Chapter 90 You Take Her Home

Chapter 90: You Take Her Home

No sooner had the Empress Dowager departed than a palace maid rushed in to report that A Wu was nowhere to be found.

The Jingxi Emperor hurried to Langhua Palace, only to find it dark and still inside. He searched everywhere, and the palace maids did too, but she could not be found anywhere.

"Search at once!" the Jingxi Emperor commanded. "How could she vanish so suddenly?"

All the eunuchs outside Langhua Palace were mobilized, everyone thrown into complete panic. No one had seen her leave—how could she have disappeared without a single sighting?

Standing in the hall, the Jingxi Emperor's sharp gaze swept across the room before suddenly halting on one spot.

He strode forward and pulled back the heavy curtains, revealing A Wu.

She sat with her knees drawn up, chin tucked between them, eyes wide and filled with fear as she gazed at him.

Seeing her like this, the Jingxi Emperor stiffened, a memory surfacing sharply in his mind.

That day when he left Nanqiongzi, A Wu had been sitting just like this, hugging her knees on the bed.

But he had hardened his heart—he had walked away without so much as a backward glance.

The emperor remained motionless for a long time before finally lowering himself to one knee before A Wu.

He knelt on one knee, silently meeting her tear-filled eyes.

Tears welled in A Wu’s eyes.

The Jingxi Emperor pressed his lips together and spoke in the softest tone he could manage, "A Wu, what is wrong?"

A Wu did not answer; her lips quivered with sorrow.

He reached out hesitantly, his voice hoarse, "A Wu, Zelang will never leave you again."

A Wu began to weep. "But you’re not Zelang. You're not A Wu's Zelang."

His Majesty went very still. "Then who is? Who is A Wu’s Zelang?"

A Wu shook her head. "A Wu has no Zelang. Zelang is another’s, not A Wu’s."

Hearing this, the Jingxi Emperor remained composed with gentle patience.

After a long silence, he knelt before her, cupping her face in both hands. "A Wu, that man was at fault. He was wicked, and what he said was untrue. Are you angry? Would you like to strike him? Just once?"

As he spoke, he wrapped her small hand in his large palm and pressed it against his cheek. "Would you like to strike him? Just once?"

A Wu looked at the solemn-faced emperor—his eyes were red, aching with regret.

"I couldn't bear to strike you," she whispered.

Still holding her hand, His Majesty gazed into her tear-filled eyes. "Then what must be done for A Wu to forgive him? Tell me, please."

But A Wu simply gazed at him with childlike innocence.

The Jingxi Emperor contemplated her youthful expression for a long moment before burying his face in her hair. "A Wu, Yong Tianze is already kneeling before you. Even so, you will not forgive him, will you?"

A Wu studied him in quiet confusion, then gently stroked his hair, tidying it with delicate fingers.

For the Jingxi Emperor in that moment, such closeness was priceless beyond measure.

He gazed tenderly at A Wu and said, "A Wu is such a good girl. Would you touch Zelang again?"

A Wu tentatively reached out and lightly brushed his cheek.

Her slender fingers traced the cold, resolute face—a countenance too stern and regal for the court, one that many officials dared not look upon directly.

**********

Much to the Jingxi Emperor’s surprise, A Wu fell ill the next day.

Delirious with fever, A Wu looked terrified, trembling as she curled into his arms, murmuring, "No, no..."

Jingxi Emperor: "No to what, little one?"

A Wu was nearly in tears, her eyes brimming: "*Ye Han gege*, I don’t want *Ye Han gege* to die, I don’t want him to die, don’t kill *Ye Han gege*."

The Jingxi Emperor's gaze hardened as he stared ahead, yet his voice remained soft and coaxing: "Tell *Zelang*—why must Ye Han live?"

A Wu lifted her delicate neck, whispering timidly, "*Gege* wants to take A Wu home. A Wu wants to go home. A Wu won’t marry, doesn’t want to stay here. A Wu wants to go home…"

The Jingxi Emperor slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze settling on the young girl in his arms.

