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

In the evening, after finishing his official duties, Emperor Kangxi hurriedly headed to the Kunning Palace.

As soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Biyu and Bixi guarding outside. Upon seeing Kangxi, the two quickly bowed and greeted him, saying, "Your Majesty, we are your servants."

"Where is the Empress?" Kangxi asked without stopping, walking straight into the palace, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty is still sleeping," Biyu said respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Kangxi paused in his steps and quietly walked inside.

Inside the hall, only a dim palace lantern was lit. Liu Yunshu was curled up on a soft couch, sleeping soundly, covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with lotus patterns.

Her jet-black hair was scattered on the pillow, making her profile appear even whiter.

Perhaps she was tired from the day's commotion, for her brows were slightly furrowed, but a faint smile played on her lips, as if she were dreaming of something sweet.

Kangxi sat down by the couch, his fingertips gently brushing the stray hairs on her forehead, his movements as tender as if he were afraid of disturbing a butterfly.

Just as Li Dequan was about to follow her in to serve, he stopped her with a look, and the only sounds in the hall were her steady breathing and the occasional chirping of insects outside the window.

He sat there quietly, watching her sleeping face, seeing the faint shadows cast by her eyelashes under her eyelids, and seeing her lips unconsciously purse.

He couldn't resist kissing her forehead, then slowly moved down to kiss the tip of her straight nose, finally landing on her soft lips.

With just a light touch, he was about to carefully move away when a pair of delicate hands suddenly hooked his neck, deepening the kiss.

Liu Yunshu had actually been awakened by the noise of him entering the room, but she was too lazy to open her eyes. She waited for him to get closer before deliberately hooking her arm around his neck, a sly smile hidden in her eyes.

As their lips met, she could taste the faint scent of ink mixed with ambergris on his body, and his warm breath brushed against her cheek, sending shivers down her spine.

"How long have you been awake?" Kangxi pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low and husky, his fingertips stroking the back of her neck.

"Just woke up." Liu Yunshu blinked, her expression a mix of languid charm and sweetness. "I knew the Emperor would be in a hurry to come back."

He chuckled softly, lifted her from the soft couch, and sat her on his lap, his nose brushing against the top of her head: "How could I not be anxious when I'm thinking of my Empress?"

Bixi's voice came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, dinner is ready."

"Put her in here," Kangxi called out, but he didn't loosen his grip on her; he simply moved her to a more comfortable position.

Soon, the palace maids filed in, placing one exquisite dish after another on the table.

Crystal pork knuckle, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and crab roe soup dumplings are all Jiangnan dishes that Liu Yunshu loves to eat.

Emperor Kangxi picked up his silver chopsticks, took a piece of mandarin fish, carefully removed the bones, and then held it to her lips: "Try it, this fish is exceptionally tender today."

Liu Yunshu opened her mouth and ate it, the delicious taste melting on her tongue. She smiled and said, "It's really delicious."

As she spoke, she picked up a small steamed bun, held it in a handkerchief, and brought it to his lips, saying, "Your Majesty, please try some."

He opened his mouth and bit down, but his gaze remained fixed on her face. Seeing the smile in the corner of her eyes, his heart melted completely.

The two of them fed each other, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened. The glow of the palace lanterns cast warm yellow shadows on the table, and even the air was filled with a sweet fragrance.

After dinner, the two walked side by side into the courtyard.

On an early autumn night, the evening breeze carries the fragrance of flowers and grass, and the sky is studded with twinkling stars.

"Sanlang, the moon is so beautiful tonight. How about I dance for you?" Liu Yunshu looked up at him.

"Very well, I will accompany you." Kangxi said, then turned and ordered Li Dequan, "Go and fetch my guqin."

"Sanlang can also play the guqin?" Liu Yunshu looked at him with surprise.

"I know a little bit about it, but it's been a long time since I've played it. I'll pick it up for you today." Kangxi smiled and gently stroked her nose, his eyes full of indulgence.

"Okay, I'll go change my clothes."

As she spoke, Liu Yunshu turned and walked into the inner room, and Biyu quickly followed.

Before long, she changed into a light green, wide-sleeved fairy dress, the hem of which was embroidered with delicate silver-threaded begonias, and seemed to have starlight flowing as she walked.

Her hair was loosely tied up, adorned only with a jade hairpin, adding a touch of elegance and liveliness.

When she came out, Kangxi was already sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, with an ancient seven-stringed zither on his lap.

Kangxi looked at her, his amazement undisguised. He gently plucked the strings, and the clear, melodious notes drifted on the evening breeze.

"Yunshu, are you ready?"

Liu Yunshu nodded in response to the music, raised her wide sleeves slightly, and lightly touched the bluestone with her toes before spinning and dancing to the melody.

When the light green skirt fluttered, the silver-threaded crabapple blossoms seemed to be swayed by the wind, shimmering with tiny lights under the moonlight, like a crabapple fairy blooming in the blue waves.

Her dance moves were graceful yet strong; she would sometimes twirl like a butterfly, and her wide sleeves would sweep across the ground, carrying a delicate floral fragrance.

Sometimes she raises her wrist like the moon, her fingertips trembling as if trying to catch the starlight.

When the music became urgent, she lightly touched the ground with her toes, twirled and leaped, her skirt billowing like flowing water.

When the music was soothing, she swayed her waist gently and let her wide sleeves droop slowly, every movement seemingly blending with the moonlight.

Kangxi's fingertips rested on the strings, but his gaze remained fixed on the green figure, the amazement in his eyes gradually turning into an intense tenderness.

As she spun closer, her wide sleeves brushed unintentionally against his knees. His fingertips paused, and the melody of the zither fell with a gentle final note.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently pulling her into his arms.

