Seeing Tang Yuehua's conflicted expression, Liu Yixue knew something troubling must have happened. This only deepened her curiosity.
After a moment's thought, Liu Yixue said, "Yuehua, if you don't tell me, I won't understand what you're referring to, nor can I offer proper advice. Think it through carefully before deciding whether to share it with me. If it's appropriate, speak freely—you know I'd never gossip. If not, keep it to yourself, and I won't pry further."
Tang Yuehua fell silent for a while, then decided to reframe her dilemma. As someone experienced, Liu Yixue might offer guidance.
"Well... last night I had a strange dream," Tang Yuehua began, her cheeks flushing. "I dreamt of a man—powerfully built, radiating boundless strength. He... did things to me. At first, I tried to resist, but slowly... I lost myself in it."
"He was overwhelming. Each time, he drove me to the brink of ecstasy, and I couldn't break free. The dream felt so real, as if it truly happened. Yet what unsettles me most is that this man—who left me utterly addicted—is my junior."
"He... visited me recently. The adopted son of my second brother—Tang Yin."
"Having such a dream felt bizarre... and shameful. Yet the sensations left my body... increasingly restless."
By the time she finished, Tang Yuehua's face was crimson. She trusted Liu Yixue understood her meaning—she'd spoken of Tang Yin before.
Liu Yixue's eyes widened in astonishment. She never imagined her refined friend dreaming of being ravished by her nephew. This taboo tension... how thrilling.
As Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire, she knew well the debauchery among royals—incestuous affairs were commonplace. Such forbidden acts no longer shocked her. But how should she advise her closest confidante?
After a thoughtful pause, Liu Yixue studied Tang Yuehua's exquisite features, a bold idea forming. "Yuehua," she murmured, "have you seen Tang Yin's... size? Does it match your dream? And now that you're stirred... do you crave experiencing that extreme pleasure with him in reality?"
"Yixue! How could you suggest such a thing?" Tang Yuehua shot her a scandalized glare. "That's... improper! He's my nephew!"
Impossible, she thought. Tang Yin was her brother's adopted son. As his aunt, indulging in such acts would be perverse. The dream was just a dream—reality demanded restraint.
But Liu Yixue recognized Tang Yuehua's blush betrayed curiosity. Morality, shame, and societal chains trapped her desires. As a friend, Liu Yixue resolved to liberate her: life's purpose was joy and fulfillment.
"You know my status, don't you?" Liu Yixue asked softly.
"You're the Empress—of course I know. Why ask?"
"This title shackles me," Liu Yixue confessed, bitterness lacing her voice. "As Empress, I'm denied desires. I cannot pursue what I crave. This identity imprisons me."
"You know Snow Night is far older, his body failing. I'm a woman—women need men. But his past indulgences"—her gaze sharpened—"even you caught his eye—left him withered. As Empress, I've tasted no man for years."
Beneath her regal facade, Liu Yixue burned with hunger. In public, she embodied grace; privately, she fantasized about being dominated, ravished unconscious. She craved the taste of a man's essence, the heat of surrender. Yet her crown suffocated these urges. Emperor Snow Night's decay meant decades of deprivation. Her body now screamed for satiation—a desperate need to be filled, to shatter in ecstasy.
Since Tang Yuehua dreamed of her nephew's prowess, why not nudge her toward reality? If Liu Yixue held that secret, perhaps she too could savor Tang Yin's "powerful weapon." The mere description of his strength made her thighs clench, a feverish dampness pooling within.
"Yuehua," she breathed, gathering her skirt, "are my legs beautiful?"
She revealed slender limbs sheathed in sheer black stockings. Even Tang Yuehua—a woman—felt the urge to touch them.
"Gorgeous," Tang Yuehua admitted. "I want to stroke them myself."
Liu Yixue's smile turned bleak. "Yet no one admires them. Understand my anguish? This crown is a cage. It strangles joy."
"If a man could ignite my body now, I'd abandon this title instantly. Happiness, pleasure, fulfillment—these matter most. Status is but a chain."
She let the words hang. Tang Yuehua stared at her friend, comprehension dawning.
Liu Yixue was urging her to cross the line with Tang Yin—to embrace forbidden passion.