Chapter 52 She could no longer resist this overwhelming love.

It hurts, it's so hot...

The metallic scent of blood mingled with the young man's scorching breath swept over her, swirling around her lips and tongue, burning away her reason. Yuezhi's arms, which had been supporting her at his side, began to weaken and go limp, and she almost uncontrollably collapsed onto him.

But in her heart she thought: No, he has a wound on his chest, she can't press down on him.

The hesitation he caused became a spark that ignited a prairie fire.

Pei Heng was certain she wouldn't want to hurt him anymore. He hastily wiped his dirty hands on the sheets, wrapped his arms around her neck, pressed his palms against the back of her head to meet his kiss, and kissed her more deeply and fiercely, like a drowning person grabbing for their last breath of air at the surface of the water.

"Mmm..." Yuezhi was forced to lower her head and endure it, her arms bent, her fingertips gripping the quilt helplessly, smelling the faint scent of sandalwood flowers in the air, somewhat bewildered.

His hand cradled her neck, sticky and warm, making Yuezhi feel both strange and itchy.

The scent, touch, and heat he brought were enough to make her dizzy. His lips and tongue conquered her, and their breaths intertwined, stealing all her thoughts.

Suddenly, a thought popped into her head.

She didn't resist because she was thinking of his health. What she thought was patience and care was seen as obedience, or even enjoyment, in Pei Heng's eyes.

A chill ran down Yuezhi's spine, and a wave of guilt, tempting her to commit a crime, suddenly rose within her.

He was only nineteen, so much younger than her. She was wary and resistant to the talent show, and there was no word of him ever asking anyone to sleep with him. He probably didn't know anything about matters between men and women. Even his kisses were so hasty and rough that he almost bit her lips.

How could she not offer advice and guidance, but instead indulge him in his reckless behavior?

"Aheng, we can't do this..."

Yuezhi tried her best to turn her face away, but she couldn't break free from his grasp. Her lips got a chance to breathe, and then he kissed and licked her cheeks, like a big dog, his thick tongue licking half of her face until it was wet.

Pei Heng was still immersed in the lingering afterglow when he heard her slightly dismissive refusal, but he didn't take it seriously.

She clearly likes it.

She used to love his wet kisses the most.

He loved watching her transform from a pale, unripe porcelain white to a lustrous, honey-red, like a ripe summer peach, delicate and translucent, bursting with juice at the slightest bite.

She hummed a sweet sound in her throat, calling him "husband," and returned his soft, sweet honey, melting in his hands.

Pei Heng thought that she probably didn't remember.

When he was the "prince consort," he had to carefully maintain a gentlemanly demeanor, even on the bed. He never dared to be too unrestrained or exert too much force, lest she notice the scars on his body that were different from those of ordinary people, and the hardness of his muscles when they were taut.

So, it's always enjoyable, yet not quite so enjoyable.

When he was wounded on the battlefield, he did not become weak or tired. Instead, the pain and blood would ignite his most primal savagery, making him want to kill even more fiercely and unleash the violent and unrestrained rage in his heart without any restraint.

Perhaps the poison of the thread-like substance was still present; the pain and the poison combined, and after stopping once, he not only didn't feel satisfied, but he was even hungrier.

His palm, smeared with sweat and grime, caressed her neck, mischievously trying to imbue her with his scent.

He wanted to taint her fair body with his murky color.

"Your Majesty, have mercy on me. Just pretend I'm going to die, and let me die a quick and painless death." The voice was a trembling whisper, with a hoarseness and languor that seemed both pleading and impatient coercion.

As he spoke, his breath brushed against her earlobe. Whether intentional or not, Yuezhi felt a chill run down her spine from this unspoken teasing.

The feeling was so familiar, beyond words, how was it any different from the intimate contact before the prince consort invited her to share a bed?

No wonder Pei Yao told her: Men are all wild and unreasonable. Whether they are high and mighty or as lowly as mud, when their blood boils, they are almost like wild beasts.

That's why there were military prostitutes in the army and brothels in the city.

And her nineteen-year-old brother, in her eyes, seemed to have subtly pushed open that door because of her brief indulgence.

"Aheng, don't do this, you're injured..."

