That eye he opened was so clear, spotless, as if no one could leave any trace in it.
Yao Ji recalled the warm, quiet, obedient, and sensible child he used to be. Jiang Wu had always been mature for his age, though a little mischievous. When he got angry, he’d raise his little face and argue with the adults. If he couldn’t win, he’d pout, throw things, and have a tantrum.
But as soon as he saw his mother cry, he’d immediately reach out with his soft little hands to wipe her tears.
Even if he felt wronged, he’d still comfort her.
In his heart, Yao Ji had always been very important. No one in this world was more important than her.
She had never imagined that one day, Jiang Wu would call her ugly, say her voice was unpleasant, and claim that she was annoying.
The more she thought about it, the more unbearable it became. The immense pain and fear overwhelmed her, and she said, “Jiang Wu, do you even know who you’re talking to? I am your mother, the one who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you! No one in this world is closer to you than I am! Not even your royal father!”
She reminded Jiang Wu to remember her kindness, reminding him that if she hadn’t given him life, he would be nothing.
“I am the Emperor of Great Xia,” Jiang Wu responded slowly, clearly uninterested in her approach, “I’ve studied literature, martial arts, mechanics, and many other subjects. Do you think all of this just fell from the sky? While you carried me for ten months, I’ve worked diligently for twenty years. In this world, no one can provide you with a better life than me…”
He paused, feeling tired, before continuing, “Not even late royal father.”
Yao Ji, overwhelmed with grief and anger, responded, “You still resent me. But if it weren’t for me forcing you to study, to practice martial arts, how could you have achieved this position? Now that your wings have grown strong, are you planning to abandon your mother?”
“You are never satisfied,” Jiang Wu replied, too weary to confirm or deny her accusations. “If it weren’t for me becoming emperor, how could you be honored as Empress Dowager Yao? You could have lived peacefully in your later years, but instead, you insist on meddling in my affairs. I indulged you, and now you think you can act without restraint?”
Yao Ji was shocked. Every question she posed was answered with a counter-question. “I am your mother! I am naturally a generation above you.”
“I am the ruler of this world. Therefore, I hold greater power than you.”
If Yao Ji had a beard, it surely would have been bristling in anger at this point.
She had always assumed that Jiang Wu would listen to her for his entire life. But why now, at this moment, did he seem like a different person? It was as if all the rebellion he had suppressed over the years had suddenly surfaced.
Trembling, she said, “I am your mother, your birth mother. How can you…”
Jiang Wu was tired of this circular argument. He didn’t like repeating things, but since someone kept pestering him, he felt he had to speak up for the sake of peace and quiet.
“Humans are emotional creatures. Feelings are one of the most important qualities that make us human. That’s why some people don’t deserve to be called human.”
Yao Ji looked at him, and in that moment, it felt as if she were staring at a stranger, not her own son.
“Mother,” Jiang Wu said softly, “if the only way you can convince me is by pulling rank as my mother, then it means you should have let go a long time ago. Your life has already reached its peak, but mine is just beginning. Even if I did everything exactly as you said, the best I could achieve would be your level.”
“Do you really wish for your child to be stuck at your level for his entire life, unable to break free?”
Yao Ji’s tears slipped down her cheeks.
“And as for feelings,” Jiang Wu continued, “they are the most basic, the most essential, and therefore, the most cheap.”
“Mother, you don’t want me to be a ruler who acts on emotion, lowering my standards just because I can’t bear to hurt you. But if I can act emotionally for you, then one day, I might act emotionally for someone else.”
“After all, humans are creatures who can easily form attachments, even to a dog.” He glanced lightly at Ah Gui, the dog lying by the wall, whose ears twitched as it sat up straight. Jiang Wu added, “Mother, surely you don’t want to be compared to a dog, do you?”
Yao Ji opened her mouth, unsure whether she felt more angry or regretful. “Wu Er…”
“I’ve heard it said that I could risk my life to save anyone. Maybe one day, I will risk my life for a dog too,” he remarked flatly, looking directly at Yao Ji. “Is that what you want?”
That was certainly not what Yao Ji wanted!
But she couldn’t find a way to refute Jiang Wu’s words.
She wished to be special to Jiang Wu, to always be understood and forgiven. There was no one she had invested more of her heart and effort into than Jiang Wu. No one had consumed more of her energy than him.
