[Fantasy] The Imprisoned Concubine's Tale (Complete) - 19

page views:1 Publication date:2023-08-22

Chapter 149, The More She Acted Up, the Happier He Was (Part 1)

Mingruo had never been pregnant before, so of course she didn't know how difficult it was. She had read about it in medical books, but without experiencing it herself, she always felt that it was all distant, like a dream. It wasn't until she was about to become a mother herself that she realized that what the books described was too simplistic and was simply a lie.

Since the imperial physician diagnosed her as pregnant, whether it was psychological or because her body was really not well, Mingruo first suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. Emperor Xuli was extremely anxious, but he couldn't help her. He could only yell at the imperial physician to quickly prescribe medicine for her. Later, when she finally felt a little better, she started vomiting again, and the symptoms of morning sickness were very severe. Sometimes she couldn't even drink a bowl of porridge in a day, and the little bit she did drink was all vomited up. After vomiting up everything she ate, Mingruo started vomiting sour water until her face turned blue and her fingers trembled so much that she couldn't lift them.

This situation persisted for two months. During this time, Emperor Xuli tried every method imaginable. He ignored the imperial physicians' platitudes that the Empress's pregnancy was more severe than usual due to her weak constitution. But no matter what he tried, the results were minimal. Mingruo grew increasingly weak. Sometimes, when Emperor Xuli held her, he couldn't believe the girl in his arms was pregnant, or seriously ill.

She had become incredibly thin, so thin that her knuckles were prominent, a sight that always filled Emperor Xuli with heartache and pain. He had never known that pregnancy was such a difficult thing for a woman, nor that it would cause such immense harm to his Ruo'er. Sometimes he even considered aborting the child, regardless of whether she could conceive again. He was willing to simply hand over the throne to another, for everything else paled in comparison to her. But whenever he saw Mingruo's smiling face, even in her weakness, Emperor Xuli hesitated.

He had forced her to conceive, regardless of their biological father-daughter relationship, and regardless of whether the child would have any defects. He was determined to have a child, believing that once the child was born, she would stay obediently by his side, never wanting anything else, and everything from the past would become history, no longer interfering in his life.

But before the child was even born, he regretted it.

Holding Mingruo's thin, bony hand, Emperor Xuli secretly made a decision.

****************

Perhaps it was Mingruo's imagination, but she felt that her father was strangely quiet today. Usually, he would hold her hand and tell her stories or recite poems, no matter how tired he was, but today… why was he so quiet, and why hadn't he drunk any of his tea? "Father, what's wrong?" She tugged at Emperor Xuli's hand. Her morning sickness was so severe that even the imperial physicians doubted whether she had a terminal illness or was simply pregnant. She had lost a lot of weight. She was already frail, and now, carrying a new life, she couldn't eat much, offering little nutrition to the baby. Mingruo had become terribly thin; her once-rounded chin was now so sharp it could pierce a table, not to mention her frail body, which looked as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Although Emperor Xuli didn't want to admit it, the facts were undeniable: Mingruo was slowly withering away because of the arrival of a new life.

Not receiving a response from Emperor Xuli, Mingruo became unhappy, her little hands gripping his sleeve tightly, refusing to let go, determined to get his attention: "Father, Father, Father—"

A series of calls finally brought Emperor Xuli back to his senses. He looked down at the little thing in his arms, her head tilted back, gazing at him, his eyes filled with deep pity. His Ruo'er was still a child herself, and to impregnate a child... wasn't he being too forceful? Besides, her health was so poor; was it really alright to impregnate her before she was properly cared for? "Why are you calling me Father?"

"What's wrong? Your eyes keep changing." Mingruo touched his face, then his forehead. A strange tenderness slowly seeped into Emperor Xuli's eyes. Since she became pregnant, the sharp edges that occasionally appeared on her had almost completely disappeared. Whether it was Emperor Xuli's imagination or not, the high wall in Mingruo's heart, used to block his intrusion, seemed to have collapsed. She became increasingly attached to him; not only when going to the imperial study to review memorials, but even when attending court, she would follow closely, unwilling to be separated from him for a moment.

Emperor Xuli was very satisfied with Mingruo's change. The fact that she couldn't live without him made him feel that he had completely won his daughter, both physically and emotionally. "What's changed? I was thinking, this child is so naughty and disobedient, he's been causing you so much trouble. Once he's born, I'll definitely give him a good scolding."

Mingruo was fiercely protective of her child. Hearing Emperor Xuli's words, her face immediately changed color. She raised her chin and glared fiercely at Emperor Xuli: "No! You're not allowed to hit him!" Emperor

Xuli was taken aback, seeing her with such a fierce expression for the first time. He hadn't expected his little one to be such a strong mother; it was truly unexpected. He quickly pulled the little beauty, who was about to climb down his lap, back into his arms, his handsome face displaying a gentle yet pleading smile: "Alright, alright, Father won't hit him, won't hit him. Ruo'er, don't be angry, don't be angry, or the child in your belly will develop a terrible temper."

Mentioning the child was indeed more effective than anything else; Mingruo immediately quieted down, obediently letting him take her back. She touched her belly, mumbled a couple of unintelligible words, and then yawned slightly.

At this moment, Eunuch An presented a tray of medicine to help with the pregnancy.

Emperor Xu Li reached out and took the medicine, first blowing on it, then bringing it to Ming Ruo's lips. Looking at her half-closed eyes,

seemingly drowsy, she appeared as innocent and carefree as the girl he had first met, laughing and radiant. A sudden pang of pain shot through his heart; he was unsure whether his hasty decision was right or wrong.

But—nothing was more important than her health, nothing at all.

Even the child he had always wanted was merely a tool to keep her. If this tool harmed her, what difference did it make whether he kept it or not?

Ming Ruo groggily opened her mouth. She was sleepy; she had often felt drowsy since becoming pregnant, often unable to get up even when the sun was high in the sky.

But when she swallowed the first sip of the medicine, a strange taste filled her taste buds, making her frown. This medicine…why did it taste different from before?

Seeing that she stopped drinking, Emperor Xuli asked softly, "What's wrong, Ruo'er?"

