20- Don't Steal My Kiss

Lian Tian goes back to his camp that night. About 50 miles from the forbidden city. It was so crowded, with people practicing their martial arts. The higher ranked soldiers gives instructions to his battalion.

The soldiers gives respect when Lian Tian passes by. He quickly get into his royal tent, writing a report.

Consorts Hua's child turns out to be a princess. But the princess is killed. And the mother is punished with one month inside her palace for framing the empress.

He finishes the letter and give it to his right-hand, Chou Chou.

"Send it as fast as possible."

"Zhi."

Lian Tian cleans his brush and hang it neatly. He thinks that empress is quite interesting. With Consort Hua's crime, she can make her rot in prison. But instead she forgive her? The greatest competitor of her crown? Lian Tian shakes his head and let his thoughts go.

He gets out from his tent, trying to get fresh air. Just a little more. He strolls around and ended up next to the river. Maybe Taking a bath will refresh my mind. Lian Tian took off his robe, flexing his well-built muscles. When he's about to take off his pants, a hairpin falls from his belt.

"Niao Niao." He smiles. Hiding the hairpin inside his clothes.

Lian Tian's body is full of scars, since he is currently an intelligent general. He fought in many battles, using both his strengths and brain.

"Mother, I have met her. Her name is Huang Li Niao. But unlike what you said, she is a real beauty, very smart, and even a great swordsman. Mother, I know you are watching from up there, what do you think of her?" He smiles. "I will make that oriole bird became a Phoenix."

Lian Tian sits next to the river. Praying to his mother. He brings about 50.000 soldiers to attack the Great Zhang kingdom. He knows that most of Zhang soldiers are not here, they have missions outside the kingdom. The court is also very much chaotic because the fallen princess. That's why he thinks this is the best time to declare a war.

"If only I can take off her hairpin every night.." he smiles bitterly to the hairpin. "But she's another man's woman. And not just another man, she's Zhang emperor's woman."

Lian Tian took off his own hairpin, and replace it with Niao Niao's. since the hairpin is just a simple jade, it is no problem for a man to wear it.

______

The next morning, morning assembly is still held. No matter how bad his feelings is, the emperor must not show any weakness. The emperor puts his guard up, making sure he looks fine. Acting like losing a child is not a big deal. And no one in the court wear white outfit, because she's just a princess.

"Let's start our morning assembly!" The emperor instructed.

The empress who sits next to him sees that he's not in a good mood. We need to finish it fast. She thinks.

"Your majesty, the spies of Wei found out that Lian soldiers already camped about 50 miles from our gate." Minister Wei announces.

The ministers start to talk uncontrollably, of course they feel the tensed atmosphere.

After long hours of meeting, they still can't decide what to do to the Lian soldiers. Actually they can't do anything to that. Because most of Zhang soldiers are still in a mission and unable to defend the capital. But for Lian Kingdom, they also can't attack the reason is because they need war agreements before lawfully invade the capital. But the empress thinks, there wouldn't be much time until they sent their war message to Great Zhang court.

-

"Bai Lu bring me my alcohol!" The emperor sits alone at his study, holding his head.

"Zhi." The emperor rarely asks for a drink, maybe this time he's mood is terrible Bai Lu thinks. So he took the finest wine and give it to the emperor. "Does the emperor need my assistance?"

"No, you can go." The emperor says and Bai Lu quickly retreats.

One glass, two glasses, three glasses the emperor drinks until he couldn't count it anymore. His head is too heavy right now. The sun already sets and he is now alone. His heart aches so much. He is a father who just lost his daughter, but he has to act like it doesn't bother him at all.

The emperor somehow ended in front of the Phoenix Palace, still drunk. Since nobody stops him from entering, he walks in.

Mumu who gets the information from an eunuch runs to the empress's chamber and tells her.

The empress is sitting on her table, writing a report. She only wears her white inner robe and already has all of her grand makeup and hairpin removed.

