In the sixteenth year of Tian Qi, in the month of June, within the Imperial Garden.
Qin Zhao, who had just celebrated her thirty-fifth birthday, sat on a recliner, gazing into the distance.
Five delicately carved and polished young ladies were chasing and playing with each other nearby.
Suddenly, Qin MinJun noticed a dragonfly perched on a leaf and immediately halted her steps. The people behind her collided into each other, one after another.
Qin MinJun dodged to the side, causing her four sisters to tumble to the ground!
Suppressing her laughter, Qin MinJun pretended that she wasn't the cause and hurriedly went to assist them, saying, "Oh dear, sisters, why weren't you watching your step while walking?
See, did it hurt when you fell?
Let me help you up."
The sisters wore innocent expressions, but they were actually thinking, "Wait, wasn't it the fifth sister who suddenly changed direction that caused us to fall?"
However, when they looked at Qin MinJun, who was so adorable and kind-hearted, they assumed they had been mistaken.
After getting up, they resumed their playful antics.
Qin MinJun watched the foolish figures of her sisters recede into the distance, and like an adult, she shook her head, then walked towards the dragonfly.
Qin Zhao observed this scene and thought to herself, "Truly, she is the mischievous imp I raised. She possesses the charm of her mother when she was young!"
Qin MinJun caught the dragonfly and hastily observed it for a moment before running toward Qin Zhao, exclaiming, "Mother, Mother, look what I caught!"
Upon seeing her approach with such fervor, Qin Zhao quickly stood up and embraced her.
Qin MinJun, panting, raised the dragonfly high and said, "Mother, look, it's so adorable!"
Qin Zhao locked eyes with the dragonfly, but she honestly couldn't see what was so adorable about it.
She reached out and covered the dragonfly with her hand, then asked Qin MinJun, "How many legs does a dragonfly have?"
Qin MinJun had only glanced at it briefly earlier, so she thought for a while before confidently replying, "It has eight legs."
Qin Zhao opened her palm and counted, finding only six legs.
Noticing that Qin MinJun didn't show any embarrassment on her face, Qin Zhao asked, "Why did you state your answer with such certainty when it was incorrect?"
Qin MinJun replied, "When deciding to answer Mother's question, one must believe in their own answer, even if it's wrong.
Otherwise, it's better not to speak at all."
"Wrong is always wrong and won't change because of your mindset.
Remember, don't do things you're not sure about."
"I will remember and heed Mother's teachings!"
Qin Zhao caught sight of a figure walking over in the distance and said, "Hmm, go and play with your sisters now."
Qin MinJun obediently ran off, while Huo Jun and another beautiful woman approached.
They bowed to Qin Zhao and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Rise."
After seven years apart, Huo Jun appeared even more heroic and spirited.
Due to her long years of fighting at sea, her skin had acquired a healthy, wheat-like complexion.
She appeared both strong and delicate.
Her solid arms made people unable to resist the urge to lean on them.
And that's exactly what the woman beside her did.
After standing for only a moment, she leaned against Huo Jun like she had no bones, and there was no escaping it!
Qin Zhao spoke up to help alleviate the situation, "Huo Jun, it's been a few years, and I can hardly recognize you.
Tell me, how is the situation with the pirates in the South Sea?"
Seizing the opportunity to briefly catch her breath while reporting the results of the war to Qin Zhao, Huo Jun said, "Your Majesty, the sea pirates in the South Sea have all been completely wiped out by me."
Yue Country's territory has expanded, with the addition of thirty-seven islands."
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "Yue Country is fortunate to have Minister Huo Aiqing. Whatever reward you desire, just speak up. As long as it is within my capabilities, I will fulfill it!"
Huo Jun gazed deeply at Qin Zhao's face, kneeling on the ground. She was about to speak when her mouth was covered by a woman beside her!
Qin Zhao showed some confusion and asked, "And who is this?"
The woman replied, "I am Princess Jin Yunxi of GaoLi Country, and I am pursuing General Huo."
Qin Zhao asked with interest, "How did you two meet?"
Jin Yunxi answered, "I was traveling at sea and was intercepted by pirates. Fortunately, General Huo appeared and rescued me. The way she fought the pirates was so cool! That's when I fell in love with her, and I even learned the language of Yue Country for her."
Qin Zhao applauded, "Well done! General Huo, who has been single for forty years, finally has a woman interested in her!"
Huo Jun pushed aside Jin Yunxi's hand and said, "Your Majesty, I do not have feelings for her. There is another woman I have liked for many years."
Facing Huo Jun's gaze, how could Qin Zhao not understand her thoughts?
But some things are destined not to become a reality.
Both personally and publicly, he couldn't respond to her.
Qin Zhao said, "Can feelings be cultivated slowly? Moreover, Jin Yunxi is so beautiful. Opportunities like this don't come often. I hope General Huo will cherish the person in front of you."
Huo Jun's eyes dimmed, and she said, "If this is Your Majesty's expectation, then I will comply."
After speaking, she took her leave.
Jin Yunxi followed closely behind her, calling out, "Huo Jun, didn't you bring me here to discuss establishing diplomatic relations with the Emperor of Yue Country? Why are you leaving like this?"
Huo Jun impatiently replied, "We'll talk about it next time."
Qin Zhao sighed and continued to close his eyes, basking in the sun.
In the twenty-third year of Tian Qi, April, in the study room.
Qin Zhao had reviewed half of the memorials and felt a sore back and waist.
He stood up and paced around the study to relieve the fatigue in his waist.
After a short tea break, he sat back in his seat and resumed reading and reviewing the memorials.
