Chapter 23 Pleasing them with meat as bait, and whipping them as punishment.
The Wenyuan Hall was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.
Emperor Qian Yuan raised his hand and placed the broken pen aside, making a very soft "tap" sound as it touched the table.
Wen Miao's heart skipped a beat.
She could have lied; she knew what answer the emperor wanted to hear. But just before that false answer was about to slip out, Wen Miao suddenly decided to test the emperor's limits.
In the past, she wouldn't have dared to do that.
But now, the emperor's actions have emboldened Wen Miao.
She wanted to know just how powerful this weapon, which belonged to her and was called "Imperial Favor," really was.
The emperor, his hand still around Wen Miao's waist, spoke in a low voice: "Won't my wife even lie to me?"
She said, "Even if you lie, it won't become real."
Wen Miao looked at the incense burner standing in the hall not far away. It was golden and reflected a few warm rays of light from the candlelight. She could vaguely see a blurry shadow—it was her and the emperor.
Emperor Qianyuan followed Wen Miao's gaze and looked over.
The dark gold incense burner reflected the image of his wife sitting in his lap. Her thick, long hair fell down, with a few playful strands occasionally brushing against her light-colored nightgown. The hem of her skirt rippled, and her feet, clad only in silk stockings, could not touch the ground, yet they did not want to be close to him, so they could only cautiously stick up, like a crescent moon.
At this moment, the lady is vulnerable and easily bullied. Without the embellishments of her daytime finery, hairpins, and makeup, she appears more real and closer to the incomparably noble goddess in his dreams.
He said, "But I do hope that my wife will be willing to deceive me."
He has power, status, and wealth. He hopes his wife has ulterior motives towards him and is willing to be used by her. At least this way, it can show that he has something that can attract his wife.
Thinking of this, the emperor smiled.
His voice and chest trembled slightly, making a rustling sound that sent shivers down Wen Miao's spine, causing her to involuntarily shift in his arms.
The emperor's breathing suddenly became heavy. His burning palm was pressed against Wen Miao's abdomen. The friction through the thin nightgown was clear enough for Wen Miao to feel the calluses on the emperor's palms from years of martial arts practice and writing.
With almost the slightest movement, brushing against Wen Miao's lower abdomen, her hair trembled.
"Um……"
Wen Miao's unconscious nasal voice fell into the quiet Wenyuan Hall—very light—as light as a feather falling to the ground. She quickly pursed her lips, her whole body instantly stiffening, and as expected, she felt the hands on her waist suddenly tighten.
Wen Miao is not an ignorant little girl who has never experienced anything. Her body is mature and has been nourished by desire in the past. Although she has amnesia and does not remember her past, some signals hidden inside her body can tell her the answers about the changes in her body.
The atmosphere inside the hall changed completely at this moment.
The emperor, who was sitting on the throne, suddenly brushed aside the memorials on the table, put his arms around the beautiful woman in his arms, and easily lifted her up to sit on the table.
Wen Miao's vision shifted rapidly. She placed her hands on the emperor's shoulders, her soft summer skirt fluttering and almost covering most of the table.
The sandalwood dragon-patterned imperial desk was wide and long, with a bright yellow table runner covering the slightly cool wood surface. The embroidered pattern of a five-clawed golden dragon coiled around it, and one could vaguely see the fine gold threads on the dragon scales shimmering. Even the dragon's eyes gleamed with majesty, but they were half covered by the woman's skirt, as if intentionally hidden within, giving it a mysterious and alluring appearance.
In this posture, Wen Miao, sitting on the desk, looked down at Emperor Qian Yuan.
Wen Miao curled her fingertips, and her bare feet landed right on the emperor's thigh because of his movement. It was hot and burning, and she could clearly feel the throbbing muscles and veins on the emperor's leg through her silk stockings.
Everything was brimming with an undeniable heat.
"Isn't everything I possess something your wife desires?"
The emperor, sitting in his chair, leaned forward, looking up at Wen Miao, his body almost touching the lady's legs.
Whether she has amnesia or not, Wen Miao thinks her personality shouldn't be too different. She doesn't have strong ambitions and has always been content with what she has. For her, being able to be with her family, make one or two good friends, and live a rich and peaceful life is enough.
