The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Shen Tinghe took the opportunity to catch her breath, her eyes glistening with tears, but she didn't forget her purpose, asking for a promise in a sweet voice.

"Since my husband kissed me, it means he has agreed to take me out of the palace."

Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow, a lazy and pleasant smile flashing in his eyes. He didn't answer, but simply held her by the back of the neck again.

He sealed her words with a more lingering, possessive kiss.

Shen Tinghe's body went limp, and she collapsed into his arms as if boneless, only able to lean against his arm and pant softly.

Xie Yanzhao gently patted her back with his large hand to help her catch her breath. His deep voice was filled with laughter, yet also with domineering affection.

"You are my wife, so it's only natural for me to kiss Yuan Yuan like this."

As he spoke, he patted her bottom.

Shen Tinghe's eyes were red, as if she had been wronged, and she struggled to get off his lap.

Xie Yanzhao quickly hugged her tightly and gently soothed her by pressing his forehead against hers.

"How did you spoil Yuan Yuan so much? She has such a bad temper."

Shen Tinghe: "I'm ignoring you."

Xie Yanzhao gently touched her burning earlobe, finally giving in and making a soft promise.

"I will accompany you out of the palace tomorrow. But you must promise me that you will not leave my side."

Shen Tinghe nodded softly in his arms, a triumphant smile blooming on her lips.

Xie Yanzhao gently turned her around, holding her so that she could sit more comfortably in his arms.

"Would you mind accompanying your husband as he reviews the imperial edicts?"

Shen Tinghe's wish was fulfilled, and she obediently agreed.

She casually picked up a book from the pile of memorials, unfolded it, cleared her throat, and read it to him in her clear, spring-like voice.

"Your Highness, I humbly wish you good health. I heard of the disastrous events during the autumn hunt, and that Your Highness was in danger. I am filled with fear and have been unable to sleep at night..."

She read intently, but Xie Yanzhao kept his eyes closed, burying his face in the warm crook of her neck.

He deeply inhaled her unique, comforting, and captivating scent, his arms encircling her waist as if embracing a rare treasure.

However, Shen Tinghe's voice suddenly stopped.

Her gaze quickly swept over the next few lines of text, and her previously gentle expression gradually changed.

She didn't read any further, but angrily threw the memorial onto the desk with a thud.

"What's wrong?"

When Xie Yanzhao opened his eyes, he saw that her eyes were slightly red, and she looked like she had suffered a great injustice.

He frowned, reached out and took the memorial, his gaze sweeping over it coldly.

The core message of the memorial was: the foundation of the nation is of utmost importance, and the lack of an heir is truly a blessing for the country. The Eastern Palace has only one Crown Princess, which is neither in accordance with propriety nor conducive to the continuation of the lineage. Therefore, virtuous women should be widely selected to fill the harem in order to ensure the continuation of the imperial ancestral temple.

Since the assassination attempt during the autumn hunt, there has been an increase in these kinds of memorials that openly or covertly urge people to have children and suggest taking concubines.

After reading it, Xie Yanzhao threw the memorial on the table expressionlessly, as if it were something filthy.

"Yuan Yuan, don't cry."

Xie Yanzhao's heart tightened, and he quickly lifted her up and made her sit facing him on his lap.

This position brought the two closer together, almost completely touching.

He could feel her trembling more clearly and completely enclose her within his protective perimeter.

Xie Yanzhao cupped her face in his hands and gently wiped away the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks with his thumb.

"These are the stupid things that fools say. How could my brother want someone else? I only want you, only my Yuan Yuan. Don't you trust your husband?"

Shen Tinghe couldn't speak, she just hugged his neck tightly, buried her wet cheeks in his strong shoulder, and muffled sobs came out.

"Waaaaah... I'm so anxious... They... they're still pressuring me like this..."

"I know, I know."

Xie Yanzhao's heart softened and ached at her crying, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside him.

He whispered soothingly as he showered her with kisses, from her hair to her ears and then to her tear-stained cheeks.

"Sweetie, don't cry, okay? Your crying is breaking my heart."

"My husband..."

She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, her eyelashes wet and clumped together, her nose red, her sobs like those of a wounded little animal—utterly pitiful, yet utterly captivating.

Xie Yanzhao was at a loss for what to do with her like this, so he could only hug her tighter, lower his head and gently rub his forehead against hers, their noses touching and their breaths mingling.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday? Yuan Yuan is in very good health, and we will definitely have our own child."

He had originally planned to let things take their course after the medication was stopped, but now he had to reveal some details in advance, just to soothe her panic and pain.

There's something my husband hasn't told you yet.

Shen Tinghe sobbed, looking at him with confusion.

He kissed away the tears that were about to fall from her eyelashes, his voice filled with endless pity.

"Since our marriage, I have secretly had the head of the Imperial Medical Academy personally prepare a nourishing and conditioning formula for you. The 'calming soup' you drink before each meal is this medicine. You must take it for several months to strengthen your foundation, so that you will suffer less pain and have a safe and peaceful pregnancy and childbirth."

"It's precisely because you're using this medicine that Yuan Yuan isn't pregnant yet; it's not because there's anything wrong with your health. Do you understand?"

Shen Tinghe was stunned, even forgetting to cry, and just stared at him blankly, seemingly unable to process the news for a moment.

Xie Yanzhao's heart softened at her bewildered expression, and he kissed her slightly parted lips again.

"What's wrong? Are you scared? Or are you upset that your husband kept it from you?"

"...Why didn't you ever tell me this before?"

She finally found her voice again, with a strong nasal tone.

"Because my Yuan Yuan doesn't need to worry about these things."

Xie Yanzhao patted her back, his tone one of utter indulgence.

"My husband will arrange everything for you and shield you from all the storms. My Yuan Yuan, all you need to do is be happy every day and be the most carefree mistress of this Eastern Palace, that's enough."

"My husband..."

These words dispelled the gloom in Shen Tinghe's heart, replaced by a surge of intense sweetness and dependence.

She hugged him tightly again, burying her face deep into the crook of his neck.

"Are you feeling better, sweetie?" he asked softly.

"Hmm..." she responded softly from his shoulder.

Xie Yanzhao patted her back, pondered for a moment, and then said.

"Actually, even if we really don't have any children, it doesn't matter much. We can just choose a virtuous and capable person from the imperial clan to adopt later. Those court officials only dare to dabble in their memorials; a little nudge and they'll naturally fall silent."

His voice was calm and resolute, carrying a power that seemed to control everything.

"As long as my husband is alive, I will never let anyone or anything harm Yuan Yuan in the slightest."

Shen Tinghe shook her head in his arms.

"No way! This world belongs to us, and it should naturally be left to our own children. Why should it benefit others?"

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly upon hearing this, his expression full of pleasure.

He patted her back and agreed, "Okay, we'll do whatever Yuan Yuan says, and leave it to our own child."

However, a hint of darkness flashed deep within his smiling eyes.

Shen Tinghe was thinking about the continuation of his bloodline and the succession of his empire.

Xie Yanzhao, however, only cared about the person in his arms and the few decades he spent with Shen Tinghe.