"This humble subject, Han Minghai, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years."
Han Minghai had no idea that the person Manager Hua was introducing him to was the Empress.
He ate breakfast at the restaurant where he was staying this morning.
I've been running around a bit these past few days and I just want to rest in my room for a bit.
Manager Hua arrived at the restaurant shortly afterward.
"Minghai, I'm taking you to see someone."
"Okay, Master."
Han Minghai didn't think much of it. Ever since Hua Zixi brought him to the capital, he had met many people every day.
Some were businessmen, and some were his friends, so he didn't bother to tidy himself up and followed him out of the room.
After leaving the room, Hua Zixi walked through the corridor and went straight up the stairs to the third floor.
Han Minghai was stunned for a moment. He knew that this restaurant was Sifang Restaurant, and they stayed on the second floor of the main branch in Beijing as soon as they arrived.
Arriving at the door of a room on the third floor, there were two people standing there, though they were dressed casually.
However, Han Minghai knew that these two people were skilled in martial arts, so it seemed that the people in this room were either rich or noble.
Manager Hua bowed to the two people standing at the door, and they nodded to him before opening the door.
After Manager Hua went in, he knelt on the ground.
Han Minghai was shocked to see what was going on. He had been here for so long and had never seen his master kneel before anyone.
It's okay if you don't understand, just quickly follow the master's instructions.
He quickly knelt down behind Hua Zixi.
"This old servant greets Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
Han Minghai was immediately dumbfounded. What? The elegantly dressed woman sitting above was actually the current Empress!
He quickly lay down on the ground and imitated his master, which led to the scene at the beginning.
Han Minghai landed on his head, not daring to raise his head.
Then they heard the Empress speak in a gentle voice.
"Uncle Hua, please get up. In this setting, please call me Miss."
This made me feel a sense of warmth and familiarity, like that of family.
Hua Zixi stood up to answer.
"This old servant obeys, Miss."
Han Minghai remained kneeling on the ground without moving.
Over the past few months, he has witnessed many grand occasions and tense moments where swords were drawn.
From being timid and flustered at the beginning, I gradually became calm and composed.
But now, sitting above him was the empress of a nation, and he still felt a little uneasy and afraid.
He was just putting on a brave face.
"Han Minghai, right? You should stand up and speak too."
Upon hearing the Empress speak, he quickly replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Han Minghai stood up, head down, and stood behind Hua Zixi.
He never looked up at the Empress again.
I glanced at it the instant I stepped into the room.
"Uncle Hua, Han Minghai, you two sit down and talk."
A young eunuch immediately brought them two stools.
Han Minghai only sat on half a stool, not daring to look up, and kept his head down looking at his hands clasped together on his knees.
"Uncle Hua, are Hao'er and Linglong alright?"
"Replying to Miss, the Crown Prince and Princess are well."
Hua Zixi carefully explained to the Empress the Crown Prince and Linglong's living conditions in Peach Blossom Eyes, as well as what they usually did.
He also specifically mentioned that Xiao Linglong had been living and eating with Li Lanzhen.
They told me some interesting stories about their lives.
As Hua Zixi explained in detail, Han Minghai gradually relaxed.
Next, the Empress inquired about the situation of Su Chen, Xuan Shen, and Bai Houpu's family.
Hua Zixi told her everything in detail.
"Han Minghai, when you get back, tell your mother that you thank her for saving my child, and also my brother's only child. Thank you, Mother!"
Han Minghai looked up but didn't speak. Then the Empress spoke to a kind-looking old nanny beside her.
"Granny, bring the box over here."
"Han Minghai, give this box to your mother when you get back, and tell her it's a gift of thanks from me."
Upon hearing this, Han Minghai jumped up as if his feet were on springs, waving his hands vigorously.
"No, no, no, this, this is not possible, Your Majesty, no need, no need for thanks."
My mother was kind-hearted, and she especially couldn't bear to see children, the elderly, and women suffer.
If she runs into someone, she'll always lend a hand.
Han Minghai kept glancing nervously at the Empress while he spoke.
The Empress smiled gently and said, "Yes, you need it. This is for your mother; you can't refuse!"
Han Minghai was startled to realize that he was looking at the Empress, and felt that he had offended her, so he quickly lowered his head.
Helpless, she looked to Hua Zixi for help.
"Master..."
