In the cold last month of winter, the days with the bleak autumn wind had passed without knowing where they had gone. It was already the beginning of winter, and Qi Yan put on his own big velvet robe, which was awarded to him by Feng Lin when he was "favored". It was said that he was the only one in the entire palace who had such an honor.

He had already built a small shed for his own vegetable garden, for fear that the sprouts that were just about to sprout would be frozen.

It had been half a year since he was "out of favor", but Qi Yan was living a comfortable life here, enjoying his daily life. Feng Lin might have been too busy with court affairs to care about him and Qi Yan, and he hadn't spoken to Qi Yan for a long time.

On New Year's Eve, Qi Yan was nestling in his own small side hall, ready to go to bed early, but he heard Xiao Anzi coming to report.

"Brother Qi, the emperor wants you to come over." Xiao Anzi smiled and narrowed his eyes: "I told you, the emperor can't forget his brother."

Xiao Anzi was a smart man. Even if others laughed at Qi Yan, he wouldn't, because he knew clearly how many times the emperor called him Qi Yan...

He couldn't sleep even if the emperor called him. He dressed neatly and went out. His small side hall was in the Yangxin Hall. The Yangxin Hall was very large, with one main hall, three side halls and six side halls. The side hall where Qi Yan lived was the smallest and most remote.

Originally, Fenglin didn't prepare such a small hall for him, but Qi Yan was still afraid of gossip, so he asked for permission to go to this small side hall.

When he arrived at the Yangxin Hall, the reunion banquet had already ended. The light of candles was burning in the Yangxin Hall, jumping on the paper windows.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Qi has been brought to you." At the door, Xiao Anzi shouted inside.

A few seconds later, Feng Lin's low and hoarse voice sounded: "Let him in!"

Xiao Anzi narrowed his eyes and smiled at Qi Yan, Qi Yan nodded, and walked in with his chest puffed out.

The palace still smelled of ambergris as usual, but Qi Yan sniffed and could actually smell a hint of alcohol.

"Your Majesty?" Qi Yan called out, and a voice came from the bedroom. Qi Yan calmed down and knelt at the door of the bedroom: "Your servant Qi Yan, pays homage to the emperor."

A light sigh came from inside, and after a long time, a voice was heard: "Come in."

Qi Yan pursed his lips and walked in. The smell of alcohol around him became stronger. Qi Yan raised his eyes and saw Feng Lin leaning on the bed, his cheeks slightly red, and he was half-closed his eyes, looking at Qi Yan who was crouching over him.

When their eyes met, Qi Yan lowered his eyes calmly and said respectfully: "The emperor is drunk, and those servants didn't serve the emperor well. I will go and get the emperor some sobering soup first."

"Are you blaming me?" Feng Lin's voice was as abrupt as a zither, and it was so melodious after it was raised.

Qi Yan knelt down hurriedly: "I dare not."

"You call yourself a servant in front of me?" Feng Lin raised his voice slightly, revealing deep shock and confusion, and even a little resentment: "Qi Yan, are you really going to be like this with me for the rest of your life?"

Qi Yan sighed lightly and got up from the ground: "Your Majesty, you are drunk."

"I'm not drunk!" Feng Lin shouted: "I didn't even drink a few glasses of wine today, how could I be drunk?" It's just that my heart and eyes are drunk.

Qi Yan sighed again, and walked towards the bed in the dim light.

"Your Majesty, have a cup of tea." Qi Yan poured a cup of tea at the table, turned around and handed it to Feng Lin: "Your stomach must be uncomfortable after drinking."

Feng Lin took the tea and suddenly laughed sarcastically: "You know everything that even the queen doesn't know."

Qi Yan pursed his lips and said nothing. Feng Lin's appetite is not very good. He usually eats food that warms and nourishes the stomach. Spicy food is like a storm passing over the grass, which is pitiful to his stomach.

Although Feng Lin is not straightforward, he cannot avoid drinking. Whether it is an envoy from another country or a family banquet or a state banquet, he, as the host, must drink. Who would know how spicy and uncomfortable it is at that time?

Qi Yan knew it. When Qi Yan was there, he would always prepare some warm tea and stomach-strengthening cakes and food for him. After Xiao Anzi took over, he didn't know, and he never had it again.

"Your Majesty can tell Xiao Anzi, after all..." I can't accompany you for the rest of your life.

Stomach cold is not something that needs to be kept secret. It's just that Qi Yan understood it before, so Feng Lin didn't have to say it. If it wasn't Qi Yan who prepared it, Xiao Anzi could have done it, but Feng Lin didn't give any orders...

Somehow, I felt that this was a secret between the two of us, and only the two of us should know it.

Feng Lin didn't say anything, drank the warm tea, and leaned on the bed tiredly for a long time before standing up.

"Stop, help me undress and take a bath."

The maid had already prepared the bath water. Qi Yan helped Feng Lin undress, and when he took off his underwear for him, his movements were a little unnatural.

Feng Lin could sense her posture, and only after entering the bathtub did Feng Lin ask, "Qi Yan, what happened to you?" Qi Yan

pursed his lips, and after a long while he said lightly, "Your Majesty... I have an unwelcome request."

"You should have told me earlier." Feng Lin showed a hint of joy: "Tell me, how can I not care about your affairs?"

"I want to work in the temporary palace."

The smile on Feng Lin's face froze.

What is the temporary palace? Although it is not far from the imperial palace, it is where the emperor lives when he is on tour. If Feng Lin does not go on tour, he may never see Qi Yan in his life.

"Is this what you want me to help you with?!" Feng Lin's voice suddenly rose: "Qi Yan, you think too highly of yourself, don't you?!"

"Your Majesty, I have an illicit thought in my heart, and I am afraid I am powerless in this palace." Qi Yan explained lightly, not telling him what the 'illicit thought' was, nor who the object was.

Feng Lin was now staring at her, his friend was now in emotional distress.

"Not right, not right..."

"Your Majesty, if you still consider Qi Yan as a friend, please agree to it!"

"Qi Yan, if you really have someone you like, with me here, what do you have to worry about incest--" Feng Lin's voice suddenly stopped, and then he murmured in disbelief: "Is it my concubine?!" "

How could it be!" Qi Yan was convinced by Feng Lin's imagination: "If she is not the emperor's concubine, this incest is a common incest in the world, not anything else." Qi Yan sighed, stood up helplessly, and rubbed Feng Lin's back.

"Your Majesty, I may have fallen in love with a man."

Feng Lin's eyebrows flashed with an unconscious sternness: "Man?"

"Yes, a man." Qi Yan said to himself: "I want to spend my life with him. If not for anything else, just to paint and appreciate flowers every day, there are so many paradises, where can't we go?"

"But I don't know his mind, and I dare not speculate."

"If that's the case, you might as well leave first. Otherwise, you'll be laughed at by others when the truth comes out."

...

Feng Lin listened quietly, and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Qi Yan fell in love with a man right under her nose... and she didn't even know it?