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

Inside the painted boat, however, was a completely different scene.

Liu Wenying changed out of her stained dress. The sugary drink clung to the fabric, making her feel uncomfortable.

The new dress that Xiao Yiheng prepared was the perfect size, and the material was lighter and thinner, making it cool and comfortable to wear.

She was tying her sash when she was suddenly hugged from behind.

Xiao Yiheng rested his chin on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her: "Qingqing looks good in anything."

"What Your Majesty prepared is naturally perfect."

Liu Wenying let him hold her as he tied the last knot.

The painted boat rocked gently; it had already left the shore and was heading towards the center of the lake.

"Isn't Your Majesty going down? The officials are still waiting."

"Just showing your face is enough."

Xiao Yiheng spoke in a lazy tone.

"If I just sit there, they will feel constrained."

Liu Wenying recalled the expectant looks in the eyes of those noble ladies and couldn't help but say:

"But not everyone thinks it's good that His Majesty has shown up. Those girls are all hoping that His Majesty will bestow hairpins upon them."

Xiao Yiheng followed her gaze to the table.

A dozen or so gold and jade hairpins were neatly arranged on a rosewood tray. Some were made of pure gold and kingfisher feathers, while others were inlaid with gemstones. Each one was exquisitely crafted and truly something that could make one fly to the top of a tree.

"Is that what you're asking about?" He raised an eyebrow.

Liu Wenying nodded: "Whoever you like will be rewarded with the hairpin, and you can rise to the top in one step. I just saw it all. So many women gathered together, it was truly a hundred flowers blooming in competition. Each one had its own beauty, whether plump or slender. Your Majesty is very fortunate."

She spoke with a straight face, but Xiao Yiheng sensed something else in her words.

He released her, moved to face her, and leaned close, their noses almost touching.

"Why does it smell... a bit sour?"

Liu Wenying was startled and subconsciously sniffed her sleeve.

"No, I've already changed my clothes, and the spilled drink was sweet, not sour."

Xiao Yiheng couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to gently flick her nose: "Are you jealous of my Qingqing?"

"I didn't." Liu Wenying turned her head away, her ears slightly red from the sun.

"Okay, okay, no."

Xiao Yiheng readily agreed, his smile deepening.

"If you like those hairpins, take them all back; they're useless to me anyway."

"I don't want it. The gold and jade hairpin is too heavy and will press on my neck."

Xiao Yiheng, however, became interested and actually picked up a gold and kingfisher feather hairpin, gently inserting it into her hair.

Liu Wenying tried to dodge, but he pressed her shoulder down: "Don't move."

Then it was one, two, three...

He seemed to have found an interesting game, and began inserting the hairpins from the tray into her hair one by one.

I finished putting seven or eight hairpins in my hair, and then I stopped when there was really no more room.

Liu Wenying, who was being used as a jewelry stand, glanced at the bronze mirror next to her and couldn't help but chuckle.

The woman in the mirror had piled-up hair, adorned with gold and jade, which was somewhat exaggerated, but it complemented her delicate features and did not appear vulgar, but rather had a unique kind of splendor.

"Like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, it's dazzling to people when it goes out." Liu Wenying looked left and right, laughing uncontrollably.

Xiao Yiheng embraced her from behind, looking at their overlapping reflections in the mirror, and said with a smile, "My peacock, of course, must be dressed up beautifully."

The pleasure boat had reached the center of the lake, and the laughter on the shore became faint. Inside the pleasure boat, it was as if they were isolated from the world, with only the two of them inside.

Xiao Yiheng took off a jade hairpin and played with the plum blossom carving on the head of the hairpin.

"I didn't even look at any of those noble ladies, you must believe me."

Liu Wenying looked at him through the mirror.

"Even if they are as beautiful as a hundred flowers in bloom as Qingqing described, I only have one flower in my eyes."

He gently inserted the jade hairpin back into her hair.

"I picked it long ago and kept it in the heart. No one can take it away from me."

Liu Wenying felt a warmth in her heart, but said aloud, "Your Majesty is becoming more and more skilled at speaking sweet words these days."