Hua Zixi glanced at his apprentice and said with a slight smile.
"This is a gift from Her Majesty the Empress; we cannot refuse. Kneel down and express your gratitude."
Han Minghai immediately knelt down and said, "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty."
Then he took the small wooden box with both hands.
At this moment, the guard standing outside the door spoke in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, it's time for us to go. It's time."
The Queen sighed and stood up.
He glanced at the bundle on the table and said, "Uncle Hua, take this bundle back to Hao'er and tell them I'm fine."
"Let them live there in peace, and they can only return when his father's men come to fetch them."
"Yes, this old servant understands and will deliver it."
Han Minghai and Hua Zixi bowed and saw the Empress out of the door.
Han Minghai remained standing there with his head down, not moving.
Hua Zixi patted him on the shoulder and smiled.
"Minghai, relax. The Empress has left. Let's go to your room to talk."
Han Minghai felt as if he were walking on cotton, and somehow followed Hua Zixi downstairs to his room and sat on a stool.
Hua Zixi saw that he was still holding the small wooden box tightly with both hands.
"Minghai, put the box on the table. Why are you so nervous? Relax. Her Majesty the Empress is a very good person."
He looked up at Hua Zixi and let out a long sigh.
"Master, could you please let me know in advance next time I see someone important?"
I didn't dare to breathe.
Hua Zixi smiled, lowered his head, and remained silent.
"Master, why did Her Majesty the Empress only bring so few people with her? And..."
"And what? Didn't you see that her clothes were plain? They don't look like the Empress's attire."
"Yes, Master."
"Alas! Minghai, the Empress and the Emperor are currently in a rather difficult situation in the court."
Han Minghai's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah, Master, what's so difficult about the emperor of this country? You just do whatever he tells you to do."
There's a saying: "If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die."
With such great power, what's difficult about it?
Hua Zixi waved his hand.
"Alright, watch your words!"
You are not allowed to say what you just said again.
"Oh, I see, Master. That's why I was telling you."
Hua Zixi raised his head and said to Han Minghai with a joyful expression.
"However, this period will not last long. By autumn, a decision should be made to change things. At that time, the Peach Blossom Spring where your mother and the others live will become better and better."
As the two were talking, there was a knock on the door.
Han Minghai called out "Come in!" and saw Hua Zixi's men push the door open and enter.
"Master, everything is done." He said, taking out a stack of papers from his pocket and handing them to Hua Zixi.
After saying that, he turned and left.
Hua Zixi opened the papers in his hand and read them one by one. He looked up and said happily to Hai Minghai.
"Minghai, we've finished everything we needed to do, and we can go home the day after tomorrow."
Han Minghai was delighted to hear this. He had been away for almost half a year, and he missed his mother and his youngest son.
"Okay, Master, let's go out and buy some things later."
Hua Zixi pulled out three sheets of paper from the stack in his hand and handed them to Han Minghai.
“Minghai, these three are houses and estates that your mother asked me to buy.”
There are two houses, one near the Imperial College, and that one is smaller.
Another one, not far from our restaurant, is a three-courtyard house.
The estate wasn't large, just over 100 mu (approximately 6.7 hectares) of land, located 20 kilometers southwest of the capital.
"Ah, Master, you bought that estate. My mother will definitely love it. The estate has mountains and water, and lots of land."
"Didn't the owner of the estate refuse to buy it?"
Hua Zi smiled, stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and gestured with his chin toward the land deed in his hand.
"Isn't this what he wanted? Pack your things and go out and buy whatever you want."
After watching Hua Zixi leave, he closed the door and was extremely excited, clutching three contracts in his hand.
He knew that Hua Zixi had used many connections and spent a lot of money to buy the house and estate.
I just don't know if he used the Empress's influence.
He carefully folded the three contracts, took out a purse from his pocket, stuffed it inside, tied it up, and then put it back in his pocket and patted it.
Then he saw the wooden box on the table and was troubled.
This must be a very valuable item, but I can't keep it in my pocket. What should I do?
After thinking for a moment, he took out his bundle, removed a few pieces of clothing from it, wrapped the small wooden box in one piece of clothing, put it back in the bundle, and carried it out the door.
He's going to the market to buy some gifts for his family.
Although he had bought quite a lot over the years, now that he was leaving, he decided to go shopping a bit more.
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