Liu Liu froze, his lips slightly cool, carrying a faint scent of tea. Her tongue, agile and nimble, darted into her lips, turning and sucking.
This time, he truly felt that kissing a woman was a delightful affair, sweet and mellow, more fragrant than wine, sweeter than honey.
With this thought, he sucked harder. She nestled in his embrace, allowing him to inhale the sweet scent of licorice from her body, as fresh as the tip of a small, tender blade of grass, landing in the depths of his heart.
At this moment, he vaguely recalled, did he perhaps like this woman? The Emperor of Tianfeng Dynasty, who had always viewed women as mere garments, was actually beginning to like a woman, and it was the woman he detested the most.
He was stunned by his own thought, forgetting his next move. Liu Liu, however, had snapped out of her daze and quickly pushed him away.
Because he was lost in his own emotions, with a moment of carelessness, he was pushed away. After a long while, he came to his senses, gazing at the woman, her lips red and swollen, indescribably seductive, possessing a charm that made one yearn to taste.
Feng Xie quietly gazed at her lips, suddenly having a change of heart. If he liked her, so be it. Such an extraordinary woman, let her be an accident.
Perhaps in the future, he would dote on and like other women, but she was the first, the woman who stirred his affections. He would bestow upon her all his favor.
Feng Xie's expression transformed from initial ferocity to a handsome charm. He lightly licked his thin lips, the soft touch still lingering. He had not forgotten their five-day pact; only four days remained.
Then, he would see how she would provoke him, a meaningful smile hanging at the corner of Feng Xie's lips.
Liu Liu felt a chill all over her body. How did this man's gaze suddenly shift from fierce and enraged to sharp, as if it could pierce through her clothes, strip her naked, and throw her onto the bed? Or was she overthinking it?
"Empress, do not forget the five-day appointment," his voice rang out at the opportune moment.
Liu Liu immediately shot him a cold glance. She didn't need him to remind her; she remembered. Moreover, his gaze had clearly fallen upon her just now. She, who was usually indifferent in public, couldn't help but blush.
Despite being twenty years old, she was still inexperienced in matters of men and women, hence her natural shyness.
"Does Your Majesty have anything else? If not, Liu'er shall take her leave," she said hastily. She had initially thought she wouldn't escape misfortune today, but she hadn't expected Feng Xie to let her off, nor had she expected him to inquire about other matters.
However, she believed he would investigate, so she couldn't let down her guard. She calmly thought that she should cut off contact with everyone she needed to communicate with during this period.
Feng Xie's eyes, deep and unfathomable, watched her and nodded. She held many mysteries that he didn't know, which he didn't want to hear from her mouth, but he was willing to play this game, slowly peeling away her indifferent shell layer by layer, then stripping away her thorns, making her dependent only on him.
"Good. I wish for the Empress to stay peacefully in Huaqing Palace from now on and not commit any improper acts. Do not forget that you are my Empress, and you always will be."
Feng Xie's voice was hoarse as he spoke, emphasizing the last few words with particular weight.
Liu Liu's body trembled. She looked up, her usually placid eyes now filled with a trace of urgency, as if unwilling. Feng Xie, seeing her like this, suddenly felt a sense of ease. His phoenix-like brows unfurled, and he waved his hand.
"Empress, you may go and prepare. Tonight, I will accompany you to Prince Yan's residence to visit him. Princess Jielan came to see me today and said that the Empress wished to see Prince Yan, fearing that I would not agree, is that right? I will make an exception and allow the Empress to visit him, so that the Empress does not truly think that I am a narrow-minded person." Feng Xie spoke as if it were the truth, his narrow phoenix-like brows slightly raised, his sharp thin lips curving into a wicked smile, brimming with amusement.
Liu Liu, however, was stunned. A sudden pang of pain struck her heart, for the loss of a friend like Jielan. It seemed that women's friendships were indeed fragile.
As soon as they encountered a man they liked, they would not hesitate to hurt others to fulfill their own affections. Did such affections have any meaning?
