Chapter 215: The One Held Dear

"What does 'it's all over' even mean?" Ye Jiao found Li Can's reaction rather strange.

When the palace coup broke out, she hadn't thought it was all over.

When they were clearly outnumbered, she still hadn't thought it was all over.

But now, when the dust had settled and only a violent gust of wind had passed, she suddenly did?

She brushed past Li Can and strode to Crown Prince Li Zhang.

He, too, had been rescued.

Seated on a shattered beam, his hair crown had fallen, leaving his raven-black hair loose around his shoulders. Blood dripped from his forehead down his austere, angular face — a harrowing sight.

Ye Jiao felt a twinge of guilt. After all, he had been wounded protecting her.

"Your Highness," she said, offering a respectful curtsy, "thank you."

Li Zhang's hand, resting on his knee, curled slightly at her words.

He cast her a glance — unreadable, commanding even in stillness — and leaned subtly away from her, as though to maintain distance.

Yet his eyes lingered, fixed upon her figure.

In an uncharacteristically gentle tone, he replied, "There's no need to thank me. You led troops into the palace and turned the tide. If anyone owes thanks, it is I."

His voice was low and warm, markedly different from his usual demeanor.

Li Zhang's gaze never left her. Amidst the chaos and noise, it was as if she was the only one he could see.

After such a grueling battle, she was understandably disheveled.

Her silken hair hung loosely to her waist, her crimson gown dust-stained and wrinkled, sleeves rolled tight to reveal her forearms.

A golden silk bracelet encircled her wrist, now stained with blood — whose, it was unclear.

For the first time, she neither recoiled nor kept her guard up.

She had come to express sincere gratitude.

"Your Highness, please allow this humble subject to tend your wounds."

The imperial physician stepped forward, only to be waved away.

"No need," Li Zhang said simply.

He did not want anyone to disturb this fleeting, fragile moment between them.

No one knew the surge of emotion he felt when Ye Jiao appeared at the palace gates, leading the Imperial Guards.

No one knew the jolt in his heart when he instinctively shielded her from a collapsing eave, even as it injured him.

That blend of awe and delight, that stunned disbelief at his own instincts — such a feeling had only occurred twice in his thirty-four years of life.

Ye Jiao… what am I to do with you?

I claimed to despise you, yet now, I would throw my life away to shield you.

When he said no thanks were needed, Ye Jiao visibly relaxed.

The Crown Prince lacked for nothing.

If he truly demanded gratitude, she wouldn't know what gift would suffice.

"In that case," she forced a faint smile, "shall we call it even?"

Even — for the grudges of the past and the life-saving deeds of the present.

She bowed once more, prepared to leave the palace and make haste for Jinzhou.

But Li Zhang's voice rang out:

"There is one thing I must ask you."

"What is it?"

Ye Jiao furrowed her brow in impatience, but steadied her tone.

Li Zhang scanned the area, ensuring no one was paying attention, before finally speaking.

"That day in the Armory, when you dashed into the flames to rescue Prince Chu, you said you feared death, but feared Li Ce's death more.

Then today, when you entered the palace to save me… was it also because…"

He spoke slowly, yet without apparent hesitation — only the final phrase was laced with uncertainty.

Ye Jiao brushed stray hair from her face and understood.

"I came to save His Majesty," she answered without a moment's pause, shattering the illusion in Li Zhang's heart.

Some debts were not meant to be collected — particularly those tinged with the complexities between a man and a woman.

One must avoid any hint of impropriety.

"I heard His Majesty was trapped in the Eastern Palace," she added briskly. "When I didn't find him here, I was surprised.

As for Your Highness, your life concerns the fate of the realm.

Even if I had not come, someone else surely would have.

The Empire is full of loyal warriors; you need not worry."

Li Zhang gave a small smile.

She spoke quickly — too quickly.

She was lying.

But he said nothing, merely nodded.

"I understand."

"This subject takes her leave."

Ye Jiao turned to go, flustered and faintly regretful.

"Ye Qing!"

The Emperor's voice rang out, calling her from across a crowd of ministers and guards.

Ye Jiao, as though grabbing onto a lifeline, instantly ran toward him.

Madam Lu, gravely wounded, had been taken away.

