Chapter 157:

Layue never expected that the Chen family had been detained on charges of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, a claim she found utterly unbelievable.

Reflecting on it, there had been no signs at all, yet the situation had turned out this way. As it was a serious crime, she dared not speak recklessly.

During these days, some people came to visit her, and Layue understood they were there to gather information. However, she herself had no idea what had happened, so she kept her distance from those who came prying, refusing to receive them.

Gradually, the visits decreased.

With many palace duties to attend to and the Empress Dowager unable to assist due to illness, Layue found herself busier than usual.

Within just two or three days, the Chen family was sentenced to execution in autumn. Layue calculated that with the New Year approaching, the time left was barely over half a year.

She was shocked and deeply confused. She even suspected that her rebirth had caused a butterfly effect—her own family remained unscathed, but the Chens had fallen into trouble.

Yet she knew Emperor Jing’s character well. If he truly knew nothing about it, she would never believe it.

Was the Chen family truly guilty of colluding with the enemy, or had they violated another of Emperor Jing’s taboos?

At this time, neither the Shens nor the Yues dared to send messages into the palace, fearing that any misstep might lead to their involvement and endanger Shen Layue.

Layue naturally understood this as well, so she was extremely cautious in everything she did.

Even though she had already broken ties with Chen Yulan, and the Shen and Chen families no longer had contact, the fact remained that her mother and Lady Chen were sisters—an undeniable truth.

Worried that some scheming villains might stir up trouble for her family, Layue felt extremely anxious.

In ordinary times, everything seemed fine, but when a major crisis occurred, she deeply felt her own helplessness.

Apart from all this, she also longed to meet her aunt once again, to learn the truth so she could determine whether she could offer help.

Even though Chen Yulan had repeatedly plotted against her, her aunt had always treated her kindly.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived—”

Upon hearing of Emperor Jing’s arrival, Layue hurried out to greet him.

Seeing that the emperor seemed to be in a good mood, Layue smiled and said, “Your Majesty seems to be in a particularly good mood today!”

Emperor Jing glanced at her sideways. “That’s only natural. When the court is peaceful, everything is fine.”

Layue didn’t know whether his words carried hidden meanings, but she was thinking carefully about how to bring up the matter of her aunt.

Seeing her distracted, the emperor understood her thoughts.

He pinched her cheek and asked, “Have the children been well-behaved today?”

At the mention of the children, Layue’s face naturally lit up in a smile. “Of course they have!”

“The Empress Dowager is unwell, and I trust no one else. With the New Year approaching, there’s much to prepare in the palace. Please take extra care of things.”

Layue nodded.

She already knew this, and now that the palace authority was in her hands, it suited her well.

“Your Majesty can rest assured. This subject will do her utmost.”

Seeing her still appear hesitant, Emperor Jing gestured for her to pour tea, and Layue quickly complied.

The emperor took a sip from his teacup, his expression calm as he said offhandedly, “In the past, Consort Xian also loved this Longjing tea.”

Layue was taken aback, not understanding why he had suddenly mentioned Consort Xian. She had passed away over three years ago, and Layue had nearly forgotten her. But then it struck her—how could she not realize that this must be a warning from Emperor Jing?

Why had Consort Xian been demoted? For interfering in court affairs from the harem.

And the matter Layue was about to inquire about was precisely this.

Looking at Emperor Jing’s expression, there was nothing unusual.

But Layue deeply understood that the emperor had his own intentions—he was using Consort Xian to hint at, or rather, warn her not to interfere in politics or inquire about her aunt.

She clenched her fists tightly, took a few deep breaths, and finally calmed herself, lifting her face into a sweet smile.

“Consort Xian may have loved it, but this subject personally does not. I’m rather coarse by nature and don’t care much for delicate things. The finest tea is wasted on me, like water to a cow.”

That was how Layue replied after recovering her composure.

Seeing her understanding demeanor, the emperor nodded with satisfaction.

Actually, he hadn’t intended to warn her—he simply didn’t want her to ask him. Once she did, he feared he might not be able to resist her pleas. If she were allowed to meet Lady Chen and learned the truth, it might be a great blow to her.

Despite her strength, she was still only sixteen years old.

In his eyes, she was still a child.

Yet seeing how quickly she had grasped his meaning, and how she cleverly conveyed that she was different from Consort Xian, the emperor smiled.

He suddenly pulled her into his arms.

He murmured softly, “Just stay as you are. I will only be good to you. I won’t even look at anyone else, let alone favor them.”

Hearing this, Layue was startled. Thinking further, she realized that indeed, apart from staying with her, the emperor had been sleeping alone in Xuanning Hall recently, not summoning any concubines.

She thought back—when had this started?

It seemed… since the day he favored Consort Hui?

Could it be that after being rejected because of her scar, he could no longer bear it?

