Chapter 51.51 A Forced Kiss with the Scent of Blood

Loneliness, the fear of being all alone.

Yuezhi seemed trapped in the helplessness of being sold as a child. Even though she struggled internally and didn't want to lose it, she could only silently endure it with her body stiff, unable to do anything.

In the blurry vision, there were figures coming and going. The guards strengthened their defenses, wishing they could search the entire mountain. The imperial physician who was serving at Baoguang Temple rushed over, and all the footsteps gathered around him.

"Princess, do not move. Let me move His Majesty."

"Your Majesty, please take this medicine quickly to stop the bleeding and save your heart."

"Eunuch Jinbao, please prepare hot water and scissors. We need to take the Emperor back to Jianshan Temple before we can remove the arrowhead."

As the weight pressing down on her was gradually removed, Yuezhi seemed to have left her body, her hands, soaked in blood, hanging limply, unsure of what to do or where to go.

Ah Heng... Ah Heng...

A surge of anger rose within her. She hastily wiped the blood from her hands onto her pale pink dress and casually beckoned a young eunuch over.

"Help me go with him quickly." She wanted to be with Pei Heng, whether he lived or died, she had to stay by his side.

The way down the mountain was blurry and confusing. Yuezhi walked quickly, and didn't even notice that her toes were hurting from being squeezed all the way down.

In the bedroom of Jianshan Zen Temple.

The imperial physicians scrambled around the bed. Blood was still seeping from Pei Heng's left chest and back, where he had been shot with an arrow. The bright red blood soaked through his black robes. When the arrowhead was removed, the young emperor, who had almost lost consciousness from blood loss, was suddenly awakened by the pain. His face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

The room was filled with a strong smell of blood and medicine. Yuezhi stood a few steps away from the bed, listening to his suppressed cries of pain, her own clothes soaked with tears.

“Aheng…”

She couldn't help but sob, but fearing that her outburst would affect the imperial physician who was saving her life, she quickly swallowed her sobs and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

The faint sound passed through the busy imperial physicians and reached Pei Heng's ears. His tightly closed eyes trembled and slowly opened.

The imperial physician, who was applying pressure to stop the bleeding, hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, you must not move, and you must not speak, as this will aggravate the wound!"

Pei Heng seemed not to hear, and with difficulty turned his head to face the direction from which the crying came, he spoke, his voice barely audible.

"Your Majesty...come to my side..."

Upon hearing this call, Yuezhi's tears flowed even more fiercely. She groped her way forward, and a young eunuch immediately helped her up and led her to the bedside.

Pei Heng slightly raised his hand and pinched her hanging sleeve, gesturing for her to sit down on the edge of his bed.

"I'm alright, don't cry..." The young man's voice was weak, and with each word, a layer of sweat appeared on his forehead, yet he still tried his best to keep his tone light, "What kind of injury haven't I suffered? It's just a crossbow bolt, it won't kill me..."

Before he could finish speaking, he couldn't help but cough violently, and blood immediately gushed from his chest, which frightened the imperial physician so much that his face turned pale.

When Yuezhi heard the noise, her heart clenched.

She followed the grip from his sleeve, groped her way over, and her palm traced across the back of his hand before she grasped his wrist.

"I'm not crying, don't say anything, I know you'll be alright..." She suppressed her sobs, carefully cupped her hands, and held his pulse in her palms.

Pei Heng felt the warm, soft touch on his wrist.

The grip she gave him was so light it was almost imperceptible, yet it felt incredibly heavy, constantly reminding him—he couldn't die. He still had so much to say to her, so many things to do with her, and he hadn't even seen their child born yet…

He stopped talking, simply released the pressure on his arm, and gently took her hand in his own.

The blood that hadn't been wiped away was dry and sticky on his hands. Yuezhi couldn't feel the true lines of his palm, but she felt reassured by the strength in his grip at that moment.

Fear, reluctance, and regret intertwined, causing her heartache. She lowered her head, her body trembling slightly, and let out a low, animalistic wail.

The imperial physicians were still working busily, stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound, applying medicine, and bandaging it.

The stained red cotton cloths were thrown into a clean basin of water one by one. The eunuchs went in and out, and the room was filled with the smell of blood.

