Li Mingke squatted beside the small stove, fanning himself. The fire inside the stove was burning brightly, and the aroma of medicine filled the entire room.
The medicine had just been brewed, so Li Mingke simply pulled up a stool and sat down.
Finally, the medicine was ready, and she dared not entrust it to anyone else, so she carried it back herself.
She stared intently at the medicine in her hand, her steps quick, but out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Wait, that's...
But the figure disappeared again after turning past a rockery.
Never mind, I'll go talk to him for a bit later! Yue'er's medicine is more important.
When she pushed the door open, Li Zengqing and Li Pinyue seemed to be talking about something, but they fell silent when she came in.
"You two continue talking, don't worry about me." She placed the medicine on the small tea table beside her, tested its temperature, and handed it to Li Pinyue on the bed.
"Drink up, Moon, I've been watching over it myself."
"Thank you, sister." Li Pinyue took the medicine, scooped some out with a spoon, and the medicine was still a little hot.
It had cooled down a bit, but Li Pinyue wasn't afraid of the bitterness and drank it all in one gulp.
Taking advantage of the moment she put down her bowl, Li Mingke threw a sour plum into her mouth.
The moment you put a sour plum in your mouth, the bitterness on your tongue is instantly dispelled by its sweet and sour taste.
Despite the sour taste making her grimace, Li Pinyue still chewed it.
"Are you feeling any better?" Li Mingke asked.
How could it heal so quickly? The wounds were completely healed as soon as the medicine was taken; even the most miraculous medicines couldn't achieve such an effect.
But Li Pinyue nodded anyway, "Much better."
"Oh, right, when I came back with the medicine, I saw the Fourth Prince outside. I don't know what he was doing there. Was he looking for someone?"
Li Zengqing and Li Pinyue exchanged a glance.
“The Li family has some business dealings with Daye. Perhaps he’s here to discuss some matters with me. Mingke, you stay here with your sister. I’m going out to say a few words to him.” Li Zengqing said and stood up.
Just as she was about to open the door, a maidservant walked in with her head down, almost bumping into her. Upon seeing Li Zengqing, she said in a flustered manner, "Master, His Majesty of Daye is looking for the eldest young master."
The maid was clearly not used to Li Mingke's new identity and called her by the wrong name, but Li Zengqing did not reprimand her.
Looking for me?
Isn't this a serious matter to discuss with my mother?
Did he say what he wanted to see me about?
The maid shook her head. "No, she just asked me to check if the young master was there, and if so, to let him know."
"I don't know why he contacted me."
They're probably just catching up!
I consider him a brother who has been through thick and thin with him. There were too many people around earlier, and it wasn't appropriate to exchange pleasantries in a formal setting. Now that it's free time, it's not unreasonable to say a few words to someone I know.
"No need to tell him, I'll go find him directly." Li Mingke lifted her foot to walk out.
"Mingke," Li Zengqing called to her.
"Mother?" What's wrong?
Li Zengqing gave her a deep look, making sure there was no other emotion in her eyes.
“…Go ahead.” She waved her hand.
Just as Li Mingke was about to close the door, she called out to her again, "Don't talk too much, your sister is injured!"
Indeed, Yue'er has suffered severe internal injuries and can only lie in bed. As the head of the family, her mother has many things to deal with. Although there are maids, it is not the same as at home.
"Just a few words, I'll be right back!" She promised her mother and sister, waved, and turned to leave.
"Is everything alright, Mother?" Li Pinyue asked.
"It should be fine."
That young emperor isn't stupid enough to do something foolish in a place like this.
Li Mingke walked in the direction the maid had indicated, and sure enough, after passing several artificial hills, he found Wu Xiyu staring into the distance, lost in thought.
"Ayu!"
As she had done countless times before, she called his name.
"Mingke!" Wu Xiyu turned around excitedly.
Unlike her previous male attire, Li Mingke wore a pale yellow dress today, adorned with several small and delicate pear blossoms. Her previously tied-up black hair was now braided into a long braid, which fell smoothly to her waist and was gently tied with a yellow ribbon, making her look even more playful and lively.
