Chapter 72 She loved him, but he loved her even more.
Upon returning to the warm inner chambers of Guanju Palace, Yuwen Che's dignified expression was instantly replaced by eagerness. Su Luoxue was about to speak, perhaps asking if she had been too nervous today, when he interrupted her directly.
"Fuling! Granny Zhang!" Yuwen Che called out loudly, his tone urging without room for argument, "Quickly! Help the Empress change her clothes! Take off her phoenix crown and robe!"
As he spoke, he personally and very carefully helped Su Luoxue untie the heavy clasps of her phoenix crown, his movements quick and gentle, as if afraid of hurting her in the slightest.
Su Luoxue was a little confused by his rapid-fire arrangements: "Ache, I'm fine, just a little tired..."
"If you're tired, you should change immediately!" Yuwen Che frowned as he watched the heavy phoenix crown, inlaid with countless jewels, being taken by the nanny. He then reached out to untie the intricate ties on her phoenix robe. "This phoenix crown and robe are so elaborate and heavy. You're already heavy-set, and you're carrying twins. How can you wear them for a long time? What if you get tired or hurt yourself?"
His tone was filled with undisguised anxiety and heartache, as if she had just gone not to complete a ceremony of honor, but to endure a severe torture.
Fuling and the nannies dared not delay and quickly stepped forward, helping Su Luoxue remove the heavy dress layer by layer with nimble hands and extremely gentle hands, and change into the soft and comfortable everyday clothes that had been prepared in advance.
Only when he saw Su Luoxue sitting comfortably on the soft couch, sipping hot tea, her face showing some fatigue but no discomfort, did Yuwen Che's tense expression finally relax, and he let out a long sigh of relief.
He walked over, sat down beside her, and took her free hand in his. His voice was filled with lingering fear and apprehension: "In the future, we should simplify such ceremonies as much as possible. We must never let you work so hard again."
Looking at the genuine worry in his eyes, Su Luoxue felt a warmth and tenderness in her heart. How could she bear to say anything wrong to him? She could only softly reply, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
After changing out of her heavy formal dress and sipping warm ginseng tea, Su Luoxue felt much more relaxed. Looking at Yuwen Che sitting beside her, whose expression had already relaxed, she hesitated for a moment before speaking softly and gently:
"Ah Che... at today's ceremony, didn't you... show too little respect to that... elder?"
She didn't dare to say "reprimand" or "refute" directly, but only used the relatively milder words "disrespectful".
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che's gentle expression faded slightly. He put down his teacup and looked at her calmly: "Xue'er, do you think I went too far?"
Su Luoxue quickly shook her head: "It's not that I went too far... I'm just... I'm just worried that the old man is, after all, a senior member of the imperial clan and in charge of etiquette. If you acted like that in front of all the civil and military officials... won't he hold a grudge in his heart and worry about the future..."
"What will happen in the future?" Yuwen Che interrupted her, his tone still calm but with a hint of coldness. "If he harbors resentment because of this, or even secretly sabotages things, then he's tired of living and wants to seek his own death."
He took Su Luoxue's hand and placed it in his palm, looking into her clear yet worried eyes, and patiently explained:
"Xue'er, you must understand. What I am challenging today is not his face, but that outdated ancestral rule."
His eyes sharpened: "What rules are more important than your health? More important than the safety of our child? If I back down today and acquiesce to those cumbersome rituals, more people will use ancestral rules and regulations as an excuse to restrain you in the future, and it may even endanger you and the child."
He gripped her hand tightly, his tone resolute: "Therefore, I must make it clear to them from the very beginning where my bottom line lies. The safety of the Empress and the imperial heirs is above all conventional rules and customs! Anyone who dares to use this as leverage will be severely punished!"
He looked at Su Luoxue with a deep gaze: "My firm stance today, seemingly ruthless, is actually to prevent future troubles and to better protect you. Do you understand?"
