"Yes, this concubine was wrong."
[So what? Are books supposed to be ranked as superior or inferior?]
"Read less of those in the future."
"Yes." Li Zhu replied obediently.
Li Shengyuan dismissed all the palace servants from the room and began discussing Chen Boyu's matter.
"I have verified that Chen Boyu cheated in the imperial examinations."
Li Zhu feigned surprise, "It's actually true? How did he cheat?"
Li Shengyuan couldn't bear to look at her as he continued, "The Chen Family found a lookalike to take the exam for Chen Boyu, named Zheng Jian."
"So that's how it was! Your Majesty is wise!"
[Heaven has eyes! The truth is finally revealed!]
"You contributed significantly as well."
"Hehe, this concubine merely recognized some handwriting, it's not worth mentioning. Your Majesty's ability is what's truly remarkable – to have discovered clues after so many years."
Li Zhu genuinely believed Li Shengyuan was impressive.
Ahem.
Li Shengyuan rarely felt this sense of guilt.
"Your Majesty, how will you punish the Chen Family?"
"Adult males of the Chen Family shall be executed. Males under fourteen shall be exiled to Lingnan. Females shall be registered as low-class citizens. Furthermore, the Chen Family shall be barred from imperial examinations and official appointments for three generations."
Li Zhu fell silent. The fate of dozens of Chen family members and their descendants had been decided.
One could say they deserved their punishment.
Yet how many innocent lives had been implicated because of Chen Han's wicked idea?
"You have merit. Speak, what reward do you want?"
"This concubine hasn't done much, it doesn't count as merit."
[Money! I want money! The! More! The! Better! Damn emperor, bury me in silver!]
Li Shengyuan raised an eyebrow, "Indeed, then no reward shall be given."
"Ah?"
[Not giving any? Damn emperor, don't you know your words are imperial decrees!]
"Gui Pin is noble and pure, disliking the taint of copper smell. Very well, I originally intended to reward you with three hundred taels…"
[Silver?]
"Gold."
[Ahhh! I want it! I want it!]
"Your Majesty, this concubine… this concubine regrets…"
"It's time for evening meal. Ji An!"
Before Li Zhu could finish speaking, Li Shengyuan interrupted her.
Soon, the evening meal was served.
Li Zhu channeled her frustration into appetite, eating until her stomach was round.
~~
As dusk fell and lanterns were lit
Li Zhu waited ready to respectfully see Li Shengyuan off.
Unexpectedly, he leaned on the soft couch and didn't leave.
Ji An also came in to inquire, "Your Majesty, will you be resting at Huaqing Palace tonight?"
"Hmm."
Li Zhu felt as if struck by lightning, unable to believe it.
Before leaving, Ji An gave Li Zhu an expression that seemed to say "good luck, I'm counting on you."
Li Zhu wanted to cry but had no tears.
[I won't have to stay up late reading again today, will I?!]
Li Zhu and Li Shengyuan stared at each other. Huaqing Palace didn't have the books Li Shengyuan wanted to read, and Li Zhu didn't dare continue reading her novels in his presence.
Ahem, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Should we retire?"
"It's not even Xu hour yet." Li Shengyuan said calmly.
Li Zhu lowered her head in embarrassment.
[Damn! Why does this make me seem so desperate?]
The corners of Li Shengyuan's mouth lifted slightly.
"Ji An, go back and fetch some books."
Ji An outside the hall immediately went to get books upon hearing this.
Li Zhu also found needle and thread, picked up the clean embroidery hoop, and pretended to be busy.
The two quietly occupied themselves with their own tasks.
Another hour passed, and Li Zhu finally embroidered… a rectangle and a five-pointed star.
Li Shengyuan glanced at it. He truly didn't understand what Li Zhu found beautiful about it.
Even a five-year-old child could embroider better than her.
Li Zhu proudly set down her embroidery frame and was about to stretch when she suddenly remembered Li Shengyuan was still nearby.
"Your Majesty, this concubine is feeling rather weary…"
"Retire for the night."
