Chapter 73 The Sky Curtain Made Me a White Moonlight in History The Sky Curtain, for publicity...

After Zhao Ren and his son left the court, the overwhelming condemnation of Si Qi vanished without a trace.

Often, a minority voices the majority. At first glance, it seems as if the entire court is ostracizing Si Qi and no one is supporting him. In reality, only a few nobles are causing trouble, while most others are just opportunists. The ministers who are truly involved in the core issues are mostly working in silence.

Through the incident involving Zhao Ren and his son, the emperor indirectly warned the nobles. Knowing that they couldn't bring down Si Qi in a short time, the nobles all quieted down and stopped trying to cause trouble for Si Qi, no matter what they thought in their hearts.

Ultimately, their reason for targeting Si Qi was that they didn't want the emperor to value those from humble backgrounds, fearing someone would vie for power with them. The emperor's unconditional favoritism towards Si Qi, while seemingly making them more compliant at first glance, actually exacerbated their conflict with the emperor.

The emperor and the nobles were well aware of this.

The emperor could not forget the prophecy that the nobles had plotted to murder him and the crown prince and usurp the power of the Qi dynasty, and he regarded them as a piece of rotten flesh on the body of the Qi state.

Cutting off the rotten flesh may come at a great cost, but if it is not cut off, the entire body will gradually rot until it is completely worn down.

The nobles, however, knew their situation. They could not possibly relinquish their wealth and status, willingly allowing the emperor to tighten his grip on their power and disappear from the center of power. For the sake of their entire families, they could not back down.

Now, the emperor is busy dealing with the numerous political affairs brought about by the celestial curtain, and there is never enough time. He does not intend to take action against the nobles at such a critical moment, lest it cause turmoil in the court.

The nobles knew this was their last chance. Once the emperor finished dealing with his affairs, he would promote those upright officials who had made contributions through political means. Sooner or later, they would be gradually squeezed out of the inner circle and become mascots with honors but no real power.

Thus, an invisible war began, and the vast court was rife with undercurrents, with all sorts of conspiracies and intrigues taking turns to unfold. The emperor, busy dealing with various government affairs, was also being dragged down by this group of people, and soon became exhausted.

Chu Feng noticed this and took the initiative to take on the political affairs within his power for his father. The father and son worked together and were busy until late at night every day.

On this day, Chu Feng, as was his custom, got up and washed up just as dawn was breaking.

Perhaps because he hadn't slept enough due to staying up late for several days in a row, his forehead was a little swollen and painful. He rubbed it with his hand but it didn't improve his complexion, so he simply ignored it, quickly finished his breakfast, and went to the Imperial Study to help his father organize memorials.

It has been three days since Si Qi last saw Chu Feng at lunch.

Chu Feng and the emperor both protected Si Qi very well and did not bother him with trivial matters of the court.

Si Qi noticed that Chu Feng had suddenly become very busy lately, and realized that something must have happened outside. After asking the ministers who came to him for advice, he quickly deduced that the nobles had been causing trouble recently.

Therefore, he did not rest on time that night, and waited until midnight before seeing Chu Feng returning wearily by candlelight.

Chu Feng was surprised that Si Qi was still awake at this hour, so he quickly came over and asked with concern, "Why haven't you rested yet, my dear minister? Are you feeling unwell and unable to sleep?"

Si Qi shook his head, glanced at Chu Feng's face, and said, "Is Your Highness feeling unwell?"

Chu Feng hadn't expected Si Qi to be so observant. After hesitating for a moment, he honestly replied, "It's just a bit of a headache."

The imperial physician was summoned, and the medicine was taken, but it had no effect. The physician said that the patient would recover on his own after resting well.

But even his father, the emperor, doesn't have time to rest. How can he, as the crown prince, possibly rest?

We can only endure it.

Si Qi: "Let me massage Your Highness's back."

Chu Feng was startled and instinctively said, "How can this be!"

Si Qi: "As you know, I have some knowledge of medicine and can massage acupoints to help relieve your headache."

