Small works to please the mind

The maid, flattered by her glance, hurriedly brewed the tea and brought it over. However, Yuanli only glanced up briefly before saying, "The peony in the cup is too vibrant. Brew it again."

The steward quickly took the tea from the tray she offered and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. There have been many new people entering the Imperial and Empress Palaces recently. They don't know the rules. I will teach them as soon as possible. I will brew a new tea for you right away."

After this reminder, Yuanli realized that there were indeed many new faces in the Emperor's and Empress' Palace recently. She thought it was related to the last time Shu Fei made a scene in the Emperor's and Empress' Palace.

"Just use the purple clay teapot on the table."

When the headmaster stood in front of the table, Yuanli whispered, "Shu family..."

The steward poured out the water from the purple clay teapot, reheated the cups and utensils, and began to brew tea. At the same time, he whispered, "The entire Shu family has confessed their crimes and made amends to the late emperor and empress in the underworld. Our emperor is... kind-hearted. Considering the Shu family's contributions, he allowed them to pass away with dignity and without suffering any torture."

After thinking this through, Yuanli felt a little less burdened. The Shu family's deaths weren't unjust. If they were the ones who had helped Xiao Yan'an ascend to power, how could Xiao Yan'an have pinned them on him and taken advantage of them to punish them if they hadn't done things behind the scenes that displeased the emperor?

Yuan Li wasn't surprised that Concubine Shu had been able to break into the Imperial Palace. Without Xiao Yan'an's order, how could Concubine Shu have even had the opportunity to enter the carefully trained eunuchs and maids in the Imperial Palace?

The fact that he was able to accurately come in front of her in the huge palace of the emperor and empress, and deliberately announce the punishment of Shu in front of her palace, was just because he wanted to kill two birds with one stone and let the students and old friends of Shu's father vent their anger.

This is Xiao Yan'an.

After taking the tea handed over by the steward, Yuanli took only one sip and praised it: "Not bad, I like it very much. Ah Xun, come and try it too."

"It is indeed good, and it pairs beautifully with this purple clay teapot. Since Your Majesty likes it so much, I will have it kept ready from now on. However, although the tea is delicious, Your Majesty would still prefer to drink it after breakfast."

"Okay, serve the food. After I finish my breakfast, I'll make some more and send it to the small garden."

After giving the instructions, Yuanli took Ah Xun's hand, their eyes locked, their bodies close and intimate. Cha Suxun's new fur was truly a delight to the eyes; just looking at it made her feel happy. She finally understood why men in the world still felt they had more than enough wives and concubines.

"What are you thinking about, Madam?" He bent down slightly and tilted his head, looking into her eyes with a gentle expression and a smile. For a moment, Yuanli's heart suddenly jumped.

"I was thinking, Ah Xun's appearance is so pleasing to the eye. If she were a girl, she would be sought after by hundreds of men." Yuanli joked.

Ah Xun was amused by her. He had originally let her hold his hand, but now he used all his strength to hold hers firmly. "Perhaps I cheated in my previous life, and painstakingly found a face like this, just to gain the favor of the Empress in this life."

"Then you'd better have worked hard to find it."

"I dare not tell the least bit of falsehood in my answer to Your Majesty. If I had not painstakingly searched for it, I could not have transformed it so easily. As Axun, I should have looked like this."

There was something else behind Cha Suxun's words. To outsiders, it sounded like the usual sweet talk that men in this world would say, but only she understood that what Axun wanted to say was his current appearance, the appearance he personally chose before he was born as Chi Xun.

"Your selection was indeed successful. However, I still prefer your face in your previous life." Just as the words fell, the sound of a porcelain bowl breaking was heard, interrupting the laughter of the two.

Following the sound, I saw Qi Heng squatting quietly beside the table, picking up the broken porcelain pieces. As soon as he approached the small stool beside the table, Qi Heng's hand was scratched by the porcelain pieces, and blood flowed out, but he still quickly picked up the broken porcelain pieces, ignoring the wound.

"Ajin, come here."

Qi Heng put down the porcelain piece and covered his injured hand with his slightly longer sleeve before standing up and asking, "What are your instructions, Madam?"

"It's broken, so be it. There are maids in the palace, so why bother picking it up yourself?" Yuanli took his hand and used the small silk scarf she wore to clean the bloodstain. As soon as it touched the wound, Qi Heng trembled and pulled his hand back, frowning. After meeting her eyes, Qi Heng's brows relaxed, and he extended his hand back expressionlessly, looking away.

Although he did not show any obvious emotions, he could not hide his grievance and frustration.

"My Lady, I'll do it myself, it's dirty..."

Hearing this, Yuanli paused and dispersed everyone except the two of them. After treating his wound, she asked, "Ajin blames me?"

Qi Heng knelt at her feet, threw himself into her arms, and said aggrievedly: "It's only been a few days, and Your Majesty is already tired of the old and loves the new."

"You too? Your first wife, the Chi family girl, has only been gone for a short time. Ever since you entered the palace, you've fallen in love with me."

"But Your Majesty knows my feelings and has never changed her mind. I swear to heaven that you have always been..."

