Chapter 153 Doubts in My Heart
The next day, the secret guards quickly brought news that Empress Dowager Yu had died from poisoning, and her body had been cleaned up. The only public announcement was that Empress Dowager Yu had gone outside the palace to cultivate herself.
Upon hearing the news, Chu Huaiyu, who was in the Imperial Study, curled up a satisfied, cold smile.
Chu Siheng is the next target Chu Huaiyu wants to crush completely. He wants Chu Siheng to pay the most painful price for his past "unique advantages" in despair and pain.
...
Lu Zhaoxue keenly sensed that ever since Chu Huaiyu returned from the Taihang Mountains, this emperor who ruled over the vast land seemed to have completely changed.
Chu Huaiyu had always treated her very well, but she still retained a sliver of reason.
In the past, when the memorials piled up in Chu Huaiyu's study, he was often so busy that he didn't even have time to step into Chengqian Palace.
However, after his trip to Taihang Mountain, Chu Huaiyu changed completely. Now, even when discussing matters in the Imperial Study, Chu Huaiyu makes Lu Zhaoxue wait for him in the inner hall.
After the meeting, Chu Huaiyu strode into the inner hall with a look of urgency. His gaze landed precisely on Lu Zhaoxue, and the next second he walked straight up to her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Zhaoxue, Zhaoxue." Chu Huaiyu rested his chin on the top of Lu Zhaoxue's head, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"I am so busy every day that I only have time to spend with you after I have finished dealing with state affairs."
Lu Zhaoxue was often caught off guard when Chu Huaiyu suddenly hugged her. Each time, Lu Zhaoxue could clearly feel the vibration of Chu Huaiyu's chest and feel his heart beating powerfully, with a kind of fearful longing.
Lu Zhaoxue felt increasingly uneasy.
The palace servants were all used to it. Seeing the emperor and empress so affectionate, they all tactfully withdrew from the inner hall. Soon, only Chu Huaiyu and Lu Zhaoxue remained in the hall.
Chu Huaiyu held Lu Zhaoxue tightly, refusing to let go for a long time.
Sometimes, he would lower his head and place delicate and lingering kisses on Lu Zhaoxue's hair, neck, and earlobes. His kisses were light and urgent, making Lu Zhaoxue feel uncomfortable all over.
Chu Huaiyu's clingy and intimate behavior was far too inappropriate and unfamiliar to Lu Zhaoxue.
Even when Chu Huaiyu was clinging to her before, he wasn't like this now...
Lu Zhaoxue tried to refuse several times, but as expected, it only made Chu Huaiyu more aggressive.
Lu Zhaoxue was feeling a little uncomfortable being held so tightly by him, so she shifted her body, trying to break free from Chu Huaiyu's embrace.
"Zhaoxue, don't move." Chu Huaiyu's voice was muffled, carrying a hint of vulnerability that was hard to detect.
"Let me hold you a little longer, just a little while."
Chu Huaiyu's tone was too humble, completely unlike his usual self. Lu Zhaoxue's hand froze in mid-air, and she felt a mix of emotions.
Their daytime infatuation was already this intense, but at night, Chu Huaiyu's passion became so intense that it was almost suffocating.
After dinner, the palace servants would lay out the mandarin duck brocade quilt early and light the calming pear-shaped incense in the tent.
Chu Huaiyu removed his bright yellow imperial robes, wearing only a plain undergarment, which made him appear even more refined and elegant.
Chu Huaiyu held Lu Zhaoxue's hand tightly, his gaze carefully tracing her eyebrows, the tip of her nose, and her lips, calling Lu Zhaoxue's name again and again.
The flickering red candles cast a warm glow on the curtains. Chu Huaiyu held Lu Zhaoxue in his arms, letting her rest her head on his arm and listen to the steady, powerful beat of his heart.
Chu Huaiyu's fingertips would occasionally brush against Lu Zhaoxue's hair.
Sometimes, when Lu Zhaoxue was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping and she had already fallen asleep, Chu Huaiyu would still keep his gaze fixed on her face, not wanting to miss a moment, with an almost obsessive focus.
Chu Huaiyu's gaze was too intense, as if he wanted to etch Lu Zhaoxue's image deeply into his mind.
His obsessive gaze eventually made Lu Zhaoxue wake up one day and find herself feeling increasingly uncomfortable, sometimes tossing and turning and unable to fall asleep.
Finally, one night, Lu Zhaoxue was so bothered by Chu Huaiyu that she couldn't sleep all night. She couldn't help but yell at him, saying that she had been bothered by Chu Huaiyu during the day without a moment's peace, and now he was doing this at night too!
But Chu Huaiyu only kept admitting his mistakes, remaining completely unmoved by reason, leaving Lu Zhaoxue at a loss for what to do.
One night, Chu Huaiyu had just finished dealing with government affairs when he rushed to Chengqian Palace. As he reached out to hug Lu Zhaoxue, she suddenly turned away.
Lu Zhaoxue turned around, her back to Chu Huaiyu, and said in a colder tone, "Your Majesty, I am tired and would like to rest first."
Lu Zhaoxue's voice was filled with obvious impatience and aloofness, and the temperature in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.
Chu Huaiyu's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. He looked at Lu Zhaoxue's back, his eyes flashing with panic, but without a trace of anger.
He cautiously approached Lu Zhaoxue from behind, his voice carrying a flattering tone: "Zhaoxue, it's my fault, I'm too annoying, I disturbed your rest."
"Don't be angry with me, okay?" The humility in Chu Huaiyu's tone made Lu Zhaoxue extremely uncomfortable.
Lu Zhaoxue closed her eyes, trying to suppress the anger in her heart, and thought about her daughter and Siheng.
Chu Huaiyu, as the supreme ruler, a king revered by all, had never before humbled himself to such an extent to coax anyone. Yet, in front of Lu Zhaoxue, he had completely abandoned all moral boundaries…
Before Lu Zhaoxue could respond, Chu Huaiyu couldn't help but gently hug her from behind.
This time, however, he moved very gently, controlling his strength just right, afraid of upsetting Lu Zhaoxue again.
Chu Huaiyu buried his face in Lu Zhaoxue's neck, his warm breath brushing against her neck, his tone tinged with grievance: "Zhaoxue, I really just... just too scared."
Lu Zhaoxue bit her lip and had no choice but to hold back again, ultimately not pushing Chu Huaiyu away.
She knew what he was afraid of...
In the dead of night, after Chu Huaiyu had fallen into a deep sleep, Lu Zhaoxue suddenly opened her eyes, her mind racing with thoughts of what had happened during Chu Huaiyu's trip to the Taihang Mountains.
Chu Huaiyu's unusually persistent and almost obsessive affection could not have been without reason! Something must have happened!
This unease, like a fine needle, gently pricked Lu Zhaoxue's heart, preventing her from falling asleep peacefully.
It seems I should ask Sister Xinzhu to write a letter to Chu Siheng.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhaoxue looked at the sleeping man beside her, and the doubts in her heart grew even stronger.
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