Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

After court was dismissed, the old emperor summoned Ji Sui to the Wuying Hall.

“This time during disaster relief, you executed quite a few landlords who refused to release their slaves, didn’t you?”

Hearing this, Ji Sui silently nodded.

“Did you find her?”

Ji Sui shook his head.

“…You’ve already spent too much of your energy on that child. Nearly 70% of your efforts have been dedicated to searching for her. You haven’t even asked Qinghe for another child. Why put yourself through this? It’s been so many years…” The old emperor spoke softly. “Zainian, your Ji family must continue its bloodline.”

“Zainian” was Ji Sui’s courtesy name.

Ji Sui replied firmly, “Your Majesty, she is my first child. Lost during the chaos of war, I must find her!”

The old emperor sighed. “I understand. Over the years, I don’t know how many nobles and local gentry you’ve offended for the sake of this child.”

Recalling Ji Sui’s actions over the years, even the old emperor had to admit they were extreme.

Simply because “in times of chaos, a girl’s best chance of survival is often selling herself as a servant or being sold into a brothel,” Ji Sui went to great lengths to achieve merit, waiting for the right moment to push through a new law:

If any servant petitions, claiming they were born free, regardless of the truth, they must be granted freedom.

Considering that some women might be imprisoned or threatened and unable to petition, Ji Sui would occasionally pay visits to the homes of influential nobles.

Due to Ji Sui’s high status, these nobles didn’t dare to offend him. Reluctantly, they redefined their servants as free workers, at least on the surface, only keeping government slaves that weren’t subject to liberation.

However, some powerful families, like dukes or marquises, openly continued to use indentured contracts.

As a result, Ji Sui’s relationship with the gentry was tense, and he faced much criticism from the aristocracy.

Over the years, he had also shut down many brothels, ensuring each woman there found an alternative livelihood, fearing that any misstep might leave his own daughter in one of those places, leading to lifelong regret.

The old emperor couldn’t hold it in anymore. “You’re aware of Xu Yanmiao’s peculiar abilities. Now that you’ve returned from disaster relief, you could probe him a bit. Perhaps…”

Ji Sui paused, then slowly said, “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

“But…” Ji Sui closed his eyes, suppressing the restlessness and gloom that arose whenever Xu Yanmiao’s abilities were mentioned in connection with his daughter. “But I dare not.”

Thirty years had passed. He feared that his daughter had long since perished in the chaos of war. He dreaded hearing such news from Xu Yanmiao.

And…

Ji Sui’s lashes trembled as he reiterated his request to the emperor: “Your Majesty, I beg you to show mercy. Please do not mention my daughter to Xu Yanmiao.”

He would ask himself—but not now.

---

Ji Sui still intended to help his nephew, not just out of familial affection developed over the years, but also because his nephew and his daughter shared the same birthday, albeit in different years. Thinking of his poor daughter, he couldn’t help but feel more lenient and compassionate toward his nephew.

Thus, half a month after his failed “essay,” Ji Sui entered the palace again.

Key point: He chose a time when Xu Yanmiao wasn’t around.

This time, things went smoothly. He invited the old emperor to Yulong Temple in Luoyang County. It was at this temple that, after praying to Buddha, the empress had experienced morning sickness that same night, and six months later, gave birth to the current crown prince.

Additionally, Ji Sui had prepared someone at the temple…

“Xu Yanmiao?” The old emperor set down his incense stick lightly, surprised. “You’re not married—what are you doing here seeking blessings for a child?”

Ji Sui swayed slightly.

No! That’s not it!!!

Xu Yanmiao turned around in surprise. “Your Maj—”

The old emperor quickly covered Xu Yanmiao’s mouth, whispering, “Traveling incognito.”

—He had given up on hoping that a mere look from him would make Xu Yanmiao obediently shut up. Taking matters into his own hands seemed safer.

Xu Yanmiao blinked hard.

The old emperor let go and disdainfully wiped his hand on his sleeve.

Xu Yanmiao, unfazed, continued, “It’s because I have a friend. Lian Hang came to pray for a chubby baby boy from Buddha, so I tagged along! Lian Hang said the vegetarian dishes at this temple are amazing!”

Xu Yanmiao pointed, and the old emperor and Ji Sui instinctively turned to look. They saw the temple abbot helping a lady up after she finished her prayers. The abbot chanted a few words, then took a willow branch from a nearby sacred vase, sprinkling holy water gently over her head. Behind the abbot, a Ministry of War officer followed respectfully.

The old emperor’s eyes widened. “This one?!”

Although the lady was middle-aged, she was still graceful and charming. However, she and the officer clearly weren’t of the same generation—she seemed close to forty!

Xu Yanmiao froze for a moment, then quickly said, “No, no, not this one!”

The old emperor’s gaze softened.

Thank goodness. He’d almost thought his official had a strange romantic inclination. A twenty-year-old with a forty-year-old? He really couldn’t accept that!

—This coming from a 63-year-old emperor who had taken a 16-year-old girl as his concubine.

Then, as the lady turned after receiving the sprinkling, she cast a flirtatious glance at the officer, her lips curling seductively.

The old emperor turned to Xu Yanmiao: “Really not this one?”

For the sake of his friend’s image in the emperor’s eyes, Xu Yanmiao declared firmly, “Absolutely not!”

Hearing the commotion, the lady glanced over, her eyes lighting up when she saw the robustly-built emperor. She wafted over in a cloud of perfume, her gaze fixed squarely on the emperor.

The old emperor: “…”

After finally dismissing her, the emperor turned around, only to find himself on the verge of laughter.

Xu Yanmiao was staring at the ground as if counting tiles, while Ji Sui had turned away, seemingly engrossed in studying the wall murals—neither offering to save the situation.

When the emperor’s gaze landed on Xu Yanmiao, the young man dumbfoundedly thought to himself: [“That’s it? Over so soon?”]

Over what?! The emperor fumed internally. Did you expect me to strike up something with that woman?!

---

Later, when the emperor learned that Yulong Temple’s vegetarian cuisine was famous, he decided to dine with Xu Yanmiao there.

Dining with the emperor was an honor for most people.

The emperor smiled warmly.

Xu Yanmiao, granted this privilege, surely felt…

[“Ugh? No way. Eating with the emperor means minding my manners, watching my words, and the risk of accidentally taking the emperor’s food… Who would want to eat with their boss?!”]

[“I wouldn’t even dare eat or drink properly. Just thinking about it gives me a stomachache.”]

[“But refusing would be defying an imperial decree… Maybe I could say I have a stomachache?”]

The emperor’s smile stiffened.

The officer nearly coughed to remind Xu Yanmiao.

At least pretend… Wait, he did pretend.

Watching Xu Yanmiao’s convincingly joyful expression as he prepared to accept, the emperor clenched his teeth, feeling like a tyrant forcing a reluctant soul into submission.

“Xu Yanmiao,” the emperor said through gritted teeth, “I’m traveling incognito today, so let’s keep it simple. Eat what you like, however you like!”

He wasn’t that petty! Hmph!

Xu Yanmiao was genuinely delighted this time.

“Thank you, sir!”

The officer turned away, covering his face in agony.

This guy genuinely didn’t realize it was just a polite gesture.

Ji Sui, standing nearby, was too preoccupied to care about these details. His mind was elsewhere entirely…

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