“That’s not what I meant…” Chu Feng said, “It’s just that, my dear minister, you don’t need to do such a thing.”

How could he bear to let someone like Si Qi massage his head? It was practically a desecration.

Si Qi: "As long as Your Highness doesn't mind."

"..." How could Chu Feng possibly find it distasteful?

Having said all that, Chu Feng was afraid of hurting Si Qi's feelings if she refused again. After thinking for a moment, she hesitated and then agreed.

He and Si Qi arrived at his bedchamber. After Si Qi asked for his permission, he sat on his bed. Only then did Chu Feng realize that the massage meant he was going to have physical contact with Si Qi, and he stood there dumbfounded.

Even in his dreams, he never imagined that he would appear in bed with Si Qi and have such contact. This was too offensive.

Si Qi looked up in confusion: "Your Highness?"

Chu Feng's ears turned slightly red. She hurriedly responded and walked stiffly to the bedside, completely unaware of how she managed to rest her head on Si Qi's lap.

Feeling the soft touch beneath his head, and looking up at Si Qi who was quietly watching him from above, Chu Feng's mind went blank, as if he were in a dream.

He felt cool fingertips gently touch his forehead, kneading the aching area with comfortable pressure. He could faintly smell the scent of ink and brushes emanating from Si Qi, along with a subtle fragrance of soap.

The lingering pain that had plagued him all day crumbled completely in front of Si Qi, utterly disappearing without a trace. If it weren't for the fact that Si Qi could see it, Chu Feng wouldn't have been able to resist a smile.

He had no idea that he was having a headache.

Under the warm candlelight, Si Qi was less aloof than during the day, and more gentle and approachable. The more Chu Feng looked at him, the more her heart raced. Afraid that the emotions in her eyes would be exposed, she hurriedly looked away, avoiding eye contact with Si Qi.

A mischievous glint flashed in Si Qi's usually clear and calm eyes. While Chu Feng was lost in thought, Si Qi gently raised his hand and touched his face. His fingertips touched the dark circles under Chu Feng's eyes, startling Chu Feng so much that he stared at Si Qi in disbelief.

Si Qi's tone remained cold and indifferent: "Your Highness, have you not rested well?"

Chu Feng was dazed and confused, his voice like a dream: "Yes..."

"Then Your Highness may rest. I will stay here with you and will not disturb you."

Feeling dizzy, Chu Feng instinctively said, "No, you need to rest."

Si Qi chuckled softly and said in a low voice, "I will get some rest."

He touched various acupoints on Chu Feng's head, found the places that would help him fall asleep, and massaged them a few times. Chu Feng's eyelids became heavy uncontrollably, and he soon succumbed to the overwhelming sleepiness. Before he could even utter a word, he had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Si Qi looked at Chu Feng as he slept, his eyes crinkling with a smile. He leaned down and kissed Chu Feng's forehead, then pinched Chu Feng's wrist to check his pulse, confirming Chu Feng's physical condition. He took out calming incense from his spatial storage, lit it, and placed it aside.

He helped Chu Feng to bed, removed his outer clothes and shoes, and wiped Chu Feng's face with a towel.

Then, without any hesitation, he undressed himself, brazenly crawled into Chu Feng's bed, put Chu Feng's arm on his body, and rested his head on Chu Feng's shoulder.

Not to mention Chu Feng, Si Qi also suffered from sleeplessness for over a month after arriving in this world.

He was more used to the feeling of being held while sleeping.

Under the influence of the calming incense, he quickly fell asleep.

...

Chu Feng slowly opened his eyes, instantly startled awake by the warm touch in his arms.

He scrambled to his feet, glaring angrily at the man beside him.

His wary gaze had barely been fixed on someone for two seconds when Chu Feng recognized the person beside him, and his angry expression suddenly turned blank.

That was an extremely familiar face.

Silky smooth, jet-black hair gently cascaded down her face, and her jade-like, translucent skin appeared even more dazzlingly white against the dark backdrop.

