Work was already difficult enough, so if they could hold an annual banquet, they would.
The banquet that day was exceptionally lively. Jieyu Zhou sang, Zhaoyi Bai played the piano, and even Meiren Lin gave gifts to Shen Que. Only Gu Ningning had prepared nothing.
Work was already difficult enough, so if they could hold an annual banquet, they would.
Fortunately, no one intended to force her to participate. She had so rarely fallen out of favor; no one wanted Shen Que to notice her again.
Someone began to toast Shen Que. This time, he did not refuse. He drank cup after cup until his eyes were slightly glazed with intoxication, and only then did he step aside to sober up.
His Highness the Crown Prince left, and the remaining women in the room were left listless. Gu Ningning, having eaten her fill, had nothing else to watch, so she seized the opportunity to tell Secondary Consort Yun that she wished to withdraw. Secondary Consort Yun did not make things difficult and immediately granted permission.
She cheerfully prepared to return to Chaoyan Courtyard to lie down and sleep, but on the way, she encountered Chang Yue.
Chang Yue wore the attire of the chief eunuch and carried a duster in his arms, seemingly waiting specifically for someone.
Seeing him, Gu Ningning felt a sense of foreboding. She whispered to Xiao Tao,
“Go quickly!”
“Ah?” Xiao Tao looked confused.
In that brief hesitation, Chang Yue’s voice rang from behind her,
“Madam Gu!”
It was too late to pretend not to hear. She stiffened and turned around. Chang Yue’s face was full of smiles.
“Your humble servant has finally waited for Madam! Your highness has ordered Madam to serve in the main residence. Please follow your servant quickly.”
He turned to lead the way. The wind was cold and bleak; Gu Ningning could only follow him toward the main residence.
She had spent a long time free from attending to men, and the thought of serving Shen Que again filled her with unwillingness.
Especially since he was drunk. If his temper flared, he might act recklessly, even violently.
Just thinking about it made her shiver; her delicate frame could not withstand it.
The two soon reached the main residence. Chang Yue opened the door for her, speaking with unusual deference,
“Please, Madam.”
She reluctantly walked inside and immediately saw Shen Que leaning against the back of a chair, reading a document, his long legs crossed casually.
He was tall and imposing, dressed in black, exuding authority. Coupled with his handsome face, it was no wonder the women of the Eastern Palace fought desperately over him.
Seeing Gu Ningning enter, he set aside the document and called to her,
“Come here.”
She reluctantly walked toward him.
The little beauty in front of him looked delicate, her flawless face flushed by the cold wind, lending her a subtle charm. Beneath her pale blue dress lay an allure known only to herself.
Shen Que arrogantly pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He reeked of alcohol, and Gu Ningning frowned, trying to pull away, but he forced her to sit on his lap, asking,
“They all gave gifts to me today. Ningning, why didn’t you give me a gift?”
Perhaps because of the wine, the pressure in his voice had lessened, replaced with a husky, magnetic tone. Listening closely, one could even detect a hint of concealed grievance.
Gu Ningning felt the situation was surreal. She tried to find an excuse to explain, but the next moment… she gasped softly.
It was Shen Que.
He kissed her neck.
He had been unusually busy recently. A stubble had grown on his chin, prickling her neck painfully and ticklishly. She instinctively tried to push him away, but her delicate hands were firmly held by Shen Que.
Gu Ningning’s face could not help flushing.
Shen Que held her close and asked,
“Angry?”
Gu Ningning snorted coldly, her watery eyes staring at him without much force.
She had no strict emotional standards, but being a modern woman, she was not entirely pleased that Shen Que, having indulged other women before, now sought her.
Shen Que chuckled lightly, his voice lazy from the wine,
“Jealous?”
“Not jealous. Why would I be jealous?”
If anyone should be jealous, it should be the heroine. What business did a little cannon fodder like her have with jealousy?
“Don’t be jealous,” Shen Que said. After a long pause, he added, “I have nothing with Jieyu Zhou, and I will never speak ill of you to anyone.”
Gu Ningning pondered the meaning of “nothing” for a long time but could not figure it out. Shen Que showed no intention of explaining further—
Instead, he began kissing her lips.
His kissing had improved considerably, more patient than before. His large hands stroked her back, the rough calluses making her whimper softly.
Gu Ningning felt dizzy. When it ended, Shen Que bent down to kiss the corner of her mouth, his voice pleased,
“Ningning’s gift to me… is so sweet.”
Gu Ningning held back the urge to scold him, letting out a muffled whine,
“Your highness…”
The rhythmic sound of his breathing filled her ears. He had fallen asleep, holding her as though she were a body pillow, pressing her closer with his large hands.
Gu Ningning wanted to take a bath and boldly tried to kick him, but she had little strength, and Shen Que did not wake.
She sulked silently and cursed him,
“You dog of a man!”
In his half-conscious state, he pressed his long legs against her waist.
Gu Ningning: …
She could only grumble quietly, finding a comfortable position in his arms and sleep alongside him.
When she woke, it had been an hour.
Her body tingled; Shen Que was kissing her.
“Don’t…” she murmured, trying to push his face away, but he caught her hand and pressed it to his lips.
Gu Ningning was always cranky upon waking, and it was the middle of the night. She pulled the blanket over her face, refusing to engage.
Eventually, Shen Que dragged her up. Yawning, she ground ink for him.
Shen Que always had an endless stack of matters to handle, often working until late at night. Gu Ningning had never seen him take a holiday; he ran like a wound-up machine, never stopping.
Perhaps 007 truly brought misfortune. Shen Que, though in good health, was extremely short-lived in the original story, dying before forty. Considering his endless labor, it was unsurprising.
Shen Que searched for a report from the Ministry of War but could not find it. When he looked up, he saw Gu Ningning sleeping again, a document pressed under her arm, her forehead resting upon it.
The flickering candlelight in the room gave him an inexplicable sense of warmth.
When Gu Ningning woke, Shen Que was gone. She was unusually covered by a blanket.
After a moment of thought, she guessed it was more likely Eunuch Chang who had covered her, then yawned.
Taking advantage of Shen Que’s absence, she secretly went to lie on his bed.
If Shen Que did not return that night, she would sleep in his bed.
His bed was large, soft, and comfortable.
She wondered how Shen Que managed to sleep on her small bed, always squeezing to her side and holding her tightly.
She had protested, but every night after falling asleep, Shen Que still rolled toward her.
At dawn, Shen Que returned.
He carried the chill of the morning with him and removed his clothes to slip into Gu Ningning’s bed.
Gu Ningning was awakened by the cold, half-asleep, and asked,
“Your highness, where were you last night?”
“Last night, there was a sudden mutiny in the military camp. I went to handle it overnight.”
Gu Ningning responded with a simple “Oh.”
Shen Que waited for her to continue speaking, only to realize the person in his arms had already fallen asleep again.