Chapter 63 Depicting the Big Dog

The thin chain was silver-gray. Because it had been hidden under Emperor Qian Yuan's sleeve and constantly rubbed by his fingertips and palms, the naturally cold material carried a warm feeling.

Even so, it cannot eliminate the inherent rigidity of the thin chain, nor the significance it represents in this moment.

Wen Miao propped herself up on her arms and sat up from the shadow of Emperor Qian Yuan leaning over her. This time, under her strength, the emperor, whose handsome features were almost sharp, showed complete subjugation, stepping back slightly and kneeling between the empress's slightly bent legs.

The warm-toned skirt, embroidered with large phoenix patterns, spread out completely, like a peony in full bloom, its fragrance lingering within the bed curtains, as if soaking the winding, cascading chains.

Yet, amidst this familiar and alluring fragrance, Emperor Qian Yuan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his body and soul, giving him the illusion that all the blood in his body had been frozen solid.

He and the Empress had clearly talked everything out, and things could have quickly returned to normal, as intimate and loving as before. But then, the chain that concealed all his wicked thoughts and burning desires slipped out...

Wen Miao also discovered it.

In the almost bizarre, suffocating silence, Emperor Qian Yuan clenched his fists tightly, but his eyelids twitched uncontrollably when he saw Wen Miao hooking the thin chain with her fingertips.

Wen Miao lowered her eyelashes, the corners of her eyes still flushed with the physiological redness caused by the heat inside the bed curtains. She raised her hand and slowly and deliberately took the thin chain completely.

—All the movements were slowed down, magnified, and made clearer in Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes.

The chain was very long; if it were tied around a person's wrists and ankles, it would be long enough for her to get off the dragon bed and walk behind the screen to wash, dress, change clothes, eat, etc. It wouldn't affect her various activities within the Taiji Palace, but she wouldn't be able to step out of the palace.

No...maybe it will have some impact.

Wen Miao subtly measured the length of the thin chain with her gaze, then turned her head to look further away at the side hall, which was now completely hidden by the carved screen.

Typically, within the palace grounds, there would be various auxiliary halls for other purposes next to the main hall where the emperor resided. These halls were interconnected and styled with entrance halls and screens. The main hall was usually the emperor's primary activity area, encompassing office work and rest.

As for the other side halls surrounding the main hall... some were used as studies, some as storage rooms, and some as washrooms.

Whether the length of the thin chain in her hand was intentional or not, there were some things... If she was truly bound, she would have to ask Emperor Qian Yuan for help.

...This kind of thing is rather terrible.

In an instant, Wen Miao understood the secret hidden in the tiny metal chain.

Even though she held the upper hand in her relationship with Emperor Qian Yuan and had complete control, the associations in her mind still made her ears and cheeks turn red, and her starry eyes became moist, dispelling the overly gentle rationality she had initially felt.

She tilted her head slightly, trying to hide the heat on her face, while tightening her grip on the thin chain, wanting to hold it completely in her hand.

But then they encountered some resistance.

Wen Miao looked over.

Outside the palace, it was still winter daytime. The sun wasn't very strong, but much of the light was blocked by the peach blossom paper on the windows and the silk bed curtains between the beds. As a result, the light that could see into them at this moment seemed too scattered and mottled, as if night was about to fall, weaving a small space full of ambiguity, yet strangely unusual.

On the other side of the small space stood the tall emperor, his tanned hands still tightly gripping the other end of the thin chain.

They held it very tightly.

The veins on the back of his hand were prominent, leaving behind distinct light blue lines.

"Give me."

Wen Miao spoke again, gently tugging at the thin chain.

This request was quite abrupt for Emperor Qianyuan at that moment. He stood there stunned for a long time in the dimly lit bed curtains before he began to act.

In the dim light, all the human figures and changes were reduced to a somewhat blurry outline. He raised his arm and unwound the thin chain that was wrapped around his forearm, one loop after another.

Perhaps due to the prolonged binding and the previous pulling motions, the silver chain left circular marks on the emperor's arm, deeply etched into his skin, forming the most primitive and natural totem symbolizing power and wildness.

Then, the emperor, whose expression was obscured by his dark eyes, reached out and handed over the remaining piece of the thin chain in his hand.

