Love and Crown

The sunlight on the Imperial Way was dazzlingly bright as a black steed trotted slowly across it. My gaze followed the golden figure atop the horse, and just as our eyes were about to part, he suddenly smiled at me.

Glancing at the bowing concubines and palace maids around me, I hesitated whether to return his smile when my waist was abruptly seized—the next moment, I found myself lifted and seated before Xiao Huan.

This was right in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, with civil and military officials, imperial consorts, and thousands of soldiers watching! A cold sweat broke out as I turned to whisper urgently, "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

He chuckled softly but said nothing, instead nudging the horse's flank. The steed, startled by the pain, shot forward like an arrow, charging straight toward the Gate of Supreme Harmony.

The officials and consorts were still kneeling, unable to rise, while the ceremonial guards lining the Imperial Way stood frozen in shock at this sudden turn of events.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Feng Wufu, the Director of Ceremonial, running frantically behind the horse, hissing in exasperation, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and follow!"

The young eunuchs carrying the ceremonial regalia scrambled to keep up, dragging their heavy burdens in an awkward trot.

The sight was so comical that I couldn't help but smirk.

In the blink of an eye, we reached the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Xiao Huan reined in the horse and asked with a smile, "Happy now?"

I nodded, grinning. "But I think you must be insane—acting like some reckless, tyrannical emperor."

"Quite right," he sighed with amusement. "I suppose I’ve played the part of a capricious ruler." He dismounted first, then helped me down.

Feng Wufu arrived with the panting eunuchs, his face drenched in sweat.

Xiao Huan released my hand and stepped back to the center of the Imperial Way, standing straight. I retreated as well, kneeling beside the path.

Feng Wufu took a moment to compose himself before calling out, "Rise."

The command echoed down the line of young eunuchs stationed along the Imperial Way, and the vast crowd kneeling in the square finally stood. I rose with them, keeping my head lowered as I took my place among the imperial consorts before the Gate of Supreme Harmony.

How many of these seemingly expressionless faces had truly witnessed what just happened? How many were silently speculating about its significance?

Starting tomorrow, how many rumors would swirl within and beyond the Forbidden Palace?

After all, since Xiao Huan ascended the throne at twelve, not once—whether in grand ceremonies or daily interactions with ministers—had he ever faltered in decorum. In his youth, fawning Censor Officials had even praised him as a ruler born with the grace and virtue of a wise emperor.

With this in mind, I stole a glance at Xiao Huan standing at the center of the Imperial Way. His expression was solemn once more, his gaze fixed ahead as he submitted to the orchestration of the Court of Imperial Entertainments' protocol officers.

The triumphal celebration was grand, and the ensuing banquet was even more exuberant. Since this feast was primarily to reward the battle-weary soldiers, the atmosphere was especially lively.

Amid the clinking of cups, I quietly set down my wineglass and tugged at Xiao Huan’s sleeve where he sat on the Imperial Throne beside me. He tilted his head slightly, giving me a questioning look.

I pulled him closer and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

He coughed lightly and straightened, though a faint blush crept onto his face. I lowered my head to hide a smirk. Let them think what they will—if they want to stare, let them.

A secret joy welled up inside me. In this moment, I couldn’t even bring myself to care about the distant, melancholic gaze Du Tingxin cast my way.Lowering my head, I caught another glance from below the dais—it was my father. Holding a wine cup, he looked at me with an expressionless face. He must have seen everything that had just transpired.

I turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze.

The grand banquet lasted until the lanterns were lit, with candles illuminating both the interior and exterior of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, casting the square in front of the hall as bright as day. Nights in the Forbidden Palace were rarely this radiant and warm.

As soon as the hour of You arrived, the inner court ladies began to withdraw one after another. I also took my leave and requested permission from Xiao Huan to retire. He nodded slightly. "It is late. The Empress may return to her palace first."

He deliberately didn’t tell me to rest early, only to return to my palace first—this meant he intended to summon me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation later.

I nodded in understanding and curtsied. "This consort takes her leave." Raising my head, I met the clear, unwavering gaze of Du Tingxin, who sat beside Xiao Huan.

This talented woman, praised by the childless Empress Dowager as having "bones of ice and snow" and extraordinary intellect, whose poetic fame had captivated the capital at the age of thirteen—her gaze toward me was cold to the point of indifference.

