Ever since meeting Emperor Yuanjia in the mountains, Zhou Fu no longer dared go to Yunwu Mountain.

She didn’t want to speculate about Emperor Yuanjia’s feelings. She only knew that she and Emperor Yuanjia were unsuitable – the Empress Dowager alone would never tolerate her.

Zhou Fu couldn’t bear the deathly silence of Earl Cheng’an’s mansion, but she also didn’t want to enter the palace to engage in open and covert struggles with a group of women.

“Why hasn’t A’Fu been going out lately?” Shou’an Jun asked in puzzlement.

Zhou Fu made excuses about the increasingly harsh sunlight and her fear of getting tanned. As for A’Man and Aunt Ying, she had instructed them not to tell her mother.

Shou’an Jun said, “Well then, just stroll around at home. This garden is big enough for you to enjoy.”

Zhou Fu smiled, and from then on enjoyed the scenery and played within the leisure estate.

Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Old Madam Wei sent someone to bring little Wei Rao over. Seeing her daughter, who had grown thin, Zhou Fu felt extremely distressed. Little Wei Rao also missed her mother greatly, but knowing that since her mother had left, she could never return to the Earl’s mansion, she sensibly didn’t plead for anything from her mother and simply enjoyed their happy reunion.

Zhou Fu wanted to spend more time with her daughter, but as soon as the Dragon Boat Festival passed, Old Madam Wei sent someone to take Wei Rao back.

Zhou Fu understood Old Madam Wei’s feelings – how could the old lady not resent her for leaving like this?

“Raorao, listen well to grandmother. When you miss mother, write her letters.” Seeing her daughter into the carriage, Zhou Fu said with reluctant eyes.

Little Wei Rao pressed against the carriage window, looking at her mother with reddened eyes.

Zhou Fu’s heart clenched. She stood at the door until the carriage disappeared in the distance, unwilling to go back inside.

“Enough, don’t overthink it. If you live well and live long, Raorao will always have a mother. If you drive yourself mad and something happens to you, Raorao will be even sadder.” Shou’an Jun said compassionately.

Zhou Fu understood this reasoning, but thinking of her daughter’s pitiful appearance, she couldn’t help feeling guilty.

Shou’an Jun tried every way to comfort her daughter.

No matter how old children get, when they encounter troubles, mothers can’t stand by and watch.

Zhou Fu also knew regret was useless and could only hope for her daughter’s next visit during the holidays.

However, not long after the Dragon Boat Festival, on an afternoon filled with dark clouds, Emperor Yuanjia suddenly came to the leisure estate.

When the emperor arrived, Shou’an Jun naturally had to receive him. Zhou Fu got the news and, early, hid away in her Yan Garden.

“Why did Your Majesty come at this time?” Shou’an Jun was very puzzled. The leisure estate was still some distance from the capital – even riding hard would take half an hour, and in such terrible weather when it might rain at any moment.

Emperor Yuanjia looked at his fifty-something wet nurse. Though feeling guilty, he still smiled: “During my afternoon nap, I dreamed that my wet nurse had fallen. My eyelid kept twitching badly. If I didn’t come see, I really couldn’t rest easy.”

Shou’an Jun believed him. Besides this filial devotion, she truly couldn’t think of any other reason Emperor Yuanjia would travel so far.

The two reminisced while outside, and the sky grew increasingly overcast.

Shou’an Jun considerately urged Emperor Yuanjia to return early, taking the leisure estate’s carriage to avoid getting caught in the rain. He was the emperor – how could the emperor spend the night outside? Shou’an Jun never thought to have Emperor Yuanjia stay overnight at the leisure estate.

Emperor Yuanjia had chosen this timing precisely to stay the night. Smiling bitterly, he said quietly to Shou’an Jun: “To be honest with my wet nurse, I’ve encountered a difficult problem that I can’t solve. My heart is troubled, so I wanted to come here seeking one night of peace.”

Shou’an Jun suddenly understood. Emperor Yuanjia had this habit since childhood – keeping all his worries bottled up, only telling her when he absolutely couldn’t hold back anymore.

Though Emperor Yuanjia’s filial devotion was diluted, his willingness to come here seeking peace of mind showed he still considered her family.

Shou’an Jun immediately had Eunuch Li prepare a guest room for Emperor Yuanjia.

Emperor Yuanjia asked about Zhou Fu’s return home, just as he had shown concern when Da Zhou Shi divorced her former husband years ago.

Shou’an Jun didn’t think much of it. Her younger daughter had spent several years as Emperor Yuanjia’s companion, so his inquiry was perfectly normal.

