Chapter 295

"Yes." Putting the token away, Fuling smiled, "You haven't been this happy for a long time."

Qingfeng smiled comfortably, "Today is my sister's big day. Although I cannot go, I am also happy for her."

Seeing the sun outside finally break through the clouds, Qingfeng pushed Fuling out anxiously, "Go quickly, don't miss the time."

"Yes." At this time, the palace gates had just opened, right? Fuling was helpless. Her mistress was so anxious that she could only go out.

After Fuling left, Qingfeng became idle. She was happy and excited. If she were to read or practice calligraphy, she didn't have the heart; she only thought about Fuling returning quickly to tell her about the grand occasion of the wedding banquet today. She didn't know what words her sister had brought for her. Her sister was getting married, so Mo'er should be there too. It had been more than half a year since they last met; that girl must have grown up too.

"The Emperor has arrived!" The loud shout came from outside the hall, pulling back Qingfeng's thoughts that had already drifted far away. Yan Hongtian was here? Qingfeng looked out the window. While she was letting her imagination run wild, the sun had already risen, and the sunlight shone on the window lattice; it was already the Si hour.

Today was Prime Minister Lou's wedding, and all officials were coming to congratulate him. Even if he didn't need to go personally to congratulate him, at this time, he should be busy with state affairs in the Imperial Study. What was he doing coming here?

Qingfeng didn't have time to think carefully before that familiar bright yellow figure appeared outside the door. Qingfeng turned to salute, "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live ten thousand years."

Yan Hongtian entered the room, supported Qingfeng with one hand, and his gaze touched her slightly protruding abdomen. A trace of worry flashed in his dark eyes but quickly disappeared. Holding Qingfeng's hand, he smiled, "Didn't I say, my beloved concubine doesn't need to salute."

Having someone serve hot tea, Qingfeng asked as if unintentionally, "How does the Emperor have time to come over today?"

Taking the tea and sipping it lightly—it wasn't as particular as what Xiao Yu brewed, nor as careful as Fuling's usual—Yan Hongtian set down the teacup, "I've been busy with state affairs lately and haven't had time to see you. What? You don't want to see me?"

"This concubine wouldn't dare."

The two spoke a few more sentences, all useless small talk, and Qingfeng's confusion grew even stronger. At this time, Yan Hongtian suddenly walked into the study opposite the inner room. Calling it a study, it was actually just a partition. She liked to paint, so there weren't many books in the study; most of what was on the bookshelf were practice works she had painted casually. A large table of more than eight feet occupied most of the study. The table was full of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as a few half-finished paintings. A Qilin auspicious beast painting that had just been completed was placed in the very center.

Yan Hongtian entered the study and was clearly attracted by this painting. On the painting paper, which was taller than a person, a Qilin stepped on auspicious clouds, exhaling thin smoke from its mouth, surrounded by seven-colored auspicious clouds. The Qilin's whole body was ink-black, its eyes were like copper bells, and its two fangs faintly revealed a cold light. Its half-lying posture seemed to be resting, yet it also had the momentum of being ready to go, as if it were about to leap off the paper at any moment. Yan Hongtian touched the painting paper, found that the ink was dry, rolled it up and placed it to the side, and then flipped through a few unfinished paintings. He soon discovered that this beloved concubine of his liked to paint landscapes. Although not all of them were as magnificent and atmospheric as the towering mountain paintings, it was not hard to see the freedom in her brushstrokes.

Qingfeng stood silently to the side watching. Yan Hongtian didn't ask her questions, and she didn't make a sound. At this time, Gao Jin entered with a wooden box, placed the wooden box to the side, and started to tidy up her desk. Soon it was tidied up. Gao Jin opened the wooden box, took out a stack of dark red small booklets from it, and arranged them neatly on Yan Hongtian's right hand. The booklets didn't look like memorials, and Qingfeng guessed they were probably some memorials reflecting court affairs.

Yan Hongtian handed the painting he had just rolled up to Gao Jin, and then sat down naturally in front of the desk and started... reviewing the memorials?

What did this master and servant mean? This wasn't the Imperial Study. Qingfeng frowned. Yan Hongtian occupied her desk, and she couldn't stand for long, nor could she leave him alone and return to the inner room to rest. She could only lie on the soft couch beside the desk, pull out a book to flip through, her mind not on the book at all. Secretly looking at Yan Hongtian, who was reviewing attentively to the side, Qingfeng was even more depressed. Since he wanted to handle state affairs, why come to her place?

