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墨書 Inktalez
When Qing Wu arrived at Zhaoyuan Palace, Huo Yun'ai was reviewing memorials.
The light was already dimming, and the room was lit with candles. The faint light from outside illuminated the room, blending with the candlelight, casting a somewhat cold and hard look on the youth's brows and eyes.
Hearing Uncle Yu's announcement, he responded lightly with an "mm," focusing on the characters before him, his pen moving steadily without lifting his gaze.
Since Bian Wang's coup, there had been an especially high volume of memorials these days. Moreover, many matters required his personal attention; what used to take him a morning to review now stretched into the evening without being fully completed.
Fortunately, although there were many issues reported by the ministers in the past two days, none of them pleaded for the Rebels.
Because those who initially dared to risk everything to speak well of Zheng An were no longer in this world. The rest lacked the courage to provoke this most powerful and decisive figure.
When Qing Wu entered the room, she saw the cold scene of the youth writing diligently.
He sat alone behind the desk, his posture upright and his features refined. The candlelight illuminated his deep-set features, casting shadows on his profile. His expression was vague and indistinct.
In the past, whenever Qing Wu visited, Huo Yun'ai would always come to greet her, or at least smile at her as she entered. Even if he was busy, he would glance her way and give her an affirming look.
But today, none of that happened. It was as if he were unaware of her presence, continuing to write fervently.
Qing Wu didn't take his change personally. After all, he had so many matters to handle; daily affairs were enough to trouble him. It was understandable that he occasionally lacked the energy to pay attention to her.
Seeing that he likely wouldn't finish his work anytime soon, Qing Wu decided to bring a plate of snacks and set it on the table by the window. She glanced at Huo Yun'ai's empty teacup and thought about how Uncle Yu and the others had gone to Zhaoning Palace to arrange her belongings. Since others couldn't disturb Huo Yun'ai at this time, she walked over to pick up the teacup, intending to brew him a cup of tea.
Unexpectedly, just as her hand reached for the edge of the teacup and before she could grasp it firmly, she felt warmth on her hand as a large hand covered hers.
Qing Wu's movement instantly froze, then she slowly turned her head to look at Huo Yun'ai.
He gradually withdrew his hand and continued reviewing the memorials.
"This kind of thing, you don't need to do. Just call someone."
The boy's tone was very indifferent. So indifferent that one could clearly sense the underlying coldness and detachment.
Qing Wu was taken aback for a moment.
She tried to calm her emotions, telling herself that he had been through too much recently, so this must be unintentional. She responded and took the teacup outside.
However, just a few steps later, Huo Yun'ai's voice sounded again from behind: "I don't need you to do this. Just call someone."
Hearing his cold tone, Qing Wu couldn't help but frown slightly. Yet she still patiently said, "I was planning to have someone bring you..."
"No need," Huo Yun'ai replied. "I didn't ask you to do this."
If Qing Wu had been deceiving herself earlier, thinking he was just venting his anger or in a bad mood, now she could be certain that he was indeed targeting her specifically.
Qing Wu's face gradually turned pale.
Clearly, he hadn't mentioned it beforehand and had someone take her things to Zhaoning Palace. Now, she came to see him and hadn't even brought it up, yet she was met with disdain.
Though she wasn't a talkative person, she also didn't like keeping everything bottled up inside. Huo Yun'ai suddenly changed his attitude and even interrupted her unfinished explanation, causing her mood to plummet.
At this moment, even if she wanted to understand, her tone was somewhat unpleasant: "Since you won't let me do it and won't allow anyone to come in and serve you, what's wrong with me planning to go outside and have them bring a new cup?"
As for the empty cup in her hand, since Huo Yun'ai disliked having too many useless items around him, she casually picked it up to set it aside on the table.
