Chapter 108 (1/2): The Yusuo Tablet

Ever since slipping a silver ingot, A wu naturally felt guilty and didn’t dare to see Emperor Jingxi at all.

She thought, now that everything with Lu Yunjian was settled, she should pack her bags and run away quickly.

Just as she was about to leave, the Dragon Guard commander arrived with an imperial summons for A wu.

The moment A wu heard this, her heart tightened.

What did this mean?

Such a formal summons—what could he want?

Ning Sanlang noticed his sister’s anxious expression and asked with concern, “A wu, what’s wrong? Are you having trouble with the Emperor?”

A wu hesitated, “Not really…”

Seeing her like this, Ning Sanlang grew more worried and took her hand.

“A wu, did the Emperor bully you or something?”

A wu scoffed, “Hmph, so what if he did!”

Ning Sanlang declared fiercely, “Even if he’s the Emperor, so what? If he dares to bully you, I won’t let him off, no matter what it takes!”

A wu felt comforted hearing that.

Her third brother was a bit reckless compared to their father, but he always stood firmly on her side, no questions asked.

She deliberately teased, “Fine, then go get him for me now.”

Ning Sanlang immediately said, “Let’s go! I’ll accompany you and confront him!”

Unexpectedly, Yehan, who had been silent all along, grabbed Ning Sanlang’s arm: “Sanlang, don’t make a fuss.”

Ning Sanlang retorted, “What’s fussing about?”

Yehan cast a deep look at A wu.

A wu felt as if those jet-black eyes could see right through her, leaving her no place to hide.

She suddenly remembered all the reckless moments with the Emperor on the city wall and blushed.

Yehan slowly withdrew his gaze and said, “I have something important to discuss with you. Come with me.”

Ning Sanlang reluctantly glared, “What do you want to do?”

Yehan said to A wu, “A wu, you go with Lord Sun and have a proper talk.”

Then, without waiting for a response, he pulled Ning Sanlang away.

Ning Sanlang shouted in protest but eventually muttered, frequently glancing back: “A wu, wait for me, don’t leave!”

A wu laughed, “Forget it, no need for you to stick up for me.”

She thought there was no way to escape anyway—he had already sent the Dragon Guard commander.

It looked quite serious, so she had no choice but to go.

Along the way, she anxiously pondered what to do.

Would he be angry?

If so, should she soothe him or confront him?

When she arrived in front of the Huating, several officials were waiting under the eaves.

Judging by their attire, they were commanders from the Coastal Defense Posts and other military officers.

Upon seeing her, the officials bowed their heads respectfully, avoiding eye contact.

A wu was puzzled.

The Emperor was busy with affairs; why summon her now?

Just then, an attendant came out and respectfully said the Emperor requested her presence.

A wu entered, immediately sensing the serious and cold atmosphere typical of handling official matters.

Emperor Jingxi wore a dark brocade robe, his expression solemn and stern, still bearing the weight of official duties.

A wu, already nervous, grew more hesitant.

She had become somewhat spoiled and willful in front of this man, yet when he revealed his imperial bearing, she still felt uneasy.

Now, recalling the silver ingot she had slipped to him felt like a grave sin.

With a heavy heart, she shuffled slowly into the room.

The Emperor was reviewing a pile of documents and accounts.

Seeing her, he paused his brush and fixed his gaze on her.

Under his serious stare, A wu became even more uncomfortable.

She lowered her head and whispered, “Your Majesty, you called for me? Is there something you need?”

Emperor Jingxi said lightly, “Oh? Can’t I call for you if there’s nothing?”

A wu said quickly, “Aren’t you busy…?”

Emperor Jingxi said, “It’s nothing much, just something I want to ask you.”

A wu asked, “What is it?”

He said, “Lu Yunjian is locked up in the dungeon and wants to see you. What do you think?”

Throughout, his gaze never left her face.

A wu responded without hesitation, “Of course not. Why would I want to see him?”

Emperor Jingxi replied, “If you won’t see him, then so be it.”

In truth, he didn’t want A wu to meet Lu Yunjian either, but he had promised to ask.

