When the resounding cry of loyalty from the Imperial Guard camp pierced through the pre-dawn mist and reached Kunning Palace, Lin Wanwan's heart, which had been taut all night, finally began to relax.
She knew that Xiao Che had succeeded.
From this night forward, the sharpest sword in this palace will truly be in his own hands.
"Your Majesty, look, it's His Majesty's Dragon Scale Guard!"
The maid Ruolan pointed out the window, her voice filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster.
Following her gaze, Lin Wanwan saw that the imperial guards who had once stood guard outside Kunning Palace had been replaced by the Dragon Scale Guards, dressed in black, close-fitting outfits and wearing black iron masks. Like ghosts in the night, they had silently taken over all the defenses within the palace, making Kunning Palace an impregnable fortress.
"Mmm." Lin Wanwan responded softly. She hadn't slept all night, which made her face a little pale, but her eyes were unusually bright.
Instead of resting, she turned to Ruolan and instructed her, "Go to the small kitchen, prepare hot water, and bring me the moon-white casual clothes that I made for His Majesty a few days ago."
Ruolan was slightly taken aback, but then she understood and quickly agreed to leave.
Your Majesty is... waiting for His Majesty to come home.
...
The sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
When Xiao Che, having finished dealing with all the affairs of the Imperial Guard camp, dragged himself into the Kunning Palace's sleeping quarters covered in blood and exhausted to the bone, this was the scene that greeted him.
The warm candlelight bathed the hall in an orange glow, dispelling all the chill of the morning.
Behind the screen, steam rose, and a huge bathtub was already prepared, with clean and soft clothes neatly folded beside it.
His empress, Lin Wanwan, was not resting in bed, but was sitting quietly on a soft couch by the window, holding a book in her hands, seemingly reading, or perhaps just waiting.
Hearing his footsteps as he entered, she slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke.
In her eyes, there was no fear of bloodshed, no questioning of the killing, only an intense, pure worry and heartache.
In that instant, the steel-like disguise that Xiao Che had worn all night shattered.
All the ruthlessness, murderous intent, coldness, and scheming she displayed vanished completely under her gaze, leaving only the softest, most genuine weariness and vulnerability.
He slowly walked towards her.
Every step seemed to require the utmost effort.
Lin Wanwan put down her book, stood up, and went to meet him. Looking at his bloodshot eyes, the stubble on his chin, and the dried, blackened bloodstains on his dark suit, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
She didn't speak, but simply reached out to untie his blood-stained outer robe.
However, the moment her hand touched him, he grabbed it.
The next moment, she was pulled tightly into a firm and warm embrace by an irresistible force.
Xiao Che hugged her tightly from behind.
He buried his face deeply in the warm, soft crook of her neck, breathing deeply and greedily in her unique, comforting fragrance.
That scent seemed to wash away all the blood and carnage on him, and soothe all the resentment and weariness in his heart.
Lin Wanwan stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. She could feel the man behind her trembling slightly.
He wasn't trembling; he was... filled with lingering fear.
She quietly let him hold her, gently patting the arms around her waist.
After a long while, a hoarse voice filled with deep apology gently rang in her ear, like a feather brushing against her heart.
Did I scare you?
His voice carried a hint of caution that he himself was unaware of.
"……Feel sorry."
"You've seen... my most pathetic side."
The “unbearable” he spoke of was the on-the-spot killing in Hanyuan Hall, the rivers of blood flowing in the Imperial Guard camp, and the iron-fisted ruthlessness that an emperor had to use to consolidate his power.
He thought she would be frightened by that version of himself.
He thought she would despise that tyrant whose hands were stained with blood.
In her presence, for the first time, he felt a touch of uncertainty about his own coldness as an emperor.
Hearing his almost submissive words, Lin Wanwan's heart instantly melted.
She didn't turn around, but instead reached back and gently grasped his large hand that was wrapped around her waist.
Her voice was soft, yet carried an unwavering strength.
"No."
She shook her head.
"I did not see any despicable emperors."
"I only saw one..."
"A husband who is doing everything he can to protect his family."
husband.
This word, like a warm lightning bolt, instantly struck the softest spot in Xiao Che's heart!
His body jolted violently, and his arms around her tightened abruptly, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones!
yes.
From the very beginning, everything he did was not for the sake of the country or for imperial power.
In the very beginning, all he wanted was to survive.
Later, he did all of this simply to... protect the woman in front of him.
This woman entered his life during his darkest and most isolated time, bringing him the first ray of light and letting him taste the flavor of "home" for the first time.
She saw through all his pretense, yet accepted his complete truth.
She witnessed all his killings, yet she understood all his tenderness.
What emperor, what tyrant.
In her eyes, he was simply her husband.
That's enough.
"Wanwan..." he called her name hoarsely, burying his face even deeper, as if only in this way could he draw enough strength.
Lin Wanwan, as was her habit, quietly looked up at the top of Xiao Che's head.
She saw that in that familiar area filled with emojis, all the ruthlessness and coldness had vanished.
Instead, there is a cartoonish chibi version of the little emperor.
The young emperor, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a crown, wore a look of grievance and lingering fear that seemed out of place for his status. He was wielding a broom larger than himself, frantically and somewhat clumsily sweeping away all the trash, monsters, venomous snakes, and ferocious beasts surrounding a small, enclosed doll (the doll was wearing a phoenix robe, clearly her).
Below the animated GIF, there was a line of warm and reassuring text:
[Clearing away all obstacles for you.gif]
Lin Wanwan's eyes instantly reddened as she looked at the little emperor wielding a giant broom, as if he were about to sweep away all the dangers in the world for her.
That fool.
He thought he was showing something pathetic, but in her eyes, it was the most touching sense of responsibility in the world.
She turned and gripped his hand even tighter, speaking with unwavering determination, word by word:
"Xiao Che, listen to me."
"Whether you are a wise ruler or a tyrant."
"Whether your hands are stained with ink or blood."
"You will always be my husband."
"I will always be with you. Always."
Xiao Che's body shuddered again.
He slowly released her, turned her around, and made her face him.
Looking at her slightly reddened eyes, at the undisguised heartache and determination in them, the sea of blood and murderous intent that had been churning in his chest all night finally subsided completely at this moment, transforming into tender affection.
He didn't say anything more, but lowered his head and gently, reverently, kissed her lips.
This kiss was devoid of any lust, filled only with endless cherishing and the joy of regaining what was lost.
Outside the window, the dawn's light finally pierced the last ray of darkness, and golden rays bathed the entire Kunning Palace.
A new day has begun.
The old gloom will eventually be completely swept away.
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