Chapter 306 Xian'er, We're Home
Narcissus's initiative almost caused Emperor Zhaoheng to lose control.
However, he gritted his teeth and got off the bed in the end, without going to the crucial step.
Confusion flashed in Shui Xian's eyes. She propped herself up on the couch behind her and met Emperor Zhao Heng's heaving chest.
When her gaze followed his slightly disheveled collar, she saw a thin layer of sweat on his well-defined chest.
Even so, he still didn't touch her.
"Xian'er, let's go for a walk outside."
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at her intently, and couldn't help but squeeze her hand and rub it hard in his palm.
After an incense stick had burned and everything had calmed down, Emperor Zhaoheng and Shuixian strolled into the courtyard.
In the courtyard of the villa, a tall sycamore tree stands gracefully, casting dappled moonlight across the ground.
On the stone table under the tree, there were two cups of tea and several plates of delicate pastries.
A gentle night breeze carries the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms from the pond.
Emperor Zhaoheng took Shuixian's hand and sat down on the stone bench, gazing into the distance side by side.
“Xian’er, look over there,” Emperor Zhaoheng raised his hand and pointed towards the palace.
"Those nine-tiered palaces, so magnificent and resplendent, have imprisoned the youth and even the lives of countless people. Sitting there, I sometimes feel that it is nothing more than an incomparably splendid golden cage, cold and empty."
He turned his head and his gaze fell on Narcissus's profile, which was bathed in a soft moonlight, and his eyes became extremely focused.
"But since you came into my life, and with Yongning and the children, I've felt that place... is gradually becoming like a home. There's the warmth of everyday life, the sound of laughter, and a sense of belonging."
He took something out of his pocket and solemnly placed it in Narcissus's cool palm.
It was a small, exquisite, yet substantial red gold seal, engraved with intricate cloud and dragon patterns and a small "御" (Imperial) character.
"The seal of my private treasury."
Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was deep and firm, "From this day forward, you shall be in charge."
"I have already given instructions to the Imperial Household Department that all accounts must be reviewed and approved by you. Once you have given birth safely and recovered, you will have full authority to decide on all matters of the six palaces, no matter how small, and you will no longer need to go through me."
He gripped the hand of the narcissus holding the golden seal tightly, the pressure light but carrying an unquestionable entrustment.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze was intense. "Xian'er, I don't want you to be a woman confined to the inner palace. I want you to be the one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me and see this vast land together."
Narcissus lowered her eyes, looking at the heavy gold seal in her palm, still warm from his body.
The cool metallic touch served as a clear reminder of the trust it represented.
She didn't respond immediately; she simply raised her head slowly and looked up at the vast, boundless starry sky above.
The stars, like shattered diamonds, cast their cool, unchanging light.
Her thoughts drifted back to a more distant past, to her former self, struggling in the mud, desperate and suffocating.
Reborn into this world, she initially only wanted to survive, but later she was driven by hatred to seek revenge.
Later, after ascending to the position of empress and wielding power, what she wanted... seemed to gradually change.
She still cherished her life and remained vigilant against potential enemies, but what she wanted even more was to use the hard-won power in her hands to do something.
Let this cannibalistic world have fewer people like the narcissus of the past, sinking into despair and silently fading away.
Even if it can only illuminate a small area, saving one person is saving one person.
What is love?
She doesn't understand those romantic notions, and she no longer naively believes in the so-called fairy tale of "one love for one lifetime."
As for how much of Emperor Zhaoheng's affection for her stemmed from love for her as a person, and how much from love for her fertile body... were these ephemeral things worth her expending her energy and risking everything to investigate?
It's not worth it.
At least for now, with the golden seal in her hand and people who needed her protection by her side, Narcissus felt it wasn't worth it.
What she sought was never that elusive sincerity.
What she sought was real power in her hands, the ability to protect her family and promote her ideals.
It is the peace of watching children grow up safely.
It is hoped that under relatively enlightened governance, this country will have fewer injustices and more hope.
As for the man beside her who gave her all of this...
If his affection at this moment is genuine, then it is the icing on the cake.
If this deep affection is mixed with other things, as long as he is still willing to support her ideals and give her respect and authority, then a pleasant cooperation is perfectly acceptable.
Having figured this out, the stagnation caused by suspicion in my heart seemed to be largely dispelled by the night breeze.
A smile of near-relief appeared on her lips, a smile that reached her eyes, not fiery, but clear and bright.
