After a night of torrential rain, the air was fresher the next morning, and birdsong echoed outside Weiyang Palace, while the palace was bathed in a bright ray of sunlight.
Because the cabinet door wasn't closed properly, the light from outside quickly streamed into the cabinet and fell on Situ Yin's face, who was leaning against the cabinet wall, fast asleep.
The light caused Situ Yin's long, dark eyelashes to tremble slightly in his sleep, and his brows to furrow slightly. Soon, he opened his sleepy eyes.
When Situ Yin first realized where he was, he was still a little dazed. But as memories of last night flooded back, he suddenly woke up and felt the weight on his shoulder. He looked down sharply and, in the dim light shining through the cabinet door, met Tang Ning's peaceful sleeping face.
At this moment, Situ Yin's memories of last night became increasingly clear.
The thought of last night, the warm softness covering his ears, the peace and tranquility as the thunder gradually faded away, and the feeling of rebirth upon hearing the nursery rhyme all rose up in his heart.
Why?
Seeing his disgusting state after his illness last night, shouldn't Tang Ning, who was already forced into the palace by him and disliked him from the bottom of her heart, feel even more disgusted and annoyed?
Why...
Situ Yin stared blankly at the slightly flushed cheeks of the woman beside him as she slept. Since meeting Tang Ning, Situ Yin's attention had never left the fragrance emanating from her. For the first time, he completely forgot about the unique scent on Tang Ning.
Just looking at her makes me feel so happy.
As he watched, almost as if possessed, he suddenly reached out and lightly touched Tang Ning's soft and tender cheek, then touched it again.
The intimate physical contact gave Situ Yin an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as if just touching him like that could make a soft, yielding feeling in his heart.
And her face was indeed as soft and hot as he had imagined.
hot?
Just then, Situ Yin's eyes sharpened, and he immediately used the back of his hand to test Tang Ning's temperature on her forehead.
After trying it, he immediately kicked open the cabinet door in front of him with a bang. Why was it so hot?
It must have gotten cold in the closet last night, that's why...
Anxiety, fear, and worry surged through Situ Yin's heart. For a moment, he didn't even have time to send his men to summon the people in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Instead, he grabbed the brocade quilt from the bed and covered Tang Ning completely. Without even putting on his shoes, he carried her on his back and used his lightness skill to head straight for the Imperial Medical Bureau.
On the other side, a group of officials, both high and low, who had come to the Imperial Medical Bureau to report for duty early in the morning had only been sitting down for a short time, and had not even opened their medical books, when they saw the emperor, disheveled, carrying a brocade bundle, and with a deathly pale face, appear before them.
Situ Yin's arrival caused chaos in the Imperial Medical Bureau early in the morning.
Under his pressure, even a minor cold was treated to perfection by these imperial physicians.
It wasn't until noon that Tang Ning slowly woke up, and Situ Yin finally stopped his harassment of everyone in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"Your Majesty..."
When Tang Ning regained consciousness and saw Situ Yin's current appearance, her surprise was still palpable. Before she could even utter a word, the medicine prepared for her by the Imperial Physicians was ready. Tang Ning didn't object to the bowl of dark, murky liquid, but Situ Yin, who had been sitting by her bedside without leaving her side, frowned first. "This medicine looks bitter. Didn't I tell you all that medicine shouldn't be too bitter?"
"this……"
The young doctor who brought the medicine looked troubled. Since ancient times, good medicine has tasted bitter, and in their understanding, medicine is ineffective if it is not bitter.
"It's alright, this little bit of hardship won't bother you. You can go now..."
Tang Ning spoke up at the right moment to defuse the situation, reaching out to take the medicine bowl. Just as she was about to gulp it down while it was still hot, Situ Yin took the bowl from her hand with remarkable ease. He stirred the medicine in the liquid with a spoon, blew on it, and then scooped up a spoonful of medicine, trembling as he brought it to Tang Ning's lips.
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning looked at him with surprise, which made him blush involuntarily.
"Drink it quickly!"
He said in a harsh voice.
"Uh-huh."
To avoid embarrassing him, Tang Ning quickly suppressed her laughter and opened her mouth to drink the medicine. However, as she was drinking, Situ Yin raised a spoon to feed her. In the end, she only managed to drink half a spoonful, and the rest spilled onto the blanket.
Seeing this, Tang Ning forced herself not to look at the medicine stain on the quilt and continued to drink the medicine that Situ Yin fed her. But unfortunately, this person seemed to have never taken care of anyone before, nor had he developed any skills in taking care of others. He still spilled half a spoonful after drinking half a spoonful. At this time, not only was the quilt covering Tang Ning completely unsightly, but even her clothes were splattered with medicine.
Seeing that Situ Yin was about to feed her again, Tang Ning, unable to bear it any longer, finally tentatively asked, "How about I do it myself?"
