Chapter 541: Testing People's Hearts

As she hesitated, a familiar sensation suddenly washed over her, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around the man on top of her.

Realizing her actions, Xiao Tuo finally sighed in resignation. Even her body had grown accustomed to this man.

“Look at me,” came the man’s undeniable voice in her ear.

She tried to turn her head, but he gently turned her face back towards him.

Seeing the satisfied smile in his eyes, Xiao Tuo felt utterly helpless.

Yet, as they gazed at each other in such intimacy, a faint trace of tenderness unexpectedly bloomed in her heart. Though subtle, it was no longer solely for the purpose of completing her mission.

***

She wasn't sure how much time had passed. Curled up in Zu'an's arms, Xiao Tuo quietly studied the man.

He was fast asleep. Though Xiao Tuo was utterly exhausted herself, her mind was in turmoil, making it impossible for her to sleep.

She thought of many things, then her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She realized that most of the images in her mind were of the King, and she had barely thought of Lian at all.

Xiao Tuo gazed at the man beside her with a complex expression. Had she truly developed feelings for him?

Ultimately, she was simply too tired. As her thoughts drifted, she gradually succumbed to sleep. In her dreams, something seemed to frighten her; her brows furrowed, and an anxious expression crossed her face. Instinctively, she burrowed deeper into Zu'an’s embrace, and feeling his warmth and heartbeat, she slowly calmed down.

The next morning, Xiao Tuo woke up to find herself nestled in his arms, and a blush crept onto her face. She hadn't realized how dependent she became on him in her sleep.

Looking at the man's chiseled features beside her, her face suddenly flushed. “This tyrannical king is quite handsome,” she thought.

She suddenly became lost in thought. Why was it that with Lian, she had always felt suffocated by harsh realities, and her memories were filled more with pain and torment? Yet, this time with this man, it was mostly sweetness. Could this be what love truly felt like?

“They say if you stare at someone for more than fifteen seconds, you’ll fall in love with them. You’ve been staring for quite a while now, haven't you?” Zu'an's playful laughter filled the room.

Xiao Tuo’s heart leaped, and she quickly recoiled. “You… you were awake already?”

“I woke up when I heard someone’s heart begin to pound,” Zu'an said, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and pulling her back into his embrace. “We’re practically an old married couple already. Why are you hiding?”

“An old married couple…” Hearing those words, a flicker of warmth spread through Xiao Tuo’s otherwise cool heart.

But before she could respond to the tenderness she felt, she sensed him pressing closer again. “It’s morning!” she gasped.

“And what’s wrong with morning?” Zu'an replied, already well-practiced.

Xiao Tuo’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft hmph. After a moment, she playfully chided, “You tyrannical king…”

Before, she would have said it as a genuine insult, but now, it carried a hint of playful affection.

After their intimate time, Zu'an summoned his trusted confidant. “Issue a decree,” he began, “to bestow Man… ahem, to bestow Fu Hao with the white yak-tail banner and yellow battle-axe. She shall have the power to execute any soldier of any rank in the entire army first and report later.”

In that era, the yellow battle-axe and white yak-tail banner symbolized royal authority and had never before been simultaneously granted to a subject.

Lying in the warmth of the inner chamber’s bed, Xiao Tuo’s expression was complex. The King truly doted on the Queen, and even more remarkably, there was an extraordinary level of trust between them.

She could already foresee that Lian's previous attempts to sow discord between them and create an atmosphere of unrest in Yin Du had all utterly failed.

Just then, Zu'an’s voice rang out again: “Furthermore, announce to the world that Xiao Tuo is to be formally named a ‘Fu’ (Consort). Have Fu Yue and the others prepare the ceremonial protocols.”

In the Shang Dynasty, the title ‘Fu’ referred to a royal consort or concubine.

Xiao Tuo was truly stunned. All this time, she had considered herself merely his plaything, and knowing her own malicious intentions for entering the palace, she had never complained about her status.

But he had now directly elevated her to the rank of ‘Fu.’ From then on, no one would be able to disrespect the former palace maid; instead, they would have to address her respectfully as Fu Tuo.

