After leaving King Dingnan’s residence, Qi Hanmiao was still trembling in fear. “It was terrifying! Thank goodness it was shizi who took His Majesty away just now. Your Majesty, next time you go somewhere, please make sure to inform someone.”
Jiang Wu couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Chen Ziyan said, “I was busy chasing the dog at the time.”
Though he hadn’t caught it, either. Who knows what kind of mechanisms were hidden in Yin Wuzhi’s house; one blink and Ah Gui was gone.
But what puzzled Chen Ziyan the most was how Yin Wuzhi had convinced His Majesty to give up on forcibly taking Ah Gui.
The emperor had only taken a small retinue of a few hundred people on this trip out of the palace. Due to the cold weather, the carriage was fully enclosed, and the ramp allowed the wheelchair to be pushed right up into it.
As they prepared to depart, Jiang Wu spoke, “We’re not going back to the palace yet.”
Qi Hanmiao was anxious. “Where else does Your Majesty wish to go?”
“The tavern.”
He had arranged to meet Yin Wuzhi that evening by the moat outside the palace. The palace was heavily guarded, and even if he only used his secret guards, his exit would still alarm others.
Besides, as an infamous tyrant, he had yet to go wild within the city. What kind of tyrant would he be if he didn’t?
Qiu Yuting asked, “Which tavern does Your Majesty wish to visit?”
“The best one,” Jiang Wu replied, though he had no idea which that was. “Go and clear everyone out. I want it all to myself.”
Jiang Wu deliberately acted arrogant, but in reality, his calm tone wasn’t all that annoying. In fact, it seemed entirely fitting.
There was no need for him to even say it; Qiu Yuting had already planned to do the same. After all, the emperor’s life was priceless. If any commoners were in the tavern and accidentally offended him, no amount of heads would suffice as compensation.
On this trip to Qi, Zuo Haoqing was accompanying Yin Wuzhi. Due to the tight schedule, the farewell with his colleagues was hastily arranged at Jinya Pavillion.
But no sooner had they started eating and drinking when several armored guards of the Dragon Guard came up, knocking on each private room door, asking the patrons to leave.
Jinya Pavillion was famous for serving the nobility but not the wealthy. Anyone sitting in one of those chairs had a certain level of discernment.
Zuo Haoqing opened a window to glance outside. As soon as he saw Chen Ziyan and Qi Hanmiao, his expression changed. Without waiting for the guards to reach his room, he hurriedly signaled his friends to leave.
“What’s going on?” someone beside him hadn’t grasped the situation yet. “Who would dare to clear out a place with you, a deputy minister of the Ministry of War, inside? Do they even know who your father is?”
Zuo Haoqing thought to himself, even my father would have to kneel right now. Grabbing his friend by the collar, he said, “Shut up and hurry.”
“But I haven’t heard the end of that story yet,” his friend whined as Zuo Haoqing dragged him downstairs. “How can there be such a clueless man, leaving a noble lady to wait all night? I was just about to hear how he fixes it.”
“I want to know too,” Zuo Haoqing muttered, sneaking a glance at the grand carriage outside. “I’ll call the storyteller to your house after tonight.”
“Why can’t we listen to it now?” His friend squinted at the storyteller, who was also slinking out, and tried to head toward him. “The storyteller’s right there! Wait, don’t go! Tell us more, tell—”
His voice was so loud that it stirred Jiang Wu inside the carriage. He lazily opened his eyes and said, “Who is causing this ruckus? Are they displeased with me?”
Chen Ziyan pressed a hand to his forehead. He and Zuo Haoqing had been rivals since childhood, and though he’d tried to avoid him, Jiang Wu’s words left him no choice but to stiffen his back and intercept Zuo Haoqing, saying sternly, “His Majesty wishes to see you.”
Half an hour later, the people in Jinya Pavillion had all left, and Jiang Wu finally got what he wanted: he had taken over the entire restaurant.
The main hall was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Zuo Haoqing knelt on the ground with his friend and introduced him: “This is Ran Yimiao, the top scorer in the imperial exam. He currently works as a scribe in the Ministry of Personnel. I wonder if Your Majesty remembers him?”
Jiang Wu did remember. During court meetings, he would often stand at the back and doze off. He knelt when everyone shouted “Long live the emperor” and chimed in when discussing important matters, essentially just going with the flow like a bystander.
Ran Yimiao, who had been splashed awake, still had a flushed face from drinking. He laid prostrate on the ground, trembling slightly. “Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not know you were here. I had too much to drink and offended you. My crime is unforgivable.”
“Why are you shouting?”
Fearing that the alcohol had muddled his speech, Zuo Haoqing quickly stepped in, “Earlier, we were upstairs listening to a storyteller. When he reached a particularly unresolved part of the tale, Lord Ran became eager to find out how it would end. That’s why he insisted on asking the storyteller for the conclusion and accidentally offended Your Majesty. It was truly an unintentional mistake. We beg for your mercy.”
