His arm around her waist stiffened slightly.
He looked down to find her head buried against his chest, her pale cheek half-turned, breathing soft and shallow as if truly having fainted.
He called her: "Meng Tinghui." His tone remained cold and angry, carrying a faint threat.
She neither spoke nor moved, simply leaning against him.
Even through their thick winter garments, he could feel the soft curves of her body, gradually igniting sparks within him in this cold, silent night.
Uncontrollably, his mind returned to that night.
He drew a sharp breath of the chilly air, lifted his gaze toward the Yellow-robed Attendant and carriage waiting in the distant street shadows, then looked at her again and called her name once more in a lowered voice: "Meng Tinghui."
Still no response.
His chest felt warm, then slightly irritated. Though knowing full well she was likely pretending again, he absolutely couldn't abandon her in this frozen wilderness.
So he tightened his hold, bent slightly to retrieve the book box she had dropped, then swept his arm across to lift her by the waist, carrying her slowly toward the waiting carriage.
Her neck curved gently, face half-tilted and turned, appearing exceptionally delicate under the snowy moonlight, eyelashes fluttering with each of his steps.
Looking down at her like this, the fire in his heart inexplicably faded.
This utterly unbothered demeanor made it seem as if having him carry her was the most natural thing in the world. From that night ten years ago to this very moment, she truly entrusted herself completely to him without reservation.
She was shameless, yet he found himself unable to resist her shamelessness.
Approaching the carriage, the attendant relit the lantern, discreetly directing the light away from her before whispering, "What does Your Highness intend?"
He frowned. Taking her back to the Eastern Palace like this was impossible, yet returning her to the Female Officials' Dormitory would be too conspicuous, benefiting neither her nor himself. However, the biting wind made prolonged stay inadvisable. Weighing the lesser of two evils, he replied indifferently, "The Female Officials' Dormitory."
The attendant drew the curtain aside as he carried her inside.
The carriage interior maintained its usual warmth. He placed her on the soft cushions to one side, then murmured some instructions. The curtain fell abruptly, wheels began turning, and the carriage slowly moved forward.
Shadows flickered dimly in the quiet darkness.
She remained curled motionless, not daring to peek, afraid that opening her eyes would reveal his angry, imposing face.
He must be furious with her.
But she knew no other way to extinguish his raging anger over the Imperial Academy matter.
Beneath the Vermilion-lacquered Barriers of the Imperial Street, his face had darkened like charcoal, furious over her memorial mentioning "Prime Minister Gu." After one cold reprimand, his prolonged silence and piercing glare had genuinely frightened her.
When submitting that memorial, she never expected he would react so violently regarding Gu Qin.
She knew she had overstepped, but had never seen him so fiercely menacing. In that moment, she was truly terrified. His prolonged stare left her unable to guess his thoughts or intentions... Her only thought was to make him drop the matter tonight.
Hence this...
She thought: regardless, he wouldn't harm a fainted woman. Even if he immediately discarded her on the ground and abandoned her, it would be better than having him rigorously investigate the memorial matter further.Yet she never expected he would carry her onto this carriage and then send her back.
Each time he held her, she grew more attached to the strength of these arms and the warm heat from his chest.
She truly wanted him, so very much, so deeply that she longed...
The carriage suddenly jolted, coming to an abrupt halt.
Outside, clusters of palace lantern lights approached, their glaring rays piercing through the curtain seams, abruptly tearing through the dim, intimate atmosphere within.
Whispering voices drifted in from outside, hushed and indistinct.
She frowned, unsure what was happening, yet unable to open her eyes to see.
Suddenly, the soft bedding beside her shifted—it was him rising.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the palace lantern light grew brighter. Then, a youthful voice spoke, "...Prince Ping is fine, but His Majesty is looking for Your Highness. He sent over a dozen people to search throughout the Forbidden Palace but couldn’t find you, so he dispatched us to check near the provincial offices outside the Great Within."
Likely a Junior Palace Attendant serving by the Emperor’s side.
Her heart tightened, wondering what urgent matter in the dead of night had kept the Emperor awake and sent so many people to find him.
