The soft morning light filtered gently into the Phoenix Hall, casting a warm glow over the bed where Lili lay nestled in its silk and velvet layers. Her delicate features were serene, her lips slightly parted as she slept peacefully. The emperor sat beside her, his gaze fixed on her face with an intensity that betrayed his usual composed demeanor.
Her beauty, amplified by the tranquility of sleep, held him captive. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her dark lashes fanned out against her skin, and the faint smile that graced her lips tugged at his heart. His fingers moved instinctively, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek.
He let out a soft sigh, speaking to himself in a low murmur. "How could I have ignored her for so long? How foolish I was." His thumb lingered near her cheek, hesitating, before he withdrew his hand with visible reluctance.
