[Fantasy] The Captive Concubine's Tale (Complete) - 22

Chapter 170, Imprisonment

"Ruo'er!" Emperor Xu Li pulled Ming Ruo into his arms tightly, carefully protecting her belly. Only after confirming she was alright did he turn his gaze to Duanmu Yun. His expression was cold, neither angry nor pleased, and he simply asked softly, "When did Minister Duanmu return to the capital? Even I didn't know."

Duanmu Yun closed his eyes, lowered his head, and did not answer.

"Your Majesty, Duanmu Yun suffered two defeats in succession. After returning to the capital, not only did he not come to see Your Majesty immediately, but he also broke into the inner palace and killed the Third Prince! His heart is despicable, his heart is despicable!"

Ming Ruo suddenly raised her head to look at the man who was speaking so vehemently. He wore a python robe and looked like a high-ranking official, but his words were too ruthless, bordering on ruthless. But she dared not speak. No one understood Emperor Xu Li's thoughts better than her. Pleading for him was less effective than ignoring him; perhaps there was still room for maneuver.

"So, according to Minister Luo's opinion, I should punish Minister Duanmu?"

His ambiguous smile made it impossible to discern his thoughts, and Minister Luo could only lower his head in bewilderment: "This humble subject dares not, but General Duanmu made a pledge before this expedition, promising to atone with his life if he fails to return victorious! Moreover, he killed the Third Prince! The previous defeat cost the First Prince his life, and this time he has also lost the Third Prince. Even if he had made great contributions before, Your Majesty cannot forgive him! Even if Your Majesty forgives him, the people of the world will not forgive him!" As he spoke, he became agitated again, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, as if Duanmu Yun had some deep-seated hatred for him.

Emperor Xuli raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. He pulled Mingruo down to sit, casually picking up a slice of pear and placing it in her mouth. His gaze shifted to Duanmu Yun: "Minister Duanmu, do you have anything to say?"

Duanmu Yun stared intently at Mingruo, then said in a deep voice, "...This humble general confesses."

Mingruo's hands clenched into fists. She stiffly opened her mouth and took a bite of the pear Emperor Xuli had offered. It was sweet and juicy, but her heart felt only bitterness.

"Oh?" Emperor Xuli raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So, Minister Duanmu has no words to exonerate yourself?"

Duanmu Yun nodded, but Mingruo grabbed Emperor Xuli's wrist: "Your Majesty!...This humble servant has something to say."

He put down the pear, then picked up a bright red plum, took a bite, and then, using the marks from his teeth, brought it to Mingruo's lips. Seeing her obediently nibbling, he said, "My beloved consort, please speak freely."

He called her his beloved consort... which meant he was truly unhappy. She called him Your Majesty and referred to herself as her concubine, so he played along. Mingruo nervously swallowed, about to speak, when Emperor Xuli's fingers had already touched her lips, wiping away the bright red juice. She obediently tilted her head back, and only after he had wiped her clean did she stammer, "General Duanmu... General Duanmu killed the Third Prince by mistake while trying to save me. Your Majesty, you know the Third Prince is a womanizer. General Duanmu killed him... it was truly out of necessity. I beg you—I beg Your Majesty—to show leniency." Her small hand climbed onto Emperor Xuli's wrist, and Mingruo looked up at him with her eyes like autumn water. "Although General Duanmu committed a serious crime, considering his past military achievements, he truly doesn't deserve to die. Besides... besides, our child is about to be born. It wouldn't be good for him to see blood before he's born."

After speaking, she looked at Emperor Xuli anxiously. He was expressionless, but he held absolute power. After a long while, he pulled her onto his lap and said calmly, "The little prince is about to be born. As my beloved consort says, so be it. Guards!"

"Yes, sir." "

Throw Duanmu Yun into the imperial prison, imprison him for life..." He trailed off, his voice cold and ruthless. "He shall not be allowed to come out."

Each word struck Mingruo's heart like a blow. Life is nothing more than the pursuit of wealth, glory, fame, and fortune. In death, one takes nothing with them. But if one can avoid death, of course, it's best to remain alive. With life, there is still hope. She held back the tears welling in her eyes, afraid to utter a sound, burying her head in Emperor Xuli's chest, her hands tightly gripping his robes. She dared not speak, dared not cry, and dared not even glance at Duanmu Yun.

Her father had granted her request, but who knew what might happen in the future? She could only keep her distance from Duanmu Yun; this was the only way to save him.

She listened to the guards' footsteps grow closer and then further away, until they were no longer audible.

A slender finger lifted her chin, and Emperor Xu Li looked into her eyes, somewhat surprised: "Ruo'er didn't cry?" Undeniably, he was delighted.

Ming Ruo was forced to look at him, her heart aching terribly, yet he was still teasing her. She endured it for a long time, but finally couldn't hold back any longer. She opened her small mouth, her snow-white teeth biting Emperor Xu Li's wrist hard, until she tasted the metallic tang of blood. Emperor Xu Li didn't speak, letting her bite, but the smile in his eyes deepened. When Ming Ruo had bitten enough and looked up, he was about to speak when the little one pushed him away and, leaning against the edge of the stone table, vomited violently.

Emperor Xu Li was heartbroken and quickly fetched tea for her to rinse her mouth. Ming Ruo used his hand to wash away the stench from her mouth, looking at him with disgust. Emperor Xu Li naturally understood the meaning behind her gaze and could only sigh, "Blood is inherently foul-smelling; it's normal for you to feel nauseous." *

Then why did you bite me!* Mingruo glared at him resentfully, but after a long while, her heart softened. Seeing the blood flowing from his wrist, she cupped her small hands around it, biting her lip, "...I'm sorry."

"Compared to you pleading for him, compared to you not crying, this little injury is nothing." He kissed her cheek, not caring much about his wound, and casually wiped it with a silk handkerchief presented by a palace maid. "Ruo'er hasn't disappointed Father Emperor."

Mingruo was stunned for a moment, seeing that he had tied the handkerchief messily, she quickly took it. Her teeth were small, and although there was blood, the wound wasn't actually that big. Emperor Xuli smiled and let Mingruo clean his wound, feeling that it was well worth the pleasure he felt from such a small bite. No matter what Duanmu Yun's position was in her heart now, it was no longer important. As long as he was a little more

careful , everything would be under his control. "What disappointment? Ruo'er doesn't understand."

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand." He kissed her again, ignoring her protests, and lowered his sleeve, not caring at all about his wound. His large hand hooked around her slender waist. "Come on, let's go to the Emperor's study."

"Huh?" Mingruo was being led by him, her emotions still not quite processed. Her big eyes widened, looking incredibly cute. "What...what are we going to the Imperial Study for?"

