The? ?man? ?had? ?a? ?strong? ?grip,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?were? ?afraid? ?of? ?losing? ?something.? ?Lying? ?against? ?the? ?pillow? ?on? ?
his? ?side,? ?this? ?face? ?showed? ?a? ?contented? ?smile.? ?His? ?knitted? ?brows? ?had? ?long? ?smoothed? ?out? ?making? ?
him? ?appear? ?somewhat? ?childish? ?and? ?vulnerable.? ?This? ?was? ?definitely? ?not? ?the? ?Emperor? ?she? ?once? ?
knew? ?in? ?the? ?past!? ? ?
?
Meng? ?Sangyu? ?controlled? ?her? ?breathing? ?and? ?carefully? ?examined? ?the? ?man’s? ?handsome? ?features.? ?
Her? ?eyes? ?followed? ?the? ?line? ?of? ?his? ?jaw? ?to? ?behind? ?his? ?ears,? ?trying? ?to? ?find? ?traces? ?of? ?a? ?disguise.? ?
Although? ?his? ?wolfish? ?actions? ?told? ?her? ?that? ?this? ?man? ?was? ?the? ?real? ?McCoy,? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?
doubt? ?the? ?other? ?party’s? ?authenticity? ?because? ?of? ?his? ?occasional? ?irrational? ?behaviour.? ? ?
?
Little? ?by? ?little,? ?she? ?carefully? ?stretched? ?out? ?a? ?hand? ?and? ?felt? ?under? ?the? ?man’s? ?chin.? ?The? ?newly? ?grown? ?
stubble? ?felt? ?prickly? ?and? ?the? ?coarse? ?hairs? ?tickled? ?her? ?delicate? ?palm.? ?It? ?gave? ?off? ?a? ?pleasing? ?feeling.? ?
There? ?were? ?no? ?traces? ?of? ?makeup? ?and? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?grow? ?a? ?beard? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?wearing? ?a? ?
mask.? ?She? ?breathed? ?a? ?sigh? ?of? ?relief? ?and? ?moved? ?to? ?retract? ?her? ?hand.? ? ?
?
Coincidentally,? ?the? ?man? ?awoke? ?just? ?at? ?this? ?time.? ?A? ?pair? ?of? ?pitch-black? ?eyes? ?stared? ?fixedly? ?at? ?her.? ?
They? ?did? ?not? ?contain? ?any? ?of? ?the? ?drowsiness? ?or? ?confusion? ?from? ?just? ?waking? ?up.? ?He? ?was? ?extremely? ?
vigilant? ?by? ?nature? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?easy? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?be? ?startled? ?awake,? ?but? ?Sangyu? ?was? ?a? ?special? ?
existence? ?to? ?him.? ?His? ?body? ?automatically? ?relaxed? ?in? ?her? ?presence.? ?Nevertheless,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?
sleepy? ?one? ?was,? ?they? ?would? ?have? ?no? ?choice? ?but? ?to? ?wake? ?up? ?after? ?having? ?their? ?face? ?touched? ?
nonstop.? ? ?
? ?
Noticing? ?that? ?the? ?woman’s? ?pretty? ?face? ?was? ?so? ?close? ?within? ?reach,? ?it? ?was? ?almost? ?as? ?if? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?
them? ?had? ?returned? ?to? ?the? ?time? ?where? ?they? ?were? ?together? ?from? ?morning? ?until? ?night,? ?inseparable? ?as? ?
two? ?peas? ?in? ?a? ?pod.? ?His? ?eyes? ?instantly? ?sparkled? ?with? ?a? ?terrifying? ?brilliance.? ?Just? ?like? ?he? ?had? ?done? ?
every? ?morning? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?he? ?held? ?her? ?face? ?and? ?licked? ?and? ?kissed? ?her? ?cheeks? ?from? ?her? ?tender? ?
lips? ?to? ?her? ?snow-white? ?teeth.? ?[His? ?tongue]? ?pushed? ?between? ?her? ?pearly? ?white? ?teeth? ?to? ?impatiently? ?
hook? ?her? ?savoury,? ?slippery? ?tongue.? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?gave? ?a? ?satisfied? ?sigh.? ?This? ?was? ?
undoubtedly? ?his? ?most? ?splendid? ?morning? ?since? ?his? ?soul? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?body.? ? ?
