Chapter 186 Flirting with Him

"Yuxin?!"

Meng Yan was suddenly startled and the hand warmer in her arms almost fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Ruizhu, who was standing by, was quick to catch the hand warmer and it was not broken.

Meng Yan didn't bother to answer and looked at Bai Yuxin, "Yuxin...you, you...I heard them say that you shaved your head, and I was confused...it turns out it's true."

Bai Yuxin walked up slowly, bowed to her, and smiled slightly, "Congratulations, sister, on your health."

Meng Yan looked at Bai Yuxin, who was dressed in black and had a thin face, and felt a little sorry for her. She said to Ruizhu, "Bring a chair over to Lady Bai."

Ruizhu followed her instructions and brought a jujube wood armchair - the same one Lu Haozhi had sat on during the day. Bai Yuxin thanked her and sat down sideways.

"how so?"

As soon as she sat down, Meng Yan asked impatiently.

Bai Yuxin touched the gray felt hat on her head and smiled faintly, "Only in this way can I stay by my sister's side forever."

Hearing her say this, Meng Yan guessed something and said with emotion, "Why bother?"

"During the days when my sister was unconscious, I was completely lost, constantly resenting my own inability to help, unable to do anything but useless chores. Later, I heard the palace maids in the garden gossiping about a filial daughter in her hometown who gave up her life to become a nun to save her mother, and her mother's illness was indeed cured. So, I made a vow before the Buddha, dedicating my life to serving the Buddha, praying only for my sister's speedy recovery. If she wakes up, I will become a lay Buddhist; if she... then I will enter the Buddhist monastery and pray for her forever."

Bai Yuxin spoke slowly and leisurely, with a very gentle smile on her lips. She spoke so calmly, as if she was not talking about herself.

Meng Yan looked at her and spoke after a while, "So... will the Empress Dowager and the Emperor agree?"

Bai Yuxin lowered her head and smiled. "Sister, you know I've always been like a shadow to the Emperor, so she didn't hesitate and even gave me the title of Huixian Jushi. The Empress Dowager... the Empress Dowager spoke to me for a few words, and once I had confessed my feelings, she stopped talking. I've made inquiries, and this kind of thing happened even when the late Emperor was alive. It's not an exception."

As she spoke, she noticed Meng Yan's face was melancholy, as if she were blaming herself, so she hurriedly said, "Sister, don't overthink it. This is all from my heart. It's fine this way. I don't care about any favors or honors. During the days that sister was asleep, the emperor came to Chunze Zhai every day. As time went by... I also thought that when sister woke up, we could meet again."

Meng Yan understood clearly that during the three months when she was unconscious, Lu Haozhi often came to Chunze Zhai and Bai Yuxin lived with her. It was inevitable that people would say that the one who was close to the water got the moon first, and then spread all kinds of gossip. She did this to avoid suspicion.

However, by doing this, she has completely blocked her future path.

The emperor even bestowed the title of layman on him. His words were golden and he could not go back on his word.

Lu Haozhi had no interest in Bai Yuxin, and of course he would not care about a small shadow noble, but she... she was buried in the red wall.

Meng Yan remained silent for a long time before she slowly spoke, "Yuxin, have you thought it through?"

Bai Yuxin smiled at her. "Seeing my sister willingly sacrifice herself for the people, I suddenly understood. There are so many things we can do in life. As long as it comes from the heart and benefits others, then this life will not be lived in vain. Why should we be so obsessed with our position or situation? Why should we be so self-defeating, only thinking about our own affairs?" At this point, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I've made up my mind. My sister will definitely be the empress in the future. I want to join the Imperial Palace and assist her for the rest of my life."

According to the Zhou Dynasty palace regulations, the empress was located in the center of the palace, and there were ministers such as the Chancellor of the Imperial Household and the Grand Chamberlain outside the palace, who were in charge of the center of the palace office. It was like a small court.

The Chancellor and the Grand Chamberlain were male officials who only waited outside the Meridian Gate every day for the Empress's summons and acted in accordance with the Empress's orders.

The Central Palace Office was located in the inner court, serving before the empress, and all the officials employed were female officials.

To prevent collusion between the inner and outer realms, women who served the Central Palace Office were required to serve the Empress for life. Upon the Empress' death, or after she became Empress Dowager, they would retire to the Southern Palace. Therefore, despite the prestigious status of the Central Palace Office's female officials, whose position far surpassed that of ordinary Imperial Consorts, few ladies from prominent families were willing to join the Central Palace Office. Only those whose families had fallen on hard times and who were unwilling to let their precious talents go unnoticed would consider the offer. Even among the imperial concubines, few were willing to join the Central Palace Office. During the late Emperor's lifetime, Concubine Xuanhe, loyal to Empress Dowager Jiang and offering her counsel, never considered joining the Central Palace Office.

