Chapter 63: Shaved Ice — His Reluctance
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, so bright it forced people to squint.
Liu Hexiao stayed in the Chengji Hall for a long time before finally stepping out. He bid farewell to Doctor Yu and turned to walk into the bustling streets.
He lightly clenched the porcelain bottle in his hand, and Doctor Yu’s words echoed in his ears:
“This medicine is colorless and tasteless. If mixed into someone’s food or drink, it won’t be long before they start feeling drowsy, fall unconscious… and eventually lose all awareness, never to wake up again.”
Liu Hexiao’s expression darkened as he quickened his pace back to the Shengjing Dessert Shop.
—-
The afternoon palace was oppressively hot.
Lying curled up tightly on a couch, Liu Hening’s pale back was exposed, covered with fresh red welts that looked shocking to the eye. The bed was in complete disarray, a scene of chaos.
The man on the bed turned over and sat up.
He draped a bright yellow silk robe over himself, his chest still exposed. His long, disheveled hair hung down his back, exuding an indescribable air of wickedness.
Emperor Li Ze glanced at Liu Hening, who was trembling slightly, and curled his lips into a smile.
“Come here!” he called out.
The palace maid waiting outside the door immediately entered.
“What are Your Majesty’s orders?” she asked.
Li Ze spoke slowly, his tone faintly chilling: “Bring Zhuo’er here.”
Liu Hening’s eyes widened at these words. She sat up abruptly, not caring about her disheveled appearance, and exclaimed in shock, “Your Majesty, what are you planning to do?”
Li Ze’s tone was cold. “You’ve been so disobedient. Do you think I’ll let Zhuo’er stay under your care any longer?”
Liu Hening froze, her face turning pale as her eyes reddened instantly. “Your Majesty,” she pleaded, “what must I say to make you believe me?”
Li Ze’s gaze turned even colder. “I’ll ask you one last time: has your father been secretly in contact with the Yang family in Qiannan?”
Liu Hening frantically shook her head. “No! Absolutely not!”
Seeing her reaction, Li Ze’s expression grew even darker. He sneered, “No? Even if your father hasn’t actively reached out to them… what about Yang Zhao? How is it that I’ve heard Yang Zhao still refuses to marry, remaining single to this day? Could it be… he’s still thinking about you, you wretch?”
Liu Hening’s entire body trembled. Forcing herself to calm down, she responded, “Your Majesty, I’ve been living in the deep palace for years. How could I possibly know what’s happening outside? Whether he marries or not has nothing to do with me.”
Li Ze laughed coldly. “Nothing to do with you? Fine… If I find evidence of their collusion, I will show no mercy!”
With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Guards, keep the Noble Consort under strict watch. Do not let her see anyone! As for Zhuo’er, take him to Consort Mei’s chambers!”
The palace maids, trembling in fear, hurriedly shut the doors behind them.
Liu Hening closed her eyes, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She knew that no matter how much she begged, Emperor Li Ze would not show any compassion.
In his eyes, there was only power—absolute power.
Wiping her tears, she crawled to the edge of the bed and retrieved a small porcelain bottle.
She stared at it intently, her tear-filled eyes gradually hardening with resolve.
Li Ze walked down the palace corridors, his mind troubled. Since his ascension to the throne, he had constantly been constrained by the Prince Qi and the Yang family. Initially, he had married Liu Hening partly because of her beauty and partly to prevent an alliance between the Prince Qi and the Yang family. After all, if those two families joined forces, they would control nearly two-thirds of the empire’s military power.
How could Li Ze tolerate such a threat? So, he had ruthlessly broken the pair apart and brought Liu Hening into the palace.
Yet, he always felt that the Prince Qi outwardly obeyed him but was secretly defiant, undoubtedly engaging in hidden schemes.
For a long time, he had wanted to move against the Prince Qi, but the prince’s high reputation in court made any action risky, as it could provoke widespread outrage.
Li Ze’s face darkened further. After a moment of thought, he asked, “What’s the current situation with the Prince Qi’s heir?”
The young eunuch beside him immediately replied, “Your Majesty, ever since the heir had a falling out with the Prince Qi, he has moved out… He now resides in a small courtyard in the city and runs a business.”
Li Ze narrowed his eyes. “Still running a business?”
Previously, he had sent Liu Hening to visit Liu Hexiao under the pretense of checking on him. According to her report, Liu Hexiao had indeed severed ties with the Prince Qi’s estate and refused to return no matter how much persuasion he received.
At first, Li Ze didn’t believe it. He sent someone to observe for a while, and the spies reported back, saying things like how many snacks the heir had sold, how many membership cards he had issued, and how much silver he had earned…
Gradually, Li Ze came to believe it. Liu Hexiao had truly left the Prince Qi’s estate to make a living for himself.
Li Ze asked again, “That shop… is it really his? Is he truly no longer relying on the Prince Qi’s estate?”
The young eunuch replied, “That shop belongs to a young lady. It seems the heir and that young lady… share a rather close relationship.”
