"Are you recovering well, Biwu?"
Upon seeing Zhou Cangyan, Emperor Cheng Xiao’s temper cooled sowhat, and he offered him a seat.
"Thank you for your concern, Imperial Brother. I am much better now."
Lu Shunfu served the tea.
Zhou Cangyan took a sip of tea before setting down the cup.
Emperor Cheng Xiao glanced at Zhou Junlin and said irritably, "You can get up, too!"
Zhou Junlin rose slowly to his feet.
"Imperial Uncle."
His voice was cool and clear as he suddenly spoke up. "Regarding Doctor Song, there must be so misunderstanding..."
Resting his cheek on his hand, Zhou Cangyan cut him off bluntly. "Let ask you this: did my wife save Princess Consort Ling’s life?"
Zhou Junlin’s brow furrowed. He nodded. "Yes."
"When Prince Ling was attacked on his journey, your servants, without any investigation, pinned the bla on my wife. Is that not what happened?"
Zhou Junlin took a deep breath and inclined his head. "Indeed."
"Then, those damn servants of yours drove my wife away. Fortunately, the n I sent to find her located her! Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable! Have I accused you of anything falsely?"
Hearing this, Zhou Junlin sneered inwardly.
’So this is what he was waiting for!’
’The appearance of Prince Qing’s n at Li Zong Pass was already difficult enough to explain, especially with the poetry collection still missing.’
’But this was perfect. He claid he was just looking for his wife! And not only was his wife a masterful physician who had saved my own consort, but I had treated her as an honored guest. In effect, I, the great Prince Ling, had personally vouched for her identity!’
’Now, after Doctor Song supposedly suffered such a terrible injustice at my hands, a morial has been submitted to the Holy Emperor, drawing all eyes to the matter! Who would dare question her identity now?’
Zhou Junlin suddenly broke into a self-deprecating smile, raising his sharp, frosty eyes to his Imperial Uncle.
"Imperial Uncle is absolutely right."
Zhou Cangyan’s voice turned icy. "Excellent!" He turned, bowed with clasped hands to Emperor Cheng Xiao, and said, "I implore you, Imperial Brother, to seek justice for your subject!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao looked at him. Since Zhou Cangyan had addressed him as both brother and subject, this was now a "family matter."
And family matters were much simpler to handle.
Emperor Cheng Xiao’s expression softened sowhat.
"Ziyin, hurry up and apologize to your Imperial Uncle."
Zhou Junlin appeared unperturbed. He turned and was about to bow in apology to Zhou Cangyan.
Zhou Cangyan watched him, his voice cold. "The one who was wronged is my wife."
Zhou Junlin froze. Slowly, he lowered his hands. His gaze was placid as he looked at Zhou Cangyan and smiled. "An excellent point."
He turned, lifted the hem of his robes, and knelt before Emperor Cheng Xiao. "Father Emperor, to prevent the public from thinking Imperial Uncle would abandon the wife of his humble days, your son requests an imperial edict to formally recognize Doctor Song. Since she is Imperial Uncle’s wife, it should be proclaid to all under Heaven."
Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow, a wry smile playing on his lips.
—
Song Lianhe was enjoying so pastries when Fang Xiu brought over another plate. "These are fresh from the Imperial Kitchen, Doctor Song. Please, have so."
"Thank you, Aunt Fang!"
Song Lianhe had truly missed the food from the Imperial Palace.
’She hadn’t been able to forget them since the Hairpin Flower Banquet. As expected of food made for royalty, the pastries in the Imperial Palace were simply divine!’
Across from her, Song Xilan ate with refined grace. She nibbled half a plum pastry, took half a cup of tea, and then touched nothing more.
’Compared to her, Song Lianhe was just so common and utterly unpresentable.’
Even Kong Qing, standing behind Song Xilan, couldn’t help but roll her eyes, silently mocking the other woman.
Empress Chun De, however, watched Song Lianhe with a warm smile. She whispered to Fang Xiu, "There’s sothing so endearing about that girl."
Fang Xiu chuckled. "With her around, Your Majesty even eats an extra half-bowl of rice!"
Song Xilan was seated just beside the Empress and naturally overheard them, which made her frown.
Her gaze toward Song Lianhe filled with incomprehension and loathing.
’She just didn’t understand. What was so special about Song Lianhe? Why did the Empress favor her ti and ti again?’
"His Highness Prince Qing arrives! His Highness Prince Ling arrives!"
After the announcent, Zhou Cangyan and Zhou Junlin entered together.
Song Xilan’s eyes brightened, and she imdiately looked toward them.
Song Lianhe, who had just taken a bite of a pastry, also turned to look. Seeing them enter together, she dutifully rose to her feet and curtsied. All the while, she kept a firm grip on the remaining half of her pastry.
One man was dressed in dark robes, the other in white. One was bright and distinguished, the other coolly handso. Both were paragons of n in Da Cheng.
’The very thought that both of these exceptional n were captivated by her made Song Xilan’s heart flutter with uncontrollable excitent.’
’But she noticed that as soon as Zhou Cangyan entered, his gaze fell first upon Song Lianhe—not her!’
’She could understand if he was trying to avoid suspicion, since this was Kunyi Palace.’
’But why did he look at Song Lianhe first?’
This deeply displeased Song Xilan!
Suppressing her displeasure, she turned with a smile to her own husband...
’But to her surprise, Zhou Junlin was also looking at Song Lianhe!’
The smile on Song Xilan’s face froze instantly.
After her curtsy, Song Lianhe sat back down and stuffed the rest of the pastry into her mouth.
’She was deep in thought. If she could learn how to make pastries this well, she could open a pastry shop right next to the dical Clinic and have Shuang Ye run it. Business would probably be great!’
The pleasant thought of making money made her smile, and as she looked up, she found that everyone was staring at her.
"Uh..."
She was suddenly at a loss.
’Oh no, did I miss sothing?’
Zhou Cangyan glanced over and instantly knew she had been lost in thought. He said in a calm, unhurried voice, "Her Majesty the Empress noticed how much you enjoy the palace pastries and asked if you’d like to take so ho..."
"Yes!"
Before he could even finish, Song Lianhe blurted out, "The pastries here, Your Majesty, are the best I have ever tasted! The absolute best!"
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