Chapter 75
"Is Marquis Shen mocking me?" Qi Junmu tightened his arm, drawing the man closer. Dressed in their undergarments, they were pressed close enough to feel each other's warmth.
"This humble subject dares not. This humble subject has not. This humble subject is merely stating the facts," Shen Nian said, keeping his face straight.
Qi Junmu snorted twice and pinched his cheek. "Fine, I'll let you off this time." Then his other hand roamed over Shen Nian's body. "You've been nourished in the palace for so long—how are you still this thin?"
Shen Nian's rigid composure broke, his face flushing hot and red.
He shifted uncomfortably. Qi Junmu naturally noticed his unease and let out a low chuckle. "Sleep. There's business tomorrow."
Shen Nian gave a soft "mm" and closed his eyes.
Only his faintly trembling lashes gave away that he was not yet asleep, nor was his heart particularly calm.
Qi Junmu gazed at his handsome features, his eyes bright yet deep, before closing his own to sleep. After an unknown stretch of time, both their breathing evened out, and they drifted off.
Ever since Qi Junmu had pulled Shen Nian into his dragon bed that time, the side hall of Qianhua Hall had been uninhabited at night.
Of course, whenever Shen Nian stayed overnight, Ruan Jiqing was on duty.
At such a critical moment, Qi Junmu would naturally not allow anyone to attack Shen Nian's personal conduct.
The next morning, when Shen Nian woke, Ruan Jiqing was already dressing Qi Junmu.
It was not the first time Shen Nian had seen him in the dragon robe, but every time he found it breathtaking.
Lying in bed and watching the emperor up close like this always gave Shen Nian a sense of unreality. That this emperor, so high above all others, actually belonged to him—it was unimaginable.
But Shen Nian knew it was all real. Qi Junmu was treating this relationship seriously, and he was treating Shen Nian seriously.
The emperor's word was final, and only by staying closest to him could one know how gentle he truly was. In their private moments, Qi Junmu shed all traces of the emperor's bearing. He would joke, he would tease, and he never let Shen Nian feel any distance or estrangement.
He was mindful of every emotion of Shen Nian, his subject.
That such a gentle man belonged to him—just thinking about it was a joyful thing.
After adjusting his robes and crown, Qi Junmu looked at Shen Nian. "Did I wake you?"
Perhaps it was because he was now wearing the dragon robe, but though Qi Junmu's tone was the same as usual, an air of majesty clung to him.
Shen Nian shook his head. "It's about time I woke up anyway."
"Are you coming to court?" Qi Junmu asked casually. Ever since Shen Nian had been confined in the palace, he had rarely attended court.
Partly to avoid the gossip, and partly because Qi Junmu told him everything privately anyway, so he had little desire to sit with those who looked down on him and exchange pleasantries.
Quite naturally, Shen Nian declined.
But before the Emperor left, he still got up.
Though this was the emperor's bedchamber, and no one dared enter without his permission, they were in a sensitive time. If some reckless person sneaked in and found him lying in the dragon bed, it would be extremely bad for the emperor.
He was not one to kill innocents, so in this regard, Shen Nian was very cautious. There was no reason to let avoidable risks happen.
Shen Nian returned to his own side hall, and only then did Qi Junmu take his palanquin to court.
The emperor was in a good mood—that was the consensus among the ministers that day. They exchanged glances but said nothing.
Since they would not speak, Qi Junmu did. He said, "A few days ago, you said Prince Rui was about to return to the capital. Where are they now? And when will the Western Di envoys arrive?"
"Prince Rui will arrive in the capital today. The Western Di envoys are already on their way; by our calculations, they should reach the capital in five days," said the Minister of Rites, stepping forward promptly.
Qi Junmu gave a light laugh. "Prince Rui and the Western Di envoys are arriving within days of each other."
The ministers all silently analyzed the meaning behind that laugh. The Minister of Rites, who had stepped forward, pretended to know nothing and said matter-of-factly, "The Western Di envoys are traveling rather urgently. They said they were so impressed by Your Majesty that they wished to see the Emperor of Da Qi as soon as possible."
