This autumn hunt was the first hunting activity since Xiao Qi'an's ascension to the throne where he led both military officers and noble sons in a shared celebration between ruler and subjects. To boost morale, the rewards were exceptionally generous—the one who bagged the most game would receive a thousand taels of silver, while the one who captured the rarest prey would be awarded a peck of pearls from the East Sea.
With such a brave and battle-hardened monarch now on the throne, the long-suppressed military officials were invigorated, competing fiercely. The mountains and forests trembled, birds and beasts scattered in alarm, and by day's end, every soldier returned with a full haul.
That night in the temporary palace, Xiao Qi'an rewarded his ministers with a hundred jars of deer-blood wine—reputed to strengthen the body—and an array of exquisite delicacies. The officials drank and conversed merrily, their morale soaring to unprecedented heights.
Yun Kui sat at the head of the women's banquet. Though she had never personally hosted such a victory feast before, she had observed how Consort Yin managed the New Year's Eve banquet and followed suit. She exchanged polite formalities and bestowed additional rewards upon the families of the officials who had hunted the most game. The proceedings thus went smoothly.
The only regret was that, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she couldn’t indulge as freely as she did in her own palace. The sight of sizzling roasted meat made her mouth water, but she had to endure it being cut into fingernail-sized pieces before she could delicately lift a morsel to her lips behind a handkerchief. In any case, she had a task tonight and deliberately ate little, pretending before Huai Qing and Huai Zhu that her appetite was poor.
After the wine had circulated three times, she sent Huai Zhu to inform the Emperor that she was feeling unwell and would retire early.
Huai Zhu delivered the message cautiously.
Xiao Qi'an glanced toward the women's banquet, where the young girl was preparing to leave. He frowned, setting down his cup. "Did she say what ails her?"
Huai Zhu replied, "The imperial physician examined her and found no serious ailment. Perhaps it’s the fatigue from travel, the wind at the hunting grounds, or the greasy evening meal—Her Majesty had little appetite."
Xiao Qi'an instructed Cao Yuanlu, "Have the kitchen prepare light, less oily dishes and send them to the Palace of Eternal Joy."
Cao Yuanlu immediately relayed the order.
Xiao Qi'an did not linger long at the feast. Summoning the accompanying imperial physician, he departed for the Palace of Eternal Joy.
The Palace of Eternal Joy was the imperial couple’s bedchamber in the temporary palace at Mount Yan. Upon returning, Yun Kui collapsed onto the canopy bed, her mind fixated on one thought—she was ill, and it wasn’t an act.
Only by convincing herself from the inside out, without colluding with the physician or anyone else—even Huai Zhu believed she was truly unwell—could she avoid slipping up in front of the Emperor.
The kitchen delivered light dishes and soup. She took a few small bites before returning to bed.
She had assumed Xiao Qi'an wouldn’t return until the feast ended, but he arrived far sooner than expected—and with the imperial physician in tow.
Xiao Qi'an strode straight in, helping her sit up. "Are you all right? Tell me where it hurts."
Without her makeup, Yun Kui looked somewhat listless. Leaning on his arm to rise, her voice was hoarse from lack of water. "It’s nothing, just exhaustion."
The imperial physician stepped forward to take her pulse but detected no serious illness.
Accustomed to the delicate constitutions of noblewomen, the physician had his own script: "Her Majesty is weary from the journey. This humble servant will prescribe a tonic to replenish blood and qi. With two days of rest, she will recover."
Xiao Qi'an nodded and dismissed him.
Turning back to her, he said, "Why didn’t you tell me sooner if you were unwell?"
"I didn’t want to dampen your spirits. By the way," Yun Kui added, "shouldn’t you return to the banquet? Rushing back like this..."
Xiao Qi'an replied, "Your health comes first."
Yun Kui pressed her lips together, struggling to suppress a smile. "I’ll be fine after resting. It’s just that these next few days... I won’t be able to satisfy Your Majesty."
Xiao Qi'an: "..."
Had she not mentioned this, he might have believed her fatigue genuine. But her eagerness to bring it up made him suspicious.
Tucking the blankets around her, he said, "Rest well. Don’t dwell on such matters."
Yun Kui exhaled inwardly, softening her voice. "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
After leaving her to rest, Xiao Qi'an summoned Huai Qing outside. "She seemed fine earlier. Why the sudden collapse?"
