83 Snuggle
◎ In Lu Jing's eyes, she looked incredibly cute.◎
The Cuiwei Palace is magnificent. The front court hall is the Cuiwei Hall, with carved beams and painted rafters. It is the main hall where ministers pay homage to the emperor.
A Jinhua Gate separated the front court from the rear bedroom, and court officials stopped here.
The emperor's bedroom at the rear, named Hanfeng Hall, was built in the open area at the top. Its roof was covered with glazed tiles, its beams and columns were painted red lacquer, and its doors, windows, brackets, and rafters were embellished with wood and stone carvings, embodying the royal majesty.
Lu Jing paused briefly to allow Gu Ningxi to find her way. Then, carrying her, he crossed the corridor and headed west, stopping in front of another magnificent palace a hundred steps away.
Gu Ningxi looked at the words "Qiyun" written on the door of the palace, which was particularly appropriate in the misty Cuiping Mountain.
She said, "Put me down."
Her feet stepped on the brick surface, and the wind blew towards her through the white marble fence.
Lu Jing held Gu Ningxi's hand and went up the jade steps with her.
The Qiyun Hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with side halls on the east and west sides.
There is a rosewood throne in the main hall, behind which stands a rosewood screen inlaid with jade, as well as a gilded incense burner and a bronze ice mirror.
The servants in Qiyun Palace were all transferred from the inner court. The two maids in charge of the affairs inside and outside the palace were named Yuntan and Yunjian.
After traveling for half a day, Lu Jing asked Gu Ningxi to pack his bags first, and then he returned to Hanfeng Palace and made plans to have dinner together in the evening.
Yuntan led the way and took Lord Gu to see the layout of the inner room.
A soft, ethereal gauze curtain, the color of azure sky and water, hung over the agarwood bed, and a jade mat woven from ice silk felt cool to the touch. Near the window stood a sandalwood couch, piled high with soft, embroidered pillows. In the back room, a desk furnished with all the necessary study supplies for reading and painting.
Gu Ningxi sat on the small couch, familiar with the bedroom's layout. The craftsmen had put in place a rather ingenious plan. Pushing open the two carved windows, the breeze gently rustled the gauze curtains. This was indeed a perfect place to escape the summer heat and cool down.
Yun Jian led people to pack clothes for Lord Gu and opened the eight wardrobes on the north side of the bedroom. Gu Ningxi looked in the direction of their movements and remained silent for a moment.
The closet was overflowing with clothes, all tailored to her size. Half of them were brocade skirts, in shades of vermilion, cherry pink, lotus lilac, sky blue, aquamarine, moon white, and hibiscus purple, as if all the colors of the palace had gathered here.
Gu Ningxi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, as she had long known that he had other plans for taking her body.
She supported her chin with her hand and looked at the wardrobe filled with all kinds of clothes. Suddenly, she remembered that the situation in her dream seemed to be the same.
Gu Ningxi was still wearing the official uniform of a fifth-rank civil official. Regardless of whether the maids in the palace knew the inside story or not, they all kept silent and called her "Lady Gu".
She smiled. What she had thought was a heinous crime of deceiving the emperor was now easily solved.
The wonders of power were indeed beyond her imagination. No wonder there were so many royal wars and heroes competing for supremacy throughout history.
Gu Ningxi was not used to being served by strangers, so after everything in the palace was settled, he told the maids to go back and rest.
"Yes, sir."
Gu Ningxi changed into a sky-blue casual dress. Although she could not see her colleagues from the previous dynasty behind Jinhua Gate, she was still used to wearing men's clothes, which made it more convenient for her to walk.
…
Although he went to the palace to escape the summer heat, he never slacked off in his government affairs.
Every day, memorials from the court were delivered to Cuiwei Palace by express horses. Gu Ningxi reviewed the memorials from the six ministries and then sorted them out for the emperor to review.
After a few days of work, she had become quite proficient in this task. She had an excellent memory and could easily remember any matter, big or small, from the six departments after reading them.
"The Zhongshu Sheren is in charge of confidential documents and has a high official rank, which is the common path to promotion." This statement is not groundless.
Sometimes, if the emperor had an order, Gu Ningxi could independently draft a simple decree, confirm that it was correct, stamp it with the seal, and send it to the court.
She experienced a huge difference between the two positions: the former was specialized and precise, while the latter was broad and extensive, which was very challenging.
Gu Ningxi looked at Lu Jing, who was sitting behind the imperial desk. He had only been in power for three months. Like her, he was still adapting and familiarizing himself with the various government affairs. Being in charge of a dynasty alone was no easy task.
Gu Ningxi now knew everything that was going on in the court. His Majesty had been busy with the military reform recently.
In the past, many heroes emerged and competed for the Central Plains. In order to strengthen the military strength and expand the territory, the emperor divided Guanzhong into twelve armies, each of which was under the jurisdiction of several cavalry or chariot cavalry departments.