Wu Xiyu was completely stunned.
Li Mingke waved in front of him, and Wu Xiyu suddenly woke up from his dream.
At this moment, he had no airs of an emperor. Like a child, he scratched his head shyly and said, "Mingke is so beautiful that I was unconsciously stunned!"
Li Mingke chuckled, "Many people have the same reaction as you when they see me dressed like this for the first time; everyone finds it unbelievable!"
Wu Xiyu clenched her fist and placed it to her lips, coughing twice to cover her embarrassment, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Ayu, what brings you here?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to the right, her thick, long braid sliding down to her shoulder.
"It's alright. We haven't seen each other for a long time since we last parted ways. It's not easy to get a chance to meet up, so of course I have to see you!"
Miss you.
"Oh, I see. Indeed, it has been a long time since we last saw each other. When you came in surrounded by the crowd, I almost didn't recognize you. You've really changed a lot!"
"Really? I've changed a lot?"
"Yeah, he looked so serious, it startled me! But..." Li Mingke rested his hand on his cheek, as if thinking, "Ayu feels completely different now than before!"
"What's different?" Wu Xiyu pressed.
“It’s your aura!” Li Mingke said. “Back then, you were like a big tiger, looking at everyone as if they were prey.”
Really? He's become like this!
However, he did kill quite a few people.
Even though he had obtained the Suihou Pearl, there were still people who resisted him and questioned him, so he had to kill them all.
"But now, the A-Yu standing in front of me is exactly the same as before!"
Wu Xiyu's eyes, which had been lowered, widened instantly. "Really? The same as before?"
"Yes, she's still the same A-Yu I remember! She hasn't changed at all!"
Since she left him, he has withered away. In order to maintain his lofty throne of power, he began to devour the flesh and blood of others to draw nourishment; he even went so far as to use human bones to forge an even more solid throne, thereby consolidating his rule.
He was trapped in that tall, golden cage called the "Palace" and hadn't been outside for a long time.
But Li Mingke's words were like a ray of sunshine, stubbornly breaking through the hard outer wall that surrounded him, and generously showering him with sunlight.
He was like a sunflower seeing the light of day again, involuntarily following his sun.
"Very good……"
He breathed a sigh of relief, like someone who had been drowning and had just been pulled ashore.
From her description, he could roughly imagine what a terrifying image he must have had.
But she also said that he, standing in front of her now, is no different from before.
That's fine.
To outsiders, he was the emperor they worshipped;
In her eyes, he was still the same boy he used to be.
"You are now the emperor, so what about the empress? The ministers must be urging you to appoint one. I wonder which family's daughter she is?" she asked.
She actually asked that question?
How could she be so completely unconcerned?
After all, he had given her that kind of hint before she left.
He would have continued to pursue her if she had given him even the slightest chance, but she gave him no chance and resolutely rejected him.
"Well... it's still early! There's no use in the ministers being anxious. I've just ascended the throne and have a lot of things to deal with! My father left me with a huge mess, and I'm already too busy dealing with those things. If I were to marry another beautiful woman and neglect her, what a terrible sin that would be!"
Wu Xiyu's words were sincere, and Li Mingke agreed that they made sense.
"You're right, if you marry someone, you have to be responsible for them!"
"Of course! And although I am the emperor, marriage is a matter of mutual affection. If someone doesn't like me, and I insist on making her empress, in the end, no one will be happy! So we have to find the empress very carefully!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mingke patted his shoulder very hard, "Ayu, you've grown up!"
"Mingke, you're making it sound like I was very immature before," Wu Xiyu said, pouting.
"No, no, I was just expressing my feelings. This is a normal thought! I was worried that you would think you were the emperor and do things like plunder and extortion!"
"How could that be? Forced relationships are never sweet, and that would make everyone unhappy. I would never do that!"
Li Mingke gave Wu Xiyu another round of high praise.
Seeing Li Mingke's smile, Wu Xiyu swallowed the bitterness in his heart and smiled along with her.
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