"Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with Ouyang Siqing?" Qin Yun asked softly.
"Why do you care so much about him?" Xie Qianmo was displeased.
"He and I are friends, isn't it normal for me to care?"
"If you truly want me to release him, then offer yourself to me!" Xie Qianmo stared intently at Qin Yun and stated his demand.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yun immediately fell silent, playing the mute.
"I knew you wouldn't want to!"
Since you're unwilling, then I'll keep him imprisoned!
It's better than Ouyang Siqing running to the Zhuangyuan mansion every day; it's annoying to look at him!
"Your Majesty!" Qin Yun tugged at Xie Qianmo's arm, deliberately and inadvertently acting spoiled.
Perhaps it was because she had become too close to Xie Qianmo during this period, but now, she occasionally revealed her girlish side.
"Are you... acting spoiled towards me?" Xie Qianmo was surprised to find that Qin Yun looked so adorable just now.
He really liked her like that!
Acting spoiled?
Realizing this, Qin Yun quickly withdrew her hand.
"That... that was a misunderstanding. How could I be acting spoiled!"
You clearly were, yet you refuse to admit it!
Xie Qianmo saw through it but chose not to expose her.
This fellow cares about appearances; he'll indulge her.
"It was my mistake. How could Scholar Qin act spoiled? That's something only little women do!"
You dog, calling me a little woman!
Then again, in front of him, she really was like a little woman.
"Your Majesty, I still have a question for you!"
"Please speak!"
"The Second Prince, how long do you plan to confine him?"
This matter of her cross-dressing!
She had not only implicated Ouyang Siqing but might have also implicated that bothersome Xie Jing'an.
His confinement might have something to do with her.
"Yesterday you cared about Ouyang Siqing, and today you care about Xie Jing'an. Qin Yun... why don't you care about me?"
Xie Qianmo gently stroked Qin Yun's hair and said, "I want your care too, is that possible?"
Qin Yun was somewhat flustered by Xie Qianmo's gentleness!
This man was becoming gentler day by day, how could she endure it!
"Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven; many people care about you! If you wish, they would be ecstatic to be by your side every day!"
"But I only want you by my side. I don't want anyone else!"
Xie Qianmo took Qin Yun's small hand and kissed the back of it. "Qin Yun, I've also sacrificed a lot for you, do you know that?"
"I...?" Qin Yun wanted to say something, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"For you, I'm willing to be a homosexual. I am an Emperor; procreation is extremely important, yet I am willing to abandon it and abdicate in the future!"
"I've decided. The day you truly accept me, I will pass the throne to that brat Xie Jing'an. We can then travel the world, far from the troubles of the mortal realm."
Xie Qianmo looked at Qin Yun with sincerity, his words filled with earnestness.
Qin Yun was completely taken aback by Xie Qianmo's grand gesture!
She hadn't thought that far ahead.
She had always been focused on revenge, and after revenge, how to restore her identity and avoid beheading!
"Your Majesty, do you truly like men?" Qin Yun asked earnestly.
Xie Qianmo was somewhat baffled by Qin Yun's question.
What did Qin Yun mean by asking that?
She was a man, wasn't she?
He was very sure that he liked her!
"Yes, I just like people like you!"
Hearing this, Qin Yun not only felt no joy but also felt a pang of sadness!
The scoundrel liked men!
What should she do then?
If it were like this, she would never dare to accept him, and thus, she could never be truly honest with him!
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Qin Yun shook her head. "No, it's just that I am not good enough for Your Majesty's affections."
"But I only want you!"
Qin Yun bit her lower lip and asked softly, "Your Majesty, why don't you like women?"
"Actually, women are quite good. Your Majesty, why not... try to like one?"
Hearing Qin Yun say this, Xie Qianmo's expression turned cold.
He was clearly angered by this.
"You want me to like other women? You're pushing me towards someone else?"
That wasn't what she meant!
She liked him very much too; how could she bear to give him to another woman!
But the scoundrel had clearly misunderstood.
How should she explain?
"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant!"
"Then what do you mean?" Xie Qianmo pushed Qin Yun away, his face extremely displeased.
"I... I...!" After stammering for a long time, Qin Yun couldn't articulate a coherent reason.
"From the very beginning, you never intended to accept me. We've been together for so long, yet you've always rejected me, never allowing me to touch you."
Xie Qianmo grew agitated. Thinking about how Qin Yun had intentionally or unintentionally kept her distance, his heart ached.
He was willing to give up the throne and heirs for her, yet she still rejected him. What more did she want him to do for her to accept him!
"If I wanted a woman, there are people who would crawl onto my dragon bed. Do I need your guidance for that?"
"To think you'd tell me to like other women. Very well, do you think I can't find anyone else without you?"
Xie Qianmo grew increasingly angry as he spoke, saying fiercely to Qin Yun, "Anyway, you've had concubines and favored other women before. If I don't find some women to favor, I'd feel like I'm losing out!"
"Guards!"
Fang Jing slowly approached Xie Qianmo. "Your Majesty, what is your command?"
"Find a beauty to serve me. I wish to favor a beauty tonight!"
Fang Jing raised his eyes, looking at the pale Qin Yun, and then at the enraged Emperor!
He thought: Are these two having a lovers' quarrel?
"Why are you standing there? Hurry up and go!" Xie Qianmo roared, picked up the memorial on the dragon desk, and hurled it at Fang Jing.
"Yes, yes, yes, this servant will go and summon the beauty right away!"
Qin Yun bit her lower lip tightly, her lips almost bleeding.
How could he do this?
If it were in the past, she wouldn't have cared how many beauties he favored!
But after spending these days together, her heart had fallen for him.
She seemed to have truly fallen in love with the man before her!
Yet, he was going to favor other women!
"Since Your Majesty wishes to favor a beauty, I shall not disturb you. I take my leave!"
"Wait."
Qin Yun stopped, asking blankly, "Does Your Majesty have any other matters?"
"Didn't you tell me to like women? If so, then stay. Watch me... as I favor another woman!"
Heh!
Qin Yun chuckled internally!
To watch him favor another woman was worse than death!
"I cannot do that!"
"You must do it even if you cannot. This matter is not up to you!"
Qin Yun, disregarding everything, strode towards the exit.
But how could Xie Qianmo let her leave!
He called for a eunuch to grab Qin Yun, refusing to let her go!
Soon after!
Fang Jing arrived with a beautiful lady.
Upon hearing that the Emperor was to favor a beauty today, the lady was overjoyed!
After receiving Fang Jing's assurance, she immediately cleaned herself thoroughly and dressed up beautifully!
Normally, bathing and grooming took several hours, but today she only took the time it takes to brew a cup of tea!
Her sole aim was to quickly gain the Emperor's favor!