William Carter gently lifted her soft, delicate body, half-sitting down against the bookshelf. He tenderly embraced the empress’s supple form, gazing at her with both care and a hint of reproach as he shot her a look: “Grace, how could you suddenly do something so foolish? If something really happened to you, what would I do? You just now, you really made me worry.”

Although his words sounded like a scolding, the empress didn’t feel the slightest bit wronged or upset. On the contrary, a sweet and blissful feeling welled up in her heart. Her pretty face, still glistening with clear tears, looked truly pitiful and endearing. With her delicate head slightly bowed, her bright, gentle, watery eyes gazed obediently at William Carter. She nodded softly, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s: “Your Majesty, it’s all my fault. If you’re angry, please scold me a bit more.”

“You silly girl. I can’t even feel sorry for you enough.” William Carter felt a surge of joy in his heart, secretly thinking that old Ao’s method really did have some effect. His gaze lingered affectionately on the empress’s delicate, classically beautiful face as he gently lifted her chin: “Promise me, from now on, don’t ever do something so foolish again, all right?”

“Mm.” The empress’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes soft and moist. She nodded obediently: “I—I won’t ever dare to do it again.”

“Good. Since the time and scenery are so perfect, and both of us love ‘poetry’...” William Carter casually picked up the book that had fallen to the floor, opened a page, and said with a straight face, “Why don’t we study the Book of Songs together?”

……

Chapter 12: A Little Bit of Happiness

……

“Your Majesty…” The empress, whose complexion had just improved, was once again made bashful by the book William Carter produced, reaching out to snatch it away: “Why—why do you still say such things?”

“Hehe, studying the Book of Songs together as husband and wife really brings us closer.” William Carter held her hands tightly in his embrace so she couldn’t move, turned a page, and pointed at the couple in the illustration with a mischievous grin: “Grace, look at this position. Tsk tsk, it’s a classic.”

“Your Majesty!” The empress refused to look, squeezing her eyes shut and burrowing into his arms. Her small hands clutched tightly at the front of his dragon robe.

“Empress, as your emperor, I order you to lift your head and open your eyes.” William Carter suddenly said sternly.

The empress’s delicate body trembled, but she didn’t dare defy William Carter’s command. Her eyelashes quivered as she slowly opened her eyes, raising her head. She looked at William Carter with a pitiful, pleading gaze.

“Mm, that’s my good girl.” William Carter felt a surge of delight, bringing the book closer to her so they could look together. He turned the pages one by one, occasionally making a comment or two. At first, the empress felt a bit resistant, but in the end, her curiosity got the better of her. Gradually, she became absorbed. Her tender, translucent cheeks flushed with a faint blush, and her clear eyes seemed to be veiled with a hint of spring water, making her look irresistibly charming.

The empress was only twenty, in the prime of her youth. She was a beauty of national renown. In such a warm and tender embrace, William Carter, who was still a virgin at heart, could hardly restrain himself. The beauty in his arms was breathing softly, her breath fragrant and intoxicating. William Carter felt his heart race and his blood surge.

“Empress…” William Carter leaned close to her ear, speaking in a soft, gentle voice.

The empress’s body trembled, her ears tickled as she adorably shrank her neck. She snuggled even more comfortably into his arms, whispering in a trembling voice, “Your Majesty, w-what do you wish of me?”

“I think these positions look pretty interesting. Why don’t—why don’t we try them together?” Earlier, William Carter had been thinking about strategies from novels, but now, his inexperience as a young virgin was showing. If he were a seasoned man, he would have already started making his move—no need to ask.

Fortunately, one was the emperor and the other the empress. The union of yin and yang between them was only natural. The empress didn’t really resist the idea in her heart. Hearing his words, her body tensed, and she clung tightly to William Carter, her voice soft and pleading: “Y-Your Majesty, n-not here…” Her eyes were moist, filled with a hint of springtime desire.

William Carter was overjoyed—if not here, did that mean the dragon bed would do? He hurriedly, though a bit clumsily, lifted the empress’s nearly boneless, delicate body into his arms, not forgetting to grab the treasured book. He left the secret chamber, fumbled a bit, and entered the eastern warm pavilion. Gently, he placed the empress—her eyes tightly shut, lashes trembling with nerves—onto the dragon bed.

Seeing her beautiful form lying there, so alluring and breathing softly, the faint fragrance of her maiden body wafted into his nose, stirring his very soul. William Carter couldn’t help but slowly lean down, his lips trembling as they gradually met her warm, soft lips. The empress shuddered, a moan escaping her lips, a sound both seductive and soul-stirring.

With a “boom,” William Carter felt his mind go completely blank. Before this, he’d only ever had one girlfriend, and they’d only held hands. To kiss a girl like this—especially one so stunningly beautiful, the likes of whom he’d never even seen on TV or the internet—was something he’d never dared to imagine.

William Carter slowly lifted his head, gazing at her breathtakingly beautiful, nearly perfect face.