Chapter 79 – Heart Beating a Little Fast

Shen Qing only sighed casually and didn’t think much of it. But that night, she was surprised to find that the Emperor had summoned her again.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

Although Xuanyuan Ling had been increasingly uninhibited toward her lately, he had just seen her that morning when she went to pay respects to the Empress. Naturally, he would have known why she went. For him to summon her again that night—it didn’t make sense.

But then Shen Qing thought again—it was probably because the Emperor was feeling annoyed after dealing with the Empress Dowager.

Was he in a bad mood?

That night, Shen Qing was carried over to the Emperor’s quarters. When she arrived, Xuanyuan Ling was still reviewing memorials. He came to her only after a while.

Now that she was a Noble Lady, her elevated rank came with the benefit of not being stripped bare before being brought over. She still wore clothing, albeit only a thin layer—specifically made for attending to the Emperor in bed. It wasn’t exactly proper attire.

Xuanyuan Ling raised his hand and hooked a finger under her chin. “You served in bed just last night, and went to pay respects this morning. Are you not feeling unwell?”

“Not at all.” Shen Qing glanced up at him, then lowered her head again and murmured, “Your Majesty was quite gentle last night.”

Xuanyuan Ling had initially summoned her just to lighten his mood, but she had already started teasing him again.

Before he could even do much, Shen Qing leaned toward him and asked, “Was Your Majesty very busy today?”

Xuanyuan Ling didn’t particularly like that question. But before he could tell the little thing to hush, a delicate hand pressed between his brows.

Shen Qing gently rubbed the spot between his furrowed brows with her fingertips. “Don’t frown, Your Majesty.”

Xuanyuan Ling paused, then on impulse took her hand down and began kneading it in his own. He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms.

Soft fragrance and warm jade nestled into his embrace.

Shen Qing was sitting in his lap, back to him, as he absentmindedly played with her hand. He didn’t talk about court matters, nor about the Empress Dowager. Instead, he said leisurely, “You’ve grown bold. Now you think you can tell me whether I can frown or not?”

Shen Qing replied, “I don’t like it when Your Majesty frowns. I hope you’re always happy.”

Xuanyuan Ling looked at her and said, “You’re quite good at sweet-talking.”

“Not really.” Shen Qing muttered under her breath, “I mean it.”

She truly didn’t want him to be troubled.

Sometimes, when people are upset, they don’t necessarily want someone to agree with them, or argue with them, or try to persuade them otherwise. They just want to see something beautiful, and their heart will ease a bit. It helps remind them that life still holds good things.

After all, although the resentment was still there, it had been there for years. It wasn’t as if he didn’t already know what kind of person she was.

So Shen Qing didn’t mention court politics, nor the Empress Dowager. She simply chatted with him casually. The two of them had never had such a relaxed conversation in bed before.

Xuanyuan Ling listened to her talk about all sorts of things and thought to himself—she certainly knew a lot. She even told him about the storybooks she’d been reading lately, the ones filled with tales of spirits and demons.

He listened while reflecting—although she was a woman, she was genuinely perceptive and clever. Back when she held the lowest rank in the palace, he hadn’t gone out of his way to protect her. Yet she still stood out and managed to live a peaceful life behind closed doors. Now, she was still the same. She had a carefree spirit. No wonder she could live so well. In this respect, he wasn’t as clear-minded as she was.

Thinking this way, his inner turmoil eased a bit. Holding her in his arms like this, he even felt a rare sense of serenity and peace.

Xuanyuan Ling, for once, spoke to her idly and said, “Why is it that in storybooks, it’s always scholars who meet fox spirits? Why not Emperors?”

Shen Qing laughed, “Because the books are written by scholars! They fantasize about romantic encounters for themselves. Besides, who would dare write about the Emperor? The Emperor is dignified—no evil can touch him.”

—Obviously. What scholar would have a death wish? Who has the nerve to write about the Emperor?

“No evil can touch me?” Xuanyuan Ling gave her a glance.

Shen Qing sensed some mischief in his look.

She hesitated, then asked uncertainly, “Your Majesty… you’re not talking about me, are you?”

Xuanyuan Ling looked at her with amusement in his eyes. So, this little thing did have some self-awareness.

Shen Qing puffed her cheeks slightly in annoyance and gave him a plaintive look. “I’m not a little fox spirit.”

Seeing her getting feisty, Xuanyuan Ling replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Mm, Qingqing’s not a little fox spirit.”

Shen Qing seemed pleased by that and gave a soft “Mm.”

“You’re really quite the temperamental one. At least it’s only in front of me. I’ll let it slide.”

Shen Qing grinned like someone who had just gotten away with mischief. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for being so generous to this humble woman. Your Majesty is truly magnanimous.”

She looked so easy to coax, so adorably well-behaved, that even when she acted up, it was hard to get upset with her.

Xuanyuan Ling looked at her and thought, How could she not be a little fox spirit?

He couldn’t help but think of the emperors in the history books who had been enamored with women. If those seductive women had all been like Shen Qing, who wouldn’t be enchanted?

Xuanyuan Ling had long passed the stage where he thought indulging in Shen Qing meant he was becoming decadent.

From the moment he promoted her to Noble Lady, he had truly begun to think: She has no children and no one to rely on. I must cherish her properly.

So now, not only did he not get annoyed when she flirted with him again, he even welcomed it. He thought, If someone like her isn’t worth pampering, then who is?

She was clever, charming, mindful of decorum, and never caused trouble for him. How could she be so well-behaved? She was different from the Empress, from Consort Yu, from everyone else.

She really was different…

Xuanyuan Ling looked at Shen Qing, and in his eyes reflected her gaze looking back at him.

She was smiling at him—soft, delicate, with a hint of slyness.

What was she like when she faced the Empress? Did she bow and scrape? Or lower herself humbly?

It was strange. Shen Qing came from a humble family, yet the more time Xuanyuan Ling spent with her, the more he felt those things didn’t suit her. She wasn’t born into a noble house, but she carried herself with a natural grace and pride. That inherent nobility showed in her very bones. Someone like her, this delicate and dainty, should be loved and cherished—others should accommodate her, not the other way around.

Thinking this, another thought took root:
Why should she be the one forced to go make amends to the Empress, just to smooth things over? She should live more freely. Even if she’s favored, she should feel at ease in that favor, without fear of others scheming against her.

That thought gradually settled in Xuanyuan Ling’s heart. He held Shen Qing a little tighter.

“Your Majesty?” Shen Qing noticed he seemed lost in thought and called out to him. He didn’t respond.

Fine, be dazed then. She called once and let it go. Instead, she took his hand and started playing with it. Shen Qing didn’t have a hand fetish, but Xuanyuan Ling’s hands were truly beautiful.

The joints weren’t too thick, the fingers long and slender, and even his nails were trimmed just right. She toyed with his hand like it was a fine piece of jade.

When Xuanyuan Ling finally came back to himself, Shen Qing was already about to kiss it. He couldn’t help but laugh.

So much for grace and elegance. This little thing was being mischievous again.

“No biting,” he said with a chuckle, amused by her antics.