CHAPTER 215: IT SHOULD BE REMOVED BY MY HAND ONLY!

The moment the Prime Minister’s words left his lips, the entire hall fell into a silence so heavy it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath.

No one moved.

No one even blinked.

All eyes turned to the new Empress, standing motionless in her red robes at the top of the dais. The delicate silk veil that covered her face fluttered just slightly in the still air, but she didn’t so much as shift. She seemed almost like a statue carved from living jade.

It was tradition for the Empress to walk in proudly, her face uncovered for the empire to see, her beauty a symbol of the harmony between the Emperor and his bride. But this Empress had entered differently—her face hidden, her expression a mystery.

The silence was thick, but the tension was thicker. A single spark could have shattered it.

Whispers began to ripple through the hall, like ripples on a still pond.

"Why is she hiding her face?" someone murmured, the voice small and uncertain.

"I heard she was poisoned, gravely injured," another voice whispered. "Perhaps her face is... ruined."

"That would be a tragedy," another added, voice low. "To be crowned Empress, but too ashamed to show your face..."

The Prime Minister’s lips curved into a faint smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. He took in the sea of worried expressions, the way heads turned and fingers fidgeted with embroidered sleeves.

He looked at the Empress again, that perfect red veil covering all but the faint outline of her lips, so still and composed.

Beside her, Zhao Ling Xu shifted slightly. His hands were hidden in his wide sleeves, but his shoulders were tense, his jaw set tight. He had never looked so guarded.

The Prime Minister’s gaze flicked back to him, a slow, calculating glance.

"Shy, is she?" he asked softly, his tone almost teasing.

Zhao Ling Xu took a slow breath, then spoke, his voice calm. "The Empress has endured much. She is still recovering from her injuries. It is understandable that she would be... hesitant to show her face before so many eyes."

There was a flicker in the Prime Minister’s eyes—curiosity, maybe. Or suspicion.

Zhao Ling Xu had never been one to defend anyone, let alone the first consort of his half-brother, now his Empress. Yet here he was, standing like a wall in front of her, shielding her from the world.

The Prime Minister’s smile widened, but it was a cold thing. "Your concern is touching, my son. But tradition cannot be brushed aside for one woman’s modesty."

He turned to face the Empress fully, his voice ringing out just enough to carry to every corner of the hall.

"Guests have come from every province to witness this moment," he said, his tone smooth, but with an edge that cut like a blade. "To hide your face at such a time is disrespectful. A sign of bad fortune... and poor manners."

He took a step forward, each movement deliberate.

The Empress didn’t flinch. She stood still, the soft shimmer of her veil giving her an air of mystery that only deepened with every breath.

The Prime Minister’s allies shifted slightly behind him, watching with narrowed eyes. Some of them leaned closer, curiosity plain in their faces. Others watched Zhao Ling Xu instead, measuring the tension in his shoulders.

In the back rows, the former royal family sat stiffly, their expressions guarded but their eyes bright with unease. They knew Qin Su well—she had been the first consort of Zhao Yan, the rightful heir. And now, here she was, standing beside a man who was never meant to be Emperor.

The whispers grew.

"I heard she was disfigured," a voice said, low but insistent. "That’s why she hides."

"It’s not proper. She should show her face."

"She brings bad luck to this coronation..."

Zhao Ling Xu’s eyes flicked to the Empress. Her head was still lowered, the veil catching the light like water. Behind it, no one could see her eyes. But he could see the faintest curve of her lips, soft and serene.

She wasn’t trembling.

She wasn’t afraid.

The Prime Minister took another step forward, stopping at the bottom of the dais. He lifted his head slightly, his voice soft but carrying.

"Empress Qin Su," he said, "the eyes of the empire are upon you. It is your duty to honor them, to show them the face of their new mother."

He paused, letting the words settle.

"Will you not remove your veil?"

The Empress didn’t move.

The Prime Minister’s smile didn’t waver, but something in his eyes went sharp.

"Ah... shy, still?" he said. "Then allow me."

He began to ascend the steps, each movement slow, deliberate, like a cat stalking a bird. His men, stationed near the dais, shifted as well, their hands resting casually on the hilts of their swords. No one else moved. The musicians fell silent, the flutes and drums now just silent shadows against the walls.

Zhao Ling Xu stepped forward, his robe whispering against the polished floor. He placed a hand on his father’s arm, his voice low.

"I am the Emperor," he said. "She is my Empress. If her veil is to be removed, it will be by my hand alone."

The Prime Minister stopped. His eyes flicked down to the hand on his arm. There was a pause—just a heartbeat of stillness.

Then he laughed softly, shaking his head as if amused. "You’ve grown bold, my son," he said.

He pushed Zhao Ling Xu’s hand aside with a flick of his wrist, his smile never wavering.

"Boldness is good," he said. "But tradition is stronger."

He reached up again, his fingers stretching towards the edge of the delicate veil.

Zhao Ling Xu moved to block him once more, but the Prime Minister’s left hand shot out, knocking his arm aside with sudden, brutal force. The movement was so fast that it cracked through the hush of the hall like a whip.

The Prime Minister’s right hand reached for the veil, fingertips brushing the soft silk.

But before he could touch it—

A sharp, whistling sound cut through the air.

An arrow.

It flew so fast, no one saw it until it was there.

The Prime Minister jerked back, the arrow slicing through the air inches from his face. It embedded itself in the wooden pillar behind him with a dull, heavy thunk.

Gasps exploded through the hall.

"Ah!"