Inside the Feng Luan Palace.
Incense spiraled upwards in violet smoke, and soft, alluring moans filled the warm bed curtains.
It was just past noon. Zi Pei had already sent away the young eunuch carrying lunch. She occasionally heard the playful sounds from within and smiled faintly, then went to the courtyard to sweep.
Shen Nong emerged from the tent, drenched in sweat and panting with a breath as faint as a mosquito's. Barefoot, she walked to the table, picked up the purple clay teapot, and, disregarding her image and status, poured tea into her mouth.
After finishing the pot, it seemed not enough. She looked at the cups and saucers, confirmed they were empty, and reluctantly let it be.
"How was it?" Eunuch Yun walked over from a corner where he had finished washing his hands, holding a handkerchief and asking.
Shen Nong shot him a playfully reproachful glance and smiled without speaking.
A moment later, after both had calmed down, a few strands of worry crept onto Shen Nong's face. "Eunuch Yun, will you resent me?"
"Resent what?" Eunuch Yun walked to Shen Nong's side, massaging her shoulders with both hands as he asked.
"Regarding Ying'er's matter, you..."
Eunuch Yun sighed and said, "Shen Ying's fate today is of her own making. If she hadn't been so ruthless, wanting to kill Zhong Li, Zhong Li might not have thought of putting Shen Ying to death. Besides, I know you did your best, Nong'er. It's just that we failed to teach her well, allowing her to develop such a domineering and arrogant nature."
"Eunuch Yun, you might not understand Zhong Li's nature. Even if Lin Jin hadn't had an accident, with the case of Tian Lianxue, she would still have dealt with Ying'er according to the law. It's just..." Speaking of Shen Ying's matter, Shen Nong felt a pang of sadness, and tears streamed down her face.
Seeing the beauty weep, Eunuch Yun, his heart aching, embraced her from behind.
"Ying'er was sent away out of necessity back then. You found Tian Lianxue to replace her, to bring me some comfort. Until Ying'er reappeared, I always felt I owed her. I built a house for her in Jinzhou and sent her the finest belongings that I myself was reluctant to use. Yet, I never thought to discipline her properly. This led to her believing that Tian Lianxue, being too similar to her, had stolen our love. She cruelly killed her. If this hadn't happened, even ten Zhong Lis wouldn't dare to do anything to Ying'er! Alas... sob..." Shen Nong became increasingly distressed as she thought, and began to cry profusely.
Eunuch Yun gently patted her back and said, "Hong'er still doesn't know his true identity. Before, when Tian Lianxue was disfigured, I had to say a lot of good things to get him to step forward and help Ying'er resolve this matter. Now that we've reached this point, it's best not to tell Hong'er about Ying'er."
"Mm!" Shen Nong nodded.
Eunuch Yun thought for a moment and then asked, "How is the medicine I gave you working?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Nong's brows furrowed. "After the Emperor became suspicious of Hong'er, I brewed soup for him every day, and administered the medicine on time. I personally watched him drink it. But it's strange, my informants haven't received any news from Eunuch Hua yet. Could it be that the medicine isn't working?"
"It won't be. That came from the Shu Rong Kingdom. It won't be useless!" Eunuch Yun stated with certainty.
"Then... what's going on?" Shen Nong asked.
Eunuch Yun mused, "The Shu Rong Kingdom has been making many moves recently along the Jinzhou border. The Emperor relies on the Shen family to guard the border. Even if he knows there's something wrong with the soup, as long as he doesn't want to experience the internal strife of twenty-one years ago, he will naturally tolerate you more. Why don't you take this opportunity to increase the dosage?"
"What, that's not..." Shen Nong covered her mouth.
"Don't worry, even if he dies, I will protect you," Eunuch Yun said, then took out a bottle of medicine from his embrace and slipped it into Shen Nong's hand. He added, "Nong'er, only our child can sit on that position, do you understand?"
"Okay!" Shen Nong slowly nodded.
It was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Zhong Li sat in Lu Wu Xie's carriage, her hands propping up her cheeks as she watched the snow outside.
This year, the Southern Yue Kingdom was exceptionally cold. Snow fell and melted, then melted and fell again. Wen Chang Street was covered in icicles. Both the carriages and the horses' hooves were coated with thick ginger. For safety, the coachman was also scattering salt as they went. Even so, Zhong Li could feel the wheels slipping beneath her.
