gavel and moonlight
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the nine-dragon gilded balustrade reflected the dazzling morning light.
Shen Yan, dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, stood in the hall with his back straight. Facing the eighteen-year-old emperor on the dragon throne, with his crown and tassels hanging down, and the gazes of the nobles in the hall that were either surprised, disdainful, or gloating, his cynical attitude was completely gone, leaving only an almost sharp calm.
"Your Majesty," Shen Yan's voice, though not loud, clearly pierced through the subtle murmurs within the hall. He presented a slightly yellowed scroll of documents with both hands, which a eunuch handed to the Emperor. "This is the marriage contract that I and Lord Zhou Wenqing jointly signed years ago. The Shen and Zhou families have a pre-existing marriage agreement, and my daughter, Shen Wansu, is already engaged. I am humbled by Your Majesty's favor, but I dare not break my promise and marry another. I humbly beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"
These words caused an uproar in the hall!
"A marriage certificate? With Zhou Wenqing?" An old minister with a white beard sneered. "Zhou Wenqing has been dead for almost twenty years! Shen Yan, this marriage certificate of yours, you probably just had some street artist draw it last night, didn't you?"
"Lord Anping, to defy the imperial decree, you even dared to fabricate Lord Zhou's name and forge documents. Such audacity... tsk tsk, such 'integrity'!" Another man said sarcastically, deliberately emphasizing the word "integrity," eliciting suppressed laughter from those around him. Everyone knew that Chen Yan's grandfather, the mighty Emperor, had been known for his integrity, but in his later years, he became bloodthirsty and muddle-headed, indiscriminately beheading even his own son.
Mocking gazes were like cold needles, piercing Shen Yan's body relentlessly.
His face remained unmoved, but a mocking expression appeared on his face. "Lord Zhou Wenqing was framed by a villain, and his whole family was imprisoned. Fortunately, his virtuous wife rescued him and is now waiting outside the palace."
"Zhou Wenqing is still alive... waiting outside the hall...?" Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in an uproar.
On the dragon throne, the young Emperor Wei Chen leaned forward slightly, the jade beads on his crown swaying gently, obscuring most of his expression. He stretched out his long, slender, white fingers and slowly unrolled the "marriage certificate," his gaze lingering for a moment on the signatures of "Chen Yan" and "Zhou Wenqing," his fingertips even lightly stroking the edge of the page.
The hall gradually quieted down, everyone waiting to see how the young emperor would deal with the audacious Earl of Anping.
Wei Chenji slowly raised his head, his gaze peeking through the gaps in his crown carrying a calmness that belied his age and... an inscrutable interest.
He spoke, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Oh? Is that so?"
He put down the marriage certificate, his gaze sweeping over the silent officials below, finally settling on Shen Yan. The corners of his lips seemed to twitch slightly upwards. "The Earl of Anping is a man of his word and honors, and he will not betray the agreement of his ancestors because of my decree. His feelings are pitiful and his will is commendable. This marriage... since it is the imperial decree first, but the marriage agreement between the Shen and Zhou families is even earlier... so be it."
He paused, and amidst the incredulous gazes of the assembled nobles, clearly uttered two words: "Granted."
"boom--"
This was genuine shock! Even Shen Yan abruptly raised his head, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. Approved? Just like that… approved? He forged documents to defy the imperial decree, and the young emperor not only wasn't angry, but instead praised him for "keeping his promises and upholding righteousness"?
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Shen Yan bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
As he rose, his gaze met once more with the eyes behind the crown. Those eyes were calm, even possessing a youthful clarity, yet Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong…something was very wrong! This reaction was completely unexpected. What was this uncle, six years his junior, up to?
On the way back to the manor, Shen Yan's mind kept replaying the young emperor's meaningful gaze in the main hall and the overly smooth outcome. That inexplicable sense of unease was like a tiny thorn stuck in her heart.
It wasn't until he stepped into Ling Zhan's study and saw her writing and reviewing official documents, her profile serene and beautiful, that Shen Ya's burning anger and inexplicable irritation finally found an outlet.
He casually slumped onto the soft couch opposite Ling Zhanshu's desk, stretched out his long legs, and began to "make a fuss over the topic."
"Madam, you didn't see the faces of those old scoundrels in the main hall today! Every single one of them wanted to drown me in their spittle! Hmph, implying that I followed the spirit of the valiant Emperor? Bah! My grandfather was a senile old fool! He killed my own father, yet he lived to be seventy or eighty years old. And what was the result? He got his just deserts! His descendants, including himself, all suffered tragic fates and met with bad ends."
