Luo Wuhen isn’t as easy to fool as Lin Muxue, and she’s both purposeful and decisive.
If she says she’ll make it happen tomorrow, she absolutely won’t put it off to the day after.
How am I supposed to convince her…?
Begging for mercy? That doesn’t seem likely to work—Luo Wuhen isn’t someone who’ll be swayed by mere pleas.
Escape? The best chance to run was right after I was tied up, but I softened and didn’t use the methods Lin Muxue left me. Now that I’m here, there’s simply no chance.
Damn it, if I’d known I’d be brought here just to have children—and so many—I might’ve just hacked Shun and Ying to pieces on the way.
“What should I do, what should I do? It seems like my best option now is to quietly wait for Lin Muxue to find me and rescue me from here?”
But by the time that happens, Lin Muxue might already be a matriarch herself. ། – _ – ། Who knows if my parents are ready to be grandparents yet…
Pa! Pa! Su Qianqian slapped herself hard on the forehead. This is no time to give up! I have to struggle until the very last moment!
“Hmm… But it looks like the first one’s pretty much inevitable. Could I use the Crown Prince to threaten the Empress…? Would a boy or a girl be a bigger threat to her…?”
Smack!
“Wait, didn’t I just say I wouldn’t give up until the very end? Why am I already thinking about what happens after giving birth?!”
Su Qianqian held her head in her hands, doubting her own sanity. Was she really being played this hard by Luo Wuhen?
Knock knock. Just as Su Qianqian was doubting her life choices, a knocking came at the door, followed by Shun’s voice:
“Heavenly Emperor, we’ve brought you some of your favorite foods.”
“Come in. And stop calling me ‘Heavenly Emperor’!”
The door opened, and Shun and Ying each carried in three dishes, all exquisitely presented.
“What are these…” Su Qianqian looked at the familiar dishes in confusion. Sure enough, they were all foods she used to love.
“These were ordered by His Majesty. In the Imperial Kitchen, the chefs who are best at making your favorites have always been kept just for you,”
Shun explained as he and Ying expertly laid out the dishes on the table, then stood quietly to one side.
“Sigh… I don’t have any appetite. You eat it.”
“We wouldn’t dare! These are dishes His Majesty asked us to bring you. If we even take a bite, I doubt you’ll ever see us again.”
“Hmph, wouldn’t that be a good thing?” Su Qianqian snapped.
But these were all foods she truly loved, and in the end she couldn’t resist. At first she only meant to have a bite or two, but…
“Heavenly Emperor, shall I clear the plates for you? If you’re still hungry, we can have the Imperial Kitchen prepare more.”
“Ahem, no, that’s enough. You can leave and do whatever you need to do.”
After collecting the plates, Shun and Ying exchanged a look. Then Ying hesitated and said, “Um, please, Heavenly Emperor, do clean your mouth.”
“Huh? Why?”
“We’re not sure, it was His Majesty who told us to remind you.”
“Hm? Why would I need to… Wait, damn it! What do you take me for?! I won’t do it!”
“Then we’ll withdraw. Wishing you a wonderful night.”
“Ying, I always thought you were the most reliable. How could you be laughing at me too?!”
“I’m sorry, Heavenly Emperor, I was out of line. But I truly do wish you a wonderful night,” Ying said seriously, staring intently at Su Qianqian.
“……”
“Forget it, just go. I want some peace. And stop calling me ‘Heavenly Emperor’!”
As the two of them left, the spacious room once again fell silent, the lingering aroma of the dishes still hanging in the air.
After that little commotion, Su Qianqian didn’t feel quite so tense. After all, the decision wasn’t in her hands—worrying wouldn’t change anything.
She could only hope Luo Wuhen would actually keep her promise about not touching her for the next few days…
“Sigh, what am I supposed to do now?”
Knock knock—the door was knocked on again.
“Heavenly Emperor, we also bought copies of all the books you’ve browsed in the Store. If you get bored, you can read!”
“Stop calling me—oh, whatever, call me what you like. Give me the books…”
And so, Su Qianqian decided to empty her mind and immerse herself in mindless novels.
Though in truth, her own experiences were far more outrageous than any of these wish-fulfillment stories…
She didn’t know how much time passed as she lost herself in the world of books.
When the door opened again, Su Qianqian thought it was Shun and Ying, but the aura she sensed startled her out of her wits.
Luo Wuhen entered, bringing with her a close Palace Maid, who was carrying a tray.
Luo Wuhen walked over to Su Qianqian, and, under Su Qianqian’s guarded gaze, sat down on a chair beside her.
The Palace Maid stood at her side, holding the tray.
Su Qianqian glanced at the tray and saw several rows of small plaques, which made her a little confused.
Luo Wuhen played with the plaques, then explained, “In order for the Emperor to have as many descendants as possible, many consorts are taken. But there’s only so much energy in a day, so who is favored each night is decided by Card Flipping.”
With a wave of Luo Wuhen’s hand, the Palace Maid turned and presented the tray to Su Qianqian.
“Today, you flip for me. Let’s see who will be chosen tonight?”
Su Qianqian looked at the plaques on the tray, her mouth twitching. She casually flipped one open, and, just as expected, the three characters read: Su Empress.
