Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Qin Ke revealed a smile that was deep and inscrutable: she understood what he meant, and still remembered his feelings for her, so she avoided mentioning it?! Yes, he could not have her, so he wanted her to remember him, to remember his deep affection that could not be forgotten.
Yun Kexin found the Emperor's smile increasingly perplexing, her hair standing on end. She gently stepped back and calmly said, "Your Majesty, you still have those three matters to discuss?"
Qin Ke smiled slightly: "Wasn't it already done before? It was Yun Kexin who decided to wait until the child grew up to discuss it."
"But that's only one matter," Yun Kexin took this opportunity to urge the Emperor to address all three matters at once, fearing that if they lingered too long, it would feel as if she owed him something that had not been repaid, leaving her uneasy. "Why not address the other two matters as well, Your Majesty?"
"Did I not tell you to think about it?" Qin Ke extended a hand with a smile in his eyes, plucking a plum blossom from above his head and examining it with indifference.
That did not mean she should be on call at all times, ready for the Emperor's summons; how could that be acceptable?
"Your Majesty, Consort is not just a wife now; she is also a Mother," Yun Kexin pleaded. "With the child here, I fear I cannot be available at all times."
Qin Ke understood Yun Kexin's unspoken meaning—that he should not use this as an excuse anymore. She simply did not have the time or energy to be at his beck and call. His expression darkened immediately as he stared intently at Yun Kexin, his eyelids not blinking, his lips pressed together brewing anger. Just when Yun Kexin felt she might compromise under Qin Ke's cold glare and fierce gaze, he sighed softly and said:
"It seems that Yun Kexin is blaming me for disturbing your life. Very well. Then I will address them all at once. The first matter is to wait for Ling Lang to grow up; I will ensure he enters the palace to serve as a companion for the princes. Secondly, if in the future you bear a daughter, I want to adopt her as my goddaughter and grant her the title of princess." He continued slowly in response to Yun Kexin's shocked expression. "The third matter is loyalty to the royal family. Never betray."
Yun Kexin did not know how to respond: she could agree to the third matter without even thinking about it, but the first two matters seemed too domineering; her future children would have ties to the royal family. This was something she did not wish to see, hence her difficulty in responding. She remained silent for a long time.
"What's wrong? Is it difficult?" Qin Ke noticed Yun Kexin's vibrant face suddenly droop, her entire demeanor lacking energy, and felt a pang of sympathy. But he was unwilling to compromise so easily, so they remained at an impasse.
Standing not far away, Feng Yinxiao sensed something was off as he listened quietly. He slightly tilted his head and noticed that both the Emperor and Yun Kexin were in an unusual mood—not as amicable and cheerful as before. He speculated whether the three matters proposed by the Emperor had humiliated Beloved Wife, causing a surge of anger within him. He abruptly tore off a branch of plum blossoms blocking his view and clenched his palm tightly; the hard branches pierced into his flesh, blood flowing from beneath his nails without him noticing. He stepped forward resolutely but heard Yun Kexin's calm voice:
"Your Majesty, regarding the third matter, you do not need to worry; Consort will fulfill it. Every citizen of Taihe should do so. However, the other two matters concerning offspring cannot be decided solely by Consort. We must consider my husband's opinion as well; after all, raising children is not solely my affair. Therefore, we should respect my husband's thoughts regarding our children's future."
At that moment, Qin Ke felt an intense jealousy towards the harmonious relationship between Feng Yinxiao and his wife—so in tune with each other—that he even felt sour thinking that if he had been more resolute from the beginning, despite her traditional gentle nature resisting initially, she would eventually comply and manage the harem well for him. Unfortunately, it was a moment's hesitation!
But forcing someone who does not want to comply may lead to resentment; if her heart was not with him, what could be done? It would be better for her to remember his kindness and feel indebted to him—a feeling that would linger in her heart forever...
With these complex and contradictory emotions swirling in his mind, filled with resentment, he finally spoke through gritted teeth:
"Very well; your reasoning is not without merit. Then let it be as you wish; inform me once there is a conclusion."
Only then did Yun Kexin breathe a sigh of relief but instinctively felt regretful again; this meant that two of the three matters were still "pending," leaving her feeling like she still "owed" him something. Was this Emperor doing this on purpose? She glanced at him but ultimately lowered her eyes and softly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor chuckled lightly, saying nothing, and simply turned to wave his hand at Feng Yinxiao, nodding. Feng Yinxiao understood and stepped forward, glancing worriedly at Yun Kexin before turning back to say, "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."
"Take Yun Kexin back; I've already made my decision," Qin Ke said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Feng Yinxiao tugged at Yun Kexin's sleeve, nodded, and took his leave.
