Chapter 15: The Mentor (Second Update)

Chapter 15: Shifu (Second Release)

Fang Yu saw that everyone had left and boldly walked over, directly sitting on the Emperor's lap. With one arm wrapped around his neck, she said in a playful, whiny tone, "Your Majesty, how can you even say that? You know exactly why the Grand Empress Dowager punished me by making me learn the rules. My knees were bruised from kneeling back then."

"You're just being high-maintenance," Kang Xi tapped Lady Uya's nose. Having not seen her for a long time, he truly missed her delicate and bold demeanor. Only she dared to sit on his lap like this, "unrepentant" even after being punished. His hand slid down and teasingly pinched her waist through her clothes. "Looks like you've put on a little weight."

"Not at all! It's cold, so I'm wearing more layers. I haven't gained any weight. Your Majesty, reach in and feel for yourself."

"In broad daylight, what are you trying to do? Don’t provoke me."

Fang Yu felt wronged. She hadn’t intended anything—of course she knew nothing could happen during the day. With a pout, she complained, "Your Majesty, I just wanted to prove I haven’t gained weight. It’s all that fox-fur cloak you gifted me—it makes me look heavier. I’ll take it off right now."

The Qianqing Palace, warmed by its underfloor heating, was cozy. Fang Yu stood up, took off her cloak and lined jacket, and placed them to the side of the study. Then she straddled his lap again, taking his hand and wrapping it around her waist.

"Your Majesty, feel for yourself. I really haven’t gained weight."

Kang Xi wrapped his arms around her waist, looked at her, and smiled. "Alright, alright, you haven’t gained weight. You’re as light as a feather—the slimmest person I’ve ever held."

Fang Yu faced him, leaned in to gently peck his thin lips, then buried her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder, murmuring, "Your Majesty, I’ve missed you so much."

"I haven’t summoned you to attend me at night for your own good."

She had been punished by the Grand Empress Dowager to learn the rules. If he frequently summoned her to attend him at night, it would be seen as defying the Grand Empress Dowager. After all, she was only an Answering Attendant. Being too favored would draw attention, and not only would the Grand Empress Dowager be displeased with her, but others in the harem would also resent her. So, he had to hold back and not summon her. At the time, he hadn’t considered things carefully—he shouldn’t have summoned her so frequently back then. Her rank was low, she had little influence in the palace, and no family to rely on. Sometimes, keeping a low profile was better for her.

"I know. Your Majesty doesn’t want me to be punished by the Grand Empress Dowager again to learn the rules. Your Majesty is doing this for my good. I understand all of it. Your Majesty is the best to me."

Kang Xi had heard that Lady Uya had been very obedient and well-behaved while learning the rules. Despite her delicate nature, she had made no fuss or complained to him, enduring it silently. Now, she didn’t speak ill of the Grand Empress Dowager in front of him either. He knew she was actually a sensible and well-mannered person. Her boldness and delicateness were only ever displayed in front of him. He gently stroked her back, met her bright eyes, and couldn’t help but kiss her, deepening the kiss.

Kang Xi kissed her more deeply, his lips repeatedly savoring hers. She was in his arms, and he could hold her even closer.

"Your Majesty, no… we can’t. It’s daytime."

Kang Xi had to stop. Daytime was indeed unsuitable for taking things all the way. Still, he continued kissing her ears, not quite ready to stop.

"It tickles, Your Majesty. Don’t kiss there."

"Where shouldn’t I kiss?"

Lady Uya pushed him lightly. Kang Xi deliberately teased her, continuing to kiss one of her ears while pinching the other. Her cheeks flushed red, and she squirmed in his arms, trying to avoid his kisses.

"Have you read all the books I gave you? How many characters do you recognize now?"

"Is Your Majesty going to check my progress?"

Kang Xi nodded.

"I don’t dare show off in front of Your Majesty. I’ve just started learning, and it’s so difficult. I can’t seem to get the hang of it."

"Turn around and sit properly. Write a few characters for me to see."

Seeing Lady Uya hesitate, Kang Xi pinched her cheek and urged her to hurry. He told her not to worry about embarrassing herself in front of him. As a bondservant by origin, it was normal for her to be illiterate.

Lady Uya finally turned around. He spread out a clean sheet of xuan paper and had her write on it. She picked up the imperial brush and began writing slowly. It was clear she was a beginner—her posture was awkward, and her strokes were crooked. She seemed to be thinking about how to write each character as she went.

After she finished, Kang Xi picked up the paper, looked at it, and said, "It’s passable."

"Your Majesty, you should praise me. How can you just say it’s passable?"

Kang Xi thought her handwriting looked like that of a five-year-old who had just begun learning. Seeing Lady Uya pouting and seeking praise, he had no choice but to compliment her. "You’ve written well. You’ve been working hard."

Fang Yu had written in Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese. She knew her writing wasn’t good—brush calligraphy was difficult, and she couldn’t control the pressure well. Every time she wrote, the ink would blotch.

"Your Majesty, please teach me. If you teach me, I can call you Shifu."

"Shifu?"

"Isn’t that what you call a teacher? What should I call you then? Instructor or Sir?"

Kang Xi didn’t want to respond to that.

"Shifu, please teach me," Fang Yu squirmed in his arms and said coquettishly.

"Stop moving." Kang Xi could already feel his body reacting, desire surging in his eyes. If she kept moving, he was afraid he would take her right there in broad daylight.

Fang Yu was no fool—how could she not feel the change in his body? She sat still, not daring to move anymore.

In Kang Xi’s eyes, Lady Uya looked pitiful at that moment. When she called him "Shifu," she deliberately dragged out the syllable. Kang Xi pinched her cheek, then had her hold the brush. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, held her hand, and began writing on a fresh sheet of xuan paper.

"Hold the brush firmly, move it decisively, and make the strokes sharp."

Kang Xi taught her more than a dozen characters. Seeing Lady Uya learning earnestly, he patiently continued teaching her.

The two of them wrote like this for a while, and the restlessness in Kang Xi’s body gradually subsided.

Fang Yu had been sitting on the Emperor’s lap for too long, and his legs must have gone numb. Sensibly, she stood up, half-kneeled beside him, and began massaging his legs.

"Done learning?"

"Your Majesty, I’m afraid if I keep learning, your legs will give out. I’ve eaten a lot during the New Year—I really have gained weight."

Kang Xi could feel the numbness in his legs, though it would fade after a short while. He grabbed her mischievous hands and said in a deep voice, "Don’t leave later. Stay and have dinner with me."

"Just dinner? I want to stay the night. Your Majesty, flip my plaque later."

Kang Xi’s intention in asking her to stay for dinner was indeed for her to serve him that night. Her bluntness, however, left him at a loss for words.

"Since you’re so eager, I’ll grant your wish."

That night, when Kang Xi wanted to go for a second round, she stopped him.

"Your Majesty, Nanny Xie said we can only do it once. Your Majesty must take care of your royal health—it’s a palace rule."

Kang Xi directly covered her mouth, pinned her hands behind her back, and thought, "What rules? I am the rules."