It can be said that Emperor Qianyuan was the biggest variable after she accepted her identity.
So Wen Miao replied softly, "But I already have enough."
The emperor lowered his head and kissed his wife's knee.
He acted like a villain in front of his wife, but it seems he wasn't completely evil enough—
He could have left his wife trapped in the mud after she regained her memory, he could have left her all alone, he could have even let her experience an even worse, more terrifying situation, and then appeared as her savior...
On the day he first learned that his wife might have lost her memory, he couldn't think of these terrible things at all. Instead, he spent the whole night searching through the secret letters sent by Cheng Yingwei from all over the country, hoping to find a suitable and perfect family to settle his wife in.
He had arranged everything in advance, so the lady said she had enough.
Emperor Qianyuan was somewhat pleased. He thought his wife was lovely, so easy to please, and so kind, but unfortunately she had encountered a greedy man like him.
"But my wife cannot refuse me either."
The emperor smiled, his large hand tracing Wen Miao's ankle. His voice was hoarse and calm, yet every word he spoke made Wen Miao's eyes widen—
"Madam, be a little more willful and daring."
"You can even ride on my head."
“I know that the lady wants to test me and see my bottom line, but this alone is not enough to find out.”
At this moment, Emperor Qian Yuan still looked up at Wen Miao with deep and gentle eyes, but Wen Miao felt a chill in her heart—those eyes seemed to be able to see through her everything. She had nowhere to hide in front of this supreme ruler, and everything was seen through her.
The unease of having her secret thoughts exposed began to creep up from every part of Wen Miao's body.
Her body trembled slightly, and she bit her lower lip. Due to shame and fear, the blush on her face faded slightly, but her eyes became misty with physiological moisture.
How could she possibly outmaneuver an emperor?
The emperor's heart softened as he looked at the pitiful yet endearing appearance of the beautiful woman on the table.
He liked to look up at his wife so that he could see all the changes in her expression, her trembling eyelashes, her soft pupils, and her lips that were bitten red.
Her endearing nature made Emperor Qianyuan helplessly grasp Wen Miao's leg and whisper, "My lady, do you even need me to teach you how to be arrogant because of my favor?"
This time, the emperor didn't ask any questions. Instead, he stood up, put one hand on Wen Miao's lower back, held her calf with the other, and kissed her lips, which were red and pitiful from being bitten by his wife.
It started with just a very light touch.
It is the friction between the lips.
Startled by this action, Wen Miao was caught off guard and stood there stunned, her eyelashes wet with tears. It wasn't until the other person's lips brushed against her temple that she belatedly realized what Emperor Qian Yuan had just done.
The woman on the table wanted to make a sound, but the Emperor Qian Yuan kissed her earlobe, causing her to swallow back her soft moan.
Wen Miao realized just how sensitive her earlobes were.
Emperor Qianyuan kept this reaction in mind.
The lady's body was aroused.
In the brief moment between kisses on the skin of the beautiful woman in his arms, Emperor Qian Yuan asked in a hoarse voice, "Does my lady know how to tame beasts?"
Wen Miao trembled all over, her face flushed, and even her fair skin under her thin clothes was flushed with a blush.
The emperor, standing between her legs, spoke slowly and deliberately, like a teacher, saying, "It is said that there is an ancient tribe in the far north called the 'Northern E Clan,' who live in caves in the mountains and make a living by hunting and taming animals."
Wen Miao was familiar with what Emperor Qian Yuan was saying.
The "Records of Natural History: Northern Regions" states: "There is a man in the north named Bei'e. He was born in the wilderness, skilled in hunting and taming animals. He used meat as bait and whipped them to train them. He was clear about rewards and punishments, and the animals obeyed him."
The emperor's voice was hoarse but slow, uttering each word deliberately, as if he were explaining the contents of the "Record of Diverse Things" to the "goddess" he held in his arms. As he spoke, he gently kissed Wenmiao's temples, earlobes, and cheeks, taking advantage of her.
"A beast needs to be rewarded to make it obedient."
"You should treat me the same way, my lady."
