Chapter 22 Unwilling to admit she was jealous of her husband, she pretended to be virtuous and generous.

The sedan chair swayed gently and finally stopped in front of the emperor's bedroom.

The palace was magnificent and tall, like a sleeping behemoth. Two rows of armored guards stood outside the gate, their black armor reflecting the dark golden light of the glazed tiles above. They were as silent as terracotta figures, and a stretch of cold, hard bricks extended from below, exuding the weight of power and the solemnity of the palace.

The so-called "attending to the sick" process, which everyone in the palace knew about, came to an end. When the sedan chair came to a stop and Wen Miao was about to get up, an arm covered with bright yellow silk was already slightly supported by her side.

That was Emperor Qian Yuan, who had been waiting at the door for some time.

It seems that in front of his wife, this deep and unfathomable emperor never cared what the dragon robe he wore represented, nor did he care about hierarchy or rules; he only cared about what pleased him.

Wen Miao paused, slightly raised her eyelashes, and placed her hand on it.

A low laugh came from beside her, and then the emperor grasped Wen Miao's hand tightly. He said, "You look beautiful today, my lady."

Wen Miao's ears turned red, and she didn't look at the emperor. She simply took the emperor's arm and stepped down from the sedan chair, and was then led by him into the emperor's bedroom.

The palace buildings are extremely tall, with gold bricks paving the floor. Several large ice basins were placed on both sides in advance, and the moment you enter, you feel a sense of coolness, as if the summer heat outside does not exist.

As the two entered the hall, several palace servants carrying wooden boxes hurried over.

The emperor sat beside Wen Miao, carefully toying with the fingertip she had failed to pull away. He glanced casually at the several full boxes, his voice devoid of emotion: "Sent from Shou Kang Palace?"

The palace servant immediately replied, "Your Majesty, these are small gifts from the Dowager Consort to Lady Wen."

The palace maid emphasized the pronunciation of the word "gift".

It was not a reward, but a gift. Consort Rong was well aware of her status and position in the palace. If she hadn't been so clear-headed and quick-witted back then, and hadn't made her stance clear to Emperor Qian Yuan early on, she probably would have died by drinking poison, just like the late Emperor's Consort Li.

It was precisely because of her choice back then that she now enjoys a stable and wealthy life. Although she cannot completely leave the palace, she is guaranteed a worry-free life for the rest of her days. Compared to the women who entered the palace at the same time as her, she is much better off.

To some extent, Wen Miao's existence served as a bridge for Consort Rong's second "surrender" to Emperor Qian Yuan.

Although Wen Miao had some guesses, she did not know how terrifying the emperor was, so she did not expect that Consort Rong would go to such lengths.

The difference between "gift" and "reward" is like night and day.

The emperor remained calm. He gently pinched Wen Miao's fingertips and made a decision in a low voice: "Then let's take it in for the lady."

As soon as he finished speaking, boxes were brought into the room one by one. They were opened one by one, and inside were gorgeous silks and satins, hair ornaments, pearls and mother-of-pearl inlays... all glittering and crowded together, extremely dazzling.

It's estimated to be worth more than a thousand gold pieces.

Wen Miao's heart skipped a beat. Her instinctive awareness and wariness made her blurt out, "Your Majesty, these things are too precious."

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Wen Miao didn't believe that Consort Rong's extravagant gesture could be summed up by the word "kindness." It could only mean that the other party had ulterior motives—for Wen Miao, or for the emperor standing behind her.

Emperor Qianyuan met the beautiful woman's shimmering eyes beside him and understood the meaning in them.

The lady was thinking of him.

The lady... is concerned about him.

The emperor's smile seemed to widen further. He didn't speak, but slowly took out a golden armlet from the box and carefully placed it on Wen Miao's arm through the light gauze sleeve.

"Although it is an ordinary thing, it is fortunate that the lady can bring out its brilliance."

