Chapter 96: Helping Others  Xue Qingyin

Nightfall gradually enveloped the King Xuan’s residence.

But tonight, one lamp after another began to light up.

Especially around the Cunxin Palace, where the lights were blazing.

Though the night had fallen quietly, the candlelight added a touch of warmth and liveliness.

Fang Chengzhong, following King Xuan into the palace, could not help but be distracted and said, “I almost thought we went the wrong way.”

“Your Highness.” Butler Lu came forward and bowed to Fang Chengzhong, greeting him, “Deputy General Fang.”

Seeing his concerned expression, Fang Chengzhong joked, “Did you lose money?”

Butler Lu shook his head and bowed again, “Your Highness, the side consort has not accepted them.”

Fang Chengzhong, curious, asked, “What has she not accepted?”

Butler Lu sighed, “The account books, the keys, and the seal… none of them were accepted.”

It was only then that Fang Chengzhong understood. He was surprised and asked, “Your Highness, are you really going to hand over all the power of the palace to Miss Xue?”

At this moment, King Xuan glanced at him lightly.

Fang Chengzhong quickly realized his mistake and corrected himself, “You mean, you’re handing everything over to the side consort?” He paused and couldn’t help but wonder, “But why hasn’t she accepted it?”

Butler Lu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said tremblingly, “The side consort wishes for someone else to manage them…”

This was what worried him. He feared that King Xuan might think he was obstructing the transfer of power.

But there was no change on King Xuan’s face; only a fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes.

He said in a low voice, “Hmm, then let it be as she wishes.”

“Isn’t it good to be someone who holds real power?” Fang Chengzhong shook his head in confusion. “I thought Miss Xue would be a very intelligent person.”

King Xuan furrowed his brow and replied coldly, “Precisely because she is intelligent, she does not wish to get involved.”

Though she liked him, she did not trust him enough.

She feared stepping into the forbidden zones of the royal palace.

King Xuan added, glancing at Fang Chengzhong, his tone turning cold, “Do not discuss her.”

Fang Chengzhong was startled and quickly bowed, “It’s my fault. I should not have speculated about the side consort.”

“Your Highness,” Butler Lu weakly interjected, “Mr. Kang and the others have been waiting for you for a long time.”

“I know,” King Xuan replied. However, instead of heading to the study, he went towards Cunxin Palace first.

Inside Cunxin Palace.

Xue Qingyin had already fallen asleep, unable to stay awake any longer.

She had initially planned to act a little more like a newlywed wife, but King Xuan was just too busy. By the time the moon had risen, Xue Qingyin simply patted her bottom and went to sleep.

The palace attendants were left hesitating, unsure whether to speak up but not daring to make a sound.

When King Xuan entered, the attendants immediately jumped up and were about to wake Xue Qingyin.

“Don’t move.” King Xuan spoke coldly.

The attendant froze, quickly retracting her hand, kneeling on the ground in fear, not daring to raise her head.

King Xuan, expressionless, leaned down and placed his fingers on the spot where the attendant had just touched.

He flicked his fingers lightly, smoothing the piece of cloth.

Xue Qingyin suddenly stirred.

King Xuan froze, thinking he had woken her up.

But Xue Qingyin merely turned over in her sleep.

She was in a half-dreaming, half-awake state, vaguely hearing some sound.

But she couldn’t tell whether it was a dream or reality, and mumbled vaguely, “King Xuan… King Xuan…”

King Xuan leaned closer, trying to listen more clearly.

“If King Xuan returns… call me… ah, call me…” she murmured, her words jumbled.

Then she sank back into a deeper sleep.

King Xuan stood still, his eyes darkening. For a moment, he felt an urge to bend down and kiss her.

But he refrained, not wanting to wake her, so he suppressed his desire.

At this moment, King Xuan finally understood what it might feel like when the soldiers under his command spoke of their wives waiting for them at home, lighting a lamp in anticipation of their return.

Although Xue Qingyin had never actually lit a lamp for him, King Xuan thought it was probably close enough.

He straightened up, turned around, and walked out.

Once outside, he spoke to his servants, “Be gentle with your actions, don’t wake her.”

The palace attendants immediately bowed and agreed.

King Xuan had been discussing state matters late into the night, so he didn’t return to his quarters.

Xue Qingyin, alone on the spacious bed, had tossed and turned a few times in her sleep.

When she woke up, she sat on the bed for a while, then pretended to miss King Xuan and asked, “Did His Highness not return yesterday?”

“He did return, and he came to see you.”

Xue Qingyin thought for a moment… but couldn’t remember at all!

She asked somewhat eagerly, “Has His Highness gotten up now?”

