Volume One, Chapter Ten: The Guard

After a brief silence, Shen Ran said, “A-Wu, I was foolish before, blinded by what lay immediately before me. But now that matters have come to this, a ruler most fears reversing his word from one day to the next. Without evidence, it would be difficult to withdraw what I have already said without cause.

“But rest assured—so long as he truly has been wronged,

“there will come a day when I shall restore justice to him.”

That Shen Ran could say such things was something Xue Wu had once never dared even imagine. Her eyes stung faintly. “Your Majesty, this servant thanks you.”

As she spoke, she rose to kneel in obeisance.

Shen Ran reached out and caught her arm. “I said there is no need for such ceremony.”

Xue Wu thanked him once more.

She sat down again and looked toward Zhao Yuanzhuo, who was still kneeling on the floor. She said nothing, yet her eyes seemed almost capable of speech.

The concern in them was plain for all to see.

Shen Ran cleared his throat softly. “Enough. Rise.”

He was fairly satisfied with Zhao Yuanzhuo’s conduct.

The young man had neither begun complaining and acting petulant upon seeing someone who could support him, nor allowed his resentment toward the emperor to show upon his face.

Zhao Yuanzhuo said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness.”

When he had finished speaking, he rose and stood respectfully to one side.

Zhao Yuanzhuo was the youngest son of the Zhao family. Spoiled from childhood, he had grown into a man who feared neither Heaven nor earth.

Yet in a single night, everything had changed, and his fate now drifted like duckweed battered by rain.

Xue Wu’s gaze dimmed. She was just about to say a few words to him when Yuanbao hurried in, looking somewhat flustered.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, Ruhua, the Noble Consort’s personal maid, has just reported that Her Highness suddenly felt unwell and fainted!”

“She asks that Your Majesty go and see her!”

As he finished, he cast Shen Ran a meaningful glance.

Xue Wu froze. The words she had been about to speak caught in her throat, and she instinctively looked toward Shen Ran.

“Is that so?”

From Yuanbao’s expression, Shen Ran knew that Liu Ruyi had been frightened by the severed head and tongue sent to her earlier. He took a leisurely sip of tea. His black hair fell loose like a waterfall, and with a smile, he looked toward Xue Wu.

“What does A-Wu think?”

Xue Wu replied, “The Noble Consort is unwell. Your Majesty should indeed go and see her. I can return to Yikun Palace on my own later.”

Shen Ran raised a brow. “You are not jealous in the slightest?”

“I am the Empress,” Xue Wu said. “I ought to set an example for all the women of the realm.”

Her answer could not have been more befitting an empress.

Shen Ran’s eyes were as inscrutable as a deep, frigid pool, giving no hint of his mood.

He praised her. “The Empress is certainly magnanimous.”

Then he turned to Yuanbao with a smile that was not quite a smile. “Tell the maid who brought the message that since the Noble Consort is unwell, she should hurry to summon the imperial physicians for treatment. I am no physician and cannot treat the sick.”

Yuanbao acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Shen Ran continued dining with Xue Wu as though nothing had happened.

Yet before even the time it took to finish a cup of tea had passed, Yuanbao hurried in once more to report, “Your Majesty, the Left Chancellor requests an audience.”

The Left Chancellor was Liu Ruyi’s father, Liu Shizhuang.

Liu Ruyi had only just fallen ill, yet Liu Shizhuang had already arrived at the palace. It was plain how all-encompassing his influence had become.

At the words “Left Chancellor,” both Xue Wu and Zhao Yuanzhuo changed expression slightly. Xue Wu rose and said, “Since Your Majesty has state affairs to attend to, this servant will take her leave first.”

Shen Ran slowly drank a mouthful of soup before setting down his spoon. His voice was languid.

“The weather was cold this morning. You have always been concerned about Zhao Yuanzhuo, and now I have brought him here to see you. You may as well remain seated and speak with him. Later, he can escort you back to Yikun Palace.”

Xue Wu stared at him for a moment, then refused. “Yuanzhuo is now one of Your Majesty’s guards. It would be inappropriate for this servant to be alone with him.”

A faint smile touched Shen Ran’s lips. “A-Wu, you have never had a capable guard at your side. That, too, is my fault. I know Zhao Yuanzhuo is skilled, and what is rarer still is that the two of you share a deep bond. With him at your side, you will surely have no trouble adapting. Consider it a small measure of compensation from me.”

Xue Wu’s breath caught despite herself.

Shen Ran turned to Zhao Yuanzhuo. “From this day forth, I entrust the Empress’s safety entirely to you. Should anything befall Her Highness, I shall hold you solely responsible.”

Zhao Yuanzhuo fell to his knees and bowed his head to the floor. In a solemn voice, he said, “I swear to protect Her Highness the Empress, even at the cost of my life.”