What was he holding back for?
In all the world, was there anything he couldn’t have?
Emperor Jingxi silently gazed into the distance, and after a long while, he curled his lips into a cold smile.
He thought this was also the difference between him and Mo Yao.
He, too, was human, with desires, but he could restrain himself, endure, always knowing what was important, always knowing where to place people this was a necessary lesson for a ruler.
But his son, after years of earnest teaching, had turned out to be so shallow and fickle!
For the sake of a mere Mengzi, he had acted so recklessly!
Emperor Jingxi’s disappointment nearly overflowed from his heart.
Beyond this disappointment, there might also be anger, and a faint trace of jealousy.
This unfilial son was merely relying on him to hold up the vast sky of the empire!
At this moment, he noticed Futai standing hesitantly to the side, clearly with something to report.
Emperor Jingxi: “Speak.”
Only then did Futai cautiously bring up, “Your Majesty, the Fifth Lady has encountered trouble.”
Emperor Jingxi’s heart skipped a beat: “The Fifth Lady?”
Futai, already uneasy, now regretted his words upon realizing that the emperor didn’t even remember her, but he had no choice but to press on:
“Your Majesty, do you recall the Fifth Lady raised in the southern villa by Nanqiongzi?”
Emperor Jingxi remained composed, sitting down calmly.
Then, he lifted his eyes and said indifferently, “Oh, her… What happened?”
Futai: “It’s said she encountered bandits and was inexplicably abducted.”
Emperor Jingxi: “Bandits?”
The usually composed Emperor Jingxi was also taken aback.
Nanqiongzi was a royal forest garden, guarded by soldiers, and every household within it was registered in the official records.
Without a household certificate, one could not move an inch outside Nanqiongzi.
“So, how could there be such audacious thieves in Nanqiongzi?”
Emperor Jingxi pondered, “Have you investigated?”
Futai replied, “We are already searching, but, but—”
Emperor Jingxi’s expression darkened, “What exactly is going on?”
Futai hesitated, “It is said that the guards who investigated seem to be the ones who abducted Lady A Wu. They appear to be the guards of Nanqiongzi.”
Emperor Jingxi frowned.
Futai was also puzzled.
Why would the guards suddenly do such a thing?
Emperor Jingxi suddenly asked, “Any news about that Taoist nun from Yan Yang Temple?”
Futai cautiously replied, “There is. It is said she was captured last night. The Crown Prince was searching elsewhere and is now rushing over. As for today’s situation, there is no news yet.”
Emperor Jingxi’s heart skipped a beat.
He tightly furrowed his brows, recalling the recent events in Nanqiongzi.
The Taoist nun who eloped with someone, the young lady of sixteen or seventeen, the missing servant girl from which family, the pursued Ning family woman, the lady abducted by thieves…
And now, thinking about it, Awu’s deliberate avoidance of the Crown Prince.
He quickly pieced together these scattered pieces of information, and a possibility he dared not believe formed in his mind.
Was Awu the Ning family woman?
The Ning family woman who was kept in the back house by his son, not presentable?
The Ning family woman who was ordered by his own decree to enter the Taoist order?
Emperor Jingxi felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place, even his heartbeat seemed to stop.
Futai was clearly frightened, his face pale, anxiously saying something, but Emperor Jingxi couldn’t hear him.
Futai panicked, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty?”
Emperor Jingxi was finally pulled back by Futai’s voice.
He clenched his almost numb fingers and said in as calm a voice as possible, “Go, go to the Crown Prince’s residence.”
He suddenly turned around, sternly shouting, “Go to the Crown Prince’s residence immediately!”
The emperor’s authority pressed down heavily, and Futai was flustered, “Yes, yes, yes…”
Emperor Jingxi said, “No, not to the Crown Prince’s residence, summon—”
His eyes were cold, and after a pause, he said, “Summon Fang Yue!”
Fang Yue had once been tasked with investigating the origins of the young lady from Nanqiongzi.
Later, Emperor Jingxi casually ordered it to be stopped, and the matter was no longer mentioned.
But now, Emperor Jingxi suddenly realized that he had missed the most crucial clue because of this!
