Chapter 55 contains three words, seemingly cold yet burning hot.

Ji Qingwu was wearing a two-piece wide-sleeved blouse, with the hem tucked into her skirt.

Without a belt, the rushan (a type of traditional Chinese dress) no longer fits snugly.

Emperor Wusu said expressionlessly, "You touched this place?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Qingwu's lower abdomen tightened suddenly.

Because Emperor Wusu's hand slipped under the hem of her clothes and touched her waist directly.

Rough fingertips rubbed against the most sensitive spot on my waist.

His palm pressed against her delicate, smooth skin, which felt even better than mutton fat jade. Emperor Wu Su's hand moved up her slender waist.

"He ran into him here too?"

Seeing the woman's red lips slightly parted, unable to react in time, and looking so pitiful that she couldn't even speak, he slid his hand upwards further.

"Hmm?" Emperor Wusu asked in a deep voice.

It seemed that if she didn't answer, she would continue to climb upwards.

Ji Qingwu hurriedly shook his head in denial: "No, he didn't."

"Nothing happened?"

Emperor Wusu asked casually, but his eyes were dark and brooding.

"I didn't... touch... here."

Unfortunately, even after she spoke up, the man had no intention of letting her go.

"Did you pick this outfit specifically to see him? The neckline is so low."

That's right, we had to find a fault for her.

Ji Qingwu said, on the verge of tears, "No, this is how the rushan is. It's the current fashionable style in Lin'an City."

"It's still open at the front."

Emperor Wusu's gaze fell on her neckline.

As soon as he took his seat, he noticed her attire: a low-cut, open neckline revealing a striking expanse of white against her chest, with delicate collarbones and alluring lines.

Many people were staring at her, but she seemed oblivious, drinking cup after cup until her snow-white skin turned pale pink.

Ji Qingwu had no idea what the person behind her was thinking. When she looked down, she saw the outline of a large hand under her clothes, which seemed to be about to move.

She grabbed his hand through his clothes and hurriedly pointed it out to him.

"It has buttons, Your Majesty. Look, it has buttons; it's not an open front."

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, because Emperor Wusu raised his other hand and placed it on the first bead of the single row of red agate buckles.

"Let go, or shall I unbutton it myself?"

How can you make such flippant remarks sound so matter-of-fact?

It seems like she was given two choices, but in reality, the outcome wouldn't be much different no matter which one she chose.

She deeply regretted choosing this low-cut, button-down, wide-sleeved blouse from among all the clothes.

Through the thin blouse, she held his hand, biting her lip and remaining silent.

"Did you see the note I left for you?"

She nodded obediently: "I saw it."

He asked sternly, "Now that you've seen it, what did you do?"

Ji Qingwu answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Speak louder."

The emperor pointed her in the right direction, telling her to "sever ties," but she went and confronted the Empress Dowager head-on.

She said softly, "I didn't hear you."

Emperor Wusu was so angry he gritted his teeth.

I both like and hate her personality.

They may seem weak and insignificant, but once cornered, they can be incredibly stubborn.

It was worth it; before going to the morning court, he specially ordered someone to invite the eldest princess over and prepared an escape route for her.

She really didn't "disappoint" him.

Emperor Wusu said coolly, "What is the punishment for disobeying the Emperor's will?"

Ji Qingwu shrank back slightly.

She hadn't thought of that. The emperor's words were already considered golden, and the note he left behind was worth its weight in gold.

Suddenly it became a heinous crime of deceiving the emperor, bringing him even closer to death...

Is it feasible to reduce serious crimes to minor punishments?

Ji Qingwu weighed the pros and cons between letting go and unbuttoning her clothes, but she was still more afraid of looking disheveled.

So, she hesitantly let go of his hand and asked expectantly.

"Should we impose a penalty?"

This was a signal for him to continue. Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that she would say such a thing.

Ji Qingwu could sense the reason for the other party's displeasure, so she quickly explained, "It was not I who invited him here."

Just now, when Emperor Wusu appeared, the first thing she said was, "The moon is high in the sky above the willow branches." She did not have an appointment with Li Chengxun after dusk.

The thought that she had once solemnly sworn to Emperor Wusu that she would honor her verbal agreement and that she believed Li Chengxun's foolish words filled her with deep regret.

What if the emperor thinks she "can't forget her old flame" and wants to ruin the marriage arranged by the emperor for Princess Qingyun?

Upon hearing her explanation, Emperor Wusu merely gave a curt "hmm," it was unclear whether he believed her or not.

Ji Qingwu didn't know which of her words he had overheard, so she tried even harder to explain, "What I said is all true. I just felt a little dizzy and came out for some fresh air."

The fingers that held the sword and bow roamed along the soft edge. Emperor Wusu seemed to have discovered something amusing, poking and fiddling with it, saying something to her without paying any attention.

This feeling sent chills down Ji Qingwu's spine.

She was practically swearing an oath on the spot, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, I truly have no ill intentions towards Li Chengxun."

As she uttered another man's name, Emperor Wusu's men tightened their grip on her waist.

The plain white gauze of the black outer robe brushed against her fair, snow-white skin.

All I heard was a low, deep question.

"You keep mentioning him, are you afraid I'll take my anger out on him?"

Ji Qingwu had shot herself in the foot; that was not what she meant at all. She shook her head vigorously.

"I'll never mention it again."

After she fell silent, Emperor Wusu brought it up again.

"Why were you smiling at him before the banquet started? You were smiling so seductively."

She laughed? She laughed.

Ji Qingwu thought for a moment, and it seemed he smiled slightly.

But the emperor hadn't even taken his seat yet. How did he know? Had this person somehow grown eyes in the back of his head, becoming a clairvoyant...?

Upon seeing the woman's bright black eyes darting back and forth, Emperor Wusu knew what she was thinking.

"to be honest."

Ji Qingwu could only honestly reply, "This humble woman has heard about Your Majesty's past."

“Go on.”

"Today, the top scholar parades through the streets, a lively and bustling event, with many girls throwing fruit at his carriage..."

Before she could finish speaking, she felt Emperor Wusu suddenly pinch her.

It didn't hurt, but it startled her.

Ji Qingwu secretly turned her head to glance at his expression, and sure enough, he was covered in frost and snow, with a cold light flashing in his deep eyes.

Did she say something wrong?

Ji Qingwu forced herself to continue, "I heard that when His Majesty returned victorious that year, the scene was even more lively, with even more girls throwing fruit and flowers, and some even throwing that. I find it very amusing, which is why I smiled."

Emperor Wusu pondered for a moment, grasped the key point in her words, and asked, "Which one did you throw away?"

"It's...that one."

Women would be shy to talk about such intimate items among themselves, let alone in front of Emperor Wusu.

Ji Qingwu couldn't bring himself to say it, so he tried to gloss over it with vague words.

"It's nothing, it's not a big deal."

Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow at her shy reaction; he had guessed it.

When he returned in triumph, he was escorted by a master of ceremonies, so those things couldn't even get in front of him; they were all stopped by the guards in front.

"This one?"

Three words, so desolate, yet burning with passion.

Because that giant hand was no longer hovering on the edge, but had completely covered it.

Ji Qingwu's ears immediately burned.

"Is this the one I encountered, Ah Wu?"