Why that expression? Did you really have a nightmare?

Gu Jiangli pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Mm."

Seeing this, the emperor embraced her and patted her back to comfort her: "It's alright, it's just a dream, it's all fake."

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to ask me what I dreamt about?"

The emperor paused, then continued, "Since it's a nightmare, mentioning it will only instill fear. If I don't ask, you'll forget about it in a couple of days. But if I do ask, you'll have to tell me again, and once you do, you won't forget it for a long time."

Gu Jiangli felt a lump in her throat and held back her tears.

He never shared his nightmares with anyone, and no one could share his burden. Was this how he comforted himself?

"But when fear is spoken aloud, it can be shared with others. Perhaps this terrible memory will never be forgotten, but when it is recalled again, it will not be so terrible."

The emperor seemed to ponder for a moment, then smiled and asked, "That seems to make sense. So tell me, what terrible thing did you dream about?"

His eyes were gentle, concealing his pain.

Gu Jiangli lowered her head and slowly began to speak: "I... dreamt that I was walking alone in a white palace, from Jinghe Palace to Delan Hall. There was no one around me, not His Majesty, not Hehua, not Xiao Anzi, not Eunuch Liu."

"The vast palace felt like I was all alone, like a death cell that had me completely trapped."

The emperor's smile faded, as if a memory was floating in his mind.

"This palace is indeed boring. If you want to go out and have some fun, I will arrange for someone to send you out after the child is born."

"Where is His Majesty? Isn't he coming with me?"

"I am the emperor, and I am very busy with state affairs..."

"Throughout history, there have been many emperors who left the palace under the guise of private visits, and the ministers in the court were also capable of handling affairs."

The emperor remained silent.

"Your Majesty, if I leave the palace, could you accompany me? Even just once would be fine."

She knew that the emperor's childhood wish was to travel to mountains and rivers, which was why so many landscape paintings were kept in the painting collection.

After becoming emperor, he never left the palace because he was punishing himself.

She wanted the emperor to go out, even just once.

Gu Jiangli's bright, expectant eyes were irresistible.

The emperor turned his head away, but ultimately softened and agreed:

"Very well, I will make the arrangements after the child is born."