Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

"Your Majesty, have you finally concluded your duties? Lately, you've been secluded in the palace, and I've been deeply concerned. When I've been out, I've occasionally heard rumors, and I've become even more worried."

Zhang Tianai spoke softly, her eyes gleaming with concern, but her words were filled with some indescribable subtle emotions.

Murong Shuo heard this and a gentle smile appeared on his lips. He reached out his hand teasingly, wanting to touch her cheek. "Things are about to settle. I was thinking of leaving the palace for a walk. I miss you. Don't worry about the turmoil in the outside world."

Zhang Tianai's cheeks flushed slightly, and she responded shyly, with her eyes lowered, making her look even more gentle and charming.

Murong Shuo looked at her nodding obediently and couldn't help but chuckle, "How come your cheeks are so shy? You've been with me so many times, and you're still like this."

After saying that, his hand involuntarily wanted to rise again, and the air was filled with a hint of ambiguity.

Zhang Tianai felt increasingly embarrassed and whispered, "I'm not blushing, but for some reason, my cheeks always get hot. Your Majesty, Chunmei..."

She suddenly called Chunmei and turned her eyes to the side.

Murong Shuo and Chunmei looked in the direction of the sound. Although it was not the first time Chunmei saw this scene, she still felt something was strange.

She looked at Zhang Tianai's blush, feeling puzzled, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions. She just waited quietly.

Murong Shuo's fingers tapped lightly on the table, but his eyes never left the blushing face, and he secretly admired her beauty in his heart.

He had an idea and wanted to ask Chunmei to leave, but he didn't say it out loud.

"You..." Murong Shuo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but then changed his tone and said, "I have been very busy these past few days and am exhausted both physically and mentally. Although I don't show it on my face, but..."

He changed the subject, as if holding something back, his eyes full of tenderness for Zhang Tianai.

Zhang Tianai was as perceptive as a hair and had already noticed the fatigue in his expression.

Seeing his dark circles under his eyes, his stubble showing, and his slightly thin figure, she felt even more distressed: "Your Majesty, you are the one who is truly working hard. What I have done is nothing to mention. Seeing you so haggard, I feel deeply distressed."

Her voice was soft and melodious, revealing deep concern.

Murong Shuo stared at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "I am as strong as an ox, but you are still weak. You are lucky not to faint. I just hope you are safe and don't get into trouble again."

Zhang Tianai felt a surge of warmth in her heart when she heard this: "Your Majesty, don't worry. I am fine now and will not cause you to worry anymore."

Murong Shuo was silent for a moment, as if examining his appearance, before finally asking, "Does my current appearance make me look rather embarrassed?"

His words revealed his concern for Zhang Tianai's opinion.

Chunmei was about to speak to comfort her, but Zhang Tianai beat her to it: "Your Majesty is wise and mighty, how could he be embarrassed? I just..." As she spoke, her cheeks turned even redder and she turned her head away shyly.

Murong Shuo was satisfied when he saw this. He looked at her carefully a few more times, his eyes full of tenderness and doting.

"However, when will the emperor be able to return to the palace? The emperor should be returning to the palace soon, right?" Zhang Tianai asked proactively.

After hearing this, Murong Shuo said calmly, "Are you thinking about me returning to the palace?"

There was no fluctuation in his tone.

"Hasn't the emperor finished dealing with all the affairs yet?" Zhang Tianai asked back.

"Well, I'll be back to the palace soon." Murong Shuo told her.

Zhang Tianai sighed softly and said nothing more.

Murong Shuo suddenly thought of something. This woman didn't seem to miss him too much during the two days he was away, just like she didn't miss him as much as she did now when they parted in the temple.

"Didn't you write a love poem and mention me?" Murong Shuo couldn't help feeling a little dissatisfied.

Zhang Tianai remained silent.

Chunmei listened from the side and couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

She had never seen the emperor and the girl communicate like this, and it felt like they were becoming more and more affectionate.

"Chunmei, go get the medicine." Zhang Tianai suddenly remembered and instructed Chunmei.

Murong Shuo also noticed Chunmei's reaction.

Chunmei bowed to the emperor and the girl and left.

As soon as she left, Murong Shuo asked, "She's gone. Have you taken the medicine yet? Have you applied the medicine?" His eyes fell on Zhang Tianai's injured arm.

Zhang Tianai lowered her head and replied that the medicine had not been boiled yet and she had not applied the medicine yet, but had just eaten some food.

"Your Majesty, have you used it?" Zhang Tianai asked.

"I used it. I used it before leaving the palace." Murong Shuo would say this even if he didn't use it.

