Chapter 71

The bright morning sunlight filtered through the carved pearwood lattice window, spilling into the exquisitely luxurious palace, the bed curtains hung low, and a cool breeze drifted in.
Yun Pianpian's eyelashes fluttered gently and she slowly awoke.
Yun Pianpian saw Xiao Changyuan's sleeping face, his eyes closed
His coldly handsome features were right before her.
Her gaze uncontrollably fell upon the man's jade, like, delicate lips and her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
The shameful memories of the previous night flooded her mind like scenes from a film, making her immediately shut her eyes, her cheeks flushing red as her body trembled lightly.
She had no idea where he had learned such techniques, capable of making her lose control to such an extent.
Yun Pianpian's thick lashes quivered, her cheeks flushed a deep rose, her fair, delicate skin tinged with a faint pink from embarrassment.
A lazy, husky voice sounded by her ear.
“Only now you remember to feel shy.”
The man tightened his arms around her waist, his deep chuckle carrying a hint of careless satisfaction.
“Isn't it a bit too late?”
Yun Pianpian's eyelashes trembled abruptly.
This tone…her amnesiac Yuan would never speak to her in such a teasing manner.
He wasn't her amnesiac Yuan!
He was the tyrant Yuan!
Yun Pianpian suddenly opened her eyes.
Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.
She lifted her gaze, staring blankly at Xiao Changyuan.
“Have…have you regained your memories?”
Xiao Changyuan opened his dark eyes, meeting Yun Pianpian's clear gaze. It seemed he only just realized what he had said moments before. His breath caught.
Cold sweat inexplicably broke out on his back but his expression remained unreadable.
Xiao Changyuan pressed his thin lips together.
He looked expressionlessly at Yun Pianpian.
“I haven't regained my memories.”
He blinked his thick, dark lashes, his jade, like handsome face showing an innocent, pure expression.
“Why does my wife ask this?”
Yun Pianpian looked suspiciously at Xiao Changyuan.
She felt something was off about him, but couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
Yun Pianpian furrowed her delicate brows, hesitantly looking at him.
“Husband, you're not hiding anything from me, are you?”
Xiao Changyuan denied without hesitation.
“No.”
His denial came so quickly that it only made her more suspicious.
Yun Pianpian narrowed her almond eyes wisely, examining Xiao Changyuan up and down for quite a while.
The doubts in her heart grew larger and larger.
The techniques Xiao Changyuan had used on her yesterday were clearly things he had just learned. Otherwise, he would have used them on her long ago , he wouldn't have waited until now.
But he had been with her the entire day yesterday. They had discovered that spring manual together. How could he have learned so much from just a brief glance?
Where exactly had things gone wrong?
Yun Pianpian slightly furrowed her fine brows.
Moreover, the tyrant Yuan would never privately collect such spring manuals, let alone keep them in a brocade box.
This matter was strange in every aspect, making it impossible for her to ignore.
Xiao Changyuan looked at her with clear, innocent eyes.
“Wife, what are you thinking about?”
Yun Pianpian saw his pure, childish gaze, the doubts in her heart gradually dissipated.
The tyrant Yuan would never look at her with such eyes, nor would he treat her so gently.
The tyrant Yuan would only ruthlessly plunder her, domineeringly possess her.
Yun Pianpian decided she must be overthinking.
“Nothing.”
Yun Pianpian covered herself with the thin quilt, sitting up to put on her clothes. Her fair, tender body was covered with blue and purple bite marks, looking too terrible to behold.
Remembering last night's scenes, Yun Pianpian blushed crimson with embarrassment, her toes curling involuntarily. She quickly dressed, covering these marks. Therefore, she didn't notice the relieved expression on the man's face.
The two washed up and had their meal.
After the meal, Yun Pianpian took Xiao Changyuan to the imperial desk in the outer chamber of the bedchamber, instructing him on reviewing memorials. Xiao Changyuan learned very quickly. Yun Pianpian assumed it was because the tyrant Yuan's memories were subtly influencing her amnesiac Yuan, which was why he was picking things up so fast.
Yun Pianpian stood by the ornate window, her gaze casually falling outside when it suddenly froze.
Because she discovered that Moon-Snatching Tower had disappeared.
In the past, through this ornate window, she could see the rooftop of the Moon-Snatching Tower rising above the Xide Gate, but now there was only emptiness there.
Yun Pianpian lifted the hem of her skirt, intending to step out of the bedchamber.
Xiao Changyuan called out to stop her.