She tried desperately to escape his control. This was a Buddhist temple, and even if Pei Heng had some inappropriate thoughts, he shouldn't be here, especially not in front of her.

Yuezhi gasped for breath as he nibbled at her earlobe. She felt his hands, seemingly gentle, were actually gripping her so tightly. She tried to pry them off with one hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge him an inch. She was so anxious that tears were about to well up in her eyes.

Before the tears fell, the young man released his hands.

Yuezhi felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She quickly got off him, her chest heaving violently. Whether out of shyness or disgust, she raised her sleeve to wipe the wet drool from her cheeks.

Her clear eyes welled up with tears, her face flushed and paled in turns, and she awkwardly stepped back, saying, "Take good care of yourself, I... I'll be going now."

In the long silence, Pei Heng's piercing gaze remained fixed on her, his hot breath slowly lengthening until she was helped away by a maid, the fire within him still burning.

He felt a pang of regret, thinking he shouldn't have been in such a hurry, but he also felt he had no choice but to do it.

Is it disgusting that he likes her, loves her, and wants her? Why can't he let her know?

He wanted her to know his heart, and to understand that his sincerity was not childish flattery, but what he would have to face after choosing to give her a chance.

Pei Heng thought to himself and took out the handkerchief hidden under his pillow.

As usual, I used the old handkerchief, which was already slightly frayed, until it was damp, and let it drip raindrops among the butterflies fluttering among the flowers.

The warm sunlight shone in the courtyard. As soon as Yuezhi came out of the house, she was enveloped in warmth. As she relaxed and breathed, her fingertips trembled slightly.

A gentle breeze swept by, ruffling her long hair at her temples and attempting to cool her still burning cheeks and ears.

Her heart was pounding violently in her chest, so fast that she couldn't keep up. She could only grip the maid's arm tightly, pretending nothing was wrong, and continue forward.

The path underfoot changed from smooth bricks and stones to a slightly bumpy mountain stone path, and the rustling of wind blowing through the branches overhead indicated that we had entered the woods.

"Princess, you've sweated quite a bit. Let me fetch you some water to bathe when we get back to Yinian Hall," Huachun whispered.

Yuezhi nodded.

Even without being told, she knew that after the assassination attempt yesterday, she was anxious, scared, and angry. She went to the back mountain and stayed by Pei Heng's bedside. She didn't have time to change her clothes, and her hair was loose. She must be sweating profusely and looking extremely disheveled.

The sunlight filtering through the dense forest became dappled and soft, with occasional rays of light piercing through, bringing a slight warmth.

The tranquility of the Buddhist temple could not cleanse her heart; her mind was filled with that rough kiss from just moments before—perhaps Pei Heng's first kiss...

Yuezhi's face flushed even more, her mind in turmoil.

She had watched Pei Heng grow up; she could see him as a little dumpling whenever she closed her eyes. How could she possibly have romantic feelings for him?

She couldn't imagine spending time with him like an ordinary couple, inseparable day and night, until they grew old together.

Not only because she treated him like a younger brother, but also because he was the emperor. Whether she was his first wife, standing with his consorts, or a concubine, watching him and his empress stand together, all those scenarios made her feel an absurd sense of incongruity and helplessness.

She wasn't an indecisive person; if she had even the slightest impulse towards him, she wouldn't have waited until now to agree.

She really didn't like him...

But that kiss, tinged with the smell of blood, that almost devoured her, the whispered words in her ear... Whenever she was by his side, that surging love would always stir a ripple of bittersweet emotion in the softest part of her heart.

This feeling made her begin to doubt herself.

She thought of her long-lost husband, and the love she was certain would last forever had now become blurred.

Did she marry him then because her heart beat wildly only for him, or did she yearn for the tenderness and companionship of a good husband, simply wanting someone legitimate to rely on and find warmth in each other? Did she truly love him?

Thinking of this, she bit her lip and asked, "Huachun, do you still remember what the prince consort looks like?"

Hua Chun's eyes flickered, but she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she asked, "Why did the princess suddenly ask about this?"

Yuezhi sighed, "I only thought of him occasionally and realized that I don't even know what he looks like. Sometimes when I want to miss him, I don't know where to start."