She didn't know. All she knew was that she would never forgive those who betrayed her. Once betrayed, it meant they would never walk the same path.
Liu Liu didn't want to say anything more. If they wanted to meet, then so be it. Her relationship with Feng Lie was clean and clear; there was nothing to hide. Overthinking was the trait of those with dirty minds. Disdain flashed in her eyes, and a cold smile played on her lips. She gracefully took her leave.
"Liu Liu takes her leave." Without looking up, she withdrew. She didn't want to say anything more to the man in the study. Having narrowly escaped death, why court trouble again? To provoke him would be to plunge the Liu family into dire straits.
The man on the dragon bed, resplendent and breathtakingly handsome, leaned askew on the luxurious imperial couch. Watching the figure that quickly departed, a look of absolute possession was on his lips.
Liu Liu, since I know I like you, don't even think about escaping. Even if it's just a sliver of liking, you can only stay within my embrace.
His expression suddenly darkened. He hadn't forgotten the two officials imprisoned in the dungeon. That detestable Zhan Yun. If he found out that person was still scheming against the Empress, he would show no mercy. He called out sternly towards the door.
"Xiao Wanzi, immediately go to the dungeon and announce the decree. Zhan Yun and Zhao Jiu, for daring to fight wantonly in the imperial palace, each shall receive thirty great planks. Order Zhan Yun to return to Black Wind City immediately. Without my command, he is never to set foot in the capital again."
"Yes," came the respectful reply from behind the door, Xiao Wanzi wiping the sweat from his face.
What a close call just now. He thought the Empress would surely be severely punished. He hadn't expected the Emperor to not punish her, or rather, he seemed to have punished her. Otherwise, why would her lips be red and swollen?
Listening to the Emperor's voice from inside, it was much more pleasant than before. Xiao Wanzi quickly rushed out to announce the decree.
Liu Liu, after leaving the imperial study, led her maids Cui'er and Qiao'er back to Huaqing Palace. She remained silent all the way, her expression filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Cui'er cautiously observed her mistress's expression. When her mistress became so engrossed in thought that she almost bumped into a pillar, Cui'er, who usually found her mistress cold, quickly pulled her mistress back.
"Your Highness, be careful. What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed, you almost hit your head." Her tone held a slight hint of complaint. She was concerned for her mistress. Why was it that every time, it was so perilous? When she was clearly facing death, she somehow managed to turn the danger into safety. She would be scared to death by her mistress sooner or later.
"It's nothing. The Emperor asked me to visit Prince Yan with him tonight?"
Liu Liu shook her head, simultaneously shaking off the chaotic thoughts from her mind. She wouldn't think about Jielan anymore.
Although it was regrettable, some people were not meant for deep friendships. Why should she cling to it? She might as well think about tonight's matters. The Emperor wanted to go to Prince Yan's residence with her. How was Feng Lie?
He was, after all, someone she had cared about before. Naturally, she hoped he was happy.
"What?" Cui'er's little face showed a hint of shock. What did the Emperor mean? Knowing that Prince Yan liked her mistress, he still wanted her mistress to meet him. What was his intention? She looked up at her mistress. Hadn't her mistress explained to Princess Jielan that there was nothing between her and Prince Yan?
Why did the Emperor still want her mistress to meet him? Cui'er was bewildered and muttered softly.
"Didn't Your Highness explain to Princess Jielan?"
"Yes, I can misjudge people too." A cold smile played on Liu Liu's lips. She had originally wanted to befriend a woman like Jielan, which was why she even told her about past events. Unfortunately, she had ultimately hurt her good intentions. She had clearly refused to see Feng Lie, yet Jielan had actually told the Emperor that she had agreed.
She didn't believe that someone as intelligent as Jielan would carelessly utter such misleading words. Jielan was merely staging a play. She hoped Jielan would know when to stop, otherwise, she would not be worthy of Feng Lie. Liu Liu drifted lightly towards Huaqing Palace.