Compared to the busy local government offices, the imperial court was somewhat more relaxed. Because of this, Xiao Yu had half a day free and was happily holding a longbow.

“Sister said my arm strength was too weak last time and told me to practice more,” he said. “I’ll go ask my sister for guidance.”

Seeing the Emperor about to rush out, Eunuch Qi quickly stopped him under the pretense of adjusting his robes and whispered: “The Empress is not in the palace.”

Xiao Yu lowered the bow in his hand and asked: “Has sister gone back home?”

In the past, he would never have said such a thing—home, wasn’t this sister’s home? But now, he knew it wasn’t anymore.

Eunuch Qi looked at him with affectionate eyes: “When the Empress left, she specifically came to see Your Majesty, but Your Majesty was discussing state affairs with court officials, so she didn’t disturb you.”

A smile appeared on Xiao Yu’s face as he looked at Eunuch Qi: “Eunuch Qi, you don’t need to worry. Even if my sister doesn’t come to tell me personally, I know she’s thinking of me.”

He raised the bow and arrow in his hand.

“Let’s go to my sister’s place to play. This way, others won’t notice she’s not here.”

Eunuch Qi also smiled and said: “Your Majesty is indeed clever.”

Xiao Yu replied: “Eunuch Qi, stop flattering me. I’m not a child anymore.”

Eunuch Qi followed him as they walked out, saying: “In this old servant’s eyes, Your Majesty will always be a clever and adorable child.”

Xiao Yu laughed heartily, slung the longbow over his back, and strode toward the inner palace.

“Do you want to ask the Empress if you can also visit Young Master A-Jiu?” Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but ask softly again. “After all, he is your uncle.”

Xiao Yu glanced in the direction outside the palace and shook his head: “Uncle has never wanted to be my uncle. Let’s not disturb him.”

This time, Eunuch Qi looked at the young man and solemnly bowed in acknowledgment.

Xiao Yu turned his gaze away from the direction outside the palace: “Let’s go quickly and wait for sister to return.” Then with a slightly smug smile, he added, “Uncle is recovering from his injuries; he definitely won’t be playing with bows and arrows with her.”

……

……

In the autumn day at Chu Garden, the pool water rippled as a fat fish swam away.

Chu Zhao lifted her fishing rod: “This fish must be too full to even care about the bait.”

Silence beside her.

Chu Zhao turned to look at Xie Yanlai, who was lying in the shade behind her with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Sunlight danced lightly on his face through the branches and leaves.

She smiled with pursed lips, removed the fish hook, and cast the fishing rod toward him.

Just as the fishing line flew over, Xie Yanlai raised his hand and caught it without opening his eyes.

“Can’t catch a fish, so you’re trying to catch me?” he said.

Chu Zhao laughed: “Because the fish is too clever to be caught.”

“That’s because you’re too clumsy,” Xie Yanlai said, with his eyes still closed as he wound the fishing line around his hand and then pulled hard. Chu Zhao tumbled toward him with the momentum.

Xie Yanlai stopped talking, tossed aside the fishing rod, and held only her hand as he continued to keep his eyes closed.

Chu Zhao half-sat leaning against him, one hand surrendered to his grip, the other following the sunlight as it danced across his face, jumping over his broad forehead, high nose, smooth chin, then hopping to his distinct Adam’s apple, and sliding down from there—

Being at home, Xie Yanlai was dressed casually, and his collar slipped open easily.

Just as her finger was about to wander like a fish into his chest, Xie Yanlai raised his hand to stop her.

“Be proper!” he said, opening his eyes.

Chu Zhao laughed, resting on his shoulder: “This is already very proper. If I were being improper, it would be like this—”

She tried to make a tearing motion with his clothes, but both her hands were held by Xie Yanlai and couldn’t move.

Although she couldn’t tear them open, leaning on his shoulder, from this angle she could see his chest through the collar—white skin covered with hideous scars.

This was his chest, his heart.

