Hua Zhuyu wielded her sword in graceful dance, startling the forest birds into flight with fluttering wings as they departed, while blossoms from the branches fell like rain in rustling cascades.

She sheathed her sword and stood elegantly, accepting the silk handkerchief Nong Yu handed her, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she asked clearly, “Has His Majesty returned?”

Nong Yu shook her head and reported, “Not yet!”

Hua Zhuyu’s brow furrowed slightly as she carried her sword back to Taoyuan Residence. Huangfu Ying and Huangfu Shu had already drunk their fill of milk and were lying in their cradles, sleeping soundly. She bent down to kiss each of their tender cheeks, then rose to bathe.

After bathing, she changed into a pale yellow men’s robe. These days, for the convenience of martial practice, she had been wearing men’s clothing. Speaking of which, she should probably be considered the most un-empress-like empress in all dynasties.

When dusk enveloped the entire courtyard, Ji Fengli still had not returned.

In recent days, after Ji Fengli finished with state affairs, he would spend all day by her side, even bringing memorial reports back to Taoyuan Residence to review. Ever since her body had fully recovered, he had become somewhat strange, staying out until after she had fallen asleep each day, and leaving for morning court before she woke. The two rarely saw each other. This made her somewhat uneasy. Tonight, she decided to wait for his return before resting.

A night-blooming jasmine under the corridor was in full bloom, its color carrying a melancholy flavor in the dim twilight. Hua Zhuyu suddenly felt she was becoming somewhat like a resentful wife in her spring chambers, but she would absolutely never truly become a resentful wife. She rose, bringing not a single palace maid, and walked out quickly.

By the time she reached the Hall of Diligent Government, night had fallen deep. The lamplight streaming from within the hall illuminated the vermillion railings of the front corridor and the crowd of guarding eunuchs. From deep within the great hall, the faint sound of qin music flowed out, sounding particularly ethereal and moving in the night.

Eunuch Zhao, Ji Fengli’s head eunuch, seemed greatly startled upon suddenly seeing Hua Zhuyu, hurriedly bowing in salute as he said, “Why has Your Majesty come? Allow this old slave to report to His Majesty.” In his words was an indescribable tension.

Hua Zhuyu frowned slightly, then smiled charmingly, “No need. Since His Majesty is busy, I won’t go in.”

She turned and departed gracefully, but when she reached a place where no one could see her, she turned back around, avoided the Imperial Guards, and leaped onto the roof of the Hall of Diligent Government. Lying on the eaves, holding her breath, she quietly lifted a glazed tile from the roof and secretly peered down. She had done this sort of thing many times before, so naturally she was quite skilled at it.

The hall was brightly lit. Hua Zhuyu immediately spotted Ji Fengli sitting before the dragon desk. He was not reviewing memorial reports, but listening to music. From above, she couldn’t see the expression on his face, but the teacup in his hand was slightly tilted, yet he seemed completely unaware, obviously quite entranced by what he was hearing.

Hua Zhuyu immediately felt somewhat indignant. She had thought he was busy with state affairs and that’s why he returned so late, but now she discovered he was just listening to music here. As her gaze swept again, her sight fixed on the woman playing the qin, her eyes growing cold. No wonder—he wasn’t just listening to music, but having a private meeting with a beauty.

The qin-playing woman was none other than Wen Wan. Her magnificent dress draped her graceful figure, and her black hair was arranged in an elaborate and elegant chignon, making her appear to fully display a woman’s allure and gentleness. When the piece ended, Wen Wan called out softly, “Your Majesty, before I leave, I very much want to know—has Your Majesty ever felt even the slightest stirring of heart for Wan?”

Hua Zhuyu slowly drew in a breath on the eaves, thinking that tonight she might actually catch them in adultery. If Ji Fengli said “yes,” and then Wen Wan threw herself into his embrace, then…

She stared down with blazing eyes, straining her ears to hear Ji Fengli’s answer, but after a long while, Ji Fengli did not respond. Looking carefully, this fellow was actually spacing out. So he hadn’t been entranced by the music earlier, but had been lost in thought.

“Your Majesty!” Wen Wan called out loudly again. Only then did Ji Fengli return to his senses, slowly placing the teacup on the desk as he asked, “What did you just say?”

Tears seemed to well up in Wen Wan’s beautiful eyes, “Has Your Majesty ever loved Wan’er?”

Ji Fengli said indifferently, “I answered this question for you long ago. If you want to hear it, I’ll answer once more—never! The night is deep, you should leave the palace early!”

“Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation. You may have consorts. Even if Your Majesty doesn’t love this subject, I am willing to enter the palace as a consort, to bear branches and leaves for the imperial family, to continue the lineage. Please don’t let Wan’er leave.” Wen Wan said urgently, her flower-like beautiful face full of sorrow.

