Tang Guo leaned against the soft cushion, reading a storybook. Suddenly, a figure darted into the hall. Sensing the familiar presence, she didn’t even lift her eyelids.
She was already accustomed to Xuanyuan Mie barging into her palace in broad daylight.
This time, he pulled her into his arms as soon as he approached, burying his head in the crook of her neck and even taking a playful bite. He said in a hoarse voice, “Guo’er, I’m so jealous.”
“So it turns out that when Second Brother almost drowned as a child, it was you who saved him.”
It was also revealed that Guo’er’s fall into the water was caused by Xuanyuan Mo. Ever since, her knees would ache during rainy weather for the rest of her life.
Not only was he jealous, but he also felt a deep ache in his heart.
He toyed with a small dog-shaped sachet. “I found out that back then, he only remembered this specific totem. When he first saw An Ningxiang in the harem, he assumed she was the one who saved him.”
“Second Brother is actually a very calculating yet cautious person. He never intended to let An Ningxiang know about this. What he wanted was to protect her and preserve her purity, not wanting her to think that his love for her stemmed from a debt of gratitude for saving his life. As for the events of their childhood, he probably planned to tell her much later.”
Xuanyuan Mie released Tang Guo and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “The irony is that it was precisely because of his caution that he missed the real person. I’m so jealous, yet I feel lucky. But at the same time, it hurts so much.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist with such gentleness and care, as if afraid of hurting her. “Jealous that he met Guo’er first, lucky that he missed out on her, but heartbroken that Guo’er was left with a lingering ailment because of him and was hurt by him.”
If it weren’t for that first, unforgettable moment of love at first sight, that overpowering feeling, he might have also become an accomplice in the farce.
For a moment, the hall fell into an eerie silence.
“Guo’er, let me massage your knees. The rainy season is coming again,” Xuanyuan Mie said, squatting down. He placed his hands gently on her knees, looked up at her, and flashed a mischievous smile. The deep affection in his eyes were so intense that words were unnecessary.
Tang Guo met his gaze directly and smiled slightly. “I only like Ah Mie. I won’t like him.” Her slender jade-like hand caressed his cheek. “Ah Mie should think about how to face the chaos that’s coming next. When Xuanyuan Mo finds out the truth, he will definitely come here. Once our relationship is exposed, you’ll have to endure being pointed at and judged every single day.”
“Guo’er, you underestimate me. I’ve never cared about the opinions of others.”
He rose halfway and held her waist again. “I only care about you.”
“I know.”
“As long as I’m here, no one will dare mock Ah Mie.”
Xuanyuan Mie shook his head and laughed. When Guo’er treated him kindly, he felt as though he wanted to give her his entire heart to devour. This petite girl, declared that she’d protect him. It was a strangely wonderful feeling.
He was truly, deeply in love with Guo’er.
So much so that she was engraved in the deepest corners of his heart.
“Your Majesty.”
The sudden appearance of a shadow guard startled Xuanyuan Mo. He froze for a moment before speaking. “Did you find anything?”
“Found it.”
“Bring it to me.”
Xuanyuan Mo flipped through the information, page by page. His fingers turned pale from gripping too hard. When he reached the last page, his eyes were bloodshot. He clutched the final sheet tightly, his breathing ragged and uneven.
“Are you certain there’s no mistake?” he asked, his teeth chattering as he spoke.
“Yes.”
Xuanyuan Mo stared blankly at the dragon desk. After a long time, he waved his hand. “Leave me.”
When the imperial study was left with only him, his entire body seemed to lose all strength. He slumped weakly against the dragon throne, his reddened eyes brimming with sorrow. A single tear slid down, falling onto the page and smudging the words into a blur.
“It really was her!”
Xuanyuan Mo clutched his face in agony, his body trembling as if his internal organs were being torn apart. Suddenly, he let go, his face drained of all color, his eyes losing their brilliance. All that remained was a deep sense of helplessness and confusion.
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