A Man Who Never ChasedNow Chasing
Zhao Long had always prided himself on his control.
On his ability to command without question.
And yet
Ever since their last conversation in the courtyard, he found himself thinking of her more than he should.
Not just when he saw her.
Not just when she spoke.
But in the quiet moments, too.
In the early hours of dawn, when he was alone in his study, his fingers tightening around his brush because he realized his thoughts had drifted again.
In court, when he caught himself looking for her, waiting to see how she would react to the discussions of trade, alliances, and politics.
And worst of all
At night.
When the palace fell silent.
And all he could hear was the echo of her voice, teasing, challenging, defying him in ways no one else dared.
The Palace Talks
It had not gone unnoticed.
The emperor a man who had always remained distant from the harem was now visiting Lin Ruyi's palace far too often.
The concubines whispered, their voices hushed behind silken screens.
The ministers exchanged glances.
Even Han Zixuan, the emperor's closest general, raised a brow when he caught Zhao Long staring across the court hall.
And worst of all
Consort Mei was watching.
She had not yet made her move.
But she would.
And soon.
The Woman Who Knew Her Own Worth
Ruyi was not a fool.
She had noticed.
Not just the whispers, the lingering gazes in court, the shift in the harem's energy.
But him.
The way Zhao Long sought her out not in words, but in presence.
He was always there.
A glance across the banquet table.
A casual, deliberate brush of fingertips when he handed her a scroll.
The way his golden eyes darkened whenever she smiled at anyone but him.
It was amusing.
It was dangerous.
And because it was dangerous, she pushed him further.
Just to see how far she could go.
A Test of Limits
The game began at the evening banquet.
Ruyi, dressed in a flowing emerald silk robe, sat at the emperor's right, her posture as effortless as ever.
And instead of giving Zhao Long her attention
She gave it to Han Zixuan.
The general was charming, clever, and entirely too amused by the way Ruyi tilted her head just slightly whenever she laughed.
Zhao Long, seated beside her, did not speak.
He simply lifted his wine cup.
And drank.
Once.
Twice.
By the third sip, his grip on the porcelain was too tight.
And when Ruyi reached out to pour more wine for Han Zixuan, her sleeves brushing against his arm
The sound of ceramic shattering filled the hall.
Zhao Long had crushed his cup in his palm.
The entire room fell into stunned silence.
Ruyi turned her head slowly, her expression unreadable.
Han Zixuan barely concealed his smirk as he coughed into his fist.
But Zhao Long?
He said nothing.
He simply rose to his feet.
And walked out.
A Night of Restlessness
Ruyi had expected him to come.
And he did.
She was seated on the balcony of her palace, watching the koi pond glow beneath the moonlight, when she heard the familiar sound of boots against stone.
She did not turn.
But she smirked.
"You left the banquet early, Your Majesty," she murmured, running her fingers along the rim of her teacup. "Did something upset you?"
Zhao Long's golden gaze burned.
He stepped forward, until he stood behind her, his shadow casting over her seated form.
"You enjoy testing me," he said, his voice low, controlled.
Ruyi tilted her head slightly, finally glancing up at him.
His jaw was tense.
His hands were clenched at his sides.
And yet, his voice remained calm.
Which meant
He was furious.
Good.
Ruyi smiled, soft, knowing.
"And do you enjoy being tested, Your Majesty?"
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, without warning
He leaned down.
His fingers brushed against the edge of her sleeve, the touch light, almost lazy.
But the way his golden eyes darkened, the way his voice dipped lower
It was anything but lazy.
"Careful, Ruyi," he murmured, his breath warm against the shell of her ear.
"You might make me think you want my attention."
Ruyi exhaled a quiet laugh.
She turned her head slightly just enough for her lips to almost, almost brush against his jaw.
And then, she whispered.
"Do I?"
Silence.
A beat too long.
A breath too deep.
Then just as quickly Ruyi pulled back, lifting her teacup once more.
She took a slow, deliberate sip.
And smiled.
Zhao Long watched her for a long moment.
Then, finally, he let out a slow chuckle.
He stepped back, adjusting his robes.
And then as if he hadn't just let her play with his control, as if he wasn't holding himself back from dragging her to him
He smirked.
"Sleep well, little storm."
And then, he turned and walked away.
The Storm Before the Fire
Zhao Long had never felt jealousy before.
Not truly.
Not like this.
He had thought himself in control of this game.
But now?
Now he was no longer sure.
And in the coming days, he would learn that Ruyi was not done testing him.
Because soon, she would come face-to-face with a man from her past.
A man who was not afraid of him.
A man Ruyi had once trained with.
And when she looked at this man with admiration
When she smiled the way she had never smiled at him
That was when Zhao Long would break.
That was when he would realize
He was losing himself in her.
And he no longer cared.
He knew it. His ministers knew it. Han Zixuan definitely knew it.
For the past three days, the emperor had been different.
More impatient.
More distracted.
More… possessive.
He told himself it was nothing.
That it wasn't jealousy.
That it wasn't Ruyi.
And yet the irritation burned in his chest whenever he saw her.
Whenever she smiled in court.
Whenever she laughed at someone else's remark.
Whenever she walked past him, unbothered, as if she did not notice his eyes lingering on her.
