Her shoulder was pushed, and Hua Chun fell backward onto the bed in a daze. The man before her followed, pressing down on top of her, elbows braced beside her ears, lowering his head to gently entangle her tongue, a pair of dark black eyes staring straight into hers.

“Mmph mmph mmph?” Hua Chun hummed a few times, but with her mouth occupied, could only translate through her eyes: What are you doing?

Yuwen Jie said nothing, the desire in his eyes written plain and clear.

Some things, if not returned now, there might never be another chance.

This man was truly like a wild beast, his gaze fierce and direct, making Hua Chun blush all the way to her neck. She instinctively reached out to resist, but with such a disparity in strength, she was held down firmly.

The aggressive air around him was thick, yet the way he kissed her was surprisingly gentle. She shivered, swallowing hard, kissed until her gaze grew hazy.

The air around them began to grow warm, the cell silent except for the sound of their breathing. Hua Chun struggled slightly, glancing toward the cell door.

This was seriously more thrilling than doing it out in the open — there were other prisoners right outside, weren’t there! Even lust needs to consider location — could a ruler as dignified as him really roll around in bed with someone in a place like this?

Sensing her concern, Yuwen Jie also glanced toward the direction of the cell door.

Then, the next moment, Hua Chun saw a massive black curtain unfurl and hang up, completely blocking off the entire barred wall.

“…” So he’d prepared all this in advance before coming?

Her heart pounding fiercely, Hua Chun looked at the man before her, feeling a bit timid. “Your Majesty, isn’t this… improper?”

“Mm.” A low, hoarse voice mixed with a nasal tone sounded by her ear, sending a shiver through her.

“You know it’s improper, and yet you still…”

“I want you.”

“…” Her heart seemed to be struck by something. Hua Chun looked up at him in a daze, her expression blank, completely unable to process what he’d said.

Why is it that the domineering CEO trope is always so popular with girls? Probably because most women harbor, deep down, a desire to be conquered — they just love hearing these overbearing, shameless, blunt words of affection.

As for herself — reserved, yes, but unable to resist temptation. Like right now: the man had just said those four words, and her resistance weakened. She let him peck at her lips, let him sweep away all rational thought.

The moon slipped behind the clouds, and the whole world dimmed. All she could hear was his breathing, all she could see was his silhouette — in an instant, every worry was tossed to the winds, and she sank into this bout of passion.

“Don’t…”

“Yuwen Jie…”

The soft, kitten-like cry made the emperor pause. “What did you just call me?”

“Your name…” Hua Chun panted. “I knew it since episode one.”

What episode one? The emperor was baffled, lowering his voice. “I grant you the privilege of calling me by name, but remember — do it gently, not gritting your teeth like that.”

Hua Chun trembled all over, her voice tinged with tears. “I’m scared.”

Though she looked like quite the tough character, she was, in truth, a pure young maiden — the kind who’d never known a man before! Back in the modern world she’d faced plenty of harassment, but thanks to Qin Niao’s protection, she’d never lost her chastity, remaining at the stage where theory outweighed practice. To dive straight into something this intense — she really was afraid. So many novels described things like blood soaking the sheets — if she really bled that much, what if she died from it?

The emperor’s gaze suddenly softened, gently kissing her chin, his eyes full of a seductive, night-elf-like allure. “Try saying my name.”

“Yuwen Jie.”

“Not so stiffly. Gentler.”

“Yuwen Jie.”

“With a bit more feeling.”

“Yuwen… Jie.”

“Very good.” His gaze darkened, and the emperor leaned in closer, saying low, “I’ll be very gentle.”

That sounded so reassuring. Hua Chun nodded.

Yeah right, you bastard, you still remember there are other people involved? Hua Chun rolled her eyes weakly. “Don’t do this… I won’t make a sound.”

“Then you should make a sound.” The emperor pressed his lips together, pulling the blanket over both of them, nibbling her earlobe. “Just let me hear it.”

…Shameless!

