Chapter 29: Words at Odds with the Heart

He had no idea how long he’d slept, but when Fang Xu finally opened his eyes, he was struck by how familiar the room’s decor seemed. Staring at the ceiling beam overhead, he found himself momentarily at a loss. After all, he distinctly remembered bedding down on the floor outside last night—so when had he ended up back in bed? Even if he were prone to sleepwalking, hadn’t Qin Suwen locked the door herself? How on earth had he managed to get inside?

Fang Xu rubbed his forehead, searching his memory, but found that he couldn’t recall a single thing from the previous night. This only deepened his frown.

“Damn it, why can’t I remember anything?” he muttered, massaging his brow. But as his hand brushed the empty space beside him, he suddenly froze.

He could still feel the lingering warmth where someone had lain, and when he glanced at his own position, shock rooted him in place.

“Your Grace, are you awake?” A maid entered with cautious steps, peeking in and testing the waters with her greeting.

“Ahem, is this… is this my—this palace’s residence?” Fang Xu coughed lightly, then asked the maid, making sure to maintain the proper air of dignity. After all, he only ever let his guard down around Xiao Ya and Qin Suwen, but he still had to mind his status.

“Yes, Your Grace, this is indeed your chamber. Is there something amiss?” The maid kept her head bowed, though Fang Xu could detect a note of curiosity in her voice—no doubt prompted by his odd behavior, as if this place weren’t his own home.

“Ahem. Wasn’t I outside last night? When did I come back in?” Fang Xu found it hard to believe he could have walked through walls, and there was no way to explain how he had mysteriously ended up back in bed.

“Your Grace, last night His Majesty was concerned for you and instructed us to help you back to your bed,” the maid replied truthfully. Fang Xu finally understood.

If that were the case, it all made sense.

“Wait—did you just say His Majesty was worried about me?” Fang Xu looked as if he’d discovered a new continent. The maid, startled by his excitement, quickly nodded. Fang Xu couldn’t help but let a smile curl at his lips.

“And where is that little—no, has His Majesty gone to morning court yet?” he asked, his tone gentle as he regarded the now-nervous maid. She nodded again, still flustered.

“No wonder it’s still warm here,” Fang Xu murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips. Had he really shared a bed with Qin Suwen last night?

Yet curiosity gnawed at him. Hadn’t Qin Suwen been ignoring him lately? Why would she go to the trouble of bringing him inside?

A sudden, dreadful thought struck Fang Xu. He hastily untied his belt and checked beneath the covers. Only when he confirmed that his most vital part was still intact did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He had genuinely worried that Qin Suwen might have taken advantage of his slumber to do something unspeakable, and if that had happened, he really would have wept.

“Ahem, nothing else. You may go,” Fang Xu said, noticing the maid’s odd stare. He gave a polite cough, and she quickly bowed and retreated in small, hurried steps. Fang Xu stretched lazily, enjoying the softness of the mattress, and decided to sleep a little longer.

Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the palace, Qin Suwen sat atop the dragon throne, listening with growing weariness as the ministers below her debated endlessly.

She couldn’t help but stifle a yawn. It was hardly her fault—she’d barely slept at all the previous night.

At first, she’d meant to rest, but upon hearing Fang Xu sneezing outside, she began to worry about his health. Even the maids had braziers to keep warm at night, but Fang Xu had been given nothing more than a couple of quilts.

It was no wonder, then, that he kept sneezing. Qin Suwen had initially risen to let him in, but halfway out of bed, she sank back down, her heart heavy with complicated feelings.

After all, she couldn’t help remembering how close Fang Xu had seemed with Xiao Ya earlier. Though she couldn’t quite admit it to herself, the truth was that she was jealous. But when the silence outside stretched on and Fang Xu’s voice disappeared, worry overcame her pride, and all sorts of terrible thoughts filled her mind.

She hurriedly threw on her fur-lined robe, slipped on her shoes, and opened the door. A cool breeze swept past, making her shiver.

Lying on the ground, Fang Xu clung desperately to his blanket, shuddering in the nighttime chill.

“Your Majesty.” A maid at her side quickly bowed when she saw Qin Suwen wrapped in her robe. Qin Suwen nodded slightly, but her gaze never left the shivering figure on the floor. Unable to help herself, she burst out laughing.

“Bring him inside,” she ordered, turning back into the room. The two maids exchanged glances, then together helped the oblivious and half-frozen Fang Xu to his feet.

He slept so deeply that he was unaware of any of this, only dimly conscious of the cold.

“Lay him down and leave,” Qin Suwen said with a smile as she watched them settle Fang Xu beside the bed. The two maids, bewildered, bowed and exited. In their hearts, they marveled at what they’d just witnessed—Qin Suwen displaying such a gentle, girlish side. Had they not known her true identity, they might have suspected an imposter.

But thinking of Fang Xu, it all made sense. They could only sigh—a reminder that love truly could change a person. Not even the mighty emperor herself was immune to its power.