He counted on his fingers.
“Look at his eldest son, my father, who was killed by that grandfather; his youngest son, the current emperor, who has no heir; and his eldest grandson, me… who ended up here with me…”
Shen Yan deliberately dragged out his words, glanced at Ling Zhan who remained unmoved and continued writing, and suddenly raised his voice, exclaiming with exaggerated grievance: "I, Shen Yan, the dignified Marquis of Anping, one of the most handsome men in the Dayin Dynasty, am already twenty-four! And still a virgin, without even a confidant to warm my bed! Isn't this the greatest retribution?!"
"Pfft—"
A very soft laugh finally came from behind the desk.
Ling Zhan paused, a drop of ink spreading into a small blot on the rice paper.
She raised her head, her cool eyes meeting the resentful look on the face of the man on the couch, a rare, genuine, almost overflowing smile appearing within them, like spring water breaking through an icy lake. She tried to purse her lips, attempting to suppress the smile, but the curve of her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes wouldn't come out.
"Nonsense." She scolded softly, but her voice lacked its usual coldness and instead carried a hint of barely perceptible indulgence.
Seeing an opportunity, Shen Yan immediately seized the chance, rolling off the couch and sidling up to the desk. With a fawning grin, he said, "Look, Madam, even my eighteen-year-old little imperial uncle sits on a cold dragon throne, all alone, looking so frail... The Wei family's fortunes have been rotten from the very beginning! The Wei family's feng shui has been completely ruined ever since that senile old Emperor Yingwu killed my own father!"
Ling Zhan finally couldn't hold back any longer, covering his face with his sleeve, his shoulders trembling slightly.
A clear, melodious laugh escaped softly, sounding particularly pleasant in the quiet study.
Shen Yan, unable to contain his desire, shamelessly put his arm around her waist: "Madam smiled? That's good! Look how miserable I am, please don't kick me out tonight, okay? The study... it's so uncomfortable!"
Ling Zhan slapped his hand away, his eyes sparkling as he glared at him, but the usual frostiness was gone from his reproachful look.
In the end, they didn't mention kicking him out again.
Shen Yan felt relieved, knowing that his "shameless" tactic had succeeded again tonight.
The same cool moonlight also shone on another quiet courtyard in the Shen Mansion.
As usual, Ling Feng silently patrolled the security routes within the mansion's inner courtyard.
However, when he habitually turned his gaze toward Su Wan's courtyard, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
There was a person standing at the entrance of the courtyard.
The moon-white brocade dress gleamed softly in the night. Shen Wansu stood there quietly, her posture as upright as bamboo, her gaze calmly fixed on him. That gaze was no longer the scrutiny of a master over a subordinate, but rather carried an unprecedented focus and... determination.
Ling Feng's heart suddenly clenched, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
He almost instinctively took a half-step back, quickly lowered his eyes, knelt on one knee, and said in a taut voice, "Young Miss! Are you here so late at night because you have orders?" His mind was a mess. The faint sounds of a heated argument coming from the Earl's study during the day, and that absurd rumor... Could it be...?
"Stand up and speak, Captain Ling." Su Su's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable power.
Ling Feng got up as instructed, but kept his head down, his gaze fixed on the tips of his boots, not daring to meet her eyes.
He felt a tension he had never experienced before, and his back was even covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.
Why is the young lady waiting for him here so late at night...?
"Father and Mother have granted my request." Su Su got straight to the point. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on her beautiful face, but it made her eyes even clearer and brighter.
"Boom—!"
Ling Feng felt as if something had exploded in his mind! It was granted? That absurd rumor... the young lady's request to marry him?! He suddenly raised his head, and for the first time, such a clear, almost horrified expression appeared on his usually cold and hard face. His lips were slightly open, but he couldn't utter a single word. Only his rapid breathing was particularly clear in the silent night.
"You...Miss! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
Ling Feng's voice was dry and hoarse, filled with disbelief and panic, "This humble servant...this humble servant is of lowly status! How dare I..."
"Ling Feng!"
Su Su interrupted him, taking a step forward so close that Ling Feng could smell the faint, refreshing scent of ink emanating from her. She raised her hand, but did not touch him; instead, her clear eyes seemed to gaze into the depths of his soul.
"Look at me." Her voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrating power.
Ling Feng's body stiffened, and he almost struggled to slowly lift his eyelids and meet her gaze. There was no pity, no charity, and not a trace of condescension in her eyes, as he had imagined.