But suddenly, she realized that Jiang Wu was right. When he had risked everything to save King Xiang, the Great Empress Dowager, or even a civilian child, she had been devastated and tried to educate him. But only now did she see that Jiang Wu had become this way because of her—she had repeatedly lowered her standards.
As a mother, she should be proud of him at this moment.
But she couldn’t help pleading through her tears, “You can’t tell Yin Wuzhi about our secret… Someone like him, if he says he’ll keep it, he’s definitely lying to you.”
Jiang Wu had initially hoped to extract some useful information, but if not, he would still have successfully shifted suspicion onto Yin Wuzhi. Yin Wuzhi would handle it from there.
After all, if he pushed too hard, Yao Ji might become suspicious.
He wanted to die, but Yao Ji wasn’t necessarily ready to die.
“I trust him,” Jiang Wu said.
“You trust him? Have you forgotten what I told you? King Dingnan and his family are highly esteemed in the military. Even Dingnan Wangfei is well-respected. Yin Shu and his sons wield power that eclipses the throne. And now, you’ve told our secret to Yin Wuzhi! What if he tries to overthrow you? What if he uses this to blackmail you and demands to become regent?”
Speaking of this, Yao Ji’s words were filled with bitterness and hatred. “And what about my great vengeance? I’ve told you how hateful Yin Zheng and Yin Shu are. Have you forgotten all that they’ve done? They…”
At that moment, a commotion erupted outside, interrupting her.
“Imperial Physician Gu, what’s the hurry?”
“Just now, I heard in the Imperial Garden that someone had fallen into the water. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a maid from Taiji Hall. Do you remember this face?”
Jiang Wu ordered his servants to carry him out. But before he could leave the hall, Yin Wuzhi stepped forward and blocked his view, whispering, “Don’t look.”
Yao Ji stood beside him, her expression blank as she watched Gu Yan.
Meanwhile, Yin Wuzhi had already carried Jiang Wu back inside. Jiang Wu glanced at him, silently asking for an explanation.
Yin Wuzhi said, “Leave it to the Attendant, Your Majesty. There’s no need to worry.”
Because of this interruption, Yao Ji didn’t linger long. Before leaving, she assigned a maid to Taiji Hall, saying, “Since the Hall is missing a maid, I shall send one to the Emperor.”
Qi Hanmiao cautiously asked, “But what about His Majesty’s opinion on this…”
“His Majesty will naturally agree,” Yao Ji replied, her tear-filled eyes giving away her intentions as she glanced at Qi Hanmiao. He could only bow his head and follow orders.
Gu Yan respectfully saw Yao Ji out. As she left, Qi Hanmiao casually suggested, “Since the imperial physician is here, why not take this chance to check His Majesty’s pulse for peace of mind?”
Gu Yan nodded and entered to take the Emperor’s pulse. During the examination, Yin Wuzhi stood by, expressionless, watching his every move. The moment Gu Yan let go of Jiang Wu’s wrist, Yin Wuzhi immediately stepped forward to pull a blanket over it.
“His Majesty is fine, though still a little weak. I recommend medicinal meals and some fresh air.”
Yin Wuzhi perked up at that. “Shall we take a walk outside later?”
Jiang Wu: “..”
“Fine, we won’t go,” Yin Wuzhi said. “I know you’re exhausted, so take a nap first.”
Yin Wuzhi personally escorted Gu Yan to the door, saying, “You have a lot of free time for a imperial physician, dealing with a maid who drowned.”
Gu Yan sighed, “I happened to pass by and saw the commotion. I didn’t expect it to be the maid serving His Majesty.”
“Thank you for personally checking.”
Sensing some hostility, Gu Yan quickly replied, “This is far enough, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave.”
Yin Wuzhi watched Gu Yan’s figure disappear before turning back toward Taiji Hall. On his way, Gu Yan was suddenly stopped by a maid. “Imperial Physician Gu, Empress Dowager Yao requests your presence.”
Gu Yan lowered his gaze and gestured politely to follow her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wu had been moved back to bed, thoroughly exhausted from his long conversation with Yao Ji. Yin Wuzhi laid down beside his pillow and said, “Your Majesty, I think there’s something suspicious about Imperial Physician Gu.”
