Chapter 54 Where Did He Touch You?

Li Yuzong, standing beside the emperor, forced a smile.

He advised, "Miss Ji, don't drink too much; it's bad for your health."

Before she could speak, the wine cups and goblets on the table were neatly confiscated by the eunuchs behind Eunuch Li.

Then, a copper pot inlaid with gemstones was placed on the table.

Li Yuzong said, "His Majesty has ordered this for you to drink."

Why do we even have to control her drinking?

Ji Qingwu looked towards Emperor Wusu on the high platform. He was receiving the worship and toasts from his officials, holding an imperial cup in his hand, but he was not looking in her direction.

The copper kettle was exquisitely crafted and not an ordinary item; she guessed that what was inside was also not common. She poured herself a cup with some skepticism.

I took a bite and almost spat it out.

Her tongue tasted bitter; this must be Gehua Tang, which contains herbs like kudzu flower, lotus peel, and dried ginger, and is specifically for relieving hangovers.

Seeing her pouting, Li Yuzong smiled like a flower.

"His Majesty said there's plenty of this, as much as you want to drink. This old servant will be right beside you, ready to refill your cup whenever needed."

Eunuch Li stopped behind her, and now Ji Qingwu, who was being "watched," couldn't drink another drop of wine.

My mouth is bitter, and my heart is bitter too.

While Mrs. Qiao was exchanging pleasantries with the ladies she knew, Ji Qingrong also went to chat with her close friends. She sat there bored, poking at the broad beans cooked in the dish with a bamboo skewer, one skewer after another.

After sitting for a while, the warmth of the wine welled up inside me.

Ji Qingwu used the excuse of going out to relieve himself and change his clothes to leave the banquet.

She walked to the edge of the lotus pond.

The petals were all closed, but a gust of wind blew, stirring her layers of skirt, the color gradually deepening from the outside in, from pale pink to deep red.

The lush lotus leaves, ironically, became her backdrop.

The evening breeze was refreshing, but it also made her dizzy.

I don't know what kind of wine this is, but the more the wind blows, the dizzier I get.

She rubbed her forehead.

"Green Wutong".

The man's voice was not as calm and composed as it had been before; instead, it sounded somewhat urgent.

Ji Qingwu did not move, but turned his head slightly to look over and saw the person who came in a brocade red dress.

She frowned and turned to leave.

"Qingwu, don't go. I'll stand here and not go over there."

Li Chengxun had followed her out at some point. He was already standing behind the willow tree by the pond, watching her for a long time.

“Young Master Li,” Ji Qingwu said, his back to him, avoiding any appearance of impropriety, “No, you’ll be the Prince Consort Li soon, so we have nothing to say to each other.”

Li Chengxun was also given a lot of alcohol, and his face was flushed with the effects of the alcohol.

He said softly, "Qingwu, I also have my own difficulties and helplessness."

Ji Qingwu frowned as he looked at the pond water ruffled by the wind and said, "Helpless? There are three great joys in life: passing the imperial examination, the wedding night, and meeting an old friend in a foreign land. The top scholar is about to have two of these joys. What more could you want?"

"Qingwu, marrying the princess is not my wish," the man said in a low voice.

Ji Qingwu turned around and looked directly at his excessively handsome face.

"Whatever your wish is, it has nothing to do with me."

The once-glorious top scholar, with pleading eyes, said, "Qingwu, please wait for me."

His eyes flickered, and he said, "Three years. As long as you wait for me, I will definitely..."

What do you take me for?

The woman's eyes were bright and clear. She shook her head and said, "Li Chengxun, you need to know that you married a princess. Even if you rise to a high position and become a powerful minister in three years, are you sure you can get a divorce?"

The princess is the ruler, and being a prince consort is not an easy job. Forget about divorce, even taking a concubine is difficult.

Ji Qingwu raised her voice: "You know you can't, so what you mean is—"

She angrily retorted, "Do you want me to be your concubine, or your mistress?!"

“Qingwu…” Li Chengxun murmured as he called her name.

Ji Qingwu, after drinking, couldn't suppress her emotions and wanted to tell him what was on her mind.

Since we'll never cross paths again anyway, I might as well get it over with now.

“I knew all along that our agreement was mixed with too many exchanges of interests. You agreed to the marriage proposal before you even met me. How could you possibly be interested in me as a person? You were interested in the power of the Qiao and Ji families.”

"But I think that being bound by interests might be more stable, and being a respectful couple wouldn't be bad either."

Upon hearing the word "husband and wife," Li Chengxun's brow twitched violently.

Despite her gentle and unassuming nature, she never bowed her head before the Empress Dowager, the ruler of the harem, yet she ended up in such a predicament.

How could I not feel regret?

It's not that I regret him as a person, but that I misplaced my feelings.

Ji Qingwu turned around and said with a touch of sadness, "It's no use saying anything more now that things have come to this. You should go."

The next moment, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out.

Her eyes widened as Li Chengxun embraced her from behind, his crimson robe sleeves encircling her waist.

Ji Qingwu felt his heavy breathing near her ear and smelled the strong odor of alcohol on him.

She struggled fiercely, gritting her teeth as she said, "Li Chengxun, if you don't want to live anymore, don't drag me down with you!"

This is in the palace; if someone sees this, it will cause a huge disaster.

Li Chengxun was already the imperial consort, a fact known to Princess Qingyun and the Empress Dowager. They would not let her off easily this time.

It's true what they say, what you wish for comes true.

A man dressed in black, resembling a guard, appeared without anyone noticing, his head bowed.

"Lord Li, Princess Qingyun is looking for you everywhere and is coming to the pond."

Upon hearing this sound, Li Chengxun sobered up instantly. Seeing that he was distracted, Ji Qingwu pushed him so hard that he stumbled.

It would be terrible if Princess Qingyun saw him. He gave her a deep look, straightened his sleeves, and left the lotus pond first.

As soon as Ji Qingwu caught his breath, the black-clad guard disappeared.

She was also terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

Where did this guard come from? Whose man is he? What if word gets out?

Her mind was in complete chaos.

"The moon rises above the willow branches."

A chilling, deep voice sounded behind Ji Qingwu's ear.

She knew who it was without even looking.

When did he appear at the lotus pond, and when did he come up behind her?

Ji Qingwu turned his head stiffly.

"Don't move," the man warned in a low voice.

Ji Qingwu didn't dare to move at all, and even his breathing became soft.

A large hand supported her lower back and slowly moved to the front, hooking the index finger around the light blue silk belt, pulling and hooking it.

Ji Qingwu was then pulled into his arms.

The chest of the person behind me was firm and warm, and the heat emanated from through my thin blouse.

The ambergris, mixed with the aroma of alcohol, intensified the cool fragrance.

From their breathing to their close proximity, Ji Qingwu sensed danger.

Where did he touch you?

It wasn't a question, but a slow, deliberate narration.

Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents are swirling.

Ji Qingwu trembled with fear.

He saw that scene, but how much did he hear?

No amount of explanation could change her mind; she pleaded, her voice soft and trembling.

"His Majesty."

However, this did not arouse any pity from Emperor Wusu.

With a slight exertion of that long finger, the turquoise belt was roughly torn off.

Ji Qingwu stared in astonishment at the belt, which Emperor Wusu tossed into the pool with a flick of his wrist.

Half of it is submerged in water, and the other half is swaying on lotus leaves.