She shook her head. Although she hadn't received formal medical training, she had at least read some medical texts and had saved many small animals. Especially now that she was pregnant, Mingruo had paid close attention to the schemes of the concubines in the harem. But—the taste was sweet, slightly spicy, and a little bitter… With a "clang," the medicine bowl in Emperor Xuli's hand was knocked to the ground. The black liquid slowly spread, like dried blood.

"Ruo'er?" Emperor Xuli was startled. He was about to comfort her when he saw Mingruo nestled in his arms, her small hands tightly gripping his clothes, refusing to look up for a moment: "Father, Father, that's not a medicine to prevent miscarriage, it's an abortifacient! Someone wants to harm my child! Someone wants to harm my child!"

She said anxiously, but Emperor Xuli remained unresponsive. Mingruo sensed something was wrong. She slowly raised her face, looking at Emperor Xuli's almost expressionless face, her pale lips trembling uncontrollably: "...Did Father make me drink this?"

"Ruo'er—"

"You want to harm my child?!" Mingruo staggered down from Emperor Xuli's lap, backing away step by step, but Eunuch An blocked her way. She turned around in alarm, only to see several imperial physicians just steps away. Palace maids were waiting with basins of water and towels, as if waiting for something to happen.

She understood. He wanted to use the excuse of jealousy among the concubines to harm her child, then arbitrarily pin the blame on one of them… He was lying to her, lying to her!

But Mingruo, restrained by Eunuch An, had no strength to break free. Emperor Xuli rose and walked over, stroking her cold cheek, his tone gentle, tinged with sadness. If even he showed emotion, what in the world was impossible? "Originally, I wanted Ruo'er to drink the medicine and miscarry the child, but Ruo'er is so alert, so I had to force it. Ruo'er, it's not that your father doesn't want this child, it's just that your body can't handle it. Let's not have this baby for now, and have it again when Ruo'er's body has recovered, okay?"

Mingruo shook her head repeatedly, refusing to listen.

He seemed to lack the courage to see her crying and pleading, and even more so, he dared not see how the child was forcibly aborted from her body. So Emperor Xuli turned away, his back to the imperial physicians and Mingruo. Eunuch An immediately understood his meaning, quickly restraining Mingruo and pushing her onto the bed, ordering four palace maids to restrain her limbs so she wouldn't move. Mingruo was already weak and couldn't resist. She watched as the imperial physicians surrounded her, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty—Your Majesty, please don't! Your Majesty—don't harm my child! Don't harm my child! Your Majesty—" (Advertisement break: Still relying on your hands? How can you enjoy that? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain ejaculation sensation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint! Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sexual positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.)

Someone brought over a bowl of medicine—the abortion pills Mingruo had just spilled. She stared at the bowl in terror, her face as pale as paper. "No, don't come any closer! I won't drink it! I won't drink it!! Let me go! Don't touch me! Don't touch me! No! Your Majesty, save me! Your Majesty, save me! Save me! Your Majesty, save Ruo'er! Save Ruo'er!"

The medicine bowl had been forced to her lips, but Ming Ruo kept her mouth shut and refused to speak. The people around her, mindful of her status as an imperial concubine, dared not easily pinch her teeth. Even Eunuch An found it troublesome and hurriedly ran to Emperor Xu Li: "Your Majesty, the Empress is calling for you so loudly and struggling so much that the imperial physicians dare not act rashly. Please, Your Majesty—" Before he

finished speaking, Emperor Xu Li had already moved to stand in front of Ming Ruo. Seeing that it was the emperor, the imperial physicians all withdrew, leaving only the four palace maids who were restraining Ming Ruo's limbs.

His large hand gently stroked her cold cheek as Emperor Xu Li softly coaxed her, kissing her face lightly as he spoke. Her tears were salty and bitter, and the taste of them in his mouth made him almost cry along with them. "Ruo'er, can't we not have this child? We can have many more in the future."

She shook her head repeatedly. "No, no—Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please have pity on Ruo'er. Ruo'er has no family left in this life. Please don't take the child away too, okay? Ruo'er begs you—"

Even in this moment, she still cared about his reputation, calling him "Your Majesty."

Emperor Xu Li felt a pang of heartache, yet he knew that having this child would only worsen her already weak body. For a moment, his mind was filled with a thousand conflicting emotions, and he couldn't describe the feeling. "Ruo'er..."

"Please... Ruo'er begs you..." Ming Ruo cried so hard that she struggled to reach out for him to hold her, but her limbs were restrained and she couldn't move at all. "Ruo'er will never want anything else again. She will just raise the child and stay with the Emperor. She will never want anything else for the rest of her life. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please spare my child!"

Emperor Xuli's eyes flickered, but he suddenly stood up. Mingruo saw that he had not agreed to her request, and her heart pounded in panic. She felt a sharp pain in her chest, and before she could hold it in, she vomited a mouthful of blood. The bright red blood contrasted with her pale skin, displaying a strange and eerie beauty.

Chapter 150, The More She Acts, the Happier He Is (Part 2)

No one could know the despair and heartache Emperor Xuli felt at that moment.

He rushed forward and hugged Mingruo like a madman. Looking at her pale face stained with bright red blood, his heart ached as if he were dying. "Ruo'er, Ruo'er?!"

Mingruo had already fainted and could no longer hear him calling her.

The imperial physicians rushed over. Emperor Xuli held Mingruo's hand tightly and refused to let go. He trembled as he wiped the bright red blood from her lips, his eyes slowly becoming unfocused. This was his most cherished treasure, but look at her now! And all of this was his doing. "Ruo'er... my Ruo'er..." He stroked her cheek again and again, his voice tender and lingering, a sound that moved everyone who heard it. "Keep the child, I want him, we'll raise him well, he'll definitely look like you, beautiful, smart, and obedient... Ruo'er..." By the end, he was almost sobbing. Eunuch An could not hide his shock.

He had been by the Emperor's side since birth and had never seen Emperor Xuli show such intense emotions. Now, this emperor, unparalleled in history, was shedding tears! For a woman!

