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

The next morning, as dawn broke, the Taiji Hall remained quiet.

Wu Tian, ​​accompanied by two trusted eunuchs, quietly entered the outer hall.

The area around the imperial desk was somewhat messy, with memorials scattered on the floor and the bright yellow tablecloth crumpled beyond recognition.

Wu Tian glanced at them, and the eunuchs immediately understood and began to tidy up quickly.

One person carefully picked up the memorial.

The other person held their breath and very gently tore off the crumpled brocade, then unfolded a brand new piece of brocade and laid it out neatly.

The entire process was almost completely silent.

Wu Tian glanced at the clean floor, making sure there were no more traces, before leading his men out silently, just as they had come, and gently closing the palace door behind them.

-

Shen Wangxi was already awake on the dragon bed in the inner palace.

Today is a day off, no need for the morning court session.

He lay on his side, propping his head up with one arm, his gaze fixed on the little girl beside him.

She nestled under the brocade quilt, fast asleep, still drowsy from the previous night's drunkenness and the tender care he had shown her. Her breathing was shallow and even, her lips were moist and red, revealing an unknowingly charming innocence.

Shen Wangxi looked at her, his heart filled with love. His fingertips twitched, wanting to touch her soft, tender cheeks, but he was afraid of disturbing her sleep, so he held back.

His thoughts drifted away, filled with regret and sighs. He had slept with her quite a few times, and all his favors had been given to her alone.

But after all this time, there's still no sign of pregnancy in her belly. It seems we need to continue to help her recover.

Shen Wangxi's eyes darkened as she thought of the child in Qingyi Palace that she had failed to save.

If it weren't for that bastard Ayan, his Aruo might already be showing her pregnancy by now.

Thinking of this, he secretly made up his mind that he would reduce the dowry he had prepared for Shen Jingyan by half again, and use the rest to compensate for the baby that Aruo had given birth to for him.

As Shen Wangxi was thinking, the person beside her let out a soft hum, her long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She blinked her hazy, watery eyes, her consciousness gradually returning. She met Shen Wangxi's focused gaze and immediately recalled the absurdity of last night, her snow-white face flushing slightly.

"Awake?" Shen Wangxi asked in a low voice, naturally reaching out to pull her into his arms.

"Mmm." She buried her face in his firm chest, punched him a few times in frustration with her little fists, and then asked, "What time is it?"

"It's still early, sleep a little longer." He stroked her long, black hair that was loose down her back with his large hand, the hair feeling cool and smooth.

Shen Qingruo snuggled into his arms to find a comfortable position, but she wasn't sleepy at all.

She looked up at him with her small face: "Your Majesty, are you not busy today?"

"Take a break." He said succinctly, his fingertips twirling a strand of her hair.

"That's great." She smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling. "I can spend the whole day with Aruo."

Looking at her contented expression, Shen Wangxi's heart softened, and he lowered his head to kiss her smooth forehead: "Yes, I'll stay with you."

She stretched out her snow-white arms and wrapped them around his neck, softly requesting, "Then Your Majesty, would you like to draw Aruo's eyebrows? Just like in the storybooks."

He would never refuse, so he got up, fetched the snail-shaped ink, and sat back down on the edge of the bed.

Shen Qingruo obediently sat up, tilted her little face up, and closed her eyes.

Shen Wangxi held the snail shell in her hands, her movements somewhat clumsy, yet extremely earnest.

His gaze was fixed intently on her face, and he thought her eyebrows were naturally beautiful without any makeup, and the vulgar things in her hands were unworthy of her.

"Is it done?" she asked softly, her voice filled with anticipation as she savored the feeling of being served by him.

Shen Wangxi carefully finished drawing her eyebrows, then pinched her chin, examined them closely for a moment, and thought they were fairly neat.

He said, "It's finished."

Shen Qingruo picked up the small bronze mirror beside her, looked at herself, and praised, "Your Majesty's painting is truly excellent."

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, "As a reward for Your Majesty."

Shen Wangxi was pleased by her praise, but still felt that she looked better without the makeup.

He had already decided that he would have the palace maid who was helping her wash up secretly wash away the marks he had drawn.