"Stop looking, your face is turning red." Lu Wu Xie pulled Zhong Li into his embrace, seeing her cheeks as red as persimmons. He felt a pang of concern and covered her face with his hands.
"I'm fine. A bit of cold is good for the body." Since Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie's relationship had grown closer, she spoke to him more casually and intimately.
Lu Wu Xie liked her this way. He smiled and pecked her on the cheek. Then, he pulled open the small carved cabinet beside him and took something out.
"Ear warmers, where did you get these?" Zhong Li was very surprised that Lu Wu Xie could produce such an item.
"I saw a drawing of this on your desk when I went to find you at Dali Temple. So I casually brought it to someone to have it made. It's just that good white fox fur is hard to find. Oh, what do you call it? Ear warmers?" Lu Wu Xie seemed particularly interested in this novel term.
Zhong Li nodded. "Yes, ear warmers. The women in my hometown love beauty but fear the cold. If they wear hats, their hairstyles are ruined. So they invented these ear warmers. They're light, small, and keep out the cold. See, does this not affect my hairstyle at all?"
She explained, casually slipping the ear warmers through her hair and putting them on, then asked Lu Wu Xie.
Zhong Li's face was already fair, and with the fluffy fox fur ear warmers, her skin seemed even more delicate and supple, and her face appeared smaller. Lu Wu Xie smiled and said, "I'm thinking, if one day neither of us were in court..."
"Then we'd sell ear warmers in Linzhou. Linzhou is the coldest, so we'd surely earn a lot of money," Zhong Li finished his sentence.
Lu Wu Xie lightly pecked her nose. "Good. I'll do whatever you say."
Wearing the ear warmers, Zhong Li persistently lifted the carriage curtain by a sliver and continued to look outside. Having seen the snowstorms of modern cities, the ancient city had a different feel.
"Oh, right, the Emperor's punishment for the Fu family was announced yesterday." Lu Wu Xie poured a cup of warm water and placed it in Zhong Li's hand to warm her.
When Zhong Li heard him mention official matters, she lowered the curtain and replied seriously:
"Ever since Mo Cang discovered a large amount of silver in the Fu family, I heard the Emperor was so angry he was ill for two days. Now that the results are out, the Emperor's health should be much better."
"As Ru Li'er predicted, Fu Chong and all the direct descendants were executed. All the servants and household staff were exiled to the border of Linzhou," Lu Wu Xie said.
"I heard that the Northern Di people have been patrolling the Linzhou border recently. I wonder if they're causing any trouble." Zhong Li felt uneasy lately.
Lu Wu Xie took her hand and held it in his palm, comforting her. "What is destined to come will come. At least, it's not today."
"Don't mention it. The Emperor is holding a family banquet, and you insisted on bringing me. Isn't that inappropriate?" Zhong Li blushed, feeling a bit uncomfortable. It was one thing to attend court, but this was akin to meeting the parents.
Lu Wu Xie said, "Li'er, I owe you a promise. Today, I also want to get an imperial decree from the Emperor. Although my father pushed back the banquet, he didn't object, which means he agreed. I don't want to let you down."
"Not at all," Zhong Li chuckled, leaning into Lu Wu Xie's embrace.
"Oh, right, I have some good news to tell you," Lu Wu Xie said.
"What?" Zhong Li asked.
"Lin Jin has woken up."
"Woken up?" Zhong Li was stunned at first. After realizing it, she smiled sincerely. "When did he wake up? How is his health? Are there any sequelae?"
"Which of your three questions should I answer first?" Lu Wu Xie pinched her nose.
"Answer them one by one!" Zhong Li nuzzled his robe.
"He woke up yesterday. His health is fine, but he's been lying in bed for a long time, so his muscles and bones need to be exercised. As for sequelae... Doctor Wu said he hasn't found any for now."
"Oh!" Hearing that he was fine, the heavy stone in Zhong Li's heart slowly began to lift.
"Do you know the first thing Lin Jin asked after he woke up?"
"What?" Zhong Li asked.
"He asked me if you were alright!"
Zhong Li felt a sting in her nose, her voice choked with emotion. "Even in his condition, he's still thinking of me."
"Alright!" Lu Wu Xie hugged her tighter. "I'll take you to see him tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay!"