The Emperor was saved, but he was gravely injured. Grand Secretary Lin's sword strike had truly been intended to kill him.
He began to suffer from sleepless nights, feeling as though everyone around him was plotting his demise, and spent his days beating and cursing the palace servants in his hall.
His wounds were tightly bandaged, yet he constantly felt a chilling cold seeping into the gaps.
Overnight, he seemed to have aged decades.
"Where is the Seventh Prince..." his voice was hoarse.
For some unknown reason, the imperial concubines no longer conceived. To think that in the end, it would be his least favored Seventh Prince who remained by his side.
A eunuch replied cautiously, "Answering Your Majesty, His Highness the Seventh Prince is on his way back."
The Emperor weakly closed his eyes. "Have him come see me the moment he returns to the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After the palace coup ended, Xiao Yanchen sent Ji Zhaoxi back to the palace. Staying in Nanjing County was simply too exhausting.
Due to the events in Nanjing County, Xiao Yanchen's reputation among the commoners grew immensely. There were even rumors that he would be crowned Crown Prince upon his return.
Ji Zhaoxi went to the Supreme Court every day to study. Matron Song had also taught her a lot. The officials at the Supreme Court gradually became familiar with Ji Zhaoxi and would greet her from time to time.
Xiao Yanchen had been gone for two months. The guards said he would return tomorrow.
Ji Zhaoxi ran back to Ruhui Palace and immediately heard a cat wailing from the large pagoda tree. The cat crouched on a branch, howling down at Ji Zhaoxi with a very mournful sound.
"How did you climb so high?" Ji Zhaoxi looked up.
The cat strained its throat, crying loudly, its meows growing louder each time.
Resigned, Ji Zhaoxi sighed and began to climb the tree. The pagoda tree was tall and lush with leaves. Seeing Ji Zhaoxi coming up, the cat's cries became more urgent.
"Don't be afraid, I'm coming right..."
Just as Ji Zhaoxi climbed up the tree, the cat that had been wailing loudly gave her a short meow, then nimbly climbed down.
Ji Zhaoxi: ...
The cat crouched under the tree, looked up at her, licked its paws, and then elegantly strutted away.
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was preparing to climb down, a familiar laugh suddenly came from below. "Is Xixi trying to imitate a little cat?"
Ji Zhaoxi looked down. Xiao Yanchen had appeared under the tree at some point. He was wearing casual moon-white clothes, his dark hair casually tied with a single hairpin. He looked up, his eyes full of amusement.
Standing under the tree, he opened his arms slightly, smiling as he waited for her to jump down.
"Xiao Yanchen!"
Ji Zhaoxi's eyes lit up instantly.
The wind whistled continuously in her ears, and leaves fell slowly around her. Her slightly messy dress was gently lifted by the wind, spreading out in cascading layers.
Ji Zhaoxi threw her arms around his neck, unable to hide the joy on her face. "Didn't you say you were coming back tomorrow?"
Xiao Yanchen wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, holding her in his embrace. He smiled and kissed her eyes. "I missed my Xixi."
Holding her steadily, he walked toward their room.
"Xiao Yanchen, what exactly do you want for your birthday gift? I haven't even started preparing."
"Don't worry, Xixi. I'll tell you when the day comes."
The floor of the Golden Luan Throne Room was a mess. Eunuchs and maids knelt on the ground, trembling and kowtowing continuously.
The Emperor sat on the edge of the bed, panting, his fingers trembling non-stop. "Has the Seventh Prince returned?"
A eunuch's voice was soft: "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has returned and is currently in Ruhui Palace."
The Emperor leaned back weakly against the couch, his voice shaking with every word he spat out. "Tell him to come here immediately. Didn't I say he was to come see me the moment he returned?"
The eunuch lowered his head. "This servant will go summon the Seventh Prince right away."
At the entrance of Ruhui Palace.
Several eunuchs waited anxiously at the door. Guards stood at the palace entrance, refusing to let them in.
"Is His Highness the Seventh Prince ready? The Emperor has been urging him."
A guard replied coldly, "Someone has already been sent in to inform him."
"Let this servant go in and tell His Highness. The Emperor's current condition... His Highness might not know."
The eunuch was about to step forward but was stopped by the guard.
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch," the guard said, looking at him.
The eunuch couldn't stop sighing. How long had they been waiting? The Seventh Prince still hadn't come out.
Xiao Yanchen's figure finally appeared in their line of sight. His face was full of hostility, and the eunuch who was about to speak immediately shut his mouth.
Especially upon seeing the red marks on Xiao Yanchen's neck, he instantly lowered his head.
He wept bitterly in his heart. He didn't want to ruin the Seventh Prince's good time either, but if the Seventh Prince didn't go see the Emperor soon, the Emperor would probably smash the entire Golden Luan Throne Room.
Led by the eunuchs, Xiao Yanchen finally arrived at the Golden Luan Throne Room after quite a while.
No one dared to clean up the mess on the floor of the throne room; it was covered in shattered fragments. Xiao Yanchen walked in without changing his expression.
Hearing the noise, the Emperor looked at him with cloudy eyes. "Why did you come so late?"
Xiao Yanchen said nothing.
The Emperor's thinking had become much more sluggish. He rambled on about something, and Xiao Yanchen grew more and more impatient the longer he listened.
The Emperor's voice was intermittent. "And that one in your room... If you really like her, you can just make her a concubine later on..."
Xiao Yanchen impatiently interrupted, "I will not make Xixi a concubine."
The Emperor nodded weakly. "That's fine too... Just keep her in the palace..."
"I am going to let Xixi sit on the Dragon Throne," Xiao Yanchen stated.
