Li Xing came in and saluted, but Zhao Qian seemed a little restrained when he saw her. He smiled stiffly and asked, "It's so cold, why are you still going to school in the Wenhua Hall?"
"Yes, sir, he said that we won't be on holiday until the 20th of the twelfth lunar month."
"It's really long."
After these words, the three of them fell into embarrassment, and neither of them knew what to say.
After sitting blankly for a while, Zhao Qian stood up and said, "It's getting late, so I should go back. Queen Mother, please take care." In order not to be embarrassed, he finally got up and left.
Li Wei nodded indifferently and said nothing.
Zhao Qian turned and left, and Li Xing followed after hesitating.
As soon as Zhao Qian walked under the eaves, Li Xing followed him: "Your Majesty, please wait a moment."
Zhao Qian turned his head and glanced at the girl who was out of breath because she was in a hurry: "What do you want, Miss Five?"
"Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon." Li Xing said and hurried back to her house. She wanted to give Zhao Qian the pair of shoes that she had prepared for a long time. She had already found a reason.
When Li Xing trotted all the way and later brought the newly made shoes to Zhao Qian, he said sincerely: "I made a pair of shoes when I had nothing to do. I hope the prince can accept them."
Zhao Qian said in surprise: "Why did the Fifth Miss give me shoes?"
"because… "
The voices outside were not too low, and came in from time to time. Li Wei sat there without moving. After a while, the outside returned to calm. Li Xing walked in, her little face was flushed, and her eyes were shining, as bright as gems.
"Are you hungry? The kitchen made your favorite mutton pot today."
After Li Xing heard about it, he blinked and said, "It's so cold, so drinking hot soup will keep you warm."
Li Wei ordered the food to be served. After the food was served, Li Xing sat beside her. The delicious food was in front of her, but it did not arouse her appetite. After eating a little something, she pushed the bowl and said, "I'll eat it." When you’re full, take your time.”
"But you didn't eat much?" Li Xing was a little confused.
"I haven't had much appetite lately."
Li Xing thought for a while and finally advised: "Sister, the princess's illness is being taken care of by the imperial physician. You don't have to worry too much. Wouldn't it be even more sad for the princess to know that she was worn down by taking care of her? Don't look at the Ninth Princess. , she knows everything.”
Li smiled slightly and said, "Okay, I'm really not hungry. Maybe I'll be fine in a few days."
Since Zhao Qian came to Chongqing Palace that night, he has returned to the same state as before. He always finds time to come and sit for a while every day, and the reasons he gives are all kinds of strange. Li Wei was always alienated from him.
Although the two meet every day, their relationship has not progressed.
Zhao Qian's proposal made everyone dissatisfied, and they were still in a stalemate with the military attachés, but it was highly praised among civilian officials.
After the medical museum was completed, Fang Zheng asked Zhao Qian to inscribe it.
This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people, and Zhao Qian did not hesitate to use his ink. I helped write a few couplets and wrote the door plaque. Regarding the matter of blood vessels, he also carefully asked Fang Zheng to confirm some relevant matters.
"The first medical school to be officially put into use has no previous experience. It depends on everyone's efforts and exploration step by step. It's a hard work for the hospital."
"I dare not mention the word hard work." Fang Zheng said modestly.
Right now, Li Wei's birthday is coming soon. Because the late emperor's clothes were not full yet, he would not celebrate grandly. Waiting for the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the gift list from Prince Shen's Palace was delivered to Chongqing Palace.
Except for Zhao Qian, all the wives inside and outside prepared generous gifts for him.
The delivered items were piled in the warehouse, occupying almost half of the room. At first, Li Wei was relatively novel and had to take a look at every gift. Later, when he gave many gifts, he just looked at the gift list and asked people to put it into the warehouse.
Lan Hui specially gave Li Wei something sent by Prince Shen's Mansion to see. It was written in Gong Kai on goose-yellow gold-sprinkled paper.
"One hundred southern pearls, a set of ruby heads and faces, five paintings by Qiu Ying, two snow fox skins, ten cloud brocades, ten Sichuan brocades. Five sable skins. Two luminous pearls."
Li Wei saw clearly that the records on the list were the same as those sent elsewhere.
After accepting the gift, it was expected that on the Queen Mother's birthday, she would receive congratulations from hundreds of officials, and the wives of both domestic and foreign ministers would come to Chongqing Palace to kowtow to her birthday. Chongqing Palace will sing a three-day opera, but during special periods, Li Wei was exempted from it.
Then he announced to everyone that all the gifts he received for his birthday would be donated to the medical center to train medical students and to benefit the expenses of the Medical Department. The income was quite large, and in exchange for silver, it was enough to build three medical centers and repair two medical offices.
On the official day, people from all over the palace came to Chongqing Palace to congratulate him. Li Wei ordered someone to prepare a simple banquet for the sisters to gather together. Although it was a little deserted, it was not boring.
After eating longevity noodles and simple meals, everyone sat for a while longer than usual and then left.
"Queen Mother, your birthday is probably the simplest among all the Queen Mothers in Daqi. In a year or two, it will be a good one, with splendor and bustle."
However, Li Wei didn't like that kind of excitement and scenery, and said calmly: "No matter how lively it is, there will be a time when it all breaks up. I'm not old, and I don't have a long life. I don't have to cause trouble to others."
On the twenty-fourth day, Zhao Qian was naturally coming. When he came, it was a little half an hour earlier than usual.
"I came late and didn't eat the longevity noodles that made the birthday girl happy."
When Li Wei heard about it, he told Qingxiang: "Tell the kitchenette that you want to make another bowl of silver noodles and deliver it."
When Zhao Qian heard about it, he smiled and said, "I happen to be hungry, so I won't be polite."
When the noodles were served, he took the chopsticks and snorted, three times, five times, five times two, and soon the bottom of the bowl was reached.
Li Wei looked at him devouring his food and couldn't help but ask: "You didn't eat at noon?"
"I was busy and didn't think about it. By the time I thought about it, it was already past dinner time."
Li Wei heard about it and told others: "The regent is so busy with official duties that he forgets to eat and sleep, so he will give you a special banquet table."
Zhao Qian went to burp: "Isn't the whole table feeding pigs? This bowl of noodles is enough. No need to bother anymore. Thank you Queen Mother for the reward."
After eating noodles, Zhao Qian wanted to have a few words with Li Wei alone, but Li Wei never gave him this chance. Zhao Qian also held a special birthday gift in his sleeve, which was a beaded hairpin that he personally tied with a lotus-shaped holder. He personally carved her name on the lotus petals. Ever since I entered the house, I have been looking for opportunities to show myself out.
After finally waiting for the palace maids and eunuchs to retreat, Zhao Qian took out the hairpin from his sleeve and presented it respectfully: "This hairpin was not recorded on the gift list. I gave it to you alone. Hope you like it.”
(End of chapter)