Jun Lee.

Jun Lee doesn't like to show his emotions to others. Even if he is very worried about something, it can be difficult to understand it from him.

He lived for a very long time and saw a lot of events. Therefore, he rarely makes hasty conclusions and usually observes first, and only then makes a decision.

Calm and unflappable.
Zhong Li almost never raises his voice. Even in a dangerous situation, he retains his composure. It's very difficult to get him off balance.

Zhong Li knows that Mao Mao:

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔carries a small herb knife with her at all times;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔may forget to eat if busy with work;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔loves rare plants;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔can't stand useless luxury;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔always checks the composition of medicines;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔can spend hours studying an unknown plant;
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔does not like to be disturbed during work.

Therefore, when he comes to her, he tries not to disrupt her usual routine.

This is especially interesting for their relationship.

If some young doctor starts talking to Mao Mao too often, Zhong Li remains outwardly completely calm.

He may even greet a man politely.

But Mao Mao gradually notices the strangeness.

— You're kind of silent today.

— I am always silent.

• no. Stronger today.

— Maybe I was thinking.

"About what?"

Zhong Li looks towards the young doctor.

— About state affairs.

Mao Mao:

• of course.

And he doesn't understand at all what exactly is going on.

Zhong Li understands perfectly well that Mao Mao is able to stand up for herself.

Therefore, he does not treat her as a fragile girl who definitely needs to be rescued.

If she's investigating something dangerous, he's more likely to say:

"Be careful.

But not:

"You're not allowed to go there.

But if someone really threatens her, the emperor's attitude becomes completely different.

His calmness turns into icy seriousness.

If Mao Mao talks about some herb, disease, or rare medicine, Zhong Li really listens.

And he remembers even the little things.

For example, one day Mao Mao accidentally says that he loves rare herbs from the western lands.

A few months later, a trade caravan arrives in the capital, and that particular plant turns out to be among its cargo.

Mao Mao is surprised:

"Where did it come from?"

Jun Lee calmly replies:

— I asked the merchants to look for it.

"Why?"

"You said you were interested in it."

It's completely natural for him.

Mao Mao can quite calmly tell the emperor:

"You didn't sleep well again."

Or:

"Don't drink it. You have no idea what kind of herbs are there.

Instead of anger, Zhong Li just stars at her calmly.

He likes that he doesn't have to constantly observe the image of the great emperor next to her.

He respects her freedom.
Zhong Li never tries to force Mao Mao to respond to his feelings.

It would be very easy for the emperor to order her to become a part of the palace, but he deliberately does not do this.

He can say:

"If you want to leave, I won't hold you back.

And that's why his feelings become even more significant to her over time.

He is sincerely in love with her.
Despite the fact that he is surrounded by concubines, court ladies and representatives of noble families, Zhong Li is practically not interested in them. His attention invariably returns to Mao Mao.

He is attracted not by her appearance per se, but by her character: intelligence, observation, independence, and lack of desire to gain position or wealth from him.