Despite her striking beauty, there was an innocent childishness about her, her tear-filled eyes calling another man *gege*.

His fingers tilted her chin up, examining that pitiful little face closely.

Tears spilled again from the corners of A Wu’s eyes, trailing down her jade-like cheeks.

He murmured, "When A Wu gets better, I’ll take you to Nanqiongzi (a lakeside retreat). There’s water there."

But A Wu didn’t brighten upon hearing this.

The Jingxi Emperor bent down, his lips softly brushing the corner of her mouth in fleeting kisses, only to taste the saltiness of her tears.

They were hers.

Afterward, she wept, burying her face in his chest and sobbing until he finally managed to lull her to sleep.

In the following days, the Jingxi Emperor had his petitions brought to Langhua Palace, attending to state affairs while personally caring for A Wu.

Under his meticulous care, A Wu eventually recovered, though she remained lifeless, lying weakly on the sickbed, ignoring him, her head bowed.

At night, he held her, coaxing her to sleep, but she pushed him away.

So he parted the bed curtains, letting in some light as he cupped her face and studied her intently.

She clenched her eyes shut tightly, her long lashes trembling faintly.

The Jingxi Emperor gently pinched her cheeks, his gaze fixed on her eyes as he murmured softly, "Not sleepy, A Wu?"

A Wu turned her head away coldly.

Jingxi Emperor: "Sleep."

Lately, A Wu had been like this—fretting at bedtime, needing him to hold and pat her until she drifted off.

This time, after holding her for a long while, he finally managed to lull her to sleep. The Jingxi Emperor then rose from the bed, standing in the shadows as he gazed at her sleeping face for a long moment before leaving the chamber.

Yet after he left, A Wu—who had seemed fast asleep—fluttered her lashes and opened her eyes.

She turned her head slightly, looking beyond the brocade curtains where maids and attendants stood guard nervously, keeping vigil all night.

Her hand, hidden beneath the brocade quilt, slowly clenched into a fist.

*******

That day, to distract her, the Jingxi Emperor took A Wu to Nanqiongzi.

Before they left, the emperor had two children brought before them. By now, the infants were six months old—chubby, soft, and fast asleep.

A Wu’s gaze barely brushed past them, refusing to linger.

The Jingxi Emperor watched her quietly from the sidelines.

He asked playfully, “Don’t you think these children are sweet?”

A Wu turned away. “How would *I* know if they’re sweet or not!”

The emperor said, “I’m taking you to Nanqiongzi for some fun. Want to bring them along?”

A Wu immediately frowned, pouting as she snapped, “They’re so small—they can’t walk, can’t talk. What’s the point!”

Seeing her genuine reluctance, the emperor hesitated before saying, “Fine, we won’t bring them. Only A Wu.”

He doted on her endlessly, but once they boarded the carriage, A Wu was still unhappy, starting to pound his chest with her fists.

The emperor didn’t mind, holding her little hands and indulging her. “What’s Zelang done to make A Wu mad now?”

A Wu pouted and wailed, “A Wu wants to go home, go home!”

The emperor pulled her into his arms. “A Wu has no home left. Zelang’s home is yours now.”

At this, A Wu flew into a rage, flailing her fists at him. When he wouldn’t let go, she sank her tiny teeth into his arm.

He bore her outbursts without a word.

After biting him, A Wu stared at the mark she’d left. Her anger flickered, and she looked up in confusion. “Doesn’t it hurt?”

The emperor shook his head.

A Wu asked, “Why not?”

He replied, “A Wu’s so spirited—she bites, and bites *hard*. Seeing that makes me happy.”

A Wu froze, her eyes going distant, then gazed blankly ahead.

By then, they had arrived at Nanqiongzi.

The emperor led her to the lakeside, where they looked out over the water, the reeds, and the little boats bobbing gently on the lake.

He pointed to a spot. “It was right here that I caught A Wu, and decided to bring her back to the palace. How time flies.”

Nearly two years had passed.

