Chapter 38
Shen Nian was not a man without curiosity. The Emperor's sudden decision to leave the palace—though he appeared perfectly calm—was clearly rushed, and the cryptic way he spoke about it left Shen Nian with no choice but to wonder.
Thinking of the recent news that Prince Jin, Qi Junzhuo, would soon return to the capital, Shen Nian had a feeling that the Emperor's trip this time had something to do with him.
Qi Junzhuo held a very special place in the Emperor's heart—on this matter, the Emperor made his stance crystal clear. He did not care what the court officials thought; he was using actions, plain and open, to tell everyone: Prince Jin has my favor.
Qi Junzhuo was the one truly blessed with the Emperor's open trust. Shen Nian, by contrast, was merely the decoy the Emperor used to draw attention away.
With that thought, his fate felt rather bleak—worthy of a moment's sorrow.
Shen Nian's expression turned pitiful, perfectly embodying the image of a forlorn consort deep in the palace. Qi Junmu, who had just changed his clothes and was fastening a green jade pendant to his belt, glanced at him and felt a twinge in his heart.
His hand went slack. The jade grew heavy as a stone and slipped from his fingers, about to hit the floor.
Just before it landed, a hand—not particularly delicate—caught it steady.
Qi Junmu looked down and saw Shen Nian half-crouched, one knee touching the ground, holding the jade pendant in his right hand. Shen Nian's hands were far from the fair, smooth complexion of the capital's young nobles—coarser even than the Emperor's. Yet those hands, not especially strong, bore countless small scars and had been stained with endless blood. And they had held the North Frontier, guarded the realm of Da Qi, and protected the safety of its people.
Qi Junmu held deep respect for those who guarded the borders. Even in his past life, when Shen Nian had repeatedly defied his decrees, and he—newly ascended and proud—had felt that Shen Nian, resting on his laurels, did not truly respect him, even then he had never harbored murderous intent toward Shen Nian. He had merely excluded him from his circle of trust from the very start.
In this life, Qi Junmu had come to terms with many things. He thought that as long as Shen Nian harbored no disloyalty, he would naturally do him no harm. That was his true feeling—but saying it aloud would be rather pointless.
Trust was a delicate thing, especially between an emperor and a general holding great power.
They trusted each other and guarded against each other in equal measure. He had been through life and death and knew the past clearly, which was why he could let go of such concerns. That Shen Nian remained wary and guarded was only to be expected.
While Qi Junmu was lost in thought, Shen Nian's feelings were also somewhat complicated. His current posture looked like he was paying respects to the Emperor, yet clearly wasn't—a rather awkward in-between. He had meant to catch the jade, hand it to the Emperor, and exchange a few polite, formulaic words.
But when he inadvertently looked up and caught Qi Junmu's expression, his movements slowed.
That slight delay made handing over the jade feel stiff, leaving him in a posture that seemed to say he was offering it and yet holding back. What truly struck Shen Nian was the Emperor's expression—his eyes were warm, almost indulgent.
In that moment, Shen Nian had a feeling that the emotion in the Emperor's eyes was directed at him.
There was no reason for it—he simply felt it.
Shen Nian did not know what had moved Qi Junmu, but he understood that this was a subtle, favorable sign. When an emperor showed genuine indulgence toward a subject, it meant his heart softened toward that subject.
On a deeper level, it meant his life was secure. Nothing could be more welcome than that.
Of course, even the best of news could not immediately ease the slightly awkward tension between Shen Nian and the Emperor.
Qi Junmu slowly came back to himself and was about to speak when Shen Nian made a move.
Shen Nian simply adjusted his posture and moved his hand. "Your Majesty," he said, "there's no one else here. Let this humble subject fasten it for you." Qi Junmu had not planned to bring anyone else out of the palace this time; Ruan Jiqing had been sent away early. In the vast Qianhua Hall, only the two of them remained. From observing these past days, Shen Nian could tell that aside from Ruan Jiqing, the Emperor did not much like to summon others.
Qi Junmu had not expected Shen Nian to say that. He had been about to tell him to rise, but now he found himself momentarily stunned.
Seeing Shen Nian attempt to tie the jade from that awkward crouch, Qi Junmu found it rather amusing. He bent down, reached out, pulled Shen Nian up with a slight effort, and said lightly, "It's just fastening a thing. Stand up and do it."
Shen Nian rose with the momentum. After the Emperor let go, he lowered his gaze. Those hands that had killed men but never done such delicate work clumsily tied the jade to the left side of the Emperor's belt sash.
The jade hung warm and smooth, falling freely—beautiful to behold.
Once it was fastened, Shen Nian nodded with great satisfaction.
He looked up to say something, but his eyes met Qi Junmu's, and the words caught in his throat.
Only then did Shen Nian realize how close he was standing to the Emperor. At this distance, he could see every distinct, long, naturally curved lash of Qi Junmu's, hear the faint sound of his breathing, and even feel the warm whisper of breath brush against his face.
Shen Nian gazed at the Emperor's jade-like countenance. He blinked, and blinked again—at a loss.
Finally, he stepped back and, forcing himself to steel his nerves, said, "Your Majesty, forgive this humble subject's impertinence." Standing that close to the Emperor—if any official submitted a memorial accusing him of impropriety in the sovereign's presence, he'd have no defense.
As he stepped back, Qi Junmu also casually moved two steps aside. Noticing Shen Nian's embarrassment, he said, "No matter."
To ease the awkwardness, he added, "What were you thinking about just now? You looked so dejected—not at all like Shen Nian, the general who shakes the northern lands."
Qi Junmu usually addressed Shen Nian either as Marquis Shen or as Marquis Zhenbei. This was the first time he had spoken the name "Shen Nian" directly.
The Emperor's voice was pleasing to the ear—especially when he spoke a person's name.
Shen Nian thought flatly: if the man in front of him were not the Emperor, he would have found a chance to drag the man out for a drink, sling an arm around his shoulders, and call him brother—just like he did in the North Frontier.
But Qi Junmu was the Emperor, and such a scene would likely never come to pass.
Shen Nian murmured these thoughts to himself, but he still had to answer.
He knew the Emperor was referring to what had happened before the jade dropped. What had he been thinking then? Ah, yes—he had been pondering who, between himself and Qi Junzhuo, was truly favored and who was not.
Of course, he could not speak such truths directly. Shen Nian's thoughts turned quickly, and he said, "This humble subject was thinking of the rumors in the capital—that Your Majesty places great trust in Prince Jin. This humble subject wondered: does Your Majesty not fear that Prince Jin may be harmed because of it?"
In one sentence, he laid out much.
Bringing up Prince Jin out of nowhere at this moment could only mean one thing—he had linked it to the Emperor's trip. Shen Nian was telling the Emperor plainly that he guessed this trip had to do with Qi Junzhuo.
Furthermore, if trusting Prince Jin made him look dejected, that was even more telling. What was there to be dejected about? Naturally, he was thinking of his own position.
Finally, the last words—Shen Nian had not meant to speak them, but his curiosity was genuine, and he was certain that every official in the court wondered the same.
To be favored by the Emperor—especially as a prince—carried great hidden danger. So was this favor real or false? Some would surely say it was false. Shen Nian, however, believed it was real.
But if one day Qi Junzhuo were framed—what would the Emperor do? Ordinary people would not dare ask such a question. But now, with the timing right and the mood agreeable, Shen Nian let it slip.
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