Chapter 90 Ninety Days and Nights

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The moon sets behind the western peak, and the night deepens into darkness.

On the official road, several fine steeds sped along at breakneck speed.

"Giddy up, giddy up!" One of the young men slapped his horse three or four times, galloping with all his might, and finally caught up with the leading general of the Western Garrison. The young man asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time: "Master, why are we in such a hurry?"

The general guarding the west rode his horse like an arrow released from a bow, chasing the wind and lightning. The young man only asked one question before falling behind again.

The young man stared blankly at the rising dust, then spurred his horse again: "Giddy up!"

He caught up with the general and turned to stare at him, speaking rapidly: "Wouldn't it be better to find an inn to rest for the night and enter the city at dawn? Why bother traveling at night?"

Upon hearing his question, another lieutenant added, "Indeed, Commander Jing, why the rush? Besides, are the city gates open yet?"

Jing Ye composed himself and slowly parted his lips: "The city gates will definitely be opened."

Moreover, the ministers sent by the new emperor would already be waiting at the city gate—when a border general arrives in the capital, he is usually summoned to meet the emperor immediately, so that the border general does not have the opportunity to associate or collude with the various forces in the capital.

Therefore, I must also abide by my duty, follow the emperor's wishes, and rush to attend the morning court as soon as I arrive in the capital.

As we approached the city gate, we saw a well-organized ceremonial guard under the gate, brightly lit, with a canopy fluttering slightly in the wind, and imperial guards carrying a gilded palanquin waiting beneath it.

As soon as Jing Ye approached, the Vice Minister of Rites, who was standing at the head of the ceremonial guard, immediately bowed respectfully and said, "His Majesty has specially ordered that the General be welcomed with the ceremonial regalia of a third-rank official. He shall immediately enter the court to discuss matters."

As expected, Jing Ye immediately nodded: "You've worked hard, sir."

He obeyed the emperor's order, dismounted, and boarded the palanquin. The young man and the deputy general beside him watched with pride, except for one or two who were suspicious. Their general was truly outstanding, and to receive such a grand honor and special treatment was an immense glory!

When Jingye entered the Chuigong Hall, it was still dark, and the palace lanterns could not illuminate the night sky.

He was tall and imposing, exuding the fierce aura of a seasoned warrior, yet his eyes also revealed a touch of literary refinement. This natural blend of martial prowess and intellectual prowess drew the attention of all the officials in the hall.

Jing Ye did not look around or respond to the crowd. He proceeded slowly according to court etiquette, and only when he was about to reach the center of the hall did he glance ahead, his heart skipping a beat—others might not notice, but he, a veteran of many battles, could immediately catch the glimpse of Zheng Xiang, who was at the forefront, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. Zheng Xiang's gaze was both appraising and wary scrutinizing, just like an enemy general before making a move.

Jing Ye withdrew his thoughts and gaze, unable to resist looking up at the throne above—the dragon throne seemed a bit too large for the young female ruler, and the beaded curtain of her crown half-concealed her face. Behind and to the side of the female ruler, a silk beaded curtain hung before the phoenix throne of the Empress Dowager, making her even less visible.

A sudden pang of sorrow gripped his heart, but as he knelt before the throne, his voice remained steady and unwavering: "Your subject, General Jing Ye, stationed in the west, has been ordered to return to the capital to pay my respects to Your Majesty! I humbly wish Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager peace and well-being!"

The Empress rose and descended two steps from the dragon throne, smiling as she said, "General Jing, please rise. You have rendered great service in guarding the border. When the late Emperor was alive, he often praised your loyalty and bravery to me."

Jing Ye did not rise, but instead clasped his hands in a salute: "Your Majesty flatters me! It is my duty to serve Your Majesty to the death."

The queen gently helped him up, saying, "The ground is cold, General, you should get up quickly. Besides, the wind and frost on the frontier are harsh; have the wounds from your past riding injuries fully healed?"

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. I am unharmed."

The Queen nodded and then inquired about border defenses and military affairs, to which Jing Ye answered fluently. The Queen then bestowed upon Jing Ye a thousand yi of gold, a hundred bolts of palace brocade, and a bushel of pearls.

The dazzling light of the gold bricks shone into Jingye's eyes, bringing him comfort, but the coolness of the bricks also seeped into his body...

In the end, relief and contentment prevailed, and Jingye prostrated himself and kowtowed, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Lord for His great grace.

Behind the silk beaded curtain, Wang Yuying was overwhelmed with emotion. Yinyin, who was precocious, had repeatedly emphasized to her, "I don't care who my father is, I only have my mother in this life!"

Yesterday, I told her, "Mother, don't worry. Since I promised not to get involved in your and your husband's entanglement, I will never ask about it for the rest of my life."

