YWTGU -Chapter 56 Your Majesty, I Really Just Came to Sober Up!

The person who emerged was none other than… the Empress, Sun Ruoxi.

Li An’s hazy mind cleared by more than half in an instant.

He truly hadn’t expected that the one stepping out from behind the screen would be the Mother of the Nation of Great Qi.

And what shocked him even more…

…was how the Empress was dressed tonight.

A gauzy purple gown, thin as cicada wings, shimmered under the candlelight, revealing and concealing in equal measure.

Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her breathtakingly beautiful face even more alluring.

Most deadly of all was her gaze.

A gaze that practically dripped silk.

Li An had seen that kind of look before—in modern times.

In nightclubs, when tipsy girls locked onto a handsome guy.

But when that look came from the Empress of an empire…

The effect was enough to make his legs weak and his throat dry.

“Lord Li, long time no see.”

Sun Ruoxi’s voice was soft to the bone, tinged with lazy charm.

She walked toward him slowly, each step seeming to press directly against his heartbeat.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Li An instinctively stepped back, cautious. “Why are you here?”

She let out a soft laugh.

“And why shouldn’t I be?”

Stopping before him, she lifted a slender finger and lightly tapped his chest.

“This is a side hall of Cining Palace.”

“My own domain. I may do as I please.”

The moment Li An heard that, everything clicked.

Damn it.

This was a setup from start to finish.

Getting drunk and being brought to rest in a side hall…

Eunuch Liu leading the way…

All arranged in advance.

“Your Majesty, this… this isn’t appropriate, is it?”

He clung to the last shred of rationality.

“His Majesty is right next door at the banquet. If—”

“What are you afraid of?”

She interrupted him.

“What if I told you… all of this is with His Majesty’s tacit approval?”

“What?!”

Li An’s eyes widened.

Approval?

The emperor approving the Empress being with another man?

What kind of operation was this?

Last time, he could at least assume the emperor didn’t know—perhaps the Empress had acted on her own to “borrow a seed.”

But this time…

She was openly telling him the emperor allowed it.

The imperial family really was… chaotic.

Sun Ruoxi watched his stunned expression and spoke bitterly:

“Lord Li, do you know how long I’ve been in the palace?”

“Three years.”

“A full three years.”

“I have been cautious and dutiful every single day.”

“But…”

She glanced at him deliberately.

“His Majesty… has never once touched me.”

Li An felt speechless.

Never touched?

Well, of course not.

Just as he had guessed…

The young emperor preferred men.

Why would he touch her?

But could he say that aloud?

Obviously not.

The emperor’s preferences were surely a state secret. Exposing it would damage the dignity of the throne.

“Your Majesty, I…”

Before he could finish, she turned away.

Her eyes reddened slightly. A tear clung to her lashes, trembling but not yet falling. She looked heartbreakingly beautiful.

“Lord Li, I know this is improper.”

“But I have no choice.”

“The royal family needs heirs. Great Qi needs a crown prince.”

“The Empress Dowager pressures me daily. The ministers watch constantly.”

“I… I am forced into this.”

At that, her long-suppressed tears finally fell.

Li An looked at the weeping Empress and felt utterly conflicted.

I came here to ruin the country.

Not to become a stud horse.

Yes, she was stunning.

Yes, the forbidden thrill made his heart race.

But—

She was the Empress.

If this were discovered, it would mean execution by slow slicing for nine generations.

“Your Majesty, this truly puts me in a difficult position.”

He tried to find another excuse.

“Even if His Majesty consents, what if he regrets it later—”

“He won’t.”

Sun Ruoxi stepped closer and gently touched his face.

“His Majesty said so himself. As long as I can bear a child, he will agree to any condition.”

“And Lord Li, you are the person His Majesty trusts most.”

“And also… the one I admire most.”

Her face moved closer and closer, her warm breath brushing his skin.

The faint fragrance surrounding her mixed with the heat rising from the medicine he had drunk.

His rationality began to crumble bit by bit.

“Your Majesty…”

“Though I’m no saint, I at least understand that one should not covet a friend’s wife…”

“A friend’s wife?”

She suddenly laughed.

There was mischief in her smile, and even more allure.

“When did Lord Li become friends with His Majesty?”

Li An froze.

He couldn’t exactly say, “We’ve drunk together and talked about life—we’re bros,” could he?

Even if he privately thought so.

Saying that aloud would be considered gross disrespect.

“Besides…”

Her voice softened further, teasing at his nerves.

“Lord Li must understand. This is not me forcing you.”

“Nor is it you defiling the royal family.”

“This is… your contribution to Great Qi.”

“It is a sacrifice… for the people of the realm.”

