Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite
Chapter 31 Warm Reunion

Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Warm Reunion

It was only the third time he’d seen her, yet each encounter felt different.

She was beautiful but not seductive, composed but not pedantic; sometimes easily shy, at other times surprisingly bold.

Her manners were commendable, yet now being told to wait, she dared to fall asleep in the Warm Pavilion. Who knows where she got the courage?

Dong Yuzhong saw her but pretended not to, quietly withdrawing and gently closing the door behind him.

The sound was minimal and did not awaken Lin Wanyi.

Unconsciously, the Emperor sat beside her, quietly observing without uttering a word.

Lin Wanyi, who was sleeping soundly, seemed to encounter something troublesome in her dream.

At times she knitted her brows, at other times she relaxed her expression.

Until she suddenly called out, "Mother."

Lin Wanyi completely awoke from her dream.

And upon opening her eyes, she saw the Emperor Yu Wenhong’s large face close to hers, startling her to leap up like a carp.

As a result, her knee hit the corner of the table, causing tears to roll down from the pain.

"Why panic? I won’t eat you!"

Yu Wenhong saw her hurried demeanor, so different from when she was asleep, and felt a bit annoyed.

But seeing her flushed with embarrassment, biting her lips tightly without crying out in pain, he felt pity for her.

He then promptly pulled her to sit down, adeptly rolling up Lin Wanyi’s trouser leg.

Sure enough, her knee was bruised and swollen, with blood streaks showing in the middle.

The nanmu wood is extremely hard, and with Lin Wanyi’s hasty rise, it naturally exerted great force.

So when she saw the swelling and bruising on her knee, she was secretly regretful.

She was truly unlucky today.

Serving as a palace maid to the Emperor for a couple of hours, she hadn’t had dinner, only some tea.

She waited for the Emperor but fell asleep during the wait.

Waking up only to hurt her foot, truly, everything was unfavorable.

Pouting her lips, unable to vent her dissatisfaction, she could only silently shed tears staring at her kneecap.

Yu Wenhong examined closely, noting no damage to the bone.

He spoke calmly.

"I have medicine here for promoting circulation and reducing bruises; apply it for two days and it will get much better."

As he spoke, he walked to the cabinet by the wall and fetched a box with two layers, filled with bottles and jars. _{fr eewe(b)nove.l.co\m}

Skilled, he took out a blue jar and used a bamboo stick to apply the white ointment thickly on Lin Wanyi’s knee.

The cooling sensation immediately spread throughout her body, the burning feeling dissipating instantly.

After applying the ointment, he wrapped it with gauze.

"Don’t get it wet these few days; take this ointment back with you later."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lin Wanyi was quite embarrassed, unsure whether due to the bump in front of the Emperor, keeping her head down.

Upon speaking, the Emperor Yu Wenhong noticed a slight tone of sobbing.

"You cried?"

He lifted Lin Wanyi’s head, indeed, seeing her eyes slightly red and teary-eyed.

"I’ve said nothing about punishing you, why cry?"

The Emperor thought she feared he would punish her for falling asleep too early, but Lin Wanyi was actually in pain.

Due to cold ailments, she had been on medication for years.

The coldness had gradually improved but left another defect.

While not a major issue, her injuries hurt more than others, hence the careful attentiveness by the matron, and diligent service by Chunqi and others.

Such bruising might heal for others in two or three days, but for her, it might not, perhaps requiring ten days to half a month.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been such a severe injury from just a bump.

Lin Wanyi naturally wouldn’t discuss these matters with the Emperor, she could only follow along with his words.

"It was not intentional for this concubine to fall asleep, it’s really..."

She was a bit embarrassed, and the Emperor noticed.

Remembering that it was already past 7 p.m., he was indeed late, so he followed the tangent.

"Fourth Imperial Uncle was happy today and hence ordered two more performances, which took some time. I originally intended to dine with him, but thinking that you hadn’t eaten, I hurried back."

This explanation by the Emperor indeed eased Lin Wanyi’s displeasure.

In the eyes of outsiders, the cold-hearted, decisive Emperor would return hungry simply because he was concerned about her waiting. This indeed surprised Lin Wanyi.

Yet, upon reconsidering, with an ocean of concubines in the harem, the Emperor, as one spreading kindness universally, naturally mastered the art of appeasement.

Therefore, how truthful his words were, who knows?

The slight warmth in her heart hadn’t even sprouted before being extinguished.

"Dong Yuzhong."

"Here be your servant."

"Serve the meal."

"Yes."

Soon, the table before Lin Wanyi and the Emperor was filled with food.

All prepared according to the Emperor’s tastes, predominantly mild. Lin Wanyi didn’t eat much.

Initially assuming it was due to her being reserved, the Emperor dismissed all except Dong Yuzhong who served the dishes.

Surprisingly, she didn’t eat much.

Yu Wenhong grew curious.

She hadn’t eaten since arriving at noon, wasn’t her stomach hungry?

"Is your appetite small?"

Lin Wanyi was drinking soup, almost spilling hearing this from the Emperor.

Yet, with habitually good dining manners, she elegantly set down the spoon and curiously replied.

"Why does Your Majesty say so?"

"I noticed you ate only a few bites of rice, sipped some soup, and haven’t touched your chopsticks. The dishes Dong Yuzhong served remain piled, isn’t this a small appetite?"

After speaking, before Lin Wanyi could answer, he continued.

"Then you don’t like these dishes."

Lin Wanyi couldn’t fathom why, but discussions with this Emperor, who ascended the throne in childhood and governed in youth, always revolved around one topic.

What do you like eating?

What do you dislike eating?

It seemed her entering the palace was solely for dining with the Emperor.

After contemplating, she felt it improper, hence cautiously spoke.

"This concubine just drank tea, so my stomach feels full; hungry as I am, I can’t eat much. The dishes from the Imperial Kitchen are visually and flavorfully appealing, but I prefer spicy food, so I’m unsure how to start with these mild dishes."

"You like spicy food? I recall Lin Xiang is also a native of Shengjing."

Shengjing City’s cuisine mainly focuses on freshness and mildness.

One reason is the lack of locally produced chili peppers, hence less spicy food; another is Shengjing’s cold, dry climate, making excessive spicy consumption likely to cause inflammation.

Therefore, true-born Shengjing natives typically avoid spicy foods.

Lin Wanyi’s fondness for spicy flavor is entirely due to the five years spent at her maternal grandfather’s and traveling through many southern states.

It might also be related to her cold ailment; consuming spicy food warms her body, fostering a liking for the taste over time.