Before Qi Heng could finish his words, Yuanli leaned over and whispered to him, "Some things are often not said out loud, and who benefits from it? Ah Jin, I like you and the novelty you bring to me. But I also like Ah Xun, and I love my childhood sweetheart the most. I am not a woman who covets a lifelong couple. There are many men in this world waiting for my favor. Instead of worrying about it, it is better to see things more open-mindedly and be more generous."

"Generous? How do you want me to be generous, Your Majesty? Share my wife with another man?" Qi Heng suppressed his anger and looked up to question her.

"Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. Women in this world can accept their husbands having three wives and four concubines, so why can't Ah Jin?"

Pulling away from her embrace, Qi Heng's eyes welled up, and he blinked away the tears that threatened to burst forth. "Your Majesty is right. I was delusional and ignorant. I recognized the wrong person. My first wife was definitely not such a sentimental woman."

Qi Heng stepped back, knelt, and said, "I fear that I will never be able to live up to the generosity that Your Majesty describes. However, I will examine myself daily, remind myself of Your Majesty's current status, and refrain from any absurd behavior. My wounds have been treated, but my broken body is inconvenient to serve Your Majesty. Please allow me to leave and let Axun serve Your Majesty."

Yuanli could hear the jealousy tinged in Qi Heng's words. He was angry, but she was happy.

"I don't keep idlers in this palace. Once a concubine, always a concubine. It's not up to you to decide whether to serve or not. Qi Heng, don't threaten me with service or not. Small actions are pleasing, but big ones... are annoying, Master Qi."

After saying this, Yuanli sighed again and again: "Look, Master Qi, you still haven't let go of your noble position. The two Ah Xuns combined are not as jealous as you."

After a few bites, Yuanli put down her bowl and chopsticks and continued, "Master Qi, considering our past, I will grant you a favor. You can choose to be my concubine, so that we can live in harmony and live together forever, or you can return to continue your prestigious position as the Minister of Justice. It's your choice. If you stay, come to my bedroom tonight and sleep with me. If you leave, just wait for His Majesty's decree tomorrow."

"I can tell your Majesty the answer now."

"Qi Heng, think it over before you speak."

"Your Majesty, I bow to thank you."

Yuanli left her breakfast, which she had barely eaten, and went to the small garden to find Cha Suxun.

She saw several breakfast dishes placed on the small stone table next to the wisteria swing in the small garden, and Cha Suxun was making tea for her.

"I have prepared several breakfast dishes that Your Majesty likes and have personally brewed some tea. Is Your Majesty still hungry for some of mine?"

Sitting side by side on the swing, the autumn breeze was filled with the fragrance of flowers. Yuanli cuddled in his arms, enjoying the cakes he fed her. Through their intimate gestures, Yuanli whispered in his ear.

Then he wanted to find an excuse to help him get out of this situation, but before he could even open his mouth, Cha Suxun quietly replied, "It's all done."

Yuanli exclaimed, "So fast? But you haven't even left here."

"You have to do your work quickly."

Yuanli smiled slightly, but she couldn't hide the sadness in her heart. Her mind was always thinking about Qi Heng's choice, and she was always distracted. Everything became a little boring and she lost interest.

After a long time, the tea in the cup no longer had much tea flavor, and was almost as bland as water. Yuanli finally came to her senses and said, "The tea is almost weak. Let's change it."

Although Cha Suxun had already stood up, he still couldn't help but advise: "Although the tea soup is light, its effects are constantly accumulating. Be careful not to get drunk on it, it will harm your health."

"Then drink less. I drink tea regularly, so I can tolerate it better than you. Tea is harmful to the body, but it's also beneficial. Go and make another pot."

While waiting for tea, Xiao Yan'an called out happily from afar around the corner of the small garden: "My beloved! I brought you some delicious tea!"

Following the sound, I saw several eunuchs following Xiao Yan'an in a hurry, each holding a different small box in their hands.

They lined up in front of her, stood in a row, and opened the small box at the same time.

"I heard that my beloved concubine likes tea recently, so I specially collected some tea leaves and utensils for you. They are all famous from all over the place."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have no use for so many of these items. Besides, I have never seen some of them before, and I'm afraid I'd waste them. Your Majesty, please take them home and enjoy them yourself."

"I learned it before I came here. I'll brew it for you." Xiao Yan'an then enthusiastically took out the tea set and arranged it in a tidy manner. "While I was collecting these teas, I also found some famous tea makers in the Imperial Capital to make tea specifically for my beloved concubine."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Go sit on the swing and wait. Standing is tiring. I've prepared something special for you. Sit back and watch."

Seeing Xiao Yan'an keeping things in suspense, Yuanli sat on the swing feeling nervous, not knowing whether what he would show next would be a surprise or a joy to her.

As the gongs and drums began to beat, a handsome actor emerged from the corner, singing "Mandarin Duck Lotus." The lyrics spoke of the unabashed love between a couple. The actor's singing was exceptional, easily moving the audience emotionally.

After the song was over, Xiao Yan'an asked, "My beloved, what did you think of his singing?"

Yuanli praised without hesitation: "Very good."

"Then he will stay in your palace and perform operas just for you to entertain you. He's a famous actor from the best opera troupe in the capital, his name is Wangyue."