Inside the palace, Shaoyao ran out of the hall, sneezed, rubbed her nose, then went back in and continued to work on the prescription.
The Fourth Prince glanced at her, took the tea from Lai Fu and handed it to his father, "Is Shaoyao healthy?"
Shaoyao ignored him completely. She was hoping to recover from her illness and leave the palace as soon as possible. Humph!
The emperor half leaned on the bed, looking at Shaoyao who was sitting with a big horse and a golden sword, not treating herself as a woman at all, with a hint of indulgence in his eyes, "Don't let your illness get over me."
"I'm in good health!" Shaoyao slapped the written prescription into Lai Fu's hand and said, "Get the medicine, I'll make it myself."
Lai Fu looked at the emperor, but the emperor became suspicious again, "How dare the Imperial Hospital tamper with my medicine?"
"I'm afraid they don't understand and might ruin the medicinal properties." Shaoyao didn't think there was anything wrong with saying this to everyone in the Imperial Hospital. To her, this was her prescription, so naturally she knew best how to make it. Moreover, the emperor's body was too fragile, so she had to be careful to maintain her balance and she dared not ask others to do it.
The emperor laughed and signaled Lai Fu to go get the medicine. He indeed trusted Shaoyao more than the imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
The fourth prince glanced at Shaoyao with a dark look in his eyes, and just as he turned around to talk to his father, he heard a message from outside, "Your Majesty, Concubine Yue is here."
"Oh? Let her in."
Haoyue was wearing a white palace dress, with a calm expression. The Fourth Prince stood up to greet her, and she just nodded slightly. When she faced the Emperor, she showed some worry on her face, "Are you feeling better?"
"It's nothing serious." The emperor held her hand. One was old, the other was young, a sharp contrast. Haoyue glanced at her and then looked away.
"I am here to keep you company and relieve your boredom."
"I sleep more than I wake up, so I won't drag you here to suffer. It's enough to come here, go back and rest."
Haoyue didn't really leave immediately. He stayed and talked for a while before leaving. At this time, the emperor was exhausted. The Fourth Prince took the opportunity to take his leave and took a few quick steps to catch up with Haoyue.
"I heard that the queen had a headache a few days ago. I wonder if she is feeling better now?"
Haoyue's lips curled slightly, "Your Highness, do you know what my status was before I entered the palace? How could the dignified Seven Stars Sect Leader not be able to cure such a minor illness?"
The Fourth Prince did not expect her to reveal her identity directly. He felt that she was somewhat different, so he smiled and said, "I only knew that the Queen was secretly detained by the leader of the Seventh Constellation for a period of time. The Seventh Constellation has always had some privileges, but I did not expect that this matter was just let go."
"What does the Fourth Prince want to say?" Haoyue stopped and looked at the Fourth Prince. She didn't want to have too much contact with the Fourth Prince, as it would not be good for either of them. But now she was very anxious. It was too difficult to meet a foreign man in the harem. She had waited for a long time but never got the chance to meet that man. Now when she heard the Fourth Prince mention her, she couldn't help but want to know more. She wanted to know... what his attitude was towards her entering the palace.
The fourth prince looked around, still smiling, but lowering his voice, "This is not the place to talk."
Haoyue looked at him for a moment, then turned and left. "I have been in the palace for a long time but have not formally paid my respects to the Imperial Concubine. This is my fault. I should go and pay my respects."
The Fourth Prince smiled with satisfaction. His people found out that Haoyue had been in frequent contact with him when he was detained in Yuzhou by the leader of the Seven Stars Division. In addition, they met frequently after coming to the capital. He did not believe that there was nothing behind it. When he tested it today, it turned out to be true.
If this Haoyue has some special relationship with that person... The Fourth Prince smiled meaningfully on his young face.
***
It's mid-October and I've already added more clothes. It seems to be extra cold this year.
Hua Zhi received the first batch of winter tea brewed according to her method. She took the tea leaves and brewed a pot of it. After taking a sip, she frowned.
Seeing her so anxious, Gu Yanxi asked, "Does it taste wrong?"
"It's a little bland." After taking another sip, Hua Zhi put down the cup, "But it's still much better than tea bricks. Next year, I'll see if Yingchun and the others can spare the time. I'll let them go to various tea gardens to demonstrate in person. Don't waste my good tea."
“It tastes good to me.”
"How much tea have you drunk?" Hua Zhi laughed at him, "Do you think everyone can accept this taste?"
"Anyone who has tasted it can accept it, and will find brick tea hard to drink." Gu Yanxi smiled, "You don't have to worry about no one wanting it."
"I'm not too worried. Good things will never be in short supply. Let the people below make the accounts more clear. Besides, the tea merchants should be getting restless."
"I have already instructed that if anyone comes to contact us, tell them the terms we have agreed upon."
Hua Zhi nodded, picked up the small teapot and covered her hands, "How are the mushrooms doing in Yuzhou?"
"The sales are not worse than those in the capital. As the weather gets colder, the dishes will become less and less, and the business will get better and better." Seeing that she was still afraid of the cold even in thick clothes, Gu Yanxi raised her voice and ordered, "Liu Xiang, go light a stove."
"It's only October." Hua Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was too early to light the stove now.
"You're cold."
Hua Zhi had no way to refute, she really felt cold, the coldness that came from between her bones made her hands and feet completely cold.
"Are you sure you want to go to the Northland in November?"
"Maybe I'll leave a little earlier. I've arranged several deals. I'm assured that your people will follow up."
Gu Yanxi frowned. He couldn't help but worry. He was already afraid of the cold at home, so how much suffering would he have to endure when he went out? But he also knew that he couldn't convince Ah Zhi. After thinking for a while, he said, "Then why don't we just leave early? Are all the things ready?"
"Almost. This year, we don't have those frostbite medicine bags, and we can buy many other things there, so there's less to bring."
Gu Yanxi made the decision, "Then we will set off in four days."
Hua Zhi thought about it and felt that it was okay, but, "Will you still go with me this year?"
"Of course, I don't feel comfortable letting you go alone."
"But the Emperor..."
"There have been major changes at Yinshan Pass this year, with an additional 50,000 new soldiers. I have reason to go and check out the situation."
Hua Zhi couldn't help laughing, "You don't have to convince me, it's good enough if you can convince the emperor."
Gu Yanxi also laughed, "He is also worried, so he will allow me to go."
Hua Zhi frowned, but her legs went weak at the thought of this long journey, and she couldn't help but miss some means of transportation. Lin Ying was a good horse, but a good horse would also wear out her thighs, and would also make her bones fall apart due to the bumps, and it would not be able to shelter her from the wind or snow.
But she had to go.
Knowing that she was going north again, her family was happy but also a little reluctant. They lived deep in the inner courtyard and were unaware of the wind and rain outside, but they could see the girl busy and the weather getting colder day by day. They felt sorry for her, a girl having to go out in the wind and snow. They shuddered just imagining the hardship.
But no one could convince Hua Zhi.