In the Hall of Diligent Governance, several ministers were suffering in silence.
Each had risen early and retired late to draft their memorials, only to have Emperor Jingxuan tear them apart in front of everyone, leaving their old faces flushed with humiliation.
To make matters worse, after the scolding, His Majesty left them standing there without a word, not even offering them a cold bench to sit on, prolonging their torment.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Jiang Fusheng entered the hall with trembling steps and whispered something into Emperor Jingxuan’s ear.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall plummeted to freezing point. The ministers kneeling on the cold jade floor shivered involuntarily, the chill seeping into their bones.
Jiang Fusheng, of course, was no exception. After delivering his message, his back was drenched in cold sweat, his face drained of color as he braced for the emperor’s thunderous wrath.
To everyone’s surprise, aside from the sudden shift in his imposing aura, Emperor Jingxuan’s voice was eerily calm:
“Rise, my lords.”
Hearing this, the ministers wiped the cold sweat from their brows and shakily stood up from the floor.
Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze swept over them, his tone icy and authoritative: “We grant you a few more days. If the memorials submitted three days from now still fail to meet Our expectations… my lords may consider stepping down with honor.”
The ministers felt a chill crawl over their scalps, as though their official hats had already been stripped away. Bowing deeply, they stammered, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s leniency! We shall spare no effort to serve Your Majesty!”
Emperor Jingxuan lowered his eyes. “Dismissed.”
The ministers hastily retreated, their hurried footsteps echoing as they fled the hall.
Silence returned to the grand hall. The ice basins in the corners emitted a biting cold, mingling with the delicate incense rising from the beast-shaped burners—inhaling it felt like swallowing shards of frost.
A beam of light pierced through the latticed window, casting Emperor Jingxuan in an ethereal glow. The shadows beneath his high, pronounced brow resembled the fall of night, his pitch-black eyes churning with stormy emotions. His voice, colder than the deepest winter, sent shivers down the spine:
“Prepare my horse.”
......
Seated in the carriage leaving the palace, Yun Wan first stopped by the Hongwen Institute to pick up Sui before heading toward Anqing Gate.
Inside the carriage, Sui sat on the cushioned seat, his legs dangling, his sky-blue book bag slung over his shoulder as he leaned close to Yun Wan.
Thrilled to be going home with his mother, he hummed a lullaby she used to sing to him when he was younger.
When he finished, he turned to her, his chubby little hand reaching up to touch her cheek. “Mother, are you unhappy?”
The warmth of his touch snapped Yun Wan out of her thoughts. She held his small hand and smiled faintly. “No, I was just lost in your singing.”
Sui blushed. “Should I sing it again for you?”
Yun Wan’s voice softened. “Of course.”
Sui straightened up, cleared his throat, and was about to start when the rapid clatter of hooves suddenly echoed from behind them.
Clop-clop-clop—
The sound grew louder, accompanied by the shrill neighing of a horse as it galloped through the narrow palace corridor, its approach carrying an overwhelming sense of urgency.
The guards at the gate raised their swords in alarm, only to drop them and kneel in shock upon recognizing the rider.
“It’s His Majesty!”
Hearing these words, Yun Wan’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, trembled slightly.
Sui tilted his head and peeked out through the satin curtains. “Mother, there’s a horse chasing us.”
Compared to the speed of the legendary Ferghana steed, their carriage might as well have been crawling.
No sooner had he spoken than the carriage jerked to a halt. Then, a voice as cold as steel rang out:
“Where does my lady think she’s going?”
Outside, Emperor Jingxuan sat tall upon his majestic black stallion, his piercing gaze fixed on the carriage as though he could see right through its walls.
His robes were resplendent, the golden dragon embroidery on his sleeves billowing in the wind. The sunlight glinted off the city gates, illuminating the emperor and his steed—a towering, jet-black horse that snorted impatiently.
Emperor Jingxuan narrowed his phoenix eyes, his grip tightening on the reins. Just as he was about to raise his whip, the heavy satin curtain was pushed aside from within.
A small, innocent face peeked out.
Sui blinked up at him with pure curiosity. “Your Majesty, why are you here? Did you gallop through the palace?”
“Mother and I are going home!”
He rested his chin on the windowsill, staring unabashedly at the emperor looming above him.
Emperor Jingxuan’s expression darkened instantly. “Jiang Fusheng!”
The eunuch, who had been struggling to keep up, nearly fell off his horse in fright. “Y-Your servant is here!”
With a single glance from the emperor, Jiang Fusheng scrambled to the carriage, forcing a smile at Sui. “Young master, allow this servant to carry you down.”
But before he could even touch Sui’s sleeve, Yun Wan pulled the boy tightly into her arms, her eyes wide with alarm as she looked at Emperor Jingxuan. “Your Majesty, the child is innocent.”
The emperor’s lips curled into a cold smirk, his face taut with suppressed fury. “What does my lady think We intend to do?”
Before Yun Wan could reply, Jiang Fusheng slapped his thigh in exasperation.
“Ah, my lady, you misunderstand! His Majesty merely wishes to speak with you privately. He asked this servant to take the young master aside for a moment!”
Otherwise, if the two of them started arguing in front of the bright-eyed child, wouldn’t that set a terrible example?
Yet both had misread the situation.
Jiang Fusheng was suddenly very glad he had followed—otherwise, who knew what might have happened!
Yun Wan froze.
“Mother?” Sui looked up at her obediently.
After a brief hesitation, she loosened her grip. “Go with Eunuch Jiang for now. Mother needs to speak with His Majesty. Children shouldn’t eavesdrop.”
Once the two had moved away, only Emperor Jingxuan and Yun Wan remained.
The emperor’s gaze bore into her, his voice low and dangerous. “Has my lady forgotten Our orders? You dare leave the palace without permission?”
Yun Wan pressed her lips together. “This concubine had urgent matters that required leaving the palace.”
Emperor Jingxuan’s eyes flashed with anger, though his tone remained deceptively even. “What urgent matter could possibly justify this? Enlighten Us.”
He clearly didn’t believe her, his fury simmering beneath the surface.
Yun Wan met his gaze squarely. “Tomorrow is the death anniversary of this concubine’s late husband, Feng Lan. By both sentiment and duty, my child and I should pay our respects.”
“Is this not basic human decency? Must Your Majesty obstruct even this?”
Her eyes shimmered like clear water, silently pleading with him.
For a moment, Emperor Jingxuan’s expression faltered. His throat bobbed, the anger in his brow easing slightly.
But then—
His voice turned icy again. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell Us?”
Did she truly think him so heartless that he would forbid her from visiting her former husband’s grave?
As the ruler of a nation, he prided himself on his magnanimity.
Yun Wan frowned, her gaze tinged with reproach. “This concubine tried to speak of it that day, but Your Majesty flew into a rage. Naturally, I dared not mention it again.”
The emperor stiffened. “And afterward? All these days, yet you never sought Us out to explain.”
Yun Wan lowered her eyes. “Your Majesty said this concubine was not to wander freely. The imperial court is a solemn place—how could I presume to approach without summons?”
Emperor Jingxuan let out a humorless laugh.