But he dared not make a sound to disturb Emperor Xuli, and could only stand silently to the side, fulfilling his duty as a servant.

After receiving the imperial physician's answer that "he was overwhelmed by anger and needed proper care, but there was nothing seriously wrong," Emperor Xuli dismissed them. He held Mingruo's hand tightly, looking at her face, which was furrowed even in her sleep. Bloodstains still clung to his pale lips. His hand trembled as he reached out, smearing the blood on his fingertips before spreading it across her lips.

The rosy-cheeked, smiling, and shy Ruo'er was always the most beautiful. This sickly Ming Ruo—Emperor Xu Li was determined never to see her like this again.

The child… let it stay. If it harmed her health during childbirth, causing some tragic consequence, then he would kill the child and follow her in death.

“Ruo'er, can you hear your father?” He kissed her small hand, his eyes still seemingly brimming with tears. “Father won't force you to abort the child. Wake up quickly, take good care of yourself, and try your best to give birth to our child healthy, okay?”

Ming Ruo didn't answer him. Her brows remained furrowed, her eyes tightly closed, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her face—an indescribably poignant and sorrowful beauty.

Emperor Xu Li didn't speak again, but simply held Ming Ruo's hand and slowly lowered his head.

This emperor, who once looked down upon the mortal realm, tasted defeat and despair for the first time in his life.

Mingruo

remained unconscious for three whole days. During this time, Emperor Xuli stayed by her side constantly, caring for her day and night without rest, feeding her medicine, bathing her, reciting poetry to her, and talking to her… He didn't even close his eyes once.

Therefore, when Mingruo opened her eyes, his joy was self-evident. Although he didn't jump up and cheer, his usually calm purple eyes revealed a deep pleasure. Mingruo looked at him with open eyes, but didn't speak to him; instead, she closed her eyes again. Emperor Xu Li was in a hurry and was about to speak when she opened her eyes again, gazing at him with watery eyes: "I want to eat bayberries."

He was stunned for a moment, then without saying a word, he summoned people in, disregarding whether it was bayberry season, and gave a strict order to have them transported. Then, smiling, he moved closer to Ming Ruo, about to reach out and hug her, but she pushed him away, struggling to sit up on her own, her small hand touching her belly, her large eyes looking at him without any emotion: "Where is my child?"

"The child is fine, Father will no longer have any intention of aborting him. You just woke up, how about having some porridge first?" Ignoring Ming Ruo's refusal, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently coaxing her.

Ming Ruo bit her lip, still not quite believing it: "Really? There won't be any assassins or jealous concubines trying to assassinate or poison me in the future?" It wasn't that she was suspicious, it was just that he had too many past offenses, and trying to outsmart him was pointless, even if she dug her heart out a thousand times.

Emperor Xuli nodded solemnly, "No."

"..." After considering for a while, Mingruo nodded, seemingly believing him. Emperor Xuli was overjoyed and was about to kiss her when her attention was drawn away by the small hand clinging to his face, "What's wrong?"

"You're not allowed to touch me." Her expression was very serious and earnest, not at all like she was joking, "What Father Emperor just did to me was too much, I'm not ready to forgive you yet."

So she was just throwing a tantrum. Emperor Xu Li smiled and raised his eyebrows: "How does Ruo'er plan to refuse to forgive me?"

"From now on, Father Emperor is not allowed to touch me." Her big eyes darted to the hand at her waist. "Including this."

The implication was that not only could she not enjoy intimacy, but she couldn't even actually "touch" him.

Emperor Xu Li was stunned. This was worse than death for him! "Ruo'er—"

Ming Ruo immediately retorted, "If Father Emperor wants me to be angry, then continue." Her eyes darted around, and she seemed no different from before when he hadn't angered her, but Emperor Xu Li knew in his heart that Ming Ruo was truly angry this time, without any pretense! He frowned, wanting to resist, but seeing her pale face and remembering the scene when he had angered her to the point of vomiting blood, even this emperor lowered his noble head: "Fine, I won't touch you. But I must stay by your side, no discussion on that."

Mingruo lowered her head and gave a faint hum: "Whatever."

So Emperor Xuli hurriedly picked up the porridge that had been simmering beside him to feed her, but she pushed it away and refused: "I can do it myself." She

didn't even want him to feed her?!

"Ruo'er, can you tell your father how long you're going to be angry?" he asked.

Mingruo pouted, puffed out her cheeks, glanced around, and just as she was about to answer, she immediately lay down by the bed, opened her mouth and vomited again: "Ugh—" Her little hands kept pushing the porridge in his hand, wanting him to take it away.

Emperor Xuli looked at the porcelain bowl in his hand, frowned. It was raw crab porridge, a kind that Mingruo used to love. He immediately threw the bowl aside and got some tea for her to rinse her mouth. Mingruo coughed, clutching her chest, tears streaming down her face. She hadn't eaten anything for the past three days, only drunk countless doses of medicine; what could she possibly vomit now?

Seeing her vomiting in such agony, her frail body trembling uncontrollably, Emperor Xuli felt a pang of heartache. He embraced her petite frame, patted her back, and then fed her tea. Mingruo stubbornly pushed him away: "Father, you're not allowed to touch me."

Even at this point, she still cared about that! Emperor Xuli was frantic, but she wouldn't let him near. Frustrated and unsure what to do, he could only stand up, call in a palace maid for help, and then stand aside, repeatedly trying to reach out and pull Mingruo into his arms, but each time she looked him away.

Chapter 151, The More She Acted, the Happier He Was (Part 2)

And so, in the days that followed, Emperor Xuli finally understood what it meant to reap what you sow.

He had intended to abort the child that was causing her great harm, but not only did he fail, he also found himself in this predicament. This was the most foolish thing he had ever done in his decades of life!

For two whole months, Mingruo wouldn't even let him touch her hand. Even at night, while she didn't chase him away, she absolutely forbade him to hold her. The early spring days were still a bit chilly, but every night at bedtime, Mingruo would place a blanket between them, refusing to let him near her! If it were just that she wouldn't let him touch her, that would be one thing… but the problem was that the little thing had even started to ignore him. This was nothing like before! Before, no matter what he did, Mingruo would call him "Father Emperor" sweetly, and she would always smile when she saw him. Now, she wouldn't even look at him properly!

