Chapter 1535 - 1533: I Only Want You

Chapter 1533

That night, the two had dinner and went to bed.

The next day.

Lin Siyin continued living as she had for over half a year, bound by rules and restrained in her movements, observing Sheng Chunhua’s expression, among other things.

She had never lived in the palace.

She didn’t have a strong sense of hierarchy, she just saw people dressed elegantly and behaving gracefully, seemingly from prominent families.

Surely, what she said was correct, and the numerous palace rules were something Lin Siyin couldn’t refute.

She herself, from childhood, was used to having no constraints.

Thus, adapting to the local customs, and learning the palace rules, seemed rational.

Even though she felt uneasy inside, she never complained.

She believed whatever others said, unaware when others stepped on her to flaunt their power.

...

As for Zhao Qichen.

After court, he headed straight to the Imperial Study Room, as ministers didn’t have significant matters nearing the end of the year.

He was eager to handle affairs in the harem.

Yinyin was new and didn’t understand those things, and he never dared to entrust her with the trivial palace matters.

He feared she’d suffer grievances, afraid of those who bully the weak and step on others.

Yet.

Despite his caution, some insolent ones still bullied her.

Yinyin didn’t understand, but he did.

In the Imperial Study Room.

The young emperor angrily sat at the desk, instructing his subordinates.

"Li Deming, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and inform them to select a new batch of palace attendants for the Empress’s palace!"

"As for the original ones, send them back where they came from!"

Li Deming was frightened.

"Emperor, what does this mean?"

Zhao Qichen gave him a cold glance.

"What, are my words useless?"

Li Deming quickly knelt.

"Your Majesty, I dare not!"

"But..."

He hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly.

"Others might be fine, but Aunt Sheng Chunhua was indeed chosen by the Empress Dowager as a palace maid. Directly sending her away... might not be proper! Please reconsider, Emperor!"

Zhao Qichen squinted.

"Palace Maid? What Palace Maid!"

"When did Mother select palace maids to enter the palace?"

Li Deming answered tremblingly.

"It was five years ago; the maids originally served in the Imperial Study Room!"

"But you didn’t want that, so you personally ordered them to be transferred to the harem, have you forgotten?"

Zhao Qichen: "..."

He hadn’t forgotten.

This mention brought back the memory.

So... he grit his teeth, yet had no choice but to endure silently.

"Is there no other way?"

Li Deming hesitated for a moment before courageously suggesting.

"Your Majesty..."

"According to the rules, a palace maid without fault cannot be punished arbitrarily, especially being the Empress’s First-Rank Maid!"

"It might be better to let her be for now."

"Wait for her to make a mistake, then proceed; this way, Empress gains a reputation for generosity and magnanimity, and it is justified..."

Li Deming didn’t dare voice the rest.

Zhao Qichen thought for a while, troubled, and eventually waved him off irritably.

"Fine, fine, I get it, leave now!"

Li Deming thanked him as if granted a pardon, and hastily left.

...

The Festival on the Eve of the Lunar New Year’s Eve arrived quickly on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

Zhao Qichen took care of court affairs early, sealing his documents on time as expected.

Lin Siyin also prepared early for the items she needed to leave the palace.

On the night of the 23rd, they sneaked out of the palace, riding a meticulously crafted carriage towards the outskirts.

Listening to the sound of the wagon wheels on the cobblestone streets outside, Lin Siyin was especially excited.

"Finally out, the air outside feels fresher than inside!"

Zhao Qichen knew she had suffered many grievances, feeling his heart ache.

Gently holding her shoulder, he murmured softly into her ear.

"I’m sorry!"

At this moment, Lin Siyin was as joyful as a child, her troubles vanished as she waved her hand.

"It’s okay! I think... I can still adapt!"

"As long as I’m not stifled!"

Zhao Qichen felt even more pain inside, hugging her tighter.

After a long while, as she was almost out of breath.

He gently kissed her hair, pressing his face to her forehead, and spoke in a husky, low voice.

"Yinyin!"

"You wanted to know when I fell for you, and why I liked you, yes?"

That night he said he’d think about it, but hadn’t given her an answer thereafter.

Now he’d thought it through, ready to tell her.

"From the first glance, I liked you!"

"Seeing you in such danger, my mind went blank, with one notion—I can’t let you die, I want to marry you!"

"I can’t explain why I liked you, but I knew without you, in this cold palace, I couldn’t endure even a day!"

His parents were gone, his brothers had left the palace for the entire day, and his sister was married off.

Leaving him alone.

In the past with them around, life was bearable.

Now, in this chilling palace, what was he to do? He was flesh and blood too!

He wanted someone, a beautiful, lovely, vibrant person, to bring color to his life, to stay by his side, accompany him for life.

He waited for this moment, declining all the dull noble ladies and charming maidens, finally finding her.

Of course, he’d try every means to keep her by his side, in his heart.

So...

Zhao Qichen earnestly looked at her.

"How about you?"

"Yinyin? After the New Year, our agreement expires, have you adapted?"

When he confessed to her, revealing his identity.

Lin Siyin cried and refused him.

She said: it was unimaginable being with an emperor, she couldn’t adapt to palace life, she didn’t understand profound reasoning, only knew she was extremely afraid.

Zhao Qichen felt heartbroken.

He comforted her for a while, and then came to an agreement after pondering.

"Let’s give it a year!"

"If you can’t adapt, we part ways!"

"If you can adapt, you stay, how about that?"

Lin Siyin hesitated greatly, wanted to refuse yet couldn’t find a reason.

After all.

Who knew why she loved an emperor?

How did that poem go?

’What is love, that binds life and death to it!’

In the end, she agreed to him.

Even though he was ’displeased’ with her.

Even though he was an emperor, he had misled her.

Even though she had nothing and the disparity between them was vast.

But... she wanted to try.

Others managed to find lifelong love, perhaps she could too?

The palace shouldn’t... be that scary!

...

"Yinyin!"

Zhao Qichen called.

Both emerged from their memories.

"Even if ultimately you struggle to adapt and leave, the position of Empress is eternally yours, yours alone!"

His wife forever only her.

Lin Siyin was moved, feeling more joy.

"I..."

Perhaps not leaving, though she couldn’t frequently go out, she could always be by his side!

For some unknown reason, under an inexplicable compulsion, upon their first meeting, she seemed to have succumbed.