Chapter 10

Chapter 10: A Private Meeting

After a long pause, Xie Shu’s voice rang out, light and melodious, “I understand. Thank you for informing me, Princess.”

Princess Shenghua felt a lingering sense of guilt upon recalling the matter. After all, she and Sister Shu had shared many years of friendship. Yet, at the crucial moment, she still chose to aid her imperial brother. Pouting slightly, she reached out to grasp Sister Shu’s fair and delicate hand. “Don’t be afraid, Sister Shu. Our imperial brother is a good man; he would never harm anyone without reason. If you’re afraid, I will accompany you. I’ll wait right outside the door.”

In her previous life, Xie Shu had spent many years in close proximity to emperors. She believed she understood what kind of person an emperor truly was. No matter what, he would never bully a young lady still bound by propriety. So she turned to reassure Princess Shenghua. “Thank you, Princess. I believe His Majesty would not harm a humble woman like me. I’ll just bring Mei’er along.”

Her imperial brother intended to meet Sister Shu alone...

Princess Shenghua pouted again, convinced that this time she could do nothing to help Sister Shu. She bit into a piece of osmanthus cake with determination. “Fine. But if His Majesty dares to mistreat Sister Shu, I will make sure he regrets it.”

Outside, the maids stood vigilantly by the door. Mei’er personally escorted Princess Shenghua to the gates of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness’s residence. Upon returning, Mei’er found her lady staring blankly at the table, lost in thought. Whatever the princess had told her, it seemed to weigh heavily on her. Mei’er approached cautiously.

“Miss, are you unwell? Are you perhaps too tired?”

“Mei’er, three days from now, accompany me to a certain place. Do not tell anyone about this.”

Her expression grew grave, and Mei’er dared not take it lightly. She nodded firmly. “I won’t say a word, Miss. May I ask where we are going?”

A flood of guesses surged in her mind. Could it be that her lady wished to meet Master Liang alone? Yet her lady had clearly said there was no romantic feeling between them.

Xie Shu took a deep breath. Since the age of thirteen, when she fell into the water and regained memories from her past life, she had vowed never to entangle herself with the royal family again—especially not with that person. Yet fate left her no escape.

Perhaps from her years alongside emperors in her past life, she had come to believe that the emperor’s claim of having something to ask her was but a pretense. What he truly wanted, she had no way of knowing. Whatever the case, a meeting was a meeting; after all, he could not simply devour her.

As Mei’er grew increasingly anxious, Xie Shu leaned in to whisper something into her ear. Mei’er’s shock was immediate, and she almost blurted out, “His Majesty...”

Her lady and His Majesty had little interaction; to hear that he wished to meet her alone was almost unbelievable.

Xie Shu shook her delicate, seemingly boneless fingers to signal Mei’er not to speak further. Realizing she had been too hasty, Mei’er covered her mouth. “Miss, do you intend to go?”

Xie Shu’s expression was one of helplessness. “Do you think I have a choice?”

Mei’er pondered and saw the logic. Her lady was the daughter of a minister. If the other party were a noble of equal standing, the daughter could choose whether to go or not. But this was the ruler of the entire kingdom. The disparity in status was immense. Refusing would be tantamount to defying the emperor.

Xie Shu’s clear, spirited eyes gazed out the window. In this second life, everything else seemed to fall smoothly into place. This, however, was the first time she felt truly troubled.

For several nights, she barely rested, haunted by the matter. On the third day, when her maid applied rouge, dark circles shadowed her eyes. Yet once the rouge was applied, the shadows dissipated somewhat. Just as the maid was about to place a gold hairpin adorned with auspicious motifs in her hair, Xie Shu stopped her. “Keep it simple.”

Though puzzled, the maid obeyed, inserting only two delicate dangling hairpins beside her temples. Paired with her plain moonlight-colored gown, it lent her an ethereal beauty that grew more enchanting by the moment.

Once the maids withdrew, Mei’er returned with another dress—a bright, gentle yellow robe. “Miss, would you like to change into this yellow skirt today? It looks lively and charming.”

She felt that although the lady’s current attire was beautiful, it was too otherworldly, like a fairy descending from the heavens. If she were to meet His Majesty, perhaps a more vivacious look would be better.

Xie Shu glanced at the vibrant yellow garment in Mei’er’s hands but shook her head, weary of fussing.

Mei’er understood. Her lady was not trying to win the emperor’s favor to become a consort and so did not press further. “Miss, the carriage is waiting outside. Shall we go?”

