Then, Qin Shu deliberately coughed weakly and said softly, “If Your Majesty finds it delicious, please have more.”
“Alright.” Xuan Yuan Che responded, his gaze never leaving Qin Shu from beginning to end. After a moment, he slowly asked, “Back then, when I issued the decree for you to come to the capital, participate in the selection, and enter the palace as a consort, making you leave your family… did you… resent me?”
What kind of question is that? So you actually know! But Qin Shu complained inwardly: How could I actually say that? I did indeed resent it quite a bit. She didn’t directly respond to Xuan Yuan Che’s question, only saying, “Right now, isn’t Your Majesty accompanying your humble consort in admiring the moon? I am already Your Majesty’s consort, and isn’t Your Majesty my family?”
“Truly?” Xuan Yuan Che’s voice carried a hint of excitement, “You… truly think this way?”
Qin Shu was once again caught off guard by Xuan Yuan Che’s reaction. After some thought, she finally nodded and said, “That’s the reality of the situation. Does Your Majesty think what I said is wrong?”
“Right, absolutely correct. You are my wife, and I am your husband. We are naturally family.”
“…” Qin Shu froze. Wife? Husband? Although she entered the palace as a consort, according to protocol, her status was that of a concubine. Should such words really be said to her?
Seeing Qin Shu suddenly fall silent, Xuan Yuan Che asked directly, “What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”
Qin Shu snapped out of her thoughts and said, “No, it’s just that what Your Majesty said seems…”
Hearing her tone and these unfinished words, Xuan Yuan Che instantly understood. He spoke earnestly, “What I said is what I truly feel in my heart. I told you, you are different from them. You are the only one I have chosen. I didn’t lie to you.”
Full of seriousness, he continued to explain, “The Empress is the daughter of the Prime Minister, representing the Wang faction. The Noble Consort is the daughter of the Grand Censor, representing the Zheng faction. The Imperial Harem is closely connected to the imperial court. Although I have ascended the throne and sit upon it, the court is not entirely under my control. Everyone in the harem has their own thoughts and schemes. I have never touched any of them.”
Qin Shu’s mouth twitched slightly. Why was he going deeper and deeper into this? She really had no interest in learning so much. And what did he mean by ‘never touched any of them’? What explosive insider information was she hearing? Instantly, she said in a serious voice, “Your Majesty, matters involving court secrets should not be discussed with your humble consort.”
Xuan Yuan Che: “Didn’t you say that I am your family? Between you and me, there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
Qin Shu: “But…”
Before she could finish, Xuan Yuan Che said to her with complete seriousness, “I like you. Only you. Therefore, I can be completely honest with you about anything.”
“Ah?… Cough! Cough!” Qin Shu coughed violently twice, her eyes filled with astonishment. He likes her? Only her? Was this damn a confession to her? Qin Shu truly couldn’t figure out where this connection between her and Xuan Yuan Che began. How could there be such feelings? You’re an emperor, one who successfully ascended after the perilous struggle of the seven princes vying for the throne. What kind of act are you putting on here?
At that moment, Xuan Yuan Che reached around her back, his broad hand patting gently as he asked with concern, “Are you alright?”
Qin Shu shook her head and quickly shot a glance at Xin Lian and Xin Yi beside her.
Xin Lian and Xin Yi, standing nearby, had also heard every word the Emperor said to their mistress. Each of his statements left them utterly astonished. Seeing the situation, they hurried forward, and Xin Lian spoke up: “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship has a delicate constitution. As it is the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight, she stayed up later than usual. It is time for Her Ladyship to return to her bedchamber to take her medicine and rest.”
Xuan Yuan Che: “It was my oversight. It is indeed late. Let me escort you back to your bedchamber.”
Qin Shu initially intended to decline, but seeing Xuan Yuan Che’s determined demeanor, she did not refuse and replied weakly, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xuan Yuan Che helped Qin Shu to her feet and accompanied her directly into the bedchamber. After she sat down by the bed, he stood before her and said gently, “Bringing you into the palace and involving you in the conflicts of the Imperial Harem was due to my selfish desires. But I promise I will never betray you, nor will I allow you to suffer the slightest harm.”
Qin Shu gazed at Xuan Yuan Che, thought for a moment, and replied, “Your Majesty is thoughtful. I am perfectly fine.”
Xuan Yuan Che smiled at her and said, “Indeed, you are so clever. With your capabilities, how could the people and schemes of the Imperial Harem possibly affect you?”
Qin Shu looked at Xuan Yuan Che. This man’s words and actions seemed to indicate he knew everything about her, and his current statement was particularly thought-provoking.
Reflecting on this, she recalled how Xuan Yuan Che had suddenly arrived at Yuehua Palace yesterday. She had originally thought her feigned illness had gone undetected, but now it appeared Xuan Yuan Che was fully aware of it.
Yet, she truly could not understand how he knew. Aside from her family and closest confidants, no one else was aware of her condition. In the past, whenever she left the estate, she had never revealed her identity. If she had encountered Xuan Yuan Che outside, given his striking presence, how could she have no memory of it?
He knew she was feigning illness but did not expose her. Considering she was in the palace without her family, he had even made a special trip to accompany her in admiring the moon for the Mid-Autumn Festival. His actions, unintentionally, had stirred her emotions.
Could it really be, as she had previously speculated, that Xuan Yuan Che brought her into the palace simply because he wanted her to become his consort—because he… liked her!
At that moment, Xuan Yuan Che’s voice reached her ears again.
“Well, rest well. I shall take my leave.” Seeing Qin Shu about to rise again, Xuan Yuan Che placed a hand on her shoulder to prevent her from standing to bow. He withdrew his hand, took one more look at the woman before him, then turned and left, vanishing as quickly as he had arrived.
After the Emperor departed, Xin Lian was the first to speak. “Your Ladyship, the Emperor, he…”
Qin Shu: “Do not speak a word of what happened tonight to anyone.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi: “Yes, we understand.”
Xin Yi pondered and said, “Your Ladyship, the Emperor said you are the only one he has chosen. Combined with everything else he said, it seems he trusts you deeply. From this, one might guess the Emperor knows you very well. Could it be that he is even aware of your feigned illness?”
Xin Lian added, “We have always been by Your Ladyship’s side. Whenever you went out, your identity was concealed. How could the Emperor have learned these details?”
Qin Shu lifted her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the two before her. “From what just occurred, it is clear he knows. How he came to know, I cannot fathom. But since he did not bring it up, it seems he has no intention of pursuing the matter.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi exchanged a glance, then Xin Lian asked softly, “Your Highness once told us that if you were to marry, you wished to marry a devoted man. If His Majesty were to remain completely devoted to you, would he truly be the type of man Your Highness desires?”
Qin Shu: “Enough, let’s not speak of this anymore.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi asked no further questions. After attending to Qin Shu and helping her settle into bed, they withdrew from the bedchamber to the outer room.
Qin Shu closed her eyes, her mind echoing the question Xin Lian had asked. She pondered it for what felt like a long time before finally drifting off to sleep.