Chapter 327 Retreat
The guards received the order and withdrew.
When Wen Zhiming saw that the light was still on in Meng Lingge's room, he was about to jump in through the window to surprise her. However, he remembered that Meng Lingge was in her late pregnancy and should not be startled, so he restrained himself, jumped down from the eaves, and strode towards the room.
As he approached the door, it opened with a click, and Meng Lingge, dressed only in her undergarments, smiled at him and asked, "Why are you back?"
Wen Zhiming had a smile on his lips as he bent down, picked up Meng Lingge, closed the door with his leg, and walked towards the bed.
"I miss you," Wen Zhiming said in a hoarse voice.
While he was indeed worried about Meng Lingge, he also genuinely missed his wife.
With the soft, fragrant body in his arms, he was unwilling to let go even for a moment. He lay down on the bed with her in his arms, extinguished the candle with a flick of his palm, and then sat up to take off his outer robe.
"I only learned that you hadn't had a moment's rest all day after the Censorate reported the case at Princess Qiongxiao's residence. After going to the Meng residence, you immediately rushed to Princess Qiongxiao's residence and discovered such a major case. You've been a strategist for a few months now, and you've really grown bold. So many human skins and corpses, and you're not even afraid. If you're carrying a boy, that's fine, but if it's a girl, what will happen to my daughter?"
Wen Zhiming's tone was reproachful, but his eyes were extremely gentle.
Meng Lingge knew he wasn't blaming her, but rather worried, so she joked with him, "Well, it seems the King of Northern Frontier is about to become emperor, and his thoughts have indeed changed. Now I'm no longer important; it's the child in your womb that you cherish more. It seems that what you said earlier about missing me was a lie; you really missed your child."
"Don't be angry, my wife." Wen Zhiming hugged Meng Lingge from behind and held her hand to his heart.
"Neither my children nor my wife are as important as my wife. I miss the children, but I miss you even more. These past few days I've been telling myself to wait a little longer, that once the imperial ceremony is over, my wife will never be separated from me again."
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingge felt a pang of unease.
"At that time, no one will be able to separate us, but you will have other concubines who would be more than willing to be separated from me."
Meng Lingge was moved by Wen Zhiming's sincerity when she agreed to marry him. At that time, the young master Wen was simple-minded and foolish, so she didn't have to worry about other women sharing her husband.
But now Wen Zhiming has not only recovered, but is about to ascend the throne.
Previously, because of Wen Zhiming's infatuation and her loyalty to the relationship, Meng Lingge thought that even if Wen Zhiming became emperor, the two could still be an enviable couple.
Wen Zhiming might become the first emperor to have only an empress and no concubines.
However, as the incidents involving Cao Ran and Yue Jiaoluo occurred one after another, she realized that this idea was too naive. Once you sit in a high position, you have to be able to bear the loneliness of being at the top. As the emperor and empress, it is impossible to live a peaceful life like an ordinary couple.
She had thought about it carefully these past few days. If they could truly defy societal norms and become each other's one and only, that would be wonderful. But if they couldn't resist, or if it would bring other serious consequences, threatening or affecting Wen Zhiming's throne, she was willing to back down.
As long as Wen Zhiming values her the most and gives her enough respect and trust, she can convince herself to let Wen Zhiming take in a few more docile women to enrich his harem.
She originally didn't want to say these things at this time, lest she upset Wen Zhiming, but since Wen Zhiming brought it up, she couldn't help but say them.
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhiming noticed the disappointment and bitterness in Meng Lingge's words. He felt both heartache and helplessness, and looked at her, saying, "Have you heard some rumors? It's okay if others don't believe me, but you can't."
He was not afraid to be enemies with everyone as long as he could be with Meng Lingge.
He mustered his courage, but before the battle even began, his only ally surrendered, a situation he could hardly accept.
Meng Lingge's voice softened, and she asked knowingly, "Why can everyone else do it, but I can't?"
Wen Zhiming pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her hair, and said, "Because I only care about your thoughts. Only when you believe in me do I have the courage to stand against the whole world."
He spoke of deep affection, and Meng Lingge could feel his sincerity.
But if the court officials advise him based on the rules of the state and the people speculate based on the laws of their ancestors, how long can he hold firm to this idea when there are many people advising him?
Wen Zhiming has been in a high position for a long time and is already very busy. If he is troubled by these things, there will come a day when he will get tired of them and compromise.
Rather than waiting to be forced to accept it later, it's better to make plans early.
"But you are about to become the emperor. You shouldn't be fighting against the whole world. You will be a wise ruler, bringing blessings to the world, a hundred or a thousand times better than the previous emperor. You should focus your mind on governing diligently and loving the people, reducing taxes and levies, and enforcing the law fairly, instead of..."
Instead of causing discord between the ruler and his subjects, and unrest in the state, all for my sake.
Before Meng Lingge could utter the last sentence, Wen Zhiming covered her lips with his hand.
"It's my fault for being too busy these past two days and not taking care of your feelings. You're already prone to overthinking during your pregnancy, and I haven't been providing enough security, which is why you're so anxious and say the exact same things as those old-fashioned ministers."
Wen Zhiming's eyes were as bright as stars. He leaned over and gently kissed Meng Lingge's forehead. The moonlight instantly softened, and the man's voice was as clear as a gentle breeze.
"My lady may not know, but I only have romantic feelings for you. You alone fill my eyes and my heart, leaving no room for anyone else. You all say that taking concubines to enrich the harem is a good thing for the country and the people, but only I know that if that were true, I would have no feelings for them after they were brought in. It would be a real harm to me, to you, and to those women, and even more harmful to the country and the people."
"My wife, I only want you. Don't you feel heartache or pain as you push me away?"
The last sentence has a slightly hoarse, nasal tone.
“I…” Meng Lingge’s heart softened terribly.
How could she not be heartbroken and distressed?
She watched the man before her transform from a simple-minded and dull-witted individual into a man of both virtue and talent, skilled in both literature and martial arts. She accompanied her man from a fallen prince to the ruler of a nation.
They trusted and loved each other deeply, but she had to share the person she loved most with another woman. It was like she had gone through all the hardships to get a treasure, only to have several people ask her for a share as soon as she brought it home. How could she feel good about that?
She just didn't want Wen Zhiming to be pressured by everyone and put in a difficult position.
It was merely a compromise that had to be made out of necessity.
She had prepared herself mentally, swallowed her bitterness and grievances, and finally managed to convince herself, only to be completely shattered by Wen Zhiming's words, "I only want you."
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