Once this feeling arose, Jun Moxie found he could no longer sit still. He ordered the kitchen to prepare four exquisite small dishes, then carried the wine and food into the Hongjun Tower, walking leisurely toward Mei Xueyan’s chambers.

"Thump, thump, thump…"

Jun Moxie knocked only three times before the door opened.

Mei Xueyan, dressed entirely in white and looking impeccable, stood holding the door with a delicate, jade-like hand—a hand as white as frost against snow—gazing at him with a faint, knowing smile.

"Why are you still awake?"

Jun Moxie was quite surprised. Mei Xueyan’s demeanor suggested she had been deliberately waiting for him.

"I anticipated you would come tonight."

Mei Xueyan said calmly, then released the door and turned back. "Come in, and close the door behind you."

Having said that, she settled gracefully onto the **, "What brings you to see me tonight?"

Jun Moxie rubbed his nose, knowing Mei Xueyan was upset. He lowered his voice submissively. "Uh, ahem, it’s been a while since we shared a meal. So, I specially prepared a few small dishes myself. Since I’m free today, let’s have a good drink together."

Saying this, he eagerly pulled over the small tea table in the room and retrieved the wine and dishes from his storage space. The aroma immediately filled the air, instantly whetting the appetite.

"You seek me out late at night just for a drink?"

Mei Xueyan felt both annoyed and amused, but her face remained icy. "Let's skip that, then. Since there’s no urgent matter, and it’s getting late, I’m very tired and planning to retire for the night. You should leave now."

She then blinked, smiling slightly. "Or perhaps, go enjoy yourself with your Miss Miao?"

Jun Moxie rubbed his nose with a wry smile. Sure enough, Mei Xueyan was still jealous.

No matter the woman, there simply wasn't any truly magnanimous character who wouldn't feel a pang of jealousy.

Accepting the situation was one thing, but dealing with jealousy was another entirely; the two could never be confused. While Mei Xueyan could do many things for Jun Moxie, even managing and pacifying his harem of beauties for him, this didn't mean she wouldn't feel jealousy. In the end, Mei Xueyan was, after all, just a woman!

"Uh, hehe, isn't it because I missed you?" At this moment, the arrogance of the Shadow Monarch, Jun Da Shao, vanished completely, replaced by sycophancy and deference. "Look at my little Xueyan, you’re so stunning. Haven't seen you for a few days, and I’ve missed you so much my heart has been clawing at itself—I haven't slept a wink day or night!"

"Do you think I don't know you? You, Jun Da Shao, are an expert at spinning pretty lies! You can use these sweet words to coax Little Yi or Yan Mengke’er, but you actually think I’ll believe your fabrications?"

Mei Xueyan rolled her eyes, coldly declaring, "Putting aside everything else, just these four small dishes… you dare claim you cooked them yourself? What superb skill! I am flattered beyond measure, but I must respectfully decline!"

Jun Moxie stood there awkwardly, mouth slightly open, hands spread in a gesture of surrender. Finally, he hung his head dejectedly. "It’s just that I’ve been so busy."

His tone was mournful, sounding exactly like a mistreated young wife.

Mei Xueyan nearly burst out laughing, but she knew this was just his usual antics, hoping to soften her heart and get off the hook easily. But how could she let him off so lightly? She spoke coldly, "If you truly meant it, then go and genuinely cook a few dishes yourself. Whether they taste good or not is irrelevant; as long as you prepared them personally, I might reluctantly share a drink with you. If you don't have the heart for it... then, Your Majesty, I’m afraid you must leave. It is truly very late."

Jun Moxie immediately nodded rapidly, like a chicken pecking grain. "No problem! What’s a few small dishes? Even the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, this young master can whip up in a snap..."

With that, he vanished in a swoosh, off to cook.

Only Sister Mei remained, puzzled, occasionally frowning and muttering, "What is a Manchu-Han Feast? What is that?"

Not a great deal of time passed before Jun Da Shao reappeared at Xueyan Cottage. With a flick of his hand, as if performing a trick, he presented four small dishes, still steaming hot. Their appearance was surprisingly decent; although not quite the work of a master chef, they possessed both color and fragrance, truly not bad at all.

However, Mei Xueyan kept a frigid expression, observing Jun Moxie's theatrics. While perhaps the likes of Dugu Xiaoyi or Han Yanmeng might be dazzled by this sort of miraculous, conjured presentation, the beautiful Mei, long accustomed to it and fully aware of the secret, cared little. It was nothing more than retrieving items previously placed in that mystical space—hardly worth mentioning!

He produced two wine cups, Jun Moxie diligently filled them with fine liquor, and sighed, "A beautiful night, a beloved beauty beside me, drinking together—this is one of life’s greatest joys. Xueyan, why do you seem unhappy? Who upset my dearest Xueyan? Tell your husband, and your husband will stand up for you!"

Mei Xueyan kept her face stern. "The wine is certainly fine wine, the Heaven-Grade liquor personally brewed by Your Majesty, how could it not be? But as for the beauty… that’s debatable. Compared to those young and beautiful consorts, I am just an ugly, haggard old woman. What does it matter if an old crone is happy? Why should Your Majesty trouble yourself to care? I am deeply honored, deeply honored…"

Though Mei Xueyan spoke of being "deeply honored," her delicate features grew even colder, which only made her appear more captivating!

