Chapter 10: The Emperor Arrives, Letting It All Go to Hell

Zhao Yuanheng swallowed his refusal.

Fine, it wasn't too late yet.

A suspicion flickered in the little guy's mind: could this woman be a lake demon? The kind whose beauty is so pure it is demonic, specifically designed to bewitch the mind.

Then he heard Ji Qingwu tilt her head and call him tenderly.

"Little Young Master."

Zhao Yuanheng's small body shivered.

He shot her a glance, withdrew his hand, and turned his head away, pretending to be composed.

"What is it?"

A gust of wind had just blown past, and Ji Qingwu felt a chill running through her entire body.

Thus, she stopped teasing him. Since they were both soaking wet and the wind was turning cold, staying out any longer might lead to a chill.

A child catching a cold could develop a high fever, which was extremely dangerous in ancient times.

This location was closest to the Empress Dowager's Palace of Benevolence.

Ji Qingwu spread her arms and reached toward the little guy. "Little Young Master, let's find a place to change our clothes."

At this posture, Zhao Yuanheng lifted his head and decisively refused, "I have legs; I can walk myself. I do not like being touched by others."

Ji Qingwu looked at his short little legs and said with a chuckle, "It's just that I'm so cold, and I want to get into a room quickly to change and warm up."

Having said that, regardless of his wishes, she scooped him up directly and held him firmly in her arms.

Zhao Yuanheng struggled and squirmed a few times, but the woman's arms remained motionless.

Looking at this delicate-looking woman, how could she be stronger than the nannies who served him?

The little guy was heavy; being held in her arms, he was considerably heavier than Jiu Jiu, yet Ji Qingwu still held him with ease.

She even gave him a little bounce and let out a soft laugh. "Am I 'others'? You fell into the water, and I risked my life to save you. According to the storybooks, you should call me Benefactor—no, Heroine. If it weren't for the fact that you're too young..."

Zhao Yuanheng automatically completed the rest of the sentence, a hint of bashful red creeping onto his jade-white little face.

Ji Qingwu didn't know what was gotten into her today; seeing the little guy acting so serious like a miniature adult, she just wanted to tease him.

Zhao Yuanheng secretly lifted his solemn little face from her embrace. Although the woman's arms were just as damp as his own...

She smelled so good, and she was so soft.

Ji Qingwu had been shivering from the cold, but with the little guy in her arms acting like a small furnace, her chest felt warm.

His nose twitched as he sniffed her scent. He looked at her pointed chin, then stared curiously and absentmindedly at her ears and the side of her face.

Just as Ji Qingwu reached the entrance of the Palace of Benevolence, she ran into Shi Xi, who was returning to report.

Shi Xi let out a gasp. "Little Highness Yuanheng!"

Upon closer inspection, she said in shock, "Why are you two together? And why are your clothes soaking wet!"

She had just gone to Guanju Palace, where Bi Tao, the head maid serving Consort Wei, said the Little Highness was still studying at the Imperial Academy and hadn't finished his lessons. Yet, as soon as she reached the palace gates, she ran into him.

Hearing Auntie Shi Xi call him "Little Highness," Ji Qingwu lowered her head stiffly.

This child truly was no ordinary person.

This little master was not only a prince but also the only heir to the new Emperor of Northern Li.

Though Zhao Yuanheng was nestled in her arms, his aura was significant. He scolded the startled Shi Xi with practiced dignity.

"What are you shouting about!"

Shi Xi could only bow her head in apology, then led the Little Highness and Ji Qingwu to the West Side Chamber of the Palace of Benevolence to change.

Six palace maids entered to assist Little Highness Yuanheng in changing.

Ji Qingwu took the set of clothes and the cotton cloth for drying hair and body that Shi Xi handed to her, then circled behind a golden-silk Phoebe zhennan wood screen to change.

Just as she took off her outer robe, the sound of a palace maid offering greetings came from outside.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager."

Having received news from Shi Xi, the Empress Dowager had rushed from the main hall with Old Madam Ji, and Prince Yong, having encountered them, had followed as well.