She was fine until she opened her mouth, and Situ Yin immediately stared at her intently. "Do you think I'm clumsy?"
As he spoke, a fleeting look of anger and grievance crossed his mind.
Situ Yin was also surprised that he was rejected when he tried to take care of her. He angrily shoved the bowl of medicine with half a bowl left into Tang Ning's hands and sat down to sulk.
She was so gentle last night, covering his ears and even singing him nursery rhymes, but today she's already showing disdain for him. She's so fickle.
A fickle woman.
Tang Ning never expected that her simple desire to take medicine would cause such a commotion. She looked at Situ Yin beside her, who seemed to still be angry, with surprise. Seeing his eyes flickering and his expression suggesting he was lost in thought, she couldn't help but find it amusing.
But she couldn't laugh. She was certain that if she dared to laugh at Situ Yin now, he would be furious and might even storm off.
Looking at Situ Yin, who was still disheveled, with slightly messy hair and not even wearing a shoe, Tang Ning smiled inwardly.
Then, let's just try to appease her?
She's a master at sweet-talking people.
She pursed her lips and deliberately scooped up a spoonful of medicine to bring it to her mouth. But before she could get it halfway, her hand trembled and the whole spoonful of medicine spilled onto her. The moment it spilled, she let out a soft cry.
Situ Yin happened to see this scene out of the corner of his eye, and then noticed that Tang Ning put the spoon back into the bowl with an embarrassed look on her face, and subconsciously looked at him.
Seeing this, Situ Yin immediately looked away, and soon felt her sleeve being gently tugged. "Your Majesty, I am still ill and my hands feel weak. Please have mercy and help me."
When Tang Ning pleaded, Situ Yin couldn't hold on any longer, and his eyes trembled violently.
Seeing that it was working, Tang Ning continued, "Please, I really need it..."
Before Tang Ning could even finish her sentence, she saw Situ Yin, who had been sitting to the side of her, slowly turn around, a slight smile playing on his lips, and give her a knowing look. If she wasn't mistaken, his eyes clearly said, "Now you know how good I am, right? I can't do anything with you, all you do is act cute."
Tang Ning, who understood the meaning behind that look, couldn't help but chuckle softly.
The louder and sweeter the laughter, the better.
Seeing her so full of life, Situ Yin's smile widened uncontrollably.
At this moment, Fang Yuanling, who heard the laughter outside the door, also smiled and stroked his beard. But after a while, as if he had thought of something, the old academy director immediately frowned.
Judging from His Majesty's current demeanor, it seems he has taken a liking to Consort Ning. However, if their research is on the right track, His Majesty's chances of survival will most likely depend on Consort Ning.
After all, the fragrance emanating from the Empress can only temporarily suppress the toxins in His Majesty's body, which have reached the second stage. By the third stage, even the fragrance on the Empress's body will probably not be able to suppress them.
The aroma is indeed undeniable, but where is the blood?
If they ultimately conclude that Consort Ning's blood can completely eradicate the deadly poison from His Majesty's body, then then...
He sighed heavily in his heart. For a moment, even the cunning Fang Yuanling couldn't come up with a solution that would satisfy both sides.
Tang Ning's illness lasted for a full seven days before she was finally free from the bitter medicine that Situ Yin had to serve her.
Unlike the deserted palace, the capital city was already bustling with activity as the most famous Flower Festival of the Great Lin Dynasty was approaching. In fact, the streets were already lined with stalls selling all kinds of flowers.
I heard that the Flower Festival of the Dalin Dynasty will be held for three days. During these three days, people will go out to enjoy the spring flowers, cut paper flowers and admire the red flowers at home, release flower lanterns, hold flower goddess gatherings, and hold small activities such as planting and arranging flowers, eating flower cakes and drinking flower tea at home to celebrate.
Xihe County is a small place, and the Flower Festival is just a casual affair. The original owner once arranged flowers at home, but with few people and no one being wealthy, it was impossible to make it lively.
The capital city was different. According to Chunmian and Chuntan, on the first day of the Flower Festival, a poetry and prose competition with a hundred flowers in full bloom would be held on the streets, both to compare flowers and to compare talents.
The most talented scholar will win the title of the most beautiful flower king in the competition of a hundred flowers, and it is said that he will be blessed by the flower goddess for the following year, with everything going smoothly and peacefully.
Seeing Chunmian's flushed face, Tang Ning smiled and said, "Is that so? I've never seen anything like it. When I came to the capital, the Flower Festival had already passed. In a few days, the Flower Festival will be held, but I can't go out from the palace..."
As she spoke, a fleeting look of melancholy crossed Tang Ning's eyes.
"Want to go? How about I take you out for a stroll?"
Unexpectedly, their conversation was overheard by Situ Yin, who had appeared at the palace gate at some unknown time. Tang Ning turned her head sharply, and Chun Mian and Chun Tan beside her quickly bowed.