A soft gasp escaped Wen Miao's throat. Her fingers gripped the soft fabric of her dress tightly. She tried to close her legs, but to no avail; her trembling only intensified. A few words drifted through her mind in a daze—
“Use meat as bait and whips as punishment.”
Now she has become the meat that the emperor holds in his mouth, regarding it as a delicacy.
The bright yellow table runner on the imperial desk was completely covered by the woman's skirt, and the majestic dragon coiled in the center had also disappeared into the soft gauze, appearing hazy and indistinct. In the distance, one could only vaguely see it holding a flower petal, bowing down to the owner of the skirt.
He wants to please her, and he is doing so now.
Wen Miao's calves trembled, she was covered in a fine sweat, and her chest heaved. Tears blurred her vision due to shame and her physical reaction. Her fingers were tightly clenched together, and she even messed up the emperor's tied-up black hair.
The force was not light, but not heavy either; it even trembled and rustled.
The screens inside the Wenyuan Hall are arranged horizontally, creating a completely private space for the hall's owner.
The embroidered patterns of mountains and rivers on the screen flickered in the candlelight, appearing to flow slowly as if imbued with life, making it impossible to glimpse the scene on the other side, with only the occasional soft sound of water.
After a long while, the light on the bronze phoenix candlestick flickered.
The emperor sat back on his throne, his expression unchanged, only his hair was slightly disheveled and his lips were tinged with a thin layer of water. He held Wen Miao, who was trembling slightly, in his arms and gently stroked the back of her neck and back to comfort her.
Tears still welled in Wen Miao's eyes, threatening to fall but not quite. This sight darkened Emperor Qian Yuan's gaze, and he almost couldn't suppress the beast residing in his heart.
Emperor Qianyuan, as if a student were asking a question, asked in a low voice, "What does the lady think?"
Wen Miao was so ashamed and indignant that the blush on her cheeks wouldn't fade. She glared at the emperor with anger in her eyes. Because she was weak all over and her legs and heart were numb, her glare was not frightening, but rather had a different kind of charm.
He wished Wen Miao would agree to his request right now, allowing him to stand openly and honorably by Wen Miao's side and assume the role of "husband".
Seeing that his wife was annoyed, the emperor immediately tried to coax her carefully.
"Please don't be angry, my lady. I just want you to feel comfortable."
"The heat has been intense lately, and I know you have been tossing and turning at night. I have placed many ice basins in the palace, but I am worried that you will experience menstrual cramps later."
"I once asked the imperial physicians, and they said that proper relaxation can help women sleep better..."
Emperor Qian Yuan couldn't say what he was going to say next because Wen Miao, unable to bear it any longer, raised her hand and slapped the emperor's chin.
Or perhaps it shouldn't be called a "hit," since Wen Miao didn't have much strength at the moment, and the slap on the emperor's cheek was just a light touch. Before she could even make a sound, Emperor Qian Yuan grabbed her hand and rubbed it against his high nose.
The thought of where that nose bridge had once stood made Wen Miao blush instantly, and her body trembled uncontrollably, whether from lingering fear or from a craving for more.
How could there be such a wicked and despicable person as Emperor Qianyuan in this world!
She tried to slow her breathing, and a rare hint of sarcasm appeared on her usually gentle lips: "Then I should thank His Majesty?"
"You're too kind, Madam. It's my duty."
When facing Wen Miao, Emperor Qian Yuan was probably the most shameless person in the world; he was not ashamed at all, but rather proud of it.
The emperor's hand was still rubbing Wen Miao's slightly cramped lower abdomen as he slowly said, "I have already received the gift of thanks. It is I who should thank my lady."
Upon hearing the words "thank you gift," Wen Miao paused for a moment, then suddenly came to her senses, "You..."
"Madam, have some tea to soothe your throat."
Emperor Qian Yuan offered her a cup of warm tea, pressing it against Wen Miao's rosy, moist lips.
Wen Miao's skin was already burning from the previous passion, and being held in the emperor's warm and robust arms made her throat dry. Seeing the tea being offered to her lips, she didn't want to continue arguing with Emperor Qian Yuan. "I'll do it myself."
"Let me serve you, my lady."