Layue’s mind wandered, and for a moment, both fell silent.

The room became quiet.

But they didn’t stay quiet for long. Soon, they heard Xiao Jiaojiao and Xiao Si’er competing to cry louder.

Layue quickly moved away from the emperor.

The children lived in the side chambers of her main palace.

They must have woken up, otherwise they wouldn’t be crying so loudly.

In a good mood, the emperor pulled Layue toward the side room.

Layue smiled, “After the nannies feed them, Madam Zhou will bring the children over.”

Holding his sleeve, Layue’s face lit up with a bright smile.

It seemed that whenever she mentioned the children, her smile became especially radiant.

Looking at her smile, the emperor was suddenly entranced.

He had often seen her smile before—soft smiles, hearty laughs, playful smiles, seductive smiles… but today, none of them seemed to compare.

It seemed… more genuinely heartfelt.

And the smiles she used to give him felt, in contrast, like mere formalities.

The emperor felt a slight tightness in his chest, not understanding why such a thought had occurred to him, or whether he was overthinking.

He turned her face toward him.

“Say you love me.”

He had always loved hearing her soft, sweet voice say those words, like a feather gently brushing his heart.

Layue, of course, had no idea what had come over the emperor.

She tilted her head to look at him.

Seeing his insistence, she pouted playfully, “Your Majesty always likes to bully me.”

He didn’t respond, only pinching her chin, his gaze firm. In this situation, Layue knew there was no avoiding it—she knew he would not let go until he got the answer he wanted.

Softly, she spoke, “I love you.”

Emperor Jing looked into her eyes. At this moment, he felt as if he could no longer truly understand her. Her eyes were sparkling, her tone was exactly the one he loved, but somehow, he felt that this wasn’t truly her.

Or rather, this was the version of her that was carefully hidden.

This “I love you,” and the curve of her lips, lacked the genuine brightness and radiance of the smile she wore when thinking of the children.

Unwilling to let go, he pressed, “Say it again.”

Eh?

Layue didn’t understand him.

She had no idea why he was suddenly acting so strangely.

She bit her lip slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke again, “I love you.”

“Again!”

“I love you.”

“Again!”

“…”

No matter how many times she said it, her words seemed never to satisfy the emperor. He simply felt that it lacked sincerity. He hadn’t noticed this before, but now, he felt it deeply.

His Yue’er didn’t seem to love him as much as he had imagined.

At the very least, that “I love you” didn’t feel genuine.

Looking at her, he said slowly, “I love you. That’s why you must love me too. You have to love me. Yue’er, I have never cared for a woman like I care for you. No matter how you feel about me, I will always want to be good to you, to cherish you, love you, take care of you, and protect you.”

Layue stood there, stunned, not understanding why he was acting this way.

She didn’t know why Emperor Jing had suddenly become so emotional.

But seeing her bewildered expression, a faint bitterness stirred in his heart.

Before, he had thought she loved him, and he cherished the way she looked at him with affection, her gentle gestures, and her playful smiles.

But today, he realized that what he truly wanted was a real Shen Layue who loved him genuinely.

Not because he was the emperor.

Or worse—because she was pretending.

Somehow, the emperor sensed a hint of pretense in her expression.

He gave a bitter smile. Before he had fallen for her, he had been unable to see through her. But now that he had truly fallen in love, everything was different.

He had become dissatisfied.

Even doubtful.

Doubtful that she didn’t love him as deeply as he had believed.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong with you today?” Layue, unable to understand his behavior, carefully asked, finding him unusually strange.

Emperor Jing looked at her and smiled gently. “I love you so much, yet I fear you may not love me as much as I thought.”

These were such sentimental words, but Layue showed no reaction.

In her eyes, the emperor’s love was cheap.

If needed, he would say the same to countless others.

And now, with the Chen family’s matter weighing on her mind, she feared the emperor suspected her and became even more cautious.

“This subject naturally loves and adores Your Majesty. If I didn’t love you, who else would I love? Your Majesty has thousands of beauties in the harem. It should be me who fears losing you, not the other way around. Today, Your Majesty is saying the things that should be mine to say.”

Looking into her eyes as she spoke, the emperor’s expression darkened slightly. If one looked closely, there was not a trace of true affection in Layue’s eyes when she said she loved him.

He gave a bitter smile. How foolish he must have been before to believe that Layue loved him with her entire being?

Yet recalling all they had been through together, the emperor calmed himself.

Even if she didn’t love him as deeply as she claimed.

Even if she hadn’t given him her full heart.

So what?

She was still his consort, still by his side.

In life-or-death moments, she had shown a willingness to follow him to the end, even risking her life to save him—wasn’t that the truest emotion in her heart?

Thinking this, his mood shifted again. As long as he was sincere, how could he not eventually win her heart?