Hua Chun pondered for a moment and said, "This servant doesn't know much either. The consort is always busy with official duties and spends limited time in the princess's residence. This servant only remembers that he likes to wear light green clothes, likes to burn pine and ink, and has a good appearance, but he is not as handsome as the emperor, nor as tall as the emperor. However, he has a gentle temperament, similar to the emperor."

The words intentionally or unintentionally blurred the line between the prince consort and the emperor, comparing the two who should not be compared, in order to test Yuezhi's attitude.

Yuezhi was clearly unaware of her probing; on the contrary, because she mentioned Pei Heng's appearance and physique, she was even more unable to pull herself away from the kiss.

"The Emperor is good, but I am six years older than him, and I cannot match his physical strength and energy. He is young, curious and impulsive, and as the Emperor he can act willfully, but I have no ability to compete with him. I am afraid that once the passion fades, I will become a woman who cannot leave the palace."

She sighed repeatedly, not only while chatting with Huachun, but also to admonish herself not to be led astray by Pei Heng.

"The best course of action is to maintain the status quo, to prevent him from hating me or having any further thoughts about me. Once I leave Baoguang Temple, I will return to my princess residence and see him as little as possible in the future."

Upon hearing this, Huachun's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. She thought to herself: If the princess doesn't take the initiative to see the emperor, he will definitely come to visit. The emperor will be rebuffed by the princess and suffer in silence, but he won't take it out on the princess. It's the servants who will suffer.

Hua Chun leaned slightly forward, gently guiding him.

"This servant doesn't know what the princess thinks of the prince consort. This servant only feels that when the prince consort was still alive, he wasn't very warm towards the princess during the day, but he was quite diligent at night... Perhaps all men are like that?"

"The future and the continuation of offspring are what young men value most, and it is understandable that the imperial son-in-law is like this. But the emperor, as the ruler of a country, does not fill the harem, nor is he in a hurry for offspring, but is concerned about whether the princess eats and sleeps well. What younger brother would be so attentive to his older sister?"

The maid's words painted a stark contrast; the speaker meant something, and the listener took it to heart.

Yuezhi didn't speak, but instead ran her fingers along the edge of her sleeve, and the image of Pei Heng at eighteen years old popped into her mind again.

She couldn't deny that sincerity and focus.

The boundaries that were originally carefully drawn have become blurred again.

*

The bell of Baoguang Temple rang on time, and the mountain and its surroundings remained quiet and solemn. No one knew that an imperial guard was rushing down the mountain at night, heading towards the capital.

Holding the young monk's crossbow and the weapons used by the assassins, they went to great lengths to find their source, which led to the discovery of embezzlement at an armory in a military camp outside the city. All those involved were arrested and brought to justice.

According to the young monk's testimony, Duan Yunting personally went to the Chen family, because the "madam" who suddenly appeared in the mountains that day was only Shen Xian. Who else could it be but her?

In an instant, the entire Chen residence was surrounded.

When Shen Xian was taken away for interrogation, she thought that her peeping had been exposed. When she saw that Xiao Que beside her had also been caught, she realized that it was not that Duan Yunting, that rogue soldier, was deliberately causing trouble, but that she was really involved in something big.

"It's Yi Liu! She had an affair with my husband. I was furious, so I had my maid keep an eye on her. I found out she secretly went to Baoguang Temple, thinking I'd follow her and catch her red-handed. How could I have known she was connected to the traitor who tried to assassinate the emperor?"

Before the whip even touched her, she confessed everything.

This includes when Yi Liu entered the manor, who arranged it, where she served, and even the fact that she had been secretly taking nourishing medicine for a period of time but vomited it all up.

Duan Yunting was amazed by her ability to gather information, but also scoffed at her indifference towards her husband and her concern for her mistress.

Ultimately, he's someone who can't think straight.

With official duties at hand, he didn't glance at Shen Xian again and went to arrest people himself: the second master of the Chen family, Chen Lanze, the old lady of the Chen family, and finally Yi Liu, who was trying to escape through the side gate.

Duan Yunting's silver spear pierced her thigh, and before she could even reach the door, Yi Liu collapsed to the ground with a thud, too exhausted to get up again.

In the prison, everyone who had private contact with Yi Liu was arrested.