“She could never be confined since childhood. After the Second Master passed away, she was heartbroken. Seeing familiar sights triggered her emotions, making it even harder to bear.” Shou’an Jun explained.

Emperor Yuanjia nodded, showing understanding.

Shou’an Jun accompanied Emperor Yuanjia for dinner, and afterward he went to the guest room to rest.

Heavy rain poured down, and Shou’an Jun went to bed early.

Emperor Yuanjia couldn’t sleep. When the second watch arrived, he braved the rain and left the guest room.

In such weather, no servants would stand guard outside, and the rain masked his footsteps. As for the leisure estate’s layout, Emperor Yuanjia had a map and had memorized it thoroughly for today. After orienting himself, he headed straight for Zhou Fu’s Yan Garden.

The leisure estate’s outer walls were very high, but the inner courtyards’ walls were only slightly taller than Emperor Yuanjia. He easily leaped over the wall, jumped down, and finally came to the window of the main room.

Since Emperor Yuanjia had made his decision, he cast aside all concerns. He rhythmically knocked on the carved window frame.

Zhou Fu hadn’t fallen into deep sleep yet.

As soon as Emperor Yuanjia arrived at the leisure estate, her heart became chaotic. Learning that Emperor Yuanjia would stay the night, Zhou Fu felt vague worry. She had tossed and turned for a long time and was just beginning to feel drowsy when she heard someone knocking on the window.

Zhou Fu immediately thought of Emperor Yuanjia.

If it were a criminal, they would forcibly break the window to enter. To want to see her at night yet politely knock on the window – who else could it be but Emperor Yuanjia?

At any other time, Zhou Fu would pretend to sleep, but with the heavy rain outside and no sound of rain hitting an umbrella, had he come in the rain?

He was the ruler of a nation – what if he fell ill? If he became sick and the Empress Dowager found out, the leisure estate would face even worse consequences.

Her thoughts churning, Zhou Fu could no longer lie still. She hastily threw on outer clothes, casually slipped on bedroom shoes, and came to the window.

“Who is it?” Though she had suspicions, Zhou Fu still asked nervously.

“A’Fu, it’s me.” Emperor Yuanjia said quietly.

Zhou Fu let out a helpless sigh and opened the window.

The night was pitch black. Zhou Fu couldn’t see his face clearly, but could tell he was soaked through.

“Must it be this way?” Zhou Fu asked with complex emotions. He was forcing her to soften her heart, certain she wouldn’t leave him standing in the rain.

“May I come in?” Emperor Yuanjia asked.

Zhou Fu asked back: “Can Your Majesty go back?”

Emperor Yuanjia answered her with a laugh.

What more could Zhou Fu say? She helped hold the window open and let Emperor Yuanjia climb in.

Once the window closed, Zhou Fu could even hear rainwater from his body dripping onto the floor.

Continuing like this, he’d be ill for sure. Zhou Fu silently fetched a towel and blanket, handed them to him, and told him to change in the washroom behind.

Emperor Yuanjia directly began undressing by the window.

Zhou Fu quickly turned around and hid behind the screen.

Emperor Yuanjia dried his body, wrapped himself in her blanket, and walked barefoot toward the screen.

His footsteps seemed to echo in Zhou Fu’s heart. When she let him in, she’d had that suspicion but wanted to gamble, hoping he would maintain rationality for the sake of their childhood connection.

The bedside was too dangerous. Zhou Fu went around the screen, saw he had already come over, and pointed to the desk by the window: “Let’s talk over there.”

Emperor Yuanjia acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued approaching her.

Zhou Fu panicked. She wanted to flee, but Emperor Yuanjia suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his arms, and began kissing her.

“Your Majesty, please don’t do this. I know you’re not that kind of person.” Zhou Fu struggled while speaking quietly, trying to persuade him.

“A’Fu, I’ve endured for twelve years. You said you only see me as an elder brother, so I tried to continue enduring.” Emperor Yuanjia gripped her wrist with one hand while lifting her chin with the other, pressing his face against her tender cheek, his voice hoarse: “A’Fu, if I could endure, I would never treat you this way, but I can’t bear it anymore. I think of you during morning court, while reviewing memorials, and even more at night. A’Fu, have you ever tasted this feeling?”

Zhou Fu had. When Wei Jin first died, she had thought of him this way, too, wishing she could conjure him up to hold her and fill her empty heart again.

Now she no longer suffered such painful longing for Wei Jin, yet another man was telling her he thought of her this way.

By the time Zhou Fu realized it, Emperor Yuanjia had already pressed her onto the bed. His hair was still dripping water, but his breath and hands were burning hot.