His usually clear, emotionless eyes were closed, softening the indifference between his brows and making his handsome features appear gentler, like a solitary, aloof moon veiled in mist, becoming hazy, tender, and serene.

Perhaps because his injuries had not yet healed, his lips were still very pale, thin and bloodless. Chu Feng couldn't help but glance at them a few more times, imagining what it would be like if he applied lip rouge to his lips, giving those delicate snow plum blossoms a touch of graceful elegance.

That scene must have been incredibly beautiful.

The surrounding silence fueled Chu Feng's desire not to disturb them and to steal a few more glances.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Feng slowly shifted his gaze from Si Qi's sleeping face and noticed that he and Si Qi had shared the same blanket last night. A tingling sensation immediately shot from his spine to the top of his head, and the lingering warmth of the blanket in his fingertips seemed to carry a residual power that made him reluctant to let go.

He carefully lowered the blanket he had pulled back and covered Si Qi with it. Only then did he notice that Si Qi was only wearing a snow-white undergarment, which barely revealed his thin, fair neck and collarbone, as well as a small patch of his chest.

Because he was lying on his side, the blanket covered him, subtly revealing the curves of his body. He was slender, but the curves of his waist were clearly visible. He wasn't the kind of delicate figure that could be blown away by a gust of wind, but rather as supple and upright as a pine or bamboo.

With such a person lying so unguarded in front of him, even someone as vigilant as Chu Feng felt his head spinning. It seemed that if he wasn't careful, he could just throw off the covers and lie back down to pretend to be asleep, quietly savoring this hard-won miracle.

But he ultimately restrained himself from going against the grain.

As he hesitated about whether he could stay a little longer, the first light of dawn broke outside, and he heard a eunuch asking if he had woken up and needed to be served.

Chu Feng's heart skipped a beat. The next second, he saw those eyes open hazily. After meeting his gaze, they quickly went from being confused to clear-headed, leaving behind a fleeting, childlike, affectionate look that was deeply engraved in his heart.

He watched as Si Qi slowly sat up from the bed, his waist-length black hair cascading down like a waterfall, falling freely onto his shoulders and back, making this usually reserved and elegant person appear more languid and intimate.

"Your Highness, you're awake."

The young man's voice was like a clear mountain spring, melodious and clear, without a trace of the morning drowsiness.

Chu Feng was instantly jolted awake by the voice. When he met those calm, still eyes, he immediately hid all his romantic feelings, not daring to let anyone see them.

He said gently, "My dear minister, you're awake."

After saying that, he pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Why are you here, my dear minister?"

Si Qi raised his hand to tidy his hair, his movements casual. "Last night, I was massaging Your Highness when I saw you fall asleep and wanted to leave. Your Highness hugged my waist and said you wanted to sleep side by side with me, and I dared not refuse."

Chu Feng's eyes widened slightly, unable to believe that he, who had been half asleep last night, was so bold as to dare to say such things from the bottom of his heart.

What embarrassed him even more was that Si Qi, a loyal minister, was completely unaware of his despicable thoughts and was simply deceived by his words about sleeping side by side as ruler and subject, and actually obeyed him.

His heart was pounding like a drum. He dared not let Si Qi see his true thoughts, so he forced himself to remain calm and smiled, saying, "I see. Did I sleep well last night? Did I disturb your rest, my dear minister?"

Si Qi smiled faintly, the curve of his smile was small, but in Chu Feng's eyes it was enough to be breathtaking, and even his breath stopped in his tracks.

Si Qi: "I did not disturb you. However, I do not know why, but I feel very comfortable and relaxed after waking up."

Chu Feng subconsciously felt that Si Qi was just saving face for him, saying some comforting words to put his mind at ease. But upon closer inspection, he realized that he felt light and free all over, the heaviness and fatigue from staying up late for several days had vanished, and he was so energetic that he felt he could climb a mountain without any effort.

