Chapter 201:

After the Shen family left, Layue was still in a daze. Later, Yiyi spoke to her at length. Actually, Layue already knew that marrying Yiyi to Zhou Nan wasn’t entirely suitable.

However, Yiyi was extremely determined. She spoke highly of Zhou Nan, listing many of his virtues. Observing Yiyi’s expression, Layue realized that these feelings weren’t new—they had likely been building for some time. Otherwise, how could Yiyi come up with so many arguments and observations?

Previously, Layue had always seen Yiyi as a little girl. But now, she seemed different.

She had grown up, developed her own opinions, formed attachments to people she liked, and even become eloquent.

Strangely enough, Layue found herself somewhat convinced.

“Your Highness?” Jin Xin chuckled softly, noticing her mistress’s bewildered expression.

Layue glanced at Jin Xin and sighed, “Help me get ready. I must go see the Emperor.”

Since Yiyi liked Zhou Nan so much, how could she, as her older sister, not try to fight for her happiness?

Although she had agreed to speak to the Emperor on Yiyi’s behalf, Layue still had her own concerns.

If she didn’t clarify things, she wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

Zhou Nan had joined the army at a young age and had remained by the Emperor’s side ever since. He had never married or taken concubines. Yiyi claimed that a man who remained so pure and upright was worth striving for. Yet Layue still felt a bit worried.

Perhaps she was simply too anxious. Even when she met the Emperor, there was still a hint of sadness in her expression.

Seeing her like this, the Emperor pulled her into his arms, “What’s wrong, Yue’er? Who upset you? You look so troubled.”

“It’s all my fault,” Layue pouted, nestling closer to the Emperor.

He raised an eyebrow, “What happened?”

This little one rarely acted this way.

Considering that she had become like this right after the Shen family left the palace, the matter must have been caused by them.

Layue tugged at the Emperor’s robe and murmured the entire story. Then she looked at him anxiously.

Seeing her expression, the Emperor couldn’t help but kiss her.

She had been serving him for a long time, becoming increasingly skilled at pleasing him and making him care for her.

Seeing her like this, how could he bear to let her feel even slightly troubled? He immediately became her protector.

“Don’t worry, Yue’er. Zhou Nan really has no problems. He’s just had a difficult past and lost hope for family life. But despite that, his character is good. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have entrusted him with important tasks. Although Shen Yiyi is much younger than him, in my opinion, they might still be a good match. Think about it—Zhou Nan has a cold personality and isn’t particularly interested in women. At Yiyi’s age, she could be both a wife and a daughter to him. Perhaps that could make their relationship more harmonious. Besides, you are her older sister, and I am her brother-in-law. If Zhou Nan ever dares to treat her improperly, even without you saying a word, I will deal with him severely.”

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Layue couldn’t help but bury her head in his neck.

“You’re so good to me, Your Majesty.”

“Later, I will talk to Zhou Nan myself to see if there are any other issues. Since you care about this, I will help you.”

The Emperor’s sincerity touched Layue, who wasn’t made of stone. She fidgeted with his fingers and murmured, “Your Majesty, I truly worry about Yiyi. Not only her, but my brother too. They are my closest family. I may not care about others, but I cannot neglect them. When my mother passed away, she held our hands and told us to love and support each other. My brother can do it, and so can I. I don’t want Yiyi to be unhappy. Actually, I don’t think Zhou Nan is very suitable for her. But seeing how determined Yiyi is, I will respect her decision.”

“I know. I understand everything.”

Rubbing Layue’s back, the Emperor said, “Although Zhou Nan is older, he has no elders to guide him, is loyal to the country, and has a good character. He hasn’t even taken a concubine. Isn’t that exactly what makes a good husband for a woman?”

Layue nodded but still teased with a smile, “But he’s old and cold-hearted.”

Such a contradictory little girl—no wonder it had taken so long for her to fully let her guard down around him. Just looking at how she reacted to Yiyi’s choice of a husband revealed a lot.

“Do you know a saying, Yue’er?”

“Huh?” Layue looked at him.

“One pair of cold eyes watches the world, while a heart full of passion warms those closest. Zhou Nan is exactly this kind of person—cold on the outside, warm on the inside.”

Hearing this, Layue finally stopped arguing.

Actually, the Emperor himself wasn’t entirely convinced about this match either. It had originally been a passing remark, but he hadn’t expected things to develop this far. After Layue had refused back then, he had briefly considered the matter again and thought that perhaps she was right—Zhou Nan and Yiyi weren’t well-matched. After all, Zhou Nan had remained unmarried for so many years. How could he suddenly decide to marry such a young girl?

