Chapter 40 His hand landed on her cheek
No sooner had he finished speaking than Dao Yi emerged from around the corner.
Therefore, Yunxi decided to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.
As long as Xiao Shenjing didn't say he wanted to bestow that damn beauty title upon her, she would pretend not to know.
If he dares to bring it up, she is prepared to go all in.
Xiao Shenjing did not mention this matter.
It seems that he really only summoned Yunxi to serve him with writing materials.
He spent the entire night reviewing memorials with a furrowed brow.
Yunxi glanced at it; the word "execute" written in scarlet cinnabar was glaring and shocking.
When the imperial edict arrived, Yunxi had originally planned to take the opportunity to escape.
Xiao Shenjing glared at her and said, "Why are you running away? Stay put and behave yourself."
The murderous intent that lingered in that glance was reminiscent of when he was reviewing memorials.
He appeared exceptionally cold and ruthless.
Yunxi would never oppose Xiao Shenjing at this time.
He pretended to be honest and continued grinding ink.
"Your Majesty, Lord Wang has confessed everything. This is his confession regarding his collusion with Nanjing. Please take a look." Xing Zhao knelt on one knee and held the confession above his head.
There were no other maids or eunuchs attending to the servants in the room.
Therefore, Xiao Shenjing glanced at Yun Xi.
Yunxi also glanced at him.
Xiao Shenjing raised his chin.
Yunxi stared at him blankly, then lowered her head to grind ink.
Rotten wood cannot be carved.
"You have no sense of propriety whatsoever." Xiao Shenjing had no choice but to say, "Go and bring it to me."
Such a trivial matter requires Your Majesty to give instructions.
Does this palace servant have a death wish?
Xing Zhao couldn't help but look up, and in that instant, he saw a familiar face.
I also saw her roll her eyes and slowly walk over to take the fold book, not even bothering to hide her reluctance.
““Imperial Edict”.
That's incredibly audacious.
Yunxi is really annoyed.
Xiao Shenjing is getting better and better at ordering her around. If this continues, will she be summoned by him all the time?
They work during the day and then stay up all night to serve him.
She could barely tolerate these things, but the key issue was that with him around every day, she had absolutely no time to escape.
The thought of having to stay in this place for a long time really dampened my spirits.
Xiao Shenjing accepted the confession.
Seeing the list of crimes above, he gave a cold laugh: "These corrupt officials..."
The charge was thrown onto the imperial desk by Xiao Shenjing.
"Tomorrow, bring the ringleader to the Meridian Gate and have him sliced three hundred and sixty times a day. All the men will be exiled and all the women will be confiscated and sent to the Imperial Music Bureau!"
His chilling tone carried an overwhelming sense of authority.
A few words can determine the fate of hundreds or thousands of people.
The whole world grovels at his feet, and no one dares to disobey.
Therefore, everyone in this world wants to be an emperor.
That's why Xiao Shenjing so despises his own resistance.
Yunxi held the ink stick and pursed her lips.
This time, she must escape as far away as possible, and she must never be caught by Xiao Shenjing again.
Otherwise, given her self-centered nature, she would definitely have died a terrible death.
Her slow, grinding motion made Xiao Shenjing turn his head and glance at her.
Seeing her serious expression, I wondered what she was planning.
After receiving the imperial edict and leaving, Xiao Shenjing, seeing that it was already late at night, called Fu Shun in.
"Go and get some food."
Soon, the bird's nest and pear soup, glistening with moonlight, was served.
A pitted snow pear lies nestled in a thin-walled porcelain bowl from Jingdezhen, filled with Sichuan fritillary bulb and loquat syrup, while the rising steam carries the cool fragrance of snow chrysanthemums from the Kunlun Mountains.
There was also a bowl of jujube paste and yam cake and a bowl of rose-flavored ice cream.
These exquisite foods quickly caught Yunxi's attention.
"Go eat," Xiao Shenjing said casually, pausing his writing.
Yunxi, of course, didn't hold back and ate heartily.
