After a while, Xiao Linzi brought over the medicine.

Xiao Huaijin naturally took the bowl and began to feed Shen Yunjiao spoonful by spoonful.

Xiao Linzi watched in astonishment. When did his emperor become so gentle and considerate?

Soon, the bowl of herbal soup was empty.

“You must be tired today, why don’t you rest here for a while?” Xiao Huaijin said after placing the empty bowl back on the tray.

Shen Yunjiao shook her head. "I'd better go home. I'm afraid my brother will worry if he can't find me."

Shen Yunjiao had long, curled eyelashes and bright black and white phoenix eyes that were moist, making her look very well-behaved and lovable.

Xiao Huaijin's breath hitched, and his heart began to beat faster.

"Jiaojiao, it's been so many days since we last met, don't you want to spend more time with me?" Xiao Huaijin's clear voice rarely revealed a hint of sorrow.

Shen Yunjiao was stunned for a moment, and then said after hesitating for a while, "Then I'll leave later."

Xiao Huaijin nodded in satisfaction, then slowly leaned down, his forehead touching hers. "Shen Yunjiao."

His voice was deep and husky, sending a shiver down Shen Yunjiao's spine.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat romantic.

Xiao Huaijin's voice was hoarse, his breath slowly merging with Shen Yunjiao's, "I want to kiss you."

It's not a request.

Because the very next second after he finished speaking, those two incredibly soft and moist lips quickly pressed against his.

"Um.."

Shen Yunjiao placed her hands on Xiao Huaijin's chest. Remembering that she had just drunk medicine and her mouth was full of bitterness, she gently pushed Xiao Huaijin away, and when their lips parted, an ambiguous silver thread appeared.

"Don't kiss me, my mouth tastes bitter."

“Where it is bitter, I find it sweet.” Xiao Huaijin chuckled softly, then lowered his head. This time, he gently pried open Shen Yunjiao’s teeth and tenderly entwined with her.

The long and intimate kiss ended sometime later, leaving Shen Yunjiao feeling weak and breathless.

When she looked up at Xiao Huaijin, she found that his dark eyes were full of restless activity.

Just as his slender fingertips touched the sash of Shen Yunjiao's dress, an untimely voice rang out, "Master, Prince Yan requests an audience."

Upon seeing this, Shen Yunjiao immediately pushed him away hastily, saying, "You, you go ahead and do your work, I want to sleep."

After saying that, she turned over and rolled to the innermost part of the bed, covering her body and face with a thin blanket, leaving only her wet, dark eyes visible.

Xiao Huaijin couldn't help but chuckle helplessly, and stood up, saying, "Then Jiaojiao, go to sleep first. I'll come see you after I'm done with my work."

Standing at the entrance to the inner hall, Nanfeng felt a little embarrassed when he heard Xiao Huaijin's gentle voice.

Fortunately, Xiao Huaijin quickly recovered and strode out of the hall, asking, "Where is Shiman?"

"Wait in the study."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaijin headed towards the study.

Upon opening the study door, I discovered that Yan Shiman had been waiting there for quite some time.

"His Majesty."

As soon as Yan Shiman saw Xiao Huaijin, he went up to him excitedly and said, "Yesterday, before my father set off to return to his fiefdom, he told me that His Majesty was going to reopen the imperial examination."

"That's true." Xiao Huaijin nodded, then asked after a moment of confusion, "What? Are you going to participate too?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Yan Shi's eyes were full of anticipation. "I want to pass the imperial examinations."

"Really?" Xiao Huaijin was skeptical that Yan Shiman would settle down to study and take the exam. "You already hold an official title, why bother with this?"

“Didn’t Prince Pei also pass the imperial examination through his own efforts? I want to give it a try too,” Yan Shiman muttered.

Upon first hearing the words "Prince Pei," Xiao Huaijin felt somewhat uncomfortable.

But this discomfort was quickly replaced by a greater question: "Why are you so eager to take the imperial examinations?"

Yan Shiman is the heir apparent of the Prince of Runan. If nothing unexpected happens, he will inherit his father's throne and become the future Prince of Runan after his uncle passes away.

Why go through all that trouble and effort to take the exam for an official position?

Xiao Huaijin raised an eyebrow and asked directly, "Is there something else you're hiding from me?"

"What do you mean!" Yan Shiman's eyes flickered, and he quickly retorted, "Although I am now the heir apparent, it's just a title. People outside don't take me seriously."

Xiao Huaijin sized him up and laughed, “Who is it? How dare you disregard my cousin, the owner of Ziyun Tower, and the heir of the Prince of Runan? Tell me, and I will seek justice for you.”

Yan Shiman stammered, "Yes, yes, well, His Majesty wouldn't recognize me anyway."

After he turned around and sat down, he continued rambling on, "If I could become the top scholar in the imperial examination, I could come to my cousin's place every day and spend more time with him. Don't you think that would be great?"

Xiao Huaijin narrowed his eyes. He always felt that Yan Shiman seemed to have other intentions, but since he wanted to study hard, Xiao Huaijin naturally wouldn't stop him.

"I will send an imperial decree to Grand Tutor Shao in a moment, instructing him to give you a private lesson."

Yan Shiman was overjoyed to hear Xiao Huaijin's words. He smiled sweetly at Xiao Huaijin and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the best to me."

Xiao Huaijin said calmly, "You came here just to have me invite Grand Tutor Shao. Now that you've invited him, you can go back if you have nothing else to do."

Seeing Xiao Huaijin turn around and leave in a hurry, Yan Shiman, who had just sat down and taken a sip of tea, looked bewildered and hurriedly called out, "No way, I haven't even had a proper conversation with you yet, cousin."

"Could it be that you're hiding someone in your room, cousin?"

Xiao Huaijin stopped in his tracks, his thin lips pursed slightly, looking as if his thoughts had been exposed.

"Yun Jiao is in my cousin's room now? No way!" Yan Shiman paused, then immediately jumped up from his seat. "How did you manage to bring Yun Jiao to the palace?"

"Yun Jiao?" Xiao Huaijin frowned coldly, asking with displeasure, "When did you become so familiar with her?"

"You don't know this, do you? Yun Jiao and I are good friends."

Yan Shiman chuckled and then glanced casually behind Xiao Huaijin.

Behind Xiao Huaijin stood only Zhu Ye and Nanfeng; there was no sign of the person he wanted to see.

Yan Shiman casually asked, feigning nonchalance, "Cousin, where did your bodyguards go?"

"Isn't he behind me?" Xiao Huaijin replied calmly, looking at Yan Shiman with a leisurely air.

Yan Shiman shook his head, "Not those two, I'm talking about another one."

"Which one?" Xiao Huaijin asked, his hands behind his back, pretending not to understand Yan Shiman's words.

"Wu Beifeng!" Yan Shiman said through gritted teeth, and regretted it as soon as he finished speaking.

She had just vowed not to have anything to do with him again, but now she's the one asking him about it.

"North wind?"

“He’s been injured for many days and has long since relinquished his identity as a bodyguard.” Xiao Huaijin’s eyes dimmed slightly, and his tone was somewhat heavy.

"Is the North Wind injured?"

Yan Shiman's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and her fists clenched tightly. "Is he badly injured?"