Just like this, about an hour or so passed, and it was almost time for the noon meal. Qingfeng's waist and back were already sore from lying down. Yan Hongtian had hardly moved. After slandering a few words in her heart, Qingfeng had just stood up when Fuling's panicked voice came from outside the door, "Mistress, it's not good!"

Lifting the thin gauze of the partition, Qingfeng replied, "What's not good?"

Running to Qingfeng's side, Fuling was about to speak when she saw Yan Hongtian sitting upright behind the desk. Her knees went soft, and she hurriedly knelt down: "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live ten thousand years."

Yan Hongtian still lowered his head to look at the booklet in his hand, as if he hadn't seen Fuling. Fuling was sweating profusely, her heart pounding. Prime Minister Lou had just had an accident, yet the Emperor was here with the mistress—was it venting anger? Not like it. Monitoring? No need. Fuling stood there for a long time without speaking.

Thinking that she had gone to the wedding banquet to deliver congratulatory gifts today, and returning in such a state, Qingfeng was anxious. Could it be... "Did my sister have an accident?"

Fuling shook her head.

Qingfeng's lifted heart relaxed slightly. As long as it wasn't her sister who had an accident, it was fine. Yan Hongtian didn't make a sound, and Fuling didn't dare to get up. Qingfeng pulled Fuling's hand and asked, "What exactly is the matter?"

Fuling still kept her head down and didn't dare to make a sound. Her fingers secretly wrote the two characters "Prime Minister Lou" on Qingfeng's palm. Just after writing, Yan Hongtian's eyes were still fixed on the booklet, and his slightly deep voice said indifferently, "The mistress told you to speak, so you speak."

Fuling thought for a moment before replying, "General Su returned from suppressing the rebels in the Northwest and captured the rebel leader. The rebels confessed to colluding with Prime Minister Lou and his son to steal gold from the national treasury, intending to..." Fuling hesitated, wanting to look up at the Emperor's expression but not daring to. Qingfeng was even more anxious, "Speak!"

Fuling bit her lips and said in a low voice, "Intending to rebel."

Rebel? Qingfeng's heart jumped violently. This was a capital crime, involving the nine clans. "How is Lou Xiyan now?"

"Prime Minister Lou and his son have already been taken away by Minister Dan and General Su and locked in the Ministry of Justice prison."

Qingfeng was angry, "Then what about the wedding? Who gave them the courage to break into the Prime Minister's mansion and make arrests?"

Fuling lowered her head, not daring to answer. Qingfeng cursed herself for being stupid. Who gave them the courage? Naturally, it was the man behind her! Otherwise, who would dare to make arrests at the wedding banquet of a Prime Minister of a country.

Secretly taking a deep breath, Qingfeng asked in a low voice, "How is my sister?"

"Mistress, don't worry, Madam Lou is fine."

Madam Lou... Qingfeng sighed, "They have already bowed to heaven and earth."

Qingfeng's steps were light. Fuling hurriedly stepped forward, not daring to stand up, and could only kneel and support Qingfeng, saying, "It was Madam Lou who insisted on bowing to heaven and earth with the Prime Minister before letting General Su take the Prime Minister away." The situation at that time was sudden and chaotic. Madam Lou lifted her veil and insisted on bowing to heaven and earth with the Prime Minister in front of everyone. Her determination to live and die with the Prime Minister was self-evident. With that indifferent expression, firm gaze, and calm posture, Fuling couldn't help but praise inwardly—such an outstanding woman, no wonder the Prime Minister wouldn't marry anyone else.

Her sister had finally married Lou Xiyan as she wished. Qingfeng didn't know whether she should be happy or sad. Qingfeng waved her hand, "You withdraw."

The Emperor didn't speak, so Fuling still bit the bullet and retreated as ordered, gently covering the door, but didn't dare to lock it, leaving a crack. She knew her mistress's temperament; she was usually fierce, and although she had restrained herself recently, this matter involved the Qing family, and she was afraid that the mistress and the Emperor would clash again. The mistress was pregnant now and couldn't afford any mistakes.

When Qingfeng turned back, Yan Hongtian had already put down the booklet in his hand, his eagle-like sharp dark eyes locked on her. It was not as cold as in the past, but like a bottomless deep pool, making it impossible to see his thoughts. Falling into Qingfeng's eyes, such a gaze was scrutiny, probing, and even a warning.

Qingfeng also looked back at him coldly, "Is this the reason you stayed in Qingfeng Hall for a whole morning?"

