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

From that day on, Wulan Yun turned her concern for her husband's health into action.

Every few days, she would order the small kitchen to stew various nourishing soups, and then find an excuse to send them to the Taiji Hall, or she would personally prepare them in the Jiaofang Hall and invite Shen Wangxi over.

Shen Wangxi often used his busy political affairs as an excuse to shirk his duties, but occasionally, when he looked into his wife's bright eyes, which were filled with disappointment and pleading, and thought of the affection she had shown him by bearing his children and accompanying him for so many years, his heart would soften.

Another day, Wulan Yun came to the Taiji Hall again.

"Your Majesty," she said gently, "I know you are not pleased, but this is my heartfelt gift. Please take some; your health is of utmost importance."

Looking at the worry in his wife's eyes, Shen Wangxi's displeasure at being questioned eventually turned into a sense of helplessness.

He wasn't unaware of her concern, but it was misplaced, which made him feel immense pressure.

But after a moment of silence, under those expectant eyes, Shen Wangxi finally picked up the bowl of soup and drank it all in a few gulps.

"Thank you, A-Yun." He put down his bowl, his tone calm. "I still have a few urgent documents to attend to. I'll come see you later."

Ulan Yun watched him drink it, then nodded obediently: "Your Majesty understands, matters of state are of utmost importance."

She left with her palace attendants, and the palace returned to silence.

After drinking that bowl of warm, nourishing soup, Shen Wangxi soon felt a certain urge.

He looked at the memorial, but couldn't concentrate on a single word. His mind started wandering uncontrollably to Qingyi Palace.

What is Aruo doing right now?

Are you leaning against the window lost in thought, or engrossed in reading a storybook?

Is she still feeling sore? He definitely went too far watching her practice dance the other day; no matter how hard she cried, he didn't… (The sentence is incomplete and lacks context.)

The more Shen Wangxi thought about it, the harder it became to suppress his anger. It was as if only by seeing her, touching her smooth skin, and hearing her soft voice could he calm down.

He suddenly stood up.

"Wu Tian".

"Your servant is here."

"Prepare the carriage and proceed to Qingyi Palace."

Wu Tian understood immediately, but remained expressionless and gave the order.

Inside Qingyi Palace, Shen Qingruo was sitting at his desk, holding a brush, copying the calligraphy he had left behind last time.

Hearing familiar footsteps, she put down her pen, stood up, and softly called out, "Your Majesty."

Shen Wangxi walked up to her in a few steps, his gaze falling on her small face.

However, even though it was only a day apart, it felt like an eternity to him.

"Practicing calligraphy?" His voice was deeper than usual.

"Hmm." Shen Qingruo nodded. "His Majesty's characters are too difficult. I'm too slow to write them well."

Shen Wangxi's heart softened, and he reached out, took her small hand, and played with her delicate fingers.

"Very well written," he said softly. "An improvement over yesterday."

Shen Qingruo blushed slightly at his praise, and looked up at him with her watery eyes filled with a hint of joy: "Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" He looked at her obedient appearance and couldn't help but reach out and rub the little girl's face.

His touch made Shen Qingruo's long eyelashes flutter, but she didn't dodge away. Instead, she gently rubbed against his fingertips like a cat being stroked.

This intimate gesture made Shen Wangxi no longer restrain himself, and with a little force, he pulled her into his arms.

"Your Majesty..." Shen Qingruo whispered.

The man lowered his head, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and took a deep breath. The sweet fragrance emanating from her body, mixed with a faint scent of ink, made him feel slightly dizzy.

"Aruo," his voice was hoarse and filled with longing, "I miss you so much."

Shen Qingruo was held tightly by him, feeling his burning body temperature, and seemed to understand something. Her snow-white face slowly turned red.

She didn't struggle, but simply buried her face in his chest: "Aruo, I miss Your Majesty too."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wangxi no longer hesitated, picked her up horizontally, and carried her to the inner room.

"Your Majesty, it's still daytime..." she protested softly, her small hands wrapping around his neck.

"It's alright." His tone was firm and brooked no refusal. "I miss you, in every sense of the word, to the point that my body aches."

The curtains fell, blocking out the bright sunlight from the window... like a delicate flower battered by wind and rain.

"Your Majesty~"

The man's low, indistinct response carried a hint of pity, yet was even more profound.

Wu Tian stood outside the palace, listening to the commotion inside, and sighed inwardly. In the end, the Empress's tonic soup benefited only the one in Qingyi Palace.

Meanwhile, inside the Jiaofang Palace, Wulan Yun faced a table laden with exquisite dinner dishes, yet had no appetite whatsoever.

She gazed towards the palace gates, but they were empty; His Majesty had not come after all.

Granny Su whispered words of comfort: "Your Majesty, His Majesty must be very busy with state affairs. Please take care of your health."

Wu Lanyun smiled bitterly and remained silent.

The soup she made was drunk by His Majesty.

But the warmth she longed for seemed to have flowed away with that bowl of soup to some unknown distance.

-

Night falls.

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, candlelight illuminated the Empress's lonely figure.

Inside Qingyi Palace, however, spring was in full bloom.

Shen Qingruo's snow-white jade feet lingered in the air... His Majesty's favor.

Looking at her delicate, pitiful yet alluring appearance, Shen Wangxi said in a low, husky voice, "Aruo, my Aruo, you are so amazing, so beautiful."

"I really like it..."

-

Days passed by like this, with the same scenes repeating themselves over and over again.

Shen Wangxi would always take the soup bowl with its different flavors and drink it all in one gulp.

Once the soup is down your throat, that familiar urge will rise again.

But when he looked up and saw the hidden expectation in Wulan Yun's eyes, he couldn't muster any interest.

"I remembered I have important matters to discuss with several ministers, so I'll come see you later." He always said this, making up an excuse in a flat tone, and strode away from Jiaofang Palace amidst Wulan Yun's disappointed gaze.

However, each time he left, he did not go to Taiji Hall, but to Qingyi Hall.

Shen Qingruo was well aware of this, and she yielded to Shen Wangxi's persistent advances, accepting all his affection.