Jiang Wu, pondering how to behave like a tyrant, replied, “I am here. Since there was offense, it cannot be called unintentional.”
Ran Yimiao was now fully awake, his face turning as white as a sheet.
“Guards, take him back to his residence,” Jiang Wu ordered harshly. “Watch him closely. Do not let him sleep for five days and nights.”
Zuo Haoqing: “…”
He was scared out of his wits.
Ran Yimiao’s heart sank. “Your Majesty, perhaps it would be better to just beat me instead.”
Jiang Wu was puzzled. “You prefer to be beaten?”
“I would rather be beaten!”
“Then first, we’ll beat you, and afterward, you still may not sleep.”
Ran Yimiao was quickly dragged away, while Zuo Haoqing wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Your Majesty, I…”
“What story was the storyteller telling?”
Zuo Haoqing was no storyteller, so his retelling was full of stumbles. Eventually, it was Chen Ziyan who tidied up the story and recounted it for Jiang Wu.
It was a tale of a scholar and a beautiful lady. The young woman, born into a wealthy family, had chosen to give up her engagement to a rich merchant’s son in favor of running away with the poor scholar. However, on the night they were supposed to elope, the scholar stood her up, leaving her waiting in vain all night.
Thus, Ran Yimiao was deeply troubled and eager to know the scholar’s fate.
Jiang Wu also wanted to know the outcome.
Zuo Haoqing wanted to know even more.
Ran Yimiao wanted to know the most.
Jiang Wu turned to Zuo Haoqing and said, “I hear your archery skills are unmatched. Before you head to Qi, climb to the rooftop of this building and guard it for me.”
The building had three stories, with a steep, windswept roof.
Soon, the storyteller was found and brought back by the Imperial Guards. Ran Yimiao, lying on a punishment bench, strained his ears through the window, while Zuo Haoqing, sent outside to guard, braced himself against the cold wind, clutching his bow and looking down.
The storyteller was animated, entertaining the emperor with vivid gestures and voices.
But neither Ran nor Zuo could hear a word.
At first, the storyteller said that the woman forgave the scholar, and they ended up together.
Jiang Wu: “That’s it?”
Sensing the emperor’s dissatisfaction, the storyteller quickly knelt and changed the ending. The woman, bitter over the scholar’s betrayal, sought revenge and tormented him until she finally killed him.
Jiang Wu: “That’s quite harsh.”
The storyteller, trembling, justified himself, “To break a promise is the act of a heartless man. The woman loved him deeply, but he abandoned his vow. Such irresponsible behavior was truly excessive.”
The logic seemed sound, and Jiang Wu let him go, warning, “If Ran Yimiao and Zuo Haoqing learn of the ending, I will kill you.”
The storyteller repeatedly kowtowed. “I dare not tell them.”
After all this, Jiang Wu began to feel sleepy. He lazily dismissed everyone and went to a guest room to rest. Lying on the bed, he closed his eyes and thought for a moment.
To be honest, he was not particularly pleased with how Yin Wuzhi had behaved in the woodshed earlier. Yin was too cautious, even when kissing him, a far cry from the fierceness of that day.
Suddenly, Jiang Wu realized that this might have something to do with Yin Wuzhi’s feelings for him.
He wasn’t interested in why Yin Wuzhi liked him, but it was clearly far from his original plan. Yin Wuzhi was supposed to hate him, despise him, want to kill him—not cater to his every whim, even preparing things to please him… How could that possibly compare to the beauty of death?
Nothing in this world was more comfortable than being a wandering spirit. For a tyrant, being killed was the only fitting end. Whether to correct history or follow his true self, he should not see Yin Wuzhi again.
“Someone,” Jiang Wu recalled the scholar’s fate from the story, “take me back to the palace.”
That night, the moon was as clear as water, and the snow on the ground reflected the moonlight, making everything glow brightly.
By the moat, Yin Wuzhi stood with a pink-and-white cloak draped over his shoulders, staring at the frozen river below.
Ah Gui ran across the ice with a swish and slid over to him, hopping up onto the bank and rubbing affectionately against his legs.
Yin Wuzhi crouched down, patted its head, and gazed toward the palace in the distance. His dark eyes flickered with quiet anticipation. “Don’t worry. After tonight, he’ll be satisfied and won’t think about cooking you anymore.”
Ah Gui tilted its head and licked the wound on his palm. Yin Wuzhi glanced at it calmly and said, “All for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to go to such lengths to please him.”
“Woof.”
Yin Wuzhi blushed slightly and said, “You think you know everything.”
Then, he pursed his lips and gave a restrained smile.
“Hmm, I’ve been working on this for a long time… ever since he wanted to fly. I just don’t know if he’ll be pleased.” He tugged on Ah Gui’s ears and added, “I wasn’t even going to give it to him. I admit, I should thank you for giving me the chance to offer this.”
