Chapter 5

Shen Yan was turning twenty-one.

To find him the most unique gift in the world, I asked many of the palace servants for ideas.

Once they started talking about their own families, they all became much chattier.

We were having a lovely conversation in the garden when Eunuch Li arrived.

The lively servants immediately fell silent and knelt to one side.

Eunuch Li hurried over and bowed. “Your Highness, His Majesty is in a terrible temper. Please come and calm him.”

I had never seen Shen Yan angry.

Eunuch Li opened the door for me. From the doorway, I could see the wreckage inside.

Shen Yan stood braced against his desk, his eyes red.

He looked frightening.

Several people knelt below him, their foreheads pressed to the floor so I couldn’t see their faces.

They must have been the ministers who had angered him.

“Your Majesty,” I called softly.

On the way, Cuilan had warned me over and over not to use Shen Yan’s name in front of the court officials.

I didn’t understand, but I did as she said.

Shen Yan looked up at me, and half the fury in his eyes faded.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was a little hoarse, as though he were very sad.

I felt sad, too.

Lifting my skirt and carefully avoiding the books scattered over the floor, I picked my way toward him in little hops.

My heart ached to see him like that.

I didn’t know what to say. At last, I looked up and coaxed him as his mother used to. “It’s time to eat.”

His long lashes trembled slightly.

After a long time, he lowered his eyes.

“All right.” His voice was low.

He came around the desk, took my hand, and strode out, stepping straight onto the books on the floor.

I looked back at the ministers still kneeling and told them unhappily, “You should go and eat, too.”

Eunuch Li had said Shen Yan was going to have them beheaded.

But they were good ministers.

They shouldn’t lose their heads.

I didn’t know why Shen Yan was angry.

But he had once said he would be a good emperor, one who loved his people and his children.

Cuilan said Shen Yan had changed a great deal since I came.

He was even much kinder to the servants.

But she didn’t know.

Many years ago, the servants in Shen Yan’s rooms had never stopped praising him.

No one understood him better than I did. He must be miserable to have become like this.

Luckily, I knew he had always been the very best person.

“Your Highness, Minister Qin requests an audience.” Cuilan pushed the door open while I was working on Shen Yan’s birthday present.

I hurriedly hid it behind my back.

“Minister Qin?”

Minister Qin was one of the men who had knelt on the floor that day.

I recognized him at once through the gauze curtain.

He held his back perfectly straight and bowed with scrupulous courtesy.

Cuilan said he was the chancellor, the most important official after Shen Yan.

“Please, Consort Zhao, persuade His Majesty.” He knelt and would not rise.

I stood up from my chair. “Persuade him to do what?”

“To enshrine the late emperor in the Imperial Ancestral Temple on His Majesty’s birthday, and grant him a temple name.”

Shen Yan’s father.

The father who had given everyone a hibiscus except him.

The father who never gave him birthday presents.

I looked down at my embroidered shoes and said nothing.

“Your Highness.” Minister Qin touched his forehead to the floor. “His Majesty’s position is extremely difficult. We must make it clear to the whole realm that he is the legitimate sovereign…”

All these were lofty principles.

Shen Yan used to enjoy reciting lofty principles, too.

But I was only a flower.

I didn’t want to hear principles. I only wanted Shen Yan to be happy.

“Shen… His Majesty has his reasons…”

“You are bold indeed, Chancellor.” Before I could finish, Shen Yan’s voice came from the doorway.

In a panic, I hurried back and shoved the present I was making under the bed.

“You even dare to intrude upon my inner palace.”

As he spoke, Shen Yan lifted the gauze curtain and came inside.

I ran to him and took his arm. “Minister Qin didn’t intrude. I let him in. Don’t be angry.”

He nodded, then turned to Minister Qin on the floor. “You may go. Whatever you have to say, I will not agree.”

Minister Qin let out a long sigh and got up.

I watched him take two steps, then stop again.

“Your Majesty, the inner palace cannot remain without a mistress. You should also begin making arrangements to appoint an empress.”