Narcissus gently stroked the golden seal with her fingertips, looked up at him, and spoke calmly, with a sense of peace that seemed to have settled down.
"Your Majesty treats me well, and I accept the power and trust you have given me with peace of mind."
"Your Majesty has entrusted this empire to me to protect together, and I will do my utmost to help Your Majesty safeguard this land and bring peace to the world."
"Shall we... stay like this?"
Without asking about the past or investigating the truth, we only focus on the present and look to the future.
Emperor Zhaoheng was slightly taken aback, as he keenly sensed the subtle change in her words.
The estrangement and uncertainty of the past few days have diminished, replaced by a greater sense of composure and certainty.
The tension in his heart eased slightly.
Emperor Zhaoheng reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
"Very well. Xian'er, I promise you. I will protect this vast land with you."
"What you want to do, what you believe is right, I will accompany you to do."
"Our children, we watched them grow up safely and happily together."
Narcissus closed her eyes in his arms.
She wasn't tempted; she simply chose a path that was more beneficial to herself and everything she cared about.
She doesn't dwell on the abstract question of whether love is real or fake, but firmly grasps the power, family ties, and shared goals they already possess.
A moment later, she tilted her head back, and the moonlight shone on her fair and jade-like face.
She leaned closer to him and gently pressed her lips to his.
This kiss was neither a passionate flirtation nor a heartfelt response.
It's more like a stamped contract, a silent declaration.
Cool and restrained, yet clear.
Emperor Zhaoheng responded with utmost tenderness, as if cherishing a lost treasure that had been found again. He carefully deepened the kiss, drawing in her breath until both of them were slightly unsteady on their feet.
When their lips parted, he pressed his forehead against hers, his breath slightly ragged, and sighed softly, his tone more solemn than ever before.
"Xian'er, I won't let you regret this."
The next morning, the carriage slowly drove away from the villa, embarking on its journey home.
As they passed through the western part of the city, Narcissus gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.
In the backyard of Dengdi Inn, several teenagers could be seen hanging out their washed clothes to dry. One of the figures looked particularly familiar; it was the girl who had sold herself into servitude to bury her father the day before.
The despair and panic of yesterday were no longer on her face. Although she was busy, a light smile, the kind that belonged to someone her age, graced her lips.
Further away, a boy, his clothes old but neat, sweating profusely, was running wildly towards the inn, excitedly shouting, "Sister! Sister—!"
The girl turned around abruptly at the sound, the clothes in her hands fell to the ground, she covered her mouth in disbelief, tears welling up instantly, and staggered forward to meet her.
The siblings finally embraced on the street corner, their cries and laughter mingling together, drawing the attention of passersby who looked on with sympathy.
Narcissus watched quietly until the embracing figures were blocked by the street corner, then she slowly lowered the curtain and leaned back into Emperor Zhaoheng's firm and warm embrace.
He didn't ask her what she had seen, nor did he say much. He simply held her hand tighter, their fingers intertwined, silently conveying his strength.
The majestic outline of the palace gate gradually became clearer and larger in the field of vision, like a huge and magnificent cage, once again isolating the world from human life.
The eaves of the Qianqing Palace reflect a cold and majestic light under the sunlight.
Narcissus knew that returning there would not bring true peace.
Those eyes lurking in the shadows are still watching, and the storms of the previous dynasty could strike at any moment.
But at this moment, she felt completely at ease, even with a sharp clarity.
Without making a sound, she gently gripped the cold, treasury gold seal hidden in her sleeve with her other hand.
The weighty texture reminded her of the power she held in her hands.
Having lived this long, she already understood.
She was not troubled by illusory love, nor bound by the deep-seated hatred that had already been avenged.
What she fought for was the tangible power in her hands that could protect those she wanted to protect.
It is this path beneath her feet that allows her to realize her ambitions and make this world a little better, a path that will become wider and more stable with each step she takes.
The carriage smoothly entered the heavy palace gates, completely isolating the hustle and bustle of the city.
The familiar palace path and the familiar vermilion walls enveloped her once again.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked down at the quiet narcissus in his arms. Her profile appeared exceptionally gentle and serene in the dim light of the carriage.
He spoke softly, his tone carrying a sense of peace and homecoming.
"Xian'er, we're home."
Narcissus slowly raised her eyelids to meet his gentle gaze.
Her image was clearly reflected in those deep, narrow eyes.
Her lips curved slightly upwards, forming a faint yet genuine smile.
"Yes, I'm home."
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