The enthronement ceremony was one of the most important days in a new Emperor’s life. After the proclamation to the realm, he should return to the palace to enjoy a palace banquet together with his elders, wives and concubines, and children—namely the Grand Empress Dowager, Empress and consorts, as well as imperial princes and princesses.

However, Zhu Nanxian’s parents had passed away, he had not established an Empress, and he had no offspring under his knees. He was truly a solitary and lonely person.

The palace banquet set up in Minghua Palace had only a sparse single table, but palace maids and palace attendants standing on both sides numbered one hundred and eight people, each holding a delicacy.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhu Nanxian was startled for a moment and said: “How can I alone eat so much?”

Eunuch You at his side said: “Your Majesty, this is a regulation established when the Late Emperor founded the dynasty. The one hundred and eight dishes are for auspiciousness. If Your Majesty cannot finish them, it’s fine to taste just one bite of each.”

Zhu Nanxian made a sound of acknowledgment and sat down with raised chopsticks.

Palace maids at the side immediately presented the first dish. As the golden plate fell on the dragon platform with a clear sound, musicians who had been standing at the side of the hall plucked their lutes, and several dancers dressed in beautiful attire entered the hall gracefully to the melodious tune.

Actually, it would have been better without song and dance. Once the singing and dancing began, with only one person to appreciate the music and song filling the hall, it felt even more desolate instead.

Zhu Nanxian put two chopsticks of food in his mouth: “Summon Seventeen and Qingyue to Minghua Palace.”

Eunuch You said: “Your Majesty, you are the Emperor, the supreme ruler. Though the Seventeenth Prince and Lord Shen are close to you, now they are merely your subjects. This is your own family palace banquet—they cannot come.”

Zhu Nanxian fell silent, made another sound of acknowledgment, and then said nothing more.

Eunuch You watched Zhu Nanxian from the side and couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

He had served in the Eastern Palace since the dynasty’s founding. Over these years, whenever the Eastern Palace had reunions, the late Crown Princess would always begin preparations a month in advance. The family banquets were lively and warm. The Thirteenth Prince, Lord Shen, the Seventeenth Prince, and also Miss Shen would all come. The whole family was uninhibited, living in the deep palace like a common household. Not many years after Miss Shen married and went to Beiping, the little prince was born. Not to mention the late Crown Prince and late Crown Princess as parents—the Thirteenth Prince and Lord Shen simply wanted to hold Zhu Lin in their palms and dote on him. At every family banquet, they would argue over whether Lin’er should pursue civil or martial studies in the future.

Eunuch You remembered that before the New Year festival, Shen Jing had specially instructed that this year’s Eastern Palace family banquet should add one more person—the Thirteenth Prince wanted to bring Censor Su. At the time, he had wondered why the Thirteenth Prince would bring a subject, and being so inattentive, when would he ever add a princess consort?

Actually, calculating carefully, these past events had only been a little over half a year ago, yet they seemed to have been pushed by someone into dreams of the past. Even trying to retrieve them left one’s hands full of dust.

Zhu Nanxian had formed habits in the military—he ate very quickly. Later on, it was actually him having to pause his chopsticks waiting for palace maids to serve the next dish.

Before him were indeed the finest delicacies, but he had been born into glory and power—what good food hadn’t he eaten? With his mind concerned about Su Jin, yet unable to ask in front of these hundred palace maids and attendants, he actually ate without knowing the taste.

He finally endured until the xu hour. After the palace maids cleared away the bowls and plates, Eunuch You said: “Your Majesty should rest early. Taking advantage of tomorrow’s suspension of court, get a good day’s rest.”

Zhu Nanxian sat quietly for a moment, stood up and said: “Good.” He was about to walk toward the inner palace.

Just then, a palace attendant guarding outside the hall came to report: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Seventeenth Prince requests an audience.”

Zhu Min’er had actually arrived at the you hour. He waited at Minghua Terrace for an hour until he saw palace maids carrying golden plates exiting from inside the palace, then stepped forward to request an audience.

After performing the proper respects, Zhu Min’er said: “This subject-brother has some words he wishes to speak with Your Majesty alone. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to walk outside Minghua Palace with this subject-brother?”

Zhu Nanxian nodded once: “Qin Sang, you alone follow me.”

Once they reached outside Minghua Palace, he asked: “Why did you come at this hour?” He then asked: “What words do you have to say to me?”

