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

No sooner had Xiao Yu finished speaking than the eunuch Wu Tian's voice rang out from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Princess Qingruo requests an audience outside the palace."

Shen Wangxi paused, raised her eyes, and a look of surprise flashed in them.

Why is she here?

Normally, she rarely leaves Qingyi Palace, so why did she take the initiative to come to Taiji Palace to find him today?

Countless thoughts raced through Shen Wangxi's mind.

Was she feeling unwell again? Had the palace servants neglected her? Or had she noticed his deliberate avoidance these past few days and felt uneasy?

He hadn't figured out how to face her or how to explain his silence over the past few days.

"Step down." Shen Wangxi composed herself, waved to Xiao Yu beside her, and her voice sounded normal.

"Your humble servant takes his leave." Xiao Yu bowed again and turned to walk out of the hall.

Just as he stepped out of the palace gate and brushed past Shen Qingruo, his gaze swept over her, and he was completely stunned.

The girl before me had black hair like clouds, skin as white as snow, and an extremely elegant appearance.

Xiao Yu had heard of this princess.

The last time the Empress held a spring banquet to select a consort for this princess, none of the noble families of the first or second rank in the capital attended; most of the attendees were sons of officials of the third or fourth rank. Naturally, he did not go either, only vaguely hearing that the princess was quite beautiful, but he never expected her to be such a stunning beauty.

Shen Qingruo noticed his absent-minded gaze, raised her eyes, nodded slightly, and stepped into the hall.

Xiao Yu stood there until she disappeared behind the palace gate before he came to his senses, his ears burning slightly.

Inside the hall, Shen Wangxi remained seated before the chessboard. As the woman's footsteps drew closer, he dared not look up, his heart pounding faster.

He longed to see her.

But at this moment, he was afraid to see her.

"Your Majesty." A soft, familiar voice sounded in front of him, tinged with grievance.

Shen Wangxi finally raised her head and met those watery eyes.

After a few days apart, she seemed to have lost some weight, her chin was more pointed, making her eyes appear even larger. At this moment, she was looking at him with a hint of timidity, like a wronged cat that had been neglected for a long time.

Shen Wangxi felt a slight bump in her heart, and the defenses she had built up over the past few days crumbled at that moment.

He put down the chess piece, his voice softening unconsciously: "Why did you come over?"

Shen Qingruo did not answer immediately. Her fingers twisted the silk sash of her skirt, and she lowered her head slightly, her voice weak: "I haven't seen His Majesty for several days..."

She didn't complain; her soft expression of longing moved him more than any other words.

Shen Wangxi's Adam's apple bobbed. Avoiding her eyes, he offered a flimsy excuse: "I've been busy with court affairs lately."

"Yes, I know." She replied obediently, taking a small step forward to get closer to him. "Is Aru not disturbing His Majesty's handling of state affairs?"

"It's alright," Shen Wangxi replied immediately, realizing that he simply couldn't bring himself to be hard-hearted towards her.

Shen Qingruo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her small lips curving slightly as her gaze fell on the chessboard with a hint of curiosity:

"Is His Majesty playing chess with someone? Is it that young master who just went out? Is he very good at chess?"

"It's acceptable." Shen Wangxi said succinctly, not wanting to talk more about Xiao Yu.

His attention was entirely on her, watching the strands of hair that slipped down her cheek as she leaned over to examine the chessboard. His fingers twitched, but he ultimately restrained the urge to brush them away.

"Aruo doesn't understand," she said softly, a little embarrassed. She looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity and admiration. "Your Majesty is so amazing, you can do everything."

That look in his eyes inexplicably pleased Shen Wangxi, and he patiently explained, "It's just a pastime in my spare time."

Shen Qingruo, however, seemed intrigued. She hesitated for a moment, then her voice was soft and pleading: "Your Majesty, could you teach A-Ruo? Just a little bit?"

Shen Wangxi was stunned. He was going to teach her how to play chess?

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, he found it hard to imagine her deep in thought, holding a chess piece. It was completely different from her usual image of playing the piano, dancing, and reading storybooks.

But looking into her expectant eyes, Shen Wangxi moved aside to make room for her, and said in a low voice, "Come here."

Shen Qingruo's eyes lit up, and she sat down next to him.

The seats were spacious, but even when two people sat side by side, the distance between them was still very close.

Shen Wangxi forced himself to focus on the chessboard, picked up a black piece, and began to explain the most basic rules: "The way of chess lies in encirclement..."

Shen Qingruo listened intently, tilting her head slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering, and occasionally asking softly, "And then?"

"is that so?"

She always spoke to him in a soft, gentle voice, with a charming and innocent appearance, and Shen Wangxi became more and more gentle and patient.

He discovered that he really enjoyed her company.

However, after only a quarter of an hour, Shen Qingruo began to get restless. Her body swayed slightly, and her slender fingertips traced patterns on the edge of the chessboard, unable to contain her impatience.

Shen Wangxi stopped explaining and looked at her somewhat unfocused eyes and slightly pouting lips. He felt helpless, but in the end, he couldn't bear to be harsh on her.

"Are you tired?" he asked gently.

Shen Qingruo nodded somewhat shyly and said softly, "It's a bit difficult..."

She looked up at him expectantly, a hint of coquettishness in her eyes, "Your Majesty, is A-Ruo very stupid?"

"It's not difficult, you're just a beginner," Shen Wangxi reassured her, her heart softening at her delicate appearance.

He stopped forcing her to learn and just let her sit beside him, idly fiddling with the chess pieces in the chess box.

The hall was silent for a moment, yet an unspoken warmth and ambiguity flowed within it.

Shen Wangxi lowered her eyes, looking at the person beside her with their head bowed, and sighed silently.

He knew he couldn't bear to part with it again.