“Chapter 0050: Heavenly Poplar”

"Chapter 0050: Heavenly Poplar"

"He Jingli snatched the book from her hand and tossed it aside, then tapped Yun Li's head playfully."

"Then, he turned back to his documents."

"But before continuing, he took a few sips of tea, hiding a smile at the corner of his mouth."

"He had found the book somewhat nonsensical but hadn't paid much attention to it."

"But hearing Yun Li's take on it, it suddenly became... incredibly amusing."

"Yun Li stopped reading, just leaning on her hand while eating pastries, openly admiring the man's beauty."

"Ah, this Emperor might not be much in character, but he sure has good looks."

"He Jingli's documents this afternoon weren't urgent; he didn't necessarily have to finish them."

"Now, being watched intently, he found it impossible to concentrate."

"In frustration, he threw down his pen and stood up, 'Did I ask you to stare at me?'"

"Yun Li stood up, nodding without hesitation, 'Mhm.'"

"He Jingli..."

"Meng Chang, with his head lowered, thought to himself, 'Is Xiaoyi a bit simple-minded? Why take everything so literally?'"

"Then the 'simple-minded' person added, 'Your Majesty is really handsome!'"

"He Jingli took a deep breath and pulled her up, 'Then I'll let you have your fill of looking.'"

"Yun Li walked obediently beside him, 'It would be terrible if Your Majesty gets angry. You told me to look. You didn't tell me to read the book.'"

"Meng Chang thought to himself, 'She's really bold, isn't she? Using such familiar terms?'"

"He Jingli glared, 'I told you to read the book, not to make wild comments, did I?'"

"'Then, does Your Majesty think the book is full of nonsense? It's good that such people can only write books and not govern, or else they'd bring disaster,' Yun Li shook her head."

"He Jingli slightly frowned."

"No, someone whose book made it to the Imperial Library couldn't just be a destitute scholar."

"He turned, realizing it might be necessary to investigate this Liao Yan."

"He Jingli felt even more at a loss for words."

"Yun Li simply laughed, finding the Emperor quite... interesting."

"Pulled back to the inner chamber and not doing much, He Jingli also felt a bit tired, 'Massage my shoulders.'"

"Yun Li had no skill in massage, but when asked, she had no choice but to try."

"So she agreed and began to massage the Emperor."

"He Jingli quickly realized her attempts were haphazard and far from relaxing, even ticklish."

"Unable to endure it, he said, 'Enough.'"

"Yun Li blinked, wondering if he was always so easy to please."

"She then circled around to sit down, 'Your Majesty is just tired from writing too much. Resting for a while should help.'"

"He Jingli looked at her curiously, 'What kind of books did Yun'er read as a child?'"

"She replied, 'Well, the standard books, though I didn’t have the patience for those. My tutor was a fascinating man with countless books at home. I would read all sorts of things after finishing my lessons with my fifth sister. He told me whatever I read, I should not skim superficially. Understand the author's intention in a book, or at least try to find traces of the author’s life, like their origin and temperament.'"

"'Your tutor sounds like an insightful person. Where does he teach now?' He Jingli inquired."

"'He passed away when I was thirteen. He was already in his sixties when he taught me and died a natural death. Unfortunately, his descendants were unworthy; they sold his entire collection, including some unique, though not particularly valuable, books. It’s a shame, I wonder where they ended up,' Yun Li said, shaking her head."

"She wasn’t fabricating a story."

"Indeed, before she turned thirteen, she was taught by a tutor on the back street, in addition to a governess at home."

"In the Jin dynasty, restrictions on women's education were lax; she lived like this until she was thirteen."

"Her fifth sister stopped going out at the age of eleven."

"But before she had to face whether she was no longer allowed to go out, her tutor passed away."

"My tutor's name was Su, a southerner. He stayed in the capital after failing the imperial examination. With no family left in his hometown, he lived his entire life in the capital, never married, and his son was adopted. Despite a life of poverty, he was very open-minded."

"To be precise, this tutor was Yun Li’s only friend since she came to the Jin dynasty."

"He Jingli was surprised to feel Yun Li’s sadness."

"Yes, it was sadness."

"Her sadness for the deceased tutor was somewhat novel."

"He Jingli comforted her, 'Yun'er, don’t be too sad. Your tutor, having taught a student like you, must have been happy.'"

"Yun Li nodded and smiled, 'As a woman, I cannot travel thousands of miles, so I turn to books instead.'"

"'Oh? Yun'er never mentioned loving to read before,' He Jingli noted."

"Yun Li hugged his arm and blinked, 'Well... I believe reading is for oneself. It keeps one from being ignorant and foolish, but there's no need to tell everyone about it.'"

"He Jingli raised an eyebrow, 'Avoid being ignorant and foolish, yet why do you sometimes pretend to be so?'"

"Yun Li exclaimed and buried her head in his arm, 'Your Majesty, as your beloved consort, please don’t pick on my little flaws. I only pretended because of my elder sister's annoyance. Now, I don't pretend anymore. Please, don’t hold it against me.'"

"He Jingli chuckled and flicked her forehead lightly, not commenting on whether he minded or not."

"Yun Li thought to herself that he probably wouldn't hold it against her. If he did, that would be quite petty, wouldn't it?"

"'Since you enjoy reading, I'll send you some good books in the future,' He Jingli said."

"Yun Li smiled, 'Yes, that would be wonderful. Keep it a secret, and I'll enjoy them in private.' To avoid the gossip of the harem. Better for them to think I know nothing and excel at nothing, right?"

"He Jingli gave her a half-smiling look."

"Yun Li looked up and kissed him, 'Your silence is consent, Your Majesty. You’re the best.'"

"He Jingli shook his head, thinking this woman really knew how to act coquettishly."

"However, he didn't think it was an act because it seemed too natural."

"After talking for a while, it was time for the evening meal."

"He Jingli ordered the meal to be served, and Yun Li even chose a dish herself."

"Naturally, she stayed here tonight to attend to him."

"In the evening, when He Jingli touched her, she playfully pinched him back."

"Then she said, 'It reminds me of that...'"

"He Jingli asked, 'What?'"

"Yun Li hesitated, then cautiously said, '...that... heavenly poplar...'"

"He Jingli..."

"He Jingli clenched his teeth."

"He Jingli pulled her close and gave her a firm smack on the bottom, then pinned her down."

"Those outside heard a loud 'smack' and thought the Emperor had struck Yun Li in anger."

"But then they heard Yun Li's playful cry, followed by soft whimpering."

"Those outside quickly retreated farther away, not wanting to disturb the Emperor's intimate moment."

"They thought to themselves that they must be foolish, as everything was fine and the Emperor had never struck any consort before."

"But sometimes, the truth arrives so unexpectedly and then drifts away just as lightly."

"How could those outside know that they had once grasped it..."