Ming Yueni pulled down her waistband and looked down, seeing a palm-sized mark left behind.
A shallow layer of red coated that snowy-white mound.
How lewd!
Ming Yueni’s face instantly flushed deep red, appearing both ashamed and enchanting. She bit her lower lip. “How excessive.”
“Is he treating me like a child…”
To actually spank her!
Once her sense of shame subsided, Ming Yueni became smug and arrogant again, her eyebrows dancing as the corners of her mouth curled upward.
Ming Yuelan’s maid had been beaten to death! If there was a next time, Yuelan wouldn’t even be able to remain the Crown Prince’s concubine. Yet, she had only received a slap to the bottom—the Emperor’s heart was clearly biased toward her!
As for his claim that he would beat her skin raw next time, Ming Yueni didn’t believe it for a second; the Emperor was surely just trying to scare her.
Ming Yueni raised a hand to touch her face, her eyes shimmering with a plan forming in her mind.
The Imperial Study
Ming Yueni arrived obediently to serve tea.
Bei Chenyuan was practicing calligraphy. His brush moved like a soaring dragon, his characters bold and matchless. His silhouette as he leaned over the desk—with a broad back and narrow waist—was both majestic and handsome.
Ming Yueni approached with the tea. Compared to the Emperor, her delicate frame was petite and lovely, like a kitten approaching a tiger. The kitten was not afraid; instead, she felt exceptionally safe.
“Your Majesty, please have some tea.”
Ming Yueni’s voice was delicate and soft. This was the first time she had dared to speak up while serving tea.
Bei Chenyuan finished a stroke before glancing at her, his eyes as deep as a dark pool of ink.
“Set it down.”
“Yes.”
Bei Chenyuan did not dwell on the previous incident. Instead, he asked her, “Can you write?”
Ming Yueni nodded.
Unexpectedly, Bei Chenyuan reached out and handed the brush directly to her, letting her write a few words to show him.
Ming Yueni’s eyes widened. She hurriedly lowered her head and murmured, “This servant’s writing is unpleasing and would insult your fine ink. I dare not.”
“Write,” Bei Chenyuan’s voice was deep and commanding.
Ming Yueni bit her lip softly, took the brush with both hands, and walked behind the desk.
When she was young, she had a tutor for two years. Later, after her mother fell from favor and was abandoned, their treatment plummeted. Ming Yueni only had the chance to steal lessons while serving as Ming Yuelan’s maid.
She had never touched such an expensive brush. Nor had she ever used ink sticks worth a thousand gold or snow-white Xuan paper.
Her handwriting—Ming Yueni’s fingertips trembled slightly as she took a deep breath and began to write.
She wrote her own name best!
Ming Yueni wrote stroke by stroke with intense concentration, completely unaware of how close the distance was between her and the Emperor. She was almost tucked into his embrace; if the Emperor were to simply lower his head, he could easily envelop her.
She also did not know that as the Emperor looked down at her, his gaze was dark and heavy. He traced the lines of her face, neck, and waist, finally landing on the budding curves of her figure.
Bei Chenyuan’s eyes darkened a fraction. His thumb rubbed against his fingers, vividly recalling that soft, delicate sensation—pliant and elastic.
Exquisite!
“Your Majesty, this servant has finished writing.”
As soon as Ming Yueni finished and looked up, she accidentally met Bei Chenyuan’s deep, terrifying gaze—the look of a predator hunting its prey. She shuddered in shock. Her instinct was to flee!
But the moment she tried to retreat, Bei Chenyuan grabbed her wrist.
His burning, powerful fingers slid from her wrist to the back of the hand holding the brush, his palm enveloping hers as their fingers intertwined.
Ming Yueni’s voice trembled delicately: “…Your Majesty.”
“Look down. Concentrate.”
Bei Chenyuan’s tone was cold and authoritative. Holding Ming Yueni’s hand, he taught her stroke by stroke how to rewrite her name.
The two lines of characters sat side by side, the contrast between them stark and brutal. Ming Yueni lost all other thoughts; looking at her own writing, she was too embarrassed by its ugliness to lift her head.
Bei Chenyuan asked her, “Do you remember it now?”
