4: The Romantic Emperor vs. the Gratitude of the Peasant Girl (4)

Xuanyuan Che slowly turned and walked back into the cave, where the lingering atmosphere of intimacy still filled the air.

Inside, the warmth from their earlier entanglement seemed to hang in the air, a silent testament to the closeness they had shared.

His gaze settled on the woman who had caused him to lose control.

She lay there quietly, her long black hair spread out beneath her like a dark veil, contrasting sharply with her pale, flawless skin.

Her eyes were closed, and her long eyelashes fluttered faintly, as delicate as the wings of a butterfly.

A subtle trace of fatigue marked her face, but it did nothing to diminish her delicate beauty, which stirred a deep sense of pity in him.

As if she sensed his gaze, Liu Qianyu slowly opened her eyes and met Xuanyuan Che’s intense stare.

Her cheeks flushed a soft cherry red, and she whispered, almost shyly, "My benefactor..."

Xuanyuan Che offered a slight, tender smile. He raised a hand, gently running his fingertips through her soft hair, his voice filled with softness and regret.

"You're awake now. Earlier... I was hasty, and I wronged you."

Liu Qianyu quickly shook her head, her voice barely audible, like a whisper of wind.

"No... I don’t feel wronged. I’m just grateful to you for saving me."

Her eyes shimmered with tears, her gaze full of emotion.

Xuanyuan Che gazed deeply into her tear-filled eyes, his heart stirred by the ripples of tenderness he felt.

He sighed, his voice soft and comforting.

"You don't need to be so polite. It's just a piece of cake for me to save you."

"I will always remember your kindness, sir. Although I am just a peasant girl, I am willing to do my best to repay you."

Xuanyuan Che's eyes became deep and complex, and he slowly revealed his identity and considerations.

"Qianyu, to be honest, I am the king of the Great Xuan Kingdom, Xuanyuan Che. Saving you is my duty. Although my harem is large, I have no children to enjoy my happiness. Life in the deep palace is not what you can imagine. I am older than you. If I take you back to the palace, you will have no hope when I am gone."

He changed the subject and proposed an arrangement.

"I have ordered people to prepare a house, fields, servants and money for your family, which is enough to ensure that you will have no worries in your life. Treat your husband well, and you can also get married, build a career, and have children and grandchildren around you."

Tears welled up in Liu Qianyu's eyes and she shook her head stubbornly.

"Your Majesty, although Qianyu is a peasant girl, she knows how to repay kindness. She does not seek glory, but only wants to serve you. If Your Majesty despises her, Qianyu would rather live in this world without shame."

The tears finally couldn't be held back and slid down her cheeks.

Like pearls broken off a string, they sparkled with a sad beauty under the light of the fire.

Xuanyuan Che's heart trembled, he gently wiped away her tears, and replied softly.

"Okay, since you have made up your mind, follow me into the palace."

A surprise flashed in Liu Qianyu's eyes as she hugged Xuanyuan Che.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Feeling the warmth in his arms, Xuanyuan Che gently patted her back to soothe her emotions. Only the sound of their heartbeats echoed in the quiet space.

Once she calmed down a little, they slowly parted.

Liu Qianyu carefully adjusted her cloak, trying to hide the red marks on her skin that resembled blooming plum blossoms.

However, those blushes, like rouge accidentally sprinkled, added a touch of seductive charm that was hard to conceal completely.

Xuanyuan Che's eyes flashed with undeniable heat as he gently stroked the marks, half-jokingly saying, "This look is really fascinating."

Liu Qianyu turned her head away, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Though the emperor was not young, his "fighting spirit" was extraordinary. In fact, he was even more handsome than the idol she admired, so she felt she had not lost out.

Looking at her alluring appearance, Xuanyuan Che couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. Without saying a word, he pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

The atmosphere in the cave instantly heated up, their breaths intertwining.

Suddenly, Xuanyuan Che discovered a secret within the shadows of the cave, and his gaze grew intense.

With a swift motion, he pressed forward, igniting an irresistible passion.

Desire came quickly but lingered long.

