Chapter 25: Turbulent Times (1)
Zhao Ziheng couldn't help but marvel at the delicious soup.
“It tastes good—”
"As long as the emperor likes it, Wei'er is afraid that the emperor will be dissatisfied."
"How could it be? The soup is not only delicious, but also unique in taste. I have never tasted such a unique soup before. Could it be made by the new imperial chef?"
It seems that Zhao Ziheng is very satisfied with the taste of the soup.
"this--"
"Your Majesty, this bowl of soup was made by the Queen herself—"
"Huh?"
“Qingqing!!”
When Lin Wei was hesitating whether to answer Zhao Ziheng's question, the maid who came with Lin Wei spoke first.
"Did Wei'er make it?"
Hearing the maid's words, Zhao Ziheng looked at Lin Wei in disbelief, and Lin Wei immediately lowered her head in shame.
"What on earth is this?"
Zhao Ziheng wanted to know the inside story, but Lin Wei was too ashamed to speak.
"Qingqing, you say!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Since Your Majesty learned that Your Majesty has been busy until late every day since returning to the palace, Your Majesty has specially asked the imperial physician to prepare a variety of precious and famous medicines that can help relieve fatigue and strengthen the body. In order to achieve the original effects of these herbs, they must be simmered over a slow fire more than dozens of hours. Your Majesty was afraid that the medicine juice alone would be unpalatable, so she mixed it with good turtle soup. In order to ensure that the taste is delicious, the heat and cooking time must be kept well. For this bowl of soup, Your Majesty never left during the more than ten hours of cooking -"
After listening to the maid's explanation, Zhao Ziheng suddenly realized that he had never even thought that drinking a bowl of pure soup would require so much energy.
"Qingqing, didn't I tell you not to tell anyone? Why won't you listen? Tell me how I should punish you?"
She completely ignored her instructions and said something that she shouldn't have said. Lin Wei really didn't know how to treat Qingqing.
"Ah, please forgive me, Madam..."
Since Lin Wei had spoken, Qingqing was of course frightened. Although her master was kind and gentle, disobeying the queen would lead to death. She was so scared that she knelt on the ground...
"Qingqing, get up——"
"emperor?"
What surprised Qingqing was that Zhao Ziheng actually saved her?
"The king forgives you for your innocence, get up!"
"Yes, yes - thank you very much, Your Majesty!"
Qingqing looked at Lin Wei with a frightened heart, then stood up nervously from the ground...
"You guys go down first!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will take my leave——"
"I will take my leave first..."
Qingqing and the chief eunuch left one after another following Zhao Ziheng's orders, leaving Zhao Ziheng and Lin Wei alone in the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, you can't just forgive her like this. It's only natural that people who make mistakes should be punished. Although she made a minor mistake this time, if you don't give her a minor punishment as a warning, what will happen if she makes a bigger mistake in the future?"
It seems that Lin Wei does not really want to punish Qingqing, but just hopes to make her alert to herself.
"You are too reserved, Wei'er. Some things don't need to be taken too seriously. Besides, I was the one who asked him to say that just now. If you want to punish someone, punish me--"
"Weier dare not——"
Zhao Ziheng was a reasonable person, so how could he not understand Lin Wei's meaning? If Lin Wei wanted to punish him, then she should punish him as the one who instigated the incident. Of course, how could Lin Wei dare to attack Zhao Ziheng? While she was talking, she was about to kneel on the ground, but fortunately, Zhao Ziheng supported her a step ahead...
"How many times do you want me to tell you that when there are no outsiders, all the red tape will be waived? And you don't listen--"
"Wei Er knows her fault, please forgive me, Your Majesty—"
As he spoke, he wanted to kneel down again. Fortunately, Zhao Ziheng did not let go, otherwise he would have fallen to his knees again...
"...I'm telling you, you know you're wrong but still make the same mistake——"
"I--"
The reason why Lin Wei behaves like this is because she received etiquette education since childhood. She would certainly not do anything that is disobedient or unethical.
"Okay, stop blaming yourself, and don't be so reserved. I really don't want you to be bound by unnecessary etiquette in front of me—"
"Weier is very grateful for the emperor's kindness to me. Weier will do her best——"
"Then you should drink a little too. You didn't get enough rest for me, did you?"
As he said that, Zhao Ziheng held the bowl of soup in front of Lin Wei. Lin Wei looked at it, but Zhao Ziheng's gentle eyes did not allow her to refuse...
Lin Wei seemed to have not noticed the changes in Zhao Ziheng. She had never even considered the meaning of Zhao Ziheng's gentleness. Her mind and body had long been surrounded by the happiness in front of her, making her forget the things she had to think about.
Yin Yin fell into a long sleep.
But the conspiracy will not disappear.
In this seemingly peaceful era, strange winds began to blow.
