"Your Highness, are you alright?" Bilian helped Guan Zhiyue up with heartache, but glared fiercely at Shan Liuxian, who was standing there dumbfounded.
"Grand Preceptor, what's wrong with my lady? Why didn't you stop her?" Bi Lian asked Shan Liuxian.
Suffering, Seon Ryuseon was terribly hurt. The Empress forcibly kissed him, ruining his chastity that he had preserved for over twenty years. How could he possibly have time to manage her affairs now?
Knowing he was in the wrong, Shanliuxian could only sheepishly clasp his hands in greeting and leave.
"Hmph! All men are heartless." Bilian cursed as she watched Shanliuxian leave without a word.
However, Li Qiji, in Chengqian Palace, tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. His mind was filled with the day's events and the disappointed look Guan Zhiyue gave him before leaving after learning the truth.
It was so resolute, cold, and distant!
"Hua Quan~"
Upon hearing the noise, Hua Quan quickly pushed open the door and rushed in. Looking at Li Qiji sitting on the dragon bed, he bent down and asked, "Your Majesty, why aren't you resting?"
Li Qiji said, "I have been lying in bed for several days and I am still not sleepy. Let's move to the Cold Palace!"
Hua Quan advised, "Your Majesty, your health is of utmost importance! You have just woken up today, and the imperial physicians recommend that you rest in bed as much as possible!"
"What, are you no longer listening to me?"
"Your Majesty, spare my life! This servant will go and prepare immediately!" Hua Quan bowed and then turned to give the orders.
Li Qiji summoned the maids and eunuchs who were serving him to help him undress. He was going to see the Empress and wanted to ask her about her feelings.
The Cold Palace.
"Bilian, come and drink! Have another cup!"
"I haven't felt this good in a long time, I'm so happy."
Bilian, while wiping Guan Zhiyue's face, said, "Your Highness, are you truly happy, or are you just pretending to be calm?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Zhiyue sprang up from the bed and looked at Bilian, saying, "I'm very happy!"
Then with a thud, she fell down again, buried herself in the blanket, and burst into tears.
Bilian was also moved to tears. She knew everything; she knew all about how the Emperor had treated them since they entered the palace.
But what can we do now? Can we really run away?
If they escape, where will they go? The Guan family is such a large family. With the Empress gone, will they also fall apart and end up with their families destroyed?
As Guan Zhiyue sobbed under the covers, a eunuch's voice came from the doorway announcing her arrival.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Bilian glanced at Guan Zhiyue, who was already completely drunk on the bed, and then looked at the sky outside. She couldn't help but wonder what the Emperor was doing here so late at night.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Emperor is here!" Bilian tried to shove Guan Zhiyue a few times, but failed, so she had no choice but to give up.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
"Hmm, where is the Empress?"
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress has retired for the night," Bilian said respectfully, kneeling on the ground.
Li Qiji glanced into the room, then stepped inside, and suddenly smelled a strong odor of alcohol.
Li Qiji said, "Why does this room smell so strongly of alcohol?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress has just drunk some wine."
"Alright, you can go now!" Li Qiji said.
Bilian was very worried, but there was nothing she could do. She got up from the ground and left Guan Zhiyue's room.
After everyone had left, Li Qiji slowly walked to Guan Zhiyue's bedside and gently sat down.
Hearing Guan Zhiyue sobbing from inside the bed, he carefully pulled the blanket off Guan Zhiyue's head.
Guan Zhiyue's small face was now red-rimmed, her nose was red, and even her dark, curled eyelashes were covered with glistening tears.
Her cherry-red little mouth was pouting, looking like she was about to cry, which was very cute.
Li Qiji gently pinched Guan Zhiyue's cheek, then said with a smile, "You're still the cutest and most adorable when you're asleep!"
Li Qiji took off his outer robe, shoes, and socks, turned over and lay down on the bed, hugged Guan Zhiyue in his arms, and gently patted her shoulder.
"Why did you drink so much? Drinking is bad for your health, you little brat."
