Chapter 80

Chapter 80

In accordance with court protocol, Wei Chengjun recounted the details of the war to the Emperor of Wei and the assembled officials.

The fighting had gone on for more than ten years. How could all its hidden complexities be made clear in just a few words?

He selected several important battles to explain, slowly laying out the dangers involved. The officials stood within the hall merely listening, yet they felt as though ranks of armored cavalry and flashing blades had appeared before their eyes. A grim, murderous chill immediately spread through the court.

The Emperor of Wei sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing a flawless smile, though that smile never reached his eyes.

After bestowing the customary generous rewards, he dismissed court. The officials withdrew in order, awaiting the victory banquet to be held that evening in Guangyang Hall.

Sheng Zhaoning followed the flow of people out. The protruding bones of her thin shoulders and back were visible beneath her robes, and the rich golden light of midday fell over her as her wide sleeves stirred faintly in the wind.

Wei Yi stared at her retreating figure, his gaze dark and overcast.

If he remembered correctly, from the moment he entered the capital, Sheng Zhaoning had kept her head lowered the entire time and had not looked at him once.

A violent emotion began to breed in his heart. Wei Yi curled his ten fingers, and a ruthless glint flashed through his eyes.

Sheng Zhaoning, you want to hide?

Then hide well. You had better not fall into my hands.

…

After leaving Taihe Hall, Sheng Zhaoning returned directly to the Hanlin Academy.

A deep exhaustion seemed to seep from her, inside and out, as if every bit of strength in her body had been drained away.

Wang Zhuo walked beside her. Seeing that her complexion looked poor, he asked, “Lord Sheng, have you been affected by the summer heat?”

Though it was already nearing September, the stifling heaviness in the air had yet to disperse.

The scorching sun hung in the sky, baking the entire land until it felt unbearably dry and hot.

A fine sheen of sweat had formed at the tip of Sheng Zhaoning’s nose, yet her hands and feet were utterly cold.

She shook her head. “I’m just a little tired.”

Wang Zhuo did not suspect otherwise.

Today, they had welcomed the army into the capital. All the officials had risen before dawn, then waited for a long while at the city gate before hurrying back to attend court.

Let alone her, even those military men from the Ministry of War had long since lost the vigor they had shown at the beginning.

“Court has already been dismissed, and it is nearly noon. Would Lord Sheng like to return to your residence and rest for a while?”

The Hanlin Academy had been very quiet lately, and not long ago many people had been borrowed by the Ministry of Rites. During the day, the entire academy was so deserted that hardly anyone could be seen.

Sheng Zhaoning declined his kindness. “I still have duty this afternoon. I’ll just sit in the office for a while.”

Hearing this, Wang Zhuo nodded and said nothing more.

The two of them walked together and returned to the Hanlin Academy.

That night, Guangyang Hall would host a grand victory banquet. The emperor and the Crown Prince would both attend in person. On such occasions, almost no one would casually request leave.

At this moment, the emperor was speaking with Prince Zhenbei, and he would most likely accompany him on a tour through the palace later.

Sheng Zhaoning had no desire to invite trouble, so she simply hid in the library of Wenyuan Pavilion and sat there for most of the afternoon.

At last, evening came, and the banquet began.

The sky had not yet gone completely dark. A dim gray haze hung over everything.

Lamps had long since been lit throughout the palace.

Outside Guangyang Hall, court officials began entering one after another.

Sheng Zhaoning wore her court robes with a jade belt at her waist. Her handsome, upright figure stood out among the civil officials, elegant and striking.

Li Ji spotted her at a glance even from far away. He squeezed through the crowded throng, came up to her, and bowed his head in greeting. “Lord Sheng, what a coincidence.”

Sheng Zhaoning returned the courtesy. “Lord Li.”

Li Ji had always been grateful to Sheng Zhaoning for helping him at Zuiyun Tower a few days earlier. After that incident, he had become much more familiar with her.

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries at the entrance, they entered Guangyang Hall side by side.

At this hour, not many people had arrived inside the hall yet. Some of the high-ranking ministers were still absent.

