The boss's health is the top KPI
On the day of the Fengshan ceremony, banners fluttered at the foot of Mount Tai, but the extravagance of pure gold ceremonial guards as recorded in the past was nowhere to be seen.
Three thousand armored soldiers, clad in colorful paper armor, still gleamed in the morning light, appearing indistinguishable from golden armor from afar, but revealing their ingenuity upon closer inspection.
Li Zhi stood atop the jade carriage, gazing at the solemn yet frugal entourage, his eyes revealing his admiration for Wu Zetian.
The convoy traveled to the palace halfway up the mountain. It was an expansion of an old post station. Although not luxurious, it was clean, tidy, and fully functional.
Wu Zetian's pre-planned route allowed the officials and ceremonial guards to proceed separately, preventing any chaos.
She herself, dressed in a dignified imperial concubine's robe, quietly followed in the procession of noblewomen, her eyes keenly scanning every step to ensure her "project" proceeded as planned.
(Inner monologue: Perfect traffic flow planning, cost control met, emergency plans ready... Great, everything is under control.)
What amazed the officials the most was the final reward ceremony.
Instead of mountains of silk, there were meticulously crafted "Yonghui Fengchan Commemorative Silver Coins".
The silver coin features an elegant design, with Mount Tai on one side and the Yonghui reign title on the other, making it both commemorative and tangible.
The officials who received the silver coins felt a sense of novelty and honor, finding them far more precious than ordinary rewards.
After completing the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven and Earth at the altar, Li Zhi gazed at the orderly scene and the magnificent mountains and rivers shrouded in mist, feeling a surge of emotions.
This grand ceremony not only demonstrated national power but also avoided causing hardship to the people and wasting resources, and even garnered unexpected praise.
He subconsciously searched for that beautiful figure in the crowd. Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, his reliance and trust in her grew even stronger.
(Inner monologue: Project a complete success! Boss satisfied, clients (and officials) delighted, costs significantly reduced. This performance review is definitely an S-level!)
The ceremony concluded in a solemn yet efficient atmosphere. Wu Zetian's "Fengshan Ceremony Cost Control Plan" withstood the test of practice and established her as a pragmatic and capable figure in the court.
——
Wu Zetian was drawing a sketch of an improved loom when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the palace.
"Your Majesty!" Wang Dequan, the eunuch beside Emperor Li Zhi, rushed in in a panic, his forehead covered in sweat. "His Majesty... His Majesty suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded while discussing matters in the Liangyi Hall. The imperial physician has already been summoned..."
Wu Meiniang's charcoal pencil fell "snap" onto the paper, spreading a blot of ink on the newly drawn drawing.
(Inner monologue: Here it comes! A critical juncture in history! The boss's health is the company's fundamental asset; this KPI must be maintained!)
She immediately stood up, ignoring the embroidered stool behind her as her skirt billowed out: "What are the specific symptoms? Where is His Majesty now?"
"They said their vision suddenly went black and they had a splitting headache, so they've been moved to the bedchamber..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wu Meiniang quickly walked outside.
Sunlight streamed through the grape trellis under the eaves, casting dappled shadows on her moon-white skirt.
As she walked, she quickly gave instructions: "Go to the Imperial Hospital and fetch Physician Sun. Tell him about the acupuncture treatment plan I mentioned a few days ago, and ask him to bring the gold needles."
(Inner monologue: Luckily I did my homework beforehand and memorized all the chapters about wind-related diseases in "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold".)
When she arrived at the bedchamber, the imperial physicians were kneeling on the floor. Li Zhi was leaning against the couch, his face pale, a wet towel covering his forehead, and his brows furrowed in pain.
"Your Majesty..." Wu Meiniang stepped forward quickly, naturally took the wet towel from the maid, soaked it again in the calming herbal juice in the silver basin beside her, and gently wiped his forehead.
Her movements were gentle and practiced, as if she had practiced countless times.
Li Zhi barely opened his eyes, saw it was her, and weakly forced a smile: "Meiniang has arrived..."
"Your Majesty, please don't speak, rest well." Wu Meiniang turned to the imperial physicians, "Imperial physicians, how many times has His Majesty had this attack?"
The imperial physician said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, this is the third time this month, and each time it's more dangerous than the last..."
(Inner monologue: Just as frequently recorded in historical texts. Can't delay any longer!)
At this moment, Sun Simiao rushed over with his medicine box on his back.
When the elderly physician, who was over sixty, saw Wu Meiniang, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he still took out the golden needles as instructed.
