A’wu, of course, was deliberately being mischievous.
In the throes of passion, she tilted her slender neck, letting out fragmented, sweet, and soft moans, her nails leaving marks on his body.
Entanglement.
Under normal circumstances, this would naturally be a grave offense.
But at this moment, the two of them were utterly consumed by their madness.
There was no emperor here, only a man and a woman, engaged in the most primal act.
Outside, the rain fell intermittently, but inside the room, everything was intense and overwhelming, a storm of passion engulfing the two of them.
By the time they finally ceased, more than two hours had passed.
A’wu had drained the man three times.
A man in his thirties, yet quite capable.
When Emperor Jingxi finally left A’wu’s body, there was a moist, soft sound of separation, as if something was clinging and reluctant, yet inevitably pulling away.
The brocade curtains were tightly drawn, and the room was silent, making the wet sound even more noticeable.
A’wu closed her eyes slightly, feeling an unusual tingling sensation still coursing through her body.
She was satisfied, lazy, and comfortable.
A sense of ease and relaxation from head to toe, like a willow catkin, soft and tender, lying open.
Her black hair was disheveled, and she didn’t bother to cover herself with the brocade quilt, instead stretching out her snow-white body like mutton fat jade.
Her body was already flushed with pink, both delicate and radiant.
This was Emperor Jingxi’s achievement, so A’wu showed it to him.
He must have never seen the lowly concubine of his crown prince, never seen her face.
Now, she directly showed him her body.
The snow-white body of a young woman, now rendered soft and pliant by a man’s touch-did he like it?
Was he satisfied?
In any case, your son is quite satisfied!
Emperor Jingxi expressionlessly got up and draped a loose, slightly wrinkled white silk robe over himself.
He didn’t call for his servants to attend to him.
As an emperor, he didn’t want his servants to see everything.
Futai understood this well and had always been extra careful.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his eyelids and looked at the woman in the brocade curtains.
Her eyes were hazy and moist, her black hair scattered, her body as smooth as jade, pink and white, clearly showing she had just been thoroughly ravaged by a man, almost to the point of falling apart.
Such a sight particularly stirred his thoughts.
So, even though he knew he should have left long ago, having stayed too long on her, he still couldn’t help but reach out, his fingertips gently pinching her.
Her skin was smooth and tender, even more delicate than freshly made tofu, so soft that it seemed water could be squeezed out with a light pinch.
Yet, her temperament was the most delicate.
Before he even pinched her, she had already protested with a soft moan, a slightly broken sound that was utterly captivating and coquettish.
A low sigh escaped Emperor Jingxi’s throat.
The bed of a beauty, the nest of ecstasy, the grave of heroes even an emperor couldn’t escape such allure.
Having seen three thousand beauties, having encountered both plump and slender, yet it was her, carelessly, who touched his heart.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear,
“The rain is heavy tonight, and it’s cold. Rest well, and I’ll come back to see you tomorrow night.”
The man’s voice was low and husky, the emperor’s powerful aura enveloping A’wu.
A’wu lazily lifted her eyes, looking at the red marks on the back of his neck, which she had left.
She knew he was about to attend today’s grand blessing ceremony, a solemn and grand event where many would kneel before him, admiring his majestic and upright demeanor, witnessing his authority as the ruler of the world.
But they didn’t know that this man’s neck bore her fingernail marks.
Perhaps the crown prince would see it, if he saw-
A’wu’s heart suddenly raced.
She thought mischievously, would he recognize it?
Would he recognize that the marks on his father’s neck were left by the same person who had once left marks on his shoulder?
Of course not.
But thinking of this scene, A’wu felt a sense of vindictive pleasure.
Emperor Jingxi, however, caressed her lips,
“What mischief are you thinking of?”
His fingertips were slightly cool, their presence strong, making A’wu feel a tingling sensation.
A’wu’s voice was soft and seductive,
“Why tomorrow night? Does the third prince really want A’wu to sleep alone tonight?”
Emperor Jingxi patiently explained to her,
“I have some official business to attend to early tomorrow morning, so it’s inconvenient.”
A’wu opened her moist eyes, looking pitifully at him,
“But if A’wu misses third prince tonight, what should I do?”
