Chapter 36
On Friday, Li Xinjun, dressed in a blue gown, accompanied Song Ling, who wore a white dress, to the imperial palace. The palace was adorned with lavish decorations, and the grand hall was filled with officials and foreign dignitaries. Li Xinjun, hand in hand with Song Ling, was led to a seat of honor. She noticed three tables across from them occupied by foreigners with red hair and green eyes, their appearance piquing her curiosity.
Hongli, dressed in a yellow imperial robe, sat upon his throne, greeting Li Xinjun and Song Ling with a smile and a nod. Once everyone was seated, the banquet commenced. Musicians began to play their instruments, and a group of dancers entered the hall, performing an elaborate and graceful dance.
Li Xinjun watched the performance with delight, while Song Ling, her brow furrowed, scanned the room. She detected a faint demonic aura, similar to that of the jiangshi king, but much weaker. Her gaze settled on a foreigner sitting beside Prince Anling. It was Mark.
Mark and Prince Anling were seated next to the foreign envoys. Due to their fluency in foreign languages, and Mark’s British nationality, Hongli had assigned them to entertain the envoys from the British Empire.
Mark and Prince Anling chatted with the envoys, who, upon learning that Mark was also British, became even more friendly. They invited him to visit their homeland. Mark, concealing his true identity, didn’t reveal his former status as an earl. He claimed that his father was a merchant and that he had been born and raised in the Qing Dynasty, so he knew nothing about Britain.
Henry, the leader of the British envoy, expressed sympathy for Mark’s situation, lamenting that a foreigner had to live in the Qing Dynasty and be treated as an outsider. He offered to take Mark back to Britain with him.
Mark didn’t refuse. He was indeed seeking a change in his life, no longer content to live in hiding. Since he had decided to live among humans, returning to Britain would facilitate his integration into society.
The atmosphere in the hall was festive, except for Song Ling. She didn’t recognize Mark, as he had been a desiccated corpse wrapped in bandages when they met in Chen Family Village. She had never seen his true face. However, the faint demonic aura emanating from him was familiar.
Mark, to avoid unnecessary trouble, had been suppressing his aura, not wanting to attract the attention of other jiangshi. Song Ling hadn’t detected his presence until now, being in such close proximity to him.
She wasn’t certain that Mark was the jiangshi king. She just found him suspicious. She suspected that he might have been in close contact with the jiangshi king, which was why he carried a faint demonic aura. She decided to keep a close eye on him, hoping to find answers.
Li Xinjun, oblivious to Song Ling’s suspicions, was engrossed in the performance, enjoying the pastries, wine, and entertainment.
After the performance, Hongli raised his cup and proposed a toast. The officials and foreign dignitaries raised their cups in response, emptying them in a single gulp.
“General Henry, I hope you are enjoying the banquet I have prepared for you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored by your hospitality. The British Empire looks forward to continued friendly relations with the Great Qing.”
“Excellent, excellent. My esteemed officials, let’s keep the festivities going! Drink, enjoy the entertainment!”
The officials, encouraged by the Emperor’s words, resumed their merrymaking. Li Xinjun, remembering her previous experience with alcohol, decided to limit her intake. After two cups, she excused herself and went outside for some fresh air.
Hongli, noticing her departure, excused himself as well and followed her. He found her standing by a pavilion, gazing at the full moon in the sky, her head resting against a pillar. The moonlight illuminated her face, making her look ethereal, like a celestial being.
Captivated by the sight, Hongli approached her quietly, not wanting to startle her and break the spell. He stood behind her, inhaling her scent.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
Li Xinjun, startled by his sudden appearance, turned around and, seeing Hongli, relaxed.
“Brother Hongli, you scared me! Why did you sneak up on me like that?”
“I saw you leave and followed you. You look beautiful tonight, Xinjun.” Hongli took her hand, repeating his compliment.
“Brother Hongli, please behave yourself.” Li Xinjun pulled her hand away.
“Xinjun, don’t you understand my feelings for you?” Hongli looked at her with longing in his eyes.
“Brother Hongli, I told you before that I don’t like it when you act like this. I thought you understood.”
“Xinjun, after all this time, don’t you have any feelings for me at all?”
As the Emperor, Hongli had never been rejected by a woman. Countless women would gladly throw themselves at him, seeking his favor. Li Xinjun was different.
“Brother Hongli, I appreciate your kindness, but my heart belongs to someone else. I’m sorry.”
If Li Xinjun had simply rejected him, he might not have felt so devastated. But to hear that the only woman he had ever loved was in love with another man was a blow to his pride, both as a man and as the Emperor.
Hongli’s face darkened. He turned away, his fists clenched, his voice cold with anger.
“Who is this man?!”
“Brother Hongli, I am grateful for your feelings, but I cannot reciprocate. I hope you understand.”
Li Xinjun, avoiding his question, turned to leave, but Hongli grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms. Li Xinjun was shocked. Hongli had always treated her with respect. She hadn’t expected him to be so forceful.
She struggled to free herself from his grasp and then, turning around, slapped him hard across the face. Hongli staggered back, his hand flying to his stinging cheek.
“Your Majesty, please control yourself!” Li Xinjun, her voice cold, no longer addressing him as “Brother Hongli.”
“Since you know I am the Emperor, you should know that I can make you my Empress if I so desire!” Hongli’s voice was laced with anger.
“You!”
“I am the Son of Heaven! All the land in this empire belongs to me! If I want something, I can have it! I can make you my Empress, and I can just as easily eliminate your beloved!” Blinded by jealousy, Hongli threatened Li Xinjun, his words betraying his own principles.
“If Your Majesty harms her, I will not live another day!”
Li Xinjun glared at him, her jaw clenched. She had always considered Hongli a friend and had never thought of him as the Emperor. She hadn’t expected him to use his power to threaten her.
They stood there, facing each other, their anger palpable. Neither spoke, afraid of further escalating the situation. Finally, Hongli sighed and softened his tone, trying to salvage their relationship.
“Xinjun, I don’t want things to be like this between us. Can we just forget about this and be friends again?”
“Your Majesty, do I have a choice in the matter?” Li Xinjun was still angry. She couldn’t forgive him for threatening Song Ling’s safety.
“You! Fine! If we can’t go back to how things were, then I won’t hold back anymore! I will issue a decree tomorrow, summoning you to the palace and making you my Empress! We’ll see who can take you away from me then!” Enraged, Hongli stormed off.
Li Xinjun’s heart sank. She didn’t want to enter the palace or become the Empress. She hadn’t expected Hongli to be so serious.
“Your Majesty, you can’t do this! You can’t!” She called after him.
“My mind is made up, Xinjun. Prepare yourself for my decree.”
Hongli, his anger fueled by her formal address, ignored her pleas and left. Li Xinjun collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. She hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point. Hongli, her friend, had turned against her. Indeed, being close to the Emperor was like being close to a tiger.
She felt powerless, but she wasn’t one to give up easily. She had endured so much in her life, always fighting against fate to survive. She wouldn’t accept this fate. She wiped away her tears and, composing herself, entered the grand hall.
Henry, who had stepped outside for some air, had witnessed the entire exchange between Li Xinjun and Hongli. Not wanting to get involved, he had remained hidden, observing them from a distance.