Emperor Qian Yuan gently pressed Wen Miao's elbow, which was held between his thumb and forefinger. "You are already weak, and you are still trembling after this trip. You need to continue to take good care of yourself."
His wife was soft and delicate all over, and he touched her with great care. He was afraid that she would suffer if she did not recover her health before their wedding, so he decided to take precautions.
He could only feel at ease as long as Wen Miao was healthy.
Seeing that Emperor Qian Yuan had said both good and bad things, Wen Miao was not used to his hands-on approach, but she could only blush and reluctantly accept it, hoping that the emperor would shut up and stop talking about whether to go or not, or whether to tremble or not!
After drinking half a cup of tea, Wen Miao was carried by Emperor Qian Yuan and placed on the chaise longue where she had been leaning.
Wen Miao didn't know what Wenyuan Hall used to look like. She only knew that when the emperor led her in on the first day, she felt that the place was just as comfortable as the emperor's bedroom. The decorations, the color scheme, and even the flowers in the jade vase were all to her liking.
The feeling was as if she were in the Qin Garden of the Xie Mansion, and she could feel a sense of closeness to this deep palace.
The beautiful woman sitting on the couch unconsciously asked a question.
Inside the hall, Emperor Qianyuan chuckled softly, "It's probably because my wife and I get along so well."
Wen Miao couldn't help but glare at the emperor again.
When they first met, she thought he was mature and steady, like a wise and unfathomable gentleman. But now she only felt that he was like a shameless bandit.
The emperor smiled, not annoyed by his wife's glare, but rather pleased with it.
As for the question the lady had asked him earlier...
He had seen her in his dreams for so many years, through thousands of days and nights. He probably understood her better than Wen Miao herself—he knew Wen Miao's little gestures when she was uneasy, she knew her taste preferences, she knew what plants and colors she liked, and he even remembered her menstrual cycle from the past...
Every detail, big or small, was etched deep into Emperor Qian Yuan's mind. In those decades, his pursuit, yearning, and even obsession with the goddess in his dreams became ingrained in his very being, becoming a part of him, an instinct in his thinking and behavior.
Therefore, whether it was the emperor's bedroom, the Wenyuan Hall, or the Xie family's Qinyuan Garden far outside the palace, every environment where Wen Miao had lived and felt comfortable was meticulously attended to by Emperor Qian Yuan.
Right now, the beast, feeling grateful for the "gift," has become submissive and obedient, putting into practice the so-called "beast taming" rhetoric in front of Wen Miao.
"I will massage your shoulders and legs."
A plump and languidly beautiful woman lay on the couch, forced to accept the emperor's courtesan service.
After the passion subsided, Wen Miao did indeed feel noticeably tired and languid, just as Emperor Qian Yuan had said. Even the summer heat had subsided considerably. Even so, she was still somewhat uneasy, constantly listening carefully to the emperor's movements behind her, afraid that he would become clingy and persistent in his approach.
—When Wen Miao was sitting at the imperial desk earlier, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the shadow under the emperor's robes. That glance really startled her. She felt that Emperor Qian Yuan was so strong and intimidating everywhere.
As time passed and the night grew dark, Wen Miao finally succumbed to sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.
After her breathing became deeper, Emperor Qian Yuan stopped what he was doing, sat sideways on the couch, and looked deeply into Wen Miao's eyes.
Wen Miao, who was already fast asleep, still had a flush on her face. Her long hair was cascading down her back. She was resting her head on her arm, and her eyelashes, which were not completely dry, were still stuck together with strands of tears, making her extremely attractive.
The emperor watched for a while, then carefully raised his arm and lifted the person back from the chaise longue.
This voluptuous body, with its exquisite curves, had already become familiar with the Emperor's embrace last winter. It was the arm that had comforted and cared for her on several nights when Wenmiao was running a high fever and delirious. Therefore, when she sensed the Emperor's body temperature and breath, she unconsciously snuggled closer and spontaneously found the most comfortable position.
As she leaned forward, the jade key hidden in Wen Miao's collar slipped out halfway and landed right between her snow-white skin. The emperor's eyes lit up, and he lowered his head to kiss his wife's collarbone.
