79You've already taken my body, isn't that enough?
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Chapter 79 You've already taken my body, isn't that enough?
Seeing the Empress's shy expression, Shen Yulou knew that he had captured her heart tonight.
Of course, even if he couldn't capture her heart, he could at least open her legs.
Zhang Ailing's works were truly amazing; women of any dynasty would fall for this kind of approach.
Shen Yulou stayed at the Imperial Heirs Residence until the third watch before quietly making his way to Kunning Palace, scaling its walls.
Kunning Palace was exceptionally quiet at this time; the Empress had made thorough preparations for their rendezvous tonight.
Based on Shen Yulou's experience, he could confidently say that the Empress was already impatient.
However, the more impatient she was, the more he needed to play hard to get.
Otherwise, merely having the Empress's body without her heart would always feel somewhat incomplete!
Among the many women in the Imperial Harem, the Empress was the most innocent.
Even Consort Qing, with whom Shen Yulou had been intimate multiple times, he couldn't fully trust.
They were currently only bound together on the same ship as Prince Zhao Ying, which was why they were at peace.
But if this ship were to capsize, or if Shen Yulou lost his usefulness, no one could say what Consort Qing would do.
Therefore, relatively speaking, he preferred the Empress more.
Shen Yulou entered the Empress's bedchamber unimpeded; even Bai Yu, who usually attended her, was nowhere to be seen.
A faint fragrance wafted towards him, and there was still a lingering mist from water in the room.
The Empress had evidently already bathed.
Shen Yulou stepped over the threshold and saw the Empress lying on the bed.
He quietly walked to the bedside, sat on the edge of the bed, and admired the Empress's beauty.
The Empress opened her eyes and slowly pushed back the quilt.
A perfect body came into view, a sight that made one's blood surge.
Shen Yulou suppressed his impulse and re-covered the Empress with the quilt.
The Empress was startled, "What do you mean? Weren't all those things you said this afternoon for this very purpose?"
Shen Yulou's expression subtly changed, and he said, "So in Your Ladyship's eyes, I am merely someone who covets beauty?"
With that, Shen Yulou turned to leave.
The Empress quickly grabbed him, "This Palace... This Palace didn't mean that."
Shen Yulou turned his head and said, "Your Ladyship, change your clothes and come out with me for a while."
The Empress paused, "Where to?"
"Don't worry about it, just come."
The Empress thought for a moment, and as if possessed, she sat up, preparing to get dressed.
Shen Yulou said, "Your Ladyship, don't wear your own clothes; wear a Palace Maid's clothes."
...A moment later, Shen Yulou, with the Empress, stealthily arrived at Jingyang Palace.
It was the Cold Palace where Consort Qing had been confined before.
The Empress was extremely nervous at this moment; she had truly made a hot-headed decision to agree to such an outrageous thing with Shen Yulou.
If they were seen, she wouldn't be able to explain herself, even if she had a hundred mouths.
Fortunately, they had walked discreetly and hadn't encountered anyone, and Jingyang Palace was completely deserted.
People had died in this Cold Palace, and no one wanted to come here in the middle of the night.
Shen Yulou, familiar with the way, led the Empress into Jingyang Palace.
The Empress frowned, "Shen Yulou, this Palace has already given orders that no one is to attend my bedchamber tonight; there's no need to go to such lengths to come here."
Shen Yulou helplessly said, "Your Ladyship, why are you only thinking about that? I brought you here for another purpose; follow me."
The Empress's face flushed. What did he mean she was only thinking about 'that'?
Wasn't that Shen Yulou's purpose?
He led the Empress to the back hall, where the Empress saw a ladder.
Shen Yulou climbed up the ladder and pushed aside some roof tiles.
"Your Ladyship, come up."
The Empress was a little worried, but she still braced herself and climbed up with Shen Yulou.
As soon as they reached the rooftop, Shen Yulou pulled her into his arms.
"Your Ladyship, have you ever seen this view?"
The Empress looked back.
She saw the scenery of more than half of the Imperial Palace spread before her eyes.
To the left was inside the Imperial Palace, and to the right was outside the Palace.
Outside the Palace were green mountains and clear waters, farmland and cultivated land.
In contrast, inside the Palace seemed like a cage.
"Your Ladyship, look up."
The Empress looked up; a full moon hung in the sky, exceptionally dazzling.
Stars dotted the sky, radiating brilliant light.
The Empress was lost in thought for a long time.
"You brought this Palace here in the middle of the night just to see these?"
Shen Yulou released her, lay down on the rooftop, his hands clasped behind his head, and said.
"How long has it been since Your Ladyship last saw such a sight?"
Seeing Shen Yulou's contented look, the Empress also lay down beside him, gazing at the beautiful scenery in the sky, lost in thought.
"I haven't left the Palace in many years."
Shen Yulou said, "Your Ladyship, look how beautiful that moon is, pure and flawless; that's how you are in my heart."
The Empress bit her lip, her pupils trembling slightly.
"You went to all this trouble just to say such words?"
Shen Yulou gently embraced the Empress and said.
"I brought you here because I want you to experience something you haven't experienced before."
"More importantly, I want to tell you that I'm not just after your body."
"Even just accompanying you to look at the moon makes me very happy."
Shen Yulou's words made the Empress's expression change repeatedly.
Her gaze began to dart around, somewhat afraid to look at Shen Yulou.
In the middle of the night, dressed in a Palace Maid's clothes, running to the Cold Palace rooftop with an external official to look at the moon.
This was something the Empress couldn't have imagined even yesterday, or even earlier today.
However, now this very thing was happening.
The Empress said, "Shen Yulou, I've already let you have me, why do you still have to be like this?"
She had already conceded to this extent, yet Shen Yulou was still pressing on.
Was having her body not enough?
Shen Yulou looked into her eyes, "I know that you and I are destined never to be together in this life.
Before you, I become very low, very low, low to the dust.
But my heart is very joyful, like a flower blooming in the dust."
The Empress clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly.
In some operas she had heard, the most explicit declarations of love were simply 'I like you' or 'I love you'.
But Shen Yulou's words, though not as explicit, made her heart pound incessantly.
"Shen Yulou, this Palace commands you, return to Kunning Palace with me immediately."
Shen Yulou shook his head, "Miss Zhou, stay with me a little longer."
The mention of "Miss Zhou" struck the Empress's heart as if by something.
She no longer cared about anything else, grabbed Shen Yulou's collar with both hands, and kissed him.
"This Palace commands you, undress now."
Shen Yulou held her in his arms, savoring the moment.
Tonight's moon was truly big and white... Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
He Shun brewed a cup of tea and placed it on Emperor Ren's desk.
"Your Majesty, the Qianqiu Festival is in two days. Should the Imperial Household Department be instructed to make preparations?"
Emperor Ren was startled, "I had forgotten about that. Let the Imperial Household Department prepare for it. Tomorrow, go buy some beautiful flowers for Empresss given name and send them over."
"Yes, Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this old servant has a suggestion."
Emperor Ren glanced at He Shun, "Tell me."
He Shun said, "For this Qianqiu Festival, should the Imperial Heirs' imperial meals be entrusted to Lord Shen? Lord Shen's competition with Lord Qin last time showed his superior skill; it would be good for the Imperial Heirs and princesses to taste his cooking.