Chapter 5, Resolving Crises

After taking a shower, Tian Qi made herself some ginger syrup to drink. However, because she had gotten too cold this time, neither the hot shower nor the ginger syrup could save her. By the afternoon, she began to sneeze and felt dizzy.

Tian Qi secretly patted his chest, feeling grateful that he had made a move ahead of others

The icy lake water soaked through her clothes, penetrating without exception. Tian Qi shivered all over, her teeth chattering. She steeled herself, determined to go all out, and used her hands and feet to paddle in the water for a moment. Estimating that she had drifted far from the shore, Tian Qi poked her head out, unfastened her belt and clothes, and threw them into the water. The clothes were made of cotton, and the belt was inlaid with turquoise; all of these would sink once they hit the water

Ji Heng looked at a note on the desk, which had a few words written in a crooked manner: "The Tianci belt contains the universe"

As for whether there is a hidden truth within the waistband of Tianqi, Ji Heng believes the answer should be affirmative. Those who report others will not recklessly speak out, risking being exposed themselves, and since it is stated so clearly, it must be quite certain

In total, two messages were sent to His Majesty

Tian Qi walked to a secluded spot, glanced around, gritted his teeth, his expression one of fearless resignation, and plunged into the lake with great force

The issue with the Tianqi waist belt is related to the death of Song Zhaoyi

"As instructed." Tian Qi got up and quickly went out

On the banks of Taiye Pool, a row of weeping willows is planted. At this time of year, as spring begins, the willow trees have yet to bud, but they are already permeated with the breath of life. The bark of the branches has taken on a sheen from its previously withered state, becoming supple. As the spring breeze blows, the willow branches sway gently in the wind, abundant yet unchaotic; from a distance, they resemble a head of dark, flowing hair.

The more humble one is, the more resilient one becomes

Today, upon bringing Tianqi over for an inquiry, it was discovered that he had fallen into the water and lost his belt, which further solidified Ji Heng's suspicion.

After completing these tasks, Tian Qi swam back to the shore, splashing the water and shouting "Help!" She was not incapable of climbing onto the shore by herself; rather, she believed in fully committing to the act. Having "accidentally fallen into the water," it was only appropriate to have a witness.

Sheng Anhuai approached, took the belt that Ji Heng had handed to him, and after a while, he came back in and reported, "Your Majesty, I have carefully examined it with the imperial physician, and there is nothing wrong."

Ji Heng stood up and walked in front of Tian Qi

This is an anonymous complaint letter, written with the left hand by the complainant who fears being recognized by their handwriting. The source of the letter has been ordered to be investigated, but since the other party dared to write it, it is likely that they are confident they will not be discovered

He suddenly thought of the sour jujube tree clinging to the cliff, appearing frail and weak, yet bearing flowers and fruit year after year

Tian Qi waved his hand, saying, "No need, you have already saved me. I cannot delay your efforts any further. Everyone has their duties to attend to, and if I cause you to miss your appointments, I might as well drown myself right now." As he spoke, he stood up and continued, "Rest assured, it is not far from the Thirteenth Institute. I can return on my own. You all saved me today, and I cannot express my gratitude enough. If you ever need my assistance in the future, I will certainly not hesitate to give my life for you."

Thus, after inquiring about the names and affiliations of several individuals, I took my leave and departed

Tian Qi obediently raised his head, his gaze level, and saw his chin and a section of his neck. Today, he was wearing a deep red casual outfit, with a black collar, beneath which a circle of white inner clothing was visible, the white overlapping collar accentuating the length and fairness of his neck

Tian Qi swallowed hard and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the compliment"

The sky has already brightened with a fish-belly white, but the sun has yet to rise. The entire world is cold and desolate, with the early-rising inner officials and palace servants occasionally passing by, their eyes still somewhat bleary, unconsciously yawning and exhaling mist. These days have seen a return of late spring chill, the air is cool and damp, causing a tightness in the temples, as they all walk briskly with their hands tucked into their sleeves, wishing for the wind to rise beneath their feet, eager to enter the building as soon as possible

What about the other one

At this moment, the eunuch before the emperor arrived again, stating that the emperor had summoned her to the Qianqing Palace for questioning

The Emperor is not in the warm chamber at the moment, but is waiting for her in the study. Tian Qi performed a bow, stood up with his head lowered, and fixed his gaze on the ground, waiting for questions in a proper manner

He recalled how he had blushed deeply and averted his gaze like a young girl when his belt was undone. He curled the corners of his mouth, shook his head with a smile, and raised his head to command Sheng Anhuai, "Go, find a physician to examine Tian Qi."

While taking a bath, Tian Qi exposed her chest to air it out. Starting from the age of twelve or thirteen, her chest began to develop like that of other girls. At that time, the feeling of embarrassment was secondary; the primary concern was fear. If discovered to be a girl, her life would undoubtedly be in danger. Thus, she devised various methods to bind it, and after dressing, she appeared no different from an ordinary eunuch. However, binding her chest did not mean it actually became smaller; it continued to grow as it should. During the day, her chest felt uncomfortable from being compressed, and Tian Qi was reluctant to mistreat it, so at night she would undress and relax under the covers. Fearing discovery, she set up wooden frames around her bed, hung a curtain, and transformed her wooden bed into a simple canopy bed, lowering the bed curtain at night when she went to sleep. She also spread rumors that she would involuntarily urinate if seen naked.

Ji Heng saw her shamelessly taking mockery as praise, and felt a bit angry. He waved his hand and said, "Go down, go to the Needlework Bureau yourself, take whatever you lack, and do not mention today's matter to others."