It was late at night, and Xiao Shenjing sat behind his desk reviewing memorials, sometimes frowning and sometimes looking cold and ruthless.
The originally somber atmosphere was broken by the soft clinking of porcelain.
Through the rising steam, Yunxi sat in a chair, enjoying her meal.
Xiao Shenjing's gaze unconsciously drifted in her direction.
His cheeks bulged and moved as he chewed food, and even his lips turned a rosy red from the heat.
The heat seemed to spread, even infecting the chilly autumn room with her vibrant life.
When Yunxi put down her spoon with satisfaction, she realized that she had finished eating without noticing.
Only then did she remember Xiao Shenjing and look up at him.
They met his gaze, which hadn't left.
Their eyes met.
Yunxi smiled at him without any apology, revealing her perfect eight teeth. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry, I forgot to save some for you. Would you like me to make another one for you?"
"Aren't you afraid of getting too full from eating so much?" Xiao Shenjing scoffed.
"None of your business?"
Perhaps it was because Xiao Shenjing was in a good mood, but he didn't take her three rebellious words to heart. Instead, he shook his head and didn't bother to argue with her.
He picked up his pen again and began reviewing memorials.
Yunxi wished he could ignore her existence forever, so she naturally wouldn't take the initiative to grind ink for him and suffer the torment. She ate and drank her fill and lay peacefully on the couch.
It was already very late at night, and she was truly exhausted after practicing martial arts all day. She lay down and fell asleep without realizing it.
"Your Majesty, it's past midnight, it's very late." Even when Lian Fushun came in to remind her of the time, he didn't wake her.
The night is already half over.
Xiao Shenjing rubbed his temples wearily and waved to Fu Shun.
When they reached the edge of the collapsed building, Yunxi was fast asleep.
Her cheeks were flushed with a faint pink from deep sleep.
Xiao Shenjing lowered his brows and stared for a few moments without moving.
They're so heartless.
After a while, he kicked her without any politeness. "Yunxi, get up."
Yunxi hadn't woken him up with her kick.
She didn't wake up until the second kick.
She rubbed her eyes, frowning angrily. "What are you doing?"
Xiao Shenjing: "The warm pavilion is full of secrets. Do you want to be beheaded for staying here?"
Yunxi had no choice but to stand up, yawning.
Forced to wake up, Yunxi followed Xiao Shenjing in a daze, not even realizing when he had stopped, and bumped into him.
This was quite unexpected, causing her to stumble back two steps and almost fall, when a strong and powerful arm easily caught her.
Her waist is extremely flexible and slender, so much so that it can be easily grasped with one hand.
This wasn't the first time Xiao Shenjing had held Yunxi in his arms. The last time he carried her out of the Zhao Prison, she lay lifeless in his arms, completely oblivious to everything else.
The second time he held her, she was tied up and naturally couldn't feel anything.
Until this time, I felt it clearly.
Just thinking about how her waist could be bent by years of martial arts training makes me feel incredibly strong.
Xiao Shenjing felt as if ants were crawling over his heart, causing a slight itch.
This restlessness was so unfamiliar that it startled even him.
When Yunxi nestled in Xiao Shenjing's arms, she was only stunned for a moment.
In the blink of an eye, she immediately stood up and distanced herself from the two.
The sudden loss of his arm made Xiao Shenjing react immediately. He put his hand behind his back and scolded Yun Xi, "Watch where you're going next time!"
His tone was a little off.
Yunxi was completely unaware, but the eunuch Fu, who was following behind, felt his heart skip a beat and couldn't help but look up at Xiao Shenjing.
He had already turned his back, leaving only a tall silhouette.
When they reached the entrance of the sleeping quarters, Yunxi refused to go in.
Xiao Shenjing glanced back at her, seemingly too lazy to care about her, and had Fu Shun clear out all the irrelevant people.
Because they were deep within the palace, they were naturally unaware of many things.
