Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

Seeing that the lesson had been taught enough and the person was frightened, Pei Yan spoke calmly, "I will give you a chance to make amends."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiayu stopped crying. She raised her tear-filled face and said directly, "This concubine is willing."

Pei Yan looked down at her: "Aren't you going to ask what kind of opportunity it is? What if you can't make it?"

Shen Jiayu wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and said urgently, "I can do it."

Pei Yan stared at her for a while, thinking to himself, "She does know how to repent and restrain herself. She is a bit spoiled, but she is not unruly. There is still hope for her."

He instructed, "Go wash your face and come back."

Shen Jiayu obediently got up.

Perhaps her legs were numb, she staggered, but Pei Yan quickly caught her and helped her regain her balance.

Shen Jiayu looked at the well-defined knuckles on her arm, her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself from speaking.

Finally, they walked outside.

The moment she stepped out of the main hall, no one saw the fleeting glint in her eyes.

Yes.

From this morning onwards, everything has been as Shen Jiayu had predicted.

She knew the consequences of taking that bite, and she also knew that a powerful emperor like Pei Yan would not let it go and would definitely teach her a lesson.

That's exactly right.

After all, the bond formed by personal cultivation is the most stable and enduring of all affections.

That sense of accomplishment and satisfaction is unparalleled.

A palace maid brought clean water from the side hall, and Shen Jiayu wrung out a handkerchief and slowly washed her face.

After she had tidied herself up and stepped into the imperial study, she immediately noticed that the man behind the desk had changed into a dark blue brocade robe with a dark python pattern, seemingly disgusted that her clothes were wet from crying.

However, the emperor's attire made him appear less imposing and austere, and more relaxed and refined.

Shen Jiayu stood there for a while before noticing that the memorials on the imperial desk had been moved away and replaced with writing brushes, inkstones, and cloisonné enamel paint dishes, among other materials.

Judging from the looks of it, they're about to paint.

Pei Yan had already noticed that the person had returned, but he was just standing there motionless, looking dazed. He said coldly, "If you don't serve well, you'll be punished."

Shen Jiayu suddenly came to her senses and realized that she had to make amends for her mistakes. She quickly walked to the imperial desk and said, "If I behave well, I won't be punished."

A hint of a smile flickered in Pei Yanqi's eyes, but his expression remained cold. "That depends on your performance."

After saying this, the woman became unusually attentive, grinding ink and handing over a brush.

Pei Yan took the wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and moved his wrist swiftly and skillfully. With just a few strokes, he created a play of light and dark ink, his brushstrokes bold and unrestrained, displaying a powerful and unrestrained spirit.

During a break from painting, he casually asked, "Have you studied traditional Chinese painting?"

Unexpectedly, Shen Jiayu replied, "I haven't learned it."

Pei Yan stopped writing and turned to look at her.

Without exception, all the concubines who entered the palace were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

The person in front of her said that she had not studied it.

That's surprising.

Pei Yan remembered that her aunt was a famous talented woman in the capital. She taught her daughter, and while she wasn't exceptionally outstanding, she was more than capable of reaching an average level.

Why is this person in front of me completely clueless?

Seeing him turn slightly to look at her, Shen Jiayu quickly explained, "My mother taught me when I was a child, but I could never draw well, so I didn't want to learn anymore."

Pei Yan remained silent for a moment, then looked her up and down: "Hmm. As expected, she's been spoiled by her uncle and aunt. I've seen it for myself now."

It turns out that it wasn't that they hadn't taught, but rather that the person in front of them hadn't learned at all.

Shen Jiayu grew anxious and spoke quickly, "It's not as serious as Your Majesty makes it out to be. It's just a little temperamental. Besides, although I haven't studied painting, I have studied other things!"

In the end, she became a little proud.

Pei Yan asked, "Did you learn chess?"

Shen Jiayu replied, "No."

"Musical instruments, songs, and dances?"

Shen Jiayu replied sullenly, "No, I don't either."

Pei Yan glanced at her but didn't ask any more questions.

Shen Jiayu held back for a while, then couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, why aren't you asking anymore?"

Pei Yan said calmly, "I saw you writing that night, and it wasn't very good; it was just average."

Shen Jiayu retorted angrily, "That's not it either!"

She sulked for a while, then suddenly smiled sweetly, "This is my secret for now. Your Majesty will know later."

Her smile, with its captivating charm and exquisite beauty, outshone even the most beautiful springtime scenery.

Pei Yan was momentarily distracted, but only for a moment, before quickly refocusing his gaze on the painting.

He picked up his brush again, his strokes flowing freely, and rich, vibrant ink poured down.

Seeing him focused on painting, Shen Jiayu, who was standing next to him, also quieted down.

She focused intently on her tasks, washing brushes, grinding ink, and adding incense.

I've been busy for a while now.

By the time Pei Yan finished the entire painting, the sun was already setting in the west.

Shen Jiayu had served him all afternoon and was feeling extremely sore. Seeing that Pei Yan had finished painting, she cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, can my merits and demerits be offset, and I not be punished with a rod?"

Her little face was scrunched up.

Poor thing.

Pei Yan said, "It'll be alright."

There was no praise, but Shen Jiayu was very happy. She muttered to herself, "If I had known the consequences would be this serious, I wouldn't have bitten His Majesty."

Pei Yan frowned, pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him, and coldly rebuked, "You've got it backwards. It's not that you can't do it because you're being beaten, it's that you can't do it because I'm the Emperor. If you dare to be so audacious again, I'll really have someone beat you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiayu looked listless and pouted.

Before Pei Yan could finish his lecture, Qing An entered and announced, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."

Shen Jiayu, who was standing to the side, broke free from his grasp at the right moment. She curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, please have your meal. This concubine will take her leave."

Qing'an glanced at the emperor's expression and made a decision.

He bowed to Shen Jiayu and said, "It's getting late, Your Highness, why don't you have some dinner before you leave?"

Pei Yan, who was sitting behind the imperial desk, did not say anything.

After all, he had "borrowed" the person, and after scaring him for quite a while, not giving him any food seemed too harsh.

"No, thank you." To everyone's surprise, Shen Jiayu refused outright. She said, sounding aggrieved, "I can't resist such temptation. What if I lose control and eat meat?"

Qing'an hadn't expected her to want to engage in Buddhist practices and quiet meditation, and was momentarily speechless. "This..."

Shen Jiayu glanced back at Pei Yan before stepping out of the Imperial Study.

After the person left, Pei Yan stood up and instructed, "Put the painting away safely."

Qing'an hurriedly stepped forward, put away the magnificent painting, and placed it in the sandalwood painting box. "It seems His Majesty is in a very good mood today, as it is rare for him to finish a whole painting."

Pei Yan stepped over the threshold and walked towards the living quarters in the west hall: "What's so good about her? She's causing quite a commotion."

Qing'an didn't dare to respond.

Based on his understanding of emperors, if they found it annoying, they would have kicked people out long ago; why keep them here indefinitely?

They would stay there for an entire afternoon.

This is a favor that the imperial concubines of the six palaces have not received in a long time.

But when the emperor said to make trouble, Qing'an dared not refute anything.

He put away the painting box and hurried to the West Hall to serve the emperor his meal.