Despite the sharp pain in her chest and back, Pei Heng paid little attention, focusing all her attention on their clasped hands. This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to hold her grown-up brother's hand tightly.

Pei Heng turned his gaze away and saw tears streaming down her pale face like rain. Her grief and reluctance to part were because of him, not because of the "Prince Consort"—an inappropriate sweetness and satisfaction welled up in his heart.

He closed his eyes and took a breath.

After an unknown amount of time, the bleeding finally stopped. Pei Heng fainted from exhaustion, and Yue Zhi cried until she had cried all her tears.

"Princess, His Majesty needs to rest. The smell of blood in the room is too strong and will not be good for your health. Please go outside and get some fresh air," the Imperial Physician advised her.

Yuezhi nodded slowly, her expression dazed. With the help of a young eunuch, she stood up, went out the door, and her personal maid rushed over.

"Princess, Sister Huachun has woken up. She has abrasions and is bleeding, so it's inconvenient for me to take care of her. Let me serve you." With that, she reached out to help her up.

Yuezhi released the eunuch and asked him where Jinbao was.

Before long, the young eunuch brought over Eunuch Jinbao. As soon as the two met, Yuezhi anxiously asked, "The Buddhist temple is a quiet place. The Emperor came to pray for blessings, and the mountain and its surroundings were sealed off. How could someone have sneaked in to assassinate him? Have you found anything?"

She looked shaken; the memory of the near-death experience still weighed heavily on her mind.

Jinbao was in a dilemma. He looked into the room through the door and whispered, "This is not the first time His Majesty has been assassinated. This is the third time since he ascended the throne."

Yuezhi was shocked. "How could this be? He never told me that!"

Jinbao gestured for her to lower her voice, saying, "If it were anyone else, this servant would never dare to mention it, but the princess is the person the emperor values ​​most, so this servant has no choice but to tell you."

"It seems that there are remnants of the Crown Prince and the Consort He's maternal family hiding in the capital. They have tried to assassinate the Emperor several times, but fortunately, the Emperor is highly skilled in martial arts and they have prevented them from succeeding. This time, they have even taken advantage of the Emperor's attention to the Princess..."

Those serving nearby could clearly see that the little monk's arrow was aimed at Yuezhi, and Pei Heng risked his life to shield Yuezhi from the arrow.

Yuezhi is blind and unaware of this.

But at that moment, she understood from Jinbao's words, and her heart ached, "He... he did it all for me..."

Jinbao sighed, "Our Emperor is not afraid of anything, except that the princess might suffer. You are pregnant with... pregnant with the little prince, so please don't work so hard here. Go back to Yinian Hall to rest. I will inform you when the Emperor wakes up."

Yuezhi shook her head and asked him in return, "Didn't His Majesty send General Duan to investigate? Did he find anything?"

The person who wanted to kill Pei Heng was still in the capital, and might even be hiding in this Buddhist temple. How could she possibly relax and rest?

Seeing her persistence, Jinbao had no choice but to tell her the truth: "The assassins are all dead. The few imperial guards who were left alive for interrogation have also committed suicide by swallowing poison. There is only a little monk left, who is only eight years old. He won't say anything when asked."

"Little monk?" Yuezhi asked, puzzled. But when she learned that it was the child who had injured Pei Heng with a crossbow, she couldn't bear it any longer.

Immediately have a maid take her to the place where the assassin is being held.

Behind Baoguang Temple, in an abandoned Zen monastery, came a suppressed sob, a muffled sound mixed with the crack of a whip striking flesh.

The sunlight couldn't reach the back mountain, and the pink figure stepping from the road caught the attention of the guards, who were all stunned.

Not only were they amazed by her elegant demeanor and jade-like beauty, but they were also alarmed by the bloodstains on her dress, which clearly indicated that she had come from the side of the wounded emperor.

The crowd knelt and bowed, saying, "This humble general greets the princess."

Yuezhi stopped in her tracks. "No need for formalities, please rise."

Just as he was about to go inside, a member of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and stopped him. "Princess, you are of noble birth. How can you come to such a filthy place? The interrogation will be handled by our general."

"Are you trying to stop me?"

"This humble general dares not, but General Duan's interrogation methods are not very clean. If they offend the princess's eyes and ears, how can we explain this to the Emperor?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a suppressed roar of fury erupted from the courtyard: "Speak! Who ordered this! Who are your accomplices!"