He should have been amused.
He was not.
The Arrival of an Unwanted Rival
The tension only worsened when a new guest arrived at court.
A foreigner.
A warrior.
And a man who had once known Lin Ruyi.
General Li Shengtian (李圣天)
Tall, broad-shouldered, with the sharp, calculating eyes of a man who had seen war and lived to tell the tale.
Formerly a Xiyu mercenary, now a military commander, serving as an ally to one of Ruyi's distant uncles a powerful noble who had supported the marriage alliance between Xiyu and Tang.
His skill with a sword was legendary, and his confidence was a quiet, dangerous thing.
And worst of all he was familiar with Ruyi.
Zhao Long watched as the warrior entered the Great Hall, moving with the ease of a man who did not fear kings.
The court fell silent as Li Shengtian bowed, deep and respectful.
"Your Majesty." His voice was calm, unwavering. "It is an honor to stand before the Son of Heaven."
Zhao Long's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
The respect was there.
But not submission.
And that—that made his blood heat.
Recognition And a Smile That Shouldn't Bother Him
Ruyi had not expected to see him.
And yet the moment Li Shengtian stepped into the hall, a flicker of recognition passed through her emerald eyes.
Her lips parted slightly, just for a breath.
And then a small, knowing smile.
Zhao Long saw it.
His grip on his jade ring tightened.
Across the court, Li Shengtian met Ruyi's gaze, his expression one of mild surprise but also familiarity.
"Princess," he greeted smoothly, his deep voice carrying through the chamber.
Zhao Long's jaw ticked.
Not Consort.
Not Your Highness.
Princess.
The title of her past.
A title that did not belong him
The Emperor Watches – And Seethes
Ruyi did not bow.
She did not blush, did not falter.
But she tilted her head slightly, her gaze unreadable.
"General Li," she murmured. "It has been some time."
Li Shengtian offered a polite nod, his expression neither too familiar nor too distant.
"A lifetime, almost."
Ruyi exhaled a quiet laugh. "That is a dramatic way to phrase it."
Li Shengtian's lips twitched. "And yet true."
A simple exchange.
A brief conversation.
And yet Zhao Long had never hated a conversation more in his life.
A Test of Strength – And the Emperor's Silent Challenge
Han Zixuan, sensing the tension in the air, cleared his throat.
"To welcome General Li," he said smoothly, "perhaps a friendly duel should be held."
Zhao Long's gaze snapped to his general.
Han Zixuan smirked.
Oh, he was enjoying this too much.
Zhao Long exhaled slowly, his golden eyes flickering toward Li Shengtian.
A warrior.
A foreigner.
A man who had known his wife before she was his.
Yes.
A duel would be perfect.
The Tournament of Warriors
The next day, the Imperial Training Grounds were alive with energy.
Spectators gathered around the dueling ring, the scent of freshly oiled weapons and incense filling the air.
At the royal pavilion, Zhao Long sat in his high-backed golden chair, his robes a deep shade of black, lined with gold. The dragon of the empire, watching from his throne.
And beside him Lin Ruyi.
She was dressed in deep red silk, her hair swept into a regal cascade, a golden phoenix hairpin resting just above her ear.
Her posture was calm, regal, composed.
But when Li Shengtian entered the dueling ring, sword in hand, Zhao Long saw the way her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
Not out of nervousness.
Out of intrigue.
And he hated it.
The Duel – A Rivalry Begins
Li Shengtian faced Han Zixuan in the first match, the two warriors exchanging blades and strategies, movements swift and deadly.
Ruyi watched intently, her emerald eyes following every strike, every shift of the blade.
She had always appreciated skill over status.
And that was the problem.
Zhao Long leaned in slightly, his voice smooth, low.
"You seem… entertained, my wife."
Ruyi glanced at him, her smile slow, just the faintest hint of mischief in her gaze.
"It is not often I see true warriors fight, Your Majesty."
Zhao Long's golden eyes darkened.
A challenge.
A taunt.
And thenLi Shengtian won.
The match ended with a final strike, a clean and decisive victory.
The spectators cheered.
And Ruyi?
She smiled.
Not a grand, adoring smile.
Not an inappropriate one.
Just a quiet, satisfied one.
But to Zhao Long
It felt like a slap to the face.
The Emperor Makes His Move
Silence stretched as Li Shengtian bowed before the royal pavilion.
"Your Majesty." His voice was steady. Unafraid.
Zhao Long's fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne.
And then, he rose.
The murmurs of the court fell into stunned silence.
"General Li," Zhao Long said smoothly, his golden gaze burning.
"A fine display of skill."
Li Shengtian inclined his head. "I am honored by Your Majesty's praise."
Zhao Long smirked.
"Then let us test it further."
A pause.
And then
The court inhaled sharply.
Zhao Long stepped forward.
His black-and-gold robes billowed slightly in the breeze, the weight of his presence shaking the ground beneath them.
He extended a single, deliberate hand.
"Draw your sword, General."
Li Shengtian's brow lifted slightly.
But he did not hesitate.
He reached for his blade.
And then before the entire court, before the entire empire
The Son of Heaven faced his first rival.
And Lin Ruyi sat between them, watching, waiting.