This time, it was Wen Miao's eyelid that twitched uncontrollably.

She raised her hand and took it completely, her fingertips tucked away, never touching Emperor Qian Yuan's palm, which was excessively hot and appeared somewhat scarred and almost tragically injured.

Wen Miao propped herself up slightly on her arms and groped for the end of the thin chain used for restraint. "...Give me your hand."

After Wen Miao asked for the chain, Emperor Qian Yuan became unusually quiet and well-behaved. Perhaps he hadn't figured out how to ask, or perhaps he was making excuses for the thin chain. In any case, Wen Miao didn't care.

At this moment, she only glanced at the hand that Emperor Qian Yuan obediently offered, and continued to add—

"I want the other one too."

Her voice remained calm and gentle, without any disgust or aversion, which made Emperor Qian Yuan feel slightly relieved.

He obediently raised both hands and presented them to the Empress of Great Chu, as if he were a villain who had been convicted and was now surrendering to his wife to reflect on his mistakes—he was almost too docile.

Of course, beneath this submissiveness lay a subtle sense of guilt and unease in Emperor Qian Yuan's heart.

...He shouldn't have let Miaomiao discover this thin chain.

Emperor Qianyuan frowned, his lips slightly parted, but he ultimately dared not say anything.

And so, his two strong and powerful arms hung in mid-air, the dark sleeves slipping down slightly to reveal the man's taut and powerful wrists.

The next second, Emperor Qian Yuan saw Wen Miao raise her arm, her fair fingers tracing silvery marks as she wrapped the thin chain, warmed by human body heat, around the emperor's hands twice, binding them together.

The bindings weren't too tight, just enough to catch the mechanism at the edge, but still sufficient to restrict Emperor Qian Yuan's movements.

Before he could even ponder the implications of Wen Miao's actions, the force of her bound hands propelled him forward—

Like a large, fierce dog being led by its owner on a leash, its shoulders are slightly raised, but its lower back is somewhat slumped, and it kneels with its knees spread apart, only raising its two bound wrists, watching as the other end of the thin chain is fixed to the wooden carvings on the headboard of the dragon bed.

It coiled around twice, binding itself to the dragon's neck, which was coiled up.

Emperor Qianyuan was bewildered by this change.

He stared blankly at Wen Miao.

The Empress, dressed in a soft silk gown, was facing away from him. Her black hair was loose, only casually secured with a gold hairpin before lunch. It was now scattered loosely due to her movements on the bed, exuding a languid and intellectual air. Beneath the fine strands of hair, her snow-white neck was exposed, with faint traces of lingering blush.

Wen Miao leaned forward, her voluptuous figure outlined by her flowing dress. The warm fragrance wafted around her, causing Emperor Qian Yuan's Adam's apple to bob, and he couldn't help but feel a dryness deep in his throat.

"Vast and boundless..."

Emperor Qianyuan called out in a low voice.

Wen Miao secured the end of the thin chain completely, then turned her head to look at the emperor and chuckled softly, "So this was originally prepared for me?"

Emperor Qianyuan dared not speak, but the averted gaze was enough to answer the question.

"I understand," Wen Miao nodded, then gently patted the emperor's head and asked, "Are there still any memorials to review today?"

"some."

At this moment, Emperor Qianyuan became a puppet in the hands of the Empress again, answering whatever she asked, his eyes fixed on Wen Miao, who had completely gotten up and left the bed.

"Stay put, I'll have Xu Sheng bring the memorials in for you in a bit... Hmm, just sit on that couch over there and review them."

After a pause, Wen Miao turned her head and gently swept her gaze over Emperor Qian Yuan's entire body, finally settling on his hand, which was covered in bruises and injuries.

"Wait here for me a moment."

As she finished speaking, Wen Miao walked towards the wooden cabinet behind the screen, raising her arm to straighten the gold hairpin that had almost slipped off.

She rummaged through the wooden cabinet for the ointment that Fang Zhiyu, the daughter of Physician Fang, had sent earlier, while Emperor Qianyuan sat quietly on the couch, his hands bound and fixed to one side, staring intently at Wen Miao's back.

—It's basically a big dog with its eyes wide open, waiting for its owner to turn around and look at it. If the owner actually turns around, its invisible tail will probably leave a trail of afterimages.

