[Fantasy] The Imprisoned Concubine's Tale (Complete) - Chapter 18

Chapter 141, Deeper

Still wearing her underpants, their private parts rubbed together through the thin fabric. While pleasurable, it also brought the unbearable pain of being teased through a barrier. Mingruo gasped for breath, pressing her entire body against Xulidi, her arms wrapped tightly around him, refusing to let

go. Yet Xulidi continued his foreplay slowly and deliberately, showing no hurry.

As if deliberately tormenting her, he first played with her round, pink breasts for a while before slowly sucking on them. Mingruo was at her most sensitive, and Xulidi's sucking immediately became unbearable. Her highly sensitive and tense body didn't ejaculate, but her love juices flowed in waves, relentlessly.

Perhaps startled by her body's strange reaction, Mingruo didn't understand how she had become like this—of course, she didn't know that Emperor Xuli had put an aphrodisiac in her tea; she simply assumed that she had become increasingly lewd under her father's tutelage. A look of sorrow immediately appeared on her face, yet her body was simultaneously experiencing pleasure. These two strange sensations intertwined, leaving Mingruo momentarily unsure whether to laugh or cry. She wrapped her arms around Emperor Xuli's neck, resting her chin on his head so he could reach her chest. Her long hair fell down, obscuring Emperor Xuli, and her large eyes blinked groggily. "Father... Ruo'er is hot..." How strange, why did the heat in her body keep rising and not subside at all?

Emperor Xu Li, of course, knew what was going on. Hearing Ming Ruo's aggrieved and confused tone, he couldn't help but chuckle. He lightly touched her tender nipple with his tongue, feeling the delicate body in his arms tremble violently, before asking in a hoarse voice, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Ming Ruo nodded blankly, her small hands tightening their embrace around Emperor Xu Li. He pulled her down, making her kneel on his lap, her face close to his, cheeks touching. Her fragrant breath and burning body temperature were all transmitted to him. Emperor Xu Li felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have used the drug on her. Although it was his wish to occasionally make her take the initiative, the fact that her skin was so hot to the touch made him extremely worried. Fortunately, he hadn't felt anything unusual when he checked her pulse, otherwise he would have been filled with remorse. "If you're feeling unwell, take off your underpants. Father will feel them and you won't feel hot anymore."

Ming Ruo blinked her purple eyes, still staring blankly at Emperor Xu Li. After a moment, she actually reached out to take off her underpants. Emperor Xu Li raised an eyebrow, unable to hide his surprise, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily as he eagerly anticipated the beautiful sight to come.

Ming Ruo grabbed the hem of her trousers and tried to pull it down, one hand still resting on Emperor Xu Li's shoulder. Because she was working with only one hand, she couldn't manage it. After a while, Ming Ruo got annoyed. Her legs, which had been kneeling on Emperor Xu Li, began to kick restlessly, her underpants askew, but she still couldn't pull them off. "Father..."

Seeing her expression of being bullied by her trousers, Emperor Xu Li couldn't decide whether to laugh or feel helpless. He kissed her little face, biting her pink cheek and leaving two clear rows of teeth marks. Ming Ruo cried out in pain, clutching her cheek and pitifully curling up in Emperor Xu Li's arms. He then reached out to help, and with just a slight exertion, the exquisitely embroidered underpants instantly shredded into several pieces, exposing her delicate buttocks. A unique fragrance of a young woman wafted into Emperor Xu Li's nostrils. He smiled, his large hand touching her skin, which felt burning hot, as if flames were burning beneath it. He figured the little thing had reached her limit.

After the underpants were removed, Ming Ruo couldn't help but shiver, not from the cold, but because Emperor Xu Li's gaze was fixed on her lower body. Half embarrassed and half yearning, she closed her eyes, feeling an even stronger urge for him to enter her body to drive away the irritating heat: "Father, Father, come in... come in..." But asking wasn't enough; only when that thing entered and filled her completely could she truly find relief. Remembering that

the last time she asked him to come in was because of Duanmu Yun, Emperor Xu Li couldn't help but feel annoyed. But seeing Ming Ruo so obedient and enthusiastic, he couldn't help but want to cherish her, and for a moment, he was conflicted. Mingruo, perhaps unable to bear it any longer, surprisingly abandoned her usual shyness and reached down to his crotch, grasping his thick penis and trying to insert it into her vagina!

She had clearly aimed... why couldn't it go in?! Mingruo was so anxious that tears almost fell. She felt like she was being burned alive, yet the only thing that could save her stubbornly refused to enter. Her pink buttocks lifted, trying to swallow the huge glans, but the bed was too soft, and without Xu Lidi's support, she couldn't stand for long. Just as the fiery red glans rubbed against the entrance of her pink vagina and was about to enter, Mingruo accidentally lost her balance and swayed to the side. Fortunately, Xu Lidi reacted quickly and caught her. He even raised an eyebrow and teased, "Why is Ruo'er so eager, like a lustful devil?"

She was about to die of discomfort, and he was still bullying her like this! She stared blankly at Xu Lidi for a long time, her mouth trembled, and tears immediately fell. Instead of her usual silent crying, she sobbed with her mouth open, sounding like a little animal struggling. Emperor Xu Li felt both heartache and amusement. He lifted her up and placed her back on his lap, sighing, "I didn't say I wouldn't go in, so why are you crying?" She's getting more and more spoiled and knows how to completely control him, but—he likes it.

Hearing this, Ming Ruo rubbed her eyes, still sobbing, and nestled into his arms, still feeling hurt from sitting crookedly earlier. Her discomfort only intensified her sorrow.

"Good girl, lift your bottom up." Patting her pink bottom, Emperor Xu Li gestured for Ming Ruo to sit up slightly, but whether it was because of her previous crooked sitting or her discomfort, Ming Ruo ignored his request. What else could she do? She had to solve the mess he'd caused. He lifted her chubby little bottom with his large hands, making it stick out, and with a slight push, he sank in halfway. Mingruo immediately let out a muffled groan, her face pressed against his neck, unwilling to move, her arms tightly wrapped around him, her fair skin flushed. "Father, Father... Ruo'er is hot..."

"Why are you still hot?" He asked knowingly, slowly pushing in little by little. "Would it be more comfortable if Father went in deeper?"

"Mmm...yes..." Her small mouth opened, panting, Mingruo felt like she was on the verge of death. She couldn't think at all, and unlike before, she didn't feel unbearable pain when he entered her. This time, she seemed to accept him easily, without the slightest discomfort. "Deeper...deeper..."

Chapter 142, Lost Heart

"Little slut." Emperor Xuli chuckled and spat, pressing down on her buttocks as she wished, until he was fully inside her.

