Yu Yihe’s panicked movement as she stood up naturally startled Yang Qing. He followed her gaze toward Qiangwei Shan and hurriedly stood up as well. For a Jinshi, it was impossible to forget the Son of Heaven throughout his entire life.
The movements of both individuals fell into the eyes of the Emperor standing on high ground. He no longer remained on the hill, but began to walk down the moss-covered stone steps one by one. Each step was steady, and each step felt as though it were landing directly on the hearts of the two people in the pavilion.
Yang Qing was still marveling at how he could encounter the Emperor at such a time, while Yu Yihe was trying to calm her racing, fluttering heart. As each was lost in their own thoughts, the Emperor descended the artificial hill and walked straight into the pavilion.
By the time he strode onto the pavilion steps, the servants within had already prostrated themselves on the ground. The only two left standing followed suit—one arching his hands in a formal bow, the other curtsying low.
“This subject (Your servant’s daughter) greets the Emperor.”
The Emperor’s gaze first landed on the beautiful woman performing the curtsy, before sparing a sliver of attention for the elegant and shy Hanlin scholar. His tone was neither warm nor cold as he said, “You may rise.”
Meeting their hesitant gazes, Wei Jingheng’s lips pursed slightly as he offered a reluctant explanation: “I was merely passing by to take shelter from the rain.”
Having said that, he walked over to the stone table of his own accord. Yu Yihe clenched her palms and retreated a few steps, only to see him calmly sit in the seat she had originally occupied. With only half a step between them, she could already smell that heavy, deep fragrance. The memories of that night became vivid once more, causing her cheeks to heat up involuntarily.
Just as the two were at a loss for what to do, the Emperor asked as if entirely oblivious, “What are you two doing here? Are you also taking shelter from the rain?”
Standing under the eaves of the pavilion, Li Fuhai heard this and hurriedly pressed his lips tightly together. The other young eunuchs, their backs to the pavilion, lowered their heads even further.
This question left Yang Qing feeling ashamed and embarrassed. If he told the truth, and it reached the Emperor’s ears but the match didn’t work out later, he feared it would damage the reputation of the Yu family’s young lady. If he lied, the private meeting between a lone man and woman would only invite more gossip.
Just as he was struggling with how to answer, Yu Yihe took a proactive step forward. This step placed her even further away, an attitude that caused the Emperor’s hand, which was playing with a teacup, to pause.
She lowered her head and replied respectfully, “I am currently having a matchmaking meeting with Yang Daren; it is not for the sake of avoiding the rain.”
Wei Jingheng’s hand suddenly tightened with force, and his expression darkened visibly. He had kindly given her a chance to cover it up, yet she stubbornly insisted on telling the truth. The irritation he had been suppressing for so long naturally became impossible to control.
“You certainly are in a hurry to get yourself married off.” The sarcasm in his voice was completely undisguised.
These words left Yang Qing horrified. He didn’t understand why the Emperor would treat a lady so unkindly. He hurriedly looked toward Yu Yihe, but could only see her lowered head, her expression unreadable.
Wei Jingheng waited a long time for an answer, but when he glanced sideways, he only saw someone who seemed intent on lowering her head into the very dust. This attitude made him irritable. She could talk and laugh with others, so why did she always avoid him like this?
He couldn’t help but strike again. “This match is at least somewhat passable.”
No matter how clueless he was about the situation, Yang Qing realized there were undercurrents here he didn’t understand. He had also been inexplicably caught in the crossfire, but his first instinct was to look worriedly at Yu Yihe. Under his gaze, Yu Yihe knelt down without a word.
Her pale pink dress touched the rainwater that had dripped from the Emperor’s boots onto the stone floor. She knelt directly before his knees; Wei Jingheng would only need to lean over and reach out to touch her.
Seeing this, he regained some patience and waited for her to speak. However, after several moments, there was still no movement. She remained prostrate on the ground, manifesting a silent obstinacy.
Wei Jingheng’s patience finally ran out. He set down the teacup and tapped his finger on the tabletop. “Do you have nothing to say?”
The tone, which sounded as if he had caught his own wife committing adultery, left Yang Qing bewildered, but it didn’t stop him from immediately stepping forward to kneel beside Yu Yihe.
“The matter of this subject’s meeting with Miss Yu has received the approval of Yu Shilang and Madam Yu. It is not a private or illicit encounter. I beg the Emperor to see clearly.”
But the sight of the two of them kowtowing side-by-side was an eyesore to the Emperor. Almost instantly, his voice, laced with rage, rang through the entire pavilion.
