Chapter 12: This Imperial Decree is for Your Ears Only

Ji Qingwu hid behind the screen, not even daring to breathe too heavily.

Shi Xi also knew that the Fifth Miss's current appearance was unsuitable for meeting anyone, let alone paying respects to the Emperor.

She replied, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Fifth Miss is changing her clothes."

Shi Xi did not specify where she was changing, so it did not technically constitute deceiving the sovereign.

Emperor Wusu's gaze drifted, almost imperceptibly, toward the golden silk nanmu screen adorned with the Eight Treasures poem.

The Empress Dowager's eyes carried a hint of disappointment.

However, remembering that Ji Qingwu was a young widow who had already borne a child, even if she were beautiful and well-tempered, she was merely a pretty widow. Showing her face before the Emperor would serve no purpose.

"Since that is the case, such a heroic act deserves proper commendation." The Empress Dowager worked hard to advocate for her niece: "Your Majesty, what would be an appropriate reward?"

She was requesting a reward on behalf of the Ji family's Fifth Miss.

The sternness on Emperor Wusu's face vanished, and he said leisurely, "Then reward her with a screen."

Behind the screen, Ji Qingwu snapped her head up.

Though the nanmu screen was clearly not translucent, she felt as if the Emperor's gaze could pierce through it and strip her bare.

The Emperor said he wanted to reward her with a screen.

It couldn't be *this* one in front of her, could it?

She thought to herself, feeling like crying without tears; wouldn't she have to present this pathetic state to everyone in a moment?

Glancing at the screen in the hall, Emperor Wusu said, "Silla presented a set of curios yesterday—screens carved onto walnuts depicting the four seasons. I shall bestow this set of walnut screens upon the Fifth Miss of the Ji family."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. In truth, the specific reward did not matter; what mattered was letting the entire court know that the Ji family had received the Emperor's favor, and why.

Sweat beaded on Ji Qingwu's forehead; fortunately, it wasn't the one in front of her.

She was so nervous that her ears were ringing. Thinking it had only been a moment, she realized the outside had gone silent. Had everyone left?

Just as she was about to relax her body and move her numb feet, she suddenly noticed a pair of black satin imperial boots appearing before her, the hem of the robe embroidered with gold dragon patterns.

Ji Qingwu nearly choked; she collapsed to her knees with a thud.

"I... your... servant... this humble daughter greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, long live!" She cycled through several forms of self-address before finding the correct one.

Her voice was breathless and thin due to her nervousness, which sounded so delicate in Emperor Wusu's ears that it made him tremble...

The woman's outer robe was merely draped over her; her inner garments were soaked through and clung to her body, revealing the silhouette of her undergarments, which appeared to have a pattern of carp playing among lotuses.

Her posture, kneeling prostrate on the ground, outlined a slender waist and full hips, her skin looking so tender it seemed as if it would exude water.

Ji Qingwu did not dare lift her head.

Just as she thought her back was about to be pierced by two holes from the gaze of the man above her, a milky, childish voice rang out.

"Father, she is the one who saved me."

Yuan Heng ran to Ji Qingwu's side.

The Emperor said deeply, "Why have you returned?"

Just now, Emperor Wusu had ordered everyone to withdraw from the hall.

Yuan Heng was too embarrassed to say he was worried about Ji Qingwu, so he clumsily changed the subject: "Father, I have something I wish to consult you about. I did not quite understand one of the essays in today's lesson at the Imperial Academy."

The Emperor looked at the large and small figures before him.

The large one was like an ostrich, head tucked down, her slender waist trembling.

The small one was like a fledgling hawk, wings not yet fully grown, yet already knowing how to protect someone.

Yuan Heng's dark eyes darted around as he suggested, "Father, let us go to the Qianyuan Hall. This is, after all, Imperial Grandmother's place."

These words snapped Emperor Wusu back to reality.

This was the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity.

The person before him was the Fifth Miss of the Ji family, and she had appeared here in a state of disarray.

Emperor Wusu's gaze held a hint of mockery. The Empress Dowager was becoming increasingly bold, indirectly delivering her own niece—a young widow who was supposed to be in mourning for her husband—right before his eyes.

It was no wonder the Emperor overthought things; the Empress Dowager had made too many foolish moves recently.

Seeing his father's expression darken, Yuan Heng felt a flicker of fear. Ordinarily, he would have been clever enough to remain silent.

But seeing Ji Qingwu looking even more terrified than himself, his small frame straightened instinctively. He steeled himself; he had to protect her.

Thus, Yuan Heng spoke boldly, his small jade-like face filled with a sense of resolve.

"Father, your son has erred and is willing to accept punishment!"

Emperor Wusu looked down at him without the slightest surprise.

"And what error is there?"

Yuan Heng said word by word, "Your son knows he cannot hide it from you. I knew there was a trap and intentionally stepped on the moss to fall into the water. Your son's swimming skills were taught by you, so I was not worried about danger. I did this only to test how many people in the palace harbor ill intentions toward me."

Ji Qingwu stared at the blue bricks before her in utter shock.

*Is this how children raised in the Imperial Palace think?!*

The little fellow had calculated everyone into his scheme! Those who intended to harm him: Consort Wei, the Empress Dowager, and even her—the poor, righteous bystander.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Heaven help her; she was merely a passing little ant.

Ji Qingwu felt a chill at the back of her neck. Was such a secretive topic suitable for her to hear?

Clearly, the Emperor also felt this matter was unsuitable for discussion in the side hall of the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity. With a cold expression, he turned and walked away.

Yuan Heng let out a breath, gave Ji Qingwu a lingering look, and hurried after the Emperor with his short, stumpy legs.

Once their footsteps faded into the distance, Ji Qingwu straightened up, feeling that her inner clothes were even wetter from the sweat on her back.

She had not even seen the Emperor's face clearly, yet she had fully experienced the majesty of an emperor. This palace was truly no place for humans; she would certainly stay far away from this place in the future.

Taking advantage of the privacy, Ji Qingwu quickly changed her clothes and went to another side hall to find Lady Qiao. Just as the women of the Ji family returned to their manor, the imperial reward arrived.

Li Yuzong had ordered his eunuch, Xiao Dongzi, to deliver it.

It was a brocade box made of pearwood. Upon opening it were four walnut-sized eggs. From the front, they looked like lustrous walnuts, but the other side revealed a whole different world—the four seasons were exquisitely and realistically carved into them.

Ji Qingwu bowed and accepted them: "This humble daughter thanks Your Majesty for his grace."

Chunhua, the maid beside Lady Qiao, used a handkerchief to shield her view while handing the young eunuch a bulging purse of money.

However, Xiao Dongzi raised his hand and stepped back, saying with a smile, "Fifth Miss Ji, the Emperor has another reward."

Another reward?

Ji Qingwu raised her willow-leaf brows, having no idea what it could be, but the young eunuch held nothing else in his hands.

Xiao Dongzi said mysteriously, "Fifth Miss Ji, please step forward. The Emperor said this oral decree is for your ears only."

*Could it be some royal secret or a reprimand warning me to be careful?*

Since he had put it that way, Ji Qingwu could only approach. The other women of the Ji household tactfully stepped back.

The young eunuch carefully covered his mouth with his hand and whispered in her ear.

She didn't know what was said, but everyone saw Ji Qingwu's eyes fluctuate violently, like the surface of a lake suddenly stirred by heavy waves.

She confirmed in astonishment, "Eunuch, did His Majesty truly say so?!"

Ji Qingwu: Σ(⊙▽⊙“a

Emperor Wusu: A custom-made oral decree.