"Fuhua is a princess, and Yueqing is also a princess. If Lin En wants to be an imperial son-in-law, what difference does it make which princess it is?" Qi Junmu said flatly, watching the Empress Dowager's eyes redden with urgency, his heart unmoved.
"How could that be the same?" The Empress Dowager could tell the Emperor was speaking in anger and snapped, "Fuhua is the Eldest Princess—the Emperor's own sister, the Empress Dowager's own daughter. She has been cherished and adored since birth; even the court ministers treat her with special respect. What is Yueqing? The daughter of a mere concubine—how dare she compare herself to Fuhua? Go ahead and issue that edict, and see if your uncle is pleased with such a match."
"I am the Emperor. Even if my uncle is dissatisfied, what can he do? Would he dare defy the imperial edict?" Qi Junmu said with a cold laugh.
By now, the Empress Dowager had regained much of her composure. Seeing him so furious and speaking without restraint, she softened her tone and said, "I know you value your reputation, but think this over carefully. I am doing this to guard against the worst, for Lin En's sake—but more than that, I am trying to help you. Everything has two sides, and Shen Nian is no exception. He is a clever man—he surely knows your intentions. What if he too wants to leave himself a way out? Wouldn't that be a happy outcome for everyone?"
Qi Junmu said indifferently, "Shen Nian has no ambition to marry a princess. He will not agree. As for rumors, Imperial Mother should simply keep an eye on things. If anyone dares to speak nonsense, cut out their tongue—that will settle it."
Knowing how stubborn he was, the Empress Dowager did not wish to argue further. Wearily, she dismissed him.
Qi Junmu withdrew, his displeasure plain.
Back at Qianhua Hall, he sat on the imperial chair with a cold face. After a while, Ruan Jiqing approached with tea.
The Emperor's foul mood was obvious. Ruan Jiqing waved for all the attendants to withdraw quietly, then set the tea on the table and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. This servant heard from Ruyan at Renshou Palace that the Empress Dowager only wants to compensate Young Master Lin because her heart is troubled."
Qi Junmu looked up, asking for the reason. Ruan Jiqing lowered his voice even further and said, "Ruyan said that when Madam Lin saw Young Master Lin burning with fever, she wept bitterly, saying he could not withstand the heat. Seeing him in that state, the Empress Dowager must have been reminded of the past. Young Master Lin's face is ruined, and he has no hope for the future. The Empress Dowager feels all the more indebted to him—after all, he calls her 'Aunt.'"
Qi Junmu knew this was information Ruan Jiqing had gathered, but he did not take it entirely to heart.
The Empress Dowager's Renshou Palace was like his own Qianhua Hall—much of what was leaked out was only what they wanted others to know.
The Empress Dowager was using Ruan Jiqing's mouth to soften her stance, but Qi Junmu felt no pleasure at all—only a deep sense of sadness.
He still had a faint memory of Lin En saving his life as a child, though the details were blurry.
That day, Yue shi had brought Lin En into the palace. The two of them stood together while the adults talked, and they were taken to a side hall to play.
At some point, the side hall doors were locked, and a fire broke out.
He remembered fire all around him—doors and windows ablaze. Outside the hall, the Empress Dowager was screaming his name in anguish. His eyes were stung by smoke and flame, and he could barely see. He cried and shouted, trying to crawl, but his body would not move.
He did not know how long passed before Lin En grabbed his hand and held him close.
What happened after that, he could not recall—he did not remember how the fire started, nor how they were rescued. He only remembered that day, the Empress Dowager and Yue shi wept bitterly.
For a long time after, the Empress Dowager was very gentle with him.
The fire in that side hall was said to have started because a maid lighting incense forgot to extinguish her tinder. Emperor Jing ordered a thorough investigation but could only trace it back to remnants of his brothers' factions. In the end, the matter was settled by replacing all the servants in the Empress Dowager's palace.
