The emperor's eyes and brows were full of smiles.
It's clear that he has almost come to terms with it; those painful past experiences don't seem so terrible to him anymore.
No one can live to be a thousand or ten thousand years old. This is a subject’s flattery and admiration for the emperor. Wen Hemian did not mean it that way; he was simply wishing him well.
It was this sincere blessing that gave Xie Lang some solace and allowed him to find a sliver of warmth in his long loneliness.
But that was before.
After Wen Heming returned, his long-dormant emotions awakened, like a sudden gust of wind stirring up the spring air and coming towards him.
She was the spring he had been missing for so long.
"So, will you agree?"
Xie Lang awaited her answer.
Having figured out the key point, Wen Hemian felt that he was naive, but a deeper emotion also arose in her heart. She laughed lightly: "Okay, I agree. I will stay with my emperor for a thousand years."
They actually agreed with his exaggerated statement.
Upon hearing the words Wen Heming spoke, Xie Lang felt a sweet warmth fill his heart. He leaned over to kiss Wen Heming's cheek, but she pushed him away.
The two were clearly having a good chat, but Xie Lang didn't expect her rejection. He widened his eyes, looking a little aggrieved: "Han Shuang?"
"Let's wash up first and then talk."
Wen Hemian coughed slightly, a little embarrassed.
Xie Lang's eyebrows drooped, realizing that Wen Hemian's germaphobia had acted up after they had just finished eating. He forced a frown and said, "Okay."
His Majesty the Emperor can tell the difference between being full at one meal and being full at every other meal.
Wen Hemian didn't speak again. After chatting with him, she unpacked the gifts that had been sent to the palace for a while, took a look at them, and then put them down with satisfaction. She went back to wash up and prepare to rest.
However, it's quite obvious that some people don't want to let this opportunity slip by.
Since he got sick from playing in the water last time, Xie Lang has become unusually concerned about his image and finally stopped bothering people in the pool. When Wen Hemian washed up, he obediently didn't bother her and washed up in another place. After all, he didn't dare to overestimate his self-control.
He was quick; after returning, he waited in the hall for about half an incense stick's time before seeing the person return. He immediately went up to the person and wouldn't let go.
Wen Heming was puzzled: "Is today my birthday or yours? Did you ask my opinion? Aren't you afraid I won't be happy?"
Xie Lang was spoiled by her, so he wasn't too worried at the moment. He smiled and kissed her cheek: "Aren't you happy?"
He clearly wanted a definite answer, but with this sudden turn of events, the ball was kicked back to him. Wen Hemian was astonished by his skill in turning the tables: "You..."
Before she could even begin to speak, Xie Lang seamlessly interrupted her: "But the Grand Tutor is right, today is your birthday, so of course listening to you is the most important thing. So... Han Shuang, what are you planning to do with me?"
"How about locking me up?"
Things gradually began to take a strange turn.
Wen Hemian: "Wait..."
Before she could even speak, Xie Lang moved with lightning speed, producing a gleaming golden curtain from who-knows-where, securing one end to his hand and the other to hers.
This damn, familiar scene.
Wen Heming's pupils dilated in shock, his expression a mixture of complex emotions and gritted teeth: "...Didn't we put them all away? Where did you get this from? Are you really going to carry on with the 'little madwoman' label to the very end?"
Xie Lang said slowly, "That's not wrong either."
If it weren't for the circumstances, he would have truly considered binding himself to Wen Heming forever.
Wen Heming was speechless.
Xie Lang, thick-skinned and completely oblivious to the shocking things he had said, pulled the stunned person over and sat them down on the couch.
Wolf cubs are clingy and difficult to handle.
Wen Hemian stared at the person in front of her, feeling a headache coming on. She should have just stayed calm and asked those questions earlier, instead of ending up in a dilemma.
"Don't you know how, Han Shuang?" Xie Lang smiled as he caressed her waist, the heat from his hands passing through her thin nightgown. The second half of his sentence suddenly dropped a few octaves, becoming ambiguous, "Even though it's happened so many times."
People cannot be provoked.
Wen Hemian felt a surge of anger, and she glanced at him dismissively: "Your Majesty, you can't be so disrespectful. Who said—I can't?"
"Then teach me."
Xie Lang's eyes darkened, and he pulled the other person down onto the couch, the chains on their hands clanging crisply with the movement.
The esteemed emperor lay on soft pillows, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes gentle yet encouraging: "Hanshuang, I'll listen to you."
Since things have come to this point, there's nothing we can do but grit our teeth and continue.
Unlike Xie Lang, Wen Hemian was not enthusiastic about this kind of thing. Although she had a taste for it, she never talked about it openly. She was not willing to study it and most of the time she was passively dragged into it. It was much more difficult to truly take the initiative than she imagined.
It's always haphazard and lacks any real strategy.
She found it somewhat amusing, but seeing Xie Lang struggling to hold back, she finally couldn't resist and grabbed her hand.
His breathing was heavy: "Grand Tutor is more like torturing me."
Wen Hemian chuckled, a smile appearing in her clear, cold eyes: "You figured it out?"
Now it was Xie Lang who was gritting his teeth: "Then Han Shuang, don't blame me for being impolite."
Having been left hanging for so long, Xie Lang, not being a gentleman, had long reached his limit of patience. Once he exposed this, he immediately stopped being polite and began to strip off his clothes.
In the quiet bedchamber, apart from the soft rustling sounds and the crisp clanging of chains, occasionally interspersed with a muffled groan, it was as if even the air was gradually warming up.
The jade is thin and fragrant, the sandalwood is deep and the snow is scattered.
...
Overall, it was a memorable birthday celebration.
Specifically refers to Wen Hemian.
The more pleasurable it is when you're teasing someone, the more you'll want to escape when they're being held onto and won't let go.
Naturally, it will not be allowed.
Xie Lang's excessive actions led to several unpleasant consequences. He was banished to a side hall next door to rest until Wen Hemian completely calmed down, at which point he was allowed to move back in.
An emperor, in what was clearly his own bedchamber, did not even have the right to decide whether or not to stay there.
It is truly heartbreaking to hear and brings tears to the eyes of all who listen.
Lai Xi is no longer the Lai Xi she once was.
I used to be very nervous when I saw these two having a conflict, but now I've learned to read their expressions and if it's nothing serious, I can just continue doing my own thing.
It's not scary that His Majesty is angry. He'll be able to calm himself down. Once he's calmed down, we can go and coax Lord Wen.
As autumn deepens and people reap a bountiful harvest, the weather gradually cools down, and people are replacing their light clothing with thicker clothes.
After the Indian summer heat subsided, it started to rain.
Wen Hemian became increasingly adept at handling cabinet affairs, and Xie Lang also systematically delegated some tasks to his subordinates. While reducing his own workload, he tried his best to ensure that power was not dispersed and that there were checks and balances between them. He became more and more proficient in the balance of power.
Everything seemed to be going well, but on a peaceful day, it was shattered by an urgent report from the north.
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