"The concubines pay their respects to Your Majesty."

  Su Jing didn't think it was already the end of the hour, but he actually came to Zuiyun Pavilion under the moonlight. Turning around and seeing him, she almost thought she was dreaming.

  "What are you doing outside? Can't sleep?" Zong Zhengjin walked over, personally helped her up, and touched her hand, which was warm, so he didn't mind.

  The cunning eyes rolled around, a few parts playful, a few parts mischievous, the dimples on her cheeks appeared and disappeared, "The concubine must have sensed that the emperor was coming, so she couldn't sleep at night and specially ran here to welcome the holy carriage."

  Zong Zhengjin was amused by her and tightened his cloak, "You're the only one who makes sense."

  She was busy with her own affairs during the day, and didn't have the heart to review the accumulated memorials. By the time he finally calmed down and finished dealing with those government affairs, it was already the beginning of the 10th hour (around 9-11 pm). Just as he was about to go to bed, he suddenly had a change of heart and decided to take a look at her.

  Even if it's just a glance, there is still some unease in my heart.

  "Come on in, it's cool outside at night."

  Su Jing hastily followed the person who had entered the inner chamber directly, "Your Majesty, would you like to have a cup of tea to warm up?"

  Zong Zhengjin's head was still down, "Holding Huier will warm me up."

  Su Jing was taken aback, was this guy flirting with her again?

  "The emperor is bullying his concubines again."

  Zong Zhengjin sat down on the bedside, "Bullied? You'd better say it, how did I bully you?"

  Su Jing walked up to him and sat down, sniffled, and began to complain, "The emperor is tall and has long legs, bullying the consorts for having short legs. He also takes advantage of his own intelligence and broad knowledge to bully the consorts for being narrow-minded and shortsighted...and..."

  Zong Zhengjin burst out laughing and pulled her onto his lap, "How can you come up with so many twisted arguments? Let me take a look, just how short are your legs..."

  Su Jing let out a startled cry and hastily pulled down her skirt, preventing him from undressing her. "Your Majesty, you mustn't..."

  Zong Zhengjin just wanted to scare her and wouldn't really hurt her. Upon hearing this, he stopped his actions and instead held her soft hands in his, playing with them. "Don't worry, I won't dare to touch you."

  Su Jing suddenly had an urge to cry, the three words "can't bear to part" were deeply etched in her heart, scorching hot, making her unable to hold back tears.

  Zong Zhengjin simply said what he thought, without expecting her reaction to be so big. He adjusted her posture, and the two faced each other. He wiped away the tears from her eye corners with his thumb, "How can you be so silly? You're really just a little kid."

  Su Jing only momentarily showed her emotions, biting her lip upon hearing his words, clearly dissatisfied with his evaluation. "Concubines don't care, even if they're foolish, they are still the emperor's."

  Zong Zhengjin nodded seriously, his eyes also filled with a few parts of warmth, "Mm, even if you're foolish, you're still mine."

  The two of them slept well through the night until dawn.

  "Your Majesty..." Su Jing woke up from bed and rubbed her eyes.

  Zong Zhengjin was getting dressed when he heard a noise, turned his head and saw that she had woken up. He walked over to her and said, "Why don't you sleep for a while longer? Was I the one who woke you up?"

  Su Jingxi climbed onto the bed with all his might, "No, I'll wake up naturally. Will you serve me well, concubine?"

  Zong Zhengjin nodded slightly, neither clearly agreeing nor disagreeing.

  Su Jing had never specifically done these things for him before, even though his mother had taught him, but theory and practice are different after all.

  After trying several times, Su Jingyun couldn't help him put on the dragon robe properly. Frowning in distress, she resolutely sought help, "Your Majesty, it seems that the concubine has forgotten."

  Zong Zhengjin didn't show any impatience, in fact he was still enjoying himself, stroking her little head, having guessed early on that she probably wouldn't be able to do it, this being the first time since entering the palace that she had taken the initiative to serve him.

  Ignoring Su Shun's teasing glances and gestures beside her, she guided her hand by hand, instructing her in this way and that, "Study hard."

  Su Jing helped him dress neatly and said, "Still, let others help you tie your hair."

  If I accidentally hurt him, would it be considered damaging the dragon's body?

  Zong Zhengjin didn't force her, he just waved his hand and someone came forward to help him tidy up. After everything was cleaned up, Zong Zhengjin saw her sitting blankly in front of the dressing table staring at him, not knowing what she was thinking about.

  "What are you thinking about?"

  Su Jingxi raised her head and smiled lightly, "The concubine thinks that Your Majesty is really handsome."

  It seems that every time she encounters beautiful and pretty things, the only word she truly likes is "good-looking". Although she doesn't like to compare herself with yesterday's painting, it can't be denied that her mood is good.

  "I'll help you draw your eyebrows," Zong Zhengjin suddenly said with a glance at the sky outside.

  Su Jing nodded in agreement, "Alright, Your Majesty can paint well. The beauty of the concubines today is all thanks to this eyebrow."

  Zong Zhengjin couldn't help it. "If the painting isn't good, you'll stay in Zuìyún Wù today and not go anywhere."

  Su Jing rolled her eyes and wanted to retort a few words, but when she raised her eyes, she saw him holding an eyebrow pencil, ready to go, "Do you want a crescent moon brow or a drooping pearl brow?"

  "A woman's beauty is for her own pleasure; once the emperor decides, it can be done."

