Along the way, whether it was the palace maids or soldiers, their atmosphere seemed a bit strange. The reason was simple: the Empress had publicly chosen a man and even wanted him to sit in the same carriage with her. This was an immense honor.
It should be known that the Empress had a reputation for being hands-on with the Regent King. Her harem had been empty until now, but now, it seemed there might be a first male master in the harem. Everyone needed a bit of time to adjust.
In other words, since the Empress no longer had her heart tied exclusively to Prince Qian, it meant that others might now have a chance. Just thinking about it made the men around her eager.
That day, while resting in the wild, Gu Yan asked the accompanying imperial physician, “Do you have any Huang Lian (Coptis)?”
“Yes, Your Highness, we brought some along,” the imperial physician replied honestly.
“I’ve heard that Huang Lian clears heat and dries dampness. Is that correct?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve noticed some of the generals showing signs of discomfort from the local climate. Please add a dose of Huang Lian to today’s food.”
“Yes, Your Highness…” The physician blushed deeply, holding back the question of whether Huang Lian had anything to do with the symptoms of climate discomfort.
The soldiers were genuinely suffering today.
Feng Guang sat on a rock, sipping her thin, watery porridge. From a distance, she could almost smell the bitterness. She turned to Ke Huai and said, “You’re too thin. You should eat more. You’ll look better if you gain some weight.”
This sounded as if she were saying that gaining weight would make him worth more.
Ke Huai held his bowl. Even though he’d already eaten one bowl, under Feng Guang’s insistent gaze, he had no choice but to eat another, forcing a smile as he said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Mm, you’re more obedient, Huai. I’m glad to see you’re so well-behaved,” Feng Guang nodded. She was sincerely pleased with his obedience, unlike Gu Yan, who would always retort whenever she teased him even a little.
It was clear—Prince Qian had truly lost favor.
Xiao Wo, Xiao Hao, Xiao Wu, and Xiao Liao all cast pitying looks at the distant Gu Yan.
In the past few days, Gu Yan had received countless such looks. He seemed to ignore them, walking directly up to Feng Guang. “Your Majesty, there is a waterfall ahead. There is a pond beneath it. The water is shallow but very clear.”
“That’s great!” Feng Guang put down her bowl. “Where is the waterfall? Take me there!”
This stretch of land was a wilderness, with no rest stations or inns. Naturally, there was no place to bathe. She could already feel herself growing smelly!
“Your Majesty, please follow me.”
Feng Guang eagerly followed Gu Yan, clutching her clothes. She never liked to have people serve her while bathing, even if they were women. She felt embarrassed at being seen without clothes. Therefore, Xiao Wo and the others only dared to stay near the waterfall, but they didn’t get too close.
In the wild, Feng Guang usually didn’t dare to bathe fully naked, but with someone guarding her, she felt no need to worry. She undressed and stepped into the cool water, letting out a contented sigh as the refreshing temperature relaxed her.
Gu Yan always said that as the ruler of the country, she had to dress properly, even in such hot weather—she wasn’t allowed to wear any less. Sigh, being the Empress didn’t come with any freedom.
Feng Guang reclined in the water, gazing at the sky as an eagle flew past. She whistled, a habit she had developed over the years. Even though Gu Yan had once told her that whistling was improper, she simply couldn’t stop doing it.
What she didn’t expect was that when she whistled, the eagle released its grip, dropping whatever it had been holding.
From a speck, it grew larger and clearer…
Feng Guang cursed aloud, “Damn it, there’s a snake!”
Maria Lian On CFRFGC Chapter 104