"If we don't go to the Imperial Study, are we going back to the palace?"

Mingruo blinked, considering it carefully, and finally decided, "Then let's go to the Imperial Study."

Chapter 171, The Unbearable Truth (Part 1)

Two months later:

Since the day Duanmu Yun was thrown into the Imperial Prison, Emperor Xuli seemed to have forgotten about it. For two whole months, he didn't mention it to Mingruo. Since he didn't mention it, she naturally didn't dare to ask. But it would be a lie to say she wasn't worried, but how could she dare to speak if Emperor Xuli didn't speak?

Mingruo wasn't stupid; she knew how serious Duanmu Yun's crimes were. Two consecutive defeats, the loss of nearly a million soldiers' lives, the tragic death of his eldest brother, and now he had killed his third brother... No matter what, even if Emperor Xuli spared him, it would be difficult to stop the gossip of the world.

Mingruo placed the embroidered socks in the basket, rested her chin on her hand, and looked out the window. Perhaps because of the tense situation caused by Duanmu Yun's defeat, Emperor Xuli had been extremely busy these past few days, so busy that he had barely had time to eat. Mingruo felt strange. Although the situation was indeed not good, cleaning up the mess should have been easy for Emperor Xuli, so why was he still so busy?

She ate alone, but had no appetite. She worried about Duanmu Yun, thought about Emperor Xuli, and had to be careful not to be too depressed, lest it hurt the child.

Mingruo rested her hands on the table, lost in thought. The embroidery thread and fabric in the basket were neatly arranged, but in all that time, she had only embroidered one small sock.

Looking back at the bed, Mingruo yawned slightly. Feeling tired, she got up and walked towards the dragon bed, intending to take a nap before Emperor Xuli returned. But just as she sat down on the edge of the bed, a clear sound came from the beaded curtain: "Madam."

That voice was… Mingruo turned her head sharply: "…Hai Lian?"

"Madam still remembers Hai Lian." A woman dressed in a light pink palace maid's dress stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Mingruo, then raised her head and smiled, but the smile was incredibly bitter: "Hai Lian has dared to come today, still wishing to ask Madam for a favor." Mingruo stared

at her blankly for a long time, then lowered her head and turned her face away: "I'm sorry, I cannot agree."

"Madam won't even listen to Hai Lian say a word?!"

"It's not a matter of whether I agree or not, but…" Mingruo took a soft breath. "But even if I went to see him, it would be of no use. My visit would only fuel the Emperor's anger, and his life would only become more difficult." Not seeing him was the best protection. Mingruo understood this perfectly. Besides… what identity would she have to see him now?

Imperial concubine, wife, or old friend?

"Madam!" Hailian shook her head, tears slowly welling in her eyes. "Even if Madam doesn't go, the General won't live much longer." Seeing the fleeting panic in Mingruo's eyes, she smiled bitterly, "After the General was imprisoned, everyone dispersed. Because the General had already sensed something before returning to the capital, he had ordered us subordinates to leave and forced us to swear an oath not to do anything foolish for him. At that time, Hailian was spies at the front, so she didn't swear an oath, and naturally, it doesn't count as a breach of it. If he hadn't been driven to desperation, the General wouldn't have said such a thing! Madam…" She looked at Mingruo, her expression somewhat dazed. “The general is destined to lose his life. Whether you go to see him or not, you can’t save him again.” If the lady pleads, the emperor will only be more furious; if she doesn’t, the general’s crimes are enough to warrant the confiscation of his property and execution. “The general has lived a lonely life, without any relatives. The lady is the love of his heart. If even the lady is unwilling to see him one last time before he dies… the general will not be able to rest in peace even in death—”

“Shut up!” Mingruo suddenly stood up, her purple eyes as cold as ice, staring at Hailian. “He’s not dead yet!”

Hailian burst into tears and knelt down in front of Mingruo: “He’s not dead yet, but he’ll be soon… the general has already lost an arm! The emperor said he would imprison him for life, that he wouldn’t kill him, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be tortured! Madam, Madam—” She crawled over on her knees and grabbed Mingruo’s skirt. "Hai Lian, please, please go see him, just once! The Emperor dotes on you so much, he'll definitely let you go! The General is dying, the General is dying—"

She cried hoarsely, her voice filled with utter despair. Ming Ruo's lips trembled, her hands clenched into fists, and she uttered broken sentences: "...What did you just say?" Who did she say had lost an arm? Who?! Still relying on his hands? How could that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's lower body, molded to a highly realistic shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, for a more realistic experience... well-proportioned and irresistible! Click to enter

"General, the general had his arm cut off by the emperor on the third day of his imprisonment, saying that he was to punish him for his poor leadership and for causing the death of the eldest prince on the battlefield." Hai Lian prostrated on the ground, crying bitterly: "Injustice! Such a huge crime! If the eldest prince hadn't found military life too boring and agonizing, and hadn't secretly slipped out of the camp to abduct women in a border town, how could he have attracted the attention of Jiang Kingdom's spies?! The general repeatedly tried to dissuade him, but the eldest prince refused to listen at all! This led to his death, and even cost the lives of many soldiers!"

Even if Ming Ruo was stupid, she could tell that something was wrong: "Last time, the eldest prince was not the commander-in-chief."

"Although he wasn't the commander-in-chief, he abused the general's status as a prince, frequently insulting him. The general was magnanimous and didn't hold it against him, so he tried every means to sabotage the general's cause. He was the one who sold the general's maps and tactics to the Jiang Kingdom!"

Mingruo gasped.

"The Emperor knows... he knows all these things!" Hailian cried even harder, her face deathly pale, her eyes swollen and red. Mingruo stared at her blankly, feeling as if her heart was being torn to pieces by her words, filled with unbearable pain and torment. "The day the lady returned to the palace with the Emperor, the general had a premonition. During the first campaign, the eldest prince was the Emperor's pawn planted in the army! He effortlessly used the eldest prince to destroy our army and harm the general! The second time... lady, do you know? This time, we didn't see any of the grain transported by the court!" Grain was a military supply, even more important than weapons! And what was the result? Not only did they fail to find any supplies, but countless urgent memorials also vanished without a trace!

Without supplies, how could the soldiers fight?! Such a simple question, everyone understood.

Yet Mingruo simply couldn't believe that Emperor Xuli would needlessly sacrifice nearly a million soldiers' lives just to kill Duanmu Yun, and all because of her—what had she done to deserve this?!