Now that he’d gotten his answer, he felt relieved and amused, beckoning her over with a smile.

A wu, sensing his playful mood, became wary and quickly said, “Aren’t you still busy? I won’t disturb you.”

She turned to leave.

But Emperor Jingxi said, “There’s one more important matter I want to discuss.”

A wu stopped, wary, “What is it?”

Emperor Jingxi explained, “You know I have long been planning for the Eastern Sea—shipbuilding, border defense—all require silver. I’ve been struggling to find a solution.”

A wu turned to him, puzzled, “Then what will you do?”

Of course, she wondered why the Emperor was telling her this.

Was he asking her to conjure up silver?

He pressed his long fingers against the desk and said, “So today, after much thought, I’ve finally come up with a solution.”

A wu asked, “What?”

Emperor Jingxi smiled and teased, “Tonight, another ten taels?”

A wu froze, then blushed furiously.

She glared at him and said, “I’m not dealing with you anymore! I’m going home!”

She dashed out.

Emperor Jingxi watched her retreating figure, savoring the rosy flush on her cheeks, and smiled softly.

“Ungrateful little one.”

After she was out of earshot, his deep, alluring voice echoed in her mind: “Tonight, another ten taels.”

She found it both amusing and infuriating.

He said he needed silver for building dikes, but that night he was quite reckless.

Ten taels?

To save up enough silver for the dikes…

She laughed aloud.

If she really had to save that much silver, she’d either go bankrupt or perish from indulgence!

As she walked back, still chuckling, she unexpectedly ran into Ning Dalang at the estate.

He was in military dress, looking steadier than before, seemingly just returned from outside, gulping tea noisily.

A wu told Ning Dalang about her plan to leave, and when the topic turned to Lu Yunjian, she hesitated but still asked, “What happened? The Emperor suddenly mentioned Lu Yunjian when he summoned me.”

She looked at Ning Dalang, “Do you know anything about Lu Yunjian?”

Ning Dalang fell silent.

He knew Lu Yunjian had a history with his sister, and everyone had chosen not to speak of it, nor did Emperor Jingxi acknowledge it.

But since A wu asked…

He finally said, “I know some things. I heard the Emperor is searching for something and has kept Lu Yunjian imprisoned because of it.”

A wu’s heart skipped: “Something? What is it?”

Ning Dalang glanced around before lowering his voice.

“That day, your third brother wanted to beat Lu Yunjian again and tried sneaking into the dungeon but couldn’t get near. The Dragon Guard are strict, but they know the Emperor values Lu Yunjian and didn’t trouble him. Instead, he overheard something—that the Emperor is looking for a jade artifact. What exactly, no one knows, but it sounds important.”

A wu immediately understood.

When she first noticed the Yusuo Tablet was made of the same jade as the Emperor’s thumb ring, she had a vague feeling it was no ordinary trinket.

That was why she kept it with her.

But after arriving at the Coastal Defense Post, various events distracted her, or rather, she consciously avoided thinking about it, keeping her distance and trying not to get involved.

Now it seemed Emperor Jingxi was indeed searching for this Yusuo Tablet.

Back in her room, she looked at her luggage and took out the Yusuo Tablet, examining it carefully.

She had already noticed faint engravings on the back—tiny characters almost impossible to read.

Now, holding it up to the sunlight, she could barely make out the words “Qing Shu” and “Descendants”.

Before, she didn’t understand, but now she guessed “Shu” meant forgiveness, implying Lu Yunjian might be pardoned if he made mistakes.

As for “Descendants,” it suggested the tablet could protect one’s lineage.

She traced the tablet thoughtfully, pacing back and forth.

Truthfully, she wished to stay out of all this.

There was clearly some grudges between Emperor Jingxi and Lu Yunjian.

Lu Yunjian had given her to the Imperial Son for some reason.

Now, she held both the Emperor’s thumb ring and Lu Yunjian’s Yusuo Tablet.

What kind of mess was this?

What did Emperor Jingxi think?

She didn’t want to stir trouble.

After much hesitation, she finally took the tablet and thumb ring to see Emperor Jingxi.