Seeing the unwavering resolve and protectiveness in his eyes, Su Luoxue's slight worry vanished instantly. She grasped his hand in return and nodded firmly:
“I understand, A-Che. I was thinking too little... You did it all for me and the child.”
Yuwen Che then smiled again and ruffled her hair: "Silly Xue'er, you just need to focus on your pregnancy. I will protect you from all the storms outside."
Yuwen Che's explanation completely dispelled the last trace of gloom in Su Luoxue's heart. She no longer thought about elders or rules and regulations; she only felt that the man in front of her protected her so thoroughly, wishing he could shield her from all the storms of the world.
She nestled into his arms, her cheek pressed against his firm, warm chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, and an indescribable, overflowing emotion surged within her.
She paused for a moment, as if gathering her courage, then looked up into his deep eyes, her voice soft yet carrying an unprecedented firmness and clarity:
“A-Che…”
"Hmm?" Yuwen Che looked down and met her exceptionally bright eyes.
"I love you..." she said, each word deliberate and sincere, "I love you so much..."
This wasn't the first time she had expressed her feelings, but it was the first time she had said those three words so directly and without reservation. There was no shyness or evasion, only a pure and passionate confession.
Yuwen Che clearly felt as if his heart had been struck hard by something, then enveloped in a huge surge of warmth and joy. He looked into the undisguised affection in her eyes, and in them, only his own reflection was visible.
He didn't respond immediately with words. He lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, their noses rubbing against each other, their breaths mingling.
In this silent yet intimate distance, his deep eyes surged with emotions more intense and passionate than her words.
After a long while, he whispered in a slightly hoarse voice near her lips, with a hint of satisfied sigh:
"I know."
He gently kissed her lips, his kiss lingering and deepening, expressing a response far more passionate than words.
I love you too, Xue'er. Much more than you can imagine.
Yuwen Che gently lifted her up and carried her steadily to the bed in the inner palace. He carefully placed her on the bed covered with a thick velvet blanket, pulled the brocade quilt over her, and lay down beside her.
He didn't rush to embrace her as usual, but instead propped himself up, supporting most of his weight on his elbows to avoid pressing on her pregnant belly. His gaze, like the softest moonlight, flowed across her face, filled with obvious restraint and an overwhelming tenderness.
"Are you tired today?" he asked softly, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead with his fingertips.
Su Luoxue shook her head, her face still flushed from the passion she had just felt. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head slightly, and offered her lips to him.
Yuwen Che's Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned down to return the kiss. His kiss was extremely gentle, filled with cautious exploration and tenderness, carefully tracing the shape of her lips, lingering and caressing them, yet always controlling the intensity, never daring to be the slightest bit reckless.
His large hand caressed her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her delicate skin with endless tenderness. All their passion seemed to be wrapped in a soft veil, burning slowly and persistently.
When the kiss ended, both of them were a little breathless. Yuwen Che's forehead pressed against hers, his breath hot, his voice low and hoarse:
"Is it alright, Xue'er? If you feel unwell, you must tell me."
Su Luoxue's eyes glistened with tears, a mixture of shyness and complete trust, and she nodded gently.
With her permission, Yuwen Che lowered his head again, showering her with delicate kisses, from her eyebrows and eyes to the tip of her nose, and then to the side of her neck… Every movement was extremely gentle, as if afraid of disturbing her and the child in her womb. His embrace was tight but did not make her feel any pressure; every touch was full of protective intent.
In this small world, there was no imperial majesty, no tedious court politics, only an ordinary couple deeply in love, expressing their deepest affection in the most careful way. Every breath he took, every heartbeat he made, told her how much he cherished her and their unborn child.
This lovemaking was slow and extremely tender, until Su Luoxue fell into a deep sleep in his arms. Only then did Yuwen Che hold her contentedly, looking at her peaceful sleeping face, feeling as if he possessed the whole world.
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