upon hearing Xuanqi's words, "Oh," he threw the book in his hand onto the desk.

　　"Pa" - it echoed in my heart, and my peripheral vision couldn't help but glance over.

　　The book he threw out was none other than "The Virtues of Women," which I usually couldn't put down.

　　My smile froze slightly.

　　Honeysuckle was startled and dropped the lotus pods in her hand with a clatter.

　　She panicked and squatted down, picking them up while apologizing, "Your Highness, please forgive me." I said softly, "Honeysuckle, you can go downstairs first." She looked up, full of worry.

　　I shook my head at her, indicating that I could handle it.

　　She bowed her head and left.

　　Xuanqi's expression remained unchanged, and I couldn't tell if he was pleased or angry.

　　I cautiously approached him, squatting down and looking up at him, pondering how to explain.

　　Looking down at me from a higher position, he sighed after a while, "If you love reading books that are practical and useful, just read them openly.

　　There is no need to be so secretive." "Wrapping 'The Sacred Teachings of the Founding Emperor' with the cover of 'The Virtues of Women' is disrespectful if seen by others." My heart skipped a beat.

　　I did indeed overlook something.

　　I weakly said, "I have learned my lesson." Seeing that I admitted my mistake, he gestured for me to stand up and held my hand as we walked to the San Chanjuan room.

　　I hesitated a bit, as it was his study.

　　Based on the upbringing I received since childhood, a wife couldn't just enter and exit her husband's study as she pleased, let alone me, who was just a concubine.

　　But he pulled again and smiled, "What are you afraid of?" The San Chanjuan room had bookshelves that could accommodate two people and were filled with various books.

　　He picked up a copy of "Zizhi Tongjian" from the shelf and threw it to me, saying, "I think this version is better.

　　Anan, you can appreciate it." "If you want to read anything in the future, just come here and take it." My heart tightened.

　　How did he know that I was still reading "Zizhi Tongjian"? Did he also see that "The Woman's Code"? The issue of "Zizhi Tongjian" was not a big deal, but I seemed to have included some even more unsightly things and forgot to deal with them.

　　I took the book and held it close to my chest, testing, "Your Highness, don't you think it goes against a woman's conduct for me to read these?" He smirked, "Reading is for gaining knowledge, regardless of gender."

　　"If An Xuan had talents that could encompass the heavens and earth, she should not have been buried." My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly said, "Your Highness is joking with me." He did not say anything more.

　　No one has ever thought that I could read history books and study strategies.

　　When I was young, my father was still open-minded, and I had the opportunity to learn with my brothers.

　　However, after I turned ten, the Four Books and Five Classics disappeared from my world.

　　My mother told me that it was enough for a woman to know how to read, to be capable of managing the household, and to serve her husband's family.

　　So, I turned and started reading the books that women should read and doing the things that women should do.

　　But for some reason, there was always a sense of unwillingness deep inside me, which compelled me to secretly bring back those books from the private school.

　　When I got married, I couldn't bear to part with them, so I brought them to the An Prince's residence.

　　I was worried that my husband would not approve of my interests, so I cleverly concealed them.

　　Unexpectedly, it was discovered by Xuan Qi within just a little over a year.

　　Even more unexpectedly, Xuan Qi didn't seem to mind.

　　He even seemed happy.

　　Since then, he often discussed court affairs with me.

　　At first, I was cautious and didn't dare to speak my mind.

　　But since he didn't seem to be testing me, I gradually opened up and shared my insights.

　　Sometimes, when we both came up with the same idea, a pleasant surprise would flash through his eyes, and he couldn't help but lean close to me.

　　He even praised me once, saying, "An Xuan, you actually have the talent of Lv Wu.

　　I am greatly comforted." My cheeks flushed, and I said, "Your Highness, you are too kind." In the first year of our marriage, I was living very well, but my only regret was that I couldn't conceive a child.

　　Xuan Qi didn't care and comforted me to let nature take its course.

　　However, I couldn't help but worry.

　　The biggest duty of a concubine is to bear a son for the husband's family.

　　As expected, the Empress at that time, Xuan Qi's birth mother, began to make snide remarks.

　　The residence gradually filled with flashy beauties.

　　I felt uncomfortable but couldn't say anything.

　　After the intimate encounter, Xuan Qi asked me, "Did the Empress send more people to our residence?" I replied glumly, "Yes, it's because I'm useless." He sighed, "Why are you saying that? We are still young and not in a hurry.

　　I'll talk to the Empress about it." "Don't..." I frowned, "If you reject the Empress's kindness, she will think it was instigated by me."