Chарtеr 362: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 16
Shеn Du hеld Zhu Yаn сlоsе all the wаy back, remaining silent until thеу returnеd to thе Shеn rеsidеncе аnd еntеrеd their rоom. His faсе remаined stern as hе tightly gripрed Zhu Yan’s hаnd, unwilling tо lеt gо.
Zhu Yаn triеd tо pull her hаnd bаck but соuldn’t frеe it. Shе frownеd slightlу and cаllеd out tо him. It wasn’t until the third cаll that Shen Du heаrd hеr, lоoking dоwn at her with a dаzеd еxрrеssiоn.
Zhu Yаn flаshеd a smilе, thеn pоuted сoquettishlу, “You’rе hurting mе.”
Shеn Du immediаtеlу rеleased hеr hand and saw red marks lеft on the baсk of her hаnd. Hе hurriеdly аpologized, filled with remorse.
“It’s nothing,” Zhu Yan gazed at him tenderly, gently stroking his chest with her delicate hand. “Don’t dwell on it. Lai Luozhi’s intention was to provoke you. If you had resorted to violence in the Lai residence, it would have played right into his hands.”
Shen Du naturally understood this. “But he shouldn’t have used you to test me, nor should he have threatened me with you.”
Zhu Yan burst into laughter. Shen Du looked at her, puzzled, unsure what she found so amusing.
“So the Great Pavilion Commander can be quite terrifying when jealous,” Zhu Yan said with a beaming smile. “But I love it.”
Shen Du had lost his mother in childhood and his father in his youth, growing accustomed to a solitary and indifferent life. His words were clumsy, and his heart often felt cold. Yet, hearing Zhu Yan’s tender confession, his heart softened completely. He pulled her into his arms, wishing he could meld her into his very skin so they would never part.
That night, they talked for a long time. Shen Du shared his doubts with Zhu Yan, suspecting that the Judicial Affairs Bureau was also monitoring the cabinet.
As for why he had shot the decoy Lai Luofu on the spot, Shen Du simply stated that a mere decoy who dared to scheme against Zhu Yan deserved death. However, before Zhu Yan could ask about his true intentions, she had already fallen into a deep sleep.
—
After that, Lai Luozhi did not cause any trouble for the couple. Though they had clearly fallen out, the surface remained eerily harmonious.
A few days passed in this manner, and the first snow of winter began to fall. Zhu Yan, having finished organizing the case files, wanted to find Shen Du and return to the Zhu residence together. However, a messenger arrived from the palace—the Empress had summoned Zhu Yan once again.
The sky gradually darkened, a cold wind swept across the ground, and snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the earth and rooftops in a pristine white.
Glancing up at the softly falling snow, Zhu Yan stepped into the grand hall.
The Empress excused her from formal greetings and immediately inquired about the banquet.
Zhu Yan knew that nothing could be hidden from the Empress, so she truthfully recounted the events of that day. The Empress’s expression remained inscrutable, showing little reaction.
“It seems Minister Lai was merely joking with Minister Shen.”
Despite these words, Zhu Yan faintly sensed that the Empress had begun to harbor doubts about Lai Luozhi—or perhaps these doubts had always existed.
“Both of them are my right-hand men. You should advise Minister Shen not to let any discord arise between him and Minister Lai.”
Zhu Yan shook her head. “Your Majesty, I am unaware of the intricacies between them and do not know if any discord has arisen. However, I did not perceive Minister Lai’s manipulation of me as a joke. Even if I knew he intended to frame the Pavilion Commander, there is little I could do. Such matters are beyond my control.”
Hearing this, the Empress understood perfectly. Shen Du had not disclosed all the secrets of the officialdom to Zhu Yan. Protected by Shen Du, even if Zhu Yan was angered by Lai Luozhi, she lacked the means to engage in the political schemes of the court.
Shen Du truly guarded Zhu Yan like a treasure, showing no concern that she had been recommended by Zhang Xingwei.
The Empress lowered her gaze. “I heard that Minister Shen also injured Minister Lai’s elder sister. Let this matter end here.”Zhu Yan was slightly taken aback. Why had the Empress deliberately concealed the fact that Shen Du had killed the decoy Lai Luofu? Was she covering up for Shen Du?
To the Empress, Shen Du was merely a tool for maintaining power, and Zhu Yan was not even considered a tool. Why would the Empress go to such lengths to protect him? Was summoning her here truly just for a casual chat?
