Xiao Yanzhou's tone, coupled with his current expression as gloomy as Yama, was actually very scary.
But Xie Hengwu only found it funny.
She softened her voice and said a little aggrievedly: "Isn't it because His Majesty is busy with government affairs and has no time to see me?"
"If I don't call you, you won't come?"
Xiao Yanzhou frowned and said angrily.
Xie Hengwu bit his lip, feeling a little guilty.
She did bring someone who didn't come on purpose.
As if this could prove that he didn't care about Xiao Yanzhou that much, nor did he like him.
"It's not that I don't want to see Your Majesty, it's just that I can't get away."
As he spoke, Xie Hengwu leaned forward more and more, wrapped his arms around Xiao Yanzhou from behind, and held up the rosewood box with both hands.
Xiao Yanzhou finally opened his eyes after hearing this, and his eyes moved when he saw the box: "What is this?"
Xie Hengwu chuckled: "Your Majesty, you will know after seeing it."
As she spoke, she opened the box and found a sachet inside.
Xiao Yanzhou raised his eyebrows and took out the sachet, only to find that there was another layer under the box.
Xie Hengwu took the mezzanine away obediently, revealing the embroidered handkerchief lying quietly inside.
Xiao Yanzhou's tone was a little strange: "Is this what you are busy with these days?"
Xie Hengwu was dissatisfied: "I don't dare to deal with the things I want to give to His Majesty. It will naturally take some time."
Xiao Yanzhou was obviously not someone who knew about female celebrities, and Xie Hengwu was so calm that he didn't even blush.
He really believed it, and the cold aura around him became much less intense.
Xie Hengwu watched him take out the double-sided dragon embroidered handkerchief and put it in his hand to look at it.
Xiao Yanzhou lowered his eyes and looked at it carefully. The auspicious dragon on the brocade handkerchief was in a smart posture, with clouds on one side and playing beads on the other. Two different embroidery patterns appeared on the same embroidered handkerchief under careful arrangement.
Even though Xiao Yanzhou knew very little about female celebrities, he could see that her skills were exquisite and rare.
She did not forget to exaggerate her hard work again: "Your Majesty, this is a double-sided embroidery unique to Nanliang. It took a lot of effort to embroider my body."
He already believed Xie Hengwu's words seven to eight times.
"Not bad." Xiao Yanzhou rarely praised others, and even saying such words felt a little awkward.
He put away the brocade handkerchief and pinched the sachet.
"What's in this head?"
The content in the sachet seems to be a soft mass, and there is no rustling sound at all when you pinch it.
Xie Hengwu's voice was as usual: "Your Majesty, don't worry, your Majesty must like this fragrance."
Because his back was turned to her, Xiao Yanzhou never saw the strange emotion flashing in Xie Hengwu's eyes.
"Your Majesty, can I put it on for you?"
Xie Hengwu was afraid that Xiao Yanzhou would ask more questions, so he said quickly.
Xiao Yanzhou hummed and gave the sachet to her.
Xie Hengwu walked to his side, leaned over and tied the red rope on the sachet to the jade belt around Xiao Yanzhou's waist.
Because it was warm in the palace, Xiao Yanzhou only wore a few thin clothes. When Xie Hengwu tied the rope, he inevitably touched his waist and abdomen.
It seemed that with every touch, Xiao Yanzhou's body would tighten a little.
Xie Hengwu obviously discovered this, and he slowed down his movements with evil intentions, touching Xiao Yanzhou intentionally or unintentionally with his fingertips, scratching Xiao Yanzhou's jawline until it became tighter.
After a moment, he squeezed Xie Hengwu's hand with a snap, as if squeezing the words out between his teeth: "Did you do it on purpose?"
Xie Hengwu looked at him innocently and blinked: "What does your majesty mean? I don't understand."
Xiao Yanzhou sneered and squeezed her hand harder. Xie Hengwu's expression froze and he couldn't help but hiss.
