Chapter 44: Riddle If there is one thing he wants to say but doesn’t,…

People who pull a long night out usually can't fall asleep that day, especially with Xiu Yu in Xuanye's arms, her unique fragrance all around him. His entire body was filled with contentment, making it even harder for him to fall asleep.

Xiu Yu was different. She slept in her back bed with Xuanye's arm as a pillow, so she slept soundly.

Xuanye had always been a gentle and considerate person, and now, facing Xiuyu, he naturally showed even more compassion. So, when Xiuyu woke up, Xuanye's arm was almost numb.

Seeing Xuanye's face full of pain, and realizing that she had fallen asleep with her head resting on the emperor's arm, Xiu Yu immediately sat up and helped Xuanye up, saying, "Why didn't you wake me up? I've been resting my head on your arm for so long. If it breaks, wouldn't I become a sinner for the Qing Dynasty?"

Xuanye enjoyed Xiuyu's massage, feeling genuinely satisfied. However, the sensation of blood flowing back into his arm was unpleasant, and his expression could only be described as grimacing. "You've pulled an all-nighter and given the Qing Dynasty a priceless gift. Forget sleeping on my arm; even if you wanted the stars in the sky, I'd find a way to pluck them for you."

"Then..." Xiu Yu smiled cunningly, "Your Majesty, can you pick a star for Yu'er to see?" As she spoke, she stretched out her right hand and spread it in front of Xuanye.

Xuanye felt his arm hurt, but also laughed at it. He said, "You, why don't you quickly stretch this arm for me? If you delay the imperial hearing, it will become a big deal. The Empress Dowager will come looking for me again! I will have to make up an excuse..."

"Yu'er doesn't think you'll be delayed in attending court because of an arm." Xiu Yu said as she carefully massaged Xuanye's arm. "If Yu'er falls asleep again, you must wake me up. This matter is really a big deal, no matter how small. I won't lie to you."

"I know you feel a little guilty, but it's okay." Xuanye felt that nothing was wrong, so he bent his arm and got out of bed. "I'm a man, a grown man! Not to mention that this arm has only been your pillow for a few minutes, even if it was used as a pillow for a whole day, it would be no problem."

"You're so proud of yourself for bragging." Xiu Yu also got up from the bed, walked to the dressing table, picked up a wooden comb and combed Xuanye's hair. "Should I stick to the old rules or use powder to cover your eye bags?"

"Is it that obvious?" Xuanye looked at himself in the mirror and finally yawned. "I don't have any eye bags, just dark circles. Cover it up or not, and no one dares to talk behind my back."

Hearing Xuanye say this, Xiu Yu still picked up her powder box and carefully applied powder to Xuanye's dark bags under his eyes. "Others naturally dare not say anything about you, but when you sleep with whom, is it a secret? I don't know." She said, shaking her head.

Xuanye said, "You've forgotten that this is my greatest secret in the Forbidden City. You live here every day, so naturally you don't notice anything. People outside just think you're living with me in the Palace of Heavenly Purity."

Xiu Yu was a carefree person. Even though she knew Xuanye's actions were putting her in the spotlight, she didn't take it too seriously. Instead, she joked, "Then... those 'sisters' and 'sisters' in the harem, when they go to the Qianqing Palace to sleep with you lately, aren't they going to be really awkward? Really awkward?"

Xuanye looked at Xiu Yu in the mirror, deliberately darkened his face, and said, "Don't you know where I've been staying lately and who's lying next to me? Where are these 'sisters' and 'sisters'?"

Xiu Yu was of course clear about it. She raised her eyebrows slightly, weighed it in her mind, and continued to comb Xuanye's hair without saying anything else.

Xuanye simply closed his eyes and said nothing.

After the bright yellow braid was braided into her hair, Xiu Yu placed her hands on Xuan Ye's shoulders. She was a shy person. Three hundred years later, she was the type of person who would do things but not say them. At this moment, facing Xuan Ye, those tender words were naturally more difficult to say.

Xuanye stood up and put his arm around Xiuyu's slender waist, saying, "I am the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty after all. Your sisters in the harem are all more or less connected to the previous dynasty. It would be bad for them and you if I neglect them too much. But Yu'er, I promise you..."

"You don't have to promise anything." Xiu Yu raised her head and looked into Xuanye's eyes, saying, "Since Yu'er has decided to enter the palace, she has naturally made all the necessary preparations. Otherwise..."

Xuanye frowned: "How else?"

Xiu Yu pursed her lips, wanting to smile but unable to hold it back. She lowered her eyelids and said softly, "Nothing."

But Xuanye raised his sword-like eyebrows and snorted, "If not, you can stay outside the Great Wall and find a 'third brother' or a 'fourth brother' and become his legal wife, right?"

