The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

The thing she had been longing for? Ning Shuyan was now very curious, and she slowly placed the wooden box on the table.

Xiao Yu stared intently at her reaction.

Ning Shuyan braced herself, and just as she was about to open it, she suddenly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I'm a little nervous. What is this thing that's so heavy?"

Xiao Yu said, "You'll know once you open it."

Ning Shuyan opened the box, her eyes suddenly flashing with a bright light. Inside were six large gold ingots, neatly arranged, equivalent to a full three hundred taels of silver. That was her salary for three years as a beauty.

Ning Shuyan was extremely excited. She never expected it to be gold. Her eyes widened as she looked at Xiao Yu, her gaze filled with joy and surprise: "Your Majesty... is it all for me?"

Xiao Yu chuckled, looking at her silly expression. What a little money-grubber! He said softly, "It's not for you. Is there anyone else in this house?"

"And open the bottom compartment and take a look too."

There's more below? Ning Shuyan was startled and quickly opened it. The bottom compartment contained many small gold melon seeds. Compared to gold ingots, these were more practical and convenient for giving as tips.

Ning Shuyan reached out and touched the gold melon seeds, her smile impossible to hide, her eyes shimmering with joy, and her tone becoming incredibly sweet and languid: "Your Majesty has given me so much gold, I am so touched."

As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Yu with her bright black eyes curving upwards.

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "My Consort Ning complains that my monthly allowance is too low. If I don't give her more, I'm afraid Yan'er will resent me for being stingy."

Ning Shuyan chuckled, went over and sat on Xiao Yu's lap, sweetly saying, "Your Majesty would never do that. Besides, Your Majesty loves me dearly and wouldn't want me to be so poor that I have no money to spend."

Xiao Yu reached out and put his arm around her waist. "Beauties need to be pampered. No matter how much gold Yan'er wants, I will give it to her."

Ning Shuyan suddenly understood the modern saying: bread is better than anything. Even if she wasn't attracted to the emperor, just hearing that phrase made her feel incredibly comfortable.

Ning Shuyan smiled and kissed him on the cheek, a fleeting touch as light and soft as a feather, warming Xiao Yu's heart.

"Your Majesty, I will reward you."

Her slightly bright eyes now appeared even more lively and charming in Xiao Yu's eyes.

Xiao Yu reached out and gently stroked her soft lips, then cleared his throat: "Yan'er said before that she would make it up to me."

Ning Shuyan pouted and said coquettishly, "So, Your Majesty's surprise for me today was just so I could make it up to you?"

Xiao Yu looked up and smiled, then gently tapped Ning Shuyan's head: "If that's what Yan'er thinks, then so be it."

As he spoke, Xiao Yu scooped Ning Shuyan up in his arms. Ning Shuyan grabbed his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, I haven't bathed yet..."

She did some yoga today, so she must have sweated a bit and had a slight odor.

Upon hearing about bathing, a glint of light flashed in Xiao Yu's deep eyes: "Perfect timing, I haven't taken a bath either."

Ning Shuyan looked at Xiao Yu in surprise. Did he mean...?

Do you want to be with yourself?

"Someone, prepare water."

Before Ning Shuyan could think further, Xiao Yu ordered someone to prepare water.

*****

When he emerged, his chest heaved, and his hair was disheveled and draped over his shoulders. He carried Ning Shuyan in his arms and walked towards the inner hall.

Xiao Yu placed her on the bed. Her hair, which had been tied up, had already fallen down, and the strands were wet and stuck to her neck. It was hard to tell whether the sweat or water on her forehead was sweat or water. Xiao Yu gently wiped it away for her.

"I'm thirsty..." Her voice was always a little soft and hoarse afterward, which made Xiao Yu's features even more gentle.

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "Who told you to just now..."

Ning Shuyan rolled her eyes without leaving a trace, buried half her head in the blanket, and muttered softly, "It's all because of you..."

The voice was very soft, but Xiao Yu heard it clearly. His smile grew wider and wider. He walked to the table, picked up a cup of tea, and handed it to her. Ning Shuyan then sat up and drank the water.

Xiao Yu then drank several sips as well. When he turned around, Ning Shuyan was already exhausted and had her eyes closed. Her cheeks were flushed, and her complexion looked exceptionally good.

Because Qiu Le added the fragrant dew that Ning Shuyan usually used to the water, Xiao Yu also had a light fragrance on him, and gradually fell into a deep sleep accompanied by this fragrance.