Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Ming Yanshu let out a confused "Ah?" "I never pester Boss Ming."

He was a busy boy, what with going to the academy and then coming back to run errands at the eatery. Besides, Miss Ming was also very busy. There was no way he could pester her.

Hearing this, it was hard to tell if Li Yan believed him or not. In any case, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Fine, just make sure you keep it that way. Here, this is for you, too." As he spoke, Li Yan took another wooden toy from his book bag. It looked like a tangram puzzle, and there was another that resembled a miniature abacus.

Ming Yanshu had never seen so many exquisite little trinkets. He stared, not wanting to even blink.

"All for me?"

"That’s right. As long as you stay just like this from now on and don’t pester Sister Ming."

Ming Yanshu nodded again and again. Miss Ming was his benefactor. He would always respect her.

Li Yan beamed, generously giving all the little trinkets he had on him to Ming Yanshu.

After Ming Yanshu left, Li Yan hopped down from his seat.

He already knew how Ming Yanshu had come to the eatery. Of course, it was impossible not to feel a little jealous.

"Mother..." Li Yan reached out and pulled Ming Lingyi down to sit.

He was in a great mood. Though he was only a little taller than the table, that didn’t stop him from enjoying doing things for Ming Lingyi. He reached for the teapot and, huffing and puffing with effort, poured her some water.

The Little Bun’s jealousy was quite irrational; Li Yan was even envious that Ming Yanshu got to work in the eatery. He recalled how, every time he visited, his own little mouth never seemed to stop eating.

Now that he finally had a chance to do some work, Li Yan’s movements were a bit clumsy, but he was clearly enjoying himself.

Ming Lingyi didn’t stop her son from pouring her tea. She simply picked up the cup and took a sip.

"Are you used to living here yet?"

Li Yan nodded. Although the room was tiny—not even a fifth the size of his personal chambers—he felt quite comfortable.

Besides, Miss Xiao Chun had just told him that his mother had decorated everything in the room with her own hands. There was no way he couldn’t like it.

Li Yan had stood up from his seat the moment Ming Lingyi entered. Even after pouring the water, he didn’t sit back down, instead standing obediently by her side.

He had expected his mother’s first question to be about him and Ming Yanshu, but to his surprise, Ming Lingyi didn’t say a word about it.

But he was only a five-year-old Little Bun, after all. Li Yan could hide his emotions well in front of others, but the moment he was with Ming Lingyi, his true feelings showed.

"I thought Mother would be upset..." Li Yan was referring to how he had just told Ming Yanshu not to pester her.

Ming Lingyi replied, "Why would I be upset? I think my Little Huachao handled it wonderfully. You stated what you wanted, made a trade with Little Stone—it was all open and aboveboard. You did a very good job."

Ming Lingyi had always believed that the ability to openly state one’s desires was a rare and valuable quality.

’Using deceitful, underhanded methods to get what you want might go uncriticized as long as you aren’t caught, but the day you’re exposed, you’ll be despised by everyone.’

’A true gentleman should have nothing to hide.’

After lulling Li Yan to sleep, Ming Lingyi got up and returned to her room.

Just as she stepped inside, she abruptly looked up toward a dark figure sitting in the candlelight.

"Who’s there?!" Ming Lingyi demanded, her voice cold and wary.

The man sitting at the table slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting Ming Lingyi’s.

Ming Lingyi: "..."

Taking a moment to process the fact that Li Yun had once again appeared in her room without a word of warning, Ming Lingyi walked forward. "Your Majesty seems to be developing a fondness for trespassing. Your wall-climbing skills are becoming quite impressive as well."

’They had already locked all the doors. How else could he have gotten in, other than by climbing the wall?’

Li Yun: "...I was worried about the Crown Prince."

Ming Lingyi: "..."

’His ability to spout nonsense is also improving.’

She couldn’t be bothered to respond to Li Yun, simply staring at him coldly.

’She refused to believe he didn’t know where Li Yan’s room was.’

Under Ming Lingyi’s stare, Li Yun turned his face away slightly.

His breathing involuntarily grew heavier.

In the candlelight, with her long hair unbound, Ming Lingyi looked strikingly domestic.

And to Li Yun, this feeling was both familiar and strange.

It was familiar because, for many years, he had grown accustomed to seeing her like this—so relaxed and unguarded—when they were alone together, day in and day out.

And it was strange because five years had passed since he had last been able to relive those old days.

Now, as her familiar scent suddenly enveloped him, a tingling sensation spread through Li Yun’s chest. He couldn’t help but straighten his spine, trying to conceal his body’s current reaction.

He had absolutely not come looking for Ming Lingyi with any ulterior motives. But after five years of abstinence, his body was all too honest in its reaction to seeing her. He tried to control it, but it was incredibly difficult.

Around Ming Lingyi, his self-control was practically nonexistent.

Even though he hadn’t touched another woman in five years, his body’s instinctive response to Ming Lingyi was faster than he’d anticipated.

"Since the Crown Prince can be here, I..." Li Yun started to ask, ’Then why can’t I?’ But before he could get the words out, his gaze met Ming Lingyi’s faintly mocking eyes.

Li Yun changed his tune. "I just came to check on him. He’s been picky about his bed since he was a child. You may not know this, but the bed in the Crown Prince Mansion was moved all the way from the Eastern Palace. We then had to have a new one built for the Eastern Palace. I was just worried..."

Li Yun didn’t care how unconvincing the excuse was. As long as it sounded plausible enough, that was all that mattered.

Ming Lingyi said, "Oh. Well, he’s not here. You can go to the courtyard next door."

"Is the belt finished?" he asked suddenly, completely ignoring her previous words.

Ming Lingyi’s slender eyebrows arched at his question. "What belt?"

’She was playing dumb. She had never agreed to do it, so why should she let this scoundrel, Li Yun, lead her by the nose?’

Li Yun stood up. He reached for the frog clasp at his neck and undid it. Then he untied his belt, and just like that, his outer robe fell open.

Li Yun moved so quickly that before Ming Lingyi could even process what he was doing, he had already shrugged off his outer robe and tossed it carelessly at his feet.

"What do you think you’re doing? Li Yun, I’m warning you, don’t you dare try anything." Realizing that the man before her had just stripped off his robe in the blink of an eye, Ming Lingyi finally snapped back to her senses, a clear warning in her voice.

In such a small bedroom, his intimidating presence was simply too overwhelming. Ming Lingyi couldn’t help but take a step back.

Her earlier warning had lacked any real force, at least as far as Li Yun was concerned.

In fact, Li Yun hadn’t originally intended to do anything. But seeing her retreat like that caused a dark, long-suppressed impulse deep within him to bubble to the surface.

’Now he actually *did* want to do something.’

Li Yun suppressed the crimson glint in his eyes and reached for Ming Lingyi.