But in reality, Wen Miao didn't even turn around to look at him.

Emperor Qianyuan felt a slight pang in his heart, and his whole demeanor became listless.

But when Wen Miao picked up her things and turned around to see him, the previously listless emperor instantly straightened his back, his eyes shining brightly. He looked completely like someone who had been manipulated by the Empress and no longer knew how to think independently.

...Of course, Wen Miao had no intention of toying with Emperor Qian Yuan.

She sat down on the edge of the couch, held Emperor Qian Yuan's wrist, and carefully applied the ointment to his palm.

The ointment is mainly effective for red marks and bruises on the skin. It can be used on Wen Miao's smooth, snow-white skin that turns red with a kiss, and it can naturally be used on Emperor Qian Yuan's rough, wheat-colored skin as well.

After doing all this, Wen Miao got up and drew back the bed curtains to let more light in, while also pulling up Emperor Qian Yuan's sleeves to cover the silver chain.

Xu Sheng, who had been waiting outside Taiji Palace for several hours with worries about this and that, finally got his chance when the gates opened.

He immediately grabbed his whisk and rushed forward, only managing to utter "Your Majesty" before his eyes widened and he stammered, "Greetings, Your Majesty..."

"Rise, no need to bow."

Wen Miao smiled gently. She stopped Xu Sheng and Zhang Ji from bowing and said, "I'll have to trouble Eunuch Xu again to fetch all the memorials His Majesty needs to review today."

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all, it's what a servant should do!"

All the palace servants loved serving the Empress—she would smile gently at them, speak her requests softly, and shower them with "thank you" like a celestial being, leaving them dazed and confused…

This gentle and peaceful demeanor did not cause those who served her to look down on her. On the contrary, it was like a ray of light, attracting the palace eunuchs and maids to yearn to serve by her side.

Upon receiving the order, Xu Sheng's face was full of smiles. Especially after seeing the Empress appear, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed completely!

...Hmm, but where is His Majesty?

Given His Majesty's temperament, he would always stay by the Empress's side, wouldn't he?

Xu Sheng pondered for a while, but still couldn't figure it out, so he hurriedly gathered all the official business that the emperor needed to handle in the Wenyuan Hall and handed it over to the Empress.

The Empress accepted the memorial, smiled and thanked Xu Sheng and Zhang Ji, then nodded before turning and entering the hall, closing the door completely.

Xu Sheng smiled and stroked the whisk in his arms, "It seems that His Majesty and the Empress have reconciled... Good news, very good news!"

Zhang Ji's expression was strange, and he remained silent.

He started practicing riding and archery at a very young age, and his eyesight and hearing were exceptional; he could hit a target from a hundred paces away without a problem.

Just now, the Taiji Palace gate was half open, and he glanced inside, seeing half of His Majesty's body covered by the bed curtains. This was not unusual, but what really caught Zhang Ji's attention was that thin, reflective chain.

As early as last winter, Zhang Ji knew of the existence of this thin chain. At that time, His Majesty had instructed him to personally oversee its customization by a craftsman, and even now, he still remembered His Majesty's original request—

The finest iron must be used, the chain must be the thinnest and lightest possible, yet it cannot be easily broken. Every section of the chain must be polished to an extreme smoothness and be beautiful enough...

Those numerous, odd, and complicated requests exhausted the old craftsman, which is how he managed to create such a finely crafted iron chain.

Zhang Ji was neither particularly clever nor stupid. When he saw the thin chain last winter, he vaguely guessed His Majesty's plan.

He felt from the bottom of his heart that it was wrong to do that, but how could he possibly influence the thoughts of the current emperor? So he remained silent and obediently acted as a loyal subordinate.

As for now... that chain is clearly fastened to His Majesty's wrists!

Could it be that His Majesty prepared that chain especially for himself? This... this is simply...

Zhang Ji blinked, wondering if the wind outside the Taiji Palace had made his eyes blurry.

He raised his hand and slapped himself.

*Smack*

The sound of the slap was crisp and clear, much stronger than the force with which Wen Miao had slapped Emperor Qian Yuan in the past.

Xu Sheng looked over and found the roughneck acting strangely and inexplicably. "...What are you doing?"