Looking at Bai Yuxin's smiling face, Meng Yan couldn't help but say, "Yuxin, this is a lifelong matter. Once you enter the Central Palace Office, you are never allowed to leave. Don't be impulsive..."

Even if she wasn't favored by the Emperor, Bai Yuxin wouldn't have a bad life in the palace thanks to the Empress Dowager's appreciation and her own protection. When the situation stabilized in the future, she would choose an orphan from the royal family to raise. When the child grew up, they could move out of the palace with her, eliminating the need to spend their entire lives trapped within these red walls.

Bai Yuxin raised the corner of her lips slightly, "Sister, this is the path I have chosen."

Seeing her determination, Meng Yan could only nod and smile, "In that case, I will need your support in the future."

The room was hot, so the maid brought in a small plate of chopped pears, which the two of them shared.

Bai Yuxin chatted a few more times, asking about each other's well-being, and then someone came to ask her to go over and take care of some chores, so she got up and left.

After she left, Ruizhu refilled Meng Yan's tea cup and said with a smile, "This young lady Bai has become a very busy person now. The Empress Dowager has long since stopped taking care of things and relies on her for everything. If it weren't for her during the days when the Empress Dowager was asleep, who knows what would have happened to the garden."

Meng Yan held her chin in her hand and thought quietly, then said casually, "You didn't like her at first, but now you've changed your mind."

"Time reveals a person's true character."

Ruizhu said, "I used to think that Lady Bai was simply clinging to the Empress and seeking her protection. If the time was right, she would still find an opportunity to curry favor with the Emperor. But for the past three months, the Empress has been in a coma, which is a huge opportunity, and the Emperor has been visiting every day. If she had the will, she could have succeeded with some tricks. She is a proper concubine, and the Empress Dowager likes her, so who can say no? But as long as the Emperor is in this room, she will never set foot in. Later, she cut off all her hair, saying that she wanted to pray for the Empress in front of the Buddha. Everyone was moved, and even the Emperor sighed when he heard it, and sighed that it was rare, so he personally bestowed the title. I understand clearly that Lady Bai is truly devoted to the Empress."

Meng Yan smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Just now, they both knew it tacitly and didn't expose it. There might be another reason for Bai Yuxin's action.

When Bai Yuxin walked out of Chunze Zhai, her cheeks, which had been burned hot by the charcoal fire, immediately cooled down when the cold wind of early winter blew.

Looking up at the high and distant sky, she thought about the person on the other side of the sky, perhaps spurring his horse or arranging his troops, and she couldn't help but smile slightly.

Meng Changyuan, these three words are still engraved in her heart.

For her, this was enough.

Seeing Sister Yan risking her life to save the people, watching her comatose for three months, and how so many people prayed to God to bring her back, she suddenly realized that life is so short, so why dwell on sadness and self-pity? She should do something more meaningful, leave something behind, and not live in vain. So, she would rather follow Sister Yan's side for the rest of her life, follow her footsteps, and move towards a wider and more distant world.

This is the path that Bai Yuxin has chosen for herself, and she will never regret it.

As for the spring flowers and autumn moons, she had experienced their beauty, and that was enough.

At nightfall, Lu Haozhi went to Chunzezhai again.

As usual, Meng Yan sat on the kang in the main room, looking down at something.

Lu Haozhi walked up to her gently and suddenly took the book from her hand.

Meng Yan raised her head, frowned and said angrily, "Your Majesty, I am watching you right now."

Lu Haozhi glanced at the cover of the book and saw that it was a copy of "Compendium of Materia Medica". His brows knitted together, "You've just gotten better, why are you interested in these things again? Yan'er, you have to promise me that you won't touch these things again."

Meng Yan's fainting this time really left him with lingering fears.

Although the noble concubine's righteous act won her a high reputation among the people, even the centrist faction in the court that had always disliked her began to soften their attitude.

However, in Lu Haozhi's heart, he would rather she do nothing, stay in the harem honestly, and be a peaceful and favored concubine.

Meng Yan looked at him, her crimson lips pouting in dissatisfaction. "Why? I've made up my mind. When I have time in the future, I'm going to revise a collection of medical prescriptions specifically to include prescriptions for various difficult and complicated diseases, and promote it among the people. Your Majesty, what do you say?"

Is that okay?

It was a good thing, but he didn't want her to do it herself.

