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

That night, in the Taiji Hall.

Just as Shen Wangxi put down his vermilion brush, Wu Tian bowed and entered, reporting in a low voice, "Your Majesty, someone from Jiaofang Palace has come to inquire whether Your Majesty's cold has improved. The Empress is concerned about Your Majesty's health."

Shen Wangxi paused slightly in his writing. A cold? He had long forgotten about it.

These days, his mind is mostly occupied by that girl in Qingyi Palace, and he has no idea about the excuse he made up on the spot.

Shen Wangxi rubbed his temples, suppressing his agitation, and said calmly, "I'm fine."

Wu Tian responded, but did not immediately leave. After hesitating for a moment, he added, "Your Majesty, I would like to request that His Majesty visit the Jiaofang Palace when he has the time."

Shen Wangxi was stunned.

Jiaofang Palace...

He then realized with a start that a month had already passed since Wu Lanyun's birthday banquet.

It has been four months since they moved from the desert royal court to the Great Zhou imperial palace.

During these four months, he was busy stabilizing the court and expanding the territory. In addition, the repeated incidents at Qingyi Palace affected his mind, so he did not really favor Wulan Yun again.

Shen Wangxi felt somewhat guilty. Wulan Yun was his wife, who had been with him through the most difficult years and had given birth to his children. He had once loved her so much.

But now...

Another face flashed uncontrollably before his eyes, delicate and exquisite.

When she looked at him, her eyes always held a longing, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. He was unwilling to admit that he loved her beautiful, clear eyes.

Shen Wangxi forced herself to stop thinking about her, but the desire she had stirred up in the afternoon began to stir again.

This feeling made him feel even more guilty. How could he still be thinking about another woman, even betraying his years of marriage with his body?

He made up his mind and said in a deep voice, "Tell the Empress that I will be there later."

"Yes." Wu Tian bowed and withdrew.

The hall became empty, and Shen Wangxi sat alone, trying to recall Wulan Yun's bright smile, their past of riding horses across the desert grasslands, and the joy she felt when she gave birth to Ayan and Yinian for him.

His feelings for Wulanyun were deep love, responsibility, and habit.

Ultimately, reason prevailed.

He rose and ordered the people outside the hall: "Prepare the carriage for the Jiaofang Palace."

-

Late at night, inside the Jiaofang Palace.

Wu Lanyun had already bathed and changed, wearing a bright red nightgown, her long hair loose, her face filled with shyness and anticipation.

Shen Wangxi sat on the edge of the bed, letting her help him remove his outer robe.

His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but upon closer inspection, one could detect the tension deep within his eyes.

Wu Lanyun leaned close and gently continued to untie his waistband.

She had a rich fragrance about her, which Shen Wangxi had been smelling for over a decade and was already used to.

But at this moment, he inexplicably felt that the fragrance was too vulgar, not as alluring and refreshing as the natural fragrance emanating from the girl.

Shen Wangxi's gaze fell on Wulan Yun's hands as she untied his belt. Those hands were well-maintained, with bright nail polish on their nails, a healthy kind of beauty.

Unlike that person, whose ten fingers were slender, snow-white and delicate, as if they would break if he exerted the slightest force.

Wulan Yun untied his inner garment and reached out to touch the sash of his middle garment, her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with tender affection.

Shen Wangxi looked at Wulan Yun, her gaze lingering downwards.

His wife's neck and shoulders were smooth, healthy, and elegant, unlike her, whose neck was slender and delicate, and whose collarbones were exquisite. He kissed her twice, and she became incredibly coquettish.

Shen Wangxi looked down further and saw that Wulan Yun was plump and full-figured, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

Even a wife who has given birth cannot match her natural slender figure, or even the beauty of a red plum blossom in the snow.

Shen Wangxi's Adam's apple bobbed as she forced herself to shut out those alluring thoughts.

He desperately told himself: This is Ayun, his wife. He has neglected her for too long and shouldn't have done this.

As if to prove something, or as if to get rid of the lingering shadow in her mind, Shen Wangxi suddenly reached out and grabbed Wulan Yun's firm waist, pressing her into the brocade quilt.

"Your Majesty!" Wulan Yun exclaimed in surprise, then blushed with shyness.

She nestled obediently in the bedding, her arms encircling his neck, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked up, ready to receive His Majesty's long-awaited favor.

Shen Wangxi's large hand landed on the tie of her nightgown and gently tugged at it.

……

But he stared at Wulan Yun, yet hesitated to kiss her.

No.

Facing his wife of many years, he felt none of the uncontrollable desire he had when facing that girl.

Shen Wangxi closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a deep darkness.

He propped himself up, creating some distance between them, his voice calm but undeniably hoarse: "Ah Yun, maybe next time."

The dazed look in Wulan Yun's eyes instantly cleared.

Shen Wangxi lay down on his side with his back to her, his voice weary: "I may not have fully recovered from the cold I caught last time, and I've been feeling quite tired lately."

Wu Lanyun was stunned, lying there, a sense of loss washing over her.

But watching her husband's retreating figure, she finally managed to sit up, suppressing her emotions, and reached out to massage his temples, her voice gentle and filled with worry:

"Your Majesty must be overworked by the affairs of the previous dynasty, and your cold has not yet fully recovered. I was just being anxious. Please don't worry about it; your health is the most important thing."

Shen Wangxi neither refused her massage nor turned around. She simply gave a vague reply and then fell silent.

The two lay on the same bed, each with their own thoughts.

Wulan Yun felt uneasy and tried to comfort herself that His Majesty was just too tired, but the embarrassment of being rejected lingered.

Shen Wangxi, with her eyes closed, was suffering from a splitting headache.

Throughout his life, he walked under the scimitars of the desert, fought amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, ascended to the throne, and ruled the world. He always held the power of life and death, controlling everything.

But then, at the halfway point of his life, he encountered such an unexpected event.

This feeling is absolutely terrible.