Back then, he had been confident, certain he held all the cards, determined to shape her into his perfect vision—to erase her past and make her wholly his own.

But now, in the blink of an eye, he had brought her back to this place, no longer the man he once was.

Having passed through love’s crucible, his pride lay in ruins.

Now he understood all too well—love’s easy to say, but only those who fall truly know its taste.

He was the emperor of Great Hui, sovereign and father to ninety million people. Yet among them all, there was only one her—in a league of her own.

Only her—and only the her from that time.

In the waning light of dusk, the Jingxi Emperor turned his head to look at A Wu and asked, "A Wu, do you want to go home?"

A Wu nodded softly: "Mm."

Jingxi Emperor: "A Wu, kiss Zelang. If you kiss Zelang, Zelang will grant you anything."

A Wu blinked, her eyes half-doubting: "Really?"

Jingxi Emperor: "Yes."

After hesitating for a moment, A Wu placed her hands on his shoulders, tilted her face up, and leaned in to press her lips against the Jingxi Emperor's.

Clearly shy, her arms trembled as they braced her body.

The Jingxi Emperor lowered his head slightly, capturing the offered lips. They were sweet, willingly given.

He closed his eyes, savoring her, even deepening the kiss to prolong the moment.

For a fleeting moment, the Jingxi Emperor imagined his A Wu had returned.

He snapped his eyes open to find her gazing up at him, eyes glistening with innocent confusion.

The Jingxi Emperor cupped A Wu’s face, staring into those bright eyes.

The sunset danced in her eyes, rendering her breathtaking.

His thumb brushed her pale cheek, his gaze flickering with something unreadable.

A Wu noticed and peered up at him, puzzled.

The Jingxi Emperor bent close, teeth grazing her earlobe as he whispered, "A Wu, I wish I could devour you. Will you let me?"

A Wu stared blankly, uncomprehending: "But A Wu doesn’t want to be eaten. A Wu still wants to go home, wants to go home..."

The Jingxi Emperor froze, then slowly released her, lowering his eyes.

Suddenly, it all seemed hollow.

He had no taste for soliloquies.

In the dungeon’s gloom, the Jingxi Emperor scrutinized the defiant young man before him, suddenly recalling the day A Wu had spoken of her father—a scholar who’d earned his rank only to be framed and disgraced.

**********

At the time, he’d listened with cold amusement, musing on the man’s struggles—what hardships must have driven him to leave behind a frail wife and daughter, leaving a girl like A Wu to fend for herself.

Back then, he’d written off that provincial scholar as unworthy of notice. But now, A Wu’s hometown, her family, her betrothed—those fragments of her past, mentioned only in passing—finally unveiled a glimpse to him.

Ye Han was more than just Ye Han. He was a piece of A Wu’s former life, a living thread of her past.

The Jingxi Emperor knew he had never truly possessed A Wu.

Neither Lu Yunjian nor the Crown Prince had. A Wu’s heart was a locked vault—yet she’d freely open it for Ye Han.

Now, at last, the Jingxi Emperor understood. To crack that shell, to win A Wu’s trust, he’d have to enter her world, earn the acceptance of those bound to her.

Even an emperor must humble himself before the disgraced scholar.

Even this moment of humility might have to begin with the stubborn young man before him.

He could, of course, remain proud, hold himself above everyone else, or even walk away without a second thought.

But he couldn’t.

So he gazed at Ye Han before him and finally spoke, “You’re free to go now.”

At the sound, Ye Han abruptly looked up.

He saw the resplendently robed emperor, now gazing down at him imperiously.

Then, he heard the man say, “You have seven days to heal.”

Ye Han eyed him cautiously.

Jingxi Emperor: “You—escort her home.”

***********

Ye Han was led out of the dungeon, bathed, and dressed in simple, rough-spun clothes before being taken to Nan Qiongzi’s villa, where he met A Wu.

The moment A Wu saw Ye Han, she flung herself into his embrace without hesitation.

Ye Han held her just as unashamedly, as if no one else were present.

Jingxi Emperor watched silently from the side.