Zhang Jimu blinked blankly, but the image of Emperor Qianyuan with his hands bound by thin chains kept replaying in his mind.

Oh, so Your Majesty is... this strong?

Zhang Jimu suddenly snapped out of his daze and said, "It's nothing."

He should keep this secret to himself; only Heaven, Earth, His Majesty, and the Empress know.

...

Inside the Taiji Palace, Emperor Qianyuan sat on a soft couch with a small wooden table to the side. His hands were still bound by thin chains, which hindered his movement, but did not affect his ability to review memorials.

After the ointment on the emperor's palm was completely absorbed and he was already in the motion of reviewing memorials, Wen Miao's eyes curved slightly and she said slowly, "Then Your Majesty should continue working here. I will return to Fengyi Palace."

Emperor Qianyuan subconsciously gripped the writing brush tighter.

The next second, Wen Miao slapped the back of his clenched hand, "Relax, don't waste the medicine you just applied."

Emperor Qianyuan paused, "...Empress, will you be back tonight?"

Although the empress said she didn't abandon him, he still felt uneasy... Since they were already chained, why not just keep him by the chain?

Is Miaomiao shy, afraid of being stared at by the palace servants? He is the emperor; he could easily tell them to close their eyes.

If he can be led by the chain by the Empress... then that would mean he belongs to the Empress, right?

...Being a dog is fine too.

At least it can bear the mark of an empress.

"What is Your Majesty thinking?"

A gentle voice rang out, and Emperor Qian Yuan didn't react in time. His inherent submissiveness and obedience to Wen Miao dominated his thoughts and mouth, and he subconsciously opened his mouth and said—

"I want to be the Empress's...dog."

Wen Miao paused, momentarily wondering if there was something wrong with her ears.

She neither blamed nor showed any disgust. She simply moved slightly closer, looked down at the emperor sitting on the couch, and asked why.

If it were a dog, it certainly wouldn't have been abandoned by Miaomiao.

Emperor Qianyuan once saw Wen Miao raising that stray dog ​​in his dream. At that moment, he even envied and resented a dog that could not speak but could only wag its tail.

Emperor Qianyuan looked up and stared straight at Wen Miao: "If it were a dog, would the Empress keep me on a leash the whole time?"

Let everyone see it.

Wen Miao's ears turned slightly red, and her voluptuous and graceful body, hidden beneath her silk clothing, trembled slightly with shyness at Emperor Qian Yuan's words.

...How can you say such nonsensical things!

The empress, her face flushed, shoved the memorial into Emperor Qianyuan's hand with a rather fierce expression, pushing his head away as he faced her, and said with a mixture of helplessness and shame:

"...Then I won't call you husband!"

What kind of dog is this, with its leash?! Can't you just be a normal person?

After regaining her memories, Wen Miao's previously calm emotions were shattered by Emperor Qian Yuan's rather harsh words.

She quickly turned around, put on her cloak, and hurried towards the gate of Taiji Palace. Before pushing the door open to leave, she gently covered her flushed cheeks with her hand and whispered, "Whether I come back tonight or not depends on your performance."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of Taiji Palace opened hastily and then closed quickly. The warm fragrance that belonged to the Empress was also taken away, and the remaining fragrance in the hall was gradually swallowed up by the sandalwood in the gilded incense burner, which made the emperor sitting at the table feel a little anxious.

...Should we watch my performance?

Emperor Qianyuan lowered his head, his gaze falling on the thin chains on his wrists.

This chain was not a restraint for him; Wen Miao could not break it or escape it. However, Emperor Qian Yuan could regain his freedom at any time if he wanted to.

But……

The empress said she would observe his performance.

The beast-like anxiety and unease in Emperor Qianyuan's eyes slowly faded away, like a tide, and within a few breaths, his usual composure and gloom were restored.

He raised his hand and kissed the delicate chain on his wrist that Wen Miao had touched. Then he slowly opened the memorial, picked up the brush, dipped it lightly in the ink, and in an instant, he seemed to have become a different person, completely immersed in his official duties.

At the same time, outside Taiji Palace—

Wearing a warm winter cloak and followed by several eunuchs, Wen Miao did not use a sedan chair, but strolled slowly towards Fengyi Palace as usual.