Mingruo, lost in passion, didn't notice what Emperor Xuli called her. She only knew that the heat in her body came quickly and intensely, and brooked no refusal. Apart from the man in front of her who was possessing her, no one else could offer her salvation. "Father, Father—" The last syllable trailed off, sweet and cloying.

Emperor Xu Li chuckled, lowering his head to kiss her soft lips. His warm tongue roamed freely in her delicate mouth, trying to distract her and prevent her from feeling too much pain. To his surprise, Ming Ruo showed no sign of discomfort, as if his sudden intrusion was the most natural thing in the world. Emperor Xu Li raised an eyebrow in surprise, kissed Ming Ruo's lips, and asked softly, "Doesn't it hurt?"

Ming Ruo shook her head, desperately grabbing his shoulders to sit down further. Even though she was pushed all the way down, she still felt like something was missing. What was missing? "Father, Father, move... Ruo'er is so uncomfortable, Father..." She clung to Emperor Xu Li, rubbing against him incessantly. Before he could even thrust, she began to masturbate herself, her hands on his shoulders for support. Each withdrawal brought out a gush of sweet fluid, and each subsequent insertion produced a soft "sizzle." Ming Ruo felt a ache in her back, especially when she lowered herself, but the pleasurable sensation quenched the unspeakable fire within her. Compared to that, she preferred the backache to the torment of that flame.

Emperor Xu Li was astonished. He had never seen Ming Ruo so proactive, not even waiting for him before taking the initiative. Although she had taken the lead, it felt novel, and he enjoyed it. However—her movements were too slow. He had only just tasted a little sweetness before she withdrew. The layers of tender flesh didn't envelop him long enough, failing to satisfy his appetite. "Ruo'er..."

He called Mingruo, but Mingruo was in a daze and didn't even notice him calling her. Although he was inside her, it was only a brief comfort, not enough, still not enough! Each time he entered, there was only a short moment of relief. What she wanted was not this lukewarm, slow lovemaking, but rather, a violent, powerful lovemaking that could melt her inside him... "Ah... Father, Father... help Ruo'er, help Ruo'er—" It hurts so much, why does it still hurt so much?

"What do you want Father to help Ruo'er with?" Emperor Xuli asked in a hoarse voice. In fact, he had already reached his limit, but in order to hear what he wanted to hear from Mingruo, he forced himself to tease her. His cold hands, along with his question, caressed her warm chest, grasped one soft breast and kneaded it. His neatly trimmed nails occasionally scratched the tender nipple, giving Mingruo even greater stimulation.

Of course, she couldn't bear it. Her mind was a complete mess, and she cared about nothing but relief. Her mouth began to murmur uncontrollably, devoid of any restraint: "I want Father Emperor to come, Father Emperor to come—"

"Do you want Father Emperor to penetrate Ruo'er?" Emperor Xuli asked casually, pinching a small pink cherry between his fingers and circling it with his finger. But the desire that was slowly being manipulated by Ming Ruo's clumsy movements only seemed to swell even more.

If Ming Ruo were smart enough to know her place in Emperor Xuli's heart, to know that she could easily defeat him with just a little teasing, she would never let him manipulate her like this. Unfortunately—in her heart, Emperor Xuli was a god-like figure, and doing anything to him was against her own conscience. Subconsciously, Ming Ruo had already formed this thought: whatever Emperor Xuli did to her was normal, but if the roles were reversed… she didn't even dare to think about it. (A certain You: So-called blind worship...)

Seeing her dazed face unable to speak, Emperor Xuli asked again, "Ruo'er, answer my question, do you want Father to penetrate you, hmm? Like this—" As she stood up, his penis withdrew from her tight, wet pink orifice, but Emperor Xuli's fingers dug in, pinching hard on a sensitive spot. "A little harder, even if it breaks Ruo'er?"

"Hmm, Ruo'er isn't afraid, Father—" Her delicate body was sore from his touch, but Ming Ruo still couldn't hide her eagerness to sit down, the fire inside her had already made her delirious. "Father, faster, faster, waaaah..."

Seeing her face streaked with tears, Emperor Xuli sighed and stopped teasing her, his large hand moving to her pink buttocks and pinching them a few times, then slowly inserting it. Mingruo held onto his shoulders, her face resting against the crook of his neck. The feeling of inserting herself was different from when he did it. Even though it was the same slow pace, when Emperor Xuli came personally, she felt a kind of liberating pleasure! "Father..."

She could still manage to utter a few words at this point, but when Emperor Xuli began to penetrate her deeply without restraint, Mingruo had lost the ability to speak. She leaned back against Emperor Xuli's chest, her small mouth wide open, but she couldn't utter a single word. Not only could she not speak, but even her moans were completely silenced by Emperor Xuli's fierce onslaught. Her delicate body flushed a bright red, and Mingruo went limp, collapsing into Emperor Xuli's arms. Because Emperor Xuli was still seated, with each thrust, her little buttocks swayed in the air, a thin layer of sweat appearing on her delicate back, her messy black hair spreading out on it, creating a strange and beautiful sight.

Xu Li Di's thrusts were far more forceful than hers, penetrating deep into her flower garden with each stroke, making her inner walls ache unbearably. Ming Ruo was almost unconscious, feeling nothing but pleasure. After

a while, Xu Li Di flipped her over, his long body pressing against hers. He lifted Ming Ruo's legs with one hand, then pulled them down, grasping her slender ankles, and tilted her back. Her most alluring vulva was now nakedly exposed before Xu Li Di, his desire asserting its dominance within. Her once pink vulva was now bright red, the swollen labia enveloping his member. With each thrust, her lips trembled, incredibly alluring.

This position with her legs raised was actually quite strenuous for a woman, and Ming Ruo was no exception. If she hadn't been blinded by lust, she probably would have cried out in pain long ago. But it was precisely this slight sting, combined with the force and angle of Xu Lidi's entry, that made the pleasure all the more intense, her sensitive spring tide already overflowing.

Her small mouth agape, unable to utter a sound, Mingruo's eyes were streaked with tears from the overwhelming pleasure. She tightly gripped Xu Lidi's large hand that held her waist, like a drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood.

Chapter 143, Shalue's Intentions (Part 1)

Xu Lidi was already ready to pounce. Her tender orifice was gripping him so tightly, and she was holding him so close—all of this filled him with immense satisfaction. This woman was his; she depended on him, worshipped him, and couldn't live without him. This alone was enough to put him in a state of high arousal. "Ruo'er's orifice is so tight, and so wet; Father is so happy."

