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Feeling the Emperor's fiery gaze, Lian Hua looked at him in bewilderment, somewhat at a loss. A wave of shyness washed over her, and she intended to move behind him to scrub his back. Just as she was about to turn, the Emperor grabbed her arm, pulled her into the bath, and pressed down to kiss her.

Lian Hua tried to struggle, but the Emperor's strong thighs trapped her legs, his left hand gripping her waist tightly while his right hand reached for her sash. His mouth captured her lips, sucking hard.

As her dress slid off, revealing a sudden glimpse of spring, the Emperor's gaze deepened. Holding Lian Hua, he kissed every inch of her skin, savoring it slowly as if he couldn't get enough. Finding it inconvenient in the bath, he lifted her out, intending to carry her to the bed.

Lian Hua, sensing his intentions, blushed deeply, clinging tightly to the edge of the tub and exclaimed, "Your Majesty, the door, the door!" The door was not closed, and people outside might see them.

Understanding her concern, the Emperor called out, "Someone, close the door!"

Once the door was shut, the Emperor carried Lian Hua past the screen and strode toward the bed.

Passion intertwined until the middle of the night.

At the Mao Hour, Imperial Chief Steward Zhang Qing and two Young Eunuchs attended to the Emperor as he rose. Lian Hua, still drowsy, followed suit, occasionally handing over a belt or an accessory. The Emperor's court dress was too complex for an ordinary person to handle, so Lian Hua could only assist as best she could.

In the past two years, Lian Hua had been accustomed to waking up long after dawn since her daily task was merely to fill her stomach, so there was no need to rise so early. Though her days were tight, she managed to scrape by, spending her time figuring out how to eat better and find more delicious food.

It's easy to transition from simplicity to luxury, but hard to revert. It had been a long time since she had to wake up so early; Lian Hua was completely drowsy and absent-minded, lacking her usual daytime vivacity. The Emperor found her state rather amusing; before leaving, he couldn't help pinching her cheeks, then he went to the court.

After seeing off the Emperor, Lian Hua climbed back into bed and slept until noon.

As summer progressed, the weather became increasingly hot. Recently, the Emperor seemed addicted to visiting Canglan Court. Initially, he came by only occasionally when he remembered, but later, it became once every two days.

The Emperor found that the Little Concubine was quite interesting. Usually, she was lively and bold in conversation. When teased about being punished, she became extremely timid. Watching her flustered expression brought the Emperor inward enjoyment on these hot summer days, making his visits to Canglan Court as relaxing as if he were at a summer retreat.

Moreover, the Little Concubine's cooking skills were excellent. She had unique insights on how every ingredient should be eaten and paired, and her introductions to each dish always aroused the Emperor's appetite, enabling him to eat an extra bowl of rice. Despite the typically taxing heat of previous years, this year had been particularly comfortable.

However, Lian Hua suffered. She had no idea what had gotten into His Majesty, who now visited every few days. In previous years, she barely saw a glimpse of him, but now he was making up for lost time.

Whenever His Majesty came, Lian Hua had to accompany him in eating, drinking, and sleeping. At such times, Zhang Qing acted like he was completely hands-off, leaving everything for Lian Hua to handle, which was utterly exhausting. It reminded her of the days when she was a palace maid, commanded by the Palace Maid Sisters.

The most challenging part was that the Emperor was incredibly demanding, always wanting the best of everything. Without access to exotic delicacies, she had to rely on her wits, making ordinary vegetables like cabbages and radishes sound irresistibly appetizing through her persuasive talking.

Alas, Lian Hua grieved. Her monthly palace allowance was only ten taels, which shrunk by three or four taels after going through the Bureau of Palace Attendants. It barely sufficed for two people, especially since they had a garden for vegetables and could sometimes scavenge in the Imperial Garden. But now, with the added burden of sustaining the Emperor, it was challenging. The allocated staples were insufficient, and meat had to be bought separately, significantly draining her finances. Her precious savings accumulated during her days as a palace maid were also being spent. She wondered how long she could endure such days, thinking she might be better off returning to her previous position as a palace maid, fuming with frustration.

Yet, Lian Hua dared not deliberately sabotage things to drive the Emperor away. Though she inwardly desired it, she was too fearful to act.

Indeed, the Emperor had been living off Lian Hua's provisions, blissfully unware and without offering any additional rewards, as if it were his due.

Zhang Qing also seemed oblivious. Lian Hua had hinted to the Imperial Chief Steward both overtly and covertly, suggesting that perhaps the Imperial Kitchen should prepare meals for His Majesty.

Zhang Qing chuckled, saying that His Majesty had been in great spirits lately, and as long as His Majesty was happy, the simplicity of the meals wouldn't be held against them. Hearing this, Lian Hua's face wrinkled with worry.

During this period, Lian Hua had been very cautious, not daring to scavenge in the Imperial Garden under His Majesty's watchful eye. After all, if His Majesty suddenly inquired about the source of the ingredients, she would be at a loss for words.

However, as her savings started to dwindle, Lian Hua grew desperate, and her mind became nimble. Shortly after the Imperial Eunuch with Decree announced that His Majesty would dine there in the evening, she and Xiao Qing sneaked off to Huaqing Pool to catch fish with a net.

Previously, Lian Hua had also purchased fish through official channels to cook for the Emperor. So, when the Emperor ate it, he didn't question its source, assuming itu was still supplied by the Imperial Kitchen. However, he was slightly puzzled as to why fish had been included at every meal recently. Fortunately, Lian Hua's culinary skills varied widely—broth, pan-fried, deep-fried, steamed—offering a different preparation each day, which kept the Emperor from pondering too much. He simply marveled at how the Little Concubine's skills had improved, with the fish always tasting fresher and more delicious, believing both the Little Concubine's cooking and the Imperial Kitchen's supply were excellent.