Ming Yueni nodded repeatedly. Then, she was assigned a small side table, fully equipped with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
“Copy it a hundred times.”
Bei Chenyuan reached out to pat her head, his tone stern: “You are not permitted to leave until you are finished.”
“This servant obeys.”
Ming Yueni’s eyes sparkled. Such high-quality stationery to use for free! It was like a gift from the heavens! Ming Yueni also wanted to write beautiful calligraphy, or at least have a signature she wasn’t ashamed to show.
She cast all other matters to the back of her mind, leaning over the table and writing with extreme focus. Watching her, a hint of doting laughter surfaced in the depths of Bei Chenyuan’s dark eyes.
She was delicate, but truly obedient.
In the Imperial Study, one focused on calligraphy while the other continued to handle state affairs. The image of the handsome man and beautiful woman was quiet and lovely, so harmonious that one would be loath to break it.
Yinguo and Fu Lai quietly exchanged looks, covering their mouths to hide their smiles.
Time slipped away silently.
Ming Yueni finally finished copying her name a hundred times. She massaged her wrist and stretched her limbs. Her handwriting had finally become presentable!
Ming Yueni’s red lips curved into a smile, her beautiful eyes shimmering. She looked toward Bei Chenyuan with pride, only to find his expression cold and ruthless. He was frowning at a memorial, his entire body radiating a terrifying aura of slaughter.
Ming Yueni immediately withdrew her smile, sitting honestly and not daring to disturb him.
When Bei Chenyuan finished the memorial and looked up irritably, his gaze froze. He walked over to the small table and looked down at the “little calico cat” sleeping soundly.
Her nose and cheeks were stained with ink, a sight so cute it softened Bei Chenyuan’s heart.
“How did she fall asleep?”
“Your Majesty, you were busy with state affairs. This girl is sensible and didn’t dare disturb you.”
Fu Lai opened his mouth to offer praise with a chuckle. “She was so tired tears were pricking her eyes, yet she didn’t make a sound. She is truly quite good!”
Yinguo whispered tentatively, “Your Majesty, shall this servant wake her?”
Bei Chenyuan waved his hand, and Yinguo and Fu Lai immediately took the hint and retreated.
Bei Chenyuan stared at Ming Yueni for a moment, then reached out to touch her small face—it was very soft and tender.
“Mmh…”
In her daze, Ming Yueni proactively pressed her cheek into Bei Chenyuan’s palm, rubbing against it clingily. She didn’t seem fully awake as she called out in a sweet, dependent voice: “Mother, Jiao Jiao misses you so much.”
Mother?
Jiao Jiao?
Bei Chenyuan frowned. Ming Yueni actually dared to mistake him for someone else! Along with his displeasure, he felt a spark of curiosity. Jiao Jiao—was that her pet name?
“Mother, touch it.”
Ming Yueni acted spoiled with her eyes closed. She took the palm pressed against her cheek and moved it toward her lower back. “Jiao Jiao’s bottom hurts. Mother, touch it.”
So soft and plush.
The sensation was full and incredibly wonderful!
Bei Chenyuan’s breathing grew erratic. He stared intently at Ming Yueni’s eyes, a wild fire igniting within him.
She truly deserved a lesson!
Did this little thing know what she was doing?
“Mother, touch it please,” Ming Yueni continued to act coy. With her eyes shut, her sleep-fuddled face looked both innocent and seductive.
Bei Chenyuan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Why was he arguing with an idiot? He abruptly yanked his hand away and swept out of the room.
The moment he left, Ming Yueni snapped her eyes open. Her peach-blossom eyes were clear and bright, without a trace of sleepiness.
She had been faking it!
She propped herself up, cradling her soft cheek, and smiled triumphantly. Since the Emperor was so soft-hearted and biased toward her, she was going to push her luck!
A trace of coldness flashed through Ming Yueni’s eyes. Who should be the next person she targeted?
Suddenly, Ming Yueni shifted her hips uncomfortably. Her cheeks were crimson, and her ears felt hot.
Even though it was only a brief touch, why did it still feel so burning?
“His Majesty… is a human furnace, isn’t he!”