The heavy rain outside continued.

inside the house.

The king of a country knelt on the ground, just to beg for her mercy.

Jiang Tian looked down at Yuan Ye, while Yuan Ye looked up at her.

After a while, she spoke with a smile.

She only said one word: "No."

Yuan Ye felt as if her heart had been torn apart.

She refused.

Her rejection caused his inner pain to spread to his limbs. He stared at Jiang Tian, ​​but could no longer say a word.

"I can't hurt my body for someone else anymore. I'm almost thirty years old, not a young woman anymore. If I have another child... do you really want me to go see the King of Hell?"

Yuan Ye quickly said, "No, if the price of having a child is losing you, then it's better not to have one. If you don't want to have a child, then... could you grant me a small request?"

Jiang Tian's tone carried a hint of curiosity: "What do you want me to do?"

"I've changed my mind. I can't live without you. Can we go back to how things were before? If I get married and have someone else, we'll separate. But if I don't, when I have time... can I come see you?"

Yuan Ye lowered his head, his tone humble.

“But I’m already planning to start a new life. I’m currently looking for a husband. If it’s like you said, wouldn’t that mean I’d be betraying my husband?”

Her words made Yuan Ye feel as if someone had gripped his heart tightly.

"...Are you getting married?"

Jiang Tian shook her head, somewhat troubled: "I haven't decided yet. I have a few candidates in mind, but I need to find one I can control."

Yuan Ye's eyes stung a little, and he asked uncertainly, "It's been a year...you've forgotten me?"

"Of course I haven't forgotten you. Your Majesty, you underestimate yourself. You are so handsome, healthy, and the most noble person in the world. How could I forget you? But we are separated, and I have to move on. Finding an honest husband to amuse me every day will be a way to pass the time."

A year can indeed change a lot.

Jiang Tian has now truly blossomed into her full potential.

He was captivated by her at first sight.

Yuan Ye didn't find anything unreasonable about Jiang Tian's unconventional remarks.

She has the power to find someone and control him, even if it's like keeping a pet; she can do it.

If the two of them are just friends, he won't ask her anything.

But that was their relationship before.

How could he possibly accept that?

He clearly still harbored feelings for her, tossing and turning day and night...

It's a good thing that Jiang Tian has started a new life, but he still wants to fight for himself.

"...Do you like them too? Like you like me?"

Jiang Tian was both amused and exasperated: "Yuan Ye, don't underestimate yourself. Think about it, how unforgettable our experiences have been. How many times have we teetered on the brink of death? I will never forget you in this lifetime."

"But I must remember that I have to move forward; I can't stay in the same place forever."

She's right, there's no need to stay where you are.

"...Yes, we should both move forward. So, are you willing to say yes? Are you still willing to maintain that kind of relationship with me?"

Jiang Tian countered with a question: "What kind of relationship are you talking about, lovers?"

mistress.

A very accurate description.

If two people don't marry and still want to be together, what else can they be but lovers?

After a long while, he answered with a single word: "Hmm."

“To be honest, I’ve been looking for a suitable man all year, but I just haven’t found one. Yuan Ye, you’re too good to me, you’ve raised my standards. I should gladly accept that you’re still willing to be with me. But if you want to be my lover, then I won’t be able to find a husband. I can’t let other men into my house, I’m afraid they won’t be able to keep their lives. If that happens, my life will be very uncomfortable.”

Yuan Ye could tell from her words how carefree she was living.

Yuan Ye could certainly use his imperial power to bring Jiang Tian back to the palace.

But it's meaningless.

He wanted the vibrant Jiang Tian, ​​not the lifeless her.

He had to protect her freedom and uninhibited nature.

After an unknown period of silence, Yuan Ye spoke with great difficulty: "I will not interfere with your marriage. You just need to give me a chance so that we can get together from time to time... that would be a blessing in life."

Yuan Ye didn't know why she could say such a thing.

After all, as the ruler of a country, he can have whatever he wants.

Whether they were stunning beauties or plain girls, as long as he gave the slightest hint, plenty of people would send those women to him.

But he didn't want any of them; he only had eyes for Jiang Tian.

During the time they were apart, he gained a clearer understanding of his own heart.

Indeed, he could have been a normal emperor, married an empress, kept a group of concubines, kept Jiang Tian in his heart, and treated her as a stranger, never to see her again in this life. But—

To him, that was a desecration of feelings.

His feelings for Jiang Tian developed gradually over time; it was a flutter of the heart that transformed into love.

They had gone through so many trials, and their feelings for each other were already etched into his soul.

If it's for the sake of continuing the family line, then their relationship has been tainted—

He refused.

Therefore, he was willing to be a lover, willing to eagerly pursue her, as long as Jiang Tian had a place for him in her heart—

He is willing.

Jiang Tian's tone was somewhat helpless: "Yuan Ye, you really don't have to be so humble."

Yuan Ye gave a wry smile: "If..."

If they had never met, perhaps he could have been a normal emperor.

But a single encounter can surpass countless meetings in the mortal world.

"We've been through thick and thin, Jiang Tian, ​​I've made my choice."

He tentatively stepped forward and embraced Jiang Tian.

Jiang Tian did not refuse.

She sighed, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips: "Then what's the point of talking? We're already here, are you really just planning to leave like this?"

For a moment, Yuan Ye's mind went blank, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and his blood began to boil. He could no longer control the surging emotions in his heart, and he picked Jiang Tian up in his arms...

A timely rain after a long drought.

At the end, Yuan Ye felt utterly satisfied.

The feelings Jiang Tian brought him surpassed everything else, reaching the extreme.

He didn't care about other women at all, nor did he want to try anything else. He was only interested in Jiang Tian and only liked her.

"……very nice."

He slowly uttered two words.

The rain outside kept falling, but he already felt a sense of peace.

Only she could bring him such peace.

Jiang Tian nestled in his arms, a smile playing on her lips: "Yuan Ye, I feel like you're much more capable than you were a year ago, but I wonder if it's just a flash in the pan."

No man should be provoked like that.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, she gritted her teeth and started a new round...

After spending two days together, Yuan Ye had to leave.

As the ruler of a country, it took a great deal of effort for him to spare two days to see Jiang Tian.

He was very reluctant to leave.