Adjustments were made later as the situation changed, as the Turks were still eyeing the north, making it inconvenient to lay off the army on a large scale.
Up to now, the central military force has twelve armies outside, twelve guards inside, and the personal guards of the original East Palace, Prince Zhao's Palace, and Prince Huai's Palace.
Moreover, generals in the court often held various positions among the three. For example, Xie Qian, Marquis of Wu'an, was the General of the Left Wuwei among the Twelve Guards, the General of Tianji among the Twelve Armies, and the Deputy General of the Xuanjia Army in Prince Zhao's Palace during wartime.
Furthermore, the Emperor had promised the local tyrants generous favors in order to attract them to submit. Without exception, they all became governors of prefectures and counties, and retained their own troops.
To command troops from several prefectures and strengthen local control, the imperial court established military governorships in strategic locations. In the event of a major war, a temporary executive office was established to command the troops, but it was disbanded after the battle. For example, during the Xu Lang rebellion, the retired emperor established the Shandong Dao Xingtai in Raozhou and ordered Lu Zhuo, the Prince of Linchang, who was well-versed in Shandong affairs, to lead the army to suppress the rebellion.
Such a chaotic wartime military system and the complicated county settings were no longer suitable for the initial climate of the Central Plains.
The retired emperor retired to Renzhi Palace, and the new emperor ascended the throne at a time when military reform was imperative.
This alone was daunting enough, Gu Ningxi sighed. The placement of a standing army was also a challenge. Standing armies were supported by the imperial court and exempt from taxes. If the imperial court supported too many troops, it would be a massive expense, burdening the people. If the troops were insufficient, it would be difficult to deter the powerful nomadic enemies.
Another issue that needs to be considered is whether the standing army should have separate roles for soldiers and farmers, or whether they should be integrated. Integrating roles allows the army to participate in production, thus achieving 30% to 50% self-sufficiency; separating the roles of soldiers and farmers can enhance combat effectiveness.
Moreover, as the territory expands in the future, the military system must be constantly adjusted, otherwise it will be difficult to transfer troops from the central government to the vast border areas.
In addition, we must be wary of local generals who have their own troops and need to rotate and strike them regularly.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Jing looked up inadvertently and saw Gu Ningxi standing by the window with a bitter face, wondering what she was worried about.
He put down his pen, stood up and carried the person to his side.
Lu Jing lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek, then smiled and said, "Are you in trouble?"
Gu Ningxi reacted and pulled herself out of her chaotic thoughts. Yes, that was what she was worrying about just now.
She is just a civil servant, what are she thinking? She should do her job and His Majesty will take care of all matters first.
The change in her expression made Lu Jing feel that she was extremely cute.
It was already past noon outside, and Lu Jing was reluctant to let go of the person he had hugged, so he took a good rest.
He asked Sun Jing to serve some snacks, most of which were Gu Ningxi's favorites, such as jade dew balls, lotus cakes, mung bean pastries, and two bayberry drinks.
It has ice in it, which makes it cool, sour and sweet, perfect for summer.
Gu Ningxi drank most of the cup contentedly: "I always feel that this time of year is hotter than June normally."
Fortunately, they were in the palace. If they were in Kyoto, it would probably be difficult.
Yuan Le was used to being afraid of the heat, so Lu Jing said with a smile, "It's cool in the mountains. Let's go for a walk in the mountains after we're done with this."
Gu Ningxi nodded in agreement. There were large forests and gardens surrounding Cuiwei Palace, with picturesque scenery of mountains and clear waters, creating a uniquely beautiful scene.
…
It rained twice in the next few days, but the weather did not get cooler. Instead, it became humid and hot.
Gu Ningxi felt that it was very nice to stay in the study to handle government affairs. There was always enough ice in the ice jar, and there were snacks to cool down in the afternoon.
Two new imperial chefs were assigned to the palace, one of whom was particularly good at making pastries, and the pastry he made was a masterpiece.
Each piece of Sushan is decorated with different carvings. After being frozen in the ice cellar, it becomes crystal clear, with a rich milky flavor, and melts in the mouth, making people's appetites whet.
It happened to be the new tribute of lychees, so the lychee pulp was dotted on the ice mountain, which made the flavor even more unique.
Gu Ningxi enjoyed the food, so Lu Jing naturally wouldn't restrict her and let her do what she wanted.
Although he was busy with government affairs, Gu Ningxi lived comfortably every day and learned a lot.
Everything seemed to be going well until one morning, when she was awakened by pain in her lower abdomen.
The brocade quilt on the couch was thin, and a chill still emanated from the ice mirror in the corner of the hall.
Gu Ningxi's forehead was covered in sweat, and the pain came one after another, making it almost impossible for him to get up.