The Empress ordered tea and snacks to be served, inviting Zhu Yan to partake. Zhu Yan cautiously accepted, hearing the sound of palace attendants sweeping snow outside, which made her turn to glance out the window.
Noticing her distraction, the Empress also looked outside. A palace attendant was sweeping the snow with a bamboo broom, each stroke quiet and deliberate. The sound of the broom scraping against the ground was clear and distinct, while the falling snowflakes enveloped the attendant’s figure.
"The year is drawing to a close, and I will grow another year older."
After this sigh, the Empress lost interest in the tea and snacks.
Zhu Yan hurriedly said, "May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years…"
"Enough, do not deceive me. I am but a mortal, how could I possibly live for ten thousand years?"
Zhu Yan’s words of praise caught in her throat, her awkward expression unsure of where to settle.
The Empress observed this and chuckled softly. "Do you know why I enjoy summoning you to the palace?"
"Your humble servant is ignorant."
"There is no need for such restraint," the Empress remarked, noticing Zhu Yan’s stiff shoulders, but did not press further. "Look at how you treat me, let alone others."
"They respect me, but they also fear me. In this vast Daming Palace, there is no one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me."
The loneliness of an empress of her generation was truly lamentable.
"But Your Majesty, I have seen that Zhang Hejian and Xu Zhaorong treat you with great affection."
"Hahaha," the Empress laughed lightly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes softening slightly. "That is affection permitted under my tacit approval. No one can truly approach my heart."
Could the deep solitude of the palace truly cause the Empress such distress?
"You have never been involved in court affairs, nor have you been bound by the rules that constrain ordinary women. In my youth, I was the same—bright, joyful, and pursuing what I desired. But once I entered the palace, everything changed."
Zhu Yan frowned. As the Empress had said, she truly did not understand why the Empress was sharing such personal thoughts with her.
"Your Majesty still has Princess Chaoyang, His Highness the Prince of Ying, and the Crown Prince. They are all your children and can listen to your innermost thoughts."
"Hmph, what they desire is my throne. How could they remember their duties as children?" The Empress snorted lightly, her expression tinged with dissatisfaction.
Zhu Yan was about to speak further, but the Empress waved her hand. "Let us not speak of them today. Seeing how Minister Shen treats you reminded me of my days with the late Emperor. Back then, he also protected me in such a manner, bringing me back from the Cien Temple and shielding me with all his might…"
The more the Empress spoke, the gentler her gaze became. Her usually narrow phoenix eyes glimmered with tenderness, and her smile curved softly, resembling that of a young maiden in love.
As Zhu Yan listened, she became entranced. She had never known that the late Emperor had doted on the Empress to such an extent. She had originally assumed that the Empress kept so many male consorts in the palace because she and the late Emperor had been at odds, their relationship fraught with constraints. Thus, after the late Emperor’s passing, the Empress had sought male consorts to fill the void left by years of emotional emptiness.
But listening to the Empress’s reminiscences, it was as if she were a young woman deeply in love, and Zhu Yan became the perfect listener to the Empress’s love story, quietly absorbing the tales of their past affection and lamenting the passage of time.
Time slipped away bit by bit. Zhu Yan dared not move, but fortunately, the floor was heated, allowing her to suppress her restlessness.
Finally, the Empress emerged from her memories, her phoenix eyes glistening as she looked at Zhu Yan."Today, I have spoken so much to gauge your true feelings. If you are unwilling or do not love Minister Shen, I can grant you a divorce."
"You are both so young. If there is no love, it is better not to be bound together. Although Minister Shen appears to love you deeply, it is precisely for this reason that I must ask you. Do not fear what Zhang Xingwei might do—I will take charge of everything."
This was to tell Zhu Yan not to overthink it. If she did not love Shen Du, she could divorce him, and she need not fear any retaliation from Zhang Xingwei. The Empress would handle everything, ensuring no worries remained.
"No, no, no, that won't be necessary," she quickly shook her head, realizing her expression might have given the wrong impression, and forced a smile.
The Empress had already regained her composed and dignified demeanor, glancing at her sideways. "Are you certain?"
"I am certain," Zhu Yan replied, both amused and exasperated. "I also cherish and respect the Chief Minister and willingly follow him."
"That is good," the Empress waved her hand, looking somewhat weary. "You may return today. Remember to persuade Minister Shen to get along well with Minister Lai and serve me loyally."
"Yes, I will remember."
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