During the three days of punishment, Consort Lian missed the first two meals.

For the rest, Rong Chang would bring food to Huayi Palace at regular intervals.

However, Consort Lian did not sense her presence each time she appeared.

There was no sound of the door opening, no sound of the guards, and no sound of her footsteps.

It's really strange.

If the emperor had no intention of letting her go, then Yunyi came secretly on her own.

So how did she get in?

On the last day, after Rong Chang left, Consort Lian looked around Huayi Palace, trying to figure out where she came from, but to no avail, and the other party remained silent.

That afternoon, the ban was lifted, and the gates of Huayi Palace were opened again. The palace maids who had served Consort Lian immediately brought in a full load of food and water.

She hadn't eaten for three days and three nights; in fact, this was practically a death sentence for Consort Lian.

Fearing she wouldn't be able to endure it, the palace maids brought her food and also summoned the imperial physician.

To everyone's surprise, upon entering, Consort Lian was sitting gracefully on a wooden chair, admiring the flowers.

"Your Majesty?"

When the palace maid and the imperial physician spoke at the same time, Consort Lian had already looked over.

The paleness and weakness I had imagined did not materialize.

On the contrary, after three days apart, Consort Lian's complexion had become much rosier.

He looked very energetic.

Um?

This doesn't look like someone who has been punished at all.

Despite not having eaten a single grain of rice or drunk a drop of water for so long, Consort Lian's complexion is actually better than before?

The palace maid and the imperial physician exchanged a glance, both quite suspicious.

*

That night, Hua Changge once again chose Rong Shang's card.

It's called "flipping the cards," but it's really just a formality.

Because Hua Changge now basically uses Yunhe Palace as his daily resting place.

By then, the night was already thick.

The surrounding temperature is still very high.

Not long after finishing her meal, Rong Shang went down to the hot spring pool to stay.

Before long, she heard a palace maid outside the door call out, "Your Majesty."

Rong Chang raised an eyebrow.

Hua Changge has arrived?

The sound of a man's steady footsteps grew closer and closer.

Thinking that going up there would probably just lead to a runaway, Rong Shang ignored it.

She took a shower by herself.

A moment later, a slender figure stepped across the threshold and slowly entered Yunhe Palace.

Meanwhile, wisps of white steam rose from the hot spring pool, concealing the woman's beautiful body in the water.

Water droplets slowly slid down the fair neck of the swan.

Rong Chang tilted her head back and leaned lazily against the edge of the hot spring pool.

When it's hot, soaking in water is the most comfortable thing to do.

...

Have you been to Huayi Palace?

A few seconds later, a deep, magnetic voice came from above her head. Rong Shang raised her eyes, and that stunningly beautiful face came into view.

At this moment, Hua Changge's deep gaze was fixed on her, and the instant she opened her eyes, the man's dark eyes suddenly became scorching.

"I've been there."

She straightened up and splashed water on her neck.

Feeling the intense gaze on her back, Rong Shang wasn't shy at all. She simply turned around and faced him directly. "What? Did Your Majesty go too?"

"No," Hua Changge denied, then he knelt down on one knee, reached out across the hot spring pool and pinched her delicate, still-dampened chin. "What were you doing there?"

It's rare to see him so rational when a beautiful woman is in front of him.

Rong Shang met his gaze and could sense the surging anger behind his burning eyes.

But she showed no fear whatsoever, and even smiled at him, "Guess what I went to do?"

"Speak? Deliver food? Or deliver water?"