?
“Your? ?Majesty,? ?your? ?honoured? ?self’s? ?shoulder? ?is? ?still? ?wounded? ?and? ?this? ?concubine’s? ?body? ?still? ?has? ?
not? ?fully? ?recovered!”? ?After? ?extricating? ?herself? ?from? ?his? ?feverish? ?kisses,? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?gasped? ?for? ?
breath? ?as? ?she? ?called? ?out? ?a? ?reminder.? ?She? ?could? ?feel? ?the? ?man’s? ?thick? ?erection? ?growing? ?harder? ?
against? ?her? ?leg.? ? ?
?
1? ?
Since? ?her? ?body? ?remained? ?unsullied,? ?she? ?could? ?infer? ?that? ?she? ?would? ?monopolize? ?Imperial? ?favour? ?in? ?
the? ?coming? ?days.? ?She? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?any? ?humiliation? ?and? ?instead? ?slightly? ?rejoiced.? ?If? ?something? ?
happened? ?to? ?her? ?father,? ?the? ?favour? ?bestowed? ?to? ?her? ?would? ?let? ?her? ?mother? ?and? ?elder? ?brother? ?live? ?
better? ?and? ?prevent? ?the? ?Meng? ?family? ?from? ?falling? ?into? ?decline.? ?It? ?was? ?an? ?equal? ?exchange,? ?that? ?was? ?
all.? ? ?
?
“Zhen’s? ?injury? ?is? ?fine.? ?When? ?will? ?your? ?body? ?recover?”? ?Reluctantly? ?pecking? ?the? ?woman’s? ?alluring? ?
scarlet? ?lips? ?once? ?more,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?asked? ?with? ?a? ?husky? ?voice.? ? ?
?
“Imperial? ?Physician? ?Du? ?said? ?that? ?it? ?will? ?improve? ?after? ?drinking? ?a? ?few? ?more? ?doses? ?of? ?herbal? ?
medicine.”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?turned? ?her? ?head? ?to? ?evade? ?and? ?the? ?man’s? ?kisses? ?fell? ?on? ?her? ?delicate? ?
pale? ?earlobes.? ?The? ?man? ?recognized? ?the? ?opportunity? ?and? ?used? ?his? ?teeth? ?to? ?gently? ?nibble? ?her? ?
earlobe? ?with? ?an? ?indulgent? ?expression.? ? ?
?
“How? ?long? ?is? ?drinking? ?a? ?few? ?more? ?doses? ?of? ?medicine?”? ?Seizing? ?her? ?chin? ?and? ?making? ?her? ?face? ?
him,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?persisted? ?in? ?his? ?questioning.? ? ?
?
“About? ?seven? ?or? ?eight? ?days.”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?had? ?no? ?choice? ?but? ?to? ?meet? ?his? ?eyes.? ?Facing? ?the? ?
deep,? ?enigmatic? ?emotion? ?in? ?his? ?eyes,? ?she? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?somewhat? ?apprehensive.? ?
?
“In? ?seven? ?or? ?eight? ?days,? ?Zhen’s? ?shoulder? ?will? ?have? ?fully? ?recovered? ?too.? ?Just? ?at? ?the? ?right? ?time.”? ?
Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?sighed? ?deeply? ?and? ?tightly? ?embraced? ?the? ?fragrant,? ?bewitching,? ?delicate? ?body? ?in? ?
his? ?arms.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?while? ?before? ?he? ?reluctantly? ?let? ?go.? ? ?
?
“Your? ?Majesty,? ?it’s? ?time? ?to? ?get? ?out? ?of? ?bed.? ?This? ?concubine? ?will? ?help? ?you? ?change.”? ?Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?
finally? ?stopped,? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?imperceptibly? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?sigh.? ?She? ?sprang? ?off? ?the? ?Imperial? ?bed? ?at? ?
lighting? ?speed.? ? ?