Seeing Mingruo's disbelief, Hailian bit her lip and said, "Madam, whether you believe it or not, Hailian has never told a lie from beginning to end. The general was defeated, the eldest prince died tragically, and everything was under the Emperor's control. Although the Emperor dotes on you, he is still the Emperor. No matter how clever and shrewd you are, you cannot fathom his true nature. Hailian risked her life to enter the palace today to beg you to see the general, and she was prepared to die. You are confined in this deep palace every day, so naturally you do not know what has happened outside. Hailian has said all she has to say. Please have mercy and go see the general one last time!" After saying this, she rushed towards a pillar. Mingruo cried out in alarm and reached out to grab her, but her hand brushed against the hem of Hailian's clothes. Not only did she fail to stop Hailian, but she also accidentally trampled on it.

Chapter 172, The Unbearable Truth (Part 2)

Fortunately, a pair of strong hands pulled her into their arms. Mingruo gasped for breath, only realizing how terrified she was that she hadn't fallen. What if she had just fallen… Her small hand touched her round belly, and her eyes turned to the person holding her.

Emperor Xuli's eyes held no amusement. With a flick of his sleeve, he swept Hailian, who was still about an inch from the pillar, away and slammed her to the ground. His thin lips curved into a half-smile: "Seeking death isn't impossible, but if you frighten my beloved concubine or soil my palace, that won't do." He then pulled Mingruo down to sit on his lap. Mingruo instinctively tried to struggle, but she couldn't break free. She could only sit stiffly on his lap, watching him ask with a faint smile, "What? Weren't you so magnanimous just now? Why are you silent now? Did a cat bite your tongue off?" His slender fingers entwined Mingruo's loose hair, exuding tenderness, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He had miscalculated; he had forgotten about this minor character. But this insignificant character ruined his grand plan, rendering all his previous concealment futile!

"Hai Lian dares not." She staggered to her feet, too ashamed to rise, remaining prostrate on the ground in a subservient manner. "Hai Lian only begs Your Majesty to have mercy and allow the Lady to see the General. He's about to die anyway, he poses no threat to Your Majesty—"

A resounding slap followed, leaving a deep red mark on the woman's fair cheek, a testament to the force of the blow. Ming Ruo gasped, but it was too late to stop her: "Fu An!"

"Your Majesty." Eunuch An bowed, his eyes icy as he glanced at Hai Lian. "This servant has overstepped his bounds, but a servant like her must be properly disciplined." Daring to address Your Majesty as "Lady" in front of the Emperor, and even begging Your Majesty to see another man—was this girl simply too audacious, or did she lack any common sense? Who was Emperor Xu Li? Was he someone so easily dealt with? Even I, an old servant who watched him grow up, wouldn't dare say I know Emperor Xuli very well. How dare she, a mere servant, speak to the Emperor like that?!

Mingruo gritted her teeth, knowing that Eunuch An was acting in Hai Lian's best interest. He had struck first, and perhaps the Emperor could turn a blind eye to Hai Lian's rudeness. But if Eunuch An hadn't intervened, Hai Lian would likely be dead by now!

"Fu'an, take this servant out of here." Their intentions couldn't escape Emperor Xuli's notice. But he said nothing, simply turning his eyes away. "Don't defile my Panlong Palace."

"Yes." Eunuch An lifted the trembling Hai Lian from the ground with one hand, sighing inwardly. "If only he had known this earlier, why have he been so quick to speak?"

After Eunuch An took Hai Lian out, the palace was eerily quiet. Mingruo sat on Emperor Xuli's lap, her heart filled with bitterness and sorrow. She wanted to speak, but didn't know where to begin. She couldn't bear the ugly truth. Emperor Xuli was right in front of her, silent, seemingly waiting for her to ask, but Mingruo couldn't utter a single word.

She was certain to lose if she tried to outlast him. A long, long time passed, and Emperor Xu Li showed no sign of speaking first. Ming Ruo sat stiffly in his lap, softly asking, "Can I see him?"

He held her tighter, refusing, "No."

"I won't run away again, and I won't go with him. Let me see him." Ming Ruo obediently nestled into his arms, her cheek pressed against Emperor Xu Li's chest, her heart aching terribly. She couldn't imagine what that man would look like without an arm. In her heart, he was so upright and omnipotent. But what would he be like without an arm? Would he still be Duanmu Yun? "Let me see him..." She closed her eyes, her eyes stinging, but she stubbornly refused to cry. Emperor Xu Li's hand covered her back, soothing her like a kitten: "Ruo'er, don't say these things. You know I won't let you see him."

"Is what Hai Lian said true?" She pressed against his chest, her voice soft, weak, almost a whisper. "Did you really do those things?"

"Yes." A gentle hand touched her face, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Don't cry."

"Is it worth sacrificing the lives of a million soldiers and two imperial brothers for Mingruo?" Mingruo gently rubbed against his cold hand. "When my third brother made a move on me, did Father know? Duanmu Yun saved me and killed my third brother. It was all within Father's expectations, wasn't it?" Even she had become his pawn, a pawn in order to completely eliminate Duanmu Yun.

Emperor Xuli was silent for a while, then hummed in agreement: "I won't comfort you, Ruo'er. I won't lie to you. Whether it's Duanmu Yun or those princes, they are all destined to die."

"I don't understand!" Mingruo suddenly sat up from his embrace, her hands braced against his chest, her eyes filled with disbelief and pain: "Haven't I been obediently staying by Father's side? Haven't I stopped thinking about anything else? Why did Father still kill people? Why?!" She really didn't understand what he was thinking! She had already sworn an oath to him, never to leave him in this lifetime, what more could he want?! "Father, tell me, what exactly do you want?" Emperor

Xuli looked at her tears, gently wiping away the glistening teardrops on her cheeks with his fingers: "Our child is about to be born, and I will remove anything that might become an obstacle to him." His so-called princes and princesses were the top priority. If he had known earlier that he would have such a beloved child, that he would truly desire one, he would have suppressed his desires sooner, and he would not have allowed certain concubines to become pregnant. He didn't care about offspring, and blood ties were worthless to him, but when his own child was about to be born, he only wanted to offer everything good, and as for anything that might hinder the child—he would remove it all, regardless of whether it was reasonable or not. As for Duanmu Yun, he had harbored the intention to kill him from the very beginning. As long as Duanmu Yun existed, he would worry every day. Rather than being sleepless day and night, it was better to decisively eradicate the root of the problem.

His plan was flawless; if he wanted, he could keep it a secret from her for a lifetime without her noticing. But no, he wanted her to willingly spend her life with him even knowing he had killed Duanmu Yun. Otherwise, how could a mere rotten apple so easily infiltrate the palace?

Just for the child… so he could even kill his own flesh and blood?! Mingruo covered her ears, refusing to listen any longer. She had long known he was cold-blooded and heartless, but she never imagined he would go to such lengths! “I don’t understand…”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand, you don’t need to understand these things.” His large hand lifted her chin and kissed her. Mingruo stared blankly as he kissed her, her whole body stiffening to the extreme. “Ruo’er just needs to stay obediently by Father’s side.”