Li Qiji turned to the side and gently placed a kiss on Guan Zhiyue's forehead. Unexpectedly, Guan Zhiyue suddenly opened her eyes at that moment.
Looking at the magnified face in front of her, Guan Zhiyue was still completely confused. She raised her right hand and slapped the unsuspecting Li Qiji, hitting him directly on his left cheek.
Li Qiji winced in pain, covered his face, and lay back down on the bed.
"Ah~ Empress, are you trying to murder your husband?!" Li Qiji raised his hand to cover his cheek, feeling as if his teeth were about to fall out from the pain.
Guan Zhiyue regained some of her senses and realized that the person speaking was actually Li Qiji.
She quickly sat up, looking at Li Qiji warily, and said, "Your Majesty, what are you doing here? And why did you steal a kiss from me?"
After recovering, Li Qiji sat up in bed and looked at Guan Zhiyue face to face, saying, "We are husband and wife, isn't it normal for me to come here?"
"And what do you mean by 'stealing a kiss'? I kissed her openly and honestly. That's something we, as husband and wife, should do. How can you call it stealing?" Li Qiji said, rubbing his face.
"Who said we're husband and wife? I don't like you. Besides, you have so many concubines in your harem. You can kiss whoever you want, go wherever you want, just don't come here. I get annoyed just looking at you!" Guan Zhiyue didn't know if she was still drunk or if she had always wanted to say these things, but she unleashed a torrent of words at Li Qiji.
"Empress, I married you with great ceremony, carried by eight men, how can we not be husband and wife? Don't you like me very much? I am right in front of you now, and this is your attitude?"
"Yes, I admit that I loved you back then, loved you to death. But the person who loved you to death back then is dead. I am a completely new person now. I don't love you, not even a little bit."
"Can you leave now?" Guan Zhiyue threw the pillow in her hand at Li Qiji and screamed in anguish.
Seeing Guan Zhiyue suddenly go crazy, Li Qiji wanted to rush over and hug her to offer her support and comfort.
"Let me go, you scoundrel! You shameless bastard!"
Li Qiji held Guan Zhiyue tightly in his arms. Guan Zhiyue struggled and fought back, kicking, slapping, scratching, and biting, but Li Qiji just wouldn't let go.
"Yue'er, please let me explain. I didn't like you at first, but the more I got to know you, the more I felt you were different. Slowly, I wanted to get closer to you, slowly fell in love with you, and slowly began to enjoy the time I spent with you."
"And what about the women in the harem? How much do you like them?" Guan Zhiyue tried her best to push her away but couldn't, so she had no choice but to give up and asked in an icy tone.
"They're just going through the motions!" Li Qiji said coldly.
Guan Zhiyue gave a soft snort.
"Ha, just routine. Do you even know what kind of life I want?"
Li Qiji said, "Tell me, I'll do whatever you ask."
"Hehe~hehe~~I can have all of those. I want to be with one person for life!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiji fell silent, for as emperor he was destined not to be able to commit to a lifelong monogamous relationship. For the sake of the stability of the court and the country, the harem was merely a playground for those ministers.
"Heh, you can't do it, can you? Then get lost. All I've ever wanted is a lifelong, monogamous relationship. If you can't do that, then don't bother me."
"Get out!" Guan Zhiyue became hysterical, pushing and shoving, and the two started wrestling on the bed. In the end, Li Qiji was kicked hard in the stomach.
The sound of a kettle and cups breaking came from inside the room. Hua Quan and Bi Lian, who were waiting at the door, quickly pushed the door open and went in. They saw that the room was in a mess. Guan Zhiyue was wearing her undergarments and holding a teapot, telling the Emperor to leave.
Li Qiji, dressed in a yellow silk undergarment, stood in front of the bed, being scolded by Guan Zhiyue who pointed her finger at him. His face was bruised and red, and there were scratches on his neck.
"Get out! I never want to see you again." These were Guan Zhiyue's last words. After saying that, she collapsed onto the bed and began to sob.
Li Qiji angrily flung his sleeves, put on his clothes, and strode away.
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