?
“Mm.”? ?The? ?man? ?gave? ?a? ?low? ?reply.? ?His? ?voice? ?sounded? ?extremely? ?happy.? ?Noticing? ?that? ?her? ?lapel? ?
was? ?slightly? ?wrinkled,? ?his? ?body? ?moved? ?on? ?its? ?own? ?to? ?smooth? ?it? ?out? ?and? ?he? ?conveniently? ?planted? ?a? ?
kiss? ?on? ?her? ?cheek.? ?This? ?scene? ?so? ?resembled? ?how? ?a? ?couple? ?would? ?behave? ?around? ?each? ?other? ?in? ?
modern? ?times,? ?affectionate? ?with? ?mutual? ?respect,? ?that? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?was? ?momentarily? ?lost? ?for? ?
words.? ? ?
?
In? ?the? ?short? ?time? ?she? ?was? ?absent-minded,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?had? ?already? ?taken? ?the? ?clothes? ?from? ?
her? ?hands? ?and? ?changed? ?into? ?them? ?himself? ?with? ?a? ?light? ?smile.? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?blinked? ?and? ?hastily? ?
wrung? ?a? ?handkerchief? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?wash? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?hands.? ?
?
“Your? ?Majesty,? ?would? ?your? ?honoured? ?self? ?still? ?like? ?this? ?concubine? ?to? ?feed? ?you?”? ?asked? ?Meng? ?
Sangyu? ?as? ?she? ?walked? ?over? ?to? ?the? ?[table]? ?where? ?a? ?piping? ?hot? ?breakfast? ?was? ?prepared.? ? ?
?
“Sit? ?down? ?and? ?eat? ?together? ?with? ?Zhen.”? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?smiled? ?and? ?pulled? ?her? ?to? ?sit? ?beside? ?
him.? ?Their? ?seats? ?were? ?so? ?close? ?that? ?they? ?could? ?feel? ?each? ?other’s? ?body? ?heat.? ?This? ?brightened? ?his? ?
2? ?
This? ?cat? ?bows? ?in? ?thanks.? ?
?
“They? ?are? ?all? ?dishes? ?that? ?you? ?love,? ?eat? ?more.? ?You’ve? ?lost? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?weight? ?these? ?last? ?few? ?days.”? ?He? ?
served? ?Sangyu? ?while? ?expressing? ?concern? ?over? ?her? ?slightly? ?thinner? ?cheeks? ?after? ?close? ?
examination.? ? ?
?
We? ?haven’t? ?seen? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?five? ?months.? ?How? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?that? ?I’ve? ?gotten? ?thinner? ?recently?? ?
As? ?expected,? ?sweet? ?and? ?honeyed? ?words? ?are? ?a? ?scumbag’s? ?God-given? ?skill!? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?
criticized? ?him? ?in? ?her? ?mind,? ?but? ?her? ?face? ?displayed? ?a? ?shy? ?expression? ?as? ?she? ?thanked? ?the? ?man? ?and? ?
focused? ?on? ?eating.? ?Taking? ?another? ?look,? ?she? ?discovered? ?that? ?every? ?dish? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?was,? ?in? ?fact,? ?
food? ?she? ?normally? ?loved? ?to? ?eat.? ? ?
?
“Eat? ?up,? ?it? ?won’t? ?taste? ?as? ?good? ?once? ?it’s? ?cold.”? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?smiled? ?and? ?added? ?another? ?piece? ?
of? ?pastry? ?[to? ?her? ?plate]? ?while? ?he? ?himself? ?had? ?only? ?eaten? ?a? ?few? ?bites.? ?His? ?pair? ?of? ?deeply? ?serene? ?
eyes? ?were? ?practically? ?glued? ?to? ?the? ?woman’s? ?body? ?with? ?no? ?sign? ?of? ?looking? ?away.? ?He? ?missed? ?these? ?
commonplace? ?but? ?comforting? ?moments? ?too? ?much.? ?
?