In the following days, as Ye Han stayed with A Wu, he observed them unseen.

One day, when the Crown Prince arrived with memorials for Jingxi Emperor’s approval, the emperor was in the waterside pavilion.

He absentmindedly twirled a longbow in his hand—a mighty bow he once prized, one that never missed its mark. But now, it was merely an object to be traced by idle fingers.

Not far away, by the riverbank, were Ye Han and A Wu.

Ye Han sat beside A Wu, deep in conversation.

The young pair did not lean against each other, leaving a small gap between them, yet their bond was palpable.

Occasionally, A Wu would glance at Ye Han, her eyes alight with adoration and trust.

Jingxi Emperor twisted the bow idly in his hands, though his gaze remained fixed on A Wu’s back.

She perched happily on the riverbank, even kicking her feet playfully.

Sunlight spilled over the shore, dappling her glowing, porcelain features—pure as dawn, her laughter lighting her eyes.

The Crown Prince, his face stony, glanced at the distant pair and frowned.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Father, surely you—”

But Jingxi Emperor seemed indifferent. He cast a calm glance at his son. “I’ve not objected—why can’t you endure it?”

The prince’s chest tightened. “Father, what do you mean?”

Jingxi Emperor did not answer, only watched in silence.

In the distance, the young pair remained—Ye Han had stepped into the water, seemingly to fetch some flower for A Wu.

The Jingxi Emperor mused aloud, “Look. She trusts and adores that man. She’s happy with him. She has her heart’s desire at last. Isn’t that good?”

The Crown Prince was stunned.

He could hardly believe this was his father—was this really the emperor of Great Hui? His own father?

The Jingxi Emperor shifted topics: "Let's discuss recent court affairs, particularly regarding the Marquis of Zhen’an and the Eastern Sea."

***********

Ye Han accompanied A Wu for two or three days, which naturally delighted her. The Jingxi Emperor watched silently from the side the entire time.

Watching another man make her happy.

After Ye Han left that day, A Wu finally thought of the Jingxi Emperor. She looked at him curiously: "Were you busy these past few days? You've been ignoring me."

The Jingxi Emperor said without emotion: "I didn't ignore you—you ignored me. I've been here all along. Didn't you notice?"

A Wu went quiet, realizing he had indeed been present the whole time, yet she hadn't looked at him once.

She had played with Ye Han, and he hadn't gotten angry—just watched coldly.

The Jingxi Emperor said: "Do you like him?"

A Wu hesitated.

"Do you want to leave with him?"

A Wu looked down at her feet and remained silent.

The Jingxi Emperor gave a faint smile: "If you want something, speak the truth."

A Wu still hesitated.

The Jingxi Emperor held out his hand and commanded: "Come here."

A Wu stepped forward, and with a tug, he drew her into his arms.

Holding her face in his large hands, he made her look at him.

A Wu met his calm, gentle light-brown eyes, yet beneath that gaze, she felt strangely uneasy.

She had a feeling that everything between them would break—he seemed to have made a decision.

She should have been hopeful, yet a dull ache spread in her chest. Deep down, she was reluctant. She knew once she left, there would be no turning back.

The Jingxi Emperor noticed her inner conflict and pressed his thumb against her neckbone, massaging it gently.

The gesture soothed her, yet it only intensified the uncontrollable emotions swirling within her—something profound and inexplicable.

The Jingxi Emperor leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, and murmured: "A Wu, I am the emperor. Before meeting you, I thought that was all I was. With you, I became different."

The day he met her, warmth had seeped into his cold, indifferent heart.

"I once promised to treat you with parental care, but in truth, I could never do so. Nor would you believe me. Now, it all seems utterly laughable."

A Wu's heart trembled. She stared at him in stunned silence.

The Jingxi Emperor's smile faded as he gazed at her wordlessly, solemn and grave.

A sudden panic gripped her: "You..."

He seemed distant now—as if... he had already let her go.

The Jingxi Emperor reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear: "A Wu, this time, I'll give you what you desire most."