Yi Liu was kept in solitary confinement, and no one cared about her injured leg. She was left to bleed, growing colder and colder until she became delirious and too weak to lie. This was a torture method that Duan Yunting had learned from Pei Heng.

She said nothing, even more stubborn than the little monk.

Duan Yunting, however, was in no hurry this time and slowly placed a prescription on the table.

"Those people you've gathered all believe that you have the bloodline of the First Prince. They're using you and your son to win over the remnants of the He family in the court, so they can undermine the Emperor and push a young son to the throne, thus securing their own wealth and glory."

"But you didn't give birth to the First Prince's child at all. The child was miscarried before it was full term, and the medicine you've been taking is proof of that. You're a woman, and when the First Prince's residence was raided, you were spared your life by the Emperor's grace. Instead of being grateful, you've caused such a big fuss. Why is that?"

The secret that they had been trying so hard to hide was exposed.

Yi Liu sighed deeply, unsure whether she was relieved from the torment of covering up the lie or regretting that she would never have another chance to make a comeback.

Her voice was soft and weak. "Why are there so many questions? If you were born and your parents raised you like a 'skin horse,' and your only purpose in life was to seduce rich men, bear their children, and squeeze every last penny out of them to survive, you would end up like me."

The only way she knew to make a living was to go from one man's bed to another.

Whether it was the eldest prince, Chen Lanze, or even the second master of the Chen family, what they all wanted was her young and beautiful body and the child with the eldest prince's bloodline.

There's nothing she wouldn't do to survive, and to live a better life.

"You're quite straightforward." Duan Yunting picked up the torture instruments again. "Besides those I've met in private, are there any others who intend to participate in the treason?"

Before she could speak, Duan Yunting reminded her, "You didn't give birth to the eldest prince's child. If they find out, do you think they'll let you off the hook? If you confess your accomplices now, you can suffer less."

"Do you really think you'll let me go?"

"It's hard to say whether the Emperor will spare your life, but Princess Ning'an promised to save that little monk's life. If you confess enough, I can plead with the princess to spare your life as well."

Yi Liu lowered her eyes and, after a long while, spoke.

As dusk approached and the sun set, the sky turned a hazy gray.

Inside the besieged Chen residence, the Chen family members, trembling with fear, awaited the imperial edict. The eunuch delivering the edict stood inside the gate, and the crowd knelt to welcome it.

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I, by the mandate of Heaven, reward and punish fairly. Recently, a traitor plotted to assassinate Your Majesty, shaking the state. After investigation by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, it was found that the head of the second branch of the Chen family secretly colluded with the remnants of the He family to plot the assassination of the emperor. The evidence is clear and unforgivable by Heaven and Earth. Therefore, he shall be executed by slow slicing, his family property shall be confiscated, and his nephews of the second branch shall be exiled three thousand miles away, with no possibility of pardon.

Although Chen Lanze, the fourth son of the emperor, did not participate in the rebellion, he had an affair with a female assassin, failed to detect the evil, indulged in his love and ignored the law of the country, and failed to live up to my trust. He is hereby stripped of his title of Attendant Gentleman of the Cavalry and ordered to go to Yuezhou as a county magistrate. He shall depart immediately. If he can be devoted to the people and achieve good results, he can still be promoted in his official position according to the usual practice.

The entire Chen family was unaware of the plot to rebel and protected the female assassin. As punishment, the Chen family's property was confiscated and their servants were sold off.

Although Princess Shen came from the Chen family, she took the initiative to expose the crime and assist in the investigation, which was of great merit to the court. Therefore, she was given a lenient sentence and allowed to go to Yuezhou with Chen Lanzhe. She was also rewarded with five hundred taels of silver to show her loyalty.

It is hoped that all officials and common people will take this as a warning, strictly abide by the laws of the land, and be loyal to the court. So be it!

The Chen family, whose wealth flowed like water, collapsed overnight. Their confiscated property was deposited into the national treasury, the master became a commoner, and hundreds of servants were taken to the streets to be sold.

Shen Xian was in a daze when Xiao Que hurriedly pulled her to the room to pack her luggage. She glanced at Duan Yunting, who was leading people to ransack the house, and her expression was unreadable.

