The carriage rocked and swayed, and she found herself pressed against the compartment wall.
Her back felt hard and uncomfortable.
Shen Que’s breathing grew heavier.
By the time it was over, she felt dizzy, utterly exhausted, unable to move even a finger.
Fortunately, Shen Que did not need her to serve him. Once satisfied, he dressed himself and wrapped her completely in a blanket before carrying her out of the carriage.
To be honest, Shen Que already had a proper partner. At first, when the two of them… engaged in that, she had been utterly panicked, helpless, unable to contact her superiors, unable to discuss it with him, and unable to refuse.
Stepping back ten thousand paces, she told herself it was for the sake of ensuring the future harmony between the male and female leads.
So she lay there, helpless but resolute, waiting for the ordeal to end.
Xiao Tao had been waiting for Gu Ningning. When she returned, Xiao Tao immediately approached, but Shen Que waved her away.
He placed Gu Ningning on the bed and handed her a damp cloth that Xiao Tao had already prepared.
Gu Ningning hesitated, conflicted for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck to act coquettishly.
“Your Highness, this concubine doesn’t want to use this. This concubine wants to take a bath.”
She had no choice. She didn’t want to act weak or whiny, but the straight-minded His Highness the Crown Prince only responded to this approach.
Her voice was soft and sweet. Shen Que… he gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t move.”
Gu Ningning didn’t dare move, yet her watery eyes still looked at him pitifully. Shen Que paused for a while before calming down and shoved the cloth into her hands, his voice husky as he explained,
“It is cold today. If you go to the bathhouse, you will catch a chill.”
She instinctively protested, “Then this concubine can bathe inside the room…”
This time Shen Que nearly ground his teeth, “You want to bathe in front of me?”
Gu Ningning fell silent and obediently took the cloth. Shen Que forced himself not to look at her until she tossed it to him. He caught it in one hand and casually threw it to the floor.
Gu Ningning felt a twinge of sadness.
A fine Su embroidery cloth, now reduced to a mere rag after one use.
She closed her eyes, not wanting to see any more, and collapsed softly into Shen Que’s arms.
In a good mood, Shen Que kissed her cheek, noticing a hint of paleness on her face.
He recalled how recently she had been overeating with Meiren Lin. Meiren Lin was almost round, yet Gu Ningning hadn’t gained an ounce. He asked,
“Why is your body getting weaker?”
Daytime palace scheming and nighttime duties left her completely overworked and exhausted.
Gu Ningning didn’t dare admit this, curling in his arms and tugging at his sleeve instead, “This concubine has always been like this. My energy is inexplicably much lower than others’.”
Shen Que’s handsome brows furrowed slightly, his voice softening, “A weak body must be tended to. I will ask the imperial physician to examine you another day.”
Before entering the Eastern Palace, all maid-concubines had their health checked. The Original Owner had been diagnosed with a cold palace condition upon entering, making childbirth extremely difficult.
Shen Que knew this, yet he had not treated the Original Owner.
Now that Gu Ningning was favored, she was here to complete her mission and had no intention of suddenly conceiving. Holding his neck, she pretended to pout,
“The medicinal tonics are so bitter. This concubine doesn’t want to take them.”
Shen Que subconsciously frowned. A seasoned commander used to rough soldiers, he had never met someone so delicate. He felt a headache coming.
“How can you be so delicate?”
“You know this concubine is delicate, yet still insists on daily pampering,” she cooed.
She gave a soft hum, and Shen Que merely interpreted it as coquettish behavior, pressing her against him and pinching the flesh at her waist.
Gu Ningning’s whole body was ticklish. Forced to laugh, she let out “giggles” in his arms. Shen Que didn’t let up, pressing her down and kissing her cheek and jaw.
Having been busy with state affairs for days, he now devoted this rare free time entirely to her. His unshaven stubble scraped her delicate face, reddening it slightly.
Gu Ningning laughed breathlessly, trying to pinch his waist, but only hit a firm hardness.
Shen Que smiled. She remembered his nature—never wronged himself—and dared not move again.
She didn’t struggle, and he grew bored, ceasing his teasing.
“If you don’t want the tonics, then forget it.”
The court was in turmoil, Huai’an Wang’s ambition ran rampant, and jealousy thrived in the inner palace. For Gu Ningning to be pregnant now was far from ideal.
Gu Ningning murmured assent. Shen Que held her tighter and even patted her back.
For the first time, she felt a trace of tenderness in those pats.
It was as if the sun had risen from the west.
Shen Que continued holding Gu Ningning. Sensitive to the cold, she felt as if she were leaning against a stove, and soon closed her eyes to feign sleep, snuggling closer.
Her body was soft, and Shen Que held her for a long while before rising. Entering the room, Chang Yue had already placed a stack of official documents on the table. Shen Que picked one to begin work.
Without the human “heater,” Gu Ningning opened her eyes unhappily, only to see Shen Que with slightly bent long legs, leaning casually against a sandalwood chair.
His face was exceptionally handsome, and his phoenix-like eyes gave him a noble, almost intimidating aura. He wore a dark robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, enhancing his already imposing presence.
Having seen so many villainous male leads who committed atrocities, Gu Ningning thought Shen Que’s performance as a male lead was quite commendable.
As His Highness the Crown Prince, he cared for the people, worked diligently, later formed a strong partnership with the female lead, and became an emperor remembered for bringing peace and prosperity.
Though it had little to do with her, she had completed so many missions that she no longer felt much for characters in stories.
Once Shen Que left, he took the last trace of sleepiness with him. She had grown somewhat accustomed to his presence, lying in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Bored, she got up, intending to secretly read a leisure book.
Just as her hand touched the book, Shen Que’s gaze fell on her.
Their eyes met. He beckoned, “Come here.”