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"Ouch, ouch, ouch, Your Majesty, please be gentler," Lian Hua hurriedly exclaimed, shaking her shoulders as she spoke.

The Emperor, holding back his anger, eased the strength of his hand, his heart filling with more and more distaste. What was it about Xu Rongying that had won over his Little Concubine’s affections, making her so devoted?

As for Xu Zhaoyi, the Emperor treated her more like he would treat a man. To put it precisely, in the Emperor’s eyes, aside from being a woman, Xu Rongying was no different from a man.

In those years of turmoil and political instability, Xu Rongying was chosen by the Former Empress Dowager to be taken into the palace, with the intention of using General Xu’s influence to deter all parties.

He had known Xu Rongying since they were young; she was two years his senior. She was well-read in military tactics, proficient in all types of weaponry, and had a fiancé who also came from a military family. Together, they fought on the battlefield and amassed great respect in the army.

However, after her fiancé died on the battlefield, she became dispirited. Her father, General Xu, who was deeply devoted to his daughter, kept her from returning to the battlefield ever since.

When the Former Empress Dowager wanted to bring her into the palace, he asked her privately if she was unwilling, saying she didn’t have to go.

She replied with only one sentence, "If this body still holds some usefulness, why not enter the palace? It also saves my father the trouble of arranging a match for me."

There was only one condition, she could enter the palace, but her heart belonged to someone else, and she could never serve him like the other Concubines would for the rest of her life.

The Emperor agreed.

In fact, the Emperor’s affection for her was as he would have for a man, without a hint of romance. He often lamented that if Xu Rongying had been born a man, she would certainly have become a formidable and excellent general. It was such a pity.

It was also for this reason that the Emperor felt jealous and sensed a threat. He didn’t want his Little Concubine to become too involved with Xu Rongying. What if she led his Little Concubine astray?

Lian Hua called out "Your Majesty" several times, but when there was no response, she turned her head to look and saw His Majesty staring expressionlessly at something else, deep in thought. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled and called out a few more times, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor returned to his senses and looked down at her, uttering a noncommittal "Hmm." His mood was sour, and seeing the person before him so oblivious made him feel even more bitter.

Lian Hua was relieved and asked again, "Do you think Sister Zhaoyi would like the Peach Wood Sword? The osmanthus wine needs to be buried for a while longer before it can be dug up, so I can only give it to her later."

She had already asked once before, but His Majesty had not answered.

She had only met Xu Zhaoyi a few times and wasn’t sure of her preferences, so she wanted to see what His Majesty thought.

Not only give away the Peach Wood Sword but to even consider sending osmanthus wine as well?

The Emperor felt even more sour and irritated by this question, one he truly did not want to answer.

Seeing his Little Concubine waiting expectantly for a reply, his heart softened, and he forced out through gritted teeth the words, "Perhaps."

How was he supposed to know whether Xu Rongying would like it or not? If it was a gift from his Little Concubine, could she really refuse it?

If she didn’t accept it, that would be just fine with him – he was reluctant to part with it anyway!

Hearing his words, Lian Hua nodded, thinking that His Majesty also wasn’t sure. Sister Zhaoyi’s gift to her had been to her liking, and she genuinely wanted to give something that Sister Zhaoyi would enjoy in return, but it wasn’t appropriate to directly ask the person concerned.

"Then that’s all there is to it. I’ll make it and give it to her. If she doesn’t like it, I will make something else to gift," Lian Hua concluded in the end.

Hearing this, the Emperor couldn’t hold back any longer and said sternly, "She wouldn’t dare!" Anger flashed across his handsome face.

"Ah?" Lian Hua was taken aback by His Majesty’s strong reaction, wondering what she had said wrong, and turned her head in surprise to look at him.

The Emperor took a couple of deep breaths to calm his voice, not wanting to frighten the object of his affections.

His Little Concubine was straightforward, and if he didn’t spell it out, she probably would never overthink anything.

So what if he had to abandon his pride, he needed to lay it out clearly—he was not pleased!

The Emperor turned around to Lian Hua, squatted down to meet her eyes, and said, "Why didn’t you give the Peach Wood Sword and osmanthus wine to me? I want them too!"

His Little Concubine belonged to him; in front of her, what use was there for his pride!

Lian Hua had been looking at him, puzzled by his actions, and upon hearing his words, she voiced her surprise once more, "Ah?!"

Seeing that she hadn’t grasped his point, the Emperor said bluntly, "Don’t give them to her, give them to me!" Only give them to me!

Lian Hua’s mouth dropped open in astonishment; she had never seen His Majesty like this before.

In her memory, His Majesty had always been composed and calm, even when playing around with her, there was always a hint of ease.

Now, in contrast, his expression revealed a hint of eagerness and displeasure, like a petulant child, strangely adorable.

Lian Hua stared with some amazement, unable to stop herself from taking a few extra glances, which only made the Emperor even more displeased, his brows furrowed, and he reached out to pinch her face.

Lian Hua quickly caught his hand, finding the sensation quite fresh; she blinked, sensing that if she didn’t say something soon, this big child was going to explode with anger.

She cleared her throat, organized her thoughts, and began to reason with him, "Your Majesty, Sister Zhaoyi comforted me, and when I was in trouble, she helped me out. This debt of gratitude is significant, and requires a proper thanks."

The Emperor was not interested in listening, "What about me? Have I not treated you well, why only give to her?"

"Of course, you’re wonderful. You are the best to me in the whole world." Besides at first, Lian Hua silently added in her mind, and after another thought, she added silently again, except for her family.

The Emperor’s disposition slightly improved, but it still wasn’t good enough; his brows were still knitted as he looked at her.

Lian Hua had a strange feeling inside; seeing His Majesty throw a tantrum with her actually made her happy, but she couldn’t show it, afraid to enrage her Majesty, oh dear.

She could only try her best to control her facial expression, and kept reasoning, "But between you and me, it can’t be calculated like that. Sister Zhaoyi has been kind to me and sent gifts, so it’s only right I return the favor. It’s not the same with you."

The Emperor spoke as if he was sulking, "How is it not the same!" He didn’t care; he just wanted it!

Lian Hua scratched her head, feeling a bit at a loss for words, "How can you be the same, how can we ever settle our accounts?"

The two of them had been entwined together, unable to clear the debts.

"Why can’t we?" He couldn’t send gifts because they were too entangled? Not sending to him but only to others, he wouldn’t accept it.

No matter how she tried to explain it, it just wouldn’t go through. How should she explain it?

She was at a loss for words, her tongue tied, "You, you, you, oh dear, our relationship is special, you’re an insider, no no, what should I say?"

Lian Hua was frantic, tangling her fingers in her hair. ’Insider’ was how a man referred to his wife, so what was the term to describe His Majesty’s relationship with her?

Suddenly, the Emperor seemed to understand what she was trying to express: Xu Zhaoyi was an outsider, while he and she were inseparable partners.

A surge of joy welled up in his heart, yet he still wanted to hear her say it, and he softened his tone, pressing for an answer, "What is the relationship between you and me?"

It was almost like he was coaxing her, eager to hear from her mouth the nature of their relationship, his heart suddenly tense, beating forcefully and swiftly.