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Just now, she had deliberately removed her bracelet to place it on top of the horoscope, praying for the child's well-being. She watched over the prayer lamp with great care, fearing that the wind seeping through the window might extinguish it.

She was harboring secrets, and those secrets likely involved Qingxi.

Emperor Jiaoyu exerted a gentle force, pulling the woman in his arms even closer. In front of others, she could always conceal her emotions effectively, but before him, her pretense was as fragile as a piece of paper ready to crumble.

From the start of their marriage, he had noticed her caution and wariness towards him. His father, the emperor, had bestowed her upon him due to Prince Qiyuan's influence, exploiting his frailty and non-confrontational nature.

Xiao Yan knew that Prince Qiyuan only dared not defy his father, thus reluctantly allowing her to marry him. The Qi family, including Qingxi, were well aware of Prince Qiyuan's intentions.

To both the Qi family and Prince Qiyuan, he, Xiao Yan, was merely a pawn, a disposable tool once Prince Qiyuan gained power.

Initially, he had no strong feelings about this. To him, dying early or late held little significance.

While in Taiyuan Prefecture, he would leave early in the morning and return late at night.

Back then, he thought that since the prefecture was his fief, he had a responsibility towards its people. He decided to do as much as he could for the citizens while he still lived.

He had been an avid reader since childhood, delving into a wide range of literature, which proved advantageous in managing the livelihood of the people. He built dams, cultivated fertile fields, and even led a large group of miners on relentless expeditions into remote mountains and wilderness in search of mineral resources.

Perhaps to cultivate a good reputation, or perhaps because she was idle in Taiyuan Prefecture, she started sending him meals every day. Initially, she would stay for just half an hour, then later an entire hour. Eventually, she began accompanying him, working with the people from morning till night, just as he did.

On one occasion, there was an incident in the fields of a county town far below.

She followed him into the paddy field, and when they emerged, her face had lost all its color. Yet, she was stubborn, and not even the maid attending to her could perceive her discomfort.

Xiao Yan cast her a glance, dismissed the onlookers, and forcefully lifted the hem of her pants. Upon seeing the leeches engorged with blood that clung to her leg, his face turned as grave as still water in an instant.

His usually tranquil heart experienced an unprecedented turmoil. After removing the leeches, he asked if she was in pain. She bit her lip and said she wasn't.

Xiao Yan knew she was lying but chose not to expose her.

Gazing at the bloodstains winding down her leg, he inexplicably lowered his head, gently licking away the blood drop by drop.

She stared blankly at the top of his head, but when he looked up, she quickly averted her eyes, her ears turning crimson with embarrassment.

In fact, long before she realized her feelings for him, he had already known that she had developed a fondness for him.

Yet, after that incident, everything transformed.

For both her and him.

On their journey back to the prince's residence, a landslide caused a flood, trapping them in a mountain cave together.

At that time, they had been married for over a year, sharing the same bed each night without ever crossing the line of intimacy.

That fateful day, thunder rumbled and lightning illuminated the sky, as rain fell in torrents.

Both of them were drenched, the lingering terror of narrowly escaping a mountain flood overwhelming their last vestige of reason.

In the cramped and dimly lit cave, it was she who initiated the kiss.

But it was he who responded with fervor, he who urged her not to retreat, he who peeled away her clothes, making her utterly his.

She sobbed, calling out his name, Xiao Yan.

At that moment, he thought, let us sink together, either living or dying as one.

Now that his days are numbered and death is looming, he hesitates to draw her into his fading world. If he cannot bear to involve her in his impending end, then he shall arrange everything for her, ensuring that her future days are free from worries and troubles.

Candles flicker softly.

Emperor Jia You gently stroked the furrow between Empress Qi's brows, which even in her sleep remained tightly knitted. He lifted the curtains, and with measured steps, exited the inner chamber.

Wang Dehai, accompanied by two eunuchs, was dozing off in the outer chamber when he caught sight of Emperor Jiayu's figure. Instantly, he jolted to attention, "Your Majesty—"

Emperor Jia You raised his hand to silence the voice, speaking calmly, "Fetch Gui Zhong. I have some matters to entrust him with."

Chapter 99

The auspicious time predicted by the Astronomical Bureau was at the sixth hour of the morning. Gu Changjin had risen even earlier, at the fourth hour before dawn. Standing in the outer hall, he listened through the thick cotton curtains for quite some time, aware that the maiden inside was still asleep. Silently, he exited the palace.

Upon his departure, Rong Shu slowly opened her eyes, turning over in bed with Moon as her pillow. Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the two wine cups on the table in front of her.

The memories of the previous night flooded back, reminding her of that fleeting kiss.

His face seemed to materialize before her eyes, gradually filling her vision.

His nose brushed against hers gently, his lips soft and burning hot, his breath warm with the spiciness of Tusu wine.

This wasn't their first kiss. When she was poisoned in Yangzhou, he had forced open her teeth to administer medicine. Back then, her tongue was wounded, and Rong Shu still remembered the ache of his tongue grazing against it.

That kiss had been painful and bitter, stirring no romantic notions whatsoever.

It was entirely different from the fleeting touch of their lips the previous night.

Rong Shu lifted her hand to softly caress her lips, and his low, hoarse voice echoed in her ears once more.

"You're not allowed to pull away."

"Rong Zhaozhao, you're not allowed to retreat."

That vexing voice had kept her from a peaceful sleep the night before.

Closing her eyes, Rong Shu moved her hand from her lips, intending to reach for the jade pendant on her chest, only to find nothing there.

Only then did she recall that she had already given him the jade pendant.

After wearing it for over a decade, its sudden absence left her feeling somewhat uneasy.

She would have to choose a new jade pendant when Mother arrived.

The sky outside was still dim, and Rong Shu dozed off once more, only to awaken when the daylight grew brighter and faint voices drifted in from the veranda.

" Auntie Bamboo, Lan Xuan," she called softly.

Zhu Jun and Lan Xuan promptly ceased their conversation and came inside to attend to her.