Chapter 341: Unchanging is Best

"I, Rong Qing, have returned to report for duty."

Rong Qing had rushed back as fast as he could, but he still hadn’t made it back to the Capital City within the one-month deadline.

He could have left as soon as the battle was won, but the remaining rebels were exceptionally cunning and difficult to root out.

More than returning for a reward, he wanted to ensure the stability of Your Majesty’s empire. So, he stayed behind to completely eradicate the rebels, even clearing out several bandit lairs along the way. By the time he finally returned, nearly two months had passed.

’Although it’s a bit of a shame I can’t claim my reward,’ he thought, ’I’m finally back. I can continue to be by Her Majesty’s side. That’s enough.’

Xiao Li descended from her throne and personally helped Rong Qing to his feet. "You’ve worked hard."

Rong Qing rose, his posture rigid. "Your Majesty has but to command, and I would lay down my life without hesitation."

Xiao Li smiled. "That’s enough, you block of wood."

Rong Qing knew he was somewhat clueless about romance, but he wasn’t a fool. ’Perhaps this way I can’t wheedle any more favors from Her Majesty, but this distance is surely the most comfortable for our relationship.’

’Her Majesty won’t be troubled, and I can protect her forever.’

’Staying the same is for the best.’

Seeing how exhausted he looked, Xiao Li said, "Go and get cleaned up. Then, come see me."

After shooing Rong Qing away, Xiao Li turned and ordered her attendants to prepare a meal and wine to welcome him back.

Rong Qing had broken away from the main army and ridden ahead to return early, so a formal welcome banquet hadn’t been prepared. But now that he was here, a proper meal with wine was a must.

When Song Junzhan heard Rong Qing had returned, he hurried over, arriving just as a freshly changed Rong Qing reached the doorway.

Song Junzhan smiled. "Congratulations on your victorious return, General Rong."

As he spoke, he made a point of looking at Rong Qing’s eyes. Though he had already received reports that the General’s eyes had turned silver for some reason, seeing it in person was still astonishing. It wasn’t just a change in color; the man’s entire aura seemed to have grown more aristocratic.

Rong Qing nodded. "You’re too kind, Prime Minister."

The two men entered side-by-side. The meal and wine were already laid out, but there were only two places set.

At first, Song Junzhan didn’t think anything of it and went forward with Rong Qing to greet Xiao Li. But as they turned back to the table, he saw an attendant adding another seat and suddenly understood.

’Perhaps I shouldn’t have come.’ But the place had already been set...

The three of them sat down.

Rong Qing raised his cup to the Empress. After they both drank, they began to discuss matters at the border.

Rong Qing described the fighting in Yizhou that had occurred after the Empress’s departure. Though battle reports had been sent back consistently, written accounts were never as vivid as a firsthand telling.

Song Junzhan had read the reports as well, so he was familiar with most of what Rong Qing was describing, but he couldn’t find an opening to join the conversation.

It was as if an invisible wall stood between the Empress and Rong Qing, separating him from them. They shared a unique chemistry.

He looked at the Empress. Her expression was calm, her smile faint and placid—no different from usual.

But Rong Qing... even though he was his usual stoic, collected self, the tender affection overflowing from his silver eyes was impossible to conceal.

It hadn’t been like this before.

’Her Majesty and Rong Qing...’

Lost in thought, Song Junzhan excused himself and left early.

Outside, he ran into Lou Yan, who was standing beside Yang Jun.

From the look on Yang Jun’s face, he had clearly just been interrogated.

Song Junzhan asked, "General Yang, about Her Majesty and General Rong...?"

He didn’t have to finish the sentence. They all knew what he was asking.

Yang Jun held up his hands in surrender. "There’s no need for you two to grill me. I don’t know the details either."

"Her Majesty encountered sand bandits at the edge of the Beicang desert. The bandits were no match for the Silver Armor Guards, but as luck would have it, quicksand appeared right then. Her Majesty was in peril, and Rong Qing threw himself into danger to save her. After that, they were missing for nearly five days. By the time we got word of them, they had already reappeared inside Yizhou City."

"Only Her Majesty and Rong Qing know what happened during that time. In any case, I’m not brave enough to ask them."

He was curious about it, but not obsessed. All that mattered was that he knew the relationship between Rong Qing and Her Majesty had progressed. That was enough for him.

He added silently, ’As his brother-in-arms, I’m rooting for Rong Qing!’

----

「That night, in the Emperor’s bedroom.」

A slender, pale foot lashed out, kicking the insatiable bastard away.

"That’s just about enough of you~"

On the large bed, Xiao Li wrapped a thin silk sheet around herself and sat up, leaning back against the pillows.

Her skin was slick with sweat, her hair clinging to her cheeks.

Despite her disgruntled expression, she couldn’t conceal her bewitching, soul-stealing allure.

She brushed aside a damp lock of hair, her eyes cast downward to glare at the man now crawling over to wrap his arms around her waist.

"Alright, out with it. What’s this tantrum about?"

Her voice was slightly hoarse, trailing off with a seductive lilt, yet it carried an authority that permitted no argument.

’If you have something to say, just say it. But wearing me out like this... you’re asking for it!’

Lou Yan tightened his arms around her, his voice heavy. "Isn’t having me enough for Your Majesty? What is it you see in Rong Qing?"

’Song Junzhan was one thing, but how did another one, Rong Qing, show up?’

He was jealous.

Xiao Li threw her head back and scoffed. "Must you bring up other men when my mind is completely filled with thoughts of you?"

She did everything according to her own desires. At this moment, her body and mind were completely possessed by him, yet he was asking her to ponder why she was interested in another man?

’What an idiot.’

Lou Yan froze. He hadn’t expected that response.

He sat up, pulling her back into his arms and gazing down at her. The flames in his narrow eyes rekindled, and his wickedly handsome face was a mask of greedy, insatiable desire.

"Your Majesty’s lesson is well-learned. For spoiling your mood, I have come to atone."

Xiao Li considered slapping him but decided against it in the end. ’A waste of energy.’

After a night of carnal pleasure, Lou Yan had utterly exhausted the Empress, earning his place in the imperial bed through sheer skill.

At breakfast the next morning, Song Junzhan and Rong Qing were also present. Lou Yan sat in the seat closest to Xiao Li, looking utterly triumphant.

Throughout the meal, the other two men could only watch as Lou Yan placed food on the Empress’s plate. They’d lost their appetites completely.

They ate mechanically, bite after bite, the food tasting like chewing wax.

Xiao Li pretended not to notice anything, eating her meal with single-minded focus.

’I know what they’re all thinking,’ she mused, ’but I won’t be the one to burst their bubble.’

’Matters of the heart aren’t like matters of state. It’s impossible to treat everyone equally, and it’s impossible to keep everyone happy.’

’I will never give them what they truly want—marriage, children, an official title. But by the same token, I’m not forcing any of them to stay.’

’If they choose to get close, if they can stir my heart, then whatever happens between us is consensual.’

’If they can’t accept this, they are free to take a step back. They can leave with all they possess, get married, have children, and live the lives they desire. I would never interfere, much less be petty enough to have them hunted down.’

In her heart, Xiao Li held a firm conviction: one day, she would leave this world. It might be in the distant future, or it might be tomorrow.

’I will not bear children in this world, and I refuse to leave behind too many emotional attachments.’

’When I leave, I will never return. These men have their own lives to live, and they should live them. I won’t force them to remain chaste for my sake.’

’Life is long. You meet many people. Any passionate romance is just one Chapter of a life.’

’When you find it, you follow your heart and enjoy it.’

’And when it ends, you part without regrets, each to their own happiness.’