Her quiet... had already guessed everything.

Yinyin wanted to make her mother happy, so she kept her affair with her teacher a secret.

Yinyin knew that for everyone's sake, she could never acknowledge Jingye as her own and could only remain his subject and his ruler. So she lowered the steps to greet him, hoping to make up for the regret.

The beaded curtain and silk veil concealed all of Wang Yuying's expressions.

Below the golden steps, behind Jing Ye, Zheng Yangzhi silently watched Wang Yuying, the Queen, and Jing Ye. Gradually, the three of them became blurry outlines in his eyes. Although he knew Jing Ye's duty and caution, and that the Queen of Yemen was more of an emperor's appeasement tactic, he still couldn't help but act on his emotions and felt a sense of unease, as if he were the only outsider.

After the court session ended, the Empress summoned the General of the Western Garrison to her study for a private audience, inquiring about garrison preparations. She discussed everything in detail, from beacon towers and scouts to soldiers, horses, and provisions. She also asked about major plans such as land reclamation, horse administration, and defense against the enemy, seeking his strategies. The General of the Western Garrison answered truthfully, recounting the movements of enemy chieftains beyond the Great Wall and describing the strategic locations of the region with remarkable detail.

When the general left the palace, it was already late afternoon or early evening.

At the inn, the accompanying lieutenants and the young man had been waiting impatiently. Upon seeing Jing Ye return, they immediately invited him to take a night tour of the capital. Jing Ye politely declined, telling them to enjoy themselves while he remained alone in the inn.

Rain began to fall outside the window, pattering against the bamboo leaves and dripping from the eaves. Amid the sound of rain, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. It was just one knock and then stopped, but Jingye still heard it. He got up and opened the door, and saw a woman with a veil on her head raising her right hand, as if she wanted to knock again.

The smell of fresh vegetables mixed with the earthy smell wafted into the room.

Jing Ye immediately guessed who it was, and Wang Yuying also removed her veil: "It's me."

Jingye glanced at her womanly hairstyle, then looked away. Her appearance was slightly different from the one he had longed for and imagined.

He naturally wanted to take a closer look, but with the rain so heavy, he let her come in first: "Your Majesty, please come in."

He helped her put away her umbrella and poured her tea.

As soon as Wang Yuying sat down, a cup of warm tea was handed to her. She took it and thanked him without thinking, only realizing her mistake later.

Upon hearing this, Jing Ye hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said nothing. He smiled faintly at her and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Why are you all alone?" Wang Yuying asked slowly and cautiously. They had not spoken or communicated for many years. She was very worried before meeting him, but felt timid after meeting him.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. They've gone out shopping," Jing Ye replied calmly and unhurriedly.

"Why didn't you go shopping?" Wang Yuying asked him with a smile.

Jing Ye looked at her for a moment, then looked away and smiled, "It seems like nothing has changed in the city, so we won't go sightseeing."

Wang Yuying remained silent, unable to find a starting point for the conversation.

After a long pause, Jing Ye said softly, "Although His Majesty is young, he is capable in making decisions and has a calm demeanor. He exudes imperial majesty. He will surely be even more outstanding and heroic when he comes of age... Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has worked hard all these years."

Hearing him refer to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager repeatedly, Wang Yuying felt a tightness in her chest. She took a breath and stared at him. "And what about you all these years?" Before, Xu Heng had blocked her way, and she had been out of touch with him. She only managed to read all the secret reports about him after Yin Yin ascended the throne. "You've had a hard time too."

Jingye smiled and said, "Yumen and Yangguan have always been the same, so there's nothing to complain about."

"Once Your Majesty is stable and the country is at peace, I plan to stay at Yumen and Yangguan for a while. I am filled with homesickness and miss my hometown."

It is both homesickness and longing for love; I hope he understands.

"At that time, I will personally go to welcome the Empress Dowager to fulfill my duties as a subject."

After a long silence, Wang Yuying stopped laughing, her voice as crisp as a celadon cup shattering on the ground: "Do you have to talk to me like that?"

Jingye lowered his eyelids.

Even though she couldn't see his eyes, Wang Yuying stared straight at him and said resolutely, "The rain is too heavy, I'm not going back tonight!"

She's already the Empress Dowager; she can befriend whomever she wants!

After a moment, Jingye sighed, stretched out his long arms, and lifted her onto his lap.

Wang Yuying, who was sitting sideways, immediately brought her knees together.

Jingye glanced at her movements, then looked away and wrapped his arms around her.

He sat quietly for a while before pulling his arms around her tightly.

Both of them could hear each other's breathing; Wang Yuying could even hear Jing Ye's strong and powerful heartbeat.