“…Can I see him one last time?”

Chapter 173, The Unbearable Truth (Part 2)

“You know it’s impossible.” He picked her up, took off her embroidered shoes, and then put her small feet under the covers, his tone still as gentle as ever. "Rest for a while, we'll go for a walk when you wake up." His large hand stroked her small face, filled with tenderness.

"I want to see Duanmu Yun!" Mingruo grabbed his hand and whispered. Emperor Xuli seemed not to hear her, only kissing her hairline before pulling her down to lie in his arms, his cool, thin lips gently sucking on hers: "I won't see him, Ruo'er, be good."

"I want to see him!" Mingruo's face changed with anger. She didn't know how to face Duanmu Yun, but she still wanted to see him, even if it was just once.

She couldn't blame her father, nor could she blame Duanmu Yun. All these things happened because of her! It was all because of her, all because of her! "Father, please let me see him, just once..." Mingruo pressed her hands against Emperor Xuli's chest, getting very close to him, their cheeks touching, their breaths melting into the air, an indescribable taste, only a sweetness mixed with mostly bitterness. "Father... I don't understand, why is this happening? Haven't I been obediently staying by your side? Why won't you let Duanmu Yun go? Ruo'er won't go with him, and I won't think about him anymore, why won't you let go?"

Emperor Xuli looked at her quietly, without answering, only tightening his grip on her arms. Mingruo received no response from him, her mind filled with Hai Lian's words. If everything Hai Lian said was true, then what else had her father done behind her back? If he didn't want anyone to know what he wanted to do, how could it possibly get out? Unless... even Hai Lian's infiltration of the palace today was at his behest!

Just how dangerous and cold-blooded was this man?

Mingruo felt breathless, and could only use turning over to hide the turmoil in her heart. She clenched her fists, her small face filled with sorrow. Heaven have mercy, she had already accepted her fate, intending to stay by her father's side for the rest of her life, and not think of anything else. She truly wanted to stay with him, respect him, and love him, but why wouldn't he just stop here? Why did he have to make things so complicated when it could have been so simple? And—had he even disregarded the pain, anger, and even hatred she might feel for him?! He kept saying he loved her, yet he always hurt her, always took away the people and things she cared about… Why? She didn't understand, she really didn't understand! Was

it because he loved her that he did all these things?

Suddenly, he forcefully turned her body around, and Mingruo stared blankly at Emperor Xuli, her eyes filled with crystal-clear tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. Emperor Xuli stepped forward and kissed her eyes, sucking all the tears away, and said softly, "It has nothing to do with you, it's Father's possessiveness that's causing this." He just wanted to possess all of her and destroy everything she loved.

To make her world consist only of him.

It was obsessive, insane, unbelievable, and he knew it himself. But what else could he do? He only became like this after falling in love with her, only then did he realize that he could be so reckless for a woman.

Everything he did had nothing to do with her. If he had to go to hell after death for the sins of this life, he would only wish to be alone. Ming Xuanzhen had lived for nearly fifty years, never fearing the opinions of the world, and scoffing at talk of ghosts and gods. But she was afraid, so he was willing to go to hell himself, to the eighteenth or twenty-eighth level, he didn't care, he only wished that in his lifetime, Mingruo belonged completely to him, only to him. No one else, whether it was Duanmu Yun or Consort Huai, could take her away.

Mingruo closed her eyes with tears in her eyes, refusing to respond to him. Emperor Xuli was not angry, he just held her, coaxed and kissed her until Mingruo fell into a deep sleep.

After that day, Mingruo developed a high fever, became delirious, and mumbled incessantly all day long. The Imperial Hospital was heartbroken, but they just couldn't understand why the Empress's high fever wouldn't subside, and even a moment of lucidity became a luxury. Faced with Emperor Xuli's fury, they could only reply that she had caught a cold and was pregnant, and that the Empress was already very weak. This did nothing to appease Emperor Xuli. As long as Mingruo remained unconscious, he stayed by her side day and night, even skipping court sessions, guarding her without leaving her side for a moment. Only after ten days, when Mingruo's high fever subsided and her condition improved, did he dare to glance at the memorials—even then, he read them leaning against her bedside.

A gentle breeze blew, and to prevent Mingruo from catching a chill, the windows of Panlong Palace were not allowed to be opened, only occasionally for a short while to let in some fresh air. So sometimes the beaded curtains would rustle softly, a clear and pleasant sound. Mingruo lay there, trying hard to open her eyes, but all she could see was white. She

couldn't see anything.

She vaguely recalled everything that had happened before; after crying herself to sleep in Emperor Xuli's arms, she seemed to have no memory of anything else. Prying open her heavy eyelids, Mingruo looked at the bright yellow gauze curtains above her head, feeling a heavy pain in her head.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, you're awake?!" Eunuch An, placing the basin on the shelf, glanced at Mingruo and, seeing she had opened her eyes, excitedly rushed to her side. He gently helped her sit up, placed a pillow behind her back, and draped a robe over her. "You're finally awake! If you hadn't, His Majesty would have been worried sick!"

Mingruo coughed lightly, and he quickly poured honey water from the table: "Your Majesty, soothe your throat."

After drinking a few sips, she felt a little better. Mingruo propped herself up on the bed, her face tired and pale: "Where is Father?"

"The Minister of War requests an audience, but His Majesty, fearing to disturb Your Majesty, summoned him from the Imperial Study." Eunuch An took the cup from Mingruo's hand. "Is Your Majesty hungry?"

Mingruo shook her head, not intending to speak, and simply closed her eyes again. She thought Eunuch An would leave soon, but after a long time, she didn't hear his footsteps, so she opened her eyes again.

Eunuch An stood by the bedside, a rare look of unease on his face. Mingruo looked at him in surprise: "Does Eunuch have something to say to me?"

"Your Majesty... this servant's words are presumptuous, even rebellious, but indeed, this servant has two things to say to Your Majesty."

"Please speak, Eunuch." She couldn't help but cough again, covering her mouth with her small hand to suppress it, and only stopped after a while.