Then came another chilling sizzling sound as the branding iron struck flesh, followed by the little monk's painful scream.

Yuezhi bit her lip, her face pale, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped her sleeve tightly.

She had been in prison before and knew that experienced jailers would play the good cop and the bad cop during interrogations. Duan Yunting's interrogation methods were clearly different. He was a general who had risen through the ranks of the army, so he was naturally ruthless. But how old was that little monk? After enduring such torture, he would probably die before he could even tell the truth.

The mastermind behind the murder must have used some kind of method to make a young monk in a Buddhist temple commit such a crime. Yuezhi was covered in the smell of blood, and thinking of Pei Heng, who was still lying unconscious in bed, she became even more determined.

She wanted to do something for him.

Even if she's blind, she still has a mouth and ears, so she can always find out something, which is better than waiting for Duan Yunting to beat her to death.

"No need to persuade me anymore, I must go in." Her voice was resolute and unwavering.

The Imperial Guards had no choice but to open the gate.

As she entered the courtyard, she was helped by a maid into the dungeon where criminals were imprisoned. This was originally an underground compartment for offering lamps and candles, but it had been abandoned for a long time, and the air was filled with the smell of rotting grass and leaves. As she went deeper, a terrible smell of burning flesh hit her, almost making her faint.

The soft footsteps stopped before the bright candlelight, and the sounds from the dungeon abruptly ceased.

"Who is it?!" Duan Yunting's voice was violent and impatient. He turned his head sharply, and when he saw who it was, the anger between his brows instantly turned into shock and panic.

"Princess? What are you doing... Quick, help the princess out! This is not a place for you."

Yuezhi didn't move. She took another step forward, the chill of the dungeon spreading up from the soles of her shoes, but it didn't make her retreat even a fraction.

"General Duan," she began, trying to keep her voice steady, "I would like to ask him a few questions."

“Princess…” Duan Yunting threw down his whip and strode forward, but dared not get too close, stopping a step away from her. His tone was anxious, “This little brat is stubborn and unruly, a little devil in human skin. He is not worthy of the princess’s condescension to ask. Whatever the princess wants to ask, this humble general will ask for you. This humble general will interrogate him severely and surely pry open his mouth!”

"Is he still alive?" Yuezhi interrupted him, looking in the direction from which the panting sound came.

Duan Yunting was speechless for a moment before finally saying, "Your Highness, I held back my strength; he won't die anytime soon."

"You all go out first. Let me... be alone with him for a while."

"How can this be allowed!" Duan Yunting exclaimed. "What if the princess gets hurt? How will I explain this to the Emperor?"

"He is already chained up and seriously injured, how could he possibly hurt me?" Yuezhi listened to the clanking of the chains as the boy moved slightly, and adopted the demeanor of a princess. "I am here on behalf of the Emperor, General Duan will obey orders."

Duan Yunting's words were all shut down. He thought to himself that the princess was usually gentle and approachable, but he never expected her to have such courage.

She was the person the Emperor was willing to risk his life to save, so Duan Yunting dared not disobey and respectfully withdrew. "We are just outside the door. If the Princess feels unwell, please call me immediately!"

Everyone retreated outside the iron gate, which was not closed completely, leaving a small gap.

Only Yuezhi and the little monk, chained to a rack and barely breathing, remained in the dungeon.

The young monk raised his wary and hostile gaze to stare at the newcomer. Upon seeing her beautiful and gentle face, he couldn't help but tremble in his heart, but he quickly regained his piercing gaze and gritted his teeth.

No matter what she says, he won't say a word.

But then she took a soft breath and asked, "How did you become a monk at such a young age? Where are your parents?"

The young monk was startled and lowered his eyes to hide the grievance in them. "My parents were killed by that dog emperor. I have nowhere to go, so I became a monk here to beg for food."

Perhaps it was her lifeless eyes that were innocent and vulnerable, devoid of any aggression, or perhaps it was her gentle voice and compassionate expression that so closely resembled the mother he had imagined…

The little monk looked away, spat out a mouthful of blood, and said, "You don't need to ask anymore. No one ordered me to do it. I wanted to kill him myself. Let that person beat me to death. I just wanted to go to the underworld to reunite with my parents."

