After the exchange between Qi Junmu and Shen Nian, the Emperor's gaze finally turned to Qi Fan and Wen Yao.
The warmth on the Emperor's face vanished. He furrowed his brow slightly and said, "What business do you two have in the palace?"
At those words, both Qi Fan and Wen Yao felt rather wronged.
Ordinarily, they would not have had such thoughts. But they had just watched the Emperor treat Shen Nian with warmth, courtesy, and even closeness, which had given them the illusion that the Emperor might treat them the same way.
But as always, reality fell far short of imagination. The Emperor was neither warm nor familiar with them; his tone was full of impatience.
They were both members of the imperial clan by marriage, and the psychological whiplash was hard to bear.
They dared not complain about the Emperor, so naturally they pinned their frustration on Shen Nian. The last time, because of him, they had been beaten and confined to their residences. They had only just been released thanks to the Emperor's good mood – and now they ran into Shen Nian again, making everything worse.
Qi Junmu saw their expressions and his frown deepened. He lowered his voice and said coldly, "I am asking you a question. Why are you staring at Marquis Zhenbei? Surely you did not come to the palace looking for him?"
"Who would look for him?" Wen Yao blurted out. "Your Majesty, we came to the palace to see you."
Qi Fan nodded in agreement.
Shen Nian could only say, somewhat helplessly, "Your Majesty is joking. The Heir and the Imperial Uncle are unlikely to want to see this humble subject at all, after that misunderstanding. Why would they come to the palace specifically for me?"
It was rare for Qi Junmu to hear such blunt sarcasm from him, and he found it rather amusing. Before Wen Yao could speak again, he said, "Qi Fan, Wen Yao – if you have nothing else, then return to your homes. I still have important matters to discuss with Marquis Zhenbei, and no time to watch you two stand there in a daze."
Qi Fan and Wen Yao could hear the impatience in the Emperor's voice, and they gave up any thought of causing trouble for Shen Nian.
In the past, Wen Yao had enjoyed a fairly high standing in the Emperor's favor and had spoken with little restraint. He had even once said, in his youthful naivety, that when he grew up, he would become the head of all officials and assist the Emperor's son in governing – those silly, childish words.
When the Emperor heard this, he threw his head back and laughed heartily, saying only that the boy had spirit.
Wen Yao had no idea that the Emperor's attitude toward Wen Wan had already changed, nor that he no longer considered the Wen family in everything as he once had. He still believed he was the Imperial Uncle who could say anything in the Emperor's presence.
So he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Qi Fan and I would like to follow Prince Jin to the North Frontier."
His words struck the hall like a thunderclap. Qi Junmu's expression did not change. He said calmly, "What makes you think of going to the North Frontier?"
"Your Majesty, my father says I am unlearned and know nothing of the people's hardships, and that in the capital I only rely on my status to offend others," Wen Yao said pitifully. "Since Prince Jin is going to the North Frontier to investigate a case, Qi Fan and I thought we might go along and see for ourselves. As the heir of Prince Ying and the Imperial Uncle, surely we could also help redress grievances and speak for the common people once we arrive."
Qi Fan was more cautious than Wen Yao. He stole a glance at the Emperor's expression, pursed his lips, and said quietly, "Your Majesty, I… my father has often spoken lately of how harsh life is at the border. I wished to see for myself the place that Marquis Zhenbei defends."
The moment Wen Yao said this, Qi Junmu knew someone had coached him.
Wen Yao had never in his life uttered the phrase "the common people's hardships." With Wen Wan shielding him, the Wen family as his backbone, and the Emperor's protection, he thought of things in the simplest terms—if it pleased him, he said it and did it; if not, he ignored it.
Wen Yao had always been casual and impertinent in the Emperor's presence. Everyone knew that once the investigation into Chang Sheng's disappearance in the North Frontier came to a conclusion, it would surely be a great merit, and the Emperor was paving the way to make Prince Jin's title all the more legitimate.
So having Wen Yao step forward to test the Emperor's stance was the perfect move.