Emperor Xuli felt increasingly aggrieved, but now his daughter was the most important person. Forget about a counterattack; he didn't even have a chance to beg for reconciliation! For the past two months, Mingruo's morning sickness symptoms hadn't lessened at all. Every time he saw her thin body and pale face, Emperor Xuli was extremely anxious. But she just wouldn't let him touch her. What could he do? Hit her, scold her? That would hurt him deeply. Emperor Xuli was already showing great self-control by not letting her boss him around all day.

Mingruo wasn't usually such a petty person, but when it came to Emperor Xuli, she was incredibly possessive. Sometimes, even though she was clearly in great pain, tossing and turning at night because of her pregnancy, unable to sleep, and even having wild thoughts, she would sometimes sit up and vomit in the middle of the night, but she never said a word to Emperor Xuli. It was as if the child was hers alone and had nothing to do with him.

When she wasn't so tormented, Mingruo would sit in the sun and diligently do needlework, sewing cute little shoes, clothes, and countless little sachets and socks. Although the Imperial Household Department had dedicated staff to prepare clothing for the royal family, as a mother, she still wanted to embroider clothes for her child herself. Not knowing whether it was a boy or a girl, to show she wasn't biased, she did clothes for both. Besides needlework, she would read books and play the zither, sometimes talking to the baby in her womb like a little child herself. Emperor Xuli always felt a strange sense of satisfaction and happiness watching her.

Like today, the spring sunlight streamed in, illuminating the windowpanes and casting a golden glow on the floor. Mingruo sat by the window, needle and thread in hand, intently embroidering a pinkish-green bib. She had also embroidered adorable little ducks on it, with big eyes and long beaks, looking utterly innocent.

Emperor Xuli sat behind her, the memorial in his hand still open after half an hour. He stared almost obsessively at Mingruo's back, watching her profile, even more beautiful and delicate in the sunlight, watching her sometimes frown, sometimes laugh, entertaining herself, completely needing no one. His hands, which hadn't held her for two whole months, began to stir restlessly. Xu Lidi stood up and walked to Mingruo's side.

Hearing footsteps beside her, Mingruo didn't pay much attention to Xu Lidi; he often did this these days, so ignoring him was fine.

But just as she was focusing her attention back on her embroidery, a beautifully sculpted hand reached out from the side and snatched the unfinished little bodice from her hands. In a panic, Mingruo immediately sat up from the chaise longue, reaching out to Emperor Xuli for the little bib, her cheeks puffed out, glaring at him unhappily: "Give it back!"

"It's very pretty." Emperor Xuli examined the little bib in his hands from all angles, praising it aloud, then added, "Our child will definitely be adorable wearing it."

"It's Ruo'er's child alone." Snatching the little bib back, Mingruo sat back down on the chaise longue, refusing to look at Emperor Xuli, her little face downcast, looking like a spoiled child: "It has nothing to do with Father."

"How can you say it has nothing to do with you?" Emperor Xuli was surprised, playing along with her tone. "If Father hadn't worked tirelessly day and night to plant the seed, how could Ruo'er have conceived?" As he spoke, his large hand secretly slipped towards her shoulder. He had always been afraid of her temper, and hadn't dared to cross the line much. But—after two months of living hell, he couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, to read poems and tell her stories, not just watch her enjoy herself alone!

That made him feel distant from her, as if

she no longer belonged to him. Working tirelessly day and night… Mingruo's face flushed red, giving her pale appearance a touch of life. But taking advantage of Xu Lidi's lewd words, she ignored the hand that kept moving on her shoulder. Normally, she treated Xu Lidi like a thief. "…Anyway, anyway, that's my child alone, it has nothing to do with Father!" She pouted, clutching the small undergarment she had snatched back tightly.

"It's Ruo'er and Father's child." Xu Lidi was even more persistent, his tall body moving closer to her, forcing Mingruo to retreat. He smiled, his smile seemingly never fading. To put it bluntly, the more she acted up, the more difficult things became for him, and the happier he became. No one should ask why; even if they did, he wouldn't answer. "Father comes here every night—" His large hand carefully touched her slightly protruding belly. "He carefully sowed the seed, and that's how Ruo'er got a child."

His hands were icy cold, but when they touched her stomach, Mingruo felt a strange warmth. She quickly slapped his hands away, then covered her stomach like a precious treasure, preventing him from touching her. Emperor Xuli looked at her protective behavior towards her unborn child, finding it amusing, yet also feeling a strange sense of jealousy. She was

already so biased just because she was pregnant; if the child were really born, what would become of him? "No, Father, don't touch my stomach." She still stared at him warily, afraid he would use some pretext to harm her child. "I want tea, Father, please make it."

He was pleased with her request and reluctantly let go to make her tea.

Mingruo had long anticipated that Emperor Xuli would be unable to resist touching her; she hadn't expected him to actually listen to her and not touch her for two months. But judging from the current situation, her happy days were numbered. When her father could finally hold her in his arms and mold her, she wondered what kind of suffering awaited her. He hadn't done it for two months, and if she gave in, she would still be at his mercy.

Chapter 152, A Slap Pushed into the Fire Pit.

Holding the teacup handed to her by Emperor Xu Li, Ming Ruo sipped the fragrant tea slowly. She always preferred strong tea, but the imperial physician said it was bad for the fetus, so under Emperor Xu Li's insistence, her tea was now almost tasteless...

As she drank, she cautiously glanced at Emperor Xu Li, who was also looking at her, his eyes gentle and tender, but a smile was clearly on his lips. He caught Ming Ruo's furtive glance, so he raised an eyebrow at her, startling the little rabbit into immediately lowering her head to concentrate on drinking her tea, almost burying her face in the teacup. "Ruo'er..." he called her.

"?"