Everyone says "clothes make the man" but for Emperor Qian Yuan, it became "clothes make the man".

The palace servants all lowered their heads, but Wen Miao was still too embarrassed to pull her hand away. She could only furrow her brows slightly, "...Your Majesty."

"Madam, there is no need to worry."

Emperor Qianyuan then picked up several gold-inlaid jeweled rings and put them on Wen Miao's hands one by one, not missing a single finger.

He said slowly, "Madam, go and enjoy their flattery."

He wanted his wife to be held in high esteem, to be the center of attention, and to be untouched by the world... Even he himself should look up to his wife.

So, the expensive items that Consort Rong had given him were carefully selected by Emperor Qian Yuan, who then used them to adorn Wen Miao's hair, arms, wrists, and fingers. Afterward, he brought a mirror and asked, "Does Madam like them?"

Wen Miao glanced at her now overly ornate reflection in the mirror and sighed, "Too flashy."

Whether it was this time or the Dragon Boat Festival, Wen Miao discovered that Emperor Qian Yuan's aesthetic seemed to be simply about magnificence, expense, and even embellishment—regardless of whether it looked good or not, as long as the emperor thought it was extravagant and dazzling enough, he would keep adorning Wen Miao with it.

He loves gold, jade, and jewels the more they feel substantial, the heavier they are, and the more priceless they are.

The emperor paused for a moment upon hearing Wen Miao speak.

He grew up in the cold palace. While other princes received education in etiquette and aesthetics, he dug wild vegetables in the cold palace to fill his stomach. Even his clothes were tattered and worn, unable to cover his body in summer or keep him warm in winter.

After he finally managed to escape the cold palace on his own, he became the target of ridicule from his brothers. Others said he was unsophisticated, vulgar, and lacked the demeanor of a royal. But Emperor Qianyuan didn't care at that time. He only cared about how to take more heads on the battlefield and earn more merit.

Later, as Emperor Qian Yuan rose higher and higher, those who had initially humiliated and ridiculed him either went mad or died; once he had firmly secured his throne, no one in the entire Great Chu dared to question his aesthetic preferences anymore.

But the lady is different.

The lady is right.

Emperor Qianyuan frowned slightly. He had only intended to give all the best things to his wife to wear, but she felt it wasn't quite right... Was it really that flashy?

Perhaps he should try a different approach...

So the emperor removed the pure gold armlet and gemstone ring that Wen Miao was wearing. He did this with a thoughtful expression on his face, seemingly dissatisfied, and casually threw these expensive ornaments back into their original boxes.

Wen Miao didn't understand what he meant, but suddenly heard Emperor Qian Yuan say, "Xu Sheng, bring me the key to the private treasury."

Xu Sheng paused, then subconsciously said, "Your Majesty, the private treasury..."

Emperor Qian Yuan's voice was deep and brooked no refusal: "Go and get it."

Xu Sheng immediately lowered his head, hiding his astonishment, and soon returned carrying a delicate little wooden box, handing it to Emperor Qian Yuan.

The emperor took out a jade key that was only half a finger long. It was carved from mutton-fat white jade, with delicate patterns and a red cord attached. It was very exquisite and ingenious.

Emperor Qianyuan turned to the side and naturally placed the jade key around Wen Miao's neck.

The skin was so smooth and soft that a warm fragrance wafted from it almost as soon as you got close. A thin thread fell onto the white jade, winding out a red line. The small jade key hung down naturally, perfectly positioned between the bright moon and the ditch.

It feels moisturizing and slightly cool, smooth and delicate.

A partial shadow falls, making it absolutely magnificent.

"This is……"

Wen Miao hesitated, wanting to take it off, but the emperor, who was facing her, pressed her arm down.

"It is the key to my private treasury, and I wish to give it to my lady."

Emperor Qian Yuan always remembered everything related to Wen Miao. In the world where Wen Miao used to live, after a man married a woman, he would give his salary to his wife.

