Chen Ziyan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed like there was a hint of resentment in Yin Wuzhi’s eyes.
It must have been a mistake because Yin Wuzhi quickly got back to his work.
Chen Ziyan said, “Ah Zhi, don’t be too serious. We’re in this together; you don’t have to rush.”
Yin Wuzhi paused and started flipping through the documents on the desk.
Chen Ziyan, however, was clearly slacking off, lazily dragging his fingers across the pile of memorials, his thoughts drifting far away.
Yin Wuzhi felt restless. He continued flipping through the documents randomly, until suddenly, he stopped. Leaning forward, he pulled out a memorial stuck between the desk and the box of memorials.
“This isn’t good.”
Chen Ziyan snapped out of his daze. “What’s wrong?”
“This is a memorial from King Xiang requesting an audience with His Majesty. Previously, I was recovering from injuries, so many non-urgent matters were delayed,” Yin Wuzhi recalled. “After I healed, I dealt with everything else, but somehow this one got overlooked.”
“Where did you find it?”
Yin Wuzhi pointed it out to him, frowning. “This is strange. His Majesty wouldn’t ignore a request from King Xiang. Who would deliberately hide this memorial here?”
“Maybe it just fell by accident.”
Yin Wuzhi’s dark eyes flickered before he chuckled. “Perhaps I’m overthinking it. It probably just fell.”
Chen Ziyan agreed, “It’s no big deal. Just give it to His Majesty. He and King Xiang have always been close.”
The memorial requesting an audience had been delayed for a long time, and King Xiang was likely anxious, waiting in his residence.
Yin Wuzhi stood up. “I’ll go find His Majesty.”
Chen Ziyan still seemed concerned. “Should I come with you?”
“No need.” Yin Wuzhi considered, his expression becoming serious. “His laziness in governance isn’t a new problem. If we want him to act… it will take some sacrifice.”
Chen Ziyan was taken aback.
He watched as Yin Wuzhi left resolutely, his gaze heavy with sorrow. Ah Zhi… for the sake of leading His Majesty back onto the right path, he’s willing to go this far.
Yin Wuzhi exited the Imperial Study, pausing to listen for any sounds from within. After confirming Chen Ziyan hadn’t followed, he quickened his pace toward the bedchamber.
This time, he paid more attention to the palace staff around him. The Imperial Study wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. While it wasn’t impossible for the memorial to have fallen by accident, someone deliberately placing it there wasn’t out of the question either. Now that he had noticed something off, he would have to be more cautious in the future.
Jiang Wu knew nothing about King Xiang’s request for an audience. Yin Wuzhi stood behind him, holding the memorial in both hands, making it appear as if he was wrapping his arms around the emperor from an outsider’s perspective.
“This matter can’t be delayed any longer. Your Majesty should summon King Xiang tomorrow.”
Yin Wuzhi made the decision, but he didn’t immediately put away the memorial. His gaze lowered to Jiang Wu’s neck, noticing the soft scarf, and he spoke in a gentler tone. “Does that sound alright?”
“Mmm.”
Jiang Wu didn’t object; after all, the meeting was inevitable.
His eyes remained focused on the view outside. By now, the sky had darkened, and countless tiny black dots were swirling in the night. Yin Wuzhi glanced outside and said, “Speaking of which, King Xiang has some ties to my mother.”
Jiang Wu recalled that Dingnan Wangfei was King Xiang’s aunt, which meant Yin Wuzhi was King Xiang’s cousin.
And since he himself was King Xiang’s elder brother, that made Yin Wuzhi his…
Jiang Wu turned to him. “Little cousin.”
Yin Wuzhi silently looked at him for a moment before turning his gaze back outside. “Can you hear the sound of the snow falling?”
“Wind.”
“The wind blowing the snow against the window.”
At first, Jiang Wu didn’t hear it. But later that night, when everything grew still, he heard it clearly—the sound of snow gently falling.
His eyes widened slightly as he focused on the sound.
Yin Wuzhi noticed his concentration and softly asked, “What do you hear?”
“Snow.”
“Hmm?”
