He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

Su Qingluan raised her chin, her tone carrying a hint of arrogant coldness.

"Did I give you permission to see them?"

"Is it a crime for me to just look at people? You tyrant!"

Xu Yi rubbed his eyes, wincing in pain, and couldn't help but retort.

Su Qingluan ignored his complaints and took out her jade pendant to summon a group of burly, slightly ugly palace maids.

Upon seeing these familiar faces, Xu Yi's expression immediately turned serious.

She whispered a few instructions to the head maid, and the maids immediately stepped forward, supporting Xu Yi as they headed to a side hall to bathe.

Inside the side hall, Xu Yi winced as he looked at his arm, which had been rubbed until it was bright red.

Then, glancing at the palace maids behind him who were straining with all their might, their faces almost contorted in agony, he couldn't help but shout.

"Ouch~ Can you guys be a little quieter!"

One of the palace maids replied expressionlessly.

"No, young master, this is His Majesty's decree."

Xu Yi grimaced in pain, then laughed in exasperation.

"Hiss~ If the emperor ordered you to eat shit, would you eat it too?"

The palace maid paused for a moment, then straightened her back and replied righteously.

"If this is His Majesty's order, then we have no choice but to comply."

Xu Yi almost lost his composure when he heard this; Su Qingluan really knew how to train dogs.

After taking a shower, Xu Yi felt like his arms and legs were almost numb from being scrubbed.

The palace maids dressed him in the blue brocade robe that Su Qingluan had given him and then tidied his hair.

After that, Su Qingluan led him out of the palace, and soon they arrived in front of a large carriage.

The two masked women in black were guarding the carriage.

Upon seeing Su Qingluan and Xu Yi approach, they immediately stepped forward and lifted the carriage curtain.

Su Qingluan glanced at Xu Yi beside her, then raised her hand and pushed him forward.

The force was considerable; Xu Yi staggered a couple of steps before regaining his balance, almost falling into the carriage.

He steadied himself and was about to explode in anger when Su Qingluan walked in.

She sat down on the inside of the carriage, leaned against the cushions, closed her eyes lazily, and looked quite content.

The carriage is very spacious inside, so there are many seats.

Xu Yi rubbed his arm and found a seat furthest away from her.

Su Qingluan opened her eyes, glanced at Xu Yi, and seeing him hiding far away, frowned and pointed to the person next to her.

"Sit here with me, don't block my view of the scenery."

Ha, isn't it clearly me sitting next to you that really affects your view of the scenery?

Xu Yi reluctantly sat down while thinking about it.

Su Qingluan turned her head to look at him, her gaze falling on his flushed cheeks, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Oh, why is your face red, and your body too?"

Xu Yi glared at her and muttered angrily.

"You really have the nerve to ask... I'm covered in red marks because of those palace maids scrubbing me, ugh, it hurts like hell."

Su Qingluan glanced at him indifferently, her tone light and unreadable.

"It's supposed to hurt, that's what I'm showing you."

Upon hearing these words, Xu Yi was so angry that his teeth itched. He grabbed the pastries and candies on the table and began to eat them in large bites.

Su Qingluan looked at his childish appearance, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. She slowly reminded him...

"Eat less sugar. The sugar in this is made from fermented rice wine, which contains alcohol."

"With your alcohol tolerance of just one cup, you might as well throw up all over my carriage later."

Xu Yi, with a candy in his mouth, thought disdainfully:

Are you kidding me? You think a little bit of alcohol-based candy can make me throw up? Does this woman think I'm a child?

Xu Yi was seething with anger and determined to go against her, so he grabbed the candy and stuffed it into his mouth even more enthusiastically.

I'll eat it, then I'll spit it all over you later.

boom!

Before half an incense stick had even finished thinking, Xu Yi got drunk and collapsed onto the tea table.

Su Qingluan looked down at Xu Yi, who was slumped over the table, and found him rather cute.

She paused slightly, then raised her hand and gently wiped away the sugar crumbs from the corner of Xu Yi's mouth with her delicate fingertips.

Then, following the movement, I placed my hand on his shoulder and pulled him up with a little force.

Xu Yi was limp and powerless, and he slumped to the side with Su Qingluan's help, his head resting steadily on her lap.

After finishing all this, Su Qingluan withdrew her hand and slowly looked out the window.

The carriage moved smoothly forward, while the grass and trees outside the window rushed past.

The light and shadow fell on her face, making her eyebrows and eyes appear even softer, and her fingertips occasionally gently touched Xu Yi's hair, slowly combing through the strands.

Half an hour later, Xu Yi woke up groggily.

He felt as if he were resting his head on a very fragrant and soft place, with a delicate and warm touch, which was exceptionally comfortable.

Even through a thin layer of clothing, you can clearly feel the soft and smooth skin underneath.

It was so comfortable that Xu Yi didn't want to get up at all, so he rubbed against the wall haphazardly.

Then it suddenly dawned on me that this fragrance could only be found on Su Qingluan!

Xu Yi quickly sat up and looked at Su Qingluan, his tone filled with panic and confusion.

"Why...am I on your lap?"

Su Qingluan propped her cheek on her hand, her fingertips still lingering where she had just stroked his hair. Her phoenix eyes were slightly lowered as she quietly looked at him, her tone calm and even.

"You came to me on your own after you got drunk."

Xu Yi frowned, his face full of disbelief. How could he possibly move up to Su Qingluan on his own and even rest his head on her lap?

Xu Yi thought for a moment, but his mind was a complete mess, and he had no recollection whatsoever. He could only ask further.

"Given your personality, didn't you slap me a couple of times to wake me up?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qingluan's lips curled into a faint smile, tinged with a hint of mockery, her tone languid.

"Why would an owner want to refuse when their pet takes the initiative to approach them?"

Xu Yi was furious after hearing this and wanted to retort, but he hesitated to speak.

His head was throbbing so badly that he couldn't organize his thoughts, so he turned his head to the other side and stopped looking at the woman.

Seeing his awkward expression, Su Qingluan lightly tapped her long, snow-white legs with her fingertips and slowly spoke.

"From now on, don't try to get drunk to get close to me just because you're too embarrassed to do it."

She paused, her voice softening slightly, carrying a hint of deliberate gentleness.

"If you really want to come closer, just say so. I'll be tolerant of you~"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yi nearly died of anger on the spot. He covered his ears and buried his head in his hands.

Seeing his expression, Su Qingluan stopped teasing him and quietly looked out the window.

The carriage continued its journey, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed, slowly moving from the fields and forests of the suburbs into a bustling town.

Another incense stick's time passed, and Su Qingluan raised her foot and gently kicked Xu Yi, who was still keeping his head down.

"You've always called me a tyrant, haven't you? Now, open the curtains, look outside, and see the prosperous world I've created."

Xu Yi chuckled, slowly moved his hand away, and disdainfully lifted a corner of the curtain.

He glanced outside, then said with a mocking tone.

"It's just a city, and one that's so close to the palace, of course it's bustling."

"What if we reach a city far from the palace, a border city?"

"You'll see what I'm capable of then."

"No matter how prosperous the capital is, it is only the prosperity of the capital. We ordinary people still live a hard life."

"Take me for example, I used to eat bran and wild vegetables every day."