Chapter 111: The Abandoned Little Emperor (15)
Su Mingxiu, her wrist held captive, wore a casual smile, the scent of battle still clinging to her. Even her smile held a different meaning from the one she usually wore in court.
Questioned by the little emperor, she slowly withdrew her arm from around Xiao Miyun’s back and unfastened her armor. As her fingers reached inside her robes, she saw a blush creep onto Xiao Miyun’s face, a rare look of girlish anticipation in her eyes:
“Were you afraid of losing it on the battlefield, so you kept it close?”
Su Mingxiu paused, then slowly took out the string of prayer beads. Seeing the little emperor’s expression change slightly, she said with a teasing smile: “It was snapped by an arrow when I was chasing the Turkic Khan. It took me a long time to find them, but—”
The string of beads, now straightened and tied at the end, looked rather battered compared to when the little emperor had given it to her. And one bead was clearly missing.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t find one of them,” she said, looking down at the little emperor. “How does Your Majesty want me to compensate you?”
Xiao Miyun felt a pang of fear just hearing the story. Even Su Mingxiu, with her skills, had barely escaped unscathed from the battlefield. It seemed the prayer beads had indeed protected her.
Countless thoughts raced through the little emperor’s mind. When she finally spoke, her words flowed smoothly: “Any compensation will do?”
Su Mingxiu’s eyes, tempered by the battlefield, were still dark and deep. But compared to their usual calmness in court, they now held a sharp glint, like a long-dormant sword, gleaming in the night, stained with blood.
She looked at the little emperor, her gaze piercing through her fragile facade, seeing straight into her heart, instantly understanding her thoughts.
Since the drought in the south, as the little emperor demonstrated her political skills in court, few officials dared to challenge her authority. Now, with the Prince of Zhenbei’s return, she felt a long-forgotten sensation… a shiver down her spine.
Under Su Mingxiu’s gaze, her fingertips trembled slightly, she didn’t know if it was from fear of her thoughts being exposed, or from finally finding a worthy opponent.
“It has to be within this minister’s capabilities.”
Hearing Su Mingxiu’s words, the light in Xiao Miyun’s eyes dimmed, like a stormy sea calming down.
The surging waves of longing turned into a dormant volcano, the last wisps of smoke extinguished. She took two steps back, putting some distance between them, her imperial aura returning.
“Is there anything the Prince of Zhenbei cannot obtain in this world?”
She pursed her lips slightly and quickly added, as if it were an afterthought: “Has the Right Chancellor brought back news of victory?”
Su Mingxiu looked at her meaningfully. After a moment, she put away the prayer beads, bowed to her, then replied formally: “This minister will present the head of the Turkic Khan to Your Majesty.”
“The Turkic tribes migrated to the southern grasslands over a month ago. This minister was fortunate enough to pursue them. To bring the good news back to the capital as soon as possible, I only brought a small detachment. On the way back, I heard that the cities of Jie and Luoze were flooded, so I went to assist with the flood relief efforts, which delayed my return. I hope Your Majesty understands.”
News of the flood had just reached the capital, causing a headache for both the little emperor and the cabinet ministers. Xiao Miyun had even thrown a tantrum in the Qinzheng Palace because of this. Now, hearing Su Mingxiu’s words, she felt a sense of relief.
Her shoulders relaxed, and she instinctively expressed her gratitude.
She had said such words countless times in the past six months. Regardless of the officials’ true thoughts, she, as the emperor, had to offer her reassurance.
After speaking, Xiao Miyun realized that saying these words to Su Mingxiu… seemed insincere.
She felt slightly apprehensive, bracing herself for the Prince of Zhenbei’s sarcasm. But Su Mingxiu only replied calmly, like any other respectful official: “It is this minister’s duty to alleviate Your Majesty’s worries.”
Xiao Miyun: “…”
Hearing such a response, she felt a strange sense of unease.
But the person standing before her didn’t give her much time to think, requesting to return to her manor. The little emperor, like a puppet, reacted instinctively, offering her praise and rewards.
Thankfully, this time, she stopped herself just as she was about to speak, realizing that the all-powerful Prince of Zhenbei had already been bestowed with the highest honors. So she changed the subject.
“Does the Right Chancellor truly not know Zhen’s intentions, or are you simply unwilling to acknowledge them?”
Thump.
Her heart pounded harder than when she had first seen a dead body in the palace.
But having said those words, Xiao Miyun didn’t back down. She looked at Su Mingxiu intently, her chest rising and falling, a look of determination in her eyes.
Su Mingxiu knew that her impulsive confession was partly due to the prolonged war.
But the Prince of Zhenbei, unfazed even by a collapsing mountain, had seen countless situations in her life. Even hearing such shocking words from the emperor, she remained calm.
“Your Majesty is still young, there are many things you don’t understand yet.”
She turned to leave, not even bothering to maintain her faint smile. Seeing this, Xiao Miyun, who had already prepared herself for rejection, felt a surge of indignation.
