Perhaps it was this illness that made Emperor Qinghe recall the past, so much so that his affection for Yan Qingli was even stronger than before.
Others might find it hard to understand, but Qiu Lanxi thought it was normal. No matter how close the relationship is, feelings still need to be maintained. Emperor Qinghe's children have all come of age, and he is old. When people get old, they like to reminisce about the past.
In addition, the war ended during his reign, which will surely be a significant chapter in history. He has achieved the fame and fortune that ordinary people pursue, and the emptiness of suddenly achieving his goals urgently needs another emotion to fill the void.
Family ties and romantic love are both fine, since he already has the leisure and inclination to focus on those things.
But the prince was destined not to be chosen. There were already quite a few voices in the court calling for a crown prince. For Emperor Qinghe, who could stay on the throne for who knows how many more years, this naturally displeased him, and he also became more suspicious of the prince.
Therefore, this affection could only be poured into his daughter, who posed no threat. After all, she was a daughter who had almost given her life for him. No matter how high he praised her, she was still a princess who could only rely on him.
But he forgot that everyone has ambition, and once they have power, who would be willing to let go?
But Emperor Qinghe's ideas were very common in this era. Qiu Lanxi thought that Li Zhi in her world might have had similar thoughts when he gave power to Empress Wu.
However, this had nothing to do with Qiu Lanxi. Although Yan Qingli didn't mind taking her to any important occasions, and Emperor Qinghe didn't show any displeasure in public because of Yan Qingli, she, being nameless and without status, could never be at ease among the noble ladies of the capital. Everyone was afraid of offending Yan Qingli, so they would respect her and fawn over her, but would never get close to her.
Qiu Lanxi didn't want to get close to anyone.
The longer Qiu Lanxi stayed in ancient times, the more she felt disconnected from this era. Yan Qingli, with her advanced thinking, could casually say something like "I'll kill you if you don't want my secret to be revealed."
And this is the most 'gentle' person Qiu Lanxi has ever met in this era.
Perhaps Yan Qingli thought that her revealing all this was a sign of trust, but for Qiu Lanxi, it simply made her more aware of the gap between herself and this era.
So she began to reduce the number of times she went out. Most of the time, she preferred to go out and be with nature rather than have too much conversation with the ancients. Qiu Lanxi knew that this idea was wrong. She began to resist integrating into this era. Sooner or later, this behavior would drive her to her death.
The human spirit is both resilient and fragile.
Qiu Lanxi was well aware of all this, yet she couldn't suppress the emptiness in her heart. She knew why; she missed modern facilities, enjoyed the effort she put into solving patients' problems, and missed even more the freedom to book tickets and travel whenever she saw something interesting.
There is no need to worry about safety, there are no distinct classes, and while there may be some unfairness between men and women, at least the vast majority of people are free to control their own lives.
How tragic must it have been for her what was the norm in feudal society?
But Qiu Lanxi hid her thoughts very well. For someone who studied psychology, it was incredibly easy to keep her feelings hidden.
Yan Qingli assumed that she simply loved nature, like some famous scholars who did not covet wealth and fame but indulged in the beauty of mountains and rivers.
She really didn't spend much time and energy paying attention to Qiu Lanxi. Perhaps in her eyes, she had already given enough: parental authority, the right to manage the household, the right to come and go from the outside world, a life where she had no worries about food and drink... How could she not be happy?
Yan Qingli was more focused on the imperial court. Because of Emperor Qinghe's leniency towards her, she could gain significantly more power than before and take bigger steps. This was a rare opportunity, and she couldn't possibly let it slip by.
Human energy is limited. If you invest more in one thing, you will inevitably have less time to focus on another. But Qiu Lanxi is not alarmed by this; on the contrary, she feels comfortable.
Constantly focusing on and trying to figure out another person is very exhausting. In her previous life, when Qiu Lanxi encountered a difficult patient, she would take a long break after designing a treatment plan and succeeding. For her, Yan Qingli's lack of excessive attention to her was actually a kind of vacation.
Time slips away unnoticed, and before you know it, it's harvest season.
Ningguo defeated Tengguo, and this year they no longer had to tighten their belts to send grain to the front lines. The joy of a bountiful harvest and the happiness of not having to starve filled the entire Ningguo with an atmosphere of prosperity.
