A middle-aged emperor, childless, was blessed with a beautiful and pregnant concubine who entered th

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything.

The more she said this, the more interested Emperor Qianwu became in the book.

"The纨绔少爷与娇俏丫娘" (The纨绔少爷与娇俏丫娘)??

Emperor Qianwu was immediately filled with questions.

Zhou Mingyi's face was flushed.

"Your Majesty! Don't look! You're not allowed to look!"

She even threw herself into Emperor Qianwu's arms, just to snatch the book from his hands.

Emperor Qianwu was extremely tall and had a robust physique.

Mingyi was petite; when she pounced, it was like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest.

Emperor Qianwu held her slender waist with one hand and held the novel high with the other, his eyes and brows full of smiles.

The more Zhou Mingyi said this, the more curious Emperor Qianwu became.

He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh?"

His voice carried a hint of mockery, "I'd like to see what kind of novels my beloved concubine usually enjoys reading."

The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty were open-minded and encouraged education since the founding of the dynasty. As a result, novels and storybooks were very popular, and almost everyone could write a few paragraphs.

Many impoverished scholars even took this as a side job.

This has led to the creation of many novels featuring poor scholars and pampered young ladies.

At the same time, there are also many other styles, such as young master and maid, young lady and coachman, etc.

Emperor Qianwu casually flipped through a few pages.

Shen Yunci did not take the bowl, but instead reached out and his fingertips brushed lightly across the back of Wan Tang's hand that was holding the bowl.

Wan Tang's hand trembled, and her eyes became somewhat unsettled.

Shen Yunci chuckled softly and asked in a low voice, "Is this soup... hot?"

"His breath brushed past her ear, his voice was deep and low, yet it had a hooking quality to it."

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him, only staring at her own swaying reflection in the slightly rippling green soup, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "No, it's not hot anymore..."

Shen Yunci did not back down, but instead gently cupped the bowl and her hand together, and sighed, "Your fingertips are so cold, this heat suits you perfectly..."

His voice was calm and clear, yet his pronunciation was perfect.

The ambiguous feelings hidden between the lines are laid bare in broad daylight, meticulously, even with a playful analytical touch.

Every pause, every simulated breath, brought the words to life, yet also made them a hundred times more explicit and embarrassing than when she read them silently herself.

"Stop reading!" Zhou Mingyi was both anxious and embarrassed. She didn't care about etiquette and leaned over to cover his mouth and snatch the book.

Her cheeks were flushed as if painted with the colors of a drunken sunset, and her eyes shimmered with tears, filled with annoyance.

Emperor Qianwu easily grasped her outstretched wrist, his fingertips caressing the delicate skin of her wrist, and continued reading with a half-smile:

"Wantang only felt the warmth of his palm, the heat burning up her fingertips until it made her heart flutter, but she couldn't break free, and... didn't want to break free."

Emperor Qianwu stared at Zhou Mingyi's delicate, flushed face and continued reading: "She could only turn her face to the side of the corridor, where the banana trees in the courtyard were a vibrant, lush green..."

"Your Majesty!" Her voice trembled with pleading, and she used her other hand to pry his fingers off the book, so ashamed that she almost curled up into a ball.

"This, this utterly worthless book... give it back to me!"

The emperor stopped, but instead of returning the book, he closed it and gently lifted her burning chin with the spine of the book, forcing her to look at him.

His eyes held a deep smile, like a beast that had captured an interesting prey, reveling in the prey's embarrassed and helpless state.

"Unrefined?" he repeated slowly, his breath brushing against her nose.

"I think that although the writing style is not top-notch, the depiction of the emotions of young lovers is quite delicate and vivid."

He paused, his gaze locking onto her sparkling eyes, his voice low and carrying a teasing tone only the two of them could understand: "My beloved consort, since you enjoy reading this book, are you... studying its essentials?"

Zhou Mingyi was speechless at his words, and being stared at so closely by him, it felt as if all her thoughts had been seen through by his deep gaze.

The words in the book intertwined with his deep voice at that moment, mixed with the refreshing ambergris scent emanating from him.

She finally couldn't resist any longer and buried her burning face in the fabric of his shirt, her voice muffled, carrying a hint of utter surrender and annoyance:

"Don't read it again... Don't mention it again!"

The emperor finally chuckled softly, the vibrations of his chest coming through his clothes.

He casually tossed the troublesome book aside, but wrapped his arm around the woman who had thrown herself into his embrace.

Unbeknownst to them, the two had already entered the cave behind the artificial hill.

The vines hanging from the cave entrance and the dim, enclosed space instantly ignited a burning passion within them.

Emperor Qianwu pressed the woman he had been longing for against the rock wall beside him.

The icy rock wall instantly gave Zhou Mingyi goosebumps all over her body.

She couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

It was this unconscious murmur that completely ignited Emperor Qianwu's passion.

As Emperor Qianwu lit fire on her body, he chuckled, "Here..."

"So red it looks like it's about to bleed."

"boom!"

Zhou Mingyi's cheeks turned even redder.

He instinctively said, "Young Master..."

Emperor Qianwu couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.

Outside, the autumn wind was biting, but inside the cave, spring was in full bloom.

It was as if some strange switch had been flipped, and Emperor Qianwu began to learn things on his own in various new places.

The two of them argued for several hours.

In the end, Zhou Mingyi's voice became hoarse before Emperor Qianwu carried her back into the palace, still tightly wrapped in that dark blue men's robe.

Fuquan came in to clean up the mess and once again marveled at how extraordinary Consort Zhen was!

