It's a deal.
Xiao Che's voice was deep and solemn, like a seal, deeply imprinting this warm promise on the quiet night.
Lin Wanwan smiled and agreed, her heart filled with a soft warmth. Just as she was about to clear the dishes, Xiao Che suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Come for a walk with me." His voice carried an air of undeniable authority.
Lin Wanwan was somewhat surprised. It was the middle of the night, and the palace was already locked. Where could she possibly go?
Xiao Che did not explain, but simply took her hand, picked up the palace lantern, and led her out of Kunning Palace.
The night was as dark as ink. Under the moonlight, the palace lost its daytime majesty and gained a sense of tranquility and mystery. The two walked side by side on the deserted palace path, the only sounds being their footsteps and heartbeats.
Lin Wanwan didn't ask where they were going; she simply let him lead her, enjoying the rare tranquility after the storm.
However, when she saw the outline of the magnificent palace ahead, which still appeared majestic in the night, she paused slightly.
The Golden Palace.
That place, symbolizing the center of imperial power, the most sacred and majestic place in the entire world.
What is Xiao Che going to do?
Xiao Che sensed her hesitation. He turned around, and the moonlight fell on his handsome profile, his eyes carrying a deep meaning she couldn't understand.
"Don't be afraid." He squeezed her hand, his voice deep and reassuring. "Tonight, there is no emperor there."
Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat at his words, but she didn't say anything more and let him lead her up the long white marble steps.
The imperial guards protecting the Golden Palace had already received orders to keep their distance. The vast palace was now deserted, with only the cold moonlight filtering through the tall windows and casting dappled shadows on the smooth, mirror-like gold-brick floor.
The hall was spacious and silent, the air still seeming to retain the solemn atmosphere of the officials' daytime homage. The nine enormous golden pillars with coiled dragons stood like silent giants in the dim light, silently guarding the majesty of this place.
Xiao Che pulled Lin Wanwan through the vast silence and headed straight for the Nine Dragon Throne, located at the very top of the hall, a symbol of supreme power.
Lin Wanwan's heart started racing involuntarily.
She had never seen the dragon throne so closely at night. It gleamed with a deep, eerie light in the moonlight, and the nine golden dragons carved on its back were so lifelike, as if they might break free and soar into the sky at any moment. A cold, ruthless, and inherently oppressive aura of imperial power emanated from the throne.
Just when Lin Wanwan thought Xiao Che would stop, he did something that completely shocked her.
He didn't let go of her hand, but instead pulled her with a slight force, and together they sat on the dragon throne that symbolized the pinnacle of imperial power!
"You..." Lin Wanwan gasped in shock and instinctively tried to stand up.
This is the dragon throne! Since ancient times, only the emperor has been allowed to sit on it! For an empress to sit on the dragon throne alongside the emperor—if the censors found out, it would cause a huge uproar!
"Don't move." Xiao Che pressed her down, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close to his chest.
His chin rested gently on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
Lin Wanwan's body stiffened instantly. She could clearly feel that she was leaning against a warm and firm chest, while beneath them was the cold and hard dragon throne.
This fusion of ice and fire, this collision of taboo and intimacy, left her mind blank.
She looked around in astonishment. From this supreme vantage point, the entire empty Golden Palace was spread out before her. She could almost see the civil and military officials prostrating themselves on the ground during the day, and feel the aloofness and majesty of the emperor who ruled over all under heaven, wielding the power of life and death.
However, all this coldness and majesty was easily melted away by the warm heartbeat coming from behind.
"Xiao Che, are you crazy?" She finally found her voice, which trembled slightly.
Xiao Che did not answer her question. He simply hugged her tighter and then slowly took something out of his wide sleeves.
It wasn't an imperial seal, nor a memorial to the throne, but rather... an ordinary snail-shaped eyebrow pencil.
Under Lin Wanwan's astonished gaze, Xiao Che picked up the eyebrow pencil and, with unprecedented focus and seriousness, bent down slightly to begin drawing her eyebrows.
On the dragon throne, symbolizing the pinnacle of imperial power, he painted her eyebrows.
A night breeze blew in from outside the palace, ruffling the wisps of hair on Lin Wanwan's forehead and carrying with it the cool, refreshing scent of ambergris.
Lin Wanwan was completely stunned.
She could feel the cool tip of the pen, clumsily and gently gliding across her brow. His fingers held the pen steadily, but she could sense a hint of tension in that subtle touch.
His breath was light and warm, brushing against her cheek with a slight tickle.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still.
The whole world seemed to consist only of this empty palace, the moonlight, and the man and woman tightly embracing each other on the dragon throne.
This scene is both absurd and romantic to the extreme.
It seamlessly blends the coldest, most ruthless imperial power with the most tender and affectionate world of two people in the most incredible way.
After a long while, Xiao Che slowly withdrew his hand, seemingly quite satisfied with his work.
He didn't let Lin Wanwan see it. Instead, he put the eyebrow pencil away, still holding her from behind, burying his head in the crook of her neck, and whispered in a hoarse voice filled with longing:
"Wanwan, do you know?"
"To me, this Golden Palace and this Dragon Throne are nothing more than places to handle official business."
"They are cold, hard, and full of calculation and intrigue. I sit here every day, listening to insincere flattery and reviewing memorials that concern the world but are devoid of warmth."
“Only you,” his voice lowered, with a tenderness that could drown a person, “are the ‘home’ I want to take back after I’ve dealt with all of this.”
'Home'.
This word, like the warmest brand, was deeply imprinted on Lin Wanwan's heart.
She instantly understood the purpose behind all his strange behavior that evening.
He wasn't flaunting power, nor was he testing taboos.
He simply wanted to tell her in the most clumsy yet straightforward way that this empire, symbolizing supreme power, was nothing more than a cold, impersonal "office" in his eyes. She, on the other hand, was his only refuge, the only home he longed to return to after shedding all his weariness and pretense.
The ultimate romance of "sharing the world with you" is nothing more than this.
Lin Wanwan's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She leaned against him, feeling his strong heartbeat, and watched the bright moon outside the palace shine its light through the window.
After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, her voice slightly nasal, with a hint of mockery in it:
"If the censor finds out, he'll say you're 'indulging in beauty and neglecting state affairs' again."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a warm touch on the back of her neck.
Xiao Che lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
He didn't raise his head, but in a tone that was both domineering and indulgent to the extreme, he whispered in her ear, yet with unwavering conviction, "I have declared this."
"My kingdom, my empress,"
"I am willing."
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