In the evening, Zong Zhengjin still stepped into the gate of Guan Yu Palace.

  Dismissed the palace maid who was about to pay her respects, walked slowly to her back, silently hooked the corner of his mouth, really not making any progress at all.

  It was supposed to be a beautiful summer lotus lake landscape painting, but it was unfortunately painted by her... It's not even worth looking at. The white lotus that didn't touch the muddy water also had a childish air about it after just a few strokes of her brush. As for the composition and color matching of the painting, they were simply appalling.

  Su Jingxi was completely absorbed in her own painting, and felt quite good about it. If she knew his inner thoughts, she would be very frustrated. People who can't appreciate modern sketching have no common language.

  "Your Majesty." Su Jing was about to put down the brush, when Yu Guang saw him standing beside with his hands behind his back, a look of disdain on his face. Startled, the brush fell onto the just completed painting, and the ink dots quickly spread out, like the blooming white lotus flower coloring.

  Zong Zhengjin saw her regretful and heart-aching expression, rubbed his nose, "I've been here all along."

  So you cannot blame me.

  Su Jing glared at him fiercely, her tone dissatisfied. "Why didn't the Emperor speak up?"

  "I'm afraid of disturbing your inspiration." Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow.

  Su Jing pouted and picked up that already useless rice paper. "Anyway, the emperor will have to compensate."

  "I didn't give you a pair before?" Zong Zhengjin thought she looked like a kid who hadn't eaten candy, cute to the extreme.

  "Concubines are of no concern. If it weren't for the Emperor, a masterpiece that would shock the world would have been born just now. Now look, everything is ruined." As she spoke, she waved the paper in her hand.

  Zong Zhengjin burst out laughing in a very cooperative manner. I've never seen her like this before... so thick-skinned. "I'll compensate you, then."

  "It's settled then. The Emperor's words are golden, but can't be used to coax concubines." Su Jing's face lit up with joy, yet she still knew to speak her mind first.

  Zong Zhengjin knocked on her head. "I am the emperor, and my words are like a divine bell. Why are you being stubborn?"

  Just about to speak again. Yu Guang glanced at the paper under the stack of books.

  Su Jing followed his gaze and hurriedly leaned over to block his line of sight, foolishly smiling. "Your Majesty, do you want to take a bath?"

  Zong Zhengjin's gaze swept back and forth across her face and behind her a few times, his tone calm. "Take a bath."

  He didn't look as she had wished. Su Jinglian was displeased again. She pulled at his sleeve. "Your Majesty..."

  "You will come with me." Zong Zhengjin pretended not to know.

  Su Jing weakly gasped for air. "Isn't Your Majesty curious?"

  Zong Zhengjin found it amusing in his heart, but his face didn't show it. "Nothing."

  Su Jing let out a sigh, feeling somewhat powerless. "Let's take a bath then."

  Zong Zhengjin followed her to the bathroom.

  After a simple bath, no matter how quick Su Jing's movements were, she was always slower than him. So when she came out of the bathroom, he was already sitting on the armchair flipping through her papers.

  Su Jingxiao threw the cloth in her hand aside and walked over, her eyes falling on the paper in his hand with the words "Repay kindness with virtue, how to repay virtue" written on it.

  She calmed down for a moment. Zong Zhengjin suddenly raised his head and saw that she was facing him with a nervous expression, her eyes fixed on the paper in his hand. He pulled her over and put her on his lap. "This is what you thought was a good idea."

  Su Jing pursed her lips, staring tightly at his eyes, but lost in just a few seconds, and had to shift her gaze elsewhere. "The concubine thinks it's pretty good, what does Your Majesty think?"

  "What if I don't respond to you?"

  Su Jing was taken aback. Obviously, she hadn't thought of this question before. In her opinion, he would definitely respond to her.

  Perhaps her facial expression was too obvious, he could see what she was thinking at a glance. He sighed, why was she so sure that he would help her?

  Okay. He will indeed help her.

  "Will the Emperor be coming?" Su Jing almost immediately let her eyes fill with mist. Many times, a woman's tears were still very useful. This was her long-standing experience.

  As expected. He immediately furrowed his brow and used his thumb to wipe away the rolling tear for her. "You said you'd master this move."

  Su Jing burst into tears and laughed. She rushed over and hugged his neck. "The emperor is so good."

  Zong Zhengjin was helpless. Being good to her meant being good, and not being good to her meant she would immediately cry in front of him. Her emotional changes were like those of a child. "Do you know shame?"

  "The concubines don't care." Su Jing continued to be mischievous.

  "What if I didn't come tonight? Or what if I hadn't seen this at all?" Zong Zhengjin pulled her in front of him and asked seriously.

  Su Jing glanced at him awkwardly. "I don't know, but I believe that if the Emperor knew, he would help me."

  "You didn't answer me." He changed the subject and glanced around. He was getting more and more familiar with her.

  Su Jingxiang couldn't help it, as if she had let go of everything. "Alright, the concubine thought that if the emperor doesn't come tonight, the concubine will be ill tomorrow."

  " You..." Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow. Indeed, there was no good answer.

  Su Jing saw that he seemed to be getting angry and hastily leaned tightly into his arms. "Your Majesty wants the concubine to speak, Your Majesty must not get angry."

