Chapter 103 IF Line: Saving the Courtesan [Female-Dominated] - (Part 5) "Yongchang..."

Chu Jing felt dizzy. Faced with this unique way of feeding him water, he was completely overwhelmed and could barely think. He blurted out what was on his mind, "Yes."

Xu Lingzhao leaned down again and pressed him down on the bed, supporting himself on his sides with his hands, his nose brushing against his rosy lips, as if signaling him to open up.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around her neck, taking the initiative to kiss her and draw her sweet nectar.

After a long while, Xu Lingzhao held him in his arms, listening to his uneven breathing, and smiled, "Does the cat want more?"

His face was flushed, like a ripe peach. This time, he shook his head and whispered, "I have no strength left."

Xu Lingzhao gently stroked his back, comforting him in a tender way.

"Your Highness."

"What is it?"

"I love Your Highness." Chu Jingze was almost pressed against Xu Lingzhao, rubbing his head against her chin as he spoke, his tone completely coquettish.

Xu Lingzhao's hand caressed his cheek, her smile more genuine than ever. She lifted his chin, lowered her head, and placed a kiss on his forehead. "My heart and yours are in sync."

When Xiaoqing came in to help Chu Jingze wash up, Xu Lingzhao had already left. He glanced at the person sitting blankly on the bed, whose exposed skin was almost covered with red clitoris.

For Xiaoqing, who was inexperienced in such matters, the impact of this scene made him blush immediately. He walked to the bedside and said softly, "Young master, get up, don't be late."

"Huh? Oh." Chu Jing didn't understand what Xiao Qing meant at first, until Xiao Qing reminded him and he suddenly realized that His Highness was taking him to a banquet hosted by the Crown Prince today.

It's impossible not to be nervous. His dramatic fall from grace and subsequent rise to prominence will inevitably make him the subject of gossip.

It's also inevitable that you'll run into acquaintances.

Xiaoqing looked at the person in the bronze mirror. His face was rosy, and he had bright eyes and white teeth. He was about to put an exquisite hairpin in his hair when a pair of well-defined hands took the hairpin from his hand.

"Your Highness." Xiaoqing immediately bowed her head and took a few steps back in greeting.

Just as Chu Jing was about to turn around, her face was already pinched by her hand. Xu Lingzhao looked at him in the mirror and smiled, "Qingqing is so beautiful."

"Qingqing, Qingqing," Chu Jing murmured, a blush spreading across his face, revealing an unconcealable shyness. "Your Highness, you are teasing me."

“I never lie.” Xu Lingzhao picked up a hairpin and inserted it into his hair bun. He pressed his lips close to his rounded earlobe and gently bit it. “My beloved, you are an unparalleled beauty.”

Sweet words whispered in their ears, and sweetness enveloped the two of them.

Chu Jing turned his head slightly and placed a kiss on her cheek. Their eyes met, and they both saw their own reflections in each other's pupils. Xu Lingzhao smiled and took his hand, leading him outside.

Even after sitting in the carriage, Chu Jingze's nervousness had not subsided.

Seeing him looking down and silent, Xu Lingzhao asked with concern, "Why does Qingqing look so pale?"

"Your Highness, I'm just a little nervous." He looked at Xu Lingzhao and leaned against her unconsciously until he was nestled in her arms, at which point his nervousness subsided considerably.

Xu Lingzhao put his arm around his shoulder, looked down at his dependent appearance, and felt even more pity for him. "I'm here for you."

It was noon when we arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.

The vermilion gates of the Princess's residence were wide open, gilded bronze studs reflecting the warm sunlight, and eight pairs of stone-carved lions had their eyes inlaid with luminous pearls. The guests' carriages, adorned with South China Sea pearls, rumbled along the jade-paved path.

The newly composed "Nine Heavens Music" from the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) rang in my ears.

Xu Lingzhao, holding Chu Jingze's hand, walked straight into the banquet hall in full view of everyone.

Thirty-six glass lanterns hang from the dome, and the lantern screens are skillfully hand-painted with the "Landscape and Women of the Country" painting. In the painting, there are female generals holding swords, female governors who control floods, and female astrologers who observe the stars, and their clothes seem to be fluttering in the evening breeze.

