"Is the Empress alright?"
"She's fine." Liu Liu shook her head desperately. Her body was growing hotter. Was she really fine? Why was her head getting heavier? What was this damned man doing, holding her so tightly?
She reached out to push him away, but her strength was gone. Even the words on her lips turned into a murmur, "Let me go, weren't we supposed to discuss the blueprints? Bring them here."
"Why is the Empress in such a hurry?" Feng Xie narrowed his alluring eyes, his gaze shifting unpredictably as he closely examined the person in his arms.
The usually indifferent woman became flustered. She turned out to be so shy and cute. It was a different kind of charm, unlike those pretentious women. She was fresh and natural, and Feng Xie found her more and more interesting the more he looked.
"What exactly are you doing?" Liu Liu struggled to break free and push him away. Her fair hand accidentally brushed against his smooth, elastic chest. Startled as if struck by lightning, she recoiled sharply and fell straight out.
Seeing her about to tumble out, Feng Xie finally reached out with a hint of kindness and pulled her back to his side.
"Alright, Empress, tell me about this plan."
He stopped teasing her, sat up straight, picked up the blueprint, and tilted it, asking her seriously.
Liu Liu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She had to resolve this question quickly and leave. This man was too dangerous, and she couldn't reveal her martial abilities.
If she couldn't fight him, she might as well finish everything and get away as far as possible.
"Your Majesty, please look. This is the flood map of several counties in Jingzhou drawn by Liu'er. Because the floodwaters outside the Yangtze River are higher than in these counties, the terrain causes these counties to be submerged at the lowest level. Therefore, we must first isolate the connection between the high and low water levels. To block these two interfaces, we need to build high dikes. When building the dikes, we cannot use mud or sandbags; we must use large stones to block them. Outside the dike, another sandbag dike should be added. This will solve the problem once and for all."
Liu Liu paused, her breathing becoming uneven.
Feng Xie heard the meaning in her words and felt an inexplicable excitement. He didn't dwell on it and handed her his teacup, completely forgetting that he never let women touch his things.
Liu Liu took a sip of tea, placed it on the high table beside her, and continued pointing at the blueprint.
"Once the dike problem is solved, the next step is to channel the water away.
You see, behind these counties, there is a mountain. This mountain is not very high. We can draw a canal from it. Although it will be somewhat difficult, I believe that as long as we work diligently, it will be done. Do you see this thing that looks like a kettle?
This is called 'Lei Yin' (thunder induction), which can blast open a channel in the mountain. 'Lei Yin' is very simple to make. I've written down the method next to it, and anyone can understand it by looking at it.
Once the water from the small counties of Jingzhou is channeled out through this canal, the water level will recede. When the water recedes, the rice paddies will have already been submerged and died. Then, Your Majesty can order the distribution of corn seeds.
By planting corn, the disaster victims can survive the winter. The following year, by planting other crops, the disaster in Jingzhou can be overcome."
Liu Liu finished speaking, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. Her small face was flushed, making her look very charming. Feng Xie's eyes sparkled with excitement. He hadn't expected this ugly woman to be so clever.
"Hmm, the Empress's idea is feasible." Although he admired her in his heart, he showed no hint of it on his face.
Liu Liu couldn't be bothered to dwell on Feng Xie's words. She hurriedly stood up and spoke softly.
"Then Liu'er shall take her leave." She turned to leave. Feng Xie saw her rushing away and quickly reached out to pull her. Now that the urgent crisis in Jingzhou was resolved, he could tease her. Who told her she was so amusing?
He had never imagined that the cold and composed woman also had a flustered side. A faint smile curled up on his lips.
Unexpectedly, when Liu Liu was pulled by him, her weak body stumbled back onto the Emperor. This time, her face was not against his chest, but her lips landed on the Emperor's lips. Feng Xie's face instantly turned cold, and a murderous glint appeared in his eyes.
He never allowed women to touch his lips casually. Even Zhang Xiuyi had not touched his lips, so this feeling was extremely strange. He glared coldly at the woman whose face was close to his, wanting to slap her away.
But her lips were unexpectedly soft, sweet, and carried a rich aroma. He couldn't help but tentatively extend his tongue and lick it. It was so soft! His anger vanished instantly, replaced by a flicker of hope.
Outside the Yongyuan Hall, Xiao Wanzi, Xiao Anzi, and Cui'er were eavesdropping outside the main door. They hadn't heard anything from the hall and were secretly wondering what the Emperor and Empress were up to.
Xiao Anzi was anxious, thinking that the Empress might be punished by the Emperor. He and Cui'er held Xiao Wanzi's hands on either side.
"Eunuch Xiao Wanzi, can you go in and take a look? What if the Emperor punishes the Empress?"
Xiao Wanzi looked troubled, but seeing their pitiful expressions, he sighed. "Fine, I'm afraid of you two."
With a resolve to face death, Xiao Wanzi rushed into the Yongyuan Hall. He saw the two figures on the raised throne intimately entangled, with the Empress pressing down on the Emperor. To his surprise, the Emperor was not angry. Xiao Wanzi was completely stunned and spoke after a long pause.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
After saying that, Xiao Wanzi wished he could slap himself twice. What was he doing? Didn't he know?
He was surprised that the Emperor would allow the Empress to touch him so freely. And the Empress was too fierce! She had directly overpowered their handsome and divine Emperor. This was truly the greatest legend of Tian Feng.
Feng Xie, on the throne, jolted and came back to his senses, hurriedly pushing Liu Liu away.
He was going mad. He had actually kissed this woman. This woman was ugly, yet she could bewitch people, making him, such a person, unable to resist.
But why was the usually sharp-tongued woman unresponsive? Feng Xie looked at her strangely. On the soft couch, the woman had a flushed face and her eyes were tightly closed. Fine beads of sweat trickled down her temples.
Feng Xie felt uneasy and quickly reached out to touch her forehead. My heavens, she had a fever and had fainted!
So she had a fever from the beginning. He had mistaken it for infatuation and had been wondering why such a woman would be infatuated. He felt a pang of concern and called out to Xiao Wanzi below.
"Immediately summon the imperial physician. The Empress is ill."
"Ah?" Xiao Wanzi immediately jumped up and ran out. So it wasn't that the Empress had overpowered the Emperor, but that the Empress was sick. Xiao Wanzi couldn't help but blame the Emperor when he thought of this.
The Empress was ill, so why was the Emperor still kissing her so intensely? It was really something.
Feng Xie waved his hand, picked up Liu Liu, and walked towards the sleeping chambers within the Yongyuan Hall. He hadn't expected this woman to be so light, weighing nothing in his arms. He wondered if she ate properly.
Next came the diagnosis and administering of medicine until she woke up. She opened her watery eyes, still feeling a bit dizzy. She turned her head to look around the palace, forgetting that Feng Xie had kissed her.
Above her were beige brocade curtains supported by carved copper pillars, adorned with silk tassels and pearls, as thin as cicada wings. Incense curled in the air. There was a wide embroidered screen, and she was lying on a carved sandalwood bed. The copper pillars were decorated with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, and red silk palace lanterns hung from the four corners.
What luxurious furnishings! The luxury exuded an air of royal extravagance. Where was this, Liu Liu wondered, frowning. She heard a delighted voice beside her.