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

[The Daily Routine of Soothing Someone by Feeding Them Medicine]

Since that day, Shen Wangxi has come to Qingyi Palace even more frequently.

Sometimes it was in the afternoon, after he finished his official business and came over, he would see her leaning against the soft couch by the window, staring blankly outside, so he would sit down next to her and, without saying a word, take her cold hands in his palm and warm them.

If she tried to pull away, he would hold her tighter and whisper, "Your hands are so cold, be careful of yourself."

She stopped struggling and let him hold her, but her gaze remained fixed elsewhere, refusing to look at him.

He also brought many strange and wonderful things, such as an intricate nine-linked ring, a singing bird, and even folk tales.

He tried to get her attention by holding something in front of her. "Aruo, look at this?"

Shen Qingruo glanced at it briefly, then lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "I don't have the energy to look at these things."

He wasn't annoyed. He put the things aside, picked up the warmed medicine bowl, stirred it with a silver spoon, and brought it to her lips. "Then drink the medicine first."

She frowned and turned her face away.

"bitter."

He patiently coaxed, "I've had some candied fruit prepared. You can eat it after you finish your medicine, okay?"

She remained silent for a moment, but in the end, she took his hand and swallowed the bitter medicine in small sips.

After she finished taking her medicine, he immediately picked up a jujube and fed it to her.

His fingertips occasionally brushed against her soft lips, and both of them paused for a moment, but she quickly resumed her aloof demeanor.

[Playing the piano as part of my daily routine to coax people]

Sometimes Shen Wangxi would bring out a zither and play it by her bedside.

He was an excellent pianist, and his melodies were beautiful, but she just kept her eyes closed, as if she were asleep, or as if she hadn't heard a thing.

He stopped, looked at her quiet profile, and asked softly, "Don't you like listening?"

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she kept her eyes closed, her voice soft: "Noisy."

He then stopped playing.

More often than not, he would simply sit there, reading a book or reviewing memorials that Wu Tian had secretly sent him.

He would occasionally look up at her, and if she stayed in one position for too long, he would get up and adjust the position of the pillow for her, or pull up the thin blanket that had slipped off and tuck it in carefully.

She let him do as he pleased, neither refusing nor thanking him.

[Chess Records for Daily Pranks]

That day, Shen Wangxi brought a new chess manual, sat by her bedside, and explained the endgame to her.

She listened absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on his long, slender fingers.

He talked for a long time, but she didn't respond. He looked up at her and saw that she was staring at his hand in a daze.

"Aruo?" he called to her.

Shen Qingruo snapped out of her reverie, looked away, and said softly, "Your Majesty need not do this."

Shen Wangxi felt a pang of sadness, put down the chess manual, and looked at her: "Then what do you want me to do?"

His voice held a hint of pleading, "Just tell me, and I'll do whatever you say."

She shook her head, stopped speaking, and turned her face inside, leaving him with only a thin, silent back view.

Shen Wangxi watched her retreating figure, feeling a tightness in her chest.

He reached out to touch her shoulder, but his hand simply fell limply to his side.

He knew that the knot in her heart couldn't be untied by simply spending time with her.

What he gave her could never make up for what she lost.

-

A month later, Shen Qingruo's health had almost fully recovered.

That morning at court, Shen Wangxi sat on the dragon throne. Wu Tian stepped forward, unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict that had been prepared beforehand, and his shrill voice echoed throughout the Golden Palace:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: You, Lady Shen, are gentle and virtuous by nature, and prudent in your conduct, deeply winning my favor. Therefore, you are hereby conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort, bestowed with the title of Zhao, and granted residence in the Yilan Palace. So be it—"

The imperial edict caused an uproar throughout the palace.

The ministers looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

Everyone knows that Princess Qingruo was raised in the palace as His Majesty's daughter not long ago. Even though it was later clarified that she was not His Majesty's biological daughter, this change of status was only half a year before she was directly conferred the title of Imperial Concubine.

This is utterly absurd!

Xiao Yu, standing in the line of officials, suddenly looked up at Shen Wangxi, who was sitting high on the dragon throne. His eyes were filled with shock, followed by a complex mix of emotions.

It turns out that the one she truly loved was His Majesty.

He should have realized it sooner; such a stunning woman, besides His Majesty, who else could possibly have designs on her?

"Your Majesty! This is absolutely not allowed!" An old imperial censor stepped forward first, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Although Princess Qingruo is not of Your Majesty's blood, she once lived in the palace under the name of your own daughter, a fact known throughout the land! To now appoint her as a concubine would surely invite criticism and disrupt the natural order."

"This action is truly detrimental to Your Majesty's reputation; please rescind your order."

Shen Wangxi's expression remained unchanged. His gaze swept across the crowd below, and his voice was cold: "I have already proclaimed to the world that she is not of my blood, nor is she recorded in the imperial genealogy. What right do you have to talk about ethics and morality?"

Another historian stepped forward, speaking earnestly: "Your Majesty! Public opinion is a fearsome thing! This action may be criticized by future generations. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

The Duke of Zhenguo frowned, glanced at his son Xiao Yu, who was about to marry the Princess, and hesitated whether to step forward and offer his advice.

Xiao Yu secretly tugged at his father's sleeve and shook his head slightly.

He could see clearly that His Majesty's mind was made up.

Most of the other people in the court were civil and military officials who had followed Shen Wangxi all along.

To them, even if His Majesty takes a concubine of a special status, it's just a romantic affair of the emperor. They'll just sigh about it in private and that's it. They would never confront His Majesty directly over such a matter.

Their focus was more on border wars and people's livelihoods and taxes.

For a time, apart from a few censors and historians whose duty was to offer advice, one after another took the stage, citing classics and expressing their deep sorrow and indignation.

The other officials were just watching the show.

Hearing the buzzing murmurs of advice from below, Shen Wangxi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He abruptly stood up from the dragon throne. "Enough!"

A cold shout instantly silenced all other sounds, leaving the hall completely quiet.

Shen Wangxi's gaze was cold as he slowly swept over the assembled officials below, and he spoke slowly: "Princess Qingruo is gentle and lovely, and is the one I love most."

"Today, she is hereby appointed as a Noble Consort. Anyone who dares to utter a single word against her will be dismissed from their post and never to be employed again!"

Having said that, he looked away from everyone, turned and left the Golden Palace, leaving behind a hall full of ministers with varying expressions.