Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 51

Regarding the situation, Zhou Shuan could only nurse a private jealousy toward Zhou Yan. In reality, he was forced to speak against his own heart. “He is in another carriage and will arrive later.”

He spoke the truth. Upon hearing the answer, Jiang Wanshu fell silent, her heart fluttering with trepidation as she waited for the carriage to enter the palace grounds.

Finally, the horses came to a halt before the great gates of the Imperial Study.

For a thousand years, the Imperial Study held a strict rule: no carriages were permitted past the path. Regardless of status—save for those of the inner harem—everyone had to dismount and undergo a body search before entering. Even for a civil official like Zhou Shuan, this rule usually applied. However, today was exceptional; Emperor Zhaoming had issued a special decree exempting them from the search.

Since Jiang Wanshu could not yet reveal herself to the public, she placed the fox mask Zhou Shuan had prepared for her over her face. Before descending, she smoothed her expression and straightened her garments, stepping down from the carriage with a solemn air.

She was assisted by two palace maids whom Emperor Zhaoming had specifically ordered to wait at the gates. Jiang Wanshu, long accustomed to such service, naturally accepted their aid as she stepped onto the ground.

The trees before the Imperial Study were withered by winter, yet thanks to the meticulous care of the palace gardeners, they still possessed a sense of hidden vigor. Her tender palms brushed her skirts as her embroidered pearl shoes stepped onto the familiar palace stones; seeing this well-known scenery caused waves of emotion to surge in her heart.

The doors to the Imperial Study stood wide open. To the left sat the sedan chair her mother, the Empress, often used when traveling through the harem.

The thought of her closest kin waiting inside, whom she had not seen for so long, felt surreal. Overcome with excitement, she forgot the etiquette lessons she had rehearsed. Following Zhou Shuan into the study and seeing them looking her way, her eyes grew hot, and she broke into a run.

Today, she wore a pale yellow silk gown with gold threading under a cloud-embroidered cloak. As she ran, the wind caught her cloak, and as her mask slipped away, it revealed a face of delicate, enchanting beauty. Though she had abandoned the composed gait of a noble lady in her haste, her years of palace training ensured she still appeared graceful.

Standing behind the lacquered red desk, the Emperor and Empress watched their daughter return safely, their eyes reddening. As Jiang Wanshu reached them, Emperor Zhaoming stepped forward, wrapping his arms around both his wife and daughter, showing an emotion rare for a sovereign.

He held them tightly, tears shimmering in his eyes. “Good, good. Imperial Father knew our Wanwan would not leave us.”

Aside from his son Yun’er, she was his most beloved child. To have her restored to him was a joy beyond words. The Empress clung to her back just as tightly, terrified that she might vanish again.

Observing this tender reunion, Zhou Shuan quietly withdrew.

Within the Imperial Study, heavy with the scent of sovereign authority, only the three of them remained.

Jiang Wanshu had long since burst into tears. After a long embrace, she composed her excitement, stepped back with graceful lotus steps, and knelt before them. Pressing her hands to the floor and her forehead to the back of her palms, she performed a formal prostration. “Your unfilial daughter, Jiang Wanshu, finally greets Imperial Father and Imperial Mother.”

The Emperor and Empress immediately rushed forward to pull her up.

As if by divine will, a beam of winter sunlight pierced through the windows of the Imperial Study, illuminating the room where every face shone with the joy of a miraculous recovery.

It was past noon before they emerged from the initial haze of the reunion.

Behind a screen to the side of the desk, the family sat together. Empress Xixi held a white jade teapot, gracefully pouring tea into the cups set before Emperor Zhaoming and Jiang Wanshu.

The Emperor, having reigned for many years, quickly regained his composure. He looked at his beloved daughter with a face full of paternal affection. He had expected that a girl raised in luxury would be haggard after wandering the world, but to his surprise, she looked much as she had before—fair-skinned, beautiful, and charming. In fact, he felt she had gained a little weight.

This reminded him of what Zhou Shuan had mentioned earlier—that she had been saved by a family in a rural village. He felt a surge of gratitude toward those people. His daughter had always been vain about her figure; that she was now slightly “rounded” proved that the family had truly put their hearts into caring for her.

Such kind-hearted people deserved a reward. After sipping his tea, the Emperor said softly to the Empress, “When the man arrives later, we must thank him properly.”

The Empress understood his meaning and gave a soft affirmation.

Sitting to the side, Jiang Wanshu was still lost in the joy of their reunion. She didn’t catch the details of their conversation and instinctively assumed they were talking about her younger brother. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Is A-Di coming soon?”