Jun Moxie feigned surprise. "Ah? If you, my dearest little Xueyan, are an ugly old woman, then when the world praises beauties, they must say things like, 'Her natural beauty rivals the country's most ugly, her peerless appearance is that of a haggard crone.' Xueyan, humility is a virtue, but excessive humility is hypocrisy, and that’s not good. You are so glib—you could talk life into a dead man!"

Mei Xueyan finally let out a suppressed laugh, draining the wine in her cup in one gulp. A flush of rosy color instantly spread across her usually cool, delicate features, making her even more breathtakingly beautiful.

The clouds had finally parted. Jun Da Shao let out a long sigh of relief.

After that, the two began to drink, cup after cup, and soon they had finished the entire jar of wine.

The night was quiet, the moon shone softly, the candlelight flickered, casting dancing red shadows.

After the initial exchange of lighthearted banter and sweet nothings, neither spoke again. It wasn't that they had nothing to say, but rather that they were both intoxicated by the rare atmosphere of warmth, unwilling to shatter it. A mere glance, a subtle gesture, and they instantly understood what the other intended to say or do…

This feeling of intertwining spirits was truly intoxicating, and they both instinctively savored this rare, inebriating ambiance.

Mei Xueyan’s expression grew progressively softer. The faint blush on her fair, jade-like cheeks had spread considerably without her noticing. Her gaze was tender, her eyes hazy with intoxication, filled with deep affection.

With a soft "thud," the empty wine jar was placed on the floor. Jun Moxie smiled dreamily. "Tonight’s drink is enough to intoxicate a lifetime! If a hundred or a thousand years from now, we can still sit and drink like this, I believe the feeling will be ten thousand times better than it is now."

Mei Xueyan’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. "It certainly will be. We shall never be separated, through all lifetimes. A hundred years, a thousand years, it will be just like today."

Yet, in her heart, she clung to Jun Moxie’s earlier words: This night’s drink is enough to intoxicate a lifetime.

Yes, tonight’s intoxication, tonight’s emotion, tonight’s conversation—they were enough to ensure she would never forget this lifetime!

Mei Xueyan smiled sweetly.

Jun Moxie let out a long breath, equally content. "Tonight’s stars, tonight’s wind; Xueyan beside me, our feelings merge as one. Though we lack wings to fly together, our hearts are perfectly attuned. Xueyan, you are truly beautiful, and truly wonderful! To possess you in this life is truly the blessing I, Jun Moxie, earned through countless reincarnations!"

Mei Xueyan looked at him deeply and whispered softly, "To be your woman in this life, how is that not my blessing as well? Since our hearts understand each other, why bother saying these things?"

Moved, Jun Moxie couldn't help but reach out, grasping her delicate jade hand, stroking it gently, as if handling some world-class treasure, unable to let go!

Mei Xueyan’s delicate body trembled, and she let out a soft moan. "Moxie, do you know? Only at this moment am I truly certain that in your heart, there is only me!"

Jun Moxie felt an inexplicable jolt. Alongside his surging love, feelings of pity and guilt intensified. He gently looped an arm around her slender waist, turning Mei Xueyan’s peerlessly beautiful, captivating face toward him, gazing deeply into her eyes. "Xueyan, I—" Before he could speak, his lips were covered by two slender, jade-like fingers. Mei Xueyan looked at him tenderly, shaking her head gently. "I know what you’re going to say… but you don’t need to say anything. I understand. In this life and the next, we must never say sorry to each other. We don't need it, truly not…"

Jun Moxie’s heart surged with emotion. He suddenly lowered his head and pressed his lips fiercely against Mei Xueyan’s petal-soft mouth.

This time, Mei Xueyan offered no resistance whatsoever. Instead, she closed her beautiful eyes, tilted her face upward to meet him halfway, and slightly raised her toes, nestling into the embrace of the man she held dearest, letting him lead.

Her slender arms, after a brief hesitation, slowly lifted and gently encircled Jun Moxie's neck…

Her scent of cloves wafted faintly, a sweet moisture exchanged; Mei Xueyan felt as if her entire body had suddenly become weightless, floating in a haze where she couldn't seem to think of anything at all…

She only felt a pair of warm, strong hands moving gently over her body. Wherever those hands traveled, an indescribable heat arose, a peculiar flavor that scattered her thoughts and left her weak all over…

Jun Moxie held Mei Xueyan’s graceful figure as if cradling a peerless treasure, his gaze blazing into her eyes, seemingly emanating some mysterious flame.

This flame made Mei Xueyan’s breathing quicken, and her beautiful eyes remained tightly shut.

"Xueyan, I… may I?"

Jun Moxie’s breath was hot, spraying across Mei Xueyan’s soft, porcelain-smooth cheek.

"Mmm," Mei Xueyan let out a small sound like a kitten from her delicate nose, sounding like a moan, yet perhaps a protest…

Mmm… what does that mean?

Jun Da Shao didn't understand, but at this moment, he didn't need to. He only needed to act, and he was already moving!

He leaned down, drawing Mei Xueyan's delicate body into his arms, lifting her up entirely. With his head lowered, their four eyes remained locked, seemingly merging into one entity, as his feet moved step by step toward the edge of the bed… Mei Xueyan’s breathing grew more rapid, her small nostrils fluttering urgently, her face growing redder and redder. Her eyes, brimming with moisture, looked at Jun Moxie, and finally, overwhelmed by bashfulness, she squeezed them shut and turned her head away. Should I push her down? Should I push her down? This question has tormented me all day long… Ugh… so conflicted…

Today's update is complete. To be continued. For the rest of the story and more chapters, please support the author and authentic reading!