Led by Feiyan State, the balance of the world was disrupted, and many countries were caught in the flames of war. No one knew who started this war. They only knew that Feiyan State had already absorbed many small countries without anyone noticing, and possessed considerable military strength. It was unstoppable from one side of the continent, and wherever it went was like hell on earth. Countries were destroyed, and the people were crying out in pain...
The world began to become turbulent, which was like adding insult to injury for the State of Zhao, which had just managed to stabilize the people's hearts.
The night before Lin Wei was officially crowned queen.
Lin Wei stayed in her palace as usual.
It was like usual, but in terms of her state of mind, no matter who she was, any woman would be as shy and nervous as Lin Wei when it came to her first time. Even if she looked calm and composed, her state of mind could not be hidden. This nervousness was far more intense than the day she married Zhao Ziheng...
Pretending to be calm and composed, Lin Wei was embroidering with needle and thread. She had already moved to the [Central Palace] which belonged to the Queen .
The sound of hurried footsteps disturbed her peace.
"My queen——"
"What's wrong? Why are you making such a fuss?"
Facing the flustered maid, Lin Wei did not show any sign of being shaken, and hid her nervous state of mind very carefully. However, when the maid explained the reason, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, the calmness of the previous moment disappeared...
"The Emperor is here——"
"What did you say, ah——"
When the maid explained the cause of the incident, it was Lin Wei who became flustered. The needle in her hand accidentally pierced her delicate fingertips. The pain also made Lin Wei sober up a little. "Go and welcome the emperor—"
“Yes, yes—”
The maids hurriedly followed Lin Wei, who was also a little unprepared, to the main hall to welcome the emperor. However, the reason why Lin Wei and the palace maids were a little unprepared was that since Zhao Ziheng came back, every time it was Lin Wei who went to see Zhao Ziheng or received a summons, Zhao Ziheng never came to visit Lin Wei in person...
[Central Palace].
Everyone was a little unprepared for Zhao Ziheng's sudden visit . Although Zhao Ziheng seemed to value Lin Wei very much, he had never come to see her. His first visit was dozens of days after he returned to the palace. It was no wonder that they were so flustered. In addition, Zhao Ziheng's arrival was very simple. He only brought a eunuch and several guards. It was no wonder that he suddenly appeared without any announcement and caught people off guard...
As soon as Lin Wei arrived at the main hall, she saw Zhao Ziheng sitting in the hall drinking tea. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live long and happily!"
As soon as she entered the main hall, Lin Wei quickly walked up to Zhao Ziheng and saluted. "Get up, the king said you don't have to pay too much attention to these red tapes-"
"Yes, I will keep it in mind——"
Although the words were a bit harsh, the tone was very gentle, and even when blaming, it showed that there was no pressure.
"Because I saw that you still had the lights on, I came to see what you were doing so late at night?"
Lin Wei was asked by Zhao Ziheng as soon as she stood up.
"I couldn't sleep, so I practiced embroidery—"
"Can't sleep? "
Zhao Ziheng repeated Lin Wei's words, which made Lin Wei look a little shy. Although it was a question, how should Lin Wei answer it?
"Is there something on your mind?"
"No--"
Zhao Ziheng's repeated probing only made Lin Wei more shy. Zhao Ziheng couldn't see through a woman's thoughts, even if she was honest and subtle. Facing Zhao Ziheng's gaze, Lin Wei became more shy...
Suddenly, Zhao Ziheng's sight was drawn to Lin Wei's tightly grasped white silk scarf: "Are you hurt?"
Zhao Ziheng, who had excellent and sharp eyesight, saw the blood stains on the white silk scarf and immediately put down the tea bowl in his hand, walked to Lin Wei and held up her hand. As he expected, he saw the tip of Lin Wei's finger that had been pierced by a needle not long ago. Because of Lin Wei's nervousness, she had bled more than she had imagined...
"I was accidentally pricked by a needle just now. It's just a minor injury. It's nothing serious."
"What do you mean it's alright? Someone, call the imperial physician—"
"Hmm!"
"Wait a moment--"
The eunuch who received the order just turned around and walked away when he was stopped by Lin Wei, and then: "Your Majesty, how can you alarm the imperial physician for such a minor injury? Just apply some medicinal wine and it will be fine-"
"How can it be alright? What if it's tetanus?"
"tetanus?"
In ancient times, "tetanus" was a relatively new term, so Lin Wei certainly didn't understand it.
“What if you get infected?”
"No, it can't be that exaggerated. There's no need to summon the imperial physician—"
Lin Wei was really happy that Zhao Ziheng cared so much about her, but she would not make a fuss about it.
"...I really can't argue with you. Okay, bring the medicine box. I'll apply the medicine for you--"
"As for the medicine box, I have one in my bedroom—"
"Hmm? Then let's go to your bedroom--"
Just a small injury could make Zhao Ziheng so nervous, Lin Wei's heart was jumping with joy...
