He pulled over Qi Yue’s legs and began massaging them.
“Is this pressure okay?” he asked.
Qi Yue picked up her book again and lazily hummed in acknowledgment.
“How about this?”
“And this?”
The room was filled with the man’s careful inquiries from time to time.
The maids standing outside the door looked at each other, both seeing the smile in each other’s eyes.
When the night grew deep, Qi Yue put down her book.
“I’m not talking to you anymore.” she yawned. “I’m tired.”
Chang Yuncheng had been waiting for her to say this all evening. His heart pounded as he watched this woman walk out.
“Where are you going?” he quickly grabbed her arm and asked anxiously.
This man looked so nervous that Qi Yue couldn’t help but laugh when she turned back.
“Don’t worry, I’m not running away.” she laughed. “I’m going to wash up.”
Chang Yuncheng held her arm and wouldn’t let go.
“There’s no need to always go to the maids’ room to wash…” he said.
He held Qi Yue’s arm, and through the fabric, he could feel the heat of his palm. Qi Yue unconsciously blushed.
Seeing her blush, Chang Yuncheng’s eyes darkened, his heart pounding like a drum, his breathing becoming rapid.
He wondered, wondered if what she said last time still counted…
Chang Yuncheng thought this and asked it out loud.
“What thing?” Qi Yue asked.
Chang Yuncheng held her hand and couldn’t help but use force, touching those soft little bones, feeling as if a hundred claws were scratching his heart.
“Nothing, nothing at all.” he finally stammered.
Before, when he was happy, she still wouldn’t agree, and now her mood wasn’t good.
Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.
“Then I’ll wash here.” she said. “You’re not allowed to peek.”
Chang Yuncheng snorted.
“Who cares!” he said, releasing her hand.
Qi Yue smiled and indeed went into the washroom.
Chang Yuncheng watched the woman go in, first went inside to make the bed, extinguished the lights one by one, leaving only the night lamp, hearing the splashing of water in the washroom.
Peek! Who cares!
He sat down on the bed, then stood up again.
“She’s my wife, I can look openly and honestly, who needs to peek!” he muttered, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
The room was filled with the woman’s laughing scolding and the man’s righteous response about needing to urinate.
At this time in the capital, in the imperial palace, the most prosperous place, it was also shrouded in night. A young palace maid was hurrying along the path.
The young palace maid entered a palace hall. Inside, behind layers of pearl curtains, a graceful and noble beautiful woman was dressing her hair before a mirror.
“Your Majesty Noble Consort, His Majesty has left the Empress’s quarters and is coming this way.” the palace maid bowed and said.
Noble Consort Dong hummed in acknowledgment upon hearing this and raised her hand. Immediately, a palace maid stepped forward and handed the young palace maid a handful of gold leaves.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s reward.” the young palace maid knelt and kowtowed, then withdrew.
After what seemed like a long time, Noble Consort Dong reclined on the beauty couch beside the bed with her eyes closed. The palace hall remained quiet, without the majesty that would accompany the Emperor’s arrival.
A tall figure turned around the pearl curtains and slowly approached. He stopped as if admiring this picture of a lazy beauty.
Noble Consort Dong, reclining on the beauty couch with her hand on her chest, suddenly sighed softly, her eyes still closed.
“Why are you sighing for no reason?” came a man’s voice.
Noble Consort Dong started up in surprise and was about to kneel.
“Your Majesty!” she said.
The man by the pearl curtains then lifted the curtains and strode in, supporting the kneeling Noble Consort Dong with one hand.
This was a man around thirty years old, with a fair complexion and regular features. His eyes were narrow and long, his lips slightly thin, carrying an elusive shrewdness within his upright and peaceful demeanor.
This was the third Emperor of Great Xia, Emperor Taizong Qing.
He pulled Noble Consort Dong to sit down and caressed her for a while.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t come to this concubine’s place recently.” Noble Consort Dong said plaintively, leaning delicately against the man’s chest.
“Court affairs are complicated now, and I am not my own master.” Emperor Qing said.