Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Upon seeing this, Kangxi hurriedly reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back to soothe her. His voice was full of helplessness and panic.

"Stop talking, stop talking! It's all my fault, I shouldn't have been so reckless. I knew... I knew you valued your reputation, yet I still... made you suffer such injustice."

Kangxi's voice grew increasingly hoarse. His palm pressed against her slightly cool back, and he felt as if his chest was blocked, making even his breathing painful and labored.

She turned her head away and said indifferently, "Your Majesty, how could I, a humble woman, be worthy of such treatment from you?"

Upon hearing this, Kangxi tightened his grip on her arm.

When he lowered his head, his forehead almost touched the top of her head, and his tone was full of urgent explanation: "How can you not be worth it? In my heart, you are so precious."

He gently brushed his fingertips against her slightly cool earlobe, his voice incredibly soft: "It was my mistake. I lost my temper last night and caused you to suffer, and almost..."

At this point, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he dared not think of the way she had been hanging from the roof beam. He simply gripped her hand tightly.

"What do you want in return for your forgiveness? Just ask, and I'll grant you anything."

Liu Yunshu turned to look at him, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, "This humble woman desires the position of Empress, and Your Majesty would grant it?"

Kangxi abruptly stopped, his arm around her froze in mid-air, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by undisguised hesitation.

His Adam's apple bobbed several times, and he opened his mouth, but couldn't immediately respond.

The position of Empress is not a trivial matter; it concerns the political landscape of the court. Even if he were the emperor, he could not easily make such a promise based on his own whims.

Liu Yunshu took in his hesitation, a faint, self-deprecating smile curving her lips.

She slowly broke free from his embrace, lay back on the pillow, turned her back to him, and her voice returned to its previous indifference: "Your Majesty, look, I was just joking, and Your Majesty is already so troubled."

She paused, her fingertips gently gripping the brocade quilt beneath her. "This humble woman knows her lowly status and has never dared to covet what does not belong to her. Your Majesty need not take my previous words to heart."

As Kangxi looked at her slender back, a complex feeling welled up in his heart.

There was a stinging feeling of being hurt by her "joke," and also a sense of guilt for not being able to satisfy her immediately.

He reached out to embrace her again, but stopped the moment he touched her fabric.

In the end, he simply placed his hand lightly on her shoulder, his voice even softer: "Yun Shu, the position of Empress... it's not that I'm unwilling, but this matter involves many things and requires careful consideration."

"But don't worry," he emphasized, trying to convince her, "I will never let you suffer. Give me some time, and I will give you a satisfactory answer."

Liu Yunshu's shoulders trembled slightly, but she didn't turn around, only giving a faint "hmm".

Seeing her aloof and unapproachable demeanor, Kangxi felt even more disheartened.

His fingertips lingered on her shoulder for a moment, then he withdrew his hand and said in a low voice, "You've just woken up and are still weak. Rest a while longer. I'll stay outside and watch over you. Call me anytime if you need anything."

After saying that, he tucked the blanket around her shoulder and then quietly retreated to the outer room.

Outside, Li Dequan was leading a young eunuch in waiting. When he saw Kangxi come out, he quickly bowed and paid his respects, but Kangxi stopped him with a look.

He walked to the window, gazing at the ginkgo leaves falling in the courtyard, his brows furrowed.

The position of empress involved discussions among court officials and even the attitudes of various Mongol tribes; it was certainly not something that could be decided in a single sentence.

But when he thought of the sarcasm in Liu Yunshu's eyes just now, he felt a tightness in his chest and secretly vowed to sort things out as soon as possible so that she would not suffer any more grievances.

Inside the room, Liu Yunshu slowly opened her eyes only after hearing the footsteps fade away. There was no trace of indifference left in her eyes, only clarity.

Xiao Ba floated down from the roof beam and approached the bed: "Master, the way Kangxi hesitated clearly shows he doesn't take you seriously!"

Liu Yunshu gently stroked the corner of the blanket with her fingertips, a faint smile curving her lips: "What's the rush? The Empress's position isn't something that can be achieved overnight. His hesitation today is perfectly normal."

Just then, Biyu's soft, cautious voice came from outside the door: "Miss, the medicine is ready. Shall I bring it in for you?"

Liu Yunshu quickly closed her eyes, steadied her breathing, and said weakly, "Come in."

Biyu walked in carrying the medicine bowl. Seeing that she was still lying on her side, her eyes reddened again: "Miss, please drink slowly. This medicine has just been warmed up and won't burn your mouth."

As he spoke, he carefully helped her up and placed a brocade pillow behind her back.

Liu Yunshu frowned slightly as she looked at the dark brown medicine in the bowl, but still opened her mouth and drank it down.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Kangxi has been summoned away."

"Yes, let's go back to the Tong residence now."

Just as Biyu was about to put away the medicine bowl, she heard Liu Yunshu speak softly, "Biyu, help me up and do my hair. I'm going to see the Empress Dowager."

Biyu paused, her eyes full of surprise: "Miss, you're still weak. Why are you seeing the Empress Dowager? It's better to wait until you've recovered before you speak."

Seeing that Liu Yunshu insisted, Biyu still helped her with her makeup and dressing up. She used powder to cover the red marks and lightly brushed rouge on her cheeks.

Liu Yunshu carefully examined herself in the bronze mirror, and seeing that there was nothing amiss, she got up and walked out.

As he was about to leave, he instructed Biyu, "I am going to see the Empress Dowager to say goodbye. You stay here to pack your luggage, and have Qiushuang come with me."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Shuang quickly stepped forward to support Liu Yunshu's arm. Her fingertips touched Liu Yunshu's slightly cool wrist, and she couldn't help but softly advise, "Madam, you are not yet well. Perhaps you should postpone your departure for a few days?"