As the emperor, he had both a salary and a private treasury accumulated from past battles. He did not use the national treasury's money and had been saving it all up. Now, he had entrusted it all to his wife, which was enshrined in this small mutton-fat jade key.

From now on, if he needs money, he will have to consult his wife and obtain her consent before he can use it.

This had already pleased Emperor Qianyuan.

Wen Miao's fingertips were still on the jade key, completely unaware of how far the emperor's thoughts had wandered. She said, "Your Majesty, one should not accept rewards without merit."

"lady."

The emperor's voice carried a hint of helpless sigh, "Has my lady forgotten what I said at the Duke of Wei's residence?"

Wen Miao paused, and memories from not long ago quickly surfaced, "...I haven't forgotten."

"Then, will you continue to accept me?"

"It is enough for the lady to enjoy all these good things."

Wen Miao: "But..."

Emperor Qian Yuan gently pressed his fingertips against the jade key. Through the translucent warm jade, Wen Miao felt her chest burning, as if the other's hand had already landed on her skin.

She was completely enveloped in the emperor's shadow. Although it was only for a moment, Wen Miao felt the emperor's dangerous and aggressive aura.

He said slowly and deliberately, "If Madam still refuses, I will have no choice but to use some special means."

When Emperor Qian Yuan said this, his tone and manner were exactly like Wen Nai's, but Wen Miao only felt that the other party was extremely shameless!

Her fingers, which had been resting on the edge of the jade key, loosened and then slowly fell. Suddenly, she asked, "So, what happens after you accept it?"

Emperor Qianyuan paused for a moment, looking at Wen Miao with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Wen Miao recalled her earlier question, looked directly at the emperor as if asking what was so funny, but felt uncomfortable under his gaze, her ears turned red, and she clenched her fingertips tightly.

Emperor Qianyuan said, "After accepting me, my lady should naturally learn to care about me, rely on me, and like me, like an ordinary couple, confiding her thoughts to me, expressing her desires, and even acting coquettishly and throwing tantrums with me..."

Hearing the emperor say these things—especially with so many palace servants inside and outside the palace—Wen Miao blushed so much that she could barely speak, and simply turned her head away, not wanting to talk to anyone.

Seeing that the beautiful woman in his arms had turned red, Emperor Qian Yuan lowered his head and carefully kissed Wen Miao's earlobe.

He said, "My lady, you only need to show me a little favor, and I will be satisfied."

However, he is greedy and insatiable. After receiving one share, he will likely have to trouble his kind-hearted wife to give him two, three, four shares... for such a faithless and wicked person as him to receive even more favoritism.

Wen Miao's heart softened for some reason, and once again she sensed a strong sense of inferiority and anxiety in this emperor who possessed the entire country.

She didn't understand why the emperor would feel discouraged, just as she didn't understand why the current emperor couldn't do without her.

...

Because of the pretense of Wen Miao attending to Consort Rong's illness, she stayed in the palace for a period of time. However, when she learned that the place she was staying was actually the emperor's bedroom, she couldn't help but widen her beautiful and bright eyes.

...This is simply unbelievable. Is there no one in the vast palace who can control His Majesty?

The answer is obviously no.

Consort Rong resided in Shou Kang Palace for a long time, rarely went out, and did not concern herself with palace affairs. She appeared unwilling to provoke Emperor Qian Yuan, and naturally would not extend her reach into the Emperor's bedroom.

The Grand Eunuch Xu Sheng was nothing more than the emperor's lackey. Not to mention the dragon bed, Xu Sheng felt that if the emperor wanted, the emperor and empress could sit on the dragon throne. After all, the emperor and empress had given him the key to the private treasury, so what was impossible?

Zhang Ji, the commander of the Imperial Guard, was always silent and followed the emperor's lead. If Lady Wen wanted to sleep on the dragon bed, then so be it. Anyone who dared to question His Majesty's decision, he would behead!

