The Untouched Emperor

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### **Chapter 1: The Untouched Emperor**

🌿👑 **Emperor Wei Rong** was a figure of unmatched beauty and strength, his cold demeanor sending chills through the grand palace halls. His gaze could freeze even the most seasoned warrior in place, his words sharp enough to break the strongest spirits. Those who served him knew one thing—he ruled with an iron heart, and no one dared to approach him on a personal level.

Sitting upon his golden throne, Wei Rong scanned the room filled with ministers, their heads bowed in fear. The endless parade of petitions and state matters were nothing more than a tedious burden to him. His flawless, chiseled features remained stoic, betraying none of the frustration brewing beneath his calm surface.

"Your Majesty," began **Minister Shen**, his voice shaking, "there have been… rumors of unrest in the southern provinces."

Wei Rong’s cold eyes flickered toward the minister. "Rumors?" His voice was dangerously soft, yet it carried the weight of a blade.

The room fell silent, a heavy tension filling the air as the minister fumbled for words. **None of these matters interested him anymore.** The daily grind of ruling an empire had become dull, repetitive—there was no challenge, no intrigue.

As the court session dragged on, Wei Rong’s thoughts wandered. He longed for something—anything—that could stir his frozen heart. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew the palace's grandeur had lost its appeal. No person, no beauty had ever managed to spark warmth in his chest.

Until recently.

During one of his rare excursions outside the palace, something had piqued his curiosity. He hadn’t even laid eyes on the person, only heard whispers from the servants—a commoner, a young man whose beauty was said to rival the lotus flowers blooming by the river.

Wei Rong had brushed it off at first. **A commoner?** Someone of low status couldn't possibly intrigue him. Yet, the more he ignored it, the more those whispers crept into his mind. **Who was this person?** And why had so many people spoken of him with such admiration?

His curiosity simmered just beneath the surface, though outwardly, he remained the cold, distant emperor that everyone knew. He wouldn’t waste his time chasing rumors. But if fate brought this person to him… perhaps then, he would see for himself.

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🌸 Meanwhile, in a small, modest village far from the palace, **Xue Yan** tended to his daily tasks with a serene expression on his face. As a commoner, his life was simple, filled with mundane chores. Yet, his presence stood out in a way he never realized. The villagers often marveled at his ethereal beauty, calling him **White Lotus**, as his delicate features and gentle manner reminded them of the lotus flowers floating on the river.

Xue Yan, however, didn’t concern himself with such things. His life was quiet, and that’s how he preferred it. He knew nothing of the emperor’s court or the power struggles of the elite. His days were spent gathering herbs, helping his neighbors, and caring for the flowers by the riverbank.

But even in this quiet life, things were not always peaceful. There were those in the village who coveted his beauty and grew jealous of the attention he received. One such person was **Li Feng**, the son of a local nobleman. His eyes lingered too long on Xue Yan, and his jealousy was no secret. He made no effort to hide his disdain for the young man who, despite his humble status, had captured the hearts of many.

One evening, as Xue Yan walked along the river, tending to the flowers, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He turned and saw Li Feng, his expression dark and menacing.

"You think you’re better than us, don’t you?" Li Feng sneered, stepping closer.

Xue Yan remained calm, his soft gaze meeting Li Feng’s. "I have never thought such things," he replied quietly. "I simply live my life."

Li Feng’s anger flared. "Don’t lie to me! Everyone in this village speaks of your beauty, but you're nothing more than a commoner!" He grabbed Xue Yan’s arm roughly, his grip tight and painful. 😡

Just as Xue Yan was about to pull away, another voice cut through the tense air—cold, commanding, and filled with authority.

"Let him go."

Li Feng’s grip loosened as he spun around, his face paling at the sight of the figure before him. Dressed in the finest silks, his face like that of a god descended from the heavens, stood **Emperor Wei Rong** himself. His gaze was ice, directed solely at Li Feng.

"Your Majesty… I…" Li Feng stammered, falling to his knees immediately.

Wei Rong ignored him entirely, his attention shifting to Xue Yan. The coldness that filled his expression for everyone else faded when his eyes fell on the young man. There was something about him, something that stirred the emperor’s heart in a way nothing else had before.

But, instead of acknowledging the strange pull between them, Wei Rong turned away, his voice calm yet distant. "You will return to the palace with me."

Xue Yan’s eyes widened in shock. "Your Majesty, I—"

"It is not a request," Wei Rong interrupted, his tone final. "You will come." There was no room for argument, but there was also no harshness in his words—only certainty.

Without waiting for a reply, the emperor gestured for his guards to escort Xue Yan. 🌸 And so, with a heart full of confusion, Xue Yan found himself leaving the life he had always known, not knowing that this would be the first step into a world of power, secrets, and a love that would bind him to the most powerful man in the empire.

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**To Be Continued...**

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