"Do you think I wanted this? But you wouldn’t enter the palace. If I didn’t do this, how could I see you?"

"I’m not like you, you little heartless thing. Even if you don’t see someone forever, you never miss them. But as for me, when I don’t see Yao’er for a single day, I think of her like a madman..."

He lowered his head and gently pinched her cheek, sighing helplessly.

To not see someone for a day, and miss them like mad...

Yun Wanyao’s mind was a bit muddled as she reached up to touch the spot he had pinched, the words echoing in her mind. It felt like a dream, so unreal.

How did he become so different from the Crown Prince she remembered?

In her memory, he was aloof, sullen, and arrogant, as if speaking an extra word was a great favor to everyone in the country. Yet now, he could speak words of love.

It’s truly unbelievable.

She almost couldn’t help but suspect her memory was faulty.

"Your Majesty, don’t joke. In all these years, the times I’ve met Your Majesty don’t even count on one hand..."

She couldn’t finish before he interrupted her with a light laugh.

"Heh, is Yao’er blaming me for not visiting you sooner?"

She quickly defended herself, "I am not!"

That really wasn’t what she meant.

She just wanted to say that they had seen each other so rarely over the years, yet everything had been fine. How could longing suddenly become so unbearable?

"That’s because you had a betrothal, and I feared that after seeing you, I might not be able to restrain myself from doing something to hurt you..."

So, he forced himself not to seek her out.

He managed, but no one knew how painful it was for him to endure. Many times, he almost couldn’t take it.

Luckily, heaven finally heard his prayers and made her appear in front of him willingly.

Indeed, what you constantly think of will eventually bear fruit.

"But today is different. Now you’re free, and if I wish to see you, I can. Why should I worry so much?"

"If I don’t act promptly, what if someone else interferes again?"

"Yun Wanyao, I won’t let anyone have the chance to take you away again."

When he was young and his father was still reigning, many decisions weren’t his to make. So, he could only watch helplessly as she was betrothed to Mo Yuanhao, anger burning in his heart, but powerless to change it.

But now, he is the sky of Da Wu Country.

Everything he wants or doesn’t want, no one can dictate.

His words were so straightforward that Yun Wanyao didn’t know what to say.

There was a moment of silence before she voiced her complex concerns quietly.

"But still, you can’t come to my room so late at night, it will damage my reputation."

Mo Yuanlin sighed, "Isn’t that because you didn’t reply to my letters..."

"Under heaven, only you dare not to reply to the Holy Emperor’s letters. Aren’t you scared of me? Where did you find the courage not to respond?"

Yun Wanyao responded sullenly, "Your Majesty’s letters are a personal affair. There is no law in our dynasty requiring me to reply to personal letters, so I haven’t broken any laws. Why should I be afraid?"

Not bad, she even knows how to cite the law. Mo Yuanlin raised an eyebrow.

"But I clearly instructed Yun Wanye to convey my message that you must reply. Disobeying is defying Imperial orders and showing disrespect to the Holy Emperor."

Yun Wanyao: "..."

"So, does the Emperor wish to punish me?"

"Considering you’re currently in my embrace, I won’t punish you, but don’t let it happen again. Under heaven, only my Empress can act so freely with me. Do you understand, Yao’er?"

Oh, understood, he’s obviously enticing her to become his Empress.

Yun Wanyao grew interested.

"Freely? What do you mean by that? Can the Emperor speak a bit more specifically?"

"Literal meaning, except for state affairs, you can do anything with me privately..."

Can I hit him?

Can I covet his throne?

Yun Wanyao didn’t believe it, but she didn’t dare to say it. Both are extreme treacheries, which could lead to her family being exterminated without anyone uttering a word.

Has she really been influenced by her younger sister’s Empress theories?

Otherwise, how could such wild thoughts arise?

"So, Yao’er, do you wish to be my Empress?"

He asked softly, his voice husky, sending a tickling sensation to her ears.

Yun Wanyao shrank back, saying, "Before answering that, Your Majesty, can you promise me one thing?"

"What is it, Yao’er? Speak and let me hear it."

He responded quickly.

After receiving permission, Yun Wanyao slowly voiced her thoughts.

"Well, it’s like this. Your Majesty knows that my parents shared a deep love, which has always been my example. I long for that kind of love."

"Of course, I also know that as an Emperor, you’re destined to have a harem, so it’s excessive to ask this of you."

"Therefore, I don’t demand it, only hope you can grant me a divorce decree without a date and a residence."

"If you find someone else, the divorce decree takes immediate effect, and I’m allowed to leave the palace."

"I know that there’s no precedent for divorce in the Imperial Family, but I also know that you’re not like other emperors. If you want, you can make it happen, right?"

A divorce decree!!!

Those words hurt his ears, and Mo Yuanlin’s lips tightened with some displeasure in his heart.

They weren’t even married yet, and she’s already contemplating divorce. Does he mean so little to her?

But thinking it over, he understood her feelings.

Most women are anxious about marriage. It’s natural to have concerns. Compared to others only consumed by jealousy, her viewpoint is admirable.

Coming to his senses, he sighed lightly and said, "But what if I don’t want a harem filled with consorts?"

Having been through so much, Yun Wanyao had long lost interest in "what if" scenarios and completely didn’t believe it. She directly dismissed that statement.

"There are too many changes. Let’s not talk about assumptions now. If Your Majesty agrees to my condition, I’ll try to get along with you."

"If you don’t agree, I ask you to let me go, considering my father and brother have worked tirelessly for Da Wu Country."

"I don’t have high ambitions; I don’t seek true love, nor do I want to live confined within palace walls, fighting tooth and nail with other women."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuanlin was almost amused with vexation.

She wasn’t even willing to give him a bit of trust, hadn’t considered a sincere romance with him, and agreed to try getting along only because circumstances forced her hand.

His pursuit was so intense that she felt compelled to comply.

Was he so unworthy of trust?

Suppressing his discontent, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

"Fine, I promise you, if I ever have another woman, I’ll allow you to leave the palace, grant you a residence, and even bestow upon you the title of Female Marquis, how about that? But I have a condition too."

Yun Wanyao: "?????"

He’s the Emperor; what could he possibly not achieve and still need to negotiate with her?

But that he agreed to her terms and promised to make her Female Marquis was beyond her expectations.

There had been Female Marquises in history, but they were known as Iron Ladies, adept in military strategy and operations, mastering all sorts of weapons, unmatched in leading troops and battles. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

They were ennobled step by step through military merit. What had she done to deserve that?

"Uh, what is the condition? Please, Your Majesty, do tell."

Given such high stakes, the condition must not be ordinary.

But at this juncture, regardless of the condition, she had no choice but to brace herself and accept.