Mingruo let out silent moans, her eyes occasionally clearing, and upon hearing such words, she would shake her head in shame, but soon she would fall back into this spell, with no other way but to succumb.

The enormous penis suddenly increased its speed of entry and exit. Xu Lidi flicked the small foot in his hand outwards, and Mingruo couldn't help but straighten her little feet and move around wildly. But the more she moved, the more arrogant the invading thing became. Her tender hole was occupied everywhere, and the hot glans touched left and right, always hitting her most sensitive spot. Still relying on her hands? How can that be pleasurable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video Fan Bingbing's lower body real state molded into a highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, experience a more realistic feeling... Swallowing and spitting, irresistible! Click to enter

The large hand slid from the ankle to the knee joint, first bending Mingruo's legs, and then moving up along the smooth calves, grasping her ankles again, and lowering his head to put the tender toes into his mouth.

Mingruo trembled, her body stimulated to a new climax. Emperor Xu Li first licked her toes, then gently tapped her pink toenails with his teeth. Ming Ruo kept fidgeting, but no matter what she did, she couldn't escape his warm mouth; instead, she only increased the area covered by his mouth.

After licking and biting each of her ten little toes, Emperor Xu Li moved his attention to her delicate soles. He tentatively touched them with his lips and breathed warm air on them. Ming Ruo immediately let out a soft groan, moving even more violently than before, as if she hadn't realized at all that her strength had been completely exhausted.

So his little Ruo'er was ticklish; he had only just realized this.

Emperor Xu Li raised an eyebrow, deciding not to tease her anymore, because pleasure was more important now. He pressed Mingruo's lotus feet against his face, revealing only his eyes as he gazed intently at her, watching her sink and float in the waves he had given her. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if from this moment on, Mingruo truly and completely belonged to him. There was no Duanmu Yun, no Consort Huai, no Duan Shanggong; there was no one else in her heart, only him, completely.

Her little flower cave was already red and swollen from being thrust in and out, but each time he penetrated, it would still dutifully cover the enchanting paradise. The clear love fluid became viscous because of his continuous entry, staining both of their private parts completely, especially Mingruo, who was covered in mud. "Ruo'er, open your eyes and look at me."

Hearing Emperor Xuli calling her in the darkness, Mingruo opened her eyes tremblingly, and saw that familiar yet unfamiliar face. Having spent nearly a year together, she should have grown accustomed to it by now, but even today, Emperor Xu Li remains a god-like figure in her heart. Whether he's close to her or far away, this admiration is like a towering tree planted in her heart, unchanging as long as she lives. And estrangement… even after living together for so long, Mingruo still can't fully understand Emperor Xu Li, whether it's his personality, his style, or even his heart. He always says she's his treasure, how good he is to her, but why can't she ever truly feel it?

With him, besides worship and dependence, she only feels fear.

Her eyes were glazed as she gazed at the man on top of her. His smile was faint; even in this passionate moment, he showed little emotion, only the pleasure in his eyes betrayed his feelings. If she didn't know better, Mingruo would have thought she was no different from the other concubines in the harem.

Perhaps the reason she couldn't believe it was because of this?

Soon, her mind had no room to think about this anymore. Emperor Xuli's attacks became faster and faster, each thrust reaching its hilt, and he relentlessly nibbled at her little feet while looking at her. His gaze, while predatory, also carried a hint of tenderness, a tenderness that made Mingruo think she was seeing things.

A tingling sensation ran down her spine; Emperor Xuli knew he was about to ejaculate. He hadn't taken any medicine for a month, and according to the imperial physician, he should be able to impregnate her now. It was time to have a child; otherwise, her heart would never be at peace.

Although Mingruo couldn't perceive Emperor Xuli's thoughts, she was very familiar with his body's reactions during lovemaking. She stared blankly at Emperor Xuli, her eyes filled with a dazed, infatuated look, knowing he was about to climax. She couldn't describe the feeling; as he ejaculated his scalding fluid, Mingruo didn't close her eyes but stared intently at Emperor Xuli. He also kept looking at her, then released her legs, leaned down, and kissed her lips, whispering, "Give Father a child."

A child… was it truly unavoidable?

Ever since she drank the cinnabar water and frightened Emperor Xuli, Mingruo had never been alone. If Emperor Xuli wasn't by her side, someone would always be there to watch her during baths and urination to prevent her from doing anything to harm herself.

To Mingruo's surprise, Emperor Xuli only did it once. Instead, she gradually felt the heat returning, and unable to resist, she threw herself at him. Emperor Xuli, while surprised, was naturally extremely happy to accept the beauty's embrace; after all, who would refuse the advances of their beloved woman?

Mingruo couldn't remember how many more times they did it. The only thing she remembered was that afterward, Emperor Xuli didn't carry her to be cleansed as usual, but simply cleaned her body and went to sleep. She was exhausted and fell asleep without saying anything.

The consequence of this indulgence was that she couldn't get out of bed for five days. Mingruo had thought that her failed escape attempt and subsequent capture was the limit of what she could endure, but this time it was even more intense than before.

The snow stopped, and she was finally allowed to go out after a month of bed rest—but he had to watch over her.

So, accompanied by Emperor Xuli, Mingruo was taken to the Imperial Garden. Although the peach blossoms had faded, the clivia and winter plum were in full bloom. With the New Year approaching, the palace was decorated with red lanterns and auspicious characters everywhere. Mingruo was happy to see this; she was still young and liked lively atmospheres.

However… it had become inevitable that someone would come to disturb her, no matter when or where. Knowing that the Emperor rarely visited the Imperial Garden, the concubines all applied makeup and casually strolled around, hoping to catch his eye even if they couldn't serve him in bed. If they caught his eye, perhaps one day he would remember them, and they could rise through the ranks, enjoying the same favor as the currently favored Consort Ming.

Seeing these concubines was commonplace for Mingruo, but seeing Prince Shalu was strange.

Chapter 144, Shalu's Intentions (Part 2)

This was the second time Mingruo had seen Shalu, and she still couldn't see what he looked like. His thick beard completely obscured his face, and he wore heavy fur coats, revealing only his dark, gleaming eyes—clearly a restless and ambitious man.

She wondered, if even she could see it, how could her father, who had been on the throne for decades, ignore it? Or…did her father have another plan?

Despite her thoughts, since the other party had bowed, she naturally had to return the courtesy, at least with a smile.

So, King Shalu began his reckless praise: "It's said that the Great An Dynasty is full of beauties, and seeing Consort Ming today,

I know it's truly well-deserved. Your Highness is indeed beautiful; even a rough man like me is moved."