"On your nose." His fingertips reached forward, wiping away a faint tea stain from her delicate nose. Mingruo instinctively recoiled, but he grabbed her hand holding the porcelain cup, leaving her helplessly watching him approach and touch her face. "You look just like a little kitten." Even though she was about to become a mother, she couldn't shake off her childlike nature.

Mingruo pouted, which was exactly what Xu Lidi wanted. He leaned forward slightly and planted a kiss on her lips. Mingruo was startled and tried to shake him off, but Xu Lidi was a man of great stature. Who could stop him from doing what he wanted? Not only did Mingruo fail to push him away, but she also ended up falling into his arms. Xu Lidi lifted her from the chaise longue and placed her on his lap. His face drew closer and closer to hers, so close that she could clearly see the beautiful, long eyelashes on his eyes. "Father, Father Emperor—what are you doing!"

"Nothing." He mimicked her tone, taking her soft hand and kissing it several times, kneading and rubbing her in his palm like a plush doll. Mingruo blushed as he touched and pinched her, wanting to refuse but not knowing how, and was extremely annoyed. "It's been a while since we've been intimate, Ruo'er. Doesn't Ruo'er miss Father Emperor at all, hmm?" As he spoke, he ambiguously caressed her nipples through her thick palace dress with his fingertips. Although it was spring, the air was still chilly. Mingruo was dressed in many layers, but Emperor Xuli's fingertips seemed to penetrate her clothes, making her shiver involuntarily.

"Ruo'er is cold?" he asked knowingly, still teasing her. His flirtatious and frivolous manner was completely unlike the decisive, wise, and great emperor he was. Mingruo watched him touch her inappropriately. To prevent him from attacking her again, she didn't dare to pout. She could only keep pulling and tugging, trying to free her hands. "If you're cold, come to Father's arms. It's very warm."

Warm?

Mingruo couldn't help but cast a suspicious glance at him. He was practically a walking ice cave, how could he be warm? If she were to suddenly jump into his arms at night, she would be instantly awakened by the cold. "Father, where are you warm? You're clearly freezing." She even shrugged her shoulders, as if she wasn't sitting in Emperor Xuli's arms, but rather in a block of ice.

"Cold?" Emperor Xuli protested. "When have I ever made you cold when I hold you?" It's always because this little thing jumps up to him, and he doesn't have time to use his inner strength to warm her up, that's why she gets cold, okay?

Hearing him say that, Mingruo frowned. She just didn't want him to touch her: "I don't care, Father, let me go."

"I won't let go." Emperor Xuli's answer was also straightforward. He had endured two months without touching her. He was already much older than her and would inevitably leave this world before her. But if she continued to reject him like this… he might die in a few days. What did she want then? Did she want him to go to see the King of Hell without even seeing his child? “You little ungrateful thing, does your father dislike you so much that he won’t even hug you?”

Mingruo puffed out her cheeks. In the past two months, Emperor Xuli had been even more doting on her than before. After these two months of recuperation, although Mingruo was not yet plump, and the imperial physicians were still unsure if she could safely give birth to the imperial child, she was at least much better than she had been two months ago, pale and vomiting blood. Now, her little face puffed up, her rosy cheeks instantly turning into a bun. Emperor Xuli’s hand itched and pinched it.

Her skin was naturally delicate and more sensitive to pain than most people, so pinching it felt particularly pleasant. Emperor Xu Li's touch was initially gentle, but when he tasted the smooth, watery texture, he couldn't resist. He pinched her cheek between his thumb and forefinger, this time with force, and Ming Ruo let out a soft "woof" as her eyes reddened.

Having made her cry, he quickly tried to comfort her, unsure of the situation himself. For the past two months, she had been quite demanding, yet Emperor Xu Li had never shown the slightest displeasure or annoyance. He even felt it wasn't enough… "Good girl, a kiss from Father will make it less painful." He cupped her face in his large hand and showered her with kisses.

With her hands free, Ming Ruo's first instinct was to hit Emperor Xu Li. She intended to hit his shoulder, but as he turned his head to hug her, the slap landed squarely on his face!

This was Emperor Xu Li! The god-like Emperor Xu Li! That face, that face Ming Ruo had almost never dared to look directly at since childhood!

Emperor Xuli was stunned, and Mingruo was also terrified.

For a long time, neither of them reacted.

After a while, Emperor Xuli opened his mouth to speak, but Mingruo's face crumpled, and tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls, one by one falling onto her clothes. Emperor Xuli was quite helpless at her crying like this. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, sighing, "Even your father didn't cry when you hit him, so why are you crying, you who hit him?" The first person in history to dare hit the emperor…should she be recorded in history books for future generations to admire?

Emperor Xuli's tone was light and calm, without a trace of anger, but Mingruo felt an overwhelming sadness in his voice. He had never bowed his head to anyone like this before, let alone been slapped. Thinking of this, she cried even harder. After two months apart, she wrapped her little hands around his neck, sobbing and apologizing, "I'm sorry... Ruo'er didn't mean it... Waaah... Father, don't be angry... Ruo'er knows she was wrong..."

Enjoying the soft, warm touch he hadn't felt for over two months, Emperor Xu Li sighed inwardly. It had been so long since he'd been hugged and cuddled like this; he had truly missed it.

To enjoy this moment longer, he deliberately didn't speak at the very beginning of her apology. Ming Ruo thought he was truly angry, and felt both anxious and regretful. In her haste, she pressed her little lips to his cheek, kissing him passionately while pleading in a soft voice, "Father, don't be angry, don't be angry, okay? Ruo'er didn't mean it. A kiss from Ruo'er will make it stop hurting..."

This was a clever trick she'd learned on the spot.

Chapter 153, Losing Both Wife and Army (Part 1)

They kissed for a long time without any reaction from Emperor Xuli. Mingruo couldn't help but feel uneasy. She had tormented him quite a bit these past two months, never flinching even when faced with unreasonable demands. But slapping Emperor Xuli… that was a hurdle Mingruo couldn't overcome. In her heart, Emperor Xuli could be anything, but he couldn't bear to be bullied, even by herself.