Lu Haozhi felt a throbbing pain in his temples. He sat down next to Meng Yan and put his arms around her shoulders. "Yan'er, you are the Imperial Concubine and will be the Empress in the future. Why do you have to handle all these matters yourself?"

"That's why we should be more compassionate to the people's livelihood and act like a mother, isn't it?"

This seems to be the reason...

No, he can't let Yan'er lead him astray.

Lu Haozhi smiled and said, "Yan'er is right, but before that, you still have something important to do."

Meng Yan looked at him, somewhat puzzled, "What important matter is the emperor talking about?"

Lu Haozhi smiled and said, "Since Yan'er is an excellent doctor, she should take good care of herself and give birth to a crown prince for me as soon as possible. By then, the country will have a successor and the state will be stable, which will be a blessing for the Great Zhou."

You're no longer serious after just three sentences!

Meng Yan glanced at him and was about to spit at him, but suddenly changed her mind and gave him a charming smile, full of charm.

"Your Majesty is right. This is my duty. I obey your orders."

A pair of delicate hands, as if boneless, roamed and caressed his shoulders.

"Yan'er?"

Looking at the rosy and tender cheeks, the icy skin and bones faintly visible under the light, and the slender waist in the shadow, Lu Haozhi couldn't help but breathe faster.

Meng Yan's eyes were intoxicated, and her jade fingers, as thin as bamboo shoots in spring, gradually moved to the man's Adam's apple and ears, gently stroking them.

She is not a young girl who has just gotten married and has no experience in sex. After seven years of marriage, they know each other's bodies like the back of their hands, and she knows exactly where a man's weaknesses are.

Meng Yan slowly leaned close to his ear, her breath as sweet as orchid, and suddenly bit his earlobe with her pearly teeth.

Lu Haozhi felt a surge of hot blood rushing to his head, and it seemed as if a ball of fire was burning in his body.

He stretched out his arms to hug this soft body, but the woman in his arms giggled and dodged like a fox, leaving him empty-handed.

Meng Yan turned around and got off the ground, wearing embroidered slippers, and walked to the table.

Lu Haozhi also hurriedly jumped down and pulled her arm, "Where are you going?! You've put me in this state, and you're just going to leave me alone?"

Meng Yan looked back and smiled, saying innocently, "It's too hot in this room. I'll go get a glass of water. What's wrong with the emperor? I didn't do anything." As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently scratched his chin with her slender fingertips.

"Your Majesty...I am not fully recovered yet. Please forgive me for not being able to sleep with you today."

Her eyes were gentle and her smile was charming.

Are you feeling uncomfortable? Just hold it in.

Who told him to talk about dirty things every other sentence? He deserves it.

She just didn't believe that Lu Haozhi would do anything serious to her when she wasn't fully recovered yet.

It was because of this that she dared to tease him so brazenly.

Vixen.

These three words suddenly popped up in Lu Haozhi's mind.

How did he realize before that Yan'er would torture people like this!

Lu Haozhi's handsome face turned ashen, and his back teeth were grinding.

He suddenly strode forward, bent down, picked up Meng Yan horizontally, and turned to walk towards the dormitory.

Meng Yan felt dizzy and the next moment her body sank into the soft bedding, with Lu Haozhi's strong body pressing down on her.

"Your Majesty...I...I can't do that yet..."

She was a little panicked. Lu Haozhi seemed to really want to...

"I know..."

Lu Haozhi undressed her, and his warm hands slid in, caressing her slender waist and soft white skin.

"But you should at least give me some benefits..."

Passionate kisses and low voices followed.

Meng Yan moaned, paused slightly, and then put her arms around the man's shoulders.

She also...missed him very much.

After all, out of concern for her weak body, Lu Haozhi did not really do anything. He just whispered in her ear and was gentle with her, just to satisfy the desire in his heart.

Meng Yan rested her head on his arm, her eyes soft and charming, her fingertips gently stroking the shallow scar on his left chest, "What's going on? I don't remember having a scar here before."

Lu Haozhi held her hand and said, "It's nothing, I just accidentally cut it."

Meng Yan straightened up, staring at him, "How could this place be accidentally cut? Are you hiding something from me?"

Lu Haozhi held her in his arms again, stroking the thick black hair on the back of her head. "I said it was an accidental cut, it was just an accidental cut. There's nothing to hide from you. It's a minor injury and it healed soon."

"A minor injury? This is right at my heart. If I go any deeper, I'll hurt my heart. Is this a joke?"

Meng Yan was complaining, but suddenly she thought of something and took a breath.

She leaned forward and gently kissed the scar with her cherry blossom-like lips. "Haozhi, don't do this kind of thing again. You are the king of a country."