The twelve sandalwood screens on all four sides are decorated with gold-threaded peony patterns, each flower heart inlaid with a ruby ​​the size of a fingernail. When the warm sun shines on them, they create a rosy glow that fills the room.

The waiters, dressed in moon-white silk robes and with their black hair loosely tied up with jade hairpins, moved about like butterflies, carrying silver pots with lotus blossoms.

The silver bracelets on their wrists jingled softly with their movements, subtly harmonizing with the clear sound of the jade chimes in the corridor.

The Master of Ceremonies announced at length:

"His Highness the Second Prince has arrived!"

Xu Lingzhao wore a bright red, wide-sleeved, gold-embroidered robe. As he walked, the landscape patterns embroidered with mother-of-pearl and fine pearls on the sleeve edges and hem were faintly visible. A nine-hole jade belt was tied around his waist, highlighting his illustrious military achievements.

Her black hair was tied up high, and she wore a filigree gold crown.

Chu Jing stood beside her, like a carefully nurtured bright moon, radiant and noble. A green jade belt was tied around his waist, adorned with a warm and smooth ring-shaped jade pendant. His long hair was half-tied up and secured with a green and white gold hairpin, with the rest cascading down his shoulders like a waterfall.

Almost everyone in the banquet hall had their eyes on them. Xu Lingzhao glanced at the person who wanted to lean on her and squeezed his hand to comfort him.

Xu Lingfeng walked through the crowd, wearing a purple-brown silk cloak with wide sleeves, the inside of which was a dazzling bright yellow. The edges of the cloak were embroidered with continuous honeysuckle and thorn patterns using silver threads as fine as hair.

Her hair was styled in an extremely high bun, almost like a man wearing a crown, adorned with a crown inlaid with amethyst and gold phoenix heads. The phoenix on the crown held three strings of deep purple crystal beads in its beak, which swayed gently and shimmered with a cold light with every tiny turn of her head.

She raised her head haughtily, her gaze sweeping over Chu Jingze, and asked knowingly, "Sister, it's been a long time. And who is this?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the Second Prince's answer.

“My betrothed.” Xu Lingzhao said calmly, meeting his gaze with a faint smile.

These words caused everyone present to gasp in shock. In their eyes, the Second Prince, who was capable of becoming the Crown Prince, and Chu Jingze, whose family had fallen on hard times and who had even spent his life at the Drunken Wind Pavilion, were two different people.

The two are worlds apart.

“Sister, you still love to joke.” Xu Lingfeng was not surprised by this answer at all. She changed the subject, “If you take what you said seriously, then you are really letting down the young master of the Marquis’s affections.”

Xu Lingzhao glanced at the person in front of her, "My sister always likes to bring up irrelevant people."

Their eyes met, and neither of them would give way.

Xu Lingzhao took Chu Jingze's hand and walked straight ahead. As they passed each other, Xu Lingzhao said, "Sister, you are really riding high these days."

Xu Lingfeng watched the two figures disappear into the distance, his fingers clenched into fists.

She really didn't know why Xu Lingzhao could be so nonchalant.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall quickly returned to normal, and many people were discussing what had just happened.

Chu Jing was led by Xu Lingzhao to the winding pond in the back garden. He had not yet recovered from the shock he had just experienced, but he knew that she would definitely give him a proper status.

But he never asked for a husband.

In his mind, the highest he could hope for was to be a concubine. Someone as capable as Her Highness was not worthy of being her consort.

His nose tingled slightly, and even his words were choked with emotion. He looked up at Xu Lingzhao and said, "Your Highness." He didn't care where they were and hugged Xu Lingzhao tightly, burying his face in her chest.

Xu Lingzhao reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, looking down to ask, "Qingqing, why are you crying?" She looked up and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. The gesture was very intimate.

Chu Jing didn't know how to express his feelings, so he could only keep calling out softly, "Your Highness, Your Highness."

Xu Lingzhao gently patted his back and comforted him with tender words.