"Yes!" Li Zhu quickly moved toward the bathing chamber.
Li Shengyuan washed up in a separate bathing chamber.
Two incense sticks later, when Li Zhu emerged, Li Shengyuan was already seated on the bed.
His sleeping robe was partially open, revealing his sturdy chest, though unfortunately not his abdomen.
[Man, are you dressed like this to seduce me?]
Li Shengyuan lowered his head and closed his robe.
[Why close it? I've already seen everything!]
Incredible.
"Your Majesty, according to protocol, this concubine should sleep on the outer side."
"You sleep on the inner side."
Li Zhu nodded, removed her shoes, and crawled toward the inner side of the bed.
She pulled up the covers, lay flat, closed her eyes, as serene as if buried in the earth.
Li Shengyuan felt a twinge of regret. He detested physical contact with women, yet today he had chosen to stay with Li Zhu.
So be it.
Li Shengyuan drew the bed curtains and lay down with closed eyes.
Li Shengyuan's presence was overwhelming. Li Zhu felt the bed sink beside her, heard an additional breathing sound in her ear, and caught the scent of Dragon Saliva Incense.
[Wow, I'm actually sleeping with a man, and such a handsome one at that.]
Li Zhu secretly opened her eyes to peek. The dim bed curtains didn't hinder her appreciation of that exceptionally handsome face.
[Too bad I can only look but not touch.]
Li Shengyuan vaguely understood what this meant.
[With such good looks and a great body, yet he's impotent. What a waste!]
Li Shengyuan believed his ability to endure anger had reached its peak. Now he actually didn't want to strangle this woman immediately.
Li Shengyuan suddenly opened his eyes, staring directly at Li Zhu.
"Beloved Consort still not asleep? Could it be you wish to read to me?"
How annoying!
Li Zhu immediately closed her eyes.
Soon, Li Shengyuan heard steady breathing beside him.
He too began to feel drowsy.
Suddenly, an arm landed on his chest.
Li Zhu's sleeping robe was loose and thin, the wide sleeve sliding down to reveal her pale forearm.
Li Shengyuan initially intended to remove her arm, but the moment he grasped that slender wrist, he realized to his surprise that he didn't dislike skin contact with Li Zhu.
The skin beneath his palm grew warm to the touch, smooth and soft.
Unable to resist, he squeezed upward – even softer, completely different from his own arm.
Turning his head, he saw Li Zhu was already fast asleep, looking ten thousand times more obedient than when she was pretending to be well-behaved.
Just then, Li Zhu mumbled something. Li Shengyuan listened carefully.
"Roasted lamb leg, so fragrant…"
Wordlessly, Li Shengyuan returned Li Zhu's arm to its original position. He shouldn't have been curious.
~~
As dawn's light filtered in, Li Shengyuan awoke.
He looked at the unfamiliar pink bed curtains above and remembered he was at Li Zhu's place.
He tried to lift his hand.
It wouldn't move, pinned down by the person beside him.
Or rather, Li Zhu was lying across most of his body.
Li Zhu had wrapped herself around Li Shengyuan with both arms and legs.
Overnight, through some twisting and turning, Li Zhu's sleeping robe had become disheveled, revealing large areas of skin. Her breasts were half exposed.
Li Shengyuan averted his eyes as if burned, extricated himself from her limbs, and covered her properly with the quilt.
Li Zhu remained completely unaware, her face flushed from sleep.
Li Shengyuan "mercilessly" pinched her cheek, and Li Zhu woke up groggily.
"Mmm…"
"Get up and attend to me."
Li Zhu still looked dazed, and Li Shengyuan actually felt a twinge of guilt.
"Yes…"
Li Zhu slowly crawled out.
Li Shengyuan quickly pressed her down, having almost forgotten the situation under the covers.
"Never mind attending to me. Go back to sleep."
"Yes…"
Li Zhu closed her eyes and fell asleep once more.
Just before her consciousness completely faded into darkness, she seemed to hear a voice saying she resembled a pig…