It wasn't that Xiao Yanzhou pinched him in pain, but that he happened to hold his fingertips, where he had accidentally been pricked by a needle not long ago because he was distracted.
This kind of wound was not obvious, so it was normal for Xiao Yanzhou not to notice it.
Sure enough, after she hissed, Xiao Yanzhou's strength relaxed a lot.
He frowned: "What's wrong with you?"
Xie Hengwu frowned and said pitifully: "I accidentally got pricked while doing embroidery earlier."
"Hmm." Xiao Yanzhou lowered his eyes, his long black eyelashes half-covering his dark pupils. He held her wrist with one hand and twisted her fingers one by one with the other.
He lost his strength, and Xie Hengwu was stung by the pressure and let out a low cry, his voice even more aggrieved: "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Yanzhou raised his eyelids, with a faint smile on his lips: "If you are not honest, you should be taught a lesson."
Xie Hengwu cursed him secretly.
The strength in her hand suddenly disappeared. Xie Hengwu looked over and saw Xiao Yanzhou taking out an exquisite jade bottle from his arms and applying the ointment bit by bit to her fingertips.
The coolness covered the tingling fingertips and penetrated into the skin, relieving a lot of pain.
"This is the golden sore medicine made by the envoy of Zhou Yuan. Your injury will be healed in a while."
She was somewhat surprised: "Your Majesty, there is no one who doesn't get pricked when doing needlework. I have been pricked many times since I was a child. This is just a minor injury. It will be fine in a few days."
When Xiao Yanzhou heard this, he glanced sideways and said mockingly: "Ever since childhood? It seems like you really don't have a long memory."
Xie Hengwu shut his mouth obediently and watched his movements quietly.
Although the words he said were unpleasant, Xiao Yanzhou's actions were considered gentle.
Xie Hengwu's eyes fell on the side of his face. When Xiao Yanzhou was not speaking, the corners of his lips were always slightly raised, as if he were smiling; his thick black eyelashes were hidden in front of his phoenix eyes, which made his eyes look more attractive. Very sentimental and beautiful.
She thought that if Xiao Yanzhou was just an ordinary nobleman, he might be a famous romantic.
In fact, it looks like...he seems to be quite gentle.
Xie Hengwu was shocked by his thoughts.
It's so good, what do you want him to do if he's gentle?
Knowing that he shouldn't ask, but as if to prevent himself from thinking too much, Xie Hengwu asked softly:
"Why did your Majesty bring wound medicine, but where was he injured?"
Xiao Yanzhou's expression did not change, and his eyelashes did not even tremble: "It's just prepared, won't it be used now?"
Xie Hengwu was speechless.
She remembered the assassination when she first entered the palace.
How can any emperor carry wound medicine with him in the palace? Unless he is surrounded by dangers.
And Xie Hengwu himself was originally one of the people in this crisis.
It's just that she no longer wants to be a pawn manipulated by others.
Xie Hengwu was emotionally moved for a moment, and his voice became much softer: "Your Majesty treats me so well..."
Perhaps realizing what she was thinking, Xiao Yanzhou raised his eyebrows in disgust and said coldly: "Don't look at me like that."
Anyone else would have dared not look at Xiao Yanzhou anymore.
But Xie Hengwu took a good look at him and saw the dark color in his eyes, so he couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, you haven't had any rest, have you?"
Xiao Yanzhou felt uncomfortable being looked at for no reason, and said coldly: "What does it have to do with you?"
Xie Hengwu took the opportunity to sit in his arms and held his hand that was applying medicine to her: "When I just arrived, I saw an adult coming out. Is it about the snow disaster?"
The snow disaster was causing quite a stir, and it was not surprising that Xie Hengwu knew about it.
Xiao Yanzhou responded calmly: "He is the minister of the Ministry of Industry. I have nothing to say to him."
Although it was strange why he was told to come to Zichen Palace, Xiao Yanzhou always did things based on his heart, and Xie Hengwu didn't think too much about it.