Mingru felt embarrassed. She thought she might have misjudged him. How could such a thoughtless man be a cunning schemer? He had only heard that the Great An Dynasty was famous for its beauties; didn't he know how much his father forbade anyone to even have the slightest thought of her? Even a compliment about her beauty would displease him. Now this man was saying it so openly; was he truly bold, or just brainless?

Without giving Mingru a chance to reply, Emperor Xuli raised an eyebrow, pulled Mingru closer, and smiled, "King Shalu is too kind." His smile was faint, clearly lacking sincerity.

Shalue then realized something. Seeing that Mingruo didn't even glance at him, and with the hidden meaning in Emperor Xuli's words, he felt slightly embarrassed. However, he was still a man of importance, and soon regained his heroic spirit: "Actually, I wanted to thank Your Majesty again for your willingness to form a lasting alliance with the Wuhuan. This is truly a blessing for the Wuhuan people."

Emperor Xuli remained smiling, unmoved by Shalue's flattery: "Everyone knows that the Wuhuan are a nation born on horseback. Even ordinary people are skilled archers. In the future, when King Shalue unifies the grasslands, I might have to rely on you." While

his words were certainly exaggerated, they weren't entirely unfounded. It was no exaggeration that every Wuhuan person was a skilled hunter. Their only weakness was their barren and harsh environment, unsuitable for settlement, preventing them from focusing on stockpiling grain and recruiting soldiers. But if they were to gain control of the land, who knew what the ambitious Wuhuan people might do? Since they worship wolves, their nature is naturally like wolves—they eat people.

Shalu sat down with a smile, seemingly oblivious to whether he understood Emperor Xuli's meaning, but the smile never faded. Mingruo secretly peeked at him from Emperor Xuli's embrace, finding him truly strange. Most people couldn't withstand the Emperor's aura for long, yet King Shalu seemed completely unaffected. Was he simply absent-minded or naturally bold?

Her spying was discovered by Shalu, who openly grinned at Mingruo, making her feel guilty and quickly avert her eyes. Emperor Xuli, seemingly unaware of her restlessness, simply picked up a piece of pastry and brought it to her lips, watching her eat it bite by bite, his expression unchanged, as indifferent as ever, aloof and uncaring.

Mingruo's doubts were quickly dispelled, because even Shalu, who seemed completely unaffected by Emperor Xuli's aura, couldn't withstand it for even a quarter of an hour. Thinking about it, Emperor Xuli was truly a monster. Who would leave another country's monarch standing aside, ignoring him completely? He even kept feeding her this and that, looking completely carefree, utterly disregarding her. Even a clay figure has some spirit, let alone Shaluo, the King of Wuhuan! He sat there for about fifteen minutes, seeing that Emperor Xuli showed no further sign of speaking after his words. He realized he was just making a fool of himself, burning with anger but unable to vent it. Not only was he on Xuli's territory, but even if he weren't, he had to consider the formidable power of the Da'an Dynasty.

But if he were to speak, he wouldn't know what to say. After all, he was too young and inexperienced to confront an old fox like Emperor Xuli, despite his own arrogance and invincibility.

When Mingruo finished another piece of pastry, Shalue finally spoke, but he was taking his leave: "Your Majesty, please allow me to take my leave. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health and longevity. Consort Ming, I bid you farewell."

Emperor Xuli smiled faintly: "King Shalue, please."

Watching Shalue's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Mingruo sat up straight from Emperor Xuli's lap, took a sip of tea from his large hand, and asked with slight confusion: "Father... does this King Shalue really have ambitions?"

Hearing her question, Emperor Xuli asked noncommittally: "What do you think, Ruo'er?"

"Hmm... doesn't seem like it." She imitated his raised eyebrows, but her imitation was off; instead of conveying a sense of profound mystery, it was extremely cute and comical.

Emperor Xuli pinched her little face, waiting for her to continue.

"At first, I also thought this person had some ulterior motive in proposing marriage. In addition, the borders of the Wuhuan Kingdom are really too bad. It's normal for them to invade other countries for the sake of their people... But just now, King Shalue's words and actions seemed like, like—" She racked her brains for an adjective. "...A simpleton?"

"Heh." Emperor Xuli chuckled at the word "simpleton," shook his head and sighed, "Even a girl as insightful as Ruo'er and the old ministers of the court were fooled. Shalue is truly no ordinary person."

"Fooled?" She was fooled?!

"Ruo'er doesn't need to ask. We'll find out in the future." Patting her little head, Emperor Xuli brought the teacup to her lips, then used his fingertip to wipe a stray strand of hair from Mingruo's forehead, his distant purple eyes glancing at the distance. "The plum blossoms are in full bloom. How about Father takes Ruo'er to pick some flowers?"

If he didn't want to say it, she wouldn't be able to get any information out of him no matter what she tried. Mingruo nodded obediently, following Emperor Xuli's gaze to the plum tree with its branches laden with fruit.

He set her down from his arms, letting her feet touch the ground, his large hand cupping her small one in his palm. He then pulled the hood of Mingruo's cloak over her head, revealing only her delicate face, before leading her out of the pavilion. Although the snow had stopped, the palace rooftops still appeared covered in a blanket of white snow, like a white cloak. When spring came, this blanket would melt, and next year's blanket wouldn't be the same as this year's.

Mingruo felt inexplicably sad, and also felt a pang of sentimentality, like a sour, pretentious scholar. Emperor Xuli looked down at her, leading her to a plum tree. Its strong branches stretched out, the pinkish-white petals adorned with tiny water droplets—whether from melted snow or something else—glistening and incredibly beautiful.

Chapter 145, The Emperor's Heart is Unfathomable

. With only five or six days left until the New Year, shocking news arrived from the front lines: Duanmu Yun had been defeated!

For the people of the Da'an Dynasty, this news was like a bolt from the blue. Even the invincible war god had suffered a defeat, and by a relatively unknown young general from the Jiang Kingdom!

The news sent shockwaves through the court and the public; for a moment, no one could react.

Duanmu Yun had served in the army for twenty years, experiencing hundreds of battles, large and small, without ever losing, let alone a hundred thousand troops reduced to a mere thousand—nearly total annihilation!

Although there was much discussion about this in the court, Emperor Xuli remained silent. Even Mingruo didn't know what he was thinking. But regardless of Emperor Xuli's intentions, Mingruo knew that Duanmu Yun's chances of survival were slim. If the defeat was due to some cause, that would be one thing, but what if they had truly fallen into the trap of the Jiang Kingdom's generals and lost 100,000 soldiers? Adding to that the assassination attempt on her elder brother in the army… Mingruo simply couldn't believe what fate awaited Duanmu Yun with such accusations!