"The first matter concerns His Majesty. This servant knows that Your Majesty harbors many grievances against His Majesty, but this servant still dares to humbly hope that Your Majesty can understand him. He is the master of this land, accustomed to being cold-hearted and indifferent. This is the first time he has encountered a woman like Your Majesty who can touch his heart, so naturally he wants more, which is different from normal men. Moreover... he truly loves Your Majesty. No matter what he has done, good or bad, his starting point is always for Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty not to torment His Majesty any longer. He is already middle-aged, and it is rare for him to have a few happy days in his life. If Your Majesty feels sorry for His Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to be kinder to him." His gaze fell on Mingruo's protruding belly. "His Majesty, because Your Majesty said there was too much infighting in the harem and the child couldn't survive, married off the princess and killed two princes, leaving only the child in Your Majesty's womb. Once the little prince is born, there will naturally be no obstacles in his path. Your Majesty, I've said so much only hoping you can understand that His Majesty doesn't say nice things, and his temperament isn't particularly gentle or considerate, but he values Your Majesty far more than he values himself."

Mingruo pursed her lips and lowered her head: "...I understand, thank you for your guidance, Eunuch."

"I'm just stating what's on my mind, not trying to force Your Majesty to do anything." Eunuch An shook his head. "There's one more thing, please ask Your Majesty to allow you to see General Duanmu."

Chapter 174, The Birth of the Little Prince (Part 1)

"...He won't let me see him." Mingruo lowered her head, hiding the tears that were faintly glistening in her eyes. Who could know Emperor Xuli's character better than her? If he said he wouldn't allow her to see him, then he wouldn't allow her to see him, no matter how much she threw a tantrum. "Your Excellency has mistaken me for someone else."

"Your Highness, only you can save General Duanmu."

Hearing Eunuch An's serious tone, Mingruo chuckled lightly without a hint of a smile: "Was Eunuch sent by Father Emperor to test me again? Or is it to make me see Duanmu Yun so that you can inform on him to Father Emperor again, causing Duanmu Yun to die even more tragically?" Having learned her lesson, she wasn't a fool; she knew who Eunuch An truly served.

"Your Highness, you have misunderstood this servant." Eunuch An stepped forward and offered her another cup of honey water. “As long as Your Majesty isn’t heartbroken, this servant has no other thoughts. Although this servant is just a servant, I know that General Duanmu is a pillar of the state, and Your Majesty had no choice but to do this to him. If Your Highness could open your heart to Your Majesty, perhaps General Duanmu wouldn’t have ended up like this. This servant isn’t unreasonable; I know how difficult it is to get Your Highness to abandon deeply ingrained ethical and moral principles, but now that you and Your Majesty even have a child, what can’t you solve together?” He took out a letter from his pocket. “This servant is loyal to Your Majesty and Your Highness, but I don’t want to see the General die like this. This is the information I obtained from those outside; please take a look, Your Highness.”

Mingruo stretched out her trembling hand, unfolded the letter, and quickly glanced through it, her heart beating faster than anyone else’s: “This is…”

“This servant has already discussed it with those outside; we will rescue the General in the next few days.” Eunuch An carefully took back the letter and burned it with a tinderbox. "Actually, since the General was thrown into the imperial prison, many people have come to rescue him, but the General refused to leave no matter what. This servant thinks... he's worried about Her Majesty, that's why he won't leave, preferring death to escape." Because no one knew better than Duanmu Yun what the dire consequences would be for a convict escaping from the imperial prison. He would be a wanted criminal for life, and then there would be no possibility of ever seeing Mingruo again.

"He... doesn't want to leave?" Mingruo murmured, her hands clenched into fists under the covers.

Eunuch An said, "Now the only one who can persuade the General is Her Majesty. If Her Majesty still has any affection for the General, please find a way to see him. Previously, this servant and others pretended to have Her Majesty's message for the General to escape, but without seeing Her Majesty, the General still doesn't believe it."

Duanmu Yun, Duanmu Yun, what am I worth? Why do you have to do this?!

Mingruo closed her eyes, and before her seemed to float scenes from long, long ago: their first meeting, their wedding night, their harmonious love... and the vows they made. But now, she could no longer keep them: "I understand, I'll try. You may leave now."

"This servant takes his leave." Placing the porcelain cup on the table, Eunuch An bowed and withdrew from Panlong Palace.

After he left, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mingruo leaned against the headboard, her small hand stroking her round belly, and sighed softly, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Ruo'er is awake?" Just as she was about to drift off to sleep again, Emperor Xuli's gentle voice sounded in her ear. Mingruo instinctively reached out and grasped a warm, slender hand. "...Father?"

"It's good you're awake." He gently stroked Mingruo's cheek with his other hand, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Father almost died of heartbreak because of you." She was truly ruthless, falling into a coma for ten whole days without showing any mercy.

Her little hand clung to his, refusing to let go: "Father...can't you really let me see Duanmu Yun?"

Emperor Xuli remained calm and resolute in his answer to Mingruo's request: "No." Seeing that Mingruo wanted to say something more, he stroked her little face. "Your other two elder sisters are getting married in the next few days. We'll discuss it again after these matters are settled."

Hearing this, Mingruo was quite surprised. Her eldest sister had only recently married into the Wuhuan tribe, and her father was already planning to marry off her other two sisters so soon? "May I ask, Father, what are the identities of the two consorts...?"

"They are both sons of important officials in the court; they are more than suitable for them." Emperor Xuli answered calmly, without saying anything more. Mingruo didn't ask further; these matters were unimportant, and she didn't care much.

She looked at Emperor Xuli, who was carefully helping her put on her outer robe, fastening each button one by one. Mingruo was anxious, but all her requests were rejected by Emperor Xuli. Helpless, she could only obediently stretch out her arms and legs, letting him help her dress, and then he led her off the bed. She

was still being held on Emperor Xuli's lap for her meal, something Mingruo was already used to. She subconsciously opened her mouth and ate the food Emperor Xuli placed at her lips, her heart filled with anxiety and pain, not knowing what to do. Although her father doted on her, he had always kept her away from Duanmu Yun; he would never allow her to see him. Going secretly was impossible; he must have already given orders forbidding her from approaching the prison. Besides, she was currently under her father's watchful eye; what she did would be seen through immediately.

Mingruo was extremely anxious. Just thinking about Duanmu Yun suffering in prison with a missing arm caused her heart to ache. She truly didn't deserve Duanmu Yun's devotion to her. Fine, she would let him leave this time, severing their fate in this life. She only wished that they would never meet again in this lifetime.

He would be his wandering swordsman, punishing the wicked and upholding justice; she would be her heartless concubine, imprisoned here, never to be connected again, never to yearn for a meeting.

Thinking this, her stomach suddenly ached. Mingruo had no mind to think of anything else, let alone eat the food Emperor Xuli offered her. She let out a soft sob, clutching her stomach and groaning. Emperor

Xuli was startled, his face turning pale. His first reaction was to call the imperial physician, then he hurriedly held her and rocked her back and forth: "Ruo'er, Ruo'er, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt..."