What's more, in the past two months, she had gone far beyond bullying him; she had practically been climbing all over him and acting like a tyrant. The Ming Ruo who used to be terrified and speechless at the sight of Emperor Xu Li seemed to have vanished forever, replaced by an arrogant girl that even she herself couldn't believe. "Father..." The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Recalling the various unreasonable demands she had made over the past two months, and then remembering that she had just slapped her god-like father, she was filled with regret and fear. Her little hands clung to Emperor Xu Li's neck, refusing to let go, and she buried her face in his neck, rubbing against him incessantly. After rubbing her face enough, she would continue to kiss him. Her pitiful appearance made one think that she hadn't actually slapped him, but rather was expressing her gratitude for a precious gift. "Father, please don't be angry, okay? Ruo'er really didn't mean it..."

Although he wanted to enjoy the long-awaited warmth and fragrance of her body a little longer, Emperor Xuli couldn't bear to see his little beauty suffer so much and live in fear. Heaven have mercy, he was the one who was slapped, he was the one who was tormented for two months, and now, he had to comfort the one who hit him. Was there any justice in this world? "Don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry, Father won't be angry anymore. I can't be angry with you, you little crybaby!" His slender fingers pinched her soft pink cheek, then wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Look at you, all you know is to use tears to deal with Father, don't you?"

Hearing this, Mingruo finally realized that he wasn't angry anymore. Her little face puffed up for a while, and finally she threw herself into his arms and giggled. Seeing her like this, Emperor Xuli couldn't be angry even if he really was. He only felt his heart filled with warm, tender moisture, and he wished he could melt her into his heart. "Crying and laughing at the same time, how can you be a mother?"

"Can't a mother... cry and laugh at the same time?" Mingruo asked naively, recalling the images of Consort Huai and the Empress. She realized that she had never seen them panicked or laughing and crying at the same time. They were both like perfect ladies from noble families, dignified and graceful, beautiful and gentle, like ladies who had stepped out of an ancient book.

Emperor Xuli raised his eyebrows. When did this heartless little thing start worrying about these things? He reached out and hugged Mingruo, who no longer resisted being touched. His fingertips caressed her warm waist slowly and calmly. Mingruo was immersed in her own thoughts and did not notice. So Emperor Xuli easily slipped his hand into her palace dress and slowly climbed up, caressing the lower edge of her tender breasts.

His fingers were initially icy cold, but when he touched her, he channeled his inner energy into them, making his body temperature almost the same as Mingruo's. Mingruo didn't even notice. She remained melancholy for a long time, not receiving an answer from Emperor Xuli. Her face tightened, and she asked again, "Father, Father—" grabbing his arm and shaking it repeatedly, her face tilted upwards, determined to get an answer. "Does Ruo'er really not seem like someone who will be a mother?" Then, should she learn from her mother so that when the child is born, she can set a good example and give the child a mother to be proud of?

The little one's confidence seemed to have been severely damaged, so he naturally wanted to comfort her: "What nonsense are you talking about? Look at those concubines in the harem who have children. Weren't they all once admired and praised as refined ladies and talented women? And look at their children now!"

His reminder made Mingruo slowly realize what he meant. Needless to say, her three elder sisters were all arrogant and domineering, and her four elder brothers were all equally arrogant. The only slightly better one, her fifth brother… was unfortunately dull-witted, having studied the Three Character Classic for three years without being able to memorize it. “Then… can Ruo’er be a good mother?”

“What is good, and what is bad?” Emperor Xu Li chuckled, his large hand subtly and gently cupping one of her delicate breasts. Ming Ruo’er, preoccupied with how to be a good mother, didn’t notice at all. (Off-screen voice: So… is this considered natural naiveté…?) “Ruo’er has seen many good mothers and many bad mothers in her life. Giving birth to children, raising them, and telling them what is good and what is bad is enough. You can’t live their lives for them.” His gaze slid down to her slightly protruding belly. “There’s really no need for Ruo’er to be so anxious.”

Ming Ruo was stunned by Emperor Xu Li’s long list of parenting tips. She was naturally naive and easily trusting, and the person in front of her who was teaching her was the one she trusted and admired most. How could she doubt him? But… she did have some doubts. “Father, you know everything, so why don’t you raise your elder brothers and sisters properly? Aren’t they your children?”

Emperor Xu Li smiled faintly: “What children? They’re just the continuation of the bloodline. I don’t care about them at all.” Not to mention that those few children were unintentionally left behind by him. If he had known he would meet Ming Ruo today, he would have definitely given up his desires, remained chaste, and waited for her arrival. How surprising that he would have such thoughts, and even felt a deep regret for not having foreseen all of this.

Mingruo wasn't happy to hear this. She pouted and muttered softly, "I'm your child too."

Her words clearly showed her displeasure. Emperor Xuli laughed, scoffed "Little devil," and kissed her lips. She obediently opened her mouth, allowing him to penetrate her, her pink tongue playing with his. After the kiss, Emperor Xuli held the panting, flushed Mingruo and said softly, "Father doesn't want to hide it from you. If it weren't for our first meeting at Lingkong Temple, perhaps Father would never have remembered having a daughter like you until his death." Seeing her cheeks puff out again, he smiled and pressed them down, adding, "But who told Ruo'er to catch my eye? Day after day, who knew you could make Father so passionate, creating a desire to possess you at all costs?" To this day, he still remembered the immense shock he felt when he first saw her naked—so beautiful, yet possessed by another man.

This was his greatest regret and resentment.

Chapter 154, Losing Both Wife and Army (Part 2)

"So, Father's feelings for Ruo'er are a kind of desire." Ming Ruo slowly repeated Emperor Xu Li's words, her cheeks puffed out like a little frog.

What a petty little thing! "Hmm... it's called desire, but there's also emotion involved." How many times in his life could he have such a strong and crazy desire?

These words sounded rather harsh, but Ming Ruo still managed to let it go: "Ruo'er can't argue with Father, so let's not."

"Heh, as long as Ruo'er is obedient, Father will pluck the stars from the sky for you." He affectionately rubbed her slightly puffed-up cheeks and leaned down to kiss her little lips. "You know, I will give you a lifetime of glory with all my might."