However, since Layue had brought it up today, the Emperor chose not to voice his doubts. Instead, he focused on the positives. If Zhou Nan refused, he had his own plans. But he couldn’t let Layue feel distressed over this.

Since she cared so much about her younger sister, the Emperor would never let her down.

After chatting with the Emperor for a while, Layue felt a bit more at ease.

Initially, she had indeed been extremely confused. How could she not be confused? These two people seemed completely mismatched. As Yiyi’s older sister, how could she not feel deeply concerned?

Seeing Layue still looking dazed, the Emperor couldn’t resist biting her ear lightly.

“You’re always thinking about others. I’m getting jealous.”

Tickled by him, Layue tried to dodge, “Don’t tease me, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor chuckled and pinched her, “Who said I’m teasing you?”

Layue pretended to be serious, “This is teasing! You really have bad habits!”

At some point, she had become bold enough to tease the Emperor like this, though she hadn’t even noticed it herself.

“Alright then, you little fox spirit. So clever with words. Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson.”

With that, he lifted her onto the table in front of him and leaned over. Layue gasped in surprise.

Her cries startled the Emperor slightly, but then he continued pulling at her clothes.

This little girl truly deserved some discipline.

Tickled by him, Layue squirmed and laughed, begging for mercy.

Although it wasn’t the height of daylight, it wasn’t dark either, and his boldness was indeed inappropriate.

“Your Majesty, please stop! How can you do this? It’s so indecent! Your Majesty, Your Majesty—ah!”

But the Emperor didn’t care. Even as she protested, he tore off her undergarments.

Then he entered her with one swift motion, and the two became one.

Biting her fingers, Layue let out a few soft moans.

She begged, “Your Majesty, you’re hurting me. I haven’t even gotten wet yet.”

She bit her lip, looking pitifully adorable.

Seeing her speak so suggestively, the Emperor felt even more delighted.

He thrust into her a few times, gripping her slim waist tightly, “Yue’er, saying things like that is clearly tempting me. Don’t deny it—you’re playing hard to get.”

Layue refused to admit it and retorted, “I’m not! You always misunderstand me.”

In truth, Layue had indeed been trying to tempt him with those suggestive words. His roughness gave her no consideration, so she wanted to reach arousal quickly to avoid discomfort.

The Emperor chuckled lowly, his lips wandering over her body as he whispered, “Whether you are or not, we both know. My little treasure, I like you like this.”

The temperature in the room gradually rose as the two became passionately entangled.

The Emperor himself couldn’t even understand why he had come to love Layue so deeply. The mere thought that she might not love him in return made him feel unbearable pain. He could only think of how to be good to her—continuously and endlessly.

Since she had entered the palace, she had served him so well that he naturally liked pampering this obedient little pet. However, as time passed and after she had saved him twice, the Emperor suddenly realized—he truly loved Layue. He had never felt this way about anyone else.

At that time, he had also noticed that little Yue’er still had some wariness toward him.

To make her love him as deeply as he loved her, he had poured all his thoughts and efforts into her.

Watching her increasingly bold words and actions, her ever-brighter smile, the Emperor found himself liking—no, loving—her even more.

“Ahh—”

At the thought of love, the Emperor released deeply inside her, letting out a low growl.

After they rested for a while, a soft voice came from the door.

“Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince has arrived. He said he will wait for you at Huici Palace.”

Just as the two had begun their intimate moment, the Sixth Prince had arrived. Knowing the Emperor’s temper, Lai Xi had blocked him at the entrance.

Fortunately, the Sixth Prince seemed to understand the situation and didn’t insist, simply stating that he would wait at Huici Palace.

It seemed that aside from their mother, the Empress Dowager, the two brothers had nothing more to say to each other.

“I see. Come in and help me change.”

He carried Layue into the inner chamber, placing her on the bed. Seeing the large tears on her delicate face, the Emperor covered her with the blanket.

Smiling slightly, he went to the bath chamber to quickly wash up before leaving with Lai Xi’s assistance.

At this time, the Sixth Prince was sitting by the Empress Dowager’s bed in Huici Palace, though she was no longer there.

“I have no more attachments left,” the Sixth Prince suddenly said when he saw the Emperor arrive.

Yet the Emperor understood the meaning behind his words.

“Have you really decided?”

“In this life, everything I wanted and loved is gone. Now I have let go. If Qing Cheng could see through life and death, how hard can it be for me to become a monk? All worldly troubles will eventually fade into emptiness. Wealth and honor come with birth and leave with death. I was simply too attached before.”

The Sixth Prince looked at the Emperor, showing no extra emotion.

Suddenly, the Emperor laughed, “No one could have imagined we’d reach this point.”

“But I’ve never felt this peaceful before.”

The Emperor stared at the Sixth Prince for a long time before finally saying, “Take care.”