Spring arrives and the land smiles

Seven days have passed since the Qi Shen incident, and Ning Yuan has occupied Qing Yan for seven days. It's quite rare that Yun Xuan has remained calm and hasn't tried to take her away.

However, after a long day, Qingyan learned the real reason: the Dali Temple, together with the Ministry of Justice, thoroughly investigated the case of trafficking in girls, and Yunxuan was busy for several more days.

After finishing their work, Yunxuan immediately came to snatch Qingyan away. As night fell, the two of them cornered Qingyan in the Imperial Study.

Ke Yunxuan whispered something in Ning Yuan's ear, and Ning Yuan hugged Qingyan and left in a hurry.

"What did you say to him?" Qingyan leaned closer to Yunxuan, very curious.

"When I arrived, I ran into Cheng Ming and Cheng Liang at the gate. They asked me to pass on a message: the Xuanjia Army is only a hundred miles from the capital, and Lan Zhen has already arrived at the military camp first." Yun Xuan said proudly.

"I can't be the only one busy while you two are all lovey-dovey and it just makes me feel annoyed."

"Jiaojiao is mine today, and no one can take her away."

Yunxuan hugged Qingyan and kissed her.

Sure enough, everyone's apparent tranquility and asceticism over the past year were just an act; the truth was that they were all extremely busy trying to stabilize the court. When Qingyan first became Empress, everyone was naturally reluctant to put her through any more hardship. Now that things are peaceful and prosperous, the ministers' most frequent memorials are advising the Empress to expand her harem and continue the family line. Thus, everyone's true nature has been revealed.

Having many children is acceptable, but having a large harem is not advisable. As the empress, Yunxuan naturally knows how to deal with this.

Although the Empress has not officially appointed a consort, Yunxuan's status as the Empress is universally acknowledged.

In the imperial court, Yunxuan is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a proper third-rank official, whose influence is not to be underestimated.

So, once Yunxuan finished dealing with the affairs of the Dali Temple, he would deal with every single one of the memorials that advised the Empress to expand her harem, without holding back.

"You really copied all six ministries, nine temples, five directorates, and one prefecture. The positions vacated were just enough for those poor scholars selected by the late emperor to fill."

Qingyan lay on the warm couch in the bedroom, and Yunxuan was applying perfume to her.

Winter days can be dry, and skin needs moisturizing after a bath. Qi Shen specially blended a fragrant balm for Qing Yan, which was both soft and rich.

Originally, Zhui'er was the one who did all these things, but Yunxuan didn't want to entrust them to others when he had such an opportunity to get close to Qingyan.

"They were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) between the eighteenth and twentieth years of the Longqing reign. After three to five years of training, they were able to be promoted to serve us."

Qingyan said, "We spent a year paving the way, and now that they've taken over, we can implement sweeping reforms."

After applying the perfume to his arms, Yunxuan untied all the sashes on Qingyan's body, reached out and grabbed her waist, and casually tore off her clothes.

Before Qingyan could react, he had stripped her down to just her underwear.

"The system of female officials has existed since ancient times, and it is not difficult for Jiaojiao to appoint them. However, the establishment of a girls' school is a new thing, and it needs to be planned carefully." Yunxuan spoke of official business, but his actions were extremely ambiguous as he rubbed perfume on Qingyan's back.

Qingyan pursed her lips, a tingling sensation spreading where Yunxuan's hand touched her, making her voice slightly off-key: "These, these scholars from humble backgrounds, they are all, all carefully selected by me, and they are very, very supportive of women's education."

Yunxuan smiled and his grip became even gentler: "The Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Academy, and the Chongwen Academy all have new talents promoted from them, and the Imperial Medical Academy has Qi Shen and Luo Qing. Only by working together can we open girls' schools in various disciplines."

"Then, tomorrow, at dawn, we can begin." Qingyan gritted her teeth, turned over, grabbed Yunxuan's hand, pushed him out, and got off the bed.

"You are the emperor's consort, how did you learn such brothel-like behavior?"

"Use it on me too."

"It really is—"

Qingyan straightened her clothes, then turned and walked out.

Yunxuan's eyes darted around, and he hooked Qingyan's sleeve, turning around to pull her into his arms:

What is Zhenzhen?

"This is truly an insult to culture and utterly outrageous."

Qingyan pushed against Yunxuan's chest with both hands, but Yunxuan was holding her too tightly, and Qingyan couldn't push him away, so she simply turned her head away and ignored him, letting him do as he pleased.

"You took the bait so easily with Qi Shen, why couldn't I?" Yun Xuan said, seemingly a little defiant.

“Because—” Qingyan and Yunxuan exchanged a glance, then swallowed back the words she wanted to say.

"Why?" Yunxuan moved even closer to Qingyan.

"because--"

"Because of what?"

Pressed by Yunxuan, Qingyan gritted her teeth and said, "Because you are the upright and honest eldest son of the Fu family, because you are the most talented and brilliant scholar, because you are the wise and decisive Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, I don't need your sycophantic behavior to please me. It is your integrity that is lost, and it is my heart that is hurt."

As Qingyan spoke with emotion, Yunxuan loosened his grip on her, but still held her waist.

"Are you done talking?" Yunxuan smiled and touched Qingyan's little face.

"My brilliant and outstanding talent is all for outsiders. To Jiaojiao, I'm just a jealous husband who doesn't want anyone else in her eyes."

“Nonsense,” Qingyan said, pulling Yunxuan’s shoulder. “You’ve always been a gentleman, not an actor. Just be yourself with me.”

Yunxuan held Qingyan's hand in his palm: "When we were young, it was because I was too upright and gentlemanly that I lost the childhood friendship with you."

"If I could be like Ning Yuan, spoiling you when the teacher punishes you and helping you cheat when the teacher tests you, I think your feelings for me now would be no less than Ning Yuan's."

"But it's too late to regret it now; we can only make up for it the day after tomorrow."

"So, I do whatever Jiaojiao likes."

As he spoke, Yunxuan hooked his little finger around the sash around Qingyan's waist and pulled, loosening the sash.

"Stop—" Qingyan grabbed Yunxuan's hand.

The man before him, Yunxuan, smiled radiantly, his robes were neatly arranged and his purse securely fastened—a sight completely out of place in the brothel scene.

"Yunxuan, do you know what Qi Shen was wearing when he came to see me?"

Yunxuan was taken aback and shook his head.

"Let me tell you..."

Qingyan pushed Yunxuan down onto the soft couch, then straddled him and whispered in his ear.

"What?" Yunxuan was startled by what Qingyan said.

"So, are you still going to act like a brothel owner?" Qingyan's sweet breath sprayed onto Yunxuan's neck.

Yunxuan froze: "I, I, I'll definitely wear it next time."

“Look at you, so unnatural, why are you forcing yourself?” Qingyan hooked her arm around Yunxuan’s waist. “The Yunxuan I like is a dignified gentleman. If he were dressed like that, he wouldn’t be my Yunxuan.”

"To me, just being yourself is enough for me to like."

"Jiaojiao—" Thank you for understanding me.

Yunxuan picked up Qingyan and rolled over, pressing her onto the soft couch.

And so, the red waves surged, and the romance was boundless.