Years of excessive eye strain had worsened his nearsightedness, requiring him to lean closer to see clearly.
So, his posture couldn't be described as elegant.
In her heart, she lamented that being an emperor was truly exhausting. She longed to retire.
Ling Long entered from outside, holding a pot of Longjing tea.
She walked to the desk, removed the cold tea, and poured a cup of warm tea for Qin Zhao, saying, "Your Majesty, you haven't had any water this morning. Please have some tea."
Qin Zhao casually accepted it, feeling the temperature was just right, and took a sip before burying himself in work again.
Ling Long felt distressed and said, "Your Majesty, Yue Country has become more than ten times stronger since you ascended the throne. The people's lives are prosperous, culture is flourishing, and the borders are stable. You have already done well, exceptionally well! Why push yourself further? Take care of your health!"
Qin Zhao replied, "I want to establish a prosperous era that can last for a thousand years. Of course, I have to lay a solid foundation. Don't worry, I know my body, and it's in good shape."
Ling Long was not surprised by this response. Your Majesty was such a stubborn person. Once he set his mind on something, not even ten oxen could pull him back.
She could only do her best to improve the Emperor's diet and urge her to rest early at night so that she could feel better.
Qin Zhao put down his brush and rubbed his temples.
Outsiders only knew her as a diligent ruler, unaware of the deeper reason behind her actions.
When she let Qi Yan Su Luo leave, she was left without anyone by her side.
To alleviate her loneliness, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to state affairs.
Those lofty excuses could only deceive others, not herself.
Qin Zhao instructed Ling Long, "Go and fetch the Crown Princess."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin MinJun pushed open the door and entered.
She ran to Qin Zhao's side, hugged him, and exclaimed, "Mother, since you didn't come to see your child, your child missed you!"
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "That's why you came during class time?"
Qin MinJun replied frankly, "I've finished the assignments given by the Grand Tutor and it didn't interfere with my studies."
"Well then, tell me, what did the Grand Tutor teach you?"
Qin MinJun recited, "The way of a gentleman is to cultivate oneself and achieve inner virtue, to cultivate oneself and achieve enlightenment..."
After she finished reciting, Qin Zhao smiled and shook his head, saying, "The things in books are lifeless. To govern a country well, one must learn to find answers from reality.
Do not overly rely on books, understand?"
Qin MinJun said, "I understand. I intentionally made several mistakes just now, and Mother didn't notice them. Does that mean that Mother actually hasn't read those books?
Then can I also not read them? I feel that the book 'Zhong Yong' is not suitable for me."
Qin Zhao tapped her nose and said, "You're clever. But you guessed right, I really haven't read 'Zhong Yong'.
If you don't want to read it, you don't have to. Choose something you like."
"Thank you, Mother."
In the twenty-ninth year of Tian Qi, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, at the West Lin Palace.
Qi Yan Su Luo was listening to the ministers' reports on the recent situation in West Lin when Qi Yuling rushed in, covered in dust!
She ran to Qi Yan Su Luo, panting, "Queen, there's something I want to tell you."
Qi Yan Su Luo handed her a cup of water and said, "Don't rush, take your time."
While Qi Yuling was drinking water, another person came in from outside the door!
That person walked quickly and knelt down, saying, "Queen, a messenger from Yue Country has arrived with urgent news, so I entered the palace without permission."
Qi Yan Su Luo took the letter, tore it open, and when she saw the words on it, she froze!
Qi Yuling couldn't bear to see her like this and lowered her eyes.
The letter read, "The Emperor of Yue Country has passed away...
After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yan Su Luo put away the letter and calmly said, "You can all leave, I want to rest for a while."
The others quickly exited the palace gate.
Qi Yuling said, "Queen, if you don't mind, I can accompany you."
Qi Yan Su Luo angrily shouted, "Get out!"
Qi Yuling had no choice but to turn around and leave.
Before she left the palace gate, she heard the sound of sobbing from behind.
Qi Yan Su Luo choked on her words and muttered to herself, "You promised to let me beat you up, how dare you die without fulfilling that agreement?
How could you..."
Qi Yuling's nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't look back because she knew how disheveled Qi Yan Su Luo must be at this moment.
She definitely didn't want to be seen by others.
For the next half month, Qi Yan Su Luo secluded herself and remained alone in her chamber.
With disheveled hair, she sat at the table, using tender strokes of the brush to depict Qin Zhao's visage,
But no matter how she painted, she couldn't capture the image of him in her heart.
Perhaps due to exhaustion, Qi Yan Su Luo dozed off, her head resting on the table.
In her dream, she returned to the age of nineteen, when she first saw Qin Zhao's painted boat.
Groggily, Qi Yan Su Luo heard a knocking at the door, abruptly waking her, and she looked towards the entrance!
The knocking continued, its rhythm imprinted in her memory, even after several decades.
She rose and made her way towards the door, stumbling and falling to the ground due to her numb legs.
Ignoring the pain in her knees, she got up and staggered towards the door.
The closer she got, the more her heart trembled.
Qi Yan Su Luo stood by the door, extending her hand to press against it, yearning to be closer to that person.
But she dared not open the door, afraid that upon doing so, she wouldn't find that person on the other side.
In a soft voice, she asked, "Is it you?"
The knocking ceased.
Trembling, Qi Yan Su Luo's voice quivered, "Is it your spirit that has come back to see me, isn't it?"
How long had it been quiet outside the door? Qi Yan Su Luo waited for what felt like an eternity.
Suddenly, a voice came from the other side, "Luo Luo, it's me."
