Hearing this, A-Wu felt momentarily confused.
Was he jealous that the Crown Prince had come before him, or was he jealous on behalf of the Crown Prince that the esteemed heir apparent wasn’t the first?
Did he wish the Crown Prince was, or wasn’t?
A-Wu stammered in a low voice, “Although we were engaged, we were young at the time. Even if he insisted, I wouldn’t have given in. We were just close, that’s all.”
Emperor Jingxi, “Close?”
He raised his hand, his fingertip gently rubbing A-Wu’s lip, “You must have kissed?”
A-Wu felt her lips tingle and itch, the man’s calloused fingertip stirring up indescribable sensations.
She stared directly at his stunningly noble face, her heart swaying, thinking that the old emperor was actually quite alluring, quite delectable.
But his question, she couldn’t answer.
Emperor Jingxi smiled, his eyes somewhat inscrutable, “If you kissed, just say so. It’s fine.”
A-Wu’s ears turned red, her eyes misty as she softly admitted, “Yes, we kissed…”
Emperor Jingxi, “Why did you let him kiss you?”
A-Wu, “He was good to me…”
Emperor Jingxi, “How was he good?”
A-Wu, “He caught fish for me to eat.”
Emperor Jingxi’s forehead vein instantly bulged.
Fish, just a few fish, and he could freely kiss her!
That was A-Wu, a blank sheet, a young lady untouched by anyone!
His heart was filled with overwhelming anger, wishing he could chop that so-called boy next door into mincemeat!
A-Wu’s face turned pale with fear, her body trembling.
He was truly unpredictable!
Emperor Jingxi’s icy gaze almost pierced through A-Wu, “How old were you then?”
A-Wu, “Sixteen…”
Emperor Jingxi’s face was as dark as water, “What were your parents teaching you? At such a young age, you knew to meet with a man and let him kiss you? Do you know what men think? What good intentions could they have?”
A-Wu’s face flushed with shame, she could only helplessly murmur, “We… we were engaged…”
At that time, she truly believed she would marry the boy next door, just like her father and mother.
Emperor Jingxi grew even more displeased, “Did he touch your body?”
A-Wu shook her head, “No.”
Emperor Jingxi’s expression slightly eased.
A-Wu honestly said, “We only hugged a few times.”
Hugged-
He actually hugged her!
Emperor Jingxi’s chest ached with anger.
If she hadn’t been so honest, perhaps he would feel better.
But she was so straightforward.
Seeing the anger in his eyes, A-Wu hurriedly tried to soothe him, “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. It’s all in the past. We only hugged, we didn’t undress. Please don’t let it harm your health, Your Majesty, take care of your dragon body…”
She couldn’t understand why he, who had always been so reserved and unreadable, had suddenly become like this.
Emperor Jingxi forcibly restrained himself, then stared at Awu with an unpredictable gaze:
“What happened to you after you left your hometown?”
Awu replied calmly, “Not much. I fled with the crowd, wandered from place to place, and was eventually taken in by a wealthy family. That’s how I met the Crown Prince.”
She was completely at ease and unafraid.
Back then, Lu Yunjian had planned everything in advance when he decided to send her to the Crown Prince.
He first released her into the crowd, where she was rescued by a charitable institution, and then she was selected from there to become a maid at a manor.
Because the area had suffered from floods, there were many refugees, making it nearly impossible to trace any clues.
In this regard, Lu Yunjian was extremely shrewd.
The southern coastal region was his territory, and he would never leave any loose ends for himself.
Emperor Jingxi scrutinized Awu’s clear eyes, searching for any signs of deceit, but found none.
He continued, “You left your hometown in the 16th year of Jingxi’s reign, right?”
Awu nodded, “Yes.”
Emperor Jingxi frowned, pondered for a moment, and then understood: “That year, there were floods along the eastern coast. I allocated disaster relief silver and sent imperial envoys to inspect the area and comfort the people.”
Upon hearing this, Awu became indignant: “I didn’t see any silver! Everything was flooded, and we didn’t even have enough to eat!”
Emperor Jingxi replied, “There was porridge for disaster relief.”
Awu retorted, “But all I got was a few bowls of thin soup!”
Emperor Jingxi countered, “Wasn’t the thin soup enough to fill your stomach? Moreover, I later distributed warm clothing to the people and set up charitable institutions to take in refugees.”
The Great Hui Empire was vast, and the eastern floods were just one of many administrative matters.
He had allocated disaster relief funds, but perhaps not with full effort.
Considering the disaster relief funds that were distributed, it was already remarkable that even a weak woman like Awu had access to thin soup.
Awu asked, “Why didn’t I see any warm clothing?”
Emperor Jingxi coolly replied, “Who knows what your eyes were looking at.”
Awu wanted to argue back, but then she remembered he was the emperor and decided to let it go.
She reluctantly turned her face away, refusing to argue with him.
Emperor Jingxi looked at Awu’s puffed-up cheeks and found it amusing.
As he chuckled, the anger in his heart suddenly dissipated.
He was the emperor of the Great Hui Empire, the father of all under heaven.
As the Son of Heaven, he was supposed to care for his people like a parent.
She was his subject, and he should have taken better care of her.
It was his failure as an emperor that he hadn’t properly governed the Great Hui Empire, leaving a weak woman like her to wander alone and suffer.
Whatever she had endured was only to be expected, and he couldn’t blame her.
This was the fault of the emperor, who had failed to extend his benevolence to the world, leaving a poor, helpless woman with no one to rely on.
Moreover, she had already been favored by him, and her body bore the traces of his grace.
His long fingers gently caressed her slender neck, where faint red marks still lingered-traces he had left behind.
He had wanted her life, and had nearly taken it.
An overwhelming wave of pity and guilt surged within him.
