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墨書 Inktalez
Feng Yinxiao went to the Duke of E State Mansion to bring back Yun Kexin, feeling heavy-hearted. In the bedroom of Yihe Garden, Feng Yinxiao mentioned that the Emperor wanted to see her, but concealed the matter of the secret edict.
"Yun Kexin, the Emperor wants to see you," in the dimly lit room, Feng Yinxiao held Yun Kexin's shoulders, staring intently without blinking. "Are you going or not?"
"The Emperor wants to see me?" Yun Kexin was taken aback. "Why?" Upon noticing Feng Yinxiao's furrowed brows, she suddenly understood a bit more and felt her heart tighten. "Is it about Fourth Uncle?"
Feng Yinxiao smiled bitterly and nodded. "Yes."
"Feng Yinxiao, is it that the Emperor wants to deal with Fourth Uncle?" Yun Kexin's heart sank as she quickly asked, "But... what does this have to do with the Emperor wanting to see me?"
"Yun Kexin," Feng Yinxiao raised his hand to cup Yun Kexin's cheeks, gently stroking her delicate face with his palm, anxious as he said, "I promised the Emperor not to say anything else; I just want to tell you not to be afraid. I will be here for you."
If the Emperor saw Yun Kexin and they had a deep conversation afterward, perhaps he would spare Cloud City, and it was likely that she wouldn't even see the secret edict. This way, he could avoid causing her to lose her composure by revealing too much too soon.
"But how can I meet him like this?" Yun Kexin touched her slightly protruding belly and said shyly, "Occasionally visiting my family is one thing, but this is going to meet someone important; it's not appropriate." She paused and complained, "Feng Yinxiao, knowing my situation, how could you agree to the Emperor?"
Feng Yinxiao smiled wryly and spoke softly, "How could I not inform the Emperor? But he doesn't mind." As he said this, an inexplicable bitterness rose in his heart. "He insists on seeing you." Noticing she was about to ask again, Feng Yinxiao composed himself and said seriously, "Yun Kexin, this trip is closely related to Fourth Uncle. If you want to know something, it’s better to go because the Emperor insists on telling you personally."
"In that case, I will go with Feng Yinxiao," Yun Kexin replied lightly with a smile. "I’ll tidy myself up tomorrow and choose a loose-fitting dress; that should be fine."
Feng Yinxiao smiled and took Yun Kexin's hand, personally leading her to wash up and change into nightwear before they finally rested.
The next day, Feng Yinxiao and his wife entered the palace to meet the Emperor. Along the way, Feng Yinxiao repeatedly reminded her not to be nervous no matter what the Emperor showed her; she must remain calm as he would be waiting outside the hall.
After finishing court duties, the Emperor returned to the Southern Study and began reviewing memorials at his desk. However, he seemed distracted as he stared at one spot for a long time without moving his gaze. Just then, Eunuch Bao entered the Study and said, "Your Majesty, Palace Front Commander requests an audience."
The Emperor did not raise his head, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he said with a smile, "Announce."
Bao withdrew and led Feng Yinxiao into the Study.
"Your servant Feng Yinxiao and my wife Yun Kexin pay their respects to Your Majesty."
Just as they were about to kneel and bow, the Emperor, having raised his head, stopped them, saying, "Commander, no need for such formalities. Besides, Yun Kexin is pregnant; it is inconvenient for her, so let it be."
With her head lowered, Yun Kexin felt grateful to the Emperor while also surprised that he addressed her by her given name. She looked up and saw a different Qin Ke—dressed in a dazzling bright yellow dragon robe that made him appear imposing and dignified. Yet his eyes, gazing at her, remained calm and clear, even carrying a hint of teasing and mockery.
"Consort thanks Your Majesty..." Yun Kexin nodded in greeting and softly said, "May Your Majesty enjoy great blessings."