Yet he didn’t ask, merely speaking softly to the person, "I’ll go now." After alighting, he let the curtain fall and said to the Yellow-robed Attendant, "I’ll walk with them. You escort Minister Meng back to the official residence."
The attendant hesitated slightly but still bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Hearing this clearly, she opened her eyes and sat up just as the carriage began moving again. Hastily lifting her hand to part the thick window curtain, she saw his dark-robed silhouette behind, walking westward with his back to her.
All along the snow-covered, heart-chilling path, he never looked back, yet her gaze remained fixed on him.
Only when the carriage suddenly tilted, turning a corner and obscuring him from view, did she silently lower her hand and close her eyes.
The swaying tassels of the curtain shattered her hopeful heart. The gentle warmth rippled, stirring the light mist in her eyes.
The night was truly cold.
·
The next day, she slept until the sun was high in the sky.
The Imperial Academy had a rule: those who stayed overnight drafting imperial edicts need not arrive before dawn the following day. Thus, she took her time grooming herself, flipping through the documents she had brought back the previous night but hadn’t had time to review, before packing her book chest and heading out.
On the way, she recalled Fang Huai’s parting words from the night before, so upon entering the vermilion courtyard and passing the front hall, she went straight to the Compilation and Review Office.
Everyone in the Imperial Academy greeted her with unusual friendliness, their smiling eyes and brows leaving her momentarily unsure how to respond.
A few seventh-rank compilers huddled together whispering on one side, while several Academician Drafters on the other end laughed and discussed something. Compared to usual, the courtyard seemed livelier and noisier.
Fang Huai was seated at a desk inside. She walked in, placed her book chest to the side, and said softly, "Lord Fang." Seeing him look up and beckon, she smiled and approached.
"Sit." Fang Huai gestured to a side seat and spoke slowly, "There’s a matter Scholar Zhang and I have discussed for some time but never had the chance to mention to you. Recently, there’s been a vacancy for the Left Remonstrating Official of the Chancellery..."
She nodded somewhat absently, curiosity piqued as her ears perked up to catch the whispers nearby. Soon, faint murmurs drifted to her ears.One of the compilers remarked, "...The state letter arrived just last night via the envoy. The officials at the Chancellery, upon seeing it, dared not delay in the slightest and immediately presented it to His Majesty for detailed reporting... Hah, isn't this all hearsay from the Inner Capital Hall? As soon as the morning court concluded today, the Emperor summoned the Chancellors of the Secretariat into the cabinet for thorough deliberation—such a major event as the Crown Prince's consort selection, and a princess from the Northern Frontier at that—who would dare treat it lightly?..."
She heard clearly, her face abruptly paling.
Whatever Fang Huai said next, she completely failed to hear.
She even forgot where she stood or what she was doing.
Her thoughts drifted back to that chilly spring morning a year ago, when the official walls of Chongzhou Prefecture were plastered with the Imperial Gazette on Yellow Paper. It announced the imminent opening of border markets in the northern territories, that Grand Academician Shen would preside over the Female Scholar Examination in Chaoan North Circuit, and that the Crown Prince—would be selecting his consort.
After his grand wedding, he would ascend the throne, receiving the bowed reverence and praise of all under heaven.
In less than a year, it felt to her as if another decade had passed—days and months flying by so swiftly that she had forgotten he would take a consort, that he would marry.
He was the only son of the Emperor and Prince Ping, the revered Crown Prince of the Great Peace Dynasty, the sole heir destined to inherit this vast empire and sprawling realm.
The distance between them was as immense as heaven and earth—something she could perceive but never approach.
Even last night, seated within the yellow-canopied carriage, held in his firm embrace, she could not advance a single step into his heart, nor dared she hope for the Imperial Family's favor.
The Imperial Family, the Imperial Family.
The Emperor, peerless in appearance and talent; Prince Ping, unyielding and imposing in presence... Even if she could reach him, how could she ever expect to earn their special regard?
Even Shen Zhili, previously the most rumored candidate for Crown Princess, instantly seemed insignificant before the title "Northern Frontier Princess."
Only such noble scions of the Imperial Family could be truly suited to match him.
"Meng Tinghui?"
Fang Huai frowned, noticing her distraction, and called her name sternly.
She blinked, took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and spoke, "My lord."
