Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Testing
Awu was carried into a carriage by Emperor Jingxi, and only after entering was she set down. She looked around curiously—the seats were woven with yellow thread and golden silk, the backrests carved with gilded cloud dragons, bright yellow curtains with floral patterns hung to the side, and even the ceiling was adorned with luxurious lotus and golden dragon motifs.
The carriage was fully furnished; beside the seats stood a small red-lacquered incense table, upon which sat an inkstone and brushes.
Emperor Jingxi observed her lively eyes darting here and there, pausing occasionally on his own robes.
He asked casually, “What are you looking at?”
Awu replied, “It all feels so novel…”
She pointed to the fabric of his inner robe. “What material is this? It seems to shimmer with gold.”
Emperor Jingxi answered indifferently, “It’s luster silk.”
Awu pressed, “Luster silk?”
Emperor Jingxi explained, “Yes. I acquired it by chance.”
All his garments were made from special fabrics sourced across the lands, reserved for the inner court. This luster silk was woven from southern gold foil cut and spun into threads, then woven into brocade. At a glance, it looked plain and simple, but under sunlight, it reflected shifting colors depending on the angle, dazzling and ever-changing.
Indeed, among his robes, this was among the more subdued and restrained. Yet to someone as inexperienced as Awu, such things were naturally hard to comprehend.
He had no desire to elaborate. He wished to conceal his identity, to proceed slowly, to let this young woman become entangled in his world—not drawn by his power, for that would rob the situation of its intrigue.
However, Awu had other notions. She couldn’t help but say, “You must have power and influence—you’re a very high official, aren’t you?”
Emperor Jingxi replied, “I am.”
Awu asked, “How high?”
Emperor Jingxi raised a brow, turning to study her. “How high would you want me to be?”
Awu thought of Lu Yunjian, thought of the Crown Prince.
She confessed honestly, “Of course I hope you’re… very, very high.”
Emperor Jingxi gazed into her eyes—eyes like autumn lake water, filled with unconcealed yearning.
He asked, “Why?”
Awu hesitated.
Emperor Jingxi pressed, “Speak.”
Awu stumbled through a fabrication: “I—I didn’t want to say where I come from because—”
She glanced at him furtively, speaking carefully: “I was originally a slave performer kept by another household, and now I’ve escaped.”
Emperor Jingxi asked, “A slave performer?”
Awu looked at him with a sincere, innocent gaze. “Yes.”
Slave performers were kept by noble families, trained to play music and sing for their masters’ pleasure. They belonged to a lowly caste—slaves for life, with their marriages and fate decided by their owners, powerless in all things.
After saying this, she subtly watched the man’s reaction, testing as she continued: “I was born beautiful, noticed by the master of the house and made to serve him. I had no power to resist, so I endured the humiliation. But the lady of the house grew displeased and wanted my life. Today, I followed her up the mountain, and in desperation fled—by chance, I stumbled into your warm spring, and thus our fates entwined.”
Emperor Jingxi noted, “Anyone attending Nanjiongzi today is either royal or a high official. Whose slave performer are you?”
Awu certainly couldn’t answer. She lowered her eyes, letting sorrow seep into her expression, her demeanor trembling.
Emperor Jingxi urged, “Speak.”
Awu’s lashes quivered, tears welling in her eyes. “Why must you ask? That family is powerful. If I say, I fear—”
She shrank at this, as if terrified.
Such a scene naturally evoked pity. Emperor Jingxi felt sympathy.
Yet he suppressed his feelings.
Faced with this delicate girl who stirred his desire, he had a hundred wild guesses and a thousand strategies. Whatever the circumstances, he was determined to keep her at his side, to make her wholly his, obedient in all things.
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Now, the situation she described was exceedingly simple—so simple that Emperor Jingxi thought, nothing more.
Yet even so, he intended to take his time, to mold her into a woman tailored to his tastes in every aspect.
So he looked at her without expression. “Do you know that according to the laws of Dahui, anyone who shelters another’s slaves or performers is punished with a hundred strokes and three years of imprisonment?”
Awu was startled. “Ah?”
Emperor Jingxi said, “If I shelter you, I might invite serious trouble.”
Awu’s heart went cold. She stared at Emperor Jingxi in disbelief.
He saw her clear eyes instantly fill with disappointment.
Awu asked, “Are you going to turn me out?”
Emperor Jingxi replied coolly, “I’m merely telling you Dahui’s laws.”
Awu could scarcely believe it.
She thought she’d found someone powerful, thought that by their night of intimacy she might earn protection.
Yet this heartless man had taken all he wanted, and now intended to hand her over.
He looked the part, but was worse than Nie San!
She was at a loss, unable to speak.
Emperor Jingxi watched her, poised and unhurried. She was young—sixteen or seventeen, about the same age as the Crown Prince. So young, so innocent, all her emotions written plainly on her face.
He raised a brow, looking at her. “You don’t believe me? Shall I fetch you the Dahui Law Code to read?”
