"You actually carry this thing around with you?"

The woman emperor was shamed and furious at once.

Ning Chen said, "I'd meant to slap it in your face when we met, but for our child's sake I'll let it go."

The corner of the woman emperor's mouth twitched.

Ning Chen smiled. "As I recall, this thing matters a great deal to a woman. You keep it."

The woman emperor meant to refuse, but her hand went out of its own accord. Once she had it, she paused — there was something wrapped inside the silk.

She opened it without thinking. Inside was a beautifully worked gold hairpin.

The woman emperor looked up at Ning Chen.

Ning Chen smiled. "A present for you."

"This emperor never wears such girlish things."

"If you don't like it, throw it away."

The woman emperor: "..."

She hesitated a while, then put both the silk and the gold hairpin away.

She looked up at Ning Chen, and found him staring hard at her chest.

She looked down, and only then realized that Ning Chen had torn the front of her robe open, baring a wide stretch of white skin and the deep line between.

She hurriedly straightened her clothes and shot Ning Chen a vicious glare.

A wicked smile at the corner of his mouth, Ning Chen said, "More than a handful."

"You—"

Ning Chen changed the subject at once. "All right. Let's talk business."

The two of them talked a long while before Ning Chen rose and took his leave.

Ning Chen left the palace.

Pan Yucheng and the others were waiting for him at the palace gates.

When they met, they stared hard at Ning Chen's face.

Ning Chen had no idea why, and smiled. "I know I'm handsome, but is it really proper for grown men to stare at me like that?"

Pan Yucheng hesitated. "There's a handprint on your face."

Holy shit!!!

Ning Chen's expression stiffened. He had forgotten about that.

Pan Yucheng watched him. That slap had to have come from the woman emperor.

If anyone else had slapped Ning…