Wu Meiniang stepped aside but did not leave, watching closely as Sun Simiao administered the acupuncture.
When she saw him inserting needles into acupoints such as Fengchi and Baihui, she suddenly spoke softly, "Physician Sun, could you add another needle to the Taiyang acupoint? Please use a lighter touch."
Sun Simiao looked at her in surprise: "Your Highness, you know acupuncture?"
"I know a little," Wu Meiniang said modestly, lowering her eyes. "I once read in an ancient book that when a wind-related illness flares up, gently pricking the temples can relieve dizziness."
(Inner monologue: Thank you for the modern annotated version of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic!)
Sun Simiao did as he was told and tried it.
Before long, Li Zhi's brows relaxed a bit, and his breathing gradually became steady.
After the imperial physicians had all left, Wu Meiniang sat by the couch, looking at Li Zhi's sleeping profile.
The afternoon sun shone through the gauze curtains, casting a soft glow on his face, but it couldn't hide his sickly pallor.
She gently held his hand; his fingertips were icy cold.
(Inner monologue: No, just treating the symptoms is too passive. I need a systematic health management plan.)
In the days that followed, Wu Zetian prioritized "boss health management" above all else.
She personally supervised the imperial kitchen and adjusted Li Zhi's diet based on Sun Simiao's suggestions.
Less oil and salt, more cooling and detoxifying ingredients, and changed from two meals a day to smaller, more frequent meals.
(Inner monologue: The diet in the Tang Dynasty was too unhealthy; it needs to be gradually adjusted.)
She even designed a simple set of health exercises, which she called "an improved version of the Five Animal Frolics," and practiced them with Li Zhi every day.
"Your Majesty, raise your hand and inhale—" In the courtyard at dawn, Wu Meiniang, dressed in a simple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), personally demonstrated the movements.
In the morning light, her figure moved as nimbly as a swallow, and her voice was clear and melodious.
Li Zhi initially found it amusing, but after persisting for a few days, he did feel much better.
Looking at Wu Meiniang's earnest profile, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Meiniang, are you going to treat me like a child?"
Wu Meiniang turned around, feigning anger as she glared at him: "If Your Majesty were willing to take good care of your health, why would I need to worry so much?"
Under the sunlight, fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose, and her cheeks were flushed with a healthy rosy glow from exercise.
(Inner monologue: My boss's health is related to my retirement plans, how can I not worry about it!)
She also specially renovated the study in Chengxiang Hall—making the windows bigger to ensure ventilation and lighting.
Ergonomically designed cushions were custom-made, and the time Li Zhi spent reviewing memorials was strictly limited, requiring him to rest briefly every half hour.
These changes naturally sparked discussions within the imperial court and the inner palace.
An imperial censor impeached her for "interfering with the emperor's life," and a minister said she was "like a hen crowing at dawn."
Wu Zetian ignored them all, except once when Li Zhi asked, she lowered her eyes in grievance and said, "I only wish Your Majesty good health. If Your Majesty feels I have done something wrong..."
"Well done." Li Zhi grasped her hand. "I know you did it for my own good."
He looked at the faint dark circles under her eyes and knew that she often stayed up late to study medical books, and his heart softened.
That evening, while Li Zhi was reviewing memorials in Chengxiang Hall, he suddenly felt a familiar wave of dizziness.
He instinctively pressed his temple, but then heard Wu Meiniang's gentle voice:
"Your Majesty, it's time to rest."
She came carrying a bowl of warm medicinal tea, her hair adorned only with a simple jade hairpin that gleamed with a gentle luster in the twilight.
Li Zhi took the teacup and suddenly asked, "Mei Niang, why are you so concerned about my health?"
Wu Zetian paused slightly as she tidied her desk. She looked up, the candlelight dancing in her clear eyes:
"Because His Majesty promised to share this vast empire with me." Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear, "A ruler's word is his bond."
Li Zhi was stunned. He looked at the woman in front of him—intelligent yet unassuming, gentle yet resilient, always appearing when he needed her most to help him solve his problems.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"Yes," he whispered in her ear, "I promise you."
Outside the window, fireflies danced in the courtyard on a summer night, their soft light reflecting on the two people embracing.
Wu Meiniang leaned against Li Zhi's chest, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
(Inner monologue: The health management plan is showing initial results. Next step: consider how to consolidate these gains.)
She gazed out the window at the deep night, her eyes growing increasingly profound.
This game has only just begun.
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