Li An nearly choked.

A sacrifice for the people?

All the patriotic nonsense he spouted had somehow turned into justification for him becoming breeding stock?

“Your Majesty, I truly cannot agree with that reasoning…”

“What if I beg you?”

Her eyes reddened again.

“Lord Li, for three years I have lived in fear.”

“If I cannot produce an heir soon, the Empress Dowager will force His Majesty to take more consorts—or even depose me.”

“At that time, what value will this Empress have?”

She clutched his sleeve, tears glistening.

“Among the court, most men are either too old or unpleasant to look at.”

“Only you…”

Her gaze traveled slowly from head to toe over him.

“You may seem unserious and sharp-tongued at times.”

“But you are the most… the most like a real man I have ever seen.”

Li An: “…”

Was that praise or an insult?

Unserious?

Sharp-tongued?

Was that really how she saw him?

But he had no energy to dwell on that.

The medicine was hitting harder and harder.

His head grew heavier.

His body burned hotter.

“Your Majesty… what exactly was in that sobering soup?”

He forced the question out.

She smiled faintly.

“What was in it? Lord Li tasted it last time, didn’t you?”

Last time?

He suddenly remembered.

At Cining Palace…

The same trick.

The same soup.

“So… last time I really… lost my innocence?”

“Of course.”

She admitted it openly.

“Did you think that was an accident?”

“I planned it for quite some time.”

Li An: “…”

Well then.

As expected—the Empress had orchestrated it.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t succeed. Perhaps because you were unconscious then. So this time, I reduced the sedative and increased the aphrodisiac…”

She sighed softly, determination shining in her eyes.

“This time… I must conceive.”

As she spoke, she reached for his belt.

Under the dual assault of medicine and beauty, Li An’s rationality was nearly gone.

He knew he shouldn’t.

He knew she was the Empress.

He knew the risks were enormous.

But—

Damn it, he couldn’t control himself!

“Your Majesty…”

He made one last attempt.

“Aren’t you afraid—”

“Afraid of what?”

“I have waited too long for this day.”

“As for whether the child resembles you…”

She laughed lightly.

“Lord Li, you are not unattractive.”

“If it resembles you, that would be my gain.”

Li An was completely speechless.

Was she praising him?

Or evaluating him like breeding stock?

No.

Now was not the time to overthink.

The medicine had fully taken effect.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

The Empress before him was truly beautiful.

Exceptionally beautiful.

A beauty tinged with the mature charm of a grown woman.

She was completely different from those young, naïve girls.

“Your Majesty…”

“I… I can comply… but I have one final request…”

Hearing this, Sun Ruoxi revealed a triumphant smile.

“Lord Li, that’s more like it! Go ahead…”

Li An swallowed. “I want to be on top…”

“Of course. Come, let me serve you.”

As she spoke, she pulled him toward the couch.

Li An staggered as she led him.

And then—

Rain beating against banana leaves…

Candlelight flickering.

The couch trembling softly.

Within the side hall, only an ambiguous, heated atmosphere remained…

…

…

Who knew how much time had passed.

The storm inside the side hall finally subsided, returning to calm.

Li An lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling, his face full of existential despair.

Just now…

He had once again…

With the Empress…

It was over.

He was truly finished.

The first time, he could at least claim ignorance—half unconscious the entire time.

But this time?

He turned to look at Sun Ruoxi beside him.

The Empress was lying on her side, propping her head up with one hand, smiling at him. Her gaze carried the lazy satisfaction of a beauty well pleased.

“Lord Li, I did not misjudge you.”

She extended her pale, jade-like fingers and began drawing circles on his chest.

“This time… I believe it will succeed.”

Li An replied helplessly, “Your Majesty, you’re that confident?”

“Of course.”

Sun Ruoxi smiled proudly.

“I calculated the timing carefully today.”

“Combined with the effects of that tonic…”

“Lord Li, you were truly… vigorous just now.”

Li An’s face instantly flushed red. Thick-skinned as he was, being praised like this by the Empress made him awkward enough to take a deep breath.

“Your Majesty, those words…”

“What? Embarrassed?”

She covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“I thought Lord Li feared nothing.”

“That’s different!” Li An hurriedly explained.

“That’s in court, facing those old foxes.”

“This… this kind of thing, it’s my first time…”

He had meant to say, “first time being praised as vigorous by the Empress,” but swallowed the words back down. Saying that might actually get him killed.

“Alright, alright.”

Sun Ruoxi sat up and began adjusting her clothes.

“It’s getting late. Lord Li should leave.”

“The banquet outside probably hasn’t ended yet.”

“Exit through the back door later. Don’t let anyone see you.”

