Chapter 78
When spring arrives and flowers bloom, I will bid you farewell with fine wine.
The following year, in June.
Qianqing personally dug up the wine that had been buried last year, and a new jar of wine was buried under the tree in Weiyang Palace.
"Next year, I will be able to drink plum wine with His Majesty." Qianqing wiped the sweat from her cheeks without much concern.
A smile appeared on Jingzhe's face as well. "Then I'll go and take this jar of peach blossom wine to open it?"
"I will go myself!"
"Master's face is covered in dust," Jingzhe joked.
"How dare you make fun of me? Aren't you the same?"
When Lingwu arrived, she saw the master and servant laughing at each other, their bodies and faces covered in mud.
Qianqing hurried forward, her face beaming with joy, "Why did Your Majesty arrive so early? This jar of wine was just dug out, and I haven't even had a chance to clean off the dust yet."
Lingwu simply said, "I have nothing to do today, so let's get up early." As she spoke, she used the handkerchief in her hand to wipe away a streak of ash from Qianqing's face.
The cool touch on my fingertips is like the gentle rustling of feathers, stirring my heartstrings.
Jingzhe couldn't help but smile, picked up the jar of peach blossom wine, and quietly withdrew.
Just as Qianqing was struggling to suppress the heat rising on her face, she heard the person in front of her suddenly cough.
Ling Wu raised her hand to touch it, but when she touched it again, she covered the bright red blood.
"His Majesty!"
Lingwu casually wiped the bright red color in her hand with the handkerchief, then turned her head and smiled gently, "I caught a cold a few days ago, but it's nothing serious."
Qianqing, however, caught a whiff of something sweet and metallic, it was...
Born into a military family, his greatest fear since childhood was his mother returning home covered in blood.
Some time ago, his mother wrote to say that His Majesty had allowed her to return to the capital, and he would be able to reunite with his mother. He thought he had enough time to prepare, and he would definitely not cry when he met his mother again.
But unexpectedly, this sweet and fishy smell came from another woman he cherished most.
In an instant, it overlapped with the scene from my dream last year.
"Your Majesty..." He seemed unable to hear his own voice, only a bitter ache remained in his heart.
“Your mother will soon return to the capital in triumph, so there is no need to worry anymore,” Lingwu reassured her.
“I am not worried about Mother’s victorious return, but I am worried about Your Majesty.”
Lingwu replied, "The imperial physician said that I am destined to live ten thousand years."
Upon entering the hall, seeing Qianqing's absent-minded appearance, Lingwu opened the lid of the peach blossom wine that Jingzhe had offered.
The wine aroma is somewhat faint, but the peach blossom fragrance is rich and fragrant, refreshing and delightful.
Lingwu only took a small sip and stopped, saying, "It's a pity it wasn't buried long enough, otherwise it would definitely be a fine wine."
Qianqing snapped out of her reverie and forced a smile. "That's because I want Your Majesty to crave a jar of wine every year. To prevent Your Majesty from getting tired of it, I brew a different jar every year. When June comes next year, Your Majesty will be able to taste the plum wine..."
"Your Majesty, do you like plum wine?"
The panic in his eyes had not yet faded, and he spoke somewhat hurriedly, only able to restrain his impending fear with incessant chatter.
Upon hearing this, Ling Wu turned her head and smiled, "I am naturally pleased to receive a jar of wine from the General's son."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qianqing's eyes lit up dramatically, like a lamp burning brightly in the dark night.
But he dared not look at the person in front of him, for fear that she would discover the fear that he could not hide in his eyes.
He lowered his eyes to pour wine, his fingers trembling violently. "Then Your Majesty must come again next year...every year...A-Qing must pour wine for Your Majesty every year."
Lingwu did not respond, but simply put the wine into her mouth.
Qianqing didn't rush to wait for Lingwu's response as usual. Instead, she followed Lingwu's example and brought the wine to her lips for a light sip.
However, it doesn't taste sweet or fragrant; instead, it's as bland as plain water.
If His Majesty is keeping it from him, will he also be keeping it from Xi Ruoyu?
After Lingwu left, Qianqing went straight to the Phoenix Palace.
At that moment, Xi Ruoyu was embroidering a black and gold thread sachet in her hands. Upon hearing this, she was also somewhat surprised, "Your Highness?"
Although Liu Qing was puzzled, he nodded seriously.
Qian Qing, who was sitting outside waiting, had a blank look in her eyes, as if her heart had fallen into an abyss.
"Master, Master..."
Qianqing suddenly snapped back to reality, her gaze towards Jingzhe somewhat vacant.
"My lord, the Queen has arrived."
Following the turn of her gaze, she saw Xi Ruoyu dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with landscape and vine patterns, her hair tied up with a jade crown, but her face was distant and indifferent.
Like the misty waters across the river from a bustling night market, untouched by dust, and his inner thoughts remain unfathomable.
Qianqing's heart skipped a beat, followed by endless bitterness.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise. What brings you here to see me?"
————
Phoenix Palace
With red eyes, Jing Chun presented the medicine, saying, "Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."
The woman depicted is dressed in black, exuding nobility and unapproachability, yet the warmth in her eyes can melt the hearts of mortals.
Lingwu took the medicine from Jingchun's hand, drank it down in one gulp, and didn't even frown.
The candied fruit lay quietly on the plate, revealing the person's indifference towards the herbal medicine and their nonchalance after several doses.
This time, Jingchun didn't try to persuade Lingwu to eat the candied fruit. He lowered his head and retreated silently, leaving the quiet to Lingwu.
Lingwu did not pick up the brush again; her gaze remained fixed on the painting.
The scroll was very long, and it took her two years, on and off, to depict the grandeur of most of the Qi Dynasty's capital.
She paints mountains and rivers, creating dynamic pictures.
The people there lived in happiness and prosperity, and the city was bustling with activity, presenting a scene of a golden age.
After her death, this painting will be buried in the imperial mausoleum along with her body.
——
The general returned to Chaori in triumph.
A banquet held in the palace was a sign of the emperor's favor.
After the banquet, Qianqiu and Lingwu entered the Phoenix Palace.
Upon entering the hall, Qianqiu immediately changed his drunken expression and respectfully bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.
"Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission!"
"General, you are too kind to me." Lingwu personally helped him up, and sure enough, she saw tears in Qianqiu's eyes.
A robust and sharp-looking woman can be strangely endearing when she cries.
Lingwu patted her back.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. On behalf of all the soldiers in the army, I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
After Qianqiu finished speaking, she bent down again, her voice choked with sobs, which made Lingwu's head ache.
Ling Wu rubbed her temples, looking rather helpless. "General, there's no need for that."
Qianqiu straightened up, his eyes reddening as he looked up at Lingwu. “I come from a family of generals and have always believed in loyalty and righteousness. I am already satisfied that I have chosen a wise ruler! I was worried that His Majesty would hold a grudge against me, but now it seems that I was overthinking it.”
His Majesty is not a foolish or incompetent ruler, but he has seen far too many ancestors whose bodies are still warm.
Lingwu helped her up again. "General, please rest assured. I am not a narrow-minded person, and I naturally understand your heart. I trust your sincerity and know the family traditions of Qianjia, so how could I doubt you?"
"His Majesty……"
Seeing the big man in front of her about to cry again, Lingwu had no choice but to interrupt, "Aqing is currently waiting for the general at Weiyang Palace. He is straightforward and has been thinking about your safety these days, so much so that he has lost his appetite and can't eat or drink."
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