Her eyes lifted slightly, revealing a pair of clear, glistening irises shimmering with faint anticipation.
If one ignored the fleeting look of reluctance that flashed across her face.
Jiang Fusheng’s eyelids twitched violently at her words. He shot a quick glance at the Emperor before hastily interjecting, "Madam Lu, be careful with your words! This is a matter of bribery!"
Yun Wan gave him a puzzled look—who would know if no one spoke of it?
Still, she obediently replied, "Yes, this humble wife acknowledges her mistake."
She yielded outwardly, though inwardly she was nearly frantic.
This wasn’t acceptable, that wasn’t acceptable—just what did His Majesty want?
Emperor Jingxuan’s lips curled slightly, as if scoffing under his breath.
This mother and son were truly obsessed with money.
He straightened from the armchair and took large strides forward, closing the distance between them before Yun Wan could react. His towering, imposing figure loomed over her like a mountain, blocking the warm glow of the setting sun behind him and casting a shadow that completely enveloped her.
Unprepared, Yun Wan took two steps back, but the aura radiating from the man before her still made her breath tremble and slow.
"Close your eyes."
Yun Wan had no choice but to comply, shutting her eyelids.
Light and slow, something like willow catkins brushed against the tip of her nose, followed by a wisp of delicate fragrance that seeped into her senses, stirring her mind.
Her thin eyelids fluttered, about to open, but a hand covered them—rough yet scorching in temperature, freezing her in place.
His palm tingled as if two tiny brushes were teasing it, the itchiness piercing through flesh and bone, traveling along his meridians until it settled deep within. Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze darkened.
With the upper half of her face concealed, the lower half became all the more striking—a delicate jawline, flawless pale skin, and plump, crimson lips slightly parted, exhaling warm, moist breaths.
"Your Majesty?"
In the silence, Yun Wan called out softly.
Abruptly withdrawing his gaze, Emperor Jingxuan tucked away the handkerchief and lowered his hand, his tone indifferent. "This is a rare incense. Can you identify its components?"
Freed from the obstruction, Yun Wan slowly opened her eyes, the slight discomfort leaving them glistening with unshed tears, like a rain-washed sky.
Dabbing the moisture at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, she answered with a faint nasal tone, "Though the scent has faded somewhat, it is still rich and lingering—sweet, warm, and soothing. It resembles storax and musk, yet upon closer inspection, it is neither. Truly unique."
She carefully recalled the fragrance, her delicate brows furrowing.
Was it her imagination, or did the scent feel strangely familiar?
Yet no matter how hard she searched her memories, she couldn’t place it.
The confusion must have shown on her face.
Emperor Jingxuan pressed, "Do you know what kind of incense this is? Or how it is made?"
Yun Wan shook her head. "I do not."
Meeting his probing gaze, she sighed. "This humble wife truly does not know. This is the first time I’ve encountered it."
Still, curiosity gnawed at her. Tentatively, she asked, "Your Majesty, may I inquire—what is this incense called?"
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at her and uttered two words: "I don’t know."
".........."
"This humble wife misspoke." Yun Wan promptly admitted her fault.
Uninterested in whether her remorse was genuine or feigned, Emperor Jingxuan cut straight to the point: "Madam Lu, having now smelled this incense and recognized its uniqueness, if I ordered you to replicate it exactly, could you do it?"
"This........."
Yun Wan was stumped. She had never expected him to task her with recreating the scent.
She opened her mouth to refuse, but the weight of his dark gaze silenced her.
After a moment’s hesitation, she opted for a roundabout approach. "Your Majesty, may this humble wife ask one more question?"
"Speak."
"What makes this incense so special?"
The moment the question left her lips, the hall fell into an unnatural stillness, stirring her suspicion.
At his master’s signal, Jiang Fusheng stepped forward to explain:
"Madam Lu, you may not know this, but His Majesty suffers from chronic headaches. He came upon this incense by chance and found that it alleviates the pain. Unfortunately, neither the Imperial Physicians nor the Perfumery Bureau could decipher its composition. Knowing of your expertise in incense, we sought your counsel."
