Chapter 126: Chapter 126: I Permit You a Touch
Ji Qingwu looked up to see his delighted smile and was momentarily stunned.
It was like the sky clearing over a snowy mountain, the bright sun reflecting off the snow.
Emperor Wu Su pressed a fist to the corner of his mouth to stifle his laughter, then asked, "What are you doing here?"
’Coming all the way here for the send-off so early in the morning... who did she want to see?’
Ji Qingwu blinked and said, "I just wanted to see the world a bit, to watch the ceremony for the army’s deployment."
Emperor Wu Su lowered his gaze to her hands. Sure enough, she was fiddling with her little finger. After observing her a few times, he had discovered a little habit of hers: she liked to fidget with her fingers when she was thinking.
It was now obvious that she was thinking of how to deceive him, unwilling to tell him the truth.
He asked, "And?"
"And..."
Ji Qingwu squeezed the knuckle of her pinky finger, trying to think of a good way to brush him off.
Emperor Wu Su took in every movement of her hands.
She suddenly leaned in a little closer, as if afraid of being overheard, and said softly, "The main reason was to come and admire Your Majesty’s heroic presence."
Emperor Wu Su knew perfectly well she was lying, but he was still pleased by her "heroic presence" comment.
A glint flashed in his eyes. He waved his right hand, and Li Yuzong led the guards away, retreating to wait at the foot of the Star-Picking Tower.
Ji Qingwu had other business and didn’t want to linger. When she looked up and saw the Emperor had sent everyone away, she was dumbfounded.
She said anxiously, "Your Majesty, aren’t you in a hurry to get back to your memorials? If you’re late, that pile half a man’s height will grow to be as tall as a man."
As she spoke, she gestured, moving her palm-down hand from her waist up to the top of her head.
She had seen such a scene in the military tent last time and didn’t feel her description was an exaggeration at all. She hoped the Emperor would prioritize the affairs of the state, hurry back to his duties, and let this obedient "law-abiding citizen" go.
Emperor Wu Su had been in a heavy mood today, dispatching troops to the Northern Border.
Military updates had been frequent lately, with secret reports arriving almost every half-month. Most concerned Xijin, which had been making incessant small moves, testing and challenging Beili’s limits.
But upon seeing this graceful and elegant figure...
’The memorials had to be reviewed.’
’But right now, what could be more interesting than teasing the woman before him?’
He reached out, pulled Ji Qingwu’s hand down, and said seriously, "Ah Wu, you’re right to remind me. It’s just that I’m not in the Diligent Governance Hall right now, and I have no memorials to review. So, I’ll ’critique’ you first."
Ji Qingwu had no desire to be critiqued. She took a large step back.
But he was holding her wrist. The moment she stepped back, he pulled her right back. Emperor Wu Su’s sleeve barely moved, yet she was yanked right in front of him.
Then, she heard him ask in a low voice, "You came to see Wei Chi Lianping, didn’t you?"
The first step in "critiquing" a memorial was to analyze the writer’s intentions.
Ji Qingwu looked up at him in surprise.
Emperor Wu Su looked into her eyes and said calmly, "No need to be so surprised. Let me guess... he must have entrusted you with some task."
Ji Qingwu’s mind was in turmoil.
Emperor Wu Su was right. She had rushed here this morning specifically because General Wei Chi said he needed to see her about something. He had insisted on meeting right before his deployment, saying he couldn’t trust anyone else with this matter and had to entrust this important task to her.
Seeing the flicker in her eyes, it was obvious he had guessed correctly.
The large hand gripping her wrist suddenly tightened, and Ji Qingwu felt a faint twinge of pain.
In a deceptively casual tone, Emperor Wu Su continued, "It’s only been a few days, and Ah Wu has already grown so distant from me. I had no idea you’d become so close with Wei Chi Lianping that he’d need to see you right before his deployment."
’The way he said it made it sound like there was something going on between me and the Prince Consort.’
Ji Qingwu’s eyes went wide. "I just... I just..." she said innocently.
But because she had promised the Prince Consort that no one else could know about this matter, Ji Qingwu, ever the good girl who keeps her word, could only stammer, unable to give a clear explanation.
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze darkened as he continued, "You listened so intently when the Old Marquis told his stories, even clapping your hands in admiration."
"For every arrow he hit on the field, you’d be bobbing your head while eating your Eight Treasure Lotus Seed Cake, looking so very content."
’Heavens above!’
’The final round of archery was set to drum music. I wasn’t even watching which of Wei Chi Lianping’s arrows hit their mark! I was just listening to the rhythm of the drums, relaxing and eating my cake.’
’The Emperor notices even such tiny details. I don’t even remember that clearly when I clapped or bobbed my head.’
Emperor Wu Su said with a cool gaze, "And today... you came specifically to see him off?"
’That tone...’
A chill ran down Ji Qingwu’s spine—she wasn’t sure if it was from the wind on the tower or something else. This time, her answer was decisive.
She opened her large, clear eyes wide and said straightforwardly, "I came specifically to see Your Majesty."
’I’ll just have to brazen it out. I’ll insist that I came to see him. It’s not like he can crawl into my heart to check.’
Ji Qingwu didn’t forget to add an explanation, "The other day, from the high platform, I heard Your Majesty say in person that you would be at the Star-Picking Tower in three days to see the army off, so that’s why I came."
Only after she said it did she realize she remembered the Emperor’s words with perfect clarity; even his expression at that moment was still fresh in her mind.
And right after that, the Emperor had mentioned Wei Ting’s return to Lin’an City...
In his heart, Emperor Wu Su knew there was nothing between her and Wei Chi Lianping. Whatever Wei Chi Lianping had entrusted to her would only be related to Princess Hua Chang.
He was just provoking her on purpose, wanting to hear some pleasing words pop out of her little mouth.
Ji Qingwu did not disappoint him.
Emperor Wu Su was inwardly pleased but didn’t let it show on his face. Seeing her furrow her brow in thought, he squeezed her palm to bring her back to the present.
"Since you came especially to see me, why don’t you dare to look at me?"
Ji Qingwu glanced up at him quickly and answered honestly, "I’ve already seen you."
Then, her gaze dropped again, focusing only on the gold trim of his dark robes.
"And that’s enough?"
As soon as he spoke, he took her hand and led it upward.
Ji Qingwu felt where her hand was placed, and her heart leaped. Her heartbeat was as heavy as the drumbeats from the equestrian archery ceremony.
Her hand rested on warmth. The skin beneath her fingers wasn’t smooth like a woman’s; the moment she touched it, she could feel the bone structure beneath, exuding a masculine strength.
Her hand had been brought to his cheek, where it was held firmly in place by his own palm.
Emperor Wu Su parted his lips and said, "Since you came all this way just for me, go on and take a good look. I’ll even give you special permission... to touch."
The temperature under her fingers was pleasant, not hot at all.
But the moment their eyes met, she flinched. A brilliant light exploded in her mind, only to vanish an instant later.
Ji Qingwu forgot to blink, staring at him from such a close distance, watching the corners of his lips slowly curve upward.
Her fingertips rested on his temple, very close to his eyes and brows.
