Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1158 - 1155_1

Chapter 1158: Chapter 1155_1

Shangguan Xuanyi stepped into the place where he had spent his childhood and grown up.

At that moment, Xiao’er ordered Yang Liu to send two bottles of medicinal wine to the Empress. She liked to think that she spent half of her day yesterday standing and her feet were sore, so the Emperor and General Di, who were older than her, must also be aching. These two bottles of medicinal wine were thought to relieve the aches and pain.

As Yang Liu was preparing to leave with the two bottles of medicinal wine, she saw that Shangguan Xuanyi had returned. She quickly greeted him and backed away.

"The things in Yang Liu’s hands, Father and General Di definitely won’t use them," Shangguan Xuanyi thought of the Emperor’s refusal to walk in front of them, and said.

Both the Emperor and the General Di were proud men, and being powerful and high-ranking, they had to maintain an image of invincibility to the public. Thus, they would never let their subordinates smell the scent of medicinal wine on them.

Hearing that, Xiao’er quickly called Yang Liu back and changed the medicinal wine into an ointment: "These two bottles of ointment can also relieve muscle soreness. They are odorless, so let the Emperor and General Di use them without worry."

Yang Liu took it and left again.

The morning meal was still untouched on the table. Xiao’er pulled Shangguan Xuanyi over and sat him down, "Has everything been discussed? Have you had breakfast?"

"Almost, and no, I haven’t eaten yet."

"You must be tired after being up all night and day. Eat first, then go take a bath and sleep," urged Xiao’er.

Shangguan Xuanyi was indeed a bit tired. After filling Xiao’er’s bowl with her favorite food, he finally lowered his head and started to eat.

When Shangguan Xuanyi finished his meal, Xiao’er took him to the spatial room and let him have a good sleep in there.

After Yang Liu delivered the items to the Empress, the Empress immediately sent one bottle of ointment to her eldest brother and then personally delivered the remaining bottle to the Emperor.

...

The Emperor felt that he was truly becoming old. He was more tired now than he used to be when he stayed up all night before. Now, he felt as if his legs were about to break from the severe soreness, and he was merely holding on.

When Shangguan Xuanyi retired, the Emperor could no longer hold back. He collapsed on the dragon throne and began to beat his legs.

The eunuch who served the Emperor quickly came forward and knelt beside him, "Your Majesty, let this old servant do it!"

At that, the Emperor leaned back on the dragon throne and let the eunuch relieve his aching bones.

"I am getting old. After standing like this all night, my feet are so sore! Back in the day, when I just ascended to the throne, when Minze Country was suffering from internal and external problems, I spent days and nights discussing with General Di on how to defend against invasions from Japan and Xiyue Country. I wasn’t as tired as I am now. Back then, my children hadn’t grown up yet, and I often spent all night reviewing memorials. The next day, I would still go to the early morning court session with full energy!"

The old eunuch had been serving the Emperor since he was a prince. All these years, he and the Empress alone witnessed how tired the Emperor had been, especially more than ten years ago, not only was the Imperial Court suffering from internal and external troubles, but there were also frequent natural disasters. Those years made the Emperor worry so much that his hair turned white significantly. The current prosperity didn’t come easy! The eunuch greatly admired the Emperor for his dedication, so he could not help but say: "Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler. You are concerned about the people of the world. The prosperous life of the people of the Minze Dynasty today is inseparable from your intensive work!"

"In my life, I had intended to manage my domain well. That way, I would not be ashamed to meet the late Emperors after a hundred years. I didn’t expect that I could expand the territory in my old age! I have no regrets in this life!"

"Your Majesty will surely unify the world!"

"I dare not expect this. As long as I can conquer Nangong Country, I will die without regrets. The future belongs to the younger generation! I am old and can’t worry about so much anymore," the Emperor’s ultimate wish was to abdicate and let the virtuous rule, and then have the retired emperor status. Accompanied by the Empress, he would travel around to enjoy his life."

"Your Majesty is kidding, you are still in your prime."

Before the Emperor could say anything, the Empress entered with a bottle of ointment.

"You must be suffering from foot pain, Your Majesty? I have brought an ointment. I will rub it for you, and it will quickly relieve the pain."

Sighting the Empress, the eunuch quickly greeted her with due respect.

After the Empress waved off the eunuch’s formality, the Emperor said to him, "You may leave now, and no need for your service."

It was only after the eunuch left that the Emperor said, "I am okay. There is no need for the ointment."

If he used the ointment and it left a medicinal scent on him, wouldn’t that cause the ministers to worry unnecessarily?

A monarch’s good health can stabilize the army, and the minds of the ministers in the imperial court!

Knowing the Emperor’s concern, the Empress assured him, "Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I have smelled it. This ointment does not smell of medicine, it only has a faint fragrance."

"If the ointment doesn’t smell like medicine but has a floral scent, then I’m wondering whether the ointment you’re applying on me is actually perfumed wax!" the Emperor joked.

The Empress gave the Emperor a reproachful look and said impatiently, "Lie down. Let me apply the medicine on you!"

"Your command is my wish, Your Majesty!" the Emperor stood up, and the Empress helped him walk to the inner chamber.

After the Empress applied the ointment on the Emperor, he finally felt much better!

"This is indeed a remarkable remedy!" the Emperor exclaimed, "Now, remember to send a box to General Di as well! He can’t even bend his knees when he walks!"

That old man, thinking that he was the last to leave and walked slowly, would not be noticed by me?

Earlier, the Emperor was afraid that his walking would resemble General Di’s, so he did not dare to move.

"Someone has already been sent to deliver it."

The Empress then served the meal and helped the Emperor to eat.

...

General Di has spent long years in the battlefield, and he has thus developed several health problems. After standing for a day and a night, his feet were excruciatingly painful! It was purely his strong willpower and determination that kept him from showing any signs of pain.

After getting on his carriage, he could no longer endure it. He tightly grasped his own legs with both hands, attempting to alleviate the pain.

He was in so much pain that his back shirt was soaked in sweat, yet he did not make a single sound.

The palace maid sent by the Empress finally caught up with General Di’s carriage when it returned to the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion.

General Di dared not get out of his carriage, for he feared that he would collapse the moment he stepped down.

"Marquis, the Empress ordered this servant to give you this ointment," the eunuch beside the Empress handed the ointment to the carriage.

"I’m not feeling unwell. Why has the Empress sent me an ointment?" General Di forced a smile and feigned calmness.

"I don’t know, but the Empress said that this ointment does not smell of medicine but has a floral scent. She advises the general not to overwork himself."

The carriage driver, who had served General Di for many years and was now a deputy general, couldn’t help but laugh secretly. The Empress truly understood General Di too well!