When Wan'er woke up, the first thing she saw was—A chest.A very sculpted, very warm chest.
Her hand was… wrapped around it.
Her brain needed a full three seconds to process the situation.
Then she almost screamed.Wait wait wait—why is there a man here?! Why is my hand THERE?!
Before she could react, a low, teasing voice brushed past her ear.
"Having fun?"
Wan'er froze. That voice… that gentle tone that could melt butter… sounded horribly familiar.
Her head tilted up—
"AH! You're that man!" she blurted out.
"…What man?" the emperor asked, raising a brow, amusement flickering across his face.
Wan'er's survival instincts kicked in. "Good morning, hubby!" she said, voice a little too cheerful.
"...Hubby?" Emperor Xiang repeated, cheeks faintly red before a smirk appeared.
Wan'er immediately sensed danger. "W-wait, hold on, I can explain—"
Too late.
The emperor leaned closer, eyes glinting. "So you remember calling me your husband now?"
Wan'er backed up until her shoulders hit the headboard.Why is he so close?! Why does he smell this good?! Why is my heart trying to defect?!
Then—
A short silence.
A long stare.
Wan'er blinked. "W-wait, last night we didn't actually—"
The emperor chuckled. "You talk too much in the morning."
Wan'er's brain: System Error 404.
A few hours later—
Servants who passed by the empress's chamber quickly turned red and ran off with trays half-held, whispering to each other in panic.
By noon, Wan'er could only lie flat on the bed, glaring at the ceiling like it had personally betrayed her.
"...Beast," she muttered, voice hoarse.
Every muscle in her body complained. Even her dignity hurt.
When she finally managed to get up, she walked like an elderly lady who had fought in five wars and lost all of them.
Her maid tried not to laugh and failed spectacularly.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?"
"Do I look all right?!" Wan'er hissed, clutching her lower back.
Still, she had no choice—she had to attend the morning greeting and meet the other concubines and consorts.
Wan'er took a deep breath.
'Okay. Straighten up. Act regal. Don't let them know you can barely walk. You're Empress Lian Wan'er—the unshakable, undefeatable… ow ow ow my spine—'
She limped toward the hall, muttering under her breath.
Behind her, the emperor sipped tea, smiling faintly."She's adorable when she's mad," he murmured.
The shadow guard, wisely, pretended to be deaf.