At this time, the autumn hunt is put on the agenda.
When Qiu Lanxi heard Yan Qingli's question, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise: "How could there be an autumn hunt?!"
In Qiu Lanxi's view, this was truly unbelievable. Emperor Qinghe was not a fool; he should know the manpower and resources required for an autumn hunt, enough to deplete the family's savings accumulated throughout the year.
Ningguo has indeed won a victory, but with the end of a long-standing war, it is time to recuperate and rebuild. There should be no large-scale events in the next few years, and everything should be kept simple.
Has Emperor Qinghe become arrogant?
This is not impossible. Throughout history, many wise and powerful emperors have easily become senile in their later years, ruining their lifelong reputation.
Seeing Qiu Lanxi's surprise, Yan Qingli thought that those jubilant officials were not as clear-headed as someone who had not yet become an official, so she was a little displeased. She stuffed the peeled chestnuts into Qiu Lanxi's hand and explained, "This hunt is a must."
In other words, there are deeper reasons?
Qiu Lanxi seemed lost in thought.
Seeing that she did not refuse to eat, Yan Qingli's expression relaxed a bit. Perhaps it was because of the summer heat, she hadn't eaten much all summer, and after the weather turned cool, she seemed to be a little unaccustomed to the climate in the capital, and even fell slightly ill, only recovering a few days ago.
"Do you want to go?" Yan Qingli asked her.
In her heart, Yan Qingli didn't want her to go, after all, the hunting grounds were not as safe as the capital, but she wouldn't make the decision for Qiu Lanxi.
Qiu Lanxi thought for a moment. With Emperor Qinghe present, the level of security should be quite guaranteed. She was also tired of the surrounding scenery, so she readily nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Yan Qingli did not try to persuade him, but said, "Then you should stay close to me during the autumn hunt and don't have to stay with those family members."
She rarely kept a close eye on Qiu Lanxi, but Qiu Lanxi sensed something was wrong: "Is there danger?"
If there were risks, Qiu Lanxi thought... she seemed even more impatient.
She clearly cherishes her life, but now, she seems to be developing self-destructive tendencies. Qiu Lanxi is well aware of this, but a doctor cannot heal himself, and she seems to have no idea how to cure herself.
Looking at her somewhat longing eyes, Yan Qingli swallowed her words and replied only, "No, it's just that it's a rare opportunity to be inseparable from Qingqing."
She naturally steered the conversation in a more relaxed direction. Power nurtures people, and her days in power and her struggles with those shrewd and experienced ministers have made her adept at navigating human nature. She is no longer the fledgling who could be easily manipulated by Qiu Lanxi and left clueless about how to end things.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but smile: "Aren't we inseparable every night?"
Although I've never had sex.
Yan Qingli said, "That's different."
She wouldn't say how things were different.
Qiu Lanxi didn't care. Looking at the food in her hand, Yan Qingli, who was now in power, looked even more dignified and majestic. This kind of temperament made her seem more distant. As a result, there were far fewer female relatives who used to send invitations to Yan Qingli. They probably realized that the other party was like a person from two different worlds.
Logically speaking, such changes should be least noticeable to those around her, especially since Qiu Lanxi spends most of her time alone with Yan Qingli. She doesn't act superior, and even condescended to personally fix her bound feet for three months.
But Qiu Lanxi watched her transform little by little, as if watching the birth of a legend. However, there was no worship or closeness between them, but a sense of distance that Yan Qingli could not understand.
Yan Qingli didn't notice anything amiss. She placed the chestnut in Qiu Lanxi's palm and said, "I picked out a few bolts of cloth from Father's private treasury and had the embroiderers make you some outfits. Would you like to wear armor?"
Suddenly, she asked, and Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but recall the last time Yan Qingli put jewelry that only a princess could wear on her and appeared in front of Emperor Qinghe, and she quickly shook her head: "It's too heavy."
Yan Qingli thought about it and agreed. Although armor was safe, it was still inconvenient to wear. So she said, "I'll have Dongxue modify the gold-threaded soft armor. Remember to wear it when the time comes."
Qiu Lanxi responded and then focused on eating chestnuts. When they were alone, she no longer racked her brains to find topics to talk about. Yan Qingli had also gotten used to it. She thought this was an inevitable process of going from strangers to acquaintances, but she never thought that if they were truly in sync, they would want to share even the smallest things, so how could they remain silent?
