As Yin Wuzhi had said, the winter snow still hadn’t melted by the Lantern Festival.
Jiang Wu had happily stomped around in the snow on New Year’s Eve, and by the Lantern Festival, the snow had become plump and pristine again.
On the first day of court, though it was still a midday session, Jiang Wu was in a foul mood.
Usually, his court sessions were simple, with phrases like “Ministers, please speak,” “Ministers, please discuss,” “What do you all think?” and “Does anyone disagree? Then it’s decided.” But today, he didn’t even feel like saying these few lines—his mood was somber, as if mourning a great loss.
The officials began presenting their reports but soon noticed that the emperor remained completely silent, which made them uneasy. Some cautiously glanced up, and their faces turned pale.
Jiang Wu usually appeared as though he were hanging from the dragon throne, yet even the dozen silver hooks couldn’t prop him up properly. At this moment, the emperor was sitting there expressionless. Though his posture was perfectly upright, he still didn’t seem alive.
His clear eyes reflected the midday sunlight with a lifeless gleam, and his overly exquisite face made him look like one of the jade dolls on their desks. No—those jade dolls looked more lifelike than him.
The prime minister and the Left Military Commander exchanged glances, and the former stepped forward, asking, “Your Majesty?”
The court murmured, “Your Majesty, what is wrong?”
Without a sound, Jiang Wu’s head tilted to the side.
Under the horrified gazes of the officials, his head slipped out from under his imperial headdress. The beaded strings of the headdress swung, while the emperor’s neck lolled to one side as if broken.
Officials: “!!!!!!”
The entire court rushed forward in a panic, shouting, “Your Majesty!”
Amidst the chaos, Chen Ziyan acted decisively, stepping forward to support the emperor’s head, but before he could, King Xiang appeared and tried to lift Jiang Wu into his arms—
But he couldn’t lift him.
Looking down, King Xiang realized that Jiang Wu’s hands and feet were strapped to the dragon throne.
King Xiang froze.
“What… what’s wrong with His Majesty?”
Jiang Rui’s expression twisted in pain. He shielded the emperor from the hanging silver hooks and hoarsely ordered, “Summon the imperial physician.”
No wonder his elder brother no longer showed him the affection he once had, no wonder he always lounged lazily in his wheelchair, no wonder he had grown impatient enough to want to hit him.
It turned out Jiang Wu was already this frail—so weak that he needed physical supports just to appear like a living person during court.
A single tear fell onto Jiang Wu’s face.
Qi Hanmiao didn’t dare say that the emperor might simply have fallen asleep. Instead, he moved closer to Prime Minister Chen and asked him to hold back the now tearful court officials. His voice was grave: “His Majesty’s condition… is not something that should be widely known.”
Jiang Wu’s arms hung limply to the side, each finger curling naturally, lifelessly. His head drooped softly, and it was only Chen Ziyan who reached out to support it.
If things continued like this, the entire court would soon discover the emperor’s unusual state.
Gu Yan hastily fabricated a diagnosis: “This is an extremely rare condition… known as Puppet Fatigue Syndrome. Its symptoms include exhaustion, weakness, and lack of energy, making the patient appear like a puppet.”
Not used to lying, Gu Yan stopped at that.
Jiang Wu wasn’t asleep this time. He just felt tired.
He didn’t want to attend court.
He didn’t want to read memorials.
He didn’t even want to blink.
His eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling, until King Xiang reached over and gently closed them.
King Xiang held his brother’s soft, lifeless hand, pressing it to his face. “Brother, please get up. Get up and hit me, alright? You can take revenge for all the times I bullied you.”
Chen Ziyan’s eyes flickered, and he sighed. “His Majesty likely doesn’t feel like hitting anyone today. Your Highness, let him rest.”
Qi Hanmiao also urged, “Wangye, let’s step outside and sit for a while. It will be better for His Majesty’s condition.”
He exchanged a glance with Gu Yan, who added, “Exactly.”
King Xiang wiped away his tears and left the room.
Gu Yan approached Jiang Wu’s bed, stood in silence for a while, then bent down and gently tucked his hand under the covers.
He didn’t disturb him further.
“Puppet Fatigue Syndrome.” Empress Dowager Wen chewed on these words, her expression strange. “Is this really an illness?”
Gu Yan nodded, speaking honestly, “It’s mostly an emotional affliction. But I’m not sure which part of his heart is affected.”
“An emotional illness?” the Great Empress Dowager furrowed her brows. “If this goes on, his body…”
“It will certainly take a toll.”
The Great Empress Dowager’s expression darkened. Was she truly this unfortunate? Would she have to bury another grandson with her own eyes?
Her gaze grew cold. She called out sternly, “Qin Chuan.”