Hearing his words, like soothing a child, Mingruo found herself wanting to laugh. In this environment, in this state of mind, she actually had the strength to laugh. Her small hand caressed her stomach, feeling strong kicks inside. Her mind drifted, and she realized she was already ten months pregnant, and it was time to give birth. The imperial physician had said it might be a little later, so they hadn't paid much attention. Unexpectedly, the little one seemed restless and wanted to arrive in this world sooner.

Emperor Xuli felt his legs quickly become soaked with warm water. He panicked, unsure what to do. Looking closely, he could see his hands were trembling slightly. Mingruo held his fingers, softly calling, "Father..."

"Father is here, Father is here! Ruo'er is good, Ruo'er isn't in pain..." Trembling, Emperor Xuli wiped the sweat from Mingruo's forehead. He noticed something was wrong with her expression; she was noticeably paler. He was so frightened he didn't even notice the imperial physicians entering.

Thanks to Eunuch An's help, Mingruo was finally placed on the bed. Emperor Xuli had no mind to threaten the physicians to cure Mingruo. He was trembling violently, realizing for the first time in his life that he could be afraid.

He shouldn't be so afraid; no one had said the ending would be bad, had they? But the words the imperial physicians had spoken earlier began to resurface in his mind: the Empress's weak constitution, the potential for a difficult delivery, the possibility of her not surviving… His fists clenched tightly. Seeing Emperor Xuli in such a state, the imperial physicians dared not ask him to leave, and could only try their best to suppress their trembling hands and feet as they prepared to welcome the arrival of the little prince.

Mingruo quickly became too weak to continue in the pain. She barely cried out, not because she wasn't in pain, but because the pain was so intense that even crying out was a luxury. Her consciousness began to drift in and out of control, her eyes fixed on the bright yellow gauze curtains, calling out to Emperor Xuli: "Your Majesty…"

Even in this moment, she still remembered to address him as Your Majesty. Emperor Xuli felt a pang of sorrow, holding her small hand, tears welling in his eyes.

"Let… let me see Duanmu Yun one last time…" she whispered weakly in his ear, her breathing labored, as if she were about to pass away at any moment. "Let me see him..."

"Ruo'er, be good. After you give birth, then you can see him, okay?" He kissed her little hand.

"No, no..." Mingruo blinked, her eyelids heavy. "Your Majesty, I might not survive... I'm in so much pain... Please let him come to see me, let him come to see me..." It hurt so much; she had never felt such pain in her life. "And Mother and Granny Duan... Your Majesty... please let them come to see me..."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Emperor Xuli roared. "Ruo'er will live to be a hundred; she can't die before me! Be good. If you die, they won't live either. Your father will make the whole world pay for your death! Be good, Ruo'er, don't speak, don't speak, okay?" In the end, his tone was practically pleading. "If you die, then your father doesn't want to live either." He would search the heavens and the underworld for her, but he wouldn't let her go.

The affairs of the underworld are truly uncertain; who would remember whom then?

Mingruo blinked her eyes dazedly, "If I can't die, it's always better to be alive... Ruo'er can't bear to leave the Emperor..."

"If you really can't bear to leave, then live well and stay with me." He kissed her hand repeatedly, looking at her pale face, his heart felt like it was being crushed into a thousand pieces.

"Let me... let me see Duanmu Yun one last time..." Her small hand clenched weakly. "Just one last time... even if Ruo'er dies, she won't go with him, she'll stay by the Emperor's side... so, let me see him one last time..."

Emperor Xuli closed his eyes, "Fu'an."

"This servant will go right away." Eunuch An gave Mingruo a deep look, then turned and ran off.

"Remember your words, Ruo'er, even if you die, you won't go with Duanmu Yun." He stroked her soft, cloud-like hair. "Whether in life or death, my soul will follow Father, I won't go anywhere."

"...Okay, Ruo'er will follow the Emperor, I won't go anywhere..." Her breathing became shallow, the imperial physicians were extremely busy, hot water and wet towels were prepared, but no one knew whether Mingruo could pull through.

Even if it meant death, she had to give birth to the child. The child was so young; how could she bear to let him die without ever seeing the world? And… how could she leave her father alone in the world, lonely and desolate? “Your Majesty, Your Majesty…” Mingruo closed her eyes, then forced them open again, “I’m so tired… Your Majesty, if Ruo’er really dies… you must raise our child, don’t leave him alone in the world, without a father or mother…”

Emperor Xuli didn’t respond, only comforting her: “It will be alright, Ruo’er will be alright.”

He repeated this sentence over and over until Eunuch An brought Duanmu Yun in.

Chapter 175, The Birth of the Little Prince (Part 2)

Once the closest of husband and wife, now a high-ranking imperial concubine and a prisoner, Duanmu Yun remained silent, Mingruo remained silent, but both harbored their own thoughts.

Emperor Xuli sat on the edge of the bed. Duanmu Yun, dressed in a dirty white prison uniform, his black hair disheveled, only his dark eyes still shone brightly, as if no hardship could extinguish them. His left hand was clenched into a fist, while his right sleeve hung empty. Upon seeing Emperor Xuli, he did not bow or kneel, but simply uttered, "Your Majesty," and said nothing more.

Emperor Xuli had no mind to pay him any attention, but held Mingruo's hand tightly, refusing to let go, and repeatedly whispered in her ear, "Duanmu Yun has come. You mustn't fall asleep like this, or countless people will be buried with you."

Mingruo forced a pale smile, finding it utterly unbelievable even to herself. The child's arrival had been terribly ill-timed, giving her no time to even catch her breath and think. She grasped one of Emperor Xuli's fingers and softly said, "Father, please go out first... may I speak with Duanmu Yun for a while?" Her purple eyes glistened with tears, as if pleading.

He was naturally unwilling, but at this moment, he wanted to grant her wish even more. So Emperor Xuli rose, gently kissed Mingruo's forehead, flicked his sleeves, and left. Before leaving, he didn't forget to say, "I'll only give you half a quarter of an hour."

Of course, these words weren't directed at Mingruo. Duanmu Yun watched Emperor Xuli leave and slowly walked forward. His feet were shackled with heavy chains, the rustling sound of his footsteps echoing incessantly.

Mingruo opened her eyes, asking wearily, "...How did you become like this?"

"It's alright, I won't die." He answered gently as always, his only remaining hand slowly stroking Mingruo's face, saying, "You've also become quite haggard." "

Being confined in the deep palace, it's inevitable to feel a little desolate." Mingruo closed her eyes, the pain in her lower body intensifying, causing her to lose consciousness and nearly faint. "Yunlang..."

That one word, "Yunlang," brought back countless painful memories. Duanmu Yun suddenly lowered his head, tears faintly visible at the corners of his eyes. Who could have imagined? The once loving couple would come to this. "I'm here."

