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

Outside the Qingliang Palace, a beautiful woman was seen wearing a white gauze dress, her dark hair was gently tied up, and a white jade hairpin was inserted diagonally. Her skin was as clear as jade, and she was elegant and unique.

Jiang Qingyan tilted her head and slowly gave Wang Gonggong next to her a thumbs up. This old man has a really good eye!

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" The beauty hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, a touch of shyness on her face...

"What's her name?" Jiang Qingyan asked Eunuch Wang in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, this is Ning Ruyu, daughter of Minister Ning. She was the first to serve the emperor after the selection of imperial concubines," Eunuch Wang whispered in Jiang Qingyan's ear.

Jiang Qingyan pondered for a moment... Shangshu Ling? Isn't that the same as Lin Zhijie, a high-ranking official of the second rank?

It seems we need to be nicer to his daughter... If we can win him over, it would be a good connection...

Jiang Qingyan smiled and helped Ning Ruyu up, then took her soft little hand in hers and led her into the hall, saying with concern:

"How have you been, Yu'er? You look much thinner!"

Jiang Qingyan's casual greetings brought tears to Ning Ruyu's eyes, and she murmured:

"Since Your Majesty summoned me three months ago, I have not seen Your Majesty again. I miss Your Majesty day and night, unable to eat or sleep..."

As she spoke, tears rolled down her fair face, making her look even more pitiful.

Jiang Qingyan wrapped his arms around Ning Ruyu's slender waist, gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks, and lightly kissed the corner of her eye. "Yu'er, don't cry. It breaks my heart. I'll come to see you more often when I have time..."

Jiang Qingyan can't stand seeing beautiful women cry. Any man who can make a beautiful woman cry is a scumbag!

A warm feeling welled up in Ning Ruyu's heart. So the Emperor had such a gentle side... Thinking this, a blush involuntarily rose to her cheeks...

She remembered when she first entered the palace, she was terrified upon hearing of the emperor's tyranny. But her father told her that, given her family background, she was born to be the emperor's woman...

She had no choice but to love the Emperor wholeheartedly. All his favors, whether thunder or rain, were acts of imperial grace. Even if her Emperor was a beast, she was willing to be his food...

She just didn't understand why the Emperor only used sex toys to take her that night. Was she not good enough to move the Emperor's heart?

Seeing Ning Ruyu's absent-minded look, Jiang Qingyan gently pinched her cheek, walked to the table and sat down, then pulled her into her arms to sit on her lap, saying affectionately:

"Alright, stop overthinking. Let's eat. I'm getting hungry."

Ning Ruyu snapped out of her daze, her tears turning into a smile. She immediately picked up the chopsticks on the table, tilted her head, and looked at Jiang Qingyan, "Then shall I feed you?"

"Alright, alright, whatever Yu'er says," Jiang Qingyan agreed. After all, Ning Ruyu had a good father. Being born into the right family is truly a skill!

After having breakfast, Jiang Qingyan, accompanied by Ning Ruyu, strolled around the Qingliang Palace.

The courtyard doesn't look very big, but it's decorated quite uniquely. The flowers and plants in the courtyard are very well grown, so Ning Ruyu must be a person who loves life.

Before she knew it, she had arrived at Ning Ruyu's bedchamber. A faint floral fragrance filled the room, quite pleasant. Jiang Qingyan took a deep breath, instantly feeling refreshed and invigorated; her mood improved considerably…

Jiang Qingyan secretly made up her mind that she would ask Eunuch Wang to plant some flowers around Chaoyang Palace later!

Suddenly, Jiang Qingyan was drawn to a scroll on the desk and reached out to pick it up, wanting to see what was drawn on it.

Ning Ruyu's expression became noticeably tense. She immediately grabbed Jiang Qingyan's hand and forced an awkward smile, "Your Majesty, why don't I help you take a nap?"

Jiang Qingyan looked on with suspicion. Seeing Ning Ruyu's nervous expression, could it be that the scroll depicted her lover? That wouldn't do! Although Jiang Qingyan herself was a woman, she was still the Empress! If the Emperor were cuckolded, wouldn't he be utterly disgraced?

Jiang Qingyan pushed Ning Ruyu's hand away, frowned, and directly opened the scroll...

Upon closer inspection! The wild man in the painting... it was actually Jiang Qingyan himself?

The two people in the painting are Jiang Qingyan and Ning Ruyu. In the painting, Jiang Qingyan is heroic and spirited, with tender eyes, and is gently kissing Ning Ruyu's forehead...

When was this painting created? This scene isn't in the original owner's memories either.

Jiang Qingyan coughed awkwardly and said, "Yu'er, did I hurt you just now? I was just curious about what was depicted in the painting..."

"No, it's nothing..." Ning Ruyu's face instantly turned red. She lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingyan patted her head and smiled gently, "This painting... is truly beautiful, I like it very much. However, when exactly was it painted? Why do I have no recollection of it at all..."

Ning Ruyu's body trembled slightly. She bit her lip and said in a low voice, "This was painted by me in my spare time."

It turns out that the scene in the painting was just Ning Ruyu's imagination...

Judging from the creases on this scroll, Ning Ruyu must have opened it frequently to ease her longing...

Ning Ruyu is also a pitiful person...

Jiang Qingyan pulled her into her arms and said softly, "I see, Yu'er is so thoughtful..." Then, mimicking the painting, she gently kissed Ning Ruyu's forehead, her eyes filled with tenderness...

The atmosphere was nice, so let's call it a day. Staying any longer might cause trouble... With that thought, Jiang Qingyan casually made an excuse to leave Qingliang Palace.

Ning Ruyu held Jiang Qingyan's hand all the way, reluctantly seeing her off to the outside of the palace. She then stared blankly at Jiang Qingyan's departing figure, lost in thought for a long time...

She wondered when she would see His Majesty again… Perhaps another three months, or even longer… Thinking of this, Ning Ruyu felt a pang of sadness well up in her heart…

"Your Majesty, are you going back to Chaoyang Palace?" Eunuch Wang asked in a low voice.

Jiang Qingyan shook her head and said, "Change me into some casual clothes. I need to go to the Ministry of Rites. I don't need so many people. Just Ling Feng will be fine with me."

Suddenly remembering something, he quickly added, "Oh, right, you must pick out a good-looking outfit for me! It must be noble, elegant, and classy, ​​handsome and sophisticated! Your Majesty, I trust your judgment!"

Eunuch Wang patted his chest confidently and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this servant will go and choose clothes for Your Majesty right away!"

Seeing Eunuch Wang's retreating figure as he jogged away, Jiang Qingyan smiled and then casually found a side hall to sit and wait.

The palace maids were quick and efficient, and in no time they had changed Jiang Qingyan's clothes again. A purple robe made her look even more stunning.

"This eunuch Wang has excellent taste!" Jiang Qingyan thought to herself in admiration.