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

Even after that day, although Kangxi understood that Yinreng had been tricked by Yinzhi, he still harbored resentment in his heart.

The crown prince, as the foundation of the state, failed to recognize talent and discipline people effectively, allowing others to seize upon his weaknesses and ultimately losing his sense of propriety.

Although he did not punish him severely, he used the pretext of confining him to his quarters to copy books as a way to temper Yinreng's arrogance.

However, Yinreng believed that Kangxi was biased and completely ignored his grievances and explanations.

During his confinement in the Eastern Palace, he faced the Zizhi Tongjian every day, his pen tracing the phrases "ruler and minister" while his heart was filled with resentment.

With the encouragement of those around him, he became increasingly distant from Emperor Kangxi.

Seeing this, Kangxi felt even more disappointed.

The estrangement between father and son, like a thin layer of ice, gradually thickened with each silence and misunderstanding.

Liu Yunshu watched as the father and son grew increasingly estranged and did not get involved.

What the Crown Prince is like is none of her business. But it's Kangxi. Considering how good he is to her and how well he feeds her, she'll go and coax this old man properly.

That evening, after finishing his work on the memorials, Emperor Kangxi returned to Kunning Palace, exhausted.

As soon as I stepped into the palace, I saw Liu Yunshu wearing a light purple satin dress, leaning on the chaise lounge by the window, her chin resting on her hand, looking sullen.

Kangxi paused, as if the irritability of the past few days had been largely dispelled by this listless figure.

He walked over quietly and gently pinched her cheek with his fingertips: "My Empress, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

Liu Yunshu raised her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings damp with moisture: "It's not Sanlang yet."

She reached out and hooked his belt, pulling him closer to the couch. "You've been staying in the Imperial Study until late at night these past few days. The white fungus soup in Kunning Palace has gone cold almost eight times already."

Kangxi was amused by her straightforward grievance, and sat down on the edge of the couch, pulling her into his arms: "It was my fault."

He lowered his head to smell the fragrance in her hair, his voice soft and gentle, "In the past few days, there have been frequent reports of battles in the Northwest, and I lost my composure for a moment."

"Shouldn't we be happy about the great victory in the Northwest?" Liu Yunshu poked at the button on his chest with her fingertip.

"I heard from Li Dequan that you also rewarded the soldiers of the vanguard battalion? But when it came to my reward, all I got were the four words 'Empress, please wait.'"

Kangxi grabbed her mischievous hand and brought it to his lips: "What reward does the Empress desire?"

Liu Yunshu's eyes lit up, her slender white fingers hooking around his belt, her little face tilted up as she looked at him expectantly.

"Sanlang~"

The way he called out "Sanlang" was both sweet and charming, causing Kangxi's Adam's apple to bob slightly, and the weariness in his eyes was instantly replaced by a smile.

He deliberately put on a stern face, but his fingertips gently tickled her waist: "Are you begging like this, wanting the moon in the sky or the treasures on earth?"

Liu Yunshu chuckled softly as he tickled her, snuggling closer to him and brushing her nose against his clothes. "This palace is so boring, Sanlang, could you take me outside for a walk?"

He gently lifted the tip of her delicate nose and said affectionately, "Where would you like to go for a walk?"

"I want to take a walk on the streets outside the palace. I heard the streets are very lively at night."

"My Yun Shu has spoken, so why can't it be?"

He immediately had someone bring him his everyday clothes, and changed into a dark blue brocade robe.

He then personally helped Liu Yunshu put on a moon-white cloak, with the brim pulled low, just enough to cover half of her face.

Li Dequan nervously wrung his hands, "Your Majesty, should we bring more guards?"

"No need, just the two of us, plus two guards following from a distance, will suffice."

Emperor Kangxi patted Liu Yunshu's hand, "Let's go back to being an ordinary couple and experience the simple life of ordinary people."

Outside the palace gate, an inconspicuous blue cloth carriage was already waiting.

Kangxi helped Liu Yunshu into the carriage, and the carriage slowly drove away.

Liu Yunshu lifted a corner of the curtain and looked at the street outside, which was gradually becoming lively. Her eyes shone like obsidian that had been soaked in water.

"Look at those sugar paintings!" she exclaimed, pointing to a sugar figurine stall on the street, her voice full of excitement.

Following her gaze, Kangxi saw the stall owner using syrup to draw a lifelike dragon shape, which drew cheers from the children.

"Want it?" he asked with a smile.

Liu Yunshu nodded vigorously, and Kangxi then had the driver stop the carriage. He personally went down and bought a sugar magnolia flower, handing it to her: "Our Yunshu deserves this elegant piece."

The sugar flowers were sweet, just like the smile in his eyes.

The two then browsed a jewelry stall. Liu Yunshu picked up a silver plum blossom hairpin and compared it to her temple.

Emperor Kangxi thought it looked nice and paid for it immediately: "It's beautiful! I'll buy it!"

Walking to the wonton stall on the street corner, the steaming white mist was mixed with the aroma of scallions.

Liu Yunshu pulled Kangxi down to sit: "Sanlang, I want to eat this."

The owner quickly served two bowls of wontons, sprinkling them with dried shrimp and cilantro.

As Kangxi watched her blow on the hot soup, he suddenly felt that this bowl of hot soup from the common people was more heartwarming than the delicacies from the imperial kitchen.

He scooped up a spoonful himself, and the delicious flavor spread on his tongue. When he looked up, he met Liu Yunshu's gaze, and the two of them couldn't help but laugh.

As night deepened, the lanterns on the street resembled a string of stars.