Yan Qingli, however, did not think so. She had never seen what a loving couple looked like, and could only guess based on what she had seen and heard and her own understanding. She reached out and poured Qiu Lanxi a cup of tea for fear that she would be thirsty. Qiu Lanxi held the teacup and smiled at her, like a bright double-petaled flower in bloom, dazzling and beautiful, showing no trace of sorrow or vulnerability, but only the noble air of being pampered.
So Yan Qingli couldn't help but smile as well. She had gradually come to understand that what began as an attraction to her appearance no longer required her to do anything. Just a smile from Qiu Lanxi was enough for her to know her feelings.
She felt that Qiu Lanxi must also know, but the reason she kept things the same was to maintain that legitimacy.
After all, he had never formally kowtowed to his father before.
Chapter 40
On the day the group from the capital went on their autumn hunt in the northern suburbs, the weather was perfect. However, Yan Qingli seemed to have no interest in riding a horse and got into the carriage with Qiu Lanxi.
Underneath her robes, she was probably wearing some kind of soft armor, which felt similar to the rough texture Qiu Lanxi had felt when they first met. However, Qiu Lanxi no longer pretended to be nonchalant and endured it. After realizing that it was uncomfortable to lean against, she immediately changed her posture, preferring to lean against the somewhat bumpy carriage rather than lean against her anymore.
Yan Qingli looked at her helplessly, but didn't deliberately pull her back. He just insisted on holding her hand. Qiu Lanxi thought that Yan Qingli was probably a hand fetishist, otherwise he wouldn't have done such a thing.
It was noon when we arrived at the Royal Hunting Grounds. The various sizes of the area were scattered throughout, and no one needed to rest. However, the hunt would not officially begin today. After all, when you come out for a "team building" trip with the big boss, formalism is inevitable.
However, Yan Qingli had no intention of getting close to Emperor Qinghe at this time. Instead, she led out her horse and offered her hand: "Want to try it on?"
Qiu Lanxi actually wanted to ride by herself, but that was obviously unrealistic. Yan Qingli held her hand tightly, bent down and put his arm around her waist to lift her onto the horse.
The horse's hooves sank into the mud, making riding much easier than in the capital. There was no need to worry too much about bumping into people. Yan Qingli handed her the reins, placed his hand over hers, and asked softly, "Want to learn?"
The hot breath sprayed near her ear, and Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but flinch before saying, "I won't learn that; my legs will hurt if I keep bouncing around like that."
For any beginner, it is inevitable to suffer when you first start learning. If you can taste the sweetness after suffering, that's fine. But the autumn hunt only lasts for a few days. You won't be able to use what you learn after you go back. So why should she suffer?
Yan Qingli chuckled softly, offering no further advice, and spurred the horse to gallop. The autumn breeze caressed their faces, and the still somewhat green scenery offered a unique and delightful view.
After driving for a while, fearing that Qiu Lanxi would be unable to bear the bumps, Yan Qingli slowed down. Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but turn her head to look at her: "Why did you stop?"
This feeling of near freedom is irresistible. In her previous life, Qiu Lanxi found running tiring and racing dangerous, so she rarely engaged in extreme sports. In her eyes, horseback riding was also a dangerous sport, but now she was somewhat fascinated by it.
Yan Qingli paused for a moment before pinching her thigh and asking, "Doesn't it hurt?"
Qiu Lanxi shook her head. She had spent so much time in the carriage today, and she was sure to have a sore back tomorrow. But that made no difference.
Seeing this, Yan Qingli sped up again. Qiu Lanxi closed her eyes in enjoyment. The wilderness was undoubtedly a place where people could easily relieve stress. After staying for a while, she felt a little relaxed. She simply lay back and enjoyed this rare moment of 'getting out of the house'.
Perhaps feeling that the hunt was none of her business, she didn't tie her hair up, and now her hair was flying wildly in the wind. Yan Qingli really ate a lot of her hair from behind.
After a while, Yan Qingli realized that she had run quite far, so she slowed down and started walking back.
She looked down at Qiu Lanxi and realized that she had fallen asleep under such circumstances. Yan Qingli couldn't help but reach out and touch her. She had been exposed to the wind for quite some time and her touch was slightly cool. Yan Qingli couldn't help but pull her closer to her.