Every time she didn't call herself "this concubine" and call him "Your Majesty" with feigned affection, Yan Hongtian's mood would be inexplicably good. Coldly glaring at her, Yan Hongtian still didn't speak; he wanted to see how the little cat would show its claws today. Qingfeng suddenly laughed, but the laughter didn't reach the bottom of her eyes at all, "You really think highly of me. I suppose the Emperor still has many state affairs to handle at this time, please!"

Yan Hongtian raised his eyebrows, she had improved. Crossing his hands in front of his chest, Yan Hongtian chuckled, "I didn't expect my beloved concubine to be so good at judging the situation. You started chasing people away as soon as you heard Qing Ling was fine. Have you forgotten that Lou Xiyan treated you quite well, and now he is still your brother-in-law? Are you not going to plead for him?"

"Plead?" Qingfeng laughed again, but this time it was full of sarcasm, "Is the Emperor joking? As for court affairs, this concubine is just a woman and dare not comment recklessly. The Prime Minister grew up with the Emperor and has assisted the Emperor for many years; he is your right-hand man and has always worked hard for the Emperor. You naturally know his every move better than this concubine. Under the vast heaven, all is the King's land; all within the borders are the King's subjects. If the Emperor says someone is guilty, who can be innocent?"

The clear voice, every word and sentence, clearly meant "You are a muddled emperor." Yan Hongtian's eagle eyes tightened, "Qingfeng!"

Qingfeng couldn't help but shiver all over, not retreating a single bit.

Qingfeng guessed that Yan Hongtian should be furious now, but Yan Hongtian asked in a deep voice, "In your eyes, am I really a muddled emperor?"

"You..." You originally were...

There was a wide table between the two, but the intimidating aura still made Qingfeng unable to breathe. He was as calm as water, his cold eyes like an eagle, yet he was enduring without releasing. Staring at Yan Hongtian, she couldn't say the words behind. Qingfeng's mind suddenly echoed what Zhen Zhen had said, "You don't understand this inner palace, you don't understand him, and you don't understand love." She didn't understand, and she didn't want to understand, not at all... Thinking this in her mind, her heart felt a dull pain.

"Ugh." Her stomach felt like a stormy sea, and Qingfeng couldn't help but turn and squat in the corner to vomit, first dry retching, then vomiting a mess.

Qingfeng curled up in the corner. The person who was just baring her fangs and brandishing her claws at him was now as weak as a kitten. Yan Hongtian closed his eyes somewhat exhaustedly and called out, "Someone!"

Fuling had been guarding outside the door and had wanted to go in when she heard Qingfeng's dry retching, but because the Emperor was inside, she could only worry outside. Now hearing the Emperor's summons, Fuling rushed in immediately.

Fuling took warm water for Qingfeng to rinse her mouth and patted her back to soothe her. Qingfeng vomited even more violently than usual today. She hadn't eaten anything early in the morning, and by the end, Qingfeng's cheeks were dark red, but her lips were white.

"Summon the imperial physician." Yan Hongtian's face was ashen. Fuling hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, the Mistress is having morning sickness; it's useless even if the imperial physician comes."

Qingfeng knelt half-way on the ground in a disheveled manner, vomiting until she could hardly breathe. Yan Hongtian frowned, "Does she vomit like this every day?"

Fuling didn't dare to lift her head, only hurriedly nodded, and supported Qingfeng to rest on the lounge chair to the side.

Yan Hongtian stood up irritably, paced back and forth outside the main hall a few times, and shouted in a deep voice, "From today on, Qingfeng is not allowed to step out of Qingfeng Hall. If she steps out one step, everyone will lose their heads!"

"Your Majesty, calm your anger!" The servants in Qingfeng Hall knelt down in unison, terrified, but Yan Hongtian didn't even look at them and left Qingfeng Hall.

"Gao Jin, summon Huang Jiao to come and check on her." Leaving the hall, Yan Hongtian left a sentence and walked toward the North Gate.

"Yes." Gao Jin seemed to have expected the Emperor to say this and walked toward the Imperial Medical Garden. After walking two steps, he stopped again, handed the painting the Emperor had handed to him in the morning to the young eunuch behind him, and said, "Take it to be mounted."

The Emperor coming here today was, on one hand, to avoid the annoyance of officials coming to see him about Prime Minister Lou's rebellion, and on the other hand, he was afraid that this fierce mistress would do something to hurt herself without knowing anything, right? Gao Jin pondered, when did the Emperor start to really care about Qingfeng?

(End of chapter)