ards Mudan’s bedroom; just as she was about to knock on the door, she heard strange sounds coming from inside.Startled, Qilin leaned in to listen and blushed furiously. She knew what kind of sound thi...Chapter 16 Water Windmill

"Young Miss, why haven't you taken your medicine yet" After putting down the items in her hands, she noticed that the medicinal soup on the table was untouched. Green Bamboo shook her head helplessly and said, "The imperial physician said that your body is still weak and has specially prescribed many tonic medicines. If the emperor finds out that you haven't taken them, we would be in trouble."

Qi Lin pinched her ears; it seemed that Green Bamboo's nagging was about to begin again. But it wasn’t that she didn’t want to drink the medicine; those awful-tasting medicinal soups were simply unbearable.

Her body was so strong and healthy that she didn't need any tonics, just lots of delicious food.

Mmm, Feng Changqing had been very considerate with her meals these past three days. Whenever she said what she wanted to eat, it would be served to her within ten minutes, and the dishes were prepared according to the menus she wrote down. Emma, how blessed could one be

The only thing she hated was having to take the tonic medicine three times a day.

Worse still, after drinking that medicine, its bitter taste would linger for an entire day, even making her hair smell medicinal.

Holding her head and leaning on the dressing table, she said in frustration, "Green Bamboo, pour it out. Look at me; I'm full of energy and lively. If you don't say anything, no one will notice, right"

Green Bamboo helplessly shook her head, put her hands on her hips sternly, and replied, "Impossible. Young Miss, if you don’t take your medicine, I’ll inform His Majesty honestly. You should know what consequences that might bring."

Hmm... Qi Lin was slightly stunned. She knew her time to drink the medicine would definitely increase indefinitely; she’d rather be dead than do that.

But it was just too bitter and unpleasant.

"Young Miss, Green Bamboo understands how much you dislike taking medicine, so I’ve prepared your favorite green bean cake and some fruits." Handing the medicine to Qi Lin with a kind smile, she said, "Be good."

"Green Bamboo, are you treating me like a child" Qi Lin’s voice sounded odd as she pinched her nose. Avoiding the bowl of medicine, she replied helplessly, "Alright, I’ll drink it. But please go prepare my bathwater."

Green Bamboo looked at Qi Lin with an expression as if catching a thief. Qi Lin had no choice but to lift the bowl and take a tiny sip, squinting her eyes in pain while looking at Green Bamboo and smiling, "After drinking this medicine, I’ll sweat all over, my whole body will smell like medicine, and it’s so uncomfortable. So please go prepare bathwater quickly."

"Yes, I’m going now." Green Bamboo looked at Qi Lin with some suspicion but thought that since she only took a small sip, there shouldn’t be any issues; thus, she turned around to leave.

After seeing Green Bamboo depart, Qi Lin stuck out her tongue in pain and ran to pour the medicine away into a potted plant. Since the room already smelled strongly of medicine everywhere, no one would notice anyway.

But when did Green Bamboo get bought off by the emperor She was being so strict with Qi Lin like this...

Moreover, after two days of unconsciousness, she had a very long dream during those two days but couldn't recall it clearly. And... It seemed that she must have done something while asleep.

Qi Lin had an odd habit; when running high fevers or just recovering from them, she would subconsciously do things without remembering anything after regaining consciousness.

This is what her mother told her.

But it's okay, they didn't do anything serious before, so this time shouldn’t be a big deal either, right Green Bamboo and the others also said that nothing unusual happened. If they really did something wrong, wouldn’t everyone in the city already know

Wait a moment, now is not the time to think about these things. Empress Dowager’s task has still not been completed yet; what should I do About the location...

"Your Excellency" Seeing Qi Lin stepping out of the room, Jin Yu hurried over and supported her, saying, "If Your Excellency needs anything, just give an order, and I will go do it immediately."

