She raised her hand and gently touched his hair. The man tilted his head back, trying to avoid her touch, but seeing the tears in her eyes, a sense of confusion and struggle arose within him. He gazed at her steadily.
Qingyao parted the messy hair from his face, revealing a handsome yet disheveled countenance. His eyes were large and dark, like a deep pool filled with lifeless water, his gaze blank.
But he was indeed the person they were looking for, the true emperor of Xian Yue, Mu Rong Liu Zun.
Though he had become thinner, his chin pointed, his handsome profile was clearly visible to everyone.
Mo Chou and Bing Xiao were so startled that they fell to their knees with a thud. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The man's cold eyes swept over them as if he hadn't seen them. He remained seated on Qingyao, asking persistently, "And who are you?"
Qingyao looked at him with a gentle smile. Thinking of the suffering he had endured, her eyes softened as if fragrant flowers had fallen upon a clear spring, drifting downstream.
"I am your wife, husband. I have found you."
"Wife, you are my wife?"
Mu Rong Liu Zun was stunned. Then, his frozen face seemed to thaw, covered by the warmth of spring. He flipped over, helped Qingyao up from beneath him, and embraced her tightly. His voice was filled with overwhelming joy.
"Wife, that's wonderful! You came to find me. I was so scared. That wicked woman kept me tied up. Wife, you're finally here. Please, never leave me again, okay?"
As he spoke, his voice carried a hint of sorrow. Mo Chou and Bing Xiao stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation before them. Their eyes were wide, their mouths agape.
Their minds felt hot, their expressions dazed, as if they were dreaming.
However, Qingyao had not forgotten where they were. While softly comforting Liu Zun, she tidied her slipped-off clothes and calmly instructed, "Let's go quickly. If we alert someone, it will be a huge problem."
"Wife, where are we going?"
"Wife, are we going home?"
The group left the laundry bureau. In the darkness, the Emperor's confused voice could be heard from time to time.
Qingyao held him tightly, quickly melting into the night. Behind them, Mo Chou and Bing Xiao cautiously surveyed their surroundings. The area was empty, with no signs of activity. The group quickly crossed pavilions and bridges, nearing Feng Luan Palace.
Qingyao feared that Mu Rong Liu Zun might cry out loudly and alert the eunuchs and maids within Feng Luan Palace, as she didn't know how many people there might be from other factions, so caution was necessary.
"Husband, shall we play a game? From now on, neither of us speaks. Whoever speaks loses, and the winner gets a reward."
Qingyao coaxed him. In the darkness, her eyes shone as brightly as dazzling stars, making her clear and exquisite face even more captivating. Mo Chou and Bing Xiao were once again stunned by the situation. What was going on?
Her Ladyship had never spoken so softly before, and the Emperor, usually dignified and majestic, had become mentally unclear, like a child. The two maids looked distressed.
At that moment, Mu Rong Liu Zun's happy voice rang out, "Okay, no talking, no talking."
After saying that, he indeed quieted down.
Qingyao reached out to take his hand, but he clasped hers in return. They walked side by side.
As their hands met, Qingyao discovered that his internal energy was still present, but it was very chaotic. His vital energy flickered, sometimes heavy like raindrops hitting the ground, sometimes ethereal like a light breeze.
Qingyao frowned. What was going on? But they had arrived at Feng Luan Palace, and there was no more time to investigate. Once inside, she would have Ming Yue examine him thoroughly.
The group dared not enter through the main door, to avoid being discovered by the night-watch eunuchs. They followed the familiar secluded path from behind, entering quietly. They passed through the garden, and the windows of the imperial chambers were still open. The group slipped inside, and Mo Chou immediately closed the windows.
At this point, Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the man beside her. In the faint light, she saw that his white robe was covered in dirt. His hair was a mess, as if he hadn't washed it in months, with many knots. He also had an odor, suggesting he hadn't bathed in a long time.
Qingyao felt a pang of heartache and immense tenderness. But as long as she thought he was alive, at least he was alive. No one knew the joy she felt in her heart at this moment.
She thanked heaven that he was still alive. Thinking of how he had always been by her side, those days of affection and care filled her heart with love. She reached out and hugged him tightly.
"Liu Zun, thank you for being alive. Thank you, heaven."
Liu Zun turned and embraced her. His fingertips touched her cheek, and a wetness on his hand ignited his heart. He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt heartache. Had he made his wife cry? Words of reluctance escaped his lips.
"Wife, you're crying. Is it my fault?"
"No, you are very good. It is I who am not good," Qingyao said with self-reproach, hugging him even tighter. Liu Zun's large hand wrapped around her, and they held each other quietly.
The imperial chambers were silent. At this moment, Xiao Yu'er, leading Ming Yue and Shen Yu, rushed in. Upon seeing their father, Xiao Yu'er immediately ran towards him, wanting to hug him.
However, before her hands could even touch him, she was flung back by a surge of internal energy. Liu Zun instantly became like a vigilant wild wolf, raising his defenses, and fixed a cold, stern gaze on Xiao Yu'er, roaring like a wolf, "Get lost."
In the imperial chambers, everyone was stunned, including Qingyao. They hadn't expected Liu Zun to refuse to let anyone approach him. Perhaps due to the immense suffering he had endured, he harbored a defensiveness towards people and did not allow them to approach him casually.
He wouldn't even allow Xiao Yu'er near him. Tears welled up in Xiao Yu'er's eyes as she looked at him heartbrokenly.
"Father, I am Xiao Yu'er. I am Xiao Yu'er."
Xiao Yu'er looked up at her mother. "What's wrong with Father? What's wrong with Father?"
Qingyao remembered the suffering he had endured, how he had been chained for countless days and nights. Therefore, his subconscious harbored hatred for people. Coupled with his current mental state, he did not allow anyone to approach him. Anyone who did, he would attack. He had almost strangled her earlier.
However, it seemed he had accepted her from the bottom of his heart, but he had not yet accepted others, and appeared to be very resistant.
"Xiao Yu'er, don't blame your father. He was chained for months. His mind is not entirely clear now, so he doesn't recognize you as his daughter. He will accept you slowly."
In the imperial chambers, everyone's breathing was heavy. Who would have thought that the majestic Emperor, the ruler who had unified seven kingdoms, would be reduced to living chained? This was truly a calamity.
If her Ladyship had not found him, his ultimate fate would have been death. Who could escape such a catastrophe?
After speaking to Xiao Yu'er, Qingyao reached out and took hold of Liu Zun, whose fur was bristling, and spoke softly.
"Liu Zun, I am your wife, and you are my husband. Xiao Yu'er is our child, our daughter."
"Daughter?" Liu Zun murmured, sounding unfamiliar with the name. Qingyao beckoned Xiao Yu'er forward, held her hand, and slowly placed it into Liu Zun's large hand, speaking gently, "She is our daughter. Don't you remember? She always liked to stick to you. You used to dote on her, you loved her dearly."
"Daughter, Xiao Yu'er, she is my daughter."