“A’Fu, you’re still young, and I’m not that old yet. While I’m not too old to look at, stay with me a while longer, alright?” Emperor Yuanjia leaned down, his slightly cool nose nuzzling her vulnerable neck. “I know I’m being selfish. I know you don’t like the palace, but staying alone in that water tank is too painful. Come keep me company – we can be companions for each other, alright?”

A water tank with only one little red carp is too pitiful. With a companion, life would be much more interesting.

Zhou Fu gripped Emperor Yuanjia’s hand tightly, trembling all over.

She felt sorry for him, sorry that he had endured so long for her sake, but she couldn’t enter the palace. If she went, she would bear the infamy of seducing her master, and he would leave a stain in the history books because of this matter.

“Your Majesty…”

“A’Fu, think of Raorao.” Emperor Yuanjia interrupted her. Since emotion couldn’t win her agreement, he would tempt her with benefits. “If you come with me to the palace, I’ll treat Raorao like my own daughter. With me backing her, no one in the capital would dare look down on her. When Raorao grows up, I’ll also choose an excellent son-in-law for her, ensuring everything goes well in her marriage.”

Zhou Fu’s grip suddenly loosened.

If others said such things, she wouldn’t believe them, but Emperor Yuanjia was the emperor. If he was willing to back Raorao, who would dare gossip about her?

When Emperor Yuanjia’s hand moved downward, Zhou Fu no longer stopped him.

Emperor Yuanjia quickly became a ball of fire.

Though Zhou Fu had concerns in her heart, she couldn’t withstand such passionate emotion. Her reason became tangled silk, twisted into confused knots.

Outside the window, rain pattered, masking the sounds from within the bed curtains.

.

A very, very long time later.

Lu Zhuo returned after three years of feigning death in Wuda and reconciled with Wei Rao. The couple brought A’Bao to the palace to pay respects to the Imperial Consort.

A’Bao saw Emperor Yuanjia and obediently called him Your Majesty.

Emperor Yuanjia smiled.

After the family of three left, Emperor Yuanjia chatted with his imperial consort, his tone quite regretful: “A’Bao initially called you maternal grandmother and me maternal grandfather, but Raorao corrected her. It seems Raorao still cannot accept me.”

By rights, he was Wei Rao’s stepfather, so A’Bao could completely call him maternal grandfather. Emperor Yuanjia liked hearing A’Bao call him that.

Imperial Consort glanced at him sideways: “You are the emperor. How would Raorao dare not accept you? She doesn’t dare aspire so high.”

Emperor Yuanjia smiled bitterly: “Your sarcasm is too obvious.”

Imperial Consort snorted: “You deserve it. You only knew how to sweet-talk me back then, but ended up causing Raorao to suffer so much.”

Bringing up this topic made her angry. She had trusted him so much back then.

So it goes – no matter how sweet the promises men make in bed, they can’t be taken seriously. Whoever takes them seriously is a fool.

When Imperial Consort brought up old grievances, Emperor Yuanjia couldn’t help feeling guilty.

His promise back then had been genuine, but he hadn’t anticipated the Empress Dowager’s viciousness, even calculating against a little girl. Wei Rao was ill for three years, and Emperor Yuanjia felt guilty for three years. Fortunately, Wei Rao recovered, or Emperor Yuanjia truly would have had no face to see his A’Fu again.

Whenever Imperial Consort brought up old accounts, Emperor Yuanjia tactfully acknowledged his wrongs and never argued back.

At night, Emperor Yuanjia thought about A’Bao’s form of address and still felt a bit hurt. Holding Imperial Consort, he asked: “If A’Bao doesn’t consider me maternal grandfather, do you consider me your husband?”

When the Empress Dowager was alive, he was constrained by filial duty and couldn’t treat her too well, but after the Empress Dowager’s death, Emperor Yuanjia felt he had given her his whole heart.

After being together so long, Emperor Yuanjia still couldn’t fathom how she truly saw him – purely as the emperor, or something else.

Imperial Consort leaned against his broad shoulder, recalling the past dozen years, smiled, and looked up to kiss Emperor Yuanjia’s chin.

This man was the emperor and also her man.

She, Zhou Fu, had two husbands – one was Wei Jin, the other Emperor Yuanjia.

The former gave her tenderness and romance in her youth; the latter gave her a new life during her lonely middle age.

They both loved her. They were both wonderful.

Author’s Note: It’s finished! This imperial extra explains why Emperor Yuanjia was so good to Shou’an Jun and Xiao Zhou Shi. I won’t write extras for other characters. See you in the next story if fate allows!