My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

The darkness of night provided the best cover, concealing Wei Nanxun's astonishment and flushed cheeks.

This wasn't the first time she'd heard someone express their feelings for her. First, there was Pei Yuyan asking her to trust him, then there were Wen Zhuxi and others pursuing her inappropriately, and even Pei Ji himself had said he liked her.

No one had ever been so open about his jealousy, saying that she was the one he loved, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

Suddenly, the surrounding air seemed to become scorching hot, and the night breeze licking her cheeks did nothing to reduce the heat.

The surroundings were completely silent, so quiet that she could hear her own rapidly beating heart, as well as his equally powerful heartbeat.

She was about to drown in his extremely domineering tenderness.

He said he was just a man, not a saint. Did that mean she overestimated him and over-deified him?

But the difference between the two was undeniable; he was the bright moon, and she was merely a small flower under the moonlight.

Wei Nanxun dared not speak, or even breathe too heavily, for fear that the slightest sound would disturb the tranquility and beauty of the moment.

Even if it was just a fleeting dream, she wanted to remember this feeling.

Only when those scalding hands gently caressed her cheeks did Wei Nanxun's hazy eyes gradually focus.

She tried to move away, but then she heard his voice carried on the wind: "I'm not forcing you."

"If I really wanted to do something to you, why would I have waited until now?"

Thinking back on their past, Wei Nanxun had to admit that he had a million ways to get her, whether it was their first meeting or when she got drunk later.

It was all her initiative; even if he acted in response, she had no right to blame him.

The delicious food was delivered to his mouth without any cost. If it were Pei Yuyan or anyone else, they might not have been able to resist.

But he didn't.

He preserved her innocence, gave her dignity, and even instructed those around him to treat her the same way.

He could still show her respect before they even met, let alone now that they know and love each other.

He was the person who respected her the most in the world, besides her closest relatives.

Her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, but she ultimately did not pull away from his hand.

His long, slender fingers gently brushed across her eyelashes, his movements so light they were like a breeze, traveling from her nose to her lips.

"I know what you're worried about."

Wei Nanxun wanted to speak, but she instinctively wanted to deny it. He couldn't understand, and no one would understand her feelings.

Anyone would take such an opportunity to climb the social ladder, and might even think she's ungrateful. But that's not the case...

But his fingers pressed against her lips, not giving her a chance to speak.

It appears mild-mannered, but is still strong inside.

"Is it my fault?"

Wei Nanxun quickly shook his head; he was an excellent person.

"Is it because I'm too much older than you?"

The two were actually only eight or nine years apart in age. Looking around, which high-ranking official in the court didn't have a beautiful wife and concubines several generations younger than him? Compared to that, their age difference wasn't particularly large.

Besides, she was reborn, so she actually benefited.

She shook her head honestly again.

He had no bad qualities; on the contrary, she was unworthy of him.

Although she was still a virgin in this life, her heart was already riddled with wounds, so how could she accept a complete him?

She couldn't look him in the eye and just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

Pei Ji paused, and after an unknown amount of time, asked again in a daze, "You just don't want to accept Pei Ji, not me, right?"

This sentence was very convoluted, but Wei Nanxun miraculously understood it. She suddenly raised her head, her eyes brighter than ever before.

She thought no one would understand her, but he did.

"You like me, but you don't want to enter the palace, right?"

Wei Nanxun's heart pounded in her chest. Her lips moved, and her throat churned several times. She wanted to say something, but something seemed to be stuck in her throat, and she couldn't make a sound.

If she said no, it would be against her conscience. Pei Ji could be so open about himself, she couldn't lie to him or herself.

But if she said yes, it would seem like she was being pretentious and coy, and she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

Her eyes stung a little. In both her lives, no one understood her, and she never dared to hope that anyone would understand her.

But he understood.

Wei Nanxun was losing control of her emotions. She didn't want to admit it, and she was even less willing to brush him off like before.

After a long time, so long that Pei Ji thought she wouldn't answer, she shook her head and said weakly, "Your Highness, you possess the whole world and rule the land. You and I are different."

"And I... I can't afford to lose."

He loved her, like moonlight accidentally shining on a small flower peeking out from a crack, but moonlight is moonlight, how can it shine on her forever?

She had already lost once, not only losing her own life but also taking her entire family with her, leaving them penniless.

She didn't want to be so selfish anymore.

Wei Nanxun's vision was already blurry, and her voice was choked with sobs.

It wasn't just fear; it was knowing what she was rejecting.

She may have rejected the only person in the world who understood her and loved her so much.

Pei Ji was initially annoyed. He had already lowered himself so much; he had never been so open and honest with anyone before.

But she still didn't believe him; her timidity and fear made him feel ridiculous.

Perhaps he shouldn't have been so soft-hearted, shouldn't have tried to proceed gradually. If he had followed his old ways, he would have simply taken the person back.

But he heard her voice, which was trembling with sobs.

She was trying to appear calm; she was also reluctant to part with him.

Pei Ji simply couldn't stand a woman crying, especially when it was her.

Almost as soon as he heard her sobbing, all his toughness melted away like spring rain. He no longer restrained himself, reached out and pulled her into his arms, his fingers wiping her eyes.

Sure enough, I touched a cold, damp patch.

His expression changed, and his voice lowered: "Didn't I say I'm not forcing you? I just want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. If you don't want to talk, then we won't."

"We forced you to stay overnight in the palace, were you scared?"

"Don't worry, no one will dare to force you. With me here, no one can bully you or make you lose."

Wei Nanxun didn't want to cry. In her imagination, she should be calm, clear-headed, and say these words in a composed manner.

But she couldn't hold back her tears, and she didn't know why. It was as if she became exceptionally vulnerable in front of him.

Especially now, even though she's being extremely unreasonable, he's still patiently and gently comforting her.

He held her like that, and she felt even more like crying. She couldn't stop the tears from flowing, and she even clutched his clothes tightly, unwilling to push him away.

Pei Ji wasn't good at comforting people, and seeing that she was crying harder and harder, her tears already soaking his clothes, he had no choice but to shut his mouth.

She was afraid that he might say something wrong and make her cry again.

Wei Nanxun sobbed for a while before gradually calming down. Her fingers were sore from the effort that they turned white, as if she had made up her mind.

She said softly, "Pei Ji, I don't have to get married."