Emperor Jingxi led her to the lakeside, looking out at the distant lake, the reeds, and the small boat drifting on the water.
He pointed to a spot and said, “It was right here that I caught A wu and decided to bring her back to the palace. Time flies—it’s almost been two years.  Back then, I was full of ambition, thinking everything was under my control. I was determined to shape her into what I wanted, to erase all of her past and make her mine alone. ”Â
“But time passed in the blink of an eye. Bringing her back here now, I am no longer who I was before.  After struggling through the purgatory of earthly love, my former pride has been completely shattered.  Now I understand well that love is simple to say, but only by falling into it can you know its taste.” Â
“I am the emperor of Great Hui, ruler and father to ninety million subjects, but there is only one who is different from all the rest—her. Only her. And only the A wu she once was.” Â
In the fading sunlight, Emperor Jingxi looked sideways at A wu and asked, “A wu, do you want to go home?”
A wu replied softly, “Yes.”
Emperor Jingxi: “A wu, kiss Zelang. If you kiss Zelang, Zelang will grant you anything.”
A wu blinked with a mixture of doubt and hope: “Really?”
Emperor Jingxi: “Really.”
After hesitating a moment, A wu placed both hands on his shoulders, tilted her face up, and leaned in to kiss Emperor Jingxi.
Clearly, this was shy for her, and her arms trembled as they supported her body.
Emperor Jingxi bowed slightly, capturing the lips that met his.
The kiss was sweet and offered willingly. Â
He closed his eyes, savoring the moment, even probing deeper to enjoy the sensation.
In that instant, Emperor Jingxi had the illusion that his A wu had returned.
He suddenly opened his eyes, only to see the young woman looking at him with innocent, watery eyes.
He cupped her face and gazed into those bright eyes.
The sunset shone in her eyes, making her stunningly beautiful.
His fingertips gently stroked her fair cheeks, a strange flicker passing through his gaze.
A wu noticed and looked at him with confusion.
Emperor Jingxi bent down, lightly biting her earlobe, whispering, “A wu, I want to devour you. Will you let me?”
A wu’s eyes were puzzled: “But A wu doesn’t want you to eat me. A wu still wants to go home, to go home…”
Emperor Jingxi paused, then slowly let her go and lowered his gaze.
Suddenly, he felt that this was all rather meaningless.
He didn’t like performing a one-man show.
***
In the dark dungeon, Emperor Jingxi scrutinized the stubborn, resolute young man before him, suddenly recalling when A wu had mentioned her father—a Xiucai who had been implicated and stripped of his title.
At that time, Emperor Jingxi had been untroubled, listening to the tale of that remote coastal scholar’s hardships—how he had left behind his wife and young daughter to fend for themselves, causing A wu to endure a wandering life.
Back then, Emperor Jingxi hadn’t taken that distant scholar seriously.
But now, A wu’s hometown, her family, and her fiancé—all parts of her past mentioned only by her—finally revealed a corner of their reality.
Ye Han was not just Ye Han; he was part of A wu’s past, part of her family.
Emperor Jingxi realized that he had never truly possessed A wu.
Neither Lu Yunjian nor the Imperial Son had.
Within A wu’s heart was a hardened core that sealed her past, untouched by anyone—yet she easily opened it before Ye Han.
Now Emperor Jingxi understood: to break that core, to have A wu open her heart to him, he must enter her family circle and gain their acceptance.
Even as an emperor, he must bow to the once-failed scholar.
Perhaps this bow must begin with the stubborn youth before him.
He could remain arrogant, disdainful, or walk away gracefully.
But he could not.
So, looking at Ye Han, he finally spoke: “You may leave this place.”
Ye Han looked up sharply at the sound.
He saw the richly dressed emperor towering above him.
Then he heard the emperor say, “I give you seven days to heal your wounds.”
Ye Han frowned, wary.
Emperor Jingxi: “You will take her home.”
***
Ye Han was brought out of the dungeon, bathed, and changed into simple coarse cloth clothing.
Then he was taken to Nanqiongzi’s villa, where he met A wu.
The moment A wu saw Ye Han, she didn’t hesitate and threw herself into his arms.