"I'm only saying this to you." Xiao Yiheng lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

The noble ladies on the shore are probably still eagerly waiting for His Majesty to bestow hairpins upon them.

But no one knew that the emperor they longed for was, at that moment, just like an ordinary man, adorning his beloved woman with flowers and doing her makeup in a painted boat on the lake.

Who would have thought that the Emperor, who is decisive and authoritative in the imperial court, would also have such a childlike side?

Liu Wenying reached out, pulled out the heaviest gold hairpin, turned around and inserted it into Xiao Yiheng's hair ornament.

"It would be fair if Your Majesty wore one as well."

Xiao Yiheng was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

The painted boat rocks gently, and the fragrance of lotus blossoms lingers around the eyebrows.

……

Huiyin Hall.

In the height of summer, the palace is shaded by parasol trees.

The eldest princess specially sent someone to deliver an oral message, summoning Liu Wenying to the palace for a short visit.

The eldest princess's two children have turned two years old, a time when they are innocent, mischievous, and most difficult to care for.

After exchanging a few casual words, the conversation naturally turned to the trivial matters of raising children.

Liu Wenying is well-versed in childcare, and her expertise is relevant to the field. When discussing details such as children's daily life and habit guidance, she speaks with insightful observations.

Her method was completely different from the old rules of the palace, and it was something that no one had ever heard of before.

The princess listened intently, and ordered the palace servants to record every word Liu Wenying said without missing a single one. From then on, she took care of her two children according to the method Liu Wenying had given her.

As the conversation drew to a close, the sun quietly began to set in the west.

The princess's enthusiasm remained undiminished, and she warmly invited Liu Wenying to stay for dinner. Liu Wenying could not refuse, so she accepted the invitation and dined with the princess in the Huiyin Palace.

The dishes at the banquet were exquisite, but Liu Wenying mistakenly drank some weak wine.

She's naturally a lightweight; she gets dizzy after just one drink.

My head quickly became heavy, my cheeks flushed slightly, and my body felt weak and limp as I became intoxicated.

The princess had never seen anyone so unable to hold their liquor, and she couldn't help but chuckle, but she still ordered the wine to be taken away.

"It was my fault. You should go and rest in the side hall. Drink the hangover soup when it's ready before you leave."

Liu Wenying was indeed very dizzy, so she did not refuse and was helped by the palace maids to the side hall.

She lay on the couch, in a daze, unable to tell the time, only vaguely hearing voices outside.

It was Xiao Yiheng's voice.

"Imperial Aunt, is Wenying here with you?"

The princess said with a smile, "You've come at a bad time; she's already left the palace."

Xiao Yiheng sighed: "I'm a step too late."

"What's the rush? They're not going anywhere; they'll be back in a few days. But you, those old ministers in court, have been bringing up the selection of concubines again lately?"

"Well, it's just the same old talk, saying that I've been on the throne for a long time, the harem is empty, which is detrimental to the foundation of the country."

The eldest princess advised, "You should also consider this; dragging it out like this isn't a solution."

"What's there to consider? There may be other solutions to the matter of offspring."

He had mentioned that method before. The princess paused, then remembered it and whispered a rebuke:

"What nonsense are you spouting? It's true that my child's surname is Xiao, but the imperial lineage has its own orthodox rules and regulations. Don't talk nonsense."

Xiao Yiheng still smiled, "Why not? They are all members of the Xiao family, with Xiao family blood flowing in their veins. If I were to make them my heirs, who would dare utter a single word of dissent?"

Subsequent fragmented words became increasingly low and indistinct.

Liu Wenying was overcome with intoxication, and the sounds around her gradually faded away, becoming indistinct.

When she woke up again, it was already dark. The princess brought a warm hangover soup to her bedside and gently called her to get up.

After drinking the hangover soup and taking a short nap, the effects of the alcohol lingered, and my mind gradually cleared.

After resting for a while, Liu Wenying got up to bid farewell to the Princess.

As she rode back in the carriage, Liu Wenying leaned against the side, her mind heavy with emotion.