The little emperor quickly stepped forward and grabbed the hem of Su Mingxiu’s armor. She froze, feeling the smooth, cold metal, then tightened her grip. “If you don’t like it, then you don’t like it.”
“What do you mean by ‘still young’?”
Su Mingxiu turned slightly, following her pull. Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulder, revealing a faint scar on her jawline as she turned her head.
She looked at Xiao Miyun’s delicate, unblemished hand for a moment, then suddenly said: “Your Majesty used to hate me, why have you developed feelings for this minister? I haven’t changed since placing Your Majesty on the throne, the only one who has changed is Your Majesty.”
“Let me guess—”
“Your feelings started changing when you learned that I have a beloved, knowing that you resemble her, yet you couldn’t receive the same treatment. Your Majesty, accustomed to the best things in the world, realizing that you’re not as important as an ordinary person you’ve never met, your youthful competitiveness was ignited.”
“Do you truly have feelings for me, Your Majesty?”
Ignoring Xiao Miyun’s actions, she reached out and gently lifted her chin, her touch seemingly casual, but her gaze sharp, piercing into the little emperor’s eyes. “Or is it just… unwillingness disguised as affection?”
“Uh…” Xiao Miyun was speechless, only her throat moving nervously.
Su Mingxiu, after observing her for a while, let go of her hand and chuckled softly. Ignoring Xiao Miyun’s grip, she turned and left without hesitation.
The little emperor had used considerable force earlier. Now, as Su Mingxiu pulled away, she felt a sharp pain in her fingertips and nails.
Looking down, Xiao Miyun saw blood on her fingers.
She stood in the Qinzheng Palace, amidst the scattered debris, staring at the bloodstain for a long time.
“Grand Tutor, have you ever loved someone?”
“No.”
After the Qinzheng Palace was cleaned up, the little emperor returned to the dragon throne and instinctively picked up her brush, continuing to write the edict she had started earlier. After writing the words “Edict of Self-Reproach,” she paused, then continued.
Just as Cheng Qing arrived to report the cabinet’s flood relief plan, she was caught by the little emperor and questioned about her romantic history.
Cheng Qing, standing before the desk, paused for a moment, then gave this answer.
The little emperor glanced up and scoffed. “Grand Tutor, deceiving the emperor is a crime.” Although she couldn’t see Cheng Qing’s face clearly, she could sense the other person’s emotional fluctuations.
Cheng Qing bowed, about to apologize, when the little emperor said casually: “Forget it, tell me what the cabinet has discussed.”
Recently, Cheng Qing had been assigned to the cabinet. Although her official rank hadn’t been raised, she was gradually becoming the leading figure.
After discussing the flood relief plan with Dr. Cheng, Xiao Miyun summoned a few other ministers. Soon, the emperor’s edict of self-reproach was posted on Zhuque Street, spreading throughout the capital.
At the same time, the flood in the two northern cities was under control, thanks to the Prince of Zhenbei’s army’s timely assistance. The affected people were receiving aid and rebuilding their homes.
With the court’s disaster relief funds and grain distribution, the situation gradually stabilized.
That night.
It was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the full moon shining brightly both inside and outside the palace.
The little emperor couldn’t sleep again. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t been sleeping enough recently, or perhaps because of the heavy burden of state affairs. She got up, wrapped in a robe, and went out to admire the moon.
Since Sun Feiyan was on duty, she summoned the silent general to accompany her. She started with a direct question: “Do you think… Zhen has feelings for the Prince of Zhenbei?”
Sun Feiyan: “??”
She stared at the emperor with wide eyes, not understanding when their relationship had developed to this point.
Xiao Miyun knew that Sun Feiyan wouldn’t understand. She sighed and asked a different question: “You’ve known the Prince of Zhenbei for a long time, have you ever seen her beloved?”
Sun Feiyan was even more shocked.
She wondered if she had joined the wrong army.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty… I don’t know.”
“Then who would know?”
“I don’t know.” This was strange.
With Su Mingxiu’s personality, if there was someone she loved so deeply, the mad king would surely shower them with affection, how could no one have seen them? Even Sun Feiyan, who had followed her all these years, didn’t know?
Could it be that this so-called beloved… was a lie?
No, the look in Su Mingxiu’s eyes couldn’t be faked.
Lost in thought under the moonlight, the little emperor recalled Su Mingxiu’s words earlier that day, asking herself, Is it just unwillingness?
—No.
Xiao Miyun, having never experienced parental love, having made no close friends, even betrayed by someone she had saved, now, having just entered her teenage years, didn’t know what love was.
The closest thing to love she had experienced was perhaps with the now-executed Xu family.
But that wasn’t love either.
Xu Yan’s intentions towards her were purely political.
“It’s envy, jealousy…” she whispered, her voice barely audible in the silver moonlight. “It’s… wanting.”
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