Chapter 20: More regal than a royalty.

As dawn broke, Xie Ming stirred, gradually becoming aware of her surroundings. She felt something heavy draped over her, and her pillow seemed unusually firm yet comfortable. Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself face-to-face with Jin Liwei's bare chest, his shirt partially unbuttoned.

Heat rushed to her face as she realized their position. "We were just holding hands last night," she thought, bewildered. "How did we end up like this?"

She lifted her gaze, taking in Jin Liwei's sleeping face. In the soft morning light, his features seemed even more handsome, almost ethereal. For a moment, she allowed herself to admire him, before the reality of their intimate position hit her again.

Carefully, Xie Ming extracted herself from Jin Liwei's embrace, replacing herself with a pillow when he began to stir. She couldn't help but chuckle at his childlike groan of protest.

As she stood, a wave of dizziness washed over her, reminding her of her recent illness. She steadied herself against the bedpost, taking deep breaths until the feeling passed.

"I should be more careful," she murmured to herself, glancing back at Jin Liwei's sleeping form. "He'd worry if he saw me like this."

…..

After a refreshing shower, Xie Ming dressed in the peach-colored dress Jin Liwei had bought her. The soft, luxurious fabric felt foreign against her skin, a stark contrast to the simple robes she'd worn in her past life. Despite her title as Empress, her wardrobe had been surprisingly modest. In the absence of her husband, the Empress Dowager had kept her on a tight budget, making it nearly impossible to afford the extravagant clothing typically associated with her position.

As she smoothed her hands over the delicate material, Xie Ming marveled at the irony. Here, in this new life where she held no royal title, she had access to finer clothes than she ever did as an Empress. The realization brought a mix of emotions - gratitude for her current comfort, and a twinge of sadness for the hardships of her past self.

"How different this world is," she murmured, turning to examine her reflection. The woman staring back at her looked soft, feminine, and undeniably beautiful - a far cry from the austere image she'd been forced to maintain in her previous life. She allowed herself a small smile, appreciating this unexpected gift of her new existence.

As she began drying her hair, the noise of the hairdryer roused Jin Liwei. He sat up in alarm when he found her side of the bed empty, his eyes scanning the room frantically until they landed on her.

Relief washed over him, quickly followed by concern. "Why are you up so early? You should sleep more. You weren't well last night, you need to rest," he said, his voice laced with worry.

Xie Ming turned to him with a gentle smile. "I woke up naturally and felt much better. Don't worry, Liwei."

Jin Liwei watched, entranced, as she tended to her hair, the morning light giving her an almost otherworldly glow. He found himself mesmerized by the simple act, realizing how little attention he had paid to these moments before.

Catching his gaze in the mirror, Xie Ming's smile widened. The soft morning light cast a warm glow on her face, accentuating the newfound sparkle in her eyes. "Stop staring," she teased, a playful lilt in her voice. "I'm going to make breakfast. Take a shower, and we'll eat together, okay?"

Jin Liwei's eyes widened in protest, his brows knitting together with concern. He sat up straighter in bed, the sheets pooling around his waist. "No, no, you shouldn't work," he said, his voice laced with worry. "You need to rest. The servants can make breakfast. I don't want you to exert yourself."

Xie Ming turned to face him fully, her hands clasped in front of her. The peach-colored dress she wore seemed to glow in the morning light, giving her an almost ethereal appearance. "But I want to make it," she insisted, her tone gentle but firm. A wistful look crossed her face as she added, "It's been so long since I've cooked. Please, let me do this."

Jin Liwei stared at her in a daze, surprised that she wanted to make breakfast so badly. In the past, she had never cooked, so he never knew she could. This sudden enthusiasm for a domestic task was entirely new and somewhat perplexing to him. He found himself both intrigued and concerned by this unfamiliar side of Xie Ming.

However, seeing her insistence, Jin Liwei hesitated, visibly torn between his concern for her health and his desire to make her happy. The memory of her collapse the night before was still fresh in his mind, sending a shiver of fear through him. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. "You gave us quite a scare last night."

Xie Ming nodded, touched by his obvious worry. She took a few steps towards the bed, closing the distance between them. "I'm sure," she said, her voice warm and reassuring. "Cooking will be a nice distraction, and I promise I'll take it easy. If I feel tired at all, I'll stop and ask for help."

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Jin Liwei relented with a sigh. "Alright, but promise me you'll rest if you feel tired at all. And let the servants help you if you need anything."

"I promise," Xie Ming agreed, her smile brightening. She was touched by his concern, so different from the cold indifference she'd known in her past life.

Jin Liwei's eyes lit up at her happiness. He hurried to her side, wrapping his arms around her from behind and nuzzling her neck. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, and his breath tickled her skin as he murmured playfully, "Okay, my majesty."

At the word 'majesty,' Xie Ming's expression froze, her body suddenly tensing in Jin Liwei's arms. Memories of her past life came flooding back in an instant. The weight of a crown she once wore seemed to press down on her head. The cold, vast walls of a palace materialized in her mind's eye. The loneliness of power, a constant companion in her previous existence, threatened to engulf her once more. It all rushed back – the responsibilities, the expectations, the isolation – leaving her momentarily breathless and disoriented in this new life where she was simply Xie Ming, wife of Jin Liwei.

Jin Liwei noticed the change immediately. Xie Ming's sudden tension and the flicker of emotion across her face didn't escape his attention. Concern flooded his features as he loosened his embrace slightly, allowing her to turn and face him. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft with worry. "Did I say something to upset you?"

Xie Ming forced a smile, desperately pushing the overwhelming memories aside. She took a deep breath, centering herself in the present moment. "Nothing," she assured him, her voice steadier than she felt. She reached up, gently cupping his cheek with her hand. "It's just... 'Majesty' brings back some strange feelings. Maybe we could find a different pet name?"

Jin Liwei studied her face intently, his eyes searching hers. He could sense there was more to the story than she was letting on, a depth of emotion behind her words that he couldn't quite grasp. But seeing her effort to move past it, he decided not to push the matter. "Of course," he said softly, his thumb gently caressing her arm in a comforting gesture. A playful smile tugged at his lips as he suggested, "How about 'sweetheart'? Or is that too cheesy?"

Xie Ming laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Sweetheart is perfect," she said, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "Now go take your shower. I'll see you downstairs."

As Jin Liwei headed to the bathroom, Xie Ming took a deep breath, steadying herself. She was determined to embrace this new life, this second chance at happiness. With a small smile, she made her way downstairs, ready to start their day together.