Don't You Dare Leave My Side for a Single Step

Xiao Mingzhao asked, her brow filled with a look seeking praise. It was clear that being able to accomplish such a thing for her beloved filled her heart with immense satisfaction.

But an even greater and more profound satisfaction came from the affirmation of her beloved.

"I like it!"

Tuoba Xiangtai said emphatically.

The vermilion walls of this Yuchen Estate were topped with gilded tiles. The red sandalwood doors were studded with golden nails and flanked by two jade qilin statues, both holding luminous pearls in their mouths.

No matter how one looked at it, it was grand and magnificent, far beyond what the felt tents on the grasslands could compare to.

"Xiangtai, as long as you like it!"

"I'll take you inside to have a look!"

Xiao Mingzhao happily led Tuoba Xiangtai on a tour. At Tuoba Xiangtai's suggestion, she even had all of Lu Qing's people leave, leaving only herself and Tuoba Xiangtai.

Along with a few maids and personal guards.

And the ten thousand personal guards Tuoba Xiangtai had brought into the city.

And then...

Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Mingzhao was happily introducing the place, Tuoba Xiangtai turned around. With a calm face and his usual placid tone, he gave an order.

"Order our guards to surround this Yuchen Estate!"

"Without my command, not a single person is allowed in, and absolutely no one, especially Her Majesty, is allowed out!"

"Do you hear me clearly?"

How could the guards dare to delay? They immediately acted according to Tuoba Xiangtai's orders.

In a short time, the massive Yuchen Estate was surrounded like an iron barrel.

With such a big commotion, Xiao Mingzhao quickly noticed and could not help but ask curiously, "Xiangtai, what are you doing?"

Tuoba Xiangtai immediately replied, "Luan'er, I haven't seen you in so long. I want to... spend a little more time with you, without being disturbed by others!"

Xiao Mingzhao's jade-like face instantly flushed with a rosy hue, filled with shyness.

When she first saw Tuoba Xiangtai, it was among the hostage group. From just a distant glance, she saw this Tuoba Xiangtai, as cold and aloof as a solitary moon.

With just one look, her heart fluttered.

All that followed was just her lowering her status, deliberately getting closer, and step by step sinking into this mutually probing romance, until now she was inextricably caught in it.

She was completely absorbed in it.

However, their identities were different. The statuses of a Barbarian and a Yu person were like a vast chasm, making them look at each other as if separated by the Milky Way.

It was also from that time on that she gradually developed the desire for universal harmony in the world.

If her ancestors could brave hardships and achieve great deeds, why couldn't she?!

Over the years, exchanging letters with Tuoba Xiangtai, so much of her heart was poured onto the paper, and so much yearning and longing surged in the ink.

Now that they had finally met, she could understand Tuoba Xiangtai's painstaking efforts.

"Alright!"

Xiao Mingzhao nodded heavily and waved for her following attendants to retreat. She then toured the Yuchen Estate with Tuoba Xiangtai.

But she did not notice that the few attendants who stayed behind quickly had swords placed at their necks by the barbarian guards.

"What are you doing?"

The few attendants still had joyful faces, preparing to welcome Xiao Mingzhao's grand wedding. As a result, they only saw the flash of blades, and in the blink of an eye, several heads crashed to the ground.

Meanwhile, Xiao Mingzhao was still taking Tuoba Xiangtai around the Yuchen Estate. For a full hour, she had even broken a sweat, yet they still hadn't finished touring the estate.

Such time spent together was always happy and brief. Before she knew it, the sky had grown slightly dark. Xiao Mingzhao looked up at the sky, and a look of annoyance suddenly appeared on her face.

"Sigh, it gets dark so fast!"

"Xiangtai, I... I should go back now."

Tuoba Xiangtai immediately stopped her: "Why do you have to go back?"

"Can't you rest here at the Yuchen Estate tonight?"

Xiao Mingzhao's jade-like face turned red: "Of course not. The rules of propriety are strict. As the Emperor of Great Yu, how can I casually overstep them?"

"Besides..."

"Government affairs are busy, and our grand wedding is right before us. I need to handle all these things personally. How can I stay in this Yuchen Estate?"

Pausing, Xiao Mingzhao, who had not yet realized the situation, smiled sweetly: "But, Xiangtai, I will make time to accompany you tomorrow."

"Rest assured."

Tuoba Xiangtai was not assured, or rather, he simply would not allow it.

He immediately said: "No. I finally made it to the capital, you cannot leave me for even a single step."

"Otherwise, those body doubles of yours will steal you away again."

Xiao Mingzhao's heart was surging with love, and she completely failed to see the jealous madness that suddenly welled up in Tuoba Xiangtai's eyes when he said the words body doubles. She just smiled and said: "Xiangtai, what are you thinking?"

"Those body doubles were just my yearning for you when I thought we were destined to be apart. I never had anything to do with them. How can you be so jealous?"

Tuoba Xiangtai shouted fiercely: "I am just that jealous!"

This posture was completely different from his usual image of an elegant young master. He looked more like a vicious wild wolf, a side of him Xiao Mingzhao had never seen before, and she was immediately startled.

"Xiangtai, you..."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" Tuoba Xiangtai also realized his loss of composure and hurriedly said: "I just... want you to stay by my side."

"Luan'er, I have already taken control of the Yuchen Estate. I've also killed the people you brought. Today, tomorrow, the day after, and in the future, you must stay in the Yuchen Estate, stay by my side!"

These words were spoken softly and evenly, but falling upon Xiao Mingzhao's ears, they were no different from a clap of thunder.

She widened her eyes, looking at Tuoba Xiangtai in disbelief, only feeling that the Tuoba Xiangtai in this moment was very unfamiliar.

She couldn't help but say: "Xiangtai, how could you do this?"

"I'm sorry!" Tuoba Xiangtai quickly admitted his mistake, saying: "Luan'er, I... I just want you to stay by my side. I've worked so hard for so long for this day."

"I won't let you leave me again."

These words were so sincere that Xiao Mingzhao's heart was once again filled with tenderness. She smiled and said, "It's just leaving for one night. What are you worried about?"

"Alright, stop fussing."

"I will come tomorrow."

Saying this, Xiao Mingzhao turned sideways to leave.

But Tuoba Xiangtai merely waved his hand, and several guards not far away immediately rushed over with scimitars, blocking Xiao Mingzhao's path.

Xiao Mingzhao frowned. For the first time, she felt that Tuoba Xiangtai was being somewhat baffling and unbelievable.

Her tone turned a bit cold as she said, "Tuoba Xiangtai, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Luan'er!" Tuoba Xiangtai still had that look of deep affection: "I... I just want you by my side."

"By my side for all eternity!"

"Never leaving me for even a single step!"

"Stay, won't you?"

After all, Xiao Mingzhao was the Empress. Having been in a high position for a long time, usually no one dared to disobey her. Now, being provoked by Tuoba Xiangtai time and time again, her anger immediately surged.

"Tuoba Xiangtai, let me leave!"

"No, no..." Tuoba Xiangtai suddenly began to tremble all over: "Luan'er, you... you cannot leave, you cannot leave me for even a single step!"

"From now on, you must stay with me!"

"You must be under my watch. You cannot see other men, let alone speak to any man other than me. If anyone dares to speak to you, I will poison their throat to make them mute and sentence them to death by a thousand cuts!"

...