The signs were so obvious that if he hadn't been completely distracted by Si Qi's presence after waking up, he would have noticed them instantly.

He said in surprise, "So it is for me too."

Could it be that Si Qi's massage last night was really that effective?

His stiff shoulders and aching back felt so comfortable now that it didn't even belong to him. Chu Feng gently raised his arm, feeling a surge of strength, enough to write a ten-thousand-word memorial without any problem.

This is absolutely amazing.

He looked at Si Qi with delight, feeling that all of this must have been brought about by the person in front of him.

The question is whether the psychological effect affected his body, making him feel so relaxed that he could fly.

Chu Feng's actions were too obvious, so Si Qi certainly wouldn't let this opportunity pass: "It seems that last night's massage was very effective. If Your Highness doesn't mind, I can help Your Highness stretch your muscles and bones every night."

These words sounded ambiguous, but Chu Feng didn't notice it at all. From the very beginning, Chu Feng had never considered that Si Aiqing would have any connection with those matters, nor had she thought that she would "force" Si Qi to stay and rest every time she was confused. She simply limited the matter to the scope of massage and said, "It's too much trouble for you, Aiqing."

Si Qi shook his head, "I know Your Highness has been working hard these days. This is just a small token of my concern, hoping it can be of some help to Your Highness."

After saying that, as if to ease Chu Feng's psychological burden, he made an excuse: "I don't know why, but my legs, which always ached late at night in the past, didn't affect me at all last night."

In front of Si Qi, Chu Feng's IQ always seemed to drop by half. Upon hearing this, he subconsciously followed Si Qi's train of thought, his eyes brightening with eagerness as he said, "Is that so! Then, my dear minister, you may sleep with me from now on, and that way—"

Halfway through his sentence, Chu Feng realized what he had said and was so shocked that he couldn't continue.

Si Qi, completely oblivious to the turmoil in Chu Feng's heart, said apologetically, "Is it alright? Will it disturb Your Highness...?"

Chu Feng came to his senses and saw that Si Qi seemed to really want to sleep with him. Although he was afraid of being disrespectful, the thought of helping Si Qi ultimately prevailed, and he said with concern, "As long as you feel comfortable."

He knew that it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, and the pain during the healing process was excruciating, so he instructed the imperial physician to prescribe many sleeping pills to reduce Si Qi's burden.

However, Chu Feng never expected that Si Qi, who never complained to him, would actually toss and turn in pain every night, which made Chu Feng feel very guilty.

If sleeping with him really does have an effect...

Chu Feng asked, "Does it really not hurt anymore?"

Si Qi nodded: "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Chu Feng was surprised and delighted: "How strange, I feel the same way."

Even though I stayed up late last night, when I woke up, I didn't feel tired at all. Instead, I felt as comfortable as if I had slept for a whole day and night, and I was extremely satisfied.

He didn't understand why sleeping together would bring about positive changes in both of them, but that didn't stop Chu Feng from agreeing to Si Qi's request. He said gently, "If you want to sleep here, my dear minister, that's perfectly fine, as long as you don't mind me."

“No,” Si Qi said, “I can also massage Your Highness to relieve your headache.”

Chu Feng paused, wanting to say, "I no longer have a headache," but the words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

He lowered his head, feeling guilty, and said, "Then... then I'll have to trouble you, my dear minister."

Si Qi smiled slightly: "No trouble at all."

...

When Chu Feng arrived at the Imperial Study, his father was already sitting at his desk processing documents.

Hearing the noise, the emperor looked up at his son and was about to offer him a bowl of lotus seed soup prepared by the imperial kitchen when he noticed that Chu Feng was in high spirits today, a stark contrast to his appearance yesterday, when he was constantly rubbing his temples and had a worried look between his brows.

The emperor asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you today?"

Chu Feng smiled and said, "Father, you noticed? I feel exceptionally comfortable after waking up today."

The emperor carefully examined Chu Feng and, seeing that Chu Feng looked quite energetic today, smiled and said, "It's good that you're alright."