The Emperor walked around the desk and approached Feng Yinxiao. Without any airs, he asked for his opinion:
"Commander, I have a few words to discuss with Yun Kexin. May I trouble you for some privacy?"
Having already "made arrangements" with him earlier, why was he being so polite now? Feng Yinxiao replied seriously:
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, may I stay outside the Study?"
The Emperor furrowed his brows, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "That works. I will summon you once we finish talking."
Feng Yinxiao glanced at Yun Kexin before turning to exit the Study and closing the door behind him. He stood straight outside the door.
This Study was well insulated from the outside noise; thus, the Emperor was not worried about eavesdropping. He would take care of what needed to be addressed without hesitation—
“Yun Kexin, is he good to you?” The Emperor glanced at the round and delicate Yun Kexin and inwardly chuckled at his own unnecessary question, unsure if she would mock him.
Yun Kexin set aside her doubts and smiled gently, “Very well, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”
“I summoned you to the palace; do you feel it was sudden?” Qin Ke led Yun Kexin to a chair and said, “Please sit down; you shouldn’t stand for too long.”
Yun Kexin respectfully declined, “No, Your Majesty, you are the ruler, and I am a subject. How can a ruler offer a seat to a subject while they remain standing? Besides, I am not that fragile.” After saying this, her face turned red.
The Emperor examined her for a moment and smiled slightly, “That’s true. I have heard from Commander for several months now, but it doesn’t seem obvious. Yun Kexin, you need to pay attention to your nutrition.”
Feeling uneasy, Yun Kexin wondered why the Emperor had summoned her to the palace. Was it just for this kind of “catching up”? That would be quite poor timing. However, based on what Feng Yinxiao had said earlier, it seemed the situation was serious and urgent. Why did the Emperor appear as if nothing was wrong?
“Your Majesty, Consort has heard that you summoned me for an important matter,” Yun Kexin finally asked, wanting to minimize the time spent alone with the Emperor. “May I know what it is?”
Upon hearing this, the rare smile on Qin Ke’s face gradually faded, and his gaze became complex:
“I initially wanted to chat with Yun Kexin before discussing serious matters to avoid making you tense right away. But since you are eager to know, I will not hide it any longer. Please wait a moment.”
Qin Ke turned and walked to the cabinet, retrieving the Long Silk Box he had shown to Feng Yinxiao yesterday and handed it to Yun Kexin, saying softly, “Open it and take a look.”
A sudden alarm rang in Yun Kexin’s heart: why was the Emperor being so solemn? Looking at the craftsmanship of the Brocade Box, it must be something extraordinary. In a daze, she recalled Feng Yinxiao’s constant reminders to remain calm no matter what the Emperor showed her… Could it be a secret edict regarding the handling of Fourth Uncle by the Predecessor Emperor? Her heart twisted in anxiety as she trembled while reaching for the Brocade Box. Upon opening it, she immediately saw the thick yellow silk inside and knew what it likely contained. Struggling to extract it, the Emperor kindly took the empty Brocade Box from her hands.
The secret edict contained only one simple message from the Predecessor Emperor: On the day of my death, immediately execute Consort Xiang and Cloud City!
Despite having mentally prepared herself beforehand, when this decree clearly appeared before her eyes, she was still shocked enough that the yellow silk slipped from her fingers, her heart feeling as if it were being cut by a knife.
"Your Majesty, I implore you to spare him!" Before the words were finished, she had already knelt down.
Qin Ke stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Yun Kexin kneeling before him. A ripple of emotions stirred within him as he spoke softly, "Get up. Let's find a place to talk."
Yun Kexin picked up the fallen secret edict, trembling as she tried to rise. The Emperor reached out to support her arm and led her to a long bench where they sat facing each other. The secret edict was placed squarely in the center, appearing like a guillotine in Yun Kexin's eyes, making her heart race with fear. She gazed at the Emperor with pleading eyes.
