Sheng Xiyan said nothing, her face buried in the crook of his neck, and after a long while she said:

"I have never dared to ask this because you are the emperor. I don't want to be the emperor's concubine, I just want to be Xuanlang's precious Yanyan."

Xuan Ling kissed her hair and asked, "Is this why you haven't dared to rely on me?"

He analyzed these two days that the reason why Sheng Xiyan still had an attachment to Qi Yan deep in her heart was probably because she felt that she was safe in that relationship.

"Yanyan, I can also give you enough sense of security. I hope you can rely on me in the future. I want to be a truly loving couple with you, who are honest with each other."

Sheng Xiyan's eyes blinked, everything he said touched her heart.

From the moment they first met, he could see through all her little thoughts, causing her to hide her heart even deeper out of fear. Over time, she developed the habit of not relying on him and being ready to withdraw from this relationship at any time.

"Xuan Lang...I like you, it's true. Can you believe me? Don't question it anymore?"

Xuan Ling's eyes were hot, there were stars in his eyes, and the face of the beauty in front of him became blurred.

I only heard her slowly speaking:

"I like you to kiss me until I suffocate,

I like to touch you, I like the smell of you, it's so sweet,

I like you to touch my head and coax me to sleep.

I want to crawl into your robe and wear your clothes... I just haven't dared to fall in love with you, for fear that you will change your heart..."

These touching confessions are more heartfelt than just the three words "I love you".

Xuan Ling hugged Sheng Xiyan tightly, lowered his head and put his face against her forehead, choking and sobbing: "Baby, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

*

In Jingren Palace, Empress Duan knelt in front of the statue of Guanyin, clasped her hands together, and prayed devoutly.

Qingdai gently helped her up and whispered:

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The Ministry of Personnel has closed the case of the Hanyu Temple arson and theft of medicinal prescriptions. The Su family's young master had a weak mental state and passed out in the prison. He became insane when he woke up. The Dali Temple asked him to sign his name, and he did so."

Empress Duan smiled slightly, a hint of pride flashing in her eyes: "Even the heavens are helping me. However, the issue of the royal heir has always been a major concern for me."

Qing Dai whispered, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The Imperial Concubine is pregnant with her third child. If there's any disturbance, her pregnancy will definitely be unstable."

Empress Duan stroked the golden phoenix on her sleeve and said calmly, "I heard that the Emperor asked Consort Cui, Concubine Min, and Princess Xueqiong to perform today?"

Qingdai nodded: "Yes, but in the end the imperial concubine started crying for some reason, and the emperor scolded Princess Xueqiong.

An hour ago, the Emperor carried the Imperial Concubine back to the Yangxin Palace and instructed her to stay there to take care of her pregnancy.

Upon hearing this, Empress Duan pinched her golden armor hard into her palm and said in a cold voice:

"The Yangxin Palace is such a solemn place, it's where the Emperor handles government affairs. It's inappropriate for a concubine like her to live there for a long time!"

Although she was angry, she could only sigh.

Emperor Xuanwu was used to being arbitrary and dictatorial. If she went to talk to him, she would only be scolded, and his will would never change.

Seeing this, Qingdai gently reminded: "Your Majesty, tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and the Emperor should come to Jingren Palace."

Empress Duan's eyebrows twitched, and her face relaxed a little. She took down a dragon-patterned robe from the embroidery frame and stroked it carefully: "Tomorrow I will go to the palace to try this robe on the emperor."

Qing Dai smiled and said, "The Emperor will surely like it. This was made by the Empress day and night. The pattern and material are both top-notch, even more exquisite than those made by the Clothing Bureau."

In the stillness of the night, in the Yangxin Palace,

On the dragon couch, Xuan Ling hugged Sheng Xiyan, and the two smiled at each other.

Sheng Xiyan asked in a delicate voice, "Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?"

Xuan Ling raised an eyebrow: "What are you laughing at?"

Sheng Xiyan blinked: "I don't know, I just want to laugh when I see you."

Xuan Ling chuckled: "I am the same, I can't control myself even when I see you."

Sheng Xiyan quickly climbed onto him, and Xuan Ling quickly held her up and sat her up, saying nervously:

"Nonsense, what if it presses on your stomach?"

He carefully stroked her pregnant belly, his eyes full of pity.

Sheng Xiyan hugged his neck and said in a soft voice, "It's okay, babies are not that fragile."

She hummed a hint, and Xuan Ling leaned close to her ear and said in a low voice: "Yan Yan, have you thought about it?"

Sheng Xiyan's face flushed red and she nodded slightly.

Xuan Ling laid her down and kissed her gently.

Sheng Xiyan pulled his ear and whispered, "You're going to do that tonight too?"

Xuan Ling shook his head: "No, I don't need it."

His eyes fell on her bulging belly, and he whispered, "It's so small, with three children in it, it's very crowded, right? How dare I move?"

Sheng Xiyan said coquettishly: "No, I want to give it to you. When a woman is in the second trimester of pregnancy, the couple can be together."

Xuan Ling coaxed her: "Yan Yan, you don't have to worry about me feeling bad, it's nothing, really."

Sheng Xiyan muttered, "I just want to give it to you. What if you can't bear it for too long and feel uncomfortable favoring other concubines?"

Xuan Ling Chunshan's smile is so beautiful and unparalleled.

To reassure her, he supported himself with his arms and moved a few times. Although it was very painful to restrain himself, he still held back and did not dare to go any further.

Panting lightly, she whispered, "Are you satisfied, baby?"

Sheng Xiyan muttered, "It's far worse than before. Are you being perfunctory on purpose?"

Xuan Ling chuckled: "No, I'll try another way to make you happy."

He leaned over and kissed her, very gently.

At noon the next day, Xuan Ling had not yet returned from his government affairs, but Empress Duan had arrived at the Yangxin Palace first.

Seeing Sheng Xiyan sleeping soundly on the Arhat couch, covered with a goose down blanket,

Empress Duan glared at Mingyue fiercely. Qingdai said, "The Master of the Six Palaces has arrived, and the concubine is still asleep. Why didn't she wake up to greet him?"

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