Shen Du held Zhu Yan close as they walked silently back to the Shen residence. Even after entering their room, Shen Du maintained a somber expression, gripping Zhu Yan’s hand tightly.
Zhu Yan tried to pull away gently, but couldn’t. She furrowed her delicate brows and called his name. It wasn’t until the third time that Shen Du heard her, looking down at her in confusion.
Zhu Yan smiled, showing her teeth, then pouted coquettishly, “You’re hurting my hand.”
Shen Du released his grip, noticing the red marks on the back of Zhu Yan’s hand. He quickly apologized, feeling distressed.
“It’s nothing,” Zhu Yan gazed at him tenderly, her slender hand lightly caressing his chest. “Don’t mind it. Lai Luozhi was trying to provoke you. If you had gone on a killing spree at the Lai residence, it would have played right into his hands.”
Shen Du understood this, of course. “But he shouldn’t have used you to test me, let alone threaten me with you.”
Zhu Yan burst into laughter, leaving Shen Du puzzled, unsure of what amused her.
“So the Grand Secretary can be jealous,” Zhu Yan said with a smile brimming with affection, “but I love it.”
Shen Du had lost his mother as a child and his father in his youth. He had grown accustomed to being alone, emotionally distant, and awkward with words. But hearing Zhu Yan’s tender confession melted his heart completely. He pulled her into his arms, wishing he could merge her into his very being, never to be separated.
That night, they talked for a long time. Shen Du shared his suspicions with Zhu Yan, believing that the Bureau of Pushers might also be monitoring the Imperial Cabinet.
As for why he had shot and killed Lai Luofu’s body double on the spot, Shen Du explained that a mere body bodydouble who dared to scheme against Zhu Yan deserved death. But before Zhu Yan could ask about his true intentions, she fell into a deep sleep.
In the days that followed, Lai Luozhi didn’t cause any trouble for the couple. Despite their apparent falling out, there was an eerie harmony on the surface.
A few days later, the first snow of winter fell. As Zhu Yan snapped out of her focus on organizing documents, intending to find Shen Du and return to the Zhu residence together, a messenger from the palace arrived. The Empress had summoned Zhu Yan to the palace once again.
As dusk approached, a cold wind swept across the land snowflakes drifting down. Snow covered the ground and eaves, painting the world in pristine white.
Glancing up at the falling snow, Zhu Yan entered the great hall.
The Empress dispensed with formalities and immediately inquired about the banquet.
Knowing that nothing could be hidden from the Empress, Zhu Yan recounted the events of that day truthfully. The Empress’s expression remained unreadable, showing no significant reaction.
“It seems Minister Lai was merely jesting with Minister Shen,” the Empress remarked.
Although she said this, Zhu Yan sensed that the Empress harbored suspicions about Lai Luozhi, or perhaps these suspicions had always existed.
“They are both my right and left arms. You should advise Minister Shen not to harbor any ill feelings towards Minister Lai,” the Empress continued.
Zhu Yan shook her head, “Your Majesty, I am unaware of the intricacies of their relationship and do not know if they have developed any animosity. However, regarding Minister Lai’s attempt to manipulate me, I did not perceive it as a jest. Even if I knew he intended to set up the Grand Secretary, I would be powerless to control the situation.”
With these words, the Empress understood everything. Shen Du had not shared all the secrets of officialdom with Zhu Yan. He protected her, and even though she was angry at Lai Luozhi, she couldn’t employ the cunning strategies of court politics.
Shen Du truly treasured Zhu Yan, protecting her like a precious jewel, not minding at all that Zhang Xingwei had recommended her.
The Empress lowered her eyes, “I heard that Minister Shen also injured Minister Lai’s elder sister. Let this matter end here.”
Zhu Yan was slightly startled. Why had the Empress deliberately concealed the fact that Shen Du had killed Lai Luofu’s body double? Was she covering for Shen Du?
Shen Du was merely a tool for maintaining her power, and Zhu Yan didn’t even qualify as a tool. Why was the Empress protecting him like this? Had she summoned her just for a chat?
The Empress called for tea and snacks, inviting Zhu Yan to join her. Zhu Yan carefully accepted, hearing palace servants sweeping snow outside. She turned to look out the window.