Hearing this, Li Ze smiled faintly and said, “As expected.”
After pondering for a moment, he ordered, “Draft an imperial decree for me.”
The night breeze was cool, accompanied by the steady chirping of cicadas.
In the Shengjing Dessert Shop, Ah-miao was organizing the shelves on the first floor.
Liu Hexiao hurriedly returned from outside, his expression urgent.
As soon as he stepped in, he looked around and asked, “Where’s Yihuan?”
Ah-miao replied, “The young lady is upstairs. She said she wanted to make shaved ice.”
Liu Hexiao froze for a moment. “Shaved ice!?”
He quickly ascended the stairs. Under the warm, dim lighting, Yihuan was wearing a light summer blouse, busy working with some ice.
Her sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing a section of her fair, snow-white arms. Her jade-like wrists were delicate and dazzling.
Liu Hexiao stood there, momentarily stunned. “What are you doing?”
Yihuan turned her head, flashing him a bright smile. “It’s summer! How could we not have shaved ice?”
Liu Hexiao chuckled softly but said nothing.
Yihuan pulled him closer, pointing to the jars on the table. “Look, this is mango puree,” she said, gesturing to a bowl. “And this one is made from strawberries. They’re both fruit sauces. Later, we can spread them directly over the shaved ice.”
As she spoke, she resumed grating the ice, her hands skillfully working the blade with numerous small perforations. The ice, made from milk, was a creamy white. As she scraped back and forth, tiny, delicate ice particles emerged through the holes, forming into a bowl of milk-flavored shaved ice.
Liu Hexiao seemed as if he wanted to say something, but seeing the excitement in her eyes as she worked, he couldn’t bring himself to interrupt her.
For a moment, Liu Hexiao’s gaze lingered on Yihuan, and his thoughts drifted.
Feelings arise without warning, and they deepen before you know it.
He didn’t know when it had started, but he had grown fond of simply watching her. Every time he ate something she made, it brought with it… a sense of home.
Yihuan glanced at him playfully. “What are you looking at?”
Liu Hexiao murmured, “Looking at you.”
Yihuan’s cheeks warmed as she smiled shyly and returned to making the shaved ice.
When she had finished grating enough milk ice, she placed the shaved ice into a bowl. Then, taking the mango sauce, she poured it generously over the top.
The creamy white shaved ice originally resembled a pristine snow mountain. The vibrant yellow mango sauce poured over it created a stark contrast between the two colors.
The rich, fragrant mango sauce slowly trickled down, as if threatening to engulf the snow mountain. Yihuan gently stirred it with a wooden spoon, blending the milk ice and mango sauce more thoroughly. She scooped up a spoonful, extended her tongue to taste it lightly, and closed her eyes in bliss. “So cold!”
It was utterly refreshing!
Liu Hexiao, who had been silently watching her, suddenly said, “I’d like to try it too.”
Yihuan smiled and handed him the bowl of shaved ice. “Here you go.”
But Liu Hexiao didn’t look at the bowl. His gaze was fixed intently on Yihuan, finally landing on the corner of her lips.
A small drop of mango sauce lingered there, glistening like a pearl, tender and enticing.
Yihuan blinked at him in confusion, her large eyes sparkling with innocence.
Liu Hexiao swallowed lightly. Suddenly, he reached out, pulled her into his arms, and pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth, tasting the sweetness lingering there.
Yihuan froze, her eyes widening in surprise. Holding the bowl of shaved ice, she didn’t know what to do.
Unlike the brief, hesitant kiss from last time, Liu Hexiao deepened the kiss gradually, savoring every part of her sweetness, leaving no corner unexplored.
Yihuan felt dizzy. Her fingers went limp, and she nearly dropped the bowl of shaved ice. Liu Hexiao, despite his eyes being closed, reacted swiftly, catching the bowl and placing it on the table behind her.
Even so, he didn’t release her.
Yihuan leaned weakly against Liu Hexiao. Her cherry lips, helplessly parted, allowed their breaths to intertwine. She was at a loss for what to do.
Amid their kiss, Liu Hexiao murmured softly, “Yihuan.”
Yihuan closed her eyes tightly. Her heart was pounding like a drum, racing uncontrollably.
Liu Hexiao cupped her delicate face with his hands, cherishing her as if she were a treasure, and kissed her again, gently and tenderly.
The kiss came without warning, unfolding like a beautiful dream, utterly intoxicating.
Outside, the gentle breeze brought a trace of clarity. Liu Hexiao struggled to regain his composure, and after a moment’s hesitation, he let her go.
Yihuan’s face was flushed red as she looked at him with bright, watery eyes, both embarrassed and shy. She was utterly enchanting without realizing it.
Liu Hexiao’s expression revealed a hint of melancholy. His gaze lingered on her, filled with longing.
Sensing something different about him, Yihuan asked softly, “What’s wrong with you?”
Liu Hexiao looked at her deeply and whispered, “I have to leave.”
Shaved Ice:
