The clear rippling water came just above his chest.

Her hands clung to his shoulders as he held her in his embrace, their unclothed bodies pressed tightly together. The warm, silky water found its way into every crevice, light ripples caressing her chest and back like fine cotton causing tickles, making her unconsciously curve her lips slightly.

Warm mist swirled between them, softening his sharp brows and making his unusual dark eyes glisten with points of light.

On the thick snow by the pool’s edge, their robes and belts lay in disarray. The golden bamboo embroidery on the long apron was exceptionally eye-catching as if it would melt all the ice and snow into water.

She had intended to help him undress, but instead, he had torn her official gown to pieces. Even her middle garment and waistband could not escape his large hands. Unable to resist his strength, she was unceremoniously dragged into the water within moments.

She had thought his actions were to seek pleasure from her, but after entering the water, he became gentle, merely holding her against his chest without further movement.

The mountain valley was quiet, with a few sparse stars occasionally twinkling in the night sky. The lights in the nearby hall had not been extinguished, still casting their glow, softly illuminating the snow all around.

Everything was so beautiful.

So beautiful that she still could not believe it was real.

But his heartbeat was so strong, and the arm embracing her was extraordinarily firm, making it impossible for her not to believe this was real.

“Meng Tinghui.”

In her scattered consciousness, she suddenly heard him call her name softly. She quickly looked up. “Your Majesty?”

He was not as sharp as usual, but rather full of warmth, looking deep into her eyes. His large hand traced up along her spine. Seeing her face flush red as she bit her lip and moaned softly, he curved his lips in a low laugh, his fingers removing the hairpin from the back of her head with one pull, allowing her long hair to fall into the water.

Beneath the hot spring water, her body was half-hidden, half-visible, hazy, and extremely alluring.

Dark hair, smooth back, surrounded by snow, with tempting red lips.

He looked at her, his long fingers moving to caress the corners of her eyes and curved eyebrows.

In front of others, she was so strong that even the greatest matters could not shake her determined belief in climbing upward. Yet before his eyes, she was so unguarded, offering herself completely to him without reservation.

And this appearance of her as a delicate woman was something only he in this world could see.

Thinking this, the corners of his mouth curved upward again. One hand firmly held her waist from behind as he lowered his head to kiss her face, then pecked her lips, calling her name once more: “Meng Tinghui.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, intoxicated by his gentle touch. His voice by her ear was as captivating as always, making her entire body go soft. When she spoke, she was equally powerless: “…This subject is here.”

“The matter in Liuqi County must have been difficult for you.” He said, his voice low and calm. “Di Nian has already presented the details of the rebellion’s suppression to me during the day.”

She lowered her eyelashes and acknowledged with a sound.

He observed her expression and asked nonchalantly: “Do you have anything to tell me?”

While she was in Qingzhou, she had sent a memorial to the capital stating that she had ordered the complete execution of the rebellious troops due to their insincere surrender, without mentioning her secret manipulations. Hearing his tone now, she knew he couldn’t possibly be without suspicion. How could someone as intelligent and perceptive as he be deceived?

But since he asked this way, it meant he had no intention of exposing her, but rather wanted her to confess voluntarily.

After contemplating for a moment, she finally steeled herself and said softly: “This subject’s words were fully expressed in the previous long memorial, with nothing more to add.”

He gazed at her deeply for a while and finally said nothing, only holding her tighter.

She buried her face against his chest, slightly closing her eyes.

Given the current situation, rather than revealing that she had strategically executed several thousand imperial guards and soldiers because of his edict, it was better to keep this matter buried in her heart. No matter what happened in the future, it would not implicate him in the slightest. Why bother confessing?

This embrace was so warm, and for her, it was enough. More than enough.

More than ten years ago, on that night, she had also buried her face against him like this. The warmth from the young man’s chest had driven away the cold in her heart. Since then, she had only wanted him, wishing for him to be the only man in her life. Now, being able to receive even a portion of his tenderness felt like a divine blessing, filling her heart with contentment.

He suddenly asked: “Do you resent my ruthlessness?”

She slowly shook her head. “…Initially it was Your Majesty’s edict, but after entering Liuqi County, this subject truly felt that the rebel troops were unforgivable. If one battalion were pardoned, all troops along the northern border would become future troubles. For the greater good, even ruthlessness is necessary.”

His expression became somewhat solemn, and his voice lowered: “Since you think this way, I will no longer blame you.” After a pause, he continued: “With the fate of the empire at stake, there are often difficult decisions to make, but when considering the welfare of all people, ruthlessness cannot be avoided…”

She didn’t understand why his words had suddenly turned in this direction, and his tone was quite solemn, as if there was a hidden meaning within. But she couldn’t discern it clearly, so she simply nodded gently to show her understanding.

