Chapter 241: Love Is Restraint; Plundering Is Instinct

Li Wei’s wounds weren’t deep, but they were numerous. Xiao Yang had already tried to be as quick as possible, but it still took her a while to finish treating them all.

The medicine was applied. And... Li Wei was just about cooked through.

Xiao Yang washed her hands to the side while Li Wei unhurriedly put his clothes back on.

It wasn’t that he was being slow; his injuries simply made it awkward.

He dressed, quickly tied his sash, and only then dared to look up at Xiao Yang.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I... My body is unsightly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

’This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone apologize for their body being unsightly.’

Xiao Yang frowned, drying her hands with a handkerchief as she looked down at him. "How many wounds did you receive when fighting Beimeng?"

Li Wei was unconcerned. "They were all minor wounds."

Xiao Yang said, "Answer me."

Li Wei looked at her, hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I can’t remember clearly. Every battle leaves wounds, many of them, large and small. My body is often injured, but my healing ability is better than most. Many wounds healed on their own without any medicine."

"None of these wounds were fatal, but the deeper ones leave scars that are difficult to erase..."

He pressed his lips together. "I have been using medicine. They will fade."

The medicine he used was excellent, and the scars would indeed fade. It was just that new wounds accumulated too quickly for the medicine to keep up.

Xiao Yang was speechless.

’I remember someone once saying that low self-esteem and being hopelessly in love are the best dowry a man can bring. Li Wei might not know it, but he’s a natural at this.’

For all his immense martial prowess and powerful physique, he had somehow found the one path that could soften her heart.

’And just a moment ago, all I wanted to do was beat him up...’

A ferocious tiger, bursting with combat strength, who showed only gentleness and loyalty to her, carefully trying to please her just to win a fraction of her affection—who could possibly resist that?

"Li Wei..."

Xiao Yang raised a hand to gently touch his chin. She used no force, yet he obediently tilted his head up.

Li Wei’s features were deep-set and sharp, almost aggressive in their intensity. His eyes, a deep brown, were as dark and unfathomable as a predator’s.

That face, combined with his tall, broad frame, was overwhelmingly intimidating. No one’s first impression of him would be "handsome," only "terrifying."

It was the kind of fear that made your scalp tingle, the kind you felt when confronted by a wild beast, sending your adrenaline through the roof.

But for a truly powerful person, the longer you looked, the more you came to admire and appreciate him.

Xiao Yang stroked his chin as if teasing a pet. Coming from anyone else, it would have been a humiliation for such a strong man. But she was the Emperor, the woman he loved. This was a caress he had only ever dreamed of.

Li Wei suppressed the urge to reach out and embrace her, merely tilting his head up slightly in submission to her touch.

Xiao Yang’s fingertips slid to his ear. There was a bloody scratch running diagonally across his cheek, making him look even fiercer.

Xiao Yang slowly leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his lips.

She didn’t pull away like last time. Instead, she pressed down gently, a firm and deliberate kiss.

His breath was as scorching hot as his gaze. Xiao Yang gave his ear a little pinch.

His ear was hot too. His whole body seemed to be radiating heat.

Only a man with his iron self-control could force himself to sit so steadily when he felt like he was about to explode.

He was scorching, ferocious, yet utterly restrained.

’Those three are already giving me a headache. I don’t want to get involved with anyone else, but it seems I already have.’

’And Li Wei... he’s very different from them.’

"My word always stands. There’s no need to be so humble, General Li. Your scars aren’t ugly. They are a warrior’s medals."

A smooth, flawless body might be beautiful, but these scars—earned through glorious military achievements, through countless victories snatched from the jaws of death—every inch of them was the mark of a true man’s charm.

No words are sweeter than the praise of the one you love.

Li Wei, who had been restraining himself to the absolute limit, finally found the courage to raise his hands, grasp the Empress’s waist, and pull her carefully into his arms, as if holding a priceless treasure.

Xiao Yang: "Be careful of your wounds..."

Li Wei kissed her abdomen through her clothes.