"Do you want to go back?" Xu Lingzhao looked at him and said softly.

"Is that alright?" Chu Jingze's voice was a little muffled. They had only been there a short time, and it seemed inappropriate to leave their seats suddenly. "The scenery here is beautiful, and I would like to stay with Your Majesty a little longer."

"As you wish." Xu Lingzhao smiled and hugged him even tighter, her gaze inadvertently drifting to a certain spot. It was time.

Before long, the entire Princess's residence was in chaos.

All guests were dismissed.

Inside the carriage, Chu Jing nestled in Xu Lingzhao's arms and whispered, "Your Highness, what happened?"

"You'll know in a few days." Xu Lingzhao didn't tell him directly what had happened, but Chu Jing had a feeling that it was definitely related to her.

For the first time, Chu Jing felt that the carriage was so slow. He played with Xu Lingzhao's hair, thinking about what Xu Lingzhao had said in front of everyone.

Your Highness, you really like him.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Lingzhao couldn't help but ask as she looked at his focused expression. She wanted to occupy every single second of his life.

"I miss Your Highness, and this isn't just sweet talk; I truly miss Your Highness and don't want to be separated from you." Chu Jing said in one breath, wanting to tell the person he relied on everything in his heart.

"I am too." Xu Lingzhao took his hand and kissed it.

After having dinner together, Xu Lingzhao went to the study. Before leaving, she said, "I'll keep you company tonight."

Chu Jing nodded, blushing.

Night falls.

Xiaoqing was drying the ends of her still-damp hair. "Young Master, oh, I shouldn't call you Lord anymore." Xiaoqing was genuinely happy for her young master.

He believed that nothing was more real than a formal title.

"Xiaoqing, don't talk nonsense." Chu Jing glared at Xiaoqing.

“He’s not lying.” Xu Lingzhao lifted the curtain and walked behind Chu Jingze to take over from Xiaoqing to dry his hair. She lowered her head and smelled his hair. “Qingqing smells so good.”

"Your Highness," he said coquettishly, biting his lower lip. His Highness had become increasingly bold lately, always teasing him.

Xu Lingzhao laughed and picked him up horizontally. The feeling of weightlessness made Chu Jing instinctively wrap his arms around her neck. Knowing what was about to happen, he didn't dare to look up and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"Tomorrow, Qingqing can see his family." Xu Lingzhao placed him on the bed, propped himself up on his side, and said what he had been looking forward to all this time.

Chu Jing didn't know how to thank her, so he took the initiative to kiss her lips, tears welling up in his eyes as he said, "Your Highness, you are so kind."

-

In the seventh year of Yongchang, Princess Xu Lingfeng passed away.

The Chu family was exonerated, and Chu's mother was reinstated to her original official position.

-

In the eighth year of Yongchang, I received the Mandate of Heaven to rule the world. I hereby decree that Your Highness, Lady Xu Lingzhao, possesses exceptional beauty and intelligence, a magnanimous character, and whose benevolence and filial piety are renowned within the palace and whose majesty is evident throughout the court and the countryside. Now, following ancestral teachings and ancient customs, I hereby proclaim to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples that on this auspicious day and time, she is formally established as Crown Princess, residing in the Eastern Palace as the heir apparent, to solidify the foundation of the nation and reassure the people. I hope she will be diligent and prudent, and perpetuate this grand plan.

On the same day, the Ministry of Rites, acting on imperial decree, decreed that Chu Zijing, gentle, kind, intelligent, virtuous, and handsome, was a suitable match for the Crown Prince. He was specially appointed Imperial Consort, granted a golden book and imperial seal, and tasked with assisting in the management of the inner court and supporting the Crown Prince. He was instructed to be respectful and exemplary in his conduct, setting a good example for the palace and upholding moral standards.

The announcement was made to the whole world so that everyone would know.

(IF Female-Dominated Arc - End)

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Author's note: It's almost over. I estimate there's one more chapter. I wrote 10,000 words yesterday (from 2 PM to 2 AM), which resulted in me only writing 3,000 words today before I was exhausted.