Chapter Ten:A Private Moment
719 Words
Later that evening, as Lin Yue returned to her chambers, she couldn’t shake the memory of the emperor’s words. He had defended her, something no one had ever done for her before.
She sat by the window, her thoughts swirling. She had entered this world with one goal: survival. Falling for the emperor had never been part of the plan. And yet, she couldn’t deny the way her heart raced when he looked at her or the flicker of warmth in his rare smiles.
A few nights later, the emperor visited Lin Yue again, this time without warning. She was seated by the fireplace, reading quietly when he entered.
“Your Majesty,” she said, rising to bow.
“Sit,” he commanded, his tone softer than usual.
She obeyed, her eyes studying him carefully as he took a seat across from her. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
“You intrigue me,” Zhao Ming said finally, his gaze fixed on her.
Lin Yue hesitated. “I don’t seek to intrigue, Your Majesty. Only to serve.”
“Perhaps,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “But I’ve known many who sought to serve. None have carried themselves like you.”
His words made her heart race, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. “I only wish to repay your kindness, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Ming’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “Kindness, or favor?”
Lin Yue lowered her gaze, unsure of how to respond.
“Don’t misunderstand me, Lin Yue,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “Favor can be fleeting. But loyalty—true loyalty—is rare. Show me that, and you will have nothing to fear.”
His words stayed with her long after he left, their weight sinking deep into her heart. For the first time since arriving in this world, Lin Yue found herself wondering if survival alone was enough—or if she could allow herself to feel something more.
Lin Yue stood in the training courtyard, her heart racing as she replayed the events of the day. Her disguise had almost been discovered.
For weeks now, she had been sneaking out of the palace to gain strength and information, but tonight had been different. The emperor’s cold gaze during their earlier meeting seemed to pierce through her every lie. She knew she was walking a razor’s edge, and her secrets wouldn’t remain hidden forever.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She turned sharply, her instincts on high alert.
“Practicing alone at night?” The familiar, deep voice made her freeze.
Lin Yue turned to see Emperor Zhao Ming standing at the edge of the courtyard. His tall, imposing figure was illuminated by the moonlight, and his black robes swayed slightly in the breeze. His presence was overwhelming, a reminder of the power he wielded.
“I couldn’t sleep, Your Majesty,” Lin Yue said, lowering her gaze to hide her unease.
Zhao Ming’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “Couldn’t sleep, or hiding something?”
As Zhao Ming stepped closer, Lin Yue instinctively backed away, her pulse quickening. The emperor’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the subtle movement, and his smirk deepened.
“You’re hiding something,” he said, his tone low and dangerous.
Before Lin Yue could respond, her foot caught on the uneven stone of the courtyard, and she stumbled. Zhao Ming reached out instinctively, his hand catching her wrist to steady her. The sudden closeness was unexpected, their faces mere inches apart.
Lin Yue breath hitched as her gaze locked with his. She could see the faint scar along his jawline, the sharpness of his cheekbones, and the flicker of surprise in his usually cold eyes.
And then it happened.
She shifted slightly to regain her balance, but the movement brought their lips together in a soft, fleeting kiss. The world seemed to stand still for a moment, the air between them heavy with tension.
Lin Yu pulled back quickly, her face flushed. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. It was an accident.”
Zhao Ming’s expression was unreadable, but his gaze lingered on her lips for a fraction of a second too long. “An accident, indeed,” he murmured before releasing her wrist and stepping back.
- Writer