At this moment, Fang Yue’s face was as pale as paper, kneeling on the carpet in the Fengtian Hall.
The warm fragrance of the fire dragon in the hall wafted through, and the carpet on the floor was soft enough, but the burly man felt the chill of winter.
He was not on duty today, coincidentally on leave at home, originally planning to have a drink with a few brothers, but was suddenly summoned by the emperor here.
He didn’t need to think carefully to understand why.
He dared not look up, the heavy pressure of the emperor’s authority made it impossible for him to think, his mind blank.
Emperor Jingxi’s sword-like brows pressed down, his gaze fixed on a void in front of him, but his voice was unusually calm as he asked, “Did you investigate?”
Without any context, the emperor was questioning.
A minister who tried to read the emperor’s mind naturally dared not be the least bit deceitful at this time.
Fang Yue hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, I did investigate, I—”
As the commander of the Dragon Guard, it was his duty to remain vigilant and not slack off in the slightest.
Therefore, he had secretly investigated the origins of that woman.
By the end of his report, his once resolute voice had lost its confidence.
Emperor Jingxi’s jaw tightened, and he spat out a single word through clenched teeth: “Speak.”
Fang Yue knelt there, beads of cold sweat dripping from his forehead. “Your Majesty… I dare not.”
The Hall of Heavenly Worship was eerily silent, with only the sound of Fang Yue’s heartbeat pounding like a frantic drum.
Fang Yue knew he was teetering on the edge of life and death.
Emperor Jingxi repeated, “Speak.”
Fang Yue gritted his teeth and tried to recount the events in as calm and dignified a manner as possible.
He had indeed investigated, and it was easy to discover that the Yan Yang Temple had lost a young nun.
This young nun turned out to be Ning, the former concubine of the Crown Prince.
Her appearance and the time she went missing matched perfectly.
The Yan Yang Temple had concealed the truth, likely fearing responsibility, but this had misled the Emperor.
No one could have guessed that the woman the Emperor had picked up was the one lost by the Yan Yang Temple, the former concubine of the Crown Prince, and the very person the Crown Prince had been longing for.
This woman had first served the son, and then the father.
Upon learning the truth, Fang Yue was thrown into turmoil and hesitation.
He had been wavering all along.
The Emperor had not ordered him to investigate, but he had done so out of a sense of duty.
Yet the truth was so shocking.
For the past month, the Emperor had not visited Nanqiongzi, seemingly having forgotten about the woman.
Fang Yue had breathed a sigh of relief, hoping this matter would be buried and never resurface, that the secret would remain hidden forever.
But now, the Emperor had found out, and Fang Yue was doomed.
When Fang Yue finished his account, the Hall of Heavenly Worship fell into a deep silence.
There was not a whisper of wind, not a trace of breath.
Even the charcoal in the brazier seemed to pause under the Emperor’s unfathomable gaze.
In this suffocating stillness, Fang Yue closed his eyes with difficulty, awaiting the Emperor’s thunderous wrath.
After a long while, however, he heard two words: “Prepare the horses.”
Emperor Jingxi had ascended the throne at a young age, and he was more martial than his predecessors.
He favored Nanqiongzi more than any of his ancestors.
Every summer, he would retreat to Nanqiongzi to escape the heat, and in autumn, he would go there for hunting, often staying in the palace’s detached residence.
He even conducted state affairs there, leading some to compare Nanqiongzi to the Changyang Palace of the Qin and Han dynasties.
However, this was the first time the Emperor had rushed to Nanqiongzi in such haste.
He was in such a hurry that he had not even changed out of his court robes, still wearing the majestic and luxurious attire as he galloped on horseback toward Nanqiongzi, followed by a large contingent of guards.
Their horses trampled over the withered grass of late autumn, splattering mud everywhere.
Fang Yue’s heart pounded like a drum, but he had no choice but to follow closely.
The Emperor’s reaction was far more intense than expected, and Fang Yue had no idea how this matter would be resolved.
Emperor Jingxi intercepted the convoy escorting Awu by the reed marshes.
He descended from the sky, his horse galloping across to block the path, its neighing echoing through the heavens.
The hem of his bright yellow robe fluttered in the desolate landscape.