She's going to Yuezhou? To be with that man who doesn't love her, whose family fortune has been confiscated, and who's left with nothing?

Even if there is struggle and reluctance, Duan Yunting, who seems to be a way out, walks past... If you ask him to pass on a message to the Emperor to ask for a divorce from Chen Lanzhe, life might be a little easier.

After much hesitation, she ultimately couldn't step forward. Given the many grudges she had against Duan Yunting, how could she possibly ask him for help? She had her own pride.

Ning An used to be so proud, but she still lost her beloved husband. Compared to her, at least her husband is still alive.

She deliberately ignored the fact that the emperor liked Ning'an, a fact that made her both envious and jealous.

But as they left the mansion and rode in the shabby blue-draped carriage with Chen Lanzhe, carrying her meager remaining fortune, on the road out of the city, they heard the clear and melodious sound of bells from outside the city gates, growing louder as they approached.

The Emperor and Princess's entourage returned to the city from Baoguang Temple. Guards led the way, and the Imperial Guards protected them. Behind the golden-topped, vermilion-wheeled imperial carriage was an incomparably magnificent phoenix-shaped carriage.

The tassels and beads hanging from the four corners of the carriage eaves shimmered with a warm glow in the deep twilight.

The two people's car swerved to the side of the road, where it sat huddled, looking dusty and dirty.

As the carriage passed by, a gentle breeze lifted the embroidered curtains of the carriage window, and Shen Xian caught a glimpse of Yue Zhi sitting quietly inside. Her face was calm and her demeanor dignified. Although she was blind, she possessed a calm and composed air.

She was as beautiful as a round, white pearl, while I, who was always striving to be better than her, ended up as a pebble on the roadside.

Shen Xian gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.

She thought she had outmaneuvered Yuezhi this time.

Only now, watching the phoenix carriage speed away and the figure inside that never turned to look at her, did she suddenly realize something.

—From beginning to end, she was secretly competing and comparing herself with Yuezhi in her heart, entertaining herself by performing a one-woman show. In Ning An's world, she never existed.

All her scheming and defiance were just a joke.

Shen Xian peered out the car window as the magnificent procession disappeared into the distance, not even a speck of dust rising for her. A large part of her once proud heart felt empty.

After struggling for more than half a year, I gained nothing and wasted my time.

It takes more than a month to travel from the capital to Yuezhou.

The long journey to a remote town meant that I would have to walk with this person I hated from then on, and the torment of this life had only just begun.

*

Yuezhi learned of the Chen family's situation seven days after their house was raided.

Because of her pleading, the young monk was only sentenced to two years in prison. After two years, when his hair grew long, he could go to the orphanage like other children, study, and learn survival skills.

Yi Liu was spared the death penalty but was exiled to Liangzhou, never to return to the capital. Far from the capital, no one knew about her past relationship with the Crown Prince. She could live like an ordinary person, and even if she still harbored ill intentions, she could no longer cause any trouble.

Unlike the two men who were left with no way out, some old ministers and nobles in the court who wanted to profit from the treasonous plot were dismissed or had their homes confiscated, causing quite a stir in the court and among the people for several days.

As a result of this incident, the national treasury actually became fuller.

Touching the thick stack of inventory lists that Jinbao presented, Yuezhi sighed, "These powerful and wealthy families are really rich."

"Use this money to renovate your house?"

In the Imperial Garden, Yuezhi accompanied Pei Heng, who was now able to get out of bed and walk, for a stroll. It was hard to tell whether she was supporting him or he was helping her; their arms were linked, and their sleeves were tangled together, making it difficult to separate them.

Yuezhi ignored the teasing in her ear, "Weren't you just nagging me about expanding the Imperial Academy, frontier military expenses, purchasing warhorses... everywhere there are places that require money, but now that you have money, you're using it to tease me."

Pei Heng chuckled, but the chuckle aggravated the injury in his chest, causing him to cough twice.

Yuezhi immediately dropped her sullen expression, raised her hand to pat his back, and comforted him.

"He's laughing again, completely ignoring his own injuries."

"I'm not in pain."

"Yes, yes, yes, you don't feel pain, but I do, okay?"

