Lin Qinghe's small hand rested on You Rong's well-defined large hand, and she borrowed strength to board the carriage, saying with a smile, "I was just afraid you'd be waiting too long... By the way, why did you specially come out of the palace to pick me up today? Weren't the Prime Minister and several officials discussing important matters with you?"
You Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and he said calmly, "It's nothing. They brought up some trivial matters that I don't need to bother with, so I simply sent them away."
One by one, they kept mentioning harem matters, urging him to select concubines to fill the harem, and even kneeling before the imperial study until they were exhausted.
Since these ministers liked to kneel, he would let them kneel until they couldn't bear it any longer.
You Rong, with a blank expression and his gaze fixed straight ahead, strode past the kneeling officials and came out of the palace to find Lin Qinghe at Misty Rain Pavilion.
Lin Qinghe was half-believing, "Oh, is that really the case?"
She always felt You Rong was hiding something from her.
You Rong clearly didn't want to dwell on this topic and subtly changed the subject, "Since you've come out of the palace, where do you want to go? I'll accompany you for a stroll."
Lin Qinghe heard this and immediately forgot about the previous matter. Her eyes were bright, and with a happy face, she tugged at You Rong's sleeve and said, "I want to go to the market! I've heard there are so many delicious snacks there. I didn't have time to try them all last time I came out of the palace. I must try them all today!"
You Rong indulgently pinched Lin Qinghe's nose, "Mm, as you wish. Let's go to the market."
When they arrived at the market, Lin Qinghe was overjoyed. She dragged You Rong around, buying this and that. She would buy any food she liked, take a bite, and then give it to You Rong before buying another snack for herself. This repeated continuously. Sudan Fiction Network.
The people on the street saw them and mistook them for a loving young couple. No one would have imagined that the man with a doting expression, following behind the woman and silently eating the leftovers, was the current Emperor.
After strolling for the afternoon, Lin Qinghe's belly was round and full. Satisfied, she returned to the palace with You Rong.
Inside the carriage, Lin Qinghe, having eaten her fill, began to doze off, yawning. Seeing this, You Rong gently placed her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Sleep for a while. I'll wake you when we get back to the palace."
Lin Qinghe leaned on You Rong's shoulder, her breath filled with the familiar, cool scent of sandalwood. She let out a contented "Mm," closed her eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
On the way back to the palace, Lin Qinghe slept soundly, while You Rong gazed at her with deep affection and adoration.
About half an hour later, the carriage stopped. The eunuch accompanying them said from outside the carriage, "Your Majesty, we have arrived. This servant will help Your Majesty and the Empress alight from the carriage."
The eunuch lifted the carriage curtain and immediately saw You Rong make a "shushing" gesture, signaling him to be quiet.
The eunuch immediately understood, nodded quickly, and then gently carried the sleeping Lin Qinghe out of the carriage, striding towards the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
The palace maids and eunuchs following You Rong behind wore envious expressions. Everyone in the palace knew that the Empress was showered with favor and was the apple of His Majesty's eye!
The next morning.
Lin Qinghe slept soundly and woke up to daylight. The spot beside her was already empty; You Rong must have woken up early to attend the morning court.
Granny Xu pushed open the door and said, "This servant is here to help Her Majesty get up."
Lin Qinghe hummed and got up to wash and change. As she sat in front of the bronze mirror to do her makeup, she furrowed her brows slightly, appearing thoughtful. Granny Xu saw this and asked, "Does Her Majesty have something on her mind today?"
Lin Qinghe sighed and said faintly, "No... I just feel like I'm sleeping deeper and deeper. I don't even notice when His Majesty wakes up to attend the morning court each day."
Granny Xu smiled upon hearing this, "It's not that Her Majesty sleeps too deeply, but rather..."
"Rather what?" Lin Qinghe asked with slight confusion.
Granny Xu said, "It's that Her Majesty doesn't know how His Majesty instructs the servants when he wakes up each day. They must move softly and quietly, without making any noise, for fear of waking you. Even His Majesty himself is very careful when changing clothes each day, unwilling to make even a little sound. In this way... you naturally won't notice at all when His Majesty gets up."
Lin Qinghe was slightly surprised.
She had truly thought she was sleeping deeper and deeper, never imagining that the truth was this.
Granny Xu added with a smile, "Her Majesty might not know, but before His Majesty goes to the morning court each day, he watches you by the bedside for a moment before leaving. That gaze... it's so affectionate. I'm so old, and I've never seen such a look on any man."
This kind of affection was not seen in ordinary households, nor in wealthy merchants or powerful officials. For You Rong, an Emperor, to be like this towards Lin Qinghe, it showed how rare it was.
Lin Qinghe listened, and a ripple of emotion spread through her heart.
If Granny Xu hadn't said this, You Rong wouldn't have told her, and she would have truly never known.
Noon.
You Rong was busy with state affairs in the Hall of Imperial Cultivation. Lin Qinghe, bored, was enjoying the flowers in the Imperial Garden. She was lying on a lounge chair, contemplating how wonderful her current days of comfortable idleness were, when a palace maid came forward and bowed, "This servant greets Her Majesty the Empress."
Lin Qinghe sat up slightly, "Mm... what is it?"
"Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress, Miss Zhang from the Prime Minister's mansion, as well as several young ladies from the Ministry of Works and the Prince's mansion, request an audience with you."
These ministers' daughters coming to see her, was there something they wanted?
Her intuition told her it was likely nothing good.
However, Lin Qinghe was extremely bored today, so she said to the palace maid with interest, "Mm, I understand. Let them come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
After the palace maid withdrew, she returned within a quarter of an hour with several beautiful young ladies. Among them was the eldest daughter of the newly appointed Prime Minister, Zhang Qianqian.
The group approached Lin Qinghe, bowed, and said, "Your humble subjects greet Your Majesty the Empress."
Lin Qinghe smiled faintly and said, "Ladies, there is no need for formalities. Please rise."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
After they all stood up, Lin Qinghe continued with a smile, "Don't be strangers. Please sit down and tell me what's on your minds..."
She wanted to see what this group intended to do. Perhaps they were here to persuade her to select concubines for You Rong again?
Zhang Qianqian, along with the other ladies, sat down. They beat around the bush for a while and did not directly bring up the matter of selecting concubines. Lin Qinghe was not in a hurry and played along, feigning ignorance. They chatted about everything under the sun, deliberately avoiding the topic of selecting concubines.
This way, Zhang Qianqian and the others finally lost their patience and said, through gritted teeth, "Your Majesty the Empress, we have come into the palace today to request a matter from Your Majesty."
They finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Lin Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly, her smile unwavering. "Oh? What is the matter that brings you ladies to see me today? Please speak freely."