The Empress noticed her distraction and also looked outside. Palace servants were quietly sweeping snow with bamboo brooms, the sound of the brooms scraping the ground audible. The falling snow enveloped the servants’ figures.
“The year’s end approaches and I’m about to age another year,” the Empress sighed, losing interest in the refreshments.
Zhu Yan hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, may you live for thousands of autumns…”
“Enough, don’t try to flatter me. I’m but flesh and blood, how could I live for thousands of years?” the Empress interrupted.
Zhu Yan’s words of praise caught in her throat, leaving her awkwardly unsure of how to respond.
The Empress saw this and chuckled lightly, “Do you know why I love to summon you to the palace?”
“This humble servant is ignorant,” Zhu Yan replied.
“You need not be so formal,” seeing Zhu Yan’s stiff shoulders, the Empress didn’t elaborate further. “Look at how you treat me, let alone others.”
“They respect me but fear me more. In this vast Daming Palace, not a single person can stand as my equal.”
The loneliness of a great empress was truly lamentable.
“But this servant sees that Eunuch Zhang and Consort Xu are close to Your Majesty,” Zhu Yan ventured.
“Haha,” the Empress laughed openly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothing out a bit, “That closeness is only with my permission. No one can truly reach my heart.”
Was this desolate palace truly so unbearable for the Empress?
“You’ve never been involved in palace affairs, nor have you been bound by the rules that constrain ordinary women. I was once like you, bright and happy, pursuing what I wanted. But after I entered the palace, everything changed.”
Zhu Yan frowned, not understanding why the Empress was sharing such intimate thoughts with her, as she had said.
“Your Majesty still has Princess Chaoyang, Prince Ying, and the Crown Prince. They are all Your Majesty’s children and can listen to your innermost thoughts,” Zhu Yan suggested.
“Hmph, what they want is my position. How could they remember their duties as children?” the Empress snorted, looking displeased.
As Zhu Yan was about to speak again, the Empress waved her hand, “We won’t speak of them today. Seeing how Minister Shen treats you reminded me of my days with the late Emperor. Back then, he protected me in the same way, bringing me back from Ci’en Temple, shielding me with all his might…”
As the Empress spoke, her eyes grew increasingly gentle. Her usually narrow phoenix eyes brimmed with tenderness, and a smile curved her lips, making her look like a young girl in love.
Zhu Yan listened, entranced. She had no idea that the late Emperor had loved the Empress so deeply. She had assumed that the Empress kept so many male companions in the palace because she and the late Emperor had been at odds, full of constraints. She thought that after the Emperor’s passing, the Empress had sought male companions to fill the emotional void of many years.
But listening to the Empress’s reminiscences, she appeared entirely like a young woman caught in the throes of love. Zhu Yan became the best listener to the Empress’s love story, quietly hearing her recount the loving daily life of years past and lament the passage of time.
Time ticked by slowly, and Zhu Yan didn’t dare move. Thankfully, the room was heated by floor furnaces, allowing her to suppress her restlessness.
Finally, the Empress emerged from her memories, her phoenix eyes gleaming as she looked at Zhu Yan:
“I’ve said so much today because I wanted to gauge your feelings. If you are unwilling or do not like Minister Shen, I can grant you a divorce.”
“You are both so young. If there is no love, it’s better not to be bound together. Although Minister Shen seems to love you deeply, it is precisely because of this that I must ask you. Don’t worry about Zhang Xingwei’s reaction; I will take care of everything.”
This was the Empress telling Zhu Yan not to consider too much. If she didn’t love Shen Du, she could divorce him without fearing retaliation from Zhang Xingwei’s side. The Empress would shield her from everything, leaving her without worries.
“No, no, that’s not necessary,” she hastily shook her head. Realizing her expression might be problematic, she quickly forced a smile.
The Empress had already regained her calm and noble demeanor. She glanced sideways at Zhu Yan, “Are you certain?”
“I am,” Zhu Yan said, caught between laughter and tears. “This humble servant also cherishes the Grand Secretary and is willing to follow him.”
“That’s good,” the Empress waved her hand, seeming a bit tired. “You may return now. Remember to advise Minister Shen to get along well with Minister Lai and serve me diligently.”
“Yes, this servant will remember,” Zhu Yan replied respectfully.