“Here, Your Majesty.”
“Summon Yao Ji to Wanjing Palace. Tell her to wait there.” Then she turned to Gu Yan. “I’m going to check on the emperor.”
When the Great Empress Dowager arrived, Jiang Wu had regained a state of calm.
Tomorrow, and the day after, there would be no court sessions.
Under such circumstances, he could still reluctantly function as a person, as long as it involved lying down to watch the sunset and living as a lazy, useless recluse. While not joyful, at least he wasn’t miserable.
He even started to ponder.
How do humans, who go through numerous short vacations each year and a few long ones, manage to adjust their emotions, soaring to the skies one moment and falling into the abyss the next?
This endless suffering, with joy so fleeting—it was unfathomable how people lived through decades, even a century of it.
The Great Empress Dowager made no sound upon entering. She dismissed the servants, then looked at her grandson, whose face was devoid of happiness or sorrow. After a long while, she approached him and spoke, “Emperor.”
Her words were startling: “I suspect that the poisoning incident was the work of Empress Dowager Yao.”
Jiang Wu stared at the scene outside, unmoving, silent.
The Great Empress Dowager stepped closer. “This whole time, I’ve forbidden Yao Ji from approaching you. Perhaps she holds a grudge because of it.”
She stood before Jiang Wu, and only then did he respond coldly, “Then kill her.”
His voice was calm, as if discussing something unrelated to him. The Great Empress Dowager was shaken. “Emperor, are you finally admitting that you hate her?”
Jiang Wu gave no response.
The Great Empress Dowager sat across from him and sighed, “When your royal mother entered the palace, I never liked her. That’s why I didn’t like you either. I did neglect you… That was my mistake. But Wu Er, you’re the emperor now. What could you possibly still be dissatisfied with? The entire empire is yours. Even King Xiang, a legitimate son, is now under your thumb, subject to your punishments.”
Jiang Wu didn’t want to hear the lofty arguments of the Great Empress Dowager or Empress Dowager Wen—about being emperor, about the empire, about power and wealth. He didn’t want any of it.
Outside the screen, someone stood silently, eavesdropping. It was Jiang Rui, listening intently.
The Great Empress Dowager continued, “I know you’ve endured much hardship. But no matter how bitter it was, at least you’re still alive. Your elder brother died fighting for this throne. King Qi lost both his legs because of it, and King Ning was an innocent victim… Wu Er, what are you so stubborn about?”
What good was being alive? He didn’t even want to live.
Jiang Wu was frustrated. “Shut up.”
The Great Empress Dowager was stunned. “What did you say?”
“Shut up,” Jiang Wu repeated. “Leave.”
“…You, you ungrateful child.” the Great Empress Dowager immediately stood up, and King Xiang rushed in, supporting her. “Grandmother, please, don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
The Great Empress Dowager was extremely angry, but then she heard King Xiang lament, “Even if the emperor is disrespectful to you, how many more times can he be?”
The Great Empress Dowager fell silent.
Yes, at this rate, if Jiang Wu could anger her to death first, it would be a blessing for her good karma.
Jiang Wu glanced at the two of them, grandmother and grandson.
King Xiang was indirectly cursing her to die, and yet she wasn’t mad.
Not only was she not mad, but she was actually coaxed away.
Outside the door, the Great Empress Dowager said, “In my opinion, we need to bring Yin Wuzhi back. Only Yin Wuzhi can get a reaction out of him. Now I’ve been poisoned, and he doesn’t even care…”
As she spoke, she started feeling wronged.
The Jiang Wu of the past wasn’t like this. No matter what happened to the people around him, he cared more about their affairs than his own, let alone her.
King Xiang’s face fell, looking even more aggrieved than her: “Why does it have to be Yin Wuzhi? My brother cares about me too.”
“How does he care about you?”
“He doesn’t hit anyone else, but he insists on hitting me, and he even picks non-holiday days to do it. He doesn’t hit me during the New Year… It’s just a pity that he never gives me a New Year’s gift. In his eyes, not hitting me is probably a reward.”
Empress Dowager Wen hesitated, “Looking at it now, if he’s really picking days to hit you, it does show some effort on his part.”
“On the seventieth day, when His Majesty scared everyone at court, Imperial Physician Gu said it was a heart ailment. The Great Empress Dowager plans to take His Majesty to Shengguo Temple in March to pray for blessings, hoping a master can examine him. Empress Dowager Yao was summoned to Wanjing Palace and stayed there for several days, probably facing some punishment. Because of what happened during court, many memorials have recently urged His Majesty to marry and take concubines. My father and King Dingnan have also made petitions, urging His Majesty to choose an empress soon to extend the royal lineage. I believe in a few days, this matter will be a focal point in the Chengde Hall. Which family’s daughter do you think is best?”
