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

The next day, when it was already broad daylight, Shen Wangxi broke with tradition and did not attend the morning court session.

The inner hall of Taiji Hall was quiet. He had already woken up, propping his head up with one arm, his gaze fixed on the sleeping girl beside him.

Shen Qingruo did not sleep soundly; her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if she could feel discomfort even in her dreams.

She moved slightly, trying to turn over, but the movement aggravated the pain in her body. She let out a soft moan and slowly opened her eyes.

In the past, when he had sex with her, although he used force there, causing her body to ache and feel uncomfortable, he always restrained the strength of his hands and lips, and never truly hurt her delicate skin.

But yesterday, the effects of the drug made him act recklessly and without any restraint.

Shen Qingruo is in a lot of pain all over her body right now.

"Awake?" Shen Wangxi's voice rang out.

Shen Qingruo looked up and met his eyes. Remembering last night, her face paled, and she subconsciously tried to shrink back, but he stretched out his long arm, gently supported her shoulder, and helped her sit up.

The brocade quilt slipped off, revealing her body, which was only dressed in plain gauze. Unlike her usual fair and tender appearance, it was a shocking sight.

"Don't be afraid of me, A'Ruo." Shen Wangxi felt very guilty looking at her frightened eyes.

He reached out and took a small white jade box from the side table. He opened it, and inside was ointment. "I will apply the medicine for you."

Shen Qingruo did not refuse, but simply lowered her head and let him do as he pleased.

Shen Wangxi first took one of her small hands. On the back of her fair and delicate hand, there was a tooth mark, surrounded by red.

He dipped his fingertip in the ointment and gently applied it.

"It's all my fault," he said in a low voice, moving carefully.

Shen Qingruo sniffed but didn't say anything.

Then, he gently parted the neckline of her nightgown with his fingers, revealing her collarbone.

His once fair and flawless skin was now covered with deep and shallow hickeys, tinged with purplish-red, a testament to the force of his kisses last night.

The ointment, applied to the marks, brought a cool sensation, which also caused Shen Qingruo to hiss softly.

"Does it hurt?" Shen Wangxi stopped immediately, her brows furrowed.

Shen Qingruo looked up at him with her watery eyes, full of grievance, her voice soft and tearful as she woke up: "Mmm, it hurts so much."

That cry made Shen Wangxi's heart clench.

He softened his movements, almost holding his breath, as he slowly spread the ointment.

The laces of her nightgown slipped down her shoulders a little, exposing more skin.

The sight was even more appalling, covered with the marks and hickeys he had left behind, some of which were even broken and torn.

Shen Qingruo closed her eyes in embarrassment, her long eyelashes trembling, and a blush rose on her fair face.

Shen Wangxi looked at the mess, her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a pang of regret.

He actually injured her delicate body like this.

Shen Wangxi's fingertips, coated with ointment, carefully touched that most delicate spot.

The ointment relieved the burning pain, and Shen Qingruo relaxed slightly, but she still couldn't help but gasp softly.

"My back hurts too," she complained softly, her voice trembling with tears.

"I know." Shen Wangxi's voice was hoarse, and his movements became even gentler. "Bear with it, the medicine will help you heal faster."

His large hand then caressed her slender waist, where the bluish-purple finger marks were the result of his uncontrollable force the previous night when he was aroused.

The ointment was applied to the bruise, and it felt both sore and painful.

Shen Qingruo finally couldn't hold back anymore and let out a low sob, tears rolling down her face like beads from a broken string.

"Waaah, Shen Wangxi, you're so mean..."

Seeing her tears, Shen Wangxi panicked.

He put down the ointment, pulled her into his arms, and clumsily wiped away her tears with his fingertips.

"It's my fault, I'm such a bastard." He apologized again and again, looking at her red little nose and wet eyes from crying.

"I couldn't control myself last night. I will never hurt Aruo like that again. Please forgive me this time, okay?"

Shen Qingruo buried her face in his chest, sobbing, but her slender white arms quietly wrapped around his waist, clinging to him dependently.

"Then, apply the medicine gently," she said in a muffled voice, her tone nasal.

"Alright, I'll be gentler." Shen Wangxi breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the ointment again, and moved even more carefully.

-

After applying the medicine to the little girl, Shen Wangxi took the pale yellow dress that had been prepared and helped her put it on.

Afterwards, he personally helped her wash up and fed her small bites of breakfast before letting Wu Tian come forward to serve him.

Although Shen Qingruo was dressed neatly, her whole body was still sore and weak, so she lazily leaned back on the pillow and tilted her head to watch the palace servants serve Shen Wangxi.

He opened his arms and let the palace maids remove his undergarments.

Shen Qingruo immediately noticed the scab on his arm, which was still quite gruesome, with some redness and swelling around it.

Her delicate brows immediately furrowed, and she couldn't help but call out, "Your Majesty!"

Shen Wangxi turned his head at the sound and saw her staring at his arm. He waved away the palace servants who were about to help him put on his robes, and walked to the edge of the bed, shirtless. "What's wrong?"

Shen Qingruo extended her slender, white fingers and lightly touched the wound on his arm, her small face full of concern and dissatisfaction: "Your Majesty, you're injured? Why haven't you applied any medicine?"

Shen Wangxi glanced at her in the direction of her gaze, completely unconcerned: "It's nothing, just a small cut."

Shen Qingruo grew anxious, her voice rising slightly, tinged with a coquettish reproach: "It's not a small cut!"

"It's all red and swollen, and it looks really deep."

"How can Your Majesty be so careless with yourself? What if you get infected?"

She grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, even lightly poking his uninjured arm with her fingertip. "Your Majesty, summon the imperial physician immediately!"

Looking at her anxious little face, her watery eyes full of concern, Shen Wangxi felt a sense of comfort.

He took her small hand that she was reaching out to him, cupped it in his palm, and nodded readily, "Alright, I'll do as Aruo says. Wu Tian, ​​summon the imperial physician."

Wu Tian, ​​who was standing by, immediately responded and left.

The imperial physician arrived quickly and cleaned, applied medicine, and bandaged Shen Wangxi's wounds.

Throughout the entire process, Shen Qingruo kept her beautiful almond-shaped eyes wide open and watched intently until the bandaging was finished, at which point she let out a soft sigh of relief.

After the imperial physician left, Shen Qingruo recalled the events of the previous night and asked a question she already knew the answer to.

She tugged at Shen Wangxi's sleeve and whispered, "Your Majesty, what exactly happened last night?"

Shen Wangxi's eyes turned slightly cold, but his tone remained calm as he addressed her: "It was the Empress. She drugged me and then placed Liu Rusi next to me."

Upon hearing Liu Rusi's name, Shen Qingruo thought of the hot spring incident and immediately pouted, her expression slightly fierce: "Then, Your Majesty, did you touch her?"

Shen Wangxi found her jealous little face adorable.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to pinch her puffed-up cheek:

"Silly Aruo, if I had touched someone else, would I have gone to soak in cold water and cut myself to stay awake?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingruo looked at his wound and her expression relaxed.

But then she seemed to remember something, lowered her long eyelashes, and said with a hint of unease in her voice, "Won't His Majesty think Aruo is too domineering? Not allowing His Majesty to get close to others at all..."

Shen Wangxi lifted her chin, making her look into his eyes.

He said firmly, "No."

"When you like someone, your instinct is to possess them. I am no exception."

He paused, his fingertips tracing her chin, and continued:

"If Aruo remains indifferent to the appearance of other women around me, then I will truly be saddened."

Shen Qingruo was taken aback, not expecting that he didn't have any thoughts about having three palaces and six courtyards.

This is probably why he once doted on Wulan Yun.

She tilted her head back, took his hand in her own, rubbed her smooth cheek against his palm, and said sweetly, "Your Majesty is the best~"

Shen Wangxi enjoyed her intimacy, pulled her into his arms, and gently kissed the top of her head.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, referring to her injuries.

"Just a little bit more," she answered softly, with a hint of coquetry. "If Your Majesty hugs Aruo again, it won't hurt anymore."

Shen Wangxi let out a soft laugh, tightening his arms around her. "Alright, I'll hug you again."