Ye Han embraced her as if no one else existed.
Emperor Jingxi watched silently from the side.
In the following days, Ye Han stayed with A wu, while Emperor Jingxi observed them quietly from the shadows.
One day, when the Imperial Son brought official memorials for Emperor Jingxi’s approval, the emperor was in the water hall.
He idly toyed with a long bow, the strong weapon he had once favored.
A single arrow from it always found its mark, but now, he merely played with it in his hand.
Nearby, by the riverbank, Ye Han and A wu sat together talking.
Though the two children were not physically close, separated by some space, their intimacy was obvious.
A wu occasionally glanced at Ye Han with eyes full of joy and trust.
Emperor Jingxi casually spun the bow in his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on A wu’s back.
She sat happily by the riverbank, even playfully swinging her little legs.
Sunlight poured down, shining on the shore and on her bright, lovely face, innocent and pure, her smile curving her brows.
The Imperial Son frowned as he glanced at the pair from afar.
He was silent for a moment before finally speaking: “Father, you…”
Emperor Jingxi showed no concern, lightly glancing at his son: “I didn’t say anything, yet you can’t stand it here?”
The Imperial Son’s heart clenched; he asked incredulously, “Father, what do you mean?”
Emperor Jingxi said nothing, only watching silently.
In the distance, Ye Han had waded into the water, seemingly reaching for a flower floating on the surface for A wu.
Emperor Jingxi spoke slowly: “Look, she depends on and likes that man wholeheartedly. She is happy with him. She’s finally gotten what she wanted. Isn’t that good?”
The Imperial Son was shocked.
He couldn’t believe this was his father—the emperor of Great Hui.
Emperor Jingxi didn’t bring it up again.
“Tell me about recent court matters. The key one is the Zhen’an Marquis Manor, in the Eastern Sea.”
***
Ye Han accompanied A wu for two or three days, during which she was naturally very happy.
Emperor Jingxi silently observed the joy another man brought her.
After Ye Han left one day, A wu finally remembered Emperor Jingxi and looked at him curiously: “Have you been busy these days? You haven’t paid me any attention.”
Emperor Jingxi, without much emotion, said: “It’s not that I ignored you. It’s that you ignored me. I’ve been here all along. Didn’t you notice?”
A wu fell silent, suddenly recalling that he had indeed been there, but she had never really looked at him.
She played with Ye Han, and he had quietly watched with cold eyes, without anger.
Emperor Jingxi: “Do you like him?”
A wu hesitated.
Emperor Jingxi: “Do you want to leave with him?”
A wu looked down at her toes, silent.
Emperor Jingxi smiled slightly: “If you want to, just be honest.”
A wu still seemed hesitant.
Emperor Jingxi stretched out his hand and commanded, “Come here.”
A wu stepped forward, and he pulled her into his embrace.
He cupped her face, his long fingers gently coaxing her to look at him.
A wu tilted her face upward, her light brown eyes calm and gentle, yet under this gaze, she felt uneasy.
She sensed that everything was about to be broken apart.
He seemed to have made a decision. Â
She should have been hopeful, but instead felt a faint pain—a reluctance to let go.
She knew that once she left, there was no turning back.
Emperor Jingxi keenly sensed her discomfort and rubbed her neckbone softly with his thumb.
This comfort was quite effective for A wu, but inside, her feelings churned uncontrollably—deep and indescribable even to herself.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, whispering: “A wu, I am the emperor. Before I met you, I thought I was just the emperor. But with you, I am no longer the same.”
The day he met her, his cold, indifferent heart had been touched by a hint of warmth.
Emperor Jingxi: “I once promised A wu I would treat you with a parent’s heart, but in truth, I never could. You wouldn’t believe me anyway. Looking back now, it’s utterly ridiculous.”
A wu’s heart trembled slightly as she looked up at him in shock.
Emperor Jingxi withdrew his smile, silently watching her with seriousness.
A wu suddenly felt panic: “You…”
He seemed distant, as if… he had completely left her.
Emperor Jingxi raised his hand and smoothed a strand of hair beside her ear: “A wu, this time, I will give you what you want most.”