His concern, tinged with a hint of resentment, coupled with her pouting expression as she looked up at him, was undeniably adorable.

Pei Heng wanted to laugh again.

In fact, the joy this time was not only because the remnants connected with the He family had been eradicated, but also because Shen Xian had been sent away—she would never know the weight the Liangzhou army held in the emperor's heart.

He would not allow someone who was arrogant and disrespectful to the emperor to stay in the Marquis of Yanjing’s residence and subtly influence the successor of the Marquis of Jing’an.

Now that she can no longer return to Liangzhou and will not return to the capital for decades, he is at peace.

"Aheng, is it raining?" Yuezhi slowed her pace and noticed the raindrops falling from the sky hitting her face.

Pei Heng looked up at the sky, where the weather suddenly changed, turning the dark clouds into a turbulent mass.

“It’s raining,” he said gently. “There’s a pavilion up ahead; let’s go there and take shelter.”

The two helped each other as they walked over. Just as they entered the pavilion, the rain suddenly intensified. The sound of rain pattering against the pavilion roof created a mist that isolated the pavilion from the outside world.

The Emperor always preferred to be alone with the princess. Jinbao, along with his attendant eunuchs and maids, hid in a nearby corridor, while Cheng Yuan and his guards kept watch from a distance.

"Are you cold?" He gently wiped the raindrops from her face with the back of his fingers, and then took off his outer robe and draped it over her.

Feeling warm clothes being draped over her, Yuezhi recoiled slightly. "No need for me. Your injuries haven't healed yet; don't catch a cold."

"You're two and a half months pregnant. Even though you're not showing, you should still be careful. It's raining so hard; getting damp isn't good." His gaze slid from her neck to her soft breasts and finally landed on her still relatively flat stomach.

Hearing him say that, Yuezhi accepted it.

Pei Heng draped her clothes over her shoulders, pulling them tightly together, before helping her sit down on the stone bench in the pavilion.

Silence spread in the rain, but it wasn't awkward.

Pei Heng gazed at Yue Zhi's eyelashes, dampened by the drizzle, and watched her unconsciously stroke her lower abdomen. He casually asked, "How have you been lately? The imperial physician said you often experience discomfort during pregnancy."

Yuezhi was somewhat surprised that he cared about these things, and her face flushed slightly. "It's alright, I just feel nauseous occasionally."

“Morning sickness is the most tormenting. If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell the Imperial Kitchen, or I’ll cook it for you myself. But I haven’t cooked for a while, so my skills might be a bit rusty. I’ll have to be understanding, Your Majesty.” Pei Heng said, sitting down next to her, very close to her.

Yuezhi lowered her head, her fingers gently pinching her clothes. "It's just a small matter, it's not worth troubling you."

The sound of rain grew louder, drowning out her faint words.

The young man gazed intently at her. Against the backdrop of the rain, she was so clear and real, wrapped in his clothes, carrying his scent, and bearing his child.

"I want to be good to you," he said softly, his voice shy yet firm, almost whispering in my ear.

Yuezhi's body stiffened slightly, but she did not refute.

Her lowered eyelashes, her sudden breath-holding, and the blush rising on her earlobes all captivated him. Staring at her face, which seemed to be bathed in light, a hungry, itchy sensation gradually rose in his throat.

Her voice became low and hoarse, "Yuezhi, don't push me away anymore. Let me take care of you and the child, okay?"

The rain shrouded the pavilion, and in the small space undisturbed by outsiders, the young emperor recounted a secret he kept to himself and his elder sister.

Yuezhi raised her head, slowly turned to him, and her lips parted hesitantly, as if she was wondering what to say.

Before she even heard the answer, Pei Heng couldn't hold back any longer and slowly leaned forward until their breaths mingled. His movements were slow, so she could easily back away if she wanted to.

There was hesitation and wavering in her eyes, but her body honestly remained in place, letting that breath get closer and closer.

When his lips gently touched mine, the sound of rain faded into the distance, leaving only the pounding of my heart.

Yuezhi didn't know if her choice was right or wrong.

She could no longer resist the gentle, spring-like love; her heart had been drenched by this torrential rain, and every corner bore his mark.

The kiss on their lips was soft and gentle, light and shallow, yet it made them both tremble.