First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Beside the wedding bed, Mu Lingye held Gu Junxi's hand, his gaze intense, his face filled with deep affection and remorse.

"Axi, it's all my fault. I didn't protect you on our wedding day, which led to you being kidnapped by Mu Lingxuan. I hope you like this belated wedding night that I'm giving you."

Gu Junxi smiled, her eyes filled with affection, and gently looked at Mu Lingye, imprinting his image completely into her mind.

"Ah Ye, as long as I can be with you, I'll be happy to do anything. So I really like this belated wedding night you've arranged for me. If you could do something more practical, I'd like it even better."

As she spoke, Gu Junxi took the initiative to wrap her arms around Mu Lingye's neck and plant a kiss on his cheek.

The implication was clear enough, and Mu Lingye's eyes were unfathomable.

He breathed heavily and asked Gu Junxi in her ear, "Is it three months? Is it really okay?"

Gu Junxi smiled, like a captivating enchantress.

She deliberately imitated the fox spirit in the play, teasing Mu Lingye's chest with her fingers: "How can it be called a wedding night if we don't consummate our marriage and enjoy the pleasures of love?"

In front of his wife, he doesn't need to be too serious or too restrained.

Mu Lingye's eyes grew increasingly dark, but a last shred of reason remained.

He grabbed Gu Junxi's mischievous hand: "Are you three months pregnant or not? The imperial physician said you shouldn't have sex before three months... You can't do this..."

In other couples, it's always the man who can't hold back first.

When it came to Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye, it was Gu Junxi who couldn't help herself.

Therefore, a man who truly loves you will always prioritize your body over his own desires.

Those who are always preoccupied with desire and disregard their physical well-being are often not truly in love.

Gu Junxi didn't answer Mu Lingye anymore, feeling that the atmosphere had already reached this point, and saying anything more would only ruin it.

She showed everything through her actions, kissing him directly.

The moon shyly hid behind the clouds, the mandarin ducks concealed themselves in the water, and even the little birds in the trees hid behind the leaves, too afraid to peek out. This was the pent-up longing of months, finally erupting tonight.

It was already past midnight when everything was finished. Mu Lingye personally tidied up Gu Junxi and then pulled Gu Junxi, who was so tired that she just wanted to sleep, out of bed.

Gu Junxi let Mu Lingye dress and wash her like a puppet, looking at her own reflection in the bronze mirror with rosy cheeks and disheveled hair.

Gu Junxi gently punched Mu Lingye's shoulder.

"If I go out with my hair all over the place, people will say I'm not dignified. I am now the Empress, the role model for all women in the world."

Mu Lingye used a jade comb to brush Gu Junxi's waterfall-like black hair all the way down, his thin lips slightly raised, and he said domineeringly, "Since you are the Empress, no one dares to criticize you. I, the Emperor, can still wield a knife. You can criticize me, but if you criticize my Empress, I will never give him a good time."

Well, that's really heartwarming to hear.

Gu Junxi's lips curled up, and she didn't let it go all night.

After Mu Lingye personally tidied up Gu Junxi, he took her hand and left the bedroom.

Just as Mu Lingye had said, the eunuchs and palace maids waiting outside saw them approaching from afar and wisely turned their heads to the side to avoid any confrontation.

As we walked out, we discovered that the trees throughout the palace were adorned with bright red lanterns. There were even more lanterns than during the Lantern Festival, and they came in a wide variety of styles and shapes. It was as if we had suddenly entered a world of lanterns.

Then I climbed to the tallest building in the entire capital, and looked out over a wide-open view of brightly lit buildings. At that moment, I felt as if I owned the whole world; perhaps this is the feeling that comes with power.

Everything was so fascinating; no wonder so many people wanted to fight for power and profit.

As Gu Junxi was thinking this, a firework suddenly shot up from the ground in the distance, bursting into the air and exploding. Then another firework followed, and another, all bursting into the air one after another. The colorful fireworks bloomed into different patterns, creating a spectacular fireworks display.

What a coincidence! The fireworks went off just as they reached the top of the building. It was all just a coincidence; it was all carefully planned by someone.

Gu Junxi was deeply moved and looked intently at Mu Lingye: "A-Ling, I love everything you've prepared for me!"

"If you're happy, I'm happy. Ah Xi, I brought you here just to tell you that everything I have belongs to you, and I'm willing to share everything with you." Mu Lingye put his arm around Gu Junxi's waist, which was starting to thicken, and looked at the myriad lights of the city.

How could an emperor possibly share all his power with others? Gu Junxi was deeply moved by Mu Lingye's thoughtfulness.

However, she also believed that Mu Lingye could keep his word.

Gu Junxi nestled against Mu Lingye's chest and fell asleep without realizing it.

By the time Mu Lingye noticed, Gu Junxi was already fast asleep.

Mu Lingye smiled indulgently, picked up Gu Junxi horizontally, and carried her down the high building, back to the bedroom.

That night, the palace maids and eunuchs who witnessed the young emperor's tender treatment of the young empress were all amazed by the scene, and even years later, they could not forget this exquisite sight.

What is true love?

This is.

Mu Lingye ascended the throne, officially ushering in his era, and everything was steadily getting back on track.

Mu Lingye dared to employ new people, breaking with old rules, and did not care about gender; as long as someone had talent, they would be employed.

