Chapter 62 The Crimson Lotus of Karmic Fire, Has His Majesty Seen It?
On her first visit to the palace, she saved Yuan Heng from drowning, and he rewarded her with a set of walnut screens.
Along with it came a secret decree.
Emperor Wusu hesitated for a moment, then, recalling the contents of the imperial edict, his lips twitched slightly.
With a hint of displeasure, he asked, "Have you told anyone else?"
"His Majesty said that this imperial edict could only be heard by himself, and I have not told anyone."
Emperor Wusu nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, and said casually, "Forget about it."
Did she forget? The Emperor's decree was so casual...
Ji Qingwu blinked her watery eyes, puzzled, and said, "But I still remember."
This decree was not a good thing for the Ji family, but for her, it was an immense blessing.
Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow and mocked, "You don't remember what you should remember, but you have a good memory for what you should forget."
"Your Majesty's words, I will never forget."
Hearing her rosy lips utter such obedient words, Emperor Wusu pulled her arm across his face. A colorful rope adorned her slender wrist, highlighting its cold, pale whiteness.
Ji Qingwu followed his gaze and it fell on her wrist.
What's so interesting about this?
Emperor Wusu held her arm tightly and pondered, "Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. I need to go to worship the gods and ancestors, and I'm still missing an item to pray for good fortune."
Within the Emperor's sight, Naji's possession shouldn't be her arm... right?
If she wasn't mistaken, it was this five-colored thread.
"Should I go and ask Eunuch Li to prepare?" She tried to tug at her wrist, but it was gripped even tighter.
Emperor Wusu looked at her and said, "You prepare it."
When the emperor went to worship gods and ancestors, the ornaments he wore were all custom-made by the Imperial Household Department, so it was not her place to prepare them.
Ji Qingwu refused, saying, "Your Majesty, this is against the rules."
Emperor Wusu rubbed the delicate skin inside his wrist with his fingers, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Giving it to Yuan Heng is fine, but giving it to me is against the rules. Aren't these two standards a bit too obvious?"
She was speechless for a moment, and could only back down, saying, "I will finish weaving it at home and have someone send it to the palace tonight."
"Who knows if you'll just find something ready-made to fool me? You can make it up in the Hall of Diligent Governance. Only after I'm satisfied with what you've made up can you leave."
Ji Qingwu nervously rolled her eyes. She did indeed have this plan. Could it be that the emperor had also planted a seed in her heart?
Emperor Wusu summoned Li Yuzong in.
In no time, all the colored silk threads needed were prepared.
Ji Qingwu was holding the silk thread in her hand and was about to go to the chair below the hall when suddenly someone grabbed her waist from behind and pressed her down onto the gilded dragon chair.
Emperor Wusu said calmly, "Just make it up here."
There were four cylindrical pillars supporting the armrests on the back of the chair, with golden dragons coiled around them, making Ji Qingwu dizzy.
To be able to sit on the dragon throne even once is a stroke of good fortune for her ancestors.
The chair is spacious enough for one person to lie down, and more than enough for two people to sit.
Beneath the chair, Ji Qingwu's jade-green silk skirt swayed and draped over the yellow satin robe embroidered with golden dragons worn by the man beside her.
The skirt was embroidered with coral branches, which overlapped with the rock patterns on the dragon robe.
It is beautiful and luxurious.
Upon witnessing this scene, Li Yuzong hurriedly retreated outside the hall, feeling as if his life was about to end. He clutched his collar, panting heavily.
To sit on the same dragon throne as the emperor—such an honor is unparalleled in the Phoenix Palace.
Inside the hall.
Emperor Wusu was right in front of her, and without any hesitation, he picked up his imperial brush and began to review the memorials.
Ji Qingwu secretly turned her head to look at his composed profile, with its deep features.
His lips were slightly pursed, giving him an air of aloofness and indifference.