  Su Jing sat on the embroidered stool, he slightly bowed his head, his eyes gleaming with intensity, fully focused, his entire being seemed to be concentrated on her, his eyes only had her.

  A serious man is the most charming, especially when he does something warm for you, such as sharpening ink and serving hot tea for you, drawing eyebrows and dressing your hair, it's elegant to the extreme.

  "Take a look?" Zong Zhengjin put down his charcoal pen and looked around, still very satisfied with himself.

  Su Jingxiu turned her head to look at the person in the ivory-inlaid copper mirror, although a layer of gold was applied, the person could be seen clearly. Simple two eyebrows like crescent moons made her peach blossom eyes even more striking, and... enchanting.

  "Your Majesty is indeed skilled, it doesn't look like this is your first time at all."

  Zong Zhengjin smiled, he was still very confident in himself. Even last time when helping her dress, it was so complicated, but didn't he manage to figure it out in the end?

  "I'll go first, take good care of yourself."

  Zong Zhengjin walked to the door and said in a deep voice to the kneeling slaves, "The monthly salary of all slaves in Zuiyun Pavilion will be doubled this month. Serve your master well."

  "Yes, your humble servant obeys your orders."

  Although it's not a lot of reward, it's also a kind of affirmation and encouragement. Rewarding them at this critical moment is also a subtle warning to them that they must not become the second generation of Daiqing.

  The queen was under house arrest. Even if Su Jing got up early, she didn't need to go and pay her respects. She had slept well the night before and was in good spirits at the moment.

  Lying on the couch, leisurely flipping through a novel, it's a very ordinary story. A poor scholar fell in love with the daughter of a prime minister, studied hard by the lamp at night, and finally passed the imperial examination, topping the list. When he went to ask for her hand in marriage, he found out that she had already been promised to someone else, the son of the Minister of War. The two resisted fate and eloped, but unexpectedly got caught and brought back. In the end, they both died together.

  Su Jingxiang may enjoy reading these things, but that doesn't mean she really agrees with the views on love expressed here. Many of them are unrealistic, such as a prime minister and a minister of war getting married, how could the emperor possibly agree; without a matchmaker, how can they elope; having eloped, being caught and brought back, why would they die for love, etc.

  She threw the book aside and really had some idle days, Su Jing puffed her cheeks in deep thought.

  "Master, don't you want to be more careful?"

  Su Jing thought of yesterday's chestnut cake, "Ben Pei wants to make it herself, let's go to the imperial kitchen."

  Ting Yao hesitated somewhat, "Master, your body has not fully recovered yet, perhaps..."

  "Good Yao, your master is craving something, can't you make it yourself? You always say that Concubine Ben has never given the Emperor anything, well, here's an opportunity."

  Ting Yao didn't think it was good to really stop him, so after advising him once, he went with Xiaofu and others to the Imperial Kitchen.

  Su Jing gave a signal with her eyes, and Xiao Fuzi immediately went forward to talk to a person who looked like a manager. After a few sentences, the eunuch walked over and said, "Your humble servant greets Concubine Zhen."

  "This old man is invited to get up, I want to borrow a small stove to make some pastries, don't know if it's convenient?" As she spoke, she let Ting Yao hand over a purse.

  That old man, however, shook his head repeatedly and didn't dare to accept it. "Look at what Mistress Jing said, how can it be inconvenient? It's just that there are many people in the kitchen and things are complicated, I'm worried that Master will get her clothes dirty."

  "It doesn't matter, as long as we can find a sedan chair bearer to take us there," said Yáo at the right moment.

  The old man hastily beckoned a small eunuch standing not far away to come over, "Master Zhen, this is Xiao Manzi, if you need anything, just order him around." He also said to the little eunuch, "Take good care of Master Zhen."

  Xiao Manzi immediately responded and hurriedly took them to another small kitchen.

  Su Jingxiao occasionally messed with these foods at home, but she didn't know many, and the ones she was most skilled at were also her favorites. She was a person who valued the pleasure of eating, a commoner, after all. Eating happily made people happy too.

  Xiang and others widened their eyes in surprise. "Master, it smells so good, it must be delicious."

  "Don't worry, everyone has a share," Su Jing was still very happy that someone had affirmed her culinary skills.

  Wrapped up a portion and put it in a food box, handed it over to Xiao Fuzi, "Send it to the Emperor."

  Xiao Fu responded and didn't dare to delay, hurrying towards the Zichen Hall. At this hour, the Emperor should have finished his morning court session.

  Su Shun Xian had just come out of the palace when he saw Xiao Fu Zi standing outside, and hurried over to him. "Is there something going on with Zhen Zhu?"

  Xiao Fu Tzu raised the food box in his hand, "Here it is, Master personally went to the kitchen and made some chestnut cakes. I hurriedly sent them over to Your Majesty."

  Su Shun was in a good mood, the Emperor had just come out of Zuiyun Pavilion that morning, and his mood was particularly good. During the early court session, he patiently listened to the debate between Prime Minister and Crown Prince Jingkang. However, later on, the two men mentioned something that made the Emperor furious. Although the Emperor favored Consort Shu and Concubine Zhen, neither of them had any children, so they begged the Emperor to bestow his favor equally upon them.

  Everyone with eyes can see that the emperor's face is not pleasant, but Jing Kang Hou is still there, unknowingly saying that Zhen Pin is not worthy of being a pin, and her luck is shallow.

  The emperor coldly ended the court session and returned, but his mood did not improve. Now that this has happened, isn't it just like "a long drought meeting sweet rain"?