In just one month, the once-declining and weakened imperial court was revitalized.

Everything in the court is stable, but Gu Junxi's condition is not good. The Gu worms in her body have been suppressed by the medicine Eucommia ulmoides and have not been truly removed.

Mr. Su Xin still had no clues. As the baby grew bigger in her belly each day, Gu Junxi became increasingly sleepy, and her face grew paler and paler. She was like a tree that had been infested with insects and was diseased; its leaves quickly turned yellow and withered, and then the trunk and roots died.

Mu Lingye also became anxious and sent more people to search for Mr. Suxin.

After Mu Lingye finished the morning court session and dealt with state affairs, he returned to his bedchamber and found that Gu Junxi was still asleep.

When he returned to his bedchamber last night, Gu Junxi was already asleep. When he left this morning, Gu Junxi was still asleep. She slept for far too long.

Mu Lingye asked Xi'er, "Did the Empress wake up after I left?"

Xi'er hesitated whether to wake Gu Junxi now, but shook her head when she heard this: "Her Majesty the Empress has been sleeping all along."

For some reason, Mu Lingye's heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned somewhat grim. He laboriously extended a finger and probed under Gu Junxi's nose.

Thankfully, he is still breathing.

Mu Lingye breathed a sigh of relief and tried to wake Gu Junxi: "Axi, get up. I'll have someone make you your favorite soup hot pot."

It's early winter now, and the weather is starting to get cold.

Gu Junxi had been clamoring for hot pot for a while, but Mu Lingye didn't let her eat it because he was worried that Gu Junxi would get a sore throat.

Gu Junxi, who was fast asleep, only hummed twice, and her eyelids remained closed.

Mu Lingye tried calling out twice more: "Axi, Axi..."

This time, Gu Junxi didn't even groan.

"Go quickly and invite the Valley Master of Medicine." Mu Lingye pursed his lips and turned to instruct Xi'er.

"Yes." Xi'er immediately left in a hurry.

To make it easier to take care of Gu Junxi, Yao Duzhong was left in the palace by Mu Lingye for this period of time.

Before long, Yao Duzhong, carrying his medicine box, was led into the bedchamber by Xi'er. After taking the pulse, Yao Duzhong solemnly administered acupuncture.

Seeing that Yao Duzhong looked off, Mu Lingye, despite being very worried about Gu Junxi, did not say anything to disturb him.

They waited until Mu Duzhong finished acupuncture before speaking.

“The child inside Junior Sister’s body is growing day by day and needs to absorb nutrients, while the Gu worm also needs a sufficient supply of nutrients. Now the child and the Gu worm are competing for nutrients inside her body. This Gu can’t wait any longer. Regardless of whether we can find Master or not, we must remove the Gu worm from her body in the next few days.”

"But there's a risk to your life." Mu Lingye pursed her lips. Now it wasn't a matter of pain, but whether she could save her life.

Despite the risk of offending Mu Lingye, Yao Duzhong spoke truthfully: "If this drags on any longer, it won't just be a matter of danger, but a matter of life and death. Think it over carefully and choose a time, preferably no more than three days. The longer it drags on, the higher the risk will be."

Eucommia ulmoides sighed, packed her medicine kit, and left.

Gu Junxi is his junior sister, and he also wants her to be safe and sound.

After Yao Duzhong left, Mu Lingye stayed by Gu Junxi's side, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

She couldn't help but think that if Gu Junxi hadn't been pregnant with this child, perhaps she wouldn't be facing this choice now.

But it's not the child's fault; the child is innocent and is the fruit of their love.

"Baby, you must be strong in your mother's belly. You are my child, Mu Lingye, and you cannot be weak and bullied by a worm, otherwise your father will look down on you."

Mu Lingye gently stroked Gu Junxi's belly, which was already showing.

As time went by, Mu Lingye grew to have more and more feelings for this child who initially had no affection for him.

Like Gu Junxi, she also longed for the child to arrive soon.

As they were talking, Gu Junxi's eyelashes fluttered, and she finally opened her eyes.

Even though she was awake, her face still showed a deep weariness.

"Ah Ling, you've finished court. How long have I been asleep?" Gu Junxi asked, resting her hand on her forehead and blinking her eyes in confusion.

Not wanting Gu Junxi to overthink things, Mu Lingye smiled and helped her up: "It hasn't been long since you got pregnant. You're heavier now, so you're bound to be more tired and need more sleep than a normal person. How about I take you to my mother's house for hot pot later? You wanted to eat there, didn't you?"

"Okay." Upon hearing that she could leave the palace, Gu Junxi happily got out of bed.

Only after moving into the palace did I realize how boring it was. It seemed luxurious but was actually devoid of human warmth, like a cage.

Especially after Mu Lingye released many more palace maids and concubines from the palace, there were even fewer people left.

"I'll help you with your makeup." Mu Lingye looked at Gu Junxi's lively appearance, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. His gaze was even more reluctant to leave, as if he wanted to stick to Gu Junxi.

Because he had once possessed her, he was terrified that one day he would lose Gu Junxi.

God knows how luxurious it was for him to come home after a busy day and see Gu Junxi.

He hoped that on the day the child was born, besides Gu Junxi, he would also see Gu Junxi waiting for him with the child.