Chapter 10: Do You Even Understand What It Means to Be a Favored Minister?!

Chapter 10: Do You Even Understand What It Means to Be a Favored Minister?!

Su Qing naturally understood why the Empress accused him the moment they met.

Her Majesty was merely being stubborn—she simply enjoyed his exquisite massage technique.

But saying that outright would be too embarrassing for her, so she casually found an excuse to reprimand him.

Though he was fully aware of this, he didn't point it out.

Sometimes, it was best to play along. After all, she was older than him—letting her have her way wasn't a loss.

The soft, black-silk-wrapped feet in his hands felt incredibly delicate, almost boneless.

Holding something so tender, it was hard to resist the urge to squeeze a little harder.

But Su Qing controlled himself.

As a professional, he had to ensure he did the right thing at the right time.

Still, he had other ways to vent his impulses.

Well, perhaps that was the wrong way to put it—it was more about expressing his deep devotion to Her Majesty.

As everyone knew, the Chancellor Cao had been extremely respectful to his Emperor.

And Su Qing was no different.

His fingers lifted slightly and pressed directly onto an acupoint.

"Mmm..."

The Imperial Beauty let out a muffled hum, her body visibly shuddering.

"Your Majesty, I recently discovered another meridian that enhances your massage experience."

Su Qing spoke in an earnest tone.

"Hmph, at least you still have some sense."

The Imperial Beauty huffed.

Caught off guard, she had been momentarily taken aback by his move.

But once she adjusted, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation she had never experienced before.

Occasionally, soft moans of pleasure escaped her lips due to the excessive stimulation.

If anyone else heard them, she would likely execute them on the spot.

But before this young man, the aloof and dignified Imperial Beauty revealed a rarely seen side of herself.

Genuine comfort and relaxation, without any pretense or burden.

In the presence of others, she always had to remain vigilant, upholding her authority.

Only by instilling fear could she deter potential schemers.

But even an Empress needed an outlet—a place to release her burdens.

And this boy, currently massaging her, had become that outlet.

Why trust him so much?

Because their bond had not formed overnight.

Su Qing was, in a way, someone the Empress had personally taken in.

Seven years ago, after just arriving in this world, Su Qing had been struggling due to his incomplete memories.

And it was a physical struggle—his starting point had been pure hell, freezing conditions and all.

Had he not been wearing thick clothes, he likely would've frozen to death.

It was during this time that a certain older sister happened to pass by and took him in, saving him from an icy grave.

Even with his memories incomplete, Su Qing used the skills he had retained from his previous life to secure a place for himself.

And because of this, he gradually grew into the Empress's favored minister.

Of course, another major reason was that he had been quite good-looking even back then.

If he had been ugly, he probably wouldn't have been allowed to stay by her side, let alone display his talents.

Putting aside the game's narrative, their real-life interactions over the years had shaped their relationship into something akin to family.

But defining their bond precisely was difficult.

Normally, such a story would suggest she had adopted him as a son...

But there was no way Su Qing could ever bring himself to call her "Mother."

With the mind of a transmigrator, how could he possibly see such a young woman as a mother figure?

Not to mention, after spending so much time together, he had seen many sides of the Empress that others never would.

If anything, she had always felt more like an older sister.

At least, that was before.

When his memories hadn't yet fully returned, all he had for her was gratitude, a desire to repay her kindness.

But now that his memories had resurfaced, he could no longer view her so simply.

Su Qing lowered his gaze to the flawless black-silk-wrapped feet in his hands.

Though her long legs were covered, their curves revealed a perfect golden ratio.

A little more would be excessive; a little less, insufficient—utterly captivating.

After appreciating them for a few moments, his gaze naturally wandered upward.

The Empress, dressed lightly in her private chambers, wore a high-slit skirt.

The way it draped around her left much to the imagination, stirring a strong urge to uncover the mystery.

Forcing himself to look away, Su Qing's gaze traveled higher.

Her ample chest, accentuated by her reclining position, appeared even more prominent.

In the end, he lifted his gaze further, locking onto the face of the white-haired Empress, utterly defenseless in her relaxed state.

She exuded a luxurious laziness, completely unconcerned with any notions of propriety between men and women.

Even while receiving such an intimate massage, she remained unbothered—proof of her absolute trust in him.

Yet, here he was, secretly harboring improper thoughts. Did this make him a beast?

A pang of guilt surfaced in Su Qing's heart.

Of course, aside from his returning memories, there was another undeniable reason for his shifting feelings.

He had tasted the forbidden fruit.

And once one had sampled such pleasures, the cravings only grew stronger.

At his age, it was only natural for such instincts to surface—controlling them was the true challenge.

Otherwise, beyond just stealing glances, his hands might start wandering under the guise of a massage.

But she wasn't just any woman—she was his savior!

If he didn't restrain himself, wouldn't that be the ultimate betrayal?

Unbeknownst to Su Qing, his internal struggle hadn't gone unnoticed.

Even while indulging in her massage, the Empress instinctively maintained a certain awareness of her surroundings.

Not because she didn't trust him—rather, it was simply a habit born of her position.

And in that moment, she clearly saw the flicker of something different in Su Qing's eyes.

Her heart trembled, an unfamiliar sense of unease washing over her.

This sudden shift was too overwhelming.

She had always seen him as nothing more than a little brother—there had never been any romantic undertones.

So why was he looking at her like that?

Hadn't everything been normal before?

The Empress frowned slightly, sensing something unfamiliar about her ever-loyal minister.

How could she describe it…?

A feeling of transgression?

As if he were looking at her not as his sovereign, but as a conquest…

But just as quickly, she dismissed the thought, believing she was overthinking things.

This boy had been under her care for years—just keeping him alive had been a challenge.

How could he possibly dare think of turning the tables on her?

That fleeting gaze had to be a mere byproduct of youthful impulsiveness.

Hadn't he looked away just now?

Besides, even if he did start having improper thoughts, so what?

As an Empress, she had a hundred ways to correct any "misguided" notions he might develop.

Relaxing once more, she closed her eyes, fully enjoying the massage.

Having a large chest certainly gave one confidence!