She had originally intended to subtly probe Emperor Xuli's reaction, but he seemed to know her intentions and always found a way to steer the conversation away. Mingruo was worried but powerless, and thus grew increasingly thin. Emperor Xuli saw this and naturally knew what troubled her. His displeasure deepened, and his resentment towards Duanmu Yun intensified.

He could have killed Duanmu Yun without batting an eye, but for Mingruo's sake, he had to outwardly appear unharmed. Heaven knows how furious he truly was.

The court officials all adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards the matter. Some ministers who wanted to plead for Duanmu Yun saw that the emperor had neither said anything nor intended to punish the general. They worried that if they jointly petitioned for the general's life, it might only bring trouble. Emperor Xuli was such an emperor; he was calm and his patience was terrifying.

The matter only took a turn for the better after Duanmu Yun returned. No one expected that the usually capricious Emperor Xuli would not punish Duanmu Yun, not confiscate his property or exterminate his clan, not demote or exile him, not even utter a single word of reproach!

Everyone waited for Emperor Xuli's next move, but to everyone's surprise, he did nothing!

Even Mingruo, who knew him well, found it unbelievable. The border cities had already been occupied by the Jiang Kingdom, and the few small cities that Jiang had ceded as tribute in the past were now in Jiang's possession. In this battle, Jiang Kingdom not only reclaimed its own cities but also occupied several cities of the Da'an Dynasty. Most importantly, they shattered the myth of Duanmu Yun as an invincible war god!

Compared to the nationwide jubilation of Jiang Kingdom, the Da'an Dynasty was shrouded in a somber atmosphere. The emperor, who had the most reason to be angry, remained unmoved, as if the loss of a few important cities was utterly insignificant to him. No one knew what he was thinking; only the grand banquet for officials on New Year's Eve would reveal the answer.

Mingruo remained seated in the position reserved for the mother of the nation, while the Empress sat relegated to the third seat. Her envious, predatory gaze was fixed intently on Mingruo. Whenever Emperor Xuli turned his attention to Mingruo, the Empress would look away, only to return her gaze once the Emperor had done something else. Mingruo felt uneasy under her gaze, as if sitting on pins and needles.

Emperor Xu Li quickly noticed her unease and brought over a wine cup, urging her to drink. Ming Ruo couldn't refuse and could only take a small sip. The pungent taste made her squint uncomfortably, and tears almost welled up in her eyes. Emperor Xu Li looked at her and smiled, sighing, "This is top-grade Bone-Changing Wine, mellow and sweet, with a strong aftertaste, slightly spicy yet richly fragrant. Can Ruo'er taste it?"

How could she taste it? It wasn't tea. Seeing Ming Ruo covering her mouth and shaking her head, Emperor Xu Li smiled even more broadly, put down the wine cup, and rubbed her cheek—because it was a grand banquet, he had styled her hair in an elaborate way, so he really didn't know where to start. "Bone-Changing Wine is a fine brew. After drinking it, you can forget all your worries. In this life, it's rare to be a little carefree, isn't it?"

He seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words... "Father?"

"It's nothing." Emperor Xu Li took a small sip himself, his purple phoenix eyes slightly closed, his long, dark, curled eyelashes casting two shadows on his face. The pillars surrounding the main hall were illuminated by luminous pearls, their milky light casting an ethereal glow on Emperor Xuli's face. "Ruo'er, eat your pastries first,"

Mingruo shook her head. The officials and the still-present King Shalu hadn't even touched their food yet; how could she possibly do that and embarrass the Great An Dynasty? "I'm not hungry." Emperor

Xuli didn't press her, his gaze drifting indifferently into the distance. Mingruo followed his gaze and saw Duanmu Yun, looking weary and dressed in a blue robe. He was dressed so lightly, with streaks of white in his hair; it was snowing outside.

Wasn't he cold?

Afraid that looking any longer might lead to trouble, Mingruo immediately turned her gaze back, pretending to be intently focused on the fruit platter before her. Looking at the vibrant fruits, she couldn't hide the turmoil within her. Lost in thought

, a long, slender hand with distinct knuckles reached out, holding a bright, juicy plum in its palm. Mingruo was startled and looked up. Emperor Xuli was looking at her, a smile playing on his lips, gesturing for her to take it. Mingruo took it, turning it over and over in her palm, unwilling to take a bite, as if afraid of ruining the vibrant red.

Mingruo didn't listen to the opening remarks; she disliked these formalities and couldn't remember them. She didn't look at what Duanmu Yun was saying either—perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of reluctance, who knows? She nestled in Emperor Xuli's arms, eating whatever he fed her, even the lentils and arrowhead that she would never normally touch, without a second thought. Emperor Xuli watched her blankly open her mouth to eat what he offered her, his gaze deepening. He glanced at Duanmu Yun sitting below, but saw that he wasn't looking at Mingruo; his hand under the table was already clenched into a fist.

So, pretending not to notice, he lifted Mingruo's chin and, in front of everyone, planted a light kiss on her lips. Mingruo's face flushed red from the kiss, and she clutched his sleeve with her little hands, wanting to pull away but too afraid to. In the end, she could only close her eyes and let him kiss her.

The aroma of the food she had just eaten still lingered in her mouth, making one's mouth water.

The atmosphere at the banquet was peaceful, and no one mentioned Duanmu Yun's defeat. It wasn't until Emperor Xuli casually said, "Although Minister Duanmu was defeated in this battle against Jiang, I will give him another chance out of consideration for his past military achievements. As for the death of the First Prince… I will make a decision after Minister Duanmu atones for his sins."

These words shocked everyone present. No one had expected that after committing such a grave mistake, Duanmu Yun would not only escape unscathed but also regain the Emperor's trust and lead troops into battle again!

Even Duanmu Yun himself hadn't anticipated this.

Chapter 146, Deceived .

Mingruo was even more astonished. After the news of Duanmu Yun's defeat arrived, she had repeatedly wondered how her father would punish him. She had studied every form of punishment she had read in books, but the result… the Emperor not only didn't blame him but also gave him a chance to atone for his sins?!

Even in front of all the civil and military officials, Mingruo couldn't hide the shock and suspicion in her eyes. Emperor Xuli naturally sensed it. He took a sip of his wine, his gaze indifferent, and asked, "What's wrong with Ruo'er's expression?"

She quickly shook her head, "No, Father... what you just said—was it true?" She still couldn't believe it.

"Of course, would Father lie to you?" Emperor Xuli raised an eyebrow, seemingly slightly displeased by her doubts. Seeing his expression darken, Mingruo quickly composed herself and forced a smile, "Ruo'er wouldn't dare."

