The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the Imperial City.
In Zhao Hua Palace, the lights remained bright, with candlelight filtering through the sheer fabric shades, casting a slightly dim yellow glow that draped a gentle hue over the palace walls and corridors.
Behind the glazed screen, the Empress, dressed in a bright yellow palace gown, sat poised at the wide imperial desk, her head slightly bowed, focused on reviewing the mountain-like stacks of morials before her.
"Your Majesty, it’s getting late, you should also rest," Sun Senior Palace Lady bent over, speaking softly.
"I am not tired," the Empress replied lightly without raising her head.
"But you haven’t rested well for several days. If this continues, your body won’t last..." Sun Senior Palace Lady said with a frown.
Ever since learning that Chen Mo was taken away by the Daoist Venerable, the Empress seed to have returned to her previous state.
Sitting all night in Zhao Hua Palace handling state affairs, she would only take a brief rest when dawn broke, before continuing with the next day’s work... If this went on, Chen Mo might not return before Her Majesty’s body broke down!
"I am aware, you may all leave," the Empress spoke calmly, her tone carrying no trace of emotion.
"Yes..."
Seeing the situation, Sun Senior Palace Lady dared not say more, sighed quietly, and left the hall with the palace attendants.
The atmosphere in the palace was tranquil, so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
The Empress fixed her gaze on the morials, but her eyes were blank and unfocused.
It’s not that she didn’t want to rest, but once she closed her eyes, she’d be reminded of the scenes of Chen Mo and the Daoist Venerable’s antics... tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she could only divert her attention by dealing with state affairs.
Delicate fingers tightly grasped the golden branch brush, her peach blossom eyes slightly dim, biting her lip as she murmured softly:
"Little thief, if you don’t co back soon, I won’t care about you anymore..."
Tap, tap, tap—
At this mont, a series of footsteps approached from afar.
The Empress, thinking Sun Senior Palace Lady had returned, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Didn’t you understand my words? What are you doing back here?"
The other person didn’t respond, directly coming up behind her, pressing firmly on her shoulders and neck.
"Hmm?"
The Empress sensed sothing amiss.
Sun Senior Palace Lady’s hands weren’t this large, nor this calm and forceful...
Realizing sothing, she turned abruptly to see a man in a black robe standing behind her, his handso face wearing a faint smile.
"Little thief?!"
"When did you co back?"
Chen Mo replied, "Just now, while on duty in the palace, I saw the lights still on in Zhao Hua Palace and ca to have a look... does Her Majesty seem to be in a bad mood?"
The Empress was both surprised and slightly resentful, "Where have you been these few days? Why did you return just now? Do you know that I..."
At this point, her words paused, and she didn’t continue speaking.
Chen Mo blinked, "Did Her Majesty miss ?"
The Empress turned her head aside, snorting coldly, "You are so annoying, of course, I didn’t miss you!"
"Not even a little?"
"Not at all!"
"..."
Rembering her "solitary stay deep in the palace," while Chen Mo was frolicking with the Daoist Venerable, her chest felt tight, filled with intense sourness.
Looking at the Empress in her aggrieved manner, Chen Mo’s lips curled up, he leaned to her fair earlobe, whispering softly:
"But I truly missed Her Majesty a lot."
"Not seeing Her Majesty these few days, I lost appetite, couldn’t sleep, wished I could fly back to Her Majesty’s side with wings."
Feeling the warm breath beside her ear, the Empress’s cheeks turned slightly red, her heart unceremoniously started pounding, her gaze was both reproached and delighted.
"Re-really? You’re not lying to ?"
"Truer than gold."
Chen Mo said earnestly, "Does Her Majesty still not believe ?"
"Hmph, I don’t believe you!" The Empress poked Chen Mo’s waist with her slender jade finger, humming, "Always saying sweet words to coax , you little thief, so audacious, Ji Hongxiu isn’t honest either... confess, did you do anything bad together, or why were you delayed for so long?"
Cough, cough, as expected of Her Majesty the Empress, she reads people very well...
But naturally, Chen Mo couldn’t admit such a thing, shaking his head, "I heeded Her Majesty’s teachings, kept myself clean, and did not act beyond bounds."
The Empress observed his sincere expression and nodded with satisfaction, "Boys outside must protect themselves, never give bad won any chance, understand?"
Chen Mo replied earnestly, "What Her Majesty said is extrely true, even if I were to do sothing bad, it would only be with Her Majesty alone."
"Hmm, that’s more like it..."
The Empress stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing, her charming face blushing like a rosy dawn, spat:
"Peh, who wants to do bad things with you? You’re just spouting nonsense! Becoming more audacious!"
"I misspoke, please do not be angry, Your Majesty."
Chen Mo smiled.
In fact, seeing the Empress acting shy yet sternly stubborn, it had an extra charm...
The adorable Empress is truly very endearing!
With this playful interruption, the vexed emotions within the Empress gradually dissipated, leaving her goose-egg face glowing with enchanting radiance.
Chen Mo gently pressed on her shoulders and neck, saying, "Your Majesty is always diligent, but you must also balance work and rest. If you overwork and harm your body, it wouldn’t be worthwhile, without Your Majesty to preside, wouldn’t the court beco a ss?"
The Empress obediently replied, "Oh, I understand."
She leaned back, with her head resting on Chen Mo’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
After a mont of hesitation, she quietly asked, "Little thief, are you still angry with ?"
Chen Mo asked in confusion, "Why would I be angry?"
The Empress’s slender fingers tangled together, her cherry lips trembling slightly, "That day at the Xuanqing Pool gate, you acted wildly and were rejected by , then you left the palace and didn’t appear for days, weren’t you sulking with ?"
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