Chapter 260: The Prime Minister is a Little Love-Struck

The Imperial Physician examined Song Junzhan and, as it turned out, found a whole host of ailments. Years of constant strain had led to illness, and recent overexertion had left him with numerous external injuries. To top it all off, the stress had even triggered a relapse of old health problems.

COUGH, COUGH, COUGH...

Song Junzhan had just been playing it up a bit, but after hearing the Imperial Physician’s report, he felt like he wasn’t far from death’s door.

He sat bolt upright from what felt like his deathbed. "Your Majesty, I’m fine. It’s just a few minor injuries."

’How can I be this sick? How will I be able to manage the court’s affairs like this?’

’I’m fine. I’m really fine.’

Xiao Li pressed him back down. "Just lie down and rest."

The Imperial Physician wasn’t exaggerating. Song Junzhan’s health was indeed in poor shape.

Cen An had nursed him back to health before, but in the two years Xiao Li was in a coma, he had overworked himself. The pressure was immense, and his body had long been at its breaking point. But he was resilient and had suppressed all the pain and illness.

The fight with Lou Yan, however, had shattered that facade, finally releasing all his pent-up stress. It was no wonder he collapsed.

But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was better for his body to have this release. If he had kept it all bottled up, he would have undoubtedly died an early death, beyond the help of even an Immortal.

After the Imperial Physician left to prepare the medicine, Xiao Li took Song Junzhan’s hand. "You’ve worked so hard these past two years."

Song Junzhan shook his head. "It wasn’t hard at all."

He would have gladly handled any amount of court affairs; no hardship or exhaustion could scare him. His only fear was that Your Majesty might never wake up.

The most agonizing part of this past year or so had been the fear that she might not wake up. Now that she had, it was all worth it.

"Let’s send word to Cen An. Your health requires him to return and oversee your recovery."

Song Junzhan smiled. "Now that Your Majesty is awake, he should be willing to return."

Failing to wake the Empress had nearly driven Cen An to a breakdown. In the end, he had all but fled.

Now that the Empress was awake, Cen An would definitely want to return and see for himself. Otherwise, he would never find peace.

Song Junzhan couldn’t bear for Xiao Li to leave, and Xiao Li wasn’t in a hurry to go either. So, she had Song Junzhan’s official documents brought to his room. While Song Junzhan drank his medicine and lay resting, Xiao Li sat in his seat and handled his duties.

For once, Xiao Li was actually trying to get some work done, but unfortunately, Song Junzhan’s gaze was simply too hard to ignore.

"Didn’t I tell you to rest?"

Song Junzhan said, "I am resting just by lying down. I’m just reluctant to fall asleep. Having Your Majesty here in my room... it’s like a dream."

His words made Xiao Li laugh. After being stared at for a while longer, she helplessly set down her brush and walked over to sit by his bed.

"What will it take to get you to sleep? Or should I just go back to the palace?"

Song Junzhan quickly grabbed her hand, wanting her to stay but feeling a bit shy about it.

Xiao Li wanted to laugh at his awkwardness. This was the first time she had ever seen this side of Song Junzhan.

His body was weak and his face pale, but his spirits seemed high. He was clingy yet coy—a perfect, delicate, sickly beauty.

Xiao Li leaned down to kiss him, but Song Junzhan quickly turned his head away. "Your Majesty, I’m sick. I don’t want you to catch it."

Xiao Li turned his face back toward her and leaned in for a deliberate kiss.

It was a light kiss. She pulled back, her gaze fixed on him. "I’m not a particularly nice person. I will not allow my Prime Minister to slack off. So rest well and get better quickly."

Song Junzhan smiled. For a moment, he forgot all about the distinction between ruler and subject, reaching up to pull Xiao Li into his arms. "Your Majesty, in this life, Jun Zhan only wishes to follow you until my last day. I will surely die without regrets."

Xiao Li let out a laugh. ’Her Prime Minister,’ she thought, ’is getting a little lovesick.’

