Daming: Dad, you are really not good at governing the country

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was deeply shrouded in fear. He was extremely afraid of losing this virtuous wife.

Looking back on the past, from the turbulent times of war to the stable Ming Dynasty today, Empress Ma has always fought alongside him unwaveringly.

During those difficult and dangerous years, facing the ever-changing situation, Empress Ma was always able to rely on her wisdom and courage to provide advice and strategies for Zhu Yuanzhang.

Whether it was the countermeasures he came up with when food and fodder were scarce, or the wise words he gave to stabilize the morale of the army when people were in panic, they all deeply impressed Zhu Yuanzhang and became an indispensable force on his road ahead.

In the harem, Empress Ma was tolerant, fair and wise. She managed the harem in an orderly manner and provided a stable world for Zhu Yuanzhang.

She treated every concubine and palace maid kindly and resolved countless potential disputes and conflicts.

The harem became Zhu Yuanzhang's solid rear base, allowing him to focus on state affairs without any worries.

Empress Ma's understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang was as clear as the bottom of a lake.

She knew very well that Zhu Yuanzhang's worry and love had long been surging like an ocean in her heart, and finally turned into the slightly extreme words at this moment.

In the eyes of Empress Ma, this seemingly severe "threat" was actually an expression of Zhu Yuanzhang's inner fragility and helplessness.

As an emperor, he felt so powerless when facing the illness of his beloved one that he could only express his anxiety in this way.

Therefore, even when hearing such "threatening" words, Queen Ma's heart was filled with warmth and touching.

This feeling of being touched was like the warmest sunshine in spring, penetrating through layers of haze and sprinkling into her heart.

A faint smile appeared on Empress Ma's face, which looked as pale as paper due to long-term illness.

Although this smile was faint, it was full of deep understanding and love for Zhu Yuanzhang, as if silently saying: "I understand you, and I also know your majesty's deep love for me."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood beside the bed, staring at Queen Ma.

His eyes were full of concern and tension, as if he was witnessing a crucial ceremony.

Yu'er carefully held the bowl of medicine and gently brought it close to Queen Ma's mouth.

Tilt the bowl slightly and the medicine will slowly flow out.

Queen Ma tilted her head back slightly, opened her mouth weakly, and swallowed the medicine in small sips.

With every swallow, her brows furrowed slightly.

The bitter taste spread in her mouth, but Queen Ma still persisted.

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart rose and fell with every swallow of Empress Ma, as if the medicine was not flowing into Empress Ma's mouth, but dripping onto the tip of his own heart.

At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his hands unconsciously, his knuckles turned white due to the force, and his eyes never left Empress Ma.

Time passed slowly in this tense atmosphere, and finally, with Yu'er's meticulous service, Queen Ma finished a whole bowl of medicine.

Yu'er gently put down the bowl, picked up the handkerchief, and gently wiped the medicine stains left at the corners of Queen Ma's mouth.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's tense nerves finally relaxed, and his frown gradually relaxed.

He let out a long sigh, as if he had just put down an extremely heavy stone in his heart.

The worry in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes also faded a little, and was replaced by a hint of relief.

He prayed silently in his heart: I hope this bowl of medicine can work as he wishes and exert its magical effect, so that the girl can recover her former health as soon as possible.

At this moment, the sound of the night watchman's bell outside the hall was fading, and the third watch gong had just struck for the second time.

Xu Lin paused in front of the white marble steps and subconsciously smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on his Feiyu suit.

At this moment, this Jinyiwei deputy official looked like a newly-appointed scholar who had just entered the palace. Even the embroidered spring sword at his waist seemed exceptionally heavy.

The gilded bells on the eaves of Kunning Palace trembled slightly in the night breeze, but Xu Lin could hear the throbbing of his own temple.

He thought of the page of red comments in the secret files of the Northern Pacification Office three days ago. The bright red words "thorough investigation" were so strong that they could be seen through the back of the paper. The edges of the ink were stained with tea stains that had been splashed by Zhu Yuanzhang when he was furious.

"Master Xu, His Majesty is still waiting."

The voice of the eunuch holding the lamp seemed to come from far away.

Xu Lin took a deep breath and stepped into the palace. The golden brick floor reflected the light and shadow of the twelve copper lamps on both sides. He felt as if he was walking on the edge of a knife. He always kept his head down at the right angle - he could see the seven inches of ground under his feet clearly, but he couldn't see the hem of Zhu Yuanzhang's dragon robe.

Just as he reached the third coiled dragon pillar, he suddenly heard the crisp sound of a teacup tapping beside the bed.

Xu Lin's official boots were immediately nailed to the ground, and cold sweat instantly broke out on the back of his neck.

He was very familiar with this seemingly ordinary action.

Last year, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was stripped of his official hat on the spot after the same noise.

"I am Xu Lin, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty and the Empress."

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting next to the bed, put down the tea bowl in his hand.

The celadon tea bowl collided with the sandalwood table, making a clear "ding" sound.

He slowly raised his head, and the candlelight cast shadows of varying depths on his angular face.

Those eyes, as sharp as an eagle's, stared straight at Xu Lin.

The green smoke of the sinking incense in the hall rose up, weaving a thin veil between the two people.

Outside the window, the spring snow is falling, hitting the branches outside the temple.

The rustling sound made the room even quieter.

Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers tapped twice on his knees unconsciously, which was his usual action when thinking.

Then Zhu Yuanzhang noticed that the hem of Xu Lin's official uniform was stained with mud and water, and he must have hurried here in the snow.

This detail made his tense expression relax slightly, but it quickly returned to that unfathomable expression.

"Xu Aiqing."

Zhu Yuanzhang then slowly opened his mouth, his voice as low as the muffled thunder rolling outside the hall.

"Why do you come to see me so late?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin immediately bowed, his forehead almost touching the cold gold brick floor.

He could feel Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze pressing on his back like a substance, causing him to tense all his muscles.

The copper clock in the corner of the temple ticked, and time passed in silence.

A drop of cold sweat slid down Xu Lin's temple, but he didn't dare to raise his hand to wipe it.

"Your Majesty, I have already made some progress on the things you have asked me to do.

Considering the seriousness of the matter, I went to the palace late at night to report.

If I have disturbed your majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and glanced at Empress Ma, "Sister, take a good rest here first, we still have some official business to deal with.

Yu'er, you must take good care of the queen. If there is any change in her condition, come and inform us immediately."

When Yu'er heard Zhu Yuanzhang's order, she bowed and accepted the order immediately.

Her slender fingers were folded in front of her, trembling slightly, and her drooped eyelashes cast a shadow in the candlelight.

The air filled with ambergris, mixed with the slightly chilly air of early spring, made Yu'er unconsciously tense her back.

"The slaves obey the order."

Although her voice was soft, every word was clear, like a pearl falling on a gold brick.

Yu Guangli.

Yu'er saw the golden dragon pattern on Zhu Yuanzhang's black robe, which was faintly visible as he walked, and the jade belt around his waist made a crisp sound when it collided. (End of this chapter)