The little lady's voice was soft and sweet, like a little kitten's, as she tugged at Xie Chongyuan's sleeve, coquettishly pleading for forgiveness. Xie Chongyuan felt greatly pleased in his heart.
The little lady was usually shy and easily embarrassed, carrying the pride and reserve of a noble lady from a distinguished family. These past days, he had found her shy and demure demeanor utterly endearing.
But today he discovered that when this little lady coquettishly pleaded with her soft, gentle charm, it was even more devastating.
Listening to the little lady's sweet, oriole-like voice, Xie Chongyuan felt half his body go weak. Unconsciously, his mind began to drift back to that night, to the little lady's warm, fragrant, and exquisitely beautiful figure.
If in the future the little lady were to coquettishly beg him on the bed, saying she wanted the empire he had conquered, he feared he would be like an infatuated tyrant, utterly bewitched by her beauty, and offer it to her with both hands without a moment's hesitation.
The anger he had felt toward the little lady for not taking care of herself had long since dissipated the moment she had pitifully pretended to be wronged to deceive him, but on the surface, he still pretended to be somewhat annoyed, savoring the little lady's coquettish attempts to please him.
When the Imperial Carriage stopped before Yilan Hall, Ming Hua saw that Xie Chongyuan still seemed somewhat angry. She tugged at his sleeve again and smiled sweetly, "Huahua knows she made Your Majesty worry today, but after applying the medicine last night, Huahua's foot injury truly is no longer a problem."
"If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, Huahua will walk for you right now. As long as I walk slowly, you'll see—isn't it just like usual?"
How could Xie Chongyuan let the little lady walk? He had just stepped out of the Imperial Carriage when he bent back inside, scooped the little lady up horizontally in his arms, and carried her toward the main hall.
He let out a helpless sigh and said in a deep voice, "Huahua is not allowed to fool around with her injuries anymore. This time, I'll forgive Huahua first!"
"Your Majesty is so wonderful!" Ming Hua instinctively raised her arms to loop around Xie Chongyuan's neck, and upon hearing this, happily swung her dangling little feet.
She tilted her head up to look at Xie Chongyuan's handsome face and said obediently, "Huahua will stay put in Yilan Hall to recover in the coming days and won't run around anymore!"
By now, she seemed to have gradually grown accustomed to Xie Chongyuan always carrying her like this at the slightest excuse.
Since she couldn't persuade him to put her down to walk on her own anyway, being held so securely in his arms—tightly clinging to his neck, leaning against his firm, solid chest, breathing in the deep, pleasant scent of ambergris—she found she rather enjoyed it too.
Xie Chongyuan had barely finished forgiving her when he immediately saw the little lady growing restless again, completely forgetting her foot injury as she swung her little feet about.
His brows furrowed tightly once more. He steeled his heart, feeling that he still needed to teach this disobedient little lady a lesson.
His hand, which was supporting the little lady's thigh, lightly patted her bottom. In a stern, scolding tone, he said, "I just finished speaking, and Huahua is already being restless? Is this what being obedient looks like? No more squirming!"
Xie Chongyuan hadn't hit hard, but Ming Hua felt him pat her bottom and heard the very soft "smack." Instantly, she was so embarrassed that her little head felt like it was steaming, her face flushing a bright pink.
Although the attending palace maids were following far behind and probably no one had seen the emperor spank her, in broad daylight, in front of everyone, Ming Hua still felt utterly mortified.
She had been well-behaved since childhood and beloved by her elders. In her entire life, no one had ever spanked her bottom. Even if Xie Chongyuan, this old man, was ten years her senior, he was still not her elder now.
How could he spank her bottom like an elder disciplining a child?
Moreover, she was no longer a little girl! She was an Imperial Noble Consort! A dignified, first-rank Imperial Noble Consort!
He was just too infuriating!
Ming Hua's dark, watery almond eyes widened. She pouted her pink, cherry-like lips, tilted her head up to look at Xie Chongyuan's profile, and protested in a sweet, dissatisfied voice, "How can Your Majesty spank Huahua's bottom! Huahua is not a child anymore!"
