What was that smell?
The Emperor frowned, glancing at Hua Chun.
After talking for so long without any food, she was of course starving. Seeing that he showed no intention of hosting a meal, Hua Chun couldn’t help but sneak a hand into her sleeve for the dried fish, glancing at the Emperor from the corner of her eye. While his attention was elsewhere, she quickly pinched off a strip and turned her head to pop it into her mouth, then casually turned back around as if nothing had happened.
This kind of trick was one she’d played back in her school days, sneaking snacks during class.
Chewing quietly, Hua Chun looked down at the papers on the table. Seeing that the Emperor hadn’t spoken or moved, she assumed he was deep in thought, so she confidently popped in another piece.
Madam Wan hadn’t lied—this dried fish really was fragrant and delicious!
Out of the corner of his eye, Yuwen Jie caught her little movements—sneaking about like a thief, her eyes bright, her slender white fingers stained a little with oil. Filthy, truly.
No wait, that wasn’t the point. The point was, the esteemed Prime Minister Hua had actually brought snacks into Zichen Hall?! And was eating them right in front of him as if no one else was there?
Effeminate indeed! What kind of man could do something like this?
The Emperor’s heart was truly filled with disgust, but glancing outside, it was already so late, and after all this time discussing things with her, which had actually proven quite useful, he couldn’t very well hold a grudge over some dried fish, could he?
After enduring it for a while, Yuwen Jie spoke calmly. “If this plan can be implemented, I will reward you accordingly. I hope the Prime Minister will do her utmost.”
At the mention of a reward, Hua Chun immediately perked up. She wiped the oil from her hands onto the back of her robe, sat up straight and proper, and looked at the Emperor. “May this servant boldly ask Your Majesty for a favor?”
Shifting his body slightly away, Yuwen Jie frowned at her. “What favor do you want?”
Taking a deep breath, Hua Chun spoke earnestly. “My mother raised this servant for over twenty years, and to this day has not yet enjoyed any peaceful comfort.” She said seriously, “This servant wishes to show some filial devotion and help my mother fulfill a wish. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant permission?”
“If you wish to show your devotion, why must you need my permission?”
Taking a deep breath, Hua Chun spoke solemnly. “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. What the Son of Heaven has not permitted, none of us subjects dares to decide for ourselves. My mother’s wish is not a difficult one—she only wishes for ‘peace of heart, a place to belong, spacious lodgings, and a household in good health.’ Such an ordinary wish—does Your Majesty think this servant should not do her best to fulfill it?”
Peace of heart, a place to belong, spacious lodgings, a household in good health. It truly was an ordinary wish.
He thought about it, then nodded. “As long as it doesn’t implicate others, and you accomplish it through your own effort without violating the laws of the state or family rules, if you want to do it, then go ahead.”
Her eyes lit up, and Hua Chun rose happily, bowing. “Many thanks for Your Majesty’s boundless grace!”
With that one sentence from him, that was all she needed. The words before and after were all things she’d made up on the spot—only the middle part, “a place to belong, spacious lodgings,” was what actually mattered. When it came to speaking, one had to master the art of it. See? Wasn’t that accomplished without a fight?
Taking advantage of Yuwen Jie’s momentary distraction, Hua Chun stood up and tried to make a run for it.
“Prime Minister Hua.” The sovereign spoke, calling her to stop.
“This servant is here.” Hua Chun startled, turned around and cupped her hands. “Does Your Majesty have further instructions?”
Leaning back in his chair, Yuwen Jie eyed her. “Do you find accompanying me to discuss state affairs boring, and hungry as well?”
“Where does Your Majesty get such an idea?” Her heart gave a jolt, and she immediately raised her head, speaking with righteous conviction. “As Prime Minister, this is all part of this servant’s duty—I would never feel the slightest dissatisfaction or slack off!”
Shouting slogans and flattering people—for Hua Chun, this was about as easy as it got. The words came flowing out. “With Your Majesty’s imposing presence before me, this servant feels neither hunger nor fatigue. As long as I can share Your Majesty’s burdens, there is nothing this servant would refuse!”
Every word rang out firm and resounding—wasn’t this exactly how loyal officials always talked… er, presented themselves!
Hearing her words, the Emperor seemed somewhat moved. He looked at her for a long while before speaking. “The Prime Minister’s loyalty, I believe I now understand. However, soiling Zichen Hall is not exactly a good thing.”
What? Hua Chun was puzzled, following his gaze toward the spot where she’d just been sitting.
Damn it, the dried fish had leaked out!
She’d packed it up too hastily earlier and hadn’t noticed—strips of the cute, spicy dried fish were scattered across the chair and the floor. The scene was rather awkward.
She gave a couple of dry laughs and stole a glance at the Emperor’s expression.
He didn’t seem angry, just calmly pointing out the fact that things had fallen out. Standing frozen in place for a moment, Hua Chun carefully stepped over, pulled out the oil-paper package from her sleeve, and gathered all the dried fish back inside, wrapping it up.
“I don’t like people who speak empty words,” Yuwen Jie said flatly, looking at her. “Just do what you’re supposed to do.”
Steeling herself, she nodded, though inwardly she pouted—this emperor was rather naive. What was so wrong with a bit of pleasant talk? Everyone liked hearing nice things, even if they were a little false—it beat charging straight in and taking a beating.
Her mentor from before had always said that in this world, the people who lived best were never the good people, but the smooth ones—those who could say human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts. Even if they couldn’t be heroes, they’d avoid a lot of bumps and bruises along the way.
So she’d always taken this philosophy to heart. Her flattery skills were quite polished as well.
But an emperor, above all others, had the privilege to be as capricious as he liked, saying whatever he pleased, answerable to no one. As his subject, all she could do was cup her hands and smile in agreement. “This humble servant understands.”
It had started raining heavily outside since half an hour earlier. By the time Hua Chun left Zichen Hall, it was already the hour of Xu, and the sky had turned completely dark, with faint rumbles of thunder still audible.
“Prime Minister.” Eunuch Qin looked at her with some difficulty. “The rain is too heavy, and Zichen Gate is flooded—not easy to pass. Why not rest in the side hall for a while? Once the attendants clear the rainwater, you can be on your way.”
The drainage system here really was inadequate, Hua Chun thought, clicking her tongue. In the distance, she could see Zichen Gate, the ground below it shimmering with standing water.
She nodded. “I’ll trouble you then, Eunuch Qin.”
Eunuch Qin nodded and had a young eunuch escort her to the side hall, then went ahead into the front hall to report.
“Has she left?” Yuwen Jie asked, eyes closed.
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Eunuch Qin said. “It’s flooded outside, and the Prime Minister cannot leave the palace for the time being. This servant asked her to rest in the side hall until the rain lightens and the water clears, then she can go.”
Sitting for so long, she’d even resorted to sneaking snacks, and still couldn’t leave, stuck in the side hall? The Emperor opened his eyes, glanced outside, and said nothing further, simply having someone arrange dinner in the rear hall of Zichen Hall.
It wouldn’t kill her—letting that effeminate creature suffer a bit was something he was quite willing to allow. Hua Jinghua had seemed to grow gentler lately; though he no longer found her as annoying as before, she was still plenty annoying. Might as well let her stay in that cold side hall.
Heading toward the rear hall, the wind howled and the rain lashed down the whole way. Even with the servants holding umbrellas over him, Yuwen Jie inevitably got soaked in places.
“Weather like this… it’s just like three years ago,” he said, gazing at the pitch-black surroundings, feeling the icy rain, murmuring low. “Even the killing intent in the air feels this familiar.”