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

The night deepened.

Inside Qingyi Palace, the commotion finally subsided.

Shen Qingruo lay on her back in the soft brocade quilt, her fair body covered with the marks left by the man, her eyes reddened, her long eyelashes wet and stuck together, her breathing still not calm.

Shen Wangxi propped himself up, looking at her pitiful appearance after being favored, feeling both satisfied and aroused.

He brushed away the sweat-dampened strands of hair from her cheek with his fingertips, knowing he should leave and go to the Jiaofang Palace, where his lawfully wedded wife and his daughter, with whom he had just become engaged, were waiting for him to finalize the location of the princess's residence.

But seeing her rubbing against him so affectionately, her hazy eyes, and her rosy lips, everything about her was tempting him to stay.

Shen Qingruo's voice was hoarse, tinged with a post-coital softness, "Your Majesty~"

Shen Wangxi tenderly kissed her forehead and whispered, "I'm sorry, Aruo, I have to go out for a bit. I'll be right back to you, okay?"

Shen Qingruo raised her watery eyes to look at him, her eyes filled with grievance.

How could he just walk away after doing that to her?

"Are we going to the Jiaofang Palace?" she asked softly.

Shen Wangxi was silent for a moment. Looking at the undisguised adoration in her eyes, his heart clenched. He knew this was cruel to her.

"Yes." He didn't lie to her after all.

Shen Qingruo lowered her long eyelashes to hide the sting in her eyes, but her slender white fingers quietly reached out and softly hooked his large hand.

"Stay with Aruo a little longer, okay?" she pleaded softly, "Just a little while."

Shen Wangxi looked down at the small hand that was hooking around her, so white and slender. Then she looked at the upturned face, full of longing. The words "I really should go" rolled in her throat, but she couldn't bring herself to say them.

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He lay back down and pulled her soft body back into his arms.

"Okay," Shen Wangxi heard herself say.

Shen Qingruo snuggled gently against him and closed her eyes.

Shen Wangxi gently patted her thin back with his large hand, and the little girl's breathing gradually became even, as if she had fallen asleep.

But as soon as he relaxed his grip slightly, the person in his arms trembled, opened her eyes hazily, and looked at him in a panic.

Only after confirming that he was still there did her watery eyes close peacefully again, and she gently rubbed her soft face against him.

After this happened several times, Shen Wangxi felt a pang of heartache at her anxious appearance and lost all interest in going to Jiaofang Palace.

After a while, he noticed that her delicate lips were a little dry. He remembered how she had cried so much after he had done that to her, so it was understandable that she was dehydrated.

Shen Wangxi carefully moved her body, got out of bed, and poured herself a glass of water.

But no sooner had he gotten up than the girl, who was a light sleeper, realized that no one was beside her.

Shen Qingruo woke up with a start, sat up, looked at the empty bed beside her, her eyes were blank, her face gradually turned pale, she was extremely sad.

When Shen Wangxi returned with the warm water, she saw her looking so lost and dejected.

His heart tightened, and he quickly walked to the bedside, sat down, and pulled her back into his arms.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice, full of concern.

The girl in his arms looked up at him with tearful eyes, her little hand weakly pounding his chest. "Where did you go? I thought you'd abandoned me again..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, making Shen Wangxi's heart ache.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" He softened his voice, wiping away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his fingertips. "Your mouth is a little dry, I'm afraid you're dehydrated and your throat is sore, so I'll get you a glass of water."

He held the glass of water to her lips. "Have some water."

Shen Qingruo took small sips of water from his hand, as obedient as a cat whose fur had been stroked.

After finishing her glass of water, she stuck out her tender red tongue and licked the water stains off her lips. Her small hands tightly wrapped around his waist, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, refusing to let go.

"The cup..." Shen Wangxi sighed helplessly, wanting to put the empty cup back on the table.

"No..." she shook her head in his arms, her voice soft and coquettish, "I won't let go, I want you to stay with me..."

Shen Wangxi lowered his eyes, looking at her lingering expression, and indulgently put his arm around her back.

Just then, Shen Qingruo tilted her head up, looked at his Adam's apple, and suddenly tilted her chin up, leaned forward, and gently kissed him.

Shen Wangxi froze, her back went numb, and the porcelain cup in her hand slipped onto the carpet.

He was never satisfied, but he had restrained himself earlier because he was a virgin and her body was delicate.

But the person in his arms was so reckless, insisting on provoking him.

Shen Wangxi's gaze darkened, and his voice became hoarse, "Aruo..."

Shen Qingruo seemed startled by his sudden change in demeanor, looking at him timidly, but her hands around his waist never loosened.

The next moment, the brocade quilt wrapped around her was suddenly pulled off, and Shen Wangxi's tall figure once again loomed over her.

The night is still long.

Inside the Qingyi Palace, the candlelight flickered again, and the revelry began once more.