Chapter 23: Coaxing

Emperor Jingxi stepped forward, reaching out to wave his fingers in front of Awu’s eyes.

To Awu, this man had once been a fleeting lover, someone she could rely on when he could protect her, and part ways with when he couldn’t. 

Back then, she had no reservations she could act coy, throw tantrums, and even employ small tricks.

But now, this was the Emperor of Great Hui, the father of the Crown Prince.

Faced with such a person, all her tricks vanished into thin air. 

She could only stare at him, dumbfounded.

Emperor Jingxi grew more puzzled. 

He leaned down, his face coming close to hers, their eyes locking.

Awu had been staring blankly, but suddenly, that handsome, majestic face loomed large before her. 

His wise yet cold eyes were right there, and her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she wanted to pull away.

But Emperor Jingxi’s wrist turned, and he firmly grasped her hand.

He raised an eyebrow. 

“What’s wrong with you?”

Clearly, he had noticed her unease.

The grip on her wrist was steady yet powerful. 

Remembering his identity, Awu felt fear. 

This was the hand that wielded the imperial brush, commanding the world. 

A single glance from him could decide her life or death.

During her escape from her hometown, she had seen the grand procession of imperial envoys, knowing they were carrying out his decrees. 

Along the way, she had also seen the porridge distributed by the government—a gift from the Emperor. 

She had pushed through the crowd, barely managing to get a bowl, only to nearly have it snatched away.

She had experienced hardship and drifted from one man to another. 

By the grace of heaven, she now stood before him.

She had no idea how to respond, how to face this man who held the power of the world in his hands.

She knew full well that whether it was disaster relief or distributing porridge, these were just one of countless decrees issued from his study. 

He probably didn’t even remember them.

To her, these were monumental, but to him, they were trivial matters.

As for taking her life, it would be easier than crushing an ant-just a single glance would suffice.

At this moment, Awu’s thoughts became unusually clear. 

She knew she had to hold herself together, to deceive him.

Biting her lip, she feigned a trembling voice. 

“Third Brother, you… you scared me…”

Emperor Jingxi grew even more puzzled, feeling that she was acting particularly strange today.

Awu seized the opportunity and deliberately said, 

“I was just looking at the gold, and you suddenly appeared, startling me.”

She clutched her chest. 

“My heart jumped so hard, I could barely breathe!”

Emperor Jingxi: 

“Did I scare you? Are you really that timid?”

Awu nodded vigorously.

Emperor Jingxi chuckled. 

“Perhaps you’re just worried I’ll take your gold?”

Awu’s face turned red. 

“Can’t you be a little more tactful? At least save me some face!”

Emperor Jingxi laughed softly.

Awu: “You’re laughing at me! Don’t laugh! I’m ignoring you now!”

With that, she turned away, finally no longer having to face him, no longer having to look at that imperial visage.

Emperor Jingxi hadn’t expected this young girl to be so delicate.

No one dared to throw tantrums or show displeasure toward him. 

His children were carefully taught to observe propriety and etiquette in his presence. 

As the ruler, he was first and foremost the Emperor, and only then a father.

But at this moment, he wasn’t angry. 

Instead, he found it amusing and patiently stepped forward. 

“Are you upset?”

Awu, with her back to him, finally managed to catch her breath.

Before, she hadn’t known his true identity. 

Now that she did, she felt the weight of his imperial authority pressing down on her, making her uncomfortable.

She needed to take advantage of this brief respite to figure out how to handle the situation.

Just then, Emperor Jingxi stepped closer, placing a large hand on her slender shoulder. 

“Why are you so touchy?”

As he spoke, he leaned down, his breath warm against her ear.

Awu, held from behind, felt her back press against his firm, warm chest. 

The faint scent of ambergris filled her nostrils, a refreshing and intoxicating aroma.

She bit her lip. 

“You said I’m greedy for money, and you didn’t even save me any face!”

Her voice was coquettish, like a little girl throwing a tantrum.

Emperor Jingxi glanced down.

The fair-skinned young woman hung her slender neck, biting her pink lips.