She was now unsure whether Xiao Shenjing's enslavement of her was for torture and venting, or whether it was related to Fan Zishi.
Even if she knew, what good would it do? These things were beyond her control.
All she had to do was get out of there as soon as possible.
Late one autumn night, she sat on the white marble steps, arms crossed, wondering if she should just bring her mattress next time, rather than sitting here all night.
In short, even though sitting was awkward and uncomfortable, I still fell asleep with my head on my arm.
The autumn nights are getting a bit chilly.
Yunxi was in a daze all night, and Xiao Shenjing's footsteps on his way to the morning court easily woke her up.
Now that a night had passed, she naturally assumed she could leave.
Yawning, I stood up, stretched, and then thought about going back to the Fifth Institute of East Gandong to catch up on sleep.
"Where to?" Xiao Shenjing asked, standing on the steps.
"Of course I'll go back to sleep and get things done," she quickly changed her mind, and couldn't help but yawn again.
Looking down at the tears in her eyes, Xiao Shenjing said, "Stay put and behave yourself."
"Are you ever going to stop?" I was already furious after not sleeping well all night, and this bastard was pushing his luck like this.
Yunxi was extremely angry at this moment.
As a result, Xiao Shenjing merely glanced at her casually before looking away and walking away.
Staring at his back, Yunxi was really annoyed with him.
She just wanted to be a lowly palace maid, why is it so difficult?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Amidst the bewildered glances of the palace maids and eunuchs, he angrily kicked open the door to the bedchamber.
If you don't let her have an easy time, why should she be polite?
He ran to the east wing, lifted the silk curtain, and lay down on it.
It was not yet the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and the sky was just beginning to lighten.
Lying on the soft bed, Yunxi quickly fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to her, the imperial court was in an uproar because of her.
As an emperor, to allow a palace maid to spend every night in his bedchamber is tantamount to disregarding clan rules.
The lotus-shaped bricks in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were glistening with morning dew.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy. A Left Censor-in-Chief, holding a tablet, slowly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present! Recently, rumors have circulated in the palace that Your Majesty summons a palace maid to serve you every day. This is utterly inappropriate! The ancestral rules of our Great Jing Dynasty are strict, and the regulations of the inner palace cannot be disregarded. Palace maids should be dutiful and dutiful, how can they presume to use their beauty to serve the emperor and disrupt the order of the palace? Your Majesty's actions not only violate the virtues of a monarch, but may also cause unrest in the inner palace and turmoil in the court!"
These words immediately caused an uproar in the court. The officials whispered among themselves, discussing the matter. Some officials looked worried and nodded frequently, clearly agreeing with what the censor had said; others lowered their heads and remained silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons; and still others, with ulterior motives, had a glint of cunning in their eyes.
The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne and said calmly, "I will consider what you have to say, my dear minister. But this matter is merely a trivial matter in my harem; why should it cause such turmoil in the court?"
The Left Censor-in-Chief, however, remained unfazed. He straightened his back and retorted righteously, "Your Majesty, though matters of the harem may seem trivial, they concern the very foundation of the nation. There is an ancient saying, 'When a hen crows at dawn, the family is doomed.' If Your Majesty neglects state affairs and indulges in sensual pleasures because of a palace maid, wouldn't you be repeating the mistakes of the previous dynasty? We, your subjects, are paid by the emperor and should share his burdens. How can we stand by and watch Your Majesty go astray?"
At this moment, another imperial censor stepped forward. His expression was solemn, and he bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I also believe that what the Imperial Censor said is absolutely right. If Your Majesty favors this palace maid, it may arouse the dissatisfaction of the concubines in the harem, and thus trigger strife in the harem. Once the harem is in turmoil, it will inevitably affect the stability of the court. I hope Your Majesty will prioritize the overall situation and not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of a small matter."
The white-haired Grand Secretary Zhang also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, that palace maid attempted to assassinate you at the city gate that day. This woman must not be allowed to live!"
And it wasn't just the imperial court that was experiencing undercurrents; the inner palace was also rife with uncontrollable turmoil.