Only then did Prince Zhu Seventeen say: “It’s nothing really. After returning to the palace, Lord Shen came to find this subject-brother and asked this subject-brother to find an excuse to lure Imperial Brother out of Minghua Palace, so you could go see the person you want to see.”

Shen Qingyue’s original words were: “Today is Thirteen’s enthronement ceremony. He must inevitably observe the rules strictly to avoid future criticism. After finishing the palace banquet, if no one requests or invites, he can only return to his bedchamber first and lie there with eyes open all night.”

Upon hearing these words, Zhu Nanxian laughed: “He’s gotten clever.” He immediately changed direction, turned around, and walked toward Weiyang Palace.

Palace maid Yu Kui had just retrieved Su Jin’s change of clothes from the inner room when she ran head-on into a person wearing black and gold dragon robes, hands clasped behind his back, striding into the hall. She hastily bowed down in salute, saying: “This servant didn’t know Your Majesty would come tonight. I’ve already served Lord Su to sleep. Your Majesty, forgive this offense.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “No harm.” He then asked, “How is Vice Minister Su?”

Yu Kui said: “Reporting to Your Majesty, when Lord Su returned at noon, she was depleted of strength and broke into a full sweat. We servants attended her bathing, and she slept for two hours. The Lord rose in the evening and ate some clear congee—her appetite was good. An hour ago, she said she felt weary and went to rest again.”

Besides Yu Kui, Physician Fang Xu was also kneeling in the hall. Zhu Nanxian looked toward him and asked: “Have you examined Vice Minister Su’s pulse?”

Fang Xu said: “Reporting to Your Majesty, I have examined it. The pulse reading is actually still fine, only somewhat thin and slow. Because she slept for so long, her health is indeed frail. With good rest and recuperation for ten days to half a month, she should presumably recover.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “That’s good then. I’ll go in and see her.”

Fang Xu raised his eyelids to glance at Zhu Nanxian. Thinking that His Majesty was after all a seven-foot tall man in the prime of his vigor, coming to visit late at night, there was no guarantee what might happen. He couldn’t help but admonish again: “Your Majesty, Lord Su has only just awakened for one day. Apart from her frail health, it’s also unknown whether the congested blood in her brain has completely dispersed. You must remember she cannot be fatigued or overexerted, lest symptoms remain. Your Majesty, you… in all matters, must not be impatient for the moment. It would be best to restrain yourself for a month. Let this subject confirm that Lord Su’s health is unharmed—that is the path of longevity.”

Zhu Nanxian was stunned for a moment, then instantly realized what Fang Xu meant by “impatient for the moment” and “path of longevity.”

He made a fist to cover his nose and coughed somewhat awkwardly: “I understand.”

Upon entering the inner room, Zhu Nanxian looked toward the bed and saw Su Jin opening her eyes to look at him. He said in surprise: “Did I wake you?”

Su Jin propped herself up to sit: “I already slept in the afternoon. After I lay down just now, I always felt in my heart that Your Majesty would come. I couldn’t truly fall asleep.”

Zhu Nanxian closed the door, walked to the bedside, took two cushions to place behind her, saying as he did: “Had I known you were waiting, I should have come earlier.”

When he placed the cushions for her, his entire person was actually leaning over in front of her.

The black robes emanated a faint dragon ambergris fragrance. She could lift her head and see his jaw and neck.

“Your Majesty.” Su Jin supported his arm. “It’s already the ninth month.”

“Hm?” Zhu Nanxian was startled for a moment and bent his face down to look at her.

In her clear and translucent gaze was some bewilderment. Meeting his eyes, she lowered her lashes: “I… slept through the agreed-upon thirteenth of the seventh month.”

Upon hearing these words, Zhu Nanxian couldn’t help but laugh.

“If it passed, it passed. We’ll just pick another date.” He looked at her, his voice low and pleasant. At such close distance, she could even feel the slight vibration in his throat when he spoke. “Are you still afraid I won’t marry you?”

Su Jin also raised her eyes to look at him.

Fresh breath carrying a trace of medicinal scent sprayed onto his neck. The light flowing in her eyes was like lake water rippling under the moon—every tiny wave captured his spirit.

The smile on his face gradually disappeared. Deep in his gaze was a burning seriousness.

She felt the same seriousness and couldn’t help leaning forward, her soft lips lightly brushing against the corner of his mouth.

