I alone am the Honoured One!

Yan Zijin's slender fingers moved gracefully as she adjusted the sash around her waist.

Behind her, Zhao Tian was lying lazily on the large bed with one hand tucked under his head, the other resting on his chest.

His gaze trailed over her back as she dressed.

Just as she pulled her outer robe over her shoulders, Yan Zijin glanced over her shoulder and muttered "That reminds me. Lian'er said she wants to meet you."

Zhao Tian blinked, then raised an eyebrow slightly "Is it something important?"

Yan Zijin shook her head gently, turning back to face the mirror "Not really. She said she just wanted to thank you... in person."

Zhao Tian's gaze drifted upward to the ceiling.

Then he let out a deep breath and sank further into the mattress, folding an arm over his forehead "I see…"

...

The quiet rustle of leaves echoed softly as Zhao Tian made his way through the inner courtyard of the estate.

The morning air was crisp, touched with the faint scent of plum blossoms.

Zhao Tian's footsteps slowed as he approached the pavilion in the far corner.

There Rui Yuying was sitting beneath the shade.

Her long hair was unbound, cascading freely down her back, and she was sitting cross-legged, meditating.

As he stepped closer, Rui Yuying's eyes slowly opened and a gentle smile curved her lips.

"You came,"

Zhao Tian gave a small nod and walked over, settling down beside her on the stone bench.

"How's your body now?" he asked quietly, glancing sideways at her.

She chuckled softly as a breeze caught the strands of her hair and lifted them into the air like ribbons "Well… it's strange. At first, I almost felt like a stranger in my own skin. Sitting there for years and always suppressing that seal… my body forgot how to live."

Zhao Tian remained quiet, listening as she continued.

"But now…" She stretched her arms lightly, tilting her face toward the sun filtering through the latticework above them.

"Now I feel free. I can walk where I want, eat what I want, even drink the wine I've missed for decades. Do you know how long it's been since I tasted roast duck?" she laughed, shaking her head.

"I had three whole plates the other night."

Zhao Tian's lips curled into a smile hearing this.

"It's strange," she went on. "How we take things for granted. Even something as simple as a warm meal. I used to think that the sacrifice I made was noble."

"But now, being able to feel the breeze, talk with my family and laugh… I realize how precious it all is. How alive I feel."

Her gaze turned to him, and her eyes softened "All thanks to you, Zhao Tian."

He looked down for a moment, "I didn't do it alone."

"No," she agreed. "But you made it possible. You gave us the hope we had long buried."

Zhao Tian exhaled slowly, "I'm just glad everything ended well."

She smiled, turning her face toward the garden once more "Me too. More than you know."

Zhao Tian glanced at her and let out a small chuckle. "Mhm, now that your duty is over… be more selfish and think about yourself."

"You still have a long life, and you must have a lot of things you want to do, places you want to see, joys you haven't yet touched."

Rui Yuying tilted her head with a thoughtful look "Really? I can be selfish?"

Hm? He raised an eyebrow feeling the sudden shift of vulnerability in her tone "Sure... Why not?"

Before he could say anything more, she moved a little closer.

She reached up and gently grasped his chin and Zhao Tian blinked in surprise as she tilted his face toward her.

"I have one selfish wish," she murmured in a soft voice.

"In my life… I have never felt a man's touch, and I have never experienced love."

Zhao Tian's eyes widened slightly and her hand remained at his jaw, her thumb grazing his cheek.

"I've given everything I had for duty… for my clan… for the world," she continued, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"But never once… have I taken something for myself."

She leaned in, her forehead nearly brushing his "Would you help this selfish woman… and complete her wish?"

Zhao Tian's heart beat quickened in his chest. He looked at her beautiful face and her lashes, her gorgeous eyes.

"Yuying..."

He reached up and gently took her hand in his, lowering it slowly from his chin.

But instead of stepping away, he held her fingers tightly and muttered "That was... unexpected."