But no one wanted to step forward rashly, after all, there was still a future empress, Cen Yuwei, looming over them.
Early in the morning, Consort Xue heard that Xiao Shenjing had allowed Yun Xi to stay in the palace. She was so angry that she smashed the teacups on the octagonal table to pieces.
"What kind of seductive tricks did that vixen use?!"
A knowledgeable palace maid advised, "Your Majesty, in this harem, who is the most anxious?"
Consort Xue braced herself on the edge of the table with both hands and bit her lip.
The resentment and jealousy in his eyes had finally dissipated somewhat.
Finally, it turned into a complex smile.
Cen Yuwei took over the Phoenix Seal and exercised the power of the Empress.
If a palace maid disregards palace rules and bewitches the emperor, it is naturally she who should step forward to punish her.
Perhaps, when the clams fight, the fisherman benefits.
As long as there's no wedding ceremony, it's not considered a done deal.
Cen Yuwei barely slept all night.
Yesterday she learned that many officials had jointly submitted a memorial, and some censors had even impeached Xiao Shenjing.
What she knew, Xiao Shenjing couldn't possibly not know.
After all, the Supervisory Bureau, which he oversaw, was incredibly powerful and influential.
But even at this critical juncture, he still summoned Yunxi last night.
"Is she still in the Qianqing Palace and hasn't come out yet?" Cen Yuwei coughed, pressed her lips, and asked.
Aunt Xueyu nodded, glancing at Cen Yuwei with some concern.
Even knowing that the harem and the court were intricately connected.
Now His Majesty is strongly supporting the restoration of rice paddies by cutting down mulberry trees, delegating land to lower levels, and giving important positions to Fan Zishi.
Furthermore, Na Yunxi was involved with Fan Zishi, and the emperor's favoritism towards Na Yunxi in recent days was meant to make the court officials see the emperor's determination.
But if Your Majesty doesn't like her, why not just bestow upon her the rank of concubine instead of lingering over her every day?
In the past, everyone in the capital knew that Yunxi loved His Majesty. Now, the two of them, a man and a woman, share a bed and have a son. If they were to have a son, who in the harem would be able to stand out?
And where would she, the future empress, put her face?
"Go and have someone make some of Brother Yin'an's favorite dishes, and I'll send them to him."
She had to see him.
Otherwise, even closing your eyes would be a luxury.
A palace maid standing next to Aunt Xueyu said angrily, "If you ask me, this kind of lowly maid who wreaks havoc in the palace should be severely punished. Throwing her into a well and beating her to death would be a favor from the princess."
Cen Yuwei glanced at her.
This time, even Aunt Xueyu didn't say anything to stop it.
Some things haven't happened yet.
Once Yunxi gets pregnant, it will be even more difficult to get rid of her.
If an emperor is impeached during the morning court session and his private affairs are openly discussed by his courtiers, no emperor would be in a good mood.
Therefore, Fu Shun and the others followed cautiously, afraid of making even the slightest mistake that might offend the emperor.
When Xiao Shenjing returned to his bedchamber to change into his court robes, he remembered something and frowned as he asked, "Where is Yunxi?"
The palace maid immediately replied, "We will rest at the eastern end."
"She certainly knows how to enjoy herself." Xiao Shenjing and the other palace maids tied their sashes and walked towards the east wing.
Passing through the screen, I lifted the silk curtain.
He was about to call her to get up, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he swallowed it back down.
While the world outside was in turmoil, she slept soundly in his own private space.
She couldn't even sleep properly; she slept on her side, her arm wrapped around the blanket, one leg casually tucked into the silk quilt, and one cheek pressed down so that it was slightly pouting.
A strand of hair fell onto her cheek, and she seemed to feel a little itchy. She reached out to brush it away, but didn't.
He smacked his lips, then let his hand fall back down.
By the time Xiao Shenjing realized what was happening, his hand was already brushing the strands of hair that had fallen onto her cheek behind her ear.
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