Meng? ?Sangyu? ?already? ?found? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?the? ?irrational? ?Emperor,? ?which? ?was? ?‘Let? ?him? ?
thrash,? ?the? ?cool? ?breeze? ?brushes? ?the? ?hill.? ?Let? ?him? ?go? ?crazy,? ?the? ?bright? ?moon? ?illuminates? ?the? ?Great? ?
River.’?1 ?She? ?only? ?needed? ?to? ?be? ?concerned? ?with? ?her? ?own? ?matters? ?and? ?he? ?would? ?return? ?to? ?normal? ?
after? ?a? ?while.? ? ?
?
Sure? ?enough,? ?after? ?finishing? ?breakfast? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?began? ?to? ?review? ?memorials.? ?The? ?man? ?
sat? ?behind? ?the? ?Imperial? ?desk? ?with? ?knitted? ?brows? ?and? ?looked? ?completely? ?focused.? ?[He? ?was]? ?the? ?
picture? ?of? ?an? ?awe-inspiring,? ?hard-working,? ?and? ?conscientious? ?monarch? ?who? ?showed? ?promise.? ?
There? ?were? ?no? ?signs? ?of? ?the? ?lovesick? ?fool? ?from? ?just? ?a? ?moment? ?ago.? ?He? ?had? ?returned? ?for? ?no? ?more? ?
than? ?three? ?days? ?but? ?[the? ?news? ?of]? ?several? ?important? ?matters? ?had? ?already? ?broken? ?out? ?in? ?the? ?
Imperial? ?Court.? ? ?
?
The? ?first? ?was? ?news? ?that? ?Gansu’s? ?Provincial? ?Commander,? ?Xie? ?Zheng’hao,? ?had? ?been? ?
assassinated.? ?Just? ?before? ?Great? ?Zhou’s? ?troops? ?were? ?heading? ?into? ?battle,? ?they? ?had? ?switched? ?
Generals? ?and? ?directly? ?assaulted? ?the? ?Barbarian’s? ?Imperial? ?seat.? ? ?
?
The? ?second? ?piece? ?of? ?news? ?was? ?that? ?the? ?commander(s)? ?of? ?the? ?Imperial? ?guards? ?and? ?the? ?Forbidden? ?
Dragon? ?guards? ?and? ?the? ?Provincial? ?Commander? ?of? ?the? ?Nine? ?Gates? ?were? ?successively? ?demoted? ?
and? ?were? ?replaced? ?by? ?newly-appointed? ?lesser-known? ?officials.? ? ?
1 ??This? ?is? ?a? ?play? ?on? ?words? ?on? ?a? ?line? ?of? ?poem? ?from? ??Jin? ?Yong’s? ?[Heavenly? ?Sword? ?and? ?Dragon? ?
Slaying? ?Sabre]?.? ?The? ?original? ?text? ?is:? ?“他?强?由?他?强?，?清?风?拂?山?冈。?他?横?任?他?横?，?明?月?照?大?江。”? ?
Both? ?mean? ?to? ?ignore? ?the? ?enemy? ?-? ?treat? ?them? ?like? ?air? ?-? ?and? ?only? ?worry? ?about? ?your? ?own? ?matters.? ?No? ?
matter? ?how? ?strong? ?or? ?fierce? ?an? ?enemy? ?is,? ?their? ?actions? ?can’t? ?affect? ?you.? ?Man’s? ?greatest? ?enemy? ?is? ?
worry,? ?unease,? ?weakness,? ?ignorance? ?etc.? ?which? ?all? ?come? ?from? ?within.? ?
3? ?
?
Third,? ?the? ?Imperial? ?Court? ?will? ?establish? ?a? ?new? ?government? ?office? ?who? ?will? ?be? ?known? ?as? ?the? ?
Embroidered? ?Uniform? ?guards.? ?Its? ?authority? ?would? ?be? ?leaps? ?and? ?bounds? ?higher? ?than? ?the? ?Six? ?
Ministries? ?and? ?the? ?Emperor? ?would? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?to? ?appoint? ?a? ?Commander.? ?This? ?would? ?greatly? ?
centralize? ?Imperial? ?power.? ? ?
