Chapter 322: Chapter 265: Heart-to-Heart at Night

Compared to the oppressive and gloomy atmosphere of the Prince Mansion, Shen Ruoxi felt rather at ease in the Imperial Palace.

With a calm mindset of accepting her circumstances, she instructed the palace maids to tidy up the room and soon lay down on the bed.

Just as she was about to drift into slumber, she faintly felt something amiss and suddenly opened her eyes.

In the dim light, it seemed there was a figure standing outside her bed curtain.

"Who is it?" she sharply demanded, and immediately saw the person had already approached the bedside.

"Ruoxi."

It was the Emperor. Shen Ruoxi felt a tinge of annoyance rise within her, "Your Majesty, why have you come to my room at this late hour instead of resting? I assume you entered the wrong room, please return."

She was indeed clever, subtly giving him a way out. However, he couldn’t just leave.

"Ruoxi, I specifically came to see you. Let’s speak across this curtain. I promise not to act inappropriately. Rest assured, let’s have a good conversation."

Shen Ruoxi sat up helplessly, tightly wrapping herself in the quilt, "Your Majesty, we have plenty of time to talk tomorrow. I am truly exhausted tonight. I won’t see you out."

The Emperor smiled faintly, "During the day, there are too many people and too much chatter. Even though I am the Emperor, I cannot do as I wish. You must remember, walls have ears. There are some heartfelt words I wish to share with you, and I hope you can open up your heart, without deception."

Silently, Shen Ruoxi sighed inwardly. Fine, since he wants to ask, let him ask.

"Please speak, Your Majesty," Shen Ruoxi responded reluctantly.

The Emperor nodded, "I never understood why I fell short compared to Xiao Chengyi? Even when your mother arranged your marriage, she refused to offer you to me?"

Shen Ruoxi pressed her lips together and, after a moment, slowly said, "Matters of the Royal Family are complex. My mother didn’t want me to be embroiled in it.

My mother now has only me as her child. She just hopes I can live safely, so she forced me to give up everything, just for me to live peacefully."

"And what do you think?" the Emperor pressed.

Shen Ruoxi really didn’t want to dwell on this, but she had to endure it, replying, "Your Majesty, my feelings for you are like those for an elder brother.

Regardless of whether you were the Crown Prince or an ordinary noble, I’ve never felt moved. So, this has nothing to do with your status."

The Emperor seemed unwilling to accept, "You mean to say my appearance doesn’t compare to Xiao Chengyi, so you can be moved by him but not by me?"

Shen Ruoxi furrowed her brow slightly, her gaze passing through the curtain to the shadowy figure, "Your Majesty, matters of the heart are not easily explained.

Xiao Chengyi might have just appeared at the right time, appointed by my mother, something different, but honestly there wasn’t much real affection involved.

As for you, though noble, you are not the tender part of my heart. My respect for you remains unchanged, and I hope Your Majesty won’t dwell on this further."

The Emperor sighed softly, "If I weren’t the Emperor, if I could take you around the world, would you then like me?"

His questions one after another left Shen Ruoxi at a loss. In the dead of night, her head ached fiercely, and she really didn’t want to be entangled in this sleepless chatter.

"Your Majesty, sleep! I’m tired, there’s no ’if,’ there really is no romantic affection towards you," Shen Ruoxi said with a furrowed brow.

"Don’t you want to know what I’m going to do?" The Emperor’s voice remained soft.

"Then it would be best if Your Majesty refrained from acting. If you cannot even trust the loyal and good in this world, you will end up a lonely figure, and will also earn infamy for future generations."

The Emperor understood she was being sarcastic, but he seemed not to mind. "My father once said that for one who becomes Emperor, the only person you can trust is yourself."

Shen Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh, "Since Your Majesty trusts only yourself, why not fight the battles yourself? People protect your peace, yet you repay them with destruction, what a benevolent ruler."

Perhaps only she dared to speak to him this way. The Emperor smiled wryly, "Ruoxi, stop being naïve. Do you think he really doesn’t want to?"

Shen Ruoxi was really too weary to continue the conversation, "Your Majesty, you barging into the room of a minister’s wife at night, what kind of propriety is that!"

The Emperor’s gaze was fixed intently on the curtain separating them. The thin curtain even faintly showed her silhouette.

In his heart, he really desired to tear down that silk veil in one stroke, then hold her tightly, kissing her fervently.

Sometimes he would secretly ask himself, why out of all the beauties in the harem, why couldn’t he just forget her, Shen Ruoxi?

Gradually, he seemed to understand. It had nothing to do with looks, only because she was Shen Ruoxi. She alone disturbed his sleep, and longing for her drove him nearly insane.

"Ruoxi, this is the Imperial Palace. I often recall the times I spent with your seventh brother. He was no less than I, and in some writings, even better;

yet such an outstanding man, I thought he would stay by my side as a civil servant, but he resolutely went to the battlefield. He didn’t even marry. I feel heartache whenever I think of it."

The Emperor’s words pierced directly into Shen Ruoxi’s pain, as if sprinkling salt onto an unhealed wound.

Shen Ruoxi’s eyes were full of grief and anger. Facing the Emperor, she shouted, "Your Majesty, you feel pain for my seventh brother, but have you ever thought? Only those who’ve personally experienced the battlefield know how cruel and desperate it truly is.

Every soldier on the battlefield, weren’t they all sons raised with care by their parents? Haven’t they all had families eagerly waiting for their return?

Countless soldiers fall in every battle; their blood spills freely over the land, yet who truly remembers their names and deeds?"

Shen Ruoxi’s voice trembled slightly as she continued, "Your Majesty, you enjoy the supreme honor of being the Emperor.

As for me, I only hope my child is safely born, and after he turns three, I wish to take my husband and child to Beichang to find my cousin-in-law. Together, we will travel the world.

Those who returned from the battlefield, do they not cherish life and see through fame and fortune? Because, in those moments of life and death, survival itself is a luxury.

Precisely because of this, life seems even more precious. I’ve said all that I can, please reconsider your thoughts."

Upon hearing her words, the Emperor chuckled, his smile carrying a hint of helplessness and madness.

He slowly spoke, "Do you know why I must take action?"

With a cool demeanor, Shen Ruoxi replied without hesitation, "Perhaps the Emperor has lost his senses."

The Emperor was momentarily stunned, then laughed softly, "Ruoxi, you’re right, I have lost my senses."

Shen Ruoxi was taken aback, her face full of disbelief, softly uttering, "Ah?"

The Emperor’s gaze became obsessed and fervent as he mumbled, "Lost my senses over you, willing to give up the throne for one woman.

I know there’s no chance of winning, but I cannot bear that you don’t belong to me. Even if there’s just a slim possibility, I am willing to give everything to fight for it."