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

Her impression of Li Yun was much deeper than Xiao Chun’s. Back when they went to Xinghua Alley, wasn’t the man beside her lady the very same one Lord Jiang had called "Emperor"?

She hadn’t known his identity at the time, only that he had an extraordinary presence. Though he looked young, he was profoundly majestic, forcing one to be on their guard and tread carefully around him.

Now that she suddenly knew his identity, Shi Mingyue mostly just felt a sense of, ’So that’s how it is.’

She didn’t really think about anything else.

Shi Mingyue wasn’t particularly curious about why her lady knew the Emperor, or why their relationship seemed anything but ordinary.

In her eyes, her lady was beautiful and kind-hearted. Even if she were truly favored by the Emperor and brought into the palace, it would seem perfectly natural.

When Shi Mingyue didn’t answer for a long time, the impatient Xiao Chun couldn’t help but turn to the other person in the room.

"Sister Zhao Yu, you heard it too, right?" Xiao Chun asked.

Wu Zhao Yu hummed in acknowledgment. Of the three, she was likely the least surprised. After all, she was the one Li Yun had placed by Ming Lingyi’s side.

The only thing that surprised her was that her master’s identity had been exposed by Mr. Jiang in such a way. She had assumed it would be revealed under circumstances like tomorrow’s—or at least, in a much more formal setting.

"Aren’t you two surprised?" Xiao Chun asked, lying back on her pillow. It seemed she was the only curious and surprised one in the entire room.

Shi Mingyue replied, "I am, but this is our lady’s personal affair. If she wishes to tell us about it one day, we will simply listen. Since she hasn’t said anything more, simply knowing is enough."

Wu Zhao Yu nodded. "It’s not for us maids to pry into our mistress’s affairs."

Although she wasn’t a palace maid, the Hidden Guards had their own set of rules.

Wu Zhao Yu had long felt that the new young maid at her lady’s side was a bit too spoiled. It was only because her lady hadn’t set any rules for her. Otherwise, for running her mouth like that, she would have been caned countless times by now in the palace.

Hearing this, Xiao Chun’s face flushed hot in the darkness.

"...I understand."

As Wu Zhao Yu pointed it out, Xiao Chun realized that she had been growing more and more ill-mannered lately. It was because she felt her lady was in a better mood, and had even become quite indulgent of her.

The thought of Shi Mingyue and Wu Zhao Yu, who had joined her lady’s side after her, sparked a sudden sense of insecurity within Xiao Chun.

Ming Lingyi had no idea that an unintentional remark from Wu Zhao Yu last night had just solved a major problem for her.

When she had laid down last night, she thought she wouldn’t be able to rest well. But unexpectedly, the man with the powerful presence beside her hadn’t disturbed her sleep at all. Instead, surrounded by the familiar scent of ambergris, Ming Lingyi slept soundly until broad daylight, not even having a single dream.

When she awoke, Ming Lingyi was surprised to find that the man who should have left long ago was still lying in bed with her.

Realizing she was clinging to him like an octopus, Ming Lingyi blushed. She uncomfortably released her arm from around Li Yun and tried to pull away.

However, Li Yun was already awake. The moment he felt her try to pull back, the arm around her waist tightened, holding her firmly and giving her no chance to escape. In fact, her movement only made him pull her even closer.

Ming Lingyi: "..."

Her chin bumped against his chest. Ming Lingyi felt a flash of embarrassed annoyance, but then she felt a slightly rough texture against her face.

Ming Lingyi lowered her gaze, about to see what it was, but Li Yun was a step faster. His hand, which had been on her waist, somehow found its way to her chin and tilted her head up.

"What are you looking at?" Li Yun’s voice was low and a bit hoarse, likely from just waking up and not having spoken for some time. Yet, it was also achingly magnetic.

In the intimacy of the bed, the gesture of tilting her chin up was undeniably flirtatious.

Ming Lingyi quickly forgot what had just grazed her cheek so roughly as he captured her breath with his.

By the time she rose, a light blush colored her cheeks. Against the flush, stray strands of jet-black hair clung to her skin, creating a stark contrast.

Her light inner robe was nearly soaked through with a sheen of sweat, rendering it semi-transparent.

Her whole body felt uncomfortably sticky.

Li Yun truly hadn’t done anything, and yet it felt like he had done everything. It left her feeling agitated, tormented by waves of a restless, tingling ache that seemed to emanate from her very bones. It was like a million tiny ants were gnawing away at her, leaving her suspended in limbo.

But she had said "I’m not in the mood" last night, and Li Yun, true to his word, had not crossed that line. She could clearly feel how much he was restraining himself; his heavy, ragged breaths still seemed to echo in her mind. But now, he was already in the anteroom, and the barely muffled sound of splashing water reached her ears.

Though it was only a small private residence, Liu Ye’s men were thorough. Ming Lingyi was soon able to soak in a warm, comfortable bath.

When she emerged, aside from her legs feeling a bit weak, she felt perfectly content.

Li Yun had already changed and was waiting for Ming Lingyi in the room.

Seeing her emerge, he walked over naturally, picked up the towel that had been prepared in the room, and began to dry her hair.

’If Ming Lingyi hadn’t insisted on drawing a clear line between them last night, he would have held her and bathed with her. Why would things be so distant now?’

While Li Yun felt they had grown distant, Ming Lingyi, feeling his fingers thread through her hair, thought things were already developing in a far too intimate direction.

However, Ming Lingyi didn’t resist. After all, Li Yun had done this for her countless times before, and the pressure was just right. Even after five years, that hadn’t changed.

It was difficult to refuse being pampered.

"You didn’t go to the morning court session?" Ming Lingyi asked.

Li Yun replied, "I’ve already returned."

When he had woken up that morning, Ming Lingyi was still fast asleep, so he had gone to the anteroom to change.

His court robes had been prepared before he left the palace yesterday.

Ming Lingyi was surprised to hear that. ’I must have been sleeping very soundly,’ she thought, ’not even noticing him leave and come back.’

"If you already went back to the palace, why did you come out again?"

"Isn’t today the judging for that poetry competition you organized?" Li Yun answered while continuing to dry her long hair. "I couldn’t possibly be absent."

’As for everything else,’ he thought, ’it can all be put aside for today.’

’Nothing is more important than her.’