"Yun Kexin, what do you want me to do?" Qin Ke looked back at Yun Kexin, his expression a mix of pity and helplessness. "If I agree to spare Consort Xiang and Fourth Uncle, I would be defying the late Emperor's last wishes, being unfilial and disloyal..."
"Your Majesty, please listen to my words," Yun Kexin interrupted before Qin Ke could finish. She nodded and continued, "Fourth Uncle and Consort Xiang had feelings for each other before Consort Xiang entered the palace; after that, they had no further contact."
"It seems there was indeed something between Fourth Uncle and Consort Xiang," Qin Ke said coldly, his expression unreadable. "Rumors do not arise without reason."
"Your Majesty," Yun Kexin raised her gaze urgently, "they are not what the late Emperor and you imagine them to be."
"If that is the case, why has Yun Cheng not married for so long?" Qin Ke asked with wide eyes, his demeanor calm yet stern. "Is it not because he harbors private feelings?"
"That's not it," Yun Kexin argued passionately without regard for anything else. "Before Consort Xiang entered the palace, she was with Fourth Uncle. Unfortunately, Third Uncle forcibly separated them and offered Consort Xiang to the late Emperor. As a result, Consort Xiang came to hate the entire Yun family even more, especially Fourth Uncle. Fourth Uncle feels guilty about this and has delayed marrying as a form of self-punishment."
"Oh? Is that really the case?" Qin Ke observed Yun Kexin's urgency but remained skeptical, his displeasure evident as he said, "I have heard that in the years leading up to my father's passing, there were dark guards stationed at all of Fourth Uncle's establishments. What is going on with that?"
Yun Kexin was secretly shocked: The late Emperor knew about this?! It shouldn't have been known in such detail. With no other choice, she explained everything about why there were dark guards to the Emperor.
The Emperor was taken aback, unable to believe it. He had thought those dark guards were secretly protecting Yun Cheng but never expected they were meant for retaliation. It turned out that Yun Cheng had remained single to avoid harming innocents.
"Just now, Yun Kexin was still feeling guilty about Four Elders..." Qin Ke said sarcastically.
"Guilt is definitely there," Yun Kexin replied firmly. "After all, Fourth Uncle had feelings for Consort Xiang. How could he feel good watching his beloved being sent into the palace by family?" She paused slightly, her words becoming more sincere and heartfelt. "Your Majesty, Consort always believes that there are many infatuated men in this world. In fact, who else suffers for love besides Fourth Uncle? Who else feels hatred because of love besides Consort Xiang?"
Upon hearing the first half of her sentence, Qin Ke was deeply stunned by Yun Kexin. He spoke with emotion, "Do you really believe that there are devoted and loyal men in this world, who just happen to miss their chance due to various reasons, but you know that this feeling in his heart is indelible?!"
Yun Kexin nodded openly and gently, smiling as she said, "Yes!"
The cold and rigid lines of Qin Ke's face gradually softened. His thick brows relaxed slightly, and his eyes brightened as if he appreciated and delighted in her answer. He felt sweet inside: did she include him in that belief?
"Thank you for your kindness towards me," the emperor revealed a gentle smile like a clear breeze under the moonlight, but it quickly faded as he looked at the Brocade Box in front of him. "However, Yun Kexin, this matter truly puts me in a difficult position," he continued when he saw Yun Kexin show disappointment and confusion. "What I showed you from the Brocade Box is a secret edict that has already violated a major taboo. If I were to show favoritism again, how could I face the spirit of my late father?"
"Your Majesty's filial piety is understood by Consort," at this point, Yun Kexin felt powerless to respond and could only make one last effort to see if she could interrupt the emperor. "But if Fourth Uncle and Consort Xiang truly had an affair, Consort would not dare to plead for him. However, the situation is exactly the opposite; I ask Your Majesty to show mercy."
"Is it true that if you could save Four Elders, Yun Kexin would be willing to do anything?" Qin Ke's dark eyes sparkled with light. "What if I let you enter the palace to accompany me?"
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