She just smiled and he spoke "I don't even know what to say... Are you okay with someone like me?"

Eh? Her brows rose slightly, as if the very question baffled her.

She leaned in and her fingers tightened gently "What's wrong with you? You have a goddamn charming face." she said with a mischevious smile.

Zhao Tian blinked, startled by her bluntness, before a small laugh escaped his lips "That's the reason?"

She looked into his blue eyes and muttered "That's not all. You're strong... not just in power, but in spirit."

"You take burdens others can't and still laugh as if they weigh nothing. You protect people... even those who don't know they need protecting. You've suffered, but you haven't turned bitter."

Her gaze lingered on his lips for a long heartbeat before meeting his eyes again "And you're kind. Gentle, even when you don't need to be."

Zhao Tian stared at her and the sudden honesty in her words shook him completely "I never thought anyone saw me that way..."

Rui Yuying leaned even closer "I do... I've seen more than you realize. And now that I've had a taste of what it means to live freely… I want to choose."

"For once, I want to reach out, not as someone who guards or sacrifices... but as a woman."

She looked away for a moment and her voice trembled just slightly "And if it's you… I don't think I'd regret that choice."

Zhao Tian let her words wash over him and he felt a warmth within his chest.

Without thinking, he lifted her hand and pressed it gently to his lips.

"You know…" he murmured, "If you keep talking like this, I might just fall for you."

Her smile turned sly "Might?"

With a soft chuckle, he shook his head helplessly "Let's take it slowly... this is all sudden. And I also have many other wives, Yuying..."

Hearing this, she nodded her head "I heard that the Jade Eclipse Star's princess is your wife. How many are there?"

Zhao Tian rubbed the back of his neck with a flicker of hesitation in his eyes "I… don't really count. Maybe twenty?" he muttered, glancing sideways at her as if expecting a slap.

Her eyes widened in disbelief "Twenty?" she repeated, staring at him.

Then, with a huff and a shake of her head, she gently tapped his arm "You… greedy bastard."

That startled a laugh from Zhao Tian, "You're not the first to say that."

Rui Yuying rolled her eyes "You must have some kind of curse, attracting women like moths to a flame."

She shrugged, looking away for a moment as her gaze swept over the tranquil garden "I am a bit jealous... but I've lived too long to be bothered by numbers. I care more about how you treat the people in your life."

She turned back to him, "If you give them all the same sincerity you show me now... then I don't mind sharing."

Zhao Tian's expression shifted, and his eyes softened "You're… more understanding than I expected."

"I'm older than you, remember?" she grinned. "Just because I look young and beautiful doesn't mean I don't understand the messiness of human hearts."

He chuckled again, shaking his head "Fair. Still, I want you to know, if you become my wife, I won't treat you any less than the others. Every one of my wives… every relationship… means everything to me."

She nodded slowly, her fingers brushing lightly over his hand "That's all I needed to hear."

The wind rustled the leaves above them, scattering petals through the air.

Rui Yuying leaned her head against his shoulder, "So… is twenty-one your limit?"

Zhao Tian raised an eyebrow, "You're volunteering?"

"I already said I wanted to be selfish, didn't I?" she smiled and closed her eyes as she rested against him.

"So let me be selfish. Let me stay beside you for as long as you'll have me."

He wrapped an arm gently around her shoulder and pulled her closer, resting his cheek against her damp hair.

"Then, welcome aboard I guess..."

"Thank you for having me."

Patting her back, he spoke "As I said, let's take things slowly... There is no need to rush anything."

She nodded her head and replied "Hm, true... what if you are actually a bad guy? Let's just think of this as a trial period in our relationship, maybe?"

He smiled wryly and she murmured "Though I am pretty sure I took the right decision."

Zhao Tian glanced down at her and asked quitely "Yeah?"

She looked up again, "Yeah,"

"I've spent so many years buried in duty… and silence. Now, I want to live. And being with you… it feels like a beginning."

------------------------------------------

I hope you guys liked this chapter!