Chapter 544: Trial of Hearts

As she hesitated, a familiar sensation washed over her, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around the man on top of her. Realizing what she had done, Xiaotuo finally sighed in resignation. Even her body had grown accustomed to this man.

“Look at me,” came the man’s unmistakable voice in her ear. She tried to turn her head away, but he gently but firmly brought her face back. Seeing the satisfied smile in his eyes, Xiaotuo felt quite helpless. Yet, as they gazed into each other’s eyes in such an intimate setting, a faint trace of tenderness unexpectedly bloomed in her heart. It was subtle, but no longer purely driven by her mission as it once was.

She didn't know how much time had passed. Xiaotuo, nestled in Zu'an's arms, quietly studied the man. He was fast asleep. Though Xiaotuo was utterly exhausted herself, her mind was in turmoil, and she couldn't fall asleep. She thought of many things, and then her heart gave a sudden jolt. She realized that most of the images in her mind were of the King, with only brief moments spent on Lian. Xiaotuo gazed at the man beside her, her expression complex. Had she truly developed feelings for him?

Ultimately, exhaustion claimed her, and as she pondered, she gradually drifted into sleep. She didn't know what she dreamed of, but her brow furrowed and a look of panic crossed her face. Subconsciously, she burrowed deeper into Zu'an's embrace, and only after feeling his warmth and heartbeat did she slowly calm down.

The next morning, when Xiaotuo awoke and found herself cradled in his arms, her face flushed. She had never expected to cling to him so much in her sleep. Gazing at the man's sculptural features beside her, her face suddenly flushed. “This tyrannical ruler is quite handsome, after all,” she thought. She suddenly became lost in thought. Why was it that with Lian, she had always been suffocated by harsh realities, her memories filled with pain and torment? Yet, during this time with *this* man, she experienced more sweetness. Could this be what love truly felt like?

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

Xiaotuo’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly recoiled. “You… you were awake the whole time?”

“I woke up when I heard someone’s heart racing,” Zu'an said, pulling her slender waist back into his embrace. “We’re like an old married couple now; what’s there to hide?”

“An old married couple…” Hearing those words, a flicker of warmth spread through Xiaotuo’s usually cool heart. But before she could voice her feelings, she felt him pressing down again. She gasped, “It’s morning!”

“What about morning?” Zu'an replied, already well-versed in such situations.

Xiaotuo’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She let out a soft huff, and after a moment, she playfully chided, “Tyrannical ruler…” While she used to say this as a genuine insult, now it carried a hint of playful flirtation.

After their intimacy, Zu'an summoned his confidant. “Issue an order,” he commanded, “bestow Man… *ahem*, bestow Fu Hao with the White Mao and Yellow Yue. Any officer or soldier in the entire army, regardless of rank, must obey her, and she has the authority to execute first and report later.” The Yellow Yue and White Mao, symbols of royal authority in that era, had never before been simultaneously bestowed upon a subordinate.

Lying in the inner chamber, Xiaotuo had a complex expression. The King truly doted on the Queen; what was even rarer and more valuable was the extraordinary trust between them. She could foresee that Lian’s series of previous maneuvers—intended to sow discord between the two and then create an atmosphere of unrest in Yindu—had all utterly failed.

Just then, Zu'an’s voice came again: “Furthermore, announce to the world that Xiaotuo is to be formally conferred as a ‘Fu’ [Royal Consort], and instruct Fu Shuo and others to devise a ceremonial protocol for it.” In the Shang Dynasty, ‘Fu’ denoted a royal consort or concubine.

Xiaotuo was truly astonished. All this time, she had believed herself to be merely his plaything, knowing full well her entry into the palace had been with ill intent, and thus she had harbored no complaints about her status. Yet, he had directly conferred her as a ‘Fu.’ From now on, no one would dare look down on this young palace maid; instead, they would have to respectfully address her as Fu Tuo. Though her power would not match that of Fu Hao, in terms of palace rank, the difference between them was now minimal.

A thought suddenly struck her: even if Lian’s coup were to succeed, her own standing would likely be no better than this. She was never foolish. She knew she had served the previous King, and even if Lian didn’t mind, the ministers would never agree to her becoming Queen. Becoming one of his concubines would be the best she could hope for. Moreover, how could Lian truly overlook her past experiences? Having grown up with Lian, she knew his temperament all too well. She hadn't seriously considered this issue before, but after listening to the King’s analysis last night, she understood he was right: if Lian came to power, her fate would surely be grim. Furthermore, in the current circumstances, Lian could not possibly succeed. The lives of her family and clan now rested entirely on her decision.

Just then, she saw Zu'an return to the inner chamber. With a complex expression, she said, “Your Majesty, Xiaotuo is unworthy of such an honor. I am truly ashamed to accept it, and I humbly request that you withdraw your command.” The King was genuinely kind to her, but the more kindness he showed, the more guilty she felt.

Zu'an chuckled. “A king’s word is absolute,” he said. “If I say you deserve it, then you do. However, if you feel you haven’t earned it, then help me with one task.”

“What task?” Xiaotuo was startled, unable to fathom what the King couldn’t accomplish on his own that would require her help.

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

Xiaotuo’s expression shifted. She didn’t need to read it to understand his intention. “No, I cannot harm him,” she pleaded. “Your Majesty, I will serve you faithfully from now on. Please do not make me commit such a cruel act with my own hands.” While she had inadvertently passed some false information to Lian before, now that she knew this was deliberately harmful, how could she willingly deceive him?

“What, can’t you forget him?” Zu'an said indifferently.

Xiaotuo fell silent. How could she so easily forget the days they had spent together as childhood sweethearts?

“Xiaotuo,” Zu'an said coldly, “many things require a pledge of allegiance. Otherwise, how can I truly trust you?”

Xiaotuo bit her lip, then knelt before Zu'an, pleading for forgiveness. “Xiaotuo knows she cannot earn Your Majesty’s trust, nor can she betray Brother Lian. I humbly request that you grant me death.”

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

Xiaotuo’s face immediately flushed crimson. In the past, her intimacy with him was for the sake of her mission, and Lian knew about it, so her conscience had been clear. But last night, she had completely abandoned her mission, embracing intimacy with the King. In a sense, that was a complete betrayal of Lian.

Zu'an continued, “How about we make a wager? You deliver this information to Lian. If he trusts you and acts upon the intelligence you provide, then I will never force you to do anything again. I’ll even release you from the palace and let you return to his side.”

“Really?” Xiaotuo’s face lit up, but then the realization that this would mean a complete separation from him made her hesitate.

“I haven’t finished,” Zu'an interjected, his tone shifting. “However, if he does *not* trust you and fails to act upon this intelligence, then from this day forward, you must forget the past and follow me wholeheartedly. How does that sound?”

Xiaotuo’s lips parted. A thousand words welled up in her heart in that instant, but ultimately, only one escaped: “Good!” She was also very curious how Lian would ultimately choose.

Seeing Xiaotuo’s conflicted expression, Zu'an smiled faintly. In truth, he had never expected Xiaotuo to actually choose to offer a pledge of allegiance. Had she agreed without hesitation, Zu'an would have been displeased. After all, how could he trust a woman who could so easily betray even a childhood sweetheart? However, if she continually yearned for her former lover, that wouldn’t work either; it would make it even harder for him to fully trust her. So he employed this method. While Xiaotuo was filled with anticipation, he was well aware that there could only be one outcome. The human heart, after all, cannot withstand such a test.