Even among the imperial family, there are moments of tender affection between father and son. Yesterday, the emperor noticed that Chu Feng was unwell and urged him to go home and rest early. Chu Feng refused, insisting on working with him by lamplight to finish his tasks before finally staggering home. The emperor felt both distressed and comforted, and this morning he specially had a bowl of lotus seed soup, Chu Feng's favorite, prepared, hoping it would make him feel better.

To everyone's surprise, Chu Feng only took a nap and was completely refreshed, looking as if nothing had happened to him.

It's so good to be young.

The emperor sighed inwardly and pushed a pile of official documents on the corner of the table to Chu Feng, asking him to help sort them out. Chu Feng flipped through the memorials and said, "It was Minister Si who noticed that I was not feeling well and specially massaged my acupoints last night, which is why I recovered so quickly."

The emperor paused, his vermilion brush poised, and exclaimed in surprise, "Minister Si, you know this too?...Indeed."

The Heavenly Curtain mentioned that Si Qi was skilled in medicine, and not long ago he even worked with the imperial physicians to develop miraculous medicines such as the cowpox vaccine, so he did indeed have some expertise.

He felt sorry for his son, but at the same time, he couldn't bear to see Si Qi waiting for Chu Feng in the East Palace so late. He massaged Chu Feng's acupoints and reminded him, "Don't let my dear minister overwork himself."

Chu Feng laughed and said, "Your subject does not. It's just strange, but Lord Si said that after he and your subject slept side by side last night, he felt completely relaxed when he woke up, and even the pain in his injured leg was gone."

"Such a thing actually happened?" the emperor exclaimed in surprise.

If someone else said this, the emperor would definitely think that person was flattering the crown prince.

But it was Si Qi who said this.

Given Si Qi's current status and the contributions he has made, he has no need to curry favor with anyone, even if that person is the Crown Prince of Da Qi.

The emperor laughed in surprise, "Your amazing abilities always exceed expectations."

The emperor was always in a good mood whenever Si Qi was mentioned.

Because Si Qi reminds him of the bright future of Da Qi and the fairyland-like future described by Tian Mu, making him realize that his efforts are not in vain and that as long as he does it, he will reap the rewards.

Even the troublesome memorials in his hands became less unbearable as a result.

If there were such a thing as a happiness index survey in this era, then the overall happiness index in the Great Qi would definitely be rising steadily recently.

Through the Heavenly Curtain, everyone learned about their future and that their descendants would live the life described in the Heavenly Curtain because of the appearance of the Minister.

They would have more food than they could eat, enough to fill their granaries; easy and labor-saving farming tools; incredibly lenient policies towards the people; and even wider and smoother roads built thanks to gunpowder.

They are so happy that they have inexhaustible energy just by looking at the sky and fantasizing about their future.

Although the emperor could not see what was happening thousands of miles away, he could see the ordinary people coming and going in the capital, and the officials from humble backgrounds, and their vibrant spirits.

If even these people are looking forward to the future, one can imagine how inspired the many other poor people who cannot afford to go to school or eat must be.

The father and son smiled at each other, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

...

The first round of the celestial projection lasted for more than a month before it ended.

At the end, Tianyin revealed the content of the next video, so the people of Daqi did not worry about being abandoned by the gods, but were instead filled with anticipation.

The emperor was both disappointed and relieved by the temporary halt to the celestial curtain.

The long period of oppression has fully mobilized all the capable officials in the Great Qi, and almost everyone has a lot of work to do. If the exploitation continues, many people may not be able to withstand it and die of exhaustion in their posts.

Even emperors, who could command people to do things simply by speaking, were already finding it difficult to cope.

The curtain of light has temporarily stopped, allowing them to digest what has been taught before proceeding further.

The ministers were extremely grateful.

Although they didn't mind making achievements and serving the Great Qi, and being promoted and ennobled by the emperor, their abilities were limited. They weren't geniuses like the Prime Minister, who could solve any problem in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. They were truly too busy to handle anything, and they often ate their meals hastily in their studies every day.