Suddenly, I realized that she was the most intelligent one in the entire harem.

Whether it was the spoiled and arrogant Wu Lianming, the tenacious and ruthless Xing Yiyong, or any of the other cunning and shrewd consorts, in her eyes, they were all nothing but laughable clowns.

Because among all the consorts in the harem, only she had always held Xiao Huan’s trust and affection. And only she, without me even noticing, had planted a seed in my heart—doing almost nothing—until that seed grew into a towering tree, its weight pressing painfully against my chest, before I became aware of its existence.

It turned out I had underestimated Du Tingxin all along. This woman, raised in the Forbidden Palace, was far more than just skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. When it came to manipulating hearts, her methods surpassed everyone else’s.

At this moment, I should have been consumed by jealousy and hatred. But the rustling voice in my heart had already vanished—ever since Xiao Huan smiled at me on the Golden Water Bridge, that voice had disappeared.

No matter where I was, no matter what identity I bore, that smile remained unchanged. It was the same smile the young man in blue had given me in the autumn breeze of Jiangnan. The first time I saw that smile, I thought, What I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.

I looked up and smiled at Du Tingxin. I was certain it was the most radiant smile I had ever given.

The composure in Du Tingxin’s eyes quickly faded, replaced by stunned disbelief.

I turned and walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Returning to the Palace of Gathered Elegance, I removed my makeup and changed into casual attire. Estimating that there was still time, I leaned against the lamplight to read.

My taste in books was hardly refined. Since childhood, I had only enjoyed unofficial histories and anecdotal novels, while classical texts and poetry gave me a headache. Because of this, my father often said I lacked ambition and was unlearned. I paid him no mind and continued burying myself in my tales of romance and adventure.

Lost in the fantastical stories, I didn’t notice how late it had grown. Just as I was preparing to bathe and await the summons to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Feng Wufu arrived with a beaming smile.

Entering the inner chamber, he first bowed. "His Majesty has instructed that he wishes to speak with Her Majesty before retiring. There is no need for Her Majesty to bathe beforehand."

I nodded. "Understood. Please go ahead, Eunuch Feng."Feng Wufu escorted me all the way to the phoenix sedan chair outside the Gate of Gathered Elegance. After I settled in, he suddenly said, "His Majesty has been away from the capital for over a month, and there's a backlog of state affairs. However, His Majesty's current health cannot withstand exhaustion. When we arrive at the Hall of Mental Cultivation later, I hope Her Majesty can find a way to persuade His Majesty to rest early."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Feng Wufu entrusting such matters to me already hinted at treating me as one of their own. Smiling, I replied, "Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have reminded His Majesty."

Feng Wufu responded with a smile, "That's good to hear," and lowered the sedan curtain.

The Eastern Warm Chamber in the front hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation served as the emperor's bedroom, while the Western Warm Chamber was the imperial study. Xiao Huan usually reviewed memorials and official documents on the soft couch by the window in the Western Warm Chamber.

As I stepped out of the sedan, I saw the lamplight from the window and Xiao Huan's figure illuminated beneath it.

I walked inside. The warm chamber was empty except for Xiao Huan, who was bent over a low table reading a memorial.

Approaching the table, I reached out and pressed the memorial in his hand onto the table. "The person you wanted to meet privately has arrived. Won't you put aside these mundane matters?"

He looked up and smiled. "I got absorbed in reading and forgot. It's so late now—were you impatient waiting?"

"I was reading a rather amusing collection of anecdotal tales, so it wasn't too bad," I replied with a smile.

"Oh? What was it about?" he asked, propping his chin on his hand with a faint smile.

"A newly circulated collection of ghost stories in the markets. You definitely haven't read it," I said, blinking at him playfully. "What, is your empress well-informed in this regard?"

He chuckled. "Speaking of which, in my youth, I was once quite fond of anecdotal tales, finding their subtle meanings far more intriguing than the doctrines in the Four Books and Five Classics. Later, Master Ling advised that as the Son of Heaven, such fictional writings should be read sparingly, not excessively, so I stopped. Now, even if I wanted to read them, I no longer have the time."

Although the Grand Secretary was always granted the honorary title of Imperial Tutor, my father had instructed Xiao Huan for three years before the late emperor's passing, so their relationship was not just that of ruler and subject but also teacher and student.

