Chapter 77: Paying Respects Again

After all, Xuanyuan Ling still cared about saving face. If he were to do anything with Shen Qing outside in public, he wouldn’t be able to stomach it himself. Not long ago, he was still a man who followed all the rules—even during the day he wouldn’t get intimate with his consorts!

His teeth itched with frustration, and then suddenly, he scooped Shen Qing up into his arms. Hearing her startled cry, his ambitions surged—he wanted this little enchantress to know fear for once.

Zhao Hai had been watching from a distance, and when he saw the palace lantern go out, his heart was full of turmoil. Then, not long after, they returned.

The surrounding servants immediately dropped to their knees with a whoosh, watching wide-eyed as Xuanyuan Ling carried Shen Qing inside.

Chunhua and Fangyun’s slightly worried glances didn’t escape Zhao Hai. He thought to himself, This Noble Lady Xi really knows how to train her servants. Normally, they’d just be happy for their mistress.

But Noble Lady Xi might really be in for it this time. The Emperor was so furious that he carried her back like that—it surely wouldn’t end so easily.

Xuanyuan Ling did indeed want to teach Shen Qing a lesson. But as soon as they got to the bed, before anything had even started, the little thing began to beg for mercy.

“It can’t be too rough.”

Xuanyuan Ling’s face darkened. “You don’t know your place!”

After teasing him like that, now she was playing coy again? If she resisted one more time, he really would get angry. After all, the arrow was already on the bowstring.

But Shen Qing noticed that his touch wasn’t forceful; he was still holding back, showing that he hadn’t completely lost control from her teasing.

Then maybe… she should make him lose control?

She put on a deeply aggrieved yet shy expression. “Your Majesty… I’m a little scared.”

Xuanyuan Ling was already burning with both lust and anger thanks to her antics. If this kept up, he might truly be unable to stop himself from tormenting her.

“Serve me properly. No more nonsense!” To dare toy with him like this in bed—she was really bold. Still, he added, “I’ll be gentle.”

But then Shen Qing said, “May I do it myself this time?”

Xuanyuan Ling: “…”

That one delicate suggestion extinguished all the fire that had been raging in his chest.

“What?”

Shen Qing’s face turned red and she bit her lip, clearly embarrassed. “Every time, I end up begging for mercy in the end. I just happen to be doing fine today. Could Your Majesty grant me a favor and let me take the lead? That way, I won’t be afraid of the pain.”

Xuanyuan Ling’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Staring at the little enchantress before him, something short-circuited in his brain. Next thing he knew, she had already climbed on top of him—and he had no idea how it even happened.

Yes, Shen Qing had just committed a major act of insubordination.

All in all, after such a long time apart, both were quite satisfied with this night of intimacy. Xuanyuan Ling hadn’t cuddled Shen Qing to sleep in ages. Now that he had her in his arms again, her body nestled perfectly against his. The two of them drifted off to sleep, snuggled together.

---

When Xuanyuan Ling left the next morning, Shen Qing was still asleep. He no longer expected her to help him dress in court attire—it was better to let her sleep a little longer. After all, there were plenty of servants for that.

Not long after he left for morning court, Shen Qing woke up.

Chunhua was a bit surprised. “Why don’t you sleep a little longer, Your Ladyship?”

“I’ve got things on my mind, can’t sleep.” When your heart’s preoccupied, you naturally wake early. But since she was already up and Xuanyuan Ling had left, she said, “Help me with my hair and makeup. I need to go to Fengyi Palace.”

At Fengyi Palace, the Empress was having her hair done by Jinzhi, but her expression didn’t look too good.

Just then, a palace maid reported from outside, “Your Majesty, Noble Lady Xi is here to pay respects.”

The Empress’s gaze sharpened. “Let her in.”

Jinzhi glanced meaningfully toward the doorway.

Shen Qing entered and bowed. “This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Why did Noble Lady Xi suddenly come today?” The Empress smiled faintly and gestured for her to rise.

Shen Qing stood very obediently, not daring to sit.

“You’ve fully recovered, and your green tally was just hung back up. You served the Emperor in bed just yesterday—it seems His Majesty has been thinking of you. Make sure you serve him well in the future.” The Empress looked her up and down, her face smiling as she asked, “What brings you here today?”

“I came specifically to thank Your Majesty,” Shen Qing replied, kneeling again.

“This concubine had not served the Emperor in a long time. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s care and the grace you showed by speaking on my behalf to His Majesty. Only because of that did the Emperor remember me. Since entering the palace, I have received nothing but kindness from Your Majesty, and I am truly thankful.”

She had credited the Empress for the Emperor flipping her tally, and she seemed extremely sincere.

Hearing this, the Empress immediately said, “Why are you kneeling again? Jinzhi, help Noble Lady Xi take a seat.”

Jinzhi hurried over to help Shen Qing up. Shen Qing stood, and since Jinzhi had been doing the Empress’s hair earlier, the hairstyle was complete, but the accessories hadn’t yet been chosen.

Shen Qing looked over and said, “Why don’t I help Your Majesty with choosing the hairpins?”

The Empress noticed Shen Qing’s styling. In her memory, Shen Qing had always been good at dressing up. Back when she was just a “liangren” (a low-ranking consort), she could still make herself stand out with minimal jewelry. Now that she was a Noble Lady with plenty of rewards, she still dressed modestly—just a few accessories in her hair, which only highlighted her elegance and beauty.

The Empress nodded.

Shen Qing then smiled and carefully helped the Empress with her hair ornaments. Afterward, the Empress was quite pleased, and they even chatted a little about what hairstyles suited which face shapes. Only then did Shen Qing leave Fengyi Palace with a smile.

The Empress had originally been quite upset. The Emperor had been too obvious—he could have visited the pregnant Consort Fang after her, then gone to Shen Qing. That way, she wouldn’t have felt so humiliated.

Of course, the Empress wouldn’t act on anything now. After all, Shen Qing still had her uses. But in the future… who could say? Still, Shen Qing’s humility and flattery today had soothed the Empress’s temper quite a bit.

As long as Noble Lady Xi understood the rules, it was fine. At least she still respected the hierarchy, wasn’t acting arrogantly despite the favor she’d received, and had even come to give thanks. That was good enough.

---

As Shen Qing was leaving Fengyi Palace and walking along the palace path, she unexpectedly encountered Xuanyuan Ling’s imperial carriage—he had just left court.

But Xuanyuan Ling’s expression was far from pleasant. At this morning’s court session, a bunch of old ministers, using the principle of “filial piety above all” as their excuse, brought up the Empress Dowager’s upcoming forty-fifth birthday. They said that to ensure good fortune, it should be celebrated with great fanfare.

Xuanyuan Ling looked at the ones who made the proposal—who among them wasn’t connected to the Chen clan? The hand behind all this was all too obvious.

He hadn’t looked pleased since leaving court, and Zhao Hai didn’t dare make a sound.

Just as he was heading back to the imperial study along the palace path, he ran into Shen Qing returning from the Empress’s palace.

Xuanyuan Ling saw Shen Qing walking slowly down the path and called out, “Why are you here?”

Shen Qing acted as if she didn’t notice the tense atmosphere around him and replied honestly, “This concubine went to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Xuanyuan Ling immediately understood. It was because he had been impatient to see her after so long that he had been a little neglectful toward the Empress. This little thing must have noticed and gone today to soothe the Empress.

Even with all the burdens on his mind, he couldn’t help but feel Shen Qing was clever and thoughtful. No wonder she pleased him so much. Yes, this was a little trick, but he didn’t mind it. As long as she didn’t break any rules, it was all good.