Chapter 174 I love you more than you can imagine
Yuwen Che instructed Li Dehai: "Keep a close eye on the Crown Prince, the Princess, and Prince An."
He took Su Luoxue's hand, his eyes filled with a hint of mystery and youthful excitement: "Xue'er, I'll take you somewhere."
Su Luoxue was pulled forward by him and asked in confusion, "Ache, where are we going?"
"Come with me." Yuwen Che didn't answer directly. Instead, like a young man experiencing his first love, he took her hand and started running.
At the same time, he ordered Han Ying, who was lurking in the shadows, "Han Ying, prepare the horses!"
Su Luoxue was even more puzzled: "Ache, why prepare a horse?"
Yuwen Che turned to look at her, a gentle smile in his eyes: "I'll take you to a place...that you'll definitely like."
Han Ying quickly led a magnificent, pure white imperial horse to the palace gate.
Yuwen Che nimbly flipped onto the horse's back, sat firmly in the saddle, and then stretched out his hand to Su Luoxue, his eyes burning: "Xue'er... give me your hand."
Without hesitation, Su Luoxue placed her hand in his warm palm. "Mmm..."
With a slight effort, Yuwen Che gently pulled her onto the horse's back.
He had her sit sideways in front of him and held her firmly in his arms.
Su Luoxue leaned against his strong chest and asked softly, "Ache, are we... leaving the palace?"
Yuwen Che lowered his head and placed a kiss on her hair, his voice alluring and magnetic: "Be good, you'll find out in a little while."
It was Su Luoxue's first time riding a horse, and she was a little scared, so she kept her eyes closed and leaned against Yuwen Che's chest.
Until Yuwen Che gently called her, "Xue'er, we've arrived."
Su Luoxue opened her eyes and was greeted by a boundless sea of wildflowers.
Though lacking the noble elegance of palace flowers, it was vibrant and radiant like a sunset. She turned back in surprise: "Ah Che! Such a place exists in the capital?"
Yuwen Che dismounted nimbly and stretched out his hands to her: "Come on, slowly." He carefully helped her down from the horse.
The moment Su Luoxue's toes touched the ground, she dashed into the sea of flowers like a joyful butterfly, her skirt fluttering in the wind: "So beautiful! Ah Che, look! This place is truly stunning!"
Yuwen Che followed behind her, his gaze gentle: "Slow down, watch your step."
Han Ying appeared quietly and presented two sets of clothes: "My lord, they have been prepared as you instructed."
Yuwen Che accepted them; they were a moon-white brocade robe and a light pink silk skirt.
He walked to Su Luoxue's side and handed her the pink dress: "Change into this, it will suit you better in the sea of flowers."
Su Luoxue took the dress, her eyes filled with joy: "When did you prepare this?"
Yuwen Che chuckled: "If you like it, that's good. Go change over there, I'll watch over you."
After the two changed their clothes, Yuwen Che, dressed in white, lost some of his imperial majesty and gained a more refined and unrestrained air.
Su Luoxue, dressed in a pink dress, stood amidst a sea of flowers, more beautiful than the blossoms themselves.
He reached out his hand to her: "Xue'er, come here."
She ran towards him with a smile and threw herself into his arms. Yuwen Che caught her steadily and said in a low voice, "From now on, every year when the flowers bloom, I will bring you here."
Su Luoxue looked up at him: "You keep your word?"
“A king’s word is his bond.” He lowered his head and gently kissed her cheek. “As long as I am here, I will accompany you to see all the beauty of spring, year after year.”
Su Luoxue's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed to the distance: "Ah! What a huge butterfly!"
She then slipped out of Yuwen Che's arms, lifted her skirt, and chased after him, calling out, "Ah... Big Butterfly, don't run away!"
Seeing her so cheerful, Yuwen Che became interested and followed her with a smile: "Be careful, don't fall."
The two chased and played among the flowers. Su Luoxue ran and looked back at him, laughing, "Silly, you can't catch me!"
Yuwen Che deliberately slowed down, watching her run for a while before suddenly quickening his pace. He caught up with her in a few steps and swept her up in his arms!
"Ah—Yuwen Che!" Su Luoxue exclaimed with a startled laugh as she hugged his neck.
Yuwen Che held her and spun her around several times in the vibrant sea of flowers, her dress fluttering and startling a flurry of butterflies. He looked down at her flushed cheeks and asked softly, "Xue'er, do you like it?"
Su Luoxue leaned against his chest and nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling: "I love it! This place is so beautiful, it's like... a dream."
"Then have more dreams like this." Yuwen Che gently put her down.
He still had his arms around her waist, saying, "From now on, I'll take you out often, okay?"
"Really?" Su Luoxue grabbed his sleeve in surprise, "But the court politics..."
"What matters more than court affairs?" Yuwen Che gently pinched the tip of her nose. "My Empress deserves all the good things in this world."
Su Luoxue looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears: "Yuwen Che... just how much do you love me?"
Yuwen Che cupped her face in his hands, his gaze burning like the blazing sun: "I hereby swear—"
He took her hand and pressed it to his heart, each word spoken with resounding force:
"If this vast land ever turns against you, I will overthrow this empire for you!"
His fingertips gently traced her brows and eyes, his vow burning like a branding iron:
"If I must drink Meng Po's soup for reincarnation, I would rather have my soul scattered than forget your face."
A sudden, deafening rumble of thunder echoed from the distant mountains, and purple lightning tore through the sky. Yuwen Che, however, paid no heed, pulling the startled woman even closer into his embrace.
"Do you see that? Even heaven and earth are bearing witness for me."
He leaned down and whispered his final vow in her ear, his breath hot:
“Su Luoxue, listen carefully—this vast land belongs to you, and is warmed by you.”
Is this answer sufficient?
Su Luoxue hugged him tightly, stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips: "Yuwen Che... Su Luoxue is determined to be with you in this life, the next life, and all eternity!"
Yuwen Che took out his dagger, cut off a strand of hair from each of them, and carefully braided it into a love knot.
He placed the hair he had tied in her hand into her palm: "We are husband and wife, bound by this bond, our love unwavering. In this life and the next, for all eternity, whether in this world or the underworld, we will be together."
Su Luoxue gripped her hair knot tightly, tears glistening in her eyes: "Fine... if I break this vow..."
Yuwen Che lowered his head and sealed her lips with a kiss. After a long, lingering kiss, he pressed his forehead against hers and added the second half of his sentence, his voice filled with an unwavering resolve:
"If I break this oath—your soul will be scattered, and I will be condemned to eternal damnation. Even in the chaos and nothingness, we will entangle ourselves until the end of time."
Yuwen Che led her to sit among the flowers, skillfully picking wildflowers to weave into a wreath, which he gently placed in her hair: "My Xue'er is the most beautiful and kindest woman in the world."
She leaned against him, gazing at the boundless sea of flowers, and suddenly grabbed his collar: "A-Che... from now on, there can never be anyone else by your side, never."
Yuwen Che immediately replied, "Alright, I promise you. In this life, you will be my only one."
He stood up and reached out his hand to her: "Let's go, it's time to return to the palace."
Su Luoxue tugged at his sleeve and pleaded, "Want me to carry you on my back?"
Yuwen Che readily squatted down, steadily carried her on his back, and walked slowly through the vast sea of flowers.
Su Luoxue wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her cheek against his broad back, and whispered, "Yuwen Che, I really love you so much..."
He lifted her up slightly, his deep laughter filled with doting affection:
"Silly Xue'er, your husband... loves you more than you can imagine."
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