After Toying with the Emperor and Then Abandoning Him

The emperor was traveling incognito and staying at the governor of Wuzhou's residence. After a few rounds of drinks, he strolled through the back garden and happened upon a delicate young woman, lovely as a lotus, graceful and alluring.

He lifted his eyes casually, and their gazes met. A flicker of alarm crossed her face. Blushing and shy, she tried to leave, but stumbled and fell into his arms.

Faced with such a clumsy attempt at seduction, the emperor smiled, his expression unreadable.

The governor hurried over, sweating profusely. “My daughter has been living away from home for many years and doesn't know proper etiquette. She has offended Your Majesty. I beg you to forgive her.”

The emperor said nothing and swept away.

Just as the governor's household thought disaster was upon them, the emperor set off back to the capital. Before departing, he issued an edict bringing the audacious young woman back to the palace. The entire palace was shocked.

After all, His Majesty had been on the throne for three years, yet had never shown interest in women and had left the imperial harem empty.

Only the emperor knew how much willpower it had taken to suppress his surging emotions when he saw in the back garden the person he had spent three years searching for.

They had once confessed their feelings to each other and promised to marry. But when he joyfully went to ask for her hand, her home was already empty, and she had vanished without a trace.

She had abandoned him.

After years apart, she had forgotten him completely, yet once again resorted to her old tricks and deliberately tried to seduce him.

Grinding his teeth, the emperor resolved to make her pay for the heartlessness she had shown him back then.

*

Lan Ci had thought her long-lost father had found her to make amends. Instead, he wanted her to take another woman's place in an absurd marriage. Unwilling to suffer such humiliation, she resolved to escape.

As it happened, an honored guest arrived at the residence that very day: the Son of Heaven himself, supreme among all people and lord of the realm.

With nowhere else to turn, Lan Ci risked everything and boldly tried to seduce him. But when she looked up and saw that familiar face, she froze in shock.

Wasn't this... the fiance she had once abandoned in the wilderness?

Seeing shock and anger rise in his eyes, Lan Ci had a flash of inspiration. She pretended to have lost her memory and went limp in his arms.

Thankfully, her gamble paid off. He didn't push her away.

She got what she wanted: she escaped that miserable household and entered the palace, anxiously guarding her secret.

Knowing that she had lost her memory, the emperor treated her with ever greater tenderness and affection, showing none of the anger of a man who had been abandoned. With time, Lan Ci gradually relaxed.

Until one day, she accidentally called him by the pet name she had used when they were once so deeply in love, only to see the smiling emperor's face turn dark in an instant.

*

In the dimly lit bedchamber, Lan Ci trembled as she tried to push him away, but couldn't break free of his grip.

He leaned over her and pressed a burning kiss to her earlobe. As her hair came undone and her breathing grew ragged, he gritted his teeth and demanded an answer:

“Between the man I was and the emperor I am now, which one do you love more?”

*Reading guide:

1. The heroine was forced to “abandon” the hero; it wasn't what she wanted. Even after being “abandoned,” the hero still loves her deeply.

2. One-on-one romance, both leads have no prior sexual experience.

3. This is a fictional setting, so please don't nitpick historical details.

Theme: After weathering the storm, we'll finally see the rainbow.