What's so interesting about Chapter 28, the dyed armor?!

On the other side of Taihua Palace—

The Minister of Revenue hurried toward his courtyard, wiping the cold sweat from his brow as he went.

He spent the entire afternoon under the questioning of Emperor Qian Yuan regarding official business. The emperor's attitude was ordinary and his tone was flat, but the Minister of Revenue could not help but feel nervous. Only when he saw the sun setting in the west and the sky darkening did the emperor let him off the hook.

Before leaving, Emperor Qianyuan patted him on the shoulder and said softly, "If the Minister's family is missing anyone, you can come to me and ask."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue was on edge. He hurried back home, and as soon as he crossed the threshold, he heard his wife anxiously asking him questions.

"My lord, have you seen Su'er? The servants have been searching for him for a long time but haven't found him. I'm so worried... Could it be that he encountered a wild beast while riding in the forest...?"

The alarm bells rang loudly in the mind of the Minister of Revenue.

He suddenly realized what was happening, and simply told his wife to stay there and that he had to go out for a while.

Unexpectedly, just as I was walking toward His Majesty's palace, I encountered the Duke of Wei, who was also in a hurry.

Both the Minister of Revenue and the Duke of Wei knew that their sons were good friends. At this moment, the two fathers looked at each other and couldn't help but have a vague guess in their hearts.

Duke Wei spoke first: "You... is someone missing from your household?"

The Minister of Revenue immediately nodded and whispered what Emperor Qianyuan had told him earlier.

Duke Wei paused, his expression turning grim. "Eunuch Xu came by earlier and said something similar to His Majesty's."

The two men exchanged glances, their hearts sinking. Even their steps, which were meant to continue searching for Emperor Qian Yuan, became heavy. They couldn't help but wonder how Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su, those two troublesome brats, had offended the imperial family...

However, when the two arrived at their destination, they did not see the emperor; instead, Xu Sheng and Zhang Ji blocked their way outside.

Duke Wei couldn't help but say, "Eunuch Xu, we have important matters to discuss with His Majesty..."

"Duke of Wei and Minister, please do not be anxious. His Majesty has not yet returned, so you will naturally not be able to see him. However... this servant knows why you two have come."

Xu Sheng spoke with a smile, leading the person into a side hall on the other side.

As soon as they entered, the Duke of Wei and the Minister of Revenue saw their sons on the ground.

However, after only half a day, the once spirited young man was now unconscious, his face pale and his expression disheveled. His clothes were tattered and torn, with bright red whip marks running down his back to his waist and hips, making him look ferocious and terrifying. The fabric seemed to be stuck to the ripped flesh.

The Minister of Revenue gasped.

Duke Wei hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to reach out, but was blocked by the man in black standing to the side.

The Duke of Wei, who knew a little about royal secrets, widened his eyes and stammered, "Cheng... Cheng Yingwei..."

The masked guards remained silent, never speaking to others unless the emperor intervened.

Xu Sheng sighed softly, "During the last visit to the Duke's mansion, His Majesty had already instructed the Duke to properly discipline his children, so how come things still went wrong this time? I just didn't expect Minister Lin to be involved this time, sigh..."

Both the Duke of Wei and the Minister of Revenue are intelligent men. Their emperor is never one to make baseless accusations. All that is happening now can only mean that Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su have indeed done something that has run right into the emperor's sight.

If a son makes a mistake, only his parents can fix it.

The two immediately bowed their heads and said, "Please enlighten us, Eunuch Xu."

They still don't know what Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su did wrong.

Xu Sheng narrowed his eyes and uttered a sentence that would make the Duke of Wei and the Minister of Revenue immediately kneel down and say they dared not—

"The two young masters were perhaps too bold. Somehow they discovered His Majesty's presence at the palace. Instead of paying their respects or giving way, they secretly followed him, which is why the Chengying Guards mistook them for assassins and captured them."

"His Majesty is soft-hearted and only punished the two young masters with twenty lashes. Their injuries are not serious, and they only need to go back and recuperate for two or three months."

The act of "spying on the emperor's whereabouts" could be a serious crime punishable by beheading, or it could be a minor punishment as a warning. The final outcome would depend entirely on the emperor's decision. But for them as subjects, it was like a cleaver hanging over their heads, causing them to tremble with fear.

What is the purpose of spying on the emperor's whereabouts? Is it to send someone to ambush and assassinate the current emperor?

The Minister of Revenue asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, have you been frightened?"

"His Majesty was not, but another nobleman was nearly frightened."

With His Majesty present, the Empress would certainly not be frightened, but Xu Sheng, as a favorite of the Emperor, naturally knew when to say what.