The entire Qi court was operating at high speed. Ministers who had been assigned tasks had almost no time to think about infighting and factional struggles. They worked together to accomplish great things, and their attention was completely focused on their work.

The nobles repeatedly caused trouble, but were repeatedly quelled by the emperor, who was constantly watching the situation. The two sides clashed back and forth, nearly disrupting the work of the court officials on several occasions, but the biased emperor unilaterally intervened each time. Whether it was framing or false accusation, even if the minister being targeted deserved punishment, the emperor stated that the trial would be postponed until the minister had completed his duties. If he performed his job well, regardless of whether he had embezzled or accepted bribes, he would be dealt with accordingly.

The minister, sweating profusely, expressed his gratitude for the emperor's great favor and pledged to serve him wholeheartedly. Other ministers, sensing the emperor's changing attitude, worked even harder.

On the contrary, the nobles were so angry that their blood pressure soared.

They watched as more and more people in the court made meritorious contributions, were rewarded with gold and silver by the emperor, and were promoted to higher official positions, gradually pushing them out of their places. They, on the other hand, knew nothing and could not participate in anything, so they stood in court all day watching the group of people discuss things enthusiastically, like alien outsiders.

It felt like a slow death, watching your power gradually decline bit by bit.

In private, they constantly accused the emperor of being ungrateful and ignoring the contributions their fathers had made to the establishment of the Great Qi Dynasty, thus treating them coldly.

Relying on the fact that their fathers and grandfathers had saved the lives of the previous emperor and even the current emperor on the battlefield, and relying on the fact that they were the descendants that their fathers and grandfathers had managed to keep, and that the emperor, whose nature was actually very benevolent, would not allow the bloodline of the former meritorious officials to be cut off, they became arrogant and their struggles and resistance became increasingly rampant.

It was at this time that Zhao Ren's father approached them.

An extremely secretive gathering unfolded silently, leaving all the nobles who participated speechless at the "premonition."

But even something as terrifying as the sky had appeared before their eyes. Knowing this would happen, it was hard for them not to try to believe it.

After all, Zhao Ren and his group had no reason to deceive him; their conflict with the emperor was already common knowledge.

Moreover, given Zhao Ren's noble birth, he had no need to worry about his future. Whether he stole Si Qi's credit for fame or not made little difference. His actions were less for his own benefit and more to retaliate against Si Qi.

Zhao Ren said that in the future without the Heavenly Curtain, Si Qi rose to become Prime Minister through his own abilities, and Chu Feng ascended the throne to become Emperor. The noble families gradually declined under the continuous weakening by two successive emperors, and even Zhao Ren, the head of the Zhao family at the time, was beheaded in public. One can imagine what their situation was like at that time.

Now, with the appearance of the Heavenly Curtain, the struggle between the nobles and the emperor has been brought to the forefront. The emperor has long since taken action against the Zhao family, and the other nobles have watched as they gradually lose their foothold in the court. It is believed that this time, it will not take more than twenty years, but only a few years, for them to regain their former glory and their status will be even lower than that of ministers from humble backgrounds.

Zhao Ren's father spoke in a cold tone, showing no reverence for the imperial family whatsoever: "My son said that around the Dragon Boat Festival, there will be a flood in Songzhou, and the emperor will send the crown prince to quell the rebellion."

The nobles' expressions changed as they recalled Tianmu's prophecy that Zhao Ren had poisoned the emperor and killed Chu Feng, and they took Zhao's father's words very seriously.

Instead of mocking Zhao's father for his unrealistic ideas, they genuinely began to consider the matter.

Should they surrender and wait for the emperor to gradually cripple them, becoming lambs to the slaughter, or should they take a gamble, become the future regent, and make the emperor pay the price...?

Regardless of what they discussed that day, afterwards the emperor found that the nobles had suddenly become more obedient, no longer trying to cause him trouble, nor always mentioning in public the kindness their fathers had shown to the late emperor and him, saying that their families had made great contributions to the Great Qi, thus subtly warning the emperor not to forget their kindness.

