Ye Shangzhou tapped his fingers on the edge of the bed, making a "thump-thump" sound. Then Xiao Xunzi pushed the door open and entered. Ye Shangzhou said, "Convey my decree: send Consort Rong to the Imperial Mausoleum to accompany the late Emperor."

"Yes." Xiao Xunzi accepted the order and immediately went to Jiangfei Palace to convey Ye Shangzhou's decree.

Consort Rong never expected that Ye Shangzhou, who had previously been indifferent to Qiao Zhen, would suddenly want to establish Qiao Zhen's authority. She knew it was her own carelessness, but for now, she could only obey. She was not afraid of dying, but her son, Ye Huaijin, could not be implicated by her.

After a day and a night, Qiao Zhen finally opened her eyes. She tried to reach out and lift the blanket, but found that her hand hurt terribly. The previous experience flooded into her mind.

Consort Rong was truly cruel.

After Qiao Zhen's hand was injured by a short bamboo stick, Consort Rong ordered people to sprinkle salt on her wound. Not only that, but she also had to soak it in chili water.

Her hands are probably ruined.

After learning that Qiao Zhen had woken up, Ye Shangzhou was carried into Qiao Zhen's bedroom by the guards. He sat beside Qiao Zhen as usual, and after the guards and palace maids filed out, he said with a half-smile, "What's wrong? Your hand is injured, and your head is also stupid?"

Qiao Zhen simply shook her head in silence, not daring to show the slightest hint of resentment.

They're terrified of being beaten.

So they learned their lesson.

Ye Shangzhou lifted Qiao Zhen's hand, held it in his hand and played with it, "If these slender jade hands cannot be restored to their former appearance, then cut them off."

Qiao Zhen knew he wasn't joking, so she simply lowered her brows and didn't respond.

Ye Shangzhou found it boring that Qiao Zhen was ignoring him, so he twitched the left corner of his lip, forming a mocking smile, "What? Are your ears ruined too?"

Qiao Zhen looked down at her hands and lowered her head. "I will take good care of these hands."

They're quite well-behaved, though.

Ye Shangzhou raised his hand and rubbed Qiao Zhen's head. The soft and smooth texture made him reluctant to let go, so he rubbed it a few more times. "If you are always this obedient in the future, I will not mistreat you."

"yes."

Qiao Zhen forced a smile, her face pale and her lips dry and chapped. She licked her lips with her tongue. "Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a while?"

Ye Shangzhou lay down next to Qiao Zhen, raised his arm and patted his chest, his gaze lingering on Qiao Zhen's lips, "Lean here."

Qiao Zhen hesitated for a moment, then leaned over and lay on Ye Shangzhou's body. She closed her eyes, looking extremely tired.

Ye Shangzhou had no intention of letting her go. He leaned over and kissed the corner of her mouth, then stuck out his tongue to open her lips. Taking advantage of her moment of relaxation, he slipped into her territory.

Qiao Zhen was breathless from his kisses, which ended with the breaking of a silver thread.

Ye Shangzhou looked at the little girl in his arms, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. A few inches below her abdomen, he felt a throbbing pain. He kissed Qiao Zhen fiercely a few more times, and finally rubbed his teeth against her lips, but in the end, he couldn't bear to bite her.

Qiao Zhen's chest heaved, but she remained calm and composed as she lay sprawled on Ye Shangzhou's body.

It's pointless.

Ye Shangzhou suddenly lost all interest, because Qiao Zhen's calm gaze, though her eyes were shimmering, couldn't hide the pool of dry water beneath. He looked at the bed curtains above him, placed one hand on Qiao Zhen's back, and suppressed his physical desire.

After a long pause, he stood up and said, "I will come to visit you again in half a month. At that time, I will not tolerate you in this state."

Ye Shangzhou summoned men to carry him back to the Imperial Study.

Qiao Zhen's hand trembled slightly. She immediately sent someone to fetch the imperial physician. She was racing against time; what was slipping away was not time, but life itself. She couldn't die, at least not now.

The imperial physician said that Qiao Zhen's hand might never heal. The only way to restore it to its original state was to peel off the skin, wait for it to grow back and scab over, and then apply an excellent ointment.

Qiao Zhen didn't know why there was such a brain-dead, deceptive, and cruel treatment method, but she couldn't refuse it. She said "okay," and then told the imperial physician to prepare the necessary items as soon as possible.

the next day.

The imperial physician entered Qiao Zhen's bedroom with his medicine box. He took out a dagger from the medicine box and said, "My beauty, it's not too late for you to regret it now."

Qiao Zhen stared at the gleaming dagger. "I have no regrets, but His Majesty must not know about what happened today. Otherwise, I will make you wish you were dead."

"Yes." The imperial physician also held his breath, dipped the dagger in strong liquor, and then placed it on the candle.

Qiao Zhen watched as the dagger slowly approached her hand, but could only endure the excruciating pain of her skin being peeled off. She bit her lip, and a few drops of blood seeped from it. Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her face was even paler than yesterday.

The imperial physicians dared not slacken their efforts. Once they started, there was no turning back. If they did well, they would be rewarded handsomely; if they did poorly, they would only have to wait for their heads to roll.

Half an hour later, Qiao Zhen's hands were already covered in blood, and she was in so much pain that her teeth were chattering. Ye Shangzhou, she remembered this name firmly, but in blood.

Half a month later, with the nourishment of precious medicinal herbs and the help of the system, Qiao Zhen's wounds were almost completely healed, and the scars on her hands had mostly fallen off. However, she probably would never be able to laugh freely again.

Qiao Zhen put on the smile she had practiced in front of the mirror, revealing a shallow dimple that was neither aloof nor overly coquettish.

As dusk settled, Ye Shangzhou arrived at Qiao Zhen's bedroom. Qiao Zhen now resides in Yishui Pavilion of Crane Palace. There is a large room that serves as her bedroom, two central rooms for her maids, and a side hall.

Qiao Zhen tactfully waited at the entrance of Yi Shui Xuan's courtyard. As soon as she saw the bright yellow sedan chair, she knelt down and bowed, saying, "This concubine respectfully welcomes Your Majesty."

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