Soon, the eunuchs and maids tidying up saw the Emperor and Empress lying disheveled on the dragon bed, panting heavily, exchanging excited glances and rushing to spread the gossip.
I propped myself up, turned Jin Mo’s face, and nodded: “Not bad, now no one can see the rash on your face.”
Jin Mo’s voice was hoarse: “I won’t go! Who applies makeup to cover a rash! How embarrassing!”
“It’s fine. Who dares look directly at you? Anyone pointing it out means they’ve been staring, which is disrespectful to the Emperor. They’ll be beheaded immediately.”
“This is self-deception!” Jin Mo confronted me.
What’s there to be afraid of? I’m a woman; who am I scared of!
I glared back at him defiantly.
We stared eye-to-eye, sparks flying between us.
Suddenly, I leaned forward, extending my tongue to lick his lips: “So sweet, like ice cream.”
Jin Mo screamed and burrowed into the blanket. In his panic, he only grabbed a corner, leaving his bottom high in the air.
I laughed mischievously, patting his bottom: “I’ll give you a choice.”
Jin Mo felt relieved, thinking I still had a conscience. He cautiously peeked out from the blanket.
“Go to the morning court tomorrow,” I said leisurely, giving him time to consider.
He shook his head: “No! Never! No emperor goes to court with makeup!”
“Or, I’ll stay and keep you company tonight,” I winked, causing Jin Mo to shudder.
“Can I change my mind?” he asked weakly.
Meanwhile, Jin Mo was lying flat on the ground in casual clothes, glaring at us with two red marks sliding down from his nose and an apple core behind him. It seemed our apple core had slipped under his foot…
I laughed awkwardly, considering whether to say: Hi~~ Your Majesty~~ Good morning~~
On second thought, I decided against it. I’d rather die than admit I had anything to do with that apple core!
“Ah—— Your Majesty!
“I screamed, rushing to help him up, brushing dust off his clothes and muttering, ‘How could you be so careless, Your Majesty? You should watch where you’re walking. Stepping on an apple core like this… it can sprout and grow, right? It has life. Your step just sent this little thing straight to heaven, how pitiful!’ A string of words burst out without mentioning myself.
Jin Mo, already dizzy from the fall, was somehow persuaded and didn’t argue. He waved to the eunuchs and palace maids behind him, then pulled me into the inner palace.
In the inner palace, I noticed his hand holding mine—he wasn’t afraid of me anymore? Did the shock create antibodies? Ugh, he wasn’t here to settle scores, was he?
I tried to step back but found my hand firmly held. When did Jin Mo become so strong? Looking at his broad back, I realized he was no longer the boy I could bully but a strong man.
“Hmm?” Jin Mo noticed I’d stopped, turned back, and caught my gaze. His heart stirred, and he blurted out, ‘I like you.’
“What?” I didn’t react for a moment.”
If a group of thugs burst into your home at midnight with AK47s, pointed at you, you might also freeze in shock.
“You!” Jin Mo said, somewhat embarrassed and angry. However, seeing my dazed expression, his tone softened, “I like you.”
My hand caressed his face, and I felt his heartbeat pulse in my brain until the world blurred, leaving only that intense sensation. Amidst the confusion, I asked, “Are you running a fever?”
“How can fish be compared to humans? With this lotus pond, you can catch all the fish and eventually find that one,” Jin Mo said, shaking his head at my naive idea.
“I’m talking about the fish!” I replied, frowning.
“That can also become a fish among fish. Finding a specific one would be easy,” Jin Mo asserted, confidence evident in his smile.
“Stubborn!” I lost interest in teasing the fish and threw a steamed bun into the water, startling the fish. However, they quickly returned to feed.
Jin Mo grabbed my arm and pointed to the returning fish, “See? With this, how can you not find the fish you want?”
I tried to pull away but couldn’t break free from his grip. Angry and anxious, I glared at him: “What exactly do you want? Is imperial power really that great?”
A kiss, deep and intense, threw my mind into chaos, reducing me to a helpless heap in his arms. I didn’t dislike him; he was handsome, brilliant, and capable. But he was the ruler, and I was the subject. Different positions meant we were destined to be apart. If there could be no ending, I’d rather never have begun.
“Are you crying?” Jin Mo’s long fingers wiped away a tear, tasting it and frowning: “Bitter.”
“Please don’t have designs on father. Father is truly loyal to you,” I said, feeling both heartbroken and urgent.
Jin Mo paused, then looked at me strangely before raising his head to the sky. After a moment, he softly said: “Okay.”
“Really?” His straightforward agreement surprised me, and I excitedly hugged him. He wouldn’t have murderous thoughts about father? Wonderful! Father’s dedication to the country will finally bear fruit!
In my tight embrace, I missed Jin Mo’s thoughtful glance towards the lotus pond.
“My teacup crashed to the ground, shattering into countless tiny fragments, just like my current thoughts. How could this happen? The war against frontier tribes hadn’t ended, and he moved against my father? Didn’t he promise me…
Casually sprinkled some medicinal powder: ‘Consider yourself lucky.’ Then got up and left. I don’t like women who are too scheming, allowing them to become cannon fodder, trying to break me down mentally. First, I’ll make you grow a rash for two months, unable to show your face, hiding in your room to reflect!
I landed easily in the back hall of Phoenix Xia Palace, patting the dust off my robe: Jin Mo, you can avoid me for now, but can you avoid me forever?
In the afternoon, the empress punished the concubines; such a commotion couldn’t have escaped his ears. He still wants to pretend not to hear or care, to avoid my accusations!
Taking a deep breath, I fell back, gazing at the starry sky. After more than ten years in ancient times, my days on the mountain were the happiest. Once in the mortal world, troubles are abundant. How did I become entangled by this hateful red thread, ending up in such a sorry state? I am Hua Xiaoxin!
A face blocked my view; it was Feng Qingyin. He squatted beside me, saying nothing, just staring at me with sadness in his eyes. Little Yinyin, what’s wrong?”
I reached out to smooth the pain in his eyes, but he avoided me. Feng Qingyin touched my eye corner: “Are you crying for him?”
I was stunned. Was I crying? I just felt troubled and chaotic. There was a part of my heart that hurt terribly, like being pierced and pulled by a silver needle. Painful but not heart-wrenching, just a deep ache that penetrated to the bone, yet I couldn’t cry out.
“Shall we leave? Forever,” Feng Qingyin said, his words tempting.
I stiffened, my fingers clenching. No, I want to ask him! Suddenly pushing him away, I ran towards the outer hall. But after just a few steps, I collapsed to the ground.
It’s happening again… My consciousness blurred.
Feng Qingyin rushed forward, picking me up and confirming it was just a “power outage” before sighing in relief. He gazed deeply at the palace he’d lived in for several months: Goodbye, Jin Mo.
Black line – this kid has watched too many gangster TV shows. I shook my head, patted his shoulder, and sat beside him: “If you were about to starve to death, would 100 million taels of gold be useful?” Without waiting for his response, I continued, “His original purpose was the Northern Expedition.”
No matter how legendary or brilliant the process was, he ultimately failed. He knew it was impossible yet insisted on going, stubborn to the point of absurdity – that was his greatest failure.
“Xiao Xin, you don’t need to be so persistent. Do you know what happened to your father later…”