Tonight was the liveliest night in the Heavenly Prison — no one in the death-row block got a wink of sleep. Eunuch Qin stood guard at the door, anxiously watching his surroundings, counting the hours, and had hot water and a bathtub sent in.

The guard stationed outside had a face as gray as ash, thinking his career as a prison guard might well be over — to have learned something this scandalous, he might not live to see tomorrow’s sun.

Still, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it — why would the emperor be interested in a man? And to sneak in for a tryst in the middle of the night, no less!

The hearts of everyone outside the prison had turned to ice, while the two inside were, quite the opposite, deep in their own world, utterly unconcerned with anyone else’s feelings, tumbling about until dawn broke.

Hua Chun had truly run out of strength, lying face-down on the bed unmoving, her whole body aching terribly. Yuwen Jie got up, scooped her up, and dropped her straight into the bathtub.

The warm water at least eased some of the soreness. Hua Chun sighed, eyes brimming with tears, glaring at the man before her.

Yuwen Jie’s expression was calm, not a trace of guilt on his face, as he climbed into the tub after her, reaching for ointment to apply to her.

“Tomorrow I want to switch cells.”

The corner of his mouth curved slightly. “No need to worry, everyone in this block is a death-row inmate, the kind scheduled for execution tomorrow.”

Hua Chun froze, looking at him with a complicated expression. “All people who bear a blood feud against you?”

“Why would you say that?”

No blood feud, and yet you’d go to such lengths to torment someone all night, keeping them from sleep, only to send them off to die anyway? Hua Chun pouted, too tired to argue further, simply leaning against the tub, yawning again and again.

Her chest suddenly tightened, and Hua Chun jolted, staring at the man’s hand in front of her, her face flushing again. “Could you not touch there?”

Yuwen Jie stared at her with a serious expression. “From now on, no more binding it.”

“Huh?” Hua Chun widened her eyes. “If I don’t bind it, how am I supposed to explain it to people? Say I have an enlarged heart?”

The emperor looked up at her. “I said no need, so no need.”

You’re the boss, whatever you say, Hua Chun thought, pressing her lips together. “Fair enough, dead either way, might as well be more comfortable unbound.”

Glancing at her, Yuwen Jie reached out and pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I won’t let you die.”

Her heart warmed, and every hair on Hua Chun’s body, previously standing on end, softened at those words.

Though she knew keeping her alive would be extremely difficult, even if the emperor were merely comforting her with false hope, she was truly willing to be comforted.

Women in love are like this, inexplicably — knowing it’s a trap, as long as that person dug it, they’ll jump in anyway. Knowing it’s a lie, as long as that person said it, they’ll believe it anyway.

The water gradually cooled, and the emperor carried her out, dried her off, then set her on his lap, dressing her piece by piece.

Such treatment — nothing quite like it. Hua Chun sighed in satisfaction. “Well, this trip wasn’t for nothing.”

The emperor assumed she meant his visit here, so he didn’t respond, and once he’d finished dressing her, glanced outside at the sky. “I must return to the palace.”

“Mm, safe travels.” Rubbing her eyes, Hua Chun said, “Take care, Your Majesty.”

Still worried about him, huh — seems accepting him might not be so hard after all. Yuwen Jie nodded, his mood suddenly lighter, threw his cloak over his shoulders, and walked out.

By the time the sun rose, the prison guards had already changed shifts, and the death-row inmates due for execution had all met their fate. Eunuch Qin wiped the sweat from his brow, accompanying the emperor to court.

The past two days, the main topic of court discussion had been the punishment the Hua family deserved, and the emperor had remained solemn and grim-faced throughout. But today, for some reason, even those unfamiliar with the emperor could tell his mood was notably better.

Prince Xi glanced at him several times before cupping his hands. “The Hua residence has been searched and confiscated, the family assets seized. What should be done with the remaining family members?”

“Release them.” the emperor said. “All the guilt rests on Chancellor Hua alone — the rest of them are innocent.”