“If you’re not satisfied, you can keep flipping until you are.”
Su Qianqian glared angrily at Luo Wuhen, knowing what the outcome would be. Still, she flipped open each plaque one by one. By the last, every single plaque on the tray read “Su Empress”.
After the flipping was done, the Palace Maid left directly, while Su Qianqian continued to glare resentfully at Luo Wuhen.
“Is there any point in teasing me like this?”
“Very much so. Now then, come and attend me tonight.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t touch me for a few days?! Is this the Empress’s promise?”
“I said I wouldn’t let you get pregnant; attending me is your duty as the Empress.”
“Nonsense! I never agreed to be your Empress!”
But as soon as she finished, Su Qianqian regretted it, because Luo Wuhen’s gaze grew dangerously sharp.
Luo Wuhen leaned over, her hand sliding from Su Qianqian’s neck to her chin, tilting her face toward Luo Wuhen’s.
“As my Empress, I don’t care for excessive ceremony, but the basic courtesies are still necessary. It seems I’ll have to teach you properly later—”
Luo Wuhen withdrew her fingers as if nothing had happened, and produced two sets of clothes in her hand.
“Put them on. For attending me, you should at least be dressed in nightclothes.”
“With your cultivation, do you even need sleep? Who are you trying to fool?!”
“I’ve told you, don’t go against me! If you use that tone again, I won’t mind letting you experience the process of creating a Dragon Seed ahead of time!”
“…Fine, I’ll wear it!”
In the end, Su Qianqian still yielded, doing the softest thing in the toughest tone, changing into a slim-fitting but surprisingly comfortable gown.
“Luo Wuhen, I never realized you were so perverse, actually making me wear something like this.” Su Qianqian shot Luo Wuhen a look of disdain.
“Mhm, keep that look. Who knows, I might not be able to hold back soon.”
“You—!”
Outmatched, Su Qianqian still had no choice but to submit.
Luo Wuhen, satisfied to see Su Qianqian’s face flushed with embarrassment over her clothes, nodded approvingly and took off her own elaborate robe…
But obviously, Luo Wuhen’s nightgown was plain and ordinary, nothing like the one Su Qianqian wore.
“Heh, you dress me up like this and wear something so plain yourself. And you say you’re not perverse?”
“So what if I am? You can choose not to wear it, I won’t stop you.” Luo Wuhen was already lying on the bed in a relaxed manner, completely different from her earlier state.
But Su Qianqian was still indignant: “With that attitude, you still want me to be your Empress? If you were a bit gentler, maybe I’d have agreed by now!”
“But you haven’t agreed, have you? Do you really have the power to refuse being my Empress? Or to refuse attending me? You already belong to me—your agreement means nothing.”
“You—you—you! You may have my body, but with that attitude, you’ll never have my heart!”
“Heh,” Luo Wuhen laughed softly, sat up, and crooked a finger. Su Qianqian immediately flew into her arms.
Holding Su Qianqian, Luo Wuhen’s hand slid from her stomach upwards, tracing Su Qianqian’s figure easily thanks to the slim gown.
Su Qianqian could keenly feel Luo Wuhen’s fingers through the fabric…
At the same time, a warm “breeze” tickled her ear, making them especially sensitive, and Luo Wuhen’s voice, softer than ever, sounded beside her:
“I really want to see if I can conquer your heart. I’ll make you submit completely. I want you to willingly place the leash around your own neck and hand it to me…”
“No way, you’re dreaming!”
“Is that so? Then let me try…”
Su Qianqian felt Luo Wuhen’s hand continue upwards, only pausing for a moment at an obstacle before moving on…
Instantly, Su Qianqian’s face turned bright red. She covered her face with her elbow, not wanting Luo Wuhen to see her expression: “You—you’re shameless! Pervert! Bastard!”
But Su Qianqian’s “insults” only inflamed Luo Wuhen’s desire to conquer her even more!
“Your curses sound more like you’re acting cute. They just make me want you more. Heh, the size is just right—very nice.”
“Do whatever you want! You think this will make me yield?!”
A dozen minutes later…
“I was wrong, I was wrong, I admit it! Please, stop!” It hadn’t even been long before Su Qianqian lost her bravado, her eyes turning hazy.
Hearing Su Qianqian beg for mercy, Luo Wuhen stopped, withdrawing her hand and letting her catch her breath.
But soon, Luo Wuhen’s hand pressed against her again—this time, moving in the opposite direction…
This time, Su Qianqian panicked completely, grabbing Luo Wuhen’s hand to stop it moving lower:
“Didn’t you promise?! What are you trying to do now?!”
“Heh, what do you think I want to do?”
With that, Luo Wuhen’s hand kept going down, Su Qianqian’s resistance completely ineffective…
Luckily, Luo Wuhen finally stopped at her thigh, allowing Su Qianqian a sigh of relief.
“Is this acceptable to you~?”
“Barely… I guess…?”
“Heh, then let’s sleep…”
Much later, as Luo Wuhen listened to Su Qianqian’s even breathing, making sure she’d truly fallen asleep, she gently stroked Su Qianqian’s cheek and couldn’t help but murmur:
“Constant compromise, constant habituation… Sooner or later, you’ll hand me the reins around your neck yourself…”