Perhaps it was because she had always been by his side during this time that he had gradually grown accustomed to her presence.
Whether it was serving tea or grinding ink, she was always quietly present.
Just now, when he returned to the Imperial Study Room, he did not see her and realized that the Empress Dowager had taken her away.
Shen Qi suppressed his thoughts and continued to practice his calligraphy.
*
In the following half-month, life was also peaceful. The difference was that Shen Qi became increasingly relaxed in front of her.
This relaxation referred to his attitude toward her.
In the past, as the Emperor, Shen Qi seemed to be enveloped in a barrier, unapproachable by anyone. In his presence, one could truly see the majesty suitable for an Emperor, lofty and supreme.
During these half-month evenings, every day Su Zhiruan spent with him, to say or not to say, Shen Qi, this Emperor, truly was a son of destiny, for if he wished, he could completely torment her all night long.
Su Zhiruan always felt that his daily pleasure was watching her carefully rub her waist and then, after a light smile, continue to torment her.
"The official duties have ended," Shen Qi picked up his tea cup and placed the last petition on top of the pile of petitions, "Lately, these ministers have become more and more absurd. They are all old bones yet spend their days thinking about harming others."
"Your Majesty rules the nation well. I once heard from a high monk that only in a prosperous era do people quibble over such trifles, because everyone is content and well-fed, and thus they begin to think about other things," Su Zhiruan said earnestly, but after speaking, she found herself being hugged into the arms of this ruler of the nation, and then Shen Qi's large hand held her small hand, warming it in his palm.
"Stop referring to yourself as a servant in private; you can be more casual when we're alone," Shen Qi, holding a beauty in his arms, began to grow a bit mischievous.
"Yes, I understand," she responded.
"?" Shen Qi raised an eyebrow, looking at her.
"...I understand, Your Majesty."
Su Zhiruan courageously met his gaze and, indeed, the Emperor's countenance was no longer the calm restraint of daytime. From half a month's experience, she could guess without thinking what would happen next.
The next moment, she was swiftly scooped up horizontally, Shen Qi, without stopping his stride, strode briskly, carrying her through the sleeping chamber and finally placing her on the bed.
A pale yellow canopy was slowly drawn, signaling another night of spring passion.
...
After the passion had faded.
Shen Qi, looking at the girl beside him with disheveled hair and flushed cheeks, actually felt like chatting with her, "I've never asked before, Susu, how is your family?"
Su Zhiruan thought back to the plot regarding her family, "My father is the registrar of the county, and I am the only child at home. My mother maintains our livelihood by selling her paintings."
The original owner was quite poor, but being selected as a Palace Maid indicated that her family background was clean, which was an important criterion.
Su Zhiruan had later researched the plot; the original owner's father had indeed been a County Magistrate, an upright official. However, he was later framed by malicious people, leading to their downfall. Though she was the only daughter, her parents loved her dearly.
But as she grew up, her beautiful and graceful appearance stood out in the small county. The new County Magistrate's idle and mischievous illegitimate son took a fancy to her and wanted to forcefully take her back to be his concubine. Under such circumstances, families that had intended to propose marriage to her also dared not approach, and she was harassed daily.
That year, Su Zhiruan was fourteen. Just then, the Emperor ordered the selection of palace maids from all over the country, and she joined them.
After that, the wealthy young man dared not harass her family anymore, for to be a Palace Maid was to serve within the Imperial Palace, near the Emperor himself. Should any mishap occur, he would be charged with the crime of insulting the Imperial Relatives and everyone knew the consequences, unless they were a fool.
Su Zhiruan shared these selected details with Shen Qi, initially thinking he would become impatient after listening for a while, but to her surprise, he found the tales endlessly fascinating.
"So it was like that," Shen Qi seemed to understand a bit, holding the girl in his arms. Su Zhiruan felt the temperature around her rise significantly, and listened as the man, deep in thought, continued asking, "Before you entered the palace, your name wasn't this, was it? What was your name before?"
"Before entering the palace, my name was Su Zhiruan."
"Su Zhiruan..." Shen Qi lay flat on the bed, repeating the name twice, "Zhiruan, a very pleasing name."
Shen Qi held her from behind, the sleeping chamber was very hot, the flickering candlelight threw shadows, and the quilts on the bed were bunched up, revealing a swath of bright yellow, the fabric beneath them being silk, which felt exceptionally soft even just to lie on.
Su Zhiruan's eyelids grew heavier and she became increasingly sleepy.
"Right, I haven't asked you what the Empress Dowager told you," Shen Qi suddenly remembered this, knowing that the Empress Dowager seeking her out was definitely not just for a casual chat, especially since he'd heard the Noble Consort was also there.
By then, Su Zhiruan's voice was soft and sweet, "The Empress Dowager asked me to urge Your Majesty to be more inclusive, and to visit the harem more often."
As expected, it wasn't much different from what Shen Qi had assumed. Yet seeing Su Zhiruan's increasingly sleepy expression, he was amused and teased, "This month, you've spent nearly half of it with me. What will you do when the Empress Dowager blames you?"
At that moment, Su Zhiruan's eyelids drooped further, and, mindful of her task, she murmured faintly, "To have half a month... with Your Majesty... I am so happy... I would die... without regrets..." She fell soundly asleep before she could finish her sentence.
Leaving Shen Qi speechless and stunned.
So, this young girl had fallen so deeply in love with him? She loved him this much?
Shen Qi had never before thought there would be someone who loved him so simply, without any reservations.
He slowly tightened his grip, allowing the girl to rest beside him.
The moonlight was like water.
*
In the latter half of the month, the Imperial Palace gradually became busier. Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the curfew was lifted for three days.
The whole country celebrated.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a family banquet of the Imperial Family, and the palace was busy with dense preparations.
In these days, as the Emperor, Shen Qi was also very busy, needing to coordinate various departments in court to accomplish various tasks. Sometimes he was so tired that he would simply hold Su Zhiruan and sleep reassuringly through the night, doing nothing else.
On the morning before the Mid-Autumn Festival, after the morning court, Shen Qi went to Cining Palace to visit the Empress Dowager.
"How hard it must be for the Emperor to still remember that there is a mother like me at this time," the Empress Dowager feigned dissatisfaction, "If there were a grandson around, I wouldn't feel so lonely."
"Isn't the Noble Consort there to keep you company, how could it be lonely?"
"It's not the same," the Empress Dowager shook her head, and then as if remembering something, she looked at Shen Qi, "I have heard that you haven't stepped into the harem this month. What is it? Has some girl cast a spell on you? You've been spending every night with a Palace Maid. If you like her, why not elevate her status early? Keeping her the whole time among the concubines, what does this mean?"
"If my son lacks a soulmate, let her stay by my side for now," Shen Qi spoke as he drank his tea. He thought of Su Zhiruan, how he had been too tired recently, sleeping more soundly at night holding her, and being able to see her by his side during the day made this life quite agreeable.