"Not jumping anymore?" Liu Yunshu leaned on his shoulder, slightly out of breath, her ear tips flushed.

"If you jump any further, I'm afraid I'll misplay the zither." Kangxi chuckled, his fingertips caressing the soft flesh of her wrist. "My mind is completely focused on you; I don't even care about the strings."

Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed from his words. Just as she was about to break free, he held her even tighter.

The music in the courtyard had stopped, leaving only the sound of the two people breathing and the chirping of insects in the distance.

Kangxi lowered his head and kissed her reddened earlobe, his voice extremely low: "The moonlight is beautiful, but it cannot compare to you."

Liu Yunshu's ears turned red, spreading to her cheeks. She reached out and gently pushed his chest, but not really with force: "Your Majesty is saying these sweet nothings again."

"I wasn't just trying to coax you." Kangxi held her hand and pressed it against his heart, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric.

Every word was spoken from the heart.

He looked down at the starlight reflected in her eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Such moonlight, such a beautiful woman, if we could have another drink, it would be even more perfect."

"Li Dequan," Kangxi called out, his voice still carrying a hint of tenderness.

Li Dequan, who was guarding the corridor, quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This servant is here."

"Go to the imperial kitchen and fetch a jar of the finest osmanthus wine, then bring it to the courtyard."

Kangxi gave the order, his gaze never leaving Liu Yunshu in his arms.

"Yes, sir." Li Dequan responded and withdrew.

Before long, Li Dequan returned carrying a jar of osmanthus wine.

He carefully placed the items on the stone table, then bowed and retreated to the corridor, not daring to disturb the two people in the hall in the slightest.

Emperor Kangxi helped Liu Yunshu sit down on the stone bench and personally opened the wine jar to seal it.

The sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms instantly filled the air, mingling with the scent of grass and trees in the evening breeze, a truly refreshing experience.

He filled two wine glasses with wine, the amber liquid shimmering in the moonlight.

"Try it, this is newly brewed this year, the sweetness is just right." Kangxi handed a cup to Liu Yunshu, and picked up a cup for himself as well.

Under the moonlight, the two drank wine, taking turns sips, saying little but exuding intimacy.

Soon, Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes became somewhat hazy and intoxicated.

She stood up unsteadily. "Sanlang, I'll dance for you one more time."

As she spoke, she lightly flicked her wide sleeves and began to dance. This time, her dance was not as aloof and graceful as before, but carried a touch of intoxicating charm.

With flowing sleeves, she hooked her arms around Kangxi's neck, leaning against him, looking at him with a mixture of reproach and infatuation. "Third Prince, wasn't Yunshu's dance beautiful?"

Kangxi's throat bobbed slightly. He reached out and grasped the wide sleeve that was hooked around his neck, his fingertips caressing the delicate silver begonia pattern on the fabric.

"Beautiful," he said in a low, husky voice, pulling her closer to his chest so she could lean against him. "It's ten or a hundred times more beautiful than the moonlight or the flowers in the courtyard."

Liu Yunshu laughed at his words, and with a flick of her wrist, she spun out of his arms.

Kangxi couldn't help but reach out his hand, and the light green wide sleeves swept across his hand.

Liu Yunshu picked up her wine glass, tilted her head back, and drank it down.

The wine slid down her lips, wetting the collar of her dress, glistening in the moonlight, adding a touch of decadence.

Seeing her like this, Kangxi's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He stood up, strode forward, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Liu Yunshu lazily stretched out a finger and gently pressed it against his lips.

"What's the rush, Sanlang? We haven't finished our wine yet!"

As Kangxi looked at the wine stains on her fingertips, his smile deepened.

He took her hand, lowered his head and put the little bit of wine in his mouth, his tongue lightly brushing against her fingertips, causing Liu Yunshu to tremble slightly.

"The wine can be enjoyed slowly," he said, his fingertips tracing the back of her hand, his voice slightly hoarse, "but my queen, I wish to 'taste' it first."

"Try?" Liu Yunshu chuckled softly, her eyes tinged with a drunken red, like they were stained with rouge. "Then we'll wait for Sanlang to catch me."

As she spoke, she gracefully stepped back, her light green skirt sweeping across the bluestone pavement like ripples spreading across a tranquil lake.

She deliberately dodged around the peony bushes in the courtyard, occasionally glancing back at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of drunkenness and cunning.

Kangxi's smile deepened, and he strode after him.

He could have easily pulled her into his arms, but he chose to play along with her antics.

I deliberately slowed my pace, watching her weave through the flowers.

"Slow down and watch your step," he reminded him with a smile, his voice full of indulgence.

Liu Yunshu refused to listen and instead quickened her pace to run towards the artificial hill. Just as she was about to go around the artificial hill, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Kangxi gently pulled her into his arms from behind, the warmth of his chest seeping through the fabric, carrying a faint scent of ink and wine.

"Gotcha." He chuckled softly in her ear, his breath brushing against her flushed earlobe.

Bored once again, Xiao Ba squatted on the artificial hill to admire the beautiful night view.

Under the moonlight, the crabapple blossoms gently unfurled their delicate petals.

This truly is a scene where: "A gentle east wind stirs, casting a radiant glow; fragrant mist hangs in the air, the moon moves across the corridor. I fear the flowers will fall asleep as night deepens, so I burn tall candles to illuminate their crimson beauty."

The pond was bustling with activity in the evening, as the goldfish kept leaping out of the water, making "plop" and "splash" sounds.

Water splashed everywhere, leaving glistening droplets on the crabapple petals, startling the night insects under the eaves into silence.

The moonlight casts dappled shadows beside the artificial hill, like a painting lightly brushed with ink.