Yun Wan was taken aback. "Headaches?"
Jiang Fusheng sighed. "Indeed. Over the years, countless remedies have been presented, but none have proven effective."
Glancing at the Emperor’s broad back, Yun Wan murmured, "If applied correctly, incense can indeed nourish the heart, calm the spirit, and even prolong life. Throughout history, there have been cases of incense being used to treat headaches. But to address the root cause, one must first understand its origin—only then can it be gradually remedied."
Incense, when used properly, could be medicine.
But misuse could bring nothing but harm.
"Madam Lu speaks wisely," Emperor Jingxuan remarked, turning around unexpectedly. His tone was light as he added, "The imperial physicians concluded that my condition stems from excessive killing—an overabundance of bloodlust."
"K-killing?"
And too much of it?
Just how many lives had he taken?
A chill ran down Yun Wan’s spine as the rumors she had once heard suddenly rang true.
It struck her then—this was no ordinary emperor before her, but a battle-hardened sovereign who had defended the northern borders, his hands stained with countless lives.
Respect mingled with fear in her heart.
Emperor Jingxuan continued, "Since you are skilled in incense, perhaps you could examine these incense pellets and determine which might relieve my headaches."
With a wave of his hand, a young eunuch entered, carrying several brocade boxes, which he presented before Yun Wan.
Curious, she picked up one of the pellets and brought it to her nose. Her expression abruptly shifted.
"Outrageous!"
The horrified stares of those around her made her freeze. "Your Majesty, forgive me..."
Surprisingly, Emperor Jingxuan remained unfazed.
Jiang Fusheng asked, "Madam Lu, is there something wrong with this incense?"
Seeing that the Emperor was not angered, Yun Wan explained softly, "This pellet appears effective for headaches, but only because it contains wushi san! This substance can temporarily numb any pain, but it is highly addictive. Prolonged use not only damages the body but creates dependency!"
"The person who offered this is malicious and treacherous! Your Majesty must not use it—it would harm the imperial health!"
Emperor Jingxuan replied calmly, "No matter."
"The one who presented it has already been executed—by slow slicing."
".........."
Slow slicing—death by a thousand cuts.
Yun Wan’s face turned ashen.
Emperor Jingxuan suddenly smiled. "Apologies. I’ve frightened you."
Yun Wan attempted a strained smile and failed.
She couldn’t help but wonder—if she refused his command, would he have her executed too?
He absolutely would, wouldn’t he?
Amused by the play of emotions on her face, Emperor Jingxuan raised a brow. "Madam, do you have something to say?"
Yun Wan replied weakly, "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of replicating the incense... this humble wife will do her best."
"Then I shall trouble Madam Lu with this task."
And so, the responsibility fell squarely upon Yun Wan’s shoulders.
With a heavy heart, she trudged toward the palace gates, her steps leaden.
Halfway there, she clenched her teeth and suddenly turned back. "Your Majesty, my son Chang Sui injured his right hand today. Might the copying assignment be... postponed for a few days?"
At the last moment, she swallowed the word "waived."
Emperor Jingxuan seemed surprised but nodded after a pause. "Given his merits today, the task is excused."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is most wise!"
For the first time, Yun Wan’s smile reached her eyes—bright as summer blossoms.
After leaving the side hall and walking along the corridor, Jiang Fusheng, who was leading the way, spoke up: "Madam Lu, regarding His Majesty Emperor Jingxuan's headache condition, we hope you..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but Yun Wan nodded in understanding. "I see. Rest assured, I will never speak of this matter to outsiders."
Jiang Fusheng's smile deepened, and he suddenly added, "You and the young master should also be cautious with your words outside. Do not recklessly discuss others."
Yun Wan: ?
She understood the warning to "be cautious," but what did "recklessly discuss others" mean?
"Could you clarify, Eunuch Jiang?"
Jiang Fusheng flicked his horsetail whisk and merely smiled without another word.