“I just want to see your wounds,” she said softly.

From several life-and-death battles, Xie Yanlai’s body was covered in scars.

But he wouldn’t let her see.

“There’s nothing worth seeing about wounds,” Xie Yanlai said. “You’re not allowed to look.”

Chu Zhao raised her head, arching an eyebrow: “Then when we’re married and in our wedding chamber, you won’t let me see either? Are you saying you won’t undress completely on our wedding night?”

How had her speech become so unbridled? Xie Yanlai laughed in exasperation: “I’ll undress after putting out the lights. How’s that?”

Chu Zhao thought for a moment and shook her head: “No good. I’ll still be able to feel—”

As she spoke, she freed her hand and made as if to feel Xie Yanlai’s body.

Xie Yanlai embraced her. Chu Zhao fell against him and could feel his chest rising and falling with laughter.

Why were they discussing the wedding chamber? And extinguishing lights, undressing?

“Don’t worry,” Xie Yanlai said with a smile as he held her, gently patting her back. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t even feel sorry for these wounds myself. I don’t care about this body. When I was fighting, I was happy, even hoping to be killed.”

Then he could escape this flesh branded with Xie clan blood.

He could simply be his mother’s child.

Chu Zhao understood his meaning. He didn’t cherish himself at all. Over time, in the cage of the Xie clan, he had become a fierce beast that only knew how to kill.

In her previous life, he had died just like that.

She hadn’t even known he existed in the world.

Chu Zhao hugged him tightly: “But you can’t be like this anymore. From now on, your body doesn’t belong to you alone—it’s also mine.”

It still sounded somewhat strange. Xie Yanlai snorted: “And what about you? Haven’t you also rushed toward death several times without a care?”

Chu Zhao coughed: “Actually, that wasn’t rushing toward death carelessly; it was just unfortunate circumstances.”

She raised her head to look at Xie Yanlai.

“I didn’t want to die then.”

“And I want to even less now.”

“I can’t bear to part with you.”

Xie Yanlai said: “I was talking about before. Later, when I fought desperately, it was so I could live. Because when I thought about being separated from you by death and never seeing you again, I became very afraid. A-Zhao, I can’t bear to part with you either. I’ve decided—if we can’t live, then we’ll die together.”

Chu Zhao had been quite moved, but hearing this, she laughed and spat: “Can’t you think of something more positive? We’ve both suffered so much. Can’t we just live well?”

Xie Yanlai snorted: “I see you just don’t want to live and die with me.”

Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow: “Why should I live and die with you? I haven’t even seen your body—”

How had the topic turned back to this? Xie Yanlai choked with laughter, his chest shaking. Then he flipped the girl over, laid her on the ground, and kissed her.

By now, their kisses were no longer awkward, no longer leaving them both nearly suffocating.

But they still made one dizzy and fragmented, wanting only to break apart and crush together as one.

Chu Zhao intended to become his true wife.

Though she had suffered from love before, that was because she didn’t understand love. Now that she knew, she loved without hesitation.

But Xie Yanlai’s wounds were too severe; he had been recovering for a long time.

At this moment, feeling the man’s passionate response above her, Chu Zhao emerged from her dizziness and whispered in his ear: “Let’s go back to the bedroom.”

The next moment, she was lifted, but instead of heading toward the bedroom, she was set to stand on the ground. Xie Yanlai stroked her back, allowing her to calm down, and himself as well.

“I plan to leave,” he said.

Chu Zhao was furious: “Go where?”

Xie Yanlai laughed, hugging the suddenly bristling girl tightly, and said: “Back home, of course. Now that Deng Yi is no longer there, I plan to renovate his house to make it ours. This way, our home will be even bigger.”

Chu Zhao came to her senses, relieved but still irritated: “Why talk about renovating houses out of nowhere? What’s the rush with renovations?”

Xie Yanlai looked at her: “I’m in a hurry to marry you.”

He lowered his head and gently kissed her temple.