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Lian Hua stuffed the cord into His Majesty’s waistband, tugged it downwards, and feeling it was not secure enough for fear it might fall off, wrapped it around once more and casually tied a dead knot before pulling it down again.

Satisfied that it was now firm, she looked up at His Majesty with a delighted twinkle in her eyes.

The Emperor felt somewhat helpless as if his heart was about to give way. Whenever he had deep feelings in his heart, his Little Concubine always managed to effortlessly break the mood, innocently forcing him to take a deep breath and compose himself.

He fondly ruffled her hair with a hint of resignation in his compliment, "Not bad, it’s nicely done." Very secure, unless the belt broke, the clothes would tear before the Jade Pendant would fall off.

Never mind, he would have Zhang Qing help untie it and re-tie it later.

Unable to help herself, Lian Hua’s eyes crinkled with laughter as she hugged His Majesty and coquettishly pleaded, "Your Majesty, will you help me wear mine too?" She also had His Majesty’s safety buckle.

Knowing she referred to the safety buckle, and hearing her coquettish plea, his heart melted. His Little Concubine was becoming increasingly dependent on him, which he found utterly delightful.

"Where is it? I will help you wear it," he said.

Lian Hua let go of His Majesty and, with a beaming smile, pointed at the dressing table, "There~"

Following her gaze, the Emperor saw two items; his safety buckle and a Gold Hairpin...

Seeing the Gold Hairpin, a glint flashed through his eyes. With composure, he skipped over the hairpin, picked up the safety buckle, and playfully asked, "Nannan, where would you like to wear it?"

Upon hearing the words "Nannan," Lian Hua couldn’t help but giggle sweetly, her voice soft and tender, "Your Majesty, I’m already seventeen, not little anymore. Nannan is what you call a little child."

After saying that, she continued to laugh. "Nannan" by itself was alright, but the term "Little Nannan" gave her the peculiar feeling she was His Majesty’s daughter.

The Emperor pinched her cheek and said with a smile, "My dear sweet girl is so endearing, isn’t she just like a child? How about I call you Nannan from now on?"

Lian Hua tried to hold back her laughter but couldn’t, eventually bursting into giggles. Thinking of His Majesty leading her like a daughter, calling him "father" was amusing to her, and she collapsed laughing into His Majesty’s arms.

The Emperor, wrapping his arms around her, raised an eyebrow. Had he made a joke? He gently shook his head, waiting for her to finish laughing before speaking.

Finally, Lian Hua had laughed enough and, with damp eyes, she looked up at His Majesty and softly requested that he help her wear it around her neck.

The Emperor affectionately scraped her nose and smoothed down her hair, then, holding the safety buckle, he pulled apart the cord and hung it around her neck, arranging her hair so it fell over the cord.

She looked down, touching the safety buckle over her chest, picked it up, and slipped it inside her collar. The buckle slid down her skin, warming the Emperor’s gaze, prompting him to hurriedly look away, no longer daring to continue watching.

Once she was wearing it against her body, Lian Hua felt very satisfied, touching the safety buckle through her clothes, albeit considering it a symbol of His Majesty being by her side.

When she was ready, the Emperor turned to her, leaned in, and kissed her forehead, asking, "Is there anything else you’d like to do?"

Lian Hua shook her head. Today had been perfect.

They had expressed their feelings for one another, she’d had her fill of food and drink, helped to adorn His Majesty with her own Jade Pendant, and was now wearing His Majesty’s safety buckle.

Today had been very good and satisfying; there was nothing else she wanted to do.

In a gentle voice, the Emperor asked, "Are you tired? Would you like to retire for the night now?" Having bathed somewhat late, it was also nearly the time she usually went to sleep.

"Are you sleeping with me tonight?" Lian Hua asked, actually feeling quite sleepy, and she couldn’t help but let out a small yawn.

The Emperor smiled and nodded, "Yes."

Lian Hua was somewhat surprised, "Eh, Your diligence and love for the people are known, why aren’t you reviewing the memorials tonight?" Last night was special, but according to His Majesty’s routine, he would normally be reviewing memorials tonight.

The Emperor teased, "What, if I don’t review the memorials at night, does that mean I’m not diligent and caring towards the people?" In order to come back and see her, he had been reviewing memorials all afternoon, leaving only some trivial ones aside.

Lian Hua stuck out her tongue, that wasn’t what she meant at all, His Majesty was twisting her words, it had nothing to do with her.

Although she thought so, she said, "Oh, how could that be, Your Majesty rises early and retires late, taking a break once in a while is blending work and rest, all for reviewing the memorials better."

Seeing her like this, the Emperor knew what she was muttering in her heart, and her words seemed, the flattery was not quite on point, as if governing the country and dealing with political matters only involved dealing with memorials, but indeed, she had only seen him reviewing memorials.

The Emperor pinched her face, leaning in close to her ear and whispered, "Today, in order to come back early to see my Nannan, I’ve been dealing with political affairs all afternoon, without even a moment’s rest for a cup of tea. How should Nannan reward me?"

His Majesty’s breath tickled her ear, making Lian Hua’s face instantly flush. His Majesty’s voice was truly pleasant, as if laced with seduction, utterly intoxicating, making her heart race.

Seeing her blush, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh heartily, his Little Concubine was just too adorable, she couldn’t handle being teased at all.

Coming to her senses, Lian Hua realized His Majesty had intentionally breathed on her, you big bully, she couldn’t help but grab his sleeve, pouting, "Your Majesty, why are you teasing me again~"

The Emperor gently lifted her chin, saying, "I only do this to you, who asked Nannan to be so lovable?" saying so, he pressed a kiss onto her lips.

Oh my, His Majesty was really like a rascal, Lian Hua’s cheeks turned red, she didn’t dare to look directly into His Majesty’s eyes, her heart pounding fiercely.

After enjoying her bashful look enough, the Emperor considerately let her prepare for bed, his Little Concubine must be tired.

Lian Hua then sat down at the dressing table to take down her hair, with the Emperor standing beside her, he casually picked up the Gold-threaded Eight-treasure Hairpin on the table and asked nonchalantly, "How about I replace this hairpin with an ingot for you tomorrow?"

This troublesome hairpin, it had caused trouble twice, must be taken away, it should not stay with her, or who knows what trouble the hairpin might cause next time.

Lian Hua, following the unraveling of her hair, looked into the mirror to see if it was smooth, and without turning her head, said, "Yes, take it away, Your Majesty."

Now that she was a Beauty, well cared for and well fed, she had no use for it, it couldn’t be eaten or used, and needed to be well looked after, if it were damaged, she would be punished. It was too much trouble to wear the hairpin, it was better for His Majesty to take it.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, how come she agreed so readily this time? He had thought that if she was unwilling, he could have Zhang Qing fetch an ingot right away to replace it, but unexpectedly, it went surprisingly smooth, his Little Concubine was really good.

Looking at the Gold Hairpin, the Emperor felt it to be an eyesore, this trinket had kept him and his Little Concubine apart for so long, he would have someone dismantle it later, to avoid being annoyed at the sight of it.

He called for Zhang Qing from outside, handing the Gold Hairpin directly to him to take away, he couldn’t wait a moment longer.