This made the emperor very comfortable.

His personality wasn't as ruthless as the late emperor, nor as rational and indifferent as Chu Feng; he was somewhat gentle, bordering on pure kindness. If he could, he wouldn't want to target the children of his uncles who had protected him on the battlefield, causing them all to be childless.

He was willing to use the wealth and resources of the Great Qi to support these people for a lifetime of riches and honor, as long as they didn't become arrogant enough to trample on the Great Qi, or ask for too much and cross his bottom line.

The turmoil in the court subsided quickly as the nobles became more law-abiding.

By this time, Si Qi's broken leg had almost fully healed, and he was able to put down his crutches and walk slowly.

It would be inappropriate for them to continue living in the East Palace.

Upon suddenly hearing Si Qi's resignation, Chu Feng, who was smiling as she handed him a steamed corn cake, paused abruptly.

He had come to share with Si Qi that the corn had been discovered and transported by the people, and that he wanted Si Qi to taste the pastries made from the corn as soon as possible. But then he heard this terrible news.

A feeling of reluctance filled his mind, and Chu Feng couldn't bring himself to say anything to stop him. He struggled internally, saying, "Your injuries aren't fully healed yet. It's not safe outside. What if you get hurt..."

Si Qi smiled and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I am fine. Having stayed in the palace for so long, I am worried about my family outside the palace, and it is time for me to go back and take care of my parents and siblings."

Chu Feng recalled that Si Qi had only seen his parents twice during this period, so there was no reason to forcibly prevent Si Qi from reuniting with his family.

He just couldn't bear to part with it...

This period of life was incredibly wonderful for Chu Feng. She could feel Si Qi's presence before falling asleep and wake up to see her beloved sleeping beside her. She could share all three meals with Si Qi, and at work, she only needed to turn around to talk to him.

They went everywhere together, as intimately as partners.

But now, it's all coming to an end.

The more he thought about it, the sadder he became. Chu Feng forced a smile so that Si Qi wouldn't see his excessive reluctance: "In that case, I will send the guards and eunuchs who are currently taking care of you to serve you. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

Si Qi sensed that the man was almost crying, and found it amusing: "Thank you, Your Highness. If Your Highness has time, you are welcome to visit my home. I would be most pleased."

Chu Feng's eyes lit up, and before Si Qi could finish speaking, he said, "Okay!"

He suddenly became impatient and said eagerly, "In that case, I will send you out of the palace! I can also take you to see the situation in your residence and see if there is anything missing."

He can send one thing today and another thing tomorrow, and after sending the things, he can stay and discuss matters with Si Qi. Wouldn't that make it perfectly reasonable for him to spend the whole day at Si Qi's place?

I believe his father would be very happy to see him and Si Qi communicating and showing affection from time to time.

Si Qi did not refuse and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After informing the emperor of this matter, Chu Feng, under the emperor's approving gaze, left the palace with Si Qi and the luggage Si Qi had left in the East Palace during this time.

The Si family members living in the Si residence were overjoyed to see Si Qi again after many days. They shed tears of joy and carefully examined Si Qi's appearance, fearing that he might still be recovering from his injuries.

But that's impossible, of course.

Looking at Si Qi's appearance at this moment, they didn't know if it was the halo effect of the sky or the fact that the palace was so good at nurturing people. They felt that Si Qi looked much more otherworldly than they remembered, as if he were a celestial being who had descended from heaven.

The family gathered together to chat. Si Qi's younger siblings were extremely excited, surrounding him and constantly telling him about how high-ranking officials and dignitaries had been visiting them non-stop lately, practically wearing down their doorstep. They also said that these important people treated them incredibly well, ensuring they hadn't suffered the slightest grievance.

There were certainly nobles who disliked Si Qi, but with the emperor and all the civil officials watching, those gossips and underhanded tricks couldn't reach them. All they heard were the praises from those around them.