  Zong Zhengjin was furious and laughed instead. "Are you saying that I am asking for punishment?"

  How did it get so out of hand?

  Su Jing shook her head repeatedly, "No, the concubine just thinks that if the emperor doesn't help the concubine, the concubine will have no other choice."

  This feeling of being relied on by someone with all their heart isn't that bad. However, what's making him unhappy is something else.

  "Even if I don't come, what's the use of you falling ill." Zong Zhengjin couldn't help but feel a sense of "iron not becoming steel".

  Su Jing swept a glance at the book placed on the side of the desk and said softly, "The concubine saw that it was written like this in the book."

  Zong Zhengjin chuckled and raised his hand to tap her forehead, hearing her cry out in pain. Helplessly, he had no choice but to go and massage it for her again. He had always known that she was very delicate.

  "This is not allowed for you to try. Under no circumstances can you do it. Otherwise... otherwise I will not bother with you again."

  Su Jingxi's heart was somewhat happy and didn't want to pretend anymore. She leaned into his arms, "The concubine knows."

  "Now that I know, those words are all unnecessary." Su Jing heard him say this before she could even utter the phrase "Your Majesty is so good". She had to swallow her words and looked at him with a sorrowful gaze.

  Unfortunately, they all see but do not observe.

  "Your Majesty... can I..." Su Jing still wanted to struggle.

  Zong Zhengjin glanced at her lightly and coldly spat out three words: "Not allowed."

  Su Jing sighed dejectedly.

  Tonight, in order to match what he said, she was even more physically exhausted, and Su Jing couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

  …………

  "Master, peach blossoms have really bloomed. Want to go take a look." Yao walked in, her face excited.

  Su Jingxiao also came with a few points of interest. It's been almost a year since she entered the palace. At this time last year, peach blossoms were in full bloom. She was full of expectation to enter the palace and participate in the selection. Time really flies.

  "Go ahead. These days have been quite dull too."

  Yao lightly laughed and went to get her a thin cloak. "It's still a bit windy outside, Master, why don't you wear this cloak?"

  Su Jing nodded slightly. "Then let Xun Xiang follow Ben Pei."

  Spring colors fill the garden. The peach blossoms are once again a year of spring. The breath of spring is still somewhat different from other seasons. Some days haven't come out, and it's slightly unaccustomed.

  The peach blossoms on the peach tree are either in bud or in full bloom, clustering together and looking quite beautiful from a distance. No wonder since ancient times, literary figures have used peach blossoms to describe women with enchanting beauty.

  "Let's pick up some fallen petals later and brew some peach blossom wine."

  "Yes." Xiāng responded with a voice. "Master, it seems that Qí Huán and others have come over from the other side."

  Su Jing looked in the direction she was pointing and sighed inwardly. "It's been quiet for a while, but it's really not easy."

  Xiang knew what she meant. It's just that their status was different. She couldn't say anything, and could only stand quietly to the side.

  Su Jing didn't expect her to say anything reasonable either. "How did a few sisters take an interest in coming to this Peach Garden?"

  "Imperial Concubine Zhen Ronghua pays her respects." Imperial Concubines Qi, Li Xiaoyi, Ling Liangyu and Du Guiren all curtsied.

  Su Jing smiled lazily. "No need for formalities, sisters."

  "Thank you for your kindness."

  "It's not possible. The concubines have been coming to this peach garden frequently these days, but only today did I see Zhen Ronghua. I suppose Zhen Ronghua also heard that the peach blossoms are in full bloom." Qi Pin said as she stood up.

  She knew that there was already a gap in status between the two of them, but she would rather address Su Jing as "Su Jing" than call her "sister" with false affection.

  "I suppose so." Su Jing said lightly.

  Although Qi Hui has not received much imperial favor since entering the palace, her special status cannot be ignored. With the support of Empress Dowager behind her back, no one dares to offend her. The same goes for the Empress.

  At this time, Su Jing suddenly saw her face fall. After all, she was young and couldn't hold back her temper. The discontent in her heart immediately showed on her face. "Zhen Ronghua doesn't want to talk to concubines."

  Su Jing let out a soft snort of laughter, glanced at her with eyes that held a hint of sarcasm and disdain in a place where the other three couldn't see. "What's it to you."

  "Yóu..." Qi Pin took a step forward, staring at her tightly.

  Su Jing smoothed out her loose hair in front of her forehead. "Is Xiuniang trying to teach me a lesson?"

  Li Xiao Yi and Ling Liang Yuan exchanged a glance, then hastily stepped forward. One of them pulled on Qi Huan's sleeve without leaving any marks, while the other hurriedly persuaded Su Jing Xian, "Zhen jie, don't mind, Qi jie definitely didn't mean it."

  The two of them can accompany Shangguan Mei out. Naturally, it's not because of so-called sisterly love. But to climb up the big tree that is the Empress Dowager. The Emperor is unreliable. So there must be someone backing her up from behind.

  Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager didn't give them face. So they had to resort to a roundabout way. After coaxing her, Shangguan Wan'er thought it was also somewhat useful. That's why today's outing with several of them happened.

  But if so, then Shangguan Wan'er has nothing to gain from this either. Regardless of who is at fault, neither of the two women will end up with a good outcome.