Since their ranks were roughly equal, Li Ji was seated at the same table as Sheng Zhaoning.

“Today is a grand banquet. I hear many ministers will be bringing their families as well. Occasions like this have always been the perfect chance for young men and ladies to size one another up.”

With that, Li Ji gave Sheng Zhaoning a teasing look.

“With Lord Sheng’s elegant bearing, who knows how many young ladies will look upon you with favor today?”

Sheng Zhaoning had no interest in entertaining his jokes.

There were not many people in the hall yet, but she still felt stifled, as if she could hardly breathe.

Seeing the entrance grow increasingly noisy, Sheng Zhaoning rose. After exchanging a few brief words with Li Ji, she left her seat and slipped out through a side door.

The sky, which had not been fully dark a short while ago, was now completely black. Under the night curtain, the palace lanterns hanging from Guangyang Hall looked like tiny points of light, drifting farther and farther away from Sheng Zhaoning.

Guangyang Hall stood near Guanjing Tower. Nearby was a rockery and a lake, where lotus blossoms swayed on the water, joined by a stretch of bamboo grove. Pines, cypresses, poplars, willows, and flowers of every color competed for attention along the banks.

Sheng Zhaoning stood quietly by the lake, looking at the calm, rippleless surface. Only after she breathed out did the gloom that had long been pressing on her chest ease a little.

After standing there for half a quarter of an hour, the muffled sound of drums and music slowly began in the distance.

The palace banquet was about to begin.

She sighed soundlessly and was just about to turn back when, after taking two steps, her foot suddenly stepped on something.

Sheng Zhaoning moved her foot away and looked down. It was a jade pendant.

She crouched and picked it up. In the moonlight, the pendant was pure white from end to end, without the slightest impurity. A warm, smooth, delicate sensation spread from her fingertips, proof enough of its extraordinary quality.

“Miss, don’t worry. We came along this path just now. We will definitely find it.”

Footsteps drew closer and closer.

Sheng Zhaoning looked toward the sound. The moment she turned her head, she met a pair of limpid, shimmering eyes.

The person across from her visibly froze. The emotions in her eyes shifted from surprise to panic, then to shyness. Her cheeks flushed bright red in an instant, and she hurriedly looked away, not daring to look at Sheng Zhaoning again.

Thinking of her current identity, Sheng Zhaoning knew that if word spread of a young woman meeting a man in private, it would damage the woman’s reputation. Unwilling to linger, she said, “Miss, are you looking for a jade pendant?”

Her voice was clear and cool, like fine snow melting, carrying a chilly, aloof edge.

The young woman twisted the handkerchief in her hands and bit her lower lip. Summoning her courage, she lifted her head to look at Sheng Zhaoning, her face burning as she said, “Yes.”

The words had barely left her mouth before she could react when a fair, slender hand was extended toward her.

She looked at that hand. The fingers were long and slim, every bone delicately formed in just the right way. Resting in the clean white palm was a piece of lustrous, translucent mutton-fat warm jade.

“Here.”

The jade pendant was handed to her.

The young woman seemed not to have expected the search to go so smoothly. She took the pendant back in a daze. As she moved, her fingertips accidentally brushed that warm palm. Her fingers seemed to be scalded all at once, and she quickly pulled them away.

Sheng Zhaoning withdrew her hand, gave a polite but distant nod, then turned to leave.

But the young woman suddenly called after her.

“May I ask if you are… Lord Sheng, Sheng Zhaoning?” she asked, as if it had taken tremendous courage.

Sheng Zhaoning paused and turned back in confusion.

“You know me, miss?”

The young woman clutched the jade pendant tightly in her hand. Her heart was pounding so violently that even her nervous voice trembled.

“On the day the Palace Examination results were posted, during the Imperial Street Parade, I saw you from Wanhe Tower.”

The confusion in Sheng Zhaoning’s eyes did not fade. She seemed to have no impression of this at all.

The young woman took a deep breath, looked up at her, and curtsied. With smiling, crescent-shaped brows, she said, “This humble girl is He Sui. Many thanks, Young Master Sheng.”