Chapter 120

Though other notions stirred, Fu Ping’an considered that both of them had affairs to attend to the next day and refrained from grand exertions.

The two lay down upon the bed and shared further tender intimacy. Before long, both sank into a deep sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, Luo Qionghua felt beneath the brocade quilt that their bodies were pressed together, their hands clasped tightly. Shyness bloomed within her, yet she couldn’t bear to let go. She simply buried her face in the quilt, afraid to make a sound.

But Fu Ping’an woke soon after.

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Luo Qionghua gazing at her with wide, round eyes. She couldn’t resist reaching out to touch that face, but when she tried to pull her hand free, she found it held fast—Luo Qionghua had been gripping it too tightly.

She paused. Luo Qionghua also realized then, releasing her hand and half-hiding her face in the quilt. “You’re awake…” she murmured.

The young woman’s soft face was like a cherry blossom, her eyes moist and luminous, resembling a startled fawn. Fu Ping’an couldn’t quite define the feeling in her own heart. She only felt a desire to hold her close, to squeeze her tight, to mold her into a ball and hide her in the palm of her hand.

As she thought, so she acted. The hand she had extended gently caressed that fine, fair cheek. Unconsciously, she felt the temperature within the bed curtains rising, growing ever hotter. Just then, Qin He’s voice came from outside the curtains: “Your Majesty, Attendant Sun has arrived.”

Fu Ping’an guessed that Ah Zhi must be reporting on the plague situation in the surrounding villages and commanderies, which couldn’t be delayed. She responded aloud, “Mm, Zhen shall rise now.”

Though loath to relinquish the soft sensation beneath her palm, Fu Ping’an promptly rose. Luo Qionghua also wanted to get up to assist with dressing, but Fu Ping’an said, “Sleep a while longer. It’s still early.”

Luo Qionghua hummed in agreement and burrowed back under the covers.

The lingering scent of Fu Ping’an still clung to the bedding. She couldn’t quite describe it; it was like the smell of herbs—fresh, slightly bitter—but she couldn’t identify which herb it was.

Yet this scent suited the impression Ping’an gave: cool and distant.

But the Ping’an who appeared so cool and distant—last night, her lips and palms had been burning hot…

Long after Fu Ping’an had left the room, Luo Qionghua was still pondering this. An unknowable amount of time passed before Jingyue quietly approached and whispered, “Your Highness, shall I serve the morning meal?”

Only then did Luo Qionghua realize the sky outside the window had long since brightened. She had been lying in bed daydreaming all that time.

Right. Today she was supposed to meet Fu Li.

With this in mind, she hurriedly rose and said to Jingyue, “Today I am going to see the Hermit Daoist. Let’s choose elegant attire. He is an ascetic cultivator and likely has refined tastes.”

Going as Her Majesty’s envoy for the first time, Luo Qionghua was still somewhat nervous.

When applying makeup before the mirror, Luo Qionghua recalled Her Majesty’s words from yesterday. “Let’s skip the powder today. Only apply some rouge.”

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed warm and reddened for no reason she could name.

Jingyue, who was in the middle of applying the rouge, thought to herself: Actually, the rouge isn’t necessary either.

By the time everything was prepared, it was already breakfast hour. So they simply handled some affairs first, took the noon meal, and finally, in the afternoon, Luo Qionghua found the time to head toward Following the Heart Abbey.

True to his word, Fu Li had not left the abbey. Aside from his brief appearance at the foot of the mountain during the earliest outbreak of the plague, no one had seen him since.

Thus, in Luo Qionghua’s mind, he remained that somewhat eccentric figure with disheveled hair.

She steeled herself mentally, resolving that no matter what strange words the other party uttered, she would not take them to heart. With this resolve, she arrived at Following the Heart Abbey.

After Fu Ping’an moved out, the Imperial Guard soldiers who had camped outside had withdrawn as well, leaving only some pockmarked pits in the ground. The quiet little courtyard was layered with the shadows of bamboo. Seeing no one at the gate, Luo Qionghua had someone push it open and enter. She proceeded directly toward the room where Fu Li was staying, crossing the covered walkway into the wing rooms of the secondary courtyard, where she finally encountered someone.

It was the young Daoist acolyte attending Fu Li—Yu Heng, if she remembered correctly.

Upon seeing Luo Qionghua, Yu Heng’s legs trembled. She knelt to kowtow but couldn’t get any words out. Luo Qionghua spoke gently: “Little Master Yu Heng, where is the Hermit Daoist?”

Yu Heng froze.

He hadn’t expected the Empress to actually remember his name.

He couldn’t help but look up at Luo Qionghua. Beside them, Jingyue immediately rebuked him: “You young acolyte, how dare you look Her Highness in the eye? Do you not value your eyeballs?”

Yu Heng hurriedly lowered his head, but then he heard Luo Qionghua say warmly, “What harm is there in that? Don’t frighten him.”

Yu Heng thought to himself: If only all masters were as kind as the Empress.