Because she was wearing a tight-fitting outfit, Yan Qingli couldn't find any clothes to put on her, and he was afraid that riding too fast would wake her up, so he could only ride back slowly, glancing down at her every now and then.
Qiu Lanxi wasn't oblivious; people with psychological problems are prone to oversleeping. However, she insisted on getting up and going to bed on time every day, preventing her psychological problems from affecting her physical health. Yet, her mental state actually became less healthy because of this "health."
So at this moment, she was too lazy to think about anything and just wanted to let herself go. The bright sunshine and gentle breeze were the best medicine, and Qiu Lanxi quickly cheered up.
She had witnessed life and death on the battlefield and had also encountered natural disasters. All of this made it difficult for Qiu Lanxi to give up her life, even though she really didn't like this place and had to rely on constantly adjusting her mental state to survive.
But compared to her predecessors who were transmigrators, such as farmers, beggars, or courtesans, Qiu Lanxi felt that she was already in a very good situation. She felt that most of her pressure was self-imposed, and if she was really unhappy, she would just put that pressure on others.
She opened her eyes, raised one leg and placed it on the other, putting herself in a straddle position. Yan Qingli supported her, frowning disapprovingly: "That's too dangerous."
"Isn't His Highness here?" Qiu Lanxi reached out and put her arm around her neck, nuzzling against her.
Yan Qingli pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. Qiu Lanxi blinked and chuckled, "Your Highness, can you go a little faster?"
She had no choice but to raise the whip to get the horse running again, holding her tightly with her arms, and said irritably, "Hold on tight, or I won't be responsible for you if you fall."
However, her words had no effect on Qiu Lanxi. Not only did she ignore them, she also pressed her arm harder to make her lower her head. Yan Qingli frowned, and before she could reprimand her, Qiu Lanxi opened her mouth and bit down.
Yan Qingli subconsciously tightened the reins, causing the chestnut horse to rear up high. If it were just Yan Qingli alone, it would be fine, but with Qiu Lanxi added to the mix, she fell backward. Qiu Lanxi, however, seemed completely oblivious to the danger. Instead of stopping, she pressed down on Yan Qingli's shoulder to prevent her from getting up.
The horse beneath her began to gallop again, and Yan Qingli, unable to control it, glared at Qiu Lanxi. But Qiu Lanxi didn't care at all, and directly used the weight on her shoulders to bend her legs and straddle her.
This difficult maneuver caused Yan Qingli to fling the reins, fearing that if she was even a little slow in extending her arm, Qiu Lanxi would fall off the horse.
She held her breath, not wanting to let her act recklessly any longer, but before she could explode, Qiu Lanxi groped and grabbed her palm, interlocking their fingers and pressing her hand against her cheeks.
Yan Qingli frowned fiercely, but her resistance stopped involuntarily. Qiu Lanxi snatched the air from her mouth, teasing her lips until they turned bright red before sliding down.
A slight stinging pain came from her neck, and the interlocking fingers gradually gripped her wrist. Lying on the back of the horse was not comfortable; to be precise, this backbend position was not comfortable. Yan Qingli's breathing trembled slightly, and she gritted her teeth and uttered two words: "Nonsense!"
It would be easy for her to resist. Yan Qingli tightened her jaw and couldn't help but pinch her palm with her fingertips. She turned her face slightly away, afraid that the jolting horse would startle Qiu Lanxi if she suddenly stood up. She could only suppress her gaze and keep it fixed on the grass under the horse.
However, this indulgence undoubtedly exacerbated Qiu Lanxi's evil deeds. As a result, a slight chill came from her shoulders and neck. Yan Qingli felt her mind was a bit confused. Qiu Lanxi had not made any deliberate attempts to get close to her for a long time. Yan Qingli had also been very restrained and rarely took the initiative. At first, Yan Qingli was indeed a little unaccustomed to this difference, but later she got used to it. She didn't understand why Qiu Lanxi suddenly had such thoughts today.
When the spirited horse finally stopped running out of energy, Yan Qingli immediately stood up. Her strength was beyond Qiu Lanxi's ability to control, and she easily stopped her actions. Her face, which had turned cold, revealed a hint of sternness.