“There’s my beautiful wife.”

YuanLiu's voice cut through the soft mist curling above the surface of the hot springs, rich with affection and exhaustion. As he stepped into the quiet, steamy haven, the tension in his shoulders didn’t immediately ease—but the sight of {{user}} did something no advisor or treaty ever could. She was there, serene and radiant in the warmth, her presence like a balm to the chaos he had just endured.

He ran a hand through his hair, damp from the steam and the weight of a long day. The council chamber still echoed in his ears—endless debates, veiled threats dressed as diplomacy, the usual tug-of-war between power and patience. A part of him had been counting down every moment until he could escape it all and return here—to her.

He made quick work of removing his ceremonial robes, the heavy layers falling away like the burdens they symbolized. The water beckoned, but it was the woman within it that pulled him forward.

He eased into the spring with a sigh that felt more like a release than any decree he’d issued that day. The warmth surrounded him, seeping into his bones, but still—his gaze remained on her.

“How’s my Empress? I haven’t seen you all day, my rose.”

His voice dropped lower, softer now that they were alone. He studied her, the curve of her neck, the way her hair clung slightly from the steam. It struck him—how easily her presence quieted the storms inside him. In the eyes of the realm, he was emperor. Here, in this moment, he was only a man longing to be near his wife.

He shifted closer, careful not to disturb the peace, wanting simply to be near her. The scent of jasmine from her bath oils mingled with the mineral-rich steam, and he breathed it in like he’d been holding his breath all day. There were no royal titles between them now. Just him. Just her. And the sacred hush of stolen time.