"do not leave Me……"

"I'm scared...don't leave me."

His voice was like a broken gong, almost a pleading plea to Zixi through gritted teeth.

"You have to be a good boy/girl... You absolutely have to be a good boy/girl and don't lie to me."

"Otherwise... I will use an even more extreme method to keep you by my side forever."

His lips almost touched hers, his breath hot and carrying an irresistible pressure.

Despite being pressed down on the dragon bed by Yin Jiuxiao, who was still so energetic even with a fever, Zi Xi remained completely calm. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and asked in a light tone, "Your Majesty, have you thought this through?"

"If I become empress, I'll be stuck lying around in the harem like a lazy bum."

"You're going to lose a capable and ruthless general, what a loss that is."

She tapped his chest with her fingertip.

"Who says... the Empress can't fight?"

"My empress can do whatever she wants."

"If you want to kill someone, I'll hand you the knife; if you want to set a fire, I'll pour the oil on it."

Yin Jiuxiao chuckled softly, his fingertips caressing her chin, a dark undercurrent surging in his eyes. His voice was deep and carried an undeniable forcefulness.

Zi Xi chuckled: "What if I just want to be lazy? And don't want to follow the Empress's tedious etiquette? Would Your Majesty still be willing?"

Yin Jiuxiao's thin lips almost touched the tip of her ear, his warm breath brushing against her: "I will lie down with you, and I am the emperor. I can let you do whatever you want..."

Zi Xi's ears burned, and her heart suddenly raced.

She hadn't planned to think that way before, but Zi Xi really admired Yin Jiuxiao's looks.

After all, he's the male lead, so how could he not be good-looking?

Her previously sharp features have now transformed into a sickly, delicate appearance, as if she's delirious from a fever but still trying to maintain her composure.

A blush appeared on her pale face, but Yin Jiuxiao still wouldn't let her go. His fingertips gently traced the scars on her shoulder, and his voice was low and hoarse: "You used to protect me... From now on, it's my turn to protect you."

Zi Xi was stunned, and looked up into his deep eyes.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his handsome features, and his usually cold and sharp phoenix eyes were now filled with a rare tenderness.

She suddenly laughed, reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer: "Your Majesty, are you... confessing your love to me while you're not fully conscious?"

"You won't turn your back on me once you recover and regain your senses, will you?"

"My word is law! I feel so bad, I'm completely weak... My head hurts so much, Azi... I really feel terrible..."

Yin Jiuxiao's eyes welled up with tears, his ears turned slightly red, and he gave a haughty snort in an increasingly hoarse voice. He would keep his word and would never let her get hurt again.

Zi Xi's smile deepened, and she grabbed the back of his head and kissed him fiercely.

This time, Zi Xi carried the delirious and groaning Yin Jiuxiao on her back and flew to get medicine. Yin Jiuxiao's last conscious thought was that he and Zi Xi were kissing...

Yin Jiuxiao had another dream. He dreamt that he killed an unrepentant official in the main hall who was trying to ambush him. Then, no assassin named Azi appeared out of nowhere, and he couldn't find an assassin named Azi at all.

After attempting suicide countless times, he finally saw her. Azi, as if bathed in rosy light, floated down from the beam and rebuked him.

But he suddenly pulled away from his body and saw that he had uncontrollably grabbed Azi's neck, almost strangling her to death. In the end, he managed to suppress the urge to kill her.

He watched as he rubbed his thumb ring, his eyes filled with interest.

Later, a bright light appeared in his barren life. He discovered that this little assassin, whether genuinely stupid or pretending, seemed completely unafraid of him.

She gave him a sachet, and in front of him, she poured calming soup into a flowerpot, preventing him from drinking that meaningless tonic.

She would also tell him not to stay up all night, blow out the lamp he used to review memorials, and carry him to his bedchamber.

The worst part was that when he went out hunting to vent his bloodlust, she shot the stag king with an arrow before he could, then turned to him with a triumphant smile: "Your Majesty! I won!! The stag leg must be given to me first!"

Yin Jiuxiao looked at his face, which should have been filled with rage, but instead, a carefree and lighthearted smile appeared on his face as if possessed.

Is this the kind of smile he used to have?