A pure-hearted emperor?

Were his harem in his previous life just for show?

Or perhaps, he will end up all alone?

It's not impossible. Originally, he had read half of it and Xie Chang'an didn't have any ambiguous relationships, only people he used!

But don't male-oriented novels usually feature protagonists who build harems? Even one-on-one deep affection is extremely rare, let alone the protagonist ending up alone!

Ye Jingchen looked Xie Chang'an up and down with the same eyes one would use to look at a rare animal.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xie Chang'an turned his face to the side, somewhat uncomfortably, trying to hide his feverish ears.

"How many concubines did you have in the past?" Ye Jingchen asked curiously.

Ye Jingchen had asked this question before, and Xie Chang'an had given a vague answer then, but now he could give a very definite answer.

What was once an answer that Ye Jingchen was afraid of laughing at has now become something to brag about after a change in mindset and stance.

"Not a single one, no wife, no children," Xie Chang'an said with a hint of pride.

Although he had already guessed this possibility, Ye Jingchen still found it incredible.

He became emperor but did not have a harem, let alone concubines, not even an empress. Xie Chang'an was definitely the first person in history he knew of to do so!

"You've been hesitant to agree because of this? Now that you know, we don't have to abide by that four-year agreement anymore, right?" Xie Chang'an said, grabbing Ye Jingchen's hand.

"I didn't care about that," Ye Jingchen denied.

“I didn’t know you before, and I was never a part of your life, so what right do I have to care about these things? I made a four-year agreement with you for your own good.”

"I was me before, why don't you care? In the end, it just means you didn't like me enough!"

"I'm really bothered by your past!"

"Also, don't say things like 'it's for my own good.' Are you trying to coax me like I'm a little madwoman? I'm not buying it!" Xie Chang'an gripped his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, and said unhappily.

Ye Jingchen suddenly regretted his choice. Dating really is a troublesome thing!

Having enjoyed so many years of free single life, he's really not used to this change in identity right away.

"It's late, I need to rest, you should go and rest too," Ye Jingchen said with a hint of helplessness.

"You're too lazy to even explain to me!" Xie Chang'an's face turned cold, but his voice carried a hint of grievance.

Ye Jingchen: ......

Help! He knows how to coax a little brat, but he has absolutely no experience in coaxing a lover!

"Time will prove my sincerity," Ye Jingchen said after thinking for a moment.

Shouldn't that be considered an explanation?

This answer softened Xie Chang'an's expression considerably, but he did not let go of her hand, nor did he intend to leave.

“Since you’ve already agreed to it, shouldn’t we sleep together?” he said.

"I haven't agreed yet! There are still two years!" Ye Jingchen emphasized once again.

"I feel like you're just keeping me hanging on to work for you!" Xie Chang'an muttered under his breath.

"Didn't I just prove it to you?" Ye Jingchen felt his fist harden.

"You kissed me too fast just now, I didn't feel it. Unless you kiss me again, for at least three breaths, no, five breaths!" Xie Chang'an said, staring at Ye Jingchen's lips.

One breath is the time it takes for a person to breathe in and out under normal circumstances. It usually takes three to five seconds. Five breaths is more than twenty seconds. They really know how to push their luck!

Ye Jingchen used some force to pry his fingers off Xie Chang'an's hand, one by one.

"Chenxi, see the guests out!"

"If you don't want to go out, then fight your way out!" he added.

"Wait a minute—" Xie Chang'an said hurriedly.

"Have you finished soaking your feet? Let me pour out the foot bath water for you before you leave!"

Ye Jingchen: ......

Finally, Xie Chang'an not only poured out the foot bath water, but also dried Ye Jingchen's feet with a dry cotton cloth.

Watching Xie Chang'an holding his feet and wiping them with such focus, Ye Jingchen was really worried that he might be tempted to bite his own feet.

Fortunately, Xie Chang'an didn't do anything so outrageous, and his feet were spared the taint of his innocence.

Finally, Xie Chang'an left with great reluctance.

The way he looked at Ye Jingchen before he left made it seem like he was some kind of scumbag who abandoned his wife and children!

As a result, Ye Jingchen had nightmares all night. In his dream, Xie Chang'an transformed into an octopus monster with eight tentacles, all of which wrapped around him, making him unable to move or breathe.

Then, in the morning, he would wake up on his own without anyone having to call him; he was startled awake.

Although he was awake, he didn't get out of bed. The joy of staying in bed is something those who don't can hardly understand!

But he hadn't been lying down for long when he sensed Xie Chang'an sneaking into his room and coming to his bedside.

Ye Jingchen closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep when he noticed Xie Chang'an enter.

He thought Xie Chang'an had come to wake him up, but Xie Chang'an stood by his bedside for a long time without calling him at all.

Although Xie Chang'an didn't call him, his gaze was so intense that Ye Jingchen felt like he was lying on pins and needles under his watchful eyes.

Later, Ye Jingchen couldn't hold back any longer. He pretended to be grumpy after just waking up and slapped Xie Chang'an across the face.

The slap naturally missed Xie Chang'an; his hand had barely been raised when Xie Chang'an grabbed it.

"You were pretending to be asleep just now," Xie Chang'an pointed out incisively, then pressed on, "You pretended to be asleep and then tried to slap me with your morning grumpiness. Do you regret it now?"

Ye Jingchen then noticed that Xie Chang'an had very dark circles under his eyes, which meant that he probably hadn't slept well last night.

Even without a good night's sleep, his intuition remained remarkably sharp.

However, Ye Jingchen would never admit it.

"Is it possible that your gaze was too aggressive and woke me up? I can't give a nice look to anyone who disturbs my sleep, not even someone I like!" Ye Jingchen said irritably, then moved his wrist, signaling Xie Chang'an to let go.

Xie Chang'an was initially aggressive, but upon hearing Ye Jingchen's last words, he lost his composure and instead lunged at Ye Jingchen.

Ye Jingchen tried to stop him with his other hand, but failed and was pulled into a full embrace.

"Xie Chang'an, where's your aloofness? Where's your disdain?" Ye Jingchen tried to push Xie Chang'an away with his free hand, but couldn't budge him.

He now regrets not training with Ye Jinghe when he was learning martial arts.

But thinking about the time Ye Jinghe spent practicing martial arts, he gave up again—it was too early! He simply couldn't get up!

So being suppressed now is just fate, and we can only accept it!

“Those are all outsiders. You’re not an outsider now!” Xie Chang’an said, quickly wrapping his arms and legs around Ye Jingchen’s body, just like the octopus monster Ye Jingchen dreamed about last night.

How can a person change so drastically before and after?!

Just as Ye Jingchen was about to call Chenxi for help, there was a knock on the door.