After asking the other person to show concern for her on her behalf, Wan Ge didn't ask any more questions.

He continued playing his piano by the window, watching the busy figures outside. The thought that each of them had their own agenda, yet were ultimately under the command of one person, made his feelings even more complicated.

…

Three days later, Lingyu was on duty as usual, but before she returned, she had already heard that the emperor had summoned back the palace maids who had been demoted to hard labor in order to please the empress.

So she wasn't surprised when she saw Xiaoqin.

After watching Xiaoqin and Wange interact all day, I felt a bit conflicted.

In the morning, she did her best to help Wan Ge with her washing and grooming, tested for poison with silver needles, stood by her side to handle her chores, and helped her back to bed when she was sleepy.

She stayed by Wan Ge's side every moment. Although many things were done by others, everything still passed through her hands.

The unconditional trust that Wan Ge showed her in everything the other party had examined was something Ling Yu had never experienced before.

And at this very moment... Wan Ge leaned directly against Xiao Qin: "Just let me have one last bite, just one more bite."

Seeing this young lady, Xiaoqin felt as if she were seeing herself before she entered the palace.

The Marquis's family doted on her immensely, always giving her whatever she wanted.

However, once you enter the palace, you must strictly abide by the palace rules and etiquette, even the number of times each dish needs to be cooked is regulated.

Although the emperor never made any demands on her, and there was no empress dowager to supervise her, with so many palace servants watching over her and the possibility of her being recorded in history, she was very strict with herself.

Previously, Xiaoqin didn't need to worry about her, but in the last few days, the Empress's mood seems to have changed a lot, and she looks somewhat different.

In addition, due to her change in status, the Phoenix Seal was taken back. Although His Majesty said he would demote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine, he did not actually do so. Therefore, in the eyes of others, she was still the Empress.

However, she herself no longer acknowledged herself as the Empress. When palace servants called her Empress, she would correct them by saying she was a Noble Consort.

And... His Majesty has lifted her confinement, but she seems to really not want to go out now, staying in her room all day and rarely even leaving the courtyard.

Today, he was in a rare good mood and wanted to eat a few more pastries, so Xiaoqin didn't stop him in the end. Besides, he couldn't resist the empress's coquettish manner, so he simply put the pastries back in his hand.

The sweet but not cloying pastries tasted really good to Wan Ge, and the familiar taste made her realize who made them.

The other party has been trying to coax her these past few days, but Wan Ge has no intention of forgiving him yet. Moreover, she is unwilling to face him most of the time, and even if he intends to coax her, she pretends to be deaf and dumb.

…

That evening, Xie Wenjun came to Wan Ge's bedroom again, where Wan Ge was still lying on the bed with her eyes closed, asleep.

When he lay down next to her, he could smell her fragrance, which meant she must have just taken a bath.

Xie Wenjun leaned against her and took a deep breath, his fingertips grasping her hand again. He knew she was pretending to be asleep, and he also knew that she was just acting this way because she didn't want to talk to him.

The other party refused to accept his apology, the imperial seal, or the position of empress, all of which should have enraged him.

But he was still willing to humble himself and coax her, because he realized that only someone who didn't love her would not care about her feelings.