Chapter 56 Liver Fire He has a very strong liver fire, it's just that you've had a hard time.

The midday sun warmed the stream, causing splashes of water and scattering fish in all directions.

The two played in the water for a long time before coming out.

Xie Lanzhou dried her off, helped her put her clothes back on, and carefully draped his own robe over her shoulders, saying, "Be careful not to catch a cold."

Su Panyue glanced at the blazing sun overhead and muttered, "How could I catch a cold in this heat?" But she couldn't help but smile.

By the time the two had finished tidying up, it was past lunchtime.

Su Panyue got up early this morning and ate little, so she was already a little hungry.

Xie Lanzhou led over the two horses, one black and one white, that were tied to the tree. Su Panyue affectionately patted the white horse's head, "You've really had a hard day, Little White."

Xie Lanzhou wanted to remind her that the horse's name was Yingxue, not Xiaobai, but when she saw the white horse affectionately rubbing against her palm, she ultimately chose to remain silent.

Xie Lanzhou's private property included a courtyard with four entrances and four exits, and the two of them were going to rest there now.

However, Su Panyue had been quite exhausted from riding a horse and taking a boat today, so she walked a little slower on the way back. The two of them chatted leisurely on horseback, and it took them half an hour to reach the gate of a house.

Looking up, a plaque hangs above the ancient gate, bearing the three large characters "Qingfeng Garden" in flowing calligraphy that look somewhat familiar.

Su Panyue asked, "Your Majesty, did you write this plaque?"

Xie Lanzhou nodded, "It was written when I was a teenager, many years ago."

Upon hearing this, Su Panyue looked up again and examined the area carefully.

Compared to his current handwriting, it lacks some of its sharpness and still retains a touch of childishness, but for a teenager, it is already remarkably skillful.

She couldn't help but ask with some curiosity, "Your Majesty, what were you like when you were a child?"

"Aren't you hungry? Let's eat first." Xie Lanzhou didn't answer her question, but instead pulled her straight to the lobby.

It must have been instructed in advance that as soon as the two returned, the servants in the courtyard prepared a table full of dishes, each one a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Perhaps because it was in the outskirts of Beijing, some of the dishes were wild game that was not often served in the palace. Su Panyue enjoyed the novelty and was very satisfied.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xie Lanzhou took her to the study in the backyard.

"What are you doing in the study?" Su Panyue asked, puzzled.

Xie Lanzhou said, "Didn't you want to see what I looked like when I was a child?"

As he spoke, he led Su Panyue into a hidden door in the study. The hidden door slowly opened, revealing a secluded and wonderful world inside.

"Is this a picture of you when you were little... Oh my god." Su Panyue's questioning words came to an abrupt halt as she looked around in shock.

The dark room contained several luminous pearls that illuminated the room like daylight. Inside, there was a simple set of tables and chairs, a chaise lounge in the corner, and some slightly worn old objects on the display shelf.

What surprised Su Panyue the most was that there were more than a dozen paintings, each about half a person's height, neatly hanging on one wall of the dark room.

Su Panyue walked closer and examined each painting carefully.

The first painting depicts an infant in swaddling clothes, held by a king in a bright yellow python robe, smiling adorably.

"Is this the late emperor?" Su Panyue asked softly.

Xie Lanzhou gave a faint "hmm".

The second painting depicts a chubby little baby learning to walk, with a gentle-looking woman supporting the baby on either side.

The third painting depicts him listening to the tutor's initiation of his education at the school; the little child's back is straight.

Then came horseback riding and archery, flower appreciation and zither playing; the young men in each painting were lifelike.

Su Panyue seemed to have grown up alongside him, from a chubby little baby to a young boy, gradually beginning to resemble his current features.

But it stopped abruptly after ten paintings.

She asked, still wanting more, "What happened?"

"Because the person who painted for me is gone." Xie Lanzhou's voice was unreadable, but his eyes drooped down, inexplicably resembling the wet, puppy-dog eyes.

Su Panyue seemed to have guessed something, "These paintings were painted by the late Empress Dowager?"

Xie Lanzhou nodded, his gaze fixed on the last painting.

