Chapter 118: The Wife in Name and in Truth

Bidding farewell to the Wind Chaser, Jun Yeli glanced at the sky, noting the late hour, and decided to rent an inn for the night to rest.

Through the long, endless night, Jun Yeli stood by the window, his thoughts restless and unsettled.

Behind him, footsteps approached softly. Su Yun gave a slight bow and said, “Your Majesty, we have been away from the palace for several days now. Should we not prepare to return tomorrow?”

No matter how trustworthy the chancellor was, he could never make every decision in place of the emperor. The longer they delayed, the more the ambitious wolves within the palace would reveal their predatory intentions.

Upon hearing this, Jun Yeli closed his eyes briefly and nodded. “It is time to return.”

Yet, some troubling thoughts lingered, casting a shadow over his mood. “At present, Consort Rong’s mind is a blank. I wonder if she can accept her identity once we return. Moreover, those women in the palace won’t easily let her go…”

He had wandered outside under the guise of incognito inspection, only to bring back Hua Rong.

Though usually detached from palace intrigues, Jun Yeli knew well the brutal nature of the harem’s power struggles. With Hua Rong’s mind clouded, no one could say how long she could endure.

“Enough. Tomorrow’s matters will have to wait. With me by your side, no one will harm you.”

Early the next morning, after packing their belongings, they boarded a carriage and quietly returned to the palace.

Whether due to the awkwardness of sharing the carriage or something else, Hua Rong gazed around with the wide-eyed curiosity of a newborn, yet her eyes never settled on Jun Yeli.

“Have you been trapped in that forest too long? Are you reluctant to leave the outside world behind?” Jun Yeli’s sudden words startled her, causing her to retreat and shake her head nervously. “I’m not heading to another prison. Saying I’m reluctant would be far-fetched.”

Jun Yeli smiled softly but found himself at a loss for words. A heavy silence fell over the carriage.

As they neared the palace, Hua Rong sensed something amiss. She looked toward the distant red walls and towering courtyards, the grandeur imposing and intimidating.

“Where are we going?” she asked anxiously, her gaze fixed on Jun Yeli.

For reasons unknown even to herself, though her memories were gone, a deep fear welled from within at the sight of this place.

Jun Yeli chuckled lightly to soothe her. “No need to be so tense. We are simply returning home.”

“This place… what is it? Why does it feel so different from the outside?”

The houses beyond were small and quaint, simple in appearance, but this palace compound evoked a suffocating sense of entrapment, as if one could never escape for a lifetime.

For a fleeting moment, Hua Rong wanted to leap from the carriage and flee this place that suffocated her with danger.

Yet, seeing Jun Yeli’s calm and composed manner, she hesitated, unsure how to act.

“Rest assured,” Jun Yeli said firmly, “those of different statuses live in different places. You only need to know this is your home.”

Hearing his unwavering words, Hua Rong could say nothing and nodded, confused and uncertain, until the carriage finally stopped at the Nine Dragons Hall.

“Let’s go.” Jun Yeli stepped down.

Two eunuchs hurried over, surprised at the emperor’s sudden return. They barely greeted him before their eyes shifted to Hua Rong, stunned into silence.

“Consort Rong, you’re unharmed! That’s a relief!”

“What is he saying? Consort? Am I not your wife?” Hua Rong’s unease grew stronger. She felt as if she had boarded a ship bound for ruin.

Jun Yeli gently patted her shoulder. “I am the sovereign of the realm, and you are my consort. Is that not the same as a wife?”

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t speak so lightly. Throughout history, only the empress can be called your wife; all other consorts are concubines!”

The eunuch, known as Xiao Li, was loquacious at the worst moments, firing off words like a machine gun.

Jun Yeli shot him a cold glance. “Xiao Li, you talk too much. It’s quite tiresome!”

A shadow of murderous intent flickered in Jun Yeli’s eyes. Xiao Li’s heart trembled; he hastily bowed and stammered, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I spoke out of turn!”

“Go at once. Don’t make a fuss about the return of me and Consort Rong.”

Once the chatter was dismissed, Jun Yeli gently took Hua Rong’s hand, about to say something when she recoiled as if shocked by an electric shock.

“You’ve been lying to me all along!”

“What nonsense are you speaking? When have I ever lied to you?”

“You said I was your wife. What about emperor, empress, consort Rong — you’ve been deceiving me!”

Though her memories were gone, Hua Rong’s mind clung to the belief in monogamy. She could not fathom sharing a husband with many women.

“In my heart, you are my wife. I have not touched any other woman. It was only to silence gossip that I even came near them. I haven’t even laid a finger on them. Why won’t you believe me?”

The one woman he truly desired was standing before him, yet an invisible wall separated them; they could only speak, never be truly close.

“No, I don’t want to stay here.”

Hua Rong shook her head and turned to leave. Her familiar stubbornness left Jun Yeli helpless. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You are mine. You cannot leave. I will make you my rightful wife—that is my promise to you!”

Saying this, Jun Yeli stepped forward, lifted Hua Rong onto his shoulder, and carried her into the room.

“What are you doing? Don’t come near me!”

Hua Rong took two steps back. The room was large but dimly lit. A lone man and woman together in one chamber—her thoughts were a whirlwind.

She had barely begun to adjust to their relationship as husband and wife, now reduced to concubine status. How could there be any closer intimacy?

As he closed in, Hua Rong nearly stumbled. Jun Yeli spun and caught her effortlessly, then said coldly, “You need not fear. Until you consent, I will never force you.”

After setting her gently to one side, Jun Yeli turned and retrieved a small box from the room.

“Eat this.”

“What is it?” Hua Rong asked cautiously, reluctant to trust.

“Poison.”