Yuezhi asked calmly, "How did your parents die?"

The little monk was stumped by the question. Little did he know that he had been living in this Buddhist temple since he was a child and had never seen his parents.

"Did they love you?" Yuezhi asked again, a sad longing in her eyes. "I don't have parents either. I was sold by them when I was five years old. They treated me badly. I don't even know if they are alive or dead now."

The young monk's eyes gradually became unfocused. "I...I don't know...I...I've never seen my parents..."

"Is there no one in this temple who cares about you?"

The little monk snorted, "There's only a bunch of bald monks here spouting gibberish. They don't care about me. If it weren't for Liu Niang telling me to stay here peacefully, I would have run away long ago."

"So you have friends too." Yuezhi said calmly.

"Liu Niang isn't just a friend, she's... she's my godmother!"

“I also have a godmother. She treats me very well. She protects me in front of others, combs my hair, secretly gives me snacks, and even sewed several quilts for me by hand. They are very warm to cover myself with.”

She spoke slowly, and the little monk listened intently, his eyes no longer filled with the initial hostility, but with envy and a defiant grumbling, "Liu Niang would also give me delicious food, and she would pat my head, saying that if she patted it for a long time, my hair would grow back."

"I met my godmother while working together. You're in a Buddhist temple, so is Liu Niang a pilgrim here?"

“Her child is gone. She came to pray for her child, saying that after I kill the dog emperor and avenge my parents and her husband, she will take me away and make me her own child.”

What parent would be willing to let their child commit a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family? If they really wanted to take him out as their own child, they wouldn't let him assassinate the emperor.

Yuezhi remained calm and continued the conversation.

“But… you are only eight years old. You have never seen your parents. Your parents must have died at least five years ago. At that time, the emperor was still in Liangzhou in the north. How could he have killed your parents?”

The little monk wore a pained expression. "You're trying to fool me? The emperor lives in the palace; how could he possibly go to a place like Liangzhou?"

"So you didn't know."

"Know what?"

"No." Yuezhi lowered her head regretfully. "It's better not to know."

The little monk got anxious and said, "Don't treat me like a fool. I'm going to die anyway, so just say what you mean and let me die knowing why."

As if exasperated by his call, Yuezhi looked troubled. "I don't know how your parents died, but it couldn't have been the current emperor. He only came to the capital last summer... Could it be that your godmother made a mistake?"

No, that won't happen.

"Perhaps she's heartbroken from losing her husband and has lost her mind?"

"No... Liu Niang couldn't have lied to me. She treated me like her own mother. She..." The little monk wanted to give some evidence, but apart from those delicious pastries, he couldn't think of any other good things Liu Niang had done for him.

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. The wounds on his body from the torture were throbbing. The little monk coughed twice with difficulty, and tears were almost welling up in his eyes.

Yuezhi couldn't see his tears; her face remained as understanding as ever. Smelling the somber, bloody scent in the air, her mind was filled only with thoughts of Pei Heng, who was still unconscious in bed.

It's pitiful that the young monk was used, but what did Pei Heng do wrong? Success always requires sacrifice. Falling at the hands of political enemies is a matter of the victor being the one to suffer, but being betrayed by the people who were able to recuperate under his protection is an insult to a wise ruler.

Being foolish and ignorant is not a sin, but being manipulated into committing a serious crime cannot be excused simply because one was deceived.

She calmed herself down and continued to probe, "Don't worry, she may have her difficulties. I used to be an embroiderer, so I know how hard it is for women to make a living. Liu Niang lost her husband and is raising her child alone. She still has to find time to see you. It must be very hard for her."

The little monk bit his lip. He didn't think that Liu Niang had had it so hard. Liu Niang was very beautiful, with a pleasant fragrance emanating from her. She had a full figure, and compared to the slender and weak "princess" in front of her, Liu Niang looked much more energetic and had the appearance of someone who would enjoy a life of happiness.

“She was a servant in a wealthy household, and that household must have treated her very well. She… didn’t seem like someone who was suffering.”

Yuezhi smiled gently, "How could you know so much while you were in the temple? She must have just said that to comfort you and not want you to worry about her."

Children can't handle being provoked. He didn't believe her, so she started explaining it to him instead.

