Xu Jin no longer dared to pick up the documents from the floor. He scrambled to the side, wanting to distance himself from that audacious woman. Like a fish gasping for air, his mouth was agape as he glanced up at the Emperor, whose face was dark as the bottom of a pot. He slid his gaze over to Wang Lihua, who was calmly gathering the scattered documents as if nothing had happened.
Wang Lihua gathered all the documents from the dance area, organized them in her hands, and extended them toward Xu Jin. "Here," she said.
Xu Jin didn’t dare to receive the documents from her. He simply stared dumbfounded at the woman before him.
Seeing Xu Jin’s frightened expression, Wang Lihua sighed, placed the organized documents on his table, and walked straight toward the exit of the hall without looking back.
As Wang Lihua reached the hall’s entrance and was about to step out, a loud voice called out behind her.
With a calm expression, Wang Lihua turned back and looked at Chen Kaiming, who sat atop the dais.
Chen Kaiming’s hair and beard bristled, like the mane of an enraged lion. He glared at Wang Lihua, his voice laced with fury as he shouted, "Wang Lihua, do you really think I won't have you executed?!"
Wang Lihua’s face remained calm, unfazed by the Emperor’s threat.
"In such a vast empire, is there anyone that a tyrant like you won't kill?"
It was that word again.
Chen Kaiming seemed utterly incensed. He stood up, flipping the table in front of him and kicking his stool far away. His hands gesticulated wildly and his dragon robe rustled loudly.
"Tyrant! Tyrant! Tyrant! That’s all you call me! What exactly have I done wrong?!"
Chen Kaiming paused, panting heavily, his eyes red with anger. He pointed at Wang Lihua with his right hand.
"You said... you said Leaping Carp Lake lacked life, so I planted pear trees all around it! You wanted an explanation, so I had all the corrupt officials in Qizhou arrested! In the end, you still call me a tyrant! What more do you want me to do?!"
After this outburst, Chen Kaiming panted heavily, bitterly glaring at Wang Lihua.
Wang Lihua’s expression remained unchanged as she listened to the Emperor's grievances. When Chen Kaiming finally finished, she calmly said, "Chen Kaiming, I told you at Leaping Carp Lake... you’ve placed yourself in the wrong role from the very beginning."
Chen Kaiming faltered, his lips parting slightly, "What..."
"You think you’ve done a lot by weeding out corrupt officials to give me an explanation," Wang Lihua shook her head and continued, "But you haven’t seriously considered if your actions are enough.
"I'm not the only one who needs an explanation. There are countless citizens in Qizhou who are still suffering. Corrupt officials indeed must be punished, but what happens next? Does your rule end there?
"Right now, with every passing moment, people in Qizhou are starving to death and being harassed by bandits... yet here you are, holding a grand banquet, feeling proud for punishing a few corrupt officials... Take that into account, and ask yourself what right you have to call yourself a wise ruler."
Having said her piece, Wang Lihua strode out of the hall without looking back.
In the hall, all the officials remained silent. Some looked at Xu Jin, who was floundering in the dance area, others watched Wang Lihua’s departing figure, and some cast furtive glances at Chen Kaiming’s changing expression.
Chen Kaiming stood motionless for a long time, his expression fluctuating. After a long pause, he finally lowered his arm dejectedly and waved his hand.
The officials, relieved to hear his command, stood up one by one and bowed before they took their leave.
Soon, only Chen Kaiming, Yue Dou, and Fan Shaolin remained in the hall.
Chen Kaiming forced a smile at Fan Shaolin.
"I must have made a fool of myself in front of my teacher."
Fan Shaolin smacked his lips thoughtfully and chuckled softly.
"Why worry, Your Majesty? In my view... the lady's words are not without merit."
Chen Kaiming closed his eyes and nodded.
"I understand... it’s just that she hardly shows any respect for me."
"That depends on how Your Majesty interprets showing respect," Fan Shaolin said. Sitting at the table, he calmly picked up a slice of cucumber. "If only the words from flatterers and sycophants qualify as respect, then Your Majesty could use a few more people who don’t show you that same respect."
Chen Kaiming opened his eyes slightly, looking thoughtful.
Fan Shaolin continued, "In truth, Your Majesty understands better than anyone... Miss Lihua does not truly despise you. She only wishes for Your Majesty to be a wise ruler. Regardless of her reasons, in the end, it is for Your Majesty’s own good."
Chen Kaiming was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Teacher, in the end, you understand people the best..."
Silvery moonlight streamed in through the window like flowing water, spilling across the floor as Wang Lihua prepared to undress and go to sleep.
A series of knocks at the door startled Wang Lihua.
"Who is it?" Wang Lihua asked as she quickly pulled her half-removed dress back up.
"It’s me." Chen Kaiming announced from outside the door.
Wang Lihua was shocked. Why would Chen Kaiming come at such an hour? She was about to get out of bed when the door suddenly swung open.
Chen Kaiming stepped in, commenting, "Oh... So you didn’t lock the door."
Wang Lihua frowned, instinctively wanting to scold him for barging in, but quickly bit her tongue. Was there any place in this palace that Chen Kaiming wasn't allowed to enter?
Chen Kaiming looked somewhat dissatisfied as he complained, "You refused the palace maids arranged to serve you, so there’s no one around to announce my arrival. In the end, I have to come myself..."
"What are you here for?" Wang Lihua ignored his complaints and glared at him bluntly.
"Well..." Chen Kaiming avoided her gaze, stroking his beard as he looked out the window. "The moonlight is quite splendid tonight. I wonder if Miss Lihua would care to enjoy it with me?"
"I have no interest in that, go by yourself!" Wang Lihua refused immediately.
Chen Kaiming paid her response no mind, chuckling softly. "Excellent. Since Miss Lihua is also interested, then come along with me."
As soon as Chen Kaiming finished speaking, two armored guards entered, plucking up Wang Lihua by either arm and carrying her out the door.
This was outright coercion. Wang Lihua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She would never have expected the emperor to act so shamelessly.
"Let go! I can walk on my own!" The guards had no intention of harming her, so Wang Lihua easily freed herself with a slight struggle. She shot Chen Kaiming a glare before leading the way out of her room.
Chen Kaiming’s lips curved into a smile as he followed her out.