The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

When Shen Wangxi returned to Taiji Hall after court, he indeed saw that Shen Qingruo had already woken up.

Today she was wearing a light purple gauze dress, and she moved her small embroidered stool next to the ice mirror, holding a storybook in her hands, engrossed in reading it.

Shen Wangxi walked over and reached out to help her up.

The touch was icy cold, and his brows immediately furrowed, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure:

"Didn't I say that once you've cooled down from the heat, you should stay away from ice? Your hands are so cold, why don't you take care of yourself?"

Caught red-handed, Shen Qingruo glanced at him guiltily and whispered in her defense, "Aruo just doesn't like the heat..."

"Besides, feeling cold isn't entirely due to ice."

Her voice softened, yet carried a hint of self-righteousness, "It's just that Aruo's body is like this. His Majesty holds her every night; can't she feel it?"

Shen Wangxi was taken aback by her words.

How could he not feel it?

Holding her soft, fragrant body in his arms at night, feeling its cool, smooth texture, he sighed more than once that when he was young, he always thought that the description of "ice-like skin and jade-like bones" in ancient poems was an exaggeration, but now he knew that it was absolutely true.

But he remained stern, pulled her away slightly, and pressed her down to sit on the soft couch, admonishing her, "Nonsense. From now on, sit here and don't go near the ice mirror again."

Shen Qingruo pouted first, as if she wanted to refute.

Shen Wangxi added casually, "Moreover, being exposed to too much cold will affect your ability to give birth to a prince for me."

Upon hearing the name of the young prince, the little girl's eyes widened, but she swallowed back the words she was about to say. In the end, she obediently nodded and said, "Oh, Aruo understands."

Seeing her unusually obedient and remorseful appearance, Shen Wangxi's expression softened slightly. He reached out and ruffled her hair, but sighed inwardly.

He was afraid she would overthink things, so he never let the imperial physician tell her the truth.

Her body needs to be nourished and replenished for at least two years, and she must continue taking herbal medicine, before she can conceive a child for him.

Seeing her obediently listen because of her expectations for the child, he felt a little uneasy, worried that she would be disappointed and sad if she found out the truth later.

Shen Qingruo, unaware of Shen Wangxi's thoughts, saw his expression soften and immediately moved closer, sitting down next to him. She picked up a grape, held it to his lips, and blinked, asking, "Your Majesty, are you not angry anymore?"

Shen Wangxi lowered her head, put a grape in her mouth, suppressed her worry, and nodded: "Mm."

After he finished eating, he continued, "The Ministry of Rites has drafted the regulations. In a few days, I will take you to the Western Hills Palace to escape the summer heat."

Shen Qingruo's eyes immediately lit up: "Really?"

But then she suddenly remembered something, tilted her head, and asked, "Then... will Her Majesty the Empress go too?"

Shen Wangxi paused. According to palace rules, the Empress should accompany her on such occasions, and it would indeed be inappropriate to bypass her.

Before he could figure out how to answer without upsetting the girl, Shen Qingruo gave a soft snort, tugged at his sleeve, and said in a voice that was both gentle and forceful:

"Even if His Majesty brings the Empress, he is not allowed to stay overnight at her place!"

Shen Wangxi found her jealousy amusing, reached out and pulled her into his arms, pinching the tip of her nose:

"You heartless little thing."

"Leaving aside other times, even on the first and fifteenth of the month, when have I not stayed at the Taiji Palace or at your place?"

"The annals of history are filled with records of you, Princess Yilan."

Shen Qingruo squirmed in his arms, blinked her big eyes, and whispered:

"Your Majesty speaks so kindly, but didn't you secretly come to Qingyi Palace to visit Aruo before, without it being recorded in the official history?"

Shen Wangxi felt a little embarrassed by what she said and was about to reprimand her when the girl looked up again, her expression tentative and somewhat uneasy:

"Have you ever secretly visited the Jiaofang Palace behind Aruo's back...?"

As she spoke, she buried her face in his chest, her eyes reddening instantly, tears welling up in them.

