The Left Chancellor in Red - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“We recall that before your honored father passed away, he once arranged a marriage for Minister Song?”

I nodded stiffly.

Before my parents died, they had still been trying to cover up my identity. They had even gone out of their way to invent a nonexistent female cousin for me and put on a show by drafting a betrothal contract between the two of us.

“Now that your mourning period has ended, why has Minister Song not gone to propose?”

My heart leaped straight into my throat.

Back then, I had only thought I would hide as long as I could. Worst case, I would resign and leave the capital.

But who could have known I would have a brother who did nothing but drag me down?

Now that I had risen to the rank of Left Chancellor, one move would affect the entire court. It was no longer a matter of leaving just because I wanted to.

“M-my cousin already has someone in her heart. The marriage between this subject and her has been called off.”

For some reason, I had the distinct feeling that after I said this, the emperor’s expression eased slightly.

That smiling tiger tilted his head and looked at me with a smile.

“Would you like Us to find another marriage for you, dear minister? In Our opinion, the eldest daughter of the Left Vice Minister’s household is of marriageable age, and Imperial Censor Lin’s younger sister is still waiting in her chambers…”

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. The more I listened, the more panicked I became.

After all, I had been an official at court for five years. I understood the emperor somewhat.

On the surface, he looked innocent and harmless, but in truth, he acted decisively and ruthlessly.

Anything the emperor said aloud was most likely something he had already settled on in his heart.

“This subject will leave everything to Your Majesty’s decision.”

As it turned out, those words were like flattery slapped directly onto a horse’s leg.

For a moment, the hall was so silent one could hear a pin drop.

The emperor reined in his smile and fixed his gaze on me.

I still had no idea what I had done wrong, and my panic grew so intense that I had already picked out where I would be buried.

A young eunuch appeared briefly at the doorway to remind the emperor that it was time for his midday meal.

Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief and rise to take my leave.

“Wait.”

“There are several new dishes today, all made from recipes sent by your elder brother from faraway Lingzhou. Minister Song, stay and taste them with Us.”

Being kept by the emperor for a meal was an immense honor.

But as I watched dish after dish being carried in, I could not shake the feeling that I was eating my last meal before execution.

Song Qing’an was an exceedingly picky eater.

I still remembered the first time he returned after being demoted. He had been so thin he hardly looked human.

But after the first time came the second. He quickly learned how to find joy amid hardship.

Using local specialties to create new dishes, the recipes Song Qing’an devised had become all the rage throughout the capital.

Every time he was demoted, he managed to eat himself into a glossy, well-fed state.

Anyone who did not know better would think he had gone off to enjoy himself.

I looked at the dishes before me and had no appetite whatsoever.

I put on a show of eating a few bites and finally waited until the emperor set down his chopsticks.

Trembling with fear, I spoke.

“Your Majesty, did that useless elder brother of this subject’s commit some offense again?”

Otherwise, why would His Majesty suddenly keep me here and say all those strange things to warn me?

Who would have thought the young emperor would tilt his head, looking somewhat puzzled.

“How could that be? We merely wished to reminisce with you, dear minister.”

“We still remember when We first ascended the throne. The court was in turmoil, and it was Minister Song who stayed by Our side day after day. Only then was the situation stabilized. Several years have passed. Could it be that we have grown distant?”

As if to prove his words, when he released me from the palace, he even bestowed quite a number of gifts upon me.

Even the most favored chief eunuch at the emperor’s side smiled fawningly in front of me.

“The Left Chancellor is young and promising. His Majesty truly cherishes the Left Chancellor. This night pearl is the only one of its kind. Even the Empress Dowager does not have one in her palace.”

The moment he finished speaking, a cold laugh came from the side.

No one knew how long the Right Chancellor had been waiting by the entrance, but his expression was not pleasant.

He cast me a sidelong glance, then strode forward.

“A fox-spirit seducing the sovereign!”