"Your Majesty, when I was young, I stayed at my grandfather's house for a few years, and then I followed him everywhere. People in the south eat spicy food, so I developed this habit."
"I see."
The emperor ate quickly and with great appetite. Before long, most of the food was gone.
It was clear that he had truly been hungry.
Lin Wanyi, already full, found it improper to sit idly, so she took the chopsticks from Dong Yuzhong and began to serve the emperor. There were rules to follow when serving food.
One must offer a bit of everything, while also taking into account the emperor's preferences and choosing what he likes.
Yet after this meal, Lin Wanyi found it hard to determine what he favored or disliked.
He truly was an emperor who ruled for the people—his meals were just as balanced as his governance.
After eating, the emperor rose and paced the room.
Feeling a bit full, he summoned Dong Yuzhong and mentioned going out for a walk.
Dong Yuzhong looked troubled, pointed outside, and said,
"Your Majesty, the wind has picked up. I believe it's going to rain. Spring rains tend to last endlessly once they begin. For the sake of Your Majesty's health, it would be better not to go out."
Though it contradicted the emperor's wishes, Dong Yuzhong spoke with sincere concern.
Lin Wanyi noticed the emperor's expression falter slightly. It was as if he wanted to go out but felt somewhat awkward about insisting.
To ease the moment, she stepped in to support Dong Yuzhong.
"I wonder if Your Majesty has ever heard of the night rain in Bashan?"
Emperor Yuwen Hong looked at her, puzzled.
"Isn't that from Night Rain Sent North? What about it?"
"When I was home, we had banana trees planted in the backyard. Whenever it rained at night, my parents would take us siblings to the side room to listen to the rain falling. The whole family would sit together and chat—it was quite a lovely experience."
"What did you talk about?"
"Anything, really. Sometimes we listened to interesting tales my eldest brother heard on the street, other times we'd talk about how my father and mother met when they were young, or about the stories from when I traveled with my grandfather's family. Within a family, there's always something to talk about."
Lin Wanyi's eyes softened as she recalled her family.
Yuwen Hong could see the warmth of those bonds. He lowered his gaze and said nothing.
That kind of closeness—genuine familial affection—was something he had longed for but never truly had.
Born into the imperial family, he had been destined for distance and formality, not warmth.
Lin Wanyi thought he wouldn't respond. But when she glanced over and noticed the change in his expression, she wondered—had she said something wrong?
Just as she began to worry, she heard the emperor speak, his voice quiet.
"Tell me about your travels in the south."
His tone was distant and unreadable, yet in that moment, Lin Wanyi felt she saw a different side of him.
No longer lofty and unapproachable, no longer just a ruler—but a man cloaked in solitude.
Lin Wanyi sat beside the couch in silence for a moment, then thoughtfully chose a lighthearted story to share.
"My maternal grandfather's family has been in business for generations. Our ancestors worked in the streets and alleys, and the tradition continued over time. During my great-great-grandfather's era, the whole family moved from Lingzhou to Shengjing City and settled there."
"My grandfather began helping in the market from a young age, so he knew a lot about trading. One year, my second uncle planned to travel to Yaozhou to collect medicinal herbs. My grandfather happened to be going as well, so my grandmother and I went along."
"Yaozhou is mostly home to the Yao people, with few from the Central Plains. As soon as we entered the region, we changed into their clothing and used the Yao language when speaking with strangers."
"My grandfather used to say, 'If you want to eat someone's food, you should bring firewood to help light their stove.' I thought it was just a local saying—but to my surprise, he actually bought a cart of firewood and brought it to a village elder's home."
"I was curious when I saw the firewood. Later, when we entered the elder's home, I learned it was a real custom. They used the firewood we brought to cook the meal. After a cheerful dinner, my grandfather handed over the list of goods to purchase. My second uncle once told me that many think doing business with the Yao is difficult, but in fact, they are the simplest and kindest people. As long as you genuinely help solve their problems, everything else follows naturally."
Her story left Emperor Yuwen Hong deep in thought.
After a pause, he asked,
"So why do the Yao people need firewood?"
"Because they belong to the Fire Yao tribe. For generations, they've worshiped the Fire God. Anyone who brings firewood is seen as a messenger of the Fire God. They welcome such guests and help them wholeheartedly."
The emperor looked surprised, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I was shocked too when I first heard about it."
"Then how did your grandfather know such a custom?"
Lin Wanyi chuckled softly and covered her mouth. This was her grandfather's secret.
She made a decision—she would tease the emperor a little.
"Your Majesty, would you prefer the truth or the surface explanation?"
"What is the surface explanation? And what is the truth?"
"The surface explanation is simple—our family has been in business for many years and has its own ways. As for the truth..."
Lin Wanyi deliberately drew out her words, making the emperor a bit impatient with curiosity. Only then did she answer with a smile.
"When my grandfather was young, he was favored by a girl from the Fire Yao tribe and was almost made a live-in son-in-law. Naturally, he learned a few of their customs."
Yuwen Hong laughed quietly at this.
Perhaps it was the way she teased her grandfather, or maybe it was her playful look—he was reminded of his own youth.
He, too, had once experienced joy before ascending the throne.
The late emperor had loved him dearly. Even amid the court's busy affairs, he would still make time to laugh and play with him.
But those days became distant memories after the late emperor passed away, and Yuwen Hong was forced to grow up too soon upon taking the throne.
Everyone reminded him of his duty to become a wise and great emperor, yet no one asked if he was still just a young man who longed for ordinary joys.
By now, night had deepened, and as Dong Yuzhong predicted, the rain had begun to fall.
The spring rain poured gently, as smooth as oil, forming a curtain of beads in the air.
It struck the ground, creating tiny ripples in the puddles, and the branches outside bowed under the weight of the rain.
Inside the room, candlelight cast the shadows of the two onto the window—one listening with quiet attention, the other speaking with lively interest.
From time to time, light laughter drifted through the still air—not loud, but calming to the heart.
Outside the door, Dong Yuzhong stood holding the whisk he had carried for years. He closed his eyes and allowed himself a rare moment of peace.
Qiu Ming, standing nearby, noticed his expression and walked over.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked softly...