Listening on the eaves, Hua Zhuyu’s heart trembled. She had forgotten that Ji Fengli was the emperor, and he also bore the important responsibility of continuing the imperial lineage. Throughout all dynasties, which emperor didn’t have three palaces and six courts with numerous offspring?

Ji Fengli said coldly, “Wan’er, you are also an intelligent woman. Why do you always think so narrowly? In this life, I will only have one woman, never another.” He rose with his hands behind his back, slowly pacing to stand before Wen Wan. “There are some things that my not speaking of doesn’t mean I don’t know. That day, my wedding with the Empress was a last-minute decision. Without someone secretly sending word, for this news to reach Huangfu Wushuang’s ears would take at least ten days, so why did he learn of it so quickly and set a trap to kill the Great Emperor, hoping to prevent my marriage to the Empress?”

Upon hearing this, Wen Wan’s body shook violently, her face turning deathly pale.

“I investigated and found that you didn’t know of Huangfu Wushuang’s plan, which is why I didn’t pursue the matter. Min Pass is also a good place—go there!” Ji Fengli waved his hand.

Wen Wan had nothing more to say. She knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Ji Fengli in gratitude, and slowly withdrew.

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but be surprised. So it was Wen Wan who had sent word to Huangfu Wushuang that day. Suddenly she heard Eunuch Zhao reporting from below: “Your Majesty, Physician Gui has returned to the palace and requests an audience outside.”

Ji Fengli suddenly looked up and said loudly, “Summon him quickly!” In his calm, mellow voice, there was actually a barely concealed excitement. If it had been a woman coming, Hua Zhuyu would almost suspect he had fallen for that woman.

“This old minister A’Gui pays respects to Your Majesty.” As soon as A’Gui entered, he knelt in salute.

Ji Fengli waved his hand: “Rise. How did the matter go?”

“Fortunately, I have not failed Your Majesty’s trust.” A’Gui said hoarsely, rising and taking a black pill from his brocade pouch.

Ji Fengli took the pill, smelled it, and moved to put it in his mouth.

A’Gui suddenly urgently stopped him: “Has Your Majesty truly thought this through?”

“I decided long ago.” Ji Fengli said quietly, swallowing the pill and picking up the tea from the desk to drink it down.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart ached. Could the poison still not be completely resolved? Had A’Gui left the palace this time to seek medicine? While she was lost in thought, she suddenly saw Ji Fengli’s wide sleeves flutter lightly. She cried out inwardly, pushed off with her arms, and floated up from the eaves. A vermillion brush pen shot through the hole she had been peeping through, carrying sharp killing intent and splattering ink as it flew past her cheek. If she had dodged even slightly slower, this brush pen would probably have struck her face. Even so, several drops of ink still splashed on her face, stinging painfully.

That fellow Ji Fengli had apparently already discovered her and probably took her for an assassin!

With just this little commotion, the Imperial Guards had already rushed over with swords drawn. When they saw clearly that it was Hua Zhuyu, they were all frightened into hurried kneeling and saluting, probably having never seen an empress who would climb roofs and remove tiles.

Hua Zhuyu sat leisurely on the eaves, her black hair bound high cascading down, its ends flying in the wind—exactly like a roguish wanderer who had broken into the deep palace at night. “Leave now, you’re ruining my elegant mood for moon-gazing,” the possibly roguish Empress coldly commanded.

The Imperial Guards were speechless: “…” Your Majesty the Empress, must you insist on moon-gazing from the roof of the Hall of Diligent Government?

Everyone silently withdrew. Moments later, a figure floated up to the eaves.

“What are you doing here?” A smiling voice sounded not far in front of her.

“Moon-gazing. Is that not allowed?” Hua Zhuyu turned her head toward the sky, not looking at him.

Ji Fengli silently looked at the night sky. It was the end of April, and there wasn’t even a crescent moon. The corner of his lips curved slightly, with irrepressible laughter rippling like flowing jade. He stepped forward to embrace her, but Hua Zhuyu slapped his hand away, lightly scolding, “Stay away from me!”

Ji Fengli was quiet for a moment, then obediently stepped back several paces, saying with infinite grievance, “How far? Any farther and I’ll fall off.”

Hua Zhuyu turned her head away, ignoring him.

“I’m really going to fall off.” The voice, light as a warm breeze, drifted over, carrying a hint of playfulness.

“Fall then. Best to fall into a woman’s embrace and let her bear branches and leaves for you, continuing your lineage!” she said indifferently.

Low laughter sounded nearby. Hua Zhuyu burned with anger, glaring at him furiously. Dressed in bright yellow dragon robes, he stood on the eaves facing the wind, his wide sleeves and garments fluttering gracefully in the wind. In this world, probably only he, Ji Fengli, could wear dragon robes with such elegant style.

Ji Fengli’s gaze swept to Hua Zhuyu’s face, and his smile suddenly froze. He quickly walked to her, taking out a silk handkerchief to wipe the ink marks from her face. “Does it hurt?” he asked gently while wiping softly.

“Do you care if it hurts?” she said angrily.

