Su Wanwan smiled gently at Lu Xingjian, her eyes curving like two crescent moons:

"I'll wait for you to come back."

Lu Xingjian wasn't usually a very indecisive person, but at this moment he was being far too hesitant.

On one hand, there is the responsibility of serving the country and its people.

On one side is his wife, clinging to the last glimmer of hope for survival.

He has wasted too much time and energy on things he shouldn't have.

He wiped his face: "You have to keep your word, you can't lie to me."

"Mmm." Su Wanwan assured him confidently, raising her hand to touch his face.

He said, half-jokingly, "I'm tough."

Lu Xingjian got up and left.

Su Wanwan saw Gu Ziyu at the door and smiled weakly: "Didn't you go home for the New Year?"

Because of her health, the imperial physicians and Gu Ziyu were kept busy and couldn't go home on New Year's Eve.

She was a little embarrassed.

Gu Ziyu walked to the bedside with a bright smile on her face.

"No, I heard my son can sit up now. I'll bring him over another day and ask Your Majesty to bestow a name upon him."

Su Wanwan summoned the palace servants and instructed them to prepare generous gifts, which would be delivered to each household at dawn as a small token of her appreciation.

The gifts bestowed by the palace were exquisite items that ordinary people could rarely see; they represented honor.

Especially the gifts given on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which were seen by neighbors and relatives who came to pay New Year's visits, were all very envious.

"Empress is ill, yet she still remembers us. She is truly kind and virtuous." The Duchess of Baoguo was deeply moved and gave the young eunuch who came to deliver the rewards a large red envelope as a reward.

Then, a jade statue of Guanyin was brought out and carefully handed to the young eunuch.

“This Guanyin statue was consecrated by a high-ranking monk. I have been worshipping it day and night for many years, and it has been very effective. Today, I present this jade Guanyin statue to the goddess, hoping that the Bodhisattva will protect her and keep her safe and well.”