Chapter 76 – Is It Sweet?

Xuan Yuanling looked at Shen Qing and, for some reason, felt a trace of sigh in his heart.

His gaze fixed on her. “Shen Qing.”

“Mm.” Shen Qing raised her eyes to look at him.

Xuan Yuanling lowered his voice. “Qingqing.”

His voice was deliberately hushed, spoken right beside her ear.

Shen Qing blinked, feeling a ticklish sensation near her ear as his voice seeped in like a fine thread.

Her heart skipped a beat—she was actually being seduced. She had always been the one doing the seducing. Indeed, the tables had turned.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes shimmering as she looked at him.

Xuan Yuanling found it amusing—was she actually shy?

But the next moment, he suddenly stiffened. That little hand of hers slipped out slightly, then slid up along his sleeve, moving up his wrist and into his wide sleeve.

Shen Qing didn’t stop her hand. Her face flushed red as she tilted her head up to look at Xuan Yuanling, her eyes full of restrained shyness, with a hint of excitement.

Xuan Yuanling’s throat went dry. He wanted to pull his hand away, but they were surrounded by people. How dare she? How did she dare to tease him like this in front of so many?

So unruly. Far too bold. And not even in a bedroom.

He was a little annoyed.

But Shen Qing giggled, which left him helpless. Why was she so fond of playing?

Just then, the dishes from the Imperial Kitchen were ready. Shen Qing immediately turned and headed toward the food. Xuan Yuanling’s teeth itched with frustration, but she was still recovering—he couldn’t make her go hungry just to serve him.

That said, Xuan Yuanling no longer had the appetite to eat. Instead, he watched Shen Qing eat.

Shen Qing wasn’t bothered at all by his gaze. She just wanted to eat, and it wasn’t unreasonable. She knew that without food, there’d be no strength.

Xuan Yuanling watched as she ate. He noticed she reached for one item multiple times—a crystal-skinned shrimp dumpling. She had already eaten three.

He himself never ate more than three of anything. But as Shen Qing reached for a fourth dumpling—small and delicate, easy to eat in one bite—he didn’t stop her. In fact, he felt a bit touched that she had something she liked enough to eat so much of.

Before long, Shen Qing put down her chopsticks.

Xuan Yuanling observed her carefully. She hadn’t eaten much. Aside from the four shrimp dumplings, everything else was just a taste here and there. There were many dishes, but she was clearly picky.

Previously, she would skip the things she didn’t like. Now, if she wasn’t in the mood for something, she wouldn’t touch it at all. Of the entire table, she’d eaten just a few bites.

He frowned and picked up a piece of pumpkin with his chopsticks and offered it to her. She had eaten one earlier, so it couldn’t be that she disliked it.

Shen Qing rubbed her little belly. “I can’t eat anymore.”

Seeing his frown, she quietly explained, “The imperial physician said I shouldn’t eat too much yet. Sixty percent full is enough, or it’s bad for digestion.” After all, since her injury, eating smaller, more frequent meals was better for recovery.

Xuan Yuanling let it go.

After the meal, they didn’t head straight into the inner chambers. Perhaps because Shen Qing had mentioned the physician, the fire Xuan Yuanling had felt earlier was dampened a bit. It had been a while, and he didn’t want to harm her again. Plus, it wasn’t ideal to engage in strenuous activity right after a meal.

“Let’s go for a walk. Helps with digestion.”

Shen Qing was a little surprised. Huh, the dog Emperor wasn’t being lustful? She had thought that after all her teasing, he’d be unable to wait.

But taking a walk was nice too. He even told the servants not to follow.

At first, it was just the two of them walking outside. Since the Emperor didn’t want anyone trailing behind, the servants had lined the paths with lanterns for illumination. It looked quite beautiful. As they walked, they ended up near the swing.

Suddenly, Shen Qing stumbled.

Xuan Yuanling caught her just in time. “Useless. Can’t even walk straight.”

What the hell?

Under the lantern’s glow, he saw her face tinged with mock annoyance and found it funny. “You’re so short-tempered now? Can’t even take a joke?”

Shen Qing did it on purpose. After huffing, she reached into his large sleeve and slipped her hand inside. Xuan Yuanling froze again.

Then he heard her murmur, “Your Majesty bullies me. When have I ever been short-tempered?”

He had been considerate, letting her walk off the meal instead of jumping her right away. And now she was starting it again.

“Let’s go back,” he said darkly. Back—to punish you properly.

“No.” Shen Qing tilted her head, eyes narrowed, and suddenly said in a low voice, “I want to stay outside. The moonlight is beautiful tonight. The moon looks lovely. I…”

“Shen Qing,” Xuan Yuanling interrupted, thinking she meant something else by wanting to stay outside. But when she said the moon was pretty, his tone changed. “Let’s go back.”

Shen Qing’s soft little hand stroked his arm.

In the next moment, the palace lantern in Xuan Yuanling’s hand fell to the ground, and the flame went out.

Shen Qing let out a surprised cry that Xuan Yuanling quickly swallowed with a kiss.

He thought he must be crazy. This was outdoors. Outdoors…

Hmm… actually made it more thrilling?

In the dark, with no one around, Xuan Yuanling scooped Shen Qing into his arms and sat her on the swing. Holding the swing ropes with both hands, he kissed her so thoroughly she could barely breathe. She tilted her head, gasping for air, her eyes hazy as she looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

Was the moon beautiful?

Or was she more beautiful?