Qi Lin smiled slightly. Although she felt like she had recovered, her strength was still not fully back to normal. Ancient medicine was not as advanced as modern medicine; even when she got injured at the Drunken Flower Pavilion before, Yu Mu took a whole month to heal her.

"I don’t have any relation with Yu Mu."

Eh What is this It seems like I remember someone saying something, but was it in my dream

"Your Excellency" Seeing Qi Lin's face a bit pale, Jin Yu said with slight worry, "Your Excellency."

"I’m fine." She waved her hand and stretched lazily. The weather today is quite nice. "Jin Yu, accompany the Empress to take a stroll by Lotus-Thousand Pond."

Jin Yu was slightly surprised but still nodded in agreement.

Lotus-Thousand Pond is located on a high place within the imperial palace. Although it’s beautiful, because of its strong winds, few people come here; only some servants are responsible for maintaining it.

The real reason why almost no one comes here is because of the palace's restrictions. The second prince, Bai Qianye, once gave this pond as a gift to Empress Dowager on her birthday. After Feng Changqing ascended the throne, he didn’t come here anymore; thus, other concubines naturally wouldn't come to a place where no emperor was present.

But today someone arrived early.

"Jin Yu, you may leave first."

After Jin Yu left, Qi Lin pulled her cloak tighter and walked beside the lake, saying, "It’s been a long time. I hope you’re well."

"Well I think you're not doing so well." Bu Yao turned her head nor said, "I heard that you were sick and nearly died."

Qi Lin sneered, stretched lazily, twisted her waist, then smiled, saying, "Life is endlessly beautiful. How could I be willing to die"

Bu Yao truly wanted to go up and beat Qi Lin to death with the way she reacted, but because of her special status—Feng Changqing valued Qi Lin’s existence so much—if anything happened to Qi Lin right now, it would only make Bu Yao look worse.

"Then shall I escort you" Turning around to face Qi Lin, even though she didn’t mean it this way, but still said while raising her hand: "Few servants come here. Your maidservants can't get here in time anyway. Even if they did know what happened, I would make them stay silent. Isn’t that good You could say you fell into the water by accident. Who knows, perhaps even a posthumous title might be given to you."

"Then I look forward to it," Qi Lin slightly raised the corner of her mouth, instead of stepping back, she approached Bu Yao and continued, "After all, you've already killed me once. Do you still care about a second time"

Bu Yao was slightly taken aback, a surge of anger rising in her heart. If not for too many considerations, she wouldn't have been so patient.

"Hmph, putting on an act like a good person. Do you think you're that virtuous In the end, you're still a murderer," after speaking, she realized she had spoken out of turn and turned her back to Qi Lin, continuing "Qi Lin, do you think your identity can be kept hidden for long"

Although she quickly changed the subject, Bu Yao could still feel Qi Lin's suspicious gaze never leaving her.

"You should know that if it wasn't for you snatching my case, I wouldn't have crossed over to this damned place. Isn't that like killing me" Feeling guilty, she turned around and increased her volume. Feng Changqing had said before that if Qi Lin found out about the incident, it would make her die a hundred deaths. She spoke firmly "Qi Lin, isn’t now the time to think about these things Have you ever considered what will happen if your identity is exposed That's high treason."

Qi Lin slightly frowned; Bu Yao's reaction was too big, but she had also thought about this problem before. However, there were only two or three people who knew her identity.

"As long as you don’t cause any trouble from the side, I think it’s still quite safe," shrugging and showing an indifferent attitude, she smiled slightly "Bu Yao, we are tied together like ants on a rope. Even if you do cause trouble, remember that you once said we were fellow townspeople and sisters. My identity was known to you first. You helped me commit high treason, this is also quite serious."

Bu Yao was slightly taken aback; she just wanted to warn Qi Lin so she wouldn't treat her differently, but didn’t expect to be bitten back.