Emperor Qianyuan carefully shielded the person in his arms with a thin quilt, walked out of Wenyuan Hall, and carried Wen Miao into the imperial bedchamber.
He only left after settling the other person into a good sleep, and then summoned Physician Fang to the Wenyuan Hall.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Qianyuan rested his forehead on his hand, gesturing for the other person to rise. Xu Sheng then took the medical record from Physician Fang and handed it to the Emperor.
For a moment, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Emperor Qian Yuan carefully examined the medical records, scrutinizing them with utmost detail.
After a long while, the emperor asked, "Do you know when the lady will regain her memory at the earliest?"
Physician Fang lowered his head and said, "If there are no other stimuli, it could take anywhere from three months to one or two years."
The human brain is incredibly sophisticated. Even with his superb medical skills, he could not give the emperor a definite answer; he could only try to define the scope as much as possible.
The emperor placed the medical record on the table, dismissed Xu Sheng and Physician Fang, and sat quietly in the hall for a long time, like a stone statue.
They looked like sinners waiting for the cleaver to fall.
The emperor of Great Chu was not one to dwell on the past, but at this moment he couldn't help but recall the last time he dreamt of Wen Miao—or rather, the goddess in his dream—
The building has a unique style, people dressed in strange clothes, flowers filling the entire hall, and windows that reflect colorful light sources.
At first, Emperor Qian Yuan had no idea what they were doing until he heard music he had never heard before. As he turned his head, he saw Wen Miao in a white dress and a light veil at the end of the scarlet carpet.
Such dresses were unlike anything he had ever seen or heard of before.
That Wen Miao was someone he couldn't forget after just one meeting.
He was initially delighted that the goddess he hadn't seen in so long had reappeared in his dream, but moments later his eyes widened in horror—she hadn't come to find him, but rather to marry someone else in his dream.
She married a man with a completely different style from hers, a man with a refined and cultured demeanor, who was even one of the guests at the wedding banquet.
When Emperor Qian Yuan awoke that night, his eyes were filled with gloom. The jealousy in his heart was almost burning like a raging fire. He wished he could return to the dream and make the goddess's husband disappear forever. But as soon as this thought arose, Emperor Qian Yuan was both shocked and afraid. He was afraid that Wen Miao would be heartbroken and that she would never come to his dream again because of it.
Love runs deep, and fear follows. This incident gave Emperor Qianyuan a taste of what it means to be jealous of his husband.
However, the emperor at that time could never have imagined that after this dream, he would lose contact with the goddess again, until the winter solstice of the same year, when the royal family went hunting, Emperor Qianyuan saw the lady once more.
—The lady, dressed in a white gauze dress, pale-faced, unconscious deep in the Nanyuan hunting grounds.
He brought Wen Miao back to the palace and hid her in the emperor's bedchamber; he personally took care of everything, looking after his wife who had a persistent high fever and was talking in her sleep; he held her in his arms and comforted her when she was trembling and convulsing, and he soothed her little by little when she was delirious and crying...
When Wen Miao was ill, she cried so much that the front of his clothes got wet, and unconsciously said that she felt like she had never received any special treatment.
At that time, Emperor Qianyuan thought that he could not bear to see his wife cry.
He can give Wen Miao the favor she has never had—a favor that surpasses everything else in this world.
Just then, Physician Fang diagnosed that the goddess in the emperor's dream had lost her memory.
So, in the days that followed, apart from the morning court sessions, Emperor Qian Yuan stayed with Wen Miao throughout the winter. He even considered taking advantage of the situation and pretending to be her husband while she was suffering from amnesia, so that he could finally possess the goddess he had longed for for over a decade.
He could have done that.
But by the time Emperor Qian Yuan realized what was happening, he had already found Wen Miao a new "family" and arranged everything for her... He had given all his patience and favoritism to Wen Miao, just wanting her to stop feeling wronged and shedding tears.
—Except on his bed.
Rustling.
A slight breeze stirred in the summer evening, causing the curtains inside the Wenyuan Hall to flutter.
Emperor Qian Yuan took a long time to recover, as if the secret he had erased from Wen Miao's mind after she lost her memory was still hidden in his mind.
