16 Did You Think of A Miracle? 7 (1/2)

When An Fei woke up, light blue curtains were the first sight to greet her eyes.

Craning her head to find herself covered underneath a cotton blanket, the girl blinked her eyes twice before slumping back into the safety and warmth of the blanket.

With the soft scratching of brush on paper audible from the other side of the curtain, it seemed that she had returned to the study once again. An Fei lay on the bed in a haze for a few moments, before bolting upright in a frenzied rush.

”Fei'er, you're awake?”

A relaxed and leisurely voice sounded, the rustling of cloth soon following. Smooth footsteps drumming on the wooden floor, the speaker approached the bed to part one side of the curtains, poking his head in to gaze at the girl. Looking at the dazed An Fei with befuddlement evident in her insipid gaze, Wei Xuan revealed a small smile before reaching forward to clasp one of her hands in a soft but firm grasp.

It was a pity that the girl wasn't of the right mind to complain about the indulgent gaze on Second Uncle's countenance.

Otherwise, she would have silently and bitterly ripped that smiling face in half in her thoughts. Even when Wei Xuan extended both hands to pinch and pull at her cheeks, the girl forgot to respond.

She was far too preoccupied with the events that transpired in that mysterious crystal throne room.

”…did it actually happen? Or was it an illusion?”

”Huh? Fei'er, did you say something?”

A barely perceptible whisper touched Wei Xuan's ears, and the minister leaned in with great panic and excitement.

Aiming his ear towards the girl's lips, the overexcited father could only withdraw with great despondence after hearing nothing for several moments. Wrinkling his brow, the minister lightly patted the girl's head, before stepping back from the curtain.

”…my daughter, Father will be back in a few hours for the morning court. Xifeng will come in a while to give you breakfast.”

Quickly slipping into his court robe, Wei Xuan then departed from the study with conflicting emotions, his steps sometimes light, sometimes heavy.

When the study doors had slid shut, An Fei abruptly blinked her eyes, vigorously shaking her head as clarity gradually returned. With a frown touching her countenance, the girl leaned back onto the linen bed as she sorted through her memories.

Occasionally, she would puff a cheek with air, a disapproving look on her face.

-

”Minister Wei, do you have anything in your defense?”

The emperor scowled, thrusting a memorial at the kneeling Wei Xuan's feet. The surrounding ministers all whispered to one another, several pointing at the kneeling minister.

”Is that the first mistake made by Fellow Wei?”

”No doubt about it, the emperor's seriously pissed off as well. Didn't you hear? Yesterday afternoon, Fellow Wei broke three consecutive legislations of Jiang'an for the management of cultivation and martial arts. Violating any one of them is a serious crime, not to mention he broke all three!”

”But…they said he did it for his daughter…if the emperor actually dares find fault with the minister now, wouldn't he be…criticized by the public?”

”Quiet, quiet! The emperor looks like he's about to talk. Let's not anger His Majesty any further…”

Ignoring the various gossip from the officials, Wei Xuan had a peaceful smile on his handsome countenance as he maintained his kneeling position.

Taking a light breath to ponder on a matter for several seconds, the minister deepened his smile as he lowered his head into a kowtow.

”Responding to His Imperial Majesty,” he spoke with a respectful tone. ”This official was overcome with tragic news regarding his family, and could only rush with the greatest haste to check on the manor. After all, Your Imperial Majesty is aware of my fourth daughter's circumstance…this official was truly helpless and couldn't restrain himself from breaking a few-”

”So what if I am aware!!” the emperor roared, swatting a jade teacup to the ground.

Watching it break into countless fragments and yet finding himself unable to appease his anger, the emperor speechlessly pointed at the kneeling Wei Xuan. With both anger and admiration for the minister bearing down on his mind, the emperor opened his mouth to berate the smiling Wei Xuan, but all that escaped was more attuned with a child's bitter whine.

”You-you…you're an esteemed official for heaven's sake! Even if your daughter might have suffered a grievous injury from the fire, an official's dignity-no, Yong's dignity should be maintained in all circumstances!” The emperor complained.

”I even sent you Imperial Physician Feng Tian Mu to look after that pitiable girl! And you-you won't even let this emperor scold you a little bit!?”