Lin Wanwan felt like she was about to fall apart.
As a dedicated "actress," she was now closing her eyes tightly, completely relaxing her body, playing the role of a frail empress who had fainted due to exhaustion. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyelids, and her breathing was controlled steadily and softly, striving for a flawless performance.
However, her mind was racing with comments.
Ouch! It's so uncomfortable!
What is this emperor's body made of? How come his arms are as hard as iron bars?!
She was held in Xiao Che's arms in a standard "princess carry" position, but the experience had nothing to do with romance. His arms were tightly wrapped around her back and the back of her legs, and his strong arm bones poked her bones painfully through several layers of thin clothing.
She seriously doubted that when she returned to the palace, she would have several bruises on her body.
Moreover, he walked too fast!
His brisk, powerful strides were nothing like those of a sickly man plagued by chronic illness. Carrying her, a woman weighing several dozen kilograms, he still moved with incredible speed and steady breathing. Lin Wanwan could even feel her body bouncing up and down in his arms with each step, like a rag doll.
This guy's stamina is surprisingly good.
Her professional ethics as an "actress" prevented her from making the slightest move, and she could only grit her teeth and endure this "sweet burden."
Quietly and extremely carefully, she lifted her eyelids through an almost negligible slit to peek outside.
Through that narrow field of vision, she saw Xiao Che's handsome face.
His jawline was taut, his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line, and his face remained as somber and worried as if the sky were about to collapse. His anxious expression as he hurriedly sought medical treatment for his beloved wife was so convincing that he deserved an Oscar.
If not...
Lin Wanwan's gaze shifted upwards with difficulty and stealth.
If she hadn't been able to clearly see that above his face, which was etched with "anxiety," and atop his crown symbolizing supreme imperial power, floated a joyful emoji that was the complete opposite of his current expression—a emoji so cheerful it was practically about to take flight.
It was a pixelated little man wearing a baseball cap, carrying a small backpack, whistling cheerfully, and striding forward with a carefree and lighthearted gait.
There were also three large characters next to it.
[Off work! .gif]
Lin Wanwan: "..."
She silently closed her eyes, her heart filled with "admiration" for this movie star emperor.
Good heavens, this art of being two-faced has truly reached a master level.
The two of them, in this strange state of outward anxiety and seriousness but inward joy as they left work, returned to Kunning Palace without any hindrance.
As soon as they entered the palace, Chun Tao and the other palace maids immediately came to greet them, their faces filled with genuine worry and panic.
"Your Majesty! The Empress..."
"All of you, step back."
Xiao Che coldly interrupted them, his voice devoid of any warmth.
He carried Lin Wanwan through the main hall and into the inner room, then, with a gesture that could hardly be described as gentle, he "placed" her on the soft phoenix bed.
With a soft "bang," Lin Wanwan felt as if her old back was about to break.
She grimaced inwardly, but her face remained calm, as if she were "unconscious."
Xiao Che dismissed all the palace servants who wanted to come forward to serve him, and in an instant, only the two of them remained in the entire bedchamber.
Lin Wanwan could feel a condescending, scrutinizing gaze fixed firmly on her.
What is he going to do?
She felt a little uneasy. The play was over, and he had successfully "clocked out." Logically, he should immediately summon the imperial physician, then use the excuse of matters concerning the court to leave, leaving this mess for her.
But why doesn't he leave?
He stood there quietly, neither speaking nor moving, like a cold sculpture, his penetrating gaze sweeping over her "unconscious" face again and again.
Time passed, second by second.
Lin Wanwan was about to break down.
A person in a coma may breathe steadily, but their eyelids will never tremble slightly due to tension. She felt her disguise was about to be exposed under his all-knowing gaze.
Just as she was about to let out a groan to end the awkward standoff, that cold voice finally rang out again.
He spoke in a low, deliberate voice, just loud enough for someone "about to wake up" to hear, and then uttered a sentence in a cold, slow manner.
"The effect of the marriage to bring good luck seems to be quite good."
Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat.
What did he mean by that?
He paused, as if savoring the sudden quickening of her breathing, before continuing in a tone tinged with amusement and mockery:
"Your Majesty, you bring me great fortune."
He emphasized the word "旺" (wang) heavily, with a profound meaning.
Lin Wanwan froze completely.
He knows!
He definitely knows!
He knew she was faking it! Not only did he know she was faking it, but he also saw through her entire plan to use him as a "shield"!
This statement is not a question, nor a test, but a naked, somewhat mocking... revelation.
"The effect of the marriage to bring good luck is quite good," meaning that you, the bride who brought good luck, not only helped me solve the crisis of poisoning, but also helped me escape from the Empress Dowager's boring lecture. You are truly "functional".
The line "The Empress is very 'lucky' for me" is a compliment, praising her for her excellent acting, her perfect timing, and for making him, the emperor, very satisfied with her performance.
Lin Wanwan's heart leaped into her throat at that moment.
Now that he's seen through everything, what will he do next? Furious? Expose her trick on the spot and charge her with "deceiving the emperor"?
Her mind raced, considering all sorts of ways to deal with the situation if she were exposed.
However, Xiao Che did nothing.
After uttering that ambiguous "praise," he simply gave her a deep look, then turned around decisively and strode out of the hall.
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
Lin Wanwan still didn't dare to move. She held her breath and listened carefully.
Only when she heard the sound of the palace doors opening and closing, confirming that he had truly left, did she slowly and tentatively open her eyes.
The sleeping quarters were empty.
Only the cool, pleasant medicinal scent lingered in the air.
She really... is gone.
Lin Wanwan let out a long, long sigh of relief, feeling completely exhausted, and collapsed onto the bed.
Survived a disaster.
She subconsciously raised her head, her gaze following the direction he had left, passing through layers of gauze curtains.
Then, she saw it.
Above that tall, upright figure about to disappear through the doorway, a brand-new emoji, exuding a touch of nonchalance, slowly drifted away.
It was a hand making a big, golden "thumbs up".
Below that was a line of smaller text.
[Well done, keep it up next time.gif]
Upon seeing the meme, Lin Wanwan was initially stunned. Then, an indescribable sense of immense joy and absurdity, as if she had survived a catastrophe, instantly surged into her heart.
She could no longer hold back, buried her face in the soft quilt, and let out a low laugh that she had suppressed for a long time.
The laughter grew louder and louder until finally, tears streamed down their faces.
She realized that this crisis was truly and completely over.
Not only did she save her own life and successfully escape the Empress Dowager's show of force, but she also, by a twist of fate, reached a wonderful, unspoken understanding with this cunning and two-faced tyrant emperor.
He needed her, he needed this "powerful" queen, to help him deal with the troubles he was too lazy to deal with, but had to deal with.
And she, too, needed him, needed him as her "backer" to help her withstand the open and covert intrigues within the palace.
In this ruthless palace, you achieve the status of "best frenemy" with the tyrant...
It seems like a good start?
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