"Huahua is always so willful and reckless, not caring for her own body. If that's not being a child, then what is?"
Xie Chongyuan looked down at the little lady in his arms, her beautiful, delicate face puffed up with anger as she glared at him in shame and indignation. He found her utterly adorable even when angry, and didn't feel in the least that she was being bold or disrespectful of his imperial authority.
His thin lips curved slightly upward, and his deep, handsome phoenix eyes took on a faint hint of amusement. "If Huahua still doesn't know to take care of herself next time, I'll discipline her just like I would a child, to teach Huahua a lesson."
"Hmph! Your Majesty is so annoying!" Ming Hua was so angry she didn't want to speak. Her little face puffed up as she turned her head away, looking elsewhere, not wanting to see Xie Chongyuan's handsome face—which, though his smile was quite beautiful right now, was simply infuriating to look at.
This time, it was the little lady's turn to be angry.
Xie Chongyuan lowered his gaze, looking at the little lady's puffed-up face. Recalling that the little lady had always been proud and cared deeply about face, he realized that he had probably truly embarrassed her just now, which was why she was angry.
He quickly smiled gently and coaxed in a soft voice, "I was out of line, just teasing Huahua. I promise, there won't be a next time."
Xie Chongyuan carried Ming Hua into the main hall and set her down on the low couch beneath the west window. Then, he knelt on one knee before her and personally removed her shoes and socks.
"The Qingliang Hall is quite barren, and that cobblestone path is uneven and long. Huahua walked so far just now—let me see. The injury on your foot may have swollen and turned red without you knowing."
Ming Hua watched as Xie Chongyuan, an emperor of supreme status, both apologized to her and knelt before her to help her take off her shoes and socks. The embarrassment and irritation she had felt moments ago vanished completely.
In her heart, she even felt a hint of quiet pride, as if she were soaking in a honey jar.
Her fair, delicate little feet were held in Xie Chongyuan's rough, calloused palms as he examined them closely. A blush crept across Ming Hua's cheeks.
Feeling a bit shy, she curled her toes slightly and said bashfully, "Huahua isn't that fragile…"
Xie Chongyuan looked at the slightly swollen ankle of his young wife, furrowing his brow. "It's still a bit swollen. Does it still hurt, Huahua?"
"I should still summon Imperial Physician Li to take another look at your injury," he said, rising to his feet, intending to call for Li Youfu, who was waiting outside, to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and fetch Imperial Physician Li.
Ming Hua quickly grabbed Xie Chongyuan's sleeve and urged, "Huahua doesn't feel any pain, so it should be fine. I'll just continue applying the medicine. Your Majesty needn't trouble anyone to summon Imperial Physician Li."
"Your Majesty always makes such a fuss, calling for Imperial Physician Li at the slightest thing. Not only would others think Huahua is overly delicate, but if Huahua's father and mother found out, they would worry."
"Huahua doesn't want them to worry. Besides, Huahua is already much better than yesterday. With a few more applications of medicine and two or three days of rest, I'll surely be fully recovered!"
Last time, when she had unbearable menstrual cramps and Xie Chongyuan had summoned Imperial Physician Li in the middle of the night to examine her, her father and mother later found out and sent a letter, worried beyond measure.
Along with it came a string of nagging reminders. She didn't want to receive another thick stack of letters filled with admonitions from her parents and elder brother.
Hearing this, Xie Chongyuan had no choice but to relent. "Then let me apply some more medicine for Huahua."
Xie Chongyuan went to the carved rosewood side table nearby and retrieved the medicinal ointment he had ordered Li Youfu to fetch yesterday. Then he knelt on one knee before the young woman again.
He was tall and imposing, so even kneeling on the ground, he was at eye level with Ming Hua, who sat by the couch.
Xie Chongyuan carefully rubbed some ointment into his palms, then looked at the young woman's worried little face with a hint of reproach. "Huahua only fears worrying her family, not worrying me. That's why today you completely disregarded my instructions from last night and went to the North Garden, isn't it?"
"No, that's not it…" For some reason, seeing Xie Chongyuan's dejected expression made Ming Hua feel even more guilty than when she had seen him angry earlier.
