But seeing the Emperor’s face looking displeased, she could only suppress her confusion and focus on soothing him first.
"My mother used to say that a maiden name should only be called by those closest to you. Since Your Majesty has already called me by my maiden name, it means you are the closest person to me."
Leaving other things aside, Lin Wanyi thought this would surely work.
These days, she had noticed that the Emperor prefers gentle persuasion over hard confrontation.
For the sake of better days ahead, she decided to say more gentle words.
Sure enough, after hearing her words, the Emperor felt much more at ease.
When he looked at Lin Wanyi again, his expression was noticeably brighter.
"I’ve summoned Ming Changzai for several days now, but didn’t see you send someone to ask after me? Aren’t you afraid I’d be bewitched and forget about you, you little heartless one?"
Lin Wanyi smiled, realizing that the issue was here.
She thought for a moment, then voluntarily reached out to wrap her arms around the Emperor’s neck, leaning on him.
She spoke in a calm tone.
"I remember everything Your Majesty said to me that night. To have Your Majesty’s concern makes me very happy and satisfied. But Your Majesty isn’t just my sky; You’re the sky for all the sisters in the harem. If I truly made a fuss over this, wouldn’t it put you in a difficult position?"
"I don’t wish for Your Majesty to grow weary of me, thinking I’m unreasonable and troublesome. If that were the case, even the deepest affection would eventually be worn down."
As she spoke, Lin Wanyi changed her self-reference from ’servant’ to ’I’.
The Emperor, captivated by her words, didn’t notice.
Instead, he embraced her more tightly, and after a long while, he said,
"The road of the Heavenly Family seems boundless in wealth, but it’s actually full of mire. I don’t expect you to plow through these thorns with me, but I also hope my efforts won’t go unanswered. Qianqian, this harem is cold enough; I hope Huifang Courtyard won’t be the same."
Even though the Emperor’s voice was the same as before, for some reason, Lin Wanyi felt the coldness in his heart.
She felt cold back when she was at the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Now, in the palace, it’s still the same cold.
The difference was, in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, she felt warm with her family.
If she were to open her heart to warm the Emperor, what if he returned her a frozen heart in the future?
One must know that if this heart truly turns cold, warming it back up would not be easy.
Thinking about this, she remained silent.
To the Emperor, she could be a haven.
But this ship won’t forever anchor here.
When he braves the seas again and finds a better, more suitable harbor, everything she built here—piers and docks—would become useless.
Lin Wanyi didn’t want this, nor did she like it.
So she didn’t know how to appropriately respond to the Emperor’s feelings.
Listening to each other’s heartbeats, neither of them said much.
Not until the Imperial Physician hastily arrived did the Emperor place Lin Wanyi down to rest on the bed.
It was Doctor Dou who came, still slightly panting when he entered.
Outside, Xiao Luzi was also sweating profusely, his eyes full of anxiety.
Doctor Dou took a deep breath before bowing to the Emperor and said,
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty and wishes you peace. Greetings to Miss Lin, wishing for your well-being."
"Yes, rise. As for Lin Changzai’s health, do have a look. If there are areas that need conditioning, then do so thoroughly."
Doctor Dou felt quite perplexed after hearing these words.
Because when Xiao Luzi came to call him, he said she had fainted.
Why wasn’t the Emperor anxious now?
He quickly walked to the bedside and started taking Lin Wanyi’s pulse through the silk fabric.
After a while, he said,
"Miss’s health has improved greatly, and the remaining toxins are almost cleared. I believe by the time she returns to the palace, she will be well. Then this humble servant will prescribe other formulas for maintenance."
"Illness strikes like a mountain falling, but leaves like silk unraveling. If relapses occur, there’s no need to be overly anxious."
Hearing the doctor’s words, both the Emperor and Lin Wanyi were silent.
Lin Wanyi was silent because she knew she was pretending and felt quite embarrassed to have the doctor come.
The Emperor was silent because he didn’t get the response he wanted.
So he stood there, his expression dark and unclear.
Doctor Dou, caught in the middle, was truly sweating in cold fear.
The physical ailments he could treat, but the reconciliation of a couple’s discord was beyond his abilities.
So he braced himself and said,
"This humble servant will go first to see if Miss’s prescription needs any adjustments and add some warm-nourishing herbs to better nurture the body."
After saying this, he received a faint "Hmm" from the Emperor.
Doctor Dou, as if granted amnesty, immediately left.
After he left, the already quiet room became so silent that the sound of a pin drop could be heard.
Neither wanted to speak first, as if the one who spoke would lose.
Dong Yuzhong’s voice happened to come in from outside at this moment.
"Your Majesty, Miss, breakfast is ready. Shall we have it now?"
This excuse eased the silent tension, and the Emperor thought for a moment before calling out,
Then Qiu Ming, Xia An, Chunqi, and Xiao Luzi entered one after the other.
Each holding a tray of steaming breakfast.
There was soy milk, freshly steamed crystal shrimp dumplings, milk cakes, and silver ear lily red date porridge.
The Emperor looked at them, each nervously and respectfully.
Remembering how Lin Wanyi pretended to faint to protect them not long ago.
Though he was still angry, he didn’t bother to pursue it further.
"This time, the offense will be recorded for you all. If you dare to indulge Lin Changzai in neglecting her health again, then go to Yeyou Court for punishment."
The mention of Yeyou Court sent chills down their spines.
Especially Chunqi, who truly regretted her actions.
Fortunately, the Emperor did not pursue the matter further, otherwise her life would still hang in the balance.
Lin Wanyi couldn’t lie on the bed pretending to be sick any longer, so she got up to serve the Emperor during the meal as before.
But this time, the atmosphere between them wasn’t as harmonious as before.
Instead, there was a touch of estrangement.
Dong Yuzhong saw it, but stood silently aside without saying anything.
It wasn’t until the Emperor had eaten his fill and was about to leave Huifang Courtyard that he found a moment to speak a few more words to Lin Wanyi.
"Miss, forgive my impertinence. Though Ming Changzai received the summons to go to Qiqing Hall every day, she didn’t get anywhere near Your Majesty, only serving ink once. After that, she was just sitting in the side hall before being sent back."
After saying this, he gave Lin Wanyi a deep glance.
Then he hurriedly followed the Emperor out.