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

"emperor!"

Liu Yunshu gave him a half-angry, half-infatuated look, her voice still carrying the seductive charm of last night's drunkenness.

This man! He keeps arousing her...

Kangxi felt a surge of desire at her gaze, and he picked her up, lying down on the soft couch so that she could lean comfortably against him.

The soft couch, though not large, was just the right size for two people to lean on each other.

He reached out and pulled the cloak tighter around her, wrapping her up more securely, while his fingertips casually played with a strand of her hair that hung over her shoulder.

"You came right after the morning court session. Are you done with your duties at court?" Liu Yunshu looked up at him, her nose brushing against the golden dragon embroidered on his robe, her tone filled with concern.

"The important matters have been dealt with; let them keep an eye on the rest." Kangxi lowered his head, his nose touching the top of her head, his voice slightly hoarse from just finishing court, yet full of languid warmth.

"I was worried that you hadn't eaten breakfast properly, so I came to check on you."

As he spoke, he gestured for Biyu to hand him the rose cakes on the table, picked up a piece, and held it to her lips: "Try it? Is it cold?"

Liu Yunshu opened her mouth and took a bite. The sweet rose fragrance spread on her tongue. She chewed it and smiled, "It's still warm. Sanlang, you've gone to so much trouble."

"You are my wife, my empress. If I don't go to the trouble of caring for you, who will I care for?"

Kangxi raised an eyebrow, picked up another piece, took a small bite for himself, and fed the rest to her. "You were tired yesterday, so have the kitchen stew an old hen for lunch today to help you recover."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu's ears burned slightly. She reached out and gently pushed his arm, her voice tinged with a touch of coquettish complaint.

"I'm not that delicate. I just danced for a while and drank some wine. Why would I need to replenish my body?"

Kangxi, however, persisted, pinching her soft cheek with a mischievous smile in his eyes. "Has my Empress forgotten who carried her back to the palace yesterday?"

These words touched a nerve with Liu Yunshu, and she quickly buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled: "Sanlang, you brought this up again!"

The warm breath seeped through the fabric and reached Kangxi's heart, making him chuckle softly.

He gently patted her back, like coaxing a child: "Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore. But the old hen has to be stewed, you eat it obediently, okay?"

Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves, casting flickering shadows on his face.

Those eyes, usually as deep and cold as a still pool, were now filled with a gentle smile.

Seeing this, Liu Yunshu's heart skipped a beat, and she obediently nodded in agreement.

"What were you talking about with the Imperial Concubine and the others just now? Did they bully you?"

Liu Yunshu snuggled closer to him, finding a comfortable position to lean against him, her fingertips lightly tracing her name on the buttons of his clothes.

"How could that be? They came to pay their respects to me. I've divided up the palace affairs, letting the Consort continue to oversee everything, while my other sisters each manage their own area, so she won't have to work so hard alone."

Kangxi looked down at her, noticing a knowing clarity in her eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle: "You certainly know how to save trouble. Aren't you afraid that after they divide power, they'll each have their own agendas?"

"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." Liu Yunshu looked up at him, a sly glint in her eyes.

"They each have their own duties and check each other, making it less likely for them to band together and cause trouble. Besides, with the Emperor backing me up, who would dare to truly offend me?"

The last sentence was spoken with a touch of coquettish reliance, which warmed Kangxi's heart. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "That's right. With me here, no one in this harem can make you suffer."

He paused, then asked, "So, the 'mutual supervision' rule you set was also for this purpose?"

"Yes," Liu Yunshu nodded, "There are too many people and too many eyes in the palace. How can we possibly keep an eye on everything by ourselves? Letting them supervise themselves, with clear rewards and punishments, will actually make things more peaceful. I don't want to be buried in account books and gossip all day and miss the time I spend with Sanlang."

Kangxi was amused by her frank words and laughed heartily. The vibrations in her chest made her feel even more secure leaning against him.

"Alright, whatever you say. If you want to relax, then relax. If you find palace affairs tiring, just leave them to me to handle."

Liu Yunshu looked up at him, and the sunlight fell perfectly on the corners of his smiling eyes. His usual sternness faded away, leaving only tender affection.

She couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke his eyebrows and eyes with her fingertips: "Sanlang is so good to me."

"Silly girl," Kangxi held her hand, kissed it gently, "If I don't treat you well, who else would I treat well?"

Liu Yunshu leaned against him, listening to his steady heartbeat, the cool ambergris scent lingering around her nose, and felt completely at peace.

She gently closed her eyes and whispered, "It feels so good to lean against you like this."

Kangxi tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low and gentle: "Then let's stay like this forever."

Such tranquil moments seem to stretch on forever, even longer than the long years.