I rarely heard Xiao Huan mention my father. Pausing briefly, I smiled at him. "Well, that's fine. I can tell you about the stories I've read." Then, raising an eyebrow, I added, "By the way, didn't you say you had something to tell me? What was it?"

The night was deep, and there was no wind outside. The palace was utterly silent, inside and out. He gazed at me quietly, the flickering candlelight casting fragmented glimmers in his deep black eyes. Gradually, those glimmers coalesced into a soft smile that spilled from the corners of his eyes. He laughed softly. "I suddenly forgot."

I blinked, took in his radiant smile, blinked again, then threw myself at him and hugged him tightly. "Are you teasing me?"

His light laughter rang out, clear and melodious, like tassels brushing against my ears, sending a tingling sensation through me.

My hands slid to his back, embracing him gently.

Resting my head on his shoulder, a thought quietly surfaced in my heart. After hesitating for a long time, I decided to voice it. "Brother Xiao, shall we bathe together?"

Perhaps genuinely flustered, he suddenly coughed twice before finally murmuring softly, "Alright."

How could a grown man be more bashful than me? No wonder Kumoer had teased him as if he were a young catamite. This constant hesitancy wouldn't do. I resolved to put into practice the intimate techniques I'd recently learned from the matrons tonight.After bathing together, we went to the Eastern Warm Chamber to sleep. That night, I learned two things: first, "that" wasn't something that could only be done once per night; second, doing "that" could be very enjoyable.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I buried my head in his chest and murmured, "Brother Xiao, if this continues, will I really end up bearing your child? I don’t want to have your child."

He rested his chin lightly on top of my head and chuckled, "Is that so?"

I pressed my face quietly against his chest without answering. The skin there was uneven—a scar from where I had stabbed him, stretching over two inches long.

Something warm slipped from my eyes. Once I gave birth to the imperial heir, would my father consider regicide to install an infant on the throne? Xiao Huan was not an emperor who would willingly be a puppet—this much, my father must have realized by now.

Couldn’t they just stop fighting? I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud, knowing that even if I did, the steps of those two men would not halt. They were already trapped in an abyss, powerless to free themselves.

On the second day of Xiao Huan’s return to court, my father came to the Palace of Gathered Elegance to see me.

Since our last meeting, the white hair at his temples seemed to have multiplied, though his face remained as gaunt as ever.

After entering and sitting down, neither of us spoke, leaving the room in silence.

Xiaoshan, sensing the tension, ushered the palace maids out of the room.

After a while, my father broke the silence. "How have you been since returning from Shanhai Pass?"

"Same as before," I answered stiffly.

He glanced at me, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately nodded. "Good." Then, after a pause, he added, "Since you often visit the Hall of Mental Cultivation now, keep an eye out. If you see a memorial submitted by the supervising secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, Shen Changliu, send someone to inform me."

Shen Changliu, supervising secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, had ranked third in the palace examinations during the sixth year of Virtuous Blessing. After passing the exams, he had remained in the Hanlin Academy until this autumn, when he was promoted to his current position. Even during his time at the Hanlin Academy, Shen Changliu was notorious for his aloof and unyielding nature, refusing to associate with any powerful figures in court. He was said to be a difficult man—one who had once brazenly criticized many policies of the current Grand Secretariat while still at the academy.

After Xiao Huan took personal control of governance, the authority to endorse memorials with vermillion ink was reclaimed from the Grand Secretariat by the Directorate of Ceremonial. The number of memorials directly reviewed by the Grand Secretariat had drastically decreased. If Shen Changliu submitted a memorial impeaching the Chief Grand Secretary, it would likely be delivered straight to the emperor’s desk.

By saying this, my father must have been worried about Shen Changliu launching a sudden attack, leaving him unprepared.

I nodded. "Understood."

My father fell silent again for a long time.

I turned to him. "Is this position really so worth clinging to?"

His fingers, which had been tapping the armrest, stilled. "What?"

"I mean, is this position truly so worth clinging to?" I said coolly. "There’s no need to be so cautious, so afraid of losing power."

He slammed his palm on the armrest, then paused. "What do you know?"

"I don’t know anything. But I wouldn’t raise assassins to murder ministers, nor would I secretly form factions for personal gain." I let out a cold laugh. "Do you know why my brother stays away from home for years at a time? Because in that house, seeing you, seeing the faces of your trusted followers—it’s disgusting..."