Seeing Qing Wu getting annoyed, the anger on Huo Yun'ai's face gradually faded by half. He tossed the brush aside, rubbed his brow, and spoke with an unfriendly tone: "Back then you were here as a lady-in-waiting, so it was natural. Now that you are the Queen, is it appropriate for you to do such things?"
Qing Wu lowered her eyes slightly and curled her lips: "You issued a strict order that no one is allowed to enter the palace or this room at will. Now your cup is empty and you won't allow anyone to come in and serve; I can't even call Azalea in. What else do you want me to do? Should I just sit here and wait for Uncle Yu to return?"
The order that no one was allowed to enter this room casually was given by Huo Yun'ai herself. Over the years, only a few people who had served her for a long time were able to come and go freely to pour tea for him. When Qing Wu and he were in the room together, it had already become a habit for her to pour him a cup.
Moreover, now that the Maid was quite injured, with Li Zi suddenly leaving her service and Granny Lu missing from the palace, there were times when she could not manage everything.
Additionally, this morning she had done something similar and he hadn’t seen any issue with it. But now, everything felt wrong.
Qing Wu felt somewhat dejected. Even when she saw Huo Yun'ai reaching out to her, she ignored him and instead went to read by the window.
Huo Yun'ai silently watched her figure and sighed inwardly.
Just now… it was indeed his fault first.
However, after not having the opportunity to get close to her for quite some time, he had accumulated a belly full of grievances. After returning just now, he wanted to seek her out but learned that she had gone to visit the injured.
In fact, he understood that her current busyness and inability to spend more time with him were unavoidable.
This situation was different from when the Six Bureaus were established. Back then, she could delegate tasks once things had a general outline.
But now, after experiencing turmoil in the palace, people's hearts had become restless and uneasy. If they could not be calmed down, it would likely lead to trouble.
However, throughout this period, the Empress had been caring for everyone, personally inquiring about every matter in the palace. The effect was entirely different.
According to Uncle Yu, the Maids now seemed to have a backbone; their conversations and actions lacked the extreme anxiety they had before. Even those severely injured in the Pharmaceutical Department no longer appeared lifeless and despondent; instead, they seemed slightly better and were smiling with hope about continuing to serve their master in the future.
This was a good thing.
The harem had already united as one, gathering around the Queen, making it difficult to shake them apart.
Yet this good fortune was built on the foundation that he could hardly get close to his own wife.
He would rather Qing Wu worry less and throw away all the trivial matters, spending more time with him.
...But now the situation in the palace has not fully recovered, and as Queen, she has many complicated tasks to handle.
Every time Huo Yun'ai thinks of this, his expression darkens like ink.
His and Qing Wu's schedules are indeed too different. Either he has a bit of free time and she cannot get away, or he returns to the sleeping quarters under the stars after half the night while she has already fallen asleep in Ningxin Pavilion.
At this rate, he feels like he is about to transcend.
If it weren't for being forced into a corner, he wouldn't resort to this last move, insisting that Qing Wu move in with him. Moreover, it would be without her knowledge, acting first and reporting later.
He lowered his gaze at the memorial in front of him. A hint of coldness appeared at the corners of his lips.
Originally, after flipping to this memorial detailing Zheng An's various crimes, he felt some appreciation. But upon seeing who wrote it, he couldn't suppress the anger rising within him.
When he initially wanted to deal with Zheng An directly, this person had advised him day in and day out to respect the Former Emperor's appointed Imperial Teacher. Now that Zheng An has fallen, this person has also started listing accusations like a wallflower.
Where were they earlier!
If it were just one or two people, it would be fine, but there are quite a few. Moreover, many are not part of Zheng An's faction and cannot be punished together. He needs to find an appropriate way to deal with these people...
Huo Yun'ai glanced again at that name, his brows furrowing even more. Then he tossed the memorial onto a stack on the table and looked at the girl by the window before slowly walking over.
The steady footsteps approached slowly and finally stopped in front of the window.
The tall figure of the young man blocked out some of the faint light coming through the window, casting a shadow over the desk.
