Showing off on purpose, forcing the Imperial Son to acknowledge it—what was he trying to confirm?
Why did it all feel so childish and ridiculous?
And so immature!
A wu took a deep breath, wishing she could take back every bit of praise she’d ever given him.
She decided that when she got back tonight, she’d rebel—she’d never recite scriptures again.
If he made her, then she’d just refuse and see who could outlast the other.
But just as she ran out, she bumped into the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess was giving her a strange look, which A wu ignored, pretending not to notice.
But the Crown Princess deliberately sat beside her, gave a light laugh, and lowered her voice, “Imperial Noble Consort Ning, you and the Imperial Son were standing quite close just now. How did that feel?”
Hearing this, A wu turned to look at her, only to see disdain, contempt, and malice in the Crown Princess’s eyes.
This was deliberate, wasn’t it?
Bringing up what shouldn’t be mentioned, just to humiliate her?
A wu looked at the Crown Princess, frowning in thought.
The Crown Princess slowly stroked her own belly, her face bearing a victorious smile.
Finally, A wu spoke seriously, “You’ve only ever known one man in your life. Whatever he gives you, you accept, so of course you don’t understand. You don’t know that men can differ—some are strong, some are weak, some can, some can’t. As for me, the father is good, but the son is just so-so.”
Crown Princess: “You!”
A wu leaned in slightly, lowering her voice even more, “Besides, you probably don’t know, but when I was with the Imperial Son, he always begged me, kneeling there to kiss me. Has he ever served you like that?”
The Crown Princess’s eyes went wide, stunned into blankness.
A wu looked at her with sympathy, “But you’ll never get the chance to know!”
With that, she stood up and left.
The Crown Princess never expected A wu to say such things, her face twisting in anger on the spot.
She’s shameless!
A wu wore a look of utter satisfaction.
Hmph, trying to humiliate her?
Not a chance!
But what Awu didn’t expect was that when Emperor Jingxi arrived at nightfall his expression was rather gloomy.
A wu didn’t pay it any mind, greeting him as usual.
She thought to herself, if he made her recite scriptures, she would know how to deal with it, but he didn’t ask her to recite.
She was secretly delighted, thinking she had escaped unscathed.
But just as the bed curtains fell, Emperor Jingxi’s strong hand gripped her waist, and he bit her ear, “A wu, what were you nervous about today?”
A wu mumbled, “I wasn’t…”
Emperor Jingxi sneered coolly, “As if I don’t know, your face was red.”
A wu: “That’s only because Your Majesty mentioned instructing your wife by the pillow… Isn’t that shameful!”
Emperor Jingxi: “What’s wrong with being embarrassed?”
A wu: “….”
There was simply no reasoning with him!
He was so sour—what kind of jealousy was this!
Emperor Jingxi’s strong hand gently stroked and kneaded, “Tell me, A wu, what should happen to a disobedient little wife?”
A wu buried herself in the bedding, filled with grief and indignation, “You’re bullying me! I don’t want to be punished, why should I!”
Emperor Jingxi chuckled softly, “If I don’t spank the back, should I spank the front?”
‘Spank… the front?’
A wu’s heart trembled.
After that, A wu was laid out on her back, biting her lip nervously, looking up, while the man looked down at her.
His eyes were dark, his fingertips lightly traced her, and he murmured, “A wu belongs to me. Everything about you is mine.”
A wu’s face burned, her eyes hazy.
Emperor Jingxi studied her closely, serious and earnest, as if he were reviewing a memorial, pondering how to wield his imperial brush.
A wu gripped the brocade tightly, thinking he must be insane!
Then Emperor Jingxi spoke, his voice low and mellow, “What lies between us began with desire, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. The way of yin and yang is the order of all things. The mutual affection of man and woman is only natural. But now, I hope A wu’s heart delights in me, not just out of desire or momentary pleasure.”
A wu was surprised—she never expected him to say such things.
Emperor Jingxi gazed at her gently and sincerely saying, “you know what position I hold and at my age I’ve seen all there is to see and years ago I realized that fleeting indulgence brings no real joy so when the dream ends all is emptiness and from then on I abandoned all else no longer seeking such things..”
Of course, there were other reasons he did not wish to elaborate on now.
A wu half-understood, “That’s… quite good…”
Emperor Jingxi smiled gently, knowing A wu might not fully understand, but still wanting to say it to her.
Perhaps one day, she would have a sudden realization.
He lowered his eyes, watching her, covering her snowy source of pleasure with his long fingers.
A wu gasped instinctively.