"Enough!" My father stood abruptly, his hand trembling as it gripped the table.I turned my face aside, waiting for what felt like an eternity, but the expected slap never came. Instead, my father's voice sounded weary: "The thirtieth of the twelfth month is your mother's death anniversary. It would be good if you could leave the palace that day."

Hearing him mention my mother, I don't know why, but words I'd kept buried in my heart for over a decade suddenly burst out: "What do you mean, my mother's death anniversary? You don't even know when she died—you just took the day she left home and called it her death anniversary, didn't you?"

Father's voice trembled, his shaking hand hovering before my face: "Who told you that?"

I bit my lip and lowered my head.

In the end, Father slowly lowered his hand. After a long silence, I heard him sigh softly: "Come if you can. If not, then let it be."

With those words, he turned to leave but paused, taking a small package from his sleeve and placing it on the table before walking away without another word.

Only after Father had gone did I stand up and open the brown paper package. It was sesame candy—the kind I used to love. This time, it was a whole package, the fragile golden candies lying neatly inside, showing how carefully the person who brought them had kept them in their sleeve.

For someone as dignified and composed as my father to stop his grand blue sedan chair in a noisy marketplace just to buy a package of children's candy—what a strange sight that must have been.

I picked up a piece and put it in my mouth. Sweet, just as I remembered.

Xiaoshan came in and, seeing me, said, "Miss, the master... left so quickly again?"

I handed her the package. "Share this with the others."

Xiaoshan took it and nodded. "Oh, Miss, the Empress Dowager sent someone to summon you."

No sooner had my father left than the Empress Dowager called for me? I looked out the window at the bleak, colorless winter sky, its chill seeping through—not my favorite weather.

Passing through the quiet, wintry gardens of the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, I arrived at the palace itself, which was oddly sparsely populated. The Empress Dowager's personal maid, Jiaolü, led me into the warm chamber.

Inside, unlit and dim, the Empress Dowager sat on a soft couch by the window, an unfamiliar imperial physician standing beside her.

I approached and bowed in greeting. The Empress Dowager motioned for me to sit and said with a smile, "The Empress fell ill a few days ago, and I couldn't visit. How is she now?"

At that time, I had been trapped at Shanhai Pass. Others might not know, but how could she not? Unable to guess what she was scheming, I replied respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. It was just a minor illness, and I've recovered."

"That's good." The Empress Dowager stroked the mutton-fat jade ring on her finger and leisurely changed the subject. "When I was the Empress's age, I was just a minor talent in the Palace of Eternal Longevity. Back then, my heart was filled with childish affections, thinking all day about how to see the late Emperor, how to please him, how to make him smile at me... The late Emperor had such a beautiful smile. No matter how hard the days were, remembering it gave me the strength to endure."She spoke with a soft laugh, "The emperor resembles his late father—the same eyes, the same nose, even his temperament is identical. Never angry, never furious, always wearing a faint smile when silent, quietly watching you. When the emperor was young, I often thought, this child is just like his father, hiding his thoughts too deeply. He might suffer for it in the future."

Suddenly, she looked up at me. "Empress, there are too many things in this world that you won’t regret doing when you’re young. But inevitably, one day when you grow older, you’ll recall the mistakes made in youthful recklessness, and those people who will never return."

Why was the Empress Dowager telling me this? Testing me? Or hinting at something? I didn’t believe she was merely making small talk. Gathering my thoughts, I cautiously replied, "Your words are pearls of wisdom, Mother Empress. This daughter understands."

The Empress Dowager smiled. "Just a few idle words, hardly pearls of wisdom." Yet she added lightly, "But if the Empress can remember them, then all the better."

With that, she beckoned to the physician who had been standing silently to the side.

The physician stepped forward and bowed. "This humble servant requests to take Your Majesty’s pulse. Please extend your hand."

I gave him a puzzled glance. By tradition, physicians from the Imperial Hospital visited the inner palace daily to check the health of the imperial consorts. One had already come to see me this morning. Why summon me to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility for another examination?

I glanced at the Empress Dowager, who nodded slightly. Still unsure of her intentions, I raised my hand and placed it on the pulse pillow on the table.