“It’s true. A few days ago, that lady came looking for her, asking if anyone had seen her. She even came to me. The scent of the perfume that lady was using was exactly the same as the scent of Liu Niang. I could not be mistaken.”

Yuezhi showed a keen interest and had a maid bring in a bowl of water. She drank half of it herself and fed the other half to the little monk to moisten his throat.

"It seems that Lady Liu is doing quite well... It's a pity that you took revenge on the wrong person and injured the current emperor. Otherwise, I could have pleaded with him to release you and let you become Lady Liu's son."

The young monk fell silent.

Before he could answer, Yuezhi knew that he had already said almost everything he knew.

"Are you talking to me because of Liu Niang?" The little monk's voice was particularly dejected.

Yuezhi shook her head, her voice gentle, "Like you, I was once a child with a hard life. The emperor and I depended on each other for survival. We suffered together and endured the cold. At that time, he promised me that when he became successful, he would give me a good life... He kept all his promises to me."

She looked in the direction of the little monk and asked, "Do you think that if I let someone release you, and Liu Niang finds out you're still alive, she'll take you back?"

The little monk fell silent again.

Children who are not loved are precocious. He understood very early on that Liu Niang's kindness to him was conditional. If he did not do as Liu Niang said, she would abandon him and go to find someone else. There would be no snacks, no care, and not even a smile from her.

He lowered his eyes resignedly. "Princess, you are the first person to talk to me for so long. You are a good person."

"I also hope you are a good person."

"I may not have another chance... I shouldn't have killed anyone, now I'm going to die myself."

Yuezhi patiently said, "If you can tell me any other information about this assassination attempt, I can plead with the Emperor for leniency."

“If you do not wish to stay in the Buddhist temple, you can go to the orphanage in the city. There are many children like you who have no parents. The emperor is diligent and loves his people. This spring, there has been abundant rainfall, and the people have surplus food. You will not go hungry even in the orphanage.”

"His Majesty values ​​promises above all else. I am a princess bestowed upon me by him, so naturally I will not tarnish his reputation and will keep my word."

The young monk remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with conflict.

Should he protect Liu Niang, who hides her identity from him and asks him to assassinate the emperor under the guise of a mother-son pact, or should he trust the blind, honest, and devoted princess before him?

Her pink and white dress hung on the dirty ground, with bloodstains still visible on the folds. She didn't let the general continue to beat or threaten her. Even when drinking water, she drank half of it first, letting him drink the other half without worry...

Liu Niang said, "Those who treat others with sincerity are fools. Only by using any means necessary to achieve one's goals can one succeed."

He didn't know what she was thinking.

But it certainly doesn't mean doing things like being family with him.

The little monk sobbed twice, then finally spoke, "I know something else."

That was a secret that could destroy Liu Niang.

The mountains and forests were silent, and the back hills, where the sun never shone, were shrouded in a persistent shadow, with only the egrets flying overhead and the pink-clad birds walking among the hills adding a touch of brightness.

*

After a major calamity, the Buddhist temple was in chaos. However, after searching for witnesses and evidence and strengthening security, things quickly returned to normal.

As the night passed, the morning sunlight streamed into the room.

Pei Heng felt a dull pain in his body, as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest. Every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain, and his throat was filled with the metallic sweetness of rust and the bitterness of medicine.

He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and it took him a while to adjust to the light in the room.

It was a bright, sunny day. The sunlight streaming in through the window shone directly onto the floor, illuminating the entire room.

As his senses gradually returned, he heard the even breathing sounds around him.

Turning my head to the side, I saw a little face fast asleep.

Yuezhi sat on a chair by the bed, her upper body resting on the headboard, her head on her bent arm, fast asleep.

Perhaps because of worry, even in her sleep, her brows were slightly furrowed, a few strands of hair slipped from her temples, and her fair face was filled with fragility and exhaustion.

Their faces were so close that her soft breath even brushed against his lips, making them itch unbearably and causing him to unconsciously purse his lips.

His eyes were fixed on her, and for a moment he forgot the pain in his body. His heartbeat was exceptionally clear in the quiet bedroom.

Has Yuezhi been staying here with him all this time?

Being able to fall asleep next to him means how much you trust him.