?
Fourth,? ?a? ?scandal? ?broke? ?out? ?that? ?Imperial? ?Preceptor? ?Shen? ?who? ?was? ?in? ?charge? ?of? ?the? ?autumn? ?
examinations?2? ?had? ?leaked? ?the? ?questions? ?in? ?advance.? ?The? ?results? ?of? ?this? ?year’s? ?autumn? ?
examinations? ?will? ?be? ?invalidated.? ?Next? ?year,? ?the? ?New? ?Year? ?and? ?spring? ?examinations? ?will? ?
be? ?held? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time.? ? ?
?
Several? ?major? ?changes? ?were? ?decreed? ?in? ?succession? ?and? ?the? ?negative? ?effects? ?of? ?the? ?previous? ?
Fake? ?Emperor’s? ?incompetence? ?and? ?indulgence? ?in? ?women? ?were? ?thoroughly? ?eliminated.? ?The? ?
imperial? ?courtiers? ?could? ?see? ?the? ?wise,? ?mighty? ?and? ?commanding? ?monarch? ?from? ?the? ?past.? ?The? ?
ministers? ?who? ?were? ?loyal? ?to? ?the? ?imperial? ?family? ?rejoiced;? ?those? ?who? ?sought? ?to? ?benefit? ?from? ?the? ?
confusion? ?anxiously? ?ran? ?about? ?like? ?headless? ?chickens;? ?and? ?the? ?brown-nosing? ?ministers? ?who? ?
simply? ?followed? ?the? ?crowd? ?began? ?to? ?worry.? ? ?
?
Meng? ?Sangyu? ?sat? ?erect? ?in? ?the? ?seat? ?to? ?the? ?right? ?of? ?the? ?Emperor.?3 ?She? ?pondered? ?over? ?Emperor? ?
Zhou’wu’s? ?recent? ?actions? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?acknowledge? ?that? ?if? ?Great? ?Zhou? ?didn’t? ?have? ?this? ?
man? ?at? ?the? ?helm,? ?the? ?country? ?would? ?surely? ?fall? ?into? ?chaos.? ? ?
?
Seeing? ?that? ?the? ?man? ?was? ?wholly? ?focused? ?on? ?governmental? ?affairs,? ?she? ?stood? ?up? ?and? ?curtsied? ?to? ?
excuse? ?herself,? ?“Your? ?Majesty? ?is? ?busy? ?with? ?governmental? ?affairs.? ?This? ?concubine? ?will? ?take? ?her? ?
leave? ?first.? ?Please? ?remember? ?to? ?care? ?for? ?your? ?health,? ?Your? ?Majesty,? ?and? ?take? ?a? ?break? ?every? ?other? ?
hour.”? ? ?
?
“Sangyu,? ?don’t? ?leave.? ?Stay? ?and? ?keep? ?Zhen? ?company.”? ?Having? ?been? ?accustomed? ?to? ?being? ?in? ?the? ?
same? ?room? ?with? ?Sangyu,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?only? ?just? ?realized? ?that? ?this? ?was? ?Qian’qing? ?Palace.? ?If? ?
he? ?was? ?busy? ?with? ?governmental? ?affairs,? ?Sangyu? ?would? ?appear? ?very? ?awkward? ?with? ?nothing? ?to? ?do.? ?
?
“Help? ?Zhen? ?organize? ?the? ?memorials.”? ?Seeing? ?Sangyu? ?clearly? ?look? ?over? ?with? ?questioning? ?eyes,? ?he? ?
patted? ?the? ?stack? ?of? ?memorials? ?beside? ?him? ?and? ?spoke.? ?
?
“How? ?can? ?memorials? ?be? ?something? ?that? ?this? ?concubine? ?can? ?be? ?allowed? ?to? ?see?? ?This? ?concubine? ?
doesn’t? ?dare.”? ?Meng? ?Sanyu? ?hastily? ?refused.? ?A? ?woman? ?had? ?almost? ?robbed? ?him? ?of? ?political? ?power? ?
and? ?she? ?didn’t? ?believe? ?for? ?a? ?minute? ?that? ?it? ?hadn’t? ?left? ?a? ?shadow? ?in? ?this? ?man’s? ?heart.? ?If? ?she? ?so? ?