“Did I ask you?”
“Your Majesty, please forgive me!”
While Yang Qing kowtowed in terror to beg for mercy, the woman who had been prostrate and silent finally straightened her back. Two lines of clear tears flowed from her almond-shaped eyes, yet she kept her lashes lowered and her lips pressed tight, refraining from making any sound. She was as submissive as submissive could be.
Wei Jingheng rarely saw women cry. Most concubines would wear a smile in front of him no matter what. On the rare occasions he did see them cry, they would weep loudly and make accusations about who had bullied them, fearing he wouldn’t take their side.
But she was different. Her temperament was soft, and she didn’t become defiant even while crying. Yet, because of this, the Emperor was instead left dazed. The anger that had just flared up vanished instantly. He opened his mouth several times before finally saying:
“Yang Aiqing, you may leave first. I have a few words for Miss Yu.”
Yang Qing had no time to worry about the Emperor’s sudden change in address before two small Neishi helped him up. Before he could take more than a couple of glances back, he was half-escorted and half-pulled out of Qiangwei Shan.
The two Neishi led Yang Qing and his two servants outside and stood directly at the entrance. In the face of Yang Qing’s inquiries, the Neishi only smiled and said, “Yang Daren, do not ask further. You only need to remember that the Emperor will not harm anyone without reason.”
Yang Qing gave a few forced laughs and agreed. Seeing the expressions of these two young eunuchs, he knew he wouldn’t be able to find out anything. Just as he was preparing to wait outside for Yu Yihe to come out, the Grand Steward, another young eunuch, and Qingshuang also emerged from the artificial hill.
The Grand Steward saw Yang Qing still waiting at the entrance and sighed in his heart. Intending to save him further wasted effort, he said, “The rain is light now; Daren should head back first. We will see Miss Yu home.”
…
Inside the pavilion, only Wei Jingheng and Yu Yihe remained—one sitting regally on a stone stool, the other kneeling on the ground. After another moment, Wei Jingheng finally relented and reached out to help her up. He used some strength, but she remained motionless, refusing to take the offered exit.
He felt the urge to get angry, but seeing those teardrops fall one by one, he found it impossible to summon any rage. Just as he was at a loss, the stubborn woman finally spoke.
“What does Your Majesty wish to say to me?”
Wei Jingheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and told her to stand up before they spoke. However, she was still unwilling, only reluctantly standing up after he gave her another look.
This allowed him to see the sliver of stubbornness beneath her submissive exterior. Looking at this ungrateful woman, the Emperor was both angry and amused. “You certainly have your pride. It’s as if making you stand up has done you a great grievance.”
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he saw the tears she had just stopped began to fall again in large droplets, showing signs of becoming uncontrollable once more.
Although Yu Yihe had some schemes and calculations, this sense of grievance was not entirely feigned. His two sentences had pierced her heart, and she could see that the Emperor felt some pity for her, especially when she cried. Thus, she leaned into it and let the tears flow.
In the Emperor’s eyes, she was simply crying silently, like a soft bun that had been mistreated—round and allowing itself to be kneaded by others without any forceful resistance, save for a hint of indignation in her tone.
“What does Your Majesty wish to say to me?”
Wei Jingheng heard her ask once more. This business-like attitude caused him to lose heart. He stood up and took a step toward her. His imperial aura, towering over her by more than half a head, pressed down like a heavy cloud, causing Yu Yihe to instinctively take a step back.
But the Emperor did not stop. He took another step forward, further shrinking the space between them. Yu Yihe had nowhere left to retreat; behind her was the pavilion pillar.
Though he was still half a step away, the Emperor’s deep fragrance already enveloped her. Yu Yihe looked up at him nervously, her red lips parting as she prepared to ask a third time, but the Emperor interrupted her before she could speak.
“You should know what I want to say.”
His appearing again and again had made his intentions very clear. Wei Jingheng felt he had already gone to his absolute limit. Never before had an Emperor needed to “visit the thatched cottage thrice” just to take a woman into his harem.
Forcing herself to meet those deep eyes for a few more moments, Yu Yihe eventually turned her head away and whispered, “Consort Zhaoyuan.”
It was a legitimate reason, but the Emperor did not accept it. He raised his hand and used his thumb to wipe a tear from her face, his touch surprisingly gentle.
“The wine that night was spiked.”
At that single sentence, Yu Yihe turned her head in shock. A moment later, she lowered her lashes and gave a bitter smile.
“She wants you to enter the palace.”