"The emperor is here?" The empress is shocked because its like impossible. She doesn't have any memory of him visiting her in her palace. But now he's here? "Do I need to dress up?" She asks so innocently. She doesn't know how should she acts when her husband visits.

"This servant doesn't think we have time for that.." Mumu answers while facing the ground.

"Why?"

"Lu Yuuu.. where are youu~" they all turn their faces to the entrance. The empress couldn't believe what she just heard. She frowns and looks at Mumu in confusion.

A loud door slide makes they realise that the emperor is already come.

"My Lu Yu, here you areee.. " the emperor walks closer to her and hug her tightly.

"He's drunk." The empress says to herself, she knows because he calls he by her name, and he never did that. The empress helps him walk to her bed. The emperor must be feeling so down right now.. she thinks.

"Mumu, take me the tea to help the emperor sober up." With that, Mumu left the room and leave the two of them alone.

"Your majesty, I'll help you open up your crown." The emperor is lying uncomfortably on the Phoenix bed. Actually, this is one of the privilege of being an empress. No one can do that except for her.

After taking off his crown, the empress place it carefully next to her bed. His face is all red, she giggles. She feels so bad for him, when she complains about how hard it is being an empress, she now realise it is much harder becoming an emperor. He's lonely. So many things to conceal, so much feelings to hide, he really has to deal with all of his problems alone. Because being an emperor is like being a God. He is not supposed to show weakness, but after all, this person in front of her is still a human. Human with feelings, human who can be sad.

The empress doesn't realise she's crying until a tear drop to the emperor's face. She touches his face, wiping her tears. The emperor is still sleeping, his long eyelashes and beautiful eyebrows is so enchanting. He's so handsome. She places a gentle kiss on his lips. She smiles, brushing her lips.

"Your majesty, this is the tea you asks for." Mumu enters with a pot of hot tea.

"Bring it here." The empress wake the emperor up and help him sitting on the edge of her bed. "Your majesty, please drink this tea."

The drunk emperor drinks the bitter tea obediently.

"Aah!.. it does make me feel better.." he says, holding his head.

"Here, have another cup." The empress hands the cup. "Mumu, take some hard boiled egg from the kitchen, your majesty might need it after drinking this bitter tea."

"Zhi."

"Lu Yu, what am I doing here?" The half sober emperor asks.

"Hmm..?" She doesn't know either

"Come closer." He pulls her by her waist. "Lu Yu, you look extremely pretty tonight." He cups her blushed cheeks. With her long hair untied and her loose white robe, the empress is so elegant. The emperor suddenly takes her by her chin and stare right to her eyes. The empress who is shocked by the sudden move, her big eyes is shining brightly.

"You shouldn't steal a kiss from an emperor. And now you are going to be punished!"

He pins her down, preventing the empress to move away. That eyes, why is it so intimidating.. her chest is going up and down uncontrollably. When she looks into his eyes once again, she couldn't figure what he's thinking, the empress could see her own reflection in his black eyes who is staring at her intensely.

For a moment, the empress feels her heart skipped a beat as the emperor pushed her harder and covered her mouth with his in a hungry kiss. She responded immediately, surprising herself. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than she could have imagined. He tasted tentatively with his tongue, and the empress opened her mouth with a low moan. *

"Your majesty, here's the boile-d.." Mumu stops as she sees what's her lady is doing. She silently goes back and giggles.

They both are out of breath when they're done. The emperor placed a gentle kiss at the end and fall next to the empress.

"Lu Yu, do you know how long do I need to wait for this kiss?" The emperor asks holding her hand. "Five years..for a single kiss."

"Your majesty.."

"Why are you calling me that? Call my name.."

"Zhang Long Gege.." the empress is unsure

"That's better." He smiles and pull her into a hug. "Lu Yu, you are mine." He buries his face as he hold her even tighter.

*i get this scene on the internet T^T bc I'm not very good at that ( I edited it though..)

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Do you guys prefer if I describe the scenes more detailed or nah? Because I think it's better to imagine some stuff yourself.. hehehe