Chapter 53 Chapter 53 "Please be considerate, I am a normal...
Try, try?
Her?
Zhao Qingyi was shocked. How could she learn it?
"I can't..." She thought for a moment and declined.
Chu Yuanhe held her face in his hands, caressing it like a rare treasure. "You haven't even tried it, so how do you know you can't do it?"
Under the other person's encouraging and faintly expectant gaze, Zhao Qingyi's mind became increasingly confused. "I..."
She was shaken and asked him what to do.
Chu Yuanhe didn't have much hope at first. He just loved teasing her and liked to see her blush and her heart beat fast because of his words. However, he didn't expect that she agreed after only a moment's hesitation.
It turns out that besides being aggressive, cruel, and easily angered, she also has such a docile and shy side?
As the last rays of sunset faded, the eldest princess was warmly entertained by the old lady and Mrs. Meng. The front hall was filled with harmony and joy.
Inside the main house of Lanyue Pavilion, only the fallen night pearl was shining brightly, illuminating the room with warmth.
Chu Yuanhe stroked her face, his eyes dark, "Kiss me like you did just now."
Kiss him...
I can kiss his lips, but...
How could she be so frivolous as he was just now?
"It's very simple..." The man persisted, his voice soft and seductive, stroking her slender waist back and forth.
Ok, alright...
As if by some strange coincidence, Zhao Qingyi imitated his previous move and grabbed his wrist first.
It was a hand that was clearly different from hers, with distinct joints and clear veins. Even if she held it gently, she couldn't completely encircle it.
Under the other person's expectant gaze, she turned her face to the side and gently kissed his wrist with her red lips. The strong pulse instantly penetrated her flesh and was transmitted through her lips, making her heart tremble.
She didn't know if this was the right thing to do, so she raised her long, thick eyelashes slightly and gave him a questioning look.
is that so?
Her lips were exceptionally soft, and the touch was extremely distinct. Chu Yuanhe tightened the muscles in his arms, and encouraged her calmly, "That's it, you did a great job."
After getting the confirmation, Zhao Qingyi's lips slowly moved to the base of his palm.
Unlike her fair and tender skin, the man's palm was covered with a thin layer of calluses, which were too rough. When he kissed it and slid it gently, the calluses seemed to have barbs that always hooked her lips.
The plump and rosy lips became even redder with the slightest rubbing.
His skin grew hotter.
Except for the first time she looked at him, she never raised her eyelids again and slowly kissed the palm of his hand.
"No, that's not right." Chu Yuanhe corrected patiently, "You have to look at me..."
How can you seduce someone without looking at him?
Zhao Qingyi didn't understand what was going on, her lips still stuck in his palm, but her bright almond-shaped eyes had already looked over, a hazy rouge color tinged in her clear and pure eyes.
Chu Yuanhe took a breath and felt that something was in danger and needed to jump out quickly.
What was he doing? How did he teach her to be like this? In the end, it became a torture for himself.
The Adam's apple hidden in the darkness rolled up and down, and Chu Yuanhe wanted to call for a stop, "That's enough..."
But Zhao Qingyi heard it as encouragement and affirmation.
She did the right thing.
She worked harder and harder, her lips moving back little by little, kissing the scar on his palm and then to his fingertips. In fact, apart from the thin calluses and scars, his hands were still beautiful, slender, clean and full of strength.
When it came to the last step, which was also Chu Yuanhe's first step, Zhao Qingyi hesitated for a while, slightly opened her red lips, and imitated him by sucking his fingertips.
She glanced up at him, as if to ask, "Is that so? Did she do it right this time?"
The light of the night pearl shines through the bead curtain, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.
The fingertips held by her felt warm, numb and itchy, and strange emotions seeped into the gaps between bones. I couldn't touch them, and they passed through my heart, leaving only the itch that I had to endure.
"Alright." Chu Yuanhe barely suppressed the heat that was aroused, and said in a low voice, "...That's all."
If he continues, he will be the first to collapse.
Zhao Qingyi saw the patience and emotion on his face, and vaguely understood what he meant by mutual consent. There was indeed no one trying to please someone inferior. What mattered was the joy of seeing the other person's heart fluttering for her, which was a secret pleasure.
She did not give up halfway, still holding his hand that had been wielding swords for years, and continued to entwine her fingertips. She felt the other's fingers tremble in her mouth and gently brush against the tip of her tongue.
A little numb.
Zhao Qingyi's cheeks flushed as she kissed his fingertips.
"Zhao Qingyi...I will die in your hands sooner or later!"
Suddenly, a man's frustrated and inexplicably depressed voice rang in my ears.
Without waiting for her to come back to her senses, Chu Yuanhe suddenly retracted his fingers, pinched her cheeks with his wet fingertips, and put his other hand around her waist and pulled her hard.
She was forced into his arms, groaning in pain, but the aftermath was lost in his passionate kiss.
Although he had kissed hard the previous times, it was not as strong as this time. He was so anxious and fierce that he directly pried open her teeth and plundered her frantically.
Zhao Qingyi didn't understand what she had done wrong.
What do you mean by dying in her hands? I didn’t bite him just now, so how could this happen?
The remaining breath between her lips and teeth was exhausted. She couldn't breathe, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She pressed her hands against the man's chest, which