Emperor Jingxi chuckled,
“Then think of tomorrow night, when I’ll come to see you.”
A’wu bit her lip, her slender waist arching slightly, her arms barely wrapping around the man’s strong waist, pitifully and pleadingly saying,
“Without third prince , A’wu will have a long, sleepless night. A’wu doesn’t want the third prince to leave.”
Whether this was true or not, once spoken, it had a different impact on the man.
Moreover, the young woman’s waist, pressed against his strong muscles, was so soft, her gaze looking up at the emperor so obedient and helpless.
She was like a fish out of water, unable to survive without a man, only begging for his pity and some moisture.
No man could bear to reject such a little enchantress.
Emperor Jingxi’s smile faded, his eyes darkening as he silently watched her for a long time.
Finally, he raised his hand, pried her wrists apart, got up, and left the bed.
A’wu watched the emperor’s indifferent back, feeling no sense of loss.
After all, this was no ordinary man, but an emperor who had seen countless beauties and couldn’t be easily ensnared by her little tricks.
She just felt that this emperor’s temperament was erratic and inexplicable.
As soon as Emperor Jingxi left the bed, maids and eunuchs silently came forward, orderly attending to him.
The warm bath was already prepared, and he went to bathe first, then washed and dressed.
By the time Emperor Jingxi had tidied everything up, covering up all the earlier wildness, he was once again the aloof and dignified emperor.
Standing outside the brocade curtains, he finally said,
“Don’t be so frivolous and delicate all day.”
He raised his hand, adjusting his cuffs, and said indifferently,
“Since you’re with me, at least be a little more sensible.”
With that, he left.
Frivolous and delicate?
Be more sensible?
A’wu picked up the brocade pillow and threw it out, “Pah!”
What of the emperor?
After having his fill, he just leaves, and even has to lecture before going?
She shouldn’t have scratched his neck, she should have scratched his face!
Sweet Talk.
In fact, Emperor Jingxi didn’t sleep well that night.
Outside, the wind and rain raged all night, and he had a dream, waking up once.
In the dream, a young lady looked at him with pitiful eyes.
Emperor Jingxi lay silently in the darkness for a moment, then went back to sleep.
He certainly liked such a young lady, but this liking was quite shallow, like ripples on the surface of a lake.
Her temperament was clearly too spoiled, very skilled at using little tricks to achieve her goals with men, even saying sweet things that were half- truths.
Was this learned from serving other men before?
She needed to be taught a lesson.
He would slowly correct her, make her understand that not all men would fall for her tricks.
At least he wouldn’t.
He fell asleep amidst these chaotic thoughts.
When he woke up the next morning, it was cold outside.
As usual, he did a set of exercises, bathed, and had breakfast.
But breakfast was more sumptuous than usual, with a few dishes particularly eye-catching.
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
Futai quickly knelt down, bravely saying,
“This is a new prescription from the imperial physician. I was afraid of the delay, so I had someone soak it at midnight and ordered the imperial chef to start cooking at the second watch. It’s been simmering for several hours, and the flavor is just right. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
The emperor’s meals were specifically prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, which also had a medicinal chef who was well-versed in prescriptions, medicine, and pulse theory, and would adjust the medicinal meals according to the season and the emperor’s daily routine.
Now that Emperor Jingxi was not in the palace, the usual strict rules were relaxed, but the Imperial Kitchen’s medicinal chef and the imperial chef still accompanied him.
Now, suddenly, there were a few more dishes at breakfast, and Emperor Jingxi knew that these dishes likely contained deer meat, ginseng, angelica, and rehmannia, all meant to warm and nourish the kidneys.
Looking at Futai’s fearful expression, he couldn’t help but laugh,
“Am I really so weak?”
Having just favored a woman, was it worth such a fuss?
Futai was so scared he prostrated on the ground, his face pale,
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. It’s just that today the imperial physician prescribed some tonics and even sent some high-quality deer antlers, so Iāā
When the emperor favored a woman in the palace, the eunuchs of the Respectful Affairs Office would meticulously record it, detailing the year, month, day, and even the exact time, as well as the number of times the emperor had intercourse.
If the emperor was too indulgent, the eunuchs of the Respectful Affairs Office would remind him according to protocol.