His mind was wandering when the Empress asked again, “Is the Hermit Daoist in his room? Little Master Yu Heng, could you announce me?”

A flicker of struggle crossed Yu Heng’s face. He whispered, “Your Highness, you mustn’t go in. My master is…”

Before he could finish, a voice rang out from within: “You fool! Who are you talking to out there?”

The door was pushed open. Fu Li revealed half his face through the crack—his lips were pallid, yet his complexion was flushed.

Luo Qionghua’s expression shifted subtly.

Over the past few days, she had been constantly reviewing patient conditions. Even if only through written reports, she now knew well the typical symptoms of this plague.

It began with a low fever, a cough, and a dry mouth and tongue.

She quickly stepped forward. “Sir Daoist, you…”

Fu Li pushed the door fully open and lifted his head proudly. “Oh, it’s the Empress. To what do I owe the honor of your visit to this humble abode?”

Luo Qionghua glanced inside the room. The doors and windows were tightly shut—completely contrary to Her Majesty’s instructions to open windows for ventilation.

Luo Qionghua mused to herself but didn’t mention it directly. She only said, “I merely came to see how the Sir Daoist is faring. I trust you have been comfortable here?”

Fu Li sneered. “Driven from the main rooms and relegated to the side wing—do you think I’m comfortable?”

Jingyue bristled with anger and was about to speak, but Luo Qionghua calmly held her back. Smiling, she said, “The Sir Daoist’s anger is only natural. So today, I have brought gifts especially to help you feel a little better.”

Luo Qionghua opened the lacquer box Jingyue held. Inside was a palm-sized Gold-Inlaid Boshan Censer, polished to a gleaming, flawless shine, dazzling in the sunlight.

Fu Li, however, curled his lip. “Vulgar.”

Luo Qionghua said, “A cultivator such as yourself would naturally look down on mere worldly goods. Here is another.”

From a second lacquer box, she revealed a crystal brush rest carved in the shape of a mountain range, crystal clear and utterly flawless.

This was a masterpiece worth a thousand pieces of gold. In this era, such fine crystal was rare enough, but combined with exquisite carving and such artistic conception, it was simply breathtaking. Merely looking at it, one could imagine a brush wet with ink resting upon it, forming a picturesque landscape.

When they had discussed gifts last night before sleeping, Luo Qionghua had been captivated just hearing Fu Ping’an describe it. Seeing it in person, she cherished it even more, almost reluctant to give it away.

Fu Li indeed paused for a moment upon seeing it, but quickly suppressed his look of admiration. Impatiently, he snapped, “Why offer such flattery unprovoked?”

This was utterly discourteous. Even Luo Qionghua couldn’t help frowning.

As if achieving his goal, Fu Li laughed coldly. “What is it? Unhappy now? Going to use your authority to pressure me?”

Luo Qionghua had originally intended to foster some rapport before dismissing everyone to privately ask Fu Li about the events of that year. But now, it seemed unsuitable from every angle.

It wasn’t just that Fu Li was behaving like a bristling hedgehog toward her; his complexion alone made Luo Qionghua suspect he didn’t have long to live.

She finally couldn’t help herself. “Sir Daoist, are you ill?”

Fu Li flew into a rage. “Now you’re cursing me out of shame? And you call yourself an Empress!”

Luo Qionghua paused, taking a moment to realize Fu Li had taken her words as an insult—that she was saying he was “sick in the head.”

It was clear he genuinely didn’t believe he was physically ill.

This remark had clearly infuriated Fu Li. He spat out, “This Daoist is tired! Pardon me for not seeing you out!”

He slammed the door, effectively shutting it in Luo Qionghua’s face.

Jingyue fumed, “What is wrong with this man? Your Highness, you can’t let him get away with such insolence.”

Luo Qionghua didn’t respond to her. Instead, she beckoned to Yu Heng. “Little Master, may I ask, is your Sir Daoist sick?”

Yu Heng glanced nervously at the room and nodded.

“Then why didn’t you report it? Don’t you know Her Majesty issued Five Rules for Epidemic Prevention? The second rule states that anyone with symptoms must report them, or face thirty strokes of the cane?”

Yu Heng honestly nodded again, but then quickly stammered, “But… I don’t know if my master is ill from sickness or from taking the Powder?”

Luo Qionghua frowned. “What? Taking Powder?”

No sooner had she spoken than a violent cough came from within the room, followed by Fu Li’s raised voice: “Yu Heng! Get back in here, now!”

Yu Heng jumped in fright—so startled he forgot even to bow before scrambling and crawling back into the room.

Jingyue huffed, “Neither master nor servant has any manners. Mountain wildfolk indeed.”

Luo Qionghua lowered her eyes, a thoughtful expression settling over her features. At the same time, she lightly tapped Jingyue’s head. “Watch your tongue.”

Jingyue stuck out her tongue and fell silent.

Luo Qionghua cast another glance at the room before turning to leave. When they reached the gate of Following the Heart Abbey, she summoned a palace servant. “Tell Commander Zhu to assign someone to keep an eye on the Hermit Daoist and his servant.”

