If someone who doesn't know them saw this, they would think they had known each other for a long time.

In reality, this was only the second time the two had met.

As they entered the palace, they happened to pass by the mansion. Not long after the two came out of Chunfeng Tower, they were spotted by a crowd gathered at the gate, and everyone immediately surrounded them.

With so many people walking together, a hint of unease flashed across Grandpa Shen's face.

Even knowing that these people meant no harm, the sheer number of them advancing was still quite intimidating.

"Lord Tang, we have been waiting for you for so long. It is not easy to see you."

"Lord Tang."

"If the Poet Immortal were alive today, he would truly be a man of great talent."

The crowd included people of all ages, and they all began to flatter Tang Huan as soon as they met.

Tang Huan cupped his hands in greeting to everyone.

"Lord Tang, I am Li Mubai, a teacher at Yunlu Academy. I came here today to pay my respects after learning that you have written a poem, 'A Thousand Miles of Sorrow in Autumn, a Frequent Guest.'"

The speaker was around fifty years old, with a kind face, and was smiling at Tang Huan.

"Sir, I have long admired Yunlu Academy, but I have never had the opportunity to go there. Meeting you today has relieved a great regret in my heart."

Upon hearing this, Li Mubai laughed loudly and said, "I wonder where Lord Tang studied? I had never heard of your name before, and you almost buried the name of a poet genius."

"I am just studying at an ordinary academy, which is far inferior to Yunlu Academy and not worth mentioning."

The original owner came from an ordinary family and had average talent, so naturally there was no opportunity to join a famous academy like Yunlu Academy or Confucian Academy. He could only study in an ordinary school in the capital.

Being able to pass the imperial examination and obtain official rank was already a stroke of luck, and it was a source of pride for the school at the time.

Unfortunately, what happened later caused the school to decline drastically, and it is now long gone.

While they were still talking, Eunuch Shen lowered his voice and reminded them, "Lord Tang, we can't delay any longer."

Upon hearing this, Tang Huan apologized, "Everyone, His Majesty has decreed that I must enter the palace to meet the Emperor and cannot continue to accompany you."

Li Mubai was not surprised. "Since His Majesty has invited you, Lord Tang, please go. I only hope that I will have the opportunity to see you at Yunlu Academy in the future."

After bidding farewell to everyone, Tang Huan and Xiao Shen left the mansion.

If it weren't for the imperial decree, Tang Huan would have had to consider taking a detour; otherwise, being surrounded by so many people, it wouldn't have been easy to leave.

He had made a point of showing his face just now, as a way of giving these people face, so that they wouldn't bother him again later.

Tang Huan didn't linger any longer, fearing that Wu Lanxi would get angry if she waited too long, so he led Eunuch Shen and walked quickly.

Grandpa Shen kept chasing, falling behind Tang Huan, panting heavily.

"Lord Tang, wait for me."

"We can't wait. If I wait for you, His Majesty will be waiting too. That won't do."

Having already entered the palace, Tang Huan moved even faster.

From a distance, two figures could be seen walking swiftly within the palace, making them extremely conspicuous in the sparsely populated palace.

"Lord Tang..."

Having finally arrived at the Imperial Study, Eunuch Shen stopped and bowed deeply.

He was breathing heavily. "Lord Tang, this is the best I can do for you. Her Majesty is waiting for you inside."

Tang Huan smiled at Xiao Shen and discreetly placed a silver note into Xiao Shen's arms.

He then walked to the door of the Imperial Study and knocked.

"Tang Huan from Qihuai County pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Come in."

A lukewarm voice rang out.

Tang Huan pushed open the door and went inside.

The vast imperial study was empty. Wang Tianze had left sometime earlier, and even Lin Wan'er, who was usually by Wu Lanxi's side, was nowhere to be seen.

Wu Lanxi sat upright in front of her desk, meticulously reviewing the memorials.

The disaster in Kuizhou has subsided, but Daqing is still far from peaceful.

Several clashes have already broken out along the northern border, and war could break out at any time.

In recent years, the Western Regions have been conserving their strength and have also caused some trouble in neighboring cities, resulting in strained relations between the two sides.

Within Daqing, many officials are still complaining bitterly.

These issues were giving Wu Lanxi a real headache.

When Tang Huan entered the Imperial Study, he saw Wu Lanxi meticulously processing the memorials. Apart from telling him to come in, she did not say anything else.

Tang Huan stood silently beside her, not looking at the memorial, but intently watching Wu Lanxi.

Without the disguise of a merchant, Wu Lanxi was now wearing a pale yellow dragon robe.

Her hair was combed meticulously.

His face was not heavily made up, which displayed the emperor's majesty.

She lacked breathtaking beauty, and was even less so than her maid Qin Yu, but Tang Huan could tell that this empress was an absolute beauty.

However, since she was the emperor, she did not wear elaborate and elaborate attire in order to maintain her dignity.

Even so, one can still imagine her carefully made-up appearance from her three-dimensional features.

Wu Lanxi was reading the memorial, and Tang Huan stared at her without any restraint.

He noticed that Wu Lanxi subconsciously raised her hand to rub her neck several times.

After thinking for a moment, Tang Huan slowed down and walked behind Wu Lanxi, then slowly rolled up her sleeves.

Tang Huan placed her hands on Wu Lanxi's neck.

This sudden action made Wu Lanxi tense up instantly, and she stopped what she was doing.

"Tang Huan, how dare you!"

The moment the reprimand left her lips, Wu Lanxi felt Tang Huan's soft yet strong hands rubbing her neck.

The aches and pains caused by days of overwork were instantly relieved.

Wu Lanxi remained silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty, I did not take you to see the blind massage on your two visits to Qihuai County. Today, let me demonstrate the skills I secretly learned from the shops there."

"Stealing knowledge? The entire Seven Locust Counties is your territory, so how can you talk about stealing knowledge?" Wu Lanxi gradually relaxed and asked in return.

Tang Huan laughed and said, "This is someone else's cooking skill. Even though I am the county magistrate, I can't ask others to hand it over."

"Oh, then tell me how you secretly learned it?"

As Tang Huan massaged Wu Lanxi, he felt the empress's soft neck and shoulders. He lowered his voice and said, "I secretly learned this technique while the staff was massaging Li Da Kui."

Wu Lanxi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Li Da Kui is giving a massage, and you're watching from the side. Do you think I'd believe you?"

Tang Huan smiled but didn't explain further.

A normal massage doesn't last long, only about twenty minutes.

Throughout the entire process, Wu Lanxi stopped what she was doing and quietly felt the sensation. At one point, she closed her eyes to relax.

Feeling the hands leave her neck, Wu Lanxi opened her eyes, gently turned her neck, and felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

"Your skills, which you secretly learned, are not bad."

"I'm glad Your Majesty is pleased."

Wu Lanxi's expression suddenly turned serious. "Now tell me about the poem you wrote."