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She whispered softly, "Hmm, I’m having some trouble sleeping."

She sat with her legs hugged for a while, thought about it, and decided to get up from the bed, take a walk, and then come back to sleep.

Seeing her move, Xiao Qing quickly got up and turned up the wick of the night lamp and lit the other lamps.

"There’s no need to light so many; I can see," Lian Hua said as she put on her shoes and draped her outer garment.

Xiao Qing shook her head and said, "My lady, it’s dark at night; it’s safer with more light, so you won’t bump into anything."

Hearing this, Lian Hua said nothing more. After Xiao Qing finished lighting the lamps, she accompanied her to the restroom.

Upon returning, Lian Hua asked Xiao Qing to leave a bright lamp on before she lay down again.

With no trace of sleepiness, she stared fixedly at the mosquito netting, her thoughts drifting.

She wondered what His Majesty was doing at that moment. Had he rested yet?

Were state affairs really that busy? It must be tough.

The food boxes from today’s lunch and dinner hadn’t been returned—could it be that he hadn’t eaten at all?

This big baddie had clearly promised her!

Or perhaps he ate and then decided to keep the food boxes for himself?

Such a big baddie, there will be nothing to send tomorrow, hmph!

As her mind wandered, she grew increasingly upset, and sat up huffily, saying to Xiao Qing, "Xiao Qing, go find Xiao Linzi and have him retrieve our food boxes from Star Palace."

"Ah? My lady, should it be done now?" It’s strange to ask for food boxes at such a late hour.

Lian Hua stated emphatically, "Yes, right now! Canglan Court only has these two food boxes, both unique and exceptional, they shouldn’t stay overnight in Star Palace, what if someone decides to keep them?"

"You’re right, my lady," Xiao Qing agreed, nodding her head; the two food boxes, having been crafted by her lady’s ingenious hands, were indeed not of the ordinary level.

But why did she feel that her lady’s tone was a bit harsh? Was she worried that someone might covet the food boxes?

With these thoughts, she comforted her with shared indignation: "Don’t worry, my lady, I’ll make sure Xiao Linzi brings the food boxes back. If he can’t, he won’t get his breakfast tomorrow."

Saying so, she rustled to her feet.

Lately, Xiao Linzi had been growing greedier, always perking up at the mention of food, his nose keener than a dog’s.

Lian Hua nodded in satisfaction and added, "If he can’t bring them back, starve him for a meal, and scare him with Pang Ya’s rattan."

"All right," Xiao Qing got ready and prepared to leave.

After pondering for a moment, Lian Hua called her back and added one last instruction, "Tell Xiao Linzi that after he retrieves the food boxes, he should also casually ask if the Emperor has rested yet. Remember, just casually, not specifically; relay these words to him exactly as I’ve said."

"Yes," Xiao Qing scratched her head, not quite understanding the difference between casually asking and specifically asking, but since her lady instructed so, that was how she would proceed.

After Xiao Qing left, Lian Hua lay down again, feeling this approach seemed nonchalant; she was just retrieving food boxes, not specifically asking about that big baddie. She didn’t want to ask, after all—let him eat or rest as he pleases.

When Xiao Qing returned, Lian Hua couldn’t quite settle down and promptly sat up to ask, "Did you say it?"

Xiao Qing nodded her head, then suddenly remembered her lady might not see, and quickly replied, "I said everything as you told me."

"Not a single word wrong?"

"Not a single word wrong!"

Lian Hua finally lay down with ease, turned over, stared blankly to the side for a while, and then closed her eyes again.

At the Star Palace.

The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, with mixed feelings, bowed and took his leave, finally saying, "Your Majesty, you must not binge eat again.

Eating excessively can lead to bloating and indigestion, and over time, it disrupts the harmony of the stomach and intestines, which is not advisable. Please take care of your dragon body."

During the night, he had been urgently summoned, thinking the Emperor had a medical emergency. He had hurried, almost breaking his recently healed leg, which had been injured due to the dark and slippery roads, before he arrived.

To his surprise, it turned out that His Majesty had been busy with state affairs all day and only had time to eat at night, overindulging in his haste.

He was stunned for a long time before regaining his composure.

Having treated His Majesty for many years, it was the first time he saw this calm, self-disciplined, and self-restrained ruler overeat to the point of discomfort.

It was truly incredible. To witness such strangeness at his age, he thought his life was not in vain.

In this light, His Majesty really was flesh and blood, much warmer than before.

The quickest and most effective remedy was to induce vomiting, but His Majesty refused, so he had to send someone to cancel the emetic pills. He then went on to perform acupuncture and massage on His Majesty until the bloating slowly subsided, and His Majesty finally felt better.

He was moved to have such a diligent and people-loving ruler; indeed, he was a blessing for all under heaven. But he still felt obliged to warn him. Unrestrained eating and drinking have many disadvantages, and he wanted His Majesty to be aware and take care of his health.

The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau finished speaking, picked up his medicine chest, and took his leave, with Zhang Qing escorting him out of the palace.

The Emperor’s face darkened. How could he have known the final few mooncakes were so potent?

Today, he had hardly eaten all day, and only when it was time to eat did he realize how empty his stomach was. In his eagerness to visit Canglan Court, he had eaten a bit too hastily and, not wanting to waste food, had eaten too much.

This meal amounted to nearly two meals’ worth, and there were still a few mooncakes left at the end. Although he was already full, he did not want to disregard Little Concubine’s kindness and continued to eat two more, finding them quite tasty.

Later, he felt thirsty and drank a few sips of water.

That ruined everything. Perhaps the mooncakes expanded with the water, or maybe the food he had eaten earlier had finally taken its toll. Either way, his stomach bloated severely, and he felt nauseous and retched.

In this condition, how could he go to Canglan Court?

Was he supposed to let Little Concubine worry?

Was he supposed to let Little Concubine see him in this disgraceful state?

Was he supposed to let Little Concubine mock him?

Never in his life had he been so disheveled. It was truly a stain on his life!

A ruler of a nation, having no self-control, eating to the point of needing the Imperial Physician, how could he maintain his royal dignity if this were known!

Truly, his life was now in the hands of Little Concubine. Any action or thought that betrayed her would inevitably backfire on him.

His Little Concubine must have been sent by the heavens to punish him. If she wasn’t troubling his heart, she was straining his bones. It seemed he had no choice but to dote on her from here on, continuously and without considering anything bad.

The Emperor felt much better now, but he hesitated. He wanted to see Little Concubine right away, but he still felt some bloating and was afraid of giving himself away. He was unable to decide what to do at the moment.

When Zhang Qing returned, the Emperor lifted his eyelids and said, "The events of tonight must be kept secret, especially from her."

Little Concubine was so mischievous. Heaven knew how she would mock him if she found out.

The discomfort from last time had been slightly detected by her, and she had come to tease him about it at night.

Therefore, it was absolutely necessary to keep her unaware, lest it affect his majestic and heroic image in her eyes.

Zhang Qing hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already issued the orders. From now on, anyone who dares to mention a word will be severely punished. I have also instructed the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau."