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

As dusk fell, Shen Qingruo walked alone outside the Taiji Hall without any palace servants.

Upon seeing her, Wu Tian immediately bowed and greeted her with a respectful smile.

"Your Highness, what brings you here? His Majesty is reviewing memorials. This servant will go and inform him immediately."

Shen Qingruo gently shook her head: "There's no need to disturb His Majesty. I'll just wait."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Wangxi's voice came from inside the hall: "Is that Aruo? Come in."

Wu Tian immediately stepped aside, and Shen Qingruo slowly walked in.

The hall was brightly lit. Shen Wangxi was sitting behind the imperial desk, having just put down his vermilion brush, when he looked up at her:

"Why is it so late? Is something wrong?"

He reached out his hand to her.

Shen Qingruo walked over, circled around to the imperial desk, stood beside him, took his hand, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "It's nothing, I just wanted to see Your Majesty."

Shen Wangxi noticed that she seemed a little down, so he reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently pulling her close so that she sat on his lap.

"What's wrong?" He looked down at her, his voice softening. "You seem a little unhappy? Who upset my Aruo?"

Shen Qingruo leaned against him, shook her head, and remained silent.

Shen Wangxi put his arm around her slender waist and gently patted her back with his large hand: "Say something."

Shen Qingruo remained silent. After a while, she stretched out her slender white fingers and gently pulled up his wide sleeve.

Shen Wangxi let her do as she pleased.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong forearms, where he had previously scratched himself; now only a faint scar remained.

Her fingertips traced over the scar.

Looking at her focused yet slightly sad profile, Shen Wangxi felt a pang of tenderness and guessed, "I heard that Consort Liu went to Yilan Palace today, which upset you?"

He remembered Wu Tian mentioning that the Empress had sent Liu Rusi to deliver some snacks.

Shen Qingruo then raised her head, her watery eyes looking at him, and shook her head: "No, she didn't upset me."

She paused, her voice softening slightly, tinged with grievance: "I just don't want to see her, because seeing her reminds me of the bad things that happened before."

Shen Wangxi knew she was referring to the night when Wu Lanyun drugged Liu Rusi and Liu Rusi offered herself to him.

He hugged her tighter, nuzzling his chin against the top of her head: "It's my fault. I was tricked and almost wronged A-Ruo."

Shen Qingruo shifted gently in his arms and continued to whisper:

"Aru didn't want her to stay in Yilan Palace, but the Empress seemed to be making things difficult for her. Today she ordered her to bring snacks and also commanded her to stay with Aru in Yilan Palace for a full hour."

"Aru didn't want to be a bad person, so we let her sit in the hall for a long time."

She frowned slightly, looking troubled. "But when she's there, Aruo always feels uneasy and can't concentrate on her studies."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wangxi frowned.

He never inquired about Liu Rusi again after throwing her into the Jiaofang Palace.

He only thought that since they were descendants of the Liu family, even if Wulan Yun disliked them, she wouldn't go too far.

Shen Qingruo looked up at him with her small face, her eyes pure yet filled with confusion:

"Also, Your Majesty, I noticed that Consort Liu seems quite frightened today, which is different from before."

Shen Wangxi could roughly guess what Wulan Yun had been doing recently.

It's nothing more than the same old tricks used in the harem, taking out their anger on lower-ranking concubines, and sending Liu Rusi to Yilan Palace to annoy Aruo.

Looking at the person in his arms, he temporarily suppressed his displeasure with Wulan Yun, as he was more interested in appeasing the one in his arms right now.

Shen Wangxi lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his tone indulgent: "Since you don't want to see Liu Rusi, then don't see her in the future."

"I will give orders to have people guard Yilan Palace so that she can't go in and disturb your peace, so as not to upset you."

Shen Qingruo nodded obediently, buried her face in his chest again, and whispered, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Wangxi stroked her soft, black hair, pondering whether he should take some time to visit Jiaofang Palace tomorrow.

At the very least, Wulan Yun should be reprimanded for letting these trivial matters bother Yilan Palace and causing his young lady distress.

"Have you had dinner yet?" he asked in a low voice, temporarily putting aside his worries.

"Not yet." Shen Qingru shook her head in his arms, her voice muffled.

"Then have some with me." Shen Wangxi picked her up and walked towards the inner palace. "I'll have someone bring the meal."

"Okay," she replied softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.