Chapter 2
The next day, Zhao Jingheng did not attend the morning court. He instructed the eunuchs to deliver all the ministers' memorials to the Imperial Study.
Several consecutive memorials urged him to set an example and return to the yin-yang.
Just as he was panicking and utterly confused, Li Gonggong arrived to report that the Prefect of Jingzhao was requesting an audience.
"Announce him."
After the Prefect entered, he recounted the events of the previous afternoon's apprehension of a petty thief. Just as the Emperor's brow furrowed in impatience,
The Prefect carefully folded the painting and handed it to Li Gonggong. Li Gonggong, head bowed respectfully, delivered the item into Zhao Jingheng's hands.
Zhao Jingheng initially paid it no mind and casually opened it. Upon seeing the contents, he immediately covered it with a memorial lying nearby.
His face turned ashen, and his rapid breathing revealed that his master was on the verge of a furious outburst.
"The Prefect of Jingzhao will remain; everyone else, get out."
"Yes."
After the palace attendants had filed out, Zhao Jingheng finally spoke, asking, "Has the entire capital been alerted?"
"Yes."
The Prefect of Jingzhao dared not even lift his head. Yesterday, several bailiffs had been chatting about lewd jokes.
The advisor found it amusing and told him about it. When he saw the painting, he nearly fell over in fright.
However, it was late, and the palace gates were locked. He had no opportunity to report to the palace. He didn't know who had spread the news, but now everyone in the capital knew that the person at the bottom was their current Emperor.
Not only had he failed to detect such a matter beforehand, but he also failed to apprehend the petty thief. The words felt like burning coals in his mouth, and he wished he could fall gravely ill to escape this ordeal.
"Have you identified who is responsible?"
"This subordinate is incompetent."
The Emperor, in his rage, forcefully threw the inkstone beside him at the Prefect's head, staining his face with cinnabar.
"Your subject deserves death, please pardon me, Your Majesty."
"Useless! What good are you for me to raise? Dispatch people to investigate thoroughly. I want them all to die without a whole corpse. Also, immediately post notices to clarify; anyone in the capital found discussing this will be executed without mercy."
"Yes, this subject obeys your decree."
"Hurry up, you're annoying me just by looking at you."
"This subject takes his leave."
Exiting the Imperial Study, the Prefect of Jingzhao let out a long sigh. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the cinnabar from his face and hurried towards the palace gates.
Zhao Jingheng, furious, swept everything off the table onto the ground, his mind racing with ways to salvage the situation.
Shortly after, Zhao Jingyi rushed over.
"Brother, how could this have happened? I handled that day's matter very cleanly, why would outsiders find out?"
Zhao Jingheng closed his eyes wearily. "Yiyi, don't worry, there will always be a solution. As long as I don't admit it, I am the Son of Heaven. What can a group of foolish ministers and commoners do to me?"
"Brother still hasn't found replacements for them? This news spread so slowly. And who is so malicious? I truly wish I could hack them into a thousand pieces."
"It's difficult to find them immediately. They have their own established ways of passing information. This network suddenly broke, so it's normal that some connections are lost. It will be fine after some time."
"These people are too useless, only dragging Brother down. Those old men's admonishments have probably piled up to the sky by now. Will Brother compromise?"
Zhao Jingheng affectionately pulled her hand and drew her closer, playfully flicking her nose with his finger.
"Don't worry, I won't touch her. It was just an act, and the records in the Department of the Imperial Bedchamber are sufficient. We can't avoid it forever and let outsiders gossip and believe those things."
Zhao Jingheng lunged into his embrace, placing her hand on his chest.
"Brother, I can't bear to see you compromising like this. When can we be together openly?"
"When Brother controls all power, Yi'er, rest assured, I won't make you wait too long."
"Yes, Brother, I believe you."
...
Zhao Jingheng, accompanied by his retinue, proceeded grandly towards Jun Jiuli's Weiyang Palace.
The young eunuch guarding the gate had already come to deliver good news, but among the maids brought from the Prime Minister's estate, not one wore a genuine smile.
"Empress, rise."
As he spoke, he personally stepped forward to help Jun Jiuli. Before his hand could touch her, Jun Jiuli stood up.
Zhao Jingheng felt snubbed and chose the main seat, sitting down. He ate dinner with them, engaging in desultory conversation.
Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Zhao Jingheng dismissed all the palace attendants.
"Empress, what happened that day was not my intention."
This dry statement lacked sincerity. Jun Jiuli slowly raised the teacup beside her and took a sip.
"Oh? Then Your Majesty did it intentionally. What was your intention? It only disgraces yourself."
"Presumptuous! Is this how Prime Minister Xiao taught you your manners? I said I was unwell that day, and the Empress should be considerate of me."
"Yes, yes, yes. Then when will your illness finally kill you?"
Zhao Jingheng was enraged. He slammed the table and yelled sternly, "Xiao Wenxuan, don't push your luck too far. Your disobedience is so grave that I can kill you at any moment."
"Would you dare? Do you have any evidence? I bet you don't, afraid of leaving a notorious name in historical records. Afraid of the gossip of the world. You truly are a coward."
"Hmph, you wretch. Do you really think I have no way to deal with you? Whose backing are you relying on? If something were to happen to you, could your Prime Minister father rush here to save you?"
As he spoke, he bared an evil, cold smile and reached out his right hand to grip Jun Jiuli's throat.
Jun Jiuli dodged effortlessly and grabbed his neck instead. Zhao Jingheng's face was filled with disbelief, his limbs flailing as he tried desperately to return to the ground.
The suffocating sensation made his head spin, and he desperately gasped for air. He had been careless, underestimating this woman.
A wave of fear washed over him. Was he going to die like this? What about Yiyi? No, no. Xiao Wenxuan wouldn't dare. He was the Emperor.
As expected, Jun Jiuli forcefully threw him to the ground. He gulped in fresh air, a surge of relief coursing through him. He glared fiercely at Jun Jiuli.
He was about to call for help, but not a sound could escape his lips. Jun Jiuli approached step by step, and he shrank back in terror.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Aren't you the Emperor? Why are you so cowardly? Look at you, you don't even deserve to be a king. It's truly laughable, a creature who disregards all human decency."
Zhao Jingheng's heart was filled with vexation. This woman seemed to know everything. What did the Prime Minister know? What did she intend to do now? He was isolated and helpless, no match for her.
Jun Jiuli's persistent advance, the oppressive aura emanating from her, made it difficult for him to breathe. Her words accurately struck his insecure and sensitive heart, causing him to momentarily lose his composure.
His body brushed against the stand holding the vases, and a vase suddenly crashed down. Water poured over him, and his mind gradually cleared. He finally mustered enough strength to stand up.
At that moment, Qiuyue outside asked, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, do you require anything?"
Zhao Jingheng couldn't bring himself to speak, his legs feeling as if they were cast in lead, unable to move.
"Nothing. His Majesty accidentally knocked over a vase. You may come to clean it tomorrow. His Majesty dislikes having people around. All of you, withdraw."
"Yes."
Zhao Jingheng felt a sense of despair. This woman, he didn't know what she intended to do to him.