Something vaguely flashed through the Duke of Wei's mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it, so he could only continue to ask, "May I ask who the noble person that Eunuch Xu speaks of is...?"

"The two gentlemen will know in a while," Xu Sheng said, giving a vague answer.

"I was too hasty, I'm so sorry." Duke Wei immediately changed his tune, "Since we have offended you, we should apologize to you."

As he spoke, he and the Minister of Revenue simultaneously raised their hands, trying to slip silver notes into Xu Sheng's hand to offer him more leniency and guidance.

Xu Sheng did not take on this task.

He simply looked at the two men meaningfully and said in a low voice, "His Majesty means to plead guilty and be pardoned, but there is something that you two gentlemen need to do to make amends."

"Please give your instructions, sir."

"Sir, you can ask the two young masters again when they are awake. I'm sure the Duke and Minister Lin will understand. As for now... let's take the two young masters back for treatment and to check their injuries. Don't delay."

Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su, still unconscious, were carried back by servants. The Duke of Wei and the Minister of Revenue were still shaken. They exchanged a meaningful glance, deciding to ask Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su about it later so they could make a plan.

At least for now, it's certain that His Majesty doesn't intend to take the lives of these two brats for the time being!

While the Duke of Wei and the Minister of Revenue were still anxiously waiting for their son to wake up and ask about the details, on the other side, under the shade of the trees after sunset, the lamplight shone warmly, illuminating the deep features of Emperor Qianyuan. Before Wen Miao could take a closer look, she heard his gentle, husky voice say, "I have come to fetch my lady."

It was just an ordinary sentence, but Wen Miao's heart skipped a beat, and a faint warmth rose within her.

Wen Miao's eyes softened. She lifted her light pink skirt slightly and was about to take two steps forward when she saw Emperor Qian Yuan, who had been standing in the same spot, with his brows furrowed. He strode over, knelt down, and reached out to touch her calves and ankles.

"His Majesty?"

Before Wen Miao could react, her ankles were already gripped by a pair of burning hot hands.

The expensive robe lay casually on the lush green grass, yet its owner, like a courtier, looked up and asked his beloved and longed-for wife if she had sprained her ankle.

At that moment, Wen Miao couldn't quite describe her emotions—surprise, soreness, bewilderment…or perhaps all of them.

Ultimately, she truly hadn't expected that such a subtle abnormality about herself, a small problem that she herself hadn't paid much attention to, would be noticed by the other party in just one glance.

...He kept looking at her.

Wen Miao pursed her lips, curled her toes somewhat awkwardly, and whispered, "It's probably from riding the horse earlier."

Emperor Qian Yuan was slightly taken aback, a bright look of annoyance flashing in his eyes. The next second, he quickly got up and carried the person in his arms.

"I apologize, it was my oversight."

He overlooked the fact that it was his wife's first time riding a horse, and he also overlooked the fact that his wife's skin was delicate, unlike his own, who was already used to everything on horseback.

He had been so close to his wife these past two days that he had become careless and lost sight of her.

Wen Miao: "It's nothing, I'll be fine in a couple of days."

"No, we need to apply medicine."

"I'm not that delicate."

Emperor Qianyuan suddenly lifted the beautiful woman, who was as soft as a ball of cotton, and after receiving a gasp from her and a slightly annoyed punch to her chest, he strode away and said in a calm, slightly autocratic voice, "After dinner, I will apply the medicine for you, my lady."

In matters like these, Emperor Qian Yuan never allowed anyone to refuse.

Walking along the forest path back into the hall, Xu Sheng, who was eagerly waiting, could be seen from afar.

Upon seeing His Majesty carrying the Empress back, Xu Sheng grinned like a chrysanthemum and immediately ordered the palace servants to serve the dishes.

In the summer cool hall of Taihua Palace, the soft white gauze curtains swayed in the evening breeze. Inside, there was a rectangular wooden table with cushions on both sides. Several dishes on the table were Wen Miao's favorites, and it was clear that they had been prepared at the perfect time. When Emperor Qian Yuan placed the woman in his arms on the cushion, the hot dishes were still steaming with soft white mist.

Looking at the dishes on the table, and thinking of the sky outside, Wen Miao asked, "Has His Majesty not eaten at all?"

Emperor Qianyuan said, "I wish to wait for my wife."

Wen Miao's voice was very soft, "I ate with my maternal grandfather and Meng Jun before I came back."

A look of disappointment flashed across Emperor Qian Yuan's face, but before this emotion could fully take over his eyes, he heard the beautiful woman opposite him speak rapidly and in a softer voice: "I was a little hungry when I came back, so you can eat a little less."

Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes were filled with a smile.

His wife is truly kind-hearted and adorable.

