Chapter 264

Fuling shook her head slightly and replied: "This servant studied for a few years in the Female Medical Academy and has a rough understanding of some pharmacology."

So she was a medical maid. Huang Jiao nodded with satisfaction and smiled: "Good. Come here, and I will tell you the things you need to pay attention to in the future."

"Yes." Fuling followed Huang Jiao out to the outer chamber.

The early summer sunlight filtered through the pink-purple gauze curtains, casting a floor of fluorescent light. Stretching her waist, Qingfeng rose and walked to the window lattice, taking a deep breath. A faint floral fragrance drifted in with the breeze, refreshing the heart and spirit, making one feel instantly invigorated. The delicate, pale pink flowers vied with each other in beauty, blooming with a luxurious air amidst the clusters of blossoms. Although not as dignified as the peony, they possessed an extra touch of tenderness. Xin Yuening was not wrong; this patch of peonies was indeed top-tier, though she preferred the lofty nature of the autumn begonia. After thinking for a moment, Qingfeng suddenly said: "Lan'er, find me an outer garment."

"Yes." Lan'er brought a goose-yellow, plain-patterned palace gown and dressed Qingfeng neatly. Qingfeng lifted the curtain and walked toward the outside of the hall.

Lan'er dared not be slow and hurried to follow: "Your Ladyship, where are you going?" Xia Yin also immediately brought a paper umbrella; the noon sun could make a person faint, so this was not a good time to go out to admire flowers.

"Just walking around; you don't need to follow me." Fuling was just walking back after seeing Huang Jiao out. Qingfeng reached out her hand and said: "Fuling, help me go out for a walk."

"Yes." Fuling took the umbrella from Xia Yin's hand and supported Qingfeng as she left Qingfeng Palace.

Lan'er was slightly annoyed and complained in a low voice: "Sister Xia Yin, that Fuling knows medicine and also knows how to curry favor with Her Ladyship. Where will there be a place for us in this Qingfeng Palace in the future?"

Stuffing the empty medicine bowl into Lan'er's hand, Xia Yin replied while tidying the bed curtains: "Just do your own work well. Who Her Ladyship wants to favor is not something you or I can control."

Pouting, Lan'er muttered in reply: "I know."

Lan'er carried the medicine bowl out of the hall. Xia Yin looked around to make sure no one was there, then took something from her sleeve and quietly tucked it under Qingfeng's pillow.

During the noon hour, the masters were naturally all resting in their respective palaces, and there was no one on the palace paths. In the distance, a light green paper umbrella and two slender figures approached. Under the scorching sun, the two walked with light steps, arriving slowly, seemingly bringing a trace of coolness to this restless summer afternoon.

"Fuling, you should know Lou Xiyan, right? What is he like as a person?"

Fuling pondered for a while before replying in a low voice: "This servant has never had contact with the Prime Minister, so I do not know his character. I only hear palace servants say that he is modest and refined, and is the official the Emperor relies on most."

After a long while, Qingfeng suddenly asked: "Has he married?" Her sister was gentle and elegant; it would be a grievance to be a concubine for someone, but for a figure like Lou Xiyan, could he be without a wife?

"The Prime Minister has not yet married, but..."

Before Fuling could finish her sentence, a ball of white, fluffy thing suddenly darted out from the flower bushes by the roadside and pounced onto Qingfeng's leg.

"Ah!" The sudden turn of events startled Qingfeng into a scream. Having just recovered from a major illness, and having been hit hard on the leg, Qingfeng lost her footing and fell backward.

"Careful." A deep male voice sounded in her ear, and a large hand firmly grasped her arm. With the support of this strength, Qingfeng finally stood upright. As soon as she steadied herself, the hand immediately let go. Qingfeng looked back and collided with a pair of familiar cold eyes.

These eyes? It was him?! The man who helped her during her most difficult night—she recognized these eyes.

A flash of surprise also crossed the man's indifferent eyes, but it was quickly hidden, and he averted his gaze, no longer looking at her. The man's cold attitude was like a ladle of cold water, bringing Qingfeng's originally excited heart back to its place. Silently withdrawing her gaze, she looked at the thing that had given her such a fright. That white ball looked like a cat and also like a dog, biting her hem and refusing to let go. Afraid it might bite, Qingfeng dared not kick it. Fortunately, at this moment, another man stepped forward and picked it up, allowing Qingfeng to be freed.

Two young palace maids had been searching all the way and, hearing Qingfeng's scream, hurried over. Seeing that the fluffy ball of meat was being held safely in arms, the two secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They knelt halfway and saluted Qingfeng: "This servant deserves to die for not watching Xue'er well and startling Your Ladyship. I beg Your Ladyship's forgiveness."

"Xue'er?" Qingfeng looked at the fluffy ball of meat held in the man's arms. The snow-white fur was very long; up close, it looked like a dog.

Fuling stepped forward and whispered in her ear: "It is the favorite dog of the Emperor's own sister, Princess Zhaoyang, named Xue'er."

So that was it. No wonder these two palace maids, although begging for forgiveness with their mouths, showed no fear on their faces. To beat a dog, one must look at its owner. Fuling explaining it so carefully was clearly reminding her that this Princess Zhaoyang was a person she could not afford to offend. Curling the corners of her mouth, Qingfeng replied coldly: "Forget it. Just don't let it run around in the future."

"Thank you, Your Ladyship." The palace maids carefully took back the dog from the man's arms and trotted off in the direction they had come.

