She recoiled in shock.
A tearing sound came from her ankle as the fine assorted brocade with gold-twisted silk was ripped open by him, revealing the swollen, reddened side of her ankle.
He stared at it for a moment before pressing down firmly with his palm.
She cried out in pain.
He stood up and said quietly, "It's not broken."
Unable to utter a word, she only felt his emotions shifting inexplicably. At this moment, the pain in her ankle overwhelmed any further thought as she followed behind him, limping inward.
Intricately carved pillars and painted eaves shimmered with dazzling golden light. After winding through nine bends, another scene unfolded: a cool breeze rustled weeping willow branches, and the grand hall's massive doors stood wide open.
Outside, Yellow-robed Attendants who had accompanied the imperial procession to the North Garden for mounted archery hurried forward upon seeing them. "Your Highness," they greeted respectfully, stepping aside before asking, "Has the mounted archery ceremony concluded already?"
Without answering, he walked inside and countered, "Were the military officers introduced to Lord Shen earlier seen out?"
The attendant nodded. "Everything was done according to Your Highness's instructions." The man glanced subtly at her and hesitated slightly. "Your Highness, this..."
"No matter," he said indifferently, offering no further explanation as he led her directly into the hall.
She surveyed her surroundings, never imagining that within this North Garden reserved for imperial hunting and martial displays stood such carved pavilions and painted halls, their grandeur rivaling the various inner and outer provincial pavilions. Even more surprising was his bringing her here to rest.
The room was spacious yet starkly empty. A pair of long chairs stood in the corner, with a tall desk in the center strewn with scrolls, brushes, and inkstones. A low cabinet nearby overflowed with books.
Further inside, sheer curtains faintly revealed a low couch—clearly his resting place.
Yet the scarcity of personal belongings suggested he seldom stayed here.
If so, why had she just seen Shen Zhishu leaving this place?
Lowering her gaze slightly, she grew increasingly suspicious recalling his exchange with the attendant. Why would Shen Zhishu, serving in the Imperial Academy, meet with military officers without reason?
Military officers...
She remembered recent court rumors that the Emperor intended to appoint Shen Zhishu as administrator of Qing Province. Though Grand Tutor Shen had personally submitted the memorial, it was truly the Crown Prince's idea.
Everyone knew the Crown Prince and Shen Zhishu had grown up together—their relationship, while nominally that of ruler and subject, was truly fraternal. Thus, none could understand why the Crown Prince wouldn't let him retain an honorable sinecure in the Imperial Academy, instead suddenly sending him to remote Qing Province in Chaoan North Circuit. Having entered officialdom without imperial examinations, Shen Zhishu lacked experience—how could he shoulder the responsibility of governing a major circuit?
Lost in thought, she inadvertently looked up and found him staring at her.
Heaven knew what schemes brewed in his mind...
At merely fourteen, he had decisively handled officials involved in the Chaoan North Circuit monk and nun case. His ruthless methods and swift actions had chilled all who witnessed them—who could have predicted such capabilities from him then?
Whether stratagem or ambition, who could truly discern the thoughts in his heart?
After staring at her for a long moment, he suddenly addressed the attendant: "Summon the Imperial Physician."
The attendant showed slight surprise but dared not question, merely assenting before withdrawing.She was greatly alarmed and hurriedly tried to stop him, exclaiming, "Absolutely not! How improper would that be?" In her haste, she forgot about her foot injury. After taking just one step, she wobbled unsteadily, nearly falling.
He pulled her back sharply, his voice tinged with anger. "Your foot may not be broken, but who knows about the rest of your bones? If you delay letting the imperial physician examine you and something serious happens, how will it look when today’s horseback fall spreads? What will people think?"
She fell silent at once, understanding his implication.
If others knew she had only suffered minor injuries, they would assume her fall was due to her own carelessness. But if word got out that she was severely injured, given the court’s tendency to stir up trouble over nothing, people would surely investigate the incident thoroughly—questioning what exactly had happened with that horse...
He had earlier sent Shen Zhishu to summon Di Nian to bring the horse for inspection, which showed he already had his suspicions. He intended to resolve the matter before the Eunuch Horse Manager and other officials could intervene.
Yet, despite his doubts, he couldn’t let outsiders catch wind of them. Instead, she had to pretend her fall was entirely accidental.
