The Empress' Scandalous Paramour (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 23
The extreme tension filling the banquet hall gently receded at my gentle remark.
I quietly lifted Meriem’s chin, and he rose obediently to his feet without resistance.
‘Like a colored painting pretending stubbornly to be monochrome.’
A darkness unique to those who crush their wild instincts until they kill themselves clung like a shadow to his brilliant golden eyes.
I gazed at it intently, probing every corner of his inner world.
Ah, he was one who yearned.
For a place of rest. A place to return to. Somewhere warm.
And for a home.
I was more than willing to give Meriem exactly what he longed for in exchange for keeping me alive.
“Yes. From now on, never bow your waist to anyone. I won’t permit it.”
When I spoke kindly, Meriem’s pupils trembled, lost and unsteady.
It was precisely the expression I adored—so much so it made my chest ache with tenderness.
A wounded beast, driven to the cliff’s edge, standing precariously.
I felt an overwhelming urge to tend his wounds, wrap him in bandages, gently comb his fur, feed him only the finest things, and lavish him with affection.
‘The problem with my sisters is that they know me too well.’
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (92)
Empress really said “I see your trap and raise you a public execution of your reputation” 😭🔥 Helene just kept digging her own grave fr.
Empress really said “I’ll play chess while y’all play checkers” 💀 Helene coping HARD at the end lol not the fake hyperventilating again—girl stand up 😭 Meriem lowkey stealing the spotlight too 👀
Empress really said “clean house season 🧹” and started a nationwide hiring arc 😭 strategic queen fr
Meriem feeding her like that?? bro said “you WILL eat” 🥺 lowkey wholesome but also he’s already down bad
Helene ran away off-screen too 💀 girl got patched out of the story for now lol
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Karamel57
POV: you leave for 5 minutes and the whole palace turns into chaos 💀 also why is Meriem already acting like the main lead?? 👀