With his slender hand holding a pen, he sketched a few lines on the paper. As he pondered, his domineering aura dissipated considerably, but a chilling aura remained that made people hesitant to get too close.
She had never dared to look at him so closely before.
It turns out that a man's appearance can also be as strong and robust as iron strokes and silver hooks, with sharp edges and a broad and upright posture, capable of bearing the vast blue waves and filling the valleys with the sound of pine trees.
"Don't be lazy."
Emperor Wusu slightly raised his eyebrows, clearly not looking at her, but he knew she was lost in thought.
Ji Qingwu quickly lowered his head, swallowed hard, and continued with his work.
The scent of ambergris in the hall brought her a sense of peace for the first time, and she was no longer timid or frightened.
The delicate strands of silk intertwine and entwine around the nimble fingertips.
She quickly tied a knot, but being a novice, she made a mistake. After examining it for a while, she pouted in annoyance and then untied it.
Emperor Wusu caught a glimpse of her puffed-up, fair cheeks.
It looks even more lustrous than the porcelain that was presented as tribute to the emperor in Jingdezhen. He personally tried it out and experienced how it felt to the touch.
Ji Qingwu was engrossed in writing and had no idea that the man beside her had already stopped writing and was staring intently at her.
After she finished tying the last knot in her hand, she stretched her stiff and sore neck.
Immediately before him appeared a large, hand-shaped hand with distinct knuckles, capable of holding a sword or a pen, its palm facing upwards.
This means they are asking her for the five-colored thread.
Ji Qingwu dared not keep His Majesty the Emperor waiting any longer, so he quickly presented the freshly made silk threads and placed them in his palm.
Almost simultaneously, that slender, clean hand grasped her hand, and the five-colored thread was fastened between their palms.
Palms pressed together, a dry, warm sensation spread through them.
Ji Qingwu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her breathing became labored.
They had clearly done many more intimate things.
But never before has it been like this.
His calloused hand gently rubbed her fingertips, sending a tingling sensation straight to her heart.
My heartbeat was no longer pounding like a drum, but gradually quickened.
Like swallows awakening from the depths of winter and stepping into the warm spring, they begin to chirp and hop around incessantly.
The unfamiliar feeling made Ji Qingwu uncomfortable. She quickly withdrew her hand, lowered her eyes, and looked at the five-colored thread in his palm.
"Your Majesty, the five-colored threads have been woven. If you have no further instructions, I shall take my leave."
But her hand was held again, this time her entire hand was enveloped in his palm.
Emperor Wusu said calmly, "But I haven't thanked Miss Ji yet."
Ji Qingwu replied calmly, "You're welcome."
He smiled and said in a deep, pleasant voice, "I haven't even said how I'd like to thank you, and you've already accepted it so easily? It's only right and proper that I express my gratitude."
A red bracelet appeared in Emperor Wusu's hand at some unknown time.
With a slight exertion of his arm, Ji Qingwu fell into his arms. He locked her waist with one hand, making her unable to move.
With her other hand, she slipped the bracelet onto her delicate, unadorned hand.
Ji Qingwu leaned against his warm chest, watching the beads slip down to her wrist, a glint of brilliance flashing in her eyes.
Bright red jade, carved into a lotus flower.
They look just like blooming red lotuses of karmic fire.
The Jade Compendium states that jade comes in five colors, with white, yellow, and green being the most valuable, and red jade being the most precious, rarely seen in the world.
This thank-you gift is far too expensive.
Attracted by the crimson jade, Ji Qingwu temporarily forgot how intimate their current posture was.
The largest and most central red lotus suddenly flashed.
Upon seeing this strange sight, Ji Qingwu turned to look at the emperor's expression, which was vivid and bright.
Her eyes shone brightly as she said, "Your Majesty, did you see that!"
Emperor Wusu didn't even look at her hands; his gaze, deep and dark, fell on her face.
He said in a hoarse voice, "I saw it."
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