Ji Qingwu's statement came out of the blue. Zhao Mingyan was momentarily baffled, but he quickly understood what she meant.
His chest rose and fell as he asked, "What one hundred and twenty-four characters?"
"The imperial edict making me empress that Your Majesty gave me. It has a total of one hundred and twenty-four characters."
The words that tumbled from her lips, tinged with the grit of the Northern Border's wind and sand, were more intoxicating than the apricot wine of Jiangnan.
Fearing he wouldn't believe her, Ji Qingwu spoke in a rush, "I've already memorized it. I can even write it out from memory. I might not be able to recite it backward fluently, but I don't think that would be too hard either."
"Ah Wu."
Zhao Mingyan called her name, his voice filled with a tender sense of gratification.
Every character he had painstakingly deliberated over in the Diligent Governance Hall, she had committed firmly to heart. That she cherished it so was enough.
"Don't talk yet."