"You..." Mingruo tried to open her eyes wide, trying to shake off the overwhelming sleepiness, "Go...go far away, and never come back..." Her starry eyes turned to the eunuch An who was attending her. “Go with Eunuch An and those who came to save you… Don’t ever come to see me again in this life…” If she had another ten or twenty years to live, she truly didn’t want to see him again.

“Even in death, I wish to die by your side.” Duanmu Yun lowered his face, rubbing against Mingruo. He was an extremely upright man, and seeing his beloved so weak and feeble, how could he not be heartbroken? “We were not destined to be husband and wife in this life, I only wish to meet again in the underworld after death.”

Mingruo smiled, she wanted to shake her head, but she didn’t have the strength: “So many people in this world want to live, but you want to die. If one can live, it is naturally better than death. Go with Eunuch An, don’t worry about me anymore in this life… I will repay all your kindness in the next life…” Her small hand trembled as she raised it, brushed Duanmu Yun’s face, and then grasped his empty right sleeve, her smile faint, she looked just like Emperor Xuli.

Duanmu Yun gripped her small hand tightly: "I won't leave."

Mingruo gasped for breath; the pain had intensified. Her speech, already fragmented, was now completely cut off. Her body felt like it was being torn apart, her pelvis feeling like it was being crushed by something, every bone in her body creaking and howling in protest, as if it would shatter into a million pieces at any moment. "Go, go..." She shook her head, and with a sudden burst of strength, pushed Duanmu Yun away. "Go!" If he didn't leave, she would have one more thing to hold onto in this world, and even in death, she would have no face to go to the underworld.

"General, don't you understand?" Eunuch An stepped forward and pulled Duanmu Yun away, preventing him from approaching Mingruo again.

"If you truly wish Her Majesty well, then listen to her and come out with this servant, instead of staying in the prison to await death with this guilty body!"

"Go, go..." Mingruo didn't want to look at him anymore, only waving her hands weakly and repeatedly, her face turned towards the bed, only a faint, desperate groan escaping from the pain of childbirth.

Duanmu Yun stood there blankly, his left fist clenched tighter and tighter, his nails digging deeply into his palm, but he felt no pain at all. Eunuch An led him out of the palace, brushing past Emperor Xuli. The man who had stolen his wife and broken his arm didn't even glance at him, as if he were as docile as a lamb, no longer capable of causing any ripples.

He silently followed Eunuch An out, only taking one last look at the corner.

Mingruo felt so much pain; in her eighteen years of life, she had never felt such pain. Her hands gripped the sheets tightly, twisting them violently. Emperor Xu Li sat beside her, wiping the sweat from her brow, his heart aching, yet unable to help. "Ruo'er, Ruo'er?" His long fingers brushed away the sweat-dampened hair from Ming Ruo's cheek, soothing her softly, "It's okay, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt—"

"It hurts—it hurts—" Her small hands trembled as she gripped his wrist. Ming Ruo's lips were as white as snow. She looked at Emperor Xu Li with a dazed expression, his face reflected in her eyes, but her pupils were unfocused, empty. "Father… Ruo'er is in so much pain… please don't give birth anymore? Ruo'er doesn't want the child…" It hurt so much, she felt like she was being torn in two. Why hadn't the child been born yet? Why?! How long would this pain last?

“Okay, we won’t have any more. Once the baby is born, we’ll just throw him away—”

“No!” The protective little beauty immediately widened her eyes: “No way!”

“Okay, okay, whatever Ruo’er says goes. Don’t talk, don’t talk, okay?” He kissed her little hand tenderly. “Ruo’er, be good…”

Ming Ruo was in so much pain that she bit her lower lip hard to keep herself from losing consciousness. When Emperor Xu Li saw that her lips were starting to bleed, he immediately reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to open her mouth. Then he put his hand to her lips. Ming Ruo was in so much pain that she lost consciousness and bit him. Blood quickly gushed from Emperor Xu Li’s hand. When Eunuch An saw this, he cried out in alarm and hurriedly took a cork from the imperial physician to put in Ming Ruo’s mouth. But she bit Emperor Xu Li and refused to let go, and she kept sobbing.

“Go away, no need.” Emperor Xu Li waved her away, seemingly not feeling any pain at all. The blood that flowed out was nothing compared to her pain.

Eunuch An stammered and stepped aside, unable to bear the sight of Emperor Xuli's wrist, which was bitten and bleeding. Mingruo tasted the metallic flavor in her mouth, and her mind suddenly cleared. She abruptly released her mouth, pushing Emperor Xuli away with her small hands, preventing him from approaching again. Eunuch An immediately rushed forward and placed the cork in Mingruo's mouth before she allowed Emperor Xuli to come closer.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, push harder! The little prince is about to come out!"

Mingruo was almost at her limit; she groaned weakly. Emperor Xuli held her hand, looking at her pale face, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe.

So painful…why does it hurt so much?!

"It's out! It's out! Your Majesty, just a little more effort and the little prince will be out!"

The shouts of the imperial physicians sounded distant to Mingruo, but she still exerted all her strength. Suddenly, her body felt light, as if something had slipped out of her body, and the pain vanished in an instant. Mingruo gasped for breath, closed her eyes, and fainted before she could even glance at her child. Before losing consciousness, the only thing she remembered was Emperor Xuli's terrified cries.

Chapter 176, It's so good to be alive

... She...didn't die?

Mingruo opened her eyes and stared at the bright yellow bed curtains. It was such a familiar place, such a familiar feeling, even the air around her felt so familiar. She closed her eyes, then opened them again, her hands unconsciously clutching the corner of the blanket, but inexplicably touched a piece of fabric softer and smoother than the brocade blanket. Mingruo was startled and immediately turned her head to look. There was a sleeping baby lying next to her!

The baby was only wearing a bright yellow bib embroidered with golden dragon patterns. Its tiny hands and feet were plump and round like lotus roots, and its breathing was steady; it looked very healthy.

Was this her child?

Mingruo was a little incredulous, but she still reached out and tentatively poked the baby's chubby cheek, her mind slightly hazy. She remembered giving birth to the child with all her might, then falling asleep from exhaustion. After that… she had no recollection of anything after that. “Are you my child?” she asked softly, her voice hoarse and dry. The sleeping baby, of course, couldn't hear her. Its soft, white body shifted, and the thin blanket covering its belly slipped to the side, revealing a chubby little belly.

So cute… Mingruo’s heart melted at the sight of the doll. She gently stroked the doll’s little face with her fingers. It was so beautiful, with red lips that it would occasionally smack its lips. Its eyelashes were so long; if it could open its eyes, it would be an incredibly beautiful child.

