Please Respect Yourself
"Gregory Gu Jr., you really are... disgusting." Lily Evans stared directly into Gregory's eyes, her disgust completely unmasked.
"Yes, I'm disgusting—so what?" Gregory Gu Jr. took a deep breath, feeling as if the beast in his heart had finally been unleashed. "But that's not the worst of it. When I take you away, you'll see just how vile I can be. Lily, you know I've wanted you for a long, long time... since forever, I've wanted you..."
Suddenly, Lily raised her hand and slapped Gregory's away, her gaze icy. "Is that so? Well, let's see if you have what it takes. My husband is a true man among men, the War God Alexander Hayes! He's not someone you can just defeat with words."
Gregory looked at Lily as if she were a naive child. "Lily, you may know how to teach and read, but you're still a woman—your perspective is limited. You think Alexander Hayes is so formidable? Let me tell you: though the Hayes Army boasts two hundred thousand soldiers, they're stationed in towns half a day's journey from the capital. The Prince of Qin's household troops number less than a thousand, and those thousand can't possibly withstand the Emperor's Royal Guard and the three thousand Red Tassel Troops. Right now, your so-called mighty husband is clueless about the Emperor's plans—he's probably waiting for you to finish serving the Empress and return home. The Emperor will catch him off guard, and this time, not even a god could save Alexander Hayes!"
Lily's face turned ghostly pale. Seeing her reaction, Gregory burst out laughing. "Lily, now you see reality, don't you? Your Prince of Qin can't even protect himself, let alone you. In this world, only I can keep you safe. If you want to live—if you want to protect the child in your belly—then you must submit to me. Do as I say, and you'll survive."
As Gregory spoke, he moved closer, half his body pressing onto the edge of the bed.
Lily fixed Gregory with a cold glare. "Imperial Grand Tutor Gu, please control yourself."
"Control myself? You'll soon be mine, Lily. You should start learning how to serve me, how to put me first." Gregory pressed in closer, step by step.
"This is the Empress's bedchamber. You're an outsider here, trying to commit such a disgraceful act. If the Emperor and Empress find out, what do you think they'll do?" Lily stared at Gregory.
Sure enough, Gregory's body stiffened and he stopped advancing.
The Empress's bedchamber—this was the territory of the inner palace.
If Gregory dared to take Lily here, it would be a grave offense, an act of palace disorder that the Emperor strictly forbade.
At this critical moment, Gregory didn't want any extra trouble. He gazed at Lily's alluring figure, took a deep breath, and forced himself to hold back. Rising, he flicked his sleeve and snorted, "Lily, all your tricks will only buy you a day or two. Once everything is settled, you'll be mine sooner or later. You're a smart woman, and smart women know when to adapt. I suggest you accept reality sooner rather than later."
With that, Gregory suppressed his burning desire, turned, and left the Empress's bedchamber, heading to the Imperial Study to seek Emperor Jin Xuan.
After Gregory left, Lily quietly leaned against the bed, pulled a thin blanket over her belly, and gently stroked it, murmuring to herself, "Being a pregnant woman really is inconvenient. Not only is it hard to move, but even stretching out or kicking is a struggle. Sigh..."