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Sitting in the sedan chair, the Noble Consort had regained her usual expression.

Although His Majesty usually respected her and was willing to take care of her dignity, and she was the first one summoned by him this time, but she still felt a bit restless. She could never figure out what was really on His Majesty’s mind.

It hadn’t been long since the flower-viewing banquet, and she could still vividly recall the lunch she shared with His Majesty.

Even though she tried everything, she couldn’t coax a smile out of him; he maintained a serious expression throughout the meal, more silent than usual, and left as soon as lunch was finished.

She couldn’t understand whether His Majesty was still angry about what happened during the flower-viewing banquet. Three days had passed, and although she had already punished Beauty Li, she still wasn’t sure about His Majesty’s attitude.

Upon reaching the Star Palace, the Noble Consort stepped out of the sedan chair and had someone notify His Majesty. Soon after, Zhang Qing hurried over.

As he approached, he began to give his respects to the Noble Consort, "This servant pays his respects to the Noble Consort."

The Noble Consort lightly lifted her jade hand and gently said, "Chief steward Zhang, no need for such ceremony."

Zhang Qing stood up and said, "Thank you, Noble Consort. Your Highness, His Majesty is still reviewing the memorials and specially asked this servant to inform you. Please follow this servant to the Inner Palace to wait a moment, and His Majesty will join you after finishing with the memorials."

The Noble Consort nodded slightly and smiled, "There’s no trouble, state affairs are important. His Majesty manages countless matters daily; it is fine for me to wait in the Inner Palace."

She had arrived early, and knowing His Majesty’s diligence, she hadn’t expected to see him so soon.

She had arrived early to have time to prepare herself to present her in the best condition before His Majesty.

Upon hearing that the Noble Consort had arrived, the Emperor simply instructed people to wait and did not say anything more, continuing to review the memorials.

When it was past the time people usually retired for the night, the Emperor was still reviewing memorials. Zhang Qing had no choice but to remind him, "Your Majesty, it is time to rest, the Consort is waiting for you in the Inner Palace."

The Emperor was taken aback, only then remembering that he had summoned the Noble Consort that night. He put down the memorial in his hand, massaged his brow, and asked, "What time is it now?"

Zhang Qing replied respectfully with his head bowed, "Your Majesty, it is the end of Hai Hour."

The Emperor asked, "How long has the Noble Consort been waiting?" He felt this night had passed especially quickly; he had just gotten into the rhythm of attending to memorials, and it was already time for bed.

"Her Highness arrived not long after the lamps were lit," Zhang Qing answered.

That meant she had been waiting for quite a while.

The Emperor said no more and stood up from his desk, heading toward the Inner Palace.

At this hour, the Little Concubine must have gone to sleep early. If he were at Canglan Court right now, he would probably be going to bed early as well.

The Little Concubine had incredibly regular sleeping habits. No matter what she was doing, as the time approached, she would show signs of sleepiness, bit by bit, compelling him to also rest early with her.

Initially, when he reviewed memorials in Canglan Court, he would often work late into the night.

Back then, she would fight her sleepiness waiting for him, and by the time he was ready for bed, he could see her with bleary eyes, looking foolish and dazed, standing not far from him, waiting to serve him.

Once he even saw her standing by his side, eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep, and it took several calls to wake her up, leaving him utterly speechless.

Since that time, not wanting her to be bored while he reviewed memorials, he stopped asking her to wait on him, allowing her to do her own things instead.

And from that time, whenever he visited Canglan Court, he would not work late into the night. Eventually, even his daily routine had been assimilated by hers, adopting her bedtime schedule.

After some time, the Emperor felt much more spirited than usual.

Usually, after a day’s work dealing with state affairs, he would need to take a walk in the afternoon to relax, but during this period he hadn’t felt the need for those walks, feeling an endless surge of energy, making his handling of state affairs much more efficient.

This must also be why the Little Concubine had such abundant energy during the day, right?

Having slept well at night and nothing to do during the day, doesn’t one have to find something to stir up?

He was not at Canglan Court tonight, and without raising his head, he could not see Little Concubine anymore, nor was anyone there to remind him it was time to sleep. The Emperor felt a sense of loss and subconsciously did not want to return to his bedroom to face the emptiness.

"Greetings to His Majesty." Seeing His Majesty return, the Noble Consort gracefully performed a curtsy.

She had waited for His Majesty for nearly two Shichen, from the initial taut spirit to the now growing urgency, fearing any mishaps or emergencies, such as an issue arising in state affairs that would require His Majesty to discuss urgently with his ministers, leaving no time for her.

If that happened, she would have to return, and by tomorrow, it would become a laughingstock of the entire harem.

Now that she saw His Majesty had come, the Noble Consort let out a sigh of relief. It was good that he had arrived.

Then her tension immediately returned. She had been so preoccupied with her wild thoughts that she had forgotten to tidy her hair and clothes. She wondered if her hair was disheveled...

The Emperor, hearing the sound, snapped out of his reverie and took a closer look: Hmm, the Noble Consort was in the Inner Palace too; he had neglected her again...

He spoke indifferently, "Rise."

The Noble Consort steadied her breathing, slowly stood up, and with a tender smile turned to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the night is deep. Would you like to change and retire for the night?"

The Emperor glanced at her and hummed acknowledgment, saying no more.

Smelling the fragrance of flowers on the Noble Consort, the Emperor thought of Lian Hua. She hardly used any scented products; there was a very faint milk scent on her that was slightly sweet when inhaled closely, quite pleasant.

He knew that the Palace Concubines liked to bathe in flower petals, but he had never seen her do that.

Once, he had specifically asked her why she did not bathe in petals, and he still remembered clearly the way she looked then: she frowned and hesitantly said, "Your Majesty, to bathe once, many flowers would need to be stripped bare.

The eunuch in charge of the flower gardens would cry himself faint. "

That had made him burst out laughing.

Thinking of this, the Emperor’s facial expression softened.

The Noble Consort, uncertain of His Majesty’s mood, stepped delicately over and began to help him change his clothes.

The Noble Consort’s gaze flickered as she lowered her eyes, slowed her breathing, her breath as delicate as an orchid, adjusting her posture while helping His Majesty change. She knew her profile was extremely beautiful; just one glance downward from His Majesty would allow him to see her profile.

The Emperor, without a sideways glance and preoccupied with other thoughts, did not notice the Noble Consort’s actions.

The Noble Consort lifted her eyelids to see that His Majesty still had not looked down, and she grew anxious.

With a thought, she began to pretend she couldn’t untie a button, tugging at it lightly a few times, which caught His Majesty’s attention.

The Emperor looked down, a scene that seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall when, the forgotten image surfaced in his mind.

It must have been several years ago that Little Concubine had also struggled like this while helping him change. It was the first time he had met her, and like now, she couldn’t untie the button and was so flustered that sweat beaded on her forehead, arousing his pity.

But what followed was a series of maneuvers that opened his eyes to her being crafty, and it had taken him a long time to adjust his impression of her.

A pang of ache filled him as he wondered if she was sleeping soundly at this moment. She must be, a person who falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, how could she not sleep well?

Seeing that His Majesty had finally lowered his head to look at her and kept looking for a while, the Noble Consort felt she had achieved the desired effect and proceeded to undo the button, calling out, "My Lord, your clothes are changed."

The Emperor snapped back to the present and saw the Noble Consort bending her head slightly, her profile facing him, exceptionally soft and beautiful in the light of the lamp.