While talking to Wen Ru, Zhao Ming noticed his rough and dry hands and asked, " Brother Wen, your hands have become too dry and rough. Don't you use any oil or something to hydrate them?"

  Wen Ru raised his brows, not understanding some of the words she said. He rubbed his nape awkwardly and laughed, " Dry hands are normal for men. If it is soft, then it's kinda worrisome." he said proudly, earning a frown from her.

  " Tsk. Who said that men shouldn't have soft hands? Because of dryness, you also have calluses. It must sting while eating or picking something heavy, right?" she asked while rubbing his dry hands in worry.

  He was staring at her in confusion, wondering why she was suddenly showing interest in his hands.

  " One minute"

  She stood up leaving him bewildered. However, when she came back, she brought a small silver box with colorful beads with her and when she opened the lid, Wen Ru could see the white paste inside it, not knowing what it was, he asked, " What is this? This thing smells like……coconut?" He asked curiously.

  " Ah, this is hand cream. I have made it personally for winters. In winter our hands become dry so I made this thing to keep them moisturized and soft. This will keep your hands soft and fragrant." she said while putting some cream on her hands, rubbing it slightly.

  " This thing can make your hands soft? It's interesting." He exclaimed while looking at the thing.

  She smiled at his response. It's been months since she had made anything but since she came back to the lotus pavilion, she wanted to keep herself busy from thinking too much. So she made a few more items to spend her time on.

  " Now give me your hand," she said, startling him. Even though she asked him to treat her as a friend only, she is the Empress of Ji Dynasty after all. If Ji Cheng saw them like this, he might misunderstand and accuse him of betraying too.

  He was hesitant at first but she took it and started applying the white-paste things called hand cream on his hand. It felt extremely soft and refreshing.

  " It's good, isn't it?" she asked while applying cream on his hands.

  He nodded while enjoying the massage that she was giving while applying the cream.

  " His Majesty is coming!" Zhao Ming raised her head upon hearing the announcement made by the guard outside but she didn't let his hand go and continued doing what she was doing.

  Wen Ru was surprised to hear the announcement and was about to take his hand back but she held onto it tightly and said, " It's not done yet." Her tone was cold and bossy when she said that, which caught him off guard.

  "……"

  He was lost in thoughts, shocked by her abrupt actions when the door of the chamber was pushed open and Ji Cheng entered but paused in his actions seeing Zhao Ming holding Wen Ru's hands in hers.

  He raised his brows as he was startled for a moment seeing them together like this. His jaw stiffened as he stared at Wen Ru whose expressions turned ashen seeing the dark glint in his eyes.

  " Yo……Your Majesty? Greetings to his Majesty!" He immediately stood up, jerking his hand off Zhao Ming, and greeted him.

  Zhao Ming glanced at Wen Ru who jerked her hand away and looked at Ji Cheng who was giving her a dark gaze. She didn't say anything and calmly stood up and bowed in greeting.

  Her expressions were indifferent and cold, different from her usual self.

  Ji Cheng was a little taken aback because she looked even more cold and indifferent than she looked a few days ago when she asked him to stay away from her and just pretend as a couple in public.

  He cleared his throat and walked towards them with his hands clasped behind his back, " Why didn't you come to see me when you arrived?" He asked Wen Ru, ignoring Zhao Ming.

  However, his gaze was constantly on Wen Ru's hand that she was holding a while ago.

  " Ah, I heard that Zhao Ming has moved back to the lotus pavilion, so I thought to greet her first and then see you." He said.

  " Zh……Zhao Ming? Wen Ru, aren't you being too casual? She might be younger than you but she is the Empress of the Ji Dynasty after all. How can you address her by her name?" Ji Cheng asked while trying to be natural but Wen Ru could feel the coldness in his tone and darkened gaze was making the situation more awkward.

  " Erm……Zha……I……" Wen Ru was caught off and couldn't answer his question. What can he say? Can he say that Zhao Ming allowed him to do so?

  " His Majesty doesn't need to worry about this. I was the one who asked brother Wen Ru to not address me using my title. It's too formal and distant. We're family after all." she said while looking at Ji Cheng indifferently.

  Ji Cheng was surprised seeing her cold eyes and felt that she was provoking him, trying to pick a fight with him.

  He pursed his lips in a thin line and added, " Do you even know the palace rules? No matter who he is, he can't address you using your name. You might not care about the palace's reputation but these things are called palace culture which has to be followed."

  She scoffed and said, " I also know about the palace culture. According to the palace rule book, the Empress and Emperor should be addressed by their titles, however, if the other person is older in age or intellect, the rules can be bent, only if the sovereign allows. And I am the one who allowed him to not address me with my title since he is older than me in age." she smiled, satisfied with her response.

  Ji Cheng, on the other hand, couldn't help but frown at her words. She was treating him as a stranger, calling Wen Ru as Brother Wen Ru while addressing him 'His Majesty'. Although he was the one who told her to call her like that, it feels strange since her tone was cold and distant.

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