Outside the sedan chair, several whispering voices drifted in.
"Is this the Lady Luo that Shadow Three mentioned, the one who made Master give up his vows of becoming a nun and return to the secular world?" Shadow Two asked.
Shadow Four: "Isn't that obvious? Didn't you see how anxious Master was just now? He wished he could go out of the palace to intercept us himself?"
Shadow Two: "Tsk tsk tsk. She's a married woman, is Master planning to forcibly take her away?"
Shadow Five: "Talking ill of the master behind his back? Don't you want your head? Hey, but I'm really curious what this Lady Luo looks like. Shadow Three said she's so beautiful that she could shame the moon and flowers. No wonder the master takes her to heart."
Shadow Two, "..."
Shadow Four, "..." What happened to the rule that we shouldn't make irresponsible remarks?
Luo Chaoxi had been listening with great interest, but as the sedan chair swayed and rocked, she soon became sleepy and fell fast asleep against the back of the chair.
The group carried the sedan chair with great speed. Upon arriving at the palace gate, they presented Murong Ling's token and proceeded unimpeded to the Qianming Hall. After setting down the sedan chair, the group vanished as quickly as ghosts.
When she awoke again, she was lying in an unfamiliar palace, with bright yellow bed curtains overhead and exquisite, priceless ornaments everywhere she looked, exuding luxury.
Before she could even sigh, she felt a burning gaze fixed on her, and she knew without a doubt whose it was.
But she was still an innocent woman kept in the dark, so a look of confusion appeared in Luo Chaoxi's eyes the next moment, followed by vigilance.
She sat up in bed and followed the gaze. When she saw the person opposite her, Luo Chaoxi's pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively exclaimed, "How did you get here?"
Seeing that she was awake, Murong Ling smiled and walked to the bedside. "You're awake?"
Luo Chaoxi retreated in terror, her eyes filled with vigilance. Noticing the dragon robe on the man's body, her heart sank further.
Looking around at the surroundings, Luo Chaoxi's eyes widened slowly in disbelief, "You...you're the emperor?"
Murong Ling was stung by the wariness in her eyes. Without saying a word, he grabbed her fingers and clenched her cool fingers in his palm. He no longer concealed his identity.
"Yes, I am Jingye, and I am also Murong Ling."
Luo Chaoxi laughed self-deprecatingly. She should have realized it sooner. How many people in Nanqi could confidently claim they could rescue her husband?
She quickly pulled her hand away from his, got out of bed, knelt before Murong Ling, and gave him a deep bow, saying, "Your Majesty, may you be well and blessed."
Murong Ling's heart clenched with anger and bitterness. He forcefully helped her up and held her in his arms. "Why are you doing this? We should just be like we were at Baohua Temple before."
Luo Chaoxi struggled, "I didn't know you were the Emperor before, and I have offended you in many ways. Your Majesty, please don't do this. I am Han Lianjing's wife, a married woman. Please have some self-respect!"
"Self-respect? Ha!" Murong Ling was furious.
Not a single word from that mouth was something he wanted to hear. He lowered his head and fiercely seized those sharp-tongued little mouths, kissing them hard.
Luo Chaoxi was forced to tilt her head back and endure his kiss, her breath completely taken away by him. After a while, she finally hardened her heart and bit his lip.
Murong Ling retreated, panting heavily, a red stain slowly spreading across his lips. Luo Chaoxi's slightly red lips were also stained with a touch of blood, making her appear even more beautiful.
Luo Chaoxi avoided his gaze, breathing softly, "Your Majesty, this is wrong of us. Please just think of everything that happened before as a dream you had while drunk, okay?"
"There are countless women in the world, why do you have to set your sights on me? Please let me go back. My mother will be worried if she finds out I'm missing."
Only then did she realize who she had offended. She no longer dared to be as resolute and indifferent as the note had described, and only hoped that the man would have a change of heart and let her go.
But that's clearly impossible.
Murong Ling not only didn't let go, but instead pulled her onto his lap, saying, "You're different. I love you."
Murong Ling had practiced martial arts since childhood and was tall and slender. In his arms, Luo Chaoxi was like a little chick, firmly held by him, almost completely enveloped.
Luo Chaoxi looked at Murong Ling with a "you're joking" expression. "Your Majesty, don't tease me. Your Majesty went to great lengths to keep me in the room the moment you met me. Could it be that Your Majesty fell in love with me at first sight?"
Murong Ling was speechless for a moment; his initial intentions were indeed impure.
Seeing him pause, Luo Chaoxi knew the answer in her heart, and her voice became even colder, "Your Majesty only thinks that I am beautiful. Last night... was it something Your Majesty had been waiting for for a long time?"
Luo Chaoxi pushed all the blame onto Murong Ling, leaving Murong Ling feeling utterly speechless.
“I am not someone who is attracted to physical beauty. I admit that I approached you because the fragrance on you could alleviate my headaches,” Murong Ling explained. “It was because of my chronic headaches that I left the palace to recuperate at Baohua Temple.”
If he doesn't explain, in Luo Chaoxi's heart, he will probably always be a rogue who lusts after women.
"What fragrance? I told you before, I never use perfume!"
Murong Ling paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It's your body scent. You can't smell it, but I can. It's very fragrant and sweet."
A blush crept onto Luo Chaoxi's face. She pushed him away, her hands bracing against his chest, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Murong Ling lowered his head and kissed her face, which was as soft as tofu. He lowered his posture and softened his voice, "Stay in the palace and keep me company, okay?"
The woman in his arms trembled, her eyelashes fluttering. She couldn't suppress her fear any longer, and large tears streamed down her face. "Your Majesty, please let me go back. There's no way we can be together. If you force me to stay in the palace, people will condemn you, and how will history record your story?"
"As for me, the Han family has not wronged me. I cannot betray the Han family or my husband. I am unworthy of Your Majesty's favor."
Seeing that she was so unyielding, Murong Ling was so angry that his head ached. He had always been in a high position since birth, and even before he became emperor, there were few people around him who would disobey him. When had he ever been so humble and rejected before?
But the sight of her tears falling made his heart ache.
Murong Ling used one hand to wipe her tears, but the more he wiped, the more tears she shed. He really didn't know what to do with her.
But there's absolutely no way he'll let her go!
Seeing that he was quite angry, Luo Chaoxi took advantage of the slight loosening of his grip, broke free from his restraint, and ran barefoot toward the palace gate. Before she even reached the gate, Murong Ling strode forward, grabbed her, and carried her back.
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