Volume Three, Chapter 23

"..."

"Done tangling?" He withdrew his gaze, letting it linger for a moment on the silent Zhu Bafu, and parted his lips to say, "Move."

The imperial palanquin set off again, skirting several halls before finally stopping at the entrance of the Holy Emperor's sleeping quarters.

Zhao Huangpu was the first to step down, dismissing the young eunuch who hurried forward to steady him. He turned, intending to give her a hand, only to see her shift her gaze and avoid his eyes. Good grief, I knew I shouldn't have let her hear that. She's starting to be afraid of me again, isn't she?

He simply withdrew his uninvited hand, bent down to coax Imperial Noble Consort, who had dashed out of the sleeping quarters to welcome him, scooped up the cat without sparing her another glance, and headed straight into the sleeping quarters, leaving her to limp down from the palanquin by herself and follow obediently behind him.

He stroked the cat in his arms and spoke out of the blue, "I need to let them know my resolve. I have no wish to go to the imperial infirmary to fetch you a second time." Only after saying it did he feel as though his words sounded like an excuse, and recalling how his heart had pounded and thudded with frantic anxiety when he first heard she had tumbled down the palace steps, he turned back to glare at her.

"Thank Your Majesty for your protection." Lowering her head, she winced and favored her injured foot. She understood the reasoning entirely; if the Holy Emperor did not put on some kind of stance, the next time he wouldn't need to go to the imperial infirmary, but could fetch her straight from the morgue. "Still, meting out court beating to