"Why...why? Your Majesty, after all this time together, haven't you developed any feelings for me?"

"Am I merely a substitute in your eyes? I am not reconciled! I am not reconciled!"

Before she could finish speaking, Qu Muyu was overcome with anger and coughed up a mouthful of blood, becoming completely weak.

"His Majesty is mine, His Majesty is mine... I am His Majesty's most beloved concubine."

Seeing that she was thinly dressed and not quite lucid, Gao Yi put away Su Luo's portrait.

"Consort Qu, Consort Qu, life in the palace is not suitable for you. You should never have knocked out this old servant's teeth."

Even a seemingly useless and insignificant palace maid should not be offended, or you will end up like her.

Even a small ant can shake a tree; you'd better watch yourself.

...

As time passed day by day and year by year, one day when Nangong Qing was reviewing memorials, he suddenly received a memorial written by Su Luo herself.

Su Luo didn't use her special privileges to submit this memorial; instead, she followed the proper procedures, piling it up section by section before finally reporting it to Nangong Qing.

The above text is concise, stating when she woke up and that she is currently safe and sound.

She was overjoyed to wake up again and see such a bustling city as Nanning.

She also mentioned that she had just woken up and it was inconvenient for her to return to the capital, so she and Nangong Chiyu decided to travel around and enjoy the scenery before studying agriculture in more detail.

If she discovers a delicious dish, she will definitely write to herself first. In the days to come, she will study different varieties of cabbage and other vegetables, so please look forward to it, Nangong Qing.

"Gao Yi, Su Luo has woken up! She's awake! Quickly, write a letter to all the officials informing them that I will be hosting a banquet today."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. It is a blessing for the people of Nanning that the Deputy Minister of Agriculture has been able to wake up, and Your Majesty has also been relieved of a worry."

Nangong Qing hadn't been this happy in a long time. Su Luo's continued slumber was a torment for both him and Nangong Chiyu.

"It's a joyous occasion. Send someone to inform the Empress and have her prepare dinner."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Nangong Qing was very happy that Su Luo woke up, but the first person he wanted to share his joy with was still the Empress.

"Wait... Have someone order a table of delicacies from Fu Man Lou. The Empress loves Fu Man Lou's cooking the most."

"Yes, sir, I'll have someone take care of it right away."

That evening, the Empress stood gracefully at the entrance of the central palace, waiting for Nangong Qing.

When Nangong Qing came down from the bridge, he would reach out his hand, and the Empress would place her hand in his palm, as if it had become a habit.

"Your Majesty, today is truly a joyous occasion. You are so happy that you have even bestowed upon me a table of delicious dishes from Fu Man Lou."

"Hahaha, I'm so happy... My beloved minister, the Vice Minister of Agriculture, has woken up, hahaha..."

The Empress's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her smile gentle, generous, and intellectual.

"The Deputy Minister of Agriculture has woken up. This is indeed a joyous occasion. For the entire city of Nanning, there is nothing more worthy of celebration than this."

Nangong Qing happily led the Empress to her seat and personally poured her wine.

"The one who truly understands me is the Empress..."

Even after so many years of marriage, the Empress still couldn't help but feel shy when facing Nangong Qing.

"Over the years, I have always thought of the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Prince Yu. Now they have finally overcome their hardships and can be reunited with their families."

The Empress did not respond. Although she did not know whether the person in His Majesty's heart was Su Luo, she was pretty sure it was.

Su Luo is the Princess Consort of Yu. As long as she doesn't say it, it will forever remain His Majesty's secret, and she is also the most qualified Empress.

"The affection between Prince Yu and Princess Yu is touching and enviable."

After all these years, Nangong Qing's gaze toward the Empress has finally changed.

"Yuehua, with you by my side, I am no worse than anyone else."

Yan Yuehua is the Empress's maiden name. Nangong Qing never used to call her that before, but over the years, when his feelings for her deepened, he called her maiden name more and more often.

Sometimes they would close the door and pretend to be a normal married couple.

"Your Majesty, I am the Empress. It would be so embarrassing for others to hear Your Majesty address me as such."

Nangong Qing took the Empress's hand, placed the wine cup in her hand, took her arm, and drank a cup of nuptial wine.

A mischievous smile played on his lips: "Yuehua, do you know what I love most is seeing you all shy and trying to maintain proper etiquette? It's so beautiful..."

The Empress blushed. Over the past two years, she had watched that high and mighty man gradually become more and more like a child.

"Your Majesty, please don't bully me!"

Nangong Qing persisted, "You are my first wife. How can my liking you be considered bullying? Yuehua, tell me, am I right?"

Whenever Nangong Qing was in a good mood, he would always provoke her like this. The Empress knew that only when she coaxed him to sleep would he return to his usual self as the Emperor of Nanning the next day.

After dinner, both of them were a little drunk. The Empress looked at the person holding her in her arms.

He was so handsome, worldly-wise, and experienced all walks of life; his knowledge was something I could never have gained in my entire life, confined to my room.

When she first married him, he had no idea how much he envied her and loved listening to her stories about what she had seen and heard in the outside world.

She had fallen deeply in love with this man long ago, but every year on the Lantern Festival, it reminded her that His Majesty harbored feelings for someone else.

She was heartbroken. As the empress, she kept telling herself to be tolerant of everything, not to argue, not to make a scene...

Looking at the people around him, he ultimately repaid her in the most sincere way. Life in the harem was too long; having such warmth was enough...