As soon as the physician’s fingers touched my wrist, Jiaolü hurried in from outside, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived and awaits in the outer hall."

The Empress Dowager frowned briefly before smoothing her expression. "Invite His Majesty in."

Jiaolü obeyed and left. The physician holding my wrist looked up at the Empress Dowager, who nodded, and only then did he release my hand and step back.

The moment his fingers left my wrist, I suddenly realized—he hadn’t been taking my pulse at all. His fingers had subtly curled like claws, clearly gripping my vital pulse point. That point connects to all major acupoints and meridians throughout the body. If this man were a martial arts master, a single surge of fierce internal energy could have ended my life in an instant.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead just as Xiao Huan entered. After paying his respects, he glanced at the physician standing nearby and smiled. "Why is Physician Yang here? What brings the Empress to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, Mother Empress?"

The Empress Dowager returned his smile. "I recalled the Empress had been unwell recently, so I asked Physician Yang to examine her."

Xiao Huan’s smile remained, but his tone carried an uncharacteristic firmness. "This son is also versed in medicine. If Mother Empress wishes to know the Empress’s condition, you need only ask me. Unless Mother Empress believes my skills are far inferior to Physician Yang’s?"

Hearing this, Physician Yang knelt and said, "Your Majesty studied under Physician Li, surpassing ordinary physicians in mastery. Your medical expertise is naturally profound."Seeing Xiao Huan speak in such a manner, the Empress Dowager waved her hand with a smile, her tone softening somewhat. "I thought with the year-end court affairs being so busy, and the Emperor's health always being delicate, I might share some of his burdens. But since the Emperor is here now, let's leave it at that." She then instructed, "Physician Yang, with the Emperor present, you may withdraw for now."

Physician Yang acknowledged with a word, picked up the medicine chest on the table, and retreated.

Once he had left, Xiao Huan smiled and asked the Empress Dowager, "What does Mother wish to know?"

The Empress Dowager gave him a deep look. "I wish to know if the Empress is with child."

"She is," Xiao Huan replied without hesitation.

I was startled by his words. Since when had this happened? He hadn't mentioned it to me.

"That is excellent," the Empress Dowager said. Suddenly, she rose from her seat and approached Xiao Huan, gently stroking his cheek. "You've grown thinner again."

Xiao Huan lowered his eyes. "I've troubled Mother with concern."

The Empress Dowager said no more, withdrawing her hand and returning to her seat on the divan. "Very well, there's nothing more here. You may go."

I glanced at Xiao Huan, who gave me a faint smile, signaling that there was no need to worry.

After taking our leave with Xiao Huan, we walked through the Cining Garden. Not caring about the eunuchs trailing behind us, I quickened my pace to catch his hand and asked in a hushed voice, "Brother Xiao, when you told the Empress Dowager I was pregnant earlier—was that true or not?"

He chuckled softly, "I lied to her. How could anyone tell so soon?"

I recalled the imperial physician who had gripped my wrist. If Xiao Huan hadn't arrived in time, what would the Empress Dowager have done to me? Forced me to reveal what message my father had sent? Confined me? Or outright killed me? What was the Empress Dowager's purpose in all this? What does she want? What does my father want? My thoughts were a tangled mess, and I couldn't make sense of it.

"Cang Cang," Xiao Huan gently squeezed my hand. His fingers were cool but steady. "Don't return to the Palace of Gathered Elegance these next few days. Stay by my side and don't wander off."

I nodded and teased with a smile, "Then if you keep me in the Hall of Mental Cultivation every day, won't the other concubines grow too jealous? What if they make a doll, write my birth characters on it, and curse me?"

"With all three thousand affections focused on you alone, such glory comes with a price. A little cursing won't hurt," he joked.

"Pah! Think you're so impressive? Just to be with you, I have to endure curses from those women?" I pretended to scoff.

As we spoke, we turned a corner, and a cold wind blew toward us. Xiao Huan frowned slightly and coughed a few times. Though the Cold Poison in his body had lingered for years, he had never been this sensitive to the wind before. I quickly stepped in front of him to block the breeze and grinned, "Walking ahead of His Majesty—isn't that disrespectful? Should I be punished for it?"

"That’s quite the offense," he mused with mock solemnity. "Then I sentence you to serve tea in the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"Your Majesty is too cruel! How could you banish me to serve tea in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? Why not banish me there to eat, drink, and monopolize the bed instead?" I bargained.

