Loved By The Emperor (MPREG)

Yu Chen met the emperor's gaze, his thoughts tangled. Confront the past? How can I, when my entire life has been stolen from me? The past was not his own but that of another. He was not Bai Yu Chen, the man whose life had ended by poison, whose body had been discarded like a forgotten trinket. No, here, in this body, is Bai Yu Chen, a possessive, strong and ambitious modern person, who has worked hard to earn a scholarship at a good university majoring in history, and literature despite all the setbacks from his relatives and successfully got his dream job. He was not Yu chen who was so hopelessly blind in a love that cost him his life he thought bitterly,

Yu Chen swallowed hard, his mouth dry despite the wine, and found himself unable to look away from the emperor's eyes. The warmth from the emperor's gaze enveloped him, but the weight of the emperor's words pressed against him, tightening his chest. There was something in the emperor's eyes—a glimmer of understanding, or perhaps something more—something Yu Chen wasn't ready to face.

The emperor didn't speak right away, but the silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts. His gaze never left Yu Chen, his expression unreadable yet somehow... gentle, as though he was waiting for something, or perhaps, expecting it.

Yu Chen's heart thudded in his chest as his mind swirled, each thought more confused than the last. What does he see in me? The question kept repeating, louder in his head. His grip tightened around the cup as his gaze dropped to it. I should not be feeling this... drawn to him. I've barely known him, and yet...

"You're thinking too much, Chen'er," the emperor's voice broke through his thoughts, low and smooth. There was a teasing edge to his tone, but there was something deeper, something more personal hidden beneath it. "But sometimes... the mind is more of a burden than the heart, don't you think?"

Yu Chen hesitated, then scoffed lightly. "The heart? What does the heart know? It's always the mind that controls things."

The emperor chuckled softly, a sound so rich with amusement that it made something stir deep inside Yu Chen's chest. He had heard that laugh before—when the emperor was amused by something Yu Chen had said or done. And yet tonight, it felt different, more... intimate.

"Perhaps," the emperor said with a smile that never quite reached his eyes, "but sometimes, the heart speaks louder than the mind. The heart... shows us the truth, even when we want to ignore it."

Yu Chen's throat went dry. "The truth? What truth?" He argued as he poured himself another cup of wine, the amber liquid swirling in the delicate porcelain cup like a miniature tempest.

"The truth," Yu Chen mocked, leaning back slightly as the emperor's gaze remained steady, never faltering. "And what is this truth? Is it that I've been bewitched by your endless charm like the rest of your adoring crowd?" Yu Chen said, nodding toward the guests around them, some of whom had their eyes fixed on them ever since he was invited to sit at the emperor's side.

The emperor raised an eyebrow at that, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Ah, so you think I've cast some spell over you, Chen'er?" His voice was teasing, yet there was a depth to it that hinted at something more. He leaned forward slightly, his fingers brushing the edge of his goblet as he looked at Yu Chen with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I never said a spell," Yu Chen replied quickly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He raised his own cup, taking a drink for effect, though the warmth from the alcohol did little to ease the growing tension in his chest. "But it certainly seems like you've got a way of drawing people's attention. I mean, Han Guì Rén hasn't stopped glaring at me since I sat beside you. If her eyes were weapons, I'd be full of holes."

The emperor laughed out loud, a deep bellow that set a fire in the pit of Yu Chen's stomach. It was a rich sound, genuine and full of life, one that sent a ripple of warmth through the air between them. Yu Chen couldn't help but smile, the sound infectious despite himself.

"You're sharp, Chen'er," the emperor said, his voice full of amusement, but his eyes lingered on Yu Chen, as though the words carried more weight than just humour. "But it's no surprise that Han Guì Rén is displeased. She's not used to seeing someone so... unfazed by her glaring."

Yu Chen leaned back in his seat, still half-smiling, but there was something more in his gaze now, something deeper that he didn't know how to name. "I'm just glad we are in a crowded area or I'd be six feet under by now."

The emperor's eyes twinkled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Perhaps you're not so fond of attention, then? You'd rather hide away from all the gazes that follow you, wouldn't you?" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to something quieter, more intimate. "But even when you try to hide, you can't seem to escape it, can you?"

Yu Chen felt his pulse quicken, the emperor's words carrying an undeniable weight. Escape?

"I'm not hiding," Yu Chen said, trying to sound casual, though his voice betrayed him. His eyes flicked to the rest of the banquet, the noise and laughter of the guests seeming to fade into the background. "I'm just... not interested in the drama that comes with being your favourite. It's exhausting."

The emperor chuckled softly, eyes never leaving Yu Chen's face. "You say that, but I don't see fear in your eyes like before. You face the challenge now." He paused, leaning in just slightly. "And I think that's what intrigues me the most."

"Challenge?" Yu Chen muttered, his words slurring slightly as he tried to steady himself. His vision was a little fuzzy, and the emperor's gaze seemed too sharp, too piercing, for him to handle in this state. "I'm just... trying to... not lose my little life." He tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out more like a hiccup, and he winced. The realization that he was absolutely drunk starting to hit him like a ton of bricks. He reached for his cup again,to take another sip, "Don't," the emperor's voice was suddenly much closer, and Yu Chen looked up to see the emperor's face now just inches from his. "Don't drink anymore. You've already had enough for the night."

"Come," the emperor spoke as he stood up, extending his hand to Yu Chen. "Let's retire for the night. I think it's time you rest."

Yu Chen blinked, trying to focus on the emperor's outstretched hand. His head was spinning, and he couldn't seem to get a grip on his thoughts. His body felt heavy, his legs unsteady, but something in the emperor's voice—a softness, a command wrapped in care—had him rising to his feet. He wavered slightly, the room tilting, but the emperor's hand was warm, steady, grounding.