"What are you looking at?" Huo Yun'ai asked casually.
Qing Wu just casually touched a book without looking closely at the title. This was another book she had never read before, so she closed the book and let him take a glance at the title.
Huo Yun'ai noticed that she didn't even look up at him or say a word, and couldn't help but smile at her childish temperament, still sulking over their earlier argument.
Although he was fond of her, he maintained a serious expression and lightly responded with an "mm," moving to the side of the girl.
Qing Wu couldn't understand what he meant by that.
From his demeanor, it seemed like he was ready to bury the hatchet. But listening to his tone, it was entirely different.
She had been busy and was already quite tired. At this moment, she didn't want to think too much. Seeing that he appeared very interested in the book, she stood up, preparing to pull over a chair to join him in reading.
However, just as she stood up and hadn't taken a step, she felt a tightness around her waist and fell into a warm embrace.
“Qing Wu. Qing Wu.”
He gently rubbed her back and softly said, “Shall we go check on how things are arranged at Zhaoning Palace?”
“Since you don't care about my thoughts anyway. If you want to go, then let's go; why bother asking me?”
At this point, the grievances that Qing Wu had been suppressing surged up, making her nose feel slightly sour.
First, he hadn't mentioned anything to her and unilaterally decided for her to move to Zhaoning Palace.
Then later, even her good intentions were twisted.
Anyone encountering such situations continuously would likely find it hard to let go!
After getting married, one should be considerate and magnanimous. But now that she had become his wife, did that mean she could only be like other wives, obedient to their husbands in everything without having any opinions of her own?
Moreover, he is the Emperor.
If he really wanted to put on a show for her, she would have no strength to resist.
When she was just holding the book, all she could think about was this. Every time she thought about it, she felt sad again.
In fact, if there were a third person present, even if Qing Wu felt a hundred grievances, she would not refute him on the spot. Just like now, with no one around, she finally spoke her mind.
Huo Yun'ai did not know what she was thinking but understood that his wife was different from others. He noticed her silence; she always had her own opinions. Otherwise, he wouldn't have felt at ease letting her take charge of the affairs in the harem.
Seeing Qing Wu so upset made his heart ache as well. He raised his hand to gently caress her cheek, his movements soft and soothing.
How could she not feel his tenderness? Qing Wu's eyes immediately misted up, but not wanting him to notice her weakness at that moment, she turned her head slightly away.
Huo Yun'ai stubbornly held her close and lightly tapped her nose, not allowing her to escape his gaze. "What's wrong? Are you angry?"
Qing Wu huffed, "You're the one who's clearly angry."
Huo Yun'ai was taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, he finally sighed softly and chuckled, "Yes, I was the one who lost my temper first. It was my fault."
Qing Wu's eyes turned red instantly. She blinked and said softly, "Don't lose your temper so easily in the future. I don't like it. If you treat me like this, what can I do?"
Only then did Huo Yun'ai realize the crux of the matter.
She was actually feeling insecure.
From now on, he would be the only family member by her side.
For women outside the palace, if they were truly mistreated after marriage, their families would support them. But as Queen, she rarely saw her family. Even when she did see them, she could not allow them to harbor any dissatisfaction towards the Emperor.
She could only rely on him.
If he were to hold resentment against her and lose his temper, how could she, a girl alone in the palace, feel at ease?
Huo Yun'ai felt a dull pain rising in her heart.
He raised his long fingers, carefully tracing the girl's brows and eyes, finally stopping at her lips. Then he withdrew his hand and placed a gentle kiss there.
"It’s my fault. Will you forgive me?"
He repeatedly murmured her name softly, lingering and kissing in that tender spot. Gradually, his breath began to grow erratic as his large hand explored under her clothing. Although the words in his mouth were somewhat unclear, they were exceptionally firm.
"You need not worry. My feelings for you will never change."
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