He didn't press her further, but glanced thoughtfully at the audience below. Mingruo wasn't sure if he was looking at Duanmu Yun or Prince Shalu, because Emperor Xuli hardly spoke again afterward, as if everything that had happened was unimportant.

This continued until the end of the banquet. Perhaps it was Mingruo's imagination, but Emperor Xuli seemed somewhat drunk, because he not only refused to ride back in his imperial carriage but also insisted that she support him.

She couldn't support him at all, and even when Eunuch An offered to help, he refused, insisting on having Mingruo alone. Left with no other choice, Mingruo had to put Xulidi's hand on her shoulder and then forcefully lift this large man up. Fortunately, the snow on the road had been cleared, otherwise she would have surely fallen.

The palace lanterns shone on their intertwined shadows, creating a tender and moving scene. Mingruo walked with uneven steps, occasionally bending over from Xulidi's weight. She was already panting heavily after walking less than a quarter of the way, but Xulidi, as if afraid of not being able to support her, kept shifting his weight onto her. Mingruo was almost brought to tears by him, but at least she wasn't cold anymore. She had taken off her fox fur coat, and of course, Xulidi's cloak as well, otherwise she would surely have been crushed to death.

"Ruo'er... Ruo'er..." Xulidi murmured her name as he staggered after her. Mingruo looked around nervously, only to find that the quick-witted Eunuch An had already waved the eunuchs and maids back about ten steps behind them, so they couldn't hear what Emperor Xuli was calling her. "Ruo'er..."

"Your Majesty, you're drunk." She was both annoyed and amused, but still used all her strength to support him as they walked forward, feeling extremely puzzled. She was sitting in his lap, and she hadn't seen him drink much, so how could he be drunk all of a sudden?

But... she hadn't seen her father drink much in so long, perhaps he wasn't familiar with alcohol?

Mingruo guessed and guessed, but always felt that she was overthinking things. She stumbled along the way, and when she couldn't hold on any longer, Eunuch An would secretly lend a hand from behind, so it wasn't too difficult. But when she finally put Emperor Xuli on the dragon bed, Mingruo realized that she couldn't even straighten her back.

Emperor Xuli didn't like anyone getting close to him, so without Mingruo saying anything, Eunuch An had already consciously brought clean water and towels and left them alone.

Mingruo wrung out a clean cloth and wiped Emperor Xuli's face. Gazing at his features, she was lost in thought. He was truly handsome; with his eyes closed, the coldness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a gentleness unlike that of Emperor Xuli.

This was only the second time she had seen him asleep; she was always the one who fell asleep first. The warm cloth touched Emperor Xuli's face, and Mingruo gently and meticulously wiped his exquisite features with a tenderness she herself didn't even realize. Emperor Xuli remained silent, but his eyes remained closed, as if he were asleep.

Mingruo assumed he was asleep, so after wiping his face, she decided to wash and groom herself. After all, maintaining such an elaborate hairstyle and jewelry was exhausting, not to mention the palace attire she wore for tonight's banquet, which was much heavier than usual, plus the energy she had expended carrying Emperor Xuli back to the palace… She decided it was best to bathe and cleanse herself.

But before that, she had to help her father undress, otherwise sleeping like this would be very uncomfortable.

This was the first time Mingruo had undressed Emperor Xuli while fully awake and willing. Since he was asleep, Mingruo felt no embarrassment whatsoever. The dragon robe was undone, but Emperor Xuli couldn't take it off while lying down, and there was no one around to help her. So Mingruo had to laboriously lift Emperor Xuli's upper body, then let his head rest on her shoulder, and then take off the dragon robe.

She completely ignored the emperor's closed-eyed smile on her shoulder.

After taking off the dragon robe, she did the same to Emperor Xuli, removing his remaining clothes, leaving only a pair of underpants barely covering his fierce and powerful male genitals. Mingruo finally realized what she had done. She... she had actually stripped her father down to only his undergarments!

She quickly pulled the blanket over him, then removed the hairpin from his hair, and his once neat bun immediately fell loose, making Emperor Xuli's face even more handsome.

But when Mingruo turned to leave, Emperor Xuli wouldn't let her. She had only turned slightly when her hand was grabbed. Mingruo was startled at first, then turned back to see Emperor Xuli leaning against the headboard, his strong, white chest exposed, his long black hair cascading down, draped over his shoulders, partially obscuring his jade-like chest. From Mingruo's angle, she could only vaguely see skin and a touch of crimson.

Her face flushed instantly. Mingruo understood, of course, what Emperor Xuli's ambiguous smile meant—he was mocking her!

And… he didn't look drunk at all!

So she had been deceived?

Mingruo was very resentful. Seeing her pouting and refusing to acknowledge him, Emperor Xuli smiled and beckoned to her: "Come to Father."

Mingruo, of course, dared not resist. Although unhappy, she obediently went over, only to be pulled into Emperor Xuli's arms. He even teased her, "What's wrong? Are you angry already?" What a petty little thing, look at those puffed-up cheeks.

"

Father Emperor lied to me first, no wonder Ruo'er is angry." How could he bully her like that? She had carried him all the way from the main hall, and on the way, when Eunuch An offered to help, he wouldn't let her, almost causing her to fall with him. Now that she thought about it, Father Emperor was definitely faking it! Otherwise, how would he even know that Eunuch An had secretly helped her up from behind?

"Yes, yes, yes, Father Emperor was wrong." Emperor Xu Li readily admitted his guilt, leaving Ming Ruo speechless and unsure how to react. She didn't dare to hit or scold him, and ignoring him... He had already admitted his mistake, what else could she do?

Chapter 147, Pregnant (Part 1)

With her cheeks puffed out, Ming Ruo pushed against Emperor Xu Li's chest, trying to get out of his embrace, but Emperor Xu Li wouldn't let her go. He held her tightly, unmoved by her struggles. It was Mingruo who, smelling the faint scent of wine on Emperor Xuli's breath, felt intoxicated first.

She had been forced to drink a sip in the main hall, at which time she only found the wine incredibly spicy, ignoring its true flavor. Now, smelling it from Emperor Xuli's mouth, Mingruo realized just how strong the aroma of this wine called "Bone-Changing" truly was—so strong that she was almost intoxicated by its suffocating fragrance: "Father, Father, please don't keep coming closer..." The smell was too strong; although it was very fragrant, she still couldn't bear it.

Emperor Xu Li smiled and pulled her closer, his deep phoenix eyes fixed on her small face without blinking, taking in every little detail of her wrinkled nose and squinting eyes. "Dislike Father Emperor?"

