Chapter 16

The Li Family plotted to harm the late crown prince’s orphan and was sentenced to execution of the entire clan.

The Empress Dowager, incited by villains, intended to act against the emperor and was confined to the Buddha hall for life.

This move, the female master just taught me.

Undermining the foundation.

“Lan cried so much because of us, she’s lost so much weight.” Qi E held me in his arms with heartache, his large hand pinching my waist.

I nodded in mock seriousness. “Then you have to make it up to me.”

“What does Lan want?”

I thought for a moment. “I want to be your only consort.”

“All right.” He finally gave a different answer than before. “Not a consort, but the empress.”

I was in a great mood and patted his shoulder. “Then tonight, I’ll allow you to attend to the emperor at night.”

His eyes darkened.

Off to the side, Doudou and Steward Li both lowered their heads, suppressing their smiles.

“Lan, do you really know what it means to attend to the emperor at night?” After a long while, Qi E finally asked me again.

Of course I know.

Isn’t it just sleeping?

“This sleeping isn’t that sleeping.” The female master blushed, coughed several times, and then handed me a few booklets.

The booklets were full of men and women entwined together, doing things I didn’t understand.

Seeing the eager look in my eyes, even the female master’s ears turned red.

It was the same today.

There were even things the female master couldn’t teach, which must be very complicated.

This made me even more interested in these booklets.

So much so that I didn’t even notice when Qi E arrived.

Qi E took the booklet from my hand, his beautiful eyes seeming to hold a pool of spring water, and with his whole body exuding a sweet fragrance, I suddenly felt a little thirsty.

“Whatever Lan doesn’t understand, I’ll teach you.” Even his voice was like a falling feather, brushing against my heart.

I inexplicably felt a wave of restlessness.

Qi E saw that even my ears were red and let out a low laugh.

“Looks like Lan has grown up.”

That night was different from all the others.

Candlelight flickered, shadows falling on the messy clothes scattered on the floor.

It was as if I’d been thrown into the clouds, and I didn’t know how long it was before we finally stopped.

Half-awake, I hugged Qi E and murmured, “Qi E, you’re finally not bitter anymore.”

“Not bitter anymore?”

“The scent. Good people smell sweet, bad people smell foul, but Qi E smells bitter.”

Qi E buried his head in the crook of my neck.

After a long, long time, just as I was about to fall asleep,

I heard him say softly, “Because Lan is sweet.”

“Like a piece of melting candy, wrapping all the bitterness into sweetness.”