Li An nodded quickly.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty. I… I know my limits.”

As he spoke, he hurriedly dressed himself in a fluster.

Watching his disheveled state, Sun Ruoxi couldn’t help laughing again.

“Lord Li, I have one more thing to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“In the future…”

Her voice softened.

“If you encounter any difficulties, come to me.”

“I do hold some influence in this palace.”

Li An froze.

Was the Empress… recruiting him? Or implying something else?

He didn’t have time to think.

He had to leave immediately.

“Your Majesty’s great kindness—I will never forget it!”

After a hurried bow, he walked toward the door.

At the threshold, he couldn’t help turning back for one last look.

Sun Ruoxi stood by the window, gazing into the night.

In the candlelight, her profile was breathtakingly beautiful.

A complicated emotion rose in Li An’s heart.

This woman…

Was not as simple as she appeared.

What was she truly thinking?

But that was not something he could dwell on now.

Shaking his head, he pushed open the palace door and stepped out.

…

The imperial palace at midnight was dark as ink, moonlight like water.

Supporting his aching waist, Li An staggered along the small path behind the side hall.

He only wanted to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible.

From the direction of the main hall, faint music could still be heard.

The banquet clearly hadn’t ended.

Those ministers, once they started drinking, would likely go until dawn.

That worked in his favor.

He quickened his pace.

He needed to slip out before the banquet ended, so no one would notice how long he had been gone.

And then—

From the corner ahead came the sound of footsteps.

Li An’s heart jolted. He tried to hide behind a pillar.

Too late.

The figure had already appeared before him.

He looked up—

And nearly died on the spot from fright.

Clad in a bright yellow dragon robe stood the one person he least wanted to see right now—the young Emperor.

Damn it!

Why was the Emperor out here at this hour?

Wasn’t she supposed to be at the banquet?

“Lord Li… my beloved minister?”

Zhao Ling’er paused visibly when she saw him.

Under the moonlight, her gaze swept him from head to toe.

Especially the way he was supporting his waist, limping slightly.

“Lord Li, you are…?”

Her expression was complex.

Li An felt cold sweat break out.

It was over.

He’d been caught.

Even if the Empress claimed the Emperor had tacitly approved this… being confronted face-to-face was unbearably awkward.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

He forced himself to speak.

“I… rested in the side hall for a while. The wine made me dizzy…”

“Is that so?”

Zhao Ling’er’s tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

“Just… resting?”

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

How was he supposed to answer that?

Say yes? That would be deceiving the Emperor.

Say no? Then everything would be laid bare.

Before he could respond, Zhao Ling’er sighed.

“Forget it. I know.”

She stepped closer and gently patted his shoulder.

“Lord Li… you’ve worked hard.”

Those words left him even more speechless.

Worked hard?

The Emperor said he’d worked hard?

Was he supposed to thank her for that?

But how did one thank someone for this kind of favor?

“Your Majesty, I…”

He opened his mouth, but despite living two lifetimes, he truly didn’t know what to say.

Zhao Ling’er waved her hand.

“No need to say more.”

“I understand.”

“I only hope… the Empress’s wish comes true.”

“The banquet is ending soon. Return home.”

“Tomorrow… I shall summon you again.”

After saying that, she turned and left.

Li An stood there, watching her retreating figure.

A strange guilt rose in his chest.

Even if this was tacitly approved.

Even if he had been forced into it.

Seeing the young Emperor’s slightly lonely back…

Why did he feel like a complete scoundrel?

He sighed weakly.

Whatever.

His situation had long since become a complete mess.

A secret agent of Northern Yan, forced to become a loyal minister of Great Qi.

Trying to ruin the nation—only to strengthen it instead.

And along the way, he’d also slept with the Empress.

Even he had no idea how this script was supposed to continue.

A night breeze swept past, bringing a chill.

It cleared his mind a little.

Li An knew—

His real troubles were only just beginning.

When the Empress’s belly began to swell…

When the ministers noticed the imperial heir didn’t resemble the Emperor…

That would be true chaos.

But that was a problem for the future.

Right now…

He only wanted to leave the palace and go home to sleep.

“Let’s just hope no one bothers me again tonight.”

He glanced around to make sure no one was there and quickened his pace.

But just as he exited the palace gates—

“Lord Li!”

A familiar voice rang out.

Li An looked up—

And nearly cursed aloud.

Murong Xue stood beneath the lanterns at the palace entrance, smiling sweetly, accompanied by several maids.

“I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”

She examined his somewhat disheveled appearance and clicked her tongue.

“Lord Li… had too much to drink?”

“Or… has someone drained you dry?”

Li An: “……”

Damn it!

I knew nothing good would come of tonight!