Only a frank sincerity and... a subtle, barely perceptible tenderness.
“Listen to me,” Su Su’s voice was steady, each word clear and distinct, “I, Shen Wan Su, am not acting on impulse, nor out of pity or charity. I propose to you because I have seen you for who you are. Your loyalty is etched in your bones—to your mother, to the Shen family, and to everyone you protect. Your abilities are more than enough to fulfill the duties of the Shura Guard Chief. Your command and protection of the guards are impeccable, and your composure in the face of danger is remarkable. You are meticulous and thoughtful. Over the years, the goods of Yunshangji have been able to safely enter and leave dangerous places. I remember your contributions.”
She paused, her gaze softening further, yet also becoming more resolute.
"You ask me why? It's because of this loyalty, this sense of responsibility, this reliability that puts people at ease in times of crisis. These are a thousand times more valuable than any social status or empty fame. Lingfeng, what I want is someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me and weather the storm together. Someone I can trust and who understands me. You are that person."
She tilted her head slightly, looking directly into his eyes at the shock, confusion, struggle, and a barely perceptible, deeply suppressed tremor in them.
“I’m not ordering you around, nor am I pitying you. My life, my surname, my dignity—all are gifts from my father. In the face of life and death, in the face of true love, social status is as insignificant as dust. I truly want to live a good life with you. Like the most ordinary couple in this world, sharing the mundane things, raising children, supporting each other, and spending the rest of our lives together. Are you… willing?”
The moonlight, like a ribbon, clearly illuminated every subtle change in Ling Feng's face.
Under Su Su's honest and ardent gaze, a crack finally appeared on that icy exterior.
The shock subsided, but the panic remained. However, a deeper and more unfamiliar emotion—a warm current of being fully seen and cherished—was surging out from that crack, impacting the defenses he had maintained for over twenty years.
He gazed at the noble young lady before him, whose eyes held a purity like that of an innocent child. His throat tightened, a thousand words choking him, his clenched fists trembling slightly at his sides. Finally, only a low, solemn, almost choked sob escaped his lips: "This humble servant... Ling Feng... what virtue or ability do I possess..."
In stark contrast to the candor under the moonlight was the deathly silence within the embroidered chamber deep within the "Jingchen Pavilion".
Su Wan sat alone in front of her dressing table, her pale and listless face reflected in the bronze mirror.
On the table lay the latest brocade pattern drafts, to be presented to the distinguished guests tomorrow—exquisite, intricate, and priceless. Yet her fingertips gripped the edge of the table so tightly that her nails almost dug into the hard wood.
The news, like a poisoned ice needle, silently pierced her ears.
Su Su... asked to marry Ling Feng... and the Earl and his wife... agreed...
Every word felt like a heavy hammer blow, leaving her dizzy and her heart aching.
"Why..." She stared at her distorted face in the mirror, her voice hoarse, filled with resentment and bitterness, "Wan Su... an orphan girl she picked up! Just because she has the title of young lady, she can act so recklessly? She can get whatever she wants? Even... even Lian Lingfeng..."
“Ling Feng…”
The name was forced out between her teeth, carrying a sharp, betraying pain. "Why did he agree? He's just a guard! Is he so eager to become the Earl's son-in-law? To climb the social ladder? He... how could he be worthy of the eldest daughter of the Shen family?! He should..."
What should he do? Who should he protect?
Su Wan suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in shock in the mirror.
She saw the naked, ugly jealousy and resentment in her own eyes! She suddenly waved her hand, and with a "crash," all the expensive rouge, powder, hairpins, and jewelry on the dressing table fell to the ground! The sound of shattering was ear-piercing.
"Miss!" The personal maid who was guarding the outer room rushed in in a panic.
"Get out!" Su Wan screamed, grabbing a roll of expensive brocade and tearing it frantically! The tough brocade ripped and squeaked in her hands, its exquisite patterns violently torn apart. "Get out of here, all of you!"
She wasn't tearing the brocade; she was tearing apart her own heart, bound by her status, kidnapped by her pride, and ultimately rendered so wretched and powerless! Su Su obtained what she had hesitated over and struggled to accept, in a way that Su Su could never reach—a way that was resolute and open-hearted!
The cold moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the mess of broken pieces on the floor and the figure slumped over the dressing table, her shoulders heaving violently as she let out suppressed sobs. The once renowned "Master Su" of the capital was now left only with boundless resentment and… the despair of being mocked by fate.
The bright moon hanging high in the sky seemed to be silently mocking her "unsettled heart".
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