Liu Yunshu did not stop walking, her voice still gentle but with an undeniable firmness: "The slower we go, the easier it is for things to change. Going down now is just right."

The two headed towards Cining Palace. On the way, Qiu Shuang wanted to persuade her again several times, but seeing Liu Yunshu's calm expression, she swallowed her words in the end.

As soon as she arrived at the palace gate, the Empress Dowager's personal maid came up to her with a smile and said, "Madam, you've finally arrived! The Empress Dowager was just talking about you."

Upon entering the hall, Liu Yunshu curtsied to the Empress Dowager. Just as she bent down, the Empress Dowager quickly stepped forward to support her, saying, "Good child, don't be so polite. Why are you so late today?"

Liu Yunshu leaned into the Empress Dowager's arm and said in a slightly coquettish tone, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I woke up a little late this morning and made you wait. I'm really sorry."

The Empress Dowager held her slightly cool hand and patted it tenderly: "Why are you saying such polite things to me? Please sit down. Qiushuang, bring your mistress a soft stool."

After Liu Yunshu sat down, the Empress Dowager instructed a palace maid to bring over some warm white fungus soup. "It's freshly made. You're weak, so drink some to nourish yourself."

Liu Yunshu held the porcelain bowl, feeling the warmth on her fingertips, but didn't touch the spoon. She simply looked down at the silver ear fungus in the bowl.

"The Empress Dowager treats me so well; I should have stayed with you longer..."

"What? Are you leaving?" The Empress Dowager straightened up and looked at her anxiously.

"I've been staying in the palace for so long, and I'm always afraid of disturbing the Empress Dowager's peace. Besides..." She paused, lowering her eyelashes, "the household should also be concerned."

"This..." The Empress Dowager looked reluctant. Liu Yunshu was just what she wanted, sensible and considerate.

"Are you really leaving?"

Seeing Liu Yunshu nod, the Empress Dowager sighed softly, "Is His Majesty aware of this?"

Liu Yunshu's raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly. "His Majesty is busy with official duties. This little matter is not worth mentioning to His Majesty."

Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, Liu Yunshu tugged at her sleeve and gently shook it. "Your Majesty, please let Yunshu go back. Yunshu will come to the palace to see you again next time, okay?"

The Empress Dowager's heart softened when she heard her soft "Your Majesty" and she didn't try to stop her. She just reached out and patted the back of her hand.

"Alright, alright, since you want to go back to the manor, I won't stop you. Just don't forget about this old woman."

Liu Yunshu nodded quickly, her eyes slightly reddening, and reached out to hug the Empress Dowager's arm, her voice tinged with dependence.

"How could Yunshu forget? In a few days, Yunshu will personally make your favorite milk custard and then come to the palace to see you."

The Empress Dowager was delighted by her coaxing and gave her a few more instructions: "Go back to your residence and rest well" and "Don't overwork yourself."

She then had a pile of nourishing ginseng, bird's nest, and two bolts of fine brocade brought to her before having her head maid escort her out of the palace.

Upon returning to the Tong residence, Liu Yunshu first went to pay her respects to Madam Tong.

When Madam Tong saw the Empress Dowager's reward, she knew that Liu Yunshu must have been highly regarded in the palace, and her smile deepened.

"Now that you're back, go back to the courtyard and rest."

Liu Yunshu responded with a "Thank you, Mother," and then followed Biyu back to her own courtyard.

Back in her room, Liu Yunshu finally collapsed, exhausted, onto the chaise lounge.

Biyu looked at her with concern, "Miss, why are you doing this to yourself!"

"What else can we do?" She opened her eyes, looked out the window, and her eyes were filled with a touch of melancholy.

"I am the eldest daughter of the Hesheli clan, the legal wife of Longkodo, and the daughter-in-law of the Tong family. If this matter gets out, how will the married and unmarried daughters of the Hesheli clan face themselves?"

Liu Yunshu gazed wistfully at the crabapple blossoms outside the window.

"Since this matter has not been reported, let's pretend it never happened. From now on, I will stay at home and live my own life, fulfilling my duties as a daughter-in-law of the Tong family and protecting the reputation of Hesheli."

Hearing this, Qiu Shuang couldn't help but ask, "Madam, didn't His Majesty say he would find a way?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu gently tugged at the corners of her lips. "I know His Majesty is telling the truth, and I know His Majesty's feelings for me are genuine. But..."

As she said this, a tear slid down her cheek.

"But how can I let him give others a reason to criticize him? He is the supreme ruler, and should be revered by all people. He should not be criticized by court officials and have his name added to the history books for 'indulging in beauty and disregarding etiquette' because of me, a woman."

Liu Yunshu raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her voice choked with sobs, yet still clear-headed.

"If I stay in the palace or eagerly await a title from him, it will only put him in a difficult position. It would be better for me to step back and return to my residence to fulfill my duties, thus preserving the reputation of the Hesheli clan and the Tong family, while also leaving him room to maneuver."

Biyu's eyes reddened as she listened, but she understood that what she said was true. She could only step forward and tuck the thin blanket around her: "Miss is so thoughtful, she must be suffering."

Liu Yunshu gently shook her head, her gaze returning to the crabapple blossoms outside the window, her tone gradually calming.

"Suffering is nothing. As long as I can protect those who deserve it, it's all worth it. From now on, don't mention anything about the palace again, and don't expect the Emperor to come to see me again. Just pretend that the song in Cining Palace and the moonlight in the side hall that day were all just a dream."

Looking at her forced calm profile, Qiu Shuang felt a pang of sadness, but she knew she couldn't persuade her. She could only clench her sleeves and whisper, "Yes, I understand."

Such a loving wife, I must report this to the Emperor!