Faced with such a girl, even the hardest heart would soften, becoming unusually patient.

She needed to be coaxed, cradled in the palm of his hand.

And he, for his part, needed someone to spoil, to indulge, to watch her cry and laugh.

Not because she needed it, but because he did.

So he conceded, surrendering. 

“It’s my fault. I scared you, and I shouldn’t have said those things to upset you.”

Huh?

Awu was stunned. 

She hadn’t expected Emperor Jingxi to speak to her like this, so gentle and comforting.

Was this really the cold, aloof Emperor?

It didn’t feel like him.

Emperor Jingxi turned her body around, letting her head rest against his chest. 

His long, strong hand caressed her slender back, pressing gently along her spine, then moving to her slim waist, holding her close to his body.

He held her tightly, whispering in her ear, 

“Don’t be mad at me.”

The man in his thirties had a deep, resonant voice, as smooth as aged wine.

Pressed so closely against him, Awu could feel his firm chest through the fabric, burning like a hot iron. 

Her anxious heart trembled.

She leaned softly against his chest, filled with fear and an inexplicable anticipation.

She knew this was the pinnacle of men. 

Any woman in the world would be mesmerized and infatuated to be held like this by him.

Excitement, fear, anticipation, and disbelief collided in her chest, making her body go limp, like a vine clinging to this man.

She felt the luxurious scent of ambergris on him and trembled. 

“Third Brother, you’re bullying me. You have to make it up to me.” 

Emperor Jingxi held her even tighter. “How should I make it up to you?”

Awu’s slender shoulders quivered. 

“Third Brother, you have to hold me, embrace me…”

Emperor Jingxi lowered his thin eyelids, looking at her as she acted coy.

To be honest, she was being a bit melodramatic.

But… he was willing to play along.

A young girl being a bit delicate seemed fine.

After all, she was still young.

So he whispered in her ear, 

“Alright, I’ll hold you, embrace you.”

Awu: “And you have to be good to me!”

Emperor Jingxi: “Yes, I’ll be good to you.”

Awu pressed further: 

“Hold me while I sleep tonight! Stay with me!”

He silently held her, his large hand gently stroking her soft hair.

He had been Emperor for eighteen years, and the rules of the imperial court were almost etched into his heart.

In the past, when he spent the night with a concubine, he would first issue a token, summoning the chosen concubine to his chambers. 

Then, the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department and the female officials responsible for palace records would meticulously document the time and frequency in the “Imperial Records” and the “Inner Court Chronicles.”

The complexity of these rituals and procedures was something Awu, as an outsider, could never imagine.

He would never share a bed with any woman, not even the Empress.

He was a god on earth, confined to the throne by the palace regulations of Great Hui for over a century, looking down from above at the mortal world.

He and the Empress, and the other concubines, were separated by the distance of three kowtows.

Awu, seeing that he didn’t respond, looked at him with wide, blinking eyes, clearly confused.

Emperor Jingxi couldn’t say anything. 

He simply bent his head and kissed her forehead, as a gesture of comfort.

Awu looked at the man before her. 

His face was slightly stern, his expression overly serious, but the kiss was tender and lingering, yet also somewhat awkward.

He was doing something he was completely unaccustomed to, making her wonder if he had ever kissed anyone like this before.

He had silently refused her request, and she could guess why.

Her background was unclear, and it was impossible for her to spend the night with him. 

Probably, as an Emperor, he was wary of someone strangling him in his sleep.

So she didn’t dare push too far. 

After all, serving the Emperor was like taming a tiger. 

If he truly got angry, what then?

She decided to retreat slightly. 

“Third Brother, there’s one more thing you must promise me, or I’ll get angry.”

Emperor Jingxi: “What is it?”

Awu’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. 

“Everything you sent me today is mine now!”

Emperor Jingxi: “It was always meant for you.”

Awu: “Really? You won’t take it back in a fit of anger a few days from now, will you?”

Emperor Jingxi smiled. “Am I that kind of person?”

Awu gave him a suspicious look. 

