Ink Burns

Chapter 283 Watching
Shui Guang always adhered to the principle of trusting those she employed and not employing those she didn't trust. Fang Dajian was clearly more suitable to handle the imperial edict, so she entrusted the edict to Fang Dajian with peace of mind and let him report back to the young emperor.

Fang Dajian was also an upright man. With his eyelids drooping, he asked her softly, "Doctor He, would you be willing to come with me to meet the Emperor?"

To meet the emperor?

What's the point of meeting the emperor?

Does she find the emperor pleasing to the eye? Does he meet her expectations? Then, should she consider whether she should strive for advancement?
Forget it.

The water shimmered and shook its head like a rattle drum.

Life is a continuous process of growth, and growth is a continuous process of correcting mistakes.

Initially, her desire to become a concubine and influence the emperor's wife stemmed from her fervent love for her elder sister, and also from a lack of understanding of the profession—only after truly being in the palace did she realize how suffocating it was: the palace rooms were smaller than her house in the mountains; the gardens were so small you could see the edge as soon as you looked up; even as a concubine, her meals were often cold, the lard congealed, making it impossible to distinguish between the lard and the white radish.
What she found most unbearable was that becoming a concubine was no different from killing someone and being locked up in a prison cell—oh, there was a difference. If a prisoner escaped and was caught, he would at most be exiled 300 kilometers away; but if she escaped and was caught, she, her sister, her not-so-likable brother-in-law, and the arrogant half-parrot in her brother-in-law's house would all go to meet the King of Hell.

The story returns to the point where she became the head of the Imperial Medical Academy for the King of Hell.
The light from the cup was shaking so hard it was almost sparking.

She wants revenge, that's true, but... to suffer a lifetime for revenge?!

Just because my sister is willing doesn't mean she's willing!

She just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, let things return to dust, let her sister live well, and she would live well too—she was fine as she was now. Although it was quite inconvenient to be a woman disguised as a man, it seemed that being a man also gave her many wonderful privileges: for example, it turned out that there was a path to advancement in this world without going to jail, selling herself, or having children!

Shui Guang refused decisively, and Xu Quyan lowered his head, his brows gradually furrowing in the shadows, before falling into a long silence.

He had assumed she would be happy to see the emperor.

Since you're unwilling, then forget it.

After a while, Xu Quyan seemed to have thought of something and slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "It's not so bad as it is now."

Xu Quyan nodded, carefully putting the edict into his pocket. After thinking for a moment, he added, "I will handle things for you with the Emperor. Lin Yuanzheng is doing a good job and has not made any mistakes. He will be a fourth-rank Yuanzheng. You will have to wait a little longer."

Wait!
Shuiguang screamed in her heart!
A fourth-rank official!

Her father, after a lifetime of poverty, only managed to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, which made him quite a big deal in the village!

If she really became a fourth-rank official, the entire Hetou Village would have to dedicate a page to her family genealogy!

Shui Guang nodded excitedly, her eyebrows raising her forehead slightly. Under the turban of her male attire, the fine, soft downy hair at her hairline floated on her smooth forehead.

Clouds loomed over the city on the horizon, and soon, fluffy snowflakes began to fall, drifting haphazardly in the air. Under the glow of the oil lamps burning beneath the red walls and gray tiles of the Imperial Hospital, the snowflakes swirled and danced, emitting six-pointed rays of light.

It's snowing!
Shui Guang looked up at the snow, a bright smile curving her lips. Her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Ming Guan! It's snowing!"

This was the first time she had ever seen snow in the capital!

The vast Forbidden City is usually cold, gloomy, solemn and dignified. Only when it snows does the red wall become red wall, the green tile become green tile, the ground become ground, and the beam become beam.

In the past, these red walls were obstacles that blocked people's way, these green tiles were barriers that blocked the sky, these brick floors were places to kneel, and these roof beams were aids for hanging oneself.