"If His Majesty were to favor the Empress and allow the Empress to conceive His Majesty's child first, then Aruo... Aruo would not live!"

"Nonsense!" Shen Wangxi's face darkened, her anger rising, feeling both furious and heartbroken.

"How can you keep saying things like 'I'm going to die' all the time? Don't you have any sense of propriety? Do you even know what's wrong with your body...?"

He thought of the several times she had been critically ill, and his tone grew increasingly serious, "What if she falls ill again one day, and something really happens to her? What am I supposed to do?"

Shen Qingruo seemed not to hear his rebuke, nor did she care about her own body; her eyes were only on him, and she was fixated on that answer.

Seeing that he didn't answer, the little girl's tears rolled down her cheeks.

Seeing her like this, Shen Wangxi's anger subsided.

He recalled that he had only said a few harsh words to her before, and she had become disheartened, fell seriously ill, and almost died.

He doesn't dare to think about the danger he faced back then anymore, because he can't bear to lose her; even the thought terrifies him.

Shen Wangxi sighed, deeply enamored with her gentle, sincere nature and her deep affection for him.

On the one hand, she was increasingly worried. With her pure and stubborn nature, if she were to be plotted against even once in this deep palace, it would be a catastrophe.

He put away all his sternness, cupped her small face in his hands, wiped away her tears, and earnestly told her, "Aruo, listen to me."

"Since you came into my life, I have never visited Wulan Yun again."

He paused, then continued explaining, his voice low and sincere:

"At first, it was because your body was too alluring, and I felt so comfortable with you that I didn't want to force myself to go to her."

He looked into her eyes, his tone full of tenderness:

"Later, it was because Aruo was so well-behaved and lovable that she quietly slipped into my heart."

"I want only you."

Shen Qingruo stared at him blankly.

Shen Wangxi looked at her dazed expression, lowered his head, gently kissed her wet eyelashes, and pulled her closer into his arms.

"So, you're not allowed to say anything about not wanting to live anymore, understand?" His voice was forceful, yet it also contained a plea. "You must stay by my side."

Shen Qingruo reached out her small hands and hugged his strong waist back, nodding obediently.

The two embraced quietly for a while.

Although Shen Qingruo had always known that he had never favored Wulan Yun, she was still secretly pleased by his words that he only wanted her.

She grew bolder, her arms softly wrapping around his neck, her delicate face tilted up, her voice tinged with shyness yet concealing a daring seduction:

"Then, Your Majesty, in what ways does Aruo surpass the Empress, making Your Majesty more comfortable...?"

As soon as she said it, she was so embarrassed that she buried her face in his neck and refused to look up.

Her innocent yet alluring appearance instantly ignited Shen Wangxi's anger.

"What's so good about it?" He chuckled softly, his voice hoarse.

Shen Wangxi's thin lips drew close to hers, uttering explicit words of love as his large hands began to wander. "My A'ruo, your skin is whiter and smoother than the Empress's."

"Her little face is prettier and more delicate than hers, and when she cries, she is even more pitiful, making me want to give her my heart."

His large hand slowly moved towards Yue Xiong: "This place is rounder and fuller than hers, making me think of it day and night."

"And that tiny waist, that bouncy, perky bottom—every part of it was born to bewitch my soul!"

His head lowered, his breath hot: "And... everywhere you look, you're so fresh and delicate, so vibrant, how could you not surpass her a thousandfold?"

"I love you so much that I wish I could die on your body."

Shen Qingruo felt weak all over from his straightforward and enthusiastic praise, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed, while the little devil in her heart stood with his hands on his hips, feeling smug.

She enjoyed listening to him compare Wulan Yun to nothing.

Even the thought of the once high and mighty empress now living alone in her empty room, having had all the emperor's favor stolen by her, made her feel utterly wicked, yet also incredibly pleased.

……

Shen Qingruo frowned, tilted her head back, but became even more indulgent towards him.

Shen Wangxi, a man nearly two cycles older than her and already accustomed to the ways of the world, now regarded her youthful yet alluring body as his own precious treasure, manipulating and tormenting it in countless ways.