For some reason, Yun Wan felt restless all afternoon, her right eyelid twitching incessantly as if something significant was about to happen. Yet no matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t pinpoint what might be amiss. Pressing a hand to her slightly racing heart, she reasoned it must be due to oversleeping and drinking a cup of tea right after waking.
A palace maid nearby noticed her discomfort and asked nervously, "Is my lady feeling unwell?"
Everyone in the Zichen Palace knew how the Emperor treasured Lady Yun as if she were the apple of his eye. The slightest neglect from the servants would result in immediate dismissal—those fortunate might be reassigned to the Six Bureaus or other palaces, while the unlucky ones would be sent to the Yeting Bureau to perform menial labor.
Thus, it was now common knowledge among the imperial attendants that no one could afford to slight Lady Yun, even though she still held no official rank.
Seeing the maid’s anxious expression, Yun Wan smiled faintly and shook her head. "It’s just a bit of unease. Nothing serious. Go and see if Fuling has returned yet."
The maid exhaled in relief. "This servant will go check."
Once the maid left, Yun Wan lost interest in her embroidery and put away the hoop.
......
Qinzheng Palace.
The vast hall was enveloped in dead silence, so quiet that the sound of a falling needle could be heard, punctuated only by the steady rhythm of snoring.
On the desk, a game of Go remained unresolved, its black and white pieces locked in an undecided battle. Nearby, sprawled across the Persian carpet, a young man named Pei Qian slept soundly, utterly lost to the world.
On the jade steps, Sui clutched a blue handkerchief, his little face puffed up in annoyance.
Below, Jiang Fusheng’s mind buzzed with shock, his round, dough-like face frozen in astonishment—utterly dumbfounded would be an understatement.
Th-this… Had he heard correctly?
"You say," Emperor Jingxuan paused, his gaze burning as he stared at Sui, his voice strained, "this handkerchief belongs to your mother?"
Sui sensed something odd about the Emperor and Jiang Fusheng’s reactions. Why did they seem so stunned?
He nodded firmly, his chubby face serious and silent. He hadn’t forgotten the Emperor’s earlier threat to throw his mother’s handkerchief away, and his narrow, upturned eyes held a trace of wariness.
Emperor Jingxuan took a deep breath, his voice low and steady. "How can you be so certain this is your mother’s handkerchief?"
"Because it is hers!"
Sui pouted, displeased by the doubt, his little face scrunching up. "I’d never mistake my mother’s things!"
The Emperor frowned.
Jiang Fusheng interjected, "Young master, His Majesty means to ask how you recognized this as Lady Yun’s handkerchief at a glance. What if you’re mistaken?"
"Impossible! The little flower my mother embroidered looks exactly like this."
Sui declared confidently.
He unfolded the handkerchief and pointed to a small blossom in the lower right corner. "See? This flower is the peach blossom my mother stitched. She finds it tedious, so all her flowers are embroidered in a single color."
"And the green leaves beneath the flower are identical to the ones on my handkerchief. Mother only stitches this type of leaf because she says it’s simple yet unique. The flower and leaf together form the character ‘Yun.’"
Jiang Fusheng leaned in for a closer look and realized it was true. The five-petaled flower was stitched with uniform thread, its technique plain and unremarkable—like the work of a beginner.
Looking down at the two green leaves beneath, pointed at both ends and wide in the middle, they cradled the flower like a palm, vaguely resembling the character for 'cloud' at first glance.
Emperor Jingxuan lifted the handkerchief that had been covering Pei Qian's navel, holding it in his palm as he stared at it for a long while. His eyelids lowered, concealing the emotions in his eyes, making him utterly inscrutable.
Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
"My lady, my lady...
So it was you all along."
No wonder he had searched for five years without a trace of her. No wonder she had been so fearful of him at their first meeting. No wonder she turned as skittish as a startled bird at the mere mention of the handkerchief's owner. No wonder she repeatedly probed him about the results of his search. And no wonder no one else could replicate that unique fragrance—only his lady had succeeded...
Now, it all made sense.
The rare scent on the handkerchief came from none other than his lady herself.
"My lady, my lady... So it was you who barged into the bamboo pavilion five years ago and shared that passionate night with me."
Everything fell into place.
From the very beginning, the target of his suspicion and the direction of his investigation had been wrong—no wonder he had found no leads for so long.
Emperor Jingxuan clenched the handkerchief tightly in his hand, his smile deepening. His phoenix eyes, dark as ink, were profound and unfathomable, flickering with a hint of exhilaration and near madness.
His laughter rang out loud and unrestrained, leaving Sui utterly bewildered, his eyes even tinged with concern.
"Is His Majesty alright? Why is he laughing so strangely?"
Jiang Fusheng, however, understood. This was likely the legendary joy of "searching for her for years, only to discover she had been by his side all along."
Such was fate!
"What's going on? What's going on?!"
Startled awake by the laughter, Pei Qian bolted upright like a carp leaping out of water, looking around in confusion. "What happened?"
