strokinit Chapter 22 Irreconcilable Dilemmas
Chapter 22 Irreconcilable Dilemmas
He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
The night wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker violently, almost extinguishing it.
In the courtyard outside the main hall, the moonlight was like water, and the shadow of the old locust tree on the ground looked like a giant palm.
"What the emperor wants is a mad dog that bites anyone it sees, has no bottom line, and is completely isolated and helpless."
His voice sounded somewhat ethereal in the night wind.
"If I were timid and hesitant, avoiding the powerful and only picking on the weak, the emperor would suspect that I had ulterior motives."
He turned around, the candlelight reflecting on his face, half bright and half hidden in shadow.
"Only by biting every powerful and influential person in the world and cutting off all my escape routes will the emperor think I'm a good dog, and only then will he—"
He paused, then said, "Protect me."
Shen Zhirou remained silent.
She sat there, her fingers no longer fiddling with the teacup lid.
The candlelight flickered on her face, reflecting the complex light deep within her eyes.
After a long silence, she sighed softly, "You child..."
She didn't finish speaking. Because she didn't know what else to say.
Xu Ming walked back to the table, sat down again, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
The tea has gone cold.
He placed the teacup back on the table with a soft sound.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law."
"His Majesty, who is high above all others, is delighted to see this."
Outside the window, the night wind rustled through the old locust tree, making its leaves whisper in the breeze.
It sounded like a whisper, or perhaps a sigh.
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Ambergris burned slowly in the bronze incense burner, its wisps of smoke filling the entire imperial study with a delightful fragrance. The burner's bronze body gleamed with a dark light under the candlelight, and the lid was carved with a five-clawed dragon, its mouth slightly open, from which wisps of smoke emerged, resembling writhing snakes.
After Zhao Huan finished reviewing the last memorial, he drew a large "Approved" character on it with vermilion ink.
He threw the vermilion brush into the brush washer, and with a "thud," the vermilion ink spread in the water, like a blooming red flower.
He leaned back on the dragon throne, closing his eyes to rest.
Outside the hall, the night watchman's drum struck three times.
"His Majesty."
A deep voice came from below the jade steps.
Zhao Huan did not open his eyes, but only slightly raised his chin.
"speak."
Gu Changfeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, knelt on one knee at the foot of the jade steps, his back straight, like a long spear standing upright on the ground.
He was dressed in a black flying fish robe, without armor, but he still exuded a sharp killing intent.
"Today, Imperial Commissioner Xu Ming was ordered to search and confiscate the residences of the two traitors, Huang and Qi."
He paused for a moment, as if considering his words.
"Xu Ming publicly slapped Lu Zhen, a commander of the Imperial Guard, forcing the officer to slap himself, and then embezzled a box of stolen goods—"
He paused again.
"Furthermore, Qi Mingyue, the granddaughter of Qi Quan, was forcibly taken back to the manor. Qi Mingyue is the fiancée of Lu Jun, the son of Duke Dingguo, Lu Yan."
Report complete.
The Imperial Study was so quiet that only the faint crackling sound of burning ambergris could be heard.
Gu Changfeng lowered his head, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
He awaits the wrath of thunder.
He beat up a commander of the Imperial Guard in the street, openly embezzled public funds, and forcibly abducted Xun Gui's fiancée.
Every single one of these cases, according to the law, warrants execution.
"Oh."
A soft laugh broke the silence.
Gu Changfeng suddenly looked up.
He witnessed a scene he would never forget—Emperor Zhao Huan rose from his dragon throne, his bright yellow dragon robe gleaming eerily in the candlelight. A slight smile played on his lips, a smile that sent a chill down Gu Changfeng's spine.
Zhao Huan walked to the window and reached out to push open the carved wooden window.
The night wind blew in, causing the memorials on the emperor's desk to rustle and turn.
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking out at the deep night.
The night sky was moonless, with only a few stars peeking out from behind the clouds. The distant palace walls appeared as a black silhouette in the darkness, beyond which lay the lights of countless homes.
"What a useful vicious dog."
His voice was soft, as if he were talking to himself.
Gu Changfeng knelt at the foot of the jade steps, utterly shocked.
No blame?
Not only did they not blame him, but they even showed a hint of admiration?
He suddenly understood.
The back garden of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, with the zither and flute playing in harmony, and the melody of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" drifting in the night breeze.
Dozens of tables were set up in a row, where the sons of noble families from the capital clinked glasses and exchanged toasts. The tables were laden with delicacies from land and sea—roast suckling pig, steamed sea bass, braised bear paw, braised sea cucumber… Each dish was prepared by the best chefs in the capital.
A dozen lotus lanterns float on the surface of the lotus pond, their candlelight flickering in the ripples, reflecting a pool of shimmering gold.
Attracted by the lights, the koi in the pond leaped out of the water from time to time, splashing up sprays of water.
The young man sitting in the main seat wore a moon-white brocade robe, with a handsome face, exquisite features, and outstanding temperament.
His fingers were long and fair, and his nails were neatly trimmed, clearly indicating that he was a pampered young master from a wealthy family.
This person is Lu Jun, the son of the Duke of Dingguo.
He was holding a white jade wine cup, accepting toasts from others. A perfectly timed smile graced his handsome face, neither arrogant nor frivolous.
"Young Master Lu, let me offer you a toast—"
A young man dressed in a blue brocade robe stood up and raised his cup with both hands.
Lu Jun raised his glass in acknowledgment and nodded slightly.
Just as he was about to drink, a steward tumbled and crawled into the back garden.
He stumbled and staggered, knocking over two maids who were serving dishes.
The plates shattered on the floor with a "crash," and braised pork knuckle and steamed sea bass spilled everywhere, with oil splattering onto the robes of several guests.
"Young master! Something...something has happened!"
The steward knelt before Lu Jun's desk, trembling all over, his forehead hitting the ground with three loud thuds.
All eyes were on the steward.
Lu Jun's hand holding the wine glass froze in mid-air.
The rim of the jade cup rested against his lower lip, the wine swirling slightly, gleaming amber in the candlelight.
His expression remained unchanged, only his eyes turned colder.
"What's the matter?"
His voice was calm.
The steward swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, his voice trembling with tears.
"The Qi residence was raided... Miss Qi... Miss Qi, she..."
"explain."
A single word is like a knife.
"Miss Qi was carried home in the street by Xu Ming from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"
"boom--"
The white jade wine cup turned to dust between Lu Jun's fingers.
White powder fell softly from between his fingers, like snow in winter.
The entire room fell silent.
All eyes were on Lu Jun.
No one dared to speak, no one dared to move, and they didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
The hatred of having one's wife stolen.
A humiliating disgrace.
Lu Jun slowly stood up.
He stared at the wine stains and jade fragments on his hands, then tore off a piece of white silk and wiped his fingers one by one.
First the thumb, then the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger.
Each one was wiped very carefully.
After wiping one hand, he switched to the other.
Then, he folded the white silk into a neat square and placed it on the table.
Raise your head.
"Me and Xu Ming—"
He spoke slowly and deliberately.
"They are irreconcilable enemies."