“
“Do you think he’s working with Empress Dowager Yao? Maybe he knows we’re trying to deceive her.”
“.”
“Your Majesty, did Empress Dowager Yao say anything just now?”
Jiang Wu opened one eye and glanced at him.
“That look is full of wisdom, boundless like an unreadable book of the heavens…”
Jiang Wu: “.”
Yin Wuzhi gave up. “The answer is too complicated. I can’t guess.”
“Sixteen.”
A figure landed behind him. Yin Wuzhi instinctively turned his head, and Sixteen nodded at him and said, “After the Shizi left, His Majesty said: ‘Isn’t it the same for Mother?’ Empress Dowager Yao said: ‘What?’ His Majesty said: ‘Something used to serve people with beauty.’ Empress Dowager Yao said…”
Yin Wuzhi, blushing, continued the scene, but Sixteen abruptly stopped: “Your Majesty, I need to call you by your name.”
Jiang Wu: “.”
Yin Wuzhi said, “Just use ‘His Majesty’ instead.”
Sixteen continued, “Empress Dowager Yao said, ‘How dare you speak to your mother like that.’ His Majesty replied, ‘Mother is nothing more than the tool that gave birth to me. Just as I am a tool to help you become Empress Dowager Yao. Should tools be judged by rank or value?’ Empress Dowager Yao was so angry that she grabbed a handful of cat fur, and the cat ran off.”
Yin Wuzhi: “I saw that too.”
“Then Empress Dowager Yao said, ‘You resent me so much that you no longer care for any family ties?’ His Majesty said, ‘Family ties? I only speak of such things with one person now.'”
“Empress Dowager Yao asked, ‘Who?’ His Majesty said….I have to call His Highness directly by name.'”
Yin Wuzhi couldn’t wait. “Say it, say it!”
Jiang Wu: “Skip.”
Sixteen continued, “Empress Dowager Yao said, ‘Have you truly been so bewitched by that fool?’ His Majesty replied…”
“Skip.”
Yin Wuzhi asked, “What did His Majesty say?”
Sixteen obediently skipped ahead, “Empress Dowager Yao said, ‘Do you know how cunning he is? How deeply he conceals his motives? When he was on the battlefield, he deceived the Zhao army thoroughly. Do you truly trust him?'”
Yin Wuzhi: “Wait, Empress Dowager Yao said I outwitted the Zhao army? Not an enemy army?”
Sixteen confirmed, “Exactly.”
Yin Wuzhi asked, “What next?”
“Skip.”
Unable to contain his frustration, Yin Wuzhi turned and pinched Jiang Wu’s lips. In the next moment, a black, flexible sword was pressed against his neck.
Reluctantly, Yin Wuzhi released Jiang Wu’s lips. “Your Majesty, I’ll step outside with Sixteen so we don’t disturb your rest, alright?”
Jiang Wu opened one eye and stared at him for a moment. Exhausted from processing the earlier conversation with Yao Ji, he sighed, “Get out.”
Sixteen sheathed his sword and followed Yin Wuzhi outside to finish recounting the events.
When Jiang Wu woke up, the first thing he saw was two heads resting beside his bed—one black, one white—lined up neatly. Ah Gui, the dog, had its ears perked up, while Yin Wuzhi’s flushed face was filled with glistening tears.
“So, in Empress Dowager Yao’s eyes, I’m His Majesty’s lover…”
Jiang Wu replied, “Little lover.”
“I’m not little.”
“Little cousin.”
“…I told you, I’m not little.”
“Little,” Jiang Wu insisted. “You’re smaller than me.”
Yin Wuzhi stubbornly shouted, “Qi Hanmiao!”
Qi Hanmiao: “?”
“Get a measuring tape! I want to see who’s taller!”
After a moment of silence, Qi Hanmiao replied, “Your Highness, this isn’t the kind of thing one should use to insult someone.”
Yin Wuzhi: “?”
Qi Hanmiao continued, “Even though I’m a servant now, I was still once a man of stature. Your words wound me deeply, Your Highness.”
“…” Yin Wuzhi hesitated, then managed to stammer out, “I was talking about height and shoulder width!”
Why… why are you even thinking in that direction?