The man looked to be in his thirties, with a tall and upright posture, a handsome face, and a long sword at his waist, faintly revealing a heroic air. However, compared to a general like Su Ling who fought on the battlefield, he lacked some boldness and might. Seeing him dressed in dark red military attire, he should be a commander of the Imperial Guard in the palace, and his rank was not low. Qingfeng asked with a smile: "Who are you?"

The man replied in a deep voice: "Imperial Guard Commander, Guo Yi. Greetings to Concubine Qing."

"No need for formalities." Turning her head to look at the man behind her who had supported her and had now retreated several steps, Qingfeng asked casually: "And you?"

"This subordinate is Ming Ze."

Qingfeng nodded, no longer looking at him, and said politely to Guo Yi: "Thank you for your help just now, Commander."

"I dare not take the credit; protecting the safety of the master is my duty." Guo Yi's response could be considered respectful, but not warm. Qingfeng said nothing more and took Fuling to continue walking along the palace path. After the two had walked quite a distance, Qingfeng slowed her pace, a smile rising at the corners of her lips, reaching her eyes. So his name was Ming Ze. The face that was hard to see clearly in the hazy night was actually so young. Unlike the dark skin and sturdy build of ordinary martial generals, his face was handsome and his temperament cold. Even under the scorching sun, that indifferent air made him seem as if he were shrouded in thin ice. If it weren't for those indifferent, deep eyes, she might not have recognized him.

Qingfeng's faint smile was as gentle as a spring breeze blowing over willow trees. What made her master's mood so pleasant? Fuling secretly speculated, but she did not ask a single word, just silently following behind Qingfeng.

"You said just now that Lou Xiyan has no wife?"

Fuling lowered her eyes to hide her confusion and replied truthfully: "The Prime Minister indeed has not yet married, but the Emperor and the Western Empress Dowager intend to betroth Princess Zhaoyang to the Prime Minister." Everyone knew that Princess Zhaoyang had admired the Prime Minister for many years, and marriage was only a matter of time.

That Princess Zhaoyang again? To treasure a dog so much, the extent of her being favored was evident. If she became Lou Xiyan's legal wife, what would happen to her sister?

"It's only been a few days, and you already have the strength to get out of bed. You really are a fierce little cat. It seems I worried for nothing." A deep voice came from afar, filled with mockery and majesty. Fuling hurriedly knelt down and called out: "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

Yan Hongtian! Qingfeng's hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and her heart tightened. Even though a sense of fear arose from her heart every time she saw him, she still forced herself to turn around to face him. Under the scorching sun, he strode over, wearing his bright yellow dragon robe. The evil, charming aura was replaced by the dominance of a monarch. As his figure drew closer, the oppressive aura made it hard to breathe. Taking a secret deep breath, Qingfeng lowered her head, bent her knees slightly, and said: "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

Yan Hongtian's black eyes flashed, and he lifted her chin, smiling: "Little cat, where are your sharp claws?" Qingfeng had changed into palace attire and tidied herself up well; from afar, she had a certain grace, but this soft, limp appearance was not like her at all.

Claws? Qingfeng gave a cold snort, her bright eyes meeting Yan Hongtian's deep black eyes, and she replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes: "The Emperor jokes. A cat's claws are only suitable for catching mice and entertaining its master. Truly sharp claws will crush an enemy's throat in one go."

Her voice was no longer hoarse, and the clear, gentle female voice responded with a smile that occasionally revealed unruliness and killing intent. After a moment of surprise, Yan Hongtian burst into laughter: "Well said!" This was the little wild cat in his impression. If the toy he had finally found became so docile, wouldn't it be boring?

Yan Hongtian laughed heartily, but Fuling and the little eunuch beside her were so scared that cold sweat streamed down. Qingfeng frowned deeply. What was so funny about this? She hated this feeling, as if she were a pet he kept in captivity, and her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all meant to entertain him.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister and Lord Dan have been waiting for a long time." When the Emperor flirted with a concubine, only Gao Jin dared to speak up at such a time.

Yan Hongtian nodded and walked toward the Imperial Study. After two steps, he suddenly stopped and said loudly: "Right, tell the Jingshi Hall that tonight I..." Looking back at Qingfeng, Yan Hongtian smiled: "Will stay at Qingfeng Palace."

Stay the night? And not just for a night of favor? According to ancestral rules, only the Empress could share a bed with the Emperor for a night. The four consorts were already lacking in status, and the Emperor was actually going to stay at Qingfeng Palace? Although it was against the rules, since the Emperor insisted, no one dared to say anything. Besides, Gao Jin had never liked to talk much about such bedroom matters, so he replied: "Yes."

Yan Hongtian strode away happily, but Qingfeng's face turned from red to green, and from green to black...

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live..."

Yan Hongtian stepped quickly into the Imperial Study. The two who had been waiting in the hall bowed and saluted. "Rise." With a casual wave of his hand, he interrupted what they were about to say. Yan Hongtian sat down gracefully on the gilded dragon chair and asked: "How are the preparations for the celebration going?"

"The Ministry of Rites is currently drafting the list of guests to be invited from various countries. The Ministry of Revenue is also counting and preparing the various ceremonial vessels, items, and silver expenses needed for the celebration. The deployment of officials and troop arrangements by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel are also being arranged. All departments are preparing, and it will be reported in the next few days." Lou Xiyan replied in an orderly manner, his expression calm, showing no sign that he had been waiting in this Imperial Study for more than half an hour.

(End of chapter)