Earlier, Fang Huai had said something—she vaguely recalled hearing "Left Remonstrating Official"—but she did not understand why he mentioned this to her...
Fang Huai said, "Half a month ago, Chancellor Gu requested the Imperial Academy to recommend a compiler to fill the vacancy of Left Remonstrating Official in the Chancellery. Scholar Zhang and I deliberated at length without reaching a decision, until this morning before the court session when we finally recommended you to Chancellor Gu. The transfer document will be issued before nightfall, but I must ask you now: Are you willing to go to the Chancellery?"
Her mind reeled, scarcely daring to believe what she had heard. It took her a moment to process the words one by one—Left Remonstrating Official, they wanted her to enter the Chancellery!
Although this position was merely a minor supplementary fifth-rank official in the Chancellery, it would place her within the two key departments and, more importantly, allow her to frequently see—him.
She had long yearned for promotion but never imagined it would come so swiftly, and in a manner that left her so flustered and uneasy.
Lowering her head, she replied in a trembling voice, "In response to your lordship, this humble official has been in the Imperial Academy for less than a year. Being appointed to the sixth-rank compiler position as the top graduate of the Female Scholar Examination was already due to the grace of the Emperor and Crown Prince. If I were to enter the Chancellery now on your recommendation, I fear it would not convince my fellow graduates in the Academy. Perhaps your lordship might reconsider after the spring evaluations to determine which position would suit me best..."Fang Huai raised his hand to stop her words. "Although the position of Left Remonstrating Official is low in rank, it requires someone who dares to speak frankly and remonstrate. Scholar Zhang and I were initially hesitant, but after last night, both he and I have made up our minds. If we are to select one person from the current Compilers to recommend, it must be you. Unless you decline because you are unwilling to enter the Chancellery, then this matter is settled. Do not say anything more."
She bit her lip, silent and unmoving, as if tacitly accepting his decision. Her head remained bowed, and she struggled to suppress the turbulent emotions surging within her.
Quietly listening, Fang Huai gave her detailed instructions one by one—not to forget her colleagues at the Imperial Academy even after moving to the Chancellery, as she might someday be appointed Imperial Academician and return to the Academy...
She nodded from time to time to show she remembered, but her thoughts gradually drifted away, crossing several stone-paved streets and palace walls to where he was.
After an unknown length of time, Fang Huai finally finished speaking, and she had finally composed herself. Rising with a smile, her eyes brimming with tears and her face full of gratitude, she said, "Thank you, Lord Fang, for your guidance during this time. No matter what position I hold in the future, I will always regard you as my lifelong mentor."
Fang Huai nodded, his expression as impassive as ever, but he walked around the long desk, took a book, and placed it on her document box. "Once the transfer order arrives, you may go."
She bowed in thanks, offering no further polite words, knowing full well that Fang Huai detested hypocritical formalities. Clutching the document box, she turned to retreat to the outer hall.
But Fang Huai called her back, his voice slightly lowered: "It is said that the Imperial Academy is a place of purity and nobility, where critiques and discussions often lack restraint. Yet even the most arrogant and defiant among the Imperial Academy members are always open and aboveboard. Only when you enter the Two Departments will you understand the turbulent undercurrents of the court. In all matters, you must think thrice before acting."
Her gaze intensified, her face tilting slightly before she smiled, nodded, and withdrew.
·
The towering volumes of local records from the previous dynasty had been sorted and handed over to the other compilers taking over the task. She neatly arranged the inkstone, brush, and ink on the desk and glanced outside. The sun had not yet begun to set, and it was still early—she felt somewhat at a loss.
Before long, an official in crimson robes entered the courtyard to deliver the transfer order issued by the Inner Capital Hall.
Fang Huai received it on her behalf and read it aloud before everyone.
She stood quietly behind the desk, listening, and could not help but raise her eyebrows and lift her gaze.
Unexpectedly, besides transferring her to fill the vacancy of Left Remonstrating Official of the Chancellery, she was also concurrently appointed as Proofreading Secretary and Tally and Seal Secretary. The decree stated that this was a special favor from the Crown Prince, who further commanded her to receive her credentials and report to the Chancellery immediately.
Everyone present, including Fang Huai, was astonished.
