"An He, put this away." Emperor Huizong says in a flat tone.
Eunuch An answers him.
Emperor Huizong adds: "No need to take it too seriously. Just pack it with a box."
Well. Eunuch An, who has been by Emperor Huizong"s side for 30 years understands what His Majesty means instantly.
He can"t put this letter from Prince Yan casually, rather, he has to take the greatest of care and keep it as a treasure.
Emperors have always been saying one thing while meaning another.
Seeing that Eunuch An goes out of the chamber, a smile finally climbs up Emperor Huizong"s face.
"That girl from Prince Beiding"s Manor is quite kind."
Once he thinks of Ah Zhao, her annoying father Prince Beiding occurs to Emperor Huizong as well.
Once Prince Beiding appears in his mind, Emperor Huizong couldn"t help but turn his back on him: how could a man as unsophisticated as Qin Zhen have a daughter as sweet as Princess Yan?
Once Eunuch An comes back into the Palace of Heaven and Earth, Emperor Huizong has decided to see Prince Beiding who has been in detention in Prince Beiding"s Manor.
As Chief Steward of the servants of the imperial palace, the all-around Eunuch An could always have everything arranged in no time.
"Right, An He, where did you put the letter from Prince Yan?" Emperor Huizong asks in a seemingly random way.
Eunuch An answers hurriedly: "Your Majesty, you"ve told me to just put it away, but it"s a letter after all so I use the jade ceramic eight treasures box which is moist-proof and insect-proof."
The jade ceramic eight treasures box was a tribute from a little country in the Western Regions the year before last year. It was carved out of a whole jade without a tiny flaw, its patterns beautiful and elegant, its style impressive. It is a real treasure.
n.o.ble Consort He loved it at first sight and asked Emperor Huizong for it for several times. However, Emperor Huizong didn"t want to give it away.
It"s a reckless waste of treasure using it to keep a letter.
But Emperor Huizong seems very satisfied: "An He, you are quite thoughtful."
An He hurriedly says "Your Majesty flatters me" over and again.
He recalls how shocked his disciple was when he saw him take out the jade ceramic eight treasures box and snorts scornfully to himself: his disciple is too naive after all.
If one wants to live happily in the palace, the first thing is to figure out what His Majesty wants.
Everything else won"t matter if one figures out what His Majesty wants.
At the moment, Zhao Yi is having his meal at the famous Tianxiang Building in the capital of Yan.
With his respectable background, he sure belongs to the private rooms upstairs.
Now, he is carefully savoring the flavor of liquor while enjoying the view outside the building.
He is looking around casually when he is attracted by a carriage.
It"s an unexceptional carriage with a blue-green curtain.
But Zhao Yi dare not to look down on it because he has such a perfect sight that he recognizes the blue-green curtain is made of sky-blue sheer which is a tribute from the south at first sight.
Not much sky-blue sheer is produced each year and even less will be left after the emperor distributes it to each palace.
A prince who is not in His Majesty"s favor like Prince Yi could only make two sets of clothes with all the sky-blue sheer he has acc.u.mulated for years.
Who could use sky-blue sheer as the curtain of his carriage and get out of the palace whenever he likes?
Zhao Yi already has an answer in his mind.
"You, go and follow that carriage and find out its destination." He speaks to his man in an even tone.
"Yes."
Shortly afterwards his man comes back with the report.
"Prince Beiding"s Manor?"
Zhao Yi says softly and adds some strength to his fingertips when the cup made of suet white jade smashed in his hand.
"As expected, His Majesty"s favor runs deep."
He looks at the direction of the imperial city.
Like he has looked through everything, even seeing a woman who now lives in the cold palace.
Zhao Yi suddenly changes his mind.