Shen Mingzhuang couldn't help but laugh. She took a few steps forward, stood behind Jiang Wang, glanced at the chessboard, and said, "It's been a long time since we've seen each other. When we meet again, it's inevitable that we'll think about things from our time in the inner chambers, so we chatted a bit. Is Your Majesty playing chess with yourself?"

Jiang Wang waved to the people behind Shen Mingzhuang, and they all retreated.

Jiang Wang got off the ground and stepped onto the soft, royal blue floral carpet. He reached out and lifted the person up by the waist, then carefully placed them in the seat opposite him.

"Play a game with me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang's pounding heart finally relaxed.

She nodded and sat cross-legged opposite Jiang Wang. But when she looked up and saw Jiang Wang's snow-white hair, she couldn't help but feel a little sad. How hard he must have worked these past few years, without a single person to care for him. How much pressure must he have been under to help an unconscious person into the empress's seat?

Looking back now, Shen Mingzhuang felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her heart. Whenever she thought about these things, she felt like her mind was in a tangled mess, unable to figure out what she really wanted to do.

She didn't want to continue ruining Jiang Wang's great cause, but thinking of his unwavering loyalty to her, she was willing to leave him alone.

"The trees outside your window are planted very cleverly. They bloom in all four seasons. Look at the peach trees, their branches laden with pink blossoms, so dazzling and beautiful. In summer, the crabapple and magnolia flowers will also bloom. In autumn, there will be osmanthus and chrysanthemums, and in winter, there will be your favorite wintersweet. I have specially ordered people to plant more wintersweet."

Upon hearing Jiang Wang's words, Shen Mingzhuang paused involuntarily, his hand holding the chess piece pausing, and looked at Jiang Wang with some surprise.

Such effortless and detailed knowledge clearly indicates that he is extremely familiar with everything in the Jiaofang Palace. So, even when she was unconscious there, did he still come often?

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she looked up at Jiang Wang. "Your Majesty, has this been how you've been these past few years?"

Jiang Wang then came to his senses and turned his gaze back from the window. He slightly bent his slender fingers and gently tapped the tabletop. Tan Yonglin, who was beside him, laughed and said, "If I may say something, His Majesty has been thinking of the Empress during the years she has been in a coma. Whenever His Majesty is concerned about her, he will have someone bring her over after going through all the trouble. This has been the way it has been year after year."

"You old fool, if you don't speak, how will anyone know how eloquent you are?"

Jiang Wang glared at Tan Yonglin with feigned anger. Tan Yonglin had served Jiang Wang for many years and naturally knew that Jiang Wang was not really angry. He smiled ingratiatingly and then pushed his way behind the bright red lacquered pillars.

Shen Mingzhuang smiled as he placed a piece, his heart filled with sweetness, "Your Majesty, it's your turn."

Jiang Wang nodded, calmly placed a piece, but his gaze couldn't help but fall on the person in front of him.

He had watched her sleeping with her eyes closed for five years, and her lively appearance kept him captivated. As he gazed at her, he drifted off into thought.

When Shen Mingzhuang looked up again, she saw him staring blankly at her. She couldn't help but chuckle and waved her hand in front of Jiang Wang. Suddenly, Jiang Wang got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and walked over to her.

He didn't say anything, but simply held her tightly in his arms, pressing her head down with his large hands, as if he wanted to embed her into his body.

"His Majesty……"

Shen Mingzhuang called out to him with some concern, and heard Jiang Wang's suppressed and deep voice in his ear: "Don't move, let me hug you."

Shen Mingzhuang nodded and obediently let him hold him. He smelled the faint ambergris scent carrying Jiang Wang's body temperature, as well as the cool and refreshing pine and cypress fragrance that he always carried. He gradually calmed down.

Embracing their loved one, all is still and silent; everything seems frozen in time, and nothing in the world seems to matter anymore.

Shen Mingzhuang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reached out to wrap his arms around Jiang Wang's strong waist.

The two separated when Tan Yonglin came over again to ask where lunch was served.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then had the chessboard removed and said, "Let's have lunch at the kang table."

This was against the rules, but in the palace, the emperor was the supreme ruler, and all rules had to be ignored in his presence. Tan Yonglin smiled and nodded, then withdrew and led his men in to set out the dishes.

Jiang Xuan has already returned to his East Palace. He has a lot of schoolwork to do now. He played in the Jiaofang Palace for half a day today, but Jiang Wang wouldn't let him continue playing.

Therefore, Shen Mingzhuang and Jiang Wang ate lunch together.

When a maidservant offered to help serve the food, Jiang Wang refused, saying, "The Empress and I are dining alone; there's no need to serve food."

The kang table wasn't very big, so there was no need for anyone to serve the food. However, Tan Yonglin still went and got two shoulder straps. The two of them put on the straps and served the food themselves, creating a very warm atmosphere.

"I have fantasized countless times over the years about sitting with you, sharing simple meals every day."

Shen Mingzhuang's feelings became complicated upon hearing this. She was unaware that Jiang Wang's affection for her had permeated even these seemingly insignificant details.

"Isn't Your Majesty just having a simple meal with me right now?"

The two smiled at each other, as if they had returned to the time when she was still Feng Mo, and he was still the sharp and ambitious young emperor.

On the second day of the fourth month, Shen Mingzhuang had been awake for a month. She had learned about almost everything that had happened in the past five years, and her life seemed to be back on track. However, the wives of the heirs of the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Wen suddenly sent invitations to the palace, wanting to pay their respects to her.

Shen Mingzhuang was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses. He then realized that five years had passed, and Wei Chen and Song Yi should have been married and had children long ago. He had been asleep for five years and had become somewhat confused.

She smiled and nodded, telling them to come to the palace tomorrow.

The following day, Shi Zhenzhu, the wife of the heir of the Duke of Wei, and An Wanqing, the wife of the heir of the Duke of Wen, came to the palace to pay their respects to Shen Mingzhuang.

In the past month, Shen Mingzhuang has met many ladies from meritorious families, but this is the first time she has met Shi Zhenzhu and An Wanqing.

Adhering to the fine tradition of their distinguished lineage, the two walked with their heads bowed upon entering the hall, without looking around curiously.

Sitting on the Empress's throne, Shen Mingzhuang glanced at the two people. The two stepped forward together to pay their respects. The young woman, dressed in a bright red robe for the wife of a prince and with her hair styled in a bun, said, "Long live Your Majesty the Empress! Your humble servant, Shi, greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Her voice was clear and melodious, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, suggesting she was a clever person. She had a heart-shaped mouth, an oval face, and phoenix eyes. Her roundness was tempered with a hint of sharpness, giving the impression that she was easy to talk to but not someone to mess with.

Another young woman, also dressed in a bright red imperial robe, bowed as usual. This must be Song Yi's wife. Shen Mingzhuang couldn't help but take a second look; she was a very beautiful woman.