Chapter 108: First Release How Dare She?
The emperor stared at her, her beauty and loneliness under the candlelight, the stubbornness in her eyes and eyebrows, and her straight back, just like the ankle-deep snow outside the window, so cold that it stung people, and also like the wintersweet blooming in the cold of winter, gorgeous and colorful.
He couldn't help but want to bend her over.
He didn't say anything, but looked down at her with cold and indifferent eyes, with a hint of expectation and anger, wanting to see what else she would say and do.
Zhao Changning remained respectful.
"Yu Zhaoyi is lovely and beautiful. Your Majesty fell in love with her at first sight. But she's only been in the palace for a few years? And you've already forgotten her. With a single order, you've sent her child to Kunning Palace. In just a few years, the harem has become filled with beauties, chosen through selection, presented by ministers, and presented by various nations. There are countless of them. Even a single night of your favor would take a long time. Your Majesty, how long can you favor me?"
The emperor scoffed and said nonchalantly, "I am the Son of Heaven. I have accepted you into the palace. This is your blessing. No matter how long I favor you, that is your own ability. It is not your business to interfere."
Zhao Changning nodded. "Yes, it's my blessing. Everything Changning has depends on the emperor. Without the emperor, there would be no Changning. But Changning still doesn't want to..."
"How outrageous!" The emperor swung his sleeves, furious. "You don't want to? Who gave you the guts to say that?"
Zhao Changning trembled all over and almost fainted, but she bit her lips tightly. The pain made her sober, extremely sober.
She stood there, her back straight, looking straight at the emperor. The light in her eyes was like erupting lava, scorching hot, just like the wintersweets blooming under the cold snow outside the window, bright red as fire.
Zhao Changning's mind raced. What should he do? Ask for mercy, or face the challenge head-on?
Without even thinking, she said in a resounding voice, "Your Majesty, no one gave me the courage to say this. I am saying this myself. Do you think that because I am weak, a slave, and have no say in my own life and death, I am unworthy of having a personality and self-respect?"
The emperor seemed to see her standing in the court, arguing with the ministers. At that moment, she was as cold as a sword, straight and powerful, occupying his entire mind. He did not hesitate to send her out of the dangerous vortex of Yujing.
But at this moment, she actually turned her sharp tongue towards herself who was on the same side?
How dare she? How dare she? On what authority?
The emperor was enraged by her stubbornness and audacity. Since he ascended the throne, no one had ever challenged him like this. He was simply at a loss for words.
His face was tense, and he strode over, pushed Zhao Changning down onto the Arhat couch, and immediately covered him.
"Personality and self-respect? You have it only because I say you have it, Changning. You've gotten too carried away."
He pinched Zhao Changning's chin hard, his eyes flushed, and he lowered his head without hesitation. Their lips and teeth were entangled, their breaths were heard, and their skin touched. It was indeed a pleasant experience at first, and he did get some different kind of comfort among all the submissive women in the palace.
But soon, Zhao Changning's lack of reaction made him lose half of his interest.
The emperor had been with her for so long that he knew deeply that this kind of woman would only be enjoyable if she was willing, otherwise how could he be so patient?
Zhao Changning noticed that the emperor had stopped, and his heart was shocked and very nervous.
She didn't know how she would respond, but the worst outcome was death. Hadn't she already accepted this outcome?
A broken mirror retains its luster, a dead orchid retains its fragrance.
If she retreated now, she would have to retreat again and again. She had just learned from Mingxuan that she could not be soft-hearted at this moment, even if the person in front of her was the emperor.
The emperor stopped moving and looked up at the woman under him. She was lying there like a dead fish, not struggling at all. Her face was ashen and there was no light in her eyes.
He just felt frustrated and was so angry at her reaction that he pounded the couch, angry and annoyed.
Putting aside his identity as an emperor, he is also a man who has seen thousands of sails and tasted hundreds of flowers, but in the end, there is something he cannot get.
Although the emperor was angry, he was not really angry. He and Zhao Changning had been together for many years and had a deep bond. The monarch and his subject knew each other well, and he had vaguely anticipated her reaction. Even this scene was vaguely within his expectations.
The emperor had to admit that he just wanted to see her like this, unyielding, tough as silk, and captivating. But it was precisely this that made him have more evil thoughts.
He even secretly hoped that she would bend for him, be willing to give up her long-standing persistence for him, and be under his body?
When Zhao Changning saw the emperor stand up, his expression changed.
Her heart was in turmoil, and she stood up as well, smiling sadly, "Everything Changning has belongs to the emperor. In the past few years, the emperor has rewarded me with immense wealth. I risked my life for the emperor, which is also a blessing for Changning, but the emperor..."
She was about to cry, and her pretty face was covered with traces of tears.
"When Changning was by your side, she was a minister, a female secretary, a friend who dared to share your goals, a female official who could accompany you in the Diligent Administration Palace. But if she were to enter the harem, she would be nothing more than a title, a mere concubine, trapped in an ornate cage, longing for your arrival every day, until she withered away in loneliness and finally turned to dust. Your Majesty, Changning does not wish this."
The emperor's eyes flickered slightly. He walked forward, gently lifted her chin, and asked, "You've done enough as a female bookkeeper, haven't you?"
After years of getting along, he knew that she was ambitious.
