Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Liu Wenying pretended not to understand and wrapped herself in the blanket to get downstairs.

Xiao Yiheng wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin against her shoulder.

"Did I grant you permission to leave? Hmm?"

"His Majesty……"

"Call me Yiheng." He bit her earlobe, feeling the person in his arms tremble slightly.

Liu Wenying wanted to say something more, but he led her back into the bedchamber.

The quilt still carried the scent of last night. He leaned down and kissed her lips, swallowing back the rest of his words.

This time I was more awake and more tormented than last night.

When it was over, she collapsed onto the pillow, her body aching and her mind a jumbled mess.

How long has it been since he last...?

When the thought popped into her head, Liu Wenying blushed.

Xiao Yiheng lay on his side beside her, playing with a strand of her long hair with his fingers, looking completely satisfied.

Liu Wenying caught her breath and suddenly remembered what the eldest princess had said. Her mouth worked faster than her brain, and she blurted out, "The harem is empty, and the court officials are already discussing it. The war with the Northern Barbarians is not yet over..."

Before she could finish speaking, he silenced her with his lips.

"You've upset me, so you'll have to be punished."

Before Liu Wenying could react, he turned her over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Your Majesty, it's really getting late."

"My word is law."

After a long, long time, Liu Wenying didn't even have the strength to sob anymore.

Xiao Yiheng chuckled softly in her ear, kissing her sweat-dampened temples, "Dare you bring it up again?"

Liu Wenying shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

When the sun was high in the sky, he finally let her go and called someone in to help her bathe.

The palace servants, keeping their eyes straight ahead, prepared hot water and clean clothes before retreating.

Liu Wenying soaked in the hot water, her whole body aching and sore that she didn't want to move.

Xiao Yiheng sat opposite her, but he was in excellent spirits and personally took a cloth to wipe her back.

"That might not be appropriate..."

Liu Wenying tried to politely refuse, but Xiao Yiheng didn't give her the chance, pressing her shoulders down and turning her around.

As he wiped her down with a cloth, he replied matter-of-factly, "Serving my own woman is a matter of course."

After washing and dressing, the meal served cannot be called breakfast, but rather mid-morning meal.

The dishes were still exquisite, all of which were Liu Wenying's favorites.

Xiao Yiheng picked up a piece of shrimp ball and put it into her bowl.

"Eat more; you used up a lot of energy last night, so you need to replenish your strength."

Liu Wenying glared at him with her almond-shaped eyes, her gaze brimming with a hint of coquettishness.

After filling her stomach, it was getting late, and Liu Wenying really had to go back.

This time, Xiao Yiheng did not stop her.

He had a carriage prepared and personally escorted her to the palace gate.

Just before getting into the carriage, he took her hand and kissed her on the forehead.

"Next time you come, I will prepare a gift for you."

Liu Wenying asked in confusion, "What gift?"

"You'll know once you come; you're not allowed to not come."

Knowing that he was deliberately teasing her, Liu Wenying still couldn't resist her curiosity.

But this curiosity didn't last long. As the carriage drove out of the palace gate, he thought of the other people in the manor.

He didn't come home last night, and now he's only back at this hour. How can I explain this...? My head is starting to hurt again.

Liu Wenying was secretly suffering.

Springtime is long, the palace walls are lined with newly green willows, and poplar catkins float and drift in the wind.

Ever since that night, Xiao Yiheng has frequently summoned her to the palace by imperial decree.

Each time, she was summoned to the front hall for a meeting under the guise of discussing the progress of the almshouse expansion or the implementation of pension policies by the prefecture and county.

But often, the topic of conversation would gradually veer off course before half a moment had passed.

Liu Wenying was also taken by him from the front hall to the elegant inner hall.

Liu Wenying was clear-headed and always tried to resist and extricate herself in time.

But Xiao Yiheng understood her thoughts best and handled them perfectly.

Knowing that she was quite wealthy and never lacked money or worldly possessions, he did not send her gold, silver, or precious jewels, but instead chose rare and exotic items.

Sometimes they are unique jewelry items that have flowed in from outside the region, and sometimes they are exquisite ornaments that are rare in Lingnan.

There are even small, exquisite objects that he meticulously crafted himself while deep in thought at his desk.

She was always softened by his unique gestures, and eventually couldn't resist his gentle entreaties, giving in time and time again, letting him keep her for most of the day.

The same is true today.

It begins at Chen Shi (7-9 AM) and ends at Wei Shi (1-3 PM).

Liu Wenying felt weak all over and didn't want to move a finger while he was holding her in his arms.

Xiao Yiheng gently stroked her back intermittently to comfort her.

Suddenly, he pulled a silk bag from under his pillow and stuffed it into her hand.

The bag was made of dark purple brocade, smooth to the touch and heavy in the hand. It should contain a long, hard object, about three inches long.

"What is this?" Liu Wenying asked curiously, and was about to untie the rope.

Xiao Yiheng pressed her hand down, "Take it apart when we get back."

This wasn't the first time I'd given her a gift, but never before had it been done so mysteriously.

"Can't I watch it now?"

"No, wait until we get back to the estate and I'm alone before we look into it."

Liu Wenying squeezed the cloth bag and vaguely felt that it was a scroll, which made her even more curious.

But seeing that he insisted, I didn't force him.

Liu Wenying put the cloth bag away and turned to look at the sky outside the window.

"I have to go back. It's the Spring Festival today, and I promised Third Master and the others I'd be back for dinner."

Xiao Yiheng tightened his grip on her arm. "Stay with me a little longer."

"Your Majesty, if we don't leave now, we won't be able to get back before dark," Liu Wenying said helplessly.

If Chunshe hadn't been worried about him being all alone, Liu Wenying wouldn't have come so early.

Knowing he couldn't push his luck too far, Xiao Yiheng had no choice but to loosen his grip.

He leaned against the pillow, his black hair loose, his clothes half-open, revealing his chest.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on her and never left her.

The palace gardens are beautiful in spring, but none of them can compare to what's right in front of us.

Xiao Yiheng couldn't help but look forward to seeing her again, and asked, "When will you come next time?"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Wenying said, "Let's wait a few days."

Xiao Yiheng picked up his clothes and put them on, preparing to see her off.

Half an incense stick later, Liu Wenying followed the palace maids and easily left the palace gate.

Standing atop the high palace tower, Xiao Yiheng watched them go.

White poplar catkins drifted gently in the air, landing softly and hazily on the vermilion palace walls and the long blue stone steps.

The woman below walked further and further away, her green dress billowing in the wind, her sleeves fluttering like a bluebird about to take flight.

Light and free, she journeys to the vibrant world that belongs to her.

Xiao Yiheng stood quietly, his gaze fixed on that figure's back.

A gentle breeze swept by, and a wisp of catkin drifted down. He opened his palm, letting it fall into it, and then slowly gathered it up.

When she comes next time, I'll make a fluffy ball out of poplar fluff to cheer her up.

As dusk fell, the setting sun bathed Zhuangzi in its glow.

Inside the main hall of the manor, the Spring Festival banquet had already been prepared.

Four people sat around a table, which was laden with dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables.

There are bamboo shoots and cured pork, fried river shrimp, shepherd's purse and tofu, steamed perch, locust flower cake... all seasonal delicacies, and all of them are Liu Wenying's favorites.

Xue Bi also had hot water bottles prepared. Although it was already summer, the evening breeze was cool, so if Wenying returned feeling cold, they could warm her up immediately.

But as they waited and waited, the main chair remained empty, as if it had been forgotten by its owner.

…………