A snowflake fell and landed right on Shuiguang's eyelashes.

Xu Quyan unconsciously reached out and gently brushed the snowflakes off.

His fingertips were cold, but when he accidentally touched the girl's warm skin, it felt like a flint burning his fingertips.

Shui Guang shook her head nonchalantly.

It's exactly the same as the dog at the village entrance splashing water.

They flung all the snowflakes off their hair, eyelashes, eyes, and skin, leaving nothing behind.

Shui Guang moved nimbly, seemingly without any psychological burden. Her bright eyes, like polished pearls hidden among winding seaweed, shone gently and radiantly. Xu Quyan stared at Shui Guang and smiled.

Not far away.

Lin, the hospital director, was carrying a medicine box on his back when he returned from a consultation. He was working with his back bent and squinting at the person in front of him. There was a man in a gray uniform for a handyman, and another man facing him with a face that looked somewhat familiar.

Lin Yuanzheng approached somewhat hesitantly.

Oh my god!

Facing him directly was the emperor!

The emperor was smiling at his somewhat disobedient but rather clever little apprentice.

And he's smiling with such doting eyes? Smiling so hard he's showing six teeth? Smiling so hard his eyes are squinting?

and many more!

and many more!

What are you doing now?!
Why did the emperor, the supreme ruler, touch his little apprentice's face?!

Ahh ...
Something collapsed in the heart of the honest and simple-minded Lin Yuanzheng!
No wonder, no wonder!

The emperor had one concubine, two maids, and three imperial attendants in his harem. After so many years of "being wise and discerning," he hadn't conceived a single child—how could that be! Well, the emperor simply favored his little apprentice!

The young apprentice is indeed handsome and slender, but he is a man!
The Emperor Favors the South Wind!
Lin Yuanzheng, an honest and simple man, felt like his world was about to collapse.

He slipped, and his despair for the Great Wei almost shoved him into the ditch by the wall!
Be a remonstrator!
Lin Yuanzheng clenched his fists, ready to fight for the Great Wei!

Just as Lin Yuanzheng was roused to the point of fervor, a high-pitched voice drifted from behind him: "What are you doing here, Yuanzheng?"

He was Wu Dajian, the most important person in the inner court.

Lin Yuanzheng dared not move and immediately bent down: "Your humble servant has finished examining Consort Zhen and has now returned to the hospital."

Wu Min drawled, "Oh—so what is Lord Lin preparing to do now?"

doing what?
Be a loyal subject even if it means getting hurt!

Lin Yuanzheng bowed again and replied, "I was just about to kowtow and pay my respects to the Sage."

"saint?"

Wu Min asked in a puzzled tone, "Where did this saint come from? The saint is currently resting with his eyes closed in Linde Hall. There are several issues to be discussed at the grand court tomorrow. Could it be that Lord Lin has misread the image?"

Lin Yuanzheng hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed forward.

If that's not a saint, then who is it?
The saint's double is shamelessly seducing his young apprentice.
Wu Min bent down slightly, her gaze following Lin Yuanzheng's hand. The oil-paper umbrella she held in one hand swayed on the heads of the two of them: "There's no one here! Isn't the gate of that courtyard empty?"

what?
Those two are still laughing!
Lin Yuanzheng rubbed his eyes.

Wu Min patted Lin Yuanzheng on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Lord Lin, don't get lost in the palace. I've heard that whenever it rains or snows, the red walls of the Forbidden City become like a curtain of shadows, with mirages appearing one after another. Today, the Emperor is resting in the Linde Hall, and you, out of concern for the staff of the Imperial Medical Academy, have stayed behind to keep watch. The Imperial Medical Academy is empty except for you."

"You always say the same thing to anyone who asks you. You remember it?" Wu Min asked again with a smile.

Lin Yuanzheng nodded, his voice trembling.

The sky is falling!

It's going to break!
It's melting!
The domineering emperor falls in love with a young servant in the Imperial Hospital!