Even the common people on the streets and alleys, after learning that they were the family members of the Prime Minister, looked at them with shining eyes, as if they were some kind of compassionate bodhisattva who saved them from suffering, and were grateful to them—because they had raised Si Qi and supported their Prime Minister of the Great Qi.

The suffering and torment I experienced in prison have long since vanished into thin air in this wonderful life, leaving no trace.

They are truly satisfied with their current life and love everything around them.

If the original owner could see this scene, he would surely be very pleased.

Si Qi talked with his parents and family for a long time, satisfying their longing to see him after so many days.

Chu Feng deliberately left so as not to disturb the family's conversation. After Si Qi came to entertain him, he discussed articles with Si Qi in the study until midnight before "suddenly realizing" that it was too late and he should rest.

When Si Qi invited him to rest at his residence, Chu Feng readily agreed, saying, "Then I'll trouble you, my dear minister."

Subsequently, under the bewildered gazes of Si's parents, siblings, and other relatives, she brazenly moved into the same room as Si Qi.

The next day, Chu Feng told them that this was called "sleeping with feet touching," something that only rulers and ministers with a close relationship would do.

The parents of the official were very pleased to hear this, feeling that their son had a harmonious relationship with the Crown Prince and would surely have a good life in the court.

The Si siblings were easily swayed by this, and recalling the books they had been reading intermittently during this period, they realized that there were indeed stories in which scholars longed for the idea of ​​sleeping side by side. They were delighted that their brother was so highly regarded by the future emperor.

Si Qi smiled but remained silent.

In the following period, whenever Chu Feng had free time, he would bring some gifts to visit Si Qi's home.

First, he found a rare and unique book to share with Si Qi; then, noticing that Si Qi's writing brushes, ink, and paperweights weren't good enough, he specially found some of his treasured items and sent them to Si Qi.

Even though it was something that could be delivered in one go, Chu Feng insisted on delivering a little bit every day, with a different reason each day.

At first, the Si family members would be nervous and fearful when they saw the Crown Prince, but after seeing him many times, they gradually got used to it. If Chu Feng didn't come one day, they would still ask Si Qi, "Where is His Highness?"

Si Qi: "…………" Your Highness isn't some NPC that keeps respawning at home. Well, that's about right.

With Chu Feng's regular, check-in-and-visit-like visits, Si Qi's injuries gradually healed, and he was able to attend court sessions at the palace.

The officials warmly welcomed Si Qi's appearance. Many officials of lower rank who had no opportunity to consult Si Qi at the Eastern Palace looked at him with curiosity, as if they were seeing a figure from mythology appear before them, or as if a star from a drama had stepped out of the screen and into real life.

The atmosphere was somewhat like a fan meeting, where people who appear mature and composed in public couldn't hide their excitement, even admiration.

The nobles watched indifferently from the sidelines, hoping to discern dissatisfaction and apprehension from the emperor's face, and wishing that the emperor would accuse Si Qi of "overshadowing the emperor with his merits".

Unfortunately, the emperor remained as kind-hearted as ever, and even though Si Qi was riding roughshod over him, he was still happy about it.

With Si Qi's addition, affairs in the court progressed more and more smoothly.

After Si Qi repeatedly rendered meritorious service, the emperor naturally appointed Si Qi as the Left Chancellor, making him the second-in-command in the court.

No one thought Si Qi was too young and unworthy of his position, including the Prime Minister himself. There have been prime ministers in history who were teenagers, let alone someone like Si Qi.

The nobles seemed to have resigned themselves to their fate. Apart from a few people who were related to the Zhao family saying a few perfunctory words, no one raised any further objections.

The emperor was very pleased with this and, in return, became even more amiable towards the nobles, hoping they would continue to maintain this attitude. The nobles all showed expressions of gratitude and were extremely respectful to the emperor and Si Qi, even offering flattery when they saw Si Qi.

It was as if she intended to get along well with him from then on.