A warm current surged from the depths of his heart, instantly dispelling the pain and weakness in his body. A surge of heat coursed through him, instantly flowing to every part of his body, making his chest ache with a feeling of immense comfort. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

That arrow was well worth the effort.

Yuezhi wasn't sleeping soundly; she was worried about his injury and woke up when she heard a noise beside her.

She groggily looked up and instinctively noticed his breathing; it was much stronger, no longer the faint, unsettling sound.

"Aheng?" The voice was hoarse and soft, as if she had just woken up. She called softly as she reached out and carefully explored towards his neck.

Her fingertips touched the side of his neck, casually tracing his prominent Adam's apple, moving from his collarbone to his chest. The young man's pectoral muscles were soft when his body was relaxed. Her fingers bypassed the bandaged wound, opening them through his nightgown, and through his broad chest, she could feel his strong heartbeat.

Thankfully, my heart is still beating.

She touched his neck before going to bed last night and it was still ice cold, which terrified her. Luckily, he was in good health and pulled through.

"Yuezhi..." The young man's slightly hoarse voice rang in her ears.

Yuezhi didn't think much about how this hoarse "Yuezhi" was different from the soft call she had heard when she was in love with her husband in the past; her heart was filled with Pei Heng's pain.

He asked anxiously, "How are you feeling? Is the wound still very painful? Don't you feel hot?"

Overwhelmed with worry, a pair of hands wandered over his face and chest, unsure of where to place them. This haphazard touch ignited a spark within Pei Heng.

Her soft fingertips traced across his skin through the thin nightgown, sending a shiver of intense pleasure through him. His shoulders, arms, and collarbones, touched by her touch, became unusually sensitive, as if the blood was rushing to his head, and the muscles beneath his skin tensed uncontrollably.

A heat surged uncontrollably up to his ears, and Pei Heng could clearly feel his cheeks burning.

Is it because it's morning?

It's probably been too long since I've...done that.

It would be too hasty of him to lose control just because she touched him a few times through his clothes.

The heat there was impossible for him to ignore. He should have avoided the unsettling touch, but his body remained motionless, a damp clamor emanating from the depths of his heart: Not enough... more... touch him more, just a little more...

Pei Heng bit his lower lip tightly, swallowing his hot, moist breath.

Not hearing his reply, Yuezhi panicked instead, "Are you feeling unwell? I'll go and call the imperial physician."

She got up to leave, but her sleeve was grabbed.

"No need." The young man's voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment. "My sister, please stay with me... cough cough, just for a little while. I don't want to take my medicine yet."

He was glad that Yuezhi couldn't see him; otherwise, she would have been terrified by his sweaty face, flushed cheeks, and the unusual appearance of the blanket.

Because she is blind, he can lie openly and blatantly, coaxing her to sit back down beside him, looking at her face, smelling her fragrance, and stealing a moment of pleasure from her fingertips, just an arm's length away.

Yuezhi's world returned to quiet darkness, and she could faintly hear his muffled breathing—he must have been in a lot of pain after waking up from his unconsciousness, but he was deliberately trying not to let her hear it.

He's always so considerate, bearing all the hardships himself.

She had no idea that the young man she had praised in her heart was kissing her lips with his gaze, tracing her figure, and connecting those sweet memories of blood and milk from the past, stirring up wave after wave of hot breath in the hidden darkness.

The young man's eyes seemed to be burning with fire; perhaps the blood on his body had stirred up some hidden violent impulse within him, and nothing was enough.

I want to kiss her so much, I want to kiss her so much, I want to kiss her so much.

His bitten lower lip was filled with the metallic sweetness of rust, and he called out impatiently, "Sister, come closer..."

Hearing his voice tremble slightly, Yuezhi immediately became worried. As he instructed, she leaned forward, groped for support on either side of him, and slowly lowered herself down.

"Aheng, what's wrong?"

Suddenly, the back of her head was grabbed, and lips carrying the metallic taste of blood roughly kissed her from below. Because it was so sudden and fierce, teeth slammed into her lips, causing her to close her eyes in pain and her breathing to become erratic.

She thought it was an impulsive attachment after escaping death, and didn't push him away immediately. Little did she know that her momentary tolerance would easily send the young emperor to ecstasy.