Su Wanwan nodded absentmindedly: "My hands are tired."
Lu Xingjian gracefully put down the purple brush, took her wrist and gently massaged it, his eyes fixed on her fair little hand without looking up.
"You really should exercise more. You get tired of everything. You're such a delicate person."
Su Wanwan glanced nervously at the several doors that were open for ventilation, her face immediately turned red, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Officials who wanted to see the emperor were waiting outside the door.
Lu Xingjian glanced at her with a slight smile, then continued writing.
After meeting with several more groups of officials, Lu Xingjian finally had time to rest.
The eunuch brought in some snacks and tea.
Su Wanwan was so tired that she kept pounding her thin arms.
The door to the Imperial Study was closed. Lu Xingjian lifted her onto his lap, gently wiped her hands with a warm, damp cloth, and then picked up a pastry and brought it to her lips.
The familiar sweet aroma of osmanthus cake blossoms between the lips and teeth.
Su Wanwan was somewhat stunned.
She remembered that this was the work of an elderly nanny in Qingning Palace when she was a child.
Later, as the old woman's health deteriorated, she moved to Anletang to live out her retirement, and never again tasted such delicious osmanthus cake.
It felt like stepping back into the carefree days of childhood.
He writes, and she helps him grind the ink; sometimes she even imitates his handwriting to copy large characters for him.
The next day, her husband discovered this and punished her by making her copy double the amount of text.
The two of them, dejected, one wrote characters while the other ground ink.
Once the ink was ground, she also began to write, but this time she didn't dare to help him copy large characters; she simply stayed with him.
He secretly complained that being the crown prince was really miserable, with endless words to write and books to memorize every day.
This meant they didn't have much time to play together, so they could only read and write together.
Empress Dowager Zhou pretended not to know about the punishment of copying texts and even sent someone to deliver a late-night snack.
She was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping as she propped her head up with her hand, but she immediately perked up when she saw the osmanthus cake.
For the sake of their teeth, such sweets and pastries were rarely served in Qingning Palace, especially at night.
Being able to eat sweet osmanthus cake makes writing by lamplight seem less arduous and more something to look forward to.
At that time, the two of them were sitting side by side eating osmanthus cake.
Now, she sits on his lap eating osmanthus cake.
Lu Xingjian's heart skipped a beat when he saw her dazed expression; he found her incredibly adorable.
It's a bit like when I was a kid.
He reached out and tucked the stray hairs from her cheek behind her ear, asking softly:
How does it taste?
"Just like when I was a child."
Lu Xingjian's lips curled slightly, and he lowered his head to peck her pink lips, a half-smile playing on his lips:
"Just as I expected."
The kiss was like a dragonfly skimming the water, yet the doting affection and tenderness were so real.
Su Wanwan's heart trembled.
Her eyes flickered, and she picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and held it to his lips.
Lu Xingjian's eyelashes trembled slightly as he ate the osmanthus cake.
She finally took the initiative.
Su Wanwan's eyes flickered as she slowly raised them to meet his gaze.
The air was quiet and gentle, and a touch of warmth, like a thread, was drawn from the heart and wrapped around them.
These threads are invisible and intangible.
Yet it flows continuously, warming people's hearts.
He gently pressed her head against his shoulder, holding her tighter and tighter, the tenderness in his eyes impossible to hide.
"Late night, late night."
He took a deep breath and murmured softly.
It seemed like he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he just softly called her name.
Su Wanwan didn't know what to say. She felt like a puddle of water, limp in his arms, and the two hugged even tighter and closer.
“Lu Xingjian”.
She called his name softly, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
Lu Xingjian didn't mind at all that she called him by his full name.
His thin lips pressed against her jet-black hair, his deep black eyes heavy and misty like distant mountains.
They looked like two children at that moment.
A piece of pastry helped us let down our guard and bring our hearts closer together.
Until they heard voices coming from outside the door.
Chief Steward Li bowed to Prince Rong, Lu Youting, with a smile:
"Oh, what brings you here today, sir?"
Lu Youting smiled faintly and slipped a red envelope:
"I have something to discuss with Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty in the Imperial Study?"
Manager Li accepted the red envelope generously, his smile becoming even more genuine.
Last June, Grand Secretary Su Jian requested that Prince Rong go to Changde Prefecture to assume his fiefdom.
Lu Xingjian disagreed, saying that Prince Rong should remain in the capital to perform royal rites on his behalf.
At first, Steward Li also thought that Lu Xingjian really thought that way.
Later, when he saw Su Wanwan return to the capital, and Prince Rong asked to marry Su Wanwan as a concubine, he slowly began to ponder the implications.
One has to admire how cunning Lu Xingjian is.
They've gone to such lengths to prevent Prince Rong from abducting people after he leaves the capital.
If Su Wanwan never returns to the capital, is he going to keep Prince Rong in the capital forever?
The presence of princes in the capital is always a potential threat to imperial power.
The Emperor truly loves beauty more than his empire!
The two of them are currently enjoying their time together in the house. It would be good if Prince Rong could see this with his own eyes and finally give up on them.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Lu Youting urged, "Please trouble Steward Li to inform him."
Steward Li smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. This old servant will go and report right away."
That's what they said, but they remained slow and motionless.
He cleared his throat, straightened his collar, and dusted his sleeves for a while before slowly going to the door to knock.
"Your Majesty, Prince Rong requests an audience."
Lu Youting watched quietly as Chief Steward Li put on his act, his gaze sweeping toward the door of the Imperial Study.
It was unclear what important matter was inside, but even the emperor's most trusted and relied-upon chief steward dared not go in to disturb them.
After the door to the Imperial Study opened, Lu Youting strode in with his head held high, but his gaze froze.
Su Wanwan sat in her wheelchair, very close to the dragon table.
The emperor was holding Su Wanwan's hand and only let go of her hand when he entered.
It was as if she deliberately let him see it.
Lu Youting took a deep breath, suppressing his inner turmoil, before bowing:
"Your subject Lu Youting pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."
Lu Xingjian spoke casually and arrogantly:
"You're too kind, Uncle Thirteen. Rise."
Lu Youting stood up, his eyes slightly narrowed.
He looked at Su Wanwan in the wheelchair with a chilling gaze, and after a long while, he smiled softly.
"Wanwan, no wonder you refuse to marry me."
Su Wanwan stiffened for a moment, then lowered her eyes uneasily.
Prince Rong is not stupid; he must have already guessed that Lu Xingjian and she had a secret affair long ago.
Now you can stand on the moral high ground and condemn her as shameless, vulgar, and promiscuous.
Lu Xingjian glanced at Prince Rong with his dark, deep eyes.
There was a hint of coldness in his eyes.
He reached out and grabbed Su Wanwan's hand again, not allowing her to break free.
His tone carried a warning: "Thirteenth Uncle, Wanwan is timid, don't scare her."
Lu Youting sneered twice:
"Is she timid?"
"Would a coward dare to press Princess Rong's face into boiling meat soup?"
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