“Roof tiles.”
The snow brushed against the glazed tiles, producing a faint tinkling sound.
Yin Wuzhi praised him, “Impressive.”
Jiang Wu relaxed and closed his eyes.
Yin Wuzhi pulled the blanket up over him and removed the fur scarf. The faint pink marks on Jiang Wu’s neck from the morning had mostly faded, leaving only a few deep red ones.
Yin Wuzhi’s fingers brushed against his neck, but he said nothing.
Surprisingly, Jiang Wu spoke first. “Tomorrow, I want to be the first one to step in the snow.”
Yin Wuzhi was momentarily stunned before breaking into a laugh. “Alright, I’ll make the arrangements.”
The next morning, before Yin Wuzhi even woke up, Jiang Wu had already opened his eyes.
He turned his head to look at the person beside him and spoke. “Yin Wuzhi.”
“Yin Wuzhi, Yin Wuzhi, Yin Wuzhi.”
Yin Wuzhi half-opened one eye, and Jiang Wu said, “Get up.”
“…What for?”
Jiang Wu didn’t answer. He stared at Yin Wuzhi, and even though his expression remained blank, Yin Wuzhi could sense a hint of dissatisfaction.
He immediately sat up and rubbed his eyes vigorously, finally remembering. “Oh, Your Majesty wants to step in the snow?”
Jiang Wu was pleased. “Yes, I want to be the first.”
There was a gleam in his eyes, and Yin Wuzhi quickly became alert. He jumped out of bed and ordered the servants to prepare immediately.
Jiang Wu quickly put on his clothes, wrapped his scarf around his neck, and donned his hat. Yin Wuzhi then added a fur-lined cloak over his clothes and squatted by the bedside to help him put on his shoes and socks, placing a hand warmer inside his sleeve.
Looking up from his crouch, Yin Wuzhi gazed at the now properly dressed emperor and said, “Let’s go.”
The clothes felt a bit heavy, and Jiang Wu squirmed, not really wanting to move.
Noticing his reluctance, Yin Wuzhi carried him all the way to the outside of Taiji Hall. “Look, wasn’t I right yesterday? Everything’s covered in white now.”
He pushed Jiang Wu’s hat up slightly.
Indeed, the view was a vast expanse of white as far as the eye could see, but Jiang Wu had seen snow before, and waking up so eagerly today wasn’t just to look at it.
He stretched out his hand, and from his gesture, it seemed as if he were commanding a great army. Then, in a slow drawl, he said, “Step.”
Watching as the emperor was helped into the snow, Qi Hanmiao couldn’t help but wipe away the tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
The emperor—he’s walking by himself! And just now, he even waved his arm in a dramatic, albeit somewhat useless, gesture!
He actually doesn’t need Yin Wang Shizi to support him and started walking on his own.
…Oh my, he even jumped a little.
Though it was more of a heel lift, that motion could still be considered a jump.
As the snow scattered from his feet, Jiang Wu’s eyes lit up.
So this is what walking on snow feels like—the crunching sound and the sensation of sinking into it step by step.
This is walking on snow.
Jiang Wu jumped again, though this time, even his heel didn’t lift.
Soon, the untouched snow was covered with his footprints, giving him a sense of satisfaction, like a cat marking its territory.
But after this brief joy came a deep exhaustion.
This body… is really so tired.
The light in Jiang Wu’s eyes slowly dimmed as he leaned back, ready to fall.
Qi Hanmiao’s eyes widened, and Yin Wuzhi hurried forward to catch him. However, another hand suddenly extended from the side.
Now supported by two pairs of arms, Jiang Wu, “?”
He saw an unfamiliar face, strikingly handsome, with slightly upturned lips that hinted at a certain charm. At this moment, the man was pursing his lips, gazing intently at Jiang Wu.
Yin Wuzhi came to his senses and tried to pull Jiang Wu into his own embrace, but the other man held Jiang Wu’s waist firmly as well.
Him, “?”
“Greetings, King Xiang,” Qi Hanmiao was the first to react, bowing and then cheerfully asking, “King Xiang, why are you here so early?”
