Chapter 48 "The carriage ride was tender, separation felt like a new marriage..."

Chapter 48: Absence Makes the Heart grow fonder==

"No." A hint of panic flashed in the woman's watery eyes. She tried to push the man away with her slender hand, but he pressed her down hard. The light green tassel belt was untied, and the man opened his mouth and took her earlobe into his mouth, causing a tingling sensation in her earlobe, and she flinched.

"Husband and wife are intimate, Your Highness need not be shy." Soon, the woman lost control of her body, revealing her snow-white, delicate skin. Xiao Yu's calloused fingertips caressed her collarbone as he spoke gently.

Their breaths mingled. Xiao Yu looked into her watery eyes, then suddenly freed one hand to cover her eyes, while the other hand was already on her flat stomach.

His thin lips moved from her brows to her delicate lips. Xiao Yu's breathing became heavy as he took her tongue in his mouth and explored it inch by inch, as if trying to suck out all the sweetness between her lips and teeth. His other hand was not idle either.

He stroked her lower abdomen with his fingertips, making the woman breathless in just a few strokes.

Su Wanyue couldn't help but let out a soft moan, her eyes reddening like peony buds about to bloom. This pitiful look made Xiao Yu smile. He kissed her reddened eyes and asked, "Does Your Highness remember what you've forgotten now?"

He did it on purpose.

Su Wanyue glared at him angrily, bit her lip, and quickly called out, "Husband."

Xiao Yu's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his face serious as he looked at her with deep eyes, "I didn't hear you clearly, Your Highness, could you please call me again?"

The woman refused to shout anymore. Xiao Yu's lips curled up slightly, and his strong, muscular body shifted an inch, allowing the woman a moment to catch her breath.

She struggled to sit up, but the man had already anticipated her movements. He held her in his arms with one hand and removed his outer robe with the other, then admired his wife's face, which was gradually turning red with anxiety. His desire was thus ignited. She was specifically there to torment him. The man's back was muscular, his skin fair and jade-like, yet strong and muscular. Su Wanyue was, after all, a little too shy, and looked away. But the more she resisted, the more the man wanted her to open her eyes and look. Xiao Yu lifted his wife's waist with one hand, making her sit facing him on his lap. "It's been a month since we last met, why are you so shy?"

He would still take her with him next time he went somewhere. They had become so distant after just one month apart. If they didn't see each other for a year, would she forget that she had a husband who was away from home? Xiao Yu sighed.

The two were completely open with each other and got along very well.

In this position, the woman could easily lose her balance and fall off. She instinctively reached out to hug the man's neck. Xiao Yu chuckled; he liked his wife being so close to him.

The man's broad hands gently massaged his wife's waist. The woman breathed softly, her forehead and palms covered in sweat. She felt hot all over. The carriage was large and spacious, but compared to the canopy bed in the Zixia Palace, the space was still a bit cramped. Su Wanyue found it difficult to even move.

The man, however, maintained a refined and gentlemanly demeanor, kissing her while asking in a hoarse voice, "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

That's because it's his fault...

Just as Su Wanyue was about to glare at him, the man struck her again. The woman leaned on his shoulder, her nails, painted with cinnamon, scratching his back. Xiao Yu tightened his grip, and the veins on the back of his hand holding her were visible. Not only were the woman's eyes red, but his gaze was also bloodshot.

Su Wanyue was exhausted from his antics and, unusually, obediently leaned on his shoulder. She poked Xiao Yu's shoulder and said, "Your Highness, please keep your voice down. There are people outside."

His wife's voice was soft and delicate, like a lark's, clear and melodious. At this moment, she was filled with desire, and her voice was soft and coquettish.

"Don't worry, the people outside can't hear you." Xiao Yu chuckled upon hearing this, and his kisses returned, first on her shoulder, then her collarbone, and finally her chest.

Su Wanyue let out a soft "hmm," her whole body trembling uncontrollably. She frowned angrily, not wanting to be constantly overshadowed by him. She raised her watery almond eyes and then used her nail-painted fingers to touch his heart.

Xiao Yu's temples throbbed, his body stiffened slightly, and he reached out to take her soft little hand, his voice slightly hoarse, with a coaxing tone, "Stop fooling around."

Seeing his strong reaction, Su Wanyue was even more unwilling to let go. After all, he acted like this the moment they met. The woman pursed her lips and tried to negotiate with him, "Then Your Highness, please release me first."

Having been separated for a month, Xiao Yu was naturally reluctant to let go of his wife. He held her even tighter in his arms and had the strength to lift her up slightly. "Change the condition, and I will agree to your request."