“What if you change your mind and decide to kill me, then take the jade back?”

Emperor Jingxi sighed. 

“Do you read too many novels?”

Awu: “Huh?”

Emperor Jingxi ruffled her hair. 

“Reading too many novels makes your imagination run wild.”

His hand was warm and large, and Awu playfully rubbed her head against his palm. 

If not for all her worries, she would have felt as comfortable as a cat lounging by a warm stove.

She looked up.

“Third Brother, promise me quickly, or I’ll get mad! I’ll ignore you!”

Emperor Jingxi lowered his gaze, seeing the mischievous glint in her dark, sparkling eyes. 

He smiled gently. “Alright, I promise.”

Awu deliberately asked, “Promise me what?”

Emperor Jingxi: “I won’t take your life, and I won’t take your jade.”

Awu: “You’d better remember what you said.”

She felt slightly relieved. 

She thought the Emperor’s word was unbreakable. 

Since he had said it, he would keep his promise, at least not kill her, right?

Of course, if he really wanted to kill her, there was nothing she could do.

Emperor Jingxi smiled. “I never joke. I always keep my word.”

Awu felt reassured, her heart at ease.

But her mind was still a mess. 

She needed to figure out what to do next.

He should leave soon.

So she leaned softly against Emperor Jingxi and said, 

“Third Brother, it’s raining. The night is cold, and of course, I’d like you to stay with me. But I

know you’re busy with official duties, so…”

She looked up at him with big, wet eyes, her expression gentle and considerate.

But the meaning was clear: Third Brother, please leave.

Emperor Jingxi indeed needed to go, but hearing her words, he felt both displeased and reluctant.

He glanced at the drizzling autumn rain outside and said, 

“I can stay with you for half an hour.”

Awu sensed the tone of favor in his voice. 

She thought, only an Emperor could be so naturally condescending.

She hadn’t noticed it before, but now she realized her oversight.

She tilted her head and gave him a sweet smile.

Emperor Jingxi stared at her intently. 

In the misty autumn rain, he saw flowers blooming.

The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and the room fell into a deep silence, filled only with their breathing.

He gazed at her without a word. “Hmm?”

Awu looked up at him with moist eyes, her voice soft and lingering. 

“With Third Brother’s strength, is half an hour enough?”

Half an hour was indeed not enough.

After Awu’s words, Emperor Jingxi looked at her deeply for a long time. 

Then, without a word, he acted.

He did it quietly, but Awu deliberately moaned loudly, sensually and provocatively.

She hadn’t known before, but now she did this was the Emperor.

She had been bedded by the Emperor.

He was the father of the man she had once served. 

This was already a shocking and scandalous affair, giving Awu a secret and shameful sense of pride, making her blood boil.

But now, he was still the ruler of the nation.

He owned the world, with countless women vying for his favor, and countless officials hoping for his approval.

He was a god on earth, where his divine light touched, all must bow in worship.

But now, she had used her body like water to make this holy man fall for her. 

She deliberately teased him, feeling his seemingly calm but increasingly wild and forceful movements.

Finally, he suddenly stood up, grabbed her, and flipped her over.

Awu’s delicate and graceful body was easily controlled by the man. 

Under his strength, she fell forward, only to be caught by his strong arms just before she hit the ground.

Awu let out fragmented moans. 

She knelt there, her long neck forced forward like a swan on water, her arms pulled back and held by the man. 

Her slim, full body was pushed forward with each thrust from behind.

Her soft, heavy fullness trembled and shook with each movement.

Awu helplessly looked up, her eyes filled with tears. 

But in this torment of being neither here nor there, a strange pleasure arose in her heart.

The man behind her was giving his all, each thrust stronger and more vigorous than the last. 

His breathing grew ragged, and his eyes burned with desire.

In that moment of overwhelming, wild passion, Awu thought with a sense of revenge, he’s just a man after all.

She had made his son obsessed and crazed for her, and now she had him kneeling before her!

She would be a femme fatale, bewitching the Emperor!

As long as he didn’t kill her, she would make him obsessed and mad for her!