They had assumed that after she publicly embarrassed the Crown Prince the previous night, he would be furious. All previous rumors and speculations had dissipated like smoke, yet no one had expected the Crown Prince to issue such a special decree.
Meng Tinghui—the first female Zhuangyuan to achieve the top three honors in twenty years, the first female Jinshi to enter the Imperial Academy, and now the first female official to concurrently hold the positions of Proofreading Secretary, Tally and Seal Secretary, and Left Remonstrating Official in the Chancellery.
All these precedents had been set for her.
No one knew what the Crown Prince was truly thinking.
Yet no one uttered a word.
She was no longer considered part of the Imperial Academy, and even Fang Huai could not rightly say anything more.The official who had come to deliver the imperial decree stood to the side, watching her as he said, "Lord Meng, if everything has been properly arranged, please follow me through the Left Flank Gate."
Though her heart was filled with countless questions and she still did not understand his intentions, she calmly accepted the transfer document and token. She merely picked up her large bookcase and followed the man out of the courtyard gate.
Passing through the Horizontal Gate outside the Northern Corridor, she could see in the distance the half-hidden, majestic, and solemn Great Celebration Hall behind the Proclamation Tower, its eaves soaring sharply. The gleaming colored glazed tiles reflected light that seemed to connect directly to the sky. As the sun shifted westward, the distant horizon appeared gilded with a thin layer of gold, dreamlike and surreal.
As she walked, she lowered her gaze to the palace bricks beneath her feet.
The cracks, whether coarse or fine, were filled with ice chips, making the mythical beast patterns on the brick surfaces even more distinct.
Dragons, phoenixes, and twin-carved grotesques—each one was chillingly fierce, enough to strike fear into any observer.
The official leading her to the Chancellery did not utter a single word along the way, striding forward with large steps.
She, too, remained silent, following him with equally large strides.
Entering the Left Flank Gate, they walked slowly along the Southern Corridor, passing the Privy Council, the Secretariat, and then the Inner Capital Hall... until the broad steps of the Chancellery came into view.
The man did not enter first to announce her. Instead, he turned back and gave her a slight nod, saying, "Lord Meng."
Understanding his meaning, she steadied herself and followed him up the steps. After walking along a corridor, he led her into a spacious hall to the southeast.
They encountered many people along the way, but all of them appeared hurried. Whether heading out or coming in, they barely glanced at her, their expressions showing no surprise.
Yet, she was inwardly astonished.
When she had first entered the Imperial Academy as a woman, every man in the courtyard had regarded her as a rare spectacle. She had expected similar "treatment" upon entering the Chancellery today, but to her surprise, the people here seemed to pay her no mind at all.
Only when they reached this point did the man finally speak: "There are eleven officials in the two bureaus' remonstrance department. Except for the vacant position of Left Palace Attendant, all the other colleagues work in this hall."
She smiled at him to show her understanding, then walked in carrying her bookcase. Following his direction, she placed her belongings behind an empty desk before asking, "May I ask your name, sir?"
The man also smiled. "My surname is Cao, with the given name Jing. I am not like Lord Meng. It has been nearly four years since I passed the imperial examinations, and I am still merely a humble Upright Speaker of the Left."
Meng Tinghui raised her eyebrows and studied him for a moment. Though his expression was warm, she detected a hint of sarcasm in his words. After a pause, she smiled slightly and said, "You flatter me, Lord Cao." Turning to glance behind the inner curtain, she asked, "In that case, is Lord Guo here at the moment?"
Cao Jing also looked inside and, seeing no one there, turned to several others seated nearby and said, "This is Lord Meng, recommended by the Imperial Academy..." Noting their understanding expressions, he smiled and asked, "Didn’t Lord Guo say earlier that he would wait here to meet her? Why isn’t he here now?"
One of them leaned out to check if anyone was passing by outside, then moved closer and said, "You don’t know? Not long after you left with the transfer document, someone from the Inner Capital Hall came to relay a message. They said Prince Ping had arrived alone and summoned all officials of the third rank and above from the Secretariat and Chancellery to go over!"Cao Jing's face showed astonishment. "Prince Ping?"
Meng Tinghui raised her eyebrows and glanced over, feeling a slight surprise in her heart as well.
