The morning came.
What time was it? Luqi didn't know, but her nose was tingling from the scent of freshly brewed tea. The princess found her bed to be extra comfortable today, soft, thick and warm. Unable to get up, she snuggled more, sinking deeper into the sheets, burying her face into the blanket.
"..Mmm" her sleepy groans traced the room.
She was trying to wake up, "Bai Yi…" finally sat up, her fluffy blanket fell, revealing the delicate frame. Eyes still closed, she yawned.
"Bai Yi ahh…" she muttered once more, wondering what was taking the little helper so long today.
"Look away." A stern voice echoed. Commanding someone.
As she was rubbing her eyes, something in her snapped. Her eyes were finally wide enough to take in where she was. Her round orbs dazed around the room, quickly recognising the familiar authoritative figure sitting at the wooden tea table across the royal bedchamber.
"Luqi, we don't have any Bai Yi here," Li Wan teased as he sipped the steamy tea. Behind him were two maids holding a hairbrush and accessories. They stood facing the other side of the room, avoiding contact with the bed, probably because Luqi was clearly in need of some extra clothes.
"…"
"…"
"Ahh… right." She chuckled weakly before dropping herself back into the bed, throwing the thick blankets over her body.
"What is right?" he asked, his tone mellow.
"I forgot where I was." She cuddled into his bed once more, about to fall back asleep. "That explains why the bed was more comfy…" she mumbled softly. My god, she acted even more relaxed when sleepy. He shook his head as a smile of defeat unfolded on his handsome face.
"Luqi."
"Mmm…"
He let out a sigh. "Don't cause trouble while I am out."
"Mmm…"
And so the princess dazed back into deep slumber.
...
"Are we going to leave Mistress Yin here, Your Majesty?" Li Wan's closest attendant, Zhou Lin, questioned. It was considered inappropriate for a concubine to reside in the royal bedchamber without the grace of the king after all.
"Princess." He looked at his attendant. "Princess Yin."
"…" Zhou Lin was taken aback for a moment. He stepped back and bowed. "I apologise. Are we going to leave Princess Yin in the chamber, Your Majesty?"
Li Wan nodded. "Prepare new clothes and a warm meal when she wakes up."
Lending her sleeping figure one last glance before walking out of the chamber.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Let's go." And so the emperor exited the warm chamber and left to attend his daily duties.
— — —
"Yin Luqi..." he muttered the name quietly, liking how it sounded. Perhaps he liked its owner. Perhaps he wanted to see its owner, but it's been wandering there for the duration of his morning duties.
Work, which was already slow, became even more draining since the end of the war. Resource shortages and the need to rebuild the army presented a never-ending list of tasks. Li Wan found himself to be more exhausted than he had been during the battle itself. That was an exaggeration, but it was no small amount of work.
The hours of meetings and paperwork dragged on, the flame of the candle on the desk burning long after mealtime.
"Your Majesty, it's almost lunch hour," Zhou Lin voiced hesitantly. "Where would you like to have your meal?"
"Bedchamber." He didn't look up, his hand rolled through the scrolls of reports.
"Your... royal bedchamber?" The serious attendant was perplexed. He can't remember His Majesty ever having lunch at the royal bedchamber. It was a distance away from the imperial palace after all.
"..." Silence fell on the room for a moment. Li Wan dropped the scroll on the desk. "Luqi," he murmured.
"Has she woken up?"
"Sorry?"
"The princess of Qi Tian." Li Wan turned back to look at his attendant. "Is she up yet?"
Zhou Lin let out a few dry coughs to hide a smile, regained his composure. It was unexpected."Ah yes, Your Majesty, Yin Princess had woken up an hour ago and left the royal chamber, Your Highness."
"She left?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A small pout, almost invisible. Maybe it is he who is acting strange for getting bothered. It bothered him that he was bothered.
Did he expect to spend mealtime with her unconsciously? He wasn't sure. Once again, it was bothering him.
"What was the name of that concubine who came from the Lotus Land again…" The emperor leaned back on his throne, trying to recall. "Mei... Ying, was it?"
"Yes. Mistress Lin has been longing for Your Highness." Zhou Lin can clearly recall the lady of utmost beauty and grace trailing back and forth at the imperial garden every day, hoping to take just one glance at His Majesty. The food and tea she prepared daily were just thrown away.
"Call for her. I'll have lunch here." Li Wan's expression was sour. Even so, he changed his mind.
"Yes, Your Majesty."