Huai Qing answered truthfully, "Her Majesty was already weary upon returning from the viewing platform. She forced herself to attend the victory banquet, which worsened her fatigue."
Xiao Qi'an: "Did anything unusual happen at the platform?"
Huai Qing thought for a moment and shook her head. "Not that I noticed. Her Majesty spoke with several noblewomen, chatting and laughing with Lady Shen. She seemed in good spirits—perhaps it was the prolonged exposure to the wind..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Qi'an said, "Summon Lady Shen. I have questions for her."
Startled by the imperial summons, Jiang Qingci hastily excused herself from the banquet and hurried to the Palace of Eternal Joy.
Seeing her nervousness, Xiao Qi'an raised a hand. "No need for formalities, Lady Shen. I called you here to inquire about the Empress’s health. She seemed unwell after returning from the platform today."
Jiang Qingci froze.
"Her Majesty is already feigning illness?"
Xiao Qi'an narrowed his eyes.
Uncertain of the situation, Jiang Qingci prepared to cover for the Empress—only for the Emperor to dismiss her.
Had His Majesty seen through it?
Having answered his questions, Jiang Qingci, who had nearly finished her meal, returned to her quarters. Shen Yanyu was already waiting outside the courtyard. Seeing her, he rushed forward. "Why did the Emperor summon you?"
Jiang Qingci explained, "Her Majesty is unwell, and since I spent much of today with her, the Emperor wished to ask me about it."
Shen Yanyu asked anxiously, "Did His Majesty blame you?"
Jiang Qingci smiled and shook her head. "No, don’t worry. Her Majesty is simply... tired."
Shen Yanyu studied her for a moment. "And you—are you feeling unwell too?"
Jiang Qingci averted her eyes. "The journey was tiring. I’m a bit worn out as well."
Shen Yanyu sighed softly. "His Majesty bestowed deer-blood wine today. How cruel of you, my lady, to leave me suffering like this."
Jiang Qingci: "......"
Back at the Palace of Eternal Joy, Xiao Qi'an stood beneath the corridor, lost in thought. He then instructed Huai Qing, "Keep my meeting with Lady Shen from the Empress for now."
Huai Qing promptly assented.
Xiao Qi'an was in no hurry to return. After bathing, he finally reentered the bedchamber. Hearing the girl’s steady breathing, he embraced her from behind.
Yun Kui jolted awake instinctively. "Y-Your Majesty...?"
Xiao Qi'an’s scorching breath grazed the nape of her neck. Yun Kui felt the faint sting of teeth against her skin, as though her life were held between them.
"Surely not—even when I’m ‘sick’...?"
Xiao Qi'an smirked inwardly and nipped her lightly.
Little liar.
He pinched her earlobe. "Sleep. I promised I wouldn’t touch you."
Yun Kui let out a nervous sigh of relief, but with the man pressed so tightly against her back, her body instinctively clung to him with a sense of dependence. She turned around without thinking and wrapped her arms around his waist, tentatively asking, "I'm still a bit cold... Could I hold onto Your Majesty while sleeping?" The evidence proved that this woman was the epitome of pushing one's luck—wanting to enjoy his warmth without putting in any effort.
Xiao Qi'an smirked. "Hmm."
And just like that, he was comfortably turned into her personal pillow.
But Yun Kui didn’t sleep well that night—she was plagued by far too many dreams.
Perhaps it was because of the deer-blood wine served at the victory banquet earlier. The entire court had been buzzing with restless energy, and Yun Kui found herself slipping into the dreams of several noblewomen. Without exception, each of them was being thoroughly ravished by their military-official husbands…
Had Xiao Qi'an drunk the deer-blood wine too? As the one rewarding the generals, he must have toasted and drunk plenty—he must have had some, right?
Even in her dreams, Yun Kui couldn’t help but worry for him. If he couldn’t resist pressing her down on ordinary nights, how could he possibly hold back tonight…
Ah, forget it. She should pity herself instead—the marks on her body still hadn’t faded.
One dream after another flickered past, growing dull from repetition, until the familiar figures of Shen Yanyu and his wife appeared before her. Instantly, her interest was reignited.
But this version of Lord Shen was nothing like the gentle scholar she remembered.
He leisurely parted his wife’s robes, his usually warm peach-blossom eyes now exuding a dangerously chilling aura, his voice icy enough to make one shiver.