Even so, the next day, the emperor’s meals would, by rule, include nourishing soups and medicines to ensure his body wouldn’t be weakened by excessive indulgence in women.
Now, traveling outside, many rules had been relaxed, but Emperor Jingxi didn’t expect to see the familiar deer antler soup again.
Deer antlers could generate essence, nourish blood, strengthen tendons and bones, and the two-pronged deer antlers were particularly rare, sent from the Liaodong mountains to the capital every year.
In the past two years, he had little interest in women, so he hadn’t had this soup for a year or two.
Futai was still kneeling there, his forehead touching the ground, while Furu and other eunuchs and maids were all pale with fear.
But if the emperor indulged in women while traveling and his health suffered, they would also be held accountable.
Emperor Jingxi, however, said,
“Never mind. Today’s soup looks quite delicious. I’ll try it.”
Futai and the others were overjoyed, quickly and skillfully taking a gauze bag to cover their faces and serving the emperor the soup.
These close attendants were very strict when serving meals, covering their faces to prevent their breath from contaminating the food, just one of the many rules.
Annoyance.
Emperor Jingxi tasted the deer soup, neither liking nor disliking it.
For him, it was more like a habit, a duty as the emperor.
If his health suffered, the entire court, the empress dowager, the concubines, and the various royal relatives would be alarmed, and he couldn’t stand the commotion.
But as he tasted it today, he remembered the intimacy in the brocade curtains last night.
The young lady’s eyes were hazy and helpless, her mouth uttering fragmented murmurs, clearly losing her mind.
At this moment, a slight push would make her tremble, and if pushed harder, she would scratch wildly, crying out some indecent words.
Tempting one to wish to die on her.
Emperor Jingxi’s movements suddenly paused.
Futai and Furu, observing his expression, saw the emperor’s long fingers stop at the edge of the jade porcelain bowl, seemingly hesitant, and couldn’t help but worry.
Was the emperor alright?
Did he find the soup unpalatable?
Emperor Jingxi didn’t look up.
After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly picked up the jade porcelain bowl, his left hand spread out gracefully to hold it, then slightly lowered his head and took a sip of the soup.
The emperor’s dining etiquette was elegant and flawless.
The attendants secretly watched, all subtly relieved.
Emperor Jingxi suppressed the surging in his mouth, thinking of something else.
What was the man like who had taken her body that day?
How old was he?
Had he seen her in such a wanton and seductive state?
Would she act the same way with other men?
Thinking of this, it was as if a thorn was pricking the most vulnerable part of his heart.
He believed he would never be inferior to anyone, but… what if?
So, it was better to just drink the soup.
After the meal, Emperor Jingxi was served by the eunuchs to wash and change into court attire.
At this time, Futai looked at Emperor Jingxi, hesitating to speak.
Emperor Jingxi said, “Speak.”
Futai carefully said,
“Your Majesty, should we apply some powder to cover the marks on your neck?”
Emperor Jingxi was slightly stunned, then suddenly understood.
Last night in bed, the young lady had been quite fierce, scratching him with her delicate fingers, leaving some marks.
He pursed his lips seriously, nodding without expression.
Futai quickly signaled, and the makeup eunuch immediately applied powder to Emperor Jingxi’s neck, carefully covering the ambiguous red marks.
After finally finishing the grooming, there was about a quarter of an hour before departure.
At this time, a hurried report was handed in, concerning the cold snow in the northern border.
The territory of Dahui was vast.
While the capital had just entered autumn, the northern border was already experiencing cold snow.
As soon as the border report arrived, Emperor Jingxi quickly approved it with his vermilion brush, issuing 200,000 guanhui as snow relief money to the border troops and civilians, and ordered the local government to exempt one month’s public and private rent as a gesture of consolation.
He then reviewed a few other reports, approving the important ones.
After finishing, he looked up to see Futai, Furu, and other eunuchs already standing respectfully with bowed heads.
He looked outside, where the rain was still falling lightly.
Under the palace eaves, the ceremonial guards, the imperial procession, and the ceremonial banners were all arranged, along with green cool umbrellas.
The procession was ready, and everyone was standing in solemn silence, waiting for a long time.
Emperor Jingxi said indifferently,
“What time is it?”