In the carriage, Ning Chen's teasing had left the An Emperor flushed and breathless.

She slapped his wandering hands away. "Stop it... There are so many people outside."

Ning Chen laughed. "What, would they dare eavesdrop or peek?

Your Majesty, it's been so long. Don't tell me you didn't miss me?"

The An Emperor's face went pink. "I did... But you still can't fool around like this here."

Ning Chen smiled and called outside, "Old Pan, leave the gift I brought for Father Emperor, and take the men back to the residence first... I have to go into the palace to pay my respects to Father Emperor. I may be late getting back tonight, or I may not come back at all!"

Pan Yucheng bowed. "Yes!"

Ning Chen looked down at the An Emperor in his arms. "Your Majesty, it's more than two hours from here to the palace. That's plenty of time for us to do something else."

"N-no, we can't..."

Too bad. Before she could finish, he'd sealed her rosy little mouth with his.

The carriage drove into the palace and stopped in front of the Emeritus Palace.

"Your Majesty, my lord prince, we've arrived!"

Heye called from outside.

The curtain was lifted, and Ning Chen stepped out.

When the An Emperor emerged from the carriage, Heye's mouth fell open.

The An Emperor's hair was a mess and her face was flushed. There were tiny beads of sweat on her forehead and the tip of her nose, and her clothes were in some disarray. She stumbled as she stepped down and nearly fell.

Ning Chen quickly caught her and smiled. "Careful, Your Majesty." Then he lowered his voice. "Want me to carry you in?"

The An Emperor glared at him. He'd gotten what he wanted, and now he was being cute about it.

The two of them went into the Emeritus Palace.

The Xuan Emperor had been told they were coming long before. He was standing on the steps in front of the hall with Eunuch Quan, watching eagerly for them.

When he saw Ning Chen, a smile…