Xie Rang had practiced martial arts since childhood. Although he looked somewhat slender, he was by no means weak. His arms, in particular, were exceptionally strong, and he could draw a bow no matter how heavy it was.

Yun Qing had only ever watched before, never imagining that one day she would experience it for herself. Xie Rang seemed to be asking a question, but the hand restraining her waist didn't loosen its grip at all, clearly waiting for a definite answer.

Strong but not reckless.

This was the way of being a ruler that Yun Qing taught Xie Rang, but in the end, it all came true for him.

She gritted her teeth, but the wolf cub, who had been waiting for so long, couldn't help but ask, "Is it really not allowed?"

Xie Rang didn't expect an answer so quickly. His gaze shifted slightly downwards, landing on the waist he was holding. His fingertips twitched slightly as he thought to himself, "The Grand Tutor's waist is indeed as I imagined. If only..."

Although she didn't know how she was being coveted, a vague sense of crisis arose in her, and Yun Qing still agreed: "I'll stay, Your Majesty, let go!"

The last two words already carried a warning.

Although I agreed to accept their advances, isn't it a bit too much for them to keep touching me inappropriately?

Xie Rang accepts all criticism, but he will repeat the same mistake next time.

He had already made his feelings very clear, and Yun Qing was always around him, so how could he not make a move?

The true nature of an emperor is selfish and plundering, but he suppresses it in front of Yun Qing.

It won't erupt unless something unexpected happens.

Having received his answer, he released his grip, took a small step back, and smiled gently: "Okay."

The time spent lingering here was finally spent with the final gong sounding. Even if Yun Qing hadn't agreed, the time was now over.

Killing two birds with one stone?

The emperor's sinister intentions were laid bare. He probably wasn't just asking questions; as long as he stalled for time, Yun Qing wouldn't break the rules and leave the palace. He had calculated both sides.

But what could be done? This person was someone Yun Qing had personally trained, leaving Yun Qing utterly speechless.

Yun Qing looked down at the osmanthus flower she was holding. Because of her actions just now, the small petals that were already easy to fall off were now almost gone, and the osmanthus branch was bare.

she:……

Xie Rang was in the wrong here, and seeing this, he quickly broke off a few more branches and put them in Yun Qing's arms, where a sweet fragrance wafted over.

Yun Qing chuckled softly and stopped her, saying, "Alright, Your Majesty, stop breaking it. If you keep breaking it, the tree will be bare."

Xie Rang nodded: "Mm."

Now that the decision had been made not to leave the palace, everything else would take its natural course. Shunfeng seemed very happy and, upon hearing the news, quickly instructed the imperial kitchen to add more dishes.

Whenever the Grand Tutor stayed behind, it was always the happiest time for the Emperor, and the atmosphere throughout the palace would become much more relaxed. The palace servants all liked this gentle and easy-going Grand Tutor.

Besides, Shunfeng knows the inside story, and things are different now. Lord Li, treating him according to the standards for the Empress is the right thing to do!

Although he didn't know what would become of the Emperor and the Imperial Tutor, his intuition, honed over years of service, told him that there might be some unexpected surprises, and he would just keep quiet.

Yun Qing glanced at him with a half-smile. This man was indeed clever, but sometimes, he was a little too clever for his own good.

Shunfeng lowered his head and remained silent.

As long as the people around Xie Rang are loyal to him, Yun Qing is too lazy to investigate. At least Shunfeng really knows her tastes well, and all the dinner dishes suited her taste.

There were also a few dishes that were quite spicy, which His Majesty the Emperor could not eat at all. However, whenever Yun Qing was around, he would always try them persistently, his lips and eyes turning red, looking pitiful, but in reality, he had no good intentions.

Previously, she would offer a token expression of concern and make a few teasing remarks, but now she simply ignores him without batting an eye, letting Xie Rang perform a one-man show, which is quite heartless.

His usual trick backfired, and Xie Rang was visibly taken aback for a moment. He lowered his eyes in grievance, but didn't receive a word of concern.

Yun Qing calmly finished the soup without changing her expression.

I'm not playing along anymore, go have fun by yourself.

Xie Rang finally gave up.

When they were resting in the evening, Xie Rang sent Youlan to take Yunqing's official robes to be ironed so that he could wear them to court the next day.

Perhaps because she had opened up, Yun Qing felt inexplicably much more relaxed and slept well in the palace.

After being tricked once, Yun Qing didn't fall for it again the next day. She pretended not to see Xie Rang's pleading look and returned to the Li residence.

She did whatever she was told, and wrote a resignation letter that same day, wanting to get rid of the position as soon as possible. Xie Rang was quite straightforward, but along with the reply came the promised gift.

Xie Rang was truly generous, sending more than he had asked for. Even though Yun Qing had seen a lot, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Indeed, some things still depended on His Majesty's private treasury.

The two osmanthus trees that were transplanted along with the flowers have already been properly placed. Shunfeng was in charge of delivering the message, with a big smile on his face, which may have indeed contained a bit of flattery: "Lord Li, His Majesty has already ordered your winter clothes to be made, and they will be sent over together later."

There were no concubines in the palace, and all the good things were reserved for His Majesty the Emperor to use alone. In fact, there was no need for him to emphasize it. Yun Qing's clothes for all four seasons had already been bought up long ago.

"Um."

Yun Qing did a good deed by giving Shunfeng some loose change. Now Xie Rang's thoughts were becoming increasingly difficult to fathom. It was hard for Shunfeng to spend all day trying to figure him out. It's not easy being a working person.

While others weren't looking, Shunfeng quietly said a few kind words to Xie Rang: "Lord Li, as you know, His Majesty doesn't have bad intentions. It's just that he suffered a lot of harm when he was young, so it's inevitable that he has some extreme thoughts. Please... be more tolerant of him."

As someone who served him closely, Shunfeng had seen countless times the young emperor wake up from his dreams with a fierce and menacing look in his eyes, full of vigilance.

This situation is only slightly better when Lord Li is present, which is why His Majesty so earnestly begged Lord Li to stay in the palace with him.

Trust and security are not something everyone can provide.

"Father-in-law, there's no need for further words." Yun Qing smiled, tucked into her sleeves. "I know."

If it weren't for this reason, Yun Qing wouldn't have developed the bad habit of being soft-hearted in front of Xie Rang, a habit she still can't shake off.

Shunfeng stopped there, curtsied, and after confirming that everything was settled, he led his men back to the palace.

Outsiders didn't know what the secret was, but when they heard that Yun Qing resigned from his post and received the emperor's reward on the same day, their expressions changed slightly.

Is His Majesty finally starting to fear the Imperial Tutor's excessive power and preparing to discard him once he's no longer useful?