Chapter 136: Going Out to Have Fun (2)

The next morning, when Ling Zetian woke, he found that Feng Qiuji had already risen. Not only had she laid out his clothes for him, she had even prepared everything for his wash and grooming.

He really could not get used to it. He could not get used to Feng Qiuji being like this at all. In the past, whenever he got up, Feng Qiuji would still be sleeping like a pig, sometimes even kicking the quilt onto the floor. But now Feng Qiuji...

He could not help himself. He seized Feng Qiuji by the shoulders again and shook her hard. “Feng Qiuji, what on earth is wrong with you? Did you take the wrong medicine? Are you still Feng Qiuji?”

At this moment, Feng Qiuji wanted nothing more than to slap him to death, but she had to keep up the act. So she knit her brows ever so slightly, put on a pitiful expression, and looked at Ling Zetian with wounded innocence. “Your Majesty, have I done something wrong?”

Ling Zetian let go of her and strode to the table. The next second, with a thunderous crash, the table toppled over.

Feng Qiuji silently sighed to herself. In less than two days, they had already gone through two tables, as though tables cost nothing at all. Emperors and nobles truly lived up to their reputation; every one of them was a wastrel. Yet on her face, she remained perfectly composed as she watched Ling Zetian.

“Someone, summon the imperial physicians for me,” Ling Zetian said through gritted teeth.

Soon enough, the old men from the imperial medical office came hurrying over with their medicine cases, practically skipping with eagerness. Since it was the emperor who had summoned them, of course they had to rush over as quickly and attentively as they could. Otherwise, they might not even know how they died.

“Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Majesty.” Seeing the shattered table in the middle of the room and sensing the heavy atmosphere in the chamber, they all understood that this was no ordinary summons. Something had clearly happened, so they were careful beyond measure, afraid of provoking Ling Zetian and making him lose his temper.

“There is no need for ceremony,” Ling Zetian said, his tone unmistakably laced with fury. He pointed at Feng Qiuji. “You there, go and see what is wrong with the empress.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Qiuji was dragged onto a chair by the old physicians, and then a thorough examination began. Some took her pulse, some checked the wound on her head, some examined her legs, others her arms, and one even pretended to read her palm.

Feng Qiuji truly could not understand it. She had merely bumped a bump on her head yesterday; her legs and arms were perfectly fine. What on earth were these people trying to do? Even if they wanted to curry favor before the emperor and claim some credit, did they really need to be this enthusiastic?

After the collective examination of the imperial physicians and their lengthy discussion, the chief physician finally stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said to Ling Zetian, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. The empress’s pulse is steady, every part of her body is sound, her physical condition is very healthy, and the wound on her head has healed quite well. There should be no major problem.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Qiuji wanted very much to strike him. Her body had always been sound in every respect, and she had always been perfectly healthy. Did they think she was missing an arm or a leg? Or had some fatal illness?

“Did you not say yesterday that she had a split personality?” Ling Zetian frowned. That was not the answer he wanted.

“Your Majesty, after our examination, we have concluded that the empress’s split personality has already been cured.”

At that, Feng Qiuji felt an overwhelming urge to kill someone. She had only wanted to teach Ling Zetian a little lesson, so why were these old fools meddling? They even claimed she had a split personality. Were they really imperial physicians? Did they actually know how to diagnose illness? Did they possess even a shred of medical ethics?

“Cured?” Ling Zetian’s brow furrowed even tighter. “But she has become completely different from before.”

“Then it must mean that the empress had a split personality before.”

In Feng Qiuji’s mind, a stampede of curses thundered past. She wanted nothing more than to tell that physician, You are the one with a split personality. Your whole family is!

“...” Ling Zetian was left speechless. Looking at Feng Qiuji, who seemed utterly bewildered, he felt extremely displeased. Whether she had a split personality or whatever else, he did not like this Feng Qiuji at all. Not at all! “Is there any way to make her become split again?”

“This...” Now it was the physicians’ turn to be troubled. They looked at one another, each with a pained expression. Since ancient times, physicians had only ever cured people. They were imperial doctors, responsible only for healing. Asking them to make Feng Qiuji split-minded again was truly impossible.

This time, it was Feng Qiuji who was pleased. Let them badmouth her just now. Now let her see what they could do!

“No way?” Ling Zetian’s anger had already begun to seethe within him, waiting only for the right moment to erupt.

“Your Majesty, forgive our incompetence...” The imperial physicians also felt the atmosphere growing heavier and heavier. Frightened, they fell silent, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Before he could finish, Ling Zetian seized him by the collar. “Since you are incompetent, what use do I have for you?”

“Your Majesty, spare us...”

“Someone...”

Seeing the situation, Feng Qiuji thought she had better stop pretending. Otherwise, she might drag these old physicians into punishment. They were so old already that even if they were not beaten half to death, a few dozen strokes of the cane would probably leave them barely clinging to life. Even if nothing happened to them, she would feel terrible about it. She had always believed that wrongdoing brought its own consequences, so she might as well stop while she was ahead.

