After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Outside, a cold wind whistled, but inside, spring was in full bloom.

Wen Jiayue could no longer bear it and sobbed, "No more... Shen Fuhan..."

Shen Fuhan brushed aside her sweat-dampened hair and asked in a low voice, "Why did you call my name when you were drunk?"

She didn't answer, but gently pushed him away with both hands: "No..."

Shen Fuhan grabbed her hand and said in a deep voice, "This is the last time."

After an unknown amount of time, Wen Jiayue finally lay down, rested her head on his arm, and drifted off to sleep.

Shen Fuhan was wide awake, playing with her hair as he looked out the window.

The sky wasn't completely dark yet; beneath the deep blue was a hint of orange-yellow twilight, and the moon had already climbed up, casting a faint glow.

His gaze returned to Wen Jiayue's soft, fair face, and he felt somewhat guilty.

It seems... that he has become somewhat unrestrained.

He wrapped his arms tightly around his soft, delicate wife and lifted her up in his arms.

Even in her sleep, Wen Jiayue was terrified, murmuring, "No more..."

Shen Fuhan kissed her forehead and whispered, "Just going to take a bath."

The person in my arms finally calmed down.

After a quick shower, Shen Fuhan was about to go to sleep with her when someone knocked on the door.

"Master Marquis, the Emperor is calling urgently."

Shen Fuhan responded and got up, putting on his robe.

He dressed neatly and went out the door.

Ruyi, who was waiting outside, quickly bowed and greeted the Marquis when he came out.

The noise from inside the room had been going on all afternoon; she hadn't heard it in almost a year, and she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Shen Fuhan glanced at her and said indifferently, "Don't disturb Madam's rest."

Ruyi quickly agreed.

Shen Fuhan walked quickly away and arrived at the palace.

After being informed, he entered Hanliang Hall.

Inside the hall, the emperor, whose features still showed signs of immaturity, sat in the main seat, while Princess Yongzhen, Li Zhilan, sat below him.

Upon seeing him enter the hall, the two of them looked over at the same time.

The emperor's eyes lit up, and he beckoned to him: "Minister Shen, please sit down, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Shen Fuhan bowed calmly before taking his seat.

Li Zhilan came to her senses and said coquettishly, "You treat Lord Shen even more affectionately than you treat your older sister."

The emperor quickly said, "Of course I treat my elder sister better. Please don't wrong anyone."

Li Zhilan's beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "It's not a bad thing. Lord Shen is the Emperor's right-hand man, and I, as his older sister, am happy to be second best."

Seeing that Shen Fuhan did not speak, she looked at him and smiled.

"Lord Shen, isn't this the truth?"

Shen Fuhan nodded slightly.

"Sigh, you're so boring," Li Zhilan said lazily, resting his chin on his hand. "You never know how to say more."

Shen Fuhan then asked, "What brings Your Majesty here today?"

Li Zhilan's smile froze slightly, and she pursed her lips.

The emperor quickly said, "I'll be holding a selection of women next March, but I don't know what kind of women I want to choose. I'd like you to come and offer your advice."

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "This matter is enough for Her Highness the Princess. I am a subject and should not interfere in palace affairs."

“You’re being too distant with me,” the emperor said, somewhat displeased. “I’ve always considered you family.”

The late emperor left him with many old ministers, all of whom were loyal and talented, but they were too pedantic and always lectured him.

Shen Fuhan was different; he was both a teacher and a friend, and they weren't much different in age, so he trusted and relied on Shen Fuhan even more.

Shen Fuhan could only say, "There are still more than four months until the draft. Isn't it too early to talk about this now?"

Upon seeing that he had relented, the emperor's expression immediately brightened.

"It's not early, it's not early. My elder sister said it's time for me to think about this matter."

Shen Fuhan asked, "What kind of woman does the Emperor like?"

The emperor stroked his chin: "A beautiful woman with a bright smile, who also cares about me at all times and is deeply in love with me."

Shen Fuhan paused for a moment: "In that case, when the imperial concubine selection takes place, His Majesty can choose his consorts according to this standard."

Li Zhilan's expression had already returned to normal, and her red lips parted slightly.

"Your Majesty, please get straight to the point. I can tell that Lord Shen is already getting impatient."

Shen Fuhan cupped his hands and said, "Your humble servant dares not."

"Alright, actually I have one more thing to say."

The emperor hesitated and said, "I have heard that Minister Shen and his wife are a harmonious couple. I would like to learn from their example so that I can get along well with my concubines in the future."

Shen Fuhan glanced at Li Zhilan.

She was looking down at the bright red nail polish, seemingly uninterested in the topic.

He lowered his eyes and said, "Perhaps it is because my wife is gentle and compliant that we are able to play music together in harmony."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhilan chuckled.

"Lord Shen is so reserved. It is clearly because you and your wife are in love that you can play music together in harmony."

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "I wouldn't say I like her. Now that she's my wife, I will treat her well."

Li Zhilan smiled slightly: "If someone else were to become your wife, would Lord Shen treat her the same way?"

Shen Fuhan nodded and said, "That's natural."

Li Zhilan looked him over and said with interest, "I never expected Lord Shen to be such a heartless and ungrateful person."

Shen Fuhan countered, "Isn't the Eldest Princess the same?"

Li Zhilan was taken aback for a moment, then giggled and said, "You're really bold. No one has ever dared to speak to me like that before."

"I am honored to be the first."

An undercurrent was running between the two, and the emperor, who had been left out in the cold, coughed lightly.

"I don't quite understand," he said, puzzled. "Can a couple truly be in harmony if they don't like each other?"

Shen Fuhan said, "Forgive my bluntness, but in order to balance the power of all parties, Your Majesty will definitely choose women you don't like as concubines during the next selection. At that time, Your Majesty will understand."

The emperor seemed to understand something: "What you said makes sense."

He thought of his father, the emperor, who treated all his concubines of high rank equally and rarely showed favoritism.

Does Father Emperor like them all? It must be because of their maternal clans that he had no choice but to do so.

He sighed deeply: "This is terrible. I was originally looking forward to the imperial concubine selection, but now that I think about it, it's not very interesting."

The emperor soon went to rest, looking listless, and Li Zhilan and Shen Fuhan took their leave together.

The two walked out of Hanliang Palace one after the other.

Li Zhilan stared at the palace wall and said, "I am rather curious, what kind of woman does Lord Shen like?"

Shen Fuhan subconsciously looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

It was late at night, the moonlight was bright and clear, and the soft light enveloped me, giving me a comforting warmth.

When Li Zhilan turned his gaze to him, Shen Fuhan lowered his eyes and stared at his feet.

After a moment's thought, he finally spoke: "Your Majesty, I do not know."

"Is that so?" Li Zhilan said lightly, "How about I give you two concubines, one charming and one pretty? Then we can see which one Lord Shen prefers, how about that?"

Shen Fuhan declined calmly: "Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but I am unworthy of it."

Li Zhilan snorted: "You're quite an interesting person. You don't like your own wife, nor do you take a concubine. What are you thinking?"

"My lady has just given birth, and I will not take a concubine, lest I break her heart."

"How thoughtful of me," Li Zhilan said with a smile. "How about I send it to you again around this time next year? You can't refuse then."

Before Shen Fuhan could speak, she got into the sedan chair that was waiting nearby and walked away.

Shen Fuhan stared intently at her retreating figure, his hands clenched into fists within his sleeves.