"Miss Qin? Miss Qin?" A familiar voice suddenly rang in my ears.
Qin Wen suddenly opened her eyes. She stared blankly at the person who had called her, and realized that the person who had called her was none other than the emperor Zhao Yi, who had just made love to her in her dream.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" she quickly bowed and greeted.
Zhao Yi looked around and saw no palace maids attending to him. He asked in confusion, "It's getting late, Miss Qin, why are you alone in this secluded place?"
"I..." Qin Wen sighed softly. She couldn't very well say that she got lost here because she was upset because her sister told her that Zhao Yi had no intention of taking her into the palace.
Then, tired, I unknowingly fell asleep on the covered walkway and had an embarrassing erotic dream.
"I was just preoccupied with something, and I accidentally wandered here. I got lost, and I was so tired and sleepy that I fell asleep." Qin Wen's voice grew softer and softer. She lowered her head and twisted her hands, looking like a shy young girl meeting her lover.
As the night deepened, moonlight pierced through the clouds, sometimes shining brightly like a ribbon, sometimes veiled by a light, gauze-like cloud, adding a touch of mystery and romance to the tranquil night.
Standing amidst the interplay of light and shadow, Qin Wen appeared even more gentle and charming, like a fairy under the moon, untouched by worldly dust.
Zhao Yi's gaze was gentle and profound as he stared at Qin Wen, secretly admiring her.
This second daughter of the Qin family is not only stunningly beautiful, but also possesses an intelligence and talent unlike that of ordinary women, making her hard to ignore.
His words carried a hint of jest, yet also a touch of seriousness: "Yesterday, Miss Qin spoke with a beaming smile, mentioning her desire to find a suitable husband, someone like me. Could it be that this is truly her heart's desire?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Wen's face instantly turned crimson. She had not expected Zhao Yi to suddenly bring up this matter, nor had she expected him to ask so directly.
In her panic, she forgot the proper etiquette and called him "brother-in-law." She then hurriedly corrected herself, trying to cover up her blunder: "Your Majesty, I misspoke. It was just a joke. I hope Your Majesty will not take offense."
Zhao Yi chuckled softly, his laughter drifting in the night breeze, carrying a subtle tenderness and profound meaning.
He slowly sat down next to Qin Wen.
Qin Wen felt Zhao Yi's presence approaching, and her heart became even more tense. She straightened her back, unconsciously folded her hands on her knees, lowered her eyes, and dared not meet Zhao Yi's gaze.
"Although you did not take it seriously, I have already taken your words to heart."
Qin Wen's heart skipped a beat. What did the Emperor mean by this?
Could it be that he was just pretending to refuse to take me into his harem in front of my sister, and now he's bringing up what he said last night in front of me, and that he actually thinks the same thing as me?
She couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.
But Zhao Yi changed the subject, saying, "Our Great Xuan and Yun Dynasty have a good relationship, and the people live in peace and prosperity. The new emperor of Yun Dynasty has just ascended the throne, and the harem is empty. He needs a virtuous and capable woman to be the empress and jointly govern the country. I have observed that you are of superior appearance and talent. If you can become the empress of Yun Dynasty, you will surely be a model for the country and bring glory to your family."
Upon hearing those words, Qin Wen's heart was filled with turmoil. Her face suddenly darkened, as if autumn water had been covered with frost. She remained silent, her expression revealing undisguised astonishment and helplessness.
She never expected that Zhao Yi would have such a plan, pushing her into the palace of another country to become a concubine, or even an empress, of a strange emperor.
This sudden turn of events caught her off guard and left her with mixed feelings.
She looked up at Zhao Yi, trying to find the answer in his eyes, but all she saw was a deep and unfathomable gaze.
At that moment, she suddenly felt a chill run through her body.
So that's what my sister meant: the heart of an emperor is unfathomable.
That's how it is.
"Your Majesty, I..." Qin Wen hesitated, unsure how to respond to Zhao Yi's suggestion.
Disobeying an imperial decree was a capital offense punishable by confiscation of property and beheading. Despite her willfulness, she still understood the importance of the bigger picture.
Seeing her hesitate, Zhao Yi stood up and said, "It's getting late. I'm going to the Empress's palace anyway. You'll come with me!"
Qin Wen hurriedly followed behind him.
Throughout the journey, Zhao Yi remained silent, only occasionally casting inquiring glances his way.
Qin Wen was filled with anxiety, and could only try her best to remain calm and not let her emotions show.
Finally, the two arrived at the Queen's palace.
The Empress was enjoying her tea when she saw Zhao Yi and Qin Wen arrive together. A gentle smile appeared on her face. She put down her teacup, rose, and bowed to Zhao Yi, saying, "Your Majesty, may you be well."
Zhao Yi nodded, indicating that she didn't need to be so polite.
The Empress turned to look at Qin Wen, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "Wen'er, the palace servants are looking for you everywhere. I guessed you must have been wandering around restlessly and got lost..."
"They were indeed lost, but luckily I ran into them," Zhao Yi explained simply.
Upon hearing this, the Empress smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the Emperor. If it were anyone else, they would probably say that I, as the elder sister, have neglected my younger sister."
Qin Wen lowered her head guiltily and was led away by a palace maid.
Zhao Yi slowly walked to Qin Sheng's side, gently took her hand, and said softly, "On my way back, I tentatively mentioned to Miss Qin that I wished to arrange a marriage between her and the new emperor of Yun Dynasty to strengthen the friendship between our two countries. However, she did not express her feelings clearly, as if she had something difficult to say. You two are sisters with a deep bond, and I think you might be able to find out her true thoughts. If she is unwilling to leave her homeland, I will not force her, after all, friendship and feelings require mutual consent."
Qin Sheng's hand holding the teacup trembled violently, and the teacup almost fell to the ground.
She calmly replied, “It is truly Wen’er’s blessing to be able to share Your Majesty’s burdens. The Qin family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, guarding the territory of Da Xuan. If we can promote peace between Da Xuan and Yun Chao through marriage, it would be the Qin family’s greatest honor and duty. I will do my best to ascertain Wen’er’s intentions and live up to Your Majesty’s high expectations.”
Zhao Yi gently patted the back of her hand and said, "The Empress is indeed my wise and capable wife. There are still matters to attend to in the Imperial Study, so the Empress should rest early."
After seeing Zhao Yi off, Qin Sheng stood at the palace gate, gazing blankly at the deep night sky for a while.
Sending Qin Wen to be the Empress of Yun Dynasty? Don't even think about it!
Her original intention was to use Qin Wen to ruin Song Jin, but Qin Wen's words last night made Zhao Yi consider marrying her off to Yun Chao.
After much deliberation, Qin Sheng decided to move the plan forward.
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