She had waited so long to see him. She had restrained herself earlier, fearing she would disrupt his lessons, but now that it was past noon, he should be finished.

Empress Xixi set down the teapot and spoke gently, “The two of you certainly share a deep bond. However, your father scheduled an extra horse-riding and archery lesson for Yun’er today. He might be a bit later than usual.”

She continued, “When I told him this morning that you were back, he made a fuss for quite a while, insisting he didn’t want to go to his lessons so he could wait for you.”

It was clear that only the combined persuasion of the Emperor and Empress had forced him to attend.

Hearing this, Jiang Wanshu’s expression darkened slightly, though in the warmth of the room, no one noticed. They are doing it again, she thought. To them, A-Di’s health and his studies were the only things of importance. She wasn’t upset that her brother wasn’t there; she was upset for him. They always disregarded his nature, forcing him to do what they deemed “important.”

However, not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere, she simply nodded.

Noticing a change in her mood but not knowing the cause, Emperor Zhaoming quickly changed the subject. “Imperial Father and Mother were just speaking of the family that saved you in the woods. We can see they took excellent care of you and wish to reward them.”

At this, Jiang Wanshu’s expression softened. It wasn’t “them,” she thought, it was only Zhou Yan.

Recalling the embrace from the day before, her face flushed red. The vengeful thoughts she once had—about how she would make him pay once she regained her status—had vanished. She had expected it to be difficult to mention him to her parents, but now, she found she didn’t mind.

“They did indeed treat me very well.”

But some things had to remain hidden. At the very least, she could not confess the truth in this moment. No parents would easily accept that their daughter, after being lost, had lost her virtue without the benefit of a matchmaker. It would only cause them unnecessary guilt.

Just as the Emperor was about to respond, the shrill voice of a eunuch announced an arrival from outside.

Knowing it was his daughter’s savior, the Emperor called for him to enter.

Into the candlelit study walked a tall, powerfully built man. His brows were like dark timber, his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s as he strode forward. He possessed a formidable aura; even dressed in the simple attire of the grasslands, he could not hide his innate commanding presence.

Emperor Zhaoming sat upright, observing the man closely. Looking at his exceptional features and his height—standing nearly two heads taller than most Central Plains men—it was hard to believe this was the “rustic villager” Zhou Shuan had described. Yet, his broad, sturdy frame did lend some credibility to the story.

“Zhou Yan of the grasslands greets the Emperor of the Central Plains.”

He did not use the word “prostrate” but “greet,” using the etiquette of the grasslands. Whether viewed from the perspective of his heritage or his own personal dignity, his posture was neither humble nor arrogant.

Because of this, Emperor Zhaoming felt a flicker of admiration. “I heard from Shuan that your family makes a living by hunting?”

“The Emperor’s guess is correct. My family of three lives by the hunt.” Zhou Yan exuded a cold, unapproachable air—the kind one might develop from being around the blood of prey, making others hesitate to draw near.

The Emperor nodded. Hunters lived at the mercy of the elements and often carried scars. Since he had saved his precious daughter, the Emperor felt compelled to repay him.

“I wonder if you have the ambition to leave your old trade behind and carve out a place for yourself here, by my side?”

As soon as the Emperor spoke, Zhou Yan knew what was on his mind. This was something he hadn’t fully anticipated. To avoid future accusations from Jiang Wanshu, he decided to gauge her reaction first.

Jiang Wanshu was staring at him intently. When their eyes met, she used her gaze to warn him not to do anything reckless.

Zhou Yan understood her warning but chose to follow his heart. He bowed again. “I am but a hunter with a narrow vision. To serve by the Emperor’s side might only result in me bringing you trouble.”

“Nonsense. I see that you are quite a clever man.” The Emperor’s tone made it clear he intended for the man to accept his gratitude.

Realizing he had to give a real answer, Zhou Yan cast a meaningful glance at Jiang Wanshu and said, “I dare not dream of being the Emperor’s man. But if Your Majesty does not object, I am willing to spend my life by the Princess’s side, serving her.”

These bold words, heavy with implication, startled Jiang Wanshu. She gripped her skirt, wanting to step forward and explain.

A second later, Emperor Zhaoming spoke, his tone shifting. “Does the brave warrior have feelings for my daughter?”

As expected of a man who had held the throne for years, he immediately struck at the heart of the man’s strange request. However, the Emperor’s expression turned cold.

A mere hunter—even if he was the son of his daughter’s savior—could not use his merit to demand such a prize. He had no rank and no power. More importantly, his words suggested a lazy greed—an attempt to leap into high society by marrying the Princess. To marry his daughter to such a man was absolutely out of the question.

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