As darkness fell, Xie Zhou arrived at the rear hall of the Qing'e Palace.

They're just closing up shop making mooncakes here.

Princess Changning, Princess Guangning, and Princess Yongning left first.

The palace maids and eunuchs cleaned up the Jixian Pavilion thoroughly.

The lights were on in the east wing.

Xie Zhou watched his wife's retreating figure. Wasn't she lonely sitting there eating alone? It was her birthday today. Wasn't she lonely like this?

However, in his previous life, Xie Zhou did not remember her birthday, even though she and Chang Ziyu were born on the same day.

Xie Zhou no longer thought about those things; he was the man who would become emperor in the future.

But looking at his wife's thin back at this moment, he couldn't help but think of her again.

What kind of experiences did she have that made her feel nothing for him?

In his past life, Xie Zhou felt that she still had feelings, but those feelings were eventually worn away?

The previous life has passed away.

Xie Zhou strode into the house and saw that there were only four dishes on the table, and his wife had drunk a bowl of porridge.

Huan Yue glanced at him. What? He hasn't eaten either?

Xie Zhou nodded; he didn't eat.

Huan Yue looked on, thinking, "Isn't someone bringing him food? Does this world ever lack food for him?"

Although some emperors starved to death, he didn't.

Xie Zhou looked at his wife's bright eyes with a particularly unfriendly expression, so he pulled her close and gave her a forced kiss.

Huan Yue refrained from slapping him. Those lips had kissed countless people.

Xie Zhou asked, "Weren't you tired this afternoon? Why are you only eating this little?"

The palace maid muttered, "We've all eaten so many mooncakes."

Although it wasn't quite as delicious when it was freshly made, it was still quite tasty.

Xie Zhou asked excitedly, "How many did you make?"

Huan Yue pushed him away and told him to go aside.

Xie Zhou obediently sat down in his seat; he was indeed busy and hungry. If it weren't for his wife's birthday today, he would still be busy.

Xiuyun said, "I made 300 jin, and I'll definitely make more tomorrow."

Xie Zhou ate while watching his wife. It was rare for his wife to sit here and wait for him, and he felt very content.

Huan Yue sat by the window, enjoying the breeze and admiring the flowers.

Jixian Pavilion was turned into a workshop, and all the flowers and plants there were moved to the back.

This chrysanthemum is an old plant, covered with flower buds. Only a few have opened yet, but when they are in full bloom, they will be a dazzling golden color!

Xie Zhou was eating, but he didn't know where his wife's mind was wandering, so he lost his appetite.

The servants who waited on him to eat were already used to it. His Highness was like a baby, and the Empress had to keep a close eye on him at all times.

When the Empress is not around, he is a normal prince; when the Empress is around, he must be a different person.

Xie Zhou finished eating quickly, then came over and pulled his wife along.

Huan Yue followed him out.

Look at how the moonlight shines; the ginkgo trees are laden with fruit. It would be wonderful if this day could last until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xie Zhou led his wife to Chengen Hall. The platform in front of the hall was much more convenient for moon viewing than the one behind it.

Xie Zhou left his wife there and went inside to bathe and change.

Huan Yue also went inside to change his clothes, even though he was almost ready to wash up and go to bed.

It's her birthday today, so she's wearing pretty clothes. The clothes she received today are all made of fine materials, which will be made into pretty dresses.

When Huiqing came out, she saw that His Highness was dressed so flamboyantly! Afraid of being offended by the flamboyance, she quickly left.

Everyone else should leave, as long as His Highness isn't beaten to death by the Empress.

Huan Yue stared at him.

Xie Zhou rushed over and hugged his wife tightly. She was so beautiful! He felt regret for what he had missed in the past, but immense joy at having her again!

Huan Yue smelled the pungent odor emanating from him—it was a fragrance, but particularly pungent. This guy uses perfume!

It seems she and her white moonlight truly are a perfect match.

When I like him, he's wonderful in every way; when I don't, he's just a jerk. So what if he's handsome?

How is Xie Zhou's daughter-in-law?

The wise and mighty prince was slow to realize that Chang Ziyu hadn't fallen for him either, so he wasn't the only woman he didn't love.

But it doesn't matter, that's a fake, this is my real wife.

Xie Zhou kissed and clung to her, the moonlight almost fading away, and he felt a surge of joy.

His wife is naturally sweet and has a great figure; she would be even more beautiful if he did *that*.

Xie Zhou whispered in her ear, "We've been married for five months."

Huan Yue's voice was as cold as a night wind: "Aren't you tired of it yet?"

Xie Zhou swore: "It's impossible for me to get tired of it, I'll never get tired of it in my entire life."

Forget it.

Xie Zhou looked into her bright eyes and said with utmost sincerity, "I love you."

A faint, indifferent smile appeared on her refined, dignified face.

They disregarded everything in the world, especially emperors.

Xie Zhou held her tightly, feeling extremely sad.

He didn't know anything, but he just felt sad looking at her.

Xie Zhou asked, "Do you feel like I've wronged you in some way?"

Huan Yue replied indifferently, "No, it's fine."

She's relatively satisfied with the current situation; otherwise, why would she let him cause trouble? She would have slapped him to death.

But that's all. She could live just as well in the mountains. So, none of this really matters.

Wearing pretty clothes too often just makes them look the same.

I don't know why other women keep competing; maybe she's just not suited for this industry.

She had experienced a living hell, and now she yearns for life and freedom.

She didn't want to be bound by those restrictions at all.

Xie Zhou picked up his wife, carried her into the house, and lay her down on the couch.

The eunuchs had already lit the lamps, making the light in this area warm and not too bright.

The incense burner emitted a faint fragrance, which smelled pleasant. However, there was a peculiar, unpleasant odor about it.

Huan Yue recalled that there was something like Valentine's Day, and after all that, his purpose was very clear: the woman was also looking forward to it.

Otherwise, many people are misled by appearances. They think it's like paradise, only to realize the pain when they wake up.

Sleeping with a man like that is a win.

But you know that he slept with many people, so each person earned less, turning a profit into a loss.

Just like the imperial throne, if there is only one person, it will be very sacred. But if there are many emperors, it will not be special.

Xie Zhou, with his arm around his wife, suddenly remembered something: "Pei Huanxu ran away."

Huan Yue was curious; that was truly something.

Xie Zhou sneered: "That's the kind of person he is. He probably wants to find another opportunity in another place."

Huan Yue asked curiously, "What opportunity?"

Xie Zhou kissed her, saying she looked so cute, and kissed her again: "You know, he was entangled with Princess Yongjia and made a move on Miss Lü. He'll definitely find another sucker, whether he pretends to be a young master of a marquis's mansion or the elder brother of the Crown Princess. Anyway, that's all he's capable of. I've had someone keep an eye on him."

Huan Yue said, "Aren't you afraid of encountering someone like Zheng Kou, who's also faking it?"

Xie Zhou made me laugh!

Huan Yue felt sympathy. Sometimes, what you fear most is exactly what happens.

Pei Huanxu was good-looking, making him an easy target.

Huan Yue asked, "Why didn't you keep an eye on him?"

Xie Zhou and his wife discussed this issue: "Can Pei Huanxiu and Pei Huanxu be compared?"

Huan Yue thought about it and realized it was different.

Simply put, Pei Huanxu is rotten. Pei Huanxiu is still clean.

Those people don't care about what they've already ruined; they can always find something new to play with.

Huan Yue asked curiously, "What is Pei Huanxu capable of?"

Xie Zhou countered, "What do you think the Pei family is capable of?"

It seems there's nothing the Pei family wouldn't dare to do, including regicide.