“Little fool!” he called out emotionally in a low voice, his breathing unsteady as he leaned forward. Before she could react, he bent down to kiss her, taking advantage of the moment to draw her into his embrace.

“People will see!” Hua Zhuyu pushed against him forcefully. Kissing on the eaves—and with him being the emperor—was too shocking. So many Imperial Guards were watching. If he had no shame, she still did. But all her protests were sealed between their lips and teeth. In a daze, she felt her body lighten as he lifted her horizontally in his arms.

“What are you doing?” Hua Zhuyu asked softly.

His lips moved to her ear, his breathing unsteady as he said, “Going down, of course. Unless Bao’er wants to on the eaves…”

Hua Zhuyu’s face immediately reddened. From within his embrace, she secretly glanced around and found that those guards and eunuchs had quietly withdrawn. Just as the two were about to leave directly from the eaves, they heard Eunuch Zhao’s shrill report from below: “Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lan has urgent matters to report!”

Ji Fengli’s brow furrowed, his handsome face growing cold.

“Lan Bing coming in the middle of the night must mean urgent business. You should go quickly,” Hua Zhuyu said gently.

Ji Fengli sighed softly, his warm fingertips gently caressing her red lips, his breath moving to her ear: “Bao’er, wait obediently for my return!”

Hua Zhuyu watched his figure disappear into the night, then turned and leaped down from the eaves. But instead of returning to Taoyuan Residence, she went to the Imperial Medical Bureau, where she found A’Gui grinding medicine.

“Physician Gui, what medicine did you bring back for His Majesty?” Hua Zhuyu didn’t waste words, asking directly.

A’Gui set down the medicine pestle in his hands and knelt in salute, saying with great difficulty, “Your Majesty, His Majesty specifically instructed this old minister never to tell Your Majesty about this matter, so I cannot say. However, this old minister can tell Your Majesty that His Majesty’s health is very good—you need not worry. The medicine His Majesty took was entirely for Your Majesty’s sake.”

“For me?” Hua Zhuyu was momentarily confused. What did Ji Fengli taking medicine have to do with her?

“Yes. Has Your Majesty forgotten that when you gave birth to His Highness and the Princess, it was a difficult labor?” A’Gui said slowly.

Hua Zhuyu was stunned. Difficult labor, for her good? Carefully pondering A’Gui’s words, she was suddenly struck as if by lightning. “You mean His Majesty took… took… a sterilization drug?” Hua Zhuyu’s lips trembled, and she could barely speak coherently.

A’Gui nodded. “It would be better if Your Majesty pretended not to know about this matter.”

Hua Zhuyu didn’t know how she returned to Taoyuan Residence. Her mind was filled only with the three words “sterilization drug.” Not to mention emperors, even ordinary common people placed great importance on offspring. Yet Ji Fengli had actually taken a sterilization drug. Just now she had been angry with him because of Wen Wan’s words about “bearing branches and leaves, continuing the lineage.” But he—for her sake—had long ago prepared never to have children again in this lifetime.

No wonder that ever since her health improved, he had been leaving early and returning late every day. He was probably deliberately avoiding her. It turned out he had been waiting for A’Gui’s sterilization drug all along.

At this moment, her heart overflowed with both sorrow and gratitude. This man would do anything for her, never leaving himself any room to retreat.

Red candles flickered, casting a hazy glow throughout the room. Hua Zhuyu sat on the bed like all wives waiting for their husbands’ late return. But she was not a resentful wife, because she knew that no matter how late, the man she waited for would definitely return.

When Ji Fengli returned and saw she was still awake, he was obviously pleasantly surprised.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” he asked quietly.

“I was waiting for you!” she said softly.

The corner of his lips curved up, and his deep, ink-dark eyes sparkled like shooting stars in his exquisite smile.

Hua Zhuyu walked forward and embraced his waist, nestling in his arms.

Ji Fengli was slightly startled, looking down at her, light dancing in his black eyes.

He reached out and scooped her up. In the whirling confusion, both fell onto the bed.

“Bao’er…” he called her name low, tender kisses gently falling on her lips, cheeks, eyelashes, and forehead.

“Bao’er, I’m sorry about that night.” The way he looked at her was intensely passionate, but there was clearly deep guilt and tenderness within. Actually, not just that one night—in all the nights that followed, which time hadn’t he wronged her? To keep her with him, he would either pretend to be ill or pretend to be drunk…

Hua Zhuyu reached out to embrace his broad shoulders and back, actively kissing his lips.

She knew that when she was in pain, his pain was no less than hers. Everything from the past had turned to smoke and shadow. She only wished that from this moment on, they would be together forever, until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled…

Her kiss made Ji Fengli’s composure completely vanish. He held her close, expressing all his love and tenderness for her.

Mandarin ducks intertwined their necks in passionate embrace.

The moon hung half-curved, illuminating the sleepless. Red candles flickered, drunk with joyful countenance.