He sighed deeply and said, “A’Wu, today I have a thousand, no, ten thousand reasons to kill you. Killing you would prevent a rift between my father and me, and spare me from being vilified in the annals of history.”
A’Wu looked at the emperor before her.
In his usually calm eyes, there was now a desolate helplessness.
Emperor Jingxi continued, “But I did not kill you. Since I myself did not take your life, I will not allow anyone else to do so.”
As he spoke these words, he noticed A’Wu gazing at him with admiration and reverence.
Her eyes were filled with tender affection, and her expression was one of pure, unguarded relaxation, as if he were the only, the last ray of light in her world.
Such a gaze would naturally be deeply gratifying to any man.
Emperor Jingxi went on, “However, I cannot keep you here. If you stay in Nanqiongzi, you will surely die.”
A cold shiver ran down A’Wu’s back, and she quickly realized the truth of his words.
She had first served the crown prince, then attached herself to the emperor.
Such a path was destined to bring her infamy and make her a target for many who wished her dead.
These people could be the crown prince, the crown princess, the empress, loyal ministers of the court, or even the emperor’s own mother, the revered empress dowager.
Emperor Jingxi was far removed from the inner court.
If she remained in Nanqiongzi, those who wished her harm would find countless ways to end her life.
Once she was gone, what could Emperor Jingxi do?
At most, he might execute a few people, but the dead could not be brought back to life.
If she died, it would be the end.
She fully understood now that she must cling tightly to Emperor Jingxi.
The most dangerous place was also the safest.
She needed to enter the palace, and she needed a title.
Only by attaching herself to Emperor Jingxi and striving to climb higher could she ensure her survival.
Emperor Jingxi’s long fingers rested at the back of her head as he held her close and said,
“That is why I want you to learn the rules, to enter the palace. I will give you everything I can, but first, you must learn to stand by my side.”
A’Wu replied, “Your Majesty, A’Wu dares not stand by your side. A’Wu will kneel at your feet.”
Countless talented men had spent ten years in diligent study, rising at the crow of the rooster, all in the hope of one day ascending the golden steps of the palace and kneeling before the imperial throne, seeking his favor and recognition.
Though she had neither knowledge nor martial prowess, only her beauty, what did it matter?
She was still young, and she still had her beauty.
She could use it to her advantage.
Her beauty had been her curse, the source of her suffering, but now she would use it to pave her way to success.
She bent her slender back, lowered her head, and with both hands, she reverently kissed the emperor’s long, well-manicured fingers, saying with utmost care, “A’Wu will obey Your Majesty in all things.”
Emperor Jingxi looked down at her, slightly stiff and overly respectful, and said, “You need not be so afraid.”
A’Wu was taken aback.
Then, with a pout of grievance, she said, “Your Majesty’s divine authority is unfathomable. A’Wu cannot help but feel fear…”
A gentle warmth flickered in Emperor Jingxi’s deep eyes.
His fingertips lightly traced her delicate skin as he said, “A’Wu, whatever you desire, you may tell me.”
A’Wu sensed the genuine affection in his words, and it stirred her ambitions.
She raised her arms and boldly reached for his neck.
Emperor Jingxi did not stop her.
He simply watched in silence.
A Wu clung to him, wrapping her arms around him, and softly cooed, “A Wu loves peonies. Your Majesty, could you give A Wu some peonies?”
Emperor Jingxi was clearly taken aback.
He raised an eyebrow, “Peonies?”
The most expensive peonies cost no more than a thousand coins.
A Wu pouted, “There are no peonies left in Nanqiongzi.”
Emperor Jingxi replied, “How can that be? Autumn peonies are in full bloom this season. Nanqiongzi is filled with them.”
A Wu insisted, “A Wu wanted to buy some, but they wouldn’t sell them to me. They said the flowers are reserved for Princess Dening’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
Emperor Jingxi frowned, “Nonsense. Princess Dening’s ceremony is still a month away. Why would they need the flowers now? And even if they did, could they possibly use up all the flowers in Nanqiongzi?”
A Wu persisted, “But they just won’t sell them to me! They refuse!”
Emperor Jingxi pondered for a moment and then understood and said:
“When those above have preferences, those below will go to extremes. It seems the lower officials are currying favor.”
A Wu gave him a look that said, “See? I told you,” as if she had caught him in a small misstep, her tone both coquettish and accusatory.
Emperor Jingxi was momentarily speechless.
He didn’t care much about flowers, but to this young lady, it seemed like a matter of great importance.
After a brief pause, he spoke, “I will issue an order. For Princess Dening’s coming-of-age ceremony, fresh flowers will not be used. Instead, we will use silk flowers.”
A Wu was surprised, then quickly realized his meaning.
When he had said, “When those above have preferences, those below will go to extremes,” it was clear he disapproved of how his daughter’s ceremony had caused such a disruption.
Emperor Jingxi, noticing A Wu’s understanding, calmly explained, “The flower growers in Nanqiongzi supply the court with flowers free of charge. If they can’t sell flowers for a month, it’s a significant loss for them.”
Hearing this, A Wu smiled brightly, “I don’t care about all that. Now I can go buy flowers! Your Majesty is so good to A Wu. You’re the best!”
Emperor Jingxi replied, “It’s just a few flowers.”
But A Wu happily hugged his arm, “A Wu is just so happy in her heart!”
A light, delicate fragrance wafted over as the soft, petite lady swayed his arm, her coquettishness on full display.
Her clear, bright eyes sparkled, and even her fluttering eyelashes seemed to radiate joy.
For a brief moment, Emperor Jingxi was momentarily dazed.
He quickly composed himself, his expression turning impassive as he averted his gaze.
Yet, as he looked out the window, his eyes softened.