Chapter 136: Chapter 136: It Trickled In! I Have Never Served Anyone

’But my emotions today have been too tumultuous. I need some time to sort through them.’

’I can’t give him the answer he wants right now.’

Emperor Wu Su knew not to rush things. He had only said it casually, not expecting her to have an epiphany all at once.

He called to her, "Ah Wu, come here."

Ji Qingwu took small, graceful steps, slowly walking around the desk.

But just as she drew near, he suddenly shot out an arm and pulled her close. She lost her balance and fell onto his lap, enveloped in his firm embrace.

The entire sequence of motions was as smooth as flowing water, yet it betrayed a sense of impatience.

He lowered his head, his gaze sweeping gently over her lips. "How is it still not better?"

There was still a mark on Ji Qingwu’s lip where she had bitten it. Seen up close, it looked like a small tear on a fresh peach petal.

With his free hand, he picked up the warm tea beside him, refilled a cup, and offered it to her.

Flattered and surprised, Ji Qingwu tried to take it, but the celadon teacup was brought directly to her lips. She had no choice but to drink from his hand. The tea was sweet and crisp, leaving a delicate fragrance on her tongue.

The teacup met her soft, crimson lips. Emperor Wu Su’s eyes were unreadable as he watched the long, slender line of her neck, exposed as she tilted her head back, and the movement of her throat as she swallowed.

She savored the tea’s flavor and took another small sip before it suddenly occurred to her that this was the cup he had just used.

Instantly, the tea flowing down her throat seemed to turn scalding hot.

Seeing her suddenly freeze, a blush creeping up from the base of her jade-white ears, he curled his lips into a teasing smile. Cupping the teacup in his palm, he continued to give her a drink.

But this time, the tea didn’t make it into her mouth.

It trickled straight down her delicate chin, over the skin of her neck, and into the depths of her collar.

By the time Ji Qingwu realized it, it was too late.

She gasped, "It spilled inside..."

In her panic, she looked around for something to wipe it with but couldn’t find anything suitable.

Unfortunately, her dress was made of a plain, thin cotton satin that was highly absorbent. Before long, the water had soaked the fabric over her chest.

The cotton satin was soft, with a loose weave, and became somewhat transparent when wet, faintly revealing the outline of the garment underneath.

Emperor Wu Su’s gaze followed the trail of water, lingering. Ji Qingwu, for her part, glared at the culprit who had gotten her bodice wet, feeling both alarmed and mortified.

His smile only deepened. "I have never served anyone a drink before," he explained innocently. "It is my fault."

That was the truth. He had never personally given anyone a drink; not even Yuan Heng had received such gentle treatment from him.

Since His Majesty the Emperor had admitted his mistake, Ji Qingwu couldn’t very well keep holding such a small error against him.

She was good-tempered, but in the next moment, someone else began holding on and not letting go...

Ji Qingwu looked down, stunned, at the large hand pulling at her clothes. She cried out in a soft, uncertain voice, "Your Majesty?!"

"Your clothes are wet. It must be uncomfortable clinging to your skin," Emperor Wu Su said, his tone perfectly self-righteous.

Ji Qingwu said hurriedly, "It will dry in a little while. There’s no need to take it off."

"I’m not taking it off, just opening it to air dry," he said nonchalantly, his expression serious as he undid the clasps at her side.

Ji Qingwu clutched her chest and tried to pull back until her lower back was pressed against the edge of the desk. She shook her head. "There’s no need to go to such trouble. It’s only a little wet."

He had already undone one of the hidden clasps at her waist. Emperor Wu Su paused for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Blue and white plum blossoms?"

Her face instantly turned beet red.

Ji Qingwu’s undergarment was honey-colored and unembroidered, but its delicate lace trim was stitched with elegant blue and white plum blossoms.

’He could even see such a detail.’

Emperor Wu Su said smugly, "You see? I can see it whether you take it off or not. Besides, being half-hidden is the most alluring. Do you want to go out and let others see you with your bodice all wet like this?"

