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

Inside the Taiji Hall, the morning light streamed through the windows, dispelling the ambiguity of the night.

Shen Wangxi had already gotten up and even went to the morning court session before returning.

He dismissed the palace servants, personally carried a bowl of bird's nest porridge, and sat down beside the dragon bed.

Shen Qingruo, wrapped in a soft brocade quilt, nestled beside him, her black hair flowing freely, making her small face appear even more fair and translucent.

"Here, Aruo, have some more." Shen Wangxi held a bowl of warm bird's nest porridge, scooped up a spoonful, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and then handed it to her lips.

Shen Qingruo obediently opened her mouth and swallowed in small sips.

She looked up at him with her misty eyes. This man was the emperor who ruled the world, yet he was willing to bow down and personally serve her food.

Shen Wangxi also looked at the young girl. Before meeting her, he had never imagined that the relationship between men and women could be like this, so intense and intoxicating that it made him completely obsessed.

The bowl of porridge was quickly emptied.

Shen Qingruo gently pushed his hand away and said softly, "I'm full."

"Your Majesty, Aruo should go back now."

Shen Wangxi put down the bowl, but pressed his large hand on her slender shoulder, preventing her from moving.

He leaned closer to her, half-jokingly and half-seriously asking, "Aruo, I'll take you as my concubine, okay?"

Shen Qingruo's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head: "This is bad."

Shen Wangxi raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by her refusal.

Her voice was soft and slightly aggrieved, "If I become a woman in the harem, I will have to pay my respects to the Empress every day."

"Her Majesty the Empress and my sister will be unhappy if they see me."

"His Majesty will also be in a difficult position, and he will feel guilty. Aruo doesn't want to see His Majesty like that."

She raised her eyes and looked into his: "That's fine. I'm content to be by His Majesty's side. Titles don't matter to me at all."

Her words, though seemingly sensible, actually struck a chord with Shen Wangxi.

He knew perfectly well that her concerns were valid.

If he were to truly take her as a concubine and grant her a title, the matter of having sex with her would no longer be a secret from the Jiaofang Palace.

When A-Yun found out, according to the rules, she would definitely ask him to treat everyone equally.

More importantly, he had tasted Aruo's body, and that extreme pleasure almost reshaped his understanding of love affairs.

The mere thought of forcing himself to sleep with someone else and to deal with A-Yun made him feel uninterested and even subtly resistant.

Shen Wangxi sighed, covered her tightly clenched small hand with his large hand, and gently held it.

"Alright." He finally conceded. "As you wish, let's leave it at that for now."

"It's just that my Aruo has to suffer."

Shen Qingruo sensed his concession and pity, and her heart calmed down slightly.

She leaned closer, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and gently nuzzled him, like a cat seeking comfort.

"I'm not wronged," came her muffled voice. "With His Majesty's words, Aruo is not wronged at all."

With a soft, fragrant body in his arms, Shen Wangxi's thoughts were stirred again.

"Since you're not in a hurry to go back..." His kiss landed softly, his voice muffled, "then stay with me a little longer."

The bed curtains swayed again, concealing the ripples that were beginning to rise inside.

Shen Qingruo weakly pushed against his chest with her small hands, her eyes welling up with tears.

She knew that she had once again successfully exploited his tenderness and desire, binding his heart even more firmly to her.

-

When Shen Qingruo returned to Qingyi Palace, it was already afternoon.

A young palace maid stepped forward tremblingly and reported, "Your Highness, you've finally returned."

"Shortly after you left this morning, Her Highness the Princess arrived. She looked very unhappy, walked around the palace, looked at the black jade chessboard, and threw a huge tantrum before leaving."

Shen Qingruo didn't stop walking, only replying lightly, "I know."

Her face remained expressionless as she walked straight into the inner room, dismissing all the palace servants. Alone, she leaned against the soft couch by the window, silently calling out in her heart:

"Xiao Jiu, let me see where Shen Jingyan went after leaving Qingyi Palace."

"Okay, Aruo!" The light sphere lit up, quickly projecting the image into her mind.