"They’re minor wounds. Your Majesty needn’t worry."

He hadn’t died from far worse. Wounds like these were nothing to him.

But more than the pain, he felt his heart was beating far too fast. Now *that* was what felt fatal.

He wanted to do something more, but he was covered in bloody wounds and didn’t dare touch Her Majesty.

When it was time for the evening meal, Xiao Yang made no attempt to hide anything, walking out directly with Li Wei.

It was as she expected: everyone believed in Li Wei’s innocence.

They revered their young Emperor and worshiped the powerful General Li.

Except for the Imperial Physician who had fled, no one suspected any ambiguity in the relationship between the Emperor and the Great General.

Innocent. Absolutely innocent.

Long live Your Majesty! All hail the General!

In this world, there was no concept of protected species. As the supreme ruler, the Emperor could naturally have tiger on the dining table.

Tiger meat was the main course on the table today, along with deer-blood wine and venison soup.

Just looking at it all was enough to make Xiao Yang feel like she was going to get a nosebleed.

’Good thing those three men didn’t come, and Li Wei is still wounded. I’m safe.’

After weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yang decided to eat her fill.

However, the consequence of indulging her appetite was that while there was no external danger, her body grew so hot that she was constantly breaking out in a sweat.

After lying down, she couldn’t get to sleep. She tossed and turned, but sleep wouldn’t come.

After lying there for a good while, she had no choice but to summon the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician took one look and wasn’t the least bit surprised. "Your Majesty, you’ve had too many potent foods. Your body can’t handle it. I will write a prescription. Two bowls of the medicine should help purge the excess heat."

He immediately wrote the prescription and had someone take it to be decocted.

But until the medicine arrived, Xiao Yang could only suffer.

Xiao Yang: "..."

’If I’d known this would happen, I might as well have kept a man by my side.’

There was a hot spring at the Palace, but Xiao Yang had no desire to soak in hot water right now. She asked the steward and found a flowing mountain spring, immersing her entire body in it.

Instant coolness.

"Whew!"

Xiao Yang soaked for a while before getting out of the water, leaping up and landing on a smooth stone slab nearby.

She raised a hand to slick back her wet hair, and as she tilted her head back, she saw Li Wei sitting on a rock not far away.

"...?"

Xiao Yang froze, then sat up straighter. "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Li Wei began, his voice soft as if afraid of startling something. He answered carefully, "I... just couldn’t sleep."

He had received a kiss from Her Majesty today, which had already sent his mind into turmoil. Drinking that potent wine on top of it had only added fuel to the fire.

After washing up, he hadn’t even gone near his bed, coming straight here to sit quietly instead.

His martial arts were superb, and the spot he’d chosen was high up. He sat there, perfectly still, blending in completely with his surroundings. No one had noticed him at all.

He had only wanted to let the cold wind calm him down, but he never expected Her Majesty to appear. She had removed her cloak, wearing only her white inner robes, and slipped into the water like a silver fish.

When she rose from the water, her clothes were soaked through. In the torchlight, the glistening water droplets on her skin shone like fallen stars.

Li Wei stared, motionless, not daring to blink. He couldn’t believe it was really Her Majesty who had suddenly appeared here. He thought it must be a hallucination, brought on by his intense longing.

He had just been thinking about their last chance encounter at the Palace hot spring. That had been an accident, but it couldn’t be an accident every time.

This had to be a drunken hallucination. He didn’t dare move closer or make a sound, terrified of shattering the beautiful mirage. But then, Her Majesty had actually seen him and spoken to him.

’It’s not a hallucination?’

"Your Majesty..." Li Wei clenched his fists slightly, digging his nails into his palms until it hurt, but he still didn’t dare to move.

Xiao Yang heard the strange tone in his voice. "What’s wrong with you?"

She frowned, stood up, and quickly bounded up two stone steps, landing right in front of him.

Before Xiao Yang could even steady her footing, a pair of powerful arms shot out, pulling her into an embrace as a kiss, heavy with repressed breath, descended upon her.

Love is restraint, but plunder is instinct.