Approaching evening, snow fell like cotton between heaven and earth. When Zhu Yushen’s carriage reached Zhengwu Gate and he was about to transfer to the imperial palanquin, he saw someone waiting by the gate tower passage. The attending inner attendant said, “It’s Lord Su.” Opening an umbrella and helping Zhu Yushen down from the carriage, he added, “Lord Su has been waiting in the snow for a while. Does Your Majesty wish to summon him?”

Zhu Yushen glanced over and nodded slightly.

Shortly after, Su Jin came forward to pay respects. “Earlier at Shen residence, this subject left first without bidding Your Majesty farewell. This is this subject’s fault. This subject apologizes to Your Majesty.”

Though she had received Shen Jun’s permission before returning to the palace, the breach of protocol was a fact. Su Jin and Shen Xi both belonged to Jin’an’s former officials. With the current situation still unstable, only by conducting herself properly could she prevent others from gossiping.

Zhu Yushen glanced at her. “Today is Little New Year’s Eve. Why haven’t you returned to your residence?”

Su Jin replied, “In response to Your Majesty, the Imperial Censorate has arranged to have a reunion dinner.”

Zhu Yushen recalled—yes, just after entering the twelfth month, Song Jue from the Imperial Censorate had come to request his permission regarding Little New Year’s Eve arrangements. Though court officials ordinarily couldn’t hold banquets in the palace, no one prohibited having refreshments or additional meals. If everyone gathered for a dinner, as long as wine was excluded and there was no extravagance, ambiguously skirting the edge of protocol, the palace could turn a blind eye and let it pass.

Zhu Yushen nodded once, replying, “No harm.” Just as he was about to board the palanquin, he saw someone standing outside the west gate tower. That person had originally been heading toward the Six Ministries, but seeing the imperial palanquin, came over to pay respects.

Through the falling twilight snow, it was hard to see clearly from afar. Only when closer did they discover the person had a tall, slender figure, wearing a black velvet cloak, with brows and eyes so composed they seemed about to freeze into a painting in the snow. It was precisely Liu Chaoming.

Seeing Su Jin was also there, Liu Chaoming paused for a moment before bowing to Zhu Yushen. “Your Majesty.”

Su Jin saluted Liu Chaoming. “Lord Liu.”

Liu Chaoming nodded. “Lord Su.”

Zhu Yushen had originally wanted to ask why Liu Yun was also in the palace, but seeing he had no one with him and was heading toward the Six Ministries, he realized that like Su Jin, he was also going to the Imperial Censorate’s reunion feast.

Su Jin thus invited, “The Imperial Censorate has already prepared refreshments and dishes. If Your Majesty does not disdain it and would honor us with your presence, it would bring great glory.”

Zhu Yushen didn’t respond, only saying after boarding the imperial palanquin, “You two may go. Be careful of the snow. No need to stand on ceremony for me.”

An inner attendant came carrying a lantern to guide the two lords Liu and Su. Su Jin said, “You may withdraw. Give this official the wind lantern.”

Then to Liu Chaoming she said, “There’s a decision regarding the military farm case that remains undecided. Shiyu cannot determine the right course and wishes to consult with my lord.”

Liu Chaoming glanced at her and opened the umbrella in his hand. “Speak then.”

The snowy night was too quiet. Their low conversation carried to Zhu Yushen’s ears. Nearing the palace gate, Zhu Yushen descended from the imperial palanquin and somehow looked once in the direction of Zhengwu Gate.

Too far away, separated by a sky and earth of snow, he could only vaguely make out the silhouettes of Liu Yun and Su Shiyu walking side by side from the shadowy dusk toward the brightly lit Imperial Censorate.

Walking from dark night toward light, as if toward a shared destination.

Inner Attendant Wu Chang, leading several inner attendants, descended the stone steps to greet him. “Your Majesty, you’ve returned.” He added, “The banquet has been set in Huagai Hall. The Tenth Prince and all the imperial clan are waiting for you.”

Zhu Yushen raised his eyes to look and could vaguely see the lights in Huagai Hall.

Little New Year’s Eve, reunion night.

But this so-called reunion should be with family, with closest kin and intimate friends. Yet among those waiting for him in Huagai Hall, aside from Zhu Yiheng, he wasn’t familiar with any of them. Nearly all his closest kin were gone, many even having died by his hand. His wedded wife had left him and gone far away. His birth mother, Consort Qi, had moved to Bao’en Temple to pray for him because his killing karma was too heavy. He heard the Ministry of Rites had added several selected attendants and beauties to his harem. Through all these years of southern expeditions and northern campaigns, he had never seen them and was too lazy to see them.

Thinking this way, Thirteen also had good fortune. Even after seizing the throne and ascending to the summit back then, Shen Qingyue and Su Shiyu by his side had always regarded him as closest kin.

Unlike him—having ascended as emperor, he was separated from everyone in this realm by the sovereign-subject chasm.

Perhaps all gains and losses in this world have their karmic retribution. What you give, what you receive—if you don’t receive it, then you haven’t given enough, haven’t been pure enough.

“I won’t go over,” Zhu Yushen said. “Tell Old Ten to dismiss the imperial clan. Let him return to his residence as well.”

What was the point of whitewashing peace and forcing smiles?

The word “companionship” shouldn’t be merely superficial—it should be a kind of mutual understanding hidden deep in the heart.

Like Shen Jun and Shen Xi’s sibling intimacy, Thirteen and his Ayu at the ends of the earth yet close as fingertips, or like what he had just witnessed—Liu Yun and Su Shiyu walking all the way from dark night toward the firelight, having experienced wind and rain yet still able to reach the same destination by different paths.

Otherwise, being a solitary sovereign was fine too.

He had never cared about this anyway.

Wu Chang, carrying the lantern, guided Zhu Yushen toward the sleeping chambers, reporting, “Today before the Second Prince accompanied Your Majesty to Shen residence, he went alone to Your Majesty’s sleeping chamber and looked through the Empress’s portrait.” Adding with an ingratiating smile, “The Second Prince is young but very sensible. He probably feared not recognizing the Empress and making Your Majesty and Her Majesty sad.”

Zhu Yushen didn’t allow people to casually touch Shen Jun’s portrait. After Zhu Jin finished looking at it, he had probably not put it away properly. Wu Chang feared being implicated, which was why he mentioned this.

Zhu Yushen simply said, “Understood.”

Wu Chang glanced at Zhu Yushen, hesitant to speak. He didn’t know why, but ever since the Empress left, this reticent and inscrutable sovereign whom everyone feared had been particularly doting toward the Second Prince.

Wu Chang said, “Your Majesty, shall this slave have the imperial kitchen send dinner to Your Majesty’s sleeping chamber?”

Zhu Yushen nodded. “Also bring the memorials I left in Jinshen Palace.”

Wu Chang was startled. Little New Year’s Eve, and His Majesty still wanted to read memorials?

But before this question left his mouth, he held his tongue, thinking: Yes, besides reading memorials, what else could His Majesty do?

Celebrating the New Year like this, it would be better not to celebrate at all. He truly hoped spring would come early.

Wu Chang said, “Yes, this slave will have someone fetch them immediately.”