Perhaps Qi Yan and the emperor like you because of your enthusiasm and kindness, not just your beauty.

Around noon the next day, the imperial concubines entered Guanju Palace.

"Empress Chen, the Emperor has ordered you to accompany him to the Yangxin Palace."

"I understand."

Half an hour later, the ceremonial procession arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Eunuch Fu came forward to greet him.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor is still discussing the epidemic with several others. Please wait a moment."

Sheng Xiyan heard this and asked:

“When did the epidemic occur?”

Eunuch Fu sighed and said, "It's cholera. It first appeared in a village in the Central Plains and then spread to the south. It's another natural disaster."

Cholera, Sheng Xiyan fell into deep thought. His father had once studied medicine to treat cholera epidemics.

After one stick of incense, seven or eight ministers came out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Just as Sheng Xiyan was about to go in, Xuan Ling came out, wearing a dark blue robe with dragon pattern, and looking tired.

"Your Majesty, I have seen you."

After not seeing her for two days, Xuan Ling stared at her intently.

"Yanyan, it seems like you've had a good rest these past two days, and your complexion has recovered a lot."

He took her hand and left the Yangxin Palace.

"Your Majesty, there's been an outbreak of cholera in the south. Have you found the source?"

"I have already sent a team of doctors south to investigate and sealed off the affected area. I believe the epidemic will be brought under control."

Xuan Ling took her into the East Warm Pavilion.

Before Sheng Xiyan could ask about the epidemic, he was picked up by the waist and taken behind the rosewood screen with a painting of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains in the hall.

He placed her on the incense table.

He supported himself with his hands, and stared at her with his dark eyes, which had an unusual look.

Yanyan, you don’t know how tired I am these past two days. I really want you to be with me.

There is one last step. Let me know that you don’t care about Qi Yan, and the training course will be over. From now on, we will be inseparable day and night, okay?

Sheng Xiyan's intuition was wrong.

"Your Majesty, why are you here? Isn't it time for lunch?"

Xuan Ling took off her cloak with the Four Joys and Ruyi cloud pattern and scattered flowers, hugged her, and lowered his head to kiss her delicate lips.