Not long ago, Xiao Yiheng embraced her and said, "My dear, I still need an heir for the position of Crown Prince. Will you help me?"

She thought it was a joke, but now she realizes he was serious.

To help or not to help? There seems to be no time to hesitate.

As dusk fell, Liu Wenying, having worked hard all day, returned home.

As soon as they entered the manor, they heard from Granny Wang that Xiao Yiheng had arrived.

"Why didn't you send someone to tell me? I could have gotten back sooner."

Granny Wang rubbed her hands together. "His Majesty specifically instructed that you should not disturb the Master of the Manor, for fear that you would be in a hurry to get on your way. Therefore, this old servant dared not inform you in advance."

Despite holding a high position in the imperial court, Xiao Yiheng still managed to find time to think of her in every way.

With that thought in mind, Liu Wenying quickened her pace as she headed towards the round building.

As soon as they stepped into the round building, they saw Xiao Yiheng come out of another room, which belonged to Pei Dingxuan.

What did they say?

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

"Let's talk when we get back." Xiao Yiheng took her hand and led her into her room.

Today he was dressed in a light blue casual robe, with a jade belt around his waist. His long hair was half tied up, with the rest hanging over his shoulders. He looked less like an emperor than usual, and more like an ordinary nobleman.

The door closed and the bolt was locked.

The lights were not yet on inside, and dusk seeped in through the window, turning everything into a gentle gray-blue.

Liu Wenying turned to light the lamp, but he gently hugged her from behind.

"Don't turn on the lights yet," he said softly, resting his chin on her shoulder.

She stopped moving and let him hold her.

"What's wrong? His Majesty is so busy with state affairs, it's rare for him to come all this way, why are you still unhappy?"

Xiao Yiheng didn't answer, but hugged her even tighter.

Liu Wenying's heart softened. She turned around and raised her hand to stroke his cheek: "Who made His Majesty angry?"

The candle was not lit, so she could not see his expression. His eyelashes drooped, casting deep shadows under his eyes.

She tiptoed and gently touched his lips: "How is it? Feeling better?"

Xiao Yiheng finally reacted, gripping her hand tightly, his voice muffled, "Pei Dingxuan told me everything."

"Um?"

"Once, during Madam Pei's birthday banquet, I was passing by a side room with her when we heard some noise inside... It was you and Pei Zeyu inside."

Liu Wenying said guiltily, "It's been so long, why is Your Majesty bringing it up? Besides, it was an accident..."

It was a real surprise that she wasn't lying to him.

"Is His Majesty jealous?"

"no."

"Then why does His Majesty seem so downcast?"

Xiao Yiheng remained silent.

Liu Wenying sighed and went to light the lamp, but Xiao Yiheng mistakenly thought she was leaving and immediately grabbed her.

She staggered as he pulled her, and before she could regain her balance, he pulled her up by the waist and made her sit on his lap.

"Qingqing, I am a human being, and humans always have emotions."

The words had barely left his lips when a kiss followed.

Liu Wenying pushed him, her hand pressed against his chest, but she couldn't budge him an inch.

His arm locked around her, while his other hand slid down her neck, along her spine to her waist, pressing her even closer to him.

Their breaths mingled, and she tasted the faint bitterness of the tea on his lips, as well as the man's intense possessiveness.

After a long while, he finally released her.

Liu Wenying's lips were swollen and red. Before she could even glare at him, he picked her up.

Xiao Yiheng walked a few steps to the table and pressed her face down on the surface.

"What are you doing... ugh!"

Liu Wenying's chin was lifted, forcing her to turn her face to the side and seal her lips with hers.

"Did he treat you like that too?"

Liu Wenying bit her lip; her silence was tacit agreement.

Xiao Yiheng was not about to give up easily, and finally forced her to speak.

"...So what if it is? Does Your Majesty intend to punish me?"

"Of course you should be punished. Your punishment is... to give me a crown prince."

He gently bit the tender flesh on the back of her neck, a cruel bite as if punishing her.

Liu Wenying couldn't escape, since there really was a throne in his family to inherit.

…………