Wu Zheng sat behind the broad wooden desk in his private study, a fine brush held between his fingers. An unfinished painting lay before him, its delicate strokes gradually taking the shape of a woman.
He had spent most of the morning attending to imperial affairs, but the moment he had found a little time to himself, his thoughts had returned to the same person.
A girl with bright eyes, a fearless gaze, and an expression that changed so quickly he could hardly predict what she would do next.
Lin Xue.
His brush moved across the paper, carefully outlining the features he remembered. He had never been particularly interested in painting people, yet he found himself trying to capture every detail of her face. The more he worked, the more he recalled the expressions she had worn when they met in the forest.
The surprise in her eyes. The embarrassment she had tried to hide. The indignation with which she had protested against their fate.
A faint smile touched his lips.
He was still adding the final strokes when the head eunuch entered the study. The servant approached with measured steps and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is here."
Wu Zheng lifted his brush from the paper.
"She may come in."
He set the brush aside just as the doors opened, revealing a woman whose youthful appearance made her seem to be in her late thirties. Despite her royal bearing, there was an unmistakable eagerness in her expression as she approached her son.
"Zheng Zheng, how have you been?" she asked, studying his face. "You have been so busy that you haven't even found time to visit your mother. Have you forgotten that I exist?"
Wu Zheng rose from his seat and bowed his head slightly.
"I have been occupied with state affairs. Forgive me, Mother."
The Queen Mother regarded him for a moment before her expression softened.
"Very well. I shall forgive you this time."
She walked towards his desk, intending to sit down, but stopped when she noticed the painting spread across it.
Her eyes widened.
For a moment, she simply stared at the portrait, as though she needed to make certain that what she was seeing was real. Then she looked from the painting to her son, surprise slowly giving way to excitement.
"Zheng Zheng," she exclaimed, pointing at the portrait. "Have you met your soulmate?"
Wu Zheng glanced at the painting before looking back at her.
"Yes."
The single word was enough to send her into a fresh wave of excitement.
"You have really found her?" she asked, almost unwilling to believe it. "After all these years?"
Wu Zheng nodded.
The Queen Mother clasped her hands together, already imagining the woman who had finally managed to capture her son's attention. She had long hoped that he would find someone he genuinely wanted by his side. Now that he had, she could hardly contain her curiosity.
"When will you bring her to the palace? I want to meet her!"
"Soon enough."
"Soon enough?" she repeated, giving him a disapproving look. "How can you expect your mother to wait patiently after hearing such wonderful news? Tell me, who is she? What family does she come from? When did you meet her?"
Wu Zheng listened to her questions without offering many details. His mother had always been expressive, but he suspected her excitement would only grow once she learned more about the woman in the painting.
Then an idea occurred to the Queen Mother.
"Wait. If you have already found your soulmate, there is no reason to hold the Flower Day Celebration to choose an Empress. We should cancel it."
"No."
His immediate answer made her pause.
Wu Zheng returned to his chair, his gaze settling on the portrait once more.
The Queen Mother frowned. "Why not? You have found the woman destined to become your wife. What is the point of inviting all those young ladies to the palace?"
"I will choose her there."
She stared at him, momentarily confused.
"You mean you intend to announce your choice during the celebration?"
"Yes."
A slow smile spread across Wu Zheng's face. He could already imagine Lin Xue's reaction when she discovered who he truly was. She had insisted that she would never agree to marry him, yet she had no idea that the man she had been questioning in the forest was the very Emperor whose decision could determine the fate of the entire kingdom.
The thought amused him more than it should have.
The Queen Mother watched the subtle change in his expression. Her son was not one to make decisions without reason, and he certainly did not smile so easily. Whatever his plans were, he seemed unusually confident about this woman.
She looked at the portrait again, her curiosity deepening.
Who exactly was this girl who had managed to stir such interest in her son?
And what would happen when she discovered that her handsome young master was none other than the Emperor of Wu?
For the first time in a long while, the Queen Mother found herself eagerly anticipating the Flower Day Celebration.