Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Qin Ji was already in pain, and sleeping in a different place made him feel a little uncomfortable. He woke up several times in the middle of the night, and each time he would vaguely look at the figure by the window, thinking of telling Jiang Jibai to go and rest, but he would fall asleep again without realizing it.

I slept face down all night, and it felt like a stone was pressing on my chest, and my neck was sore.

Qin Ji opened his eyes and looked at the simply furnished room, feeling a moment of disorientation.

Jiang Jibai heard him move, put down his book, walked to the bedside, and felt his forehead. "Awake?"

His movements were practiced and skillful; it was impossible to tell how many times Jiang Jibai had done this while he was asleep last night.

"Didn't you sleep all night?"

"I took a nap."

"What time is it?"

"Chen Shi (7-9 AM)".

Qin Ji rarely slept until this hour, and couldn't help but feel grateful for the half-day of leisure he had stolen from his busy life.

Jiang Jibai reapplied the medicine to him, and then asked Aunt Wu to bring him toiletries and breakfast.

Qin Ji struggled to get out of bed and, with a limp, managed to get himself ready with Aunt Wu's help.

Seeing his severely impaired condition, Jiang Jibai asked, "Can you manage this afternoon? If you're really feeling unwell, it would be good to ask His Majesty for leave, so as not to be disrespectful in front of the Emperor."

That won't do. The emperor must be present when discussing state affairs with his ministers.

Even if he pretends to be sick, wouldn't the imperial physicians surround him and examine him from head to toe?

For the sake of the nation, he has to crawl back, even if it means crawling!

Qin Ji immediately replied, "Regarding the previous article, I have already left His Majesty with the impression of being presumptuous and self-righteous. If I make excuses again when His Majesty asks me to attend to him this time, I am afraid that it will only make His Majesty more displeased."

"Didn't you hope to influence His Majesty through me? If His Majesty dislikes me, how can I have any influence?"

Seeing that Jiang Jibai still had reservations, Qin Ji let go of Aunt Wu who was supporting him and walked back and forth in the room twice with steady steps. Apart from his slightly unpleasant complexion, his movements were not really noticeable.

Jiang Jibai exclaimed in amazement, "You're quite resilient; I didn't hurt you."

Qin Ji stared at him expressionlessly.

You poison master! Doesn't it hurt me?

I am physically disabled but determined, and I have no other choice.

"Next time you are summoned by His Majesty, please inform him in advance."

He felt sorry for her, he felt sorry for her!

Qin Ji's eyes lit up. What if he couldn't stand the pain next time...?

"I'll give you a few days' extension, and I'll charge interest daily."

Qin Ji: "..."

With your excellent accounting skills, no one would dare to owe you money, right?

After breakfast, Jiang Jibai gave him a detailed explanation of the key points of meeting the emperor.

Qin Ji listened and nodded.

Yes, yes, we must be respectful, not presumptuous, and not act out of line.

Jiang Jibai, you must remember what you said today.

Seeing that it was almost time, Qin Ji bid farewell to Jiang Jibai, saying, "I want to go back to my residence to have lunch with my grandmother at noon, so I won't stay here any longer."

Jiang Jibai had no suspicions and saw him out the door.

Finally, when His Majesty was ready to return to the palace, Bean, with dark circles under his eyes, almost burst into tears of joy. With a flick of the whip, the carriage drove away from the alley.

Who understands? I was forced to listen to some potentially dangerous noises, and that's it.

His Majesty is staying outside the palace, and there's no one to relieve him. He's been guarding the palace for fifteen hours straight, and he's so unsteady on his feet. He's so sleepy, sob sob.

……

Upon returning to the palace, after lunch, he summoned his ministers to discuss state affairs.

By the time Qin Ji finished discussing state affairs and approving the memorials, it was already time for dinner.

With his dragon-shaped buttocks swollen and disfigured, Qin Ji sat on the throne for an entire afternoon, unable to stand up at all.

Fu Lu, with his keen observation, stepped forward to massage Qin Ji's legs. "Your Majesty seems to be experiencing poor blood circulation and leg numbness. Should we ask Physician He to take a look?"

If there is medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, the injury will naturally heal faster.

Qin Ji hesitated for a long time between the state and his own health, and finally decided to protect the state as much as possible while taking better care of his own health. "Bian Dou was punished by me for his poor performance. Have someone go to the Imperial Hospital to get some medicine for his sores."

Fu Lu was taken aback. He was clearly talking about His Majesty's leg numbness, so why did he bring up broad beans again?

Bian Dou and His Majesty went out of the palace for one night. When they returned, Bian Dou was perfectly fine and quietly escorted His Majesty back to his bedchamber. Where did he get punished?

His Majesty even personally ordered medicine to be delivered to him. When did Lord Biandou receive such great favor?

A eunuch who rises to the position of Fu Lu must be a shrewd person. With a little thought, he can sense that His Majesty's order is strangely peculiar.

Whether Bian Dou was punished or not is not important; what matters is that His Majesty said he was punished, so he was punished.

As Fu Lu pondered the imperial decree, he replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will make all the necessary arrangements."

After leaving the palace, the emperor spent the night outside. His legs went numb, and he was given a beating with a stick and medicine for the sores.

Fu Lu shuddered, a terrifying thought forming in his mind. He carefully helped Qin Ji to his feet, then tentatively asked, "Mid-Autumn Festival is over, the weather is getting cooler. It's time to put thicker cushions on the chairs in the palaces, Your Majesty. What do you think…?"

What's even more terrifying is that His Majesty glanced at him expressionlessly.

"We'll do as you say."

It's hard to keep a secret from someone who serves you closely, and it's difficult to keep it from yourself. Qin Ji deliberately revealed a flaw, originally intending to maintain a certain level of "tacit understanding" between Fu Lu and him, so that while serving him in the future, he could also cover for him.

Fortune and prosperity can be known, but a wise person should also know what things should not be revealed.

Fu Lu almost collapsed to his knees, but he managed to steady himself and used a little trick to get Qin Ji to lend him some leverage, which earned him a satisfied look from Qin Ji.

His Majesty received Jiang Daru in his ordinary clothes, and then left the palace late at night, postponing the political discussion the next day. Upon returning, he was so unwell that he even asked for "medicine for sores" under the pretext of eating lentils.

Fu Lu simply dared not think about what had happened in between.

Jiang Daru, how terrifying!

This person is absolutely not to be offended!