While her power wouldn't match that of Fu Hao, in terms of palace rank, there wouldn't be much difference between the two.

A thought suddenly crossed her mind: even if Lian's coup succeeded, her own position would be no more than this.

She was never foolish. She knew she had served the previous king, and even if Lian didn’t object, the ministers would never agree to her becoming queen.

Becoming one of the consorts would be the absolute best she could hope for. Moreover, how could Lian truly overlook her past experiences?

Having grown up with Lian, she knew his true nature. She simply hadn't seriously considered the matter before, but after hearing the King’s analyses last night, she understood he was right: if Lian ascended to power, her fate would surely be dire.

Furthermore, in the current situation, Lian had no chance of success, and the lives of her family and clan rested entirely on her decision.

Just then, she saw Zu'an return to the inner chamber. With a complex expression, she said, “My King, Xiao Tuo is unworthy of such an honor. I am truly ashamed to accept it. Please, I beg you to retract your decree.”

The King was truly kind to her, but the kinder he was, the more guilt she felt.

Zu'an chuckled. “A king’s word is his bond. If I say you are worthy, then you are. Of course, if you feel you haven't earned it, then do one thing for me.”

“What is it?” Xiao Tuo paused, bewildered, unable to fathom what the King couldn't accomplish on his own that would require her assistance.

Zu'an handed her a bamboo slip. “Deliver this intelligence to Lian.”

Xiao Tuo’s expression changed. Without even looking, she understood his intention. “No, I cannot harm him. My King, I will serve you faithfully from now on. Please, do not make me do such a cruel thing with my own hands.”

While she had previously conveyed some false information to Lian, those instances were unintentional. Now, knowing this was deliberately misleading and harmful intelligence, how could she willingly deceive Lian?

“What,” Zu'an said blandly, “still can’t forget him?”

Xiao Tuo remained silent. How could she so easily forget the years they had spent together as childhood sweethearts?

“Xiao Tuo,” Zu'an said coldly, “many situations require a pledge of loyalty. Otherwise, how can I ever fully trust you?”

Xiao Tuo bit her lip and knelt before Zu'an. “Xiao Tuo knows she cannot earn the King’s trust, nor can she bring herself to betray Brother Lian,” she pleaded. “I beg you, My King, grant me death.”

“Can’t betray Lian?” Zu'an chuckled. “Didn’t you do plenty last night?”

Xiao Tuo’s face instantly flushed crimson. Before, her intimate encounters with him had been solely for the sake of her mission, and Lian was aware of this, so her conscience had been clear.

But last night, she had completely abandoned her mission and given herself fully to intimacy with the King. In a sense, that was already a complete betrayal of Lian.

Zu'an continued, “How about this: let’s make a wager. You deliver this intelligence to Lian. If he trusts you and acts on the information you provide, then I will no longer pressure you for anything. I’ll even let you leave the palace and return to his side.”

“Really?” Xiao Tuo’s face lit up with joy, but then the thought of leaving him permanently made her hesitate.

“I haven’t finished yet,” Zu'an interjected, his tone shifting. “If he doesn’t trust you and doesn’t act on this intelligence, then from this day forward, you will forget your past and follow me wholeheartedly. What do you say?”

Xiao Tuo opened her mouth, a thousand thoughts swirling within her at that moment, before finally settling on a single word: “Okay!”

She was also very curious to see what Lian would choose.

Observing Xiao Tuo’s conflicted expression, a slight smile played on Zu'an’s lips. In truth, he had never expected Xiao Tuo to actually choose to offer such a direct pledge of loyalty.

If she had agreed without hesitation, Zu'an would have been displeased. After all, how could he trust a woman who could so easily betray even her childhood sweetheart?

But if she continued to dwell on her former lover, that wouldn't work either; it would make it even harder for him to fully trust her.

So he employed this tactic. While Xiao Tuo was filled with anticipation, he knew very well that only one outcome was possible.

The human heart, after all, cannot withstand tests.