Prince Wei, Li Chen, knelt nearby, head bowed in disgrace.

The Emperor sat in a carved armchair, likely carried there by someone during the battle. His gaze swept across the battlefield, finally resting on Ye Jiao.

His expression was full of satisfaction.

So the gold medallion he had entrusted to her was not in vain.

Had she not succeeded, the coup might have dragged on, possibly until the Imperial Clan risked their lives, or until General Bai Fanxi returned from Jian'nan.

He had summoned Bai Fanxi back precisely because he had no ties to the Lu clan and was a steadfast loyalist.

Ye Jiao gripped the gold medallion in her palm, uncertain whether to return it now.

If she did, His Majesty might discover it was a forgery, and in front of so many officials, that would cause complications.

But if she didn't, he might suspect her of clinging to power and harboring ambition.

"You don't look well," the Emperor said, concern unhidden in his voice.

He looked as if he wished to reach out and wipe the sweat from her brow.

Today, she was not in official robes — her cheeks flushed, her crimson gown dazzling under the sun.

Many found it hard to look away.

"This subject is worried about Prince Chu," Ye Jiao knelt. "I've heard something has happened in Jinzhou. I wish to go see for myself."

If Governor Zheng Feng'an of Hedong had spoken true and Li Ce was gravely wounded, she had no choice but to go.

Before the Emperor could respond, the ministers began to protest.

"The outside is in chaos. You should remain in the capital."

"It's safer in the capital."

"It's safer for you, isn't it?"

Deputy Minister of War Jiang Min snorted. "You just want our War Bureau lady to protect you. Say it plainly — shame on you!"

Clearly, Ye Jiao's valor in today's rescue had earned her newfound respect among the ministers.

She hurriedly credited General Yan Congzheng instead.

He had been carried away by physicians, unable to refute her claims, and she took the chance to sing his praises.

"General Yan?"

Suddenly, a court official dropped to his knees.

"This subject accuses the Yan clan of collusion with Prince Wei in a conspiracy to seize power!"

The censors glared at him, annoyed at having been upstaged.

They stepped forward, ready to kneel as well, but the Emperor raised a hand.

"I've already said, Chancellor Fu Qing will oversee the investigation.

Whatever grievances you have, take them to him.

For now, I wish to speak with Ye Qing."

In short — your loyalty is touching, but don't interrupt my conversation with my future daughter-in-law.

The ministers withdrew.

Ye Jiao once again knelt.

"This subject requests leave to travel to Jinzhou. I beseech Your Majesty's permission."

Officials leaving their posts or departing the capital required imperial consent.

The Emperor paused in thought, about to nod — when suddenly, a scout burst into the hall.

"Report — unrest in the Southern Territories!"

"Report — Jiangnan's provincial army is on the move!"

"Report — the Prefect of Chenzhou has fled his post!"

The ministers surged back in.

Among them, the Minister of Personnel looked especially grave.

"Your Majesty," he said, "the commanders of these provinces — Lu Zhoupei and Lu Yicheng of Chenzhou — are all related to Consort Lu."

The Lu clan, descended from Lord Lu Xi, was deeply entrenched in the court and growing ever more powerful.

"Do not panic," the Emperor said. "I have made arrangements."

Each Lu-affiliated official had spies placed beside them by the Emperor himself.

As long as Li Chen faced justice, the Lu clan would not stir up true disaster.

The ministers breathed a little easier.

But Deputy Minister Jiang Min's face darkened.

"Your Majesty, Governor Zheng Feng'an of Hedong holds the border against the Turks. If he rebels, we must act swiftly."

The Emperor's brow furrowed. "Zheng Feng'an?"

"Yes," added another official, "he married into the Lu clan — effectively a son-in-law."

"Zheng Feng'an is in Jinzhou. He submitted a memorial just this morning," the Emperor said, his fingers clenching tight, expression darkening with unspoken thoughts.

"Report — urgent message from Prince Chu!"

Another scout raced in.

The Emperor's eyes flashed. He leapt up to receive the message.

Tearing open the seal, he pulled out the memorial and read it again and again.

His face gradually eased, and he exclaimed, again and again—

"Good! Good! As expected of my…"