A bloodthirsty sharpness blazed from Nalan Xuan, as though everything he had just said were only natural. It was exactly what had happened to the Nalan family. Whether someone was truly guilty or innocent did not matter. What mattered was whether they were still useful, whether they had become a threat, and whether they were obstructing someone’s view.
“But neither of you needs to be so nervous. I already said this is my responsibility—merely helping everyone relieve the loneliness of the deep palace. Naturally, the first attempt is bound to have a few imperfections. The second time always goes more smoothly, and I believe I’ll do even better then.” Nalan Xuan handed his tea to He Xiang. “Bring me a fresh cup.”
“Oh, right. Instead of spending all this time glaring silently at me in accusation, perhaps the two of you should hurry and dress properly. By my reckoning, His Majesty should be arriving soon, shouldn’t he?” Nalan Xuan spoke to himself at exactly the right volume, enough to strike Han Ruifeng and Xiao Qi like five bolts of thunder. He himself looked utterly unaware of the effect, as though saying, I already gave you plenty of time to destroy the evidence and erase every trace. You simply chose to waste it demanding explanations instead.
“He Xiang, attend the two masters properly while they dress. And…” Nalan Xuan accepted the freshly replaced hot tea and continued casually, “Arrange Noble Concubine Xiao’s hair in a cloud coiffure. His Majesty will be coming for the midday meal soon. Since she happens to be here, she may as well join us. Besides, Noble Concubine Xiao looks beautiful with her hair arranged that way. Very beautiful indeed.”
“Yes, this maidservant obeys.” He Xiang suppressed a laugh, dipped her knees lightly, and bowed her head in acknowledgment.
Nalan Xuan had calculated the timing perfectly. Just as He Xiang finished what she was doing, Mo Yan’s voice rang out from beyond the palace gates. “His Majesty has arrived!”
“Greetings to Your Majesty.” From the outer gates to the doors of the main hall, everyone in the courtyard, master and servant alike, dropped to their knees and kowtowed to welcome the emperor.
When Xiao Dezi had arrived at the imperial study with word that the empress wished to invite him to lunch, Feng Xuanyi had been in the middle of discussing state affairs with a group of court officials. He was so startled that the teacup in his hand fell and shattered. The exquisitely crafted, gold-painted porcelain must have been worth an unknown fortune, but Feng Xuanyi’s surprise was outweighed by delight. He hardly cared whether Nalan Xuan was waiting at Fengyi Palace or somewhere else. Even if the invitation had come from the palace of King Yama himself, Feng Xuanyi might have ordered the Imperial Guards to carve a bloody road straight there.
It was already getting late, and more importantly, from the moment the message from Fengyi Palace arrived, His Majesty had become visibly distracted. How could the court officials fail to recognize the situation? They wrapped up their discussion in a few brief exchanges and rose one after another to take their leave.
Once seated in the eight-bearer imperial sedan, Feng Xuanyi was almost impatient enough to stamp his feet. How can they possibly be moving this slowly?
He was just about to lose his temper when Mo Yan leaned closer and murmured, “Your Majesty, we are already moving very quickly. It is still early enough. Her Majesty the Empress may need some time to have the meal prepared as well.”
Only because of those words did the group of palace servants, still completely unaware of the disaster looming over their heads, escape calamity.
Feng Xuanyi strode rapidly toward the main hall. Kneeling beside the seat of honor was Empress Yu, Nalan Xuan, the one person who could make him lose all sense of proportion with terrifying ease. Feng Xuanyi had once been willing to overturn the entire realm if that was what it took to call his beloved back. Such extreme thoughts had nearly stripped him of the awareness expected of an emperor, yet there was no denying his ability as a ruler. So long as he did not lose control, he remained the same cold-blooded, ruthless, decisive sovereign he had always been. Whether handling affairs or employing people, his methods were iron-hard and difficult not to admire. Perhaps the realm had not yet fallen into chaos simply because there had once been nothing capable of making him lose control, and now there was only one person who could: Empress Yu.
“Rise.” Feng Xuanyi reached out and personally helped Nalan Xuan to his feet. His eyes had no room left for anyone else. Once, Heaven knew and Earth knew, while the rest of the world did not. Now Heaven knew, Earth knew, and everyone beneath them knew—except that the person at the center of it all had already allowed his heart to freeze into ice.
