Chapter 160: Chapter 102: Eavesdropping on Their Conversation

Days passed by indifferently.

On this day, a messenger from the palace brought an imperial summons, saying that Consort Xian requested Shen Ruoxi to enter the Imperial Palace.

In the past two days, even though Shen Ruoxi had visited her grandparents, she hadn’t had time to speak properly with her cousin.

So, she hurriedly tidied up and followed the eunuch into the Imperial Palace in a rush.

Upon seeing Xu Ci, Shen Ruoxi respectfully performed a curtsy.

Xu Ci dismissed the servants from the room and then fondly pulled her to sit down.

“You’ve lost weight and gotten tanner,” Xu Ci couldn’t help but sigh.

“Don’t I look refreshed?” Shen Ruoxi joked lightly, looking relaxed.

Xu Ci lightly nodded, her gaze carefully observing her.

Indeed, she used to be dazzlingly beautiful, like a painting, too perfect, but somehow unreal, even somewhat lifeless.

But now, she was completely different, her whole being was full of vitality, especially her eyes, sparkling like brilliant stars in the night sky, exuding energy everywhere.

“You are spirited.”

As Xu Ci’s voice faded, she suddenly coughed once, then quickly wrote in Shen Ruoxi’s palm: The Emperor is in the inner room.

Shen Ruoxi was instantly stunned, while Xu Ci nodded slightly at her.

In shock, Shen Ruoxi almost broke out in a cold sweat.

Just a moment ago, she was thinking of confiding in her cousin, telling her that she absolutely wouldn’t enter the palace, and that Prince Zhan arranged the engagement to prevent her from entering the palace.

If the Emperor had heard all of this, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel angry. The Emperor eavesdropping like this was truly unseemly.

“Have some tea first, I have something to ask you,” Xu Ci’s voice broke her train of thought.

“Alright,” Shen Ruoxi replied, then took a sip of tea.

Xu Ci, with a calm gaze, asked plainly, “How did you come to fall for Prince Zhan? Cousin wants to hear the truth.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruoxi didn’t hide anything and recounted everything honestly: “I went to the military camp, but they wouldn’t let me in, even shot arrows at me. Snow-Stepping was startled and took me on a wild run. Coincidentally, we ended up rescuing the injured Prince Zhan in the wilderness.”

“Just saving someone, but how come?” Xu Ci glared at her deliberately, her tone full of reproach.

Shen Ruoxi bit her lip, a slight blush rose to her face as she softly said, “Cousin, feelings are actually quite inexplicable. I don’t know how, but I find the Prince very captivating.”

What Shen Ruoxi said was true, she hadn’t thought about it that way before.

Since he spoke of marrying her and then passionately kissed her by the boulder, her heart felt bound to him, unable to let go.

“Are you aware that he has feelings for another woman?”

Xu Ci asked, gazing intently at Shen Ruoxi, her lips mouthed silently, “Honestly, do you know or not?”

Shen Ruoxi fell silent, and Xu Ci’s hand subconsciously clenched. It was clear if this were true, she would, at any cost, stop Shen Ruoxi from marrying Jun Moling.

Shen Ruoxi smiled gently and said, “He has said as much, but that woman and he could never have an outcome.

He has been completely transparent with me, solely wanting to build a life together with me.

Cousin, I wouldn’t dare boast of making a man unwaveringly loyal, seeing that Xiao Chengyi is a contrary example.

But I can sincerely feel that the Prince genuinely treats me differently, he cares deeply about me.”

Hearing this, Xu Ci sighed slightly with relief, then asked, “Then tell me, how is he treating you differently?”

Shen Ruoxi’s eyes softened as she recalled the past: “He has saved me before. Once, in the middle of a lake, I found myself in danger, and he came to my rescue desperately.

And when I attempted to cut the iron lock of the hanging bridge, he rushed to protect me at all costs.

If truly faced with a life-and-death decision between us, he would choose to let me live.”

Xu Ci slightly frowned and said, “Perhaps he just sees you as the daughter of the Loyalty Marquis, Shen Family’s only heir, which is why he cares so much. It may not involve love.”

Shen Ruoxi gently shook her head, saying, “Cousin, where in the world is there so much profound love? Many couples are simply partners for daily life.

The Prince cares for me, and that’s enough, for I genuinely like him. Cousin, surely you’ll bless us, right?”

Xu Ci was instantly taken aback, knowing well the Emperor was in the room, how could she bless the two of them openly?

“You should also know the Emperor is deeply in love with you. Have you never considered him?

He is the Emperor, and his feelings for you have never changed. Are you completely unmoved, not touched in the slightest?”

At this moment, Xu Ci acted as the Emperor’s mouthpiece.

The Emperor inside heard, his eyes warmed with emotion.

He couldn’t comprehend why, as the dignified Emperor, after humbly confessing his feelings, he could not receive a response.

What was it about himself that was inferior to Jun Moling?

He was filled with unwillingness and disappointment, yet there was nothing he could do.

He could only silently listen to the words of the woman outside, his heart mixed with emotions.

At this moment, inside the room, he held his breath, focusing all his attention on the words she was about to say.

Shen Ruoxi slowly said, “During my seventh brother’s life, he and the Emperor had a close relationship, being extremely good friends. Because of this, I was fortunate enough to have met the Emperor as well.

The Emperor is indeed a good person, which everyone knows, otherwise, he wouldn’t be known as a renowned humane ruler.

But cousin, I have always regarded the Emperor as a big brother like my seventh brother. What logic is there for a sister to marry her brother?

Cousin, my feelings for the Emperor are not romantic. Should I enter the palace, I could cause harm to the Emperor, since my heart belongs to Prince Zhan.”

Xu Ci could clearly feel the Emperor’s shattered heart in the room; she continued to ask, “Then what exactly do you like about Prince Zhan?”

Shen Ruoxi gently shook her head, yet her eyes brightened astonishingly, perhaps even unbeknownst to herself.

“I can’t clarify exactly, it just happened quietly during our interactions.

I remember the time I went to pay respects at my father’s and brother’s cenotaph, someone planted explosives there. He thought I was dead from the explosion, and he was nearly scared out of his wits; at that moment, I realized how important I was.

He hugged me tightly as if I was a rare gem regained, his eyes turned red.

In that instant, I truly felt my weight in his heart.”

Even without seeing it, just from her voice full of emotion, the Emperor could sense when she spoke of Jun Moling, how much she cared.

She seemed to be glowing from head to toe; she authentically and deeply liked this cousin of hers, even not caring if his heart might hold another woman.

The Emperor had never felt so defeated; it felt like his heart had been shattered into countless pieces.

Xu Ci knew well that there was no point in asking further, as her affection for Jun Moling was unwavering, and that was sufficient.

“The lotus pond in the Imperial Garden is breathtakingly beautiful, let’s go for a walk,” Xu Ci said softly.

“Alright,” Shen Ruoxi agreed.

Shen Ruoxi understood in her heart that their departure was to leave space for the Emperor, allowing him to come out.

Inside, the Emperor appeared so lonely and desolate, gazing in the direction of their departure, his eyes filled with pain and loss.

She ultimately belonged to someone else, not to him, no matter what turbulence they went through, no matter how much he loved her, the husband she chose would never be him!

At this moment, he had no choice but to consent, having no other choice.

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