Zhao Changning's eyes welled up with tears again. "Your Majesty, I want to stay by your side as a subject, not as a concubine in the harem, waiting for your occasional favor. If that's the case, you might as well let me die."
When the emperor saw her crying with her head down, he felt a little sad.
He held her in his arms and said in a slightly warning tone, "Changning, what I give you is much more than what I give to others. Don't be too greedy."
Zhao Changning leaned on his shoulder, crying as if it was real or fake, and finally her true feelings came out and she couldn't help crying.
"Yes, I have gained a lot, but I didn't understand it back then. I just thought that fate had favored me and that God had mercy on me. I was the most special one, and that they allowed me to meet the Emperor and bestowed upon me so much. Years later, I realized that there was a price to pay..."
She really put in a lot of effort, trying her best to avoid any emotional outbursts when interacting with the emperor, but she couldn't lose his favor and become the second Hu Gouer. She had to maintain the power she had gained with great difficulty in the cracks.
Why is it so difficult? A mere fifth-rank female secretary, even those first-rank officials don’t have such a hard time?
Why isn't she a man? If she were a man, she would have her own world.
Zhao Changning felt angry, aggrieved and helpless, but that was the way the world was. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and broke down crying.
The emperor could tell she was telling the truth, and his stubborn exterior finally revealed a hint of weakness. Seeing her face covered in tears, he couldn't help but tighten his arms around her.
He had never seen her like this before.
Zhao Changning gently pushed the emperor away, her eyes misty with tears as she trembled, "If Changning gives in and loses her current appearance, how long will Your Majesty love me? Do you just want to conquer me, or do you truly love me? Your Majesty, let me stay by your side, in the Qinzheng Palace. I will be more useful to you than on the couch, Your Majesty..."
She still remembered the words of the late emperor.
"The women in this palace are beautiful, but they lack soul. Each one lacks animality. At first, they are all full of fighting spirit, like beasts baring their teeth, which is very interesting. But once they start competing for beauty, the animality immediately disappears. They will actively remove their claws and fangs, chasing favors, and stretching out their necks to be played with. Changning, they will not survive long in this palace."
Being by the emperor's side, whether you are his woman or a female official, the same principle applies. He loves her stubbornness and coldness today, but who knows if she won't love obedient and docile women tomorrow, just like the previous emperor did?
Zhao Changning was extremely devastated. Even at this moment, she was in pain, panic and confusion, but she still had to weigh the pros and cons, trying to please while insisting.
She never had a moment of peace in the imperial city of Yujing.
The emperor stared blankly, his hands falling on her slender waist. Seeing her tearful look, he finally softened his heart.
He was also thinking, now that he had Changning, if she lost her current appearance and became just like everyone else, would he still be moved?
Of course not, he knew it very well.
This is the Zhao Changning he wants, stubborn and cold, unrepentant, and dazzling. As for other Zhao Changnings, he has many in his harem.
The emperor's heart gradually softened.
Apart from love, he had to admit that Zhao Changning had helped him a lot since he ascended the throne. It can be said that without Zhao Changning, there would be no him today, and no Dayong today. Zhao Changning's use by his side would indeed be much greater than on the couch.
It seems that it is not impossible, and his desire is not so strong that he wants to have his way.
Zhao Changning noticed that the emperor's hand gradually loosened. Although he felt a little relieved, his face was still sad.
The emperor gloomily released his hand, but then pinched her face again, his eyes narrowed, "So, are you willing to follow Mingxuan?"
Zhao Changning shook her head vigorously. She didn't want to follow anyone.
"I have no feelings for Mingxuan. We are just friends."
Seeing that she was still stubborn, the emperor couldn't help but sneer, "If the friendship between gentlemen is really as pure as water, then why would you kiss each other?"
Without waiting for Zhao Changning to speak, he raised his hand to stop her explanation and said impatiently, "I won't touch you, but I don't want to see you again."
Zhao Changning's heart skipped a beat, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief and stopped explaining.
"Changning obeys the Emperor's orders and will assist the Empress in managing the affairs of the harem from today onwards."
The emperor glanced at her indifferently, flicked his sleeves, and walked out of the hall.
Zhao Changning's legs went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
She was stunned for a long time, until the stove in the hall went out and the cold wind outside the door blew snowflakes onto her, and she suddenly woke up.
Her body was frozen stiff at this time, and the house had been empty for some time. When she got up, she suddenly laughed, her laughter was full of comfort, and there was no sadness on her face. Her dark eyes were full of calculation and indifference.
When she returned to Shuier Lane, it was already bright.
"Where have you been?" Gao Cong saw her at the entrance of the alley and rushed over anxiously. "I was so worried, are you okay?"
Zhao Changning's eyes were red and swollen, his face was pale, and he said weakly, "Quickly prepare some hot water for me. I want to eat something hot."
"Okay, okay." Gao Cong quickly agreed, "I'll go right away. Go in and lie down."
Zhao Changning huddled into the quilt and didn't recover for a long time.
Gao Cong had prepared his things and ran in to call her. Seeing her trembling, he pursed his lips nervously and asked, "Did something happen?"
Zhao Changning shook his head and smiled, "It's been resolved. It was resolved very smoothly."
Now is the best time to leave Qinzheng Palace. She will never become the second Hu Gouer.
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