After looking around, it turned out that only Wen Miao was following the rules.

The beautiful woman standing in the hall had a face like a lotus flower. She spoke softly, as if she wanted to reason with the emperor: "Your Majesty, this is against the rules."

It was already evening, and Xu Sheng, being very perceptive, dismissed the palace servants who were serving them, leaving only Wen Miao and the emperor in the vast palace.

At this moment, Wen Miao was frowning slightly, looking at Emperor Qian Yuan with some disapproval.

The emperor, however, remained calm and asked only, "What do you think is improper, my lady?"

Wen Miao pursed her lips: "Your Majesty is the Emperor."

"But I am also the lady's servant, and the lady's future husband."

Emperor Qianyuan smiled and asked in return, "Does my wife think it's against the rules to sleep in my bed?"

"...I am not His Majesty's wife."

"It will be soon."

Wen Miao tried to retort: ​​"But I have not yet married His Majesty."

Emperor Qianyuan laughed again, "Not yet? So—the lady has already accepted my marriage proposal?"

Wen Miao suddenly realized the trap in the text. Looking at the emperor's smiling expression, her eyes and cheeks quickly turned red. She really didn't know how the emperor, the ruler of a country, could be so shameless!

She was so angry she didn't want to look at him!

Emperor Qian Yuan took a step closer, put his arm around Wen Miao, and half-invited, half-forced her to sit on the bright yellow dragon bed.

Wen Miao sat on the edge of the bed, while Emperor Qian Yuan knelt on the couch.

He looked up at his wife.

Perhaps because she was attending to the sick today, the lady wore a light blue dress, the sheer fabric swaying gently, adorned with pearl earrings and a magnolia hairpin. On her fair collarbone was a jade key, which rose and fell gently with her breaths as she was embarrassed and annoyed.

Her face was fair and her lips were red, and the bright moon trembled.

"Madam is so beautiful."

Emperor Qianyuan asked, "May I kiss you?"

After that incident at the Duke of Wei's mansion, the emperor, who no longer concealed his intentions, became more proactive and direct.

He made no secret of his desire for Wen Miao. His tall and imposing figure exuded masculine energy, and he would seize any opportunity to completely invade and devour Wen Miao without hesitation.

He was just waiting for a more opportune moment, a moment when a lady would soften her heart and allow him to squeeze in for a moment.

Wen Miao was breathing rapidly. She felt that even if she said no, the other person wouldn't listen.

Emperor Qianyuan's Adam's apple bobbed. In this position, he was very close to his wife, so close that his breath was filled with her fragrance, which made his throat tight, his nasal cavity burning, and his arms and chest almost taut like a bowstring.

He thought to himself that the summer robes were too thin, and it was fortunate that he was kneeling, otherwise... he would have definitely frightened the lady.

The lady was so beautiful, yet he found her somewhat unattractive.

"Madam, is that alright?"

The emperor asked again, his voice hoarse and suppressed, giving off an inexplicable feeling of shame and indignation.

The flames on the candlestick flickered gently, like several orange butterflies fluttering their wings, reflected on the gradually melting ice in the basin.

Wen Miao didn't speak, but her snow-white fingertips dug tightly into the thin quilt, wrinkling a patch of bright yellow fabric, like ripples on water.

The emperor leaned down and pressed himself against him.

She pursed her lips, her neck arched uncontrollably, and her body trembled.

In an era when men in their thirties often sported long beards, Emperor Qianyuan did not grow one. His sharply defined chin and thin lips were smooth around the edges, making his breath appear exceptionally hot. When touched, it felt like a red-hot iron, the heat almost penetrating deep into the flesh, making one's heart tremble.

As Wen Miao tried to dodge, a large hand grabbed the back of her neck.

It seemed like control, or perhaps it was an attempt to retain someone.

The emperor lowered his eyes and leaned forward, displaying a submissive posture, yet his lips had just lifted from his wife's throat, concealing a deep sense of satisfaction.