The Emperor's expression changed instantly. He coughed violently in anger, spewing out blood.
Incense smoke curled through the bedchamber, but it still couldn't cover up the heavy stench of blood. The Emperor's breathing became increasingly rapid, his pupils dilating.
Xiao Yanchen calmly looked at Eunuch Qin beside him.
Eunuch Qin bowed his body, holding the heavy Imperial Seal, and abruptly threw off the blanket covering the Emperor.
Ignoring the terror in the Emperor's eyes, he treated him like a wooden puppet, grabbing the Emperor's hand and pressing it down forcefully.
"Your Majesty, put some strength into it."
The eunuch exerted sudden force, pressing the jade seal fiercely onto the edict establishing the heir to the throne.
A muffled thud echoed through the bedchamber.
And on that edict, Ji Zhaoxi's name was clearly written.
Properly justified, the grand scheme was set in stone.
Sunlight pierced through the large banyan tree, scattering golden spots on the ground. A faint floral scent lingered in the air, and the entirety of Ruhui Palace was incredibly quiet.
Today was Xiao Yanchen's birthday. He had given all the servants in Ruhui Palace the day off, so now only Ji Zhaoxi and Xiao Yanchen remained in the palace.
"Xiao Yanchen, what exactly do you want for a gift? I truly haven't prepared anything," Ji Zhaoxi looked at him with a miserable expression.
Xiao Yanchen chuckled lightly, making longevity noodles in the small kitchen.
"Does Xixi want to give me a gift that badly?" he drew out his words.
"Otherwise, you'll say I'm bullying you again," Ji Zhaoxi huffed.
He was the best at playing the victim, inevitably holding her and pitifully claiming she was bullying him.
Ji Zhaoxi symbolically tossed in a few chopped green onions, ensuring she had participated in the process of making Xiao Yanchen's longevity noodles.
After the two finished eating the longevity noodles, they played chess in the room. After a while, Ji Zhaoxi grew sleepy, and Xiao Yanchen held her as they slept.
Even in her dreams, Ji Zhaoxi was still thinking about Xiao Yanchen's birthday.
In the past, he would always pester her for gifts. Why was he being so well-behaved this year? Could it be that he knew how hard it was for her to earn silver...
The night was thick and impenetrable. The air carried a damp, heavy woody scent, mingled with a certain sweet and refreshing fruity fragrance.
Ji Zhaoxi groggily opened her eyes, still taking a moment to process the sight before her.
The bed hangings had been replaced with layers of translucent, cloud-like gauze curtains. The moonlight filtered through, making them look like a wisp of smoke. Behind this mist, there was a blurred silhouette.
Xiao Yanchen had just finished bathing. His inner robe hung loosely on his frame, and droplets of water slid down his neck into the shadows. He was lighting incense at the table, the candlelight tracing the contours of his profile.
You are awake?
Noticing the movement, Xiao Yanchen parted the gauze curtains and walked in.
Ji Zhaoxi buried herself tightly under the quilt, not making a single sound.
Looking at her, Xiao Yanchen could not hold back a chuckle. He took the opportunity to sit beside her, leaning over.
Xixi, you still have not given me my gift.
Ji Zhaoxi felt her entire body burning up. Hidden beneath the covers, she could barely breathe. The person beside her simply leaned against her, slipping his hand through the gap in the quilt to directly grasp her hand.
Is Xixi not planning to give me a birthday present? Such a bad Xixi... His hand gently caressed her wrist, bringing a wave of ambiguous intimacy.
Xixi, dote on me a little, will you... I have read a lot of books, and I will serve you well...
Ji Zhaoxi's voice was muffled under the blankets, but her flustered anger was still audible: Clearly it is what you want, what do you mean serve me!
Xiao Yanchen gave a low laugh and said nothing. The bedchamber suddenly fell silent.
Just as Ji Zhaoxi thought he had left, the quilt at the foot of the bed was suddenly lifted. A pair of hands reached up, and she buried her face fiercely into the blankets.
She felt as though she were being roasted over an open fire. That scorching heat burned from her feet all the way to her face. Her breathing grew increasingly rapid, and her fingertips turned white from gripping the quilt.
The inner hall was very quiet. Aside from the sound of their breathing, there was only the faint, intermittent dripping of water from the eaves outside the window. Every tiny sound made her defenses crumble.
Her mind went completely blank, yet her legs were held firmly. He gently stroked the skin of her legs, trying to soothe her.
The last taut string in her heart snapped, and her hands, which had been clutching the quilt in a death grip, finally let go.
The hall instantly grew quiet.
She was breathing heavily, her stray hairs already soaked with a thin layer of sweat. Her eyes were half-closed, her eyelashes fluttering gently.
Xiao Yanchen leaned against the right side of her pillow, exposing a large expanse of his chest. He looked down at her, the corners of his eyes still carrying a lingering trace of passion.
Seeing Ji Zhaoxi's thoroughly flushed face, Xiao Yanchen could not help but laugh out loud. His eyes curved in amusement, his voice carrying a subtle, teasing hook.
Your Majesty... did Xiao Chenzi serve you... comfortably?
In the bathing pool, behind layers of light gauze, warm mist continuously filled the air.
Through the swaying sheer curtains, the faint sound of a man's coaxing could be heard.
Xixi is so amazing...
The voice carried a watery echo, drifting near and far, mingling with the shy murmurs of a young woman.
Moonlight fell through the narrow, carved window lattices, scattering over the bluestone tiles in the corner. Water stains spread across the dry floor. After an unknown amount of time, the puddles on the ground sent out one last ripple before finally settling into absolute stillness.
