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

Outside the hall, the sky was bright and clear, but inside the Qingyi Hall, all was quiet, with the gauze curtains hanging low.

Shen Qingruo was fast asleep, her black hair spread across the pillow.

Granny Yan tiptoed into the inner room and called softly through the curtain, "Your Highness, it's time to get up."

The person inside the tent showed no reaction, only shallow breathing.

Helpless, Granny Yan had no choice but to hang up a corner of the curtain.

Shen Qingruo was lying on her side, her shoulder exposed outside the brocade quilt, covered with hickeys, a testament to the intensity of the previous night's battle.

Granny Yan recalled the mess she had made that morning: the bright red silk embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix spread out on the floor, wrinkled, with large patches of dark color, and a complete mess.

She sighed inwardly. His Majesty was a man of the grasslands. After taking over the Central Plains, he was tall and mighty, but he was also unrestrained. Every time he had sex with His Highness, he suffered.

Seeing Shen Qingruo's languid and weak appearance, Granny Yan felt really sorry for her, but the summons from Jiaofang Palace had arrived, and the rules on the surface could not be broken.

She reached out and gently nudged Shen Qingruo's shoulder:

"Your Highness, wake up! Someone from Jiaofang Palace has come to invite you to select fabrics."

Disturbed from her sleep, Shen Qingruo frowned, mumbled sleepily, and buried her face even deeper into the pillow:

"Grandma, let me sleep a little longer. I'm so sleepy, and my stomach still hurts so much. I can't get up."

Granny Yan picked up a warm, damp handkerchief and gently wiped her cheeks, trying to wake her up:

"My dear prince, I know you are tired, but the Empress's decree cannot be ignored. Wake up, this old servant will help you with your washing and dressing."

When the handkerchief touched her skin, Shen Qingruo reluctantly opened one eye, her eyes misty with tears.

As Granny Yan helped her rinse her mouth, she muttered to herself:

"Your Highness didn't have time to choose from the batch of soft silk gauze from Jiangnan last night. His Majesty personally inspected it for you before leaving and selected the best quality and the colors that best suit you. He has already instructed the Imperial Wardrobe to make summer clothes and dance skirts according to your size first, and the rest will be put into your private treasury."

"His Majesty always thinks of you."

Shen Qingruo was half-asleep and half-awake, letting Granny Yan and the palace maids do as they pleased.

She was helped up and changed into a light blue belted long dress chosen by Granny Yan. Her long hair was simply tied up, and her face was without makeup, making her look fresh and delicate.

After finally getting dressed, she mustered her spirits and, with the help of Granny Yan, boarded the sedan chair bound for the Jiaofang Palace.

The sedan chair swayed and rocked as it moved forward.

In his mind, Xiao Jiu, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly lit up with a ball of light, her childish voice carrying a hint of grievance:

"Aruo, you've been so busy being all lovey-dovey with Shen Wangxi these days, you haven't talked to me in ages!"

Shen Qingruo leaned against the sedan chair, still resting with her eyes closed, and lazily replied in her mind, "He comes so often, I'm exhausted."

"I know, I know!" Xiao Jiu spun around excitedly. "But I have good news for you. Your luck is completely different now. You're considered one of the best in this little world."

Shen Qingruo then showed some interest and asked softly, "How does it compare to Shen Jingyan?"

The light sphere flickered at a slightly slower pace, and Xiao Jiu's voice sounded a little guilty: "Uh... well, it's still a long way off."

"After all, she is the successor whom the protagonist has been cultivating for more than ten years, and her foundation of fortune is very strong."

"How does that compare to Wulan Yun?" Shen Qingruo continued to ask.

Xiao Jiu stammered, "She's still far from perfect. She's the rightful empress, has the deepest bond with the protagonist, and naturally possesses immense fortune."

Shen Qingruo gave a soft "hmm" and didn't ask any further questions.

She had already guessed the answer.

Xiao Jiu remembered the important matter and her tone became serious: "Aruo, you have to be careful today."

"I sensed that Wulan Yun was emotionally agitated. She probably guessed that Shen Wangxi had secretly allocated you the best materials."

"You need to be careful what you say later. Now is not the time to confront her directly."

"Shen Wangxi still cherishes her after more than ten years of marriage."

"Okay," Shen Qingruo replied in her mind.

Xiao Jiu added, "And another thing, the way you look right now, with your eyes sparkling with spring and your walk exuding a seductive charm, a woman as experienced as Wu Lanyun would be able to tell at a glance that you've just been with a man."

"And that old nanny Su beside her is also a seasoned veteran in the world of love and sex; she can't be fooled."

"There's a [Blurred Perception] illusion in the shop. You should redeem it quickly; it can blur the perception of you among those people in the Jiaofang Palace."

Shen Qingruo did as instructed and confirmed the exchange in her mind.

After finishing her business, she suddenly became curious about Xiao Jiu's supposed expertise in matters of love and romance: "Xiao Jiu, is that Granny Su even more knowledgeable about these things than you?"

"How is this possible!" Little Nine's ball of light instantly bristled, its brightness increasing several notches.

"I have all the world's top-tier dual cultivation techniques and methods for nourishing the body!"

"That Granny Su only knows a little about the bedroom arts that circulate in this little world."

"Besides, if she were really that amazing, how come Wulan Yun cooked so many bowls of nourishing soup, yet she never managed to keep Shen Wangxi in the Jiaofang Palace? Every time, he came to you, putting all his effort into you?"

As Shen Qingruo listened, imagining Wu Lanyun's disappointed expression, a faint smile crept onto her lips, tinged with a hint of smugness.

She murmured to herself, "The feeling of taking things from others does seem pretty good. No wonder people say it's hard to be a good person."

She paused, then remembered another problem. Her hand unconsciously pressed against her aching lower abdomen as she asked:

"Xiao Jiu, isn't that dual cultivation and feedback technique making Shen Wangxi too strong? He's already exceptionally talented, and with the feedback, my body can't handle it."

"Every time he finishes, I need a whole day to recover."

Xiao Jiu's ball of light approached, her childlike voice soothing: "There's nothing we can do about it, Aruo. The feedback effect is irreversible. His body is already at its peak, and it might reach an even higher level in the future."

"Moreover, your constitution is somewhat weak. The stronger he is, the more vigorous the dragon seed will be, and the greater your chances of conceiving a prince."

"But just like before, dealing with him will be a bit more difficult."

Shen Qingruo sighed softly, lowered her hand, and said nothing more.