Caught off guard, Gu Linyuan abruptly took two steps back.
Blinking in confusion:
"Jinjin, what are you doing?"
Si Jin lowered her eyes and said, looking aggrieved:
"The imperial physician said that I am in poor health."
Going too far could easily lead to someone's death.
Gu Linyuan was startled, and his surging lust immediately subsided.
He knew that Si Jin'er had not had a good life as a child, having been raised by the Empress Dowager.
Gu Linyuan couldn't help but think of Si Jin's childhood appearance again, and a wave of heartache washed over him.
He said nervously:
"What did the imperial physician say? Did he prescribe any medicine?"
"I ordered a medicinal meal, but we haven't eaten it yet."
Gu Linyuan walked to Si Jin's side.
Skillfully, she carried him to the dining table and went out to instruct Eunuch Lin:
"Serve the meal."
"Alright, alright." Eunuch Lin accepted the order and left.
Soon after, he returned with more than a dozen palace maids from the imperial kitchen, who set out a table full of dishes.
There are deer tendons, oxtail soup, roasted whole lamb, boiled sliced meat...
And a medicinal dish that is as bland as can be.
Gu Linyuan: ...
He turned his gaze and glared fiercely at the leading palace maid:
"Your Majesty is not feeling well, why are you making such greasy food so late at night?"
Eunuch Lin quickly stepped in front of the bewildered palace maid and explained:
"General, this table of dishes was specially ordered by His Majesty to be prepared for you by the Imperial Kitchen."
His Majesty said that the general has been working hard these past few days and should take some extra nourishment.
That medicinal dish is enough for him.
Gu Linyuan looked at the table full of dishes, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
These are all highly nutritious ingredients; eating them will make your whole body feel hot.
Originally a dish meant to warm the body and accompany drinks in winter, it is now eaten during the dry weather of the transition from summer to autumn.
Let alone him, even someone with poor health would need to take supplements to the point of nosebleeds.
What's even more difficult is that he has to sleep with the little emperor at night.
There's nothing we can do yet.
These things were no different from poison to him.
Gu Linyuan pondered for a moment, then picked up a spoon and ladled a spoonful of oxtail soup into the bowl:
"Jinjin, you should have some too."
Si Jin shook her head and hugged her white jade bowl tightly:
"I'll just eat the medicinal food; these dishes were prepared especially for you."
Gu Linyuan: ...
He wanted to argue, but he was tongue-tied and knew he couldn't win against Si Jin, so he ate a few bites of each dish and claimed he was full.
At night, gazing at the boy sleeping peacefully in his arms, Gu Linyuan's heart pounded.
Left with no other choice, I had to memorize the Heart Sutra.
Using Buddhist principles to counteract worldly desires.
Halfway through reciting it, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
I feel like if I stay here any longer, I'll turn into an ascetic.
However, they couldn't bear to disturb the little emperor's peaceful sleeping face.
So she could only hold him tighter, enduring the sweet yet difficult moment together.
In the middle of the night, Si Jin stirred and gently rubbed her head against the general's firm waist and abdomen.
He mumbled something indistinctly:
"Little, little, little uncle~"
Her slightly grainy voice made Gu Linyuan even more restless.
However, considering Si Jin's health, he could only grit his teeth and pat the boy's head:
"It's okay, you go to sleep."
Si Jin shook her head and slowly opened her eyes a crack.
Supporting her fading consciousness, she got up and placed a kiss on Gu Linyuan's lips:
"I got enough sleep."
I can't sleep alone.
With a single sentence, General Gu's "Buddhist precepts" that he had upheld for a whole night crumbled.
Gu Linyuan could no longer hold back and, with utmost tenderness, joined his young man in their descent into depravity.
The second day was a holiday once every ten days, with no grand court assembly.
Last night was also quite pleasant.
For the first time ever, Si Jin didn't ask Xiao Yao to block out the pain; she simply sat on the couch by herself.
While enjoying Gu Linyuan's thoughtful dressing service, she savored the moment with satisfaction.
After putting on his robes, Gu Linyuan asked:
“Jinjin, since I returned to the capital, you have been cooped up in the palace. Why don’t I take you for a walk in the suburbs today?”
"What's fun in the suburbs?" the boy asked lazily, tilting his head.
Is it more interesting to be in the wilderness than on the emperor's throne?
Upon hearing this, Gu Linyuan's ears turned red instantly.
The king picked him up and whispered intimately in his ear:
"Whatever pleases Your Majesty, I will follow your lead and serve you day and night."
… …
A moment later, a carriage drove out of the palace, facing the rising sun.
A gentle breeze lifted the carriage curtain.
You can vaguely see a dashing general holding a lazy, noble young man in his arms.
… …
Meanwhile, Yun Munian was transferred from the Heavenly Prison to the Dali Temple and will be exiled to the Northern Frontier tomorrow.
He caused a scene in the Dali Temple prison and managed to get a meeting with the Dali Temple Minister.
She pleaded with him until her lips were sore, begging him to help her submit a memorial to the emperor, asking him to take her younger sister as a concubine.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Yun Munian were close friends for many years.
Unaware of his malicious intention to exploit his sister's assassination attempt, she simply agreed, believing it to be a gesture of brotherly love.
With a try-it-out mentality, two days later, he submitted a memorial to the emperor requesting that Si Jin take Yun Muyan as a concubine.
——————
Rice Ball: Today's update is complete, please give it a good review, my darlings! Hey? Son, what brings you here?
Si Jin: Let me see who said this chapter of mine would be unlucky? (Death stare)
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