"Your Majesty, are you taking me out?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Tang Ning's eyes, but it quickly vanished without a trace. She smiled subconsciously, "Your Majesty is teasing me again..."
Seeing that Tang Ning was not cooperating, Situ Yin frowned immediately. "How could this be a joke? I said I would take you out, so I will take you out..."
"But now I..."
Tang Ning looked hesitant.
"What's going on now?"
Situ Yin was still somewhat puzzled.
"Has Your Majesty forgotten? In the eyes of outsiders, I have long since died in the fire at the Duke's mansion that night. How could I possibly appear before them again?" As she spoke, Tang Ning lightly bit her lip. "But it doesn't matter. I think it's quite nice for me to stay in the palace. I don't necessarily need to go to see the Flower Festival. Aren't the flowers in the Imperial Garden enough for me to see?"
She tried to put on a gentle smile.
It was this kind of laughter that made Situ Yin feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Yes, what is Tang Ning now? The fire at the Duke's mansion that night completely erased her existence. She was right beside him, yet she had no name or status, as if she couldn't see the light of day.
But on what grounds?
Even if someone did something wrong, it was Ji Muqing and He Lanruo. Why should Tang Ning hide?
Besides, why should his woman be kept in the dark?
Tang Ning, who understood Situ Yin's expression, smiled inwardly. Although she couldn't see the favorability rating, she felt that after that stormy night, she should have gained a lot of favorability and it was time to return to the public eye. After all, even if she was trying to gain favorability, she didn't like doing it secretly like this.
Is there anything about her that's shameful?
During this Flower Festival, she thought long and hard and concluded that only the position of Empress was worthy of her in the entire harem. She hoped that Situ Yin would be a little more sensible.
Although Situ Yin didn't immediately mention taking her out of the palace to see the grand Flower Festival after today's conversation, Tang Ning knew that her leaving the palace was probably a done deal.
Sure enough, a few days later, on the first day of the Flower Festival in the capital, Situ Yin mysteriously blindfolded her and said he was going to take her to a nice place.
When Situ Yin gently pulled off the white blindfold covering her eyes, Tang Ning was greeted by a brightly lit cityscape, and she was standing atop the high city wall.
Tang Ning stared in disbelief at the bustling crowd below, the colorful flowers lining both sides of the road, and the group of young girls releasing flower-shaped lanterns and making all sorts of beautiful wishes by the moat not far away. Tang Ning's lips couldn't help but curl into a smile.
Is it pretty?
Situ Yin stared intently at Tang Ning's bright and radiant profile beside him, which made his heart suddenly pound, and subconsciously asked a question.
"nice."
"The view is even better down there. Shall I take you down for a walk?"
Situ Yin asked again.
"May I?"
Tang Ning suddenly turned her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Situ Yin.
Seeing that look in her eyes filled Situ Yin with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"sure."
As he spoke, he took Tang Ning's hand and walked down the stairs on one side towards the outside of the city.
Before even stepping out of the shadows, Situ Yin had already put on a mask for himself and tied a white veil around Tang Ning's neck.
veil?
Tang Ning raised an eyebrow, sensing that Situ Yin's expression when looking at the veil was a bit off; it seemed like something was about to happen!
Once they were all covered up, Situ Yin immediately grabbed Tang Ning's hand and ran towards the street outside. Along the way, the two bought flowers, ate various flower-based pastries, and even released a flower lantern together. Tang Ning then noticed that Situ Yin was leading her in a direction that seemed to have a preordained purpose.
When Tang Ning arrived there, she realized that Situ Yin had brought her to the place where the annual Flower Festival was held in the capital, where a hundred flowers would bloom in competition. The place was already packed with people, three layers deep.
It can only be said that the influence of this so-called "Hundred Flowers in Full Bloom" is really huge. It is estimated that a large part of the people in the capital have gathered here, especially the private rooms of the restaurants along the street, which are filled with dignitaries and nobles.
Look at the people the system found after she just had it scanned randomly.
Wei Jing, sitting upright by the window, sipping tea with a cold expression; Qin Qianqian, thin and resentful, sitting in another room; people from the General's Mansion and the Duke's Mansion; He Lanruo, who was being prevented from leaving by Princess Qingping; Ji Muqing, who had somehow gotten involved with people from the Prime Minister's Mansion and looked embarrassed but had venomous eyes; and other court officials.
Heaven knows, it's just a Flower Festival where all the flowers are in full bloom, so why are there so many people here?
For some reason, Tang Ning felt that the gathering of these people was inextricably linked to Situ Yin, who was standing next to her wearing a mask and whose appearance was not clearly visible.
What is he trying to do?
Soon, Tang Ning knew what he was going to do.
The so-called "flowers in full bloom" event, according to past customs, is divided into two parts: the first half and the second half.
