Xu Lianhua's POV
I'll stay.
The words hung between us. Final.
The Emperor studied me. You're certain? Once you choose, there's no changing your mind.
I'm certain.
He poured himself water, movements controlled and precise. We should establish terms. You'll have questions.
Why? The question burst out. Why offer me mercy? You could execute me, execute my whole family. Why give me a choice?
Because I'm not interested in punishing victims. Your family drugged you, sent you here like a sacrifice. His jaw tightened. They're the criminals. Not you.
Relief flooded through me. Someone believed me.
Your family, however, will face consequences.
Fear spiked. Please, don't execute them
Why protect people who tried to kill you? He tilted his head. Make no mistake, Lianhua. Sending you here was attempted murder.
He was right. They'd expected me to be executed for fraud.
I don't want to protect them, I admitted. But if you execute the Xu family, people will say I'm vindictive. That I don't deserve to be Empress.
His eyes gleamed. You're thinking politically already. Good.
So what will you do?
Nothing. Yet. He set down his cup. They think their plan worked. Let them believe it. You'll stay as my Empress. When they realize their scheme failed... He smiled sharply. That will be punishment enough.
Brilliant. My family would watch me succeed in the position they'd tried to throw away.
What if I fail at being Empress? The words escaped before I could stop them.
We learn. We adapt. We survive. He moved toward the door. Tomorrow, we begin establishing you at court.
What do I tell people? About who I really am?
Publicly, you're Xu Mingzhu. Only you, I, and your family know the truth.
That's a lie.
That's politics. You're my Empress. Everything else is detail.
He was leaving. On our wedding night.
You're really not going to I mean, we're married
I told you. This is an arrangement. I won't touch you unless you want me to. You have my word.
I should have felt relieved. Instead, I felt confused.
The drug will leave you exhausted tomorrow. Rest. He paused at the door. You'll need strength for surviving the palace. It's far more dangerous than you realize.
He left.
I stood alone in the wedding chamber. Married but not. Safe but surrounded by unknown danger.
Somewhere out there, my family slept peacefully, thinking they'd won.
They had no idea.
A soft knock startled me.
Your Majesty? A woman's voice, urgent. May I enter?
A palace servant stood there, older, with kind eyes but a nervous expression.
Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. She bowed low. But I thought you should know. There's been news from the Xu family compound.
Ice flooded my veins. What news?
She glanced around, then whispered: Your maid, Yue'er. The one who tried to stop them from taking you. She attempted to escape tonight to reach you. The woman's voice cracked. They caught her. Lady Pei ordered her locked in the cellars.
No. Yue'er was innocent. She'd only tried to save me.
Locked? My hands clenched. That's all?
The servant's eyes filled with tears. She's to be punished at dawn. For attempting to contact you. For defying Lady Pei. She paused, and her next words were barely audible. The kind of punishment that leaves permanent marks. If she survives.
The world tilted. They were going to hurt Yue'er. Maybe kill her. Because she tried to protect me.
The woman who raised me when my mother died. Who taught me to read, to survive, to hope. The only person who ever loved me.
And tomorrow at dawn, they'd destroy her because of me.
I thought you should know, the servant whispered. The Emperor is powerful, yes. But family matters are traditionally private. Even he might not... She trailed off meaningfully.
She left me standing there, horror crushing my chest.
This was my fault. If I'd never been born, if I'd fought harder against the drugs, if I'd found a way to refuse
No. This wasn't my fault. This was Lady Pei's cruelty. My family's evil.
But knowing that didn't save Yue'er.
I ran to the door. Guards stood outside.
I need to see His Majesty. Now. It's an emergency.
The Emperor has retired
A woman is about to die! The words ripped out. Get him. Now.
One guard left. I paced, mind screaming. Would he help? Yue'er was just a servant. Would he care enough?
The guard returned. His Majesty will see you.
I followed through dark corridors. Everything balanced on these next minutes.
We stopped. The guard knocked.
Enter.
I stepped inside.
He stood by the window, still dressed. Those dark eyes found mine.
What's wrong?
I told him everything Yue'er's capture, the planned punishment, my terror.
He listened in silence.
Then: Is she important to you?
Everything hinged on my answer. I could downplay it.
Or I could tell the truth.
She's the only family I have, I whispered. The only person who ever loved me.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
He moved toward the door with predatory grace.
Then consider this your first lesson in being Empress. He opened the door and called: Summon General Li. Full shadow guard. We ride for the Xu compound immediately.
My legs nearly gave out. He was going. For a servant he didn't know.
For me.
Your Majesty, thank you
He turned back, eyes pinning me in place.
Don't thank me yet. He stepped closer. When you're mine, I protect what's mine. But when I protect something, it becomes mine absolutely. Your maid, your loyalty, your secrets all of it. Mine.
The words should have terrified me.
Instead, they felt like safety.
Do you understand?
I met his eyes. Yes.
Good. He moved toward the door. Stay here. I'll bring her back.
He was gone, taking half the palace guards, leaving me with one burning question:
What had I just agreed to?