As the grand ceremony for the empress's coronation approached, the rituals were elaborate, and the court and the harem were filled with jubilation. The thirty-six palaces and main halls were adorned with purple pillars and golden beams, and red silk was everywhere.

Chu Chang Le left Fengqi Palace and headed straight for Zhaixing Tower dressed in plain white clothes.

The winding steps stretched upwards in a ring, and she climbed them in one breath, panting heavily.

From the Star-Picking Tower, one can enjoy panoramic views of the world, and in the distance, one can see the scenery of the Nine Nether Terrace.

She leaned on the railing, quietly gazing at the empty Nine Nether Platform.

A night breeze swept through, and the entire palace was brightly lit. The moonlight shone on the glazed tiles, making them appear as clear as water.

She didn't know how long she had been there until her back pressed against a wall of flesh, at which point she suddenly realized what had happened.

"What are you looking at?"

He pinned her against the railing, placed his hands on either side, and encircled her.

Chu Changle nudged him with her elbow, "Move aside, my legs are numb."

Shen Yan bent down, picked her up horizontally, and placed her on the armchair next to him.

He half-squatted down and gently massaged her slender legs.

The night was cool and still. He lowered his eyes, dressed in black with dark hair. The moonlight illuminated his unrestrained and dashing face, adding a touch of bewitching and wicked charm.

She stared intently at him, and when he noticed, he slowly raised his eyes.

The two looked at each other for a moment, then she looked away and gazed at the scenery outside the corridor.

"Aren't you very busy? What brings you here?"

Shen Yan said, "No rush."

It's been snowing these past few days, and the nighttime temperatures in Kyoto are frighteningly low.

Chu Chang Le wasn't wearing a cloak or overcoat, and she was shivering from the cold.

Shen Yan noticed this, took off his cloak, and wrapped her from head to toe.

"Carry me down, I don't want to walk."

There were few people around the Star-Picking Tower, only a few patrolling guards.

Upon hearing her words, Shen Yan immediately scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the corridor.

I want you to carry me.

She blinked at him.

Shen Yan lowered his eyelids slightly, looking into her bright and beautiful eyes, gently put her down, and smiled faintly.

"Come up."

Chu Changle leaped onto his back.

The two walked down quietly, her warm breath brushing against his neck, bringing a touch of warmth to the cold night.

Chu Changle lay on his shoulder with her eyes slightly closed, sleeping soundly.

There are at least several thousand steps to the Star-Picking Tower. He carried her down the stairs steadily, without even breaking a sweat.

Before anyone knew it, the wind and snow swept across the entire world, rushing straight into the eaves, causing clothes to flutter and skirts to be covered in snow.

Hearing the faint breathing behind her, Shen Yan didn't call out to her. Instead, he carried her on his back and walked along the palace path, avoiding the people, towards the bedchamber.

Snowflakes fell from the eaves onto their heads, covering them completely in white.

From afar, the eunuchs and palace maids guarding the gate saw His Majesty carrying someone back, and they were all so shocked that they didn't react for a moment.

Shen Yan forbade anyone to speak and carried the person into the hall.

The moonlight was cold and clear, the snow outside the palace was bitterly cold, and the entire room was brightly lit.

The emperor and empress were deeply in love, and the entire harem was filled with joy.

Aside from visiting the Star-Picking Tower to enjoy the scenery, Chu Chang Le spent her days holed up in her palace and never went out.

Shen Yan wanted to go to the royal hunting grounds for winter archery, but she refused to go.

After the morning court session, he didn't go to the imperial study, but went directly to his bedchamber.

Chu Changle sat on the small couch, staring blankly at the ginseng soup on the table.

I only snapped out of my daze when I heard footsteps outside.

"peaceful."

She glanced to the side and saw the curtain being lifted, and a person carrying a chill walked in.

"Why has Your Majesty come?"

Shen Yan ordered everyone to place the memorials in the outer hall and approached.

He leaned down and pinched her nose, saying, "Why won't you go out?"

"It's too cold, I don't want to go out."

She hugged his waist and rolled around in his arms.

Shen Yan lifted her up, and just as he was about to say something, he heard the voice of a minister in the outer hall requesting an audience.

He lowered his eyes, pressed his lips to hers and kissed her hard before leaving.

Chu Chang Le could vaguely see the figures of ministers slowly walking in through the beaded curtain. She paused slightly and closed her eyes.

But soon after, they heard suppressed anger coming from outside.

She could only vaguely hear the words "noble family," "Eastern court," and "war," but couldn't make out what was being said next.

The powerful aristocratic families posed a check on imperial power. Shen Yan's previous support for the gentry, local magnates, and commoners had already impacted the interests of these families, making his path to the throne extremely difficult.

After an unknown amount of time, there was no sound outside.

Chu Changle snapped out of her daze, picked up the ginseng soup from the table, and walked outside.

"His Majesty."

Shen Yan sat on the dragon throne, his hand gripping the memorial tightening. Only when he heard her voice did his expression change, becoming somewhat more serene.

"come over."

Chu Changle put down the soup and stood obediently beside him.

Shen Yan held her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

Chu Changle glanced at the memorials on the table, and couldn't help but recall the words her mother had told her before she died. She whispered tentatively.

"Your Majesty, what kind of family is the Gu family of Wu Commandery?"

Shen Yan paused slightly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his lowered eyes.

He lifted her up a little, buried his face in her neck, and took a deep sniff.

“Anning, aristocratic families have always been despicable, and all aristocratic families in Jiangdong are the same.”

The imperial court is corrupt and incompetent, and the powerful families of the world are controlled by the four top clans in Yandu. They are closely connected, and the difference between the gentry and commoners is like heaven and earth. This world has always been unfair.

Chu Chang Le lowered her eyes and remained silent.

The Gu family of Wu County was a prominent family in Jiangdong. When her mother was dying, she told her that Shen Yan was not originally named Shen Yan, but came from a prominent family in Jiangdong.

His father was the eldest son of the Gu family, but he betrayed his family for a woman from a poor family and went to Jiangnan with his mother.

Shen Yan grew up in Jiangnan, but the Gu family of Wu County did not let them go. In order to bring Shen Yan back, they forced his mother to her death, and his father was also forced to commit suicide.

Despite being born into a prestigious family, he hated prestigious families the most.

"Shen Yan, is the world in chaos?"

Shen Yan grunted in response, then closed his eyes and remained silent.

After a moment, he remembered the resentment in her heart and looked up at her.

The two looked at each other, and he began to explain.

“The powerful aristocratic families monopolize the entire officialdom, leading to frequent wars, constant upheavals in imperial power, and leaving the common people with nowhere to turn. Only by ending the separatist regime in the north can the world be at peace.”

Therefore, her father could not do it; his ambitions were forged with the blood of her entire Southern Dynasty royal family.

Chu Changle recalled her childhood. She was born into a commoner family. After her father joined the army and made military achievements, he was supported by a noble family to rise to the throne. Only then did she realize how the upper-class families indulged in debauchery and extravagance.

That was a kind of extravagance and debauchery that ordinary people could never see in their entire lives.

Shen Yan glanced at her, then picked up the ginseng soup next to him, about to drink it.

Chu Changle reached out to stop him, saying, "It's cold. Let's brew another bowl before you drink it."

He was taken aback, then his arms around her waist tightened suddenly, and he lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Chu Changle closed her eyes, hooked her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, letting tears slide down her cheeks.

The two whispered sweet nothings to each other, the atmosphere around them ambiguous and alluring.