I don't know how much time has passed.
Yan Heng couldn't hold back any longer and let out a sigh of relief that even he couldn't describe...
After they changed beds, they finally fell asleep peacefully in each other's arms.
Outside, the snow was pristine white, while inside, it was warm and cozy. Yan Heng held the warm and soft beauty in his arms, and this time he slept soundly.
After the snowy night, Yan Heng and Jiang Tian's relationship became even sweeter.
Sometimes, the palace servants were secretly alarmed. The emperor did so much for a woman with no rank; if she fell out of favor, the women who entered the palace after her would surely devour her.
Yan Heng didn't know what others thought, and he didn't think he had gone too far.
Jiang Tian suited his wishes, and with another year to recover from the poisoning, what was wrong with being a little nicer to her?
Yan Heng didn't care much about what the eunuchs and maids in the palace thought.
As an emperor, he devoted most of his energy to the people when winter came.
Every winter, people die because they cannot withstand the cold. Others can only sigh at their misfortune.
After all, everyone has their own destiny. If one is born into a poor family, every day that passes is one less day to live; this is their innate fate.
Regardless of whether the people accepted their fate, Yan Heng simply conveyed the imperial edict to every official, instructing them to do everything in their power to help the people get through the winter.
If they fail to perform well, they will be stripped of their official hats, either beheaded or exiled.
Yan Heng was an ambitious and enterprising emperor. Now that he has been on the throne for two years, he has already replaced a whole group of officials in the court.
Apart from a few who couldn't be moved for the time being, all the other positions were filled by young Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).
The decree has been delivered and the funds have been allocated. If they fail to fulfill their obligations, then it has nothing to do with Yan Heng.
He had long ago established a comprehensive system of punishments, under which many people had already fallen victim, so officials certainly dared not disregard his words.
Just as officials were busily preparing for the winter, Xu Jingxiu was also about to return to the capital.
Yan Heng originally thought that Xu Jingxiu's return to the capital was not a big deal, but when he saw Jiang Tian, he felt a tightness in his chest for some reason.
He was well aware that Jiang Tian and Xu Jingxiu had not seen each other for several years, and that Xu Jingxiu and his new wife were deeply in love and affectionate.
But--
Yan Heng was still hesitant about whether to tell Jiang Tian about Xu Jingxiu's return.
Once Jiang Tian entered the palace, she became his woman; other men were no longer relevant to her.
However, she and Xu Jingxiu have a daughter, and if Yan Heng doesn't tell her, it would seem like he's petty and narrow-minded.
Before he could make up his mind, Jiang Tian brought it up with him.
After court that day, Jiang Tian helped Yan Heng take off his outer robe and poured him a cup of hot tea.
He picked it up and finished drinking it.
Jiang Tian spoke up soon after: "Your Majesty, A-Shu came to see me a couple of days ago. She is doing very well at the academy, and the teachers have praised her many times."
“I told her that if she could get first place in this quiz, I would grant her one request. Unexpectedly, she was lucky enough to be number one. But I dare not agree to her request on my own, so I can only ask you for your help.”
If Jiang Tian hadn't mentioned it, Yan Heng would have almost forgotten about Xu Qingshu; he'd been quite busy lately.
Yan Heng followed up on her question, asking, "What does she want?"
Jiang Tian smiled and said, "I heard from A-Shu that General Xu will be back soon, and his wife will surely be back as well."
"A-Shu's relationship with that lady is not very good. Now that she has been granted the title of village head and received a house from you, she is thinking of paying her respects to General Xu and then moving out of the general's mansion to spend the New Year in that house."
Yan Heng was somewhat surprised.
He could guess that Xu Qingshu's position in the Xu household must be awkward.
Xu Jingxiu has married a new wife, and sooner or later they will have other children.
As the daughter who was left behind, Xu Qingshu's life was naturally difficult.
But the Lunar New Year is a major event for family reunion, and her request to move to the mansion where she was granted a title clearly indicates that she had a very bad relationship with that place.
"Your Majesty, please have mercy and grant her request, okay?"
As Yan Heng was pondering, Jiang Tian shook his arm.
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