After a day of rest and taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, Shen Wan was as good as new by evening, and she was full of energy when she woke up the next morning.

Now that she felt more energetic and her appetite had returned, Shen Wan ate the five-flavor buns made by the imperial chef and looked at Xie Jingyan, asking, "Are you fully recovered?"

Xie Jingyan served Shen Wan some food and said, "It was ready yesterday."

"Are you busy today?" Shen Wan asked.

Xie Jingyan looked at her and asked, "Are you going to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for the full moon celebration?"

Shen Wan wanted to go, but she couldn't.

Empress Song sent someone to invite her to the palace, so there must be something she needed to discuss. She couldn't go because of diarrhea. According to the rules, once she recovered, she should go to the palace to apologize to the Empress. She could go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for the full moon celebration when she had time, but she couldn't go to the palace to see the Empress. This would be a great disrespect to the Empress, and she dared not do something that would give people something to talk about.

Shen Wan said, "I need to go to the palace to thank the Emperor and also to see the Empress. Will you come with me to the palace?"

If Shen Wan were only going to express her gratitude to the Emperor, Xie Jingyan would most likely not accompany her. However, since she was also going to see Empress Song, Xie Jingyan was worried.

Xie Jingyan waved his hand, and Yinshuang and Haitang curtsied and withdrew.

Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan suspiciously, "Why did you let them go out?"

Xie Jingyan looked at Shen Wan, "Do you intend to kiss me in front of the maid?"

Shen Wan's ears turned red, then she glared at him, "Who wants to kiss you?!"

Xie Jingyan said softly, "Give me a kiss, and I'll accompany you to the palace."

If he didn't want to accompany her to the palace, fine. She wasn't unfamiliar with the palace. She didn't believe that Empress Song would dare to bully her openly. Shen Wan ignored Xie Jingyan and pretended not to hear what he said.

Xie Jingyan was not disappointed and continued to eat his breakfast slowly.

In the end, Shen Wan convinced herself. It was just a kiss, it wouldn't hurt her. He had taken advantage of her so many times, and now he was offering himself up for her to kiss, and after the kiss, he would even accompany her to the palace. No matter how you looked at it, she was the one who benefited.

Shen Wan convinced herself to go down the wrong path. Just as Xie Jingyan was about to go to the study to read, Shen Wan stopped him, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek. "Is that alright?"

They kissed, but Xie Jingyan wasn't satisfied. "Could it have been any more perfunctory?"

That's a complete bastard!

Shen Wan was about to glare at him, but remembering what he had said, she kissed him on the cheek again. Though she called it a kiss, Xie Jingyan felt that she hadn't even touched his face.

Xie Jingyan put his arm around Shen Wan's waist. "You really are obedient!"

She could take his sarcastic remarks as truth, and he couldn't say anything to her.

Xie Jingyan said, "I'll teach you how to kiss me."

The kiss followed the words.

When Shen Wan was so weak from his kisses that she could no longer stand, Xie Jingyan finally asked, "Have you learned it yet?"

Shen Wan looked into his eyes, which seemed to imply that he would teach her again if she said she hadn't learned it yet.

Shen Wan dared not say she didn't know, and nodded hurriedly.

Afraid that this scoundrel would come again, she quickly dragged him out, saying, "Let's go to the palace early, or we won't be able to come back for lunch."

Xie Jingyan let her pull him forward, saying, "If we can't make it in time, we can just eat in the palace."

The maids in the courtyard just watched as Shen Wan pulled Xie Jingyan down the steps and walked towards the courtyard gate. Their prince, who was not known for his good temper, was not only not angry, but also looked at them with doting eyes. When did the prince's temper become so good? Thinking of how the princess had sent the prince to live in the study, the prince was so angry that he was on edge, but he did not vent his anger on the princess. It was no big deal that the prince had to accompany her to the palace.

Once outside Moyuxuan, Shen Wan finally let go of Xie Jingyan's hand, but as soon as she did, Xie Jingyan gripped it tightly, so tightly that she couldn't pull it away. She could only let him hold her as he led her toward the main gate of the Prince's Mansion.

When they arrived at the gate, the carriage was already waiting there. Xie Jingyan helped Shen Wan into the carriage, and then he climbed in himself.

After entering the palace, the two went to the Imperial Study first, but unfortunately, the Emperor was discussing state affairs with his ministers. It was unclear how long the discussion would take, so Xie Jingyan, impatient to wait, said, "Let's go see the Empress first."

Before Shen Wan could speak, Xie Jingyan pulled her away.

The guards standing outside the Imperial Study all turned their heads. There were many ministers and concubines waiting outside the Imperial Study, but as soon as they heard that the Emperor was busy, only Prince Ling turned around and left. He really wasn't afraid of the Emperor punishing him.

The Emperor and several officials had been discussing for a long time and it would be over soon, so Prince Ling didn't even bother to ask any questions.

Before half a cup of tea had been brewed, the Emperor dismissed the ministers and, picking up his teacup, said, "Let them in."

Eunuch Yuan twitched his lips and said, "Prince Ling and Princess Ling thought that His Majesty would be discussing state affairs for a long time, so they went to see the Empress first."

The emperor was stirring the tea with the lid of his teacup when he heard this, and he slammed the teacup down heavily on the dragon table.

The loud voice made even Eunuch Yuan's heart tremble.

He had followed the Emperor for many years and knew him better than anyone else. The Emperor was angry with Prince Ling because of Consort Chen and sent Prince Ling to guard the imperial mausoleum for four years. On that day, the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang entered the palace and told the Emperor that Prince Ling had a high fever and was critically ill. The Emperor let Prince Ling return to the capital. Yuan Gonggong knew that the Emperor regretted it. Later, Prince Ling fell off his horse and broke his leg. He could no longer stand up and his temperament became unpredictable. The estrangement between him and the Emperor grew deeper and deeper.

After all, they are father and son. In particular, Prince Ling is the one who looks most like the emperor among all the princes. Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. No matter how much the emperor hates Consort Chen, seeing his once spirited, arrogant, and unrestrained prince, whom he loved from the bottom of his heart, now confined to a wheelchair, will make most of his resentment disappear.

The Emperor's anger subsided, but the suffering that Prince Ling had endured could not be forgotten. He had guarded the imperial mausoleum for four years, which required immense perseverance. Moreover, there was Consort Chen's life between the Emperor and Prince Ling.

Yuan Gonggong sighed inwardly.

Xie Jingyan was in no hurry to see the Emperor, nor was he in a hurry to see Empress Song. He strolled leisurely to Fengyi Palace.

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