“Woof, woof.” Perhaps sensing its master’s excitement, Ah Gui happily rubbed against him, circling around him several times.
As time passed, the moon became covered by dark clouds, and the light in Yin Wuzhi’s eyes was also shrouded in gloom.
Soon, the only thing illuminating the surroundings was the silent, lonely snow.
“Wuoo—”
Sensing his master’s low mood, Ah Gui let out a sorrowful whimper.
By dawn, the area by the moat was completely deserted.
“Once the young shizi leaves this time, he won’t return until next year,” said Qi Hanmiao, replacing the incense in the Taiji Hall. He spoke to the emperor, who was quietly leaning back in his chair. “But it’s fortunate that King Qi is likely to invite him to spend the New Year at his manor.”
Jiang Wu, not bothering with his ramblings, sighed wearily, “Have they found Ah Gui yet?”
He was still obsessing over cooking the dog.
Yin Wuzhi had thought that by leaving for Qi, he could escape that heartless man, but letters from Chen Ziyan kept arriving, one after another.
“On the third day after you left, His Majesty asked about Ah Gui again. Qi’s envoys and I could all tell he intended to harm Ah Gui. We said you must have taken him with you, but His Majesty doesn’t seem to believe it.”
“On the fourth day, His Majesty slept the whole day. I kept a closer watch as you suggested, and sure enough, he almost suffocated himself again. Luckily, we called in Imperial Physician Gu ahead of time.”
“On the fifth day, King Xiang came to see His Majesty, but after dismissing everyone, His Majesty gave him another beating.”
“On the seventh day, His Majesty slept all day again and nearly suffocated himself. I had him carried in a sedan chair for a lap around the palace. He felt much better.”
“On the eighth day, His Majesty slept all day again, and nothing unusual happened.”
“On the fifteenth day, His Majesty sent people out to look for the dog again. He’s convinced you didn’t take Ah Gui with you. Did you really not take him?”
“On the eighteenth day, His Majesty slept for half a day. King Xiang came by, got beaten, and left.”
“On the twentieth day, urgent! His Majesty suddenly got the idea to build another palace, and he wants it made entirely of gold! What should we do?”
“On the twenty-first day, urgent! His Majesty insists on a gold palace! What do we do!!”
“On the twenty-second day, urgent! Did you receive my previous letters about the gold palace? What should we do!!”
“On the twenty-third day, I finally received your letter. I’ve ordered the construction to begin. His Majesty seemed quite satisfied when I reported it. You always know what to do.”
“On the twenty-fifth day, His Majesty nearly suffocated himself again.”
“On the twenty-sixth day, His Majesty slept for half a day. King Xiang came by, got beaten, and left.”
“On the twenty-eighth day, His Majesty found Ah Gui. It turns out you left him with a peasant family in the countryside. Apparently, you didn’t even trust me. Now it’s too late. His Majesty has sent Ah Gui to the imperial kitchen to be cooked.”
“On the thirty-fifth day, I’ve received multiple letters from you inquiring about Ah Gui. It seems even you get anxious sometimes. Don’t worry; Ah Gui was saved by the Great Empress Dowager. After all, it’s a divine dog that once saved the late emperor, so it won’t meet its end so easily. Incidentally, Ah Gui saved the Great Empress Dowager again recently. Someone poisoned her cup, but fortunately, Ah Gui was in her palace at the time.”
“On the thirty-eighth day, I thought you no longer wanted to hear about His Majesty. He’s fine, just eating very little each day. He’s lost a lot of weight.”
“On the fortieth day, Ah Gui is now thriving in the palace. Every day, it’s more diligent than the guards, inspecting every corner of the palace. However, His Majesty still seems to dislike it. I’m not sure why.”
“On the forty-fifth day, King Xiang mentioned that he saw His Majesty and Ah Gui together in a bamboo forest outside the city a year ago. The dog was always inseparable from you. Were you there at the time?”
“On the forty-ninth day, Happy New Year. His Majesty seemed quite happy today, stomping through all the snow that had been piling up outside for so long. Too bad you weren’t here to see it.”
“On the fiftieth day, His Majesty slept for a day and a night. When he woke up, he ate more than usual. Perhaps he was tired from all the snow-stomping the day before. King Xiang visited, didn’t get beaten, and left looking rather dejected.”
“On the sixty-fifth day, Happy Lantern Festival. Court resumes tomorrow. When will you return?”
Court resumes tomorrow.
Jiang Wu laid in bed. He hadn’t attended court for days on end and had nearly forgotten what it meant.
Court meant waking up early. It meant exhaustion. It meant a daily torture worse than death.
Slowly, he turned over, burying his face into the pillow.
Let this miserable soul die.
On the floor, the large black dog pricked up its ears at the sound. A dark paw pulled aside the bed curtains, and Ah Gui jumped onto the bed, dutifully biting his clothing to flip him back over.
Jiang Wu: “…”
Why didn’t he like Ah Gui? This was exactly why.
