Chapter 3: Under the Emperor's Gaze

The next morning, Shen Yanzhi was awakened before sunrise.

A maid bowed. "Consort Shen, His Majesty has ordered breakfast to be delivered from the imperial kitchen."

Shen Yanzhi frowned.

"Why?"

The maid looked confused. "Because... His Majesty ordered it?"

"That's not an explanation."

The maid looked even more confused.

After she left, Shen Yanzhi sighed.

"I miss emails."

---

An hour later, he was halfway through breakfast when another servant arrived.

"His Majesty requests your presence."

"Requests?"

The servant hesitated.

"...Summons."

"That sounds more accurate."

---

The imperial study was surprisingly quiet.

Xiao Chengyuan sat behind a desk covered in documents.

"Your Majesty."

"Sit."

Shen Yanzhi sat.

The Emperor continued reading.

One minute passed.

Then five.

Then ten.

Finally, Shen Yanzhi spoke.

"Did Your Majesty summon me to watch you work?"

Xiao Chengyuan didn't look up.

"Are you bored?"

"Extremely."

That earned him a glance.

"Before your illness, you would have been too nervous to speak."

"Perhaps the illness improved me."

The Emperor's lips twitched.

Not quite a smile.

But close.

---

"Tell me something," Xiao Chengyuan said.

"What?"

"If a minister steals from the treasury but uses the money to help starving citizens, how should he be punished?"

Shen Yanzhi blinked.

"That's your question?"

"Answer it."

"Is this a test?"

"Does it matter?"

"It matters to me."

The Emperor set down his brush.

"Answer."

Shen Yanzhi folded his arms.

"The minister should be punished."

"Even if he helped the people?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he decided that his judgment was above the law."

Silence.

Then Xiao Chengyuan asked, "And the starving citizens?"

"Help them."

"With what funds?"

"The treasury."

The Emperor stared at him.

Shen Yanzhi frowned.

"What?"

"You answered quickly."

"I've spent my entire life dealing with people who thought good intentions excused bad decisions."

Xiao Chengyuan's gaze sharpened.

"Your entire life?"

Shen Yanzhi immediately realized his mistake.

"That is..."

The Emperor waited.

"...a manner of speaking."

"Hm."

---

The conversation should have ended there.

Instead, the Emperor asked another question.

"And if someone deceives you?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"The reason."

Xiao Chengyuan leaned back.

"If the reason is survival?"

"Then I would understand."

"And if the deception continues?"

"Then I would become annoyed."

"Only annoyed?"

Shen Yanzhi smiled politely.

"No."

For a moment, both men simply looked at each other.

Then the Emperor laughed.

Actually laughed.

A short sound.

The servants outside nearly dropped dead from shock.

---

"Interesting," Xiao Chengyuan said.

"I've been called many things."

"I imagine you have."

"Most weren't compliments."

"I can believe that."

---

As Shen Yanzhi stood to leave, Xiao Chengyuan suddenly spoke.

"Shen Qinghe."

Shen Yanzhi paused.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor was watching him again.

That same thoughtful gaze.

That same unsettling attention.

"You truly have changed."

Shen Yanzhi forced a calm smile.

"People change."

"Perhaps."

The Emperor's voice was light.

Too light.

"Or perhaps there is another explanation."

For the first time since arriving in this world, a chill ran down Shen Yanzhi's spine.

Had he been discovered?

But Xiao Chengyuan simply returned to his documents.

"Go."

Shen Yanzhi bowed and left.

The moment he was outside, he exhaled.

"That was close."

A guard nearby looked confused.

"Consort Shen?"

"Nothing."

The guard nodded.

Then Shen Yanzhi muttered under his breath,

"I need to stop talking."

A pause.

"Actually, that's impossible."

Far away, inside the study, Xiao Chengyuan looked at the closed door.

Then he said quietly to himself,

"No."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Do keep talking."

And for reasons he couldn't yet explain, the Emperor found himself looking forward to their next conversation.

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