He showed extreme affection, but his lowered eyes concealed a terrifying possessiveness and greed as he scanned inch by inch the flush on Wen Miao's neck, the curve of his eyes both greedy and full of pleasure.

Emperor Qianyuan asked, "So when will my lady be willing to marry me?"

Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she remained silent.

Emperor Qianyuan then asked, "That lady... does she still care about her late husband, which is why she refused me?"

Wen Miao looked up. She was almost trapped between the dragon bed and the emperor's chest. When she looked into Emperor Qian Yuan's deep eyes, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

However, the emperor mistakenly believed that this was Wen Miao's subconscious longing for her late husband after losing her memory, and an unbearable burning sensation instantly invaded his mind and body.

Even amnesia can't completely sever those feelings?

Why couldn't your previous husband have died sooner?

Before the dam broke, the emperor had suppressed his previous repression and restraint inch by inch. At this moment, the emotions in his eyes were completely distorted, sinister, sticky, and cold, like a giant python waiting for an opportunity to strike, but he endured it for fear of scaring his prey.

It's okay.

He's just a dead husband; at least the lady is in his arms now, isn't she?

Emperor Qianyuan, who had his head bowed and buried in his wife's neck, suddenly let out a muffled laugh.

He laughed at himself.

She's clearly jealous of her husband, but she pretends to be virtuous and generous.

If he didn't want to preserve his image in front of his wife, he would probably be so angry that he would have dug up his so-called "deceased husband" from his grave and whipped his corpse!

Wen Miao didn't know how to answer the emperor's question.

After losing her memory, it was as if she had buried all her feelings for her deceased husband. When the words "weeping every night" from Shi Cui and Wan Bi flashed through her mind, Wen Miao felt extremely unfamiliar with them.

Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder if she and her deceased husband had really been that deeply in love. Why was it that now, when she thought of her deceased husband's name, she felt no emotion at all?

Feeling the emperor's breath on her neck, Wen Miao's lips moved, and she whispered the truth: "I don't remember him."

Neither my memory nor my feelings remember that person.

Upon hearing his wife's reply, Emperor Qian Yuan felt an uncontrollable upward curve to his lips, but he restrained himself, gently rubbing Wen Miao's nape with his hand, as if to comfort and show his concern.

"It's alright, my lady, you still have me."

Tsk, what a pity.

But his heart was laughing.

She would never forget that so-called late husband. He was her true husband, the one who would be buried with her in the future, and whose tombstone would surely bear her name.

He and she are one.

He will be entangled with his wife for all eternity, and as for that so-called "former husband," it is best that he be forever buried in the earth and never appear again.

The emperor carefully removed the jade hairpin from Wen Miao's hair, and her long black hair slid down, winding across the bright yellow bed.

Emperor Qianyuan was pleased and then stepped back slightly.

The deep pupils reflected the lady's beautiful face, which, combined with the bright yellow dragon-patterned bed curtains behind her, made them a perfect match.

Wen Miao felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

"In the entire Great Chu, only I am worthy of being your wife."

"How well-matched are we?" Wen Miao asked, inhaling the refreshing scent of sandalwood. "I thought His Majesty would say we were a match made in heaven."

"I am not even one ten-thousandth as good as you, my lady."

He then said, "Let me help my lady to bed to rest."

Without giving Wen Miao a chance to refuse, the emperor leaned down and naturally grasped the beautiful woman's ankle on the bed, took off her shoes and socks, then lifted her up by the waist and knees and placed her in a more intimate position.

This used to be Emperor Qianyuan's bed, which was scented daily with agarwood specially supplied from the inner palace, its fragrance like a cold spring breaking through rocks, clear and deep.

Its taste left a faint trace on Wen Miao's heart, but then her breathing became unsteady due to the aura around her that made her feel as if she were being tightly embraced by an emperor.

—It was a feeling that permeated everything.

