Shen Li raised her face. "Then what are you doing this for..." Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Li fainted and fell into a dream. Xuan Yuanjue gently laid her on the bed. He fetched a stool for himself and fell asleep beside Shen Li's bed.
In this lifetime, Shen Li was just an ordinary young lady from a small family, and Xuan Yuanjue was merely a scholar. Shen Li had almost been betrothed to someone else. Fortunately, the two had long harbored feelings for each other. They even threatened to kill themselves to obtain the engagement.
At night, in the room, under the dim yellow light, the two sat facing each other, their hearts connected.
Xuan Yuanjue propped his chin with one hand and stared at Shen Li stupidly, as if he wanted to imprint her into his eyes and engrave her in his heart. Shen Li felt a bit uncomfortable under his intense gaze. "Xuan Yuanjue, what are you doing? Why do you keep staring at me like a fool?"
Xuan Yuanjue's cheeks strangely flushed. "You're my wife. Can't I look at you? I..."
Chapter: The Dream of Three Lifetimes
His look, like a young girl whose secret had been exposed, made Shen Li want to laugh. She gently stroked Xuan Yuanjue's handsome face with her warm hand. "Silly, I'm your wife. I'm already yours. How could I run away?"
As soon as the word "run" was mentioned, it was like a taboo. Xuan Yuanjue immediately pulled Shen Li into his arms. "I won't allow you to run. I don't even want you to mention the word 'run'. I never want to experience losing you again. You know I can't bear it. It's almost like killing me."
Shen Li recalled the days when she was away from Xuan Yuanjue. She had been living aimlessly, like a walking dead. She hugged Xuan Yuanjue tightly, her eyes red. "Don't worry. I'll never leave you again."
To reassure Xuan Yuanjue further, she released his embrace, took his hand, and stared deeply into his eyes with affection. "I'll hold your hand and grow old with you. I, Shen Li, will only love Xuan Yuanjue in this lifetime. I'll only be Xuan Yuanjue's wife. I... only belong to you..."
There were still some words left unsaid, but Xuan Yuanjue couldn't wait any longer. He pressed his lips against Shen Li's charming red lips and kept caressing them. He gently laid Shen Li on the bed, as if she were a precious treasure.
Suddenly, the scene changed, and they came to another lifetime. Shen Li was born into a prominent family, but she was just an unfavored third young lady. Xuan Yuanjue, on the other hand, was the emperor.
"What?" Shen Li widened her eyes in disbelief.
Honghua was the daughter of the Shen family's wet - nurse. She stood there nervously, her hands tightly clasped. She glanced up at Shen Li, not sure whether she should say something or not.
Shen Li naturally noticed Honghua's little movement. She looked up. "You should know the rules after staying in the Shen family for so long. Don't act so timid!"
Honghua's pupils constricted. This was a warning to her. She quickly knelt down. "Miss, Honghua understands. It was actually the master who said he would send you to the palace... I wouldn't dare to deceive you even a bit..."
Shen Li frowned. "Get up. Don't kneel. I don't believe this is the arrangement from my parents. How could they be so hasty?"
Honghua got up in a hurry and hesitated before speaking. "Third Miss, I specifically inquired. The emperor is handsome and talented. Moreover, he has the highest status in the world..."
Tears welled up in Shen Li's eyes immediately. "Enter the palace? How difficult it is to enter the palace! It's probably a place that devours people without spitting out the bones. I'm just an unfavored young lady. It'll be hard for me to survive if I go in."
Honghua staggered backward. She never expected Shen Li to end up like this. But thinking of the instructions from Ye's mother, she summoned up the courage and stepped forward. "Third Miss, I think the emperor is quite good. There's nothing wrong with him. Since everything has been arranged... What do you think?"
Suddenly, Shen Li sized up Honghua from head to toe, making her feel uneasy. "Don't act as a messenger for my parents. Since you've already arranged for me to enter the palace, do you think I can disobey?"
After a moment of calm thought, she knew it was impossible to talk to her parents about not entering the palace. It seemed that she had to solve the problem by herself.
She tidied up her clothes. "Honghua, call some people. Bring those who are nimble and good at fighting."
Honghua immediately panicked. Her legs even went weak. She was afraid that Shen Li was going to organize a rebellion against her father and mother. If that happened, she would never be able to stay in the Shen family again.
She stammered. "Miss... What are you going to do? If the master knows about this, it won't be good..."
Shen Li looked at the dark night. She thought that it would be difficult to handle everything if her father reacted and tried to control her tomorrow.
She said coldly. "Will you call them or not? Fine. If you won't, I'll go and call them myself."
Shen Li was about to rush out of the door when Honghua grabbed her corner. "Third Miss, this is really difficult for Honghua... The master will blame me tomorrow."
Suddenly, anger filled Shen Li's chest. She had regarded Honghua as a friend and even a sister since childhood, but now she was afraid of punishment and was willing to sacrifice her happiness.
Her cold eyes stared at Honghua. "Are you really that selfish? I just want to survive. I don't want to jump into the fire pit!"
Although Honghua felt sorry for Shen Li, she was more afraid of the master's punishment. She tightly held onto Shen Li's corner and refused to let go.
The two were tugging at each other. Just like a broken string, Shen Li forcefully pushed Honghua away and rushed out of the door.
She was so angry that she called several guards in a row and clenched her fists tightly. She was determined to escape by herself and find a way out.
But in the end, Shen Li never expected that Honghua would show no gratitude. She still chose to inform Shen's father. As a result, Shen Li was locked up and then sent to the palace.
No one knew what had happened to her. All they knew was that she finally became the queen without much effort, and the emperor never took another concubine.
Soon, they came to the last lifetime. In the dream, Shen Li seemed to sense that everything was a dream, but it wasn't very clear. In this lifetime, she was the daughter of a knight - errant, but she was to be betrothed to a general. And that general was, of course, Xuan Yuanjue.
She carefully pushed open the door and disguised herself as a maid. She kept her head down, looking submissive. Today, she was going to test the general's strength.
The room was brightly lit, but it was unusually silent. She tentatively asked. "Sir, your tea is ready. Should I put it on the table?"
There was still an eerie silence. No one answered. Although Shen Li was sure that the sleeping drug she had given had taken effect, she was still afraid of unexpected situations.
She took two more steps and continued. "Sir? Then I'll put it on the table?"
There was still that eerie silence. The furnishings in the room were very simple. Under the dim yellow light, it looked rather shabby.
Looking at the person sleeping on the bed, Shen Li kicked the bed angrily. "What? A young talent and a young general? He lives in such a shabby mansion. There isn't even an extra ornament in the room."