novelden Chapter 137 The Crown Princess's Tenderness
Chapter 137 The Crown Princess's Tenderness
Upon hearing this, He Qiongying was startled and quickly asked, "Who could have such an honor?"
Xiao Jinyan's eyes were sharp as he said, word by word, "Liu Huan, the Prince of Xiangyang, is currently imprisoned by Liu Kun in a forgotten corner of the Jiankang Palace, a pigsty, where he is extremely humiliated."
"Liu Huan, the Prince of Xiangyang?" He Qiongying murmured to herself, her mind quickly conjuring up vague memories of this prince.
"Is this person reliable? Jin Yan, this matter is of utmost importance and we must proceed with caution."
Xiao Jinyan, well aware of He Qiongying's concerns, quickly explained, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I have been secretly investigating for some time. Liu Huan is a kind and benevolent man, the eldest among the many heirs left by the late emperor, and thus possesses the rightful claim to the throne. Furthermore, his unjust imprisonment and exile from his fiefdom must have fueled endless resentment and bitterness. If we can help him see the light of day again, he will surely become a wise ruler who can turn the tide and lead our Great Song Dynasty toward revival."
He Qiongying parted her lips slightly, a hint of hesitation in her voice, and slowly said, "Regarding Liu Huan, the Prince of Xiangyang, I have little objection, but..."
She paused slightly, her bright eyes seeming to hold a thousand words, yet unable to express them all at this moment.
Xiao Jinyan naturally understood. He smiled gently, a smile that carried both reassurance and determination: "Please rest assured, Your Highness. I am well aware of your concerns. Admittedly, Liu Huan is not a grandson of the late Emperor, but rather a brother of His Highness the Crown Prince. Therefore, he cannot be adopted according to common practice to continue the Crown Prince's position. However, since ancient times, an elder sister-in-law has been like a mother. This is enough to ensure that Your Highness, in the years to come, can secure the position of Empress Dowager as the elder sister-in-law, protecting the royal family and stabilizing the court."
Upon hearing this, He Qiongying frowned slightly, as if weighing the weight of each word in her mind.
After a moment, she sighed softly, her voice gentle: "Very well, since you have considered everything, I will do as you say."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's eyes flashed with gratitude and admiration: "Your Highness, please rest assured. I have sworn to serve the royal family with my life. No matter who sits on the throne in the future, I will spare no effort to exonerate His Highness the Crown Prince, label Liu Kun and his faction as traitors, and proclaim this to the world. Furthermore, I will petition the new emperor to posthumously grant His Highness the title of emperor. In this way, no matter who becomes emperor in the future, Your Highness the Crown Prince will rightfully become the esteemed Empress Dowager of our Great Song Dynasty."
He Qiongying gently grasped Xiao Jinyan's warm and strong hand, her eyes gleaming with a complex light: "Jinyan, you are so good to me. How can I not be moved by your deep affection?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan smiled gently. He then grasped He Qiongying's delicate, jade-like hand tightly, his eyes firm and affectionate.
"Crown Princess, you are the woman I, Xiao Jinyan, love most in this life, the only person in this world for whom I am willing to give everything. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well?"
However, at this moment, He Qiongying's expression suddenly became somewhat dazed. Her brows furrowed slightly, and a barely perceptible hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
“Jinyan,” she said softly, her voice tinged with helplessness, “I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been feeling anxious and uneasy, as if something bad is about to happen.
Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan immediately embraced He Qiongying: "Baby, don't be afraid. Everything is under my control. No matter how many storms there are in the future, I will protect you. Just wait and be the most honored woman in the world, wait to become the Empress Dowager."
Feeling the warmth and strength in Xiao Jinyan's embrace, He Qiongying's heart gradually calmed down. She hugged Xiao Jinyan's waist tightly with both hands, rested her head on his chest, and listened to his steady and powerful heartbeat, feeling an unprecedented sense of security welling up in her heart.
"Jinyan, I feel at ease knowing you said that."
Xiao Jinyan lowered his head and gently stroked He Qiongying's soft, long hair, his eyes filled with doting affection and determination: "Don't worry, baby, as long as I'm here, I will never let you suffer even the slightest harm. I will dedicate my life to protecting you and our future."
He Qiongying's voice trembled slightly, weak but firm: "Jinyan, hold me tight. Only in your arms can I find that long-lost peace."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan involuntarily tightened his grip, as if trying to meld her into his body, never to be separated again. His fingers gently caressed He Qiongying's soft back, tender and full of love.
"Baby, I just want to hold you like this, time stands still, the world is boundless, and there is only you and me."
He Qiongying felt the warmth and steadfastness of his embrace and murmured, "Jinyan, hold me tighter, tighter, let me feel your heartbeat, your warmth, the tighter the better."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan slowly tightened his arms, their bodies almost pressed together, their breathing synchronized. An indescribable sweetness and excitement filled the air.
Suddenly, He Qiongying's breathing became rapid, and she urged in a low voice, "Jinyan, kiss me, quickly!"
The voice carried a hint of urgency and longing, like parched land yearning for the nourishment of rain.
Unable to control his impulse any longer, Xiao Jinyan leaned down and kissed He Qiongying's lips. It was a passionate and deep kiss, filled with all his love and desire, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
He Qiongying wrapped her arms around Xiao Jinyan's neck and passionately responded to the kiss. Their lips intertwined, as if they wanted to merge their souls into each other's bodies.
The kiss lasted a long time, so long that the two almost forgot the passage of time. Seeing that He Qiongying showed no intention of separating, Xiao Jinyan felt an indescribable emotion welling up inside him. He began to remove her clothes little by little, his movements gentle and full of love. When He Qiongying was only left with a bodice, the warmth and delicacy of her skin appeared even more alluring in the candlelight.
However, at that moment, He Qiongying suddenly pushed Xiao Jinyan away. A hint of shyness and panic flashed across her face, her eyes filled with both expectation and unease.
"Jinyan, no!"
This push jolted Xiao Jinyan back to his senses. He looked into He Qiongying's eyes, which were filled with complex emotions, gently took her hand, and whispered, "Qiongying, don't be afraid. I will respect every decision you make. I'm willing to wait for you no matter what, until you're ready."
He Qiongying leaned gently against Xiao Jinyan's broad shoulders, her voice as soft as a whisper, yet carrying an undisguised emotion: "Jinyan, I don't know why, but my heart is always tightly drawn to you. That longing surges like a tidal wave, driving me almost mad. Yet, whenever our emotions lead us to that most intimate point, I involuntarily retreat, my heart filled with inexplicable fear. What's wrong with me?"