On winter nights, the north wind is so strong that water turns to ice.

A heavy snow had just fallen, and the entire palace was covered in silver. The white lanterns in the corridors swayed back and forth in the wind.

"Will this work?" The young eunuch who was in charge of looking after the lanterns was extremely nervous.

The previous emperor passed away and the country was in mourning, so the entire palace was painted white.

Although the new emperor was in grief when he ascended the throne, he still had to force himself to take charge of the overall situation.

At this juncture, no one wants to run into trouble.

"Master, do you want to take down these lanterns first? Otherwise, they will fall down and break. What if we are held accountable tomorrow?" The young eunuch was extremely anxious and looked at the old eunuch who was leading him for help.

The old eunuch was old, his face wrinkled, and he didn't even raise his eyelids. "It's not a big deal, why are you panicking? Who do you think cares about these lanterns?"

The claims that the emperor was grief-stricken and emaciated were all lies.

How did the late emperor die?

Who wouldn't find this strange?

So, who cares about these broken lanterns?

It's just for show.

The young eunuch thought to himself, since it doesn't involve your butt and head, of course you don't have to be anxious.

No, he was worried.

"I'd better go ask Miss Xu." The young eunuch said hesitantly.

When the new emperor ascended the throne, Xu Jinzhu entered the palace.

Although she had no official title and people in the palace called her Miss Xu, many people speculated that she would be the queen.

After all, when the emperor was imprisoned, this person took the initiative to go in and stay with the emperor.

Of course, there are other voices.

For example, the emperor didn't like Xu Jinzhu at all, because for such a long time, the emperor never touched her and just treated her as a maid.

For example, the emperor still loves his original wife the most, and the queen definitely wants the original wife too. In that situation back then, the princess consort could not be blamed.

For example, the emperor has several women who have given birth to children for him. If the one who gives birth to the eldest son has a chance to gain status as a mother by having a son?

In short, there are all kinds of opinions about the selection of the future queen.

However, no matter who the queen will be in the future, the entire harem is now centered around Xu Jinzhu.

It was Xu Jinzhu who took care of everything.

Moreover, although Xu Jinzhu is not an easygoing person, he is always generous and magnanimous in dealing with others, and never bullies others, which makes people very convincing.

So when the young eunuch encountered a problem, his first thought was to ask Xu Jinzhu.

But the old eunuch, who had just listened to him mention the lantern with an indifferent look on his face, suddenly changed his expression when he heard the words "Miss Xu", and reached out to slap the young eunuch.

The young eunuch covered his face and looked at his master aggrievedly.

Although the master has a somewhat eccentric temperament and punishes people, this is the first time he has hit anyone.

"Are you tired of living?" the old eunuch cursed in a low voice, "Is that someone you can find? Who do you think you are?"

"No," the young eunuch said aggrievedly, "Miss Xu said it herself. No matter what the matter is, if you don't know what to do, you can ask her..."

"Fool, idiot!" The old eunuch cursed angrily. "She said that she was lenient, but you went to her and it was ignorant. Remember this, you must be respectful to Miss Xu at all times. You are not allowed to go to her. She is not someone you can meet!"

"Also," he gritted his teeth, knowing that his little disciple had some clear and worrying stupidity, "you are not allowed to look for her, especially at night! Miss Xu is supposed to serve the emperor at night, who do you think you are to disturb her!"

The young eunuch felt wronged and afraid, but he nodded under the old eunuch's questioning: "I understand. I will listen to Master and not go to look for Miss Xu."

"What's the use of these broken lanterns? Miss Xu will have great fortune in the future!" said the old eunuch.

For example, during the national mourning period, she could gain the emperor's favor every night.

This kind of woman, no matter her scheming or means, should not be underestimated.

Who dares!

Xu Jinzhu dares.

The emperor had indeed never touched her before, but when he ascended the throne, she couldn't wait. Even during the period of national mourning, she was willing to risk the world's condemnation and climb onto the dragon bed to consolidate her future position.

The only thing the old eunuch didn’t understand was, wasn’t Xu Jinzhu afraid of getting pregnant?

If she gets pregnant, she must not keep the child.

The emperor can kill his father and cover up the incident afterwards, but he cannot father a child during the period of national mourning. If he does not keep it secret, how can he stop the people from talking about it in the future?

"Your Majesty, are you going to review the memorials?"

Xu Jinzhu was tucked into the quilt, revealing only her delicate little face, the size of a palm. Her face was still flushed, and her long hair was spread out on the pillow, making her look even more charming.

The new emperor, who had been on the throne for only a dozen days, raised his arm and was helped by his trusted eunuch to dress. He smiled and said to her, "Well, I still have to read the memorials. You should go to sleep. You are exhausted today."

On the day her father passed away, Xu Jinzhu climbed onto his bed, comforted him with her body, and soothed the complex emotions in his heart that he could not suppress.

Xu Jinzhu stayed with him for more than two years, helping him manage the mansion and educate his children. With her around, everything went in order.

Xu Jinzhu loves him, the emperor thought, otherwise who would resolutely accompany himself with no future under such circumstances?

But Xu Jinzhu never took the initiative to get close to him.

The emperor had no idea what she was feeling, and was as childish as a child fighting, just waiting for her to take the initiative.

As a result, Xu Jinzhu never took the initiative, as if she came to him just to be a steward.

The emperor was waiting for her, and he was also wondering if she had any difficulties or purposes for not letting him get close to her.

The day she climbed onto the dragon bed, the emperor finally let go of his worries.

He even thought that even if Xu Jinzhu had been chaste for someone else before, she had other motives for coming to him, and even if she loved his position after he ascended the throne, she was willing to give herself to him completely...

She was his anyway.

From now on, she will be his queen.

The emperor thought that he was a man with a conscience.

He will never let the woman who has accompanied him through the lowest point regret it.

The emperor never expected that she was so beautiful that he could not help himself from falling in love with her.

During the national mourning period, he also did it crazily with her, on the bed, on the couch, even on the table, on the dragon throne...

It turns out that delayed happiness can make people so satisfied.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I won't get up to see you off then." Xu Jinzhu smiled at him.

She was not like this before. She didn't like to laugh. She was like a wild and free little animal, always establishing her own control, as if she could deal with everything calmly.

But now it's different, she has become so soft and submissive.

The emperor thought that it was because he treated her differently, so she only kept the beauty for him.

But later he found out that it was not the case.

When a woman is willing to change for a man, it could be because she loves him deeply, or it could be because...

No longer in love.