Emperor Wu Su acted as if he had only just noticed them enter, slowly setting down his book scroll.
"There’s no need for such formality. Please, sit."
From out of nowhere, Li Yuzong produced a small chair of huanghuali wood, inlaid with a "hundred treasures" flower and bird motif. With her short legs, Jiu Jiu sat down with practiced ease.
It was perfectly sized for her, looking just like her own personal seat.
Qingwu, anwhile, sat down beside her, a touch reserved.
The Emperor’s voice drifted down from the dais, clear and pleasing to the ear.
"Have you morized today’s lesson?"
Jiu Jiu confidently tilted her little head up and replied, "I can recite it backwards and forwards."
Emperor Wu Su then asked her a few questions, and the little girl answered them fluently in her bright, clear voice. It was no empty boast.
As Qingwu watched them, a gentle look softened her features, and she couldn’t help but smile.
’I’m so blessed to have such a clever and adorable daughter.’
Before she knew it, her gaze was drawn back to Emperor Wu Su, who was listening intently to Jiu Jiu.
He nodded in response from ti to ti, offering a few gentle words.
He didn’t look like the lofty, world-scorning Emperor, but rather like the head of a common family, ho after a day’s work and checking on his young child’s studies.
It was a scene brimming with warmth and affection.
A thought suddenly occurred to Qingwu.
’If I could have foreseen a scene like this, perhaps I could have made a different choice after giving birth.’
’If only my "conquest" mission back then hadn’t gone wrong. If only it had been him from the start... how wonderful that would have been.’
’If only he weren’t the Emperor...’
Qingwu sighed softly. ’But fate is a cruel trickster, and in life, there are no what-ifs.’
’He is the Emperor.’
’An Emperor with a full harem, ruler of all under Heaven.’
’His very station in life destined that he could never be the man for her.’
Qingwu had never dared to covet the Emperor precisely because she had always known that to fall for such a man was to drink poison to quench a thirst.
’He was beyond her reach. That was true in the past, and it was still true now.’
Not long after she had returned ho, she had been able to agree so easily to marry Li Chengxun because she knew she could protect herself in that union.
As long as the Ji Family retained its power, she would have their backing.
Even without love, they could maintain a veneer of mutual respect, allowing her to live out her days in peace and security.
’But now, she was actually starting to harbor thoughts she shouldn’t...’
As Qingwu sighed, Emperor Wu Su discreetly observed the conflicted emotions warring in her eyes.
Once the recitation test concluded, Li Yuzong ca forward with a crystal box.
Jiu Jiu excitedly transferred all the candies, sweet cakes, and other treats from the box into her own powder-blue sachet.
The little girl looked up and saw her mother staring at her with a straight face.
In her sweet, childish voice, Jiu Jiu said, "Mama, this is a reward for my recitation today." Then, protesting a little too much, the little girl added, "It’s not for anything... else."
This reminded Qingwu of what that "anything else" had been yesterday: the betrothal gifts... the celebratory sweets...
And so, with what she believed to be an annoyed expression, she shot a glare at the man upon the throne.
But in the eyes of everyone present, it was clearly a coquettish glare. Her sparkling eyes seed to dance with a captivating, tender charm.
Emperor Wu Su raised an eyebrow. "This student’s mother seems to have quite the opinion of ."
Li Yuzong’s eyes darted as he interjected, "Holy Emperor, the Upper Study Room has been open to the children of officials’ families for so ti, but we have yet to communicate with any parents regarding their children’s education. A few days ago, Mr. Qiao ntioned this very matter to this old servant, saying that our efforts would be twice as effective if the families encouraged learning at ho as well."
Emperor Wu Su nodded. "Lord Qiao has a point. And I have no pressing matters at the mont."
Li Yuzong bead, his eyes disappearing into smiling crescents as he turned toward Qingwu.
"And as it happens, you have a parent before you right now. This old servant will take Miss Jiu Jiu to rest, and the Holy Emperor can inquire with Miss Ji about how her student is faring at ho after her studies."
Before she left, Jiu Jiu didn’t forget to pat her bulging sachet and offer Qingwu so encouragent.
"Mama, answer the questions well, and the Emperor will give you a reward, too!"
In the span of just a few sentences, Qingwu had beco the one being examined. The tables had turned far too quickly.
She stood in the center of the hall, looking up at Emperor Wu Su, wondering what he was going to ask.
His hand rested on a book on the grand desk. "I do, in fact, have a question for which I must seek your guidance."
His solemn expression, combined with his formal request for "guidance," made Qingwu’s heart flutter with unease.
She asked in disbelief, "Is there sothing Your Majesty does not know?"
Emperor Wu Su replied, "Of course."
"What is it that Your Majesty wishes to ask?"
He said, "I would like to ask our student’s mother... what is Jiu Jiu’s formal na?"
’So that was his question.’ It was true; he would have to ask her to know the answer.
Jiu Jiu hadn’t received her formal na until she was two and a half.
It wasn’t for lack of trying on Qingwu’s part. She had racked her brain but couldn’t find a na she was satisfied with. She’d agonized over it for so long that the child had already grown considerably.
She had finally settled on a na while perusing the books in a local collection, but during their years in Nanchu, neither she nor Jiu Jiu had any household registration docunts, so it had never been officially used.
Qingwu looked at him and said, "Jiu Jiu’s formal na is Ji Wenjing."
Her voice was both gentle and clear.
The hall fell silent for a mont.
Emperor Wu Su’s initial reaction was stunned disbelief. Then, his expression relaxed, and he let out a delighted laugh.
It was the first ti she had seen him laugh with such uninhibited joy.
Qingwu watched him, uncomprehending. Jiu Jiu had taken her surna, Ji, yet not only was he not displeased, he was positively overjoyed.
She asked, mystified, "Your Majesty, what is the reason for your laughter?"
Emperor Wu Su asked, "Was her na taken from the terms *wenhua* and *junjing*?"
Qingwu nodded. He had guessed correctly.
Jiu Jiu was her treasure, as precious as a pearl or jade, so the aning behind those two characters was a perfect fit for her na.
Emperor Wu Su rose from his desk, his posture as elegant as a stalk of Xiu Bamboo, as resplendent as a tree of jade.
Their eyes t. There was a glint of light in the dark depths of Emperor Wu Su’s eyes as he smiled. "You chose an excellent na."
His voice rose slightly as he recited, "A gentleman is like *heng* jade, his feathered robes brilliantly aglow. The luster of *junjing* jade is radiant, the patterns of *wenhua* clouds are like brocade."
As the verse left his lips, Qingwu imdiately caught on to one particular word, and her heart skipped a beat.
She suddenly understood why the Emperor had been so overjoyed.
Qingwu couldn’t suppress her own delight. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and said, "Is Your Majesty taking this as an opportunity to praise your own excellent naming skills?"
’The phrase, "A gentleman is like *heng* jade," must be the inspiration for the na he gave Yuan Heng.’
Qingwu had rely picked two words with precious anings from an old book. She never imagined that, by sheer coincidence, they would connect with the na Emperor Wu Su had given to Yuan Heng.
"The character *Heng* signifies sothing precious and unique. But I never imagined there would be another, equally great treasure."
Emperor Wu Su said slowly, "You and I, Ah Wu... it seems our hearts and minds are connected."
He stood before his throne, several steps above her on the dais, gazing down at her with a smile.
Qingwu couldn’t resist taking a step forward, drawing closer to him.
She asked, "Your Majesty, have you always considered Yuan Heng a treasure, too?"
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