Zhu Nanxian’s Adam’s apple moved up and down. This touch was like her casually prying open the thousand-pound sluice gate in his heart. Torrents and torrents of tidal water all rushed downward. As he closed his eyes and covered hers, he couldn’t help sighing softly: “A’Yu.”

“Mm.” She responded to him in a low voice.

“I really am…” He didn’t dare kiss deeply, could only taste briefly, then reached out to gently support her cheek. His slender fingers smoothed away the hair by her temples, pressing against her forehead: “Really can’t endure it.”

Su Jin was stunned for a moment, then realized what his “can’t endure it” meant. Her entire face suddenly became burning hot.

He again kissed like a dragonfly skimming water, gently sweeping across her slender brows, her clear eye corners, passing by her ears as thin as cicada wings, accompanied by breath and moist sensation, making her entire being tremble slightly involuntarily.

“For not establishing an Empress, I promised before all the assembled ministers to observe mourning for two years, but I—really can’t endure that long. This promise, is it all right if I don’t keep it?”

His lips moved from her earlobe, along her gaunt cheek, and returned to the corner of her mouth.

Su Jin’s eyes brimmed with emotion. She responded in a low voice: “Your Majesty’s promise was only to observe mourning without establishing an Empress. But for A’Yu, whether as wife or as subject, A’Yu’s body and heart were already promised to Your Majesty long ago.” Her hand supporting Zhu Nanxian’s arm slowly tightened. “As long as Your Majesty wishes.”

The torrents of tidal water that could originally be suppressed by willpower suddenly gushed forth from somewhere in his body, mingling with all the blood in his body, becoming a vast ocean that seized the soul and will.

He reached out to support her waist, guided her down slightly, letting her lie flat on the bed, and leaned down again.

The entire world disappeared until only the person before his eyes remained. Her every exhalation, every low murmur made him feel as if the earth shook and mountains moved, yet was so overwhelmingly beautiful that one wanted to explore deeper into the azure mountains and cloud peaks, the snowy seas and flying ravines.

For a moment, he actually didn’t know where he was. He only felt as if he had lost his way. Unexpectedly, he heard several sounds of her trying hard to suppress rapid panting.

These several rapid pants shocked his consciousness abruptly. Fang Xu’s earlier admonishment suddenly returned to his mind—Lord Su has only just awakened for one day. Apart from her frail health, it’s unknown whether the congested blood in her brain has completely dispersed. You must remember she cannot be fatigued or overexerted, lest symptoms remain.

The sea of passion was like a tide—even he felt dizzy. How much more so for her, still not yet recovered from illness, nestled in his arms at this moment?

Zhu Nanxian bit hard on the root of his own tongue, nearly biting until it bled, before he could summon back his clarity.

Bending his face to look at Su Jin, he saw sweat on her forehead, both cheeks an unhealthy flush, her lip color already somewhat pale.

“A’Yu.” He supported her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

Su Jin’s eyes were half-closed. She shook her head: “I’m fine.”

Zhu Nanxian, seeing her powerless appearance, said with regret: “It’s my fault. I almost couldn’t restrain myself.”

He helped her put on her half-removed garments, smoothed her hair, supported her to sit up again, took his ceremonial robe to drape over her shoulders, moved to the table, and while pouring water said: “Someone come.”

Xunyi and Yu Kui pushed open the door and entered: “Your Majesty.”

Zhu Nanxian handed the water in his hand to Su Jin, instructing: “It’s somewhat hot.” Only then did he address the two kneeling people, “Go fetch the items I placed at Weiyang Palace a month ago.”

Yu Kui acknowledged and withdrew.

Xunyi raised her eyes for a glance and saw that Zhu Nanxian was wearing only his inner garments—his entire dragon robe was draped over Su Jin to protect her from the cold.

She couldn’t help being amazed. Women in the rear palace always mentioned the two words “imperial favor,” and said that in previous dynasties which emperors had done many mindless and senseless things for their consorts. But such mindlessness and senselessness could never escape the emperor’s own incompetence.

However, today she had witnessed Emperor Jin’an’s kind of imperial favor and felt it was truly unprecedented.

Xunyi bowed her head. Though she knew that today was His Majesty’s enthronement ceremony and by rights he should return to Minghua Palace to rest, she still asked: “Will Your Majesty rest at Weiyang Palace today?”

Zhu Nanxian turned his head to glance at Su Jin. The flush on her face had faded, replaced by a pallid sickly complexion that was worrisome. So he said: “Mm, I’ll rest at Weiyang Palace.”