The cave was sheltered from the wind and covered by vines, so it was actually quite warm.

The ground and the rocks were all dirty.

There was a book on the rock that resembled a small bed, perhaps left behind by His Majesty and the Empress.

Fuquan walked up and picked up the book as if...

The book is no longer readable.

It's dirty...

Fuquan shook his head again, but a fatherly smile remained on his face.

Tsk!

Zhou Mingyi was so tired that she had no strength left. Emperor Qianwu carried her into the inner palace, where she rested for a while. She asked for a cup of water before she started to act coquettishly.

"Your Majesty, I am so ashamed I can't face anyone!"

"How could you... how could you do this to the artificial hill that the Imperial Household Department built for me?"

"You made that place like that..."

She was so embarrassed that she couldn't bring herself to say it.

The satisfied Emperor Qianwu was very easy to talk to.

He nodded in apparent agreement.

"The artificial hill built by the Imperial Household Department is quite nice; it deserves a reward."

Enraged, Zhou Mingyi cried out, "Your Majesty!"

Emperor Qianwu let out a low laugh. "Still have the energy to throw a tantrum?"

"Am I not trying hard enough?"

Zhou Mingyi immediately grabbed the quilt and covered her face, saying, "I'm too ashamed to face anyone! I'll never go out again!"

"I don't care! Your Majesty has dirtied my secluded spot for enjoying the cool evening air; you must pay for it!"

"Oh?" Emperor Qianwu asked curiously, "Then, in your opinion, how much should I compensate?"

Zhou Mingyi poked her small head out from under the covers.

Its eyes darted around nimbly, and its clever little face was extremely endearing.

With a sly look, she held up five fingers. "It can't be less than this number!"

Emperor Qianwu laughed loudly, "Very well, I will compensate you with five thousand taels of gold!"

"Furthermore, I feel that while the artificial hill is nice, it is somewhat monotonous."

"Fuquan, I remember that the flower room has cultivated a lot of new flowers, which have all been sent to Consort Zhen's palace."

Fuquan immediately replied, "Yes!"

Zhou Mingyi said, "Your Majesty, I would like to plant a few peach trees by the artificial hill. In spring, we can admire the peach blossoms, and in autumn, we can pick the peaches."

"In addition, plant a few more plum trees so that they can continue to bloom in winter after the peach blossoms in spring, the lotus flowers in summer, and the osmanthus flowers in autumn have faded."

Emperor Qianwu waved his hand and said, "Do as Consort Zhen says."

Fuquan: "Yes, this servant understands."

Zhou Mingyi curled her lips into a smile.

The artificial hill is excellent value for money!

……

Consort Lan heard that a new artificial hill had been built in Weiyang Palace, so she came to visit in person.

"Sister Zhenfei, I heard you had the eunuchs build an artificial hill in the palace?"

As she spoke, she heard the palace servants working by the artificial hill.

"Sister Zhenfei, what are you up to now?"

Zhou Mingyi smiled and said, "Your Majesty found this artificial hill too plain, so I had some peach and plum trees planted."

Consort Lan couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"His Majesty truly dotes on Consort Zhen!"

She and Emperor Qianwu grew up together. Although they were separated early in their previous lives, and later even faced life and death, their feelings for each other had long since faded.

But now that she has left the inner palace, Consort Lan may still harbor thoughts of a harmonious relationship with Emperor Qianwu.

Although she knew that her brother, the emperor, was heartless.

But seeing him so attentive to this Consort Zhen, who had never appeared in her previous life, she still felt a little uneasy.

Zhou Mingyi naturally sensed the jealousy in her words.

However, she pretended not to notice.

She and Consort Lan are now allies.

Of course, their alliance is still very fragile.

Who knows when they might fall out?

But before things fall apart, it's still necessary to maintain appearances.

After all, having more friends is always better than having more enemies.

So she smiled and said, "His Majesty cares a lot about Consort Lan. Has Consort Lan heard about the list of participants for this year's hunt?"

Speaking of this, Consort Lan smiled.

"His Majesty said that Consort Chen should stay to guard the inner palace, and the list of concubines to be sent has been finalized."

The emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty was fond of martial arts and would go hunting in the hunting grounds every autumn.

When the emperor went hunting, his officials and favored concubines accompanied him.

The feud between Consort Lan and Consort Chen dates back fifteen years.

Although Consort Lan almost harmed Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang, the princess was born safely, while Consort Lan spent more than ten years in the Cold Palace.

This grudge is not something that can be easily resolved.

Therefore, when Consort Lan learned that His Majesty intended to keep Consort Chen in the palace, she was overjoyed.

Speaking of hunting, Zhou Mingyi did not accompany the Crown Prince to the hunting grounds in her previous life.

There are just too many women in the Eastern Palace!

There are so many that they can't be counted.

Even the crown prince himself probably doesn't know how many women he has.

Therefore, those who are not favored or whose scores are not high naturally don't need to think about showing their faces in the hunting grounds.

The Crown Princess and several concubines went.

These people not only held positions in the Eastern Palace, but their fathers and brothers also served as officials in the court.

Emperor Qianwu went hunting with his ministers, accompanied by the Crown Prince, which was a grand social occasion.

If any family's talented young man can achieve a good ranking in the hunting grounds, it will be a great opportunity to show his face before the emperor!

"It is said that the day Consort Chen learned of this boy, she smashed a lot of things in Chang Le Palace."

After gloating for a while, Consort Lan changed the subject, "It's just that Princess Chaoyang has always loved excitement, and she always goes on the annual hunt."

"With her around, it's really hard to say."