Her footsteps were hurried, and her voice was urgent.

"Yuanheng, let Imperial Grandmother see you. Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Under the service of the maids, Yuanheng had already changed into his inner garments and was currently tying the belt of his outer robe.

In truth, upon first hearing the news of the Little Prince falling into the water, the Empress Dowager and Old Madam Ji had exchanged a smile; their joy outweighed their worry. It was truly a case of "what you wish for comes true."

The Empress Dowager had been worrying about finding a reason to bring the Little Prince away from Consort Wei to be raised in the Palace of Benevolence, and now, the opportunity had been handed to her.

The Empress Dowager called out affectionately, "My sweet little grandson, let Imperial Grandmother see you."

Yuanheng frowned. Seeing the Empress Dowager's hand reaching toward him, he nimbly sidestepped, looked at her with calm, dark eyes, and performed a formal bow.

"Imperial Grandmother."

His movements were perfectly polite, but they were entirely devoid of emotion.

The Empress Dowager's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air.

She could only blame herself for showing too little concern for this little grandson in the past; now, it seemed she had overcompensated.

Ji Qingwu was unsure of who had entered. After all, she was currently wearing only her soaking wet inner garments. Once white fabric gets wet, it becomes transparent, clinging tightly to the curves of her waist. She didn't dare make any large movements, not wanting her disheveled appearance to attract attention.

She only hoped the Empress Dowager would quickly take the Little Highness back to the main hall.

The screen was curved and two meters high; unless someone sitting in the main seat turned their head to look, they wouldn't see anyone behind it.

However, Prince Yong had a keen nose, and he caught a whiff of a fragrance that was neither quite floral nor fruity.

He had smelled this alluring scent earlier on a certain delicate lady in the hall.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "What is that smell in the hall? Open the windows to let some air in."

The nearby palace maid responded softly and was about to walk toward the window when Prince Yong moved, striding toward the screen.

Hearing Prince Yong's voice, Ji Qingwu grabbed her outer robe and hurriedly tried to pull it on.

If she were caught in just her soaking wet inner garments, what difference would that be from being seen naked? If Prince Yong truly saw her like this, wouldn't she effectively be married to him as a concubine?

Shi Xi thought of this as well and was about to say something.

Then, the loud, booming voice of Li Yuzong, the Chief of the Imperial Household Department, came from outside.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Ji Qingwu gasped. It would have been better not to change at all; she was halfway through and stuck in a predicament.

She scrambled to put on the outer robe, but since the inner garment was still soaking wet, it was difficult to pull on.

Prince Yong's footsteps stopped. He narrowed his eyes and turned toward the entrance to welcome the Imperial Presence.

The sound of people kneeling to offer greetings rose one after another.

"This servant pays respects to the Emperor."

The servants and eunuchs of the Palace of Benevolence knelt in a dense crowd across the floor.

A tall, imposing figure in bright yellow approached with leisurely steps and a majestic demeanor, radiating an aura that made one's skin crawl.

"Pay respects to the Emperor."

Prince Yong and Old Madam Ji also bowed in greeting.

Inside the West Side Chamber, a wave of people suddenly knelt.

Yuanheng had finished changing, though his hair crown was not yet tied. He lifted his robe and knelt on one knee, saying in a respectful, loud voice, "Your son pays respects to Imperial Father!"

Despite his young age, he was extremely disciplined in everything he did.

Then, a deep male voice rang out.

"Rise."

The voice struck Ji Qingwu's eardrums like a resonant celestial sword from a hollow valley—cold and sharp.

Her hands, busy with the outer robe, froze, clutching the belt tightly.

After hesitating for a long time, she missed the best opportunity and could only hide quietly behind the screen.

Should she kneel or not?

Actually, she wouldn't kneel; the people outside couldn't see her anyway.

Ji Qingwu decided to just let it go.

Ji Qingwu: *Wherever I fall, I'll just lie down there.* (Note: Just trying to change clothes and a crowd shows up—is it easy for her?)