and tickling her skin.
Before the Princess could savor the sensation, Zhan Qin steadied her and released his grip without the slightest hesitation.
The Imperial Consort she had been thinking of all this time now stood silently before her, looking down at her.
He stood so close that his tall frame almost completely enveloped her in shadow.
Rong Li tilted her head up and saw his sharp, cold jawline.
For the first time, Zhan Qin realized just how petite the Princess was. He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes resting on Rong Li’s somewhat guilty little face, saying nothing.
The moment Rong Li met his gaze, a blush instantly spread across her cheeks, reaching all the way to the back of her ears. She immediately averted her eyes, no longer looking at him.
"Your Highness has been following me all this way," Zhan Qin spoke, his voice low and steady, lightly brushing against her ear like a crow's feather. "Is there something important you wish to instruct?"
Rong Li hadn’t expected him to initiate conversation with her.
Yesterday, he had walked away without even looking back, as if holding a grudge. Yet she distinctly remembered that in storybooks, when young couples quarreled, neither would yield nor be the first to seek reconciliation. Why was he acting so ordinarily?
Of course, Her Highness didn’t know that storybooks couldn’t possibly cover every situation.
She was completely stunned, lifting her head to look at Zhan Qin. When she caught the faint hint of amusement and teasing in his eyes, along with the rather charming red mole on the bridge of his nose, she inexplicably grew flustered and annoyed.
Her small pearl-adorned phoenix-head shoes lightly tapped against his official boots, as harmless as a bird pecking at someone. "…Why must the Imperial Consort be so tall!"
She huffed and puffed with false bravado, feeling as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest. In a flustered escape, she still managed to toss back a line, "The Imperial Consort is not allowed to follow!"
Author's Note:
Dear readers who enjoy this, please consider adding it to your collections! QAQ I beg you! [Bursting into tears]
With more collections, we can enter VIP status earlier, and I’ll update like crazy! I swear! Absolutely non-stop updates!