Rong Mu’s face burned from being hoisted. 'Doesn't this Emperor sit and review memorials all day? How is his strength so great!' He struggled and had to soften his tone. "Your Majesty, let's talk nicely. Don't go getting handsy.."
"I refuse. I was somewhat distracted during court today. I didn't understand why before, but seeing the Consort now, I know. You must have given me some soul-confusing drug... My Consort smells truly fragrant."
As Shang Cizhou walked toward the dragon bed, he leaned in and sniffed at the crook of Rong Mu’s neck.
"The title of Consort was your own choice. I did not force you."
Rong Mu: "Your Majesty—"
Shang Cizhou’s eyes were dark and deep. That sudden surge of unfamiliar emotion from earlier had left him in an unstable state. The person in his arms was soft and fragile, as if he would break with just a little too much force.
This was a little toy he intended to use as a chess piece, yet in less than a day, he had felt a sense of crisis multiple times.
He had originally thought this was just a useless pawn sent by others to scout the way, but now he began to doubt if he was thinking too simply.
After all, the most dangerous existences often dress themselves in the simplest exteriors.
Who is Rong Mu?
He hadn't been this curious about something in a long time.
They reached the dragon bed quickly. As soon as his backside touched the mattress, Rong Mu sat bolt upright. "Your Majesty!"
Shang Cizhou grabbed Rong Mu’s chin, saying coldly, "You had best be well-behaved. Do not do anything I cannot tolerate."
Rong Mu’s brow furrowed in pain. He grabbed the Emperor’s arm. "I really have no intention of harming you! Calm down first, not everyone has a heart for murder!"
Shang Cizhou narrowed his eyes.
Rong Mu took a breath. "I know what my role is here. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry. I will naturally do what I must to share Your Majesty's burdens. We have a tacit understanding! But I also have one request."
The Emperor slowly released his grip, standing tall as he looked at Rong Mu. Miraculously, he didn't pursue Rong Mu’s informal choice of address.
Rong Mu’s gaze was serious, completely unaware of the floral fragrance spreading around him in his agitation. His voice was slightly raspy as he changed his wording with sincere emotion:
"In this life, this subject has no father or mother. I don't even know where I came from. The only person I've truly interacted with here is Your Majesty. I can participate in whatever beauty contest for you, and I can play any role you want me to, but please, Your Majesty, spare this subject's life. One day, let us part ways cleanly and allow me to go where I belong."
Shang Cizhou was silent for a good while before asking, "Where do you want to go?"
Rong Mu’s words were from the heart. He knew the Emperor was shrewd, so he didn't include a single lie. His lips moved: "Great Shang does not grow lotuses, but this subject was born with a love for them. I hope to have a vast lotus pond to live in. Currently, it seems only Nandai fits my hopes... So, after Your Majesty is finished with me, let me return to Nandai."
Shang Cizhou suddenly let out a laugh, his tone a murmur: "Great Shang does not grow lotuses... My Consort has done nothing for me yet, and already you are planning to leave. If you truly love lotuses that much, I could simply conquer Nandai and dedicate it solely to your rest and leisure. What do you think?"
Rong Mu’s eyes went wide. "You want to start a war?"
Shang Cizhou’s tone was low and cold. "Why not? My army is strong. What is wrong with doing something to win a beauty’s smile?"
The hair bells at the back of Rong Mu’s head chimed softly twice, sounding particularly clear amidst the breathing.
Is the Emperor truly insane?
No! The Emperor shouldn't be this reckless...
Shang Cizhou watched the youth slowly lower his head, his long, slender, pale hands clutching the quilt tightly.
The playfulness on the Emperor's face slowly vanished, replaced by a genuine coldness as he waited to see what Rong Mu would do.
'He looks so soft and gentle. Will he bow his head? Will he plead? Or will he regret his choices under pressure, regret that while he had the skill to sneak in, he failed to kill me in one stroke?'
Suddenly, Shang Cizhou felt a surge of utter boredom. He hadn't expected the other party to take a deep, heavy breath, look up directly at him, and say: "Your Majesty is not wrong. This empire is yours, you can do as you please. It has nothing to do with me. However... do you truly think starting a war this way will be interesting?"
Rong Mu stared intently at Shang Cizhou’s expression, not missing a single detail. "In Your Majesty's eyes, all of this is as boring as pieces on a chessboard to be toyed with, isn't it? You won't do that. It would be too childish. It offers no benefit to an Emperor who already possesses the world. You are just trying to frighten me..."
Or rather, testing me.
Testing whether a person of unknown origin, whom he doesn't trust, would use their current delicate position to craftily incite a war between two nations.
Shang Cizhou remained expressionless. After a long while, a trace of a smile appeared as he whispered, "Consort Rong is smart. I thought you truly understood nothing. If you really only possessed that much wit, I fear that if I threw you to the wolves, not even the hem of your robe would be left... then I would have to seek revenge for you. How troublesome."
Rong Mu let out a heavy sigh of relief.
It passed.
He knew a conversation like this was inevitable with the tyrant. They didn't know each other and were wary, having known each other for only a day and a night, the best way to understand one another was through mutual testing.
The Emperor now knew he had desires and wasn't just some brainless "white lotus" who cared about nothing. He, in turn, knew that no matter how crazy the Emperor seemed, there was a line, even if it was blurry and that was enough for the two of them to begin their subsequent cooperation.
Rong Mu tidied his messy collar and reached out to pat the bedding beside him.
"Your Majesty’s schemes are deep and your acting is superb, I admit defeat. If you're finished tossing me around, then hurry up and come to bed. I saw Eunuch Lang outside pacing so much he's nearly left an afterimage. It’s not easy for him at his age. Unlike me, who can still withstand Your Majesty’s teasing and temper... As for sleeping together, if Your Majesty doesn't agree to separate, we'll leave it like this for now. I won't do anything to you at night, so rest assured."
Shang Cizhou looked at Rong Mu. The youth’s long hair fell around him, his features peerlessly beautiful, like a jade figure personally sculpted by a goddess. Even the act of patting a quilt looked like an invitation.
He casually reached out and lowered the bed curtains, then suddenly spoke: "One thing I said just now was from the heart."
Rong Mu: "Ah?"
Shang Cizhou looked quietly at the youth, his eyes holding a tiny, faint trace of intoxication that even he wasn't aware of. "Consort Rong truly smells very fragrant... exactly like the Bijianxue outside the hall. Simply wonderful."
Rong Mu: "!"
You can mess with me, but stay away from my cute, giant flower vat! Aaargh!
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