Chapter 1539 - 1537
Chapter 1539: Chapter 1537
Chapter 1537
"Didn’t you say frostbite couldn’t be treated?"
Zhao Qichen’s voice was trembling slightly.
He rarely left the palace, so naturally he didn’t understand what frostbite was.
He is scheming but not a genius, unable to understand all the suffering of the people, hence the misunderstanding.
And it is precisely such misunderstandings that reveal the ordinary human emotions hidden beneath his cold exterior.
...
After clearing up the misunderstanding.
Zhao Qichen’s expression was unclear and dark.
Lin Siyin lounged on the bed with an expression of wanting to laugh but not daring to.
She had to rub her newly frostbitten wrist and leaned forward to comfort him.
"It’s okay!"
"It’s normal for you not to know!"
"Frostbite indeed can’t be treated, but it will get better by itself when spring comes next year!"
"Frostbite is not the same as freezing to death!"
Zhao Qichen nodded, his face gloomy and furrowed.
"I understand now!"
Fortunately, only she saw it, otherwise it would be quite embarrassing if it spread.
"Well, since it’s fine, let’s rest early!"
He threw his fox fur cape aside and lay down directly.
Lin Siyin snuggled up to him and continued to speak soothingly.
"Alright!"
"You don’t have to be so embarrassed!"
"It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have spoken nonsense!"
"Don’t be angry, okay?"
Zhao Qichen sighed helplessly, pulling her into his arms with an authoritative tone.
"Are you going to sleep or not?"
Lin Siyin was frightened and dared not move, yet she couldn’t resist carefully glancing up at him.
"Well... You haven’t answered my question yet?"
"What question?" Zhao Qichen’s expression was still somewhat stiff.
"My face is frostbitten, it might not heal all winter, will you despise me?"
Zhao Qichen breathed a sigh of relief and pressed her head into his chest.
"Stop talking nonsense. Go to sleep early!"
"These days, you’re not allowed to run around outside!"
"Oh..."
Lin Siyin didn’t dare to ask more, she nestled quietly into his embrace, inhaling the pleasant scent from him, and soon fell asleep.
...
The days outside the palace passed quickly but were also fulfilling.
Although just a few days, the two enjoyed their time outside quite thoroughly.
They ate, they strolled, no regrets.
On the way back to the palace, Lin Siyin leaned on the edge of the carriage, watching the rapidly receding scenery outside, feeling quite melancholic.
’Sigh!’
’This isn’t Guangnan after all!’
’The leisurely and carefree days are ultimately gone, they are unretrievable no matter what!’
’However, the current life isn’t bad! Good food and drinks, whatever she wants, oh, seems there’s a title of Empress too!’
’Most importantly, she has her sweetheart by her side, surely she should be satisfied!’
She didn’t have any grand ambitions, never set a fixed path for herself in this life.
As the saying goes, going with the flow, perhaps it means wherever the beloved is, there is home?
Only she fell in love with the Emperor.
But on second thought, being with the Emperor is far more bizarre than the tales city storytellers tell.
The Emperor is already a mystical existence in the eyes of commoners, who would have thought they are all ordinary people too!
...
While lost in thought, they unknowingly arrived at the Imperial Palace.
After sending her back, Zhao Qichen reminded her.
"Tomorrow is the New Year’s Eve feast, rest well tonight, don’t worry about anything else, understood?"
Lin Siyin felt puzzled.
"What, you’re not in the palace tomorrow?"
Zhao Qichen nodded lightly.
"Tomorrow, I must go out of the city to offer sacrifices to heaven, leaving early and returning by dusk!"
"Don’t worry about anything, don’t listen to anyone, I’ve arranged everything, just take care of yourself, understood?"
"I understand!" Lin Siyin nodded,
She tenderly touched his weary face, muttering.
"This is too exhausting, can’t I share some of the burden?"
"In the past half a year, I’ve learned many things! Maybe I can help you with something!"
Though she lacked high expertise, she knew love isn’t just about taking.
Love requires giving, love is caring, love is mutual.
She loves him, so she wants to share the burden, even if just a little, she wants to exert her efforts.
"No need!"
Zhao Qichen felt warmth in his heart.
The last time he felt this warm was when he first met her, she helped him unconditionally.
From childhood, those who gave him unconditional warmth, besides his mother, were perhaps only his sister.
Everyone else... haha...
"Alright then!"
Lin Siyin agreed superficially but secretly made up her mind.
Even when apart, she cannot be idle, wherever help is needed, she will help, ensuring he isn’t too fatigued!
She thought simply.
"Alright!"
"It’s getting late, I’ll call someone to prepare dinner, after eating, rest well, I’ll leave first!"
"Ah? You’re leaving already?"
Lin Siyin was shocked.
"You haven’t eaten yet!"
Zhao Qichen turned and caressed her hair, smiled.
"Don’t fuss, I have many things to prepare, I’ll accompany you properly after the New Year!"
Lin Siyin sulked, feeling a bit wronged.
"Alright then!"
He’s the Emperor, indeed she can’t demand too much!
After Zhao Qichen left.
The palace maids of Jiaofang Hall came up to serve dinner.
Led by Sheng Chunhua, the palace maid group entered cheerfully, bowed, changed clothes, prepared dinner, everything was meticulous and complete.
The dinner was very lavish.
Chicken, duck, fish, meat, major dishes, minor dishes, things eaten and uneaten, things seen and unseen, filled the table.
But Lin Siyin had little appetite.
She ate a bit simply and carelessly before asking to remove it.
Seeing the nearly untouched table, Sheng Chunhua glanced over and smiled forward.
"Empress, what’s the matter? Is there something on your mind?"
Lin Siyin looked at her.
Though she didn’t particularly like the palace maid, she couldn’t deny that at least her understanding of protocols was correct, why not... ask her?
When she voiced her doubts.
Sheng Chunhua agreed almost instinctively.
"Oh!"
"This is what I thought, turns out it’s this!"
"Empress, allow the maid to speak frankly, even if you didn’t ask, the maid would have brought it up!"
"Every year, the New Year’s Eve feast should be personally hosted by the Empress!"
"Even when the Empress Dowager was unwell, she delegated it to the four consorts!"
"But now, there are no four consorts in the palace, only one Empress! If you don’t handle it, there’s no one else to delegate it to, it can’t be managed by a group of palace attendants, that wouldn’t be proper!"
She spoke while calculating internally.
’First let her take on the task, then employ some means to make her mess up! Have her embarrass herself properly before everyone!’
’Hmph! Someone of such low status dares to be Empress, it’s only fitting to be embarrassed!’
This isn’t entirely her fault.
Even if she didn’t intervene, she would still embarrass herself, given her inexperience in such complexities!