He placed the medical record deep inside the bookcase, finished reviewing the remaining memorials, and then got up and slowly walked into his bedchamber.
The room temperature was just right, and the relaxation I had that night definitely helped the person on the bed sleep soundly.
Emperor Qianyuan sat quietly by the bed for a while, tucked the thin quilt under Wen Miao's arm, and gently brushed the stray hairs at her temples with the back of his fingers. In the stillness of the night, he silently leaned down and gently kissed her eyelashes.
He was unusually restrained, yet he cherished and valued it.
The emperor then rose, removed his dragon robe, washed and tidied himself in the outer room, and finally lay down on a small couch separated from the dragon bed by only a screen.
Despite her tall stature, long legs, broad shoulders, and narrow waist, she insisted on squeezing onto this small couch, barely able to stretch her legs. Yet, the emperor on the couch was content, feeling that being able to share a room with his wife was the best thing ever.
Outside the palace, the night was deep. The chief eunuch Xu Sheng yawned and kept watch with his eyes half-closed. Inside the palace, on the dragon bed, Wen Miao slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the emperor through the screen, who looked particularly aggrieved by the contrast with the small couch.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she fell asleep again.
Early the next morning.
When Wen Miao woke up, Emperor Qian Yuan had already finished his morning court session and was discussing matters with his ministers in the imperial study. Just as Wen Miao, with her long hair flowing, sat down at the table to have breakfast, the emperor hurriedly arrived and sat down next to her.
Emperor Qianyuan glanced at Wen Miao, "Madam looks very well today."
Wen Miao felt that the emperor's words had a hidden meaning, but she didn't want to talk to anyone and just slowly drank the medicinal food in front of her.
The ingredients in the palace are exquisite, and the imperial chefs are skilled, but if you drink this medicinal cuisine for several days in a row, no matter how delicious it is, you will lose your initial enjoyment.
Wen Miao did want to be picky about food, but the emperor kept a close eye on her, and could throw his temper and slaps at Qian Yuan Emperor at will. He patiently endured it, but he never gave in when it came to Wen Miao's health.
The emperor even said that if his wife refused to eat, he would hold her and feed her the medicinal food spoonful by spoonful.
Emperor Qian Yuan was smiling when he said this, and Wen Miao could easily suspect that he was genuinely looking forward to being fed.
At this moment, seeing that Wen Miao was eating slowly, Emperor Qian Yuan suddenly asked, "Madam, have you grown tired of staying in the palace lately?"
Wen Miao paused, then asked instead of answering, "Has the Imperial Concubine recovered from her illness?"
The Emperor said, “If the Lady gets tired of staying here, Consort Rong can ‘recover’ at any time.”
Whether he gets sick or not is entirely up to him.
Wen Miao looked up at Emperor Qian Yuan. His appearance could be described as outstanding, with deep-set features and a handsome face. As he approached thirty, he appeared even more aloof and composed, exuding a sense of imposing authority without anger. He seemed to be in complete control of everything, yet also dangerous and unpredictable.
Yet this same enigmatic man humbled himself before her, clinging to her with utmost devotion. This dignified emperor was willing to sleep on a small couch in the outer room, even bowing his head and enduring hardship to please her.
Do you like it that much...?
Emperor: "Why is my lady looking at me like that?"
Wen Miao belatedly realized that she had been gazing at the emperor for quite some time. She swallowed the last bite of her medicinal food and suddenly asked, "Do you like it that much?"
Emperor Qianyuan was taken aback, but quickly came to his senses. “I like it much more than the lady thought.”
He loved her so much that he wished he could hold her in his mouth, swallow her whole, and be entangled with her forever.
Wen Miao's breathing became erratic, and she awkwardly looked away, as if she had been burned by the emperor's gaze.
Emperor Qianyuan noticed the faint blush on the woman's earlobe, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He said, "Madam, come with me to the summer palace to escape the heat."
The Taihua Palace has a natural warm spring, which can relieve summer heat and illness, making it perfect for the lady.
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Author's Note: Emperor: My lady, I will teach you how to tame me. (He puts on the collar) (hands over the chain)
Wen Miao: (Surprised) Is this...is it really that exaggerated?
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