"It's not dislike..." Ming Ruo pinched her nose, wondering if it was just her imagination, but the smell of alcohol seemed to be getting stronger and stronger... What if she got drunk if she kept smelling it? "It's just that Father Emperor smells so strong."

Emperor Xu Li reached out and smelled his arm, then raised an eyebrow after a while: "Then what should we do? You'll have to go to bed tonight eventually, are you going to just not smell it?"

Ming Ruo blinked her big eyes, seemingly only now realizing this big problem. After a while, she asked hesitantly: "Then... then how about Father Emperor goes to take a bath?" He certainly wouldn't allow her to sleep on the soft couch in the outer hall, but the smell of alcohol was so strong, although it smelled quite alluring, if she really smelled it all night... Ming Ruo felt that she might never wake up again.

Moreover, the sip of wine that Xu Lidi had fed her earlier was now burning her lower abdomen like a torch, making her feel hot and uncomfortable.

Mingruo frowned and touched her stomach. Xu Lidi, noticing her movement, immediately released her and, disregarding that he was only wearing his underpants, went to the table, poured a cup of tea, and brought it back. His expression was natural, showing no shame for being naked. Mingruo, on the other hand, blushed and immediately turned away.

"Have some tea." Ignoring the little beauty's outstretched hand to hold the cup, Xu Lidi held the teacup to Mingruo's lips, gesturing for her to open her mouth. Mingruo obediently placed her raised hand on the edge of the bed and drank a few sips of warm tea from Xu Lidi's large hand, which helped. The fragrant and refreshing taste dispelled the stench of alcohol in her stomach, and she finally felt better. But look at Emperor Xuli, he's half-squatting in front of her, naked. Although the braziers in Panlong Palace are constantly burning, it's still a day so cold that even your breath freezes; it's nothing like summer. Mingruo snapped out of her daze, jumped up in a flurry, grabbed the teacup, rushed to the table, poured another cup, and offered it to Emperor Xuli.

But Emperor Xuli had no intention of taking it. He looked at Mingruo with a smile, so she had no choice but to hold the teacup in front of him, feeding him as he had fed her earlier. Emperor Xuli cooperated, and after drinking the tea, he was about to speak, but before he could even open his mouth, Mingruo hurriedly threw the teacup aside and turned to grab the brocade quilt on the bed to wrap him up. But how could she, so small, possibly wrap up Emperor Xuli, who was more than a head taller than her?! Mingruo was at a loss. Emperor Xuli stood up but refused to squat down again. She was both anxious and annoyed, while he deliberately smiled at her as if teasing her.

Mingruo clenched her small hands into fists, not one to give up easily. Fortunately, the blanket in her hands was warm and light. She threw it up forcefully, just enough to cover Emperor Xuli's head. Mingruo didn't care about anything else, she simply wrapped him up and spun him around a few times, just enough to cover him up, and then started running towards the screen.

Emperor Xuli was also stunned. He originally just wanted to tease her, who would have thought this little girl would be so bold as to dare to wrap him up! However, she didn't wrap him up tightly, and he could untie him with a gentle tug.

So he followed the trail Mingruo had taken, calling her name as he searched: "Ruo'er, Ruo'er? Where have you hidden? Come out quickly, or if you get caught, Father will punish you." He went around the screen, but only saw the mist in the pool, the beauty was nowhere to be seen.

Following him around the screen, Mingruo carefully concealed her footsteps so that Emperor Xuli wouldn't hear. Punish her? He couldn't bear to do that.

"Ruo'er, stop being naughty, come out quickly." His phoenix eyes glanced back, sensing the delicate aura behind him even through the screen. But since she wanted to play, he'd gladly risk his life to accompany her. So Emperor Xu Li pretended not to notice, walking around and deliberately making heavy footsteps, occasionally clearing his throat to signal to his little beauty that he was coming. "If Father finds you, he'll punish you severely! You dared to cover my head with the blanket, huh?" The little thing was growing bolder, practically ignoring him. If he didn't assert his authority as husband, he'd be a laughingstock.

Hearing Emperor Xu Li's words, Ming Ruo became even more nervous. She tiptoed, thinking she couldn't hide like this all night, could she? She'd be exhausted. So she mustered her courage and began to sneak towards the palace entrance. Unfortunately, she'd only taken three steps when a wall of flesh suddenly appeared in front of her, slamming into it and causing excruciating pain. She touched her nose, tears streaming down her face.

A large, cool hand gently stroked her delicate nose, and a teasing voice, tinged with amusement, came from above: "Look at Ruo'er, so excited! Where are you running off to?" Running off again? Where could she possibly run to?

Ming Ruo quickly put on a sweet smile, her small hands automatically wrapping around Xu Li Di's waist. She tilted her head back, grinning foolishly, her endearing appearance making Xu Li Di chuckle. He couldn't bear to say anything more to her, so he simply patted her head and leaned down to kiss her.

The smell of alcohol on his breath had mostly dissipated, replaced by a rich and mysterious fragrance of white datura. Ming Ruo was quickly mesmerized by his kiss, her face blank and dazed. When Xu Li Di released her, her lips were swollen and red, and even her eyes were watery and hazy. If Xu Li Di hadn't been holding her, Ming Ruo might not have even been able to walk properly.

Emperor Xu Li carried her to the bedside. Ming Ruo's hand rested on his bare waist. A glint flashed in his purple eyes, and his large hand immediately climbed up his delicate waistband. Just as he pulled it open, Ming Ruo suddenly let out a "whoosh" and leaned against the bed. She tried to push Emperor Xu Li away despite her discomfort, but he stubbornly refused to let go. Now, Ming Ruo no longer cared about soiling his body. She released her hand from her mouth, and the intoxication of the previous moment vanished instantly, replaced by a strong feeling of nausea.

She hadn't eaten much that night, only a few pieces of pastry, but she had eaten a lot of fruit, so what she vomited was mostly sour water with no odor. Even so, Ming Ruo kept pushing Emperor Xu Li away, afraid of soiling him.

Chapter 148, Pregnant (Part 2)

How could Emperor Xu Li be so easy to talk to? He couldn't stand Ming Ruo refusing him, especially when she was unwell. His large hand gripped her slender waist firmly to support her weight as she leaned against the bed. He shouted, "Guards!"

Eunuch An immediately rushed in with several palace maids. Emperor Xu Li had no time to watch how timidly he bowed; he could only shout, barely concealing his nervousness and fear, "Summon the imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician quickly!"

