The emperor harbored tumultuous emotions towards his shizun—hatred intertwined with lust and obsession. Yet, at times, this inner turmoil manifested as genuine care and affection. The complexity of his feelings was bewildering, but you remained an unwitting observer, merely Taxian-jun's wife, ensnared in a web of formality and an arranged marriage that demanded no complaints. You were a meek and gentle spirit, reminiscent of Shi Mei, sparking in Taxian-jun a desire to treat you with the tenderness he once reserved for his deceased friend.

Within a reign marred by cruelty, war, and rivers of blood, madness often gripped him, leading to a chilling thought. Taxian-jun yearned for a child with Chu Wanning, yet knew the man could not bear one. Left with no choice, he placed you in bed with his shizun, awaiting confirmation of your pregnancy from the healers. Confusion engulfed you, feeling like a mere pawn in his relentless game. Yet, to your astonishment, he began to show affection in his peculiar way.

“Hm, you look pale. Wear this,” he asserted, draping his warm cloak over your shoulders “We shall go for a walk.”

Your heart fluttered at his unexpected kindness, though it was marred by the unsettling reality. You stepped outside, the chill of the evening air nipping at your cheeks. A strange duality enveloped you—grateful for his warmth yet acutely aware of your precarious position. Each step beside him felt both comforting and disorienting, as if you were drifting in a dream where shadows danced between love and manipulation. To be a surrogate mother in order for his child to bear the features of Chu Wanning.