Dunyang City, Imperial Palace, Chenhui Hall.
The moonlight shone like a ribbon, and a slightly cool autumn breeze gently stirred the gauze curtains hanging around the Chenhui Palace. The moonlight filtered through the thin gauze, casting dappled shadows on the palace floor.
Yun Zhang, his robes open, reclined languidly on a mat, a jade cup filled with fine wine in his hand. He narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at the woman opposite him. Empress Zhao Zhi.
Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, casting interplay of light and shadow that created a breathtaking scene. Yun Zhang, dressed in an exquisite brocade robe, his collar half-open, revealed the delicate skin of his chest, exuding a captivating charm. He reclined on a mat woven from the finest bamboo strips, his posture languid yet undeniably dashing.
Zhao Zhi, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, sat dignifiedly to his side, intently reviewing the memorials.
Her fingers gently turned the pages of the memorial, her brows occasionally furrowing slightly.
Yun Zhang had been quietly observing Zhao Zhi reviewing memorials for two hours. Time ticked by, and he grew weary, but Zhao Zhi didn't look up, not even glancing at him. She was completely absorbed in her work, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.
Yun Zhang lowered his head somewhat dejectedly, his eyes revealing a hint of weariness and helplessness.
He slowly reached out and took off his outer robe, leaving only a thin inner garment. Then, he picked up an exquisite wine pot from the tea table beside him, gently swirled it, and the wine inside made a crisp sound.
Then, he carefully poured out two glasses of clear, transparent wine, holding one in each hand, and slowly walked towards Zhao Zhi.
“Your Majesty,” Yunzhang finally broke the long silence, her voice deep and magnetic, as if carrying a faint trace of sadness, “It has been more than two months since I was conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort. Speaking of which, we haven’t drunk the nuptial wine yet. There’s no time like the present, so let’s drink the nuptial wine today.”
Zhao Zhi was completely absorbed in the memorial, her brows slightly furrowed as she carefully read each line. Upon hearing Yun Zhang's words, she merely responded with a casual "hmm," but did not stop what she was doing.
Her attention was completely focused on the memorial to the throne, and she paid no attention to anything else.
The next moment, Zhao Zhi's hand suddenly went empty; the pen was snatched away, and at the same time, a glass of wine appeared in her hand.
She looked up in confusion at Yun Zhang standing before her, a hint of annoyance on her face. "Stop fooling around, the memorials haven't been reviewed yet," she said softly, her tone carrying a touch of reproach.
"Your Majesty, you just promised me that you would drink the nuptial wine!" Yun Zhang looked at Zhao Zhi pitifully, his eyes filled with grievance and resentment. "Your Majesty's word is as good as gold; how can you go back on your word?"
"When did I agree to that?" Zhao Zhi frowned, a hint of displeasure on his face.
"Just now..." Yunzhang hurriedly explained, "Has Your Majesty forgotten?"
Zhao Zhi sighed helplessly. She knew she couldn't deny it, but she still reluctantly picked up her wine glass. "Alright, since that's the case, then drink it. But after you finish drinking, get out of my way and don't bother me again."
After saying that, she crossed arms with Yunzhang and drank together.
As the wine glass was placed back on the table, Zhao Zhi suddenly felt a heat on her back, followed by a warm body pressing tightly against her back.
Yun Zhang said softly, "Your Majesty, I really want to roll around with Your Majesty..."
Zhao Zhi's face flushed instantly. She glared at Yun Zhang and said coquettishly, "You rascal, why are you always so frivolous and rude?"
Yun Zhang smiled faintly, "Your Majesty, I am unbearably lonely!"
He deliberately moved his body closer, and could even clearly feel Zhao Zhi's shoulders trembling slightly because of his sudden intimate gesture.
He lowered his voice and said in a tone that only the two of them could hear, "Your Majesty, do you know that drinking this nuptial wine is not only a symbol of the marriage ceremony, but also a heavy expectation in my heart? My life is now tied to Your Majesty's golden words."
Zhao Zhi's body trembled slightly upon hearing this, but she did not respond immediately. Her eyes flickered, as if she were pondering something. After a while, she slowly spoke, "Oh? Tell me, how did your body become involved with me?"
Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Yun Zhang's eyes, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his lips.
He deliberately leaned close to Zhao Zhi's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, don't you know that my body has recently been cursed by a divine physician—unless I spend the night with Your Majesty, I feel as if my bones have been removed, leaving me completely weak." As he spoke, he moved closer to Zhao Zhi, so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
Upon hearing this, a smile flashed in Zhao Zhi's eyes. She leaned back subtly, maintaining her composure and reserve, but the barely perceptible smile on her lips betrayed her inner joy.
"Oh? Such a strange thing? Could it be that the divine physician was jealous of our deep affection and thus resorted to such underhanded means?" Her words were tinged with teasing and mockery, and she deliberately emphasized the words "deep affection".
Seeing this, Yun Zhang secretly thought that something was wrong. Not only was Zhao Zhi not moved by his "sob story", but she also mocked him instead.
He secretly vowed to show the empress his "charm".
So he deliberately blinked and said innocently, "Your Majesty is mistaken. How could that divine physician know of our deep affection? He must have seen that I am too handsome and dashing, and was afraid that Your Majesty would be infatuated with me, so he resorted to this tactic."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. She gently patted Yun Zhang's chest and scolded him, "You're getting more and more frivolous. Fine, since you're so 'wronged,' then I'll reluctantly help you break this 'curse.'"
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhang was overjoyed and was about to make a move when he suddenly felt a numbness in his waist, and then he collapsed limply into Zhao Zhi's arms.
He looked up in astonishment and saw Zhao Zhi holding a slender silver needle, smiling at him.
No, she was looking at him with smug satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you..." Yun Zhang hadn't finished speaking when he felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him, and his eyelids felt as heavy as if they weighed a ton.
Zhao Zhi chuckled, put away the silver needles, dragged Yun Zhang onto the mat, covered him with a thin blanket, and said with a light laugh, "You are the subject, and I am the ruler. Subjects can never win against their rulers."
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