After a moment, she turned to look at Jing Ye, their faces instantly becoming very close, their features magnified rapidly. She heard his breathing become noticeably heavier, so she raised both arms and wrapped them around Jing Ye's neck. Jing Ye watched as her sleeves slipped down, revealing two sections of her snow-white, slender arms.

He lowered his head and kissed her temple gently.

After a long while, he gave her another peck on the cheek.

Wang Yuying's heart skipped a beat; after so many years, Jingye's kiss had become a completely new experience.

Jing Ye didn't allow her to linger in a daze, lowering his head to seal her lips with his. His breath grew heavier, his kiss more intense, his tongue exploring and invading, filling her mouth with his scent. Wang Yuying was dizzy from the kiss, unable to catch her breath. She loosened her arms from his neck, instead tearing at Jing Ye's blue robe, peeling off a layer, and then hurriedly wrapped her arms around him again.

Jing Ye easily picked her up, turned her halfway around, and walked towards the bed. As soon as Wang Yuying was put down, she immediately sank into the soft bedding, as if lying on a cloud.

As she moved her neck away from his, before she could even straighten it and let it hang down, her elbows still bent, Jing Ye placed his hands over hers, palms facing each other, fingers interlocked.

He held her hands still and kissed her again. His head shifted, but their lips remained tightly pressed together. Wang Yuying grew increasingly dizzy. Why was his powerful masculine scent even stronger than before? It made her breathless; she just wanted to drown in it.

He gently untied her ribbons and ties, one by one, until they were finally reunited.

Wang Yuying couldn't help but tense up, especially her legs and feet. Her slender waist swayed. He was more considerate than before, but also more rugged. How could one person combine the two so perfectly, giving her a feeling of being conquered—at least on the bed.

As the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased, Wang Yuying and Jing Ye lay flat on the couch, gazing at the curtains, separated by a half-palm's width, like the Chu River and Han Border.

Although the two did not glance at each other, they continued to chat. Jing Ye finally opened up and told her about his experiences over the years. Wang Yuying also told her a few things, but she said that the late emperor died of true love and pain, and she kept quiet about Zheng Yangzhi.

"Why don't you stay in Yangguan instead of going back?" Wang Yuying said softly, not in the capital, but by her side, "to share wealth and prosperity."

Jing Ye turned to the side and tucked the blanket around her, then turned away without looking back and said to her, "His Majesty has just ascended the throne and needs Prime Minister Zheng to assist him. There is no need to make things awkward because of me."

He said it so naturally that Wang Yuying's face turned pale instantly, then flushed red.

Jing Ye smiled. He used to be so stupid, racking his brains to figure out why Zheng Yang was targeting him. Now, he only needed one glance from the Emperor to understand everything.

Zheng Yangzhi also loves her.

Her face flushed red and then turned pale, clearly indicating that she too had developed feelings for Zheng Xiang.

“In the past, the late emperor did not allow it, but I estimate that in the future, it will be in accordance with the old practice, and I will be able to return to report for duty every year. Besides, aren’t you going to stay in Yangguan and Yumen for a while? There will be opportunities to meet then.” By staying in the border region, he would avoid conflict with Zheng Yangzhi and would not cause trouble for her and the Queen, making things difficult for the mother and daughter.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuying knew she should breathe a sigh of relief, but she felt even more distressed and her guilt towards Jing Ye deepened.

Looking at her melancholy eyes and furrowed brows, Jing Ye felt a pang of sadness himself. In matters of the heart, he, too, was more concerned with inequality than with scarcity. Yet, he still comforted Wang Yuying, saying, "Don't worry about it. Let's just do it this way. There's a saying, 'If love between two people lasts forever, why should they be together every day?'"

Wang Yuying kept her lips closed, her hand reaching out to the left from under the covers until she grasped Jing Ye's hand, her five fingers slipping between his fingers, and Jing Ye immediately squeezed back.

After a while, he suddenly flipped over and mounted her, but fearing that his weight would press down on her, he said while suspended in mid-air, "Let's do it again."

Meanwhile, at the Zheng residence in Yong'an Lane.

Ever since the bloodshed at Shuyu Tower, Zheng Yangzhi and Wang Yuying have switched places, and Zheng Yangzhi has been spending the night in his room for some time now.

She was quite considerate; afraid he would be upset, she didn't abruptly end the relationship, but instead made up an excuse and didn't come for several days. Zheng Yang had been fine sleeping alone for the past few days, but tonight, after the sentry reported that she had gone to the post station incognito, he couldn't take it anymore, spending the entire night in vain with his eyes open and closed.

Zheng Yangzhi lay flat on his back and stretched out his arm. He touched his right side and found that the sheet was not only cold but also empty, without the heat source he was used to.