Ordinarily, the moment Xiao Qi saw Feng Xuanyi, she would have hurried over, clung to him, and spoken in a sweet, coquettish voice. But she had not bathed after what happened earlier, and dampness still clung between her legs. As long as Nalan Xuan said nothing, Feng Xuanyi would never discover it, yet guilt still made her entire body tense and tremble uncontrollably. Her gaze darted left and right but never once dared settle upon him.
Han Ruifeng stood beside her, posture straight and expression outwardly composed. Yet from the deathly pallor of his face alone, Xiao Qi knew he was hardly in any better condition than she was.
“What perfect timing. Noble Concubine Xiao happened to come chat with Noble Lord Han today, and it’s already getting late. Why not have her remain and dine with us? What does Your Majesty think?” Nalan Xuan smiled gently, without the slightest hint of sharpness or arrogance, as though it truly were nothing more than a chance encounter.
“Whatever you decide.” Had Nalan Xuan not mentioned them, Feng Xuanyi would barely have noticed there were two other people in the hall. He had even forgotten that Luoxiao Palace was Han Ruifeng’s own residence. Whoever else was present did not matter. As long as Nalan Xuan was there, that was enough.
Nalan Xuan had already ordered incense burned throughout the room to disperse the lingering scent of sex. Feng Xuanyi therefore noticed nothing unusual, nor did he have any attention to spare for noticing it.
“Serve the meal.” The dishes Nalan Xuan had instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare had been ready for some time. At the order, palace servants carried plates in and out, and within moments the dining table was fully arranged.
Everyone took their seats. No one dared move their chopsticks before the emperor. Yet even after Feng Xuanyi began eating, Xiao Qi remained stiff as a machine. The moment she raised one hand, her sleeve struck the plates beside her with a sudden clatter. Feng Xuanyi’s hand, which had been steadily placing food into Nalan Xuan’s bowl, stopped. Two pairs of eyes turned toward Xiao Qi at once—one bewildered, the other openly amused.
“Heh.” Nalan Xuan laughed softly. “Your Majesty, don’t keep putting food only into this minister’s bowl. Noble Lord Han and Noble Concubine Xiao are both your favored consorts too. Even taking rank into account, you shouldn’t favor one person so excessively. Otherwise, why would Noble Concubine Xiao have to resort to such extraordinary measures merely to attract your attention?”
Whether Nalan Xuan meant it as a genuine joke or deliberate cruelty was impossible to tell. Nor could anyone tell whether Xiao Qi’s face turned crimson because his words struck too close to the truth or because the aftereffects of her earlier encounter had not yet faded. She kept her head lowered and did not dare look up. The woman normally so sharp-tongued had become completely mute.
In the past, Feng Xuanyi had handled social performances and balanced attention among different people as easily as breathing. Now, however, dealing with these men and women from his past—especially directly in front of Nalan Xuan—gave him a splitting headache. Before irritation could fully rise, Xiao Qi’s unnatural silence instead aroused suspicion. Han Ruifeng was usually quiet and withdrawn, but even for him, today was unusually silent.
Feng Xuanyi frowned almost imperceptibly but said nothing, merely lowering his head and continuing to eat.
“Why is Noble Lord Han so quiet today? His Majesty has come all the way to Luoxiao Palace. Surely he came on your account, while the rest of us are merely accompanying you. How can the host himself sit there without a word? Look at this entire table of dishes. They must have been prepared in advance, no?” Nalan Xuan’s gaze met Feng Xuanyi’s. A perfectly ordinary sentence somehow sounded unbearably sour. “Noble Lord Han’s devotion to Your Majesty truly makes others envious. It is only a pity that Your Majesty comes here for the midday meal rather than staying for dinner. What a failure to understand a beauty’s heart.”
Throughout the meal, Han Ruifeng ate in trembling unease and Xiao Qi in terror. Nalan Xuan had achieved exactly what he wanted and watched with satisfaction as the two sat on pins and needles, their faces alternately paling and darkening. Yet whenever he opened his mouth, the words that came out somehow kept straying from what he had meant to say.
In the end, Nalan Xuan left them with only one remark: “Don’t worry. These things are only human nature. Naturally, I understand.” Then, laughing softly, he departed.
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