Chapter 435: The Emperor

Wang Zhen kept his word and personally went to the Eastern Depot to fetch them, taking Cao Jixiang and the other four to the Northern Town Surveillance Office.

On the narrow palace corridor, footsteps echoed—deng, deng, deng—beside their ears; the early spring sunlight was brilliant, yet the air remained chilly, casting no warmth upon the skin.

Especially within this corridor flanked by high walls, only half of each face received the sun's glow.

As they walked, light and shadow flickered, leaving faces half-bright, half-shadowed.

Cao Jixiang and the other four followed behind Wang Zhen, feeling the pressure emanating from him.

Wang Zhen did not slow his step, only glancing briefly over his shoulder at the four, then turning to ask Cao Jixiang, "Jixiang, have you five been mistreated?"

Cao Jixiang bowed his head respectfully. "Replying to the Chief Eunuch, the Eastern Depot treated us with courtesy; we suffered no mistreatment."

Wang Zhen nodded. "Good. The Eastern Depot is our domain. Matters should be settled inside, not outside."

He said, "The men at the Northern Town Surveillance Office are crude. They've always looked down on us palace folk. If you're mistreated there, come straight back and tell me—I'll stand up for you."

Cao Jixiang bowed in assent.

The four behind him gradually slowed their pace, falling farther behind the two.

Wang Zhen was satisfied; once the distance grew, he slowed his step and asked casually, "Yesterday, when the Emperor went outside, you accompanied him?"

Cao Jixiang replied, "On the day before yesterday and yesterday, I was ordered to serve His Majesty personally."

"The people at my residence outside the palace said they saw you the day before yesterday—I didn't believe it. But yesterday, I noticed foreign items appearing inside the palace. That assassin last night? He may have been brought in by you." Wang Zhen paused, then asked softly, "Who did you meet outside the palace the day before yesterday?"

Cao Jixiang lifted his head, unafraid of Wang Zhen, his expression grave. "Spying on the Emperor's movements is high treason. I shall pretend I heard nothing of your words, Chief Eunuch."

Wang Zhen stopped walking, his entire face swallowed by shadow, his voice turning chilling: "Cao Jixiang, I am investigating, questioning—not begging you, nor spying."

Cao Jixiang: "To interrogate me, you need the Emperor's imperial decree. I only know the case from last night has been handed to the Northern Town Surveillance Office."

Wang Zhen stared fixedly at him; Cao Jixiang met his gaze without flinching.

The dark clouds partially cleared; sunlight returned, illuminating half of Wang Zhen's face. He suddenly smiled and nodded. "You're good."

Without another word, he turned and escorted Cao Jixiang and the other four to the Northern Town Surveillance Office.

The Northern Town Surveillance Office didn't even bother interrogating Cao Jixiang; everything that needed asking had already been asked the night before.

They knew how powerful that man was. They confirmed Cao Jixiang and the others had been paralyzed before they even saw him—throughout the entire incident, they hadn't laid eyes on him.

Cao Jixiang had glimpsed only a fleeting shadow; the other four hadn't seen even that. Asking them was useless—better to question the Emperor and Empress, who had spent two full minutes with him.

Now, the painter had rendered the man's face based on the Emperor and Empress's descriptions.

At first glance at the portrait, the Embroidered Uniform Guards could tell at once he had disguised himself.

The palace painter they'd summoned quietly told them, "At a glance, he appears male. But upon closer inspection, his facial contours suggest a woman—and… his age doesn't fit."

How exactly it didn't fit, the painter dared not confirm.

Still, it could be roughly determined: this "he" was a "she."

As for who she was, no one knew.

Cao Jixiang and the other four sat quietly on cold benches in the Northern Town Surveillance Office for half a day, drank gallons of tea, spent enough time, then shook off their stiffness and returned to the palace to resume serving the Emperor.

The Emperor had spent the morning comfortably attended by Wang Zhen—raising his head brought tea just right; raising an eyebrow brought snacks to satisfy his cravings; frowning brought a massage to his aching neck…

Even the memorials were arranged to his liking. When he disliked a petition, Wang Zhen soothed his mood and offered advice.

Everything suited him, every moment pleased him—if only Wang Zhen truly loved him.

