The banquet after the Heaven Worship Ceremony was cut short due to You Rong's injury and Lin Qinghe's excessive anxiety.
As Lin Qinghe announced the end of the banquet, she caught a glimpse of Lin Zhilan's thoughtful expression from the corner of her eye and a faint smile tugged at her lips.
Everyone withdrew, and Lin Qinghe and You Rong returned to Changning Palace. After dismissing the attendants, Lin Qinghe stubbornly took You Rong's hand. "The imperial physician said that the wound needs ointment every hour to prevent blisters. I will apply it for you."
You Rong instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Lin Qinghe held on.
He frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, my hand is truly fine. There is no need for Your Majesty to personally tend to my wounds."
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. She lowered her gaze and feigned disappointment, "I truly have no other intentions. I only wish for you to recover faster. If you dislike it... I will be mindful of it in the future..."
As Lin Qinghe spoke, her grip on You Rong's hand slowly loosened, filled with disappointment.
As if by a divine impulse, the moment Lin Qinghe released his hand, You Rong grasped it back. Under Lin Qinghe's slightly astonished gaze, he suddenly realized that he had taken the initiative to hold Lin Qinghe's hand!
You Rong pursed his lips, concealing all thoughts in his eyes. With his usual composure, he said, "I have never doubted Your Majesty's intentions. I know Your Majesty is worried about me, but there is a distinction between sovereign and subject. Your Majesty should not deign to do this for me."
Lin Qinghe gazed at You Rong, her eyes bright. "It's just applying ointment. How can such a small matter be considered demeaning? It should be a mere trifle. So... Prime Minister You will not refuse me, will you?"
Meeting Lin Qinghe's expectant gaze, You Rong found that for some reason, the words of refusal wouldn't come out. After a moment of silence, he could only say with slight helplessness, "Then I shall trouble Your Majesty."
"It's nothing! I am happy to help. Sit down first, and I will apply the medicine for you!"
Lin Qinghe pushed You Rong down onto a chair, took out a white porcelain bottle, dipped her finger in the ointment, and carefully applied it to You Rong's reddened hand.
You Rong lowered his gaze, looking at her focused, small face. For some reason, his heart began to beat faster.
As soon as Lin Qinghe finished applying the ointment to You Rong, a system notification sounded in her mind: "Progress bar increased by 2%, total progress is 34%."
Lin Qinghe's movements paused for a moment. Then, pretending nothing was amiss, she put down the porcelain bottle and smiled at You Rong, "It's done. The ointment has been applied. Take the remaining ointment back with you and remember to apply it once every hour. The imperial physician said this will help you heal faster."
You Rong replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will."
"Well, if there's nothing else, Prime Minister You may withdraw from the palace and return to your residence. Remember to rest well and do not overwork yourself with official duties today."
You Rong cupped his hands in acknowledgment, "Yes, I take my leave."
Lin Qinghe watched You Rong withdraw until his figure disappeared at the palace gate. She retracted her gaze, poured herself a cup of hot tea, and drank it down in one gulp. As she set down the cup, the curve of her lips became even more pronounced.
You Rong was indeed starting to change his perception of her, but this method was too slow. Once her goal for today was achieved, as soon as Lin Zhilan made her move, she would be able to fill the progress bar in a very short time!
Meanwhile, at the post station.
Lin Zhilan left the imperial palace and returned to her table, her delicate face etched with contemplation.
The Heaven Worship Ceremony was over. If she didn't seize the opportunity to act, she wouldn't be able to stay in the capital for many days before being sent back to Jiangnan.
She had to hurry!
But Lin Qinghe had lived in the deep palace for a long time, and the palace guards were strict. Even with her considerable number of hidden guards, the chances of successfully assassinating Lin Qinghe by rashly entering the palace were not high.
Lin Zhilan's mind flashed with the image of Lin Qinghe's excessive concern for You Rong today. Her thoughts stirred.
Perhaps she could use You Rong...
***
Over the next two days, Lin Qinghe spared no expense to demonstrate You Rong's special status to herself. Good items from the palace flowed like water to You Rong's residence.
In the imperial palace's storeroom.
Lin Qinghe was sifting through items. She picked up a luminous pearl and asked with a pout, "Wang Jiang, didn't I tell you yesterday to send ten luminous pearls to Prime Minister You's residence?"
Wang Jiang quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Not only ten luminous pearls, but also top-grade jade and exquisite mutton-fat jade, and so on. You have sent quite a few good things to Prime Minister You's residence these past two days."
Wang Jiang's intention was to remind Lin Qinghe that she had taken nearly half of the treasures in the imperial storeroom to send to You Rong, and she should be more judicious with the remaining items.
Unbeknownst to him, Lin Qinghe threw down the luminous pearl in her hand and walked further inside, muttering, "Then I can't send any more luminous pearls. If I send too many, they won't be considered precious anymore. Hurry and find me something else in this storeroom, some rare treasures, and send a few more items to Prime Minister You's residence."
Wang Jiang almost choked on his breath.
Although the rare treasures in the storeroom weren't his, he felt a pang in his heart seeing them.
Your Majesty, you can't be so extravagant just to please Prime Minister You!
Fortunately, at this moment, the voice of Xiao Yuzi was heard from outside, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister You is here. He is seeking an audience outside the Imperial Study."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qinghe immediately said, "I know! I'm heading to the Imperial Study now!"
Watching Lin Qinghe rush off, Wang Jiang glanced at the half-emptied storeroom and silently closed the door before following her out.
He would pretend not to have heard the Emperor's orders just now. As a good servant, he could not stand by and watch His Majesty squander the treasury!
Lin Qinghe arrived at the Imperial Study. Upon entering, she found You Rong already waiting inside. Seeing her about to bow, Lin Qinghe quickly stopped him, "Prime Minister You, there is no need for such formalities."
You Rong said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lin Qinghe smiled and asked, "Prime Minister You, why have you come to seek an audience with me?"
You Rong's tone was slightly helpless, "Your Majesty, I am here to express my gratitude for Your Majesty's recent bestowals. I also ask that Your Majesty cease sending rare treasures to my residence. How can I, unworthy as I am, possibly accept such immense generosity?"
Lin Qinghe dismissed it, "It's nothing. Just a few trinkets, not particularly valuable items. Prime Minister You need not take it to heart. If you like them, display them in your room. If you don't, give them to your servants or discard them."
Wang Jiang, waiting outside the Imperial Study, nearly fainted from shock.
Your Majesty!
These items are all priceless treasures! How can they be described as mere trinkets in your mouth? And to discard them if you don't like them, that's simply a waste of heaven's bounty!
You Rong was not foolish and naturally recognized the preciousness of these items. He could only say helplessly, "I like them very much, but if Your Majesty continues to send them to my residence, there will soon be no more space to display them. Items bestowed by the imperial decree must be properly displayed. Surely Your Majesty would not want me to be unable to sleep, using my bed to house these imperial gifts?"
As soon as he said this, Lin Qinghe let out a chuckle and abandoned the idea of continuing to send rare treasures to You Rong's residence.
She had sent them for two days, and the effect she wanted to achieve should be sufficient.