"No," he shook his head gravely. "That wouldn’t be a punishment—it’d be a reward."

"Some reward! Being cooped up in the Hall of Mental Cultivation is so dull. I’d rather be banished to the Yumen Pass to count camels..." I laughed.

By the time we returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Huan was still coughing lightly. I had someone bring him a bowl of warm loquat syrup to soothe his throat and playfully pushed him onto the daybed. "Brother Xiao, I’ve thought of a good way to stay by your side without drawing attention."

Curious, he coughed and smiled. "What is it? I’ve come up with a brilliant idea."

I grinned mischievously. "Wait for me—I need to go back to the Palace of Gathered Elegance first."

Hurrying back to my palace, I shed the cumbersome phoenix-embroidered gown dragging on the floor and changed into a white silk short jacket and rose-red skirt that Xiaoshan had fetched—the typical attire of a palace maid.

After washing off the heavy makeup and styling my hair into a layered bun, I checked the mirror. I really did look like a maid. Then again, I wasn’t a beauty like Du Tingxin, who shone no matter what she wore.

Once dressed, I left with my head bowed demurely. Though I passed two groups of concubines along the way, none noticed anything amiss.

Strolling leisurely to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shi Yan stopped me at the door, his voice as cold and rigid as ever. "Which palace are you from? State your business."

Without blinking, I answered, "A married woman from the Palace of Gathered Elegance, here for a secret rendezvous with her lover."Shi Yan froze, his eyes widening as he looked at me: "Wh...what?"

I tilted my head up and winked at him: "Commander Shi, it's cold out—smiling more will keep you warm."

Shi Yan stood there gaping in astonishment. Cheerfully lifting my skirt, I hopped into the room. Only after walking a few steps did I hear Shi Yan murmur behind me: "Your Majesty... His Majesty is in council..."

But it was already too late. As soon as I entered, I saw Xiao Huan seated behind the imperial desk, with Minister of Revenue Zhao Mingde and Vice Minister of Works Li Linhai standing below the desk. Feng Wufu stood in attendance beside the desk. Suddenly seeing a young palace maid swagger in, they were all taken aback.

When Xiao Huan saw me, a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes, and he nodded, saying: "Come here."

I quickly bowed my head and replied: "As Your Majesty commands." Then I took small steps to stand behind Xiao Huan.

Meanwhile, Zhao Mingde and Li Linhai, still in high spirits, immediately resumed their argument.

After listening for a while, I gathered they were debating the dredging of the Grand Canal. Li Linhai advocated mobilizing laborers immediately during the winter, when water levels were low and farmers were idle, to clear the riverbed. Zhao Mingde, however, argued that with New Year's Day and the Emperor's birthday approaching, the Ministry of Revenue couldn't spare the funds.

Li Linhai had a fiery temper and actually pointed at Zhao Mingde's nose, accusing him of withholding funds allocated to the Ministry of Works, while the expenses for New Year's Day and the Emperor's birthday could be adjusted—who knew if Zhao Mingde had embezzled any? This struck a nerve, and the two high-ranking officials began quarreling right in the Imperial presence.

Listening to them made my head spin. People always say serving in court is such a glorious and illustrious affair, but from what I know, aside from their daily duties, these high officials spend most of their time bickering with their colleagues—arguing from the Six Ministries to the Grand Secretariat, and from the Grand Secretariat all the way to the Imperial presence.

Each of them is a learned scholar from the Hanlin Academy, quoting classics and making veiled accusations, determined not to stop until they've thoroughly humiliated their opponent while simultaneously showcasing their own selfless devotion to the public good and unwavering integrity.

If you ask me, why go through all this trouble? If two people can't stand each other, they should just strip to the waist, find a spot, and settle it with a fight. Whoever wins gets their way, and afterward, they can pat each other on the back and go for a drink together. That'd be better than this, where everyone ends up glaring at each other like fighting cocks.

Xiao Huan had been frowning in silence the whole time. Only when their argument reached the point of red-faced shouting did he finally say sharply: "Enough! What kind of behavior is this?"

Only then did Zhao Mingde and Li Linhai stop, kneeling to beg forgiveness, though both still looked defiant and unsatisfied.

