Chapter 153: A Clenched Fist, Holding Nothing

When Xiao Yang lifted her head from the water, Li Wei was already gone. She swam to the edge, drinking wine as she soaked in the hot spring. Once she’d had her fill of both, she finally climbed out of the water, dried herself, and got dressed, putting on her clothes one piece at a time.

She didn’t expect that when she pushed open the courtyard gate, the first thing she’d see was Li Wei’s tall figure standing under the lamplight, impossible to miss.

"Why are you still here?"

Li Wei had indeed left, only to return after changing into more appropriate attire. "This subject will escort Your Majesty to your quarters."

He was also holding a cloak. "The night air is cool. Your Majesty has been drinking; you must take care of your health."

He draped the cloak over Xiao Yang. She was warm from the wine, but the touch of the wind was indeed a bit cool.

Xiao Yang pulled the cloak tighter around herself and walked on. Li Wei picked up a lantern, holding it high to light her path.

"Your Majesty, mind your step."

At the steps, he offered his hand.

Xiao Yang took it instinctively. Plenty of people had offered her a steadying hand out of courtesy, so she thought nothing of it. Li Wei’s hand, however, was different from the others. It was thicker, broader, and callused—rough to the touch. The hand of a true military general.

Xiao Yang didn’t immediately pull her hand away. Instead, she felt it a couple more times.

The gesture was devoid of any flirtation; she was simply taking stock of the marks on his skin.

"This hand, and the scars on your body... they are a fitting testament to the glory you’ve earned."

’In the book the system told me about, a man like Li Wei didn’t even count as a supporting character. Not long after Xiao Lin seized the throne, Li Wei was killed for offending him—just cannon fodder who was gone after two episodes.’

’With Li Wei’s skills, if he were ambitious enough, he could have been a warlord who carved out his own territory. For him to be nothing more than cannon fodder killed off in two episodes just shows how absurd this world is.’

’Unfortunately, with the so-called book of fate being restructured, the system can no longer see my future, which means the fates of everyone else have become unpredictable as well.’

’But I’ve always cherished talent. Li Wei is loyal to me, and now he’s a divine weapon in my hands. As long as I’m here, I will never let him lie idle.’

In contrast to the roughness Xiao Yang had felt, what Li Wei held was a softness and delicacy he had never experienced before. It was as smooth as the finest satin, as if it would slip through his fingers at any moment, impossible to grasp.

"This subject does indeed have many scars..."

’He did see them as badges of honor, but at this moment, they felt ugly and coarse. He felt that even the sight of them would be an offense to her.’

’I have to find time when I get back to have Han Yang help me get rid of them.’

Xiao Yang felt his grip tighten on her hand. She glanced down before gently withdrawing it.

"At your age, it is indeed time you started a family. If you find a suitable young woman, We will bestow a marriage decree. We look forward to drinking the Great General’s wedding wine."

With that, Xiao Yang strode forward toward the quarters where she would be sleeping for the night.

Li Wei stood frozen in place as the edge of her cloak, billowed by the night wind, slipped through his palm.

’The Emperor’s cloak, woven from the finest cloud-silk, slipped away in an instant, impossible to hold.’

’I didn’t hide it well enough. How could someone as astute as Your Majesty not have noticed?’

’She noticed, and so... she rejected me.’

’She chose Rong Yin.’

His hand clenched into a fist, grasping only empty air.

’It was all just my own foolish fantasy.’

’I wouldn’t call that a rejection,’ Xiao Yang thought. ’After all, Li Wei didn’t say a thing. At most, I was just making my own stance clear.’

’Li Wei is different from the others.’

’Rong Yin had Emperor Taizhong and the late Emperor pave his way to the top; Meng Xuechen and I have our entanglements from a past life; Xu Xingchen is just an interesting little deviant.’

’I can tease them without a second thought. But Li Wei... he fought his way here with his own blood and sweat, risking his life to get where he is today.’

’I respect him. We can be sovereign and subject, we can be friends, but that’s all.’