The first half is about flair, the second half is about talent.
Tang Ning and the others arrived rather late. The first half of the flower competition had already ended, and this year's Flower King had been chosen. It was a golden peony in full bloom, currently placed in a white jade vase. Even under the surrounding lights, its brilliance was not diminished in the slightest, truly deserving of the title of Flower King.
The second half of the competition, which focuses on poetry, has just begun.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Situ Yin suddenly let go of her hand, leaned close to her ear, and said with a smile in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I saw you glance at that Flower King several times. Do you like it? Then wait here for me for a moment, and I will win the Flower King back for you soon, okay?"
"Why……"
Before Tang Ning could even stop him, Situ Yin had already taken the stage.
She knew this man was skilled at killing, but she truly didn't know he was also somewhat accomplished in poetry.
If she hadn't held any hope for him before, seeing Situ Yin like a nail, rooted to the stage and refusing to leave, outshining all the other talented young men who came up on stage, and with the cheers around them growing louder and louder, Tang Ning seemed to be infected by his enthusiasm. Her heart soared, and she joined in the cheers for him.
The second half also has a time limit of one hour. Whoever can stay on stage until the end wins and the title of Flower King naturally belongs to them.
The cheers around them grew louder and louder, even attracting the attention of the dignitaries and nobles in the surrounding restaurants.
Looking down, they realized that someone had been holding the title on the stage where all the flowers were in bloom for almost an hour, and no matter who went up, they couldn't beat him, which was why everyone was so excited.
Whether it was their imagination or not, Princess Qingping and several key ministers in the restaurant's private room felt that the figure on the fighting stage downstairs was strangely familiar.
Soon, a name popped into their minds, but as soon as it appeared, they quickly shook their heads in alarm.
Why, why did you think of that evil spirit?
He has always disliked crowds, and at this time he probably hasn't even left the palace. How could he possibly appear at the Flower Festival, or even on the stage where a hundred flowers are vying for attention, to compete with others in poetry?
Is the world crazy, or are they crazy?
After thinking this through, their attention was inevitably drawn to the commotion downstairs. For a moment, these high-ranking officials and nobles joined the ordinary people below in watching the spectacle of flowers in full bloom with great interest.
As they watched, they would even occasionally applaud and cheer for the defending champion's exquisite verses.
With such a performance, the masked man naturally won the final victory.
Not only that, but it even attracted the attention of several ministers upstairs who admired his talent. They summoned their servants and asked them to inquire about the man's background after the flower competition ended. If possible, they really wanted to recruit him into their ranks.
Having received their orders, the servants from each household naturally went downstairs to inquire.
Meanwhile, Situ Yin, who had won the competition, received the Flower King from the organizer. Before the organizer could finish congratulating him, he looked directly at Tang Ning below the stage.
"Actually, the main reason I'm on stage today is because my wife loves this flower king. She's been eyeing it for a long time. If possible, I hope to give this flower king, which has such a special meaning, to my wife on this stage. I wonder if that's alright?"
Upon hearing this, the cheers from the surrounding crowd grew even louder.
On one hand, Tang Ning was bewildered by Situ Yin's act of giving the gift, and on the other hand, she was still a little dazed by Situ Yin calling her "Madam" and "Wife" repeatedly.
Following Situ Yin's gaze, everyone quickly turned their attention to Tang Ning.
Finally, amidst everyone's cheers and jokes, and under Situ Yin's intense gaze, Tang Ning had no choice but to bite the bullet and step onto the stage.
She had just arrived beside Situ Yin when she tugged at his sleeve and whispered a question about what he wanted to do.
Then she saw Situ Yin gently break off the excess branches of the peony, the king of flowers, and carefully tuck the golden peony into her hair. His tender gaze and gentle movements even confused Tang Ning for a moment.
After finally finishing with the peony in her hair, whether it was intentional or unintentional on Situ Yin's part, with a gentle flick of his hand, Tang Ning's veil immediately slipped off her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful face that was even more exquisite than the golden peony pinned to her hair.
Upon seeing such beauty, the previously noisy crowd below gasped in unison. Not only them, but even those in the private rooms of the restaurant held their breath.
A few moments of silence followed, until a loud, startled shout rang in their ears.
"Qin Tangning, weren't you dead?"
Qin Tangning?
Qin Tangning!
She was Qin Tangning, the Qin Tangning who died in the fire at the Duke's mansion?
There was an uproar among the crowd.
Just then, Situ Yin slowly removed the mask from his face, his gaze flashing like lightning towards the direction from which the voice had just come out.
"Who was that just now...?"
"They're saying my empress is dead?"
Empress?
etc.
Empress!
Author's Note: Situ Yin: Are you happy? Surprised? Happy?
High-ranking officials and dignitaries: ...
Gao Xing is just a crazy critic of the emperor; it has nothing to do with us.
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