Why was his uncle laughing so loudly, like a villain who had just succeeded in some mischief?
Jiang Fusheng chuckled and patted him reassuringly. "Nothing at all, Young Master. Go back to sleep, there’s a good lad."
"Oh, alright."
Hearing that nothing was amiss, Pei Qian scratched his head, glanced around, and seeing no one paying him any mind, flopped back down to sleep.
He slept straight until dusk. But that night, back in his quarters, he was struck with a bout of diarrhea. The imperial physician diagnosed it as a chill in his stomach.
Weak and miserable in bed, Pei Qian couldn’t understand how his stomach had gotten cold.
The interruption tempered Emperor Jingxuan’s mirth. His gaze turned teasing as he looked at Sui. "Boy, you truly are your mother’s child."
Sui frowned. "Of course I’m my mother’s child."
Wasn’t that obvious?
"But Your Majesty still hasn’t answered me—why did you throw away my mother’s handkerchief? She worked very hard on her embroidery."
As a child, he’d heard stories in the household of a maidservant whose family struggled financially. Her mother had taken on endless embroidery work day and night to earn extra coins, only to ruin her eyesight and lose her vision.
That was when he realized how grueling needlework could be. He feared his own mother might overexert herself, so he treasured every handkerchief she stitched and every robe she sewed for him.
Yet the Emperor had wanted to discard one over a mere ink stain! This infuriated Sui.
Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan exhaled slowly, unbothered by the boy’s bluntness.
After a moment’s thought, he explained, "It was a misunderstanding. I didn’t realize this was personally embroidered by your mother. Thinking it was soiled, I meant to discard it."
"Now that I know, I retract my earlier words."
As for the notion that the Emperor’s word was unchangeable—he couldn’t care less.
"Is that so?" Sui tilted his head. "Then why did Your Majesty have my mother’s handkerchief in the first place?"
Emperor Jingxuan paused slightly, his face unblushing as he lied effortlessly: "Your mother gave this to me."
Sui was even more puzzled. Why would her mother suddenly give His Majesty a handkerchief?
At four years old, Sui’s understanding of romantic matters was still vague. She only felt something was off but couldn’t quite pinpoint what.
Emperor Jingxuan deliberately steered the conversation away, saying leisurely, "Don’t mention today’s incident to your mother."
Sui: "Why?"
Emperor Jingxuan: "Because I don’t want her to know about the handkerchief being thrown away."
"I see," Sui nodded, then abruptly shook her head. "But no."
"I’m my mother’s good child. I won’t help others deceive her."
Otherwise, how heartbroken would her mother be if she found out?
This kid—so principled and sharp.
Emperor Jingxuan changed tactics. "Then let’s make a deal. Tomorrow, I’ll keep Elder Xu an extra hour. For today, don’t tell your mother. Wait until the next time you see her."
As for when that next meeting would be—well, that was up to him.
His tone was unusually earnest, so Sui believed him and reluctantly agreed, deciding to jot it down in her diary later. She would definitely tell her mother the next time they met.
......
After the two children left, the sun had already set. Dusk rose, and the dim candlelight in the hall cast shadows like thick clouds gathering.
Emperor Jingxuan dismissed the palace attendants who came to light the lamps and sat alone on the jade steps, still as a statue.
His expression was unreadable, his gaze icy and inscrutable.
A gust of wind rushed in, making the candle flames flicker as Jiang Fusheng’s plump figure hurried into view.
"Your Majesty, Xuan Yi of the Black Dragon Guard has been recalled."
Emperor Jingxuan stood, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the candlelight. His voice was calm but firm:
"Relay my order. He is to set aside all other tasks and focus entirely on investigating what Lady Yun was doing, where, and when during my birthday banquet five years ago."
Now that he knew Lady Yun was the one from that night, things were simpler. With enough digging, clues would surface. Emperor Jingxuan was in no rush.
After learning that Lady Yun was the owner of that handkerchief, he had been tempted to storm into Zichen Palace and confront her, to expose her then and there.
But he stopped himself.
Lady Yun was a cunning little fox. A mere handkerchief wouldn’t be enough to make her admit to what happened five years ago. She’d likely already prepared a dozen excuses to brush him off.
Only with irrefutable evidence could he corner the elusive Lady Yun.
The thought filled him with regret.
If only he hadn’t threatened to have her "drawn and quartered" that day. Now she’d taken those words to heart.
No wonder she had been so unsettled those past few days. At first, he thought she knew the identity of that woman—never imagining she was that woman.
Recalling how he had repeatedly called her a "thief," "scheming," and "treacherous," Emperor Jingxuan pressed his lips into a thin line.
He warned coldly, "Be careful. Don’t let Lady Yun catch wind of this in the coming days."
Jiang Fusheng, aware of the gravity, straightened. "Your Majesty need not worry. This servant won’t utter a word."
......