2 ??秋?闱? ?(qiūwéi)? ?One? ?of? ?the? ?three? ?annual? ?imperial? ?examinations? ?at? ?the? ?provincial? ?level? ?in? ?
the? ?Ming? ?and? ?Qing? ?dynasties.? ?
3 ??In? ?ancient? ?times,? ?the? ?left? ?side? ?was? ?considered? ?higher? ?or? ?more? ?important? ?than? ?the? ?right.? ?This? ?
applied? ?to? ?seated? ?positions? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?governmental? ?posts? ?e.g.? ?Left? ?Chancellor? ?>? ?Right? ?
Chancellor.? ?
4? ?
much? ?as? ?touched? ?those? ?memorials,? ?in? ?the? ?future? ?when? ?this? ?person? ?is? ?in? ?a? ?bad? ?mood? ?and? ?brings? ?
this? ?free? ?at? ?Nyanovels.? ?This? ?cat? ?bows? ?in? ?thanks.? ?
? ?
Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?blanked? ?out? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?immediately? ?understanding? ?her? ?misgivings.? ?
He? ?held? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?give? ?a? ?low? ?chuckle.? ?His? ?Sangyu? ?has? ?always? ?been? ?on? ?
guard? ?like? ?this,? ?constantly? ?looking? ?a? ?hundred? ?steps? ?ahead.? ?It? ?was? ?true? ?that? ?he? ?felt? ?it? ?was? ?taboo? ?for? ?
women? ?to? ?meddle? ?in? ?state? ?affairs,? ?but? ?this? ?did? ?not? ?extend? ?to? ?Sangyu.? ?He? ?trusted? ?Sangyu? ?as? ?much? ?
as? ?he? ?trusted? ?himself.? ? ?
?
“Nevermind.? ?In? ?that? ?case,? ?help? ?Zhen? ?trim? ?this? ?bonsai? ?then.”? ?Not? ?wanting? ?to? ?make? ?things? ?difficult? ?
for? ?Sangyu,? ?he? ?pointed? ?at? ?several? ?small? ?bonsai? ?that? ?were? ?sitting? ?on? ?the? ?desk.? ?
?
“Yes.”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?agreed? ?and? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?bonsai? ?and? ?gave? ?it? ?an? ?evaluating? ?look.? ?Suddenly,? ?
she? ?remembered? ?a? ?scene? ?from? ?when? ?she? ?was? ?together? ?with? ?A’Bao.? ?One? ?pruned? ?while? ?the? ?other? ?
tidied,? ?cooperating? ?smoothly? ?in? ?complete? ?tacit? ?understanding.? ?Those? ?were? ?her? ?most? ?fulfilling? ?and? ?
joyful? ?days? ?since? ?she? ?entered? ?the? ?palace.? ? ?
?
Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?narrowed? ?his? ?eyes,? ?clearly? ?lost? ?in? ?some? ?memory? ?as? ?well.? ?He? ?promptly? ?took? ?
away? ?the? ?bonsai? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Once? ?Zhen? ?has? ?some? ?free? ?time,? ?Zhen? ?will? ?trim? ?this? ?
bonsai? ?together? ?with? ?you.? ?You……”? ?He? ?paused? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?brightened,? ?“You? ?sew? ?a? ?perfume? ?
sachet? ?for? ?Zhen,? ?you? ?promised? ?last? ?time.”? ?
?
“But? ?this? ?concubine? ?does? ?not? ?have? ?any? ?tools? ?or? ?materials.”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?loosened? ?her? ?hands.? ?
She? ?was? ?already? ?immune? ?to? ?the? ?man’s? ?irrational? ?behaviour.? ? ?
?
“Chang’xi,? ?head? ?to? ?Bi’xiao? ?Palace? ?and? ?fetch? ?Her? ?Ladyship’s? ?needlework? ?box.”? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?
looked? ?towards? ?Chang’xi? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?standing? ?quietly? ?in? ?the? ?corner? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time.? ? ?