"If the emperor is free, wait a moment, I will prepare some food for him immediately. He has lost weight." Zhang Tianai said and was about to leave.

Murong Shuo held her back and interlocked their fingers.

Zhang Tianai raised her head, her eyelashes flickering. Her face was thinner, but still as charming, and her posture was still elegant.

He held her slender waist and pressed his fingers.

Zhang Tianai let out an "ah".

Their breaths intertwined again, their eyes met, face to face.

"I have already selected servants for you, but I was too busy to choose one before. Eunuch An told me not long ago to send them over. They should be here soon. Then you will have more people to serve you." Murong Shuo said.

After he finished speaking, his eyes darkened slightly, and a strange feeling intertwined with the subtle trembling of his fingertips.

"You..." He opened his lips slightly, as if he had something to say unfinished.

Zhang Tianai responded softly, the sound was like shy dewdrops falling in the morning light, but she unconsciously wanted to escape from this sudden intimacy, her cheeks flushed like clouds.

"Your Majesty," she finally mustered up the courage and called softly, "Actually, I don't need too much service, really."

The implication is that he is apprehensive about the incoming attendants.

Murong Shuo's eyes became more determined when he heard this: "No, I have carefully selected them, they are all loyal and honest people, and everything in the palace has been arranged properly."

He emphasized again, trying to allay her concerns.

Zhang Tianai seemed to want to say something but stopped herself, her lips slightly parted, but no word came out.

"Do you have any other wishes in your heart?" Murong Shuo asked gently, as if he could see through the secrets in her heart.

Zhang Tianai looked bewildered, obviously puzzled by this sudden "reward".

"You saved me, so you are my benefactor. If you hadn't sacrificed your life to protect me, how could I have been safe and sound? My health is related to the country, so I must reward you handsomely. If you have any request, please tell me!"

His words were full of sincerity and determination.

Zhang Tianai suddenly realized and said softly, "I have no other request."

"As for Eunuch An, I have already punished him and ordered him to clean the palace for a month as a punishment. If you have other ideas, please tell me. After all, your safety is my greatest wish."

After he finished speaking, he gently placed a kiss on her forehead, affectionately and solemnly.

Zhang Tianai's cheeks turned red again, and her shyness was evident.

"Your Majesty..." She whispered softly, feeling both moved and nervous.

"Tell me, what do you want?" Murong Shuo asked again, his eyes full of anticipation.

Zhang Tianai wanted to push him away, but in the end, Murong Shuo covered his lips with his hand to prevent her from escaping.

"Really...anything is fine?" Zhang Tianai's voice was as thin as a mosquito, but full of expectation.

Murong Shuo stared into her eyes, as if he understood her thoughts, and loosened his fingers slightly, encouraging her to continue.

"If possible, I would like to go home to visit my grandmother." Zhang Tianai mustered up the courage to express her wish, her eyes flashing with longing and desire for her relatives.

Murong Shuo opened his red lips slightly, his tone filled with undeniable tenderness: "Considering Grandmother's well-being, you wish to return home to visit her? Then go ahead. Who dares to stop me? I will never allow it!"

"But..." Zhang Tianai's heart was filled with ripples. Was that freedom truly like catkins in the wind, drifting at her will? There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice, and her eyes flickered.

Murong Shuo understood her heart and knew that in this deep palace, every step she took required his approval. Even though his words gave her the illusion of freedom, his fingers couldn't help but stroke her face, as delicate as a lotus, with a hint of teasing and doting.

Then he tightened his arms and held her tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to integrate her into his own world.

"Just tell me clearly, no matter where, we can go." His words revealed an unquestionable arrogance, but also concealed a redefinition of her identity - she was already his, Murong Shuo's, beloved, and no longer the old image of the former Prince's Mansion.

"Really, Your Majesty?" Zhang Tianai's eyes lit up instantly, and their tenderness seemed to be able to melt all the coldness in the world.

Her words were filled with incredible joy, her hands reached out to him involuntarily, and her body moved closer to him, hoping that the warm embrace would completely dispel the doubts in her heart.

The distance between the two was so close that they could almost feel each other's breath, and the air was filled with an indescribable ambiguity and warmth.

Murong Shuo secretly laughed in his heart, but remained expressionless: "..."

Before he finished speaking, his eyes were already filled with encouragement and expectation, as if to say, "Since your heart is moved, why hesitate? A hug is the best response."

Finally, Zhang Tianai plucked up the courage, called out "Your Majesty" softly, and then threw herself into his arms without hesitation, hugging tightly the man who gave her infinite sense of security.