“My mother painted a picture for me every year since I was born, and I have kept them here.”

Su Panyue took his arm and rubbed against him reassuringly, pretending to be relaxed, and said, "I really envy you, having a mother who loves you so much, unlike me, who doesn't even know who my birth parents are."

Xie Lanzhou put his arm around her shoulder and said, "If you want to find them, I'll go with you to Lu State."

Su Panyue shook her head. "No need. I don't want to look for them. I'm doing just fine now, that's enough for me."

Xie Lanzhou gently kissed her forehead, then walked to the desk, ground the ink, and picked up his brush.

"What do you want to draw?" Su Panyue asked curiously.

"I'll draw you. Go and rest for a while. I'll call you when you're done," Xie Lanzhou said as he moistened his brush.

Su Panyue was also tired, so she walked to the chaise lounge next to her, lay down, and stretched drowsily.

"Master artist, please make me look as good as you can," Su Panyue said, turning her head to Xie Lanzhou.

The latter had already begun to write with flowing strokes, and replied with a smile, "I will obey the imperial concubine's decree."

The room fell silent, save for the woman's even breathing and the occasional grinding sound.

An hour later, Xie Lanzhou gently put down his brush, admired the calligraphy for a moment, and then went to the side to wake Su Panyue.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" The woman's voice, which had just woken up, was unusually soft, but also carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

Xie Lanzhou's heart softened, and he pulled her into his arms, supporting her shoulders: "Is the drawing finished? Get up and take a look?"

Su Panyue sighed helplessly, somewhat regretting asking him to finish drawing so she could call her. She really hadn't expected him to finish so quickly.

She lazily rolled over, burying her face in his chest muscles, her voice muffled through the fabric, "Is Your Majesty painting Sleeping Beauty?"

Xie Lanzhou chuckled softly, "You'll know once you get up and take a look."

Su Panyue reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, but it was more like she was hanging on him loosely, without any strength at all.

"Carry me to see it."

Xie Lanzhou lifted her up with one hand and walked her to the table.

Su Panyue turned her head to look at the painting on the table, and her eyes widened instantly.

The painting depicts a woman in a red dress riding a horse across an endless plain with low-lying clouds. Her red dress is the most beautiful sight, making it unforgettable.

"It's beautifully drawn." Su Panyue couldn't help but clap her hands in praise.

Xie Lanzhou's deep voice rang in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. "What reward will the Imperial Concubine bestow?"

Hearing the man's unpleasant thoughts, Su Panyue smiled slyly, "Then I'll reward you by painting one picture for me every year, until you've painted a hundred!"

Xie Lanzhou's filthy thoughts vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle sense of gratitude; she was willing to spend her whole life with him.

"Your subject obeys the decree." The supreme emperor bowed his head and answered willingly.

*

As evening approached, the two changed to a carriage and returned to the palace, arriving back at the Hall of Mental Cultivation before dark.

Eunuch Fu immediately stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the rewards for today's martial arts demonstration have all been distributed, and the selected generals are ready to be summoned at any time."

Xie Lanzhou replied with a "I understand," but did not let go of Su Panyue's hand.

Then she heard his thoughts: "This is so troublesome, I want to kill them all."

She was startled and quickly grasped his hand, asking, "What does Your Majesty intend to do by selecting them?"

"We're going to give those surrendered soldiers from Yan a good workout."

Su Panyue advised, "Then this matter should be handled sooner rather than later. Your Majesty should make arrangements as soon as possible."

Xie Lanzhou remained silent for a long while before speaking to Eunuch Fu: "Summon them to the palace."

After receiving his orders, Eunuch Fu withdrew, and Su Panyue overheard Xie Lanzhou's inner thoughts again:

It smells so good, I feel sleepy.

The next part contained words that made one blush and their heart race, words that Su Panyue dared not even think about.

She quietly pulled her hand out of his, preparing to slip away: "Your Majesty, you may continue with your business; I will return to Jingchun Palace now."

Xie Lanzhou stood up: "I will see you off."

Su Panyue did not refuse. On the way back to Jingchun Palace, she suddenly said, "Could you ask Uncle Gui to come and take your pulse again?"