Reflecting on it now, his reason for whisking her away to this place was likely to prevent her from being questioned by others outside the Precious Ford Tower. In her panicked state, she might have blurted out something she shouldn’t.
She forced a smile and said softly, "Your Highness worries too much. I am merely a lowly Hanlin Academy Compiler—who would want to harm me? Moreover, even if someone had planned this in advance, how could they be sure I would mount the horse?"
He glanced at her and released her arm. "Let’s hope so."
She smiled at his cold expression and blinked. "A moment ago, I thought Your Highness was concerned about me. It seems I was overthinking."
He lowered his gaze slowly, his expression unchanged. "Good that you realize it."
Pressing her lips together, she recalled the sensation of being held by him earlier but chose to ignore his stern demeanor. "This riding outfit was borrowed from Lord Shen, but unfortunately, Your Highness has torn it."
He frowned slightly, annoyed. "Meng Tinghui, does the court not pay you a salary?"
She shook her head and added, "Does Your Highness know how hard I’ve worked over these past four months to earn the respect of the court? Yet today, with Your Highness’s heroic rescue, you’ve splattered mud on my reputation again... How does Your Highness intend to compensate me for this riding outfit and my tarnished honor?"
The corner of his mouth stiffened, at a loss for words.
So many late nights, he had pored over those meticulously compiled local chronicles from previous dynasties—each stroke infused with dedication, the faint image of her face emerging through the pages... Now she stood before him, speaking these trivial, detached words, making him doubt whether the profound meaning he once sensed in her gaze had ever been real.
The room was dim, slivers of light filtering through the window lattice and shifting across her face. Dust motes drifted gently in the beams, and the silence was profound.
She lowered her eyes, her heart not entirely unmoved.
For four months, she had poured her soul into her duties, striving for perfection in every volume she compiled. Yet those works, representing her utmost effort, were merely collected indifferently by Fang Huai and stored away in the archives. Would he ever know how well she had done?Four months had passed since their last meeting. He had repeatedly ordered the academy locked at night to draft edicts, yet she never had a single chance to see him. Today, at the mounted archery ceremony, he shone brilliantly under everyone's gaze, while she felt as insignificant as the dust beneath his steed.
She had exerted all her strength just to be a little closer to him, to draw nearer still.
Did he know any of this?
Suddenly, a sharp neigh of a horse pierced the air from outside, accompanied by a man's low, fierce shout, reaching the ears of both.
He raised his hand, pointing to the soft couch in the corner of the inner hall. "Sit."
His voice was so low it seemed to sink into the ground, hoarse and heavy. That single word carried ten layers of tone to her ears. Then he strode outside, his thin armor gleaming in the light.
She obediently moved over and nestled into the soft couch.
The cushion bore the unique fragrance of the palace, identical to the scent of incense used on his clothes. The subtle aroma filled her nostrils, causing her entire body to relax involuntarily.
Her gaze drifted out the window, watching him approach a man and horse standing in the distance beyond the corridor. The man was none other than Di Nian, and the horse was unmistakably the same short, fiery-red palace steed that had gone mad, bolted, and thrown her from its back.
He turned a corner, and Di Nian led the horse, following him toward the rear. The two men and the horse gradually disappeared from her view, as if he knew she would be watching from here and deliberately kept it from her sight.
She sat still for a while, then gently turned to examine the objects in the inner hall.
Previously, separated by long curtains and light veils, she hadn't been able to see clearly from outside. She had only noticed the soft couch in the corner, unaware that several items were also placed against the wall.
Among them, a large square tray stood out prominently. It was filled with black sand molded into peculiar shapes, about three or four inches deep, with various colored markers scattered haphazardly across it.
Curiosity stirred within her. Seeing no one outside the window, she struggled to her feet and walked over to the tray for a closer look.
·
Outside, the sunlight was no longer as scorching as before. A cool breeze rustled through the trees, bringing relief.
Di Nian coiled the reins around his fingers, appearing slightly uneasy. His lips parted several times as if to speak, but he remained silent, waiting for Ying Gua to address him.
Ying Gua stood with his hands behind his back, his face dark and intimidating. He stared at the horse for a long time, then reached out and slowly stroked its red mane a few times before speaking. "This horse truly isn't a gelding?"