Xie Shu was the third miss of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, dearly loved by her parents. The guards around her were personally selected by the Marquis and her elder brother, Xie Huaiyu, and were utterly loyal. Today, the Moonlight Pavilion was unusually quiet. As Xie Shu approached, her heart raced, and her face paled. Her guards wished to accompany her inside but were refused. “Wait outside. I can enter alone.”

“Understood.” The tall, strong guards exchanged glances, sensing something was amiss. But when assigned to her side, the eldest son of the Marquis had instructed them to obey her without question. They promptly nodded and stood watch outside.

This would be her second meeting with that person, following their encounter in the study of the Marquis’s residence. A strange nervousness gripped her, and her palms sweated. She reminded herself that in her past life, she had nearly become empress; there was no reason to be so afraid.

If she recalled correctly, the Moonlight Pavilion stood behind the then Crown Prince, Qin Yu. The place was deserted, guarded only by the soldiers. The young lady showed no surprise, though Mei’er’s legs nearly gave way. The pavilion was utterly devoid of life, chilling and desolate.

Light as a swallow, she ascended to the second floor with Mei’er. There, Eunuch Li awaited outside the right-side chamber near the spiral staircase. Upon seeing Xie Shu, Eunuch Li’s face blossomed with a warm smile as he hurried forward and performed a deep bow. “I pay respects to Miss Xie, the third young lady.”

Regardless of His Majesty’s feelings toward Miss Xie, she was undeniably the only woman to have caught his special attention over these years. Eunuch Li dared not treat her lightly. After all, this talented and beautiful Miss Xie might yet become the emperor’s first consort.

In her past life, Eunuch Li had aided Xie Shu greatly, and she had always treated him courteously. She smiled faintly, her demeanor natural and gracious. “Please rise, Eunuch Li.”

“Thank you, Miss Xie.” Serving close to the emperor, Eunuch Li had keen judgment. He found Miss Xie to be a perceptive and refined woman, surpassing even Lady Chu. His smile deepened. “His Majesty awaits within. Please enter.”

Xie Shu pressed her hand into her sleeve to conceal her nervousness, lips curving in a subtle smile of rare beauty. Eunuch Li cheerfully pushed open the door, bidding her to enter, while Mei’er remained outside.

As she stepped inside, she saw the young emperor standing with hands folded behind his back, clad in a white dragon-embroidered robe. Tall and graceful, his figure was commanding. He must have heard the commotion outside early on but pretended not to notice.

The serene atmosphere tightened every nerve in Xie Shu’s mind. She adopted the poise of a noble lady and bowed respectfully. Her voice was soft and clear. “Your servant pays homage, Your Majesty. Long live the emperor, long live, long live, long live.”

At her greeting, Qin Yu slowly turned. His phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle scrutiny beneath his calm gaze. Of course, he had heard of the third young lady of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness—the capital’s foremost noblewoman, both talented and beautiful, favored by her elders and sought after by many noble sons. Her father had been praised by the late emperor.

Today, she wore a plain moonlight-colored gown, every movement embodying the grace of a refined young lady. The emperor had no real interest in such women; it was those strange dreams that compelled him to meet her.

Yet he could not reconcile the woman before him with the mysterious figure in those dreams.

The lady before him was elegant and unworldly, her voice clear and gentle, dignified and soft.

The woman in the dreams was indistinct in appearance but always spoke with a coquettish softness, even acting spoiled, demanding to be pampered—a notion utterly absurd.

As the emperor studied her, Xie Shu knelt motionless, allowing his gaze.

After a moment, Qin Yu stepped forward, his pace light, voice low. “You may rise, Miss Xie.”

“Your Majesty.” Hearing him address her eased her tension. As she stood, her legs wobbled, nearly causing her to falter. The emperor reached out, using his elegant black bamboo folding fan to steady her. The brief contact startled them both.

Qin Yu’s brows twitched faintly. He was usually indifferent to women, yet today, he folded away the fan. Xie Shu softly thanked him.

The chamber was simply furnished—a zitan wood table with a teapot and several blue-and-white porcelain cups. The emperor took his seat calmly. “Please, Miss Xie, sit.”

If Eunuch Li were present, he would surely marvel anew. Among all the women in the capital, only Miss Xie had dared to sit before the emperor alone.

Xie Shu obediently took the seat opposite him, her mind racing to discern his purpose here. Yet she remained inscrutable, lowering her long, fluttering eyelashes.

Being near him unsettled her deeply. Qin Yu glanced sideways at her, his expression growing colder. His long, slender fingers tapped the table, revealing faint blue veins. “I have heard of your exquisite tea-making skills, Miss Xie. I wonder if today I might have the honor of tasting your tea.”