Liu Yunshu held the windmill she had just bought, and it spun around with a whooshing sound when the wind blew.

Kangxi held her hand and walked on the stone path. The sound of their footsteps mingled with the distant cries of vendors, creating a gentle and peaceful atmosphere.

"Sanlang," she suddenly stopped and looked up at him, "Actually, the reward I want isn't a sugar painting or a hairpin, it's just this... to be able to walk with you like an ordinary person."

Kangxi's heart softened, and he reached out to pull her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "From now on, I will often take you out."

When the carriage returned to the palace, Liu Yunshu was leaning on Kangxi's shoulder, still clutching the plum blossom hairpin in her hand, and had already fallen asleep.

Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, he felt a mix of tenderness and sadness in his heart. He knew perfectly well that Yun Shu was trying to comfort him.

Even this young woman knew the resentment in his heart, but the son he raised with his own hands was completely unaware.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the autumn season, the grasslands of northern China are covered with clear skies and gentle breezes, where cattle and sheep graze amidst the low-lying grass.

Emperor Kangxi led his princes and civil and military officials on a northern tour, and Liu Yunshu accompanied him.

When the imperial carriage arrived at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, the camps stretched out like stars, and the banners fluttered in the wind.

Liu Yunshu sat in the sightseeing carriage, watching through the window as Kangxi drew his bow and shot an arrow through the neck of a deer in the distance, drawing cheers from those around him.

Yinreng rode a white horse beside Kangxi, but his expression was somewhat gloomy.

During the hunt, Yinzhi deliberately rode ahead of him, startling away the wild deer that Yinzhi had his eye on. Although the two did not openly argue, the tension in their eyes was palpable.

Liu Yunshu watched all this, but casually fiddled with the tassels on the carriage curtain.

She had no interest in getting involved in this sibling rivalry.

As the sun began to set, the deer that Emperor Kangxi had hunted were carried to the camp by his guards, and the princes returned one after another, each presenting their prey.

Yinzhi, carrying a wild fox, said with a smile, "Father, this fox pelt is perfect for making a scarf for the Empress."

Before Kangxi could answer, Liu Yunshu's voice came from the carriage, tinged with a hint of languor: "You've gone to so much trouble, Your Highness, but I only want the furs that Your Majesty hunts personally."

Emperor Kangxi laughed loudly, dismounted, walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at Liu Yunshu.

"If the Empress desires it, I will hunt a white fox tomorrow and make you the warmest cloak."

Liu Yunshu hooked her finger around his through the carriage curtain, a smile playing in her eyes: "Then I'll be waiting."

Longkodo looked at the scene before him with a complicated expression, with Li Si'er standing behind him.

She stared at Liu Yunshu, who was intimately interacting with Kangxi inside the carriage, with a look of jealousy and hatred on her face, her nails almost digging into her palms.

She painstakingly seized Longkodo, thinking she would completely crush her underfoot, but unexpectedly she became the empress in the blink of an eye!

Liu Yunshu felt a venomous gaze.

He glanced at Li Si'er as if it were an unintentional gesture.

His gaze was calm and serene, yet carried a subtle hint of mockery.

Li Si'er was so enraged by that look that she was furious. "You bitch!"

Longkodo noticed Li Si'er's loss of composure and subtly moved closer to her.

Liu Yunshu looked away indifferently, thinking he was just a clown.

As night fell, campfires were lit in the camp, and the aroma of roasted meat mingled with the rich scent of mare's milk wine permeated the grassland.

Kangxi sat in the main seat, with Liu Yunshu beside him, quietly listening to the conversations of the princes and ministers below.

The campfire crackled, sending sparks flying from time to time.

Seeing Liu Yunshu being protected by Emperor Kangxi, like a star surrounded by admirers, Li Si'er's jealousy and resentment intensified.

Liu Yunshu rested her chin on her hand, sipping mare's milk wine while watching Kangxi converse with the princes.

Kangxi noticed her gaze, turned around, and the majesty in his eyes instantly melted into tenderness.

He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair, ruffled by the wind, behind her ear, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you drink so much? This mare's milk wine is very strong."

"Hmm, I drank a bit too much, Your Majesty. I would like to go for a walk."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi immediately put down his wine cup and was about to get up to keep him company.

Liu Yunshu gently pressed his hand down, smiling and shaking her head: "Your Majesty, please stay and discuss matters with the ministers. I will have Biyu accompany you. She can just walk around the camp area and not wander off."

Kangxi noticed that her eyes were clear, suggesting she wasn't truly drunk.

Knowing that guards patrolled around the camp, he nodded and instructed, "Come back soon."

Liu Yunshu responded and lifted her skirt as she walked out of the tent area illuminated by the campfire.

The grassland was very quiet at night, with only the rustling of the wind through the grass and the occasional light sound of horses' hooves in the distance.

Biyu followed closely behind and asked softly, "Your Highness, which way are we going?"

"I'll just wander around." Liu Yunshu slowed her pace and walked towards the small hill not far away.

"Big Brother, Li Si'er is right behind you!" Xiao Ba reported to Liu Yunshu in his mind.

Liu Yunshu's eyes flickered, and she said to Biyu, "Go and get a cloak."

Although Biyu was somewhat puzzled, and although the night wind was cool, she hadn't heard the Empress complain of being cold when she came out, but she still respectfully agreed.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go and fetch it right away." With that, she turned and walked quickly toward the camp.

Liu Yunshu took a few more steps forward, then, as if she couldn't hold her liquor, slowly sat down, leaned against the grass, and closed her eyes to rest.

Li Si'er came out from behind and quietly approached Liu Yunshu.