My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 235 The Empress

The next day, at dawn, Lin Ziping followed Yan Shu to the camp where he had stayed the previous day.

As dawn approached, it was already late autumn, and a slight chill could be felt in the air in the early morning.

Palace maids and eunuchs moved silently but in an orderly fashion among the tents.

Dongshan stood slightly bent over, sideways in front of the tent, with a eunuch behind him carrying a basin and holding a handkerchief.

The clear water in the basin rippled slightly.

As the vanguard of this autumn hunt, Lin Ziping was not only extremely familiar with the surrounding terrain, but also quite knowledgeable about it.

Although there are water sources nearby, the water quality is not as clear.

As for filtration, the water that Lin Ziping and his group used when eating wild game on the mountain was his idea. At that time, the other members of the five-person group from the Prefectural Guard Camp were almost stunned.

He frankly admitted that he had never heard of drinking water in this way before.

Although there is less pollution in this era, no one is a porter of nature. Filtering and boiling water was common sense in the past.

At 3:45 AM, Lin Ziping heard faint sounds coming from the tent.

Dongshan stepped forward and asked, "Has His Majesty awakened?"

"Come in." After a while, a deep voice came from inside the tent.

Dongshan waved his hand, and the eunuchs entered in an orderly fashion.

Lin Ziping thought everyone was going in, but as soon as he took a step, Yan Shu grabbed him: "What are you doing? His Majesty doesn't like being served. Just wait here."

Why did so many people go in if you don't like being waited on?

Are they just for show?

Lin Ziping only dared to mutter a few words in his heart, but dared not show any emotion on his face. He imitated Yan Shu, placing his hands in front of his lower abdomen, slightly hunching his back, and waiting to the side.

Before long, Dongshan helped the emperor out.

"Your Majesty, I am well." Lin Ziping said, clasping his hands in greeting.

"No need for such formalities," the emperor asked gently. "Have you eaten?"

Lin Ziping straightened up and said, "Not yet."

"Haha, young people should take care of their health," the emperor laughed. "Take him down for a meal, Dongshan. He doesn't need to come so early to wait for him anymore."

"Yes," Dongshan bowed and said, then turned to Lin Ziping and said, "Aren't you going to thank His Majesty for his consideration?!"

Lin Ziping readily agreed and bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor waved his hand with a smile and turned to Dongshan, saying, "Go see if the empress is up yet. Today is the highlight for the noble ladies of the capital, and she cannot be absent."

Dongshan turned his gaze to the little eunuch beside him.

The young eunuch stepped forward and said, "Her Majesty the Empress was too worried last night, and I'm afraid she won't be able to attend today."

The emperor's expression changed: "What's wrong with the empress? Has the imperial physician been summoned to take a look?"

Dongshan said, "Your Majesty, please don't be anxious. I'm afraid the Empress is worrying too much because of the Zhou family."

The emperor sighed: "For some reason, Qiankun didn't come to the autumn hunt this year."

After saying that, he looked at Lin Ziping and said, "Perfect timing. Let Xiao Lin go and take a look. It's always the same old faces from Dongshan. Qiankun must be tired of seeing them too. Young people should see more of them."

"Yes," Lin Ziping replied.

"Go to Dongshan and see who else didn't come to the autumn hunt this time. When we get back, Xiao Lin will visit them one by one," the emperor said calmly.

Is this a big task assigned right from the start?

Lin Ziping had no choice but to clasp his hands in agreement.

The emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, Dongshan, come with me to see the Empress. The rest of you may leave."

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty," the crowd bowed in unison.

Lin Ziping looked up at the emperor's back.

Aside from his unusual yellow outfit, he looked like a little old man.

As for Dongshan, I didn't notice it before, but now his posture looks very familiar.

"Let's go," Yan Shu's voice came.

Lin Ziping looked on, puzzled.

Yan Shu said, "His Majesty just said he would take you down for a meal."

