The palace has been bustling lately because the long-debated question of whether to fight or make peace with the Turks has been resolved. The pro-peace faction, led by the Emperor's uncle Zhao Liang, has emerged victorious.
Because the peace talks were successful, the Turks were to send their eldest prince as an envoy to the Great Qi. Therefore, preparations for this were already underway in the palace.
Because the matter was facilitated by the Imperial Uncle, Empress Dowager Feng entrusted the task of welcoming the foreign guests to Regent Ye Rufeng. At that time, Empress Dowager Feng said, "The Imperial Uncle and Lord Ye are the pillars of our Great Qi. Receiving the Turkic prince is a matter of great importance. I hope that the two of you can continue to work together to manage this matter."
Thus, Empress Dowager Feng's words bound the two opposing factions together. This way, the Imperial Uncle wouldn't want things to go wrong, and the Regent wouldn't let things fall apart under his control. It must be said that Empress Dowager Feng, a woman, had managed to remain in power all these years; she certainly had some skill.
But no matter how busy others were, Leng Yue had nothing to do with it. The only good news was that Leng Yue could go out for a stroll. Although her right hand still had bandages, the rest of her body was much better and it didn't affect her ability to go out.
Previously, she was always carried to court, and even after returning, Imperial Physician Feng forbade her to move around freely. Therefore, Leng Yue had been feeling quite stifled lately. Now that she had finally received permission from Imperial Physician Feng to go out, Leng Yue was overjoyed.
"He'er, bring some tea and snacks, let's go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden." Leng Yue was overjoyed, instructing He'er as she excitedly ran outside.
"Your Majesty, please watch your manners," He'er added helplessly, "lest you displease the Empress Dowager."
Leng Yue paused, slowed down, and walked out steadily. Seeing this, He'er led the others to follow behind Leng Yue.
The Imperial Garden is very large, and although it is late autumn, many flowers are still in bloom. These flowers have been well cared for by the gardeners; each one looks as if it has been carefully pruned, beautiful in just the right way.
Leng Yue examined the flowers closely and couldn't help but exclaim, "This gardener must be an artist! Every single flower is like a work of art. He has such great taste!"
"What artist?" He'er asked, following behind Leng Yue, puzzled.
"An artist, well, someone with a very strong aesthetic sense, or someone with exceptional taste. You could also call them a master, a master with great taste." Leng Yue was at a loss for words when explaining. She needed to make sure He'er could understand, and she needed to be as accurate as possible. Why was it so difficult for her?
"Does being good at planting flowers make someone a master?" He'er looked at Leng Yue thoughtfully. "Don't you think they're lowly?"
“He’er, you’re wrong. They say there are 360 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. They don’t steal or rob; they work with their own hands. How can you say they are lowly? If you ask me, as long as they don’t do anything illegal or criminal and support themselves with their own hands, they are amazing!” Leng Yue said sincerely.
Hidden behind the flowers, Ye Rufeng's eyes flickered upon hearing Leng Yue's words. Only after Leng Yue led everyone to a distant pavilion did he quietly leave.
Ye Rufeng began to speculate about Leng Yue's identity. He was a U-level mission taker, and if he performed well in this assessment, he could directly enter the third tier. His mission was to find the traitor hidden in this country and bring Qi back to its golden age.
After arriving here, Ye Rufeng worked diligently and achieved remarkable political results, earning the favor of the late emperor. Ye Rufeng rose through the ranks and, before the late emperor's death, was entrusted with an important responsibility, becoming the young regent.
After becoming regent, Empress Dowager Feng had to reveal the truth to him—that the young emperor was a woman disguised as a man—because she needed to assist him in supporting the young emperor. Ye Rufeng knew he was already involved and could only help him keep it a secret.
Ye Rufeng had always thought the little emperor was just a pitiful nine-year-old girl, but now it seemed she was also a mission taker. Ye Rufeng didn't know what Leng Yue's mission was, but he knew that if Leng Yue hindered him from completing his mission, he would eliminate her without hesitation.
As Ye Rufeng was pondering this, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the Imperial Garden. "Help! The Emperor has fallen into the water!"
Upon hearing that someone had fallen into the water, Ye Rufeng, as a true and upright successor to socialism, rushed out and jumped into the refreshingly cold artificial lake without a second thought.
When Ye Rufeng jumped in, Leng Yue had already sunk to the bottom. There weren't even any bubbles on the surface; it seemed she had drunk her fill. Ye Rufeng quickly swam down and, sure enough, found Leng Yue.
Leng Yue's eyes were closed, her limbs limp, and she was practically dead. Ye Rufeng scooped her up with his long arm and swam upwards with her. Once on the surface, Ye Rufeng performed CPR on Leng Yue. She only stopped, panting, after expelling the water from her abdomen.
At this moment, someone brought clothes for Leng Yue and the Regent, and then they went together to Leng Yue's palace. When Ye Rufeng changed his clothes and went to see Leng Yue, Feng Qingzhuo had already arrived, and Leng Yue had opened her eyes.
"I heard... it was Lord Ye who saved me again? I owe you another life now." Leng Yue's breath was weak, but she was much better than before.
Seeing her like this, Ye Rufeng initially wanted to say it was nothing, but after thinking about it, he changed his mind, "How does Your Majesty plan to repay this?"
Leng Yue's expression froze for a moment. She remembered that Ye Rufeng knew her true identity. "Go ahead and say it... Of course, I won't accept your offer of yourself."
Feng Qingzhuo, who was listening nearby, was speechless. "Your Majesty, the Regent is not what you think!"
Leng Yue glanced at Feng Qingzhuo, "Academician Feng, I know that Lord Ye is not that kind of person."
Ye Rufeng looked at the two of them, speechless. What did they mean by 'he's not that kind of person'? Then what kind of person was he?
"I haven't thought of anything yet. I'll bring it up with Your Majesty when I do," Ye Rufeng said to Leng Yue, looking at Feng Qingzhuo.
Because the participants in this mission do not know each other, Ye Rufeng has to be wary of Feng Qingzhuo.
Leng Yue nodded. "I grant your permission."
Feng Qingzhuo didn't stay long. After writing a prescription for Leng Yue, he left with his medicine chest. Leng Yue knew he was going to see Empress Dowager Feng. Every time Feng Qingzhuo examined her pulse, he would always stop by Empress Dowager Feng's place. It was quite interesting, really; Empress Dowager Feng treated a mere head of the Imperial Medical Academy far better than she, her own daughter.
You know, Leng Yue has been here for so long, yet she hasn't even seen Empress Dowager Feng. If this were to get out, probably no one would believe it, but it really happened to Leng Yue.
"Is there anything else, Lord Ye?" Leng Yue was lost in thought when she suddenly noticed Ye Rufeng still standing by her bedside, looking at her with a troubled expression. "What's wrong with you? Have you caught a cold? Chief Physician Feng hasn't left yet..."
"No, I have something to ask you." Ye Rufeng suddenly became very different, acting shyly, unlike his usual self.
"Go on," Leng Yue said, looking like she was listening attentively, without urging him on.
"You're not the original little emperor, are you? You're different." Ye Rufeng decided to go straight for the kill, because he didn't want to expose himself.
Leng Yue froze for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "Damn, NPCs can be exposed?"
"NPC?" Ye Rufeng, with his sharp ears, quickly realized what it meant. "What's 'enpi se'? Is it a dialect from somewhere?"
Leng Yue chimed in, "Yes, yes, the dialect I've been learning from He'er these past two days, haha, haha..."
Ye Rufeng laughed along and then took his leave. Only He'er happened to hear this and recalled the matter of the dialect in her mind.
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