Thirteenth Year of Jianhong, second month, twenty-first day. Light rain.
Imperial Study.
Emperor Jianhong stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the drizzling raindrops outside.
The water droplets filling the sky fell like stars onto a jade platter, producing an endless, tinkling murmur like a maid's chime bells.
Emperor Jianhong stood before the window, staring ahead expressionlessly.
Before long, a figure entered his field of vision.
It was on a small path far from the Imperial Study.
A figure in white moved as though through uninhabited land, his toes lightly touching the ground and splashing up faint threads of Water Intent as he headed toward the Imperial Study.
The man in white moved with the grace of a dance, exceedingly elegant—except for that magnificent head of yellow curls...
The sight made Jianhong's eyelids twitch.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Bai Ziqing of the Imperial City Department requests an audience."
Before long, a respectful, shrill voice sounded behind Emperor Jianhong.
Its owner was bent deeply at the waist. After speaking those words, he did not dare say another.
For the past two days, Emperor Jianhong had worn no expression at all, and he treated others as he always had.
Yet this eunuch could sense a storm brewing in the shadows.
Now, all it needed was a clap of thunder to unleash torrential rain and flooding, leaving corpses strewn across ten thousand miles...
"Mm."
No joy or anger could be heard in Emperor Jianhong's voice.
Bai Ziqing had worn no expression throughout his journey.
But the moment he stepped into the Imperial Study, reverence appeared on his face.
He shook the rainwater from himself in the corridor, then followed a young eunuch into the Imperial Study.
"This subject greets Your Majesty."
Bai Ziqing's voice had lost its usual laziness, leaving only respect.