After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

The carriage stood quietly to the side.

Shen Lingyi subconsciously touched the veil on her face; there was no escaping it now.

With its exquisite wheels and saddle, adorned with gold and jade, and a carriage made of sandalwood and decorated with gold-threaded dragon patterns, the identity of the carriage's owner is immediately apparent.

Once inside the carriage, as expected, Pei Heng sat in the center, looking at Shen Lingyi with a half-smile, "I wondered who was so compassionate as to save the common people here, but it turns out to be the goddess right before my eyes."

Shen Lingyi was always worried about revealing her identity when she met his gaze.

Then, with her delicate hands, she lifted the curtain on the side: "Your Majesty, why be so ruthless? They are all people of the Great Wei. Just drive them away."

Peony was practically deaf; her young mistress had gotten completely carried away with playing the goddess these past few days.

Even things they would never normally say, they can say off the cuff.

"If civilians rush through the road during the march, just a glimpse of blood will make them fear and retreat."

Pei Heng placed his hand on his knee. "If I hadn't sent people, Goddess, do you know that these people would have devoured you alive? People who can't survive are capable of anything."

These words made Shen Lingyi's heart jump into her throat.

Although he wanted to refute, he couldn't utter a single word when he thought of the menacing look on that group of people's faces.

If Pei Heng hadn't appeared out of nowhere, those refugees would never have let her go so easily.

At this moment, the carriage suddenly shook. Shen Lingyi held onto the carriage and wanted to ask the driver what was going on, but she was more inclined to believe that those people had returned.

As soon as the veil was loosened, the girl's pupils widened instantly, filled with panic.

The next second, Pei Heng pulled off the light veil, looked at her bewildered face, and said slowly with a smile, "I dreamt of meeting the Goddess of Wushan the other day, and searched extensively but could not find her. I never thought that she would be right beside me."

Their eyes met, and the carriage fell silent.

The turmoil was only temporary and quickly subsided, with the coachman still chasing after them, explaining, "Your Majesty, the road is a bit unstable."

"I'm fine." Pei Heng's lips curled slightly.

Shen Lingyi couldn't lift her head anymore, but because the road was uneven, she thought someone was stopping the car.

Now everyone's on edge, and this has exposed my identity—it's incredibly embarrassing.

"Do you know that this is the crime of deceiving the emperor?" Pei Heng said he was going to question him, but he didn't mean to blame him at all. Instead, he was being sarcastic.

Shen Lingyi could easily tell that he was mocking her, and she immediately realized that her attempt to cover up the truth had probably failed to fool Pei Heng.

It should have been expected long ago that, given the many twists and turns along the way and the several times when they were almost exposed, how could Pei Heng not have any suspicions in his heart?

Before she could make a move, Pei Heng's voice came again.

"You broke off your engagement with the heir apparent, and then turned around and relentlessly pursued the crown prince. The whole capital is filled with the name of you, Shen Lingyi. It's one thing that I've heard of you so much, but you, Shen Er, are capable of doing something that could cost you your head if you're not careful."

"You truly make me admire you." He clapped his hands, and the playful smile on his face made her even angrier, but she couldn't retaliate because of his words.

After all, it was indeed her doing, and her record is riddled with misdeeds.

"So, Your Majesty intends to drag me out and execute me?"

"You're not going to pretend anymore? I thought you'd put in a little more effort."

The girl's eyes were filled with embarrassment and annoyance, and in his eyes, this appearance was much better than her previous ethereal and otherworldly demeanor.

He caught the veil that was thrown at him, rubbing its silky smooth texture with his fingertips.

Pei Heng raised an eyebrow slightly. "Doesn't Miss Shen intend to explain anything to me?"

Explanation was impossible, and Shen Lingyi couldn't clarify her relationship with the other two people. Now, there was only one solution she could think of.

"Ouch, my head hurts so much, Your Majesty, I feel unwell..."

Shen Lingyi's delicate, willow-like body leaned softly against the man's chest, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as she let out a few glistening drops.

Wiping away the tears from her eyes with his fingertips, Pei Heng lowered his gaze: "Have I bullied you?"

Having witnessed her ability to cry on cue, Pei Heng was even more grateful that he hadn't established a harem.

Otherwise, with so many women crying around him, wouldn't his head explode from all the crying?

"Where hasn't His Majesty bullied me?" Shen Lingyi cried even harder, pouting and accusing, "He just said he was going to drag me out and behead me!"

Pei Heng now truly believed it to be true; even the coachman outside could hear it clearly. He had never said such a thing: "...Don't blame me, you said it yourself."

Shen Lingyi had been away from the city for too long and had been so busy that she only had a chance to catch her breath now, her face pale.

Compared to her usual lively self, lying in Pei Heng's soft embrace, she possessed a touch of sickly beauty.

No matter how angry Pei Heng was, he couldn't get angry at her, especially since he never really intended to do anything to Shen Lingyi.

It's just for teasing kids.

Who knew she was so easily teased? She cried like this after just a little teasing. If this continues, he might become a sinner for all eternity.

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore."

"real?"

Pei Heng laughed in anger, pinching her fair face and saying, "I am different from some little liar who keeps lying. I am the emperor, and my word is law."

Shen Lingyi was very good at knowing when to stop. "Your Majesty is truly amazing."

In reality, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she had finally gotten away with it.

To please Pei Heng, Shen Lingyi quietly nestled in his arms.

Her long, black hair was slightly disheveled from her movements, bunching up beside her ears and contrasting with her snow-white skin, making it look like ink had been splashed on it.

Pei Heng unconsciously played with a strand of hair, the exquisite touch making him reluctant to let go, which even made Shen Lingyi look up at him.

...Is there something wrong with him? He keeps playing with her hair.

"Fine," Shen Lingyi touched her head, which was still firmly attached to her neck, and finally lowered her head, daring not to speak her anger.

Pei Heng was unaware that the person in his arms was so bold as to openly criticize him; he was simply wondering why he felt Shen Lingyi was different.

Emperors have always been suspicious, and he was no exception. If he had discovered that he had been deceived, according to his usual behavior, Shen Lingyi's head should have been planted on the flag by now.

But he wasn't angry at all; on the contrary, he was happy when he first found out it was her.

A faint sense of confusion swept through Pei Heng's heart.

He was a prince born to a palace maid, whose mother was murdered by Consort Wan shortly after giving birth to him.

The imperial concubine held sway over the harem. At the time, she was pregnant and therefore did not allow anyone to give birth to a prince before her. Despite all her precautions, she could not prevent Emperor Ling of Wei from having drunk alcohol. After one night, the high and mighty emperor forgot about the palace maid.

His birth mother, however, barely survived under the wrath of Consort Wan, and after giving birth to him, she was murdered and died not long after.

The princes born to palace maids were of low status, and Pei Heng couldn't remember the last time he had felt happy.

The unfamiliar emotions left him feeling nothing at all.

Shen Lingyi had been lying there for too long, and perhaps she was truly exhausted, she gradually felt drowsy, until the man's words startled her awake: "I wish to take you as my concubine, what do you say?"