After dinner, with still no sign of Emperor Jingxuan, Yun Wan grew suspicious and summoned Fuling.
"Did you see His Majesty and Sui when you went this afternoon?"
Fuling nodded with a smile and said, "I saw it all! When I entered, His Majesty was playing chess with the young master, and the atmosphere was so harmonious. Young Master Pei Qian was even snoring away on the side!"
She vividly described the scene, making Yun Wan laugh.
"I didn’t dare to disturb them for long, so I just left the things and withdrew," Fuling added, then blinked mischievously. "Is Madam missing His Majesty? I noticed you’ve been distracted all afternoon. Should I go and inform him?"
"No—"
Before she could finish, a palace maid announced from outside, "His Majesty has returned."
Emperor Jingxuan stepped in, his tone casual. "Has Madam had dinner yet?"
Yun Wan nodded. "And you, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Jingxuan replied, "I ate a little at the Hall of Diligent Governance."
"What about Sui?"
More than whether he had eaten, Yun Wan was concerned about her son.
Emperor Jingxuan answered plainly, "That boy got his hands on Elder Xu’s scriptures and rushed back to prepare. He said he’d come to see you once the matter of his apprenticeship is settled."
Yun Wan nodded in agreement. "That’s right. This matter is urgent—his apprenticeship comes first. We shouldn’t disturb him, lest he loses focus."
Emperor Jingxuan took her hand, playing with her fingers gently. "If Madam has time to spare, perhaps she could care for me a little more."
Yun Wan opened her mouth, wanting to ask—hadn’t she cared enough already?
"How would Your Majesty like me to care for you?"
"Madam’s hands are skilled. Make me a set of clothes."
The words slipped out, but he immediately frowned and corrected himself. "No, never mind. Tailoring is too taxing. Undergarments would suffice."
Yun Wan: "......Very well."
Night had fallen, and since both had already eaten, they skipped the usual post-dinner stroll.
Yun Wan bathed first, while Emperor Jingxuan lingered behind. By the time he entered, she had already dried off and changed into her nightclothes.
Missing the chance for a shared bath, Emperor Jingxuan felt a pang of regret.
After a quick rinse, he stepped out of the bathing chamber to find Yun Wan asking a servant for his clothing measurements.
Emperor Jingxuan chuckled. "If Madam wishes to know, why not measure me yourself?"
The attendant, quick-witted, handed her a soft measuring tape before silently withdrawing.
A few steps away, Emperor Jingxuan stood with his arms outstretched, watching Yun Wan quietly, waiting for her to take his measurements.
Yun Wan had no choice but to approach with the tape, starting with his arms.
The task inevitably brought her into contact with his body, and under her touch, Emperor Jingxuan’s muscles visibly tensed.
His arms lowered, gently encircling her waist, his scorching palms slowly caressing.
"Does Madam still ache?" He bent close, his lips brushing her ear as his breath warmed her skin.
Suddenly, the air thickened with intimacy, their shared warmth and breaths intertwining.
Yun Wan swallowed hard.
Before she could speak, Emperor Jingxuan swept her into his arms. "If you don’t ache, then Madam should take pity on me."
After the Mid-Autumn banquet, the marks on Yun Wan’s skin had lingered for days. During that time, mindful of her condition, Emperor Jingxuan had restrained himself—teasing her lightly but never truly sating his hunger.
Yun Wan’s breath quickened. "Wait—I haven’t finished measuring yet."
Emperor Jingxuan laughed lowly. "Wouldn’t measuring with your hands be more precise?"
Her cheeks burned, and she nearly covered his mouth to stop him from uttering more shameless words.
In an instant, she was pinned beneath him, lost in the rising tide of passion.
As her thoughts scattered, his voice murmured in her ear, "Madam, is there anything you’re hiding from me?"
"N-no, nothing at all."
Yun Wan spoke with difficulty, her breath scorching hot: "Your Majesty already knows everything about this humble consort. How could anything escape your notice?"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan curved his lips without a word.
Yun Wan's heart raced. "Why does Your Majesty suddenly ask such a question? Has this consort done something wrong to displease you?"
Leaning down to press a kiss, Emperor Jingxuan chuckled softly. "How could that be? This was merely an idle question. With such honesty from my lady, I could only be delighted."
Relieved by his words, Yun Wan relaxed slightly, her body yielding—much to Emperor Jingxuan's advantage.
Dizzy and breathless, Yun Wan soon glistened with sweat, her skin radiant like pearls, a vision of beauty.
"My lady grows ever more fragrant."
At the word "fragrant," Yun Wan tensed instinctively, and her tension, in turn, tested Emperor Jingxuan's patience.
A muffled groan escaped him from above, his temple throbbing as he gripped her waist.
To Yun Wan, Emperor Jingxuan seemed possessed this night, leaving her body and mind strained, unable to fully surrender.
For Emperor Jingxuan, it was torment and ecstasy intertwined—his lady both endearing and exasperating.
He would see just how long she could keep her secrets from him.