Di Nian nodded. "Before Your Highness sent Yan Zhi to inform me, I had already taken the horse and verified it. According to regulations, all horses in the Great Within managed by the Eunuch Horse Managers are geldings. The palace horses provided for the female officials to hit colored balls during the mounted archery ceremony should be especially selected for their gentle temperament as geldings. Yet, for some reason, this horse slipped in and was chosen by Lady Meng."
Under his hand, the horse restlessly raised its neck and shook its mane, then kicked out fiercely several times, displaying a truly combative and fierce nature.
Its coat color, the look in its eyes, and its robust build—though not fully grown—marked it as a fine steed, clearly an excellent choice for a military warhorse. How could it have been mistakenly sent by the Eunuch Horse Managers' officials to the mounted archery ceremony at North Garden?
...But was this truly just a mistake and a coincidence?
The selection, feeding, and release of palace horses from the stables in the Great Within were extremely strict—how could it be so easily bypassed?
His fingers involuntarily tightened on the horse's mane as he said coldly, "Has this matter been disclosed to anyone else?"Di Nian shook his head, "I only said the horse was momentarily startled, and Your Highness wished to test-ride it, so I brought it over."
Ying Gua pondered briefly, furrowing his brow, "Very well, keep this horse here for now and say I've claimed it." He reached out to take the reins, examining the horse carefully, "It's a fine steed after all. Let this matter not spread. Return to the front of Precious Ford Tower and inform the military officers that I am too weary today to continue entertaining them."
Di Nian nodded, but paused as he turned to leave, his expression hesitant, "Your Highness..."
He looked up, "Hmm?"
After a moment's hesitation, Di Nian said, "Regarding Your Highness sending Yan Zhi to Qing Province..."
He fell silent, his hand gradually loosening its grip on the reins.
Di Nian continued, "If Your Highness has truly decided, why not transfer me to the Qing Province garrison as well? At least I could provide some support for Yan Zhi."
Ying Gua lowered his gaze, speaking slowly in a soft voice, "Sending Yan Zhi alone to Qing Province has already stirred up enough commotion in the court. If you were to accompany him to the Qing Province garrison, wouldn't the senior ministers immediately discern my intentions?"
Di Nian considered this and smiled wryly, "But with Yan Zhi's temperament, if he goes to Qing Province alone, doesn't Your Highness consider how he might..."
His gaze sharpened, cutting him off, "Have you considered your own position? As long as Her Majesty remains on the throne, would she ever permit you to go to such a place?"
Upon hearing this, Di Nian looked somewhat resigned and added, "Your Highness's words truly humble this subject, but..." He hesitated slightly, "Has Her Majesty become aware of Your Highness's plans?"
He remained silent, but his eyes grew piercing, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Understanding the implication, Di Nian pressed no further, simply following behind him as they proceeded along the corridor. As they walked, he remarked, "Your Highness's intervention to rescue Minister Meng earlier truly astonished the court ladies."
He still said nothing, turning into the corridor.
Having met with this gentle rebuff and unable to gauge his thoughts, Di Nian said, "If Your Highness has no further instructions, I shall return to the front of Precious Ford Tower."
But Ying Gua turned back, "What you say isn't without merit. I am indeed somewhat uneasy about sending Yan Zhi to Qing Province alone. However, if we don't allow him to gain experience now, how can he assist me in court in the future? Moreover, the longstanding inefficacy of administration in Chaoan North Circuit is known to all in the court, though none dare speak of it openly. Without the protection of several senior Eastern Faction ministers, how could those old officials act so audaciously? And how could I rest easy without placing a trusted subordinate there? I've also considered that if Yan Zhi truly struggles with military affairs at the strongholds in Qing Province, he could write to Xie Mingyuan to dispatch a trusted officer from Liangcheng. This would be far better than going through the trouble of transferring you from the capital to the Qing Province garrison. Besides, you have no military achievements to your name—even if you went, you wouldn't immediately command respect, and it would only make me appear overly obstinate."
Di Nian thought it over and nodded, "Your Highness speaks wisely. I was mistaken. Although Yan Zhi usually appears indifferent to matters, his mind is undoubtedly clear as a mirror. He certainly won't disappoint Your Highness this time. Moreover, how could a tiger father bear a dog of a son?"
As they rounded the corridor bend, the threshold came into view, but he halted and said to Di Nian, "Wait in the outer hall for a while. On your way out, escort Meng Tinghui."
Di Nian was taken aback, "Have me escort Minister Meng?"Ying Gua's brows furrowed slightly. "It was already improper for me to bring her away earlier. What would it look like if I were to escort her out now?"