Ming Ruo stared blankly, her watery purple eyes fixed on Emperor Xu Li without blinking. After a long while, she suddenly threw herself into his arms, her little head rubbing against his strong chest like a cat. Emperor Xu Li couldn't see her face, so he naturally didn't know how much she struggled. "Father... Father, you... you don't need to make such a vow to me. I can't bear it... I really can't bear it..." What was so good about her that made him so infatuated?

The initial disgust, rejection, and despair were slowly fading. Mingruo hadn't realized that from beginning to end, what she cared about most wasn't affection, but blood ties. And now... she was even starting to ignore blood ties.

Emperor Xuli smiled gently, his hand stroking her soft head, ruffling her neatly tied hair, letting her long, flowing black hair cascade down, staining his arms and cheeks. A faint, delicate fragrance wafted over, making him feel as if he were in heaven. "Can't bear it... What's unbearable or bearable? None of that matters." What matters is that he will do this.

Mingruo stared blankly at him, looking at the still-faded red finger marks on his face, her heart aching, unsure whether it was for her own predicament or his humility. Anyone in this world can be humble, but Emperor Xuli cannot!

But she already knew that, didn't she? Otherwise, she wouldn't have repeatedly done things to anger him, knowing his unpredictable temper. She only did it because he doted on her and spoiled her; even if she wasn't consciously aware of it at the time, she was always aware of it in her heart.

She tremblingly reached out her small hand and touched Xu Li Di's face. He was so handsome, especially when his eyes were filled with tenderness—it was as if one could drown in his gaze. Her slender white fingertips slowly traced down his thick, long eyebrows, across his beautiful, enchanting phoenix eyes, across his high, straight nose, and then caressed his almost icy white lips. What had she done to deserve such treatment from him? What had she done to deserve it?

Mingruo thought she would cry, but in fact, not a single tear fell. Emperor Xuli, unusually quiet, allowed her to stroke him, a slow smile playing on his lips. He loved the look in Mingruo's eyes at this moment, gentle and full of pity, as if she were looking at her man, not her father. This was the first time she had looked at him with such eyes, so tender and affectionate, even the small hand stroking him seemed to be filled with warm sunshine.

His large hand covered the small hand on his cheek, and Emperor Xuli looked down at her, his posture, though superior, filled with humility and pleading. The humility and pleading of countless concubines who longed for his attention and favor, perhaps even more so. "My whole life has been for meeting you. As long as you are willing to see me, nothing else matters. And now, Father is so glad that you appeared before Father died." Otherwise, what meaning would his life have had? Blood ties, ethics… the insults and scorn of the world, the eternal infamy of posterity, he didn't care.

He only wanted her.

Mingruo abruptly covered her mouth to stifle the sobs that nearly spilled out. She was so agitated that she didn't even notice Emperor Xuli's large hand rubbing against her inside her clothes, his warm palm caressing the edge of her tender breasts. She was too emotional to notice. "Father...Father..." she buried her face in his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. Emperor Xuli didn't like her crying. He didn't say anything, so no one knew that each tear Mingruo shed felt like a knife to his heart. Each time she cried, his heart broke a little more, a secret never revealed to anyone. "Be good, don't cry," her father said, his heart aching.

Mingruo sobbed, clinging to him, refusing to lift her face or get up, holding him tightly. But the warm liquid quickly soaked Emperor Xuli's neck; her tears were so scalding, flowing down his neck like a knife cutting into his heart, causing excruciating pain. "If you cry again, you'll really turn into a little kitten." He stroked her long hair, but it still didn't stop Mingruo from crying; he felt more tears on her neck than before. "Why are you really turning into a little crybaby?"

She still didn't react. Emperor Xuli was at a loss, and unwilling to forcefully pry her face up, so he had to try another method. His large hand, hidden inside Mingruo's palace dress, began to tease her subtly, not like the previous furtive touches, but a genuine caress. Mingruo was startled by the strange sensation on her chest and quickly sat up from his embrace, only to realize that she had been so foolish as to not even notice when her father had put his hand inside her collar. She instinctively covered her chest, which in turn caught Emperor Xuli's hand.

Compared to Emperor Xu Li, Ming Ruo's strength was no different from that of a kitten. He raised an eyebrow, his hand moving easily beneath her cover. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, she had blossomed, her breasts plump and full, even more delicate than before, almost bursting at the slightest touch. Emperor Xu Li turned his hand to the side, his palm resting precisely between her cleavage, a feeling of pride and satisfaction welling up within him. These two tender peaches weren't this big before; they were all made by him. Perhaps they would grow even bigger in the future, and of course, he would still need to knead them then.

The sudden movement in her chest made Ming Ruo both ashamed and angry. Just as she was about to protest, Emperor Xu Li's cool gaze fell upon her: "Has someone forgotten that they just slapped me?" As he spoke, he deliberately turned his face to show Ming Ruo the still slightly red finger mark. That little thing's slap was really hard; her little paws must be red, if not swollen.

Emperor Xu Li's words stirred up Ming Ruo's guilt. She looked at his face pitifully and pleaded, "Father..." She really didn't mean to; she meant to hit his shoulder, not his face...

"Whether Ruo'er did it intentionally or unintentionally, the fact remains that you really hit him, and nothing I say will change that." His implication was that he wanted compensation.

Ming Ruo glanced at him timidly.

"How about this? If Ruo'er pleases Father, this matter will be over. Otherwise..." He smiled maliciously. "Father won't forgive you."

Chapter 155, Losing Both Wife and Army (Part 2)

Serving Well... His "serving well" sounded easy, but to actually do it would be incredibly difficult; she'd be lucky to escape with her life. “Father…” Mingruo didn’t dare to take the hand that Emperor Xuli had placed on her chest, and could only softly cling to his embrace: “Please don’t, okay? Ruo’er is pregnant, what if she gets hurt—”

“No, I won’t hurt you.” Emperor Xuli’s thin lips curved up, and he raised an eyebrow, looking like he had made up his mind. Mingruo puffed out her cheeks as she looked at him, knowing that it was useless to argue, but she was still a little unwilling to be completely controlled by him like this. She had clearly had the upper hand before, and now she was pregnant, and her lustful father was still bullying her! “Good girl, come here and let Father give you a kiss.”