?
The? ?needlework? ?box? ?was? ?delivered? ?to? ?Meng? ?Sangyu’s? ?hands? ?with? ?the? ?fastest? ?speed.? ?The? ?man? ?
rummaged? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?needlework? ?box.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?find? ?a? ?piece? ?of? ?cloth? ?that? ?suited? ?his? ?taste? ?and? ?
called? ?Chang’xi? ?over? ?again? ?to? ?fetch? ?a? ?bolt? ?of? ?bright? ?yellow? ?brocade? ?from? ?his? ?personal? ?storage.? ? ?
?
“Use? ?this? ?material? ?and? ?make? ?two? ?identical? ?sachets.? ?One? ?for? ?you? ?and? ?one? ?for? ?Zhen.”? ?The? ?man? ?
gestured? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?show? ?the? ?size? ?and? ?shape? ?as? ?he? ?enthusiastically? ?made? ?suggestions.? ? ?
?
“Your? ?Majesty~”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?grumbled? ?flirtatiously.? ?Her? ?raised? ?phoenix? ?eyes? ?made? ?one’s? ?heart? ?
skip? ?a? ?beat,? ?“This? ?satin? ?is? ?bright? ?yellow.? ?Is? ?Your? ?Majesty? ?trying? ?to? ?harm? ?this? ?concubine? ?[by? ?having? ?
5? ?
this? ?concubine? ?use? ?material? ?that? ?exceeds? ?her? ?rank]??4 ?Here? ?this? ?man? ?goes? ?again,? ?wanting? ?to? ?push? ?
her? ?into? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?danger.? ? ?
?
“How? ?could? ?that? ?be?”? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu’s? ?voice? ?was? ?hoarse? ?and? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?bitter? ?taste? ?in? ?his? ?
mouth.? ?The? ?Empress? ?of? ?a? ?nation? ?was? ?also? ?entitled? ?to? ?use? ?bright? ?yellow,? ?but? ?if? ?he? ?said? ?it? ?outright,? ?
would? ?Sangyu? ?believe? ?him?? ?She? ?was? ?too? ?clever? ?and? ?precisely? ?because? ?of? ?this,? ?everything? ?would? ?
become? ?more? ?complicated.? ?His? ?attitude? ?suddenly? ?changed.? ?Perhaps? ?it? ?could? ?be? ?seen? ?as? ?
harbouring? ?ill? ?intentions? ?from? ?her? ?perspective!? ?He? ?truly? ?did? ?not? ?know? ?how? ?he? ?could? ?make? ?things? ?
better? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?slowly? ?wear? ?down? ?[her? ?guard]? ?bit? ?by? ?bit? ?and? ?gradually? ?make? ?Sangyu? ?aware? ?
of? ?his? ?feelings.? ?
?
“It? ?was? ?Zhen’s? ?mistake.? ?Use? ?this? ?deep? ?purple? ?cloth? ?instead? ?and? ?make? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?exactly? ?the? ?
same.”? ?Tossing? ?the? ?bright? ?yellow? ?brocade? ?to? ?one? ?side,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu’s? ?smile? ?faintly? ?revealed? ?
his? ?bitterness.? ? ?
?
“Alright,? ?should? ?the? ?scents? ?be? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?well?”? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?was? ?satisfied? ?and? ?asked? ?with? ?a? ?
grin.? ? ?
?
“Yes,? ?and? ?not? ?ambergris? ?but? ?your? ?favourite? ?floral? ?scent? ?that? ?you? ?normally? ?use.”? ?Forcibly? ?rousing? ?
himself,? ?Emperor? ?Zhou’wu? ?caressed? ?her? ?beaming? ?face.? ?Forget? ?it,? ?it’s? ?fine? ?so? ?long? ?as? ?you’re? ?by? ?
Zhen’s? ?side.? ?Zhen? ?has? ?a? ?lifetime? ?to? ?tear? ?down? ?your? ?heart''s? ?defenses.? ? ?
?