"Qi Lin, don’t force me," with eyes wide open, as if wanting to drill a thousand holes in Qi Lin, then smilingly said "Qi Lin, Long Ye loves me very much. The emperor has deep brotherhood feelings for Long Ye. Since he can discard the most beloved Orchid Consort for Zi Yin’s sake, do you think he won’t throw you away for Long Ye You are just a concubine, while I am Long Ye's empress."

Qi Lin looked at Bu Yao with doubt and said "Bu Yao, why get so worked up over this It was just a joke, right"

Caught off guard by the hit to her heart, Bu Yao inadvertently avoided Qi Lin's gaze and said "I... I didn’t."

Afraid of being caught out even more, she felt increasingly guilty.

"Sigh, in the end, we are the only ones who can understand each other. Why do you have to be like this" Qi Lin sighed helplessly and continued "The last time that happened, I truly didn't know what was going on, all I knew is that when I woke up, it had already happened."

"You don’t need to explain," interrupting Qi Lin's words, she did not want to think about the disgrace of her life for a moment and glared at Qi Lin "In the future, we’ll rely on our own abilities. Bu Yao will never submit; I will definitely become the queen here and gain supreme power."

"Clap clap clap,"

Bu Yao looked at Qi Lin in surprise, asking "What... What do you mean by this"

Qi Lin blinked her eyes, stopped clapping, and slightly smiled saying "I congratulate you in advance."

"You!!!" Fuming with rage, teeth clenched together she said "Hmph, continue your mundane life. I don’t have time to waste on such nonsense,"

With that, she turned around and left.

Zi Lin pouted and lived an ordinary life. If it were really like that, at least she wouldn’t have to think about these troublesome things. She looked at the lake surface where ripples formed as a gentle breeze blew over the water, occasionally revealing red crucian carps swimming near the surface.

Approaching the lakeside and squatting down, she gently touched the water’s surface, causing the carp school to immediately rise up in fear. Seeing this, Zi Lin quickly withdrew her hand but noticed they had only gathered around her. She smiled and reached out again, feeling their slippery bodies and occasionally getting a finger nipped by a carp, which tickled her and made her giggle.

Before long, all the carps had gathered near the surface, turning the water red in an impressive display.

"Wow, my lady, what is going on here I've never seen such a sight." Jin Yu looked at the lake surface with astonishment as the carp swam around in circles, almost like they were dancing.

Zi Lin smiled slightly. It was reminiscent of a kaleidoscope. If she had a camera, this would surely win an award for its beauty.

Hmm

A sudden flash in her mind prompted Zi Lin to quickly stand up and briskly walk to the other side of the Thousand Carp Pool, searching around until she found a branch to draw on. She looked at her surroundings while drawing a diagram on the ground.

Jin Yu watched from the side without interrupting but couldn’t figure out what Zi Lin was drawing no matter how hard she tried.

After an hour, Zi Lin finally finished her work; the ground was filled with calculations and a rough sketch of a water wheel.

How could she have forgotten about this contraption If not for the carp, she wouldn’t have thought to use it at all.

"Brilliant! Truly ingenious."

Zi Lin smiled slightly and continued, "The project is quite large in scale but will save a lot of manpower once completed. So…"

"Do not worry about that; this matter I shall assist you with." Putting down the drawings, Feng Changqing looked at Zi Lin with satisfaction and asked, "How did you think up such an ingenious solution"

Zi Lin raised her eyebrow and replied, “A clever person must have a clever method. Why should Your Majesty care about the process as long as I can present this result Isn't that so”

Feng Changqing nodded and continued, "Regarding the Empress Dowager…"

"Just find a carpenter to build a model of this design and show it to the Empress Dowager." Zi Lin knew no one would easily believe her without seeing proof. “Practice is the standard for testing truth.”

“What... What you said I couldn’t understand at all”

Erm… Zi Lin awkwardly looked away…May I ask if it is my honor to drink a cup brewed by her hands""That's right, that's right," Liu Xiaoxiang hurriedly said as she stepped forward. "We were hoping to learn how to brew tea and let Your...