Chapter 82: The Emperor’s Troubles

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The moment his touch brushed her skin, she froze, unable to utter a word.

Dai Yuheng slowly drew his hand back, his clear gaze fixed upon her. “Also, if you wish to see me, there’s no need for such pointless excuses. Just come whenever you want.”

Her cheeks flushed crimson at his words. Thankfully, the night was dark enough to conceal her embarrassment.

“As for Kaiming, things haven’t slipped from our grasp. Sooner or later, she’ll be on our side as well.”

“Are you trying to win Kaiming over?” she asked in surprise.

Dai Yuheng gave a faint smile, a fleeting glance sliding across her before drifting away. “Anyone with value ends up on our list.”

She stared at him, at the face half-hidden in the shadow of the pavilion column, refusing to step into the moonlight—a face youthful, refined, sometimes tinged with arrogance. How many layers of calculation lay beneath that delicate exterior? Her little tricks, it seemed, were but child’s play before her cousin.

She pouted, not quite willing to yield. “You tell me, what use is a shrew like her? Don’t tell me you have a personal motive?”

Dai Yuheng nearly laughed. “Cousin, Kaiming is neither as lovely nor as clever as you—what motive could I possibly have?”

So openly praised, her heart brimmed with honeyed sweetness.

A few words were all it took for Dai Yuheng to soothe her. Seeing her shy demeanor, he couldn’t help but steal another glance. “It’s really her position that matters. She’s in too sensitive a place. Even the slightest stir could disrupt all our plans. That’s why we must tread carefully.”

She finally understood, nodding repeatedly. “I see. Do you need me to approach Kaiming?”

“No need. As for internal affairs, leave them to me. You needn’t trouble yourself with the rest.”

She replied with mock annoyance, “I just worry you’ll tire yourself out. I want to help you share the burden.”

“I appreciate your kind intentions. Trust me—whatever happens, I will handle it properly.”

She gazed in a daze at his face in the darkness, suffused with a masculine allure that left her breathless. Her heart began to pound. “Cousin…” Her fingers twitched, half reaching out, then retreating in embarrassment.

“If I require your help, are you willing to lend a hand?” he asked softly.

She looked at him, entranced, and murmured as if under a spell, “I’d give my life for you…”

“It won’t come to that.” His gaze flickered as he pressed a hand to his chest. “But I may need to borrow uncle’s influence when the time comes.”

She agreed to everything, scarcely aware of her own words in that moment.

The moon rose high, sweeping away every trace of cloud. Moonlight spilled over the hexagonal pavilion, softening the two figures there into a scene as lovely as an ink painting.

Oil lamps burned in a remote, frigid corner of the palace. Two people sat in silence across a round table.

One wore magnificent robes trimmed with cloud patterns, his hair arranged flawlessly beneath a small golden coronet. His slender fingers tapped the table, leading the gaze up to a strikingly handsome face—yet now that face bore no gentle expression, only solemnity and severity. His innate aura of kingship inspired awe and dread.

Beside him sat a woman who had removed her concealing hood. Her face shone pale as moonlight, her eyes bright with intelligence, dark hair cascading over her neck, her every movement exuding allure. Her eyes fell, silent, upon his tapping fingers.

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At last, the man spoke in a low, resonant voice: “You’ve stirred up quite a mess.”

The woman bowed her head, replying with calm dignity, “Your subject had her reasons for acting as she did.”

He snorted coldly. “And how do you plan to end this?”

She lifted her head slightly, her expression tranquil. “We continue as planned.”

“That won’t work any longer, Dayin.” He slammed his palm on the table with a sharp crack. Her long lashes trembled. “Ever heard the saying, ‘Desiring too much, you achieve nothing’?”

Dayin looked up, meeting the Emperor of Tianjue’s eyes. “Is Your Majesty blaming me?”

He sighed, helpless. “I’m not blaming you. But just look at the chaos in the capital—from the lords and ministers down to the common folk, everyone is gossiping about the King Father and Tianlang.”

She gave a cold laugh. “The more tongues wag, the more it works to our advantage, doesn’t it?”

He shot her a dissatisfied glare. “Dayin, you’re too self-assured. This operation was reckless. Dai Huang and the others aren’t fools. I fear they’ve already guessed your intentions.”

“They haven’t, Your Majesty.” She smiled, reaching for the Emperor’s slender fingers, her voice soft and light. “Even if they guess one layer, how could they possibly fathom my true design?”

He allowed her to hold his hand, his gaze shifting. A faint sigh. “Is it worth it?”

She pressed his hand to her cheek, smiling dreamily. “For our child, how could it not be worth it?”

His voice was hoarse. “We could make things open and aboveboard…”

“The people of the Purple Palace would never give us that chance.” She interrupted quickly, gently caressing his palm. “For our child, to sacrifice one, two, even countless others, would not be too much.”

He looked at her for a long time. “Enter the palace.”

“What?” She tensed.

“Make your identity public, lay everything bare. Then you won’t have to struggle so.”

He soothed her gently. “A mother’s worth rises with her son. You’ve borne a prince—no one would dare object…”

“Your Majesty.” She interrupted, slowly letting go of his hand and lowering her lashes. “You know that’s not what I want. If I wished for a place in the harem, I could have had it years ago, not waited until now.”

“Dayin…”

Her head drooped lower. “Having chosen Your Majesty, I am bound to give you everything. Even my life, if need be.”

The Emperor sighed. “Why make things so hard?”

The palace doors creaked open. Eunuch Chen poked his head in, glancing around. Sensing his meaning, Dayin pulled up her hood and took her leave.

The Emperor sat in silence, watching her disappear beyond the heavy doors, his eyes vacant. He murmured, “A woman too strong will always make a man wary, Dayin. Can you not see it? How can I know that all this turmoil you’ve caused is free of personal ambition?”

The next morning in court, the Emperor sat upright, shifting his gaze from the memorial in his hand to the officials below. “Is this the result of your investigation, Chief Inspector?”

The inspector bowed.

“What nonsense is this?” The Emperor flung the document down, nearly striking the man’s feet. “Did you take your job seriously, Chief Inspector?”

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Ji answered calmly, “This is the fruit of my diligent inquiries these past days, Your Majesty.”

“And you still dare argue!”

“Your Majesty!” A figure in purple robes stepped forward from the ranks—Dai Huang, his smile insincere as he bowed. “What mistake has the Chief Inspector made to incur Your Majesty’s wrath?”

“See for yourself!” The Emperor thrust the memorial toward him.

Dai Huang picked it up, glanced over it, and smiled. “Everything reported by the Chief Inspector is fact, Your Majesty. Why be so angry?”

The Emperor’s tone grew colder. “I ordered him to investigate the Yilin assassins, yet he drags in a list of unrelated people. Clearly, he did not conduct a thorough investigation. What punishment does this deserve?”

Dai Huang replied, “But the names are all accurate, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s face darkened. “And how do you know they’re accurate, Lord Dai?”

With a sly smile, Dai Huang answered, “If Your Majesty neither questions nor investigates, how can you say they’re wrong? If this list surprises you, perhaps Your Majesty already has suspects in mind?”

His words, neither soft nor hard, left the Emperor speechless for a moment. He thought to himself that last night’s affair with Dayin had left him irritable—how had he given this old fox such a chance to retort?

He gave a cold snort. “What I think is my own affair. Lord Dai, you’re meddling too much. Whether these people are behind the assassination or not, I will investigate further. You need not concern yourself.”

Dai Huang replied courteously, withdrawing to his place.

The Emperor’s sharp gaze settled on Ji, who had remained silent. “After court, Chief Inspector, stay behind. I have matters to discuss with you.”

Ji dared not refuse.

The palace gardens, as always, were a scene of unique beauty. Rippling waters, birds flitting and swooping, lotus leaves unfurling their green umbrellas, swaying gracefully on the shimmering lake.

The Emperor leaned on the pavilion railing, gazing at the lake and birds, silent.

Ji stood by, not daring to speak.

After a long while, the Emperor sighed. “It’s rare to stand together with you in broad daylight, Chief Inspector.”

Ji echoed him—after all, as the Emperor’s secret agent, he was used to coming and going only at night.

“Do you often see the Emperor as so powerless?” The Emperor laughed at himself. Ji did not reply.

“I had you infiltrate the Dai household, and you’ve truly become one of them?” The Emperor’s lips curled coldly.

Ji was alarmed and dropped to his knees in a deep bow. “Never, Your Majesty. Who has been slandering your servant?” (To be continued)