But this time, the girl only wanted this condition. The couple confronted each other for a while, and in the end, Xiao Yu gave in first. However, his giving in was not to release the woman, but to let her do as she pleased. Su Wanyue was really angry. In a moment of impulse, she lowered her head and bit him. Xiao Yu hissed and his scalp tingled. He wanted to lift his wife up, but he was afraid of hurting her, so he could only stroke her black hair, hoping to get her to move away in this way.

A moment later, his large hand pulled the woman's head into his embrace. The woman bit and nibbled at his chest as if venting her anger. Xiao Yu's Adam's apple bobbed several times, his eyes filled with satisfaction. After a while, Su Wanyue finally got out of his embrace, frowning as she asked, "Can Your Highness release me now?"

This made it even less likely for her to let go. Xiao Yu held her and laid her down on the cushions, saying slowly, "If Your Highness is tired, please rest first. I will take good care of you."

Then, the man pinned her down, kissing her while placing his hand on her chest, feeling it inch by inch.

When the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of the Prince Cheng's residence, the coachman cautiously said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, we have arrived."

A hoarse, deep voice came from inside the ornate carriage. The coachman quickly lowered his head. A moment later, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the master's jade-like face. He was holding the princess in his arms, but at this moment the princess was wrapped in His Highness's wide cloak, and not a single hair could be seen. Qin'er quickly followed.

The Prince Cheng's residence had received news of what happened at the Eastern Palace long ago. When they saw their master return, Chunzhi and the others rushed to greet him. However, the princess seemed to be acting strangely, as she was being held in His Highness's arms.

"You don't need to come in and serve me."

"Yes, Your Highness." Upon hearing this, Chunzhi and the others belatedly realized what was going on and hurriedly waited at the door. As soon as the door closed, Chunzhi and the others asked Qin'er what had happened.

"How could His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess act like this? Our Highness and His Highness are still brothers." Qin'er then recounted the events of the day to them, and Chunzhi and the others frowned as they listened. "Fortunately, the Princess Consort is unharmed."

However, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's actions have completely severed ties with the Chengwang Mansion, and they no longer need to be polite to the people of the Eastern Palace.

It's frustrating that His Majesty, knowing full well that His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess used such despicable methods, refused to punish them. Regardless of how many mistakes His Highness the Crown Prince has made, he simply lacks the talent of an emperor.

Qin'er was also angry. When her princess was in Nanqiong, she either went in and out of the palace, stayed at the Prince of Nan's mansion, or stayed with Master Huiyuan. She had never suffered any grievances, let alone anyone trying to frame her. Today, the Crown Princess openly framed and plotted against their princess. It was truly an eye-opener.

The Crown Prince of Nanqiong is so wise and intelligent, with noble character and impeccable manners. How come the Crown Prince of Beili not only lacks the character and wisdom expected of a crown prince, but also does all sorts of dirty things? No one would have imagined that the Eastern Palace would use a child to frame the current dynasty's princess.

In the steaming hot spring pool, Xiao Yu placed his naked wife, with her fair and delicate skin, into the warm water. The hot water relieved the Emperor Su Wanyue's fatigue and aches. She clearly didn't want to pay attention to Xiao Yu. "I need to take a bath. Your Highness, please leave first."

"Your Highness is unwell, so let me do it instead," Xiao Yu said gently, knowing she was angry.

But having learned from her previous experience, Su Wanyue wasn't buying it at all. She silently held the peony petals floating on the surface of the hot spring in her palm. In broad daylight, and inside the carriage, Su Wanyue bit her lip.

"Your Highness, rest assured, the carriage is exceptionally sturdy. No one outside can hear anything inside. I was being presumptuous today, and I apologize to Your Highness." Xiao Yu took in his wife's expression, knowing she was easily embarrassed, and gently comforted her.

Su Wanyue remained silent.

"So, what does the Princess intend to do?" Under the bed, Xiao Yu indulged her in an unusual way. He chuckled softly and asked.

He prefers his wife to be affectionate, playful, and argumentative with him rather than when she treats him politely.

Thinking of his wanton behavior in the carriage, Su Wanyue said, "Then, Your Highness, would it be alright if you slept in the study for the next half month?"

Xiao Yu's smile darkened slightly as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Husband and wife are one. I will sleep in the study, and the princess will come with me. I will have the steward make another bed."

She had just been carried out of the carriage by him during the day, and now he was making a new bed for her at night. Su Wanyue pinched him hard and didn't want to talk to him anymore.

"Then next time in bed, Your Highness can do whatever you want, okay?" Xiao Yu inwardly condemned himself, then pulled his wife out of the hot spring and coaxed her in a low voice, "In addition, I can grant Your Highness one more condition. Once Your Highness has thought it through, you can come to me to fulfill it."

She didn't respond, so he came over and kissed her again. Su Wanyue nodded and said that this would not happen again.