"I've already seen Physician Gao, and there's nothing seriously wrong," Xie Lanzhou refused.

"But I'm still worried about Your Majesty. I'll feel more at ease if I see it one more time," Su Panyue said, tugging at his sleeve and acting coquettishly.

Xie Lanzhou finally relented and sent someone to invite Gui Bo to Jingchun Palace.

Gui Bo was kept in the palace after Xie Lanzhou woke up, waiting to go to the north to detoxify together, but Su Panyue had not seen him for a long time.

Upon seeing him again, she exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle Gui? You've gained so much weight!"

The once skinny old man had become plump, and he said with a smile, "There are just too many fine wines and delicacies in this palace, no wonder you don't want to leave."

Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about? Su Panyue glared at him warningly and changed the subject, saying, "Please trouble you to take His Majesty's pulse again."

"He who eats another's food is bound to him," so Gui Bo promptly took the patient's pulse this time. After a moment, he smiled mysteriously and said, "The Gu worms are behaving themselves; there's nothing serious."

Su Panyue looked at him hesitantly, then stretched out her hand, "Could you take a look for me too?"

The old man was always responsive to requests, and after taking the pulse, he said as usual that there was nothing seriously wrong.

At this moment, Eunuch Fu came to report that the dozen or so military officers who had won the martial arts competition had arrived and asked Xie Lanzhou to come over.

Urged on by Su Panyue, Xie Lanzhou finally left.

After everyone had left, she asked Uncle Gui one more time, "Are our pulses truly fine?"

Gui Bo countered, "Do you find anything unusual?"

Su Panyue hesitated for a moment and said, "His Majesty..."

“He’s been having an excessive sexual drive lately, and he’s been thinking about that stuff all the time.” She didn’t care about being shy and blurted it out in one breath.

Gui Bo raised an eyebrow: "How do you know what he's thinking?"

Su Panyue was taken aback by his question and was momentarily speechless. Just as she was about to make an excuse, Gui Bo continued, "Because you can hear his thoughts!"

"Wonderful, wonderful! I had only heard that this Gu could read minds, but I never expected it to be true."

Su Panyue's eyes widened: "You know that?"

Gui Bo laughed and said, "Not only that, I also know that two people who are afflicted by this Gu will be unable to resist wanting to touch each other, and then their lust will be strong, even to the point of depleting their bodies."

Hearing his words, Su Panyue was somewhat terrified: "This... can it really deplete one's health? Then His Majesty..."

Uncle Gui waved his hand, "He's fine. He just has a lot of liver fire. It's just that you've had a hard time. You can take some tonics to nourish your body these days."

Su Panyue blushed slightly and hesitated before asking, "Is there any way to calm His Majesty's anger?"

“I can prescribe some calming and soothing herbal decoctions for him to regulate his mind, but it will only provide slight relief,” Gui Bo said, writing down a prescription.

Su Panyue gratefully accepted it, and Uncle Gui got up and left: "It's nothing, I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute, I have something else I'd like to ask you." Su Panyue stopped him.

"What is it?" Gui Bo seemed to have expected it, and stopped to ask.

"Can you keep my ability to hear His Majesty's thoughts a secret?" Su Panyue asked.

“It is possible,” Gui Bo said, pausing for a moment, “but I have conditions.”

Su Panyue knew he never suffered a loss, so she simply asked, "What are the conditions?"

“Since you can hear what he is thinking, you must also know very well that he is not a wise ruler. He cannot get rid of the tyranny and arrogance in his bones. I need you to stay by his side to restrain his behavior and never let him do anything like slaughtering people and harming living beings.”

"We must also urge him to govern diligently, maintain peace and stability in the country, and ensure the well-being of the people."

Su Panyue was somewhat surprised by his request and couldn't help but ask, "May I?"

Gui Bo squinted at her with one eye and said, "Only you can."

Su Panyue let out a deep breath and replied with an "okay".

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Author's Note: Zhou: I want to cuddle with my wife, I want to XXXXX

Moon: Is there anyone who can do something about him...?