Yan Gongzi accompanied the empress in Zhaoyuan Palace for three consecutive days, which made everyone envious.
A grand cascade of rewards poured into Yan Palace.
Inside Yan Palace, Yan Yi looked at his young master's swollen knees and angrily exclaimed, "Is this empress sick? Does she like others to kneel?"
Yan Er, hearing this, simply looked at Yan Zhao and said, "Young master, this is..."
Yan Zhao closed his eyes and lay on the bed. For the past few nights, the empress had made him kneel in the outer hall. However, he knew that even though he had knelt all night, she had also stayed awake all night.
"Is it 'praise that leads to downfall'?" he asked softly.
Yan Yi blinked and asked, "Young master, what is 'praise that leads to downfall'?"
Yan Er replied, "To lift someone up high, only to let them fall from a great height."
Yan Yi shook his head, "I don't understand."
"It's right that you don't understand. What else do you do besides eat?" Yan Er said grumpily.
Yan Yi patted his head and suddenly realized, "When you mention eating, I remember the 'fire-extinguishing soup' I cooked for you is still in the small kitchen. I'll go get it."
Yan Er frowned and asked, "What fire-extinguishing soup? I've never heard of this soup!"
Yan Yi chuckled and said, "Of course you don't know. What do you know?" As he spoke, he mysteriously leaned closer to Yan Zhao and whispered, "Young master, Yan Yi thinks you look at the empress every day but cannot touch her. Your heart must be burning with desire. Yan Yi brewed some fire-extinguishing soup for you. Shall we extinguish the inner fire?"
Yan Er: ...
Yan Zhao: ...
A moment later, Yan Yi, covering his head, fled the room, lamenting, "I was truly well-intentioned. Why doesn't young master understand my goodwill?"
"Young master, the Regent is still waiting for your reply," Yan Er said.
Yan Zhao opened his eyes, a mist in his dark pupils, deep and distant. "Reply, 'All is well!'"
Yan Er, hearing this, said, "Young master, General Gu is not with the army. The Gu family's army is currently without a leader. Do you think we need to notify Yan San..."
"No need."
"Young master, this is a good opportunity," Yan Er couldn't help but say.
If they could control the Gu family's army, the young master's influence would expand.
Yan Zhao recalled the girl's tenacious expression in his mind. He closed his eyes and said, "Do as I say."
"Yes, young master," Yan Er replied.
"Your Majesty..." Suddenly, a startled voice of a palace servant came from outside.
Yan Zhao's previously closed eyes opened. Yan Er, seeing this, said in a low voice, "Young master, I shall withdraw."
"Good," Yan Zhao said.
Shortly after, a slender and tall figure appeared at the doorway.
A splash of vibrant red walked in assertively.
Yan Zhao narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he was reminded of the striking red he had seen that day outside the temporary palace during the hunt—assertive and beautiful.
Her clear and fair complexion, though still carrying a touch of immaturity, was destined to become a face capable of toppling cities in time.
With a face that could topple cities, coupled with intelligence and an unyielding spirit, he could almost see the desolate lands becoming prosperous under this girl's rule, with the common people living in peace and contentment.
He struggled to get up, wanting to stand, but was firmly pressed down by a figure that rushed in. "Young master, you cannot get up. Your leg..."
"Yan Yi, do not be impolite," Yan Zhao reprimanded in a low voice.
Yan Yi, belatedly realizing someone else was in the room, turned and saw the girl, freezing on the spot.
Yan Zhao berated, "Still not withdrawing?"
Yan Yi scratched his head, "Fire-extinguishing..."
"Withdraw," Yan Zhao said coldly.
Yan Yi retreated aggrievedly, thinking to himself, wasn't the fire-extinguishing soup brewed for nothing?
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. My attendant was somewhat rash, but he meant no harm." Yan Zhao stood up and slowly bowed.
"Ignorance is forgivable. I will not blame him," the girl's voice was still as clear and cold as the previous three days.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yan Zhao said.
"Your leg is not well, there is no need for such formalities. Sit!" The girl's delicate lips parted, and she walked towards a nearby chair.
Yan Zhao raised his eyes, a hint of confusion in his gaze, but he sat down nonetheless.
"Is your leg still swollen?" the girl asked.
"It is already fine. I have made Your Majesty worry," Yan Zhao replied indifferently.
"Did you apply the medicine?"
Yan Zhao froze. While he was lost in thought, he saw the girl approaching him with medicine.
"Your Majesty, you..."
"I will apply the medicine for you."
The girl's slender jade fingers, coated with ointment, began to rub it onto Yan Zhao's knee.
"Your Majesty, you must not. You are overwhelming me with such kindness..."
Yan Zhao tried to evade, but another slender, five-fingered hand had already pressed down on his leg.
"Is it that I have arrived at an inconvenient time?" A laugh suddenly came from outside the door.
A jolt of pain shot through his knee. Yan Zhao narrowed his eyes. Perhaps sensing he had been too rough, Xue Zining said, "Did I hurt you? I'll be gentler."
Yan Zhao: ...
A person strode in through the doorway. The Regent narrowed his eyes, looking at the intimate demeanor of the empress and Yan Zhao, and sneered inwardly. It was true that everyone fell for beauty, be it a man or a woman.
Yan Zhao looked at the empress, who had been ice-cold moments ago, now flushed with shyness. "Imperial Uncle, why have you come?"
Was this the current trend of changing faces?
Xue Wenjie laughed heartily, "Your Majesty, are you satisfied with Young Master Yan?"
The blushing girl, with affection in her eyes, said, "Imperial Uncle, you ask what you already know."
Xue Wenjie nodded with satisfaction. "Your Majesty, since you are so satisfied, why not promote Young Master Yan's rank?"
The girl tilted her head and asked innocently, "Imperial Uncle, what rank do you think is good?"
Hearing this, Xue Wenjie looked at the girl and said meaningfully, "Your Majesty, what do you think of the position of the ruler of the harem?"
Yan Zhao narrowed his eyes. Xue Wenjie's ambition was showing too soon.
The girl's expression remained unchanged. She smiled and said, "Good, but I still want to wait until I reach my coming-of-age ceremony before enfeoffing the imperial harem. What do you think, Imperial Uncle?"
Although Xue Wenjie felt it was a bit slow, since the empress had agreed, he did not continue to pressure her. Coming-of-age ceremony?
He sneered inwardly, how could he possibly wait for that day to arrive.
"What Your Majesty says is most correct," Xue Wenjie replied.
The girl turned to look at Yan Zhao, put away the medicine, and placed it aside. She slightly bowed, her actions intimate, and said, "Young Master Yan, Your Majesty still needs your company tonight. Rest well."
Her clear eyes were filled with an icy coldness, very cold, very cold.
Yan Zhao frowned, then suddenly smiled. "As long as Your Majesty doesn't feel that I am disturbing your sweet dreams."
"How could that be?" The girl curved her lips into a smile.
"Imperial Uncle, I still need to go see Young Master Lin." After speaking, the empress left.
After the empress left, Xue Wenjie's gaze turned cold. Yan Zhao felt that familiar oppressive force.
"Young Master Yan, you still need to work harder. You have not yet captured the empress's heart," Xue Wenjie said indifferently.
Yan Zhao raised his head and looked at Xue Wenjie calmly. He said, "Your Highness, as I have said, my entering the palace is already the limit. I fear I cannot meet your many demands."
Xue Wenjie was not angered by this. He simply stroked the chair the empress had just sat on. "Young Master Yan, the people I sent seem to have found some clues."
Yan Zhao's gaze shifted slightly. He looked up at Xue Wenjie and asked, "What do you mean?"