Seeing how easily she was coaxed, Xiao Yu reached out and rubbed his forehead. He knew he needed to keep a closer eye on his wife in the future to prevent her from being bullied again. Only he was the most suitable husband for her.

===

The following day, after court, the Emperor summoned Xiao Yu, Xie Cheng, and their entourage, along with Yin Chen, the former deputy leader of the Yan Gui Sect, and the female physician Bai Shuang.

The confession regarding the death of the Seventh Prince had already been presented to the Emperor. The Emperor glanced at it, raised his hand, and said, "Rise, all of you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Xie Cheng was responsible for investigating the cause of the Seventh Prince's death. He was the first to stand up, his posture neither humble nor arrogant, and his voice clear and gentle. "Your Majesty, after our thorough investigation, we discovered that the assassins who chased after the Seventh Prince on both occasions were poisoned by the same kind of poison."

The Emperor picked up the interrogation report, which contained the coroner's findings and the reason why these assassins died immediately after chasing the Seventh Prince: they had already taken "Red Beauty's Intoxication," a poison that was extremely rare and valuable in the martial arts world. Its potency far surpassed that of arsenic, and unlike arsenic, it was taken in advance, taking effect precisely seven days later, causing immediate death upon contact with blood.

Because "Drunken Beauty" is extremely rare, it is easy to mistake it for arsenic based solely on the symptoms before death, which would interfere with the judgment. Only by performing an autopsy on the deceased and having a true medical expert can one know what poison the deceased drank. Clearly, Xiao Yu and his team have grasped this point.

Because the existence of "Drunken Beauty" was discovered, Xie Cheng sent people to investigate. Coincidentally, all the martial arts figures of the Yan Gui Sect had already submitted to the imperial court. Xie Cheng then secretly sent a message to Yin Chen, the former deputy leader of the Yan Gui Sect, asking him to investigate who had spent a lot of money to buy Drunken Beauty. This investigation led them to the seventh day of the eleventh month of the fourth year of Dingyuan. Someone had used ten thousand gold pieces and the position of an official in the imperial court as collateral to buy the few remaining Drunken Beauty that were circulating in the martial arts world. Also, at the end of last year, several officials in the imperial court retired and returned to their hometowns, so there were several vacant official positions in the court. The list submitted by the Ministry of Personnel happened to have passed through the hands of the current Crown Prince.

As luck would have it, one of the seventh-rank officials was originally a young master from a merchant family who roamed the martial arts world.

The answer is obvious, but all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects[1]. Whether the crown prince will be punished depends mainly on the current emperor. Yesterday, the major clans in the capital learned that the crown prince and the crown princess had framed the princess by using the issue of offspring, but the emperor only reprimanded the crown prince and did not punish him. Whether the emperor will continue to tolerate the crown prince today remains unknown.

The Emperor remained silent. Seeing this, Xie Cheng calmly added, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can summon Lord Wang to the palace to confront Sect Leader Yin and Miss Bai Shuang."

Yin Chen came from a martial arts background, and his chivalrous spirit was undeniable. He stood there with his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, waiting for the emperor's further instructions.

The Emperor's deep, eagle-like eyes were fixed on the only young woman in the hall. Seeing her dressed in white, spoiled and unrestrained, she bore no resemblance to a noblewoman from a high-ranking family in the capital. He asked in a deep voice, "No need. Your name is Bai Shuang."

The young woman showed no fear in front of the emperor, and replied sweetly, "Your Majesty, I am Bai Shuang."

"I heard that you healed the Seventh Prince's shoulder injury. Miss Bai Shuang has rendered meritorious service in saving the Seventh Prince, and I can reward you accordingly. Is there anything you desire?"

Bai Shuang thought to herself, "When he said he wanted to marry me, the Emperor didn't agree." Bai Shuang didn't necessarily want the position of the Seventh Prince's consort; she just disliked all the pretentious people in the world, such as the current monarch of Bei Li.

"Your Majesty," Bai Shuang said in a loud and resounding voice, "during the time I cared for His Highness the Seventh Prince, we developed feelings for each other. I know that I am of lowly status and cannot be worthy of His Highness. I only have one wish, which is that His Highness may find a beloved and live a long and happy life. Unfortunately, His Highness has not had the chance to find that person before he has come to this end. I beg Your Majesty to give His Highness the justice he deserves."

What Bai Shuang said was exactly what Xie Cheng and the others wanted to say. The Emperor was silent for a while, then said, "I will definitely give the Seventh Prince justice in this matter. You may all leave now."

"King Cheng, please stay," the Emperor added.

The Emperor had spoken, and everyone else could only retreat. The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Zhou, who quickly bowed and withdrew. Thus, only the Emperor and Xiao Yu remained in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Emperor looked sternly at his son, who was now displaying his arrogance, and said, "If I do not punish the Crown Prince this time, do you think I am acting unjustly?"