"I obey, Your Majesty."
The two of them returned to the main residence from the backyard.
Under the bright window, there was still an unfinished robe for the Emperor.
The Emperor didn’t stand on ceremony, stepped forward to pick it up and examined it closely. He noticed it wasn’t dragon patterns this time, and curiously asked a question.
"These are patterns of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness. I’ve embroidered some gourds into it, but it’s not finished yet, so it might be hard to see."
Perhaps it was the unique choice of colors she used. Despite the similarity in patterns, her embroidery was especially visually striking.
The Emperor was rather impatiently looking forward to wearing it.
"When can it be finished?"
"In about five or six days, Your Majesty. I’ve made a few cool shirts for you, so summer will be less sticky. Later, I’ll have Mr. Dong take it back for Your Majesty to try on. If anything doesn’t fit, I can alter it."
With that, she instructed Xia An to fetch them.
The material for these cool shirts was handwoven by Nanny Fan herself, mixed with some ice silk, giving a sense of coolness to the touch.
Moreover, this weaving technique is a secret handed down by Yunxiu Pavilion, known by few.
Two shirts together barely weigh as much as one regular shirt, thus more comfortable to wear.
The design of the cool shirt was simple, with Lin Wanyi only stitching some bamboo leaf patterns at the cuffs, adding a touch more coolness to the garment.
"I’ll try it on right here, so you can make any necessary adjustments."
Lin Wanyi was stunned; having the Emperor disrobe here, was it appropriate?
If people outside knew, they might say she was seducing the ruler again.
But before she could think of words to refuse, the Emperor had already opened his arms, waiting for Lin Wanyi to approach and help with his clothes.
Helplessly, she had to comply.
Dong Yuzhong glanced at the servants in the room, and everyone immediately retreated.
With such light footsteps, Lin Wanyi hadn’t even noticed.
By the time she helped the Emperor remove the outer robe, preparing to dress him in the cool shirt, she discovered only the two of them were left in the room.
The coolness of the room had been permeated by waves of rising heat.
Lin Wanyi’s cheeks flushed, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Just as she was about to say something, she was suddenly pulled into the Emperor’s embrace.
Feeling his body’s warmth and breathing beneath her nose, Lin Wanyi timidly called out.
Originally intending to advise the Emperor to calm down, she didn’t expect it to sound like a winding romance line to Emperor Yu Wenhong, causing his breathing to become increasingly rapid.
By the time Lin Wanyi realized what was happening, she was already lying on the bed.
The warm spring sunlight shone for half a day, Lin Wanyi knew there were still people standing outside, so she always suppressed herself from making any sound.
However, seeing her only made the Emperor’s passion even harder to restrain.
Dong Yuzhong waved his hand, and Qiu Ming entered quickly, whispering instructions.
"Prepare a room so that His Majesty and the lady can bathe and change later."
Then he retreated a few steps himself, standing under the corridor.
Facing away from the door of the main residence, he looked around the courtyard left and right.
Seeing no one daring to approach casually, he closed his eyes to rest.
Until the sky gradually darkened, and lights were lit one after another outside, Lin Wanyi awoke from fatigue.
Her hand reached out and touched the still warm body of the Emperor, frightening her into withdrawing immediately.
Then she buried her head under the blanket, refusing to come out no matter what.
The Emperor was amused seeing her .
"It’s not the first time you’ve served in bed, why are you shy?"
Covered by the blanket, the weather was already hot, making Lin Wanyi struggle to breathe after a while.
Despite this, she wouldn’t come out.
"Alright, alright, I still have memorials to review. You can hide here; just remember to have dinner after I leave."
With that, he got up from the bed, took his night clothes, and dressed himself.
Then he called out towards the outside.
"Come in and assist."
Soon, the door to the main residence was pushed open, seemingly only Dong Yuzhong entered.
He helped the Emperor dress properly, and after a simple wash, he softly asked.
"Emperor, should I have the meal prepared?"
"Start preparing, have them send a portion to Qian’an Hall and another to Xianyi Palace. I have business to attend to, so I won’t be dining here."
With that, he glanced at the never-opened curtain.
With a soft laugh, he said.
Dong Yuzhong kept his head lowered. Only when leaving did he turn around to glance at the main residence’s door, a broad smile on his lips.
Xia An and Chunqi had been sitting in their own room.
When Xiao Luzi came calling, the two of them quickly went to the main residence to serve.
As soon as they entered, they sensed the ambiguous atmosphere in the room.
Both of them were inexperienced, yet understood what this meant, naturally unable to hide their joy.
Especially Chunqi, who immediately said to Lin Wanyi.
"My lady, why are you still hiding in there and not coming out? The Emperor has gone far away, come out quickly."
She then went to hang up the curtain, revealing Lin Wanyi curled up under the brocade quilt.
Gently tugging at the quilt, Lin Wanyi refused.
However, Xia An softly said from the side.
"My lady, come out quickly, I’ve prepared hot water for you to freshen up. It’s hot, and we are soaked in sweat; how will you sleep ?"
After hearing this, Lin Wanyi realized she couldn’t struggle any longer.
So, she finally emerged from the blanket.
Seeing the two of them cover their mouths and giggle, she suddenly became stern.
"Dare to laugh at your master, I’ll have Mr. Qiu punish you to recite palace rules!"
"Punish us then, if the Emperor comes to Xianyi Palace to find you daily, I’d gladly recite them 800 times!"
Chunqi’s teasing made Lin Wanyi burst into laughter.
Her lips were red and glistening, clearly having been fervently kissed.
Xia An noticed the strands of sticky hair around her brows and quickly said.
"My lady, get up quickly, let’s bathe and eat first, otherwise you won’t digest if it’s too late."
One way or the other, Lin Wanyi simply closed her eyes, letting the two maids attend to her.
Sitting in the wooden tub, soaked in hot water, the sticky feeling and soreness finally began to relieve.
She wondered what was up with the Emperor today; though it wasn’t her first time serving, today had been particularly tiring.
If the Emperor hadn’t gotten up to leave, she reckoned she’d sleep until dawn.
On the other side, after returning to Qian’an Hall, the Emperor didn’t dine immediately but bathed first.
The rising steam seemed to remind him again of Lin Wanyi.
Clearly just an attractive concubine, yet why did he lose control and break the rules?
Closing his eyes to rest, but Lin Wanyi’s stubbornly silent image filled his mind, making him involuntarily swallow.
This water only got hotter as he soaked, until finally he shouted in frustration.
"Dong Yuzhong, call for cold water. Why is today’s bath so scorching?"