Her cheeks were as red as a sunset cloud, so flushed it seemed a drop of blood might emerge. The hand covering her chest loosened slightly.

He noticed her hesitation, and in an instant, his nimble fingers had unfastened her dress.

Her heart pounded as she looked down. The bodice was just loosened. ’Thankfully,’ she thought with a wave of relief, ’the light in the room is dim, so he can’t see what’s inside clearly.’

The open collar revealed skin as white as snow, which seemed to absorb the surrounding light even in the dimness.

The sweet fragrance of a woman’s body filled his senses. The color of Emperor Wu Su’s eyes darkened frighteningly.

Ji Qingwu felt his searing gaze, and her breathing quickened, her chest heaving violently.

He slowly pressed forward. She quickly braced her hands against his chest, the coiled dragon pattern on the brocade pressing into her soft palms.

She tried to negotiate, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, why don’t we talk for a bit first?"

"Talk first?" Emperor Wu Su shot her a sidelong glance. "Fine. What do you want to talk about?"

His eyes were like those of a predator watching its struggling prey, filled with the thrill of the hunt. Clearly, he was in no hurry.

Ji Qingwu composed herself and said, "Regarding today’s events, I feel there were many strange things. I ask that Your Majesty enlighten me."

Emperor Wu Su’s forearm alone was enough to encircle her slender waist. He pulled her back a little closer and said, "Tell me."

Ji Qingwu said, "Before Your Majesty arrived, Prince Yong said he did not see me that night. Your Majesty must have instructed him beforehand, correct?"

Emperor Wu Su nodded.

Ji Qingwu had been drugged with "One Life’s Joy" and had spent time in a room with Prince Yong. If news like that got out, even though nothing had happened between them, malicious gossip would be a powerful weapon. It was better to deny they had ever met than to go through the trouble of explaining the situation.

"How did Your Majesty convince Prince Yong?" ’It was probably a threat,’ she guessed.

Emperor Wu Su said nonchalantly, "Ming Hong is a smart man. He doesn’t want to get involved in Ji Changyan’s case. Seeing you is the same as seeing Ji Changyan. I only needed to give him a little hint, and he knew how to answer the Empress Dowager."

’So that’s how it was.’

But there was one more question she desperately wanted to know the answer to.

Ji Qingwu continued, "According to Prince Yong, the divine physician Doctor Le can treat his condition. Is what he said true?"

’The prescription I got from the system was extremely potent. Since Prince Yong had taken it, it would be impossible to cure it so easily after just a month of conditioning.’

But Emperor Wu Su said, "What he said is true."

Ji Qingwu was filled with doubt. ’Someone can actually counteract a prescription developed by the system? This Doctor Le must be incredible.’

Emperor Wu Su stroked her back and said, "There is nothing wrong with your prescription. When Le Xi saw it, he admitted his own inferiority."

Ji Qingwu said in astonishment, "If there’s nothing wrong with my prescription, then why did Your Majesty say Doctor Le can treat Prince Yong’s condition..."

She trailed off. Connecting this to the strange feeling she’d had in Cining Palace, she took a sharp breath and said, "Princess Yong never actually succeeded in drugging him. Because Yin Xiang... she’s Prince Yong’s person."

Seeing that she had uncovered this secret through observation alone, Emperor Wu Su replied, "Mrs. Tao thought she had succeeded, but that prescription had long since been swapped out by Ming Hong."

Ji Qingwu continued her analysis, "So all this time, Prince Yong has been feigning impotence to deceive Princess Yong."

But Princess Yong’s pregnancy was real. To have conceived in such a short time... it wasn’t arrogance on Ji Qingwu’s part, but with Tao Wanxin’s physical condition, only her prescription could have worked.

She asked, puzzled, "But Princess Yong did end up getting pregnant, which should be the effect of my prescription. If Prince Yong didn’t take the medicine, how is that possible?"