As the weighty silence hung between them, a prolonged quiet that seemed to stretch into eternity, an approaching cadence of heavy footsteps disrupted their stillness. The resonance of those advancing footfalls reached their ears with a certain urgency, causing a momentary pause in the atmosphere.
“Li Jie!” Huang Yiming swiftly grasped his shoulders, urgency etched across his features. “Quick, return to your chamber!”
Li Jie abruptly snapped out of his contemplation. A rapid assessment of the situation unfolded before him, and the dawn of realization illuminated the certainty that the approaching figure was none other than his father, the emperor. Acknowledging the imminent danger, Li Jie nodded in concurrence and briskly made his way toward the concealed rear entrance, choosing silence over words.
Despite being the one who sought out Huang Yiming, Li Jie couldn’t suppress a latent sense of relief at having a reason to depart – a sentiment becoming all too familiar, prompting a bitter chuckle to escape his lips.
Simultaneously, Huang Yiming, watching Li Jie’s retreating figure, felt his heart quicken with concern. He understood the potential dire consequences that could follow an encounter with the emperor, particularly in light of the explicit directive for Li Jie to refrain from visiting in these three days.
In the blink of an eye, the emperor’s arrival was heralded, his imposing figure materializing within Husng Yiming’s line of sight, countenance etched with unmistakable disapproval. Huang Yiming, embodying a respectful silence, lowered his head and fixed his gaze on the ground, his expression stoic and void of emotion.
“Greetings to the sun of the empire,” Huang Yiming intoned with reverence, his voice carrying a tone of deference.
“Rise,” the emperor commanded, his voice resonating with authority, yet devoid of any discernible emotion. “Follow me.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Huang Yiming acquiesced, seamlessly falling into step behind the emperor as they crossed the threshold into the grand halls of the royal mausoleum. Outside, the two attendants dutifully stationed themselves per the emperor’s directive.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Inside the hallowed chamber, the emperor assumed his seat in front of the ancestral memorials, his gaze unwaveringly fixed upon the solemn tributes that adorned the space. A few measured paces away, Huang Yiming stood, his bearing rigid, acutely aware that speaking out of turn in this sacred sanctuary would be a breach of respect.
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At last, the emperor’s stern gaze shifted from the memorials to Huang Yiming, their eyes engaging in a silent exchange. Despite the palpable chilliness and formality that lingered in the air, a subtle undercurrent of compassion seemed to flicker beneath the emperor’s unyielding exterior.
“Huang Yiming,” the emperor’s voice sliced through the quiet, authoritative yet carrying a subtle undertone of resignation.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Huang Yiming responded, his voice unwavering and reverential.
The emperor’s ensuing words bore a weight that had become a familiar burden, arriving abruptly but aligning seamlessly with the prevailing circumstances. “I am cognizant of your profound concern for my son. Nevertheless, for Li Jie’s well-being, I beseech you to maintain your distance.”
A heaviness settled in Huang Yiming’s heart, acknowledging that these were not the first instances of such entreaties from the emperor. Though couched in the form of a plea rather than a direct command, Huang Yiming couldn’t fathom a future without Li Jie by his side.
Despite comprehending the emperor’s apprehensions, Huang Yiming would not fully acquiesce to the request, for the bond he shared with Li Jie was too precious to sever. He held fast to the belief that, at the very least, their friendship would endure.
“Your Majesty,” Huang Yiming bowed respectfully, his demeanor composed despite the weight of the emperor’s words. “May I speak openly?”
Meeting Huang Yiming’s gaze, the emperor’s countenance betrayed a fleeting anger, a sentiment he couldn’t entirely conceal from the discerning young man. After a moment of tense silence, he yielded, granting permission with a resolute tone. “Speak.”
Huang Yiming bowed his head in acknowledgment, consenting to the stipulation. “I shall never distance myself from His Highness the Crown Prince unless my presence genuinely imperils him.”
“Isn’t that precisely what I am cautioning you about?” the emperor countered, a crease forming on his forehead. “I cannot compel my son to stay apart from you, but I implore you to exercise caution.”
“I find it difficult to comprehend, Your Majesty,” Huang Yiming replied, his tone unintentionally less deferential than intended, though the emperor appeared unfazed. “You have not presented a valid reason for such a request.”
“I’ve observed Li Jie’s demeanor in your company,” the emperor persisted, brushing aside Huang Yiming’s words. “You pose a threat to him, to his future.”
Huang Yiming maintained a measured silence, recognizing that interjecting at this moment might not be prudent, sensing a deliberate motive behind the emperor’s earlier intervention.
“My son doesn’t exhibit the same behavior in my presence,” the emperor confessed, locking eyes with Huang Yiming. A trace of sorrow tinged his gaze, yet it instilled an unsettling discomfort in Huang Yiming. “I acknowledge my own shortcomings, but…”
Huang Yiming discerned a trace of compassion within the emperor’s stern countenance, leading him to surmise that the emperor had refrained from forcibly separating them out of consideration for Li Jie’s sentiments.
At that moment, compelled by the emperor’s earlier permission to speak openly, Huang Yiming felt the need to articulate his thoughts. “Your Majesty,” he began cautiously, “I struggle to grasp the direction of your reasoning.”
The emperor briefly glanced at Huang Yiming before redirecting his gaze. “Li Jie should not grow too reliant on you,” he finally elucidated. “Despite everything, he remains a vulnerable child. If you are perpetually there to catch him, how will he learn to bear the weight of the crown?”
A deep furrow marred Huang Yiming’s brow, his eyes ablaze with anger, heedless of the disparities in their age and status.
“Do not brand him as weak…” Huang Yiming retorted, his tone laced with bitterness. At that moment, he harbored no fear of consequences.
“Huang Yiming!” the emperor’s voice rose, matching the intensity of the boy. “Are you feigning ignorance, or has affection blinded your judgment? My leniency is owed to your father alone. Do not test my patience!”
“Your Majesty!” Huang Yiming gritted his teeth, his mind clouded by a whirlwind of rage and disbelief. He struggled to find the right words as if his tongue had been bound.
“Keep your distance from Li Jie! Allow him to stand alone! Assist in molding him into the emperor he must become!” The emperor’s tone shifted from anger to resolve, unwavering in his belief.
“I am unafraid to guide my son through force!” The emperor’s threat hung heavily in the air, though it hadn’t been his initial intention. “Or would you prefer witnessing a feeble boy, lacking fortitude, ruling the empire?”
The emperor’s unfamiliar tone and the absence of the expected affection for Li Jie left Huang Yiming in shock and anger, momentarily bereft of words.
I am unafraid to guide my son through force! Those words reverberated in Li Jie’s mind as he observed from the shadows. Or would you rather witness a feeble boy, lacking in fortitude, ruling the empire?
“Imperial Father.”