After Wen Miao finished dinner with Emperor Qian Yuan, it was completely dark. Taihua Palace was located halfway up the mountain, surrounded by intertwined mountains and forests. When you looked up, it seemed that you were very close to the sky, and you could even see more stars than in the capital.

Although she had soaked in the warm spring during the day, Wen Miao, who was always fond of cleanliness, took advantage of Emperor Qian Yuan's handling of the last few memorials to go behind the screen and simply wipe herself with a damp cloth.

She removed her hairpin, letting her black hair fall loose, and changed into a light and close-fitting nightgown. The warm white dress draped down her back, its length not reaching her toes, and the dark wooden clogs underneath were faintly visible.

Even in summer, the wooden clogs are warmed up beforehand to prevent women's feet from directly contacting the cold wooden soles.

As soon as Wen Miao stepped out of the screen, she saw Emperor Qian Yuan, who had finished his official duties at some point, sitting on the edge of the couch, holding a medicinal ointment in his hand.

Thump.

Wen Miao paused, as if she could feel the burning sensation rising and surging in her groin. The round-toed wooden clogs on her feet landed a little heavier, which just happened to attract Emperor Qian Yuan's attention.

Bathed in the warm yellow candlelight of the room, the emperor, sitting sideways on the couch, had deep eyes, and the straight bridge of his nose cast a mountain-like shadow on the side of his face.

He saw Wen Miao, his face softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Emperor Qianyuan said, "Madam, come and apply the medicine."

Wen Miao's legs trembled, and she tilted her head slightly, saying, "I... I can do it myself."

Emperor Qian Yuan was simply too aggressive, especially in the private environment of his bedchamber.

In the many moments between being gazed upon by the emperor, Wen Miao felt that if she softened even a little more, she would be devoured alive by this man whose entire body was radiating heat.

The blush that fell on Wen Miao's ears and cheeks spread in large patches as if it were free, just like peach blossoms.

The emperor's smile remained unchanged.

He seemed to be filled with joy just by looking at his wife, and when he saw her face, so mature and beautiful, flushed with a light blush, his heart burned as if a hot spring was flowing through it.

"If Madam were to apply the medicine herself, could she possibly do it all? I am worried about Madam's health, and I would inevitably have to check her again afterward, which would only cause her embarrassment. Wouldn't it be better to simply entrust it to me, thus killing two birds with one stone?"

Wen Miao's face turned even redder, and her dignified demeanor became even more embarrassed. She seemed helpless in the face of Emperor Qian Yuan's serious expression, feeling that the other party's skin was as thick as a city wall. How could he be so self-righteous?

Knowing that Wen Miao was soft-hearted, Emperor Qian Yuan didn't care at all. "Madam, just grant my request?"

"……what ever."

The emperor smiled and gathered the soft blankets and quilts on the couch, then led Wen Miao to lean against him. He then took off her wooden clogs and gently placed her beautifully shaped feet on the bedding.

The servants in the palace had long been dismissed by Emperor Qian Yuan, leaving only the two of them. The emperor washed his hands again, half-drawn the bed curtains, and the gauze curtains swayed. The candlelight outside enveloped the light gauze, creating a somewhat misty and beautiful effect.

The warm white skirt, layered and folded, fell onto the woman's lap on the couch, where it was gently pushed up by another large, warm hand.

Jade Lion was a fine horse, gentle and clever. When it carried Wen Miao along the way, it didn't run particularly fast, and its hooves landed very steadily. However, the leather on the saddle was hard. For someone experiencing riding a horse for the first time, even with the stirrups on, there was still friction and pressure between the legs. In more serious cases, the skin could even break and bleed.

Horseback riding is not a comfortable experience.

Emperor Qianyuan had initially smiled as he looked at his wife's flushed cheeks, but when he looked down and saw the large bruises on her legs from riding a horse in the dim light, his lips fell heavily, and a cold and oppressive aura emanated from his entire body.

This anger wasn't directed at his wife, but at himself.

Wen Miao, being so close, noticed Qian Yuan's change almost immediately. Hidden by the hem of her skirt, she hadn't seen the chafing between her legs, so she asked, "Is the injury very serious?"

Otherwise, why would the emperor have such an expression? She had only caught a glimpse of it while washing him, and it seemed to be just a patch of red.

The emperor's expression remained cold and stern. His fingers, holding the piece of ointment, trembled slightly as he said in a hoarse voice, "...I'm sorry."

Wen Miao's heart skipped a beat, "Is it that serious...?"

As she spoke, she slightly raised her arms and half-gathered her skirt, wanting to see what was going on that made Emperor Qian Yuan so cautious. But then she saw the emperor kneeling between her legs suddenly lean down, his breath hot, and kiss the somewhat ferocious bruise and abrasion.