"Each of you submit a memorial when you return," Xiao Huan said, waving his hand. "Dismissed."

Zhao Mingde and Li Linhai bowed and retreated backward out of the room. Xiao Huan turned to look at me and smiled: "That outfit suits you quite well. Was this the idea you mentioned?"

I nodded, stroking my chin with a grin: "Your Majesty has peculiar tastes—does dressing as a palace maid make me look good?"

He thought for a moment: "Then let's just say Cang Cang is naturally beautiful, equally charming whether adorned or plain. No matter how you dress, you always look lovely..."

"Enough," I cut him off. "No need to force the flattery. Just say I make a good palace maid and be done with it."

After dinner, Feng Wufu came to ask how to accommodate me. Xiao Huan casually replied to add a palace maid's nameplate in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, under the name Bai Qi.

I didn't understand at first, but Xiao Huan glanced at me and deliberately drawled: "Xiao Bai's wife—hence Bai Qi (White Wife)."

Fine. Now that I was officially registered in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, I stayed by Xiao Huan's side while he reviewed memorials.Before long, he ordered without even looking up, "Bring me another cup of tea."

I quickly took away the cooled tea by his side and brought in a fresh, hot one.

Then he spoke again, "The light is too dim."

I hurried to brighten all the candles in the room and trimmed the wicks.

No sooner had I returned than he pointed to a stack of memorials beside him, "Take these away."

...This moment of relentless demands—he really was treating me like a palace maid.

But as the night deepened, he quieted down. Watching his figure, my eyelids grew heavy. The warmth from the brazier in the chamber made me drowsy, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep with my head on the table.

When I woke up and lifted my head, I saw Xiao Huan still bent over the memorials, his posture seemingly unchanged.

I leaned over, snatched the memorial from his hands, closed it, and set it aside. "What time is it already? There's no rush. Do you think your body can handle this strain?"

He looked up and smiled. "Fine. You may kneel and take your leave. Have Wufu arrange accommodations for you."

"Ah?" My eyes widened. "Why do I need separate accommodations?"

"You gave up being empress to serve as a maid in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. If you're not staying in the maids' quarters, where else would you stay?" He chuckled, clearly amused.

"Your bed in the Eastern Warm Chamber is so big..." I rubbed my temples. "Aren't you afraid of rolling off in the middle of the night?"

"No, that bed isn't for women," he shook his head.

"But we slept there just last night!" I was nearly driven mad by him. If he refused again, I'd simply refuse to leave.

"Cang Cang," he suddenly reached out, cupping my face. "If you want to sleep in my bed, you'll have to bathe with me."

How could he say something so suggestive with such a straight face!

My face burned, but I raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and kissed his thin lips. "Together it is, then. Who's afraid of whom?"

At that moment, happiness surged to the top of my head—everything was perfect, couldn't be more perfect.

By the time we went to bed, I was already exhausted. Before drifting off, I remembered that New Year's Day and the Longevity Festival were approaching. Mumbling sleepily, I asked, "Brother Xiao, your birthday is coming up. What would you like as a gift?"

After a pause, he chuckled. "Well... could you try not to be so loud that day?"

I caught the implication. "What do you mean, 'not so loud'? Am I loud all the time?"

He smiled. "Not loud, just... not that loud."

He'd been teasing me all day, and it made my teeth itch with frustration. Grumbling, I said, "I'm being serious!"

Still smiling, he replied, "Anything small will do. Just don't crush me with another coral tree again."

In previous years, as the future empress and the daughter of the Chief Grand Secretary, I had always presented Xiao Huan with a birthday gift for the Longevity Festival. Back then, to save trouble, I'd simply grab a coral tree from the storeroom, wrap it up, and send it over. I hadn't even paid attention to such trivial matters, yet this guy remembered.

"Fine, no coral tree," I yawned, pouting. "So petty."

He smiled but didn't respond.

Yawning again, I rolled over and bundled myself in the blankets. After a moment, I murmured, "Tell me, was the coral tree really that bad?"

A flick landed on my forehead.

This was the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the eighth year of the Virtuous Blessing reign of Great Wu. For both the inner court and the outer court, it was an utterly ordinary and peaceful day.

At this time, there were still twenty days until the New Year's Day of the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing and the Longevity Festival celebrating the twenty-first birthday of the Virtuous Blessing Emperor.