The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

She looked so obedient, yet so alluring, that it was almost unbearable.

Xie Yanzhao felt as if a feather had tickled his heart, sending shivers down his spine.

His Yuan Yuan is always like this, with a thousand different appearances and ten thousand different charms.

When she's well-behaved, she's endearing; when she's charming, she's captivating; and when she's mischievous, she's irresistible.

Every aspect of it touched his heartstrings, making him love it to an extreme degree, and he was willing to give it all.

He was practically a little darling created by God specifically for him, his only weakness and treasure in his life.

Deep down, I was a hundred times unwilling.

With the arrival of that young lady from the Zhou family, Yuan Yuan's attention will likely be diverted, making it difficult for her to stay in his arms as often as she does now.

But when he looked down and met her eyes, which were filled with starlight and expectation, all the words of refusal stuck in his throat.

How could he bear to let her feel even the slightest disappointment or unhappiness?

Xie Yanzhao's arms around her waist tightened slowly, pressing her soft body closer to his chest.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his fingertips casually twirling a strand of her hair.

"If Yuan Yuan is willing to stay obediently by my side today, without leaving my side for even a moment, I will send someone to pick her up first thing tomorrow morning, how about that?"

"It's a deal!" Shen Tinghe immediately agreed, happily hugging his neck tightly, making a solemn vow.

"I promise I'll be good, I'll be wherever my husband is!"

After saying that, she indeed became obedient and rested her cheek on his broad shoulder.

Xie Yanzhao adored her appearance, lowered his head and planted a few light kisses on her delicate profile before picking up his vermilion brush again.

The warm, soft body in his arms, the sweet scent of her unique fragrance filling his nostrils, even made reading tedious memorials a pleasure.

However, Shen Tinghe was not truly a calm person.

She stayed quietly for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before she became restless.

His eyes darted around before his gaze fell on the memorial that Xie Yanzhao had laid out in his hand.

She tilted her head and looked at his hand holding the pen with curiosity.

The memorial stated that a woman in a certain place returned lost money and was a model of honesty.

Shen Tinghe couldn't help but chuckle, muttering under her breath:

"This Lord Li must have a lot of free time. Is it really worth writing a formal memorial to submit about such a trivial matter?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhao's lips curled slightly. He placed the imperial vermilion brush into her hand and whispered enticingly.

"Since Yuan Yuan finds this boring, why don't you review it for me?"

Shen Tinghe gripped the heavy pen, somewhat at a loss: "Huh? What should I write?"

"Just write 'read'." Xie Yanzhao held her hand and dipped the tip of his pen in cinnabar.

Shen Tinghe was actually quite eager to try, but she still had some concerns.

"What if someone notices it's not your handwriting?"

Although she was very close to him and didn't shy away from these things, it wouldn't be good if word got out.

Xie Yanzhao: "When you practice calligraphy, aren't you copying my calligraphy model? You've already mastered seven or eight tenths of the spirit and charm of the strokes, which others can't tell."

Hearing him say that, Shen Tinghe became a little bolder.

But when it came time to actually put pen to paper, she hesitated and pleaded softly, "Oh, no... Brother, please guide me as I write."

Xie Yanzhao was amused by her cowardly yet playful appearance, and as she asked, he pulled her into his arms and covered her small hand holding the pen with his large hand.

He guided her hand, applying even pressure and moving the brush smoothly, until he neatly wrote "Read" in small vermilion characters at the end of the memorial.

The handwriting is upright and vigorous, yet subtly carries a unique softness.

Shen Tinghe looked at the freshly issued "Imperial Approval" with sparkling eyes, finding it novel and interesting.

"I want to read more!" She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, his expression full of doting affection.

He opened another memorial, still holding her in his arms, holding her hand, and wrote each stroke carefully.

On those documents concerning the fate of the nation, the emperor's unique mark was left, along with an unparalleled intimacy and indulgence.

After reading through several more memorials, Shen Tinghe's gaze was suddenly drawn to a memorial presented from the border region of Dazhao.

It turns out that a novel fruit, entirely golden in color, was discovered in a certain prefecture. The locals called it the "Golden Fruit." They reported this to the emperor and presented some to His Majesty and the Crown Prince to try.

"Golden fruit?" Shen Tinghe's eyes lit up.

Could it be a mango?

She turned to Xie Yanzhao and asked, "Where is this fruit? I'd like to try it."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhao glanced at the memorial and explained gently.

"The food presented by the prefectures and counties is usually tasted by designated personnel. If it tastes good, it will be presented to the emperor; if it does not taste good, it will not be sent to us."

"This memorial has already been sent to the capital. Since the so-called golden fruit has not yet been seen, it must be because the taste is not satisfactory."

But Shen Tinghe's curiosity had been piqued, and she tugged at Xie Yanzhao's sleeve and shook it gently: "But I really want to try it."

Xie Yanzhao looked up and met her bright eyes, finally smiling helplessly: "Alright, I'll send someone to fetch it."

Not long after he gave the order, that very evening, a plate of golden fruit was delivered to the palace.

Shen Tinghe realized that it was not the mango she had imagined, but a small, bright yellow fruit the size of an apricot.

Curious, she picked up a pearl and was about to put it in her mouth when Xie Yanzhao gently grasped her wrist.

"It tastes sour and bitter," he said, looking at her with a hint of dissuasion in his eyes, "Yuan Yuan won't like it."

The more he said that, the more Shen Tinghe became eager to try it.

She took a small bite from the fruit, holding it in his hand.

The next second, his whole face scrunched up.

"Well……"

A strong astringent sensation exploded on her tongue, accompanied by an indescribable sourness, making her want to spit it out.

Xie Yanzhao seemed to have expected this, and naturally placed his palm to her lips, catching the fruit crumbs.

With his other hand, he gently stroked her back, his voice carrying a faint smile: "You won't like it if I tell you."

Shen Tinghe stuck out her tongue, tears welling up in her eyes: "Why...why does it feel so bitter..."

Xie Yanzhao took a handkerchief and carefully wiped her lips clean, then wiped his own hands.

Then, he lifted her chin and kissed her without warning.

His tongue swept slowly through her mouth, carrying away the lingering sourness and bringing a refreshing sensation.

After a long while, he slowly stepped back, his fingertip tracing the corner of her moist lips, and asked softly, "Are you feeling any better?"

Shen Tinghe leaned against his chest, breathing softly, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening with tears, and she nodded obediently.

"Um……"

Xie Yanzhao gazed at her for a moment, a warm feeling welling up in his eyes. Finally, he smiled and sighed, pulling her closer to his chest.