She turned her head slightly, not intending to answer him.

Lu Xingjian's gaze darkened slightly, and her tilted head revealed her beautiful, slender neck, which was extremely alluring.

He took a light bite, like a beast about to tear its prey's throat.

"You call this irrelevant?"

A stinging pain, accompanied by a tingling sensation from being sucked, came from my neck.

Su Wanwan knew that he was holding a grudge against her for talking back in the Imperial Study today, and he was determined to get revenge.

Whether you take it back or not is up to you.

He said he would let her have her way, but his actions only made things worse.

Su Wanwan sounded like she was sobbing and pleading, but she remained stubborn:

"It's... irrelevant..."

What kind of relationship could they possibly have?

Was it a hierarchical relationship between the emperor and the palace maids, or a sexual relationship between adulterers?

He would bully her.

These words were like stirring up a hornet's nest. Lu Xingjian's eyes sharpened, and he sneered:

"The night is still long, take your time to think it over."

As dawn approached, the two, who hadn't yet closed their eyes, sat down at the dining table.

Lu Xingjian yawned lazily, glanced at the breakfast spread across the table, and said with satisfaction, "Reward me."

These are all foods that I like to eat every night.

Manager Li glanced at the dark circles under Su Wanwan's eyes and advised her with a smile:

"Thank you, Your Majesty. However, everything should be done in moderation. Miss Su's leg injury is at a critical time, and we must not let a small matter cause her to harm herself."

Perhaps because the balance of Yin and Yang is just right, the Emperor has been in a much better mood these past two days.

Although he still had a faint smile, Steward Li had served him for many years and could naturally sense it.

Su Wanwan was slowly drinking her porridge when she heard this and her ears turned red.

She knew that their affair couldn't be kept secret from his close confidants, but before, she could still deceive herself.

It's so shameful that these things are being brought up in public now.

Lu Xingjian gave Steward Li a cold look and tossed him the warm handkerchief he was using to wipe his hands:

"Knowing your loyalty, go to the Imperial Household Department to collect your reward, double the amount."

Steward Li's face was creased like blooming chrysanthemums. He took the handkerchief, smiled, and took his leave.

Lu Xingjian ate his meal with elegant movements. Noticing that Su Wanwan kept her head down and wasn't eating much, he asked gently, "Is it not to your liking?"

As he spoke, he placed a shrimp dumpling near her lips.

Su Wanwan then raised her head, her face slightly flushed and her expression awkward. She parted her pink lips and absentmindedly took a small bite.

"I want to go home, I'm leaving today."

He paused, his brow furrowing briefly before relaxing, and patiently coaxed her.

"Tell me the reason?"

Su Wanwan pursed her lips, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Lu Xingjian considered for a moment, "Is it because of what Li Rong just said?"

"I don't want to be talked about." Su Wanwan's feelings were extremely complicated.

If she were just a simple palace maid, it would be fine.

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

If you spend every night with him, something bad is bound to happen sooner or later.

Judging from his tone, he doesn't seem to want to avoid other people's attention.

Others wouldn't dare criticize the emperor for his philandering; they would probably point the finger at her, the widow, calling her a femme fatale who brought chaos to the harem.

She cannot stand under a dangerous wall for long.

Lu Xingjian looked at her calmly, his tone gentle:

"I'll think about it, hmm?"

These past two days, the two of them have finally started to feel closer.

They were inseparable, husband and wife always in harmony.

He didn't want to break up.

Su Wanwan looked at the still dark sky outside and nodded solemnly.

Seeing that she was still a little stiff, Lu Xingjian's tone couldn't help but carry a hint of doting:

"Fill your stomach first, otherwise when you get back to the Su family, your father will surely complain that the palace has mistreated you."

Judging from his tone, he was genuinely considering taking her home.

She relaxed a little and finally started drinking porridge again.

After finishing his breakfast, Lu Xingjian changed into his court robes and went to the morning court session, while Su Wanwan planned to go back and catch up on her sleep.

After getting dressed, just as he was about to leave, Lu Xingjian came back and took a deep look at Su Wanwan in her wheelchair.

Su Wanwan looked up and saw him, her sleepy eyes filled with confusion and surprise.

He looked like a frightened fawn in the forest, his watery eyes clear yet bewildered.

Lu Xingjian couldn't resist any longer after holding back for a long time. He stepped forward, lifted her chin, and kissed her pink lips.

There were still eunuchs waiting outside. Su Wanwan was caught off guard and her face turned bright red with embarrassment.

They kissed too intimately.

And someone saw it...

She froze, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

After an unknown amount of time, Steward Li outside coughed lightly.

Lu Xingjian then released her lips and said in a hoarse voice, "Wait for me to come back."

Su Wanwan awkwardly replied, "Mm."

Lu Xingjian squeezed her hand harder again. "I'm going out."

Su Wanwan nodded blankly.

These words sound a bit like a husband reluctantly saying goodbye to his wife before leaving home.

However, she was not his wife.

Su Wanwan went back to catch up on sleep, her mind heavy with worries.

The nightmares continued, and it felt as if I had been transported back to more than ten years ago.

Fire broke out in several buildings within Qingning Palace, filling the air with thick smoke.

She was awakened by the choking and went to the next room to find her wet nurse, Granny Zheng, who was bedridden.

However, the door was tightly shut and she couldn't open it no matter how hard she tried. She cried out repeatedly, "Granny Zheng, wake up! There's a fire!"

Granny Zheng's voice was weak and pained: "Don't worry about me, go save him!"

Su Wanwan knew that the "he" she was referring to was Lu Xingjian, so she quickly replied "okay" and hurriedly ran to the East Warm Pavilion of the Front Hall.

However, Granny Zheng's worries were unfounded.

Empress Dowager Zhou and Lu Xingjian have already been moved out by the clever palace servants.

The palace servants originally wanted to take her away, but how could she leave behind Zheng Mama, who had taken care of her since childhood?

She led her people back to the side hall and broke down the door to rescue Granny Zheng.

However.

The curtain at the entrance suddenly caught fire for some unknown reason.

The fire was raging, and there was no way they could get out.

She thought she was going to be burned to death there.

At the critical moment, Prince Rong, Lu Youting, arrived with his men, broke open the window, and rescued them all.

At that time, her face was covered in soot, her throat was so swollen and painful that she couldn't speak, and she was terrified and in a sorry state.

Lu Youting was like a god descended from the heavens.

The young hero of yesteryear is now a prince with a deep and thoughtful mind.

One moment he's feigning poverty before the emperor, the next he's pretending to still have feelings for her. What's his intention?

If he doesn't lack money, where does his wealth come from?

...

Meng Yue and Guli woke Su Wanwan in a panic: "The Empress Dowager summons you to Renshou Palace."

Su Wanwan glanced at the sky, her heart tightening:

"What time is it? Has His Majesty finished the morning court session?"

I don't know what the Empress Dowager wanted to see her about.

But at this crucial juncture when she was about to leave the palace, she didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

Meng Yue's face showed a bitter expression:

"It's already past 1:45 AM, and the morning court session is still not over. I heard it's quite noisy."