“I don’t know, but His Highness was supposed to have stayed in Heyun Palace yesterday.”

Xue Qingyin thought about it, then ordered her servants to help her get ready. She decided to head to Heyun Palace.

The palace attendants led the way.

As she walked, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why is it… a bit out of the way?”

The servant replied, “Yes, Heyun Palace is next to the East Study, so it’s a little more secluded.”

Xue Qingyin was puzzled—how could such a grand King live in such a secluded place?

“Does His Highness usually stay in Heyun Palace?” she asked.

The servant looked at her in confusion and said, “No, His Highness usually resides in the Cunxin Palace for his daily activities.”

Xue Qingyin: “…”

She had been wondering how King Xuan could still sleep in the same room as her. It turned out that she had taken over his bed and sent him to sleep in a secluded palace!

Xue Qingyin wiped her face. “Well, never mind.”

When she arrived at Heyun Palace, Du Hongxue was standing outside waiting.

It seemed that there was something urgent that King Xuan needed to deal with.

“See how difficult it is to run a household… that’s why I absolutely refuse to take on the palace work!” Xue Qingyin thought to herself.

When the palace attendants saw her, they hurriedly bowed and prepared to report her arrival.

Xue Qingyin originally wanted to stop them, thinking of how King Xuan had been considerate enough not to wake her the night before. She thought she might say something like, “Your Highness must be tired from military affairs, please rest for a while. I don’t mind waiting outside.”

But then she looked up at the increasingly bright sunlight and thought it would actually be a bit troublesome.

So she quickly changed her approach and said, “If His Highness is awake, please tell him that I miss him very much.”

As soon as the palace attendant heard that, he hurried even faster.

Du Hongxue, standing by, couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

It had nothing to do with him, yet the innocent young man still blushed. He glanced secretly at Xue Qingyin and thought to himself, “The Xue family girl is so clingy…”

He thought that such a delicate and clingy girl would be irresistible to anyone.

The palace attendant entered the room and dutifully repeated Xue Qingyin’s words to King Xuan: “The side consort said that if Your Highness is awake, she wants you to know that she misses you.”

King Xuan then rose and changed his clothes.

Standing there, listening to the servant’s words, he gradually imagined the expression Xue Qingyin would have had while saying this.

It must have been quite charming, he thought.

The palace maid beside him lowered her head, holding up his outer robe, secretly thinking how bold those words were—so bold, they almost seemed… wild.

King Xuan was known for his stern demeanor and never smiled, so he probably wouldn’t tolerate such things.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard King Xuan coldly say, “Why are you still standing there? Bring her in.”

“Yes, yes!” The attendant quickly left.

A moment later, Xue Qingyin entered, dressed in fine silk clothes, happily running toward him like a fluttering butterfly.

King Xuan looked at her and, as if influenced by her joy, felt his heart soften in a certain way.

Xue Qingyin, meanwhile, was looking at him too.

She saw King Xuan open his arms and didn’t realize that the palace maid was about to help him put on his outer robe.

Without hesitation, she dashed straight into his embrace.

King Xuan’s gaze flickered, and with one hand, he tightly wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her securely.

Xue Qingyin leaned against his chest and let out a soft breath.

Uh…

He was holding her a little too tightly.

It was probably like what the books described… he seemed like he couldn’t get enough of her, as if he wanted to merge her into his body.

She had no choice but to raise her hand with effort, tugging at his robe. “Your Highness…”

Before she could do much more, King Xuan’s belt was undone.

“I didn’t mean to,” Xue Qingyin thought, but couldn’t help touching a little more.

King Xuan’s abs felt absolutely amazing to the touch…

“Yinyin, don’t move,” King Xuan suddenly caught her hand, his voice slightly hoarse from just waking up.

King Xuan immediately let go of her and pulled back slightly.

Xue Qingyin was confused.

She obediently withdrew her hand, standing there and saying, “Oh.”

She felt that something was off about King Xuan at that moment.

His eyes were dark, and when he looked at her, his throat moved as if he wanted to devour her.

She quickly asked, “Do we need to go to the palace today to have lunch with the Emperor?”

King Xuan replied uncomfortably, “…Yes.” He paused and then said, “Let’s go to the East Palace first, I want to take you to meet someone.”

Xue Qingyin gradually started to understand what was strange about King Xuan.

She took a step forward, raised her hand to hook around his shoulder, and gently pulled him down, wanting him to hear her better.

Then, in a soft voice, she asked, “Your Highness, would you like me to help you?”

King Xuan’s gaze instantly changed, and he pulled her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

The palace maids were stunned.

The kiss ended quickly, and King Xuan looked up, coldly scanning the maids. “Leave.”