Zhu Qizhen shook his head; Wang Zhen immediately asked with concern, "Your Majesty is tired? Shall we step outside for a walk, catch some wind, refresh your spirit? I hear the peonies in the Imperial Garden are about to bloom—perfect for admiring."

Zhu Qizhen's heart stirred. He put down his brush and rose. Stepping outside, he saw Cao Jixiang returning to serve. He waved dismissively at him: "You've been frightened and exhausted all night—go rest. I have Wang Banban."

Cao Jixiang shot a quick glance at Wang Zhen, sighed inwardly, but kept his face expressionless. He bowed and withdrew.

Wang Zhen excelled at reading expressions. Winning hearts? It was too easy.

Especially for a seventeen-year-old boy—even if that boy was an Emperor.

He had raised him himself.

From the moment he began to walk and speak, Wang Zhen had been beside him. His early education? Wang Zhen had held his hand, guiding each stroke, each character.

Zhu Qizhen may not have realized it himself, but Wang Zhen held a high place in his heart.

This bond resembled brother, father, teacher, and playmate. In less than three days, Zhu Qizhen had forgiven Wang Zhen in his heart.

Before sleep that night, he whispered to Empress Qian: "I think it's outsiders who've corrupted Master Wang. They know he's my trusted confidant, so they bribe him, plotting to destroy him with flattery."

He sneered: "They hope I'll execute him, demote him—so one day, I'll have no capable men left, no one to rely on."

Empress Qian fell silent, then took his hand and whispered soothingly: "Your Majesty, I know nothing of state affairs. But if you still need Master Wang, protect him. Just give him a gentle warning—don't let him lose his bounds."

!. Read

The Empress said softly: "He is a eunuch. Whatever he does, the officials and commoners outside will blame it on you."

Zhu Qizhen: "I know. I'll warn him tomorrow."

The next day, Zhu Qizhen, who had been simmering with quiet anger, finally allowed Wang Zhen to enter the hall to serve.

Wang Zhen smiled faintly, knowing the Emperor's sulk was over.

He stepped in and took the towel from Cao Jixiang's hands.

Cao Jixiang clenched his fist involuntarily. Wang Zhen gave him a half-smile, yanked the towel hard from his grip, soaked it in water, slightly wrung it out, then stepped forward to wipe the Emperor's face and hands…

Wang Zhen helped the Emperor dress, leaving even Empress Qian little room to intervene.

He carefully smoothed the Emperor's robe hem.

Zhu Qizhen planned to depart early, to talk with Wang Zhen on the way and give him a gentle reprimand. He said: "Bring my hat. We leave now."

Wang Zhen smiled and asked, "Won't Your Majesty have breakfast with Her Majesty?"

"I'm not hungry. A bowl of porridge in the Study Hall will do."

Wang Zhen smiled in assent, turned, and lifted the curtain to fetch the hat. As he pulled it aside, he saw the two coral trees near the hat rack—his face drained of all color, his body swayed.

"Is the hat not on the rack? Why so long?" Zhu Qizhen called from outside the curtain.

Wang Zhen snapped back to awareness and hurriedly replied: "It's here, it's here—Your servant… I'll bring it at once."

Wang Zhen quickly rubbed his face, raised a smile again, and walked out holding the hat respectfully, saying to Zhu Qizhen with a grin, "Your Majesty, let me put it on for you."

Wang Zhen's face had already returned to normal. Zhu Qizhen noticed nothing different, lowered his head slightly to let Wang Zhen put the hat on, then took leave of Empress Qian and strode off full of high spirits.

On the road, Zhu Qizhen gave Wang Zhen a thorough dressing-down.

Wang Zhen's heart churned like a raging sea; at this moment his mind was filled with nothing but those two coral trees behind the curtain.

Combined with the Emperor's dressing-down just now, what could Wang Zhen fail to understand?

The things in the secret chamber had been taken away on the Emperor's orders; moreover, the things in the study outside the secret chamber were most likely also taken by people the Emperor had sent from the Northern Garrison Commander's Office — otherwise, who under heaven could have taken so many things without anyone knowing?

Wang Zhen's heart was a tangle of mixed feelings — so that was it, so that was it…

The depth of the Emperor's scheming far surpassed his own.

Zhu Qizhen: It's all a misunderstanding

Good night

(End of chapter)