Emperor Jingxi lifted his eyes, looking at A wu, “A wu, look up, look into my eyes.”
A wu instinctively did so, his light tea-colored eyes gentle and deep, like a serene pool or the depths of the sea.
Emperor Jingxi spoke slowly, “I want A wu to see me, that I am here—it’s me.”
A wu vaguely sensed his meaning.
He wanted her to see him—not the Emperor’s power, not the desires of the bedchamber, but him, the man himself.
He pressed her, little by little, guiding her in the direction he wanted.
Under such dominance and control, A wu was utterly speechless.
But then, Emperor Jingxi’s tone changed, “But A wu, if you wish, I can give you everything you desire. I want your heart to be filled with me alone. Everything he once touched, I will erase and cover.”
With those icy words, his palm landed lightly.
So light it hardly hurt, more of a cool, tingling sensation.
A wu couldn’t help but let out a soft cry.
She found that this was different from a steady embrace.
The steady embrace brought no further thoughts, but this fleeting touch, neither near nor far, left her wanting more.
She bit her lip, her eyes hazy, looking at him with longing.
Emperor Jingxi gripped her knee, lowering his gaze to examine her.
At first glance, she was still the innocent little lady, as if raised in a deep boudoir, yet who would think that, in the bedchamber, with just a little coaxing, she would show such a side.
Emperor Jingxi’s heart burned with passion, but he restrained himself.
His strong hand pressed down on A wu’s twisting waist, his eyes cool and rational as he stared at her, “Tell me, A wu, how did he treat you in the past?”
A wu stared at him in confusion, “?”
She always thought Emperor Jingxi would never mention it, that he cared about his dignity and wanted to avoid facing the shame of father and son sharing a woman.
Emperor Jingxi watched every subtle change in her expression, “I want to hear it, every word. Tell me—how did you and he spend that whole night together?”
A wu bit her lip, mortified.
Though she was somewhat dazed, she thought this man must be crazy.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his head, pressing her for answers by her ear.
What could A wu do but mumble vaguely, not daring to be specific.
Emperor Jingxi kept pressing.
In the end, he was surprisingly calm, even coaxing her softly, “A wu, whatever he could give you, I can too—and what he couldn’t, I can also give you.”
He paused, almost whispering, “Though I am more than ten years older than him, with you by my side, A wu, you will not be wronged.”
A wu was surprised.
She thought he would be angry, but instead he made a promise.
Emperor Jingxi: “Now, tell me, who is holding you, who makes you unable to resist?”
A wu hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, it’s Your Majesty. I want Your Majesty.”
But Emperor Jingxi lifted his hand in punishment, giving her a light smack.
A wu jolted, her lips parted, looking at him with innocent grievance.
Wasn’t that the right answer?
Emperor Jingxi: “Say, you want Zelang.”
A wu’s soft, rosy lips opened and closed a few times, but she couldn’t say it.
Clearly, she was usually quick with sweet words, but now she was stuck on this name, unable to say it.
Emperor Jingxi looked down at her, her beautiful eyes like flowing autumn streams—at first glance, clear and sweet, but only by immersing oneself did one realize how cold they truly were.
He coaxed her again, “Say, Yong Tianze.”
A wu called softly, “Yong Tianze.”
Emperor Jingxi’s voice was low and gentle, “Say, Yong Tianze is your husband, and you only want Yong Tianze.”
Husband… who was he fooling?
He was her sky, but not her husband.
Only after bowing to heaven and earth could he be called her husband.
But A wu still trembled as she said, “Yong Tianze is my husband, I only want Yong Tianze.”
Emperor Jingxi cupped her face, gazing at her with deep affection, then pulled her hand to touch.
A wu was startled, incredulous.
She had always found it difficult to accommodate, but now, upon touching, she truly realized—men really were different.
No wonder… just imagining it was enough to make one fearful, or perhaps filled with longing.
Emperor Jingxi sensed her surprise and raised an eyebrow.
Then, he slowly bent down, captured her lips, tasted them lightly, and smiled, “Tell me, have I been too gentle with you in the past?”
A wu blushed, saying nothing.
Emperor Jingxi whispered in her ear, “The winding path leads to a secluded place, where the meditation chamber’s flowers and trees are lush, and the mountain’s light and pool’s reflection make for a fine scene.”
A wu was completely lost.
Emperor Jingxi took control, moving forward slowly.
A wu frowned, clutching his arm.
At that moment, a cool laugh fell by her ear, “Those who lack the strength will never reach such heights.”
A wu paused, then suddenly understood his poetic hint!
Truly—
When a scholar throws away his shame, there’s no bottom to it!