Liu Yunshu dozed off in his arms, and when she opened her eyes again, the sun had already climbed to the middle of the sky, and the dappled sunlight filtering through the paulownia leaves swayed gently on his bright yellow dragon robe.

"Awake?" Kangxi noticed her movement, looked down at her, and his eyes still held a lingering languor. "Are you hungry? I'll have the kitchen bring lunch here."

Liu Yunshu nodded, wriggled out of his arms, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and smiled, "It's fine to use it here, it saves us the trouble of going back and forth."

She had just sat up straight when she saw Biyu leading several eunuchs over with food boxes.

Before long, the small table under the eaves was filled with dishes.

The stewed hen soup was simmered until tender, the braised pork knuckle was glistening with oil, and there were also some refreshing seasonal vegetables and a bowl of crystal-clear rice.

Kangxi picked up a spoon and first ladled a bowl of chicken soup for her: "Drink some quickly to replenish your qi and blood."

Liu Yunshu took the soup bowl, the warmth flowing from the porcelain bowl to her fingertips. She scooped up a spoonful and slowly drank it.

After the meal, Kangxi prepared to return to his study to handle some memorials, but he was reluctant to part with her like this.

Seeing this, Liu Yunshu's eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, "Why don't I go to the Imperial Study with Third Prince? Just like before."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi's eyes lit up with a smile, and he tightened his grip on her hand: "You're willing to accompany me?"

Although she came to the Imperial Study to accompany the Emperor during his studies, it was not her true wish.

"Of course I'd like to." Liu Yunshu looked up at him, her eyebrows curving like crescent moons.

Kangxi was overjoyed and immediately took her hand and squeezed it in her palm.

"Very well, then you may come with me. I will review memorials, and you can read or write in the background. We can each do our own thing, yet we can still keep in touch. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Having said that, he took her hand and led her to the imperial study. Sunlight streamed through the eaves of the vermilion palace walls, casting a warm glow on their clasped hands.

Inside the imperial study, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were already prepared, and the air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and a scholarly atmosphere.

Emperor Kangxi sat on the dragon throne, but did not rush to look at the memorials. He simply asked Liu Yunshu to sit on the soft couch next to him, and had a eunuch bring over a low table, on which he placed her favorite candied fruit and tea.

"If you're tired, rest on the couch for a while. Don't push yourself." He gently instructed her, his gaze fixed on her with tenderness.

Liu Yunshu smiled and nodded, then took a copy of "The Collection of Flowers" from the bookshelf and leaned against the couch to read it.

Kangxi then turned his gaze away and picked up the memorial to review.

The soft rustling of the brush tip across the rice paper mingled with the gentle turning of the pages, creating an atmosphere of quiet warmth in the otherwise tranquil space.

Liu Yunshu read for a while, then got a little tired and turned to look at Kangxi.

It's often said that men who work hard are the most attractive, and that's absolutely true.

Although he was in his forties, the calm and dignified demeanor between his brows was like a fine wine that had been aged for many years, rich and profound, captivating all who beheld him.

It makes you want to drink it all in one gulp and taste the flavor of this "aged wine".

With these thoughts in mind, she slowly got up and quietly walked to the dragon throne.

Emperor Kangxi was intently reading the memorial, his brows slightly furrowed.

She couldn't help but reach out and gently brush her fingertips across his brow, wanting to smooth out the furrowed brow.

Kangxi stiffened, then turned his head, the seriousness in his eyes instantly fading, replaced by surprise and amusement: "Why have you come?"

"It's heartbreaking to see Sanlang frowning like that." Liu Yunshu casually placed her hand on his shoulder and gently massaged his neck and shoulders with her fingertips.

"Are you having some trouble?"

Kangxi took her hand, kissed it, and smiled, "It's not too difficult. It's just some local disaster reports. We need to carefully consider the methods of disaster relief."

He pulled her to sit on his lap, saying, "Your presence eases my worries."

Liu Yunshu glared at him, but still obediently leaned against him, her fingertips unconsciously tracing her name on the buttons of his dragon robe.

"Then I will stay with you a little longer, so that your brow can remain relaxed."

Kangxi chuckled softly, tightened his grip on her arm, and lowered his head to plant a kiss on the top of her head.

"With you here, all my worries will disappear."

At this moment, Li Dequan walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, along with several princes, requests an audience." Li Dequan bowed, his voice extremely low.

Kangxi glanced down at Liu Yunshu and said, "Let them in."

Li Dequan acknowledged and withdrew.

Liu Yunshu's eyes flickered. "Since Sanlang has matters to attend to, may I excuse myself for a moment?"

Just as Kangxi was about to say that it was unnecessary, he saw Liu Yunshu quickly hide under the imperial desk.

Kangxi paused, his words cut off by her sudden action. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a helpless yet indulgent smile.