EPISODE 5

The eunuch studied her expression for a moment.

Then he bowed lightly.

GR: “Please wait here. This servant will ask for His Majesty’s permission.”

A moment later he disappeared inside the chamber.

Inside the study, Zhao Wenzhe sat behind a large wooden desk.

Stacks of memorial scrolls surrounded him.

His long white hair flowed loosely over his shoulders as he read through one document after another, occasionally marking something with a brush.

The room smelled faintly of ink and parchment.

The eunuch approached quietly and bowed.

GR: “Your Majesty, Consort Lin is outside. She says she has brought food for Your Majesty.”

Zhao Wenzhe’s brush paused for a moment.

A faint, unreadable look crossed his eyes.

ZW: “…Let her in.”

When Lin Yue entered, the first thing she saw was him.

Zhao Wenzhe sat quietly, one hand holding a memorial scroll while the other rested lightly on the desk.

The pale strands of his hair shimmered faintly against the sunlight.

His posture was straight, composed, completely absorbed in his work.

For a brief moment, Lin Yue simply stared.

'Wow…'

He really looks like an emperor.

Without thinking, the words slipped out of her mouth.

“Your Majesty looks very handsome when working.”

The brush in Zhao Wenzhe’s hand stopped.

The unexpected compliment clearly caught him off guard.

Lin Yue blinked.

"Did I just say that out loud…"

She quickly lifted the box in her hands.

“I brought food,” she said brightly. “You’ve been working all morning. You should eat something.”

Zhao Wenzhe glanced at the box briefly before returning his gaze to the scroll in front of him.

ZW: "I will eat later"

She stood there chatting casually for a little while, asking small questions and making light conversation while he continued working.

Eventually she sighed.

LY: “Your Majesty really should take breaks sometimes.”

When he didn’t respond, she shook her head with a small smile.

LY: “Anyway, I’ll leave the food here.”

She turned and walked toward the door.

Just before leaving, she looked back.

LY: “Don’t forget to rest.”

Then she disappeared outside.

The moment the door closed, the study became quiet again.

Zhao Wenzhe slowly placed the memorial down.

His gaze shifted toward the tray of food sitting on the table.

For several seconds he simply looked at it.

Then he spoke calmly.

“Liang Shenyuan.”

A shadow moved near the beam above.

His guard appeared instantly, kneeling.

LS: “Your Majesty.”

Zhao Wenzhe didn’t look at him.

ZW: “Throw it away.”

The guard glanced briefly at the tray before bowing.

LS: “This subordinate obeys.”

Within moments the food disappeared.

Zhao Wenzhe’s expression remained completely indifferent.

Night slowly fell over the palace.

Inside the study, the emperor was still working.

The lanterns burned quietly around him as scroll after scroll passed through his hands.

Hours passed.

Finally, Zhao Wenzhe placed down his brush.

He leaned back slightly in his chair.

His long white hair slid over the dark fabric of his robes as he closed his eyes.

For a moment he simply remained there, unmoving.

The lantern light flickered across his pale face, making the crimson mark on his forehead glow faintly in the darkness.

The emperor sat alone in the silent study.

Outside the windows, the palace was already asleep.

But Zhao Wenzhe remained where he was—

eyes closed, resting quietly in the chair as the night stretched deeper and deeper around him.

And so the night passed in silence.

_____

Days passed quietly in the imperial palace.

as usual the day goes---morning audiences, endless memorials, reports from distant provinces, and the quiet footsteps of servants moving through the long corridors.

And every morning, without fail, Lin Yue appeared at the emperor’s study.

Sometimes she carried tea.

Sometimes small dishes carefully prepared by the palace kitchen.

Sometimes simple snacks she claimed were “good for people who work too much.”

Each time, she would greet Zhao Wenzhe cheerfully.

Each time, she would place the food beside his desk.

Each time, she would remind him lightly, “Don’t forget to eat.”

And each time…

Zhao Wenzhe would say the same thing.

“I will eat later.”

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