Late at night, Xuanyuan Che finished his government affairs and came to the Palace of Heavenly Purity alone. Moonlight shone through the window lattice onto the bed where Chen Xiaoru was sleeping peacefully.

Xuanyuan Che gently removed his outer garments and lay down beside her. He gazed at her peaceful sleeping face, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. This woman, whom he had forcibly brought into the palace, had now become an indispensable part of his life.

"Host, wake up, Xuanyuan Che is here."

The system's reminder sounded in Chen Xiaoru's mind.

Chen Xiaoru drowsily turned over, subconsciously moving closer to the warmth. Xuanyuan Che stiffened, afraid to wake her. But she simply burrowed into his arms and continued to sleep.

Xuanyuan Che sighed softly and carefully embraced her. He inhaled the delicate fragrance of her hair, and the anger in his heart gradually dissipated. At this moment, he was no longer the cold emperor, but just a man who longed for warmth.

Xuanyuan Che gently stroked Chen Xiaoru's hair, his low voice carrying a hint of fatigue and helplessness: "You heartless little thing, I'm fighting for you outside, and you're sleeping soundly here. It would be so much better if you had always been so docile and didn't resist me."

He paused, his eyes dimmed, and he murmured to himself, "It's a pity that in your heart, you still don't want to do it after all."

Chen Xiaoru suddenly woke from her dream and slowly opened her eyes. What she saw was Xuanyuan Che's handsome, angular face, and the deep, complex look in his eyes. She froze for a moment before realizing she was nestled in his arms, his hand gently caressing her belly.

Chen Xiaoru's cheeks instantly flushed. She tried to break free from his embrace, but he held her even tighter.

“Hmm…”

She groaned, frowning, and tried to push him away, "You...you...why are you here?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of confusion and shyness of just waking up, like a frightened deer, making people want to pity her.

Xuanyuan Che looked down at her, a hint of teasing in his eyes. He didn't let go of her hand, but instead held her tighter until she was completely pressed against his chest, so that they could feel each other's heartbeats.

"woke up?"

His voice was low and magnetic, with a hint of hoarseness in the early morning, and it was particularly clear in the silent bedroom.

Chen Xiaoru didn't dare look him in the eye, so she could only lower her head slightly, her long eyelashes trembling nervously. She could feel the burning breath coming from his body and his strong heartbeat, which made her feel inexplicably flustered.

"Master, I warned you before that you unconsciously approached Xuanyuan Che after falling asleep."

The soft voice of the fertility system sounded in my mind again, with a hint of helplessness.

Chen Xiaoru then remembered that she did seem to hear the system's reminder in her sleep, but her consciousness was blurry at the time and she didn't pay attention. She bit her lower lip in frustration, secretly blaming herself for being so careless.

"Let...let me go..." Chen Xiaoru's voice was as thin as a mosquito's, with a barely perceptible tremor. She tried to struggle again, but found that her strength was insignificant in front of him.

Xuanyuan Che's lips curled up slightly, and he seemed to enjoy the feeling of control. He lowered his head, and his warm breath sprayed on her ear, giving her goose bumps all over her body.

"Why, you don't like me holding you?" His voice was a little teasing, but also revealed an unquestionable dominance.

Chen Xiaoru's body stiffened. She could feel his burning gaze on her, as if he wanted to see through her. She didn't dare to respond to him, and could only bite her lower lip tightly and remain silent.

Outside the hall, the night wind howled, rustling the branches. The occasional hoot of an owl added to the stillness. Inside, the candlelight flickered, and the interplay of light and shadow elongated the figures of the two, creating a particularly ambiguous atmosphere.

Xuanyuan Che tightened his arms, holding Chen Xiaoru tightly in his embrace. He lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her smooth forehead. His movements were gentle and affectionate, completely different from his usual cold image.

Chen Xiaoru's body trembled slightly. She could feel the warmth of his lips and the heat of his breath. She closed her eyes, not daring to look at his expression, but a strange emotion surged in her heart.

"Xiao Ru,"

Xuanyuan Che's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of imperceptible pleading. He tightened his arms and held her tighter in his embrace. His warm breath fell on her ears, causing a slight shudder. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

Chen Xiaoru's body remained tense. She could feel the powerful heartbeat of his chest, beating against her eardrums and the uneasy atrium in her heart. She tilted her head slightly, avoiding his burning gaze. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyelids, obscuring the complex emotions in her eyes.

"His Majesty……"

She spoke softly, with a hint of hesitation and tentativeness in her voice, "What... do you want?"

Xuanyuan Che's eyes narrowed slightly, and he seemed a little surprised by her question. Then, a faint bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "What do you think I want?"

He asked back, a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "There are three thousand beauties in this harem. I don't have any woman I want. But none of them are you."

Chen Xiaoru's heart skipped a beat. She could sense the hidden meaning in his words, but she didn't dare to believe it easily. She was silent for a moment before she slowly spoke:

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. You can get whatever you want. But I... I am just an ordinary woman. I can't give you anything."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!