Since the Crown Prince began participating in state affairs ten years ago, no one had heard of Prince Ping involving himself in national governance or military matters, nor had he entered the Inner Capital Hall to handle official business.
Although everyone knew that half the credit for this vast empire belonged to Prince Ping, he had always maintained an indifferent attitude toward such matters. Even when the Emperor repeatedly issued decrees to honor and reward him, he consistently refused all honors. Over the years, his only concern had been the Emperor's safety and well-being.
Not long ago, rumors circulated at court that the Emperor's decision to abdicate and transfer power to the Crown Prince was actually because Prince Ping wanted to return to the old capital and spend his remaining years with the Emperor.
The depth of affection between the Emperor and Prince Ping was known to everyone at court. Therefore, when this rumor emerged, no one doubted it, and they all secretly sighed with emotion.
But who would have thought that Prince Ping would break a precedent maintained for ten years and come to the Inner Capital Hall today to involve himself in state affairs!
Cao Jing's face was full of curiosity, mixed with regret at having missed the drama. He leaned in and asked quietly, "Did you see Prince Ping's demeanor? I've long heard of his majestic presence that once dominated the world, but in my four years at court, I've never had the chance to witness it..."
The man shook his head and sighed softly. "Aside from those summoned by Prince Ping, which other officials from the Secretariat and Chancellery would dare risk their lives to watch the spectacle at the Inner Capital Hall?... It was only shortly before you returned that we heard from someone who came out—Prince Ping threw the Prime Minister's Seal in front of those veteran ministers from both departments!"
Cao Jing gasped. "What could have provoked Prince Ping's anger?"
Another person approached with a mysterious smile. "Aren't you usually the most informed person in the Remonstrance Bureau? Can't you figure it out? What was the most discussed matter among officials during today's morning court? What did the Emperor summon the veteran ministers to discuss right after court adjourned?"
"Of course, it's the matter of selecting the Crown Prince's consort."
Before Cao Jing could respond, Meng Tinghui's voice came from behind, soft and gentle.
They turned to see her bright eyes and smiling face, clearly indicating she had been listening to their conversation for some time and couldn't resist joining in.
The man chuckled. "Minister Meng is indeed clever. Even while at the Imperial Academy, you remain so well-informed about inner court affairs."
Meng Tinghui took two steps forward, pursed her lips, and added, "I just found your discussion interesting. When I was at the Imperial Academy, I never heard about so many matters."
A hint of pride appeared on their faces. Cao Jing also smiled and said to the man, "So, Prince Ping disapproves of the veteran ministers' proposal to have the Crown Prince marry the Northern Frontier princess as his consort?"
"Must be so," another person chimed in. "Otherwise, why would Prince Ping come to the Inner Capital Hall to intimidate the veteran ministers so soon after the Emperor's discussion? Originally, we heard that Chancellor Gu was the most proactive in promoting this matter. When Prince Ping arrived at the Inner Capital Hall, he happened to see the Secretariat drafting the approval document and immediately became furious... It seems now that no one in either department would dare propose accepting the Northern Frontier's request anymore."
Cao Jing's expression turned somewhat strange. His lips moved several times before he whispered, "...For the two nations to establish friendly relations, even the Emperor hasn't shown opposition. Why is Prince Ping so unwilling for the Crown Prince to marry the Northern Frontier princess? Could those rumors we heard before be true..."His words caused several people to look uncomfortable. After a long silence, someone whispered, "Who knows whether those rumors are true or false? But considering Prince Ping had many conflicts with the Northern Frontier during his reign, it's only natural he wouldn't want someone from the Northern Frontier to become the future Empress."
Meng Tinghui listened carefully to their conversation nearby. Though she didn't know what rumors they referred to, she understood well enough that the Crown Prince's plan to appoint the Northern Frontier princess as his consort was likely to come to nothing.
It felt as if a massive stone had been lifted from her heart, and her entire being relaxed considerably.
She curved her lips into a faint smile at the others, maintaining an expression of innocent ignorance, then turned back to her desk to organize the materials she had brought from the Imperial Academy.
Just as he bent down, a cool, low call suddenly came from the hall entrance—
“Meng Tinghui.”
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