“Are you scared?”

The Emperor’s gaze was still intensely focused on Zhen Huan.

Seeing her standing still without moving, the Emperor reached out and pulled her down to sit on the bed.

Zhen Huan, just like in her past life, lowered her head and softly said, “I’m not scared.”

Zhen Huan wasn’t scared; she was more worried that if she let go of her restraint, the Emperor might become scared!

For a woman who had long been seasoned in the “battlefield” of court politics, suddenly pretending to be shy would definitely require some mental preparation.

The Emperor blinked and said, “How could you not be scared? You won’t even look at me!”

“Normally, concubines are scared the first time they serve the Emperor!”

Well, it might be the first time for others, but not for me. After serving you so many times, I’ve long gotten used to it. How could I possibly be scared?

It’s just that, since I became the Empress Dowager in my past life, I haven’t had such close contact with men, and I’m afraid I might lose control.

Zhen Huan thought this in her heart, but on the surface, she spoke the same words as she had in her past life:

“I’m not scared.”

“For the Emperor, I’m just an ordinary concubine. But for me, the Emperor is my husband. Tonight is our wedding night, so I am nervous.”

Zhen Huan knew that despite being the ruler of a nation, the Emperor still longed for someone who wouldn’t be so afraid of him. He wanted to be respected but also to be treated as an ordinary person sometimes.

So saying such things wouldn’t make the Emperor angry. Instead, it would make him feel closer to her and set her apart from others.

The Emperor told her it was alright and guessed that her aunt had already taught her how to serve him.

Not only had her aunt taught her, but the Emperor himself had taught her quite a bit as well! By now, she was quite skilled!

Zhen Huan thought this to herself, but outwardly, she said only what the Emperor liked to hear:

“My aunt taught me how to serve the Emperor, but she never taught me how to serve my husband.”

After saying this, Zhen Huan gazed at the Emperor with eyes full of longing, waiting for her words to work their charm. When she felt she had aroused his feelings enough, she quickly bowed:

“I’ve overstepped, Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

The Emperor quietly watched her, still holding the formal posture, and sighed deeply to calm his emotions. Then, with a loving expression, he helped her up.

He held her hand through his sleeve and, with tenderness, said:

“Concubines are usually nervous and cautious when serving the Emperor, and even the Empress is no exception. No one has ever said such words to me.”

Of course, I’m just catering to his preferences!

Zhen Huan thought to herself as the Emperor’s gentle voice continued in her ears:

“Since you treat me as your husband, you don’t need to be so cautious in front of me.”

Feeling the Emperor’s affection, Zhen Huan’s eyes unknowingly became moist, and memories of her past life rushed to the forefront of her mind.

She let the Emperor hold her in his arms.

After their intimate moments, Zhen Huan looked at the Emperor, who was contentedly asleep, but found that she couldn’t fall asleep herself.

Suddenly, the face of Hua Fei from her previous life appeared in her mind, just like when she last saw her in the Cold Palace.

She remembered the words Hua Fei had said—

“The nights in the palace are so long…”

“Have you ever felt what it’s like to wait from dusk until dawn?”

Zhen Huan thought, at this moment, Hua Fei must be leaning sorrowfully against the door of Yikun Palace, gazing at the moon with a melancholic expression.

But, for some reason, Zhen Huan didn’t feel any joy. Instead, she felt a pang of sympathy because she had once shared the same feelings as Hua Fei.

The women in the palace all had difficult lives, fighting for survival or favor, using all their energy in endless competition.

Zhen Huan thought, if in this life she could protect everyone around her and eventually become the Empress Dowager, perhaps she wouldn’t be as ruthless as she was before…

Her thoughts once again returned to the Emperor. She gently touched his lips, then quickly withdrew her hand.

Lying quietly beside him, she watched as the Emperor blinked his lips a few times. She found it adorable.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” they say. Maybe that’s exactly what they mean by that!

In any case, as long as it’s him, everything is perfect!

Zhen Huan felt that she loved the Emperor more now than she had in her previous life at this time.

In her past life, she had been filled with fear and awe while receiving the Emperor’s favor;

But now, the love and guilt she felt from her past life added more depth to her feelings for the Emperor, making her emotions both stronger and calmer.

This also meant that in this life, she would never allow petty things to create a rift between her and the Emperor.

Since she couldn’t sleep, Zhen Huan glanced at the red candles burning brightly in the hall, and the same thought she had in her previous life came to mind.

She quietly slipped out of bed, took the scissors from the table, and began trimming the wick of the candle, preparing to cut another one.

At that moment, the Emperor woke up and asked what she was doing.

Though Zhen Huan had expected the Emperor to wake, the sudden sound still startled her.

She smiled as she looked at the red candle and said it was because she felt happy seeing the bright flame.

The Emperor murmured and sat up from the bed. “Is there a special meaning to this?”

Zhen Huan explained the common folk custom: on their wedding night, a pair of candles must be lit in the bridal chamber, burning until dawn. This symbolizes that the couple will live in harmony and grow old together.

The Emperor replied that since he was over forty, if he were to live to old age with her, wouldn’t that mean living to a hundred?

Zhen Huan immediately smiled and climbed over to the Emperor’s side, saying sweet words that he loved to hear.

She said that if the Emperor lived to be a hundred just to accompany her, wouldn’t that be a loss for him?

The Emperor, delighted by her flattery, beamed. Of course, everything Zhen Huan said was exactly what he wanted to hear!

The two continued their affectionate conversation for quite some time.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhen Huan suggested the Emperor should rest early.

The Emperor pulled Zhen Huan down to lie beside him, gently stroking her hair as he said, “How can I sleep with you here?”

Another beautiful night passed.

Back in the palace, as per the rules, Zhen Huan had to visit the Empress in Jingren Palace to pay her respects.

After performing the formal three kneelings and nine kowtows, the Empress pretended to be concerned and quickly asked Qiu to help Zhen Huan up.

Looking at the Empress, who appeared so kind and gentle, she looked just like the friendly elder sister next door.

Had she not experienced her past life, she would have never seen the Empress’s malicious intentions.

The two exchanged a few polite words.

Listening to Qiu’s words, the Empress had often shown concern for her during her illness, which Zhen Huan found laughable.

But on the surface, she had to thank her for her fake kindness.

The Empress displayed grace and dignity, and Zhen Huan accepted it all.

When her wings weren’t strong enough, patience was still necessary!

After leaving Jingren Palace, just like in her past life, Xiao Yun Zi suddenly appeared from somewhere and started spouting good luck phrases, making Jin Xi laugh heartily.

Xiao Yun Zi, with a mysterious look on his face, said that he had received an imperial decree, telling her not to return to the palace just yet.

Zhen Huan knew very well that this was the Emperor’s special arrangement for her “Jiao Fang Zhi Xi.”

But she didn’t want to have too much interaction with Gong Lu Hai and others in the Imperial Garden, so she found an excuse and took a detour to another place.