“I heard the emperor was unwell, so I rushed to check on him,” King Xiang replied, glancing at Yin Wuzhi. “This must be little cousin.”
Yin Wuzhi instinctively knelt, greeting him, “Your Highness, King Xiang.”
King Xiang paid him no attention and looked back at Jiang Wu, his concern clear. “How do you feel, Your Majesty? Shall I call for the imperial physician?”
The image of Xiang Wang in Jiang Wu’s mind was somewhat different from reality. He thought the other person should be gentle and harmless, after all, this was someone who had been killed by a foolish ruler for seeking justice for Qiu Wuchen.
But King Xiang only seemed harmless on the surface.
“I’m just tired,” Jiang Wu said.
“I’ll take you back to rest, Your Majesty.”
Jiang Wu’s body was lifted into the air. Yin Wuzhi remained kneeling in the snow, frozen in his position.
…There’s something off about this King Xiang.
Qi Hanmiao, ever the diligent attendant, followed eagerly. “King Xiang, you’ve come such a long way so early. You must not have had breakfast yet. Would you like to dine with His Majesty?”
“That sounds good. Thank you.”
Qi Hanmiao’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Wonderful! If His Majesty sees King Xiang, his mood will surely improve, and maybe he’ll eat more.”
Whether Jiang Wu’s mood improved or not remained to be seen, but the light in Jiang Rui’s eyes clearly brightened.
He gently placed Jiang Wu on a small couch inside and, with practiced ease, removed his cloak. His movements were so smooth it seemed he had rehearsed them countless times in his mind. “Your Majesty, are you happy to see your minister brother?”
Yin Wuzhi, having followed them into the hall, watched as Jiang Rui removed Jiang Wu’s scarf and quickly interjected, pressing his hand down, “His Majesty likes wearing it.”
In truth, Jiang Wu didn’t care either way, but he didn’t object. He continued watching Jiang Rui, who asked, “It’s only been six months since we last met, but it seems my older brother can’t take his eyes off me.”
Yin Wuzhi quickly added, “His Majesty woke up very early today. Perhaps he’s feeling tired.”
Jiang Wu was indeed a little tired, but Jiang Rui’s flawless demeanor made him hesitate. He hadn’t yet decided on a reason to kill him. Did he really have to go through with all the formalities of marrying Qiu Wuchen and completing the tedious rituals?
Jiang Rui seemed like someone who had a good relationship with Jiang Wu and wasn’t likely to rebel anytime soon.
“Brother, could you have the others leave?” King Xiang spoke again, ignoring Yin Wuzhi’s repeated attempts to stay. “I’d like to speak with my older brother privately.”
The “others” he referred to was none other than Yin Wuzhi. The targeted remark was too obvious. Yin Wuzhi’s lips moved slightly, and he instinctively glanced at Jiang Wu, hoping for some defense.
But he was bound to be disappointed. Jiang Wu said, “Alright.”
Yin Wuzhi silently lowered his head and walked out.
In Jiang Wu’s eyes, he was just an outsider.
When Qi Hanmiao arrived with the meal, Yin Wuzhi was sitting on the steps in front of the Taiji Hall, lost in thought, twisting his fingers. His jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, his face pale as snow, and his figure radiated an indescribable loneliness.
Qi Hanmiao paused for a moment before walking over and saying, “King Xiang has always been very attached to His Majesty. Anyone who gets too close is pushed away. It’s just a child’s possessiveness toward his older brother. You needn’t take it to heart, Your Highness.”
A child? Yin Wuzhi had never seen a “child” so tall and strong, who could effortlessly lift his older brother. Nor had he ever met a “child” who called him “little cousin.”
And that possessiveness—was it really feelings toward his brother?
Yin Wuzhi couldn’t shake a growing sense of frustration and a vague, unsettling sense of danger.
Sigh, these young people really make one worry. Qi Hanmiao comforted him helplessly, saying, “Your Highness, why not think positively? Now that King Xiang has arrived, he surely won’t allow you near His Majesty anymore. After that, won’t you be free?”
Yin Wuzhi: “…”
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