"Qingci, you’ve been lying to me all this time, haven’t you? Claiming you were frail since childhood, weak in both qi and blood?"
"Are you really that afraid of me, hmm?"
Madam Shen trembled in terror, trying to flee, only to be pinned mercilessly beneath him.
Yun Kui: "......"
Who would’ve thought Lord Shen had such a dark side? Even in her dreams, Madam Shen was terrified of him uncovering her pretense of illness.
Wait a minute—
Could His Majesty also see through her own lies? Ahhh, stupid brain, stop thinking! Don’t you dare go there!!
Her internal screaming had long since woken the man beside her.
Xiao Qi'an rubbed his temples.
Yun Kui cautiously opened her eyes and decided to strike first: "This is all your fault for serving that deer-blood wine today. My dreams were like walking through a brothel—I barely slept at all!"
Xiao Qi'an scoffed, pinching her chin. "So? Does your head still hurt? Are you still exhausted?"
Yun Kui answered firmly, "Extremely."
Afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she added pitifully, "I was already worn out from your earlier… activities. Then I had to sit in a carriage for half a day, entertain all those noblewomen, and I barely got to eat any of the roasted meat last night…"
Xiao Qi'an sighed. "Fine."
After a moment’s thought, he said, "Once you’ve recovered, I’ll take you horseback riding and for roasted meat."
Yun Kui’s eyes instantly lit up. "You’ll take me? Just the two of us?"
She had never ridden a horse before. The thought of him atop a steed, majestic and commanding, filled her with excitement and anticipation.
Xiao Qi'an chuckled. "Eager, are you? We could go tomorrow."
Yun Kui swallowed her initial response. "Of course… it’s better if I rest for a couple more days. Otherwise, I won’t have the stamina…"
Xiao Qi'an stared at her with an unreadable gaze, watching until goosebumps rose on her skin before finally smiling faintly. "Mm. Sleep. It’s still early."
Relieved to have dodged further scrutiny, Yun Kui immediately burrowed under the covers.
Admittedly, feigning illness worked wonders. After two days of recuperation, she grew restless and, by the third day, was practically bouncing with energy, pestering him to take her riding.
Xiao Qi'an selected a relatively tame white stallion named "Benxiao" from the imperial stables and had it led out.
At the sound of delighted laughter behind him, he turned to see his empress—dressed in a vibrant red riding outfit, her jet-black hair tied high, skin like untouched snow, her bright almond eyes gleaming like a frozen lake beneath the Yanshan Mountains. The fitted attire accentuated her slender waist and graceful neck, the red fabric fluttering in the wind like the most dazzling jewel on the grasslands.
She had no idea how breathtaking she looked, but he could already hear the stunned admiration radiating from the eunuchs tending the horses.
Xiao Qi'an mounted first, then reached down to her. "Step onto the stirrup, take my hand, and I’ll pull you up."
Even the gentlest steed in the imperial stables was a prized Ferghana horse from the Western Regions, towering over her.
But with him beside her, Yun Kui felt an inexplicable sense of safety—no matter what, he would protect her.
She boldly stepped onto the stirrup, and in one smooth motion, he hooked an arm around her waist, lifting her effortlessly onto the saddle. The world suddenly expanded before her.
Xiao Qi'an tightened his legs around the horse’s flank, instructing, "Hold the reins. Steady yourself."
The moment Yun Kui adjusted her grip, Benxiao shot forward like an arrow. What began as nervous tension gradually melted into rhythm, her limbs finally relaxing into the ride.
The wind roared in her ears as they raced across the open wilderness, just the two of them and the horse. Mountains and golden forests stretched endlessly before her, and she couldn’t help but shout in exhilaration, her chest swelling with wild, untamed joy.
They eventually stopped at a sheltered spot. Xiao Qi'an spread a felt blanket on the grass for her to rest while he gathered firewood, cleaned the pheasant and hare he’d hunted by the stream, and set up a spit to roast them.
Watching his practiced movements, Yun Kui blurted, "Your Majesty knows how to do all this too?"
Xiao Qi'an rotated the skewer over the flames. "On campaigns, you don’t always have the luxury of proper camps or kitchens. You learn to manage."
Propping her chin on her hand, Yun Kui studied his firelit profile, the rest of the world blurring until he was all she could see.
Xiao Qi'an glanced up, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. "Finally thinking about it?"
Yun Kui froze, taking a long moment to realize what he meant.
