Not only was she going to marry the most powerful and respected man in Country A, she was going to bear him a son. She was going to give birth to Country A’s Crown Prince.
Lifting her eyes, Dongfang Ruoli surveyed her reflection in the mirror. She now looked identical to Tang Mo’er.
She knew that Tang Mo’er was his heart’s deepest desire when she was alive. A desire he could never get.
Now she would make herself into Tang Mo’er’s image and present herself before him. She would fulfill that dream in his heart. She would satisfy his desire and lust.
Wouldn’t that be a sort of closure?
The door opened with a click and a poised figure entered the room.
Lu Yeming was here.
Dongfang Ruoli hurried up and said in a manner as gentle as water. “Your Highness, have you been drinking?”
Lu Yeming reeked of the heavy stench of alcohol. All the noble aristocrats in Country A had attended the grand wedding today and he had been entertaining them.
“Yeah, I had a few.”
Lu Yeming answered mildly. He did drink a lot of alcohol and those profound, slanted eyes of his were clouded over with a misty drunkenness.
When he looked at Dongfang Ruoli, he was momentarily startled by her red outfit and loose, flowing hair. She walked out silkily from under the light. This Dongfang Ruoli before him started to merge with the image of that lovely little face in his mind.
“Your Highness, let me help you undress. Then you can go take a bath first.”
Dongfang Ruoli stood before Lu Yeming and reached out her little hands to undo the buttons on his western-style suit.
Her hands were suddenly grabbed by a huge palm and pressed against his heart.
Dongfang Ruoli’s heart jumped. She immediately lifted her eyes to look at that handsome and pristine face.
“Yeming…”
She called softly.
Yeming.
Yeming.
When Mo’er was alive, she had called him in this very manner.
Lu Yeming lifted his palm and gently held Dongfang Ruoli’s petite face. He murmured in a hoarse voice. “Mo’er…”
Dongfang Ruoli reached out and hugged his strong waist, snuggling into his chest.
Lu Yeming stiffened. A few seconds later, he wrapped his strong arms tightly around her shoulders and pressed her into his embrace.
“Mo’er.”
His voice was low and raspy, as he continuously tightened his embrace, desperately trying to melt her into his own body.
Hearing his desire and feeling him so close, Dongfang Ruoli went soft all over. She loved his scent, this masculine smell of a healthy male, and couldn’t help feeling somewhat envious of Tang Mo’er. What was it about this woman that made the Emperor love her so deeply?
After being in his embrace for a while, Dongfang Ruoli gently pushed Lu Yeming away and took a step back. She lifted her hands and undid her red gauze dress.
She looked at him meaningfully. “Your Highness, do you want me? Tonight, I am yours.”
Lu Yeming gazed at her. She was a mesmerizing sight under the flickering candle glow. As beautiful as a dream.
He strode toward her.
Dongfang Ruoli retreated until her knee hit the side of the bed and she fell softly onto the large bed. Fluttering her lashes, she felt a bit dizzy.
Still, he pressed forward, exuding the full aura of an Emperor. Powerful, profound, compelling.
At that moment, her line of sight went dark as someone laid over her. Lu Yeming cupped the sides of her head with his large palms and looked down upon her.
Dongfang Ruoli’s heart was steeped in sweetness. “Your Highness, I am ready. Come.”
She closed her eyes and waited to become his woman.
She waited and waited for his kiss, but to no avail. Finding it strange, Dongfang Ruoli opened her eyes again.
And was instantly met with those profound, slanted eyes.
His earlier drunkenness had faded, leaving behind a cold and imperious light in his eyes. Pursing his lips, he said without emotion, “Put on your clothes. Remember this, do not do this again. I won’t allow you to blaspheme my Mo’er.”
Dongfang Ruoli felt like she had been shoved into an abyss by a huge palm. Her little face turned pale.
“You managed to behave very much like Mo’er just now, as gentle as she was. But her eyes didn’t have that infatuated adoration, the greed, and the ambition that is present in yours. So don’t pretend in the future. Mo’er is one of a kind. In my eyes, you will never be her. You can never become her.”
Dongfang Ruoli went cold all over and momentarily forgot to say anything.
Lu Yeming drew back to leave.
“In the future, we will sleep in separate rooms. I already gave you the status of Empress. From now on, you just have to perform your duty as the Empress.”
Lu Yeming turned around and left.
…
What? Did he leave?
Did he leave just like that?
Tonight was their wedding night. Tomorrow, a matron would come to collect the handkerchief bearing her first blood. How could he just ditch her like that?
Dongfang Ruoli really wished to pursue him, but she didn’t dare to.
From now on, she just had to perform her duties as an Empress.
No.
This was not what she wanted!
…
It was deep into the night and it had started snowing. Snowflakes as big as goose feathers drifted down from the sky, quickly covering the earth with a layer of pristine, white snow.
Lu Yeming walked out and stood on the balcony, which was at the very top level. He glanced downward. Shreds of white fell on his shoulders as he surveyed the entire world with disdain.
At this moment, Fan Men walked over and draped a black cape over the man’s wide shoulders. “My Lord, it’s snowing and cold.”
The lonely night sky covered everything with a sense of bleakness. If anything, the black cape accentuated Lu Yeming’s gloriously handsome face. He lifted his head and gazed at the dancing snowflakes.
“My Lord, what are you thinking?” Fan Men asked.
What am I thinking?
The corners of Lu Yeming’s lips curled up. Scenes from the past 24 years flashed by his eyes.
He thought of Mo’er.
Mo’er had accompanied him over the past 24 years. She represented all that was beautiful and warm within his heart. He loved her.
But she had left just like that.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“My Lord, it is midnight.”
Midnight?
Fan Men hesitated before speaking up. “My Lord, tonight is New Year’s Eve. President Jun Xiqing is celebrating the coming of the New Year tonight with her people.”
With that, Fan Men passed a video over for Lu Yeming to view.
The skies of Country Z was full of stars tonight. The citizens were gathered in the plaza, looking up at the giant screen, counting down excitedly: Five, four, three, two, one!
A lovely little face suddenly filled the screen. The crown sparkled luxuriantly atop Jun Xiqing’s long, jet-black hair. She faced the camera and shouted happily, “Happy New Year!”
The entire crowd started cheering and then numerous fireworks burst across the skies, after which the sparks rained down like falling stars.
Lu Yeming’s gaze was fixed upon that exuberant little face. His lips started to curl up.
He smiled.
Actually, he also thought of her just now.
She was his first woman. And apart from Mo’er, the only other woman he had ever coveted.
From those days in the past, that “I miss you” were not just empty words. Those sweet times in the little village surfaced in his mind. He had thought of going down another path with her.
But she didn’t come.
It all ended before it even began.
In the end, they had all left him.
It had been a long, dark night. It was three years before they met again.