“Where are you going, wife?”
Yun Pianpian turned back and said, “Husband, it seems the Moon-Snatching Tower has disappeared. I’m going to check.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Changyuan set down the imperial brush in his hand and rose to approach Yun Pianpian. “There’s no need.”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback. “What do you mean, no need?”
Xiao Changyuan slowly walked up to her.
His dark, profound eyes gazed intently at her.
“I ordered the palace servants to dismantle the Moon-Snatching Tower.”
The matter was so evident that Xiao Changyuan had no intention of hiding it from Yun Pianpian.
He had long prepared his explanation.
Upon hearing his words, Yun Pianpian’s delicate face froze in shock. “Husband, why did you have the Moon-Snatching Tower dismantled?”
Xiao Changyuan’s deep, ink, black eyes remained fixed on her as he replied, “During my midday rest yesterday, I had a dream. In it, I saw you falling from the Moon-Snatching Tower. After I woke, fearing the nightmare might come true, I immediately ordered the tower to be torn down.”
Yun Pianpian frowned slightly at his words.
Had she not noticed Xiao Changyuan’s unusual behavior earlier that morning, she might have believed his explanation. But with all the doubts she had accumulated throughout the day, his words not only failed to dispel her suspicions but deepened her mistrust of him.
She lifted her gaze and asked, “When I asked you this morning if you were hiding anything from me, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Xiao Changyuan answered without a change in expression, “Because this isn’t a concealment. You could see the Moon-Snatching Tower, and if you asked me, I would have told you.”
Yun Pianpian recalled the sudden appearance of the spring manual the previous night, and a flood of suspicions overwhelmed her thoughts. She looked at Xiao Changyuan and asked, “Aside from dismantling the tower, did you do anything else yesterday?”
Xiao Changyuan shook his head calmly.
“Nothing.”
Yun Pianpian immediately rushed out of the bedchamber and questioned the maids in front of the palace. “Where did His Majesty go yesterday?”
The palace maid turned pale with fright, dropping to her knees and trembling as she replied, “This servant does not know.”
The day before, when the Emperor returned to the bedchamber, he had ordered everyone not to disclose his whereabouts to the Empress. Now that the Empress was indeed questioning them, the palace servants grew even more fearful of both the Emperor and the Empress.
Yun Pianpian could tell that the palace servants were terrified of her. Usually, they didn’t even dare to look at her. Every time they saw her, they trembled like mice encountering a cat, shrinking in fear and not daring to lift their heads.
In fact, Yun Pianpian had never even seen the faces of these servants clearly, because every time they attended to her, they buried their faces deep into their chests.
Although being kept in the dark by everyone made Yun Pianpian uncomfortable, she had no intention of making things difficult for these pitiful servants.
Yun Pianpian returned to her bedchamber.
Xiao Changyuan poured her a cup of tea.
“Darling, have some tea.”
Yun Pianpian picked up the teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She lowered her eyelashes and spoke in a tone full of regret, “The Moon-Snatching Tower is historically renowned. Two thousand years from now, many people will travel from afar just to visit this jade tower. It’s truly a pity to tear it down. Husband, if possible, I’d like to rebuild the Moon-Snatching Tower in the outskirts of the capital, so that future generations can admire it. What do you think…”
Xiao Changyuan followed her words and said, “Then let it be as you say. We shall rebuild the Moon-Snatching Tower in the outskirts of the capital…”
Before he could finish speaking, his pupils contracted sharply.
He suddenly realized the trap in her words.
Xiao Changyuan abruptly lifted his gaze, his face pale as he looked at Yun Pianpian’s furious expression, his lips bloodless.
The room fell into dead silence, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Yun Pianpian stared intently into his eyes, her anger blazing as she said, “The fact that I come from over two thousand years in the future, I’ve only ever told one person. If you hadn’t regained your memories, there’s no way you could have known that I traveled here from the distant future. If you had truly lost your memory, hearing what I just said, your focus should have been on asking me how I knew about events two thousand years from now, not on agreeing to rebuild the Moon-Snatching Tower…”
Yun Pianpian stared at Xiao Changyuan with red, rimmed eyes.
Uncontrollable fury surged within her.
She never expected that Xiao Changyuan would lie to her. When exactly had he regained his memories? Or perhaps he had never lost them at all?
The thought made Yun Pianpian tremble with rage.
Xiao Changyuan gazed quietly at Yun Pianpian, his handsome face as pale as frost. After a long moment, he let out a low chuckle.
“My Pianpian is truly clever.”
His voice was deep and pleasant, his lazy tone carrying the arrogance and audacity unique to the tyrant Yuan.
Upon hearing this familiar form of address, tears immediately welled up in Yun Pianpian’s eyes.
The corners of her eyes turned red and damp as tears streamed down her face.
Yun Pianpian glared furiously at Xiao Changyuan.
“You liar!”
Seeing her tears, Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly and instinctively reached out to wipe them away.
Yun Pianpian’s eyes were red.
She harshly pushed his hand away.
Unfazed, Xiao Changyuan moved closer, attempting once more to wipe her tears. Yun Pianpian slapped his hand away again, leaving a crimson handprint on his pale hand. Yet, as if he felt no pain and had no regard for his dignity, he drew near her again. Frowning as if facing a formidable enemy, his dark eyes fixed intently on her tear, streaked, flushed face.
It wasn’t until the third attempt that Xiao Changyuan’s fingers finally landed on the reddened corners of Yun Pianpian’s eyes, gently and meticulously wiping away her tears.
Xiao Changyuan reached out and carefully embraced her, as if holding a priceless treasure.
The man’s voice was impossibly tender.
“Pianpian, don't cry anymore.”
Yun Pianpian was held in his embrace, sobbing uncontrollably as she fiercely scolded him: “You liar! You deceitful fraud!”
Xiao Changyuan frowned and said: “I am indeed a fraud.”
Tears streamed down Yun Pianpian's face as she asked: “Did you really lose your memory that day? Did you forget who you were?”
Yun Pianpian had cried herself into a tear, streaked mess.
Seeing her pitiful state, Xiao Changyuan immediately surrendered and confessed honestly: “I didn't lose my memory, I never forgot who I was.”
Yun Pianpian asked: “Why did you lie to me?”
“Why do you think, Pianpian?”
Tears kept falling from Yun Pianpian's eyes as she cried: “Because you wanted to give me a taste of my own medicine! You wanted to deceive me completely and then laugh at me! You wanted to treat me like a monkey! You wanted to mock me! You wanted to humiliate me! You wanted to play with me mmph.”
Xiao Changyuan lowered his head and captured Yun Pianpian's red lips, silencing all her words in her throat.
Yun Pianpian was kissed until her mind went blank, her thoughts turning into mush. She only felt her heart being violently tossed up by him, then brutally thrown down again. Yet she didn't feel any pain , only an aching bitterness that made her want to crush her own heart.
Xiao Changyuan released her red lips, his voice hoarse.
“Have you calmed down now?”
Yun Pianpian remained silent, her small face flushed.
Xiao Changyuan kissed her again, that feeling of helplessness once again filling his heart.
Although some words were difficult to speak, he still wanted this fool to understand clearly. So he could only furrow his brows and reluctantly continue.
“I possess the entire world, I am the ruler of a nation. With just one command, I could have countless beauties, yet somehow, there's only one fool in my heart.
I am undefeated in battle, invincible wherever I go. In this world, no one is my match, yet somehow, I've been completely defeated by a fool.
I look down upon everyone, I am arrogant beyond measure. No one can control me, yet somehow, I'm willingly held in the palm of a fool's hand and find it sweet.
Yun Pianpian, tell me why this is?”
Hearing his words, Yun Pianpian felt as if her heart had been crushed and then pieced back together with honey. With flushed cheeks, she said stubbornly: “How would I know why?”
Xiao Changyuan deeply furrowed his brows.
His dark, profound eyes fixed on her face.
“Because I don't care for the empire, I only like Yun Pianpian.”
Yun Pianpian's heart felt as if it had been drenched in sweet honey, the sweetness seeping all the way to the tips of her heart.
She turned her little face away, the corners of her lips involuntarily curving upward.
Xiao Changyuan wore an icy expression, furrowing his brows as he asked, “Yun Pianpian, do you like me?”
Yun Pianpian replied, “No.”
Xiao Changyuan's gaze dimmed, his fingers slowly clenched.
As expected, he still didn’t manage to win her affection.
Just as Xiao Changyuan was lost in sorrow, Yun Pianpian suddenly grabbed the front of his robe, stood on her tiptoes, and with a flushed face, kissed his lips.
“Because I love you.”
Xiao Changyuan’s body stiffened abruptly.
His dark lashes trembled slightly, his eyes held a trace of disbelief.
Suddenly, his eyes reddened.
He swiftly wrapped his arms around Yun Pianpian’s soft waist, fiercely deepening the kiss.