Zhao Zhi hurriedly changed the subject.
"Brother, let me grind the ink for you!"
Zhao Yi nodded and sat down at the imperial desk, his posture upright, exuding an aura of authority without anger.
This was Zhao Zhi's first time observing an emperor up close.
Zhao Yi's fingers flew across the memorials, the mountain of memorials obscuring most of his face.
His expression was focused and serious; he would sometimes frown in deep thought, and sometimes sigh and shake his head.
The flickering light of the palace lanterns danced across Zhao Yi's face, highlighting his resolute profile.
Zhao Zhi stood to the side, gently grinding ink for Zhao Yi.
Her gaze frequently fell on Zhao Yi's face, her eyes filled with worry and concern.
Her movements were gentle and careful, as if she were afraid of disturbing Zhao Yi's thoughts.
Zhao Yi suddenly stopped writing and asked, "Zhizhi, is there something you want to say?"
Zhao Zhi did indeed have something to say.
By the time Zhao Yi reached that age, emperors of all dynasties should have had an heir by now.
She hesitated before saying, "Brother, you and sister-in-law have never had a child. I have some medical knowledge, so why don't I help you—"
She suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhao Yi awkwardly, "I forgot, there are so many imperial physicians in the palace."
"I am infertile," Zhao Yi said without any hesitation. "But since we're not outsiders, it's no big deal for us to know this."
Zhao Zhi was completely stunned by Zhao Yi's words.
What incredible gossip has she heard?
"Brother, will you silence me?"
Zhao Zhi asked, trembling with fear.
"Hahaha—" Zhao Yi burst into laughter.
He decided to tease Zhao Zhi and whispered in her ear, "Guess!"
Zhao Zhi's mind raced, and after a long while, she tentatively said, "Royal brother, I have a way to solve your problem of having children."
"Oh?" Zhao Yi quickly wrote a passage on the memorial with a vermilion pen, then moved on to the next one. The mountain of memorials flew back and forth in his hands.
"Tell me, do you have any good ideas?" he asked leisurely.
"How about I give my child to my brother, the Emperor?" Zhao Zhi swallowed hard, looking nervously at Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi stopped reviewing the memorials, took a vermilion brush and dotted a flower on Zhao Zhi's forehead, asking casually, "Does Zhizhi really think so?"
Zhao Zhi nodded, "Brother, I'm serious!"
"Zhizhi is really too naive."
Upon hearing Zhao Zhi's words, Zhao Yi stopped what he was doing, looked up at Zhao Zhi, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He gently put down the vermilion brush in his hand, pulled Zhao Zhi to his side, and said softly, "Zhizhi, I appreciate your kindness. But this is not a matter that can be resolved simply by adopting a child."
The two fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Zhi made an excuse that she was a little tired and wanted to rest.
Considering Zhao Zhi's special status and the fact that Kangning Palace was temporarily empty, Zhao Yi allowed Zhao Zhi to stay in Kangning Palace for the time being.
Zhao Zhi didn't expect that she would sleep until evening.
Aunt Lanru sent someone to get her some easily digestible food from the imperial kitchen.
Just as Zhao Zhi finished eating, Huang Dong, the eunuch who had been serving in the Imperial Study, came to deliver a message, saying that His Majesty invited the Princess to the Imperial Study.
The night was as dark as ink. Zhao Zhi followed the eunuch Huang Dong to the Imperial Study.
They wandered through the winding and secluded palace corridors, where the palace lanterns swayed and shone, illuminating the mottled stone path with intermittent light.
Zhao Zhi's heart pounded with anxiety as the light danced.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, its light like a ribbon.
The palace was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the occasional sound of the night watchman striking the gong in the distance and the soft whispers of the palace servants nearby.
Huang Dong carried a palace lantern and led the way respectfully. His body leaned slightly forward, and his shadow looked like a huge shrimp.
Zhao Zhi's tense mood suddenly relaxed when she saw this interesting scene.
Finally, the outline of the Imperial Study came into view in the distance.
Zhao Zhi took a deep breath, composed herself, and followed Huang Dong into the Imperial Study.
"They're here."
Zhao Yi was still reviewing memorials. He heard footsteps, looked up at Zhao Zhi, and gestured for her to sit down.
During Zhao Zhi's absence, two concubines brought food to visit Zhao Yi. He left the food behind but sent them away.
Zhao Zhi was getting hungry after walking such a long way. She saw two exquisite food boxes on a small table nearby and asked Zhao Yi if he could eat them.
Zhao Yi said that it was brought by the concubines in the harem, and he didn't like it. He said if Zhao Zhi liked it, he would ask them to make some more and send them over.
How could Zhao Zhi dare to trouble Zhao Yi's concubine to prepare food for him? After eating a few pieces, he said the taste was just so-so.
Zhao Zhi sat for a long time, wondering why Zhao Yi had summoned her. She realized she had been in the palace for almost two months.
The day after the vigil for the Empress Dowager ended, her mother returned to the Zhao residence, but her elder brother kept her there, spending his days in the Imperial Study with him while he handled state affairs.
Zhao Zhi missed Zhang Wan a little.
Although her birth mother was Cui Jiao, the former empress of the Yun Dynasty, Cui Jiao only had the kindness of giving birth to her, not the kindness of raising her. She had only seen Cui Jiao's appearance in a painting of a beauty.
Therefore, when it comes to feelings, the mother-daughter relationship between Zhao Zhi and Zhang Wan is deeper and more intense.
When Zhao Yi finally finished reviewing the memorials, he looked up and found Zhao Zhi asleep, resting her chin on her hand.
In the entire Xuan Dynasty, the only person who could relax and sleep in the Imperial Study was probably his younger sister.
Zhao Zhi felt a piercing gaze fall upon her and suddenly woke up.
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