Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

The eunuch stared at the strange animal on the paper and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance, but I do not know what you have drawn?"

Upon hearing this, the others quickly gathered around, all looking on with question marks in their eyes.

Why does the thing in the painting look like both a dog and a cat?

Jiang Qingyan curled her lips and said with a wicked smile, "This is the head of the proctology department, named Hyena. You can find this kind of hyena wherever you can find a place full of dark-skinned people."

"Dark-skinned people..." Lu Nian pondered for a moment and then said, "Husband, I know where the dark-skinned people are."

Jiang Qingyan's eyes lit up. Could it be that Lu Nian had been to Africa?

She quickly grabbed Lu Nian's hand and asked excitedly, "Lu Nian, tell me quickly, where are they?"

Lu Nian said earnestly, "The Tuoba people in the south all have dark skin. I passed through there when I accompanied my father to fight against the Yuan Kingdom."

When General Lu was mentioned, Lu Nian's expression seemed to dim.

His father tragically died in that great war...

Jiang Qingyan gently squeezed Lu Nian's palm and said softly, "Lu Nian... don't worry, I will bring the Yuan Kingdom under my control, and I will never let the person who killed General Lu go."

Lu Nian took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, "Alright, I believe in my husband. I'll draw a map to the Tuoba tribe right now. With this map, we can find the hyenas much faster."

Within an hour, Eunuch Wang had hundreds of copies made of the hyena's portrait and the map of the Tuoba tribe, which were then distributed to all the spies who had gone out to search. Jiang Qingyan couldn't help but praise his efficiency.

Meanwhile, Zhanghua Palace was still filled with men; none of them wanted to go back just like that, after all, they wouldn't be able to be close to their husbands for a whole month...

Jiang Qingyan looked up at Xuan Ye in the distance. He was leaning against a tree, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Xuan Ye picked up a withered yellow leaf, lowered his eyes and stared at it, lost in thought.

All the men in this courtyard are the Emperor's beloved concubines. What is he then?

But he had finally returned to the Emperor's side, and he really didn't want to leave...

Jiang Qingyan withdrew her gaze and said to everyone, "It's getting late. You should all return to your respective chambers and stay there. There's no need to dine at Chaoyang Palace tonight."

Although everyone was reluctant to part with them, they all obediently returned to their respective palaces.

Jiang Qingyan patted Mo Ting's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Baby, you go back first. I have something to say to Xuan Ye, and I'll be back in a bit."

Xuan Ye? Mo Ting glanced at the handsome man under the tree. He must be Xuan Ye.

My husband... has someone new...

Mo Ting sighed softly and nodded, "Alright, will my husband come back for dinner?"

Jiang Qingyan tilted her head back and gave him a light kiss on the lips, smiling gently, "Of course, food is essential for life! I'll be right back."

After saying that, he walked up to Xuan Ye and beckoned to him with his index finger, "Let's go, it's time to talk."

He then strode towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon hearing the sound, Xuan Ye quickly got up and followed. As long as the Emperor was still willing to talk to him...

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jiang Qingyan leaned against a small couch, poured herself a cup of tea, and took a sip.

Looking at Xuan Ye, who was standing awkwardly in the center of the hall, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You were so powerful when you captured Chenlun, but why do you turn into that weak little puppy in front of me?"

Xuan Ye gripped the hem of his clothes tightly with both hands and slowly said, "I'm sorry... I lied to you..."

Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you lie to me about? Is it about your martial arts skills? Or your identity?"

Xuan Ye pursed his lips and knelt down directly before Jiang Qingyan, "Actually, I'm not some kind of male brothel owner, I am..."

Jiang Qingyan looked at him with interest. "What? Is your identity even more embarrassing to talk about than that of a male escort?"

Xuan Ye lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Qingyan put down her teacup and let out a long sigh. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Anyway, I hid my true identity from you back then, so I understand."

After all, she not only concealed her true identity, but also her appearance and gender...

Regardless, Xuan Ye was her and Shen Yuan's savior, and he seemed to have unusual feelings for her as well.

As long as they're not enemies...

Xuan Ye was somewhat incredulous that the Emperor actually said she understood him...

During the days they were apart, he had imagined countless times what it would be like for the two of them to reunite.

Perhaps she was angry at him for leaving without saying goodbye, so she beat and scolded him; or perhaps she was angry because he concealed his identity and then ignored him, driving him away and never seeing him again...

Jiang Qingyan patted the seat next to her and said softly, "Come and sit down."

Xuan Ye looked up at the seat next to Jiang Qingyan with surprise in his eyes. Could he really sit next to her?

Jiang Qingyan said impatiently, "If you feel more comfortable kneeling there than sitting next to me, then you can keep kneeling."

Xuan Ye quickly got up, dusted off his knees, and walked over to sit down next to Jiang Qingyan.

Jiang Qingyan tilted her head, gazing at Xuan Ye's deep-set eyes and brows. The more she looked, the more handsome he became, and the more her heart fluttered...

Xuan Ye felt the intense gaze of the person beside him and sat nervously on the couch, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down involuntarily.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingyan brought her lips close to Xuan Ye's ear and whispered, "Are you a virgin?"

Xuan Ye's ears felt a little itchy from Jiang Qingyan's warm breath, and his heart couldn't help but beat faster. His voice trembled slightly, "What is... a virgin...?"

Jiang Qingyan twirled a strand of his black hair over his shoulder and chuckled, "Have you ever had physical intimacy with other women... or men?"

Xuan Ye quickly shook his head, "No! No one has ever touched me! No one but you can touch me!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Xuan Ye wanted to slap himself. He was already being kind enough that the Emperor wasn't angry with him; how dare he even dream of...

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyan was overjoyed and couldn't help but smile. Whatever he was hiding, as long as he was innocent, it wouldn't stop her from taking advantage of him...

In modern times, she couldn't get her hands on this face; in ancient times, she had to have it in her mouth!

Jiang Qingyan gently caressed Xuan Ye's lips with her index finger and said ambiguously, "Kiss me."

Xuan Ye's ears instantly turned bright red, and he even doubted whether he had misheard...

Jiang Qingyan pinched Xuan Ye's chin, turned his head around, stared into his eyes, and said it again seriously, "Kiss me."

This time, Xuan Ye didn't hesitate. He lowered his head and accurately kissed those two pink lips...