His warm lips landed on her slightly cool skin, and in his murmured words, he whispered to the surprised and embarrassed woman on the bed, "It is my fault."

Her devotion and caution, devoid of lust, instead aroused Wen Miao's lower abdomen to burn and her face to flush.

The candlelight flickered in the summer palace, and the warm glow on the bed curtains blurred the figures of people.

The woman, with her beautiful profile and voluptuous figure, propped herself up on her arms, her hair slightly disheveled, her chest heaving and her breathing unsteady due to the slightly warm atmosphere.

Before her, the supreme emperor, dressed in perfect robes, knelt with his head bowed, as if he were reflecting on his mistakes and confessing his sins between his wife's legs, which were covered by her skirt.

The slightly cool ointment melted on the skin, forming a translucent, glossy layer, as cool and gentle as falling snow.

Throughout the entire process, Emperor Qianyuan was exceptionally serious and focused, his expression suggesting that he was not applying medicine to his wife, but rather dealing with some difficult memorial to decide.

Wen Miao simply couldn't stand the force—it might have been the light touch on her skin, or it might have been the emperor's overly cautious gaze; in any case, she felt really awkward and couldn't help but back away.

The emperor interpreted this as an attempt to escape, so he grabbed her waist and hips and whispered soothingly, "Please wait a little longer, my lady, it will be over soon."

Even with clothes in between, the large hands on the waist and abdomen were still as hot as branding irons, making one's body go limp.

Wen Miao finally gave up on herself, relaxing against the quilt and the soft blankets piled up like a bulge. She only raised her arm to cover her flushed cheeks and her eyes, which were faintly glistening with tears.

The wax on the candlestick slowly flowed down and accumulated, like a viscous waterfall.

After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Qian Yuan finally got up. He was about to tell Wen Miao that he had applied the ointment when he looked up and saw his wife, whose skin was flushed, leaning against the cushion with her head turned to the side, her eyelashes glistening with moisture.

The emperor stared in disbelief for a long time.

His wife... is so beautiful, how can she be so beautiful?

Emperor Qianyuan swallowed hard.

He suppressed his irritation, straightened the dress on his wife's lap, and asked in a low voice, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

"No." Wen Miao hesitated to speak.

That location was already private and sensitive, and now it's been through this, it's really agonizing.

She adjusted her breathing, suppressing the slight blush on her face, and said softly, "After applying the medicine, Your Majesty should go and rest."

The implication was that Wen Miao was trying to get rid of them.

Now, if she looks at Emperor Qian Yuan even once, she feels her entire body become hot and numb.

But Emperor Qianyuan was reluctant to leave at this moment. "Madam, it is still early. I will stay with you for a while longer."

Wen Miao pinched the thin quilt between her fingertips.

The emperor said earnestly, "I promise I will do nothing."

He looked like he was about to swear an oath to the heavens.

Seeing Emperor Qian Yuan's insistence, and feeling a certain inexplicable softness of heart, Wen Miao responded softly through her nose. She leaned back on the cushion and casually picked up a book from a small table not far away.

The emperor carefully moved the candlestick closer, and while his wife casually flipped through it, he sat on the couch and simply watched her.

At first, Wen Miao only wanted to pass the time or distract herself, but after reading for a while, she became quite engrossed. As a result, she relaxed more and more, propping her chin up with her hand and looking at the pages of the book with great interest.

She naturally didn't notice that, due to the change in her posture and movements, the warm white skirt was brushed against her, revealing half of her snow-white toes.

Emperor Qianyuan paused for a moment.

He suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a balsam garden inside the Taihua Palace.

Tranquility and peace permeated the area, creating a leisurely atmosphere even more relaxed than in the capital. Just as Wen Miao was engrossed in reading, a warm sensation suddenly touched her ankle.

Wen Miao's cheeks, which had finally cooled down, became hot again. She turned her head and looked over, only to see Emperor Qian Yuan looking down at her feet.

Feet... what's so interesting about feet!

Wen Miao tried to hide her feet under her skirt, but Emperor Qian Yuan gently pressed them down with his hand. His gaze lingered for a moment before suddenly fixed on Wen Miao with intense interest, asking with barely suppressed excitement—

"Let me dye your nail polish, my lady."

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Author's Note: Miao Miao's initial attraction to the emperor was more of a physical attraction, but it will gradually shift to a psychological one.

His Majesty's feelings for Miaomiao initially stemmed from admiration (during the prince's time in the cold palace), then from a naive and innocent affection mixed with inferiority (during the initial period before going to the northern expedition), followed by a liking tinged with various desires (during the period after gaining a foothold in the army), and then gradually degenerated into a perverse affection, mainly due to prolonged repression (during the crown prince's time). Inferiority permeated the entire relationship.

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