“Father Emperor.”

Just as Feng Qiuji was about to revert to normal, a childish voice suddenly sounded from outside Morning Cloud Palace, and then she saw Ling Shunuo running in.

“What is it?”

“Will you take us out to play tonight?”

Ling Shunuo was already clinging to Ling Zetian’s leg and beginning to act spoiled again.

“Us? Who do you mean by us?”

“Princess Kimura Hanna said this is her first time in the Ling Dynasty, so she wants to leave the palace and look around, to see the streets, the markets, and how the people live here.”

While Ling Zetian and Ling Shunuo were speaking, Feng Qiuji quickly signaled the group of old physicians to run, telling them to leave at once. Otherwise, if Ling Zetian remembered this matter again, it would be troublesome.

“All right.” Ling Zetian had not wanted to agree, but after thinking it over, he realized that no matter what, Kimura Hanna was still a princess of Fusang. Since she had come to the Ling Dynasty, they should naturally treat her well and satisfy her request. Otherwise, what would the smaller states say? That the great Ling Dynasty was a mighty empire with none of the grace expected of one? Besides, he could use this chance to take Feng Qiuji out for a walk as well. He remembered that she had only started acting like this after he had brought her back from the temple fair yesterday. Someone who loved to play as much as she did might recover if he took her out for some fresh air.

***

Kimura Hanna was indeed beautiful, and Feng Qiuji could also tell that Ling Shunuo had quite a liking for her. Alas, what a pity that he was only five years old. Otherwise, the two of them might have truly made it.

Although yesterday’s temple fair was already over, many vendors selling little trinkets were still calling out along the streets, making the place seem bustling and lively.

A daytime market was naturally nowhere near as exciting as it was at night, but Kimura Hanna was visiting the Ling Dynasty for the first time and found many things novel, so she wandered here and there, appearing to be quite happy. As for Ling Shunuo, there was no need to mention him at all. He was practically like a little shadow, following Kimura Hanna wherever she went.

As Feng Qiuji walked, she began to feel a little tired. After thinking it over, she decided she should stop pretending. Since Ling Zetian had already brought her out to have fun, she ought to know when to stop while she was ahead. So with that thought, she reached out and took his hand. In truth, she had always wanted to know what it felt like to stroll the streets hand in hand with someone she liked. She had known Ling Zetian for so long, and now they were husband and wife, yet she had never walked beside him like this before.

The moment her hand touched Ling Zetian’s, he was clearly startled. He turned to look at her, but then he took the initiative and held her hand in return. “Has your split personality finally been cured?”

“Do you still think you prefer refined and proper ladies?”

“No. Now I think the one I like is you.” As he said this, a faint smile appeared on his face. At times like this, he thought that having her beside him was truly wonderful.

“I’m a little tired. Can we find a place to rest for a while?”

Feng Qiuji had been walking for quite some time, and as she looked ahead at Kimura Hanna and Ling Shunuo, both of whom kept bouncing along in delight, full of novelty and excitement, she could not help but sigh inwardly that she really was getting old and could no longer keep up with the pace of the young. In truth, she was only three or four years older than the two of them.

“All right.” At present, Ling Zetian felt that as long as Feng Qiuji was well, anything else did not matter. He only feared that she would suddenly lose her mind again and become abnormal.

They found a restaurant and sat down. This establishment was one of the most famous in the imperial capital. Whether it was the service or the dishes, everything was first-rate. Of course, the prices were first-rate as well. People who could dine here on a regular basis were all from the upper echelons of society, either rich or noble.

Seeing this, Ling Zetian had originally wanted to go upstairs and take a private room, but Feng Qiuji insisted on sitting in the main hall on the first floor because she had taken a fancy to the young woman playing the zither there.

In the center of the main hall stood a circular raised platform. On it sat several female musicians in gauzy dresses, playing various instruments, while at the center sat a young woman. She was exceedingly beautiful, with fair skin, a sweet smile, bright eyes, and graceful brows. Her jade-like hands were flawless. Seated with perfect poise, she held what appeared to be a highly valuable lute in her arms. Her fingers plucked the strings lightly, drawing forth a melodious and deeply moving tune.

All along, Feng Qiuji had admired people like this. After all, she had always felt that a person’s appearance might be altered, but the kind of temperament that came from within could only be achieved through years of refinement and cultivation. It was not something that could be displayed merely by reading a few books or wearing a few garments. The elegance and poise emanating from this young woman at this very moment made Feng Qiuji feel especially at ease. She liked such naturally unadorned women, like a lotus standing upright and graceful by the pond, growing alone in quiet splendor, fit only to be admired from afar and never profaned. She gave off a feeling of utter freshness.

The story will conclude tonight. Today is also the last day of the month. Thank you all for your support along the way.