Yin Wuzhi received this letter while bedridden.
He stared at the letter with a pale face, inadvertently moving his injury, and cold sweat quickly formed on his forehead.
Yin Wuzhi closed his eyes for a moment, then forced himself up from the bed, pouring himself a cup of hot water from the table.
There was a noise outside, and a man in a wheelchair arrived at his door. “Didn’t I tell you not to get out of bed? Why don’t you listen?”
“King Qi,” Yin Wuzhi attempted to bow, but seeing him wave him off and sit in the chair, he asked, “Is there any news?”
King Qi, clutching prayer beads, was pushed into the room. “Liao Wen, tell him.”
“The bandits have all been captured. Some were border civilians, but some were indeed trained Zhao soldiers.” After saying this, he placed a portrait of a masked man in front of Yin Wuzhi, continuing, “But we’ve never seen this man before. I’m afraid it’s impossible to find him based on just a pair of eyes.”
Yin Wuzhi quietly stared at the eyes for a long time, not speaking.
King Qi remarked, “Who would have thought that just a pair of eyes would drive the young lord to chase into enemy territory, resulting in such severe injuries?”
Yin Wuzhi replied, “Does Your Highness think my worries were unnecessary?”
“Not at all,” King Qi said, “but no matter how you look at it, the owner of these eyes poses no threat to our nation.”
Yin Wuzhi rolled up the paper silently, contemplated for a moment, and said, “I intend to return to the capital today.”
“Not waiting for Assistant Minister Zuo’s message?”
“Now that the bandit issue is resolved, I must return to consult with His Majesty on how to handle the conflict between the two nations. This is a serious matter. If nothing else, war may be inevitable. Your Highness…”
King Qi smiled, “It seems I must make preparations sooner than expected.”
He glanced at Yin Wuzhi again, “You were so determined to find the owner of these eyes before, yet now you’re in a hurry to return. Did something happen in the capital?”
“No.”
“And your injuries… Are you sure you’re fit for travel?”
“Minor injuries, nothing serious.”
King Qi ordered medicine to be brought for him and, while being pushed out, remarked, “As for His Majesty…” He paused, then said, “Never mind.”
Yin Wuzhi responded, “I will pass along your regards to His Majesty.”
As the wheelchair rolled away, a faint chuckle echoed, “Better not spoil his mood.”
Suddenly, at the corner, King Qi stopped, lazily calling back, “Yin Wuzhi.”
“?”
“Be careful,” he said with deep meaning. “There are ghosts in the palace.”
The wheelchair turned the corner, the sun in Qi was blinding. King Qi squinted at the sky, saying, “How long has it been since we’ve seen snow?”
“A few years.”
A gust of wind blew through the courtyard, and King Qi murmured, “How long do you think Yin Wuzhi can survive?”
“….” Behind him, someone forced a smile. “Let’s hope the young lord has fortune on his side, and that His Majesty’s affairs go smoothly.”
“Let’s hope I get to see snow in Guanjing once more in my lifetime.”
A flood of memorials urging Jiang Wu to take a wife had indeed been submitted, but he hadn’t read a single one. Chen Ziyan hadn’t mentioned it either.
But just as Chen Ziyan predicted, soon after the start of court, the matter began to be discussed in the Chengde Hall.
Jiang Wu, sitting in his wheelchair, listened to their back-and-forth discussions about taking a consort, though no one could agree on which family’s daughter to choose.
For once, Jiang Wu said a full sentence during court: “There’s no need to worry, I have already chosen an empress.”
After he said it, he regretted the complicated process of taking a wife.
But since the words were already out, he would have to marry this empress sooner or later, meet her sooner or later, and bow to the heavens and earth sooner or later.
… D*mn it. Now he didn’t want to marry her at all.
At first, he was just indifferent; now he was downright unhappy.
He said sullenly, “I’ll marry Qiu Shangshu’s eldest daughter, Qiu Wuchen.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Chengde Hall exploded. The entire city of Guanjing soon followed.
The emperor was going to marry Qiu Wuchen! Which Qiu Wuchen? Of course, the wife of the late Crown Prince Jiang Yuan!
Wasn’t she his widowed sister-in-law?
Oh my, a foolish tyrant with no virtue, destroying the moral order, utterly shameless—he truly deserves to die!!
That night, Jiang Wu dreamed of being dragged by the people of the nation into a crematorium.
The torch ignited with a hiss, reducing his flesh and blood to ashes.
The ultimate pleasure in life, he thought, was death and the annihilation of the soul, vanishing from the Six Realms.
For once, Jiang Wu curled his lips into a faint smile in his dream.
A shadow quietly loomed over him, motionless, like a ghost.
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