Xiao Li stayed with Song Junzhan for a while longer, until the medicine took effect and he drifted uncontrollably off to sleep.

She didn’t leave right away. Instead, she finished handling all the official business on the desk.

It wasn’t that she wanted to deal with these matters, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t.

By the time she looked up again, the sky had grown completely dark. Beside her, Song Junzhan was sleeping soundly, the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, as if he were having a pleasant dream.

Xiao Li got up and stepped outside. Manager Jiang quickly wiped the knowing smile from his face. "Is Your Majesty tired? Shall I show you around?"

Xiao Li waved her hand. "No need. I’m returning to the palace."

She glanced back inside. "Don’t wake him. Let him rest."

Manager Jiang said, "As Your Majesty commands."

Xiao Li said, "That’s enough. You don’t need to see me out. Just watch over him."

"Yes."

Watching Xiao Li’s figure recede into the distance, a smile crept back onto Manager Jiang’s face. "The master has finally seen the clouds part to reveal the moon."

At the main gate, Ziyue was squatting in wait. Seeing Xiao Li emerge, he immediately stood up. "Your Majesty."

Xiao Li walked over slowly. "Waiting for me?"

Ziyue’s eyes were full of anticipation. "Your Majesty, can I become one of your Silver Armor Guards?"

Ziyue had his heart set on joining the Silver Armor Guards. He deeply admired their awe-inspiring presence.

But he was too young. Although he had received armor and weapons from Xiao Li and had even participated in the bloody battle before the Empress’s ascension, he later failed to join the Silver Armor Guards because of his age.

Now he was two years older, but Song Junzhan still wouldn’t agree, so his only recourse was to ask Her Majesty.

Xiao Li asked, "Prime Minister Song won’t allow it?"

Ziyue nodded.

Xiao Li replied, "Then I certainly can’t allow it either."

Ziyue instantly grew anxious. "Why?"

Xiao Li reached out and patted his shoulder. "Because he treasures you."

The Song and Wan Families were both aristocratic families that had later fallen on hard times together. At a moment of life and death, the two families pooled their remaining resources to entrust Ziyue to Song Junzhan, allowing the two of them to escape with their lives.

Just as Song Junzhan saw the imperial examinations as his lifelong fixation, Ziyue was no less of a cherished responsibility to him.

They were not blood brothers, but their bond ran deeper. Song Junzhan wanted to protect this younger brother, to see him grow up, start a family, and establish himself in the world.

The Silver Armor Guards were the Empress’s personal guard. They were prestigious, but bloody battles were unavoidable.

Song Junzhan could dedicate his entire life to the Empress, but he would never wish the same for Ziyue.

Ziyue didn’t understand these things, and Xiao Li didn’t elaborate. This was a matter between the two brothers.

***

News that the Empress had left the palace to visit the Prime Minister had somehow spread, and the streets were suddenly teeming with more people than usual.

They craned their necks in anticipation, all hoping to see the Empress’s carriage pass by.

Unfortunately, they waited from dawn until dusk without a single sighting. Many had no choice but to give up and head home.

Only when the streets had quieted down did the Empress’s carriage discreetly pass through.

In a teahouse above, someone caught a casual glimpse and was instantly unable to look away.

He walked quickly to the railing, standing there and watching the carriage as it moved farther and farther into the distance.

Even after the carriage had completely vanished from sight, he continued to stare blankly in the direction it had gone.

"Your Majesty..."

He murmured in a daze. The next moment, he suddenly lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The person beside him immediately steadied him. "Why must you put yourself through this? You know it’s painful to see."

Feng Yin lowered his gaze, his eyes bleak with sorrow. "What’s a little pain, if it means I can see her with my own eyes?"

Unfortunately, now he didn’t even dare to appear before her.

Yun Jian didn’t understand. ’Is love really that important?’

’His cousin would rather be torn to shreds by the Feng Family than oppose the Empress, yet she couldn’t care less about him.’