As she gave this order, she herself found it rather intriguing.

Logically, Yu Heng was a Daoist acolyte and Fu Li a Daoist priest. While it was true that acolytes had the duty to serve their masters, they shouldn’t be considered full master-servant.

Yet Yu Heng, on two separate occasions, had instinctively called Fu Li “Master.”

Something was off about Fu Li.

Luo Qionghua felt this instinctively.

She hurried down the mountain. Deeming the matter urgent, she went directly to the study. Fu Ping’an was still in discussions. After Luo Qionghua sent word requesting an audience, she had assumed she would have to wait a long time. Unexpectedly, Qin He emerged shortly after and first showed her to a seat in the adjacent room.

“Her Majesty said she will be here shortly. Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”

Luo Qionghua looked around. This room had a door on one wall leading elsewhere, through which faint sounds of debate could be heard—indistinct and muffled.

Discussing important matters, she thought.

So was the matter she had come to report considered important? Was it the right choice to disturb Her Majesty over this?

As she pondered, the small door on the eastern side suddenly swung open. Fu Ping’an walked through and then closed the door behind her. Looking at Luo Qionghua, she asked, “Is it urgent?”

Luo Qionghua replied, “I’m not sure if it counts as urgent…” Her eyes flicked toward Qin He, who was still standing by in attendance.

Fu Ping’an understood. “Qin He, wait outside.”

Once Qin He had exited, Fu Ping’an turned her gaze back to Luo Qionghua. Luo Qionghua quickly launched in: “I went to see the Hermit Daoist. His tone was impatient; he seemed to have no desire to befriend me at all. His complexion was flushed, lips colorless, coughing incessantly, qi depleted—he looked as if he had the plague.”

“But when I asked his acolyte if the Hermit Daoist was sick, the acolyte said the symptoms might be from taking Powder—I don’t know what that means.”

“Oh, and also, that acolyte named Yu Heng kept calling the Hermit Daoist ‘Master.'”

Afraid of wasting Fu Ping’an’s time, Luo Qionghua spilled everything at once, all the things that had caught her attention.

Fu Ping’an blinked, listening, before her brow furrowed deeply. “From the sound of it, this cultivation of his is indeed far from sincere.”

Luo Qionghua said, “I just felt he was very strange. Does Your Majesty truly believe he can be trusted?”

Fu Ping’an replied, “Zhen didn’t, not anymore. Zhen wanted to trust him before, but after you’ve tested the waters today on Zhen’s behalf, Zhen also feels he cannot be trusted.”

Hearing this, Luo Qionghua instead grew a little uneasy. “Then… then I’m not entirely sure, either.”

Fu Ping’an found this adorable and couldn’t resist reaching out to brush the stray hairs by Luo Qionghua’s temple. “You dressed elegantly today.”

Luo Qionghua said, shyly, “I just thought, since I was meeting a cultivator…”

Fu Ping’an paused. “For him?”

Luo Qionghua, sensing nothing amiss, nodded readily. But Fu Ping’an said, “You are the Empress. You needn’t adjust your attire just to meet someone. If those below learn of it, it would be beneath your station. Don’t do that next time.”

It felt like a scolding.

Realizing this, Luo Qionghua felt a little aggrieved and let out a quiet “Oh.”

Fu Ping’an hadn’t, in the moment, understood why she had said such a thing. It had simply slipped out.

But as Luo Qionghua showed that aggrieved expression and the danmaku started scolding her, she understood.

【Flower Baby World’s #1 Top: You just got upset because your wife dressed up a bit for someone else! You can act jealous, but why scold her?】

【A-Hua’s Old Mother: My precious Hua baby, so pitiful, so cute】

【Four-Leaf Clover: Apologize! Now!】

How to apologize?

Fu Ping’an took hold of Luo Qionghua’s hand. “Zhen has a handle on this matter now and will send people to investigate immediately. You… you did very well, as befits Zhen’s Empress. You handled the situation with composure and careful attention to detail. In the future, Zhen can entrust matters to you as well.”

【Time Map: What are you saying?? Apologize already!】

【Loli Great Method Is Good: Are you praising your wife like a minister?】

Fu Ping’an thought: What’s wrong with that? Her ministers were always delighted when she spoke to them like this.

Luo Qionghua indeed seemed quite happy, a small smile emerging. “I also had shortcomings today. I will strive to do better in the future.”

【Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!】

The danmaku were flooding the screen.

【Chang’an Flower: Just say: I’m sorry, what I meant was that I wish you’d dress up only for me】

What?

Fu Ping’an narrowed her eyes slightly to read this more clearly.

“I’m sorry, what I meant was…”

Having just made out the sentence, Fu Ping’an choked, unsure if she should actually say it.

But Luo Qionghua had already looked up. “What is it?”

Did Ping’an just use ‘I’ in front of me?

Her eyes immediately lit up. She stared at Fu Ping’an, and under that gaze, Fu Ping’an unconsciously finished the sentence: “…I wish you’d dress up only for me.”

Luo Qionghua: “…Huh?”