Chapter 426: The Method of Flowing Qi and Unblocking Qi
The heavy door of the imperial study slowly closed, isolating the noise from the outside world, leaving only the emperor and the empress.
Wen Li'er glared at Yan Shixu in reproach and poked his chest lightly with her fingertips:
"Your Majesty! Lord Qin's expression just now clearly shows that he still has important matters to report!"
Yan Shixu took advantage of the situation to grab her restless fingers, and with his other hand he naturally put his arm around her waist, pulling her into his arms and letting her sit sideways on his lap.
"That's all right. Minister Qin can handle the appointment of a newly-minted Jinshi himself, so I'm just reporting this as a matter of routine. No matter how important the affairs of state are, they're not as important as my queen."
As he spoke, his big hands squeezed the soft flesh around her waist.
Wen Li'er grabbed his rebellious hand with her backhand, and her bright smile bloomed like a spring flower:
"Your Majesty! Qingxi won the second place!!!"
Her voice was filled with excitement and deep pride in being a cousin.
The corners of Yan Shixu's lips curled up, and a hint of helplessness flashed across his eyes: "Of course I know."
This was the runner-up selected by him personally in the Golden Palace.
"I was just discussing his future with Minister Qin. He'll be an editor in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official, in charge of compiling national history, annals, and sacred teachings. It's a noble place, and also a place for training. What do you think, Li'er?"
Wen Li never made any comments on the promotion of officials in the previous dynasty, but only nodded repeatedly:
"Your Majesty's arrangement is the most appropriate. Qingxi's admission into the Imperial Academy is a blessing. However..."
She frowned slightly, revealing some genuine worry.
"Qingxi has just entered the officialdom. Although he has achieved second place in the imperial examination, his foundation is shallow and his wings are not yet fully developed. Your Majesty must not show him excessive favoritism because of my relationship with you."
"A young eagle must experience wind and rain before it can soar into the sky. It must be allowed to encounter obstacles on its own, to experience the formalities and the warmth and coldness of human nature. This is the true path to growth."
She thought it through very carefully.
He is a newly-minted Jinshi, and the runner-up in the imperial examination, and is the center of everyone's attention.
If the road ahead is too smooth and lacks hardships, it may not be a blessing for Liang Qingxi in the long run.
Yan Shixu saw how worried and concerned she was about her cousin, and the familiar jealousy in his heart surfaced again.
He pinched her chin and hummed, "Li'er, don't worry. I'll issue an order later, asking him to first study under the Dean, Scholar Lu, and learn to compile the annals of the previous dynasty. This is a chance to calm his mind and strengthen his foundation."
"Master Lu?"
Wen Li'er's eyes suddenly lit up.
Lu Wenyuan, the president of the Hanlin Academy, is a veteran of two dynasties. He is knowledgeable, upright, and honest in his official duties without being pedantic. He values and cherishes talents the most.
It would be a great blessing if Qingxi could get his guidance!
"Your Majesty is thoughtful. I, on behalf of Qingxi, thank Your Majesty for your grace!" As she said this, she was about to stand up and salute.
Yan Shixu retracted his arms and held her tightly in his arms.
The arm around her slender waist tightened a little, and the warm breath brushed her ear. The voice was low and smiling, with unquestionable intimacy:
"Why thank me? He's your cousin, and therefore a relative of mine. Planning for the future of my family is my duty."
Wen Li'er leaned against his solid chest, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and she raised her head and smiled:
"In that case, Your Majesty, why don't you be a good person and find a good marriage for Qingxi?"
Yan Shixu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised: "He wants to propose marriage?"
"Yeah," Wen Li'er nodded.
"After the second half of the year, Qingxi will be eighteen."
"My maternal grandparents have long been interested in finding a wife for him, but they were concerned that they rarely interacted with officials and noble families, so my mother took the initiative to take over the task."
"A few days ago, my mother came to the palace and quietly asked me about this. She said the daughter of the Qiao family, the Junior Justice of the Dali Temple, is quite attractive, with a dignified appearance and a clean family background. What does Your Majesty think of the Qiao family?"
As the Queen's in-laws, the in-laws must naturally be ministers loyal to His Majesty.
Wen Li'er didn't know much about the Qiao family. She only remembered that on the day of her mother's birthday party, the two young ladies of the Qiao family, one was quiet and gentle, the other was smart and lively, and both were well-educated.
I think my mother was also paying attention that day.
Upon hearing this, Yan Shixu's face instantly darkened.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, and his tone was dangerously cold:
"The third son of the Qiao family is so audacious that he actually covets my queen! I've already been magnanimous by not punishing the Qiao family for a single act of disrespect, yet Li'er is still thinking of marrying into his family?"
Thinking of the stunned look on Qiao Sanlang's face when he looked at Li'er that day, a feeling of bitterness surged in his heart.
Seeing his angry and resentful look, Wen Li'er couldn't help laughing.
She raised her hand to smooth his slightly furrowed brow.
"Your Majesty is already over thirty, how could you still be jealous of a young man who has just come out of retirement? How could he ever covet me? I simply announced my family name a little too loudly, and Your Majesty still remembers it."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shixu suddenly tightened his arms around her waist and narrowed his deep eyes.
"Li'er, do you think I'm too old?" The ending tone rose slightly, carrying an unmistakable threat.
Wen Li'er was stunned, blinked her watery almond eyes, and looked innocent.
Is there? She didn't even mention the word "old" just now.
Seeing that she did not immediately deny it with soft words, Yan Shixu became angry and used his other hand to unbutton the complicated buttons of her palace dress.
"It seems I've been too considerate of Li'er lately. Today I'll show you what it means to be strong even in old age, and to be miles ahead of those youngsters!"
Wen Li'er's breath was disordered by his sudden action and fiery gaze, her cheeks flushed red, and she struggled to jump off his lap and run away.
But he was held tightly by Yan Shixu's iron-like arms.
"Your Majesty! You...be serious! This is the imperial study!" she whispered in shame and anger.
A meaningful smile flashed in Yan Shixu's eyes. His gaze swept over the familiar furnishings in the hall, and his voice became a little hoarse.
"So what about the Imperial Study? Li'er, tell me, which corner of this Imperial Study has not been visited by you and me..."
The unfinished words carry a blushing implication.
Wen Li'er couldn't help but flash through those heart-pounding images in her mind, her cheeks were burning hot, and she tried hard to pry his hands apart.
"Your Majesty! I...I am in my confinement today!"
Yan Shixu paused and thought carefully about the days of her menstruation, and it was indeed these days.
The enthusiasm in my heart was instantly extinguished.
He let go of his hand with great regret, and looked down at the place below him where the "hero" was "full of fighting spirit" but "had no place to use his skills", and a look of grievance appeared on his handsome face.
"Then...what about Li'er's little Ah Xu? He wants Li'er so badly."
Wen Li'er felt her scalp tingling, and she pinched the soft flesh on his waist in embarrassment.
"It's clearly your Majesty's own! Doesn't Your Majesty know how to channel it through Qi? Solve it yourself! I'm leaving!"
She pretended to escape again.
Yan Shixu looked at her with ill intentions, with excitement and cunning light dancing in the depths of his eyes.
"Li'er, would you like to know how my 'energy flow' method...works?"
Wen Li'er's heart trembled when she saw his naked eyes, as if he wanted to tear her apart and eat her.
"I don't want to know!"
After saying this, she lifted her skirt and quickly fled from the imperial study without looking back.
Yan Shixu looked in the direction where she disappeared, and the curve of his lips became even bigger.
"That won't do. I have to let you know."
…
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