But seeing the Emperor’s face looking displeased, she could only suppress her confusion and focus on soothing him first.
"My mother used to say that a maiden na should only be called by those closest to you. Since Your Majesty has already called by my maiden na, it ans you are the closest person to ."
Leaving other things aside, Lin Wanyi thought this would surely work.
These days, she had noticed that the Emperor prefers gentle persuasion over hard confrontation.
For the sake of better days ahead, she decided to say more gentle words.
Sure enough, after hearing her words, the Emperor felt much more at ease.
When he looked at Lin Wanyi again, his expression was noticeably brighter.
"I’ve summoned Ming Changzai for several days now, but didn’t see you send soone to ask after ? Aren’t you afraid I’d be bewitched and forget about you, you little heartless one?"
Lin Wanyi smiled, realizing that the issue was here.
She thought for a mont, then voluntarily reached out to wrap her arms around the Emperor’s neck, leaning on him.
She spoke in a calm tone.
"I rember everything Your Majesty said to that night. To have Your Majesty’s concern makes very happy and satisfied. But Your Majesty isn’t just my sky; You’re the sky for all the sisters in the harem. If I truly made a fuss over this, wouldn’t it put you in a difficult position?"
"I don’t wish for Your Majesty to grow weary of , thinking I’m unreasonable and troubleso. If that were the case, even the deepest affection would eventually be worn down."
As she spoke, Lin Wanyi changed her self-reference from ’servant’ to ’I’.
The Emperor, captivated by her words, didn’t notice.
Instead, he embraced her more tightly, and after a long while, he said,
"The road of the Heavenly Family seems boundless in wealth, but it’s actually full of mire. I don’t expect you to plow through these thorns with , but I also hope my efforts won’t go unanswered. Qianqian, this harem is cold enough; I hope Huifang Courtyard won’t be the sa."
Even though the Emperor’s voice was the sa as before, for so reason, Lin Wanyi felt the coldness in his heart.
Cold.
She felt cold too.
She felt cold back when she was at the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
Now, in the palace, it’s still the sa cold.
The difference was, in the Pri Minister’s Mansion, she felt warm with her family.
But in the palace...
If she were to open her heart to warm the Emperor, what if he returned her a frozen heart in the future?
One must know that if this heart truly turns cold, warming it back up would not be easy.
Thinking about this, she remained silent.
To the Emperor, she could be a haven.
But this ship won’t forever anchor here.
When he braves the seas again and finds a better, more suitable harbor, everything she built here—piers and docks—would beco useless.
Lin Wanyi didn’t want this, nor did she like it.
So she didn’t know how to appropriately respond to the Emperor’s feelings.
Listening to each other’s heartbeats, neither of them said much.
Not until the Imperial Physician hastily arrived did the Emperor place Lin Wanyi down to rest on the bed.
It was Doctor Dou who ca, still slightly panting when he entered.
Outside, Xiao Luzi was also sweating profusely, his eyes full of anxiety.
Doctor Dou took a deep breath before bowing to the Emperor and said,
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty and wishes you peace. Greetings to Miss Lin, wishing for your well-being."
"Yes, rise. As for Lin Changzai’s health, do have a look. If there are areas that need conditioning, then do so thoroughly."
Doctor Dou felt quite perplexed after hearing these words.
Because when Xiao Luzi ca to call him, he said she had fainted.
Why wasn’t the Emperor anxious now?
"Yes."
He quickly walked to the bedside and started taking Lin Wanyi’s pulse through the silk fabric.
After a while, he said,
"Miss’s health has improved greatly, and the remaining toxins are almost cleared. I believe by the ti she returns to the palace, she will be well. Then this humble servant will prescribe other formulas for maintenance."
He added,
"Illness strikes like a mountain falling, but leaves like silk unraveling. If relapses occur, there’s no need to be overly anxious."
Hearing the doctor’s words, both the Emperor and Lin Wanyi were silent.
Lin Wanyi was silent because she knew she was pretending and felt quite embarrassed to have the doctor co.
The Emperor was silent because he didn’t get the response he wanted.
So he stood there, his expression dark and unclear.
Doctor Dou, caught in the middle, was truly sweating in cold fear.
The physical ailnts he could treat, but the reconciliation of a couple’s discord was beyond his abilities.
So he braced himself and said,
"This humble servant will go first to see if Miss’s prescription needs any adjustnts and add so warm-nourishing herbs to better nurture the body."
After saying this, he received a faint "Hmm" from the Emperor.
Doctor Dou, as if granted amnesty, imdiately left.
After he left, the already quiet room beca so silent that the sound of a pin drop could be heard.
Neither wanted to speak first, as if the one who spoke would lose.
Dong Yuzhong’s voice happened to co in from outside at this mont.
"Your Majesty, Miss, breakfast is ready. Shall we have it now?"
This excuse eased the silent tension, and the Emperor thought for a mont before calling out,
"Co in."
"Yes."
Then Qiu Ming, Xia An, Chunqi, and Xiao Luzi entered one after the other.
Each holding a tray of steaming breakfast.
There was soy milk, freshly stead crystal shrimp dumplings, milk cakes, and silver ear lily red date porridge.
The Emperor looked at them, each nervously and respectfully.
Rembering how Lin Wanyi pretended to faint to protect them not long ago.
Though he was still angry, he didn’t bother to pursue it further.
"This ti, the offense will be recorded for you all. If you dare to indulge Lin Changzai in neglecting her health again, then go to Yeyou Court for punishnt."
"Yes."
The ntion of Yeyou Court sent chills down their spines.
Especially Chunqi, who truly regretted her actions.
Fortunately, the Emperor did not pursue the matter further, otherwise her life would still hang in the balance.
Lin Wanyi couldn’t lie on the bed pretending to be sick any longer, so she got up to serve the Emperor during the al as before.
But this ti, the atmosphere between them wasn’t as harmonious as before.
Instead, there was a touch of estrangent.
Dong Yuzhong saw it, but stood silently aside without saying anything.
It wasn’t until the Emperor had eaten his fill and was about to leave Huifang Courtyard that he found a mont to speak a few more words to Lin Wanyi.
"Miss, forgive my impertinence. Though Ming Changzai received the summons to go to Qiqing Hall every day, she didn’t get anywhere near Your Majesty, only serving ink once. After that, she was just sitting in the side hall before being sent back."
After saying this, he gave Lin Wanyi a deep glance.
Then he hurriedly followed the Emperor out.
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