Chapter 163: Just One Painting

Another two days passed, and Chu Mingheng seemed to have restrained himself somewhat, no longer keeping Lan Wu by his side all day long.

On the surface, that was indeed the case.

Inside the Imperial Study, Lan Wu lay bored on the desk, turning her head to see Chu Mingheng still reviewing memorials at the table. She let out a faint sigh.

Suddenly, the man who had been intently focused on the memorial in his hand raised his eyes, meeting Lan Wu’s clear gaze.

Lan Wu was taken aback, sitting up straight and shifting her attention back to the paper in front of her.

She was painting.

Probably no one would have imagined that the newly appointed Guifei, who was said to be staying in Yilan Hall all day, had actually been quietly brought before the Imperial Presence.

Chu Mingheng was always up to such sneaky tricks, and he seemed to have developed a taste for it.

Over there, Chu Mingheng was still watching her, as if lost in thought. Even though Lan Wu had already averted her gaze, his eyes did not stray an inch.

Lan Wu held back for a moment but couldn’t resist, lifting her head to glare fiercely back at him.

Chu Mingheng smiled and rose from his seat.

As soon as he stood up, Lan Wu knew what he was about to do and immediately made room for him on the seat.

But Chu Mingheng refused to sit. Instead, he stood beside Lan Wu, looking down at her painting. Noticing her hand trembling, he kindly asked, “Are you tired from painting?”

Lan Wu, feeling both embarrassed and indignant, put down her brush and looked at him. “Can’t you just focus on your own tasks?”

Chu Mingheng feigned innocence, resting one hand lightly on the table while reaching out with the other to brush aside the stray hair at Lan Wu’s temple, tucking it behind her ear. He said casually, “I was focused, but then Ah Wu had to look at me.”

Then, lowering his gaze, he added softly, “In a few days, Ah Wu will be leaving for Changyong Mountain for three months. How am I supposed to endure that?”

“Now, if I want to look at you a little longer, will Ah Wu not allow it?”

He made it sound as though Lan Wu were a heartless and unfaithful person.

Naturally, Lan Wu had to argue back.

“Who said I wouldn’t allow it? I never said you couldn’t look.” She mumbled, reaching out to pour herself some tea. “I’ve already sneaked here with you. I’m right in front of you—look all you want.”

Chu Mingheng poured the tea for her and shook his head. “It wasn’t sneaking.”

Lan Wu took a few sips from the teacup, raising her eyes to look at him. She thought to herself how he could pretend so well—if this wasn’t sneaking, then what was?

On the table, the painting depicted a cluster of jasmine flowers, a single white blossom amidst green leaves. Though ordinary, it was painted with elegance.

“Where did this jasmine come from, with only one flower blooming among the branches?” Chu Mingheng tapped the painting, suggesting that Lan Wu add a few more flowers.

“I won’t paint more. I didn’t even want to paint in the first place. If it weren’t for you…” Lan Wu turned away, unwilling. If Chu Mingheng hadn’t begged her to paint a few pictures for him as keepsakes, she wouldn’t have bothered.

At this point, Lan Wu realized something, looking at Chu Mingheng’s expression with a hint of uncertainty.

Chu Mingheng lowered his gaze, seemingly oblivious to Lan Wu’s implication. Gently stroking her fingers, he said softly, “That’s true. Your hands might get rough from painting… If Ah Wu doesn’t want to paint, then don’t. After all, there are still the paintings Ah Wu made for the other me. I can borrow them to look at when I miss you.”

When Chu Mingheng mentioned the words “the other one,” his tone carried a slight emphasis. After speaking, he acted as if he didn’t care at all, gently picking Lan Wu up from the chair and carrying her to his own desk before setting her down.

Lan Wu felt inexplicably uneasy, but before she could speak, her lips were sealed by his.

A warm kiss descended, the familiar yet domineering presence of another person lingering between her lips, effortlessly overwhelming all her thoughts.

It seemed Chu Mingheng had learned to be gentler when kissing her, yet it also seemed he hadn’t learned at all. In the end, after the kiss, he still bit her lip lightly, not breaking the skin but leaving a faint mark.

Lan Wu clung to his shoulders, gasping for breath, her gaze somewhat dazed. Soon, she saw Chu Mingheng leaning in again, and she quickly reached out to cover his lips, shaking her head at him.

The words he had just spoken flashed through her mind again, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him.

“I’ll draw for you, alright? Stop making a fuss. I’ll draw for you.”

And what was that about borrowing it to look at? This was probably the first time Chu Mingheng had ever used the word “borrow” in his life. How difficult it must have been for him.

At this thought, Chu Mingheng’s face flashed before Lan Wu’s eyes, and she inexplicably blushed. She quickly slipped down from the side of the desk, but just as she was about to step away, her wrist was caught.

Chu Mingheng turned his face away, avoiding Lan Wu’s gaze, but said, “That desk is too small. Draw here in front of my desk.”

Are you really just drawing properly?

Lan Wu gave him a suspicious glance, convinced he wasn’t.

But her objections were useless. She was still led to the imperial desk.

Chu Mingheng watched intently as Lan Wu added many white jasmine flowers to the green bushes in the painting, just as he had wished, finally completing the artwork.

Seeing Lan Wu smile, he couldn’t help but curve his lips into a faint smile as well.

However, Lan Wu had celebrated too soon.

No sooner had she agreed to draw for Chu Mingheng out of soft-heartedness than the other Chu Mingheng came demanding the same the very next day, without the slightest hesitation.

“What, you can draw for him but not for me?” Chu Mingheng sat leisurely, still in the Imperial Study, still on the dragon throne Lan Wu had occupied the day before.

Hearing his words, Lan Wu glanced at the drawing paper laid out on the desk, inwardly lamenting—if only she hadn’t drawn so carelessly before. Her drawings weren’t even good-looking, so why did everyone want her to draw?

“I just… just drew yesterday,” Lan Wu protested softly.

The next moment, her face was turned to face Chu Mingheng’s icy expression directly.

Chu Mingheng’s gaze fell on Lan Wu’s lips, and he reached out to stroke them lightly, inwardly scoffing—after all these years as emperor, he still acted as if he knew exactly how to handle Lan Wu.

Such petty behavior.

“You drew yesterday, so you can’t draw today?” Chu Mingheng leaned closer, gazing at her beautiful face before lowering his head to give her cheek a gentle bite.

Lan Wu cried out, pushing him away. She took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her face, then felt the bite mark left behind. Angrily, she turned her head and scolded him, “Are you a dog? Why did you bite me?”

“Chu Lan Wu—” Chu Mingheng called her name in a low voice.

Lan Wu touched her ear and let out a light hum, her behavior as unruly as ever.

“A-Wu, be good. Just draw one for me,” Chu Mingheng held her in his arms, pointing to the drawing paper on the desk. “Even if you just draw a flower or a tree for me, I’ll be happy.”

Lan Wu gently nuzzled her head against his neck, her tone somewhat reluctant as she emphasized to him, “Just one painting, only one, okay?”

She wouldn’t do any more than that.

Chu Mingheng nodded in agreement and said, “Alright.”