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

His tone was deep, and his dark eyes stared intently at Ning Shuyan.

The moment Ning Shuyan met his gaze, her heart tightened. What had she said wrong again? Weren't they just drinking happily?

She put down her chopsticks, her voice softening slightly: "These days...the weather is getting colder, so we should drink more soup to keep warm."

Xiao Yu raised his chin slightly, his expression indifferent.

Ning Shuyan quickly added, "If Your Majesty doesn't like it, I'll take it away for you."

Xiao Yu looked at her outstretched hand and grabbed it firmly.

He used a lot of force, and Ning Shuyan immediately frowned, her voice trembling, "It hurts."

Qiu Le and Yang An, who were standing beside her, were also stunned, but dared not say a word. They were both anxious for Ning Shuyan.

"Your Majesty..." Ning Shuyan stared blankly at Xiao Yu, her eyes slightly red, her voice full of grievance.

Xiao Yu grabbed her hand and walked towards the inner hall. Ning Shuyan felt the majesty of the emperor for the first time. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that she had not said anything wrong. To nourish the body?

Ning Shuyan suddenly realized something and her gaze locked onto Xiao Yu's face. He was a martial artist, and the years of holding a pen not only made his wrists sore, but also caused her skin to chafe.

She deliberately lowered her voice, her tone soft and gentle as water: "Your Majesty, you've hurt me."

She knew that Xiao Yu liked to hear her soft, sweet voice in private, so she pleaded with him in a low voice.

Sure enough, Xiao Yu loosened her grip a little upon hearing this voice. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she bit her lip, looking exceptionally pitiful.

Xiao Yu's dark expression remained unchanged. He pressed her down on the bed, staring intently at her: "How dare you despise me!"

As he spoke, Xiao Yu untied her belt with one hand, a dark flame flickering in his eyes.

"No, Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare," Ning Shuyan said softly.

Xiao Yu's movements were not as gentle as before; they were extremely rough.

He knew the man's desire had arrived and was unstoppable.

She boldly hooked her arm around his shoulder and whispered in his ear in a coquettish tone, "Your Majesty, please spare me."

Xiao Yu's lips curled into a slight smile: "Didn't you despise me? Why are you begging for mercy?"

Ning Shuyan squinted, her eyes brimming with tears: "Your Majesty, I didn't mean it. You've misunderstood."

Xiao Yu couldn't listen to her explanation at this moment; he only had one thought in his mind: to completely subdue her.

The second time, it took too long, and his movements weren't gentle, so Ning Shuyan felt she couldn't take it anymore.

Ning Shuyan's face was flushed and her head was spinning, whether it was because of the alcohol or because of him.

"Your Majesty, I was wrong."

"Where did you go wrong?" Xiao Yu naturally wouldn't let her off the hook.

"Your Majesty... I misspoke."

Xiao Yu's face was also flushed, and the fervor in his eyes was not diminished at all, but rather intensified.

"Anything else?"

Ning Shuyan was already completely infatuated and her mind was in a mess. She whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty shouldn't have given you soup."

Xiao Yu curled his lips into a smile. "Anything else?"

And what else? Ning Shuyan really couldn't think of anything else.

Seeing her hesitate, Xiao Yu became even more eager and picked her up.

Ning Shuyan was furious, as if she had been struck by a sharp sword. "Your Majesty said yesterday that you liked me, and today you are bullying me."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu said, "Bullying? How can it be considered bullying?"

Ning Shuyan bit her lip, wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders, and whispered sweet nothings.

Xiao Yu, however, seemed not to have heard him at all...

Ning Shuyan's long nails dug fiercely into his back, her heart filled with annoyance.

The pain in his back only made Xiao Yu more...

Hearing the commotion outside, Ziying panicked and grabbed Qiule, saying, "Sister Qiule, why is the Emperor mistreating the young mistress like this?"

She remembered that Ning Shuyan had never made such a sound before; it sounded like she was in pain but also strange.

Although Qiu Le was unaware of the situation, she understood some matters of the heart between men and women. She quickly pulled Zi Ying to the courtyard and whispered, "My lady, it shouldn't be all just discomfort..."

"What is that?" Ziying asked curiously.

Qiu Le moved her lips, thought for a moment, and then said, "I can't explain it clearly either. You'll understand when you have a husband."

……

The voice rang in his ears, and Xiao Yu's lips curled into a smile: "Then tell me, do I need any more treatment?"

Ning Shuyan shook her head repeatedly, her forehead already covered in sweat.

"No, Your Majesty, if you make more, I will..."

Only then did Xiao Yu let her go, revealing a confident expression.

He placed Ning Shuyan on the bed, and seeing the tears in the corners of her eyes and the sweat on her forehead, his heart softened. Just as he was about to wipe her sweat, Ning Shuyan turned around, covered herself up, and began to sob softly.

"That's not what I meant, Your Majesty. Why are you mistreating me?"

All of Xiao Yu's dissatisfaction and desire had erupted, and he naturally felt relieved and calmed down. He sat on the bed:

"How could I be considered to have wronged you? Love between men and women is a matter of personal pleasure."

Ning Shuyan sat up, wrapped in the blanket that fell just below her collarbone, barely covering her ample breasts, though patches of red were still faintly visible. Her skin was already fair and delicate, making the red marks all the more pronounced and unsettling.

Xiao Yu was so flustered at the time that he didn't notice anything amiss, but now, upon reflection, he realized how reckless he had been. He then heard her choke out, "Your Majesty, isn't this bullying me? And...it hurts!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu glanced at her, reached under the covers, and said gently, "Let me take a look."

Ning Shuyan wrapped the blanket around herself tightly, pressing it down: "No!"

Xiao Yu's hand froze on the bedsheets for a long while before he lowered it, his voice cold as he said, "Trying to throw a tantrum at me?"

"You mustn't keep your grievances bottled up. These are the words Your Majesty said to me." With her back to Xiao Yu, her voice betrayed her grievance and bitterness.

Then she continued, "Your Majesty, I have no reason to dislike you, but you are arbitrary and have come to bully me."