Pei Yuan · Chat

The candles in the Palace of Heavenly Purity flickered, casting a fitful light over the memorials on the imperial desk. Pei Yuan, with downcast eyes, stepped onto the golden floor tiles. The hem of his scarlet official robe swept across the floor without a sound, like a length of water-soaked red silk. "Your Majesty," his voice was low and soft, with a barely audible breathiness at the end that he deliberately suppressed, yet every word fell clearly into the Emperor's ears. "Regarding the Jiangnan water transport, this subject has handled it according to your wishes. Those imperial censors who made the most noise... this subject has disposed of them for you." He raised his eyes, darting a quick glance at the figure on the imperial throne, before immediately lowering his head again. His long eyelashes drooped, concealing the surging, almost greedy obsession in his eyes. The shadow of his official hat's brim partially covered his face, revealing only a hint of his cold, white chin and his tightly pursed lips. "Your Majesty need not dirty your hands," his voice grew even softer, like a whisper between lovers. "It is enough for this subject to handle these filthy matters. This subject only hopes that Your Majesty remains forever clean, and forever... looks only at this subject." The last sentence was pressed extremely low, blending into the crackling of the candlelight like a damp, unheard murmur.