After saying that, he left without waiting for Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping instantly forgot his previous thoughts.

A person who works hard must have a working spirit; working hard requires enthusiasm!

Lin Ziping took two steps at a time and caught up with Yan Shu's pace.

The food prepared by the chef was different from the communal meals we had eaten before; the steamed buns were even a bit softer.

After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Ziping returned to the emperor's side with Yan Shu.

They followed the emperor's entourage to a horse farm.

Banners fluttered in the breeze, and the sun shone brightly.

To be honest, Lin Ziping, as the vanguard, had no idea there was such a large horse farm nearby after all these days.

The racecourse was already packed with people. As soon as the emperor arrived, a huge crowd knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Lin Ziping was secretly relieved to be following behind the emperor, which meant he didn't have to kneel.

Although the person kneeling in front of me is kneeling to the emperor, now it's practically like he's kneeling to me.

A secret sense of smugness rose in Lin Ziping's heart.

Dongshan moved slightly towards Lin Ziping, blocking his way.

"Rise, my lords," the emperor said in a clear voice, raising his hands slightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the crowd exclaimed in unison.

After speaking for about 10 seconds, everyone stood up in unison.

The scene resembled a rehearsal, with loud voices and synchronized movements.

As the emperor approached, the crowd instinctively stepped aside, making way for him.

The emperor walked straight to the high platform in the middle.

On the high platform stood a woman dressed in yellow. Her hair was coiled at the back of her head and adorned with nine gold hairpins. One of the hairpins was shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings, echoing the phoenix pattern embroidered on her dress.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." Dongshan greeted her with clasped hands.

The others followed suit and greeted them as well.

Upon seeing this, Lin Ziping quickly followed suit by clasping his hands in greeting.

"No need for such formalities, Dongshan," the Empress said gently. "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lin Ziping looked up. He was handsome, but he noticed the woman in front of him had a gentle smile on her lips, but her gaze was cold as she looked at him.

It felt like he was wearing a mask, and Lin Ziping felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Didn't you say this morning you weren't coming?" The Emperor stepped forward and took the Empress's hand. "Why is your hand so cold?"

The Empress raised her hand to adjust the hairpin in her hair and said, "It's rare for me to come out of the palace, so this is a good opportunity to get some fresh air."

"It's cold and windy, you should wear more clothes," the emperor said as he took off his cloak.

"Your Majesty, please put it on, but be careful not to catch a cold. I've brought it with me." The Empress stopped the Emperor and turned to say, "Wanrong."

A woman dressed in blue palace attire stepped forward from behind the Empress, holding a bright yellow cloak, and carefully draped it over her shoulders.

Seeing this, the emperor said nothing more. After the woman in the blue palace dress straightened the empress's cloak, the two walked hand in hand to the chairs placed on the high platform and sat down side by side.

Dongshan looked at the emperor, who nodded slightly.

Dongshan waved his hand, and a eunuch stepped forward from behind him, saying loudly, "Sit!"

Upon hearing this, the people below the platform walked up the wooden steps on both sides and sat down, making the space much more spacious.

"out--"

As the eunuch's voice faded, the sound of horses' hooves echoed in the distance.

Lin Ziping stood next to Yan Shu, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he looked up and sized up the people on both sides.

"This person looks unfamiliar. Is he someone His Majesty recently promoted?" came the Empress's gentle voice.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziping immediately lowered his head.

"This is the boy who killed the tiger yesterday," the emperor introduced. "Lin Ziping, come quickly and pay your respects to the Empress."

Lin Ziping looked at Dongshan and saw that he looked normal. He then walked towards the Emperor and Empress.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." Lin Ziping greeted her with clasped hands.

"You looked unfamiliar at first, but now you seem somewhat familiar. Where did you work before?" the Empress asked.

Lin Ziping pursed his lips: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I was originally on duty at the Imperial Guard Camp."