Beside the Ruler-Father, there were no sovereign and subject, only father and son.
There was no Court, only the talk of home.
"Heng'er." Emperor Jing of Zhou reclined on the couch, his voice mild.
"Your mother misses you. Go see her."
"Your son obeys." The Crown Prince bowed his head to the floor, rose, glanced at Wei Nisheng, and withdrew.
Only sovereign and subject remained in the hall.
"Wang Cheng, you may leave as well."
"Yes." Wang Cheng bowed, withdrew outside, and gently closed the door.
The twilight slanted in, falling across the charcoal brazier.
The hall was extraordinarily quiet, with only the crackle of burning charcoal.
"Zi'an." The emperor spoke, lifting a hand to beckon.
Wei Nisheng immediately took two steps forward and stopped before him.
This time, he did not perform the courtesies of a subject before his sovereign.
Wei Zi merely looked at the emperor, his voice softening:
"Ruler-Father, take care of yourself."
Emperor Jing of Zhou looked at him standing so close, at that thinner yet composed face, and smiled.
"Have you suffered injustice?"
"No."
"You have."
Wei Nisheng offered no further answer.
Nor did the emperor ask again.
He gazed at the daylight outside the hall. Only after a long while did he slowly speak. "I know what Shen Duan has done in the Ministry of Personnel.
"He transferred your people and installed his own.
"The day you returned to duty, he put you in your place. Zou Mo entered the ministry, Ji Lang was transferred away, and Zhang Cheng's voice was silenced...
"Zi'an, I know all of it."
"I appointed Shen Duan to assist the Crown Prince in governing the realm.
"I know better than anyone how great his authority has become.
"He will let no opportunity within his grasp slip away...
"He