"That sounds pleasing enough," Qi Junmu said, his expression softening slightly. "It is only natural that Da Qi's splendor commands the respect of barbarians like Western Di."
Minister of Rites: "..."
He wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him, but he could have sworn the emperor sounded rather smug.
Lin Xiao could not help but look up at the emperor, then silently shook his head. He thought to himself: the emperor is still young; even an ordinary compliment from Western Di pleases him.
Many, however, seized the opportunity to sing praises of the emperor as a rare and brilliant ruler of Da Qi, one before whom even Western Di bowed.
That day, the court session was unusually lively, and both ruler and ministers left in high spirits.
After court, Qi Junmu returned to Qianhua Hall in a cheerful mood.
As he pushed the door open, Qi Junmu wrinkled his nose. He glanced at Ruan Jiqing. "What is this incense in the hall?"
Ever since Qi Junmu had been reborn, the incense used in his hall had been blended by Bai Feng and others from the Imperial Hospital, with a very faint scent. But today's incense was clearly different—it seemed to carry some floral notes, and he found it quite unpleasant.
Most importantly, the palace attendants all knew his preferences and would never change the incense without permission.
Ruan Jiqing quickly summoned the attendant on duty to ask what had happened. A young eunuch stepped forward nervously and said, "The hall's incense ran out today, and this servant had not yet gone to the Imperial Hospital to fetch more. These were sent by the Empress Dowager, said to be excellent, so this servant used them first."
The emperor paused, silent for a long moment. Then he said, "Everyone withdraw."
The incense had been sent by the Empress Dowager, but Qi Junmu knew very well that the Empress Dowager did not care for incense—it was Wen Wan who loved it.
This was Wen Wan using the Empress Dowager's hand to signal goodwill, to show weakness—or perhaps for some other purpose?
Returning to the main hall, Qi Junmu looked at the smoke curling up from the purple-gold incense burner and fell silent.
Regardless of Wen Wan's true purpose in sending the incense, it was unlikely that the first batch would contain anything harmful.
Thinking this, Qi Junmu looked at Ruan Jiqing and said, "Change the incense. I can't stand the smell."
Ruan Jiqing bowed in acknowledgment, then asked, "Your Majesty, shall this servant look into that eunuch's background?"
The emperor said, "No need for you to do it. I will have others investigate. As for the rest, hold still for now."
Ruan Jiqing withdrew.
When the hall was empty, Qi Junmu sat in his chair and let out a cold laugh.
That afternoon, Qi Junyan and Xing Yi returned to the capital. Upon arrival, Qi Junyan immediately sought an audience with the emperor, but Qi Junmu dismissed him, saying he needed to rest after his journey.
That evening, the emperor summoned Xing Yi to the palace. What was discussed remained unknown.
Five days later, the Western Di envoys arrived in the capital. Like Prince Rui, they were not granted an audience with the emperor; instead, they were received by officials from the Ministry of Rites and escorted to their lodgings.
Two days after that, Prince Jin and Yang Jinglei arrived in the capital.
Shen Nian led the Imperial Guard to Farewell Pavilion to receive them. This time, after Qi Junzhuo returned to the capital, he did not enter the palace but was escorted directly by Shen Nian to Prince Jin's mansion.
After delivering him there, Shen Nian smiled at Qi Junzhuo and said, "Your Highness, every plant and tree in this mansion was personally inspected by His Majesty. If anything does not suit Your Highness's taste, His Majesty will certainly have it changed."
Qi Junzhuo gazed at the splendidly beautiful courtyard. After a long silence, he shook his head. "I trouble the Marquis to convey my thanks to His Majesty."
Shen Nian acknowledged this. Before leaving, he noted that Prince Jin's residence lacked guards, so he left a portion of the Imperial Guard behind.
On the surface, it was protection; but to outsiders, it was clear that the emperor had placed Qi Junzhuo under house arrest.
The news spread quickly. When it reached Qi Junyou's ears, he was drinking wine in his mansion. He paused briefly at the news, then let out a cold scoff and carried on drinking.
Thus, all the people Qi Junmu suspected—or did not suspect—were now gathered in the capital.
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