Why was she so delicate? Why was her body so weak? In less than a year, he had summoned the imperial physician twice. What more did she want to torment him?! "Ruo'er, Ruo'er, are you feeling better?" The gentle voice changed its tone as he turned his head: "What are you all standing there for? Go and pour some tea!" His brows were tightly furrowed, and the anger deep within him made him appear with a heavy aura of murderous intent. If Ming Ruo hadn't been vomiting so badly that she was dizzy, she would have been terrified.

He took the tea that the palace maid tremblingly offered and brought it to Mingruo's lips to rinse her mouth, but she shook her head, pushed his hand away, and then her face changed drastically. She had only been back in his arms for less than ten seconds before collapsing back onto the edge of the bed.

Watching her vomit strange things, Emperor Xuli's heart broke. His hands, holding Mingruo, trembled. Less than a quarter of an hour passed, but it felt like centuries. Why hadn't the imperial physician arrived yet? Did she not want to live?! "Ruo'er, Ruo'er—"

Mingruo shakily raised her head, her face pale, her lips bloodless, even her eyes seemed to have faded. Emperor Xuli looked at her, his heart aching more and more. He had never tasted heartache before, but since bringing her to his side, he had experienced all the bitterness and sweetness of life. But he had never regretted it; on the contrary, he found it sweet.

"Father..." Her small hands covered her stomach; Mingruo's weak appearance was like a peach blossom battered by wind and snow. "Am I going to die?"

"What nonsense!" he roared in a low voice. Ming Ruo shrank back, and Xu Lidi immediately hugged her tightly. "How could that be? My darling is blessed with good fortune and a long life. Even Yama, the King of Hell, wouldn't dare to take her." Because he wouldn't allow it.

Hearing his words, Mingruo couldn't hide her smile. She lowered her head, coughed lightly a few times, and then remained silent. Just then, the imperial physician rushed in, stumbling and scrambling. Upon seeing Emperor Xuli, he didn't forget to bow, only to be scolded back by the emperor. He immediately put down his medicine box and came to take Mingruo's pulse.

Eunuch An stood to the side, equally tense, his eyes fixed intently on the physician's hand resting on the silk thread. Mingruo's hand was held open in Emperor Xuli's palm, the red thread binding her fair wrist. The physician's forehead was already sweating with nervousness. Emperor Xuli never looked away from Mingruo. Whether it was Eunuch An's imagination or not, he felt that the Empress's complexion seemed somewhat unwell, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong…

Taking the pulse took nearly a quarter of an hour. Eunuch An watched the imperial physician's expression shift from dread to relief, then suspicion, a second pulse check, uncertainty, and another… After this tumultuous quarter of an hour, he finally rose and bowed deeply to Emperor Xuli: “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is not suffering from a strange illness, but is pregnant with the Emperor’s child!”

Upon hearing this, both Mingruo and Emperor Xuli were stunned.

Emperor Xuli was stunned; this was utterly unbelievable. Although he had already attempted to impregnate her, she had taken cinnabar water a month ago, so theoretically, conception should have been impossible. How could this be—

Mingruo was also stunned. She never imagined the reason would be this. The imperial physician's words were such a blow that she completely forgot how Emperor Xuli had smiled and rewarded each of the palace maids and eunuchs present with a thousand taels of gold, promoted the imperial physician before her to the head of the Imperial Hospital, and bestowed upon him a mansion and ten thousand taels of gold. All she knew was that something that should never have happened had actually occurred!

Her small hand touched her still flat, undetectable belly—she was pregnant… pregnant!

Even the cinnabar water couldn't take the child's life… Was it fate? Mingruo didn't understand, and she didn't want to understand. At this moment, she had completely lost the ability to think. Apart from Emperor Xuli, she had no one else to rely on. Her small hand reached out blankly to Emperor Xuli, hugging his neck, her body trembling uncontrollably in his arms, even her voice seemed to be tinged with sobs: "Let them go, let them go—"

Emperor Xuli waved his hand, and Eunuch An, understanding perfectly, led the imperial physicians and all the palace maids and eunuchs away, leaving only the two of them.

"They're gone, Ruo'er, let your father see you." The gentle voice seemed to melt away her unease. Mingruo looked up blankly, gazing into a pair of purple eyes exactly like her own. Her small mouth trembled, and she felt a surge of sorrow again. Tears fell instantly, landing on the back of Emperor Xuli's hand, burning hot.

He held her tighter: "Ruo'er, my dear Ruo'er, why are you crying? Your father is right here with you. Our child will soon be born. The future is so bright, how can you cry?"

Biting her lip, Mingruo shook her head repeatedly. Her arms tightened around Emperor Xuli's neck, but he wouldn't let her snuggle into his chest. Instead, he cupped her tear-streaked face, his eyes unusually earnest: "Now that this child has come, it means we are destined to be together. Ruo'er, do you still want to give him up?"

How could she? How could she not want the child?! Before, she didn't want it because she hadn't conceived. Now, now the child was beginning to take shape in her womb, how could she have the heart to abort it! "No, no, no..." By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Good girl, then Ruo'er, you should take good care of your body from now on, and make yourself healthy so that you can give birth to the baby safely, okay?" Emperor Xu Li gently pressed his forehead against hers, coaxing her patiently, while his hand rested on her back, patting her softly as if caring for a baby.

What else could she do but nod in agreement?

Emperor Xu Li was pleased with her obedience. He held Ming Ruo and rocked her back and forth, thinking that perhaps it was because he had chased after her earlier that she felt uncomfortable, and coupled with forcing her to sip some wine that evening, it was natural that she would feel unwell. However, this also allowed him to learn something he had longed for, so was it a good thing or a bad thing?

The ordeal had lasted too long, and with such shocking news, Ming Ruo quickly became exhausted. She blinked, feeling that both her eyelids were incredibly heavy. A drowsy look came into Xu Lidi's view, so he gently undressed her, wiped her body, removed her rouge, and then carefully climbed into bed, pulling her into his arms, kissing her forehead, before falling asleep himself.

In her dream, Mingruo seemed to see someone standing before her, weeping. She couldn't see the person's face clearly, but she knew he was heartbroken. Because every drop of his tears seemed to strike her heart, making her feel both pain and guilt.

What was the pain, and what was the guilt?

She didn't know.

The person seemed to know her confusion, simply reaching out his hand, and then gradually walking away. Mingruo wanted to call out to him, and he seemed unwilling to leave, but between them was as if a transparent, thick wall, slowly separating them. Later, that transparent wall became two, and the person was separated far, far away—until he could no longer be seen.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/158083.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=158083&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Fantasy] The Imprisoned Concubine's Tale (Complete) - Chapter 17

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

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] The Imprisoned Concubine's Tale (Complete) - Chapter 18

comment Open a new window to view comments