“Sit? ?closer? ?to? ?Zhen.? ?It’s? ?warmer? ?this? ?way.”? ?He? ?pulled? ?the? ?woman? ?to? ?the? ?vacant? ?space? ?beside? ?him.? ?
In? ?the? ?past,? ?he? ?was? ?always? ?directly? ?nestled? ?in? ?Sangyu’s? ?bosom? ?and? ?had? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?there? ?
being? ?zero? ?distance? ?between? ?them.? ?He? ?wasn’t? ?used? ?to? ?seeing? ?Sangyu? ?sit? ?so? ?far? ?away.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?
inconvenient? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?write? ?with? ?a? ?person? ?in? ?his? ?embrace,? ?he? ?wished? ?he? ?could? ?hug? ?Sangyu? ?all? ?
the? ?time.? ? ?
?
“Will? ?[this? ?concubine]? ?disturb? ?Your? ?Majesty? ?reviewing? ?memorials?”? ?Her? ?buttocks? ?were? ?pressed? ?up? ?
against? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?man’s? ?strong? ?thighs.? ?Scorching? ?hot? ?bodily? ?warmth? ?could? ?be? ?felt? ?through? ?
their? ?clothes.? ?Meng? ?Sangyu? ?shifted? ?uncomfortably.? ?She? ?discovered? ?that? ?the? ?crazy? ?Emperor? ?really? ?
liked? ?to? ?stick? ?to? ?her,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?starving? ?for? ?touch.?5 ?
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“It? ?won’t.”? ?The? ?man? ?smiled? ?and? ?bent? ?down? ?to? ?lick? ?her? ?soft? ?lips.? ?Only? ?then? ?did? ?he? ?start? ?to? ?read? ?over? ?
memorials.? ?
?
4 ??There? ?were? ?restrictions? ?for? ?what? ?everyone? ?could? ?wear? ?in? ?the? ?Palace.? ?Yellow? ?or? ?gold? ?was? ?
reserved? ?solely? ?for? ?the? ?Emperor? ?and? ?red? ?was? ?reserved? ?for? ?the? ?Empress.? ?The? ?Empress? ?might? ?be? ?
permitted? ?to? ?wear? ?yellow? ?as? ?well? ?in? ?some? ?cases.? ?Anyone? ?else? ?could? ?be? ?punished? ?for? ?just? ?having? ?
that? ?colour? ?material? ?in? ?their? ?residence,? ?let? ?alone? ?working? ?with? ?it.? ?
5 ??I? ?learned? ?that? ?皮?肤?饥?渴?症? ?(pífū? ?jīkě? ?zhèng)? ?is? ??a? ?real? ?condition?? ?and? ?maybe? ?something? ?we’re? ?all? ?
feeling? ?to? ?some? ?extent? ?right? ?now.? ?Sending? ?everyone? ?a? ?big? ?virtual? ?hug!!? ?
6? ?
Meng? ?Sangyu? ?was? ?already? ?quite? ?composed? ?in? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?the? ?man’s? ?surprise? ?attack.? ?She? ?
gracefully? ?wiped? ?the? ?wetness? ?from? ?her? ?lips? ?and? ?lowered? ?her? ?head? ?to? ?concentrate? ?on? ?making? ?the? ?
perfume? ?sachet.? ?For? ?a? ?moment,? ?the? ?hall? ?was? ?so? ?silent? ?that? ?one? ?could? ?hear? ?a? ?needle? ?drop.? ?A? ?
strong? ?sweet? ?atmosphere? ?lingered? ?about? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them.? ?
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Standing? ?in? ?the? ?corner,? ?Chang’xi? ?stole? ?a? ?measuring? ?glance? ?at? ?the? ?two? ?people? ?who? ?were? ?wholly? ?
absorbed? ?[in? ?their? ?work].? ?He? ?inwardly? ?pondered:? ?His? ?Majesty? ?and? ?Virtuous? ?Consort? ?really? ?have? ?a? ?
good? ?relationship.? ?Like? ?this,? ?they? ?seem? ?just? ?like? ?an? ?ordinary? ?old? ?married? ?couple.? ?
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