Not sure how long it took for the passion to gradually subside, but eventually, the two of them regained their calm.

Xuanyuan Che gently stroked her smooth back, breathing softly.

"Qianyu, come back to the palace with me soon."

She looked up at him, worried etched on her face.

"Your Majesty, I want to write a letter to my father and brother to let them know I’m safe, so they won’t worry about me."

Xuanyuan Che chuckled and reassured her.

"Don't worry. I’ll handle everything so your family will have no concerns. Just follow me into the palace, and I’ll take care of the rest."

Finally, Liu Qianyu smiled in relief. She nodded gently and nestled into Xuanyuan Che's arms, feeling reassured that everything was about to begin.

* * *

Two days passed quickly. Xuanyuan Che's carriage slowly approached the magnificent palace gate in the morning light, coming to a steady stop.

He stepped out calmly and then turned to help Liu Qianyu down.

The palace maids knelt on the ground, their eyes filled with curiosity and speculation as they awaited the imperial carriage's exit.

They whispered among themselves, discussing the mysterious woman who had returned with the emperor, speculating about her identity and origins.

Rumors spread like willow catkins in the spring breeze, quickly taking root in every corner of the harem.

The emperor had gone on a trip and returned with a stunningly beautiful woman, whom he doted on.

This undoubtedly dropped a bombshell in the peaceful harem.

In Jinxiu Palace, the atmosphere was particularly tense.

Concubine Xiao Rongle, once the darling of the harem, frowned as she held a restless cat in her arms. The cat, disturbed by her emotions, finally screamed and escaped.

"What? His Majesty is back? And he brought a beauty?"

Her voice was sharp and filled with anger. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on the teacup, causing it to shatter and scatter pieces across the floor.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Rumor has it that the woman is extraordinarily beautiful, and the emperor seems very interested in her," the maid replied, her voice trembling as she feared offending the furious concubine.

Xiao Rongle's eyes narrowed, her teeth clenched, and her voice turned icy. "Go check it out immediately. I want to know what makes her so favored by His Majesty."

"As you command, my lady," the palace maid responded, trembling slightly before quickly retreating from Jinxiu Palace.

Seeing this, Hongyu stepped forward to comfort her softly. "Your Highness, please relax. His Majesty will always have a place for you in his heart. This new woman is just a passing fancy."

Despite Hongyu's words, the displeasure on Xiao Rongle's face did not fade, and she let out a soft sigh.

"That being said, Your Majesty has not accepted a new bride in three years, and this time he personally brought one back to the palace. How can I not be worried?"

Her thoughts drifted back to thirteen years ago.

Xuanyuan Che, a young man in armor, wielding a long sword and riding a tall horse, was once the dream lover of countless girls in the capital. He returned from battle, handsome, with a bright smile and a dashing demeanor. The sight of him walking down the long street still made her heart race.

She, Xiao Rongle, a girl from a merchant family, didn’t even have the qualifications to participate in the beauty pageant. Yet, because of one chance encounter, she waited for four years.

Nine years ago, when the emperor had no children, he expanded his harem. With her beauty and her mother's family's fertility, she was fortunate enough to be selected for the palace and even became pregnant with the emperor's heir.

However, the unborn child was miscarried for no apparent reason four months later.

She had once thought she was the woman in the harem most likely to bear an imperial heir. Unexpectedly, her womb remained empty after that.

The emperor’s harem filled with beauties, she watched helplessly as one woman after another was taken into the palace. Jealousy and resentment grew in her heart like weeds.

Having been childless for many years, the emperor gradually lost interest in the harem and turned his focus to state affairs. After the Queen Mother passed away, he did not take in any new wives for several years.

"Who is she? Why did His Majesty make such an exception?"

Xiao Rongle's heart swirled with doubts and resentment as she waved her hand angrily. The vase on the table crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces, its fragments mirroring her shattered mood.

Meanwhile, an air of unease spread throughout the harem. Concubines huddled in groups, whispering about the new favorite's arrival.

It was like a drop of clear water splashing into a boiling pot of oil, instantly igniting the once-peaceful atmosphere of the harem.

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