“Ruo’er!” With this call, Mingruo was pulled into a broad embrace. She was stunned for a moment, and it took her a long time to touch Emperor Xuli’s slightly trembling back. “Father…”

“You’re awake.” After a brief moment of excitement, Emperor Xuli quickly returned to his usual calm. He stroked Mingruo’s face, kissed her lips, and said softly, “You little rascal, you really don’t give your father any peace of mind. You slept for a whole month.”

A month?! Mingruo was startled by Emperor Xuli’s words. “I slept for a month?”

“Yes.” He continued to kiss her little face. "The imperial physicians all said you were beyond saving, and that they wanted to give you peace and send you on your way. But I didn't believe them. You promised me you'd stay with me forever, never leaving. Besides..." He released her and picked up the baby sleeping soundly beside him. "You haven't seen our child yet." She would never know that the moment she fell asleep, his heart stopped. At that moment, he couldn't think of anything—the child, Duanmu Yun…none of it mattered.

He only wanted her to live well, to be with him. Until death.

Mingruo suddenly felt a little nervous. A month…she had actually completed her postpartum period in her dreams! But more than anything else, she cared about… "Father, the child, the child—"

Knowing what she wanted to ask, Emperor Xuli hugged her, placed the baby in her arms, and said softly, "It's alright. The imperial physicians have been by the child's side every day for the past month and confirmed that he is very healthy." There were no defects. "Really

?" Mingruo trembled as she stroked the baby's little face in her arms, tears welling up in her eyes. "He...is he healthy?"

"Yes." He can eat, sleep, cry, and fuss—how could he not be healthy?

Mingruo wanted to cry again, but the child in her arms was suddenly taken away by Emperor Xuli and handed to Eunuch An, who was waiting nearby. She panicked and reached out to him for the child, but he picked her up: "Eat something first, get your body in good condition, and I'll naturally give you Shunyuan."

Shunyuan...is that the child's name? "You named him Shunyuan?" Ming Shunyuan...

"Don't you like it?" he asked, pouring a cup of honey water and bringing it to her lips, gesturing for her to rinse her mouth. Mingruo obediently took a sip, then spat it into the small bronze basin brought by the palace maid, only then feeling that most of the bitterness in her mouth had disappeared. She shook her head: "It's a very nice name. But...Father, you've already given him a title, isn't that a bit—" The other imperial brothers all have single-character names, but the character Shun is reserved for the Crown Prince after Xuan!

"My child, I naturally know what he will be like in the future." He scooped a spoonful of porridge and brought it to her lips, gesturing for her to open her mouth and swallow. “He deserves that name.”

What mother in the world wouldn’t want the best for her child? Although Mingruo only wished for her child to live the life she envisioned, they were still in the deep palace. Being favored by their father was naturally the best thing, and it would also deter those who secretly plotted against them. “I want to hold him.”

Eunuch An, with his keen eye, immediately placed the child in Mingruo’s arms. Mingruo opened her mouth to eat the porridge Emperor Xuli fed her, her eyes full of confusion: “Are all children this soft?”

“Hmm…maybe.”

“Even Father doesn’t know?” she asked, looking up.

Emperor Xuli shook his head: “I don’t know.” He had never paid attention to what children looked like. If Shunyuan wasn’t his and Ruo’er’s child, he wouldn’t even glance at him.

Mingruo held Shunyuan, looking at him repeatedly: “Why is he still sleeping?” His mother was awake; how could her son still be sleeping?

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shun Yuan opened his eyes. He looked at Ming Ruo, his little head seemingly recognizing the woman smiling at him as the one his father held and looked at every day. His eyes darted around, and upon seeing Emperor Xu Li, he immediately calmed down. Just as he quieted down, his stomach growled with hunger, and he began to cry.

When Shun Yuan opened his eyes, Ming Ruo was startled. Shun Yuan's eyes were purple! Purple... the only purple-eyed prince in each generation of the royal family... it was Shun Yuan! But... but that's not right. She was the purple-eyed princess of this generation! Why did Shun Yuan also have purple eyes?!

"Very beautiful eyes, exactly like Ruo'er's," Emperor Xu Li chuckled lightly, quite pleased with his son's purple eyes, showing no intention of investigating why there were two purple-eyed members of the royal family in this generation. If

he didn't say anything, it probably wouldn't matter, right? Mingruo didn't dare ask too much, and besides, her son's eyes were truly beautiful; when they opened, they were like two pieces of fine purple glass, sparkling with starlight. But most importantly… he was crying…

“Father, Father Emperor… he's crying, he's crying—” Like holding a hot potato, Mingruo didn't know whether to throw him away or hold him. The little guy seemed to know his mother didn't understand his needs, and his two soft little paws clung to Mingruo's chest, tugging hard at her clothes.

Mingruo had just recovered from a serious illness and had been taken out for a meal by Emperor Xuli. She wasn't properly dressed; she wasn't even wearing a bib, just a casually draped over her undergarments. And since it was early summer and a bit hot, Shun Yuan's tugging caused Mingruo's clothes to open instantly. The little thing was quick, expertly tearing open Mingruo's undergarments, and his little mouth rushed in.

The moment her breast was taken into his mouth, Mingruo gasped. If Emperor Xuli hadn't been holding her small hand, she might have already thrown Shunyuan out of her arms. "Father, Father Emperor—"

"Don't be afraid, you are his mother, so of course you have to breastfeed him. If Ruo'er doesn't want to breastfeed, there's a wet nurse." Emperor Xuli kissed her. "I don't like you breastfeeding him either."

Mingruo was protective of her child and immediately hugged little Shunyuan tightly in her arms: "No wet nurse!" She wanted her child to be with her! She was Shunyuan's mother, and she didn't want anyone else near her!

"Alright, alright, no wet nurse." Emperor Xuli chuckled, amused by her kitten-like protectiveness. "Ruo'er has been resting for a month, so you have plenty of milk, right?"

Mingruo's face flushed red. Only then did she notice that her father's eyes were shining as he stared at her chest. Shunyuan, however, seemed quite domineering. Not only did he want to eat, but he also clung to her chest with his hands, his beautiful purple eyes closed, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. Her heart softened instantly. She reached out and wiped the sweat from Shun Yuan's forehead. Emperor Xu Li embraced her and said, "Don't just think about him, you need to eat too."

She was forced to swallow a mouthful of porridge. Earlier, when Shun Yuan started scratching at her clothes, Eunuch An had led all the palace maids out, and now only the three of them remained in the palace.

Shun Yuan was very healthy and had a lot of strength when nursing. The "tsk tsk" sounds occasionally echoed in the palace. Ming Ruo was initially free of distractions, but Emperor Xu Li's gaze became increasingly blatant.

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