The cover of the bronze mirror nearby had been removed, and Emperor Jingxi caught sight of their reflection.
A dignified man in imperial robes held a half-undressed girl in his arms.
Her delicate, snow-white shoulders trembled slightly, her slender arms-pale as lotus roots-clung to his neck in utter dependence.Â
And her legs-wrapped around him tightly.
The scene was so intimate that Emperor Jingxi could hardly believe it was himself.
In his youth, reading historical records, he had scoffed at the absurd extravagance of certain emperors and could never understand how some rulers could be so bewitched by women.
Now, he understood.
The only thing missing in his past had been A wu.
Now that he had her, he regretted the lonely years he had spent without her by his side.
Emperor Jingxi sighed contentedly, murmuring softly in A wu’s ear, “Did A wu have fun today?”
A wu: “Mmm!”
Her voice was soft, sweet, like melted honey.
Emperor Jingxi: “A wu is sixteen this year. Have you ever had a proper coming of age ceremony?”
A wu: “Sort of.”
Emperor Jingxi: “Oh? Tell me about it.”
A wu: “There’s not much to say. For common girls, the ceremony is just a simple formality. In my hometown…”
At her coming-of-age ceremony, they simply invited a familiar matron to tie up her hair and change into a new dress.
Such matters could be as lavish or modest as one wished, depending on how much the family cherished their daughter.
A wu, being the beloved daughter of her family and already betrothed to the young man next door, was entitled to a more formal ceremony.
Thus, her three elder brothers all insisted on making it a grand occasion.
She nestled her face against the man’s neck and said with a smile, “Everyone celebrates it this way.”
Emperor Jingxi stroked her back.
“I want to hear about it-where you were, what you did during your coming-of-age ceremony.”
A wu felt a pang of resistance.
She didn’t understand why the emperor was suddenly so insistent on asking this.
What was the point?
He was someone else’s father, having hosted such a magnificent ceremony for another, yet now he chose to ask her about hers.
To A wu, it felt deliberate, as if he meant to embarrass her.
He should have known during her coming-of-age, she was either drifting in hardship or kept hidden in some estate.
She had been enjoying herself today, her heart brimming with sweetness, but now all that joy had vanished, replaced by an urge to push him away.
Emperor Jingxi, perceptive as ever, noticed A wu’s resistance.
The soft, kitten-like figure in his arms now had her back slightly arched, her small body unconsciously tensed.
He gently patted her back and whispered in her ear, “A wu, why don’t you want to talk to me about this?”
A wu turned her face away, muttering unhappily, “I’m not avoiding it. I already told you everyone’s ceremony is like this, just inviting a matron! Ordinary families in the city do the same. There’s nothing new to it!”
Emperor Jingxi fell silent.
He didn’t know why he had suddenly asked.
Perhaps it was because, in that moment, he realized how young the girl in his arms truly was— only a year older than his own daughter, almost the same age.
When he had presented the gilded decree to Dening, watching the admiration and excitement in his daughter’s eyes, his gaze had unconsciously flickered to A wu.
In an inconspicuous corner of the crowd, her eyes had sparkled with curiosity and envy.
At that moment, he had wanted to treat her better, to give her more, so she wouldn’t have to envy others.
Yet he faintly sensed that within A wu’s soft exterior lay a hardened core, something he couldn’t reach.
The atmosphere grew heavy, both of them feeling a tinge of discomfort and something else unspoken.
A wu excused herself, claiming thirst, and slipped out of his embrace to pour herself a cup of tea.
Emperor Jingxi tilted his head slightly, watching her turn back as she deliberately avoided his gaze.
Studying the soft coils of her hair, he spoke again.
“When is your birthday?”
A wu replied listlessly, “The eighth day of the sixth month.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “Then next year, I’ll celebrate it grandly for you.”
A wu didn’t feel particularly pleased by this.
Instead, it felt like pity, as if she had been clamoring to compete with others.
Still, since he had offered, it was at least a kind gesture.
She murmured softly, “Alright. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The emperor’s promise failed to elicit any joy from A wu.
He stared at her back.
“Do you envy Dening?”
A wu answered, “Of course.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “From now on, whatever I can give Dening, I’ll give to you as well.”
A wu was stunned, utterly baffled by his words.
She was well aware of how different she was from Dening.
The first time she saw Dening was when she was kneeling before the steps of the Crown Princess’s palace, and Dening had skipped past her cheerfully.
Later, in order to seek this man’s protection, she had willingly offered herself, sharing a fleeting night of passion with him.
The man had once casually mentioned Princess Dening-clearly, she was the apple of his eye, his only daughter, the princess of Dahui.
Even if there was some dissatisfaction in his words, what could a father do?
At most, it was just frustration over his daughter not living up to his expectations.
A biological daughter was still a biological daughter.
In the past, when A wu had acted mischievously in front of her own parents, even if they got angry and scowled, she wasn’t afraid.
At worst, she’d be scolded or punished, but what could they really do?
That was the fearless confidence of being someone’s daughter.
As for the man before her now, immersed in court affairs, he might not even see his daughter once a year.
They might not be close, might not have much to say to each other.