She realized that something was wrong, and she rang the silver bell with all her strength. After confirming that Yun Tan had heard the noise and entered the hall, she closed her eyes weakly.
Her lower abdomen felt like it was being pricked by needles, and a dull, swollen pain spread through her lower back. Her head was dazed and she didn't know when it would end.
Soon the news was received in Hanfeng Palace, and Lu Jing, who had already gone to the study to handle government affairs, turned back to Cuiwei Palace.
"Long live your majesty."
"Your Majesty."
Lu Jing strode into the bedroom and saw a pale figure lying on the couch, half asleep and half awake. He asked the imperial physician, "What's going on?"
After being in the palace for many years, his first reaction was that it was caused by poisoning.
"Your Majesty, please be at ease," the imperial physician behind the screen bowed and tactfully said, "Master Gu is just...just having his menstrual period, and has no other symptoms."
The imperial physician has written a prescription and ordered someone to prepare the medicine.
Lu Jing breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside the couch. A soft pillow rested under Gu Ningxi's waist, and Lu Jing half-held her in his arms, feeding her a few sips of millet porridge and a dose of medicine. After a long morning of tossing and turning, Gu Ningxi finally felt better and had the strength to speak.
Lu Jing tried to comfort her, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel confused. He had known Yuan Le for so many years, but he had never seen her with such symptoms before.
Gu Ningxi probably knew the reason and didn't say anything.
The imperial physician explained everything: "Your Majesty, Lady Gu must have eaten too much cold food two days before her period, which is why her symptoms are so severe now."
Lu Jing didn't need to recall to know that what the imperial physician said was exactly right.
Fortunately, there were no urgent matters to attend to today. Lu Jing ordered the imperial physician and maidservants to wait outside, while he personally remained on guard in the palace. Gu Ningxi was exhausted and unwilling to move, yet the pain kept her awake. The imperial physician's prescription could only provide relief; the rest would have to be endured on her own. Lying flat on her back was uncomfortable, so Gu Ningxi shifted to lying on Lu Jing's lap. Lu Jing then placed a soft pillow under her abdomen. After some fiddling, she finally found a more comfortable position.
For lunch, Gu Ningxi could only drink a few mouthfuls of porridge and barely slept for a while.
Lu Jing covered her with a brocade quilt and took advantage of this opportunity to review more than a dozen memorials in the Qiyun Palace.
The ice jar in the hall had been moved out long ago. Before noon, Gu Ningxi woke up and finally felt a little better than when he woke up in the morning.
"Are you hungry?" Lu Jing asked her with his eyes lowered.
Gu Ningxi shook her head slightly. Seeing how weak she looked and unable to eat, how could Lu Jing not feel distressed.
Since she couldn't sleep, Gu Ningxi wanted someone to talk to her.
Lu Jing hugged the person to make him feel more comfortable and said, "It's okay on normal days, but why haven't you been more careful these days?"
Gu Ningxi muttered, "How could I remember?"
Her periods were not always regular, sometimes coming earlier or later than usual. Sometimes, when she was busy with government affairs, her periods were slow to come, only coming once every two months.
Her mother kept track of her menstrual periods and kept a menstrual belt in her room. She always had a premonition before her period, so she wasn't too flustered.
Lu Jing was concerned about her health and asked, "Has this happened to you before when you ate something cold?"
Gu Ningxi pursed her lips, her voice filled with grievance: "When I was at home, my mother wouldn't let me eat too much."
When she mentioned this, Lu Jing remembered that one time when he met her on the street, Yuan Le was buying bayberry iced drinks and even gave one to her.
At that moment she suddenly hid behind him, it turned out that she was trying to avoid Madam Gu.
He was even able to dig up this old matter. Gu Ningxi said quietly, "Your Majesty is truly observant."
Lu Jing didn't know what to think for a moment. Since the wife of Marquis Xuanping was not around, Yuan Le just followed his own will.
He sighed, feeling distressed and helpless: "Then you should at least have some sense of propriety."
From what he said, it seemed like he was blaming her.
Gu Ningxi immediately became annoyed and stood up a little: "Your Majesty didn't say that I can't eat!"
Lu Jing: “…”
Meeting her accusing gaze, Lu Jing said, "...Okay, okay, it's all my fault."
Gu Ningxi snorted lightly and decided not to bother with him for the time being.
Lu Jing smiled and, following the imperial physician's instructions, placed his palm on her lower abdomen and gently rubbed it.
Gu Ningxi was held in his arms, his palms warm yet dry. Her emotions were slowly soothed, and the pain in her lower abdomen was actually relieved a bit.
She gradually relaxed and closed her eyes unconsciously.
The hall was quiet. Seeing the person in his arms leaning on him wholeheartedly, Lu Jing couldn't help but lower his head and touch her forehead.
Looking at her sleeping face, my heart felt so soft.
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