When Xiao Che said, "I'm behind the rockery, telling you to confront her! Don't be a coward!" it was like a key that instantly unlocked another hilarious memory that Lin Wanwan had kept buried for a long time.
"Hahaha!" She couldn't hold back any longer and leaned against Xiao Che's chest, laughing so hard she was shaking. "How dare you bring that up! I still remember the expression on Consort Shu's face when she was so angry she looked like she was about to ascend to heaven!"
Mentioning Consort Shu, the Empress Dowager's niece who played a crucial "pig teammate" role in the early stages of Lin Wanwan's palace intrigue career, Xiao Che couldn't help but smile.
That was the first key turning point in their relationship breaking down.
Lin Wanwan laughed and sighed, "Speaking of which, if it weren't for Your Majesty's support, I wouldn't have dared to shut up the Empress Dowager's niece in front of so many people."
However, Xiao Che, the former emperor who was arrogant his whole life, clearly had his own unique perspective on the concept of "backing someone up."
He gave a light hum, and his already masterful "artificial voice" switched to "saying one thing but doing another" mode, proudly defending himself:
"I'm not backing you up."
Lin Wanwan raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise: "Oh? What did His Majesty mean back then?"
Xiao Che gazed at the distant night sky and said slowly in a tone that was both calm and slightly disdainful, "I just... simply think that the huge, flashing emoji above her head that says 'This woman isn't smart enough.jpg' is just... too annoying."
"..."
Lin Wanwan was speechless for a long time after being choked by his novel and unconventional reason.
So, you weren't standing up for me back then, but simply because... you had OCD and couldn't stand seeing such stupid memes displayed in front of you?!
This reason... really has a strong "Xiao Che" style!
"Alright, alright," Lin Wanwan laughed until she was almost out of breath, continuing along with his words, "Even if Consort Shu was 'an eyesore' that time, what about when Consort Xian played the zither? Don't tell me that you were hiding in a corner of the Imperial Garden with that meme floating above your head, 【So pretentious, my toes have dug out a three-bedroom apartment.gif】, because she was an eyesore?"
Mentioning Consort Xian, a "white lotus" who is far superior to Consort Shu, Xiao Che's expression clearly became unnatural.
The fear of being dominated by Consort Xian's "talent show" and the "dark history" of being "rescued" by Lin Wanwan with a plate of egg tarts still made the retired emperor feel a little... embarrassed, even after decades.
His old face flushed suspiciously in the cool moonlight.
He stubbornly insisted on his point, trying to salvage his last shred of dignity, and launched into his "forced explanation" mode in an extremely serious tone:
“…That…that’s criticism on an artistic level!”
"On an artistic level?" Lin Wanwan's smile deepened, her eyes full of cunning. "Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."
Xiao Che cleared his throat and spoke nonsense with a straight face: "Her (Consort Xian's) zither playing seemed to be highly skilled, but in reality, it was too craftsman-like, full of deliberate showing off, and completely devoid of genuine emotion. This is a major taboo in art! At that time, I was heartbroken by the decline of art! What does it have to do with you?"
He spoke with righteous indignation, as if he were not an eavesdropping emperor, but a heartbroken art critic.
Lin Wan-wan was secretly laughing her head off.
What a fine expression of "feeling heartbroken by the decline of art"!
This guy really goes to any lengths to cover up the embarrassment of being so awkward with a green tea girl back then!
She didn't expose him, but simply sighed softly and said in a tone full of "sympathy," "I see. I thought His Majesty was too embarrassed to stand it. But I remember, when I appeared with the egg tarts and interrupted Consort Xian's 'artistic performance,' the emoji above His Majesty's head ended up looking like 'Wife, save me!.jpg.'"
【Wife, save me! .jpg】!
These five words, like a thunderbolt, struck Xiao Che precisely on his "fig leaf," shattering all his stubbornness and pretense.
Xiao Che's face turned completely red.
He opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Yes, only he himself truly understands the shift in his mindset from watching from the sidelines with the attitude of "Tell her! Don't back down!" to actively seeking help with the cry of "Wife, save me!"
If he still harbored a sliver of curiosity and a desire to test the waters when faced with Consort Shu's foolish provocations, then for the first time, he felt a sense of dependence on Lin Wanwan beside him when confronted with Consort Xian's flawless, hypocritical, and perfect performance.
He knew that only she could see through his feigned composure.
Only she could understand his inner turmoil and his cries for help.
Only she could extricate him from this predicament in the most wonderful and just-right way.
That silent cry of "Wife, save me!" was the first time he truly considered her "one of his own" in his heart.
Seeing Xiao Che's rare silence due to embarrassment, Lin Wanwan stopped teasing him.
She knew that that time marked the true beginning of their alliance.
From then on, they were no longer emperor and empress testing each other, but "comrades-in-arms" who joined forces to undermine each other and worked in perfect harmony.
Xiao Che remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly.
His usually somewhat arrogant "artificial voice" became unusually honest at this moment, even carrying a rare touch of gentleness:
“From that moment on, I knew…”
He paused, turned his head, looked deeply into Lin Wanwan's eyes, and said, word by word:
"You are different from them."
This simple sentence was the highest level of affirmation that Xiao Che could utter.
"They" refers to all the women in the harem who approached him with various motives.
And "you" are the one and only Lin Wanwan.
Lin Wanwan's heart was warmed by his "acknowledgment" that came decades late.
She smiled, leaned back on his shoulder, and whispered:
"Of course they're different."
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of pride and lingering fear—a feeling only the two of them could understand, born from sharing life and death:
"After all... no concubine would be foolish enough to shield you from a poisoned arrow."
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