Ji Heng's fingers leisurely tapped on the table, suddenly recalling the scene where he foolishly and boldly dozed off in front of the emperor. He thought to himself, this servant is quite good, smart enough when it needs to be, and foolish enough when it should be.

The ice on Taiye Pool has completely melted, and the surface of the lake is as smooth as a mirror. A gentle breeze passes by, stirring up delicate ripples on the water, resembling fish scales, gliding towards the center of the lake in the direction of the wind

Ji Heng released Tian Qi and stepped back two paces to observe her. ... Hmm, she is indeed tense, but it seems to be because of ... ? ... shyness?

Ji Heng squinted his eyes, and his gaze gradually became somewhat cold

Returning to the Thirteenth Division, Tian Qi had long since frozen over. She quickly called for a young eunuch to bring hot water for her bath. Among the eunuchs, she held a mid-level rank, and her room was relatively spacious. She had set up a small partition in her room for bathing. The eunuchs sharing the room were aware of Tian Qi's peculiarities; she was fastidious about cleanliness and loved to bathe, yet she could not be seen by others—rumor had it that if she were to be seen naked, she would lose control of her bladder. This rumor had never been substantiated, but no one dared to test this superstition. The eunuchs sharing the room were aware of Tian Qi's peculiarities; she was fastidious about cleanliness and loved to bathe, yet she could not be seen by others—rumor had it that if she were to be seen naked, she would lose control of her bladder. This rumor had never been substantiated, but no one dared to test this superstition.

Therefore, no one paid attention to Tian Qi

Ji Heng sat back at the desk, staring at Tian Qi, and asked, "How many of these belts do you have?"

Ji Heng raised his head from the desk and glanced at her. She lowered her head, making it difficult to see her face; her figure was slender, dressed in a dark blue official robe, which made her appear even more delicate and solitary. Nevertheless, she did not seem to indulge in self-pity, but instead exuded a hint of calmness and stubbornness.

The ground is made of white marble, intricately carved with auspicious lotus patterns, impeccably clean, with not a speck of dust in the seams

Ji Heng lowered his head to observe Tian Qi's expression, his gaze calm. The person before him looked haggard, with a dazed look in his eyes and a red nose. Could it be that he is unwell?

She is certainly not here to enjoy the spring; facing a life-and-death crisis, she does not have the leisure for such indulgence

Yes. This servant accidentally fell into the water this morning. As I was still wearing a cotton coat, it became too heavy when soaked, and I could not get to the shore. I had no choice but to take off my clothes and throw them into the water. Fortunately, colleagues passing by the Taiye Pool came to my rescue, and I was able to save my life, which those people can attest to. After that, my belt and clothes sank into the water together and could not be retrieved. This servant does not know what the Emperor needs the belt for, nor do I dare to speculate on the imperial will. If Your Majesty requires it, please feel free to take this one; if it is not enough, the Needlework Bureau surely has many more.

She thanked several people while spitting out water

"Raise your head and look at me," Ji Heng reiterated the command.

In other words, this eunuch was schemed against and used, and was then unfairly blamed for something he did not do

Tian Qi quickly knelt down, "This servant had no choice, please forgive me, Your Majesty"

At this moment, Tian Qi's appearance was quite disheveled, her body drenched, with her outer robe and cotton clothing missing. A slight cool breeze blew by, making her shiver like withered grass leaves. The few people present could not bear to see her like this and wanted to send Tian Qi back.

A trace of panic flashed in Tian Qi's eyes, and two rosy clouds appeared on her cheeks

Unavoidable emotions

Ji Heng stared at her intently, "You are quite generous."

The surface of the lake splashed with water more than two feet high, and someone heard the commotion, turned to look, and only saw ripples spreading across the lake. They assumed it was a waterbird diving into the lake and thought little of it, continuing their steps without any hesitation.

He is indeed somewhat clever, having discovered it in advance, quietly disposed of the evidence, and left no trace for anyone to find fault.

As Tian Qi admired Ji Heng's face, the latter's hand touched her waist. Tian Qi's heart tightened, and she stiffened, unable to move.

Lost

In this way, everything remains peaceful. To be honest, no one is interested in the bodies of eunuchs. Although there are often perverse individuals among eunuchs, their targets are always those who are not eunuchs.

Although she had been mentally prepared, she still felt extremely nervous, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Her mind felt heavy, and her reactions were not as quick as usual

Indeed, someone heard the cries for help and ran over here. Several eunuchs untied their belts and tied them together, throwing them to Tian Qi, who caught the belt and climbed up to the shore

His fingers rested on her waist, the spring clothing still quite thick, yet it could not conceal her slender figure. His hand traced along the belt, reaching the buckle, and with a gentle flick, he unfastened the belt

However, the murderer is not Tian Qi, because if it were truly his doing, the belt would have been disposed of at the time of Song Zhao Yi's death, and would not have waited until today

"You raise your head," he commanded

Tian Qi then raised her head to look at him. To be honest, although she had seen the Emperor many times, this time she truly looked at him seriously. His forehead was smooth and full; his handsome brows were dark and clear, each hair distinct and orderly, slanting elegantly into his temples; his slender eyes were slightly squinted, containing a bright sparkle; he had a high nose bridge, thin lips, and skin as white as jade... His appearance was naturally outstanding, but what was rare was his overall temperament, which was gentle, calm, and exuded a restrained nobility.

Tianqi walked with his hands behind his back, navigating through the flowing locks of hair.