The dragon bed in the emperor's palace was very large. Wen Miao leaned back nervously, almost completely shrinking to the side closest to the wall. But she couldn't possibly resist Emperor Qian Yuan. Before she could even sit up properly, those big hands grabbed her soft waist and lifted her up.

She was clearly an adult woman, even plump, not thin and light, but whenever she met the emperor, Wen Miao felt as if she had turned into a soft blanket, weightless. How could she be so controlled by others?

She was distracted for only a moment before she found herself sitting with her back to the emperor on his lap, ready to be embraced by him with just a slight stretch of his arm.

Wen Miao panicked, thinking that Emperor Qian Yuan was about to do *that* with her. She tried to escape by propping herself up on her arms, but an iron arm reached out from behind and grabbed her waist, pulling her back.

"Don't worry, my lady. Although I am not a gentleman, I will not force you."

Emperor Qianyuan patted Wen Miao's lower back reassuringly, then picked up an ivory comb and, just like an ordinary couple, combed his wife's long hair, completely disregarding Wen Miao's previous avoidance of the topic of "marriage".

If the lady wants to avoid him, then so be it. Even if the lady scolds or hits him, it won't stop him from wanting to hug, kiss, or even possess her.

His desire for his wife seemed endless, always so intense, to the point that he wanted to completely and utterly devour her.

As darkness deepened, the tassels on the imperial bed curtains swayed slightly. In the interplay of light and shadow, the emperor's large hand gently cupped Wen Miao's long, raven-black hair, and he patiently combed it with an ivory comb, meticulously attending to every single strand.

Sometimes Wen Miao felt that Emperor Qian Yuan seemed to have an overly strong desire to take care of her, including but not limited to her food, clothing, housing and transportation, especially now.

She was initially a little stiff, but seeing that the emperor made no further moves, she gradually relaxed, resting her arms slightly on her bent knees, her gaze drifting aimlessly to the furnishings and decorations in the emperor's bedroom.

Very exquisite.

It also aligns with some of her aesthetic preferences.

For some reason, she felt a strange familiarity with this palace, yet Wen Miao was certain that this was her first time here.

"What is Madam thinking about?"

The emperor behind him then gathered up a lock of his long hair and rubbed it between his fingertips, playing with it.

Wen Miao said, "...I feel like this place is somewhat familiar."

The ivory comb paused for a moment, but the pressure remained gentle and moderate.

The emperor, as if joking, asked in a low voice, "Perhaps the lady has been here before?"

Wen Miao narrowed her eyes slightly, "This is only my second time entering the palace."

As for the first time, it was the Magnolia Banquet, but her meeting with the emperor that time was limited to the garden of the side hall and did not go deep into the palace.

Emperor Qianyuan simply smiled and remained silent.

This dragon bed had already been thoroughly imbued with the warm fragrance of the lady's body during the last cold winter, but the lady was unaware of it.

Fortunately, the lady's fragrance could continue to linger on the dragon bed that night.

...

From the founding emperor of the Great Chu Dynasty to the present day, Emperor Qianyuan can be considered the emperor with the most concentrated imperial power in history.

The vast imperial palace was entirely under the control of Emperor Qianyuan. The Imperial Guards, led by Zhang Ji, formed the first line of defense. The eunuchs under the Grand Eunuch Xu Sheng formed the second line, while the Chengying Guards, operating in the shadows of the palace and obeying only the emperor's orders, formed the third line.

Within the entire capital of the Great Chu Dynasty, as long as Emperor Qian Yuan did not wish, no news or objects could leak out of the palace.

Therefore, under the pretext of "attending to the sick," no one knew that the beautiful widow from the Xie family had been openly and legitimately settled in the imperial palace by the emperor, nor did they know that the emperor of Great Chu had already fallen at the feet of Lady Wen.

Inside the emperor's bedchamber, the bright yellow dragon bed had changed hands since Lady Wen's arrival. Soft bed curtains, comfortable quilts, and coiled dragon patterns...

