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The imperial garden had fallen into an uneasy silence.
Only moments ago, the air had been filled with accusations, insults, and cruel laughter.
Now, all that remained was the soft rustling of cherry blossoms drifting through the spring breeze.
The servants standing nearby lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
No one had expected the Emperor himself to appear.
And certainly no one had expected him to openly reprimand the Royal Consort.
Shen Yunxi remained kneeling beside Mei Lian.
His long black hair spilled over his shoulders like silk, slightly disheveled from the earlier chaos.
Beside him, Mei Lian was still pale.
The shove from Ning Xue had not seriously injured her, but the fear of seeing Shen Yunxi being bullied once again had shaken her.
Standing several steps away, Emperor Xiao Zhenyu slowly swept his cold gaze across the gathered women.
The pressure was suffocating.
Ning Xue felt sweat forming along her back.
Behind her, Zhao Liyue, Han Yurong, and Fang Xinyi looked equally terrified.
No one dared meet the Emperor's eyes.
Finally, Xiao Zhenyu spoke.
"What happened here?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
And somehow that made it even more frightening.
Ning Xue quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, this concubine was merely educating the new palace member."
The Emperor's expression did not change.
"Educating?"
Ning Xue forced a smile.
"Recently there have been rumors throughout the palace."
"What rumors?"
The question sounded simple.
Yet it immediately made the Royal Consort's heart skip.
Ning Xue hesitated.
"...Rumors that Shen Yunxi has been secretly meeting with Your Majesty."
The surrounding servants lowered their heads even further.
Nobody wanted to be caught witnessing this.
The Emperor stared at her.
Then at Shen Yunxi.
Then back at her.
"And?"
Ning Xue swallowed.
"This concubine only feared that such behavior might damage Your Majesty's reputation."
A dangerous silence followed.
Then-
"Nonsense."
The word struck like a slap.
Ning Xue's face immediately paled.
The Emperor's eyes turned colder.
"You gathered three people to corner a single person over rumors?"
No one answered.
"You humiliated him publicly."
Silence.
"You insulted him."
Silence.
"You frightened his maid."
Still silence.
The Emperor took one step forward.
Ning Xue instinctively stepped back.
"Tell me, Royal Consort."
His voice lowered.
"Which part of that sounds like concern for my reputation?"
The question left Ning Xue speechless.
The other concubines looked as if they wished the ground would swallow them whole.
Han Yurong nervously spoke.
"Y-Your Majesty, we only-"
"You only what?"
The woman immediately fell silent.
Xiao Zhenyu's gaze swept across all four women.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Then unexpectedly, he said,
"I did speak with Shen Yunxi."
Everyone froze.
Even Shen Yunxi looked up.
The Emperor continued.
"A few nights ago."
The servants exchanged shocked glances.
The concubines looked horrified.
"So the rumors were true?"
Ning Xue whispered.
The Emperor frowned.
"I never said that."
His voice became colder.
"I happened to encounter him in the garden."
"Nothing more."
The Royal Consort opened her mouth but immediately closed it again.
Xiao Zhenyu looked thoroughly disappointed.
"The palace is already full of enough problems."
"My sister was nearly attacked."
"The kingdom faces threats from outside its borders."
"And yet all of you choose to spend your time spreading rumors."
Each word struck harder than the last.
The women lowered their heads in shame.
Or perhaps fear.
The Emperor's gaze darkened.
"If this happens again..."
His voice became icy.
"I will personally decide your punishment."
The threat hung heavily in the air.
No one doubted he meant it.
Ning Xue clenched her fists beneath her sleeves.
Humiliation.
Pure humiliation.
In front of servants.
In front of guards.
In front of Shen Yunxi.
Still, she forced herself to bow.
"This concubine understands."
The other women quickly echoed her.
"We understand."
The Emperor gave a curt nod.
"Leave."
The four women quickly retreated.
But before turning away completely, Ning Xue's gaze landed on Shen Yunxi.
Hatred flashed through her eyes.
A silent promise.
This was not over.
Not by a long shot.
Only after the women disappeared did the atmosphere finally ease.
The Emperor slowly turned around.
His gaze landed on Shen Yunxi.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The cherry blossoms drifted between them.
Mei Lian immediately bowed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shen Yunxi lowered his head as well.
His gratitude was silent.
Yet somehow the Emperor understood.
Xiao Zhenyu looked at him carefully.
Closer than before.
The faint redness near his cheek.
The sadness hidden within those beautiful eyes.
The quiet way he comforted Mei Lian even though he himself had been bullied.
Something inside the Emperor tightened.
Without thinking, he stepped forward.
Then crouched down.
Everyone froze.
Even General Liang Fengxiao, who had arrived with several guards, stopped walking.
The Emperor reached out.
His fingers gently brushed aside a loose strand of hair that had fallen across Shen Yunxi's face.
The movement was natural.
Instinctive.
As though he had done it countless times before.
Shen Yunxi's eyes widened.
Mei Lian nearly forgot how to breathe.
Liang Fengxiao stared.
"..."
The General slowly rubbed his forehead.
Your Majesty.
What exactly are you doing?
Only then did Xiao Zhenyu realize his own actions.
His hand immediately froze.
For the first time in years, the Emperor looked genuinely caught off guard.
Liang Fengxiao cleared his throat.
Loudly.
Very loudly.
The sound snapped Xiao Zhenyu back to reality.
The Emperor immediately withdrew his hand.
Almost too quickly.
As though he had touched fire.
A faint redness appeared at the tips of his ears.
Fortunately, Shen Yunxi was too surprised to notice.
Unfortunately for the Emperor-
Mei Lian noticed.
And so did Liang Fengxiao.
The General looked away toward the sky.
Pretending he had seen absolutely nothing.
Mei Lian bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.
The Emperor stood up.
Straightened his robes.
Then cleared his throat.
"You should be more careful."
His tone returned to its usual coldness.
At least mostly.
Shen Yunxi nodded obediently.
The Emperor paused.
Then added,
"Take care."
Shen Yunxi nodded again.
A few seconds passed.
Then the Emperor awkwardly added,
"...Take care of yourself."
Liang Fengxiao nearly choked.
Mei Lian lowered her head immediately.
The corners of her lips were trembling.
Xiao Zhenyu silently cursed himself.
Why had he said it twice?
The Emperor quickly turned away.
"I have matters to attend to."
"General."
Liang Fengxiao immediately stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
The Emperor began walking away.
Several steps later-
He stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke once more.
"Shen Yunxi."
The young man looked up.
The Emperor's voice softened ever so slightly.
"Do not let anyone bully you again."
Then he continued walking.
This time without stopping.
Liang Fengxiao followed behind.
As soon as they were far enough away, the General finally spoke.
"...Your Majesty."
"What?"
"Nothing."
The General paused.
Then added,
"Your ears are red."
The Emperor nearly stumbled.
"Shut up."
Liang Fengxiao's grin widened.
Meanwhile, back in the garden, Shen Yunxi watched the Emperor disappear into the distance.
A strange warmth settled in his chest.
Mei Lian looked between the retreating Emperor and her oblivious master.
Then sighed dramatically.
"Oh no."
Shen Yunxi tilted his head.
Mei Lian placed a hand over her face.
"Our palace is doomed."
Shen Yunxi blinked in confusion.
The maid simply shook her head.
Somehow...
She had a feeling that everything was about to become much more complicated.
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(End of Chapter 30)