"You..." Xiu Yu frowned slightly, wanting to say 'check me!' But after thinking for a moment, she waved her hand, curled her lips, and said, "That 'fourth brother' is too bookish, not even as good as my little finger. If I follow him, I will suffer a great loss. As for 'third brother'..." She smiled as brightly as a spring flower, raised her head slightly, and said, "Isn't it you? Who else do you want me to find?" That teasing look really melted people's hearts.

Xuanye was forced to laugh at Xiuyu. He put his arm around Xiuyu's shoulders and said, "You're right. With me as your 'Third Brother' by comparison, the other 'brothers' are certainly not worth mentioning."

"Is this the narcissism of being an emperor?" Xiu Yu couldn't help but complain in his heart, but he still smiled on his face: "Whatever you say, that's what it is."

"You!" Xuanye scratched Xiu Yuxiu's straight nose.

Xuanye habitually practiced kung fu for a quarter of an hour before breakfast. When his whole body was hot and he was sweating slightly, Xiu Yu handed him a handkerchief at the right time.

Xuanye took the handkerchief, glanced at Xiu Yu, wanted to say something, but didn't open his mouth.

Xiu Yu was a delicate and perceptive person. She hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively, "What do you want to tell me?"

"No." Xuanye avoided Xiuyu's probing gaze, "It's time for breakfast."

Xiu Yu thought for a moment, what could be the thing that could make the emperor hesitate and want to say but unable to open his mouth?

When Xuanye went to attend court, Xiu Yu fiddled with the telescope in his hand, but seemed a little absent-minded.

Xiao Tao brought over tea and steamed buns and placed them on the tea table. "Master, something is wrong with you."

Xiu Yuyuan was in a daze, and only came to her senses when she heard Xiao Tao calling her. Seeing the steamed buns on the tea table, she couldn't help but say, "I just had breakfast, how can I eat more?"

"Are you really unable to eat? Or are you preoccupied with something and can't eat?" Xiao Tao made a light joke to lighten the mood: "Honestly, I rarely see you lose your mind."

"You say..." Xiu Yu hesitated for a moment, but decided to ask Xiao Tao, the 'old palace man': "If there is something he wants to say but doesn't say it, what is it?"

"You're talking about the Emperor?" Xiao Tao poured tea for Xiu Yu while analyzing, "Everything in this world is either good or bad. Lately..." She racked her brains and thought seriously, "The Three Feudatories incident is basically over. After that, it's the Emperor's birthday, and then the empress and concubines..."

Xiao Tao was counting on his fingers one by one, and Xiu Yu immediately stopped him: "You said, the emperor's birthday is coming soon?"

"March 18th, didn't you do this homework before entering the palace?" Xiao Tao looked incredulous: "The ladies in the harem want to engrave this date in their minds, but you are so careless..."

Xiu Yu said frankly, "I'm already quite lucky that I can remember my father and mother's birthdays." Having said that, she clasped her hands together and asked, "What do you think the Emperor would like?" As she spoke, she stood up and pulled out her well-hidden 'Strategy Plan'. "None of these seem very suitable as birthday gifts."

"My master." Xiao Tao truly felt that her master's professional skills were impeccable, but he lacked the necessary vigilance to be a harem queen. "Please hide this thing. If others see it, it will cause trouble." As she spoke, she hid the book again. "Embroider a purse, make some snacks, or even put in a little effort to dress yourself up. The emperor will be very happy."

Xiu Yu disagreed: "These ideas of yours are the most commonly used by the ladies in the harem. Embroidering purses..." She shook her head and said, "Don't use needle and thread unless necessary. Otherwise, let's make food for him, something he has never eaten before."

"Cake?" Xiao Tao's eyes were almost popping with stars. "Master, I miss this so much. Chiffon or sponge cakes are all fine."

"You little foodie." Xiu Yu glared at Xiao Tao with a smile: "Where do you want me to find an oven for you?"

Xiao Tao blinked his eyes and said, "Master is capable of everything. In this world, there is nothing that Master cannot accomplish as long as he wants to."

Xiu Yu snorted lightly, but then again, compliments are appreciated by everyone. Although she said it was impossible, she really started to think about it in her heart.

For several days, Xuanye looked preoccupied whenever he was around Xiuyu. Ever since Xiao Tao had her Ren and Du meridians opened up, and Xiuyu had "guessed" Xuanye's subtle thoughts, she'd become even more patient. After all, a powerful move was only effective when it mattered most. The more she made him think she knew nothing, the greater the surprise her gift would bring him when she finally got the key. Xiuyu was serious about coaxing the boss.

On the morning of March 18, when Xuanye woke up, he found that Xiuyu was not around. He was quite surprised and called Liang Jiugong over. While Liang Jiugong was washing his face, he asked, "Where is Yugege?"