The air outside the palace was even colder, and there was still unmelted white snow on the brick-red palace walls. Wen Miao walked and stopped along the way, her thoughts rising and falling as she reviewed her interactions and conversations with Emperor Qian Yuan over the past two days.

A personality trait formed in childhood cannot be changed overnight.

Wen Miao sighed inwardly and quickened her pace, looking at Shi Cui and Wan Bi standing outside Fengyi Palace from a distance.

"Your Majesty!"

Shi Cui and Wan Bi, who hadn't seen the Empress for over a day, were getting increasingly anxious.

The two, wearing short jackets, jogged over through the snow, but when they actually stood in front of Wen Miao, they became somewhat cautious.

Wen Miao, as usual, asked as they walked, "Is Snowball being good?"

Wanbi immediately said, "Good girl! Snowball is so obedient!"

Wen Miao then asked, "What about the kitten?"

Shi Cui replied, "It has recovered its spirits in the past two days. I took it to the vet for a check-up, and they said there was nothing wrong with the cat. It just wasn't eating enough before, so it's growing slowly."

The eunuchs in the animal park were all skilled at taming animals. They had seen this pure black kitten before and said it wasn't a rare breed. They guessed it was a kitten brought by a wild cat from outside the palace, but for some reason, it had been left alone in the cold palace.

Upon hearing this, Wen Miao, who had already returned to Fengyi Palace, stroked the kitten that had obediently rubbed against her.

Perhaps still remembering her scent, the kitten was indifferent to Shi Cui and Wan Bi after leaving the Cold Palace, but it would meow incessantly whenever it met Wen Miao, and would almost stay in her arms.

Snowball immediately became unhappy when it saw the cat nestled in its owner's arms. It whimpered and let out a few crisp meows, standing on its hind legs and pawing at Wenmiao with its front paws, trying its best to get into Wenmiao's arms.

Wanbi smiled and said, "They all like Your Highness more!"

With a gentle expression, Wen Miao removed her cloak and played with the two fluffy little creatures in the hall, while also paying attention to Luo Shi and several other nannies who reported on the various affairs of the palace this month.

The turmoil of regaining memories has not been fully resolved, but under Wen Miao's overly calm demeanor, this conflict, which could have erupted into a fierce battle, seemed to be shrouded in a thin layer of mist—

There were no hurtful words, no excessive behavior, no irreparable rifts in their relationship... There was only the fact that, after their previous conversation, the Emperor and Empress, having returned to their senses, went about their official duties in their respective palaces.

Time flew by after she focused on her studies. Since the affairs of the inner palace were managed by Luo Shi and several other nannies, Wen Miao didn't have to go through many things. Under Emperor Qian Yuan's arrangement, she lived a more free and relaxed life than any empress in history. She simply listened to reports and summaries and made a few decisions that Luo Shi and the others couldn't make.

Then came a memorial from outside the palace, sent by Prince Rui, Ji Heng—concerning matters concerning the improvement of the slave system and the Western Market Office in the capital.

Upon seeing this content, Wen Miao couldn't help but smile slightly. She never expected that after losing her memory, she would unknowingly do such a thing under the guidance of Emperor Qian Yuan.

Many times, Emperor Qianyuan didn't seem like an emperor to her.

Wen Miao thought for a moment, then picked up her pen and wrote a reply on Prince Rui's memorial. By the time she finished, it was already dusk.

The sky outside Fengyi Palace was tinged with a deep orange-red, while further away, a heavy, dark blue spread out, and one could faintly see the stars shining dimly in the cold winter.

She squinted, put down the snowball and the kitten, and told Shi Cui and Wan Bi to continue taking care of them.

"Your Majesty..."

Wanbi spoke up: "Tonight you..."

Wanbi didn't finish her question, but Wenmiao understood what she meant. She smiled and said softly, "I'll rest with His Majesty."

If she doesn't go back tonight, I'm afraid "Big Dog" who's alone in Taiji Palace will be very worried.

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Author's Note: It suddenly occurred to me that if His Majesty had grown up in modern times, he would probably know a lot, like things like dogs, leashes, collars, and so on...

Miaomiao: (Feeling a chill down her back)