“Father—” Her little face twisted into a knot, her features extremely bitter. "I'm scared—"

"Don't be scared, Father is here with you." His large hand pinched the tender little nipple at the tip of her breast, rubbing it incessantly with his thumb and forefinger. Mingruo felt her heart tingle from his rubbing, and suddenly felt all her strength drain away, as soft as water. She collapsed into his arms, her small hands still clinging to Emperor Xuli's arm, swaying back and forth with each rub. "Come here."

Enduring the tingling and itchy feeling in her chest, Mingruo forced herself to get up from Emperor Xuli's lap, regretting it so much she felt like her intestines were turning green. How could she have been so careless as to hit his face? Now, not only could she not bully him anymore, but she also had to get herself involved! Her

snow-white little hands released Emperor Xuli's arm, instead cupping his handsome, celestial face, her fingertips slowly stroking it as before. His eyebrows were thick and long, but the thickness was just right, flying upwards to his temples, incredibly beautiful. Those purple eyes were inherited from her, but in Mingruo's eyes, no matter how beautiful her eyes were, they couldn't compare to Emperor Xuli's. His eyes were breathtakingly beautiful. And that high nose bridge... with a small protrusion in the middle, yet it didn't detract from his otherworldly aura at all. Her soft little hand reached for his equally soft yet cool lips, tracing the corner of his lips along the lip line. Unexpectedly, Emperor Xuli suddenly opened his lips and took her fingertip that was touching his lips into his mouth.

His bewitching purple eyes stared unblinkingly at the blushing face before him, his warm tongue sweeping over her slender, white fingertip, licking it. Mingruo involuntarily shivered, her cheeks flushing red, but she didn't look away, and bravely looked back at him: "Father... ah—" A soft cry escaped her lips, for no other reason than that Emperor Xuli had bitten her finger. He didn't use much force, and Mingruo didn't feel much pain, but the strange sensation was something she couldn't ignore. She tried to pull her hand away, but Emperor Xuli held her fingertips tightly, leaving her nowhere to retreat. "Father!" Mingruo was extremely embarrassed, her face practically steaming.

With her fingertips in his mouth, Emperor Xuli naturally couldn't speak. He looked at Mingruo's shy and anxious appearance with a smile, wishing he could just pull the beauty into his arms and kiss her to his heart's content.

Mingruo trembled several times, and just as she was focusing all her attention on Emperor Xuli's mouth, the large hand that had been playing with her chest suddenly pinched her hard. Mingruo screamed in fright, even more embarrassed. "Father, Father, don't—don't pinch... ah—" You bad guy, you bad guy, you bad guy!! Father is a big bad guy!!! By

the time she spoke, it was too late; Emperor Xuli had already pinched her nipple. She was naturally more sensitive than most, and after a year of training by Emperor Xuli, she was already at the point of being easily aroused. This time, when he pinched her hard, tears immediately streamed down her face, hitting her clothes with a "plop," making her look pitiful, like a pear blossom in the rain. "Waaah... Father... Father..." It had been over two months since he had touched her, and on their first encounter, he was so cruel! "I hate you!"

Hate?! Emperor Xuli was extremely surprised, his brow furrowing. With his free hand, he pulled the little one, who was biting her lip and trying to hold back her tears, down from his arms, letting her sit back on his lap, but he didn't let go of her little hand. So Mingruo sobbed, raising her hand, her little nose twitching, her eyes drooping, only involuntarily lifting them when she sniffled. Emperor Xuli's heart melted at her sight; he immediately wanted to hug her tightly and give her a good squeeze, hoping never to be separated again. (Actually, he was just completely charmed...)

Reluctantly opening her mouth, Emperor Xu Li smiled as Ming Ruo immediately pulled her hand back, rubbing it several times on his dragon robe in a fit of pique. She sobbed uncontrollably for a long time, and no amount of coaxing from Emperor Xu Li could soothe her. Finally, he resorted to the most effective and ancient method—silencing her.

Ming Ruo was so captivated by the kiss that she forgot to cry. She blinked her large eyes, staring blankly at the handsome face magnified before her. He was so focused on kissing her that he didn't even notice Ming Ruo's dazed expression. When he opened his eyes and saw the little one's blank expression, he couldn't help but chuckle, sighing inwardly. He hadn't expected that after so long, even he would lose his initial calm and playful teasing and succumb to her charms. “How could you dislike your father? Because I was worried about your health, I wanted to abort the child, but you refused, and I let it go, didn’t I? Since Ruo’er entered the palace, has there ever been anything I haven’t listened to? Not to mention how well Ruo’er has bossed me around these past two months, and—” He pointedly grasped a small, snow-white hand and gently nibbled at it. “Did someone just slap me?”

When he said “I,” it didn’t sound like anger at all, but rather like he was deliberately trying to evoke her guilt, and he even turned his face away. Ming Ruo looked at the red mark on his face, and her previous mood returned. “Ruo’er, Ruo’er didn’t mean it…”

“I know Ruo’er didn’t mean it.” He smiled. "But Father is an emperor, after all. If word gets out that I was slapped by a mere maid, how can I face anyone? Although only Ruo'er and I know about it, it happened anyway. Of course, Father won't tell anyone, but he'll inevitably feel bad. So, Ruo'er naturally has to serve Father well and make him happy, and then this matter will be over." Actually, it wasn't a big deal at all. He didn't care how the little thing had hit him. Even if she were as domineering and arrogant as the other princesses, he wouldn't care, let alone just a light slap. It's just... not taking advantage of the situation would really go against his nature.

His words sounded reasonable, and Ming Ruo listened blankly, as if... as if she really was in the wrong. She had completely forgotten that it was Emperor Xu Li who had teased her first. In fact—she was the one who brought it upon herself.

Unfortunately, when she was in front of Emperor Xu Li, her mind went to mush, and she was completely fooled without realizing it.

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