Chapter 38 – Noble Lady Shen

Shen Qing’s expression turned rather bewildered.

When Xuanyuan Ling saw her like this, he frowned slightly. “What? You don’t like it?”

Shen Qing decided to be a bit more honest. “The bright red one…”

Of course! Bright red—only the Empress is allowed to wear it. How could she possibly accept it? Accepting it would be asking for death!

Xuanyuan Ling knew that while she was a bit mischievous in Zhaohua Palace, she still followed all the rules outside. He understood she couldn’t wear this bracelet in public—but he still wanted to give it to her.

Moreover, seeing how properly she conducted herself only made him happier to give it. It made him feel she was someone worth remembering and gifting things to.

“I permit you to wear it—for me to see.”

Shen Qing paused. Just wear it for him to see? Could this mean… what she thought it meant?

She pretended to look confused and innocent.

Seeing her feigned ignorance made Xuanyuan Ling almost want to bite her lips right then and there—but luckily, dinner had arrived.

Shen Qing acted as if she didn’t notice a thing and began to serve Xuanyuan Ling his meal.

She ate with him, introducing various dishes she liked recently, talking about which ones whetted the appetite, which were delicious, and so on.

Xuanyuan Ling noticed that this little girl, even when she had tasty food herself, didn’t forget about him. But that small, glistening mouth of hers looked more appetizing than the food itself.

He wanted to say she was seductive—but she was merely eating. She wasn’t doing anything on purpose.

As he watched her eat, his eyes grew darker.

Still, he waited until she was full.

Once she had eaten her fill, Xuanyuan Ling stretched out his long arms and swept her into his embrace.

Shen Qing gave a small startled yelp.

All the servants nearby immediately turned their backs, watching with the corners of their eyes as the Emperor carried her straight into the inner chamber. Their faces turned red with embarrassment as they glanced at one another.

Zhao Hai was more shocked than the shy Chunhua and Fangyun. After all, the Emperor had always been one to follow the rules strictly. Today, he had gifted a red jade bracelet—and now he was doing this right in front of them?

Xuanyuan Ling was usually very disciplined—but now that desire had been pent up too long, and Shen Qing somehow made him feel that behind the closed doors of Zhaohua Palace, it was okay to break the rules just a little.

Once that thought popped into his mind, he gave in to it.

He pressed her down on the bed and slipped the red jade bracelet onto her wrists—one on each. The vibrant red against Shen Qing’s pale, snowy skin looked even more striking. This kind of vivid jade bracelet, on the wrong person, might overpower its wearer. But on Shen Qing, her skin tone made the bracelet seem almost modest in comparison.

“Truly beautiful,” Xuanyuan Ling murmured as he leaned over her.

Shen Qing couldn’t help but lament internally—had he unlocked a new fetish? Just now she thought she was overthinking, but apparently not—he really did want her to wear it on the bed.

This time, he was in such a rush he didn’t even bother undressing fully. That one dinner had clearly left him holding back too long.

It was intense again. After all, Xuanyuan Ling was young, and he had neglected the harem for a while. A bit of wildness was to be expected.

After it all ended and water was brought, the two of them lay on the bed. Xuanyuan Ling turned to look at Shen Qing, who had her eyes half-closed, already dozing off. The red jade bracelet was still on her wrist.

He looked at it for a moment, then suddenly grabbed her ankle and lifted it.

Shen Qing woke up at once. “Your Majesty?”

Her ankle was slender too—barely thicker than her wrist. “I’ll have a chain made for you next time,” he said.

“Huh?”

“A gold one. For your ankle. It’ll look perfect.”

“…” Shen Qing felt a little frustrated. “Is Your Majesty treating me like a pet bird to be kept in a cage?” Why was he thinking about chaining her?

Xuanyuan Ling heard the complaint in her tone and thought to himself, this little thing sure has a temper. But he wasn’t angry. “I don’t think of you as an animal. It’s just—you’re like a little enchantress, really… you suit being locked up.”

Shen Qing nearly got goosebumps.

Was the Emperor developing some bizarre fetish?

But Xuanyuan Ling wasn’t awakening to any strange interests. In fact, he was still rather proper by nature. Having grown up with rules ingrained in his bones, he didn’t have any unusual tastes. But just like with the red jade, he truly thought a golden ankle chain would suit Shen Qing’s slender ankles.

Maybe it would hold a special kind of charm?

The more he thought about it, the more tempted he became. He pressed her down again.

This time, Shen Qing was really exhausted afterward. Xuanyuan Ling was in his prime—twenty-six years old—while her body was only sixteen. In modern times, Xuanyuan Ling’s actions would land him in prison for at least three years. She was still growing, and he was already wearing her out.

Xuanyuan Ling saw her curled up, sleeping with what seemed like a wary look—as if she feared he might go again—and finally felt a twinge of guilt. He gently covered her with the light blanket.

He and Shen Qing—he blamed her for seducing him, she blamed him for exhausting her. And Xuanyuan Ling? He was still quite pleased with himself.

The next morning, Xuanyuan Ling woke first. He had the habit of rising early for court. But since today was a rest day, he didn’t need to attend. Turning to see Shen Qing still sleeping soundly, he lay beside her for a bit longer.

Until Shen Qing, half-asleep, instinctively snuggled up to him and rubbed against him.

And just like that—early in the morning—she was tormented once more.

That really woke her up.

Shen Qing couldn’t believe it.

Xuanyuan Ling had broken his own rules?

He’d engaged in bedroom pleasures during the day?

Her look of utter disbelief made Xuanyuan Ling both amused and annoyed. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You little thing, always doing improper things in the bedchamber. You’ve corrupted me.”

Shen Qing nearly burst out laughing at that blatant reversal of blame.

Seriously?! Who made the first move?

But he was the Emperor. Whatever he said was right. What could she do?

So Shen Qing pouted and half-heartedly resisted before giving in.

After they finished breakfast together, Xuanyuan Ling finally left. As he departed, he was smiling. Going at it once… then again… he suddenly realized he understood Shen Qing’s secret joy of breaking the rules in the bedchamber.

It was liberating, wasn’t it? Out there, one had to be poised and composed. But in the privacy of their rooms, where no one could see—it felt good to let go a little.

Yet, along with the joy came a tiny twinge of guilt. All those years of strict rules told Xuanyuan Ling—he was definitely slipping.

After leaving Zhaohua Palace, he went straight to the imperial study.

But not long after he left, someone else appeared—Noble Lady Shen.

She was heading to the Imperial Garden. Truth be told, these past few days had been miserable for her. Consort Yu had made life difficult—not to the point of being unlivable, but still extremely hard. Even back in her own palace, Consort Yu’s people were always around to torment her, making her suffer terribly.

She had no choice but to escape to the remote corners of the Imperial Garden.

As she walked among the flowers, she saw a profusion of blooms—but felt like she herself was just a wildflower, unnoticed and unwanted.

Her heart was obsessed with longing for favor. In this harem, being unloved was truly lowly.

And as for who was favored?

Though Shen Qing was still just a First Class Attendant, anyone with eyes could see she was favored. A promotion was only a matter of time. Even though Noble Lady Shen held a rank two levels higher, at this moment, she couldn’t help but envy Shen Qing.