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After an unknown amount of time, the Eunuch kneeling far away outside the mist finally asked softly, "Your Majesty... have you finished bathing? We will come and dress you. It's late and the dew is heavy; we don't want you to catch a cold."

"No need. My heart has been warmed by your kindness today, this little breeze is nothing to me," the person in the mist replied loudly.

"Yes. Then, which palace Empress will His Majesty stay with tonight?"

"..."

A moment of silence followed. The man in the mist bent down, picked up a pebble, flicked it into the warm spring, and with a flick of his sleeve, stood up and poked the lazy Cat at his feet. "Same as always, as my Imperial Noble Consort wishes."

"... yes."

The Eunuch respectfully rose and stepped aside to clear the passageway on both sides. The Cat, which had been lazily licking its whiskers, stood up, nimbly jumped off the chair, and, as if it had already made up its mind, took off running lightly out of the corridor. The head Eunuch, understanding perfectly, followed the Cat that would decide who the emperor's favor would be that night, and quickly left.

As if unconcerned about who he would spend the night with, the man by the misty pool seemed lost in thought, his gaze as calm and undisturbed as a warm spring.

Before long, the warm spring, as smooth as a mirror, rippled in circles. He raised an eyebrow slightly, and heard messages being passed around by palace servants Eunuch eunuchs gradually approaching from outside the corridor.

"Your Majesty, prepare your carriage for the Yaohua Palace!"

"Your Majesty, depart for the Yaohua Palace!"

"Empress Consort Pan awaits His Majesty's arrival at the Yaohua Palace."

"... Consort Pan," he sighed softly, shaking his head, "my Imperial Noble Consort, you've really taken to joking with me lately."

He patted his robes, yawned, and strolled down the corridor. "Knowing full well... I have no mood to deal with that kind of insatiable woman tonight."

Before Yaohua Palace, Palace Lantern shone brightly, and candlelight shone warmly, for the Dragon Lord had arrived.

The empty Dragon Carriage stopped outside the Yaohua Palace, with Eunuch and palace servants kneeling outside the main gate, obediently keeping their ears and eyes closed.

Their lips met, the man's eyes half-closed, his fingers tracing the woman's exquisitely made-up chin before withdrawing from her lips in a fleeting moment. A gentle smile graced his lips. "You seem even more beautiful today than when I saw you the other day, Imperial Noble Consort Pan..."

"Your Majesty," the woman said shyly, half-covering her face, "I've been waiting for you until I'm old and haggard, and you still laugh at me."

"Really? I didn't see that at all. You look even more beautiful." Without letting her cover her face, he lifted her chin and examined her closely. "Let me see... tsk tsk... I'm really curious, what is it that makes you all become more and more beautiful by my side, more and more captivating?"

"Your Majesty is always like this, your words are as sweet as honey." Her crimson lips curved into a perfect smile, and the woman tiptoed, burying herself in his arms relentlessly.

He chuckled, steadily catching her as she leaned against him. With one hand, he pulled her into his arms, pressing her head against his chest to prevent her from looking up. With his other hand, he slowly raised it to his lips, smiling, and roughly wiped his lips with the back of his hand, as if he had just eaten something dirty. He pressed his tongue against his teeth and spat out a soft "pui," wishing he could spit out every last trace of the Rouge he had in his mouth.

"However—I am not afraid to wait, for I know that Your Majesty holds me in your heart."

"You've got it wrong, I was just playing around with you."

"..."

"Pfft—haha, my Imperial Noble Consort, don't look at me like that, I was just joking." He raised his hand and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as if with affection. "My Imperial Noble Consort is so beautiful, how could I bear to just play around with you? Of course, I want much more... I want to see my Imperial Noble Consort even more beautiful and charming, even more stunning than all others. If I were to suggest promoting Imperial Father-in-law Pan's official rank, I should be able to see that soon, right?"

Consort Pan, who had been stunned by His Majesty's "just playing around," quickly came to her senses upon hearing that her father would be promoted again. She raised her small fist and lightly punched his chest, saying, "Your Majesty is the most annoying. You always use court matters to bully me, even though you know I don't understand those things. I just want to spend more time with Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty is so annoying! You always use court matters to bully me, even though you know I don't understand those things. I just want to spend more time with Your Majesty."

"I wish I could spend more time with you, to see just how beautiful my Imperial Noble Consort would become..."

As the Beaded Curtain were drawn, he didn't want to linger any longer. With a gasp from her, he swept her up in his arms and tossed her forcefully onto the soft couch beside him. He then roughly tugged at his Imperial Robe.

"Your Majesty... don't worry, let me help you."

"Stay put. Don't move."

His alluringly outstretched hand froze awkwardly in mid-air. She didn't know what she had done to offend him, and looked at him timidly.

"Close your eyes and lie down."

"... Yes, long live the Emperor."

The woman closed her eyes, and he became even more unrestrained in removing his fine clothes. As if venting his anger, he untied the dragon -Jade Waist Belt around his waist and pulled off the round pearl buttons on his clothes. The sound of pearls dripping to the ground rang out rapidly.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"... Shh. Don't call me 'Long Live the Emperor' tonight. How about we try a different form of address?"

"What would Your Majesty like me to call you?"

"His Your Majesty."

"... Huh? Your Majesty, you really love teasing me. What's the difference?"

"It's nothing, I just really wanted to call you that tonight, my Imperial Noble Consort."

"Then... Your Majesty..."

"... Fine, forget I said anything. Just keep your name as it is."