"Your Majesty should pay attention to your own health when you are busy with state affairs." Xie Hengwu raised his face and said in a soft voice, "Will your Majesty take a rest early today?"
Tomorrow Xiao Yanzhou would leave the palace in disguise with the Minister of Industry, so he was destined to have no rest.
Xie Hengwu saw Xiao Yanzhou's eyelids drooping slightly, and his eyes looked at him with an unexplainable and obscure meaning.
He was wondering whether to reveal something to her.
His subordinates can disguise him from other officials, but they may not be able to deceive her.
The distance between her and herself was too close. And it was impossible for Xiao Yanzhou to tell his subordinates the details of his relationship with her.
He paused for a while, and finally withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened, and responded softly.
"I know."
Xie Hengwu felt strange. The way he looked just now clearly meant that he had something to say to himself.
However, she also knew that curiosity would not do her any good, so she did not ask any more questions.
Xie Hengwu thought that maybe he was really too tired.
Neither of them spoke anymore, Xie Hengwu quietly nestled in his arms, listening to the beating of his heart in his chest.
One after another, calm and powerful, just like his person.
If you listen to this rhythmic heartbeat for a long time, you can't help but feel sleepy.
Xie Hengwu's eyelids drooped down, bit by bit, until his pupils were completely covered.
The sound of steady and long breathing came from his arms. Xiao Yanzhou glanced slightly in surprise. After confirming that Xie Hengwu was indeed asleep, he sneered lowly.
It was really rare for someone to fall asleep next to him.
Huo Heng entered the palace and planned to report the arrangements for the next few days. As soon as he said the word "Your Majesty", he stopped talking.
The handsome and gloomy emperor looked at him with serious eyes, and put his index finger in front of his lips, making a silencing gesture.
The beauty in his arms is sleeping peacefully, her face is serene, her slender waist is tightly hugged, and her body is like water.
Huo Heng understood this, and stepped back gently as soon as he cupped his hands.
…
By the time Xie Hengwu woke up again, an hour had passed.
Xiao Yanzhou held her in his arms and sat motionless for an hour, his legs sore and numb from her pressure.
After Xie Hengwu woke up, he was worried and guilty, and hurriedly left him.
"Your Majesty, are you... okay?"
Xiao Yanzhou raised his eyebrows: "What do you think?"
Xie Hengwu pursed his lips, glanced at Xiao Yanzhou's slightly stiff sitting posture, hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, how about... I give you a touch of my hand?"
"I'm afraid you'll fall asleep by yourself later, so I'd better skip it."
Xiao Yanzhou's eyebrows were gloomy, and he looked like he was in a bad mood.
It's no wonder that anyone looking at someone with numb legs and unable to stand up is unlikely to be in a good mood.
Xie Hengwu naturally understood. She was silent and cautiously asked: "Your Majesty, you haven't had your meal yet. How about I... go and get you some refreshments?"
Xiao Yanzhou hummed and said, "Go."
--
Xie Hengwu lingered there for a long time, guessing that Xiao Yanzhou's legs should have recovered, and then returned with snacks.
As soon as she passed through the bead curtain, she saw Xiao Yanzhou taking off the sachet and looking at it.
Her heart trembled, and her hands shook as well. The sound of porcelain cups clashing attracted Xiao Yanzhou's attention, and he looked over.
"come on."
Xiao Yanzhou's expression was calm and nothing unusual. Xie Hengwu moved over and looked at it secretly, and found that he didn't seem to open the sachet. She was secretly relieved.
"What is your Majesty looking at?"
She put the tea away one by one and seemed to ask accidentally.
Xiao Yanzhou casually said "Huh" and said, "I'm just wondering...what's in this sachet."
"Why..."
He paused as he spoke, then gently rubbed the raccoon slave pattern on the sachet with his fingertips, raised the corners of his lips slightly, and mumbled with unclear meaning:
"Does it smell as good as you do?"
