Chapter Seventy-Six: Don’t Overthink It

Her words left everyone speechless for a moment. Jun Yeli coughed awkwardly into his fist, glancing at her relaxed posture, which seemed to magnify her presence several times over. He truly felt it was somewhat inappropriate. “Your clothes are rather drafty. You’d better get into bed before you catch a chill.”

Yet, something about his words sounded off.

Surveying the room with a scrutinizing gaze, Huarong felt certain this was the only bedroom fit for sleeping. “Your Majesty, you’re not suggesting we share the bed, are you?”

“Is there anything wrong with that, my dear wife?”

Those last two words said it all. Huarong was instantly rendered speechless, forcing a stiff smile as she shook her head. “No, of course not, haha…”

She supposed sleeping together was acceptable, as long as things didn’t get as wild as the storm outside.

With unease gnawing at her and thunder crashing beyond the window, Huarong could not resist the harshness of reality. She slipped silently into bed.

“That’s much better…”

It felt like a natural harbor from the storm, offering the most genuine comfort. With this thought, Huarong couldn’t help but cast a curious sideways glance at Jun Yeli.

He still held a scroll, reading intently, his focus lending him a unique masculine allure.

“Is he really going to read all night?” She wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. After all, what man could remain unmoved with a beauty like herself nearby?

Pouting, Huarong tucked her hands under the quilt, pulling it up to her neck so that only her round little head was visible.

As time trickled by, her inner guard finally gave way to drowsiness. Nodding off, she leaned against the bedside and drifted into sleep.

Reflected clearly in the mirror before him, Jun Yeli watched her, unable to suppress a soft chuckle. “Such endurance. I didn’t expect she’d last this long before falling asleep.”

But her sleeping posture left much to be desired—wasn’t she mistreating her own body? Jun Yeli put down his book, walked quietly to the bed, and, gazing at her exquisite sleeping face, felt his heart flutter.

“The Hua family may have fallen on hard times, but as a noble lady, she sleeps with such abandon. It’s truly unexpected.”

After a brief sigh, Jun Yeli carefully slipped an arm around Huarong’s waist, intending to lay her flat for a more comfortable rest.

But in that instant, always alert, Huarong sensed the disturbance. She furrowed her brows. “Who’s there?”

Her eyes flew open to find Jun Yeli’s arm around her neck, trying to guide her head onto the pillow. His profile appeared right before her, so close she could see every pore.

Her breath quickened. “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

With inexpressible anxiety, Huarong shoved him away.

Startled, she sat bolt upright, shrinking into the corner, wrapping the quilt tightly around herself as a shield.

Jun Yeli staggered back a few steps. For a fleeting moment, a trace of indescribable disappointment crossed his face at the sight.

“Do you think so little of me? Why are you so guarded? What are you afraid of? If you don’t care for me, why did you enter the palace at all?”

His barrage of questions left Huarong at a loss. She stammered, “I… it’s not like that…”

Yet she couldn’t articulate her thoughts.

Jun Yeli let out a cold laugh, listening to the relentless rain outside. “Very well, since you don’t care for me, I won’t force you. Rest well.”

He turned to leave, feeling the piercing wariness from behind.

With a long, helpless sigh, he turned back, patience softening his tone. “You’ll catch cold sleeping like that. I only meant to help you lie flat. Don’t misunderstand. Rest assured, I’ll do nothing to you.”

With those words, Jun Yeli strode out, his tall figure disappearing as he opened the door and crouched beneath the eaves.

The instant the door opened, the sound of rain surged in like a tide—so loud it was almost unbearable. Huarong’s face changed, a flicker of regret passing through her.

“Why would His Majesty act so wounded? Did I really hurt him?”

Inexplicably, a dull ache settled in her chest, guilt creeping in to gnaw at her heart. Huarong bit her lip, not knowing what to do.

Her eyes drifted to the window. Even through the gauzy screen, the rain’s roar was deafening, occasionally punctuated by flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.

The storm outside could not reach her here, but the wildness of it made her shrink inside. How much more so if someone was out there?

“What am I so guilty and anxious about?” Huarong raked her fingers through her hair, unable to fathom her own actions.

In the end, she could not contain herself. Throwing off the covers, she hurried out.

“Your Majesty, please don’t stay outside. If you fall ill, I’ll be the one to blame!”

Clinging to the excuse of concern, Huarong opened the door, hoping to take the initiative.

But to her astonishment, there was nothing outside but darkness; not a trace of that lonely figure. Huarong froze, bewildered. “What’s going on? Where has His Majesty gone?”

She looked left and right—no sign of Jun Yeli. Not a soul, not even a bird or beast.

Her legs nearly gave way as panic swelled within her. “Oh no, has His Majesty gone out into the storm to punish himself because of me?”

Just like those melodramatic scenes she’d seen in stories.

But if the emperor’s health suffered because of her, wouldn’t she truly become a calamity to the nation?

Heart pounding with worry, Huarong cupped her hands to her mouth and called, “Your Majesty, where are you? I know I was wrong—please don’t scare me like this…”