After not seeing him for a long time, Wu Qing seems like a different person.

Before entering the palace, she was a man of few words. When they sat opposite each other, he was the one talking most of the time, and Wu Qing would occasionally whisper in agreement.

After being with him for a long time, Wu Qing's earlobes would turn red with shyness. As a young boy, he was moved by this many times.

Perhaps it was the good feng shui of the palace that Wu Qing, who was standing at the table grinding ink, looked radiant, his words and actions were no longer shy, and he embodied the nobleness of the palace.

Counting the time, it has only been two years since she entered the palace.

Qin Lixue almost didn't recognize her after a quick glance just now.

In his impression, Wu Qing was just an average-looking woman. But when he saw her today, he found that her skin was as white as snow and her eyebrows were as delicate as a painting. She really deserved the word "a beauty as beautiful as a country" as passed down by the outside world.

Qin Lixue stood quietly not far away, his eyes lingering on Ji Guiren for a moment, but then quickly moved away.

"I was negligent. Qin Qing has never met Lady Ji."

The emperor reacted and thought that Qin Lixue was bothered by Wu Qing's presence and was reluctant to speak.

He turned to Wu Qing and introduced gently, "Lady Ji, this is Qin Xiuzhuan from the Hanlin Academy, and he is also the art teacher you requested from me."

The emperor's words broke the silence and brought Qin Lixue's thoughts back to reality.

Qin Lixue's expression remained unchanged. He bowed to Wu Qing again and said, "Your servant Qin Lixue greets the noble lady Ji. I pay my respects to the noble lady Ji."

[…You’ve already reached the sixth rank so quickly? Got promoted again?] Wu Qing pouted secretly.

[That's right, after all, he was the heroine's tool in the previous dynasty. ]

[Hanlin Academy Editor... This position is mainly responsible for compiling records and drafting documents, a bit like the emperor's direct secretary. Although the actual power has decreased, the official career can be said to be bright. ]

"Hello, Lord Qin."

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, Wu Qing's gaze lightly swept across Qin Lixue and quickly turned back to the emperor, as if Qin Lixue was just something not worth looking at.

Her faint, almost negligible glance caused an inexplicable emotion to surge in Qin Lixue's heart.

Although she knew that they needed to avoid suspicion in front of the emperor, she actually didn't even give him a glance?

Qin Lixue lowered his eyes to hide the emotions in his heart. However, the mixed emotions were like weeds in spring, growing wildly in his heart, unable to be suppressed.

The emperor said: "This matter is also related to Concubine Ji, so I won't let her avoid it."

He wanted to get straight to the point, but his eyes fell on Wu Qing's hands who were busy grinding ink.

——Grind the ink stick twice more and the ink will overflow from the inkstone pool.

The emperor hesitated to speak.

Never mind, even though it was a good piece of ink, he didn't need these things. It's better not to blame Lady Ji, lest she think about him again.

"You should take a rest first, don't tire yourself out."

According to Concubine Ji's personality, she should have thrown down the ink stick in ecstasy and ran away.

But today's Concubine Ji was different. She behaved unusually calmly.

Wu Qing did not put down the work in his hands.

She put on a gentle smile and imitated Yuepin's voice, saying, "I feel honored to serve the emperor. How can I say it's hard work? I am willing to finish grinding this ink stick before leaving."

Her delicate voice echoed in the Yangxin Palace, making the emperor and Qin Lixue's eyelids jump violently.

The emperor thought that if he really let Wu Qing grind all the ink sticks, all the calligraphy on his table would be in trouble.

The emperor cleared his throat slightly and changed his words to persuade: "...You have been standing here for some time, why don't you sit down aside and take a rest?"

Wu Qing shook her head, her mouth full of worry for the emperor: "I don't feel tired, but Your Majesty has been standing here for a whole day, so he must be thirsty, right? I will ask the servants to bring tea right away."

After saying this, she turned around and left to make arrangements.

The emperor quickly reached out and held her arm, saying softly, "I don't need it, just take a rest."

The two of them were pulling and tugging.

Qin Lixue lowered his head, but his fists in his sleeves clenched unconsciously.

Wu Qing frowned slightly and said stubbornly: "But I haven't finished grinding yet, how can I give up halfway..."

She followed the emperor's line of sight and also cast her eyes on the inkstone.

——The ink in the inkstone pool was shaking, and the surface tension of the water had reached its maximum point. Not surprisingly, if she turned the ink stick twice more, the ink would overflow and wet the entire table.

By then, all the calligraphy works by famous calligraphers worth thousands of dollars on the table will be destroyed.

[…No wonder the Emperor has been persuading me to leave.]

Wu Qing, who had never ground ink before, silently put down the ink stick, lowered his head and pretended to be dead, as quiet as an elementary school student who had made a mistake.

Realizing that she had finally discovered it, the emperor nodded and said, "Noble Lady Ji, I know what you mean, but I am worried that your wrist will be affected, so please let go for now."

"…Your Majesty is so kind to me, thank you so much."

Wu Qing coughed and went to pat the emperor's shoulders again, "I am not tired. As long as the emperor is comfortable, I can do anything."

Her fist, as heavy as a sandbag, landed on the emperor's shoulder.

The emperor's expression changed several times before he suppressed the groan.

...Forget it, just bear with it. It’s better than letting the paintings and calligraphy on the table be ruined.

Wu Qing's sudden concern gave the emperor a bad feeling.

The last time Concubine Ji showed such concern for him was on the day she assassinated him.

In the past few days, Concubine Ji frequently went in and out of the Yangxin Palace for the affairs of "Nanshan Garden". The emperor rejected her plans several times, and Wu Qing cursed the emperor in her heart several times.

The sharpness of the language and the craziness of the words really amazed the emperor.

Now Wu Qing is so gentle and considerate in everything he does that the emperor is not only not used to it, but also a little bit creepy.

There must be something wrong when things are out of the ordinary. There must be a reason behind the sudden change in Ji Guiren's attitude.

...After thinking about it, there seems to be only one thing that is different today. The emperor accurately locked his eyes on Qin Lixue, his brows slightly raised.

This young talent with a bright future and in his prime showed an expression that the emperor had never seen before.

He lowered his head, and a gloomy aura emanated from him.

Why is this? He was fine when he came in to pay his respects just now.

Wu Qing's inner voice immediately rang out: [My ex-boyfriend is starting to feel bad, the plan works.]

“…”

Hearing this, the emperor wanted to cover his forehead without caring about his image.

He just knew it.

Wu Qing was very proud in her heart, [I knew that the emperor would summon Qin Lixue to the palace in the next few days, so I went in and out of the Yangxin Palace in full makeup every day, for fear of missing this day. ]

[You are mesmerized by my beauty filter, right? Are you heartbroken? I deserve to ask the concubine for so many cosmetics.]

[You ignored me in the past, but now you cannot reach me. 】

【Don't worry, there will be more to make you feel uncomfortable. 】

[I have cursed the emperor countless times in my heart these days. In order to make up for it, let the emperor feel my gentleness~~~]

The emperor wanted to say: No, he doesn’t want to.

But he obviously couldn't stop Wu Qing.