"Then Huahua must remember my instructions from now on," Xie Chongyuan said, taking the young woman's little foot in his hand. His palm, now coated with the ointment, gently rubbed it tentatively. "Does it hurt?"
"Okay!" Ming Hua nodded her little head with a silly smile, pressing her pink lips together. Then, upon hearing his next words, she quickly shook her head and grinned. "It doesn't hurt~"
Xie Chongyuan looked at the young woman's adorably dazed expression and couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle, murmuring softly, "I really can't do anything with Huahua…"
"If it hurts, tell me, and I'll be gentler," Xie Chongyuan said, his expression serious as he focused intently on the young woman's foot, as if holding a rare treasure, afraid of breaking it.
Ming Hua watched Xie Chongyuan apply the medicine so carefully, as if afraid of hurting her, and felt another wave of warmth in her heart. After he finished applying the medicine, she quickly ordered Qingyun, who was waiting outside, to bring water.
Qingyun brought a small basin of water and a towel. Seeing that the emperor of supreme status was actually kneeling on one knee before her mistress, and that the hand that held the power of life and death over all subjects under heaven was carefully helping her mistress put on her shoes and socks with great care—
She was stunned speechless. Quickly averting her gaze, she pretended not to see anything, set the items down on the ebony carved side table beside the couch, and tactfully withdrew.
Nowadays, the emperor personally attended to every matter concerning her mistress. There was no need for their service here at all.
Anyone with eyes could see that the affection between the emperor and the noble consort was growing stronger by the day. Staying here would only make them glaring obstacles.
Earlier, although the emperor seemed angry with her mistress, it was actually because he cared about her deeply.
Watching the two of them walk into the main hall, playfully teasing each other all the way, she quickly instructed those behind her to wait outside and not enter to disturb them.
Ming Hua watched Qingyun leave, then, with a red face, tugged at the sleeve of Xie Chongyuan, who was tidying up the medicine bottles, signaling him to sit beside her.
She said shyly in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, come over and let Huahua wipe your hands."
"Alright," Xie Chongyuan replied. Hearing that his young wife wanted to wipe his hands, he was, of course, more than willing.
He smiled faintly as he sat down beside the young lady, watching her delicate face flush crimson once more.
The young lady was shy and reserved. Every time she tried to take the initiative to approach him, she would always be timid and bashful, her lovely face tinged with a thin layer of red—both charming and demure, utterly endearing.
Ming Hua tugged at Xie Chongyuan's sleeve, guiding him to sit beside her. Then she turned to wet a cloth with water. Afterward, as if summoning up her courage, she extended her soft, delicate hand to take the hand he had just applied medicine to.
Though she had been held by this hand before and touched it many times in daily life, this was the first time Ming Hua had directly taken his hand like this, carefully examining and feeling it.
Xie Chongyuan's palm was broad and thick, rough with heavy calluses. His ten fingers were thick and long, with nails trimmed cleanly and neatly. It was hard to imagine what arduous, painstaking days had left such marks.
Yet although this hand was not as refined and handsome as those of scholars who spent their days holding brushes, or pampered young lords of noble families, when she held it and was enveloped by his warm, powerful palm, she felt an immense sense of strength and security.
Xie Chongyuan noticed the young lady's delicate brows furrow slightly as she took his hand, and he said with self-deprecating humor: "My hands have spent years wielding spears and swords, or tilling the fields in labor. They're very rough and covered in scars. Did they frighten Huahua?"
Emperors come and go, but great houses endure. The Ming family was a prestigious clan of several hundred years, and the current Duke Who Assists the Nation's household was one of the most distinguished in the land.
The young lady was the apple of the Duke's eye, raised in silks and finery, pampered and adored beyond measure—living with more honor and dignity than even a princess. Everyone she had been surrounded by since childhood were nobles and aristocrats; she had likely never encountered a crude man like him before.
The Prince of Qianxi's household had begun to decline in his grandfather's generation, receiving little regard from the imperial family or the great houses.
Had it not been for his years of painstaking scheming and desperate fighting, ultimately ascending to the throne, he—a crude man—could never have aspired to reach this young lady of distinguished birth and breathtaking beauty.