The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Xie Yanzhao embraced Shen Tinghe's slender body from behind.

"Why are you still angry, Yuan Yuan? I served you so well last night."

Shen Tinghe's ears burned, and she turned around to cover his mouth.

"You still dare to say that! You're not allowed in my bed tonight!"

Xie Yanzhao's gaze was so intense, like a dense, intricate net, that it enveloped her within it.

He gently stroked the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist, where faint red finger marks remained from his passionate encounter the night before.

"Alright, then we'll stay at the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight. Yuan Yuan, get into my bed."

Before Shen Tinghe could say anything, she felt a tightness around her waist as Xie Yanzhao grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the imperial desk.

He loomed over her, casting a shadow over her, with an undeniable sense of possessiveness.

"Xie Yanzhao! This is the study..."

Shen Tinghe's hand, which was pushing his shoulder, was easily grasped by him and pressed to his side.

"So what if it's a study?"

He kissed her, gently rubbing her lower lip between his teeth before prying them open and penetrating deeper.

The kiss started off teasing, but quickly turned into a demand.

The games with Jiaojiao are over; now it's time to enjoy ourselves.

Xie Yanzhao still held her wrist with one hand, while his other hand deftly unbuttoned the buttons on her clothes.

The cool air touched her skin, sending a shiver down her spine, which was then covered by his burning hot palm.

……

In the two months since Shen Tinghe recovered, Xie Yanzhao seemed insatiable, and the two of them lived a shameless life every day.

Shen Tinghe felt as if she were completely immersed in lust, blurring the lines between day and night and between different occasions.

On this fine day, Shen Tinghe, Qingxu, and Qinglan were playing with a golden thread ball on a wide lawn in the Imperial Garden.

This was commissioned by Xie Yanzhao to be made for her.

That object was exquisitely crafted.

The outer layer is a hollowed-out sphere woven with gold wire, with intricate patterns.

What's even more peculiar is that the gold wire is not a smooth surface, but is covered with tiny, sparkling crystals.

Deep within the center of the sphere is a perfectly round, deep blue glass stone, its color rich and deep. As the golden sphere sways slightly, the blue seems to flow slowly, its inner radiance shining through.

As the sphere rolls, the gold wires collide with the crystal grains, producing a clear and ethereal sound, unlike any ordinary sound.

Shen Tinghe lifted her skirt, her laughter ringing out.

But then the weather suddenly changed.

The bright sun was still hanging in the sky, but the rain poured down without warning.

"Your Majesty, quickly find shelter from the rain!"

Qingxu exclaimed in surprise, and she and Qinglan, one on each side, hurriedly used their sleeves to cover Shen Tinghe's head, protecting her as they ran towards the four-cornered pavilion in the distance.

The three of them had just stood in the pavilion when they were already covered in raindrops.

Qingxu hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe Shen Tinghe's temples and shoulders, her tone anxious.

"Your Highness, quickly wipe yourself dry! This rain came so suddenly, and the chill is so strong. What if you catch a cold?"

Shen Tinghe took the handkerchief, casually patted her forehead, and laughed nonchalantly.

"I'm not that delicate. I only got a little rain, and my clothes aren't even wet."

Qinglan, being more composed, said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Although no entourage was brought along, the palace servants on duty in the garden will surely find us soon, given the heavy rain. Go back and have a bowl of hot ginger soup to warm yourself up, and you'll be fine."

According to custom, when the Empress travels, she should be accompanied by at least sixteen guards. However, Shen Tinghe felt that having too many people made her feel constrained, so she often had them wait at a distance while she played in the garden.

Shen Tinghe looked out at the white curtain of rain outside the pavilion. Although the rain was heavy, a corner of the sky was already faintly bright.

"This sun shower looks heavy, but it stops quickly. Maybe the rain will stop before you even arrive."

Before the words were finished, a series of slightly hurried footsteps could be heard approaching from afar.

A young man in a green official robe was running towards the pavilion, his head bowed and his arms covering his head.

They were clearly caught off guard by the sudden downpour and hadn't noticed that there were already people in the pavilion.

He had just stepped onto the steps when Qinglan stepped forward and stopped him.

Qinglan's expression turned solemn: "Halt. Her Majesty the Empress is taking shelter from the rain here. Please forgive me, sir, but you may have to stand at the bottom of the steps for now."

Chen Ziye suddenly stopped in her tracks, looked up, and saw that there were indeed several people standing in the pavilion. The woman in the lead had beautiful hair and a magnificent dress, and had an extraordinary demeanor.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and took half a step back as instructed, just enough to let the eaves of the pavilion cover his head.

"Oh, I apologize for my abruptness. I'll just stand here, right here."

He glanced at his seventh-rank green official robes and sighed inwardly.

Sigh, in ancient times, with its strict class distinctions, even seeking shelter from the rain required following certain rules.

Hearing the sound, Shen Tinghe, who was in the pavilion, turned her head curiously. She carefully examined the figure through the rain curtain and the green railing for a moment, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she blurted out:

"You... are you that fortune teller from Xingzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Qinglan and Qingxu separated slightly.

Only then was Chen Ziye able to see the woman in the pavilion in full, and he was quite surprised.

Empress!

Yes, he did see the Empress in Xingzhou.

Back then, her clothes, though exquisite, made her appear more elegant; now, her phoenix hairpin is dazzling, and her palace attire is magnificent.

His entire demeanor exuded an air of unparalleled nobility, overlapping with the lively woman in my memory who watched him set up his stall, yet also possessing some differences.

He immediately straightened his expression and bowed: "Your humble servant Chen Ziye pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress."

Shen Tinghe smiled and said to Qinglan, "The rain is quite heavy. Let Lord Chen come in. It's alright."

Chen Ziye then thanked him, carefully stepped onto the steps, and entered the pavilion, maintaining a respectful distance.

Shen Tinghe's gaze swept over his half-soaked official robe, and she asked with a smile, "Lord Chen, so... you've joined the Imperial Observatory?"

Chen Ziye then briefly recounted how Xie Yanzhao had sent someone to deliver the token when they were in Xingzhou.

Shen Tinghe nodded, her eyes showing understanding: "I see."

Her tone was casual, with a hint of idle chatter.

"However, the world outside the palace is vast and boundless. With Lord Chen's abilities, he surely has a wide-open space to explore. Why would he have thought of entering the palace?"

She didn't mean anything by it; she was simply recalling the man's carefree and unrestrained manner in Xingzhou, which seemed out of place in the atmosphere within the palace walls.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ziye sighed almost habitually, her shoulders slumped slightly, and a complaint slipped out.

"Your Majesty, please don't mention it. When I tell fortunes outside the palace, if I'm wrong, I get scolded; if I'm too right, it's troublesome too. I almost got beaten to death..."

Qinglan and Qingxu, who were standing to the side, frowned.

How could Lord Chen speak so tactlessly?

How could one sigh and express resentment in front of the Empress, with no respect for a subject in one's words?

According to the rules, it wouldn't be unreasonable to make him kneel down to answer.

The Empress is kind and tolerant by nature, which is why she is so forgiving.

Shen Tinghe was amused by his bitter face and exaggerated tone, and covered her mouth to chuckle.

"It seems that Lord Chen is indeed having a tough time making a living in the martial arts world."

Seeing the woman's lively smile and slight shyness, Chen Ziye almost instinctively made a teasing remark.

"Sigh, money is hard to earn, and life is tough."

As soon as he said it, he froze.

This was his catchphrase, but in the rigidly hierarchical and meticulously worded court, especially in front of the Empress, who was the mother of the nation…

That's utterly disrespectful!

Terrible!