Chapter 273: The Monarch’s Gift
Ye Ming was quite happy to hear his father say this. It meant he truly approved of Lanlan and had even prepared a first-meeting gift in advance.
But for some reason, hearing him call his wife "Xiao Lan" gave him a strange feeling. Perhaps it was because the address was so familiar, so natural.
He frowned slightly, his hand unconsciously coming to rest on Shi Lan’s waist. Shi Lan glanced at him, feeling a little embarrassed in front of the Monarch, but she didn’t say anything.
As for the Monarch calling her ’Xiao Lan,’ she was fairly used to it from hearing Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao call her that so often. At most, she was a little surprised—surprised by the Monarch’s kindness.
’I’d actually prepared myself to be treated harshly before coming, but it turns out I was just overthinking things.’
The Monarch’s gaze swept over the hand Ye Ming had placed on her waist, and he chuckled. "It seems you two are very close."
Ye Ming nodded. "Yes, Father. I care for Lanlan deeply."
Caught off guard by his public confession, Shi Lan’s blush deepened. But she responded with equal resolve, "Yes, I care for Ye Ming too."
"A good relationship is all that matters."
The Monarch sighed and began to reminisce. "Ah Ming’s mother and I had a very good relationship once, too. But life is unpredictable, and in the end, we still ended up divorcing."
Ye Ming’s expression soured. He pressed his pale pink lips together. "Father, Lanlan and I will not end up like that."
"Heh, of course."
The Monarch laughed. "Silly child, why are you taking it so personally? I was talking about myself."
After speaking, he looked at Shi Lan, a helpless look in his eyes. "My Ah Ming is just like that. He can be stubborn, inflexible, and far too soft-hearted at times."
Shi Lan quickly shook her head. "Ye Ming is wonderful. He’s a just, gentle, and kind person."
"When we first met, I thought he was cold and heartless. But in reality, just as you said, Your Majesty, he’s kind-hearted. That in itself is wonderful."
Ye Ming hadn’t expected such high praise from Shi Lan. His eyes flickered with emotion, the hand on her waist tightened, and his gaze, full of affection, landed solely on her.
The Monarch found himself an unwilling audience to their public display of affection.
Fortunately, the butler soon brought the gift over. The Monarch passed it to her with a pleasant smile. "Xiao Lan, see if you like it."
Shi Lan hadn’t planned on opening the gift in front of everyone, but since the Monarch insisted, she accepted it, feeling very flattered.
The gift was a small, vintage-style box with a pleasing texture, like an old European jewelry box with a rotating clasp.
She twisted it open, her eyes lighting up with surprise. "What a beautiful hair clip."
Inside the gift box lay a barrette with a small, emerald-green mushroom design. The little mushroom was crafted from a material resembling the highest quality of jadeite, the "glassy" type. It was a flawless, translucent green, crystalline and sparkling, with a magnificent luster.
Shi Lan genuinely loved the gift, her eyes curving up with pleasure. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I happen to love green mushrooms, I can’t believe you gave me a barrette exactly like this."
"Is that so? I’m glad you like it. It seems it was a lucky coincidence."
The Monarch’s smile deepened. His eyes crinkled when he smiled, faintly revealing laugh lines. It was the only thing that betrayed his true age.
Ye Ming watched Shi Lan touch the barrette in the gift box. His eyes darkened, and a flash of chagrin crossed his face.
’Even Father knew to prepare a gift, yet I, her Beast Husband, prepared nothing for Lanlan’s first visit to the palace. I’ve been derelict in my duty.’
Ye Ming grew much quieter.
After that, true to his word, the Monarch didn’t keep the two for idle chatter. He had only intended to meet Shi Lan, and after presenting the gift, he didn’t detain them for long.
On the way back to the Night Nether Palace, Shi Lan could clearly sense Ye Ming’s sullen mood, which seemed to have started back in the lounge.
She squeezed his hand and playfully leaned into his view. "What are you thinking about? Why are you ignoring me?"
At her words, Ye Ming’s gaze instantly fell upon her.
His eyes were a rather deep shade of green, and when he looked at someone, he always had an intensely focused seriousness.
When facing a subordinate, those eyes would be cold and imposing, daring one not to look directly at them.
But in front of his wife, his eyes were filled with warmth, like a river in early spring, its surface stirred by gentle ripples.
He shook his head gently. "I’m not ignoring Lanlan."
"Then do you remember what I just said?"
Shi Lan’s almond-shaped eyes glinted with mischief as she deliberately teased him.
Ye Ming actually hesitated for a long moment, the tips of his ears turning red before he conceded, "You found me out."
"Haha!"
Shi Lan laughed cheerfully, straightening up and swinging their joined hands. "Well then, my dear Beast Husband, my Eldest Prince of a husband, can you tell me what matter of state you were pondering just now?"
Ye Ming looked mortified, both of his ears turning a deep red. And with the palace lights as bright as day, Shi Lan saw it all perfectly clearly.
His lips reddened a little before he explained, sounding dejected, "I wasn’t thinking about anything like that. I just feel like I’m failing as your Beast Husband. I didn’t prepare a gift for you... I didn’t even realize that mushrooms are your favorite thing."
He was chagrined that even his gift couldn’t compare to his father’s, which had been so perfectly thoughtful.
"Oh, so that’s what this is about! And here I was, thinking it was something serious."
Shi Lan’s eyes curved into crescents. "You really don’t have to think so much about it. We haven’t been together for very long. I don’t know a lot of your preferences, either. If we’re judging by that, wouldn’t that make me an even more incompetent wife?"
"We have a long life ahead of us, we can take our time getting to know each other. Besides, a gift is just a symbol of one’s feelings. I care more about the thought behind it than the gift itself, you know? As long as you truly have me in your heart, that’s more than enough."
She said this with heartfelt sincerity, her gaze gentle.
Ye Ming’s anxiety and dejection were imperceptibly smoothed away by her cheerful words. It seemed that in Lanlan’s eyes, most things weren’t a big deal.
He unconsciously tightened his grip, their fingers interlocking. If it weren’t for the numerous patrolling soldiers around, he might not have been able to resist placing a kiss on her gentle eyes.
’I love my wife a little more every day.’
He chuckled inwardly, his mood brightening. "Lanlan, would you like to tour the rest of the palace? There’s a Sky Watching Tower with a telescope that lets you see the universe beyond the Capital Star."
"Wow, really? That’s incredible!"
Shi Lan’s eyes widened, and she responded with enthusiasm. "Yes! Let’s go, let’s go!"
"Okay."
The corners of Ye Ming’s lips curved up as he happily led his partner to the Sky Watching Tower.
The palace was enormous; it took them another ten-odd minutes of walking to reach their destination.
The Sky Watching Tower was, as its name implied, a tall tower. It was about ten stories high, but the lower floors were all taken up by a library; only the top floor housed the telescopic equipment.
Shi Lan stared in disbelief at the sheer number of books packed inside. There were more books here than in the Imperial Capital University’s library. The interior looked like something out of a fantasy world—mysterious and filled with the rich, heady scent of books.
Inside were a spiral staircase and a transparent glass elevator. Ye Ming led her up the stairs to the top floor.