[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

The next day, Ning Shuyan picked some jasmine flowers, dried them, and placed them inside a sachet.

When Xiao Yu entered, he saw Ning Shuyan fiddling with the sachet. He walked in quietly and sat on the Luohan bed, watching as she tied the sachet to the bed canopy.

The room was filled with the elegant and slightly sweet fragrance of gardenias and jasmine, bringing a soothing sense of comfort to the heart.

Ning Shuyan turned her head and was startled to see Xiao Yu, quickly curtsying. "Your Majesty, you arrived without a sound and frightened me."

Ziying, standing beside her, had already noticed him earlier, but since Xiao Yu had gestured for silence, she had to pretend she hadn't seen anything.

Xiao Yu glanced at the sachet she had hung up. "Is this embroidered by your aunt?"

A sweet smile unconsciously appeared on Ning Shuyan's lips. "Yes, I placed some jasmine inside. Jasmine has a calming effect, so I hung it by the bedside."

"Do you know how to embroider?"

His sudden question made Ning Shuyan smile. "Not very well... My embroidery is rather unsightly."

Her gaze swept over the sachet hanging from Xiao Yu's waist. The dragon embroidered on it was exquisitely detailed, and the cloud patterns seemed almost painted, perfectly smooth.

She chuckled. "Your Majesty's sachet is so beautifully embroidered. It must have been done with exceptional skill."

"This was embroidered by the Empress."

Ning Shuyan smiled brightly. "I see. Her Majesty is meticulous, and the embroidery is truly intricate."

Xiao Yu stretched out his hand. Ning Shuyan got up and, as usual, sat directly on his lap—after all, Ziying had already left the room.

Xiao Yu wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled. "And yet, Shuyan has never embroidered anything for me. How about making one for me someday?"

"Huh?" Ning Shuyan was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected such a request.

She spoke softly, "I'm not skilled at embroidery. I fear Your Majesty will only laugh at me."

Xiao Yu chuckled. "Why would I? It doesn't matter if it's good or not. The thought behind it is what counts. If you make one, I will wear it."

Ning Shuyan wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling. "Then I'll make one for Your Majesty. But you mustn't rush me... Also, just keep it somewhere. If you wear it, my poor embroidery might become a laughingstock."

Xiao Yu pinched her nose, making her wince.

"It's just a sachet. Why so many conditions?" His tone carried a hint of reproach, but his eyes were filled with warmth.

Ning Shuyan smiled gently, gazing at him up close. When he smiled like this, he seemed quite approachable. His eyes, capable of being as cold as ice, could also shine with a captivating warmth. His nose was well-shaped—high and straight.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Yu asked, noticing her deep gaze.

Ning Shuyan reached out and gently touched a small mole beside his nose, playfully saying, "Your Majesty's mole is quite beautiful."

"This? It's just a flaw. You really think it looks good?" He was incredulous—he had never heard of a mole making someone look more attractive.

Ning Shuyan's eyes were serious. "I'm not joking. This mole makes Your Majesty's features even more defined, adding a unique, cool elegance. If you don't believe me, let me draw one on myself for you to see."

She glanced at the freshly prepared ink nearby, picked up a fine brush, and lightly dipped it in ink. Standing before the bronze mirror, she carefully studied her face before deciding to place the mole beneath her eye.

Once finished, she turned around and smiled. "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

The moment she turned, her smile was breathtaking—a beauty surpassing even Baosi, a glance capable of ensnaring a thousand hearts.

Xiao Yu's eyes lit up. The small dot instantly added a touch of seductive charm, her gaze carrying an unspoken allure.

His voice was soft, like the evening breeze of a warm spring night. "Come here."

Ning Shuyan, still smiling, walked over. Before she could sit down, Xiao Yu pulled her into his arms. In a low voice, he asked, "Where exactly did you come from?"

The question made Ning Shuyan pause.

He continued, "Your words, your temperament... Everything about you is unique. My dear Ning Cairen, you never fail to surprise me."

Ning Shuyan's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I told Your Majesty—I wasn't lying. See? Doesn't this little beauty mark add an entirely different charm?"

Xiao Yu gently traced her eye, then her nose, and finally her lips.

Ning Shuyan clearly saw his Adam's apple move as he gazed at her. His fingers brushed against her lips, lingering. A thought suddenly arose in her mind—could it be that this emperor refused to kiss women?

She remembered their first night together—how he had stopped abruptly when she kissed his ear.

Xiao Yu's fingertips rested on the warmth of her lips, and a flicker of something unreadable flashed in his eyes. Ning Shuyan parted her lips slightly and gently bit down.

It was a light, teasing bite, as if she were playfully provoking him. Xiao Yu could feel the softness of her tongue against his fingertip—warm and delicate.

Looking into her mesmerizing, flirtatious eyes, he felt his breath grow heavy. His lips pressed against her neck as his hands roamed her body.

Ning Shuyan's mind went blank. When she felt her belt being undone, she quickly pushed against him. "Your Majesty, let's go to the inner chamber."

Xiao Yu pressed tightly against her, holding her waist. He whispered by her ear, "Right here."

Last time, that storybook described it happening on a tea table... He hadn't tried that yet. What would it feel like?

Ning Shuyan suddenly regretted her teasing. She shouldn't have looked at him like that. But there was no time to think—the room seemed to dissolve into flames, drowning out everything except her pounding heart and his deep breaths.

Everything spiraled out of control...

Xiao Yu lifted Ning Shuyan, his eyes burning with urgency.

"Ah..." A pained cry escaped her lips. In the dim candlelight, her face scrunched up in pain.

But Xiao Yu didn't stop. Ning Shuyan pushed against him with all her strength. "I hit something..."

Xiao Yu froze, his frustration evident as he released her. His face darkened.

Ning Shuyan clutched her hip, taking a deep breath. Her eyes welled with tears.

"You pushed me onto the tea table, and I hit the corner! And you didn't even notice!" In her distress, she even forgot to use formal speech.

With everything suddenly halted, Xiao Yu's desire dissipated. Just when things were about to escalate, she had forcefully pushed him away—like a bucket of cold water dousing a roaring fire.

Noticing her pained expression, he sat down and said coldly, "How was I supposed to know?"

He found her overly delicate—he had realized that from their first night together. Now, the moment had been ruined, his passion abruptly extinguished, leaving him irritated.

Ning Shuyan held her hip, dressing herself carefully. But when she accidentally sat on the injured spot again, she bit her lip to hold back a cry. Tears welled up uncontrollably. This wasn't just her being delicate—it really hurt. And she felt incredibly wronged.