If Qi Junmu refused, the Wen family could easily claim that Wen Yao was rash and had spoken nonsense before the Emperor. If Qi Junmu agreed, then everyone would be pleased.
Wen Yao could also seize the chance to earn merit and add luster to the Wen family name. Wen Zhuo was still only the Vice Minister of War—not even the Minister, let alone granted a noble title.
Without any major accomplishments from the Wen family, the Emperor could keep Wen Zhuo's position where it was. Of course, there was another way for Wen Zhuo to be promoted—if Wen Wan were to bear an imperial heir. For the child's sake, the Emperor could hardly let the Empress's family remain too weak.
But that was a prospect the Wen family would never enjoy in this lifetime.
Now the Wen family saw no hope on the Empress's side, and the Emperor had been giving them the cold shoulder. So Wen Zhuo was likely growing anxious.
All of this Qi Junmu could easily imagine. What intrigued him was Qi Fan—why did Qi Fan want to go to the North Frontier?
Was he being led astray by someone? Did he want to earn merit? Or perhaps he did not wish to remain content like Prince Ying, and wanted to break free of that comfortable circle to claim the interests that were due to him as a member of the imperial clan?
From the previous life, Qi Fan had been a rather interesting person.
He had been close to Wen Yao, then fallen out over a trivial matter, and later quietly drawn closer to Qi Junyou.
But in all that time, he had never shown any ambition before the Emperor. So why choose to go to the North Frontier now?
Or perhaps—in the previous life, Chang Sheng had not met with trouble in the North Frontier, so Qi Fan had no excuse to go. Now there was a question: what was truly in Qi Fan's mind, and did Prince Ying know of it?
Had Qi Fan drawn so close to Qi Junyou because he saw no hope with the Emperor, or was there another purpose?
At these thoughts, Qi Junmu narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. He said coolly, "Prince Jin and Yue Yunzhou are heading to the North Frontier to investigate a case. What business would you have tagging along? Are the great affairs of the court nothing but a game in your eyes?"
Wen Yao's face showed urgency. "Your Majesty, we won't cause any trouble."
"There is no more to discuss on this matter," Qi Junmu said, glancing at him. "Do you think you haven't caused enough of a stir in the capital, relying on your status as Imperial Uncle? The North Frontier is a bitter, desolate place. You could not endure such hardship. Stay in the capital and behave."
Wen Yao pouted, his expression aggrieved.
Qi Junmu then turned to Qi Fan, whose face still held a trace of hope, and said, "My uncle Prince Ying has only you as his child. If something happened to you at the border, what then?"
Qi Fan looked disappointed but forced a smile. "Your Majesty speaks truly. Your subject was presumptuous."
After dismissing Wen Yao and Qi Fan, Qi Junmu thought for a moment, then beckoned to Shen Nian. "Help me look into something."
Shen Nian approached, uncertain. The Emperor rose and walked to his side, speaking a few words softly into his ear.
The lobes of Shen Nian's ears were the only fair part of his person. Because Qi Junmu spoke so close, his breath was fine and warm, like a feather brushing against Shen Nian's ear—ticklish and numbing—so that his earlobes flushed an uncontrollable pink.
Only after he finished speaking did Qi Junmu notice this. His heart stirred slightly, finding the color remarkably beautiful.
For a moment, he was completely captivated.
When the Emperor fell silent, Shen Nian stepped back two paces, creating distance between them, and bowed. "This humble subject understands. This humble subject will send men to look into it at once."
Qi Junmu came back to himself and gave a casual "Mm," watching as Shen Nian—with a perfectly proper expression but two reddened ears—turned and left. Whether it was his imagination or not, Qi Junmu felt that Marquis Zhenbei's steps were somewhat hurried.
Recalling Shen Nian's expression of intense restraint just now, Qi Junmu suddenly laughed aloud in the empty hall.
He had been eager to have Shen Nian look into some matters, and because their interactions had always been easygoing, he had not paid attention to the distance between them. By the time he noticed, Shen Nian had already stepped back, without making him feel awkward at all.
In short, from every angle, Shen Nian was a person who was extremely considerate of others.
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