On the way out of the palace, Yun Kexin suggested they go climb a mountain to clear their minds. Feng Yinxiao knew she had something to say to him, so he did not ask further but instructed Ma Minghao to drive the carriage to the foot of a nearby mountain and wait there while they went up alone. The mountain was not high, and they quickly reached the summit. The rolling peaks and gentle breeze did little to calm Yun Kexin's heart; instead, the wind only made her feel more disheveled. Staring at the trees and flowers swaying in the wind below the cliff for a long time, she finally recounted everything that had happened in the Imperial Garden.
"No, I disagree," Yun Kexin had not finished speaking when Feng Yinxiao jumped up, frowning tightly and speaking forcefully. "Are we really going to let our child be sacrificed for him? What a joke!"
"The Consort is unwilling too," Yun Kexin said, her eyes reddening from either the wind or her worries. "My husband is already so helpless in court; he's used to 'serving a king is like serving a tiger.' I don't want our future child to be like that, but—"
"But what?" Feng Yinxiao lowered his head and looked into Yun Kexin's watery eyes, pursing his lips.
"Every parent hopes their child will succeed," Yun Kexin poured out all her entanglements from this journey. "Even if we avoid letting Ling Lang have contact with the royal family during his childhood, he will still inevitably be involved with court affairs when he seeks fame and fortune."
"That's different!" Feng Yinxiao interrupted sharply, his handsome brows raising. "Ling Lang seeking fame and serving the country is an act of loyalty; I don't oppose that. What I mean is," he fixed his gaze on Yun Kexin, who appeared lost under his intense scrutiny. His handsome face flushed slightly, and his expression became unnatural as his voice deepened and grew hoarse. "Her wanting to take our daughter as an adopted daughter is entirely for you—using public means for private gain to get closer to you; how can I tolerate that!"
Even though Fu Yihang had repeatedly tried to get close and "harass" Yun Kexin in the past, she had never seen Feng Yinxiao so jealous before. The flicker of ruthlessness in his dark eyes reminded her of his decisive nature in her previous life, but this time it brought her immense comfort.
Unable to help herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and inadvertently brushed her lips against his. Her soft tongue playfully mimicked how he used to tease her. Feng Yinxiao was initially stunned but then felt a rush of warmth in his heart as he pulled her into his embrace, savoring her rare attempt at "seduction."
As blood surged through him, the large hand that had been resting on Yun Kexin's waist gradually became restless, moving along her graceful curves until it slipped into their chests where they pressed together, squeezing with abandon. The heavy softness in his palm made his breathing grow heavier.
Yun Kexin was startled; she released her arms and lips, feeling both shy and angry as she swatted away that hand still "lost in ecstasy" on her chest and glared at him.
"Feng Yinxiao, are you crazy? We're outdoors on a mountain; tone it down."
"This time it was you who provoked me first," Feng Yinxiao smirked with a hint of mischief. "I couldn't help myself."
Yun Kexin's face turned red. "I'm not a gentleman either, but I 'speak without acting,' yet you—"
"I am a gentleman, but in front of Yun Kexin I can't act like one," Feng Yinxiao replied matter-of-factly. "So I can only act like a 'man'—using my hands instead of my mouth."
Yun Kexin bit her lip and calmed herself before saying, "I want to tell you that no matter how others feel about love, in my heart there is only my husband and our child."
Feng Yinxiao felt a pang of jealousy as she saw through his feelings, and his handsome face turned red to the roots of his ears. He calmed himself and said:
"While what you say is true, I definitely trust you, my wife. It's just that the emperor is too obvious in his actions; he doesn't know how to hide his intentions. As a man, how can I allow others to gaze at my Beloved Wife so openly? That would be too pathetic; I won't allow it!"
His indignation had a touch of childish sulkiness, which made Yun Kexin want to laugh but she held it back.
"I actually think the emperor isn't deeply in love or anything. For someone in a high position, the most important consideration should be how to secure his reign and govern the country. Matters of romance are secondary; he will come to understand that. Besides, what cannot be obtained might just be the best."
"What I fear is this kind of mindset," Feng Yinxiao said sullenly.
"In the future, there will surely be all sorts of excuses arising, leading to various rumors that would not be good for our reputations. So," Feng Yinxiao pressed his lips together and paused, his eyes flickering with uncertain light, then spoke with determination, "let's try to delay things for now. Once Ling Lang is a bit older, I'll apply for a transfer to distance ourselves from the imperial city and live a peaceful life for a few years."
Yun Kexin's eyes curved into crescents as they sparkled brightly, her gaze wandering freely. The blue and white clouds reflected in her mirror-like pupils were like flowing water, stunningly beautiful. Feng Yinxiao knew she was dreaming of their future life. Feeling a rush of affection, he pulled her into his embrace, where he could hear her gentle and melodious voice:
"Yes, after a few years when I'm old and no longer attractive, he will surely give up on those thoughts." She tilted her head back and playfully stroked Feng Yinxiao's smooth chin a few times, teasingly saying, "He might even start to find you annoying."
Feng Yinxiao lowered his head and pressed his lips against her chattering ones as a response. (To be continued)
Comment 0 Comment Count