But after that, Qi Junmu had been weak from shock for a long time, and his memories of the fire grew even fainter—while Lin En's face was completely ruined.
From that day on, his face was covered by a silver mask, his life ruined forever.
Because of this, the Empress Dowager had always told him that Lin En was his savior—that Lin En had shielded him and suffered severe burns to his face in the fire. Qi Junmu had always regarded Lin En as an elder brother.
He trusted and indulged the Lin family greatly, and fortunately, Lin Xiao had never made any excessive demands.
Thinking of this, Qi Junmu's expression softened slightly. He turned to Ruan Jiqing and said, "Summon the Left Chancellor."
Ruan Jiqing bowed and withdrew.
Lin Xiao soon arrived at Quanhua Hall.
He had been handling routine court affairs and had not yet heard about what happened in the imperial garden. His demeanor was as unhurried as ever.
Qi Junmu had no intention of hiding anything from him. After dismissing Ruan Jiqing and the others, he recounted the entire matter in detail—including what the Empress Dowager had in mind and how he himself had refuted her.
Lin Xiao's expression shifted repeatedly as the Emperor spoke.
Finally, when the Emperor asked him, "Uncle, do you think I was wrong in this matter?"
Lin Xiao knelt and said slowly, "Your Majesty was not wrong in this matter." Of course, it could not be the Empress Dowager's fault either, so he continued, "It was Lin En's fault. He did not understand the palace rules and acted without due consideration, which led to this dispute between Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. It even nearly affected Princess Yueqing. I beg Your Majesty not to hold it against him."
"I will not hold it against my cousin. His intention was merely to save someone. But Imperial Mother believes I was wrong." Qi Junmu stepped forward and helped Lin Xiao to his feet, a hint of grievance in his voice: "Imperial Mother doesn't see the full picture. Yes, I do want Shen Nian's military power—I want the North Frontier Army to stop being the Shen family's private force. But I won't win it through schemes involving love or marriage. I want Shen Nian to hand over his command of his own free will, so that when the day comes, no one in court or among the people can say a word against it."
"Your Majesty's thoughts are clear to me." Lin Xiao looked up and said, "That Your Majesty thinks this way is the mark of a wise ruler."
Qi Junmu was somewhat pleased, like a child receiving praise from an elder. He seemed a little embarrassed: "I was angry and spoke some nonsense in front of Imperial Mother. Uncle, please do not take it to heart."
"Naturally, I would not." Lin Xiao reassured him, "The Empress Dowager will come to understand in time."
Qi Junmu nodded, but still seemed somewhat dejected. He said, "Imperial Mother probably does not wish to hear anything from me right now. I would ask Uncle to speak with her on my behalf—she has always been willing to listen to you."
Lin Xiao quickly expressed that he would do his utmost.
Qi Junmu let out a long, faint sigh before dismissing Lin Xiao.
After Lin Xiao left, Qi Junmu sat sat on the imperial chair lost in thought.
Before long, Ruan Jiqing quietly returned to announce that Shen Nian had come to seek an audience.
Qi Junmu snapped out of his reverie and was about to summon Shen Nian in when Ruan Jiqing seized the moment to remind him: "Your Majesty, the time for the midday meal has passed. Perhaps you should have something to eat before discussing state affairs with Lord Shen."
It was already a quarter of an hour past the usual dining time, but with the Emperor in such a foul mood, no one had dared to step forward and remind him.
People are strange sometimes—if you are deeply focused on something, you do not feel hunger even if your stomach is empty. But the moment someone mentions it, suddenly the hunger becomes unbearable.
Qi Junmu still could not quite come to terms with the Empress Dowager's stance, but he did not feel heartbroken. He had long since passed the age of needing his mother's sympathy. Now he was simply an emperor—one for whom emotion was optional.
And so, coming back to the present, his hunger hit him even harder.
Thus, Qi Junmu said, "Let Shen Nian join me for the meal."
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