Chapter 18 – Be a Good Girl

Zhao Hai was startled. Everything had been fine just now—was His Majesty really angry now?

But when he looked closely at his master, he didn’t seem angry at all?

Only Shen Qing and the Emperor had heard what she said just now; the others had only seen that the Emperor appeared displeased upon seeing Shen Qing playing shuttlecock. Later, when they saw Shen Qing’s behavior, they assumed she was acting coy and pleading on his behalf. Finally, when the Emperor seemed truly angry, everyone thought she was being punished accordingly.

Zhao Hai couldn’t figure it out. If she was being punished, His Majesty should be angry, right? But why didn’t he look angry at all?

Truly odd.

Inside, Chunhua and Fangyun were also frightened.

But Shen Qing simply shook her head and smiled. “It’s nothing.”

Not only was it nothing—it was actually a good thing!

Xuan Yuanling hadn’t entered the harem for quite some time, and when he finally did, he went to see Noble Lady Fang and Consort Yu. If he had come to see Shen Qing at night, it would’ve seemed unremarkable. But he came during the day.

Up until now, Shen Qing and Xuan Yuanling’s relationship had mostly been confined to the bedchamber. Even so, she’d been subtly testing his feelings. And now, she had finally noticed something different.

Xuan Yuanling had started to care about her—if only a little.

But caring wasn’t the same as liking. Emperors were different from ordinary men. After all, he didn’t hesitate to visit other women for the night.

What mattered was that, when he came to her, he was mindful of her situation. He didn’t bring trouble or attract attention to her. In fact, he even went to Noble Lady Fang first.

Was that deliberate or accidental?

After all, among the new palace entrants, she was the most beautiful—but Noble Lady Fang was the most prominent. In others’ eyes, Shen Qing was just a pretty face who served by virtue of her looks, whereas Noble Lady Fang came from a noble family and held high favor and rank. She was far more conspicuous.

Shen Qing had sensed something unusual when he arrived and had tested him directly. Although she was punished, the punishment was something she had asked for.

Now she just had to see whether he would come tonight. If he did, then Shen Qing could truly start weighing how much she meant to Xuan Yuanling.

And he did come.

When he arrived, he saw Shen Qing copying Buddhist scriptures, her demeanor utterly serious and diligent.

Her previous high ponytail was gone; now her soft hair fell obediently down her back, making her look especially well-behaved—almost tender.

Xuan Yuanling’s gaze swept over her lips. During court affairs, he had to restrain himself—but now that he saw her again, the thoughts that had surfaced earlier were not so easy to suppress.

Nor did he intend to suppress them.

He entered, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to bite the lips he’d been imagining were sweet.

It was a seamless movement.

Shen Qing dropped the brush in her hand, her breath snatched away. At first, her eyes widened in shock, but soon, she closed them in a daze.

Say what you will about Xuan Yuanling—but when he wanted to make someone feel good, he was very, very good at it.

Yes, he was the Emperor, but this kind of skill—serving a woman like this—perhaps men were just born with it?

Shen Qing had shared a bed with Xuan Yuanling many times, but this was their first kiss. Strangely, for two people with no real feelings for each other, the kiss was passionate.

Xuan Yuanling couldn’t help himself. As he kissed her, he pressed her down onto the bed.

When he finally looked up, he saw Shen Qing casting a pitiful glance at the spot where she had been writing.

He had been a little too eager just now. He hadn’t even waited for her to properly set down her brush. As a result, the nearly finished page of scripture had been ruined.

For once, Xuan Yuanling felt a bit guilty. After all, it was he who had ordered her to copy the sutras. She had been obediently fulfilling the task, and then he—overcome with desire—dragged her into bed. And before that, she had been so well-behaved.

The punishment she received had also been for the sake of his dignity.

So Xuan Yuanling thought, She’s been so obedient, I can’t let her feel wronged now, can I?

“You’re excused from copying any more.”

That ought to make her happy, right?

This was the Emperor personally revoking his own order. The moment he said it, Shen Qing gave a well-measured smile. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

And just like that, her earlier grievance vanished completely.

Watching how quickly her mood changed, Xuan Yuanling recalled her soft-spoken tone from before. He narrowed his eyes. “You’re getting bold. Daring to guess at my thoughts, and even saying it to my face? Hmm?”

Though he was speaking sternly, his hands didn’t stop. Shen Qing wanted to explain herself, but he started kneading her body again.

A warm, fragrant beauty in his arms—what more could he ask for?

Xuan Yuanling was clearly in a rush tonight. He had already drawn the bow, and now there was no turning back. As he spoke, he pulled her legs apart.

Shen Qing gasped sharply. Seriously?! she thought. This again? Damn dog-Emperor is really petty, huh? So small-minded? Still holding a grudge at a time like this? Is this some kind of physical torture disguised as interrogation?

But didn’t this also mean… she had guessed right?

That thought gave Shen Qing great satisfaction.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes slightly red, her voice a little shaky, but her gaze fixed solely on him. “Because I’m happy.”

She bit his ear. “It’s the first time Your Majesty has come to see me during the day. You care about me. I… got a little spoiled, that’s all.”

It was because of this one moment of attention that she dared to be bold—just this once, to test the waters.

This encounter felt like a game of chess. He questioned her; she answered. If not for being in bed, some words couldn’t have been said at all.

Xuan Yuanling’s throat tightened. He turned and kissed her again.

By the time he let go, his voice was hoarse.

Shen Qing’s hair was messy, her body limp—like a seductive enchantress.

He had never encountered anyone like her before. Just a little affection was enough to make her so happy. It was almost pitiful. Most concubines vied for favor, yet she was overjoyed simply because he came to see her during the day? And she was clever too. Another woman in her place would have been frightened to death.

But this little thing, despite her seemingly timid appearance, wasn’t afraid at all.

Xuan Yuanling looked at her and said, “Be a good girl.”

Shen Qing tilted her head.

“If you’re good, I’ll treat you well.”

Her lively, cheerful expression—just like when she was playing shuttlecock under the tree—filled him with contentment. That kind of vibrant energy was rare in the palace.

It wasn’t proper, but he couldn’t help but like it.

Even Shen Qing was surprised. The Emperor could say something like that?

Completely unexpected.

She had sensed that he was beginning to like her, and compared to the other concubines, she must have pleased him quite a bit. But this one sentence—that was truly an unexpected delight.

From the moment she had decided to win his favor and affection, everything had gone smoother than she could have imagined.

Shen Qing couldn’t help feeling a bit giddy—this time, genuinely so, not faked. But her happiness made things spiral a little out of control.

Xuan Yuanling was indeed a bit too eager tonight, and Shen Qing was happily cooperative.

She had originally intended to pretend to be a bit delicate and frail. But clearly, she’d gotten a little too carried away.

The result?—She ended up swollen.