Di Nian had no choice but to nod and follow him inside.
The sharp-eyed Yellow-robed Attendant waiting outside immediately approached with a bow, prepared a seat for Di Nian, and reported, "The Imperial Physician has just examined Lord Meng and said it's nothing serious. The eunuchs from the Imperial Pharmacy will send some medicine later. His Highness has instructed Lord Meng to rest and recuperate for some time."
He nodded, his gaze turning toward the inner chamber.
The long sheer curtains swayed gently, her figure appearing particularly graceful through them. In the hazy view, she seemed serene curled up on the soft couch, so quiet and well-behaved that one couldn't bear to disturb her.
Outside the hall, autumn winds swept fallen leaves as the sun dipped westward, faint streaks of sunset already coloring the distant horizon.
"Your Highness?"
Di Nian called from behind, his voice hesitant yet urging.
Only then did he walk inward, his steps heavy and slow. Parting the silk curtains, he stopped several paces away from her. "Meng Tinghui."
She opened her eyes, saw him, and smiled weakly, struggling to rise from the couch. "Your Highness."
His eyes fell upon her left foot, then swept over her body. Seeing her expression no longer showed the previous agony, he said quietly, "It's good that you're unharmed."
Her dark hair remained unbound, just as when he had carried her down from the horse earlier. Noticing another man seated outside, she paused briefly, raising a hand to gather the hair cascading over her shoulder. Softly, she said, "Your Highness must have official matters to attend to. My presence here is rather..."
He watched her demeanor, his brow twitching slightly, but remained silent.
Her gaze traveled past his shoulder to the large square tray in the corner, and she asked directly, "When does Your Highness intend to launch the invasion against Northern Frontier?"
His body visibly stiffened, but he said nothing, instead following her gaze. When he recognized what was on the tray, his eyes darkened. "It's merely an ordinary Various Route Sand Map. Why would you say that?"
She lowered her eyes. "I am no fool. That is clearly the Military Camp Defense Map of the areas where Chao'an and Yongqing routes border Northern Frontier. Has Your Highness forgotten what I asked you that night in the Eastern Palace?"
His gaze sharpened like flying daggers piercing into her eyes. "If you continue speaking recklessly, I will truly not be courteous."
She slowly moved past him, brushing aside the long curtain beside him as she stepped out. "Your Highness has your own grand ambitions. I dare not say more."
He remained standing motionless, only calling out coldly, "Di Nian."
Di Nian had already risen and instructed the attendant to bring a horse. As Meng Tinghui approached, he smiled slightly and said, "Lord Meng, His Highness has asked me to escort you out."
She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips, not looking back at him as she followed Di Nian out. "I didn't recognize you earlier—it's Colonel Di."
The corridor was carpeted with fallen leaves glowing in the slanting sunlight, the pale yellow blades shimmering with gold, their colors strikingly beautiful.
Di Nian whistled sharply, urging the horse to the front of the covered corridor. Below, he helped her mount, waiting until she was securely seated before leading the horse outward. With a laugh, he said, "Unlike the Crown Prince, I cannot share a horse with Lord Meng. I must ask you to endure riding alone for a while longer."
She lifted her eyes toward the distant yellow dust and sand. "Truth be told, I've burdened Colonel Di. Without this hindrance, you could have galloped back alone by now and witnessed Lord Shen's impressive horsemanship."Di Nian glanced at her, understanding the implication in her words but merely smiled and changed the subject, "Once we pass the Horizontal Gate, there will be no need to ride horses anymore. I'll have the Inner Directorate arrange a two-wheeled carriage to escort Minister Meng back to the city... Minister Meng currently resides in the Female Officials' Dormitory within the Various Pavilions, correct?"
Meng Tinghui nodded, her loosely tied hair now blown loose by the wind and cascading over her shoulders, gleaming even more brightly under the evening glow. "Since childhood, I've had neither father nor mother, so after joining the Imperial Academy, I never considered acquiring a residence so quickly. After all, I am alone—where I live matters little. It's just not like Colonel Di and others, who can reunite with family for a few days upon returning to the capital from the barracks."
Di Nian tilted his head, raising an eyebrow as he looked up at her seated high on the horse, his eyes filled with amusement. "Minister Meng, you are mistaken. Little do you know, I too am an orphan."
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