The escorting guards initially failed to recognize his identity, startled for a moment before they could react.
But the Imperial Dragon Guards accompanying Emperor Jingxi swiftly moved in, subduing the guards.
Thus, all the guards were bound and thrown onto the horses.
They would no longer have the chance to speak, their mouths sealed forever.
Emperor Jingxi calmly dismounted, landing on the ground.
He then walked through the fallen autumn leaves and fluttering white fluff, stepping up to the carriage and lifting the curtain.
Awu had heard the commotion outside, but she did not rush to see what was happening.
She had been abducted once, and it could happen again.
Last time it was Lu Yunjian; this time it could be the Crown Prince, Nie San, or even the Emperor himself.
Anyone could do it.
But she also knew that no matter who it was, her fate would not be kind.
Diaochan was beheaded under the moon, Lady Yang was strangled at Mawei Slope-beautiful women often met tragic ends.
In her short sixteen years of life, she had already faced death countless times.
At that moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and she saw Emperor Jingxi.
The autumn wind blew, scattering white fluff everywhere.
He stood in the fading light of dusk, looking in.
The hem of his robe fluttered in the wind, and the golden dragon embroidered with peacock feathers on his robe seemed to come alive, its mane and whiskers billowing as if it were about to take flight.
This was the first time Awu had seen the noble Emperor standing before her in his dragon robe.
His majestic and cold demeanor, his towering figure, and the overwhelming aura of authority and grandeur that radiated from him filled the wilderness.
Awu was no longer afraid of death, but she still couldn’t stop trembling.
No matter how beautiful she was, she had already fallen into the dust, lowly and insignificant.
She could not bear to face the most dazzling nobility in the world.
Yet the noble Emperor did not speak.
He silently stepped forward, forcefully and wordlessly pulling her into his arms, lifting her horizontally, turning, and striding out of the carriage.
He mounted his horse with her in his arms.
The surrounding Imperial Dragon Guards parted like flowing water, making way for the Emperor.
Emperor Jingxi galloped away, the iron cavalry of the Dragon Guards following closely behind.
Awu, held tightly in the Emperor’s embrace, felt suffocated.
She was trapped by the man who held the highest power in the world.
His strong arms were tense with restraint, and his breath carried the calm before a storm.
She knew that his fury would erupt in the next moment, burning her to ashes.
She clenched her fists tightly, trying to calm herself, telling herself that she could do this!
Knowing her identity, he didn’t need to come in person.
A single imperial decree could have ended her life without a trace.
The Dragon Guards were ruthless and efficient; no one would suspect any connection between her and the Emperor.
But he had come because he wanted an answer!
And when he needed an answer, she found the courage to fight for her life!
At least, for her, he wasn’t entirely indifferent, was he?
Even if there was only the slightest hint of affection or pity, she had to cling to it, climbing out of the abyss.
Emperor Jingxi rode with Awu, the horse’s hooves trampling over the wild grass, kicking up dust as they headed toward the nearest imperial villa.
Just before the Emperor arrived at the villa, the Dragon Guards had already swiftly cleared and secured the area, surrounding it like an impenetrable fortress.
Emperor Jingxi dismounted with Awu, his movements agile yet rough, like a leopard carrying its prey.
The Dragon Guards, with their long swords sheathed in unison, bowed their heads in perfect synchrony, not daring to look up directly.
The clang of metal echoed as Emperor Jingxi strode briskly and swiftly into the room.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a loud slam of the door followed, and Awu was thrown onto the bed.
Though the low bed was soft, Awu was still dazed from the impact.
Ignoring her discomfort, she scrambled to her knees.
Emperor Jingxi extended his long fingers, forcefully gripping her chin and forcing her to tilt her face upward.
Awu knelt on the bed, her slender back slightly leaning forward, her long neck forced to arch.
Her moist eyes met Emperor Jingxi’s gaze.
His face, always inscrutable, and his light tea-colored eyes, as unfathomable as ever, made him seem like a towering mountain.
She was utterly defenseless, trembling uncontrollably.
Emperor Jingxi leaned slightly forward, his cool breath brushing against Awu’s delicate cheek.
He spoke with no discernible emotion, “You’ve already figured out my identity, haven’t you?”
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