The warm, slightly hot spring water made her skin begin to flush red. Her bones and meridians felt as if they were being permeated by the heat, making her entire body restless with warmth.

Her face nuzzled against his chest as she said softly: “Your Majesty…”

He responded with a low sound, “Is the bath comfortable?”

She looked up at him, her watery eyes gazing at him, her lips moving a few times before saying: “Comfortable.” As she spoke, her hands began to wander restlessly over his body.

Wherever her fingers passed, they found taut firmness. Though she could feel him, he merely allowed her to touch him as she pleased, remaining motionless for a long time.

She was burning with heat. Clinging to his shoulders, she moved closer to kiss him. Her eyelashes brushed against his face, then opened again, her eyes covered with a layer of misty moisture. Her voice was somewhat muffled: “…Did Your Majesty bring this subject here tonight truly just to appreciate the snow?”

The depths of his eyes were filled with amusement, his expression relaxed. “…Truly just to appreciate the snow.”

She pressed her lips together, lowered her head without a sound, her body pressed against his, no longer moving restlessly.

He did not make love to her, yet her heart was filled with an itching desire. However, she could never bring herself to say such words. Regardless of how embarrassing it would be for a woman to speak of such things, considering her status, how could she possibly ask the Emperor for such matters?

Just thinking about it made her inwardly scold herself for wasting her extensive knowledge of the sages. Previously, when others called her a fawning, favored official, she could claim they misjudged her. But now, what filled her mind were truly the thoughts and actions of a flattering minister.

She suddenly felt a bit annoyed and raised her head, frowning slightly as she said softly: “Your Majesty deceived this subject terribly outside Chong Prefecture. Had this subject known earlier that the person in her heart was the current ruler of the realm, there would have been no possibility of behaving that way during the provincial examination.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I did not deceive you.”

Hearing this, she grew even more annoyed. “Your Majesty claimed to be surnamed He and named Du. How is that not deceiving this subject?”

He laughed lazily. “In those years, the Emperor and Prince Ping gave me a double name. This is known to all under heaven. Saying I was surnamed He was merely following my father’s precedent when traveling incognito.” He lightly pinched her chin, his expression showing slight displeasure. “As for you, daring to directly call the imperial name, what punishment should you receive?”

She remained defiant, saying: “The Emperor and Prince Ping also said that although the Crown Prince had a double name, the character ‘Du’ was not taboo, and people throughout the realm need not avoid this character.”

He smiled, his thin lips curving into an attractive arc. Lowering his head to kiss her, their tongues entwined for a long while before he pressed his forehead against hers and said hoarsely: “Call my name once, let me hear it.”

“Does Your Majesty wish for this subject to forfeit her life?” Her face was flushed red, her eyes bright. Though her words expressed fear, her expression showed no trace of it as she moved close to his ear, her lips quickly whispering two characters: “…Ying Gua.”

His body trembled slightly, his lips still curved, the amusement in his eyes not fading. “Meng Tinghui, you are truly audacious beyond measure.”

Yet the warmth in his heart surged wave after wave.

From childhood to adulthood, besides his lofty parents, who else would dare to call him by his name? And this character “Gua”—how many people’s great hopes, expectations, and trust had he carried because of it? For over twenty years, day and night, his concerns had been for this realm and empire; when had he ever placed personal feelings in his heart?

But tonight, at this moment, he so deeply desired to hear her call his name.

This word, lightly uttered from her lips, floated freely without restraint, just like her feelings for him—as pure as snow, without any burden.

It made him unable to suppress the emotions in his heart any longer.

She lowered her eyes and said softly: “This subject relies on Your Majesty’s favor to dare be so audacious.” She paused slightly, her voice dropping. “…Because this subject does not know which day she will no longer have Your Majesty’s favor. At that time, wishing to be audacious will no longer be possible.”

He gripped her face, forcing her to look at him. His eyes burned with intensity as he spoke slowly: “I have never been a person without feelings or desires. It is only that since childhood, I witnessed the undying love between my mother the Empress, and my father the Prince. I did not know there would be anyone in this world who could move me to such emotions.”

She stared at him in astonishment, never having expected him to say such things.

He fixed his gaze on her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly again as he said, word by word: “If I am moved to deep emotion, heaven and earth can bear witness, and this empire stands as proof. Meng Tinghui, do you hear me?”