Awu’s eyes immediately brimmed with tears at this. She bit her lip. “So you’re not a good man at all. When you took my body, you seemed quite pleased—how much joy did you take from me? And now you treat me so—truly—”
Emperor Jingxi asked, “Truly what?”
Awu trembled with anger.
But what could she do?
She possessed beauty that attracted men, but no power to protect herself. All these men bullied her in turn!
The man before her, so handsome, so noble, so dignified—yet he was nothing but a coward!
She glared at him, voice trembling with hatred. “I thought you were someone capable, but you only know how to recite Dahui’s laws. I’m such a rare beauty, and you dare not keep me! Clearly you’re just a useless drunkard! You’re—”
She got halfway before her wrist was seized.
Awu struggled, raising her hand. “Let go of me! If you’re going to turn me out, then I—”
Emperor Jingxi forced her wrist down. “Silence.”
Just two words, but they instantly silenced Awu.
His expression was stern and cold, his presence oppressive—Awu could hardly breathe.
Before this unfamiliar man, she keenly felt her own weakness and helplessness.
Emperor Jingxi held her wrist firmly, his sharp eyes fixed on her. “Are you still going to throw a tantrum?”
Awu was stunned, then shook her head.
Only then did Emperor Jingxi release her.
Awu’s wrist ached; when she looked down, there was already a glaring red mark.
Her skin was delicate by nature, unable to withstand force.
Thinking on his earlier words and his cold demeanor, grief welled up, and tears streamed down.
She’d thought she’d grabbed a lifeline, only to find it was a stone!
Emperor Jingxi watched her cry so hard, even a tear fell onto his wrist.
He looked at the spreading wetness, feeling something stir within him.
He had an empress and many concubines, but none of them were close to him.
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He had a Crown Prince and a princess. He could be called a caring father—he doted on his daughter, and was meticulous in teaching his son. Yet neither child would cry in his presence, let alone let their tears fall upon his hand.
He placed his hand to his lips, tasting it lightly.
Wet, with a hint of salt.
Awu, eyes red with tears, looked at him in confusion. “What do you intend to do?”
Emperor Jingxi still had her breath lingering on his lips, but his gaze remained cold and rational.
He spoke without emotion. “What is your name?”
Ah?
Awu was surprised. Only now did she realize, after such intimacy, they had never exchanged names.
She answered softly, “I am Awu.”
Emperor Jingxi clarified, “Wu? The hanging sash upon a slender waist, or the way an ornament rests upon elegant brows?”
Awu replied, “Mm…”
Emperor Jingxi remarked, “Not a proper name.”
Awu was annoyed. “You!”
Emperor Jingxi continued, “But in Gu Yewang’s Jade Lexicon, ‘Wu’ means a beautiful woman. Your looks barely qualify.”
Awu snorted lightly. “Such arrogance!”
Someone like her, only “barely” considered beautiful? Even the Crown Prince found her lovely!
No matter how powerful he was, could he surpass the Crown Prince?
Emperor Jingxi laughed softly, then asked, “Whose slave performer are you?”
Awu immediately fell silent, her expression wary.
Emperor Jingxi pressed, “Oh? Still unwilling to say?”
Awu blushed, stammering as she watched him carefully. “Do you mean to send me back? I don't want to return.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “Just asking, I won’t send you back.”
Awu sensed that he likely wouldn’t, probably just wanted to frighten her. Still, she refused to say—after all, the Crown Prince and Lu Yunjian were not people one could afford to offend.
Moreover, she was ordered by imperial decree to become a Daoist—who would dare defy the emperor?
So she hemmed and hawed, half-true, half-false. “That’s what you say, but what if you’re afraid of them? If you’re scared, you might push me out as a scapegoat. I won’t tell!”
Emperor Jingxi asked, “Afraid of whom?”
Awu answered, “Who knows! Perhaps you are. I won’t say, no matter what!”
Emperor Jingxi found this amusing. He thought the girl before him wore her heart on her sleeve—so lively and mischievous, utterly adorable. As for who she truly was, and how she wound up in his hot spring, it mattered little.
Even if this was some elaborate scheme, the appetizer delivered to his table was his to consume.
Awu watched Emperor Jingxi carefully. Seeing his good mood, she took the opportunity to ask, “What kind of high official are you, really? What rank? Sixth, fifth, fourth?”
After several months serving the Crown Prince, she had familiarized herself with Dahui’s bureaucratic system, and knew the man before her could not be a mere sixth or fifth-rank official. This was the capital of Dahui, Nanjiongzi, where nobles and ministers congregated; only those with true power could openly enjoy the hot spring.
But she asked on purpose, hoping to provoke an answer.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingxi seemed to see through her, and simply smiled as he held her hand. “We’ve arrived.”
Awu asked, “Arrived where?”
Emperor Jingxi replied, “Tonight, you’ll rest here.”