4,600 characters, 900 short of the target...
Before Xuanwu Gate, Li Shuncheng stepped down from his carriage and switched to a two-man sedan chair. With his hands tucked into his sleeves and his shoulders hunched, he kept urging them onward.
Just after they passed through the First Palace Gate, a fat eunuch suddenly emerged from the side. His short legs pumped frantically as he caught up with the sedan chair. As he stuffed a hand warmer into Li Shuncheng's arms, he affected an authoritative tone and berated the young eunuchs carrying the chair.
"You two worthless curses! In weather like this, why didn't you think to put a rain cape over Godfather first?!"
Although several high-ranking eunuchs had also been granted the privilege of riding sedan chairs within the inner palace, unlike the Emperor and the consorts, their chairs were not permitted to have canopies.
Ordinarily, that was no great matter. But amid wind and snow, sitting atop one without a warm rain cape was practically torture.
The two young eunuchs did not dare argue when he scolded them. Li Shuncheng, however, waved a hand. "It has nothing to do with them. I have urgent business to report to the Emperor."
Then he lowered his voice and quietly asked, "Is the Emperor in Jingren Palace?"
It was inevitable that eunuchs would inquire into the Emperor's movements, yet palace rules prevented them from asking openly. They could only go about it in such furtive, self-deceiving fashion.
"He is."
After following for only a few steps, the fat eunuch was already panting. Yet he did not dare fall even half a step behind, so he changed from brisk walking to a jog. Snow crunched beneath his feet as he forced a smile. "After court adjourned today, the Emperor went to