Yet, he had ordered preparations for her coming-of-age ceremony over a month in advance, quietly arranging her future, selecting a worthy husband for her, and preparing a generous dowry.
She served this man with her beauty, staying by his side in exchange for jewelry and silver.
But to put it bluntly, it was nothing more than payment for her services.
Payment was payment, whether meager or lavish.
From the moment she stepped into the imperial palace, she had imagined her eventual fate-perhaps just a thin mat rolled around her bones.
But it didn’t matter.
She had gambled and was ready to accept the consequences.
Now, being able to stay in the palace, to hold the title of a noble lady with an official decree, to witness the grandeur of a princess’s coming-of-age ceremony-it was already good enough.
She had no complaints.
She might envy a neighbor’s daughter for having an extra skirt, but she would never envy a princess for wearing a phoenix crown.
That was simply too far beyond her reach!
As for the promise that “whatever Dening gets, you’ll get too”-how could she possibly believe such unrealistic sweet talk?
Why don’t you find me a promising noble husband and send me off with a dowry fit for a queen?
And now, behind her, that gaze remained fixed on her calm yet oppressive.
He was waiting for her response.
A wu sighed inwardly and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jingxi listened to these four indifferent words.
“Do you think I would say such things to just anyone?”
In his entire life, he had never chased after someone’s back, eagerly coaxing them with one sweet word after another.
Clearly, Emperor Jingxi was displeased.
No one could bear the wrath of an emperor.
In the past, A wu would have scampered over like a puppy, clinging to him and cooing for forgiveness.
But now, she found it all rather meaningless.
She couldn’t muster the energy.
So she turned around, bowed her head slightly, and said in a faint voice, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It’s all A wu’s fault. A wu was just thinking…”
“Father, mother, and elder brother spoke out of turn due to their discomfort. Please do not blame A wu for their words,” she said.
After speaking, there was no reaction from him.
A wu lifted her slightly trembling lashes to see Emperor Jingxi gazing at her with an inscrutable expression, his emotions unreadable.
Hesitating for a moment, she approached and knelt at his feet.
With her head bowed low, she stared at the exquisite embroidery on his robe hem and pleaded softly, “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry with A wu anymore…”
Her voice was delicate and coaxing, carrying a hint of appeasement.
Emperor Jingxi didn’t even glance at her.
His lips pressed into a tight line as he stared blankly into the distance.
Though she had humbled herself and admitted fault, an empty, numb helplessness welled up in his chest.
He wanted to treat her well, to make promises to her.
In truth, he sought something in return from her heart-but she hadn’t given it.
He couldn’t obtain what he desired.
Seeing his expressionless face, A wu grew fearful.
Recalling their earlier exchange, she realized she had indeed grown presumptuous from his favor, becoming too casual without considering that he was no ordinary man-but an emperor.
Attending the emperor was like accompanying a tiger.
Having been so indulged by him, she had actually become swollen-headed!
Before the palace concubines and noblewomen, he appeared as a gentle, tolerant ruler unassuming as he let the women choose operas first.
But that was merely the demeanor of a husband and father.
Should anyone ever touch his reverse scale, he could unsheathe the executioner’s blade at any moment.
The more she thought, the more terrified she became.
Horrifying scenarios flooded her mind until even her kneeling legs trembled.
Just then, Emperor Jingxi suddenly turned and strode out.
Now A wu was truly frightened.
Was he abandoning her?
Would she be cast into the cold palace?
Dragged out for execution?
Her mind raced desperately for the right words to say.
Clutching her skirts, she rose-she couldn’t let him leave! If he walked out now, she might lose his favor forever!
But as she stood to pursue him, Emperor Jingxi reentered.
They came face to face, their eyes meeting as A wu froze in surprise.
Her lips quivered as she struggled for words.
Emperor Jingxi raised his thin eyelids, scrutinizing her.
“What are you doing?”
A wu hastily shook her head, fingers twisting in her skirts.
“N-nothing…”
Expressionless, he said, “I sent Futai back to Fengtian Hall to announce I’ll be staying here tonight.”
By custom, he would handle urgent memorials from the outer court in the evening, so the Director of Ceremonial, Memorial-Reviewing Eunuchs, and other officials would wait in the Documents Office.
Since he wasn’t returning, notice needed to be given.
Hearing this, A wu finally relaxed-though under the emperor’s piercing gaze, she grew uneasy again and began looking around nervously.
Emperor Jingxi noticed and asked, “You thought I was leaving?”
Not daring to speak, A wu hung her head and mumbled, “No… A wu didn’t think that…..”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Right. You didn’t.”
A wu sensed mockery in his tone-his mood was foul.
That night, Emperor Jingxi remained, and A wu served him in bed, treading as if on thin ice throughout.
Her excessive caution only displeased the emperor further, making his actions deliberately rough.
When she could bear it no longer, A wu opened her tear-filled eyes and gazed directly at him, pleading softly, “Your Majesty, please be gentler… I beg you, go slower… A wu can’t endure it.”
Emperor Jingxi felt his heart instantly pierced by an overwhelming tenderness.
Gently cradling her flushed little face, he showered her with tender, lingering kisses.
When his thin lips brushed against her ear, he murmured hoarsely, “Did you truly believe I would abandon you over a mere quarrel?”