The Cold Emperor's Silent Gaze

### **Chapter 3: The Cold Emperor’s Silent Gaze**

The sun dipped low over the imperial city, casting a warm amber glow over the palace walls. 🌇 Inside the emperor’s grand hall, Wei Rong sat on his throne, his eyes as cold as the winter frost, showing no trace of the tenderness he had displayed to Xue Yan the night before. His sharp features and regal air demanded respect from every soul in the room, but there was a stark difference in the way he behaved with Xue Yan—something not even his closest advisors could comprehend.

Xue Yan, for his part, kept his head low, trying to blend into the background as court life carried on around him. **How had his life changed so suddenly?** He had gone from a simple commoner to living in the palace, and now, everyone’s eyes were on him. It made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t deny the sense of protection he felt under Wei Rong’s watchful gaze. Even if the emperor was distant now, Xue Yan knew Wei Rong was never far.

As the court discussions continued, there was a sudden interruption. **Lady Mei**, one of the most powerful women in the court, entered with her retinue. Her beauty was striking, but it was her sharp mind that had earned her a dangerous reputation. 💅

"Your Majesty," Lady Mei greeted Wei Rong with a deep bow, her voice laced with sweetness but dripping with concealed malice. "I hear that a certain… commoner has been receiving your favor as of late. The court is most curious about this development."

A murmur rippled through the courtiers. Xue Yan’s heart pounded in his chest. He could feel Lady Mei’s eyes on him, sharp and calculating, like a predator circling its prey.

Wei Rong’s gaze remained fixed ahead, his expression impassive. "My personal matters are not for the court to discuss," he replied coolly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. His words were enough to silence the whispers, but they did little to ease the growing discomfort in the room.

Lady Mei’s lips curled into a small smile. "Of course, Your Majesty. I only wish to ensure that your judgment remains clear in these uncertain times. After all, bringing someone so… unworthy into the palace may raise questions."

At that, Wei Rong’s eyes narrowed, his cold gaze finally shifting toward Lady Mei. "I trust no one here questions my decisions."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and the courtiers quickly averted their gazes. Wei Rong’s presence was overpowering, and none dared to defy him.

---

🌿 **Later that evening**, after the court session had ended, Xue Yan found himself wandering through the palace gardens, trying to clear his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place. The palace was beautiful, filled with riches and luxury, but it was also a den of hidden agendas, and he was unsure of his role within it.

As he walked, he heard the faint sound of footsteps behind him. Turning around, he was startled to see **Wei Rong** approaching, his robes trailing elegantly on the stone path. The emperor’s cold aura was still present, but there was something different in his eyes now—something softer, reserved only for Xue Yan. 🌸

"You seem troubled," Wei Rong said, his voice low but gentle.

Xue Yan quickly lowered his head, trying to compose himself. "I don’t belong here, Your Majesty. The court, the palace... they look at me like I’m some intruder."

Wei Rong stepped closer, his piercing gaze softening even more. "Do you think I care what the court thinks?" His tone was calm, but there was an underlying fierceness to his words. "You are here because I chose you to be here."

Xue Yan’s breath caught in his throat. Wei Rong’s presence was overwhelming, but in this moment, there was a warmth to him that Xue Yan couldn’t ignore. **Why had the emperor brought him into his world?**

"I don’t understand," Xue Yan whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Why me?"

Wei Rong’s eyes softened, and for the first time, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Because you are not like them," he said quietly, gesturing toward the palace behind them. "You are different, Xue Yan. You see the world not through ambition or deceit but with purity."

Xue Yan felt his heart skip a beat at the emperor’s words. **Was that why Wei Rong had shown him such kindness?** But before he could ask, Wei Rong gently reached out, brushing a stray hair from Xue Yan’s face. His touch was surprisingly tender, in stark contrast to the coldness he showed to the rest of the world.

"You need not fear," Wei Rong said softly. "As long as you are with me, no one will harm you."

---

But even as Wei Rong offered Xue Yan this rare glimpse of vulnerability, the world outside their small bubble continued to turn. **Lady Mei**, still fuming from her earlier confrontation with the emperor, had not been idle. In the shadows of the court, she schemed and whispered, spreading rumors and half-truths about the commoner who had caught the emperor’s eye.

The palace was a dangerous place for someone like Xue Yan, and Lady Mei knew how to manipulate the court’s suspicions to her advantage. **Sooner or later, the boy would slip—and when he did, she would be ready to strike.**

---

🌙 **That night**, Xue Yan lay awake in his chambers, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—about Wei Rong, about the court, about Lady Mei’s veiled threats. The emperor had promised to protect him, but for how long? And what would happen if Wei Rong’s interest in him faded?

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on his door. Startled, Xue Yan sat up, wondering who would visit him at this hour. He opened the door to find **Chen Lei**, Wei Rong’s trusted advisor.

"His Majesty requests your presence," Chen Lei said simply, bowing slightly. "It is urgent."

Xue Yan’s heart raced. **Why would the emperor summon him so late?** He quickly followed Chen Lei through the quiet halls of the palace, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the walls.

---

In the emperor’s private chambers, Wei Rong stood by the window, his back to Xue Yan. The room was dimly lit, and the only sound was the soft rustle of the emperor’s robes as he turned to face Xue Yan.

"You’re worried," Wei Rong said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xue Yan nodded. "I… I don’t know how to act in this world, Your Majesty. Everything is so complicated."

Wei Rong’s gaze softened. He stepped closer to Xue Yan, his hand gently resting on the younger man’s shoulder. "You don’t need to change who you are," Wei Rong said quietly. "I brought you here because of who you are, not who the court wants you to be."

Xue Yan looked up, meeting Wei Rong’s gaze. There was something deep in the emperor’s eyes—something that made Xue Yan feel safe, despite the chaos swirling around them.

"You are not alone," Wei Rong whispered, his voice filled with a rare warmth. "I will protect you, no matter what."

---

**To Be Continued...**

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