77: Chapter 77 Emperor Xuan celebrates his victory, and feelings begin to blossom.

The sun had climbed high, casting mottled light and shadows upon the blue brick courtyard outside the Zichen Palace.

The solemnity that had permeated the grand hall after the trial had yet to dissipate, but the palace attendants were already efficiently clearing away the desks, rolling out red carpets, and setting up eight-immortal tables and wine jars.

The sound of string and bamboo instruments drifted leisurely from the end of the corridor, while a few young eunuchs hung freshly picked osmanthus flowers under the eaves, their fragrance mingling with the scent of wine in the breeze.

Empress Murong Wan sat on the Phoenix chair beside the main seat. She had changed out of her bright yellow Dragon robe into casual attire embroidered with pale gold cloud patterns, and had removed her Nine Dragon and Nine Phoenix crown, using only a jade hairpin to hold up her long hair.

She tapped her fingertips lightly against the table, her voice low: "There is no need for strict formality today; all those who have contributed are welcome to take their seats."

Not long after her words fell, the officials arrived one after another.

The military generals stood on the left, and the civil officials on the right, all looking much more relaxed.

With the matter of Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou settled, the stone that had been weighing down the imperial court had finally fallen.

Some people glanced furtively toward the entrance, waiting to see when Chen Xuan, who had personally captured the culprit the night before, would arrive.

Before long, footsteps sounded.

Chen Xuan emerged from the side hall, still wearing his black martial attire, his jade belt fastened neatly at his waist, and his usual smile on his face.

Upon entering, he cupped his hands: "I am late, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"It is of no consequence." Empress Murong Wan looked up at him, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, "If you did not come, this banquet could hardly be called a celebration."

As these words were spoken, several old officials below exchanged glances, remaining silent, though their brows twitched.

Everyone knew that in last night's affair, it was this commoner-born Chen Xuan who had truly captured the culprits and brought them into the palace with the stolen goods.

Now that the Empress herself had said this, the weight of her words was quite different.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

The generals played drinking games, the civil officials recited poetry to add to the excitement, and even the usually stern old Minister had drunk until the tip of his nose was red.

Chen Xuan was surrounded in the center, being toasted, downing bowl after bowl, yet he kept talking: "This merit of mine is entirely due to Your Majesty's proper coordination and everyone's tacit cooperation; I am at most just an errand runner."

"Cut the nonsense!"

A lieutenant general slapped the table, "Who charged at the front last night? If you hadn't scouted the waterway route in advance, would we have been able to intercept that batch of silver?"

Chen Xuan grinned and was about to reply when he suddenly felt a gaze land on him.

He looked up and met Empress Murong Wan's gaze.

She didn't speak, merely lifting the wine cup at her side and raising it slightly.

At this, the entire hall fell silent for a few moments.

Chen Xuan was stunned for half a second, then immediately stood up and walked toward the main dais, holding his cup with both hands.

His pace was steady and unhurried, and he still wore a smile, but his heart skipped a beat.

In such an occasion, being gifted wine by the monarch was already a great honor, but for her to personally raise a cup to invite him meant something out of the ordinary.

"Your subject does not deserve this." He lowered his head, his voice steady.

"Why not?" Empress Murong Wan chuckled, her earrings swaying slightly with the movement, "You rid the country of traitors last night, so it is only reasonable and proper for me to toast you today."

After she finished speaking, she tilted her head back and drained her cup.

Chen Xuan did not decline and followed suit, draining his cup as well.

The wine slid down his throat, burning hot.

As he set the cup down, his gaze swept across her fingertips, which were still unconsciously caressing her earlobe.

The music swelled at that very moment; it was a newly changed piece, "Breaking the Formation," with a brisk rhythm that washed away the momentary stagnation.

Everyone returned to their senses, continuing to drink and chat.

But Chen Xuan knew that some things had changed.

He returned to his seat and sat down, no longer joking and laughing as freely as before.

Flashes of her reading the imperial edict in the hall yesterday morning crossed his mind: her voice was steady, every word striking the ground as if she wanted to shout out more than a decade of grievances.

At that time, she was the sovereign and he was the subject, each fulfilling their duties.

But now, there was something else in the way she looked at him.

It was not appreciation, nor was it gratitude; it was more like probing.

He poured another bowl of wine but didn't drink it, leaving it by his side.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her looking this way again.

This time, she didn't look away, nor did she smile; she just sat there quietly, toying with her empty cup.

"Your Majesty." He suddenly spoke up.

Empress Murong Wan raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

"Your subject has a question." He paused, "If in the future there are still treacherous officials hiding in the court, deceiving those above and below, and disrupting the order, would Your Majesty still trust your subject to take action?"

The question was blunt.

Those around them stopped what they were doing upon hearing it, and even the musicians slowed by half a beat.

Empress Murong Wan was not annoyed; instead, she smiled: "If you are willing to manage it, I dare to let you manage it. Minister Chen, if you have any grand aspirations in the future, speak them plainly, and I will certainly assist with all my strength."

Her tone was light, as if chatting about daily trifles, yet every word was heavy with meaning.

Chen Xuan stared at her for a few seconds, then finally nodded: "What your subject seeks is nothing more than a clear world and for the people to live in peace."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and drank that bowl of cold wine.

The wine was cold, but his heart had warmed up.

He knew what she was waiting for, and he also knew that he could no longer use that commoner-errant way of doing things to muddle through.

She was the Empress, holding the power of the world, and would not easily be moved by emotion; but once moved, it would be for real.

Yet he also knew clearly that there was more than one person behind him.

Leng Shuang, Zhao Hongling, Dugu Xue, Liu Ruyan...

None of them were women he could easily let go of, and she was different; she was not just a woman, but the person who held the reins of the empire.

Once this kind of affection was touched, it would be like pulling a single hair and moving the whole body.

The banquet continued, and the songs and dances changed several times.

He sat in his original seat, no longer saying much, only occasionally raising his cup to socialize.

Empress Murong Wan did not take the initiative to speak again either, but whenever the drumbeats paused, her gaze would inadvertently sweep over.

Once, twice, three times.

Until the moon climbed to the middle of the sky, when someone suggested ending the banquet.

The officials withdrew one after another, the sounds of their footsteps gradually fading away.

Chen Xuan remained sitting there, his hand resting on the edge of the table, watching the figure on the dais who had not yet risen.

The wind blew in from outside the hall, curling up a corner of the curtain.

She finally stood up, but did not leave immediately; instead, she turned to look at him.

"Are you not leaving?"

"Waiting for you to withdraw first."

She nodded, took two steps, and then stopped: "Do not be late for tomorrow's morning court."

"As you command." He cupped his hands with a smile.

Only then did she stride away, her back straight and her pace steady.

But just as her figure was about to disappear at the end of the corridor, a hand was raised to gently touch her earlobe.

Chen Xuan watched that flash of gold vanish, and slowly let out a breath.

The night breeze brushed against his face, carrying the chill of late autumn.

He reached out to touch his nose, habitually wiping his nose tip with his index and middle fingers, the smile on his lips fading slightly.

In the distance, the palace lanterns formed a line, illuminating the entire imperial city.

The celebration banquet had ended, but some things had only just begun.