Its original owner, however, was temporarily sleeping on a soft couch outside the screen, seemingly defying the natural order.

Colors and patterns that once represented power and status and were never to be offended or touched could now be used and touched at will in front of Wen Miao, without even needing to care.

Everything in the palace was free for Wen Miao, except for the overgrown, forbidden area of ​​the Cold Palace. Wen Miao herself didn't have a strong curiosity to explore the forbidden areas, so she naturally wouldn't inquire about or approach it.

Of course, this comfort and freedom was also the result of Wen Miao being forced to learn and accept under the somewhat coercive "teaching" of the emperor.

Here, the power of the imperial family has become a tool for Emperor Qian Yuan to curry favor with Wen Miao, a tool that the emperor eagerly offers and Wen Miao reluctantly pushes.

Deep down, Wen Miao always had an instinctive aversion and fear of imperial power. This seemed to be the most fundamental thought in her heart, a kind of danger or warning, which is why she always wanted to stay away from it.

But this desire to avoid danger couldn't withstand the emperor's sharing—that gift, which was like a sacrifice, gradually eroded Wen Miao's vigilance and bottom line. When she came to her senses, she found that she had not only sat on the imperial chair and the dragon bed, but she had even sat on the emperor's lap! She had even worn the golden dragon robe!

The roof of the emperor's palace was extremely high, and there were many ice basins placed around it, so it was inevitably a little cool around sunset. Therefore, the dragon robe would be draped over Wen Miao's shoulders the day before, and then carried with it the warm fragrance of the lady to accompany Emperor Qian Yuan to court the next morning.

In Emperor Qianyuan's words, it would be as if his wife were to attend court with him—of course, he would like to do so, but unfortunately, now is not the time, and his wife would certainly not accept it.

Fortunately, he still has plenty of time to realize his plans one by one...

The emperor will return immediately after the court session, without delaying a moment.

He spent most of his time with Wen Miao, clinging to her tightly, whether it was for meals, reading, walks, or resting...

Occasionally, when Emperor Qianyuan needed to summon his ministers to discuss matters in the Imperial Study, he would want his wife to accompany him. He even set up a screen in advance. It wasn't that he was afraid his wife would be seen by his ministers; he wished the whole world would know that he belonged to his wife and that he was an emperor who had his wife accompany him in his work. Rather, he was afraid that his wife would be shy and then get angry with him and ignore him afterwards.

The lady was gentle and soft-hearted, and was actually easy to coax, but Emperor Qianyuan couldn't bear to really upset her, so he was careful in everything he did, and had already immersed himself in some kind of indescribable pleasure.

As for accompanying her to the Imperial Study meetings, although Emperor Qian Yuan had made preparations in advance, Wen Miao ultimately declined.

The emperor was disappointed for a long time, but he finally managed to coax and beg his wife to accompany him in the Wenyuan Hall to review memorials when no one was around.

Even Wen Miao was alarmed by this obsessive attention and couldn't help but ask Emperor Qian Yuan how he lived before she appeared. He couldn't possibly have someone accompany him for everything, could he?

At this moment, the emperor, who was reviewing memorials in the Wenyuan Hall, looked up and, through the dim candlelight, gazed at his wife sitting on the chaise longue, holding a book. He put down his brush and walked over.

Emperor: "Is my lady curious about me?"

Wen Miao awkwardly picked up the book to conceal her expression, "I was just asking casually. If Your Majesty doesn't want to talk about it, then pretend I never mentioned it..."

Before she could finish speaking, Wen Miao, holding the book, was suddenly pulled into Emperor Qian Yuan's arms.

A light exclamation was suppressed in Wen Miao's throat, and her slightly flushed face showed a helpless resignation to being forced into this situation.

The emperor always had an insatiable desire to touch her, a morbid and exaggerated urge that he could not control in the slightest. At first, Wen Miao was ashamed and annoyed and tried to push him away, but her body seemed to go against her brain and got used to the emperor's approach before her.

"Before I met you, my life was very boring. I went to court, handled government affairs, rewarded the meritorious and punished the wicked. I tried to be a wise ruler and create a prosperous era. It was all very boring."

For a long time, Emperor Qianyuan regarded Wen Miao as his anchor. He rose from a prince in the cold palace to the throne. When he was really tired and couldn't hold on any longer, he would take out the painting of the goddess and look at it. After absorbing enough strength, he would hide it in the cabinet as a secret for himself.

However, since Lady Han Dong appeared last winter, Emperor Qian Yuan has not looked at that painting for a very long time.

He said slowly, "Meeting you, my lady, is the greatest fortune of my life."

Wen Miao thought that the current emperor was probably the kind of man who was very good at sweet talk.

Emperor Qianyuan sat down at his desk again, and had his wife sit on his lap. He held the plump and soft woman in his arms, his deep, slightly upturned eyes revealing pleasure, but his tone when speaking was flat and even overly concise.

He didn't feel there was anything to talk about in his past—

He had lived a difficult, disheveled, and destitute life, like a stray dog; it was truly unsightly. He had spent almost half his life getting to this point, to be able to appear before his wife in a relatively presentable state, and he couldn't bear to ruin it.

In his wife's eyes, he was unwilling to reveal any of his past embarrassing moments.

Emperor Qianyuan moved his arm slightly, holding the woman in his arms even tighter.

Wen Miao wore no embroidered shoes, only a thin silk stocking. With her toes hanging in the air and unable to touch the ground, she could only lean against the emperor's chest.

The soft, fragrant jade in my arms surpasses countless earthly pleasures.

With one hand supporting Wen Miao's waist and abdomen, Emperor Qian Yuan picked up a writing brush with the other and said with ease, "My hand is not at ease, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, Madam, to open the memorials for me."

Wen Miao breathed softly, "Your Majesty, you may put me down."

She said this, but she still lowered her eyes and raised her hand to open the memorials on the table for the emperor.

“No,” the emperor said solemnly, “Without my wife in my arms, I have no heart for state affairs.”

He and his wife were so well-matched that they could be considered a perfect couple.

Wen Miao: "I have no interest in state affairs... Isn't Your Majesty supposed to be a wise ruler?"

"Whether a ruler is wise or tyrannical, it makes no difference to me. I have not failed the people. I only wish to bring some joy to my wife for this prosperous era."

I also hope that when my wife came into this world, she could enjoy peace and tranquility.

Wen Miao was taken aback. "...What do you mean?"

The emperor lowered his eyes, a shadow falling over them, and asked, "Does my lady like it here? Does she like the Great Chu?"

Wen Miao paused, wanting to say she liked it.

She loved the Xie family, her maternal grandfather and Mengjun, Shicui and Wanbi, and Li Qing, but her affections seemed to belong only to people. If asked whether she loved the Great Chu, Wen Miao could not answer.

The Great Chu was indeed prosperous, and the seas and rivers were peaceful and the rivers were calm. The people lived in peace and the emperor worked hard to govern. Logically speaking, for ordinary people, this was already an excellent era. However, Wen Miao still could not sincerely talk about the word "like".

This was her subconscious answer.

The cold shadow that shrouded Emperor Qianyuan's eyes widened in the silence. As he wrote "I have read it" on the memorial, his tone remained unchanged: "I know."

After a moment, he asked again, "If there were no Xie family entanglements, and only this empire were mine, would my lady be willing to stay?"

There is no kinship, only the Great Chu and the Emperor.

The beautiful woman sitting in the emperor's lap wiggled her toes slightly, brushing against the emperor's shoes through her silk stockings, bringing a slight tingling sensation. She carefully withdrew her foot, then gently shook her head and said, "I do not wish to."

Crack.

The bamboo bristles snapped in response.

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