[Review & Spoiler] Men In The Royal Harem All Yearn For Her (Female-dominant)

A Love Beyond Words (Crown Prince’s POV)

“This is for me?” Yue Guanyi asked in awe when she presented him with a token of affection. His voice shook with emotion as he carefully accepted the gift, treating it as reverently as a holy relic.

“Miss Qiu, I’m willing to do anything for you,” he vowed fervently. And he meant it with every fiber of his being. There was nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice for her happiness.

Even in moments of jealousy, Yue Guanyi’s devotion shone through. Seeing Qiu Shuzhi interact warmly with others filled him with anguish, yet he restrained himself for her sake. “As long as it’s what Qiu Niang wants, I’ll give it to her,” he declared, choking back tears. His own desires meant nothing compared to her wishes.

When tragedy struck and Qiu Shuzhi was believed dead, Yue Guanyi’s world shattered. His anguished cries echoed across the wilderness as he frantically searched for her, refusing to give up hope. Finding what he thought was her body, he collapsed in abject despair. “Qiu Niang, Qiu Niang,” he sobbed brokenly, embracing the corpse. Without her, he had no will to live.

In the depths of his grief, Yue Guanyi tried repeatedly to join Qiu Shuzhi in death. He saw no point in continuing on in a world without her light. Even learning of their unborn child could not fully pull him from the abyss of sorrow. In a moment of utter despair, he cried out, “Without Qiu Niang, what use do I have for this child!” and attempted to end both their lives.

Throughout all the ups and downs, one truth remained constant – Yue Guanyi’s love for Qiu Shuzhi was absolute and eternal. She was his entire world, his reason for living. With her by his side, he felt he could overcome any obstacle. Without her, existence lost all meaning.

His every thought, word and deed revolved around her. Whether expressing his affection through tender gestures or making tremendous sacrifices on her behalf, Yue Guanyi’s devotion never wavered. She had captured his heart completely, and he would love her until his dying breath and beyond.

Though he often struggled to articulate the depth of his feelings, Yue Guanyi’s actions spoke louder than words ever could. His love for Qiu Shuzhi transcended language, radiating from his very being. It was a pure, selfless love that asked for nothing in return except the chance to make her happy. In Qiu Shuzhi, Yue Guanyi had found his other half, his soulmate, his everything. And he would spend a lifetime showing her just how cherished she truly was.

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Male Empress Dowager’s POV

Qin Qing, the Empress Dowager, found himself inexplicably drawn to Qiu Shuzhi from their very first encounter. At the Qionglin Banquet, he was stunned by her elegant beauty and grace. Though he tried to maintain his composure, his eyes couldn’t help but follow her graceful movements throughout the evening.

Qin Qing’s feelings deepened into possessive desire. He jealously guarded Qiu Shuzhi’s interactions with other men, especially Crown Prince Yue Guanyi. When rumors circulated about Qiu Shuzhi and Yue Guanyi, Qin Qing summoned her in a rage. “Apart from official duties, you are not allowed to have any unnecessary interactions with him,” he warned coldly, his eyes flashing with dangerous jealousy.

Yet for all his power and status, Qin Qing found himself acting like a lovesick youth around Qiu Shuzhi. He made excuses to summon her, just to bask in her presence. When she visited him during the hunt, he pouted childishly about her not coming sooner. “So you still know to come see me!” he said resentfully, while inwardly rejoicing at her arrival.

But for all his longing, Qin Qing remained uncertain of Qiu Shuzhi’s feelings. He lamented that she was like “an aimless wind that never lingered for anyone, impossible to grab or lock down.” When she maintained polite distance, he grew petulant, demanding “Why are you avoiding me? Am I that scary?”

Qin Qing’s emotions oscillated wildly where Qiu Shuzhi was concerned. He showered her with favor one moment, then grew cold and suspicious the next.

As his feelings intensified, Qin Qing began taking drastic measures. He consumed bird’s nest soup and took medicinal baths daily, desperately trying to maintain his youthful appearance to compete with younger men for Qiu Shuzhi’s attention. When ill during the hunt, he used it as an excuse to demand Qiu Shuzhi’s presence every few hours.

Qin Qing’s rational mind warred with his heart. As Empress Dowager, he knew a relationship with Qiu Shuzhi was impossible. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from dreaming of a future with her. When nauseous from illness, he indulged in fantasies of morning sickness, imagining bearing Qiu Shuzhi’s child.

He wished at this very moment he could give himself to her completely. Propriety, reputation, the situation at court – he no longer wanted to consider any of it. He just wanted to lie in her arms and indulge himself for once, to gain her favor.

When rumors spread that Qiu Shuzhi was intimate with Yue Guanyi, Qin Qing flew into a jealous rage. He smashed vases and tore apart paintings in his fury. His thoughts were filled with anguish: “He liked Qiu Shuzhi so much, liked her to the point that he didn’t dare touch her too much, afraid she would distance herself. Yet she was so easily snatched away by Yue Guanyi, that bastard raised in a brothel.”

In desperation, Qin Qing summoned Qiu Shuzhi to confront her. Overcome with emotion, Qin Qing abandoned all propriety. “He held Qiu Shuzhi tightly, no longer wanting to heed any masculine virtue or discipline. Burying his face in the soft crook of her neck, fingertips brushing aside her stray hairs, feverish lips kissing her neck in a dense pattern, the thin lips trembling uncontrollably from nervousness.”

His pleas grew more desperate: “Qiu Niang, Qiu Niang, promise me.” His voice was “half panting half enticing, thicker than dark red blood.” When Qiu Shuzhi tried to push him away, saying “You can’t,” Qin Qing pressed her to the ground, their “bodies tightly overlapping, fingers tightly interlocked.”

Throughout these events, we see Qin Qing’s feelings for Qiu Shuzhi evolve from interest and admiration to intense romantic and physical attraction. His emotions range from gentle affection to possessive jealousy to desperate passion. As the Empress Dowager, he struggles to balance his strong feelings with the propriety demanded by his position. Ultimately, his desire for Qiu Shuzhi overwhelms his restraint, leading him to cast aside decorum in a final bid for her affections.

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