Chapter 84

Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly.
From the moment he found Yun Pianpian today, he had sensed something off about her. He thought it might be because she had been asleep for two years and her mind had been affected.
But now…it was clear she didn’t recognize him at all.
“That has always been your name.”
Xiao Changyuan’s thin lips pressed into a tight line.
“Have you lost your memory?”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback, her gaze shifting nervously. She didn’t know if he was asking about Xiaohua or her. Her eyes guiltily fell upon the dark golden dragon pattern on his collar, not daring to meet Xiao Changyuan’s gaze, her heart racing.
“How did you know I lost my memory?”
Why was Xiaohua’s name also Yun Pianpian?
How could it be such a coincidence?
Yun Pianpian’s mind turned to mush.
Xiao Changyuan furrowed his brow, reaching out with his pale, slender fingers to grasp her chin, forcing her to look at him.
His deep, black eyes fixed intently on hers.
“How much do you still remember?”
Yun Pianpian had no choice but to meet his dark, icy gaze, her heart racing wildly.
He was truly handsome, with delicate features and a cool, jade, like demeanor, so captivating it was almost bewitching.
In those beautiful, dark eyes, her reflection was mirrored, as if she filled his entire world.
Yun Pianpian began to envy Xiaohua.
A faint, prickling ache spread through her heart.
“I only remember my name.”
She didn’t dare tell him about transmigrating into the book. She feared the tyrant might burn her alive, he seemed cold, dangerous, and terrifying, and it was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
Xiao Changyuan lowered his long, thick eyelashes.
After a long pause, he murmured softly.
“That might be for the best.”
He lifted his gaze.
His dark eyes, fixed on Yun Pianpian, were as deep and shadowy as an abyss, brimming with intense possessiveness. He stared at her with a greedy expression.
“That way, you’ll never leave me.”
She had forgotten everything, which meant she had forgotten she came from the future and the way back home. She could no longer escape from his side.
Xiao Changyuan was quite satisfied with this outcome.
He curled his thin lips, his dark eyes growing even deeper.
He leaned in to kiss her lips, like kissing a delicate bird trapped in a cage.
As Xiao Changyuan’s breathtakingly handsome face drew closer, Yun Pianpian’s heart beat faster and faster, her mind going blank with fear.
She pushed him away with all her strength.
Xiao Changyuan’s body fell backward into the white jade bathing pool. In that moment, their eyes met, and both saw shock reflected in the other’s gaze.
Yun Pianpian: “...”
Was the tyrant really this delicate and easy to push over?
Wait.
Why did that line sound so familiar?
Xiao Changyuan: “...”
His Pianpian actually rejected him?
Crystalline water splashed in the white jade pool, ripples spread, and a misty dampness filled the air.
Soaked from head to toe, Xiao Changyuan slowly rose from the bath. Droplets of water fell from his long lashes, tracing a path down his cool, jade, like face before dripping from his elegantly defined jaw.
The emperor stared fixedly at her face.
His dark, icy eyes held a suppressed, chilling anger, like a storm about to break.
“Why did you push me away?”
Seeing his furious expression, Yun Pianpian turned and fled in terror. How was she to know the tyrant was so delicate and easy to push over? Had she known, she wouldn’t have used so much force.
She dashed toward the palace entrance like a startled hare, but before she could reach it, a pair of pale, slender hands wrapped around her slender waist.
Her body was pulled into his embrace, her back pressed against his damp, broad chest. The man’s low, husky voice sounded, like a demon whispering in her ear.
“Did I permit you to flee?”
His voice was deep and hoarse, tinged with menace, it was no less than a death sentence.
Yun Pianpian was so frightened her scalp tingled, her body going limp as he held her tightly, trapping her with no chance of escape. He carried her to the dragon bed, its curtains drawn low.
Terrified, her face turned deathly pale, tears streaming down as she shrank back into the bed, trembling uncontrollably.
She feared he would treat her disrespectfully.
She feared she would be forced to lose her innocence.
But the emperor suddenly frowned.
“Why are you crying?”
He reached out, intending to wipe away Yun Pianpian's tears but she shrank back in fear.
The emperor withdrew his hand, his expression turning stern.
“Yun Pianpian, answer me.”
Hearing her name, Yun Pianpian trembled slightly, her eyelashes fluttering as she whispered timidly, “I'm scared.”
“Scared of what?”
Tears welling in her eyes, Yun Pianpian sobbed softly, “I'm scared of you getting close to me. I don't even know you.”
Xiao Changyuan said, “You are my empress.”
“But Jiang Sheyu said I am his wife.”
“He is lying to you.”
Xiao Changyuan's gaze shifted slightly as he looked down at her.
“Today, you called Jiang Sheyu your husband because you thought he was your husband?”
Yun Pianpian nodded gently.
“Yes.”
With that movement, the glistening teardrop clinging to her long, thick lashes suddenly fell, tracing a path across her flushed cheeks.
It landed on the embroidered quilt.
Leaving a small, damp stain.
Xiao Changyuan felt a faint itch in his heart, a strong urge to reach out and brush away the remaining tears from her eyelashes, but he feared Yun Pianpian would reject him.
Frowning, Xiao Changyuan looked at Yun Pianpian.
“Then, do you love him?”
Yun Pianpian shook her head lightly.
“I don't even know him.”
So he had misunderstood her.
His Pianpian had never shifted her affections to another.
How could those pretty boys compare to him?
Hearing her words, Xiao Changyuan narrowed his dark, phoenix-like eyes in satisfaction, a hint of pleasure coloring his expression.
“Continue.”
Yun Pianpian glanced up at him and noticed his relaxed brows, his slightly narrowed eyes, he seemed to be in a good mood.
She had feared Xiao Changyuan because he appeared dangerous and ruthless, utterly unreasonable.
But now, it seemed he was not as bloodthirsty as she had imagined. At the very least, he had not harmed her. Emboldened, Yun Pianpian continued, “I don't know you, and I don't know him either. Both of you are strangers to me. I'm scared when either of you gets close to me.”
“Did he touch you?”
Yun Pianpian initially meant to say no, but instead, she found herself asking inexplicably, “What if he did?”
“Then I shall have him killed.”
“What about me?” Yun Pianpian looked at him. “He touched me. Will you kill me too?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly. “How could I ever kill you? My Pianpian has done nothing wrong. The fault lies with this world full of temptations and lies.”
Yun Pianpian stared at him in stunned silence.
She could feel the overwhelming tenderness and possessive favor overflowing from his gaze as he looked at her.
Her heart ached with even more bitterness.
Because she knew none of this affection belonged to her.
It all belonged to Xiaohua, while she was the detestable cuckoo occupying another's nest.
She feared he would discover the truth.
“But I don't remember anything.”
Xiao Changyuan said softly, “It doesn't matter. I will remember everything Pianpian has forgotten. It's fine if Pianpian never remembers.”
Better if she never remembers, that way he could keep her forever.
Xiao Changyuan narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze profound.
Hearing his words, Yun Pianpian's heart grew even more sorrowful. Just as she was feeling moved, she heard him speak in an icy tone: “Take off that dress.”
Yun Pianpian clutched her clothing tightly in alarm, her expression flustered. “I don't know you right now. You can't touch me, I'd be scared.”
“I won't touch you.”
“Then why do you want me to undress?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned. “I don't like you wearing this dress. It's not yours.”
Yun Pianpian froze, remembering what happened earlier by the bath. With a strange expression, she said, “So earlier by the bath, you wanted me to change clothes.”
Xiao Changyuan nodded. “What else?”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
The way you looked, like a storm was about to break, it was practically the opening scene of forced love.
It was really hard not to let her imagination run wild.
Xiao Changyuan looked at Yun Pianpian with a cool expression.
“Do you want me to help you undress?”
Yun Pianpian immediately blushed. “I can do it myself. Don't peek.”
“What part of your body haven't I seen before?”
Yun Pianpian's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. She picked up a brocade pillow from the dragon bed and threw it at Xiao Changyuan. Immediately after, she regretted it, fearing he would fly into a rage. But Xiao Changyuan didn't get angry, instead, he looked quite pleased.
“I'll get you some clothes.”
With that, Xiao Changyuan turned and left. Moments later, he handed her an elegant palace gown.
“Go bathe.”
“Th, then you can't peek.”
“I won't look.”
“You have to keep your word.”
“My word is my bond.”
Yun Pianpian had no choice but to take the palace gown to the white jade bath. She washed quickly, her heart pounding with fear, then changed into the clean, comfortable palace gown and emerged from behind the screen.
Xiao Changyuan sat on the dragon bed.
He reached out his hand to her.
“Come here.”
She never expected the great tyrant to be such a gentleman.
He truly didn't force her.
Yun Pianpian obediently walked over.
Xiao Changyuan's gaze fell on Yun Pianpian's slender, pale wrist. Frowning, he asked, “What happened to your hand?”
Yun Pianpian's wrist was still wrapped in white bandages.
“Jiang Sheyu said it was injured by bandits.”
She didn't know who to believe between Xiao Changyuan and Jiang Sheyu, but she instinctively trusted Xiao Changyuan.
Xiao Changyuan immediately summoned the imperial physician to examine Yun Pianpian's injury. The physician found nothing unusual, only advising rest and presenting an ointment to remove scars.
After the physician withdrew, Xiao Changyuan personally applied the ointment to Yun Pianpian's wrist, his expression somewhat displeased.
Yun Pianpian looked at Xiao Changyuan with unease.
“Are you upset?”
“I am going to have Jiang Sheyu executed.”
“Why?”
“He caused you harm.”
Xiao Changyuan's heart churned with raging fury.
The treasure he dared not even bite with force had been injured by that insignificant ant, Jiang Sheyu.
Yun Pianpian comforted him, saying, “I'm fine.”
“But I am not.”
Yun Pianpian reasoned, “If you kill Jiang Sheyu, I will never know the truth.”
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly. “Jiang Sheyu will enter the palace at dusk. You may listen from behind the screen.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Changyuan ordered the meal to be served. The palace attendants brought forth a feast of exquisite delicacies. Yun Pianpian was surprised to discover that all the dishes were her favorites. She found it strange, could it be that not only did Xiaohua share her name, but her preferences were identical as well?
A faint suspicion stirred in Yun Pianpian's heart, but it seemed too absurd, so she dared not dwell on it.
After the midday meal, Yun Pianpian felt drowsy. There was still some time before dusk, and noticing her fatigue, Xiao Changyuan said, “Go and rest.”
Yun Pianpian climbed onto the imperial bed and was about to sleep when she noticed Xiao Changyuan following her. She immediately clutched the pillow tightly. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Changyuan gazed at her with a cool expression.
“I also take a midday nap.”
“Then, then I'll sleep on the daybed.”
With that, Yun Pianpian made to rise.
But Xiao Changyuan grasped her wrist and pressed her back onto the imperial bed. “You are not allowed to leave me.”
Yun Pianpian panicked. “I've lost my memory. To me, you are just a stranger. I don't want to share a bed with a stranger.”
“What do you propose, then?”
“I'll sleep on the daybed.”
Xiao Changyuan's eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, “Yun Pianpian, if I truly wished to force myself upon you, even a hundred of you could not stop me. If I truly intended to coerce you, even if you slept on the daybed, you would not escape your fate.”
The color drained from Yun Pianpian's face.
Xiao Changyuan leaned down and kissed her forehead, a cool kiss that carried unmistakable tenderness. “But I love you, so I respect you. I will not force you, but you cannot force me to be apart from you either. Do you understand?”
He gently yet coldly soothed her emotions.
Yun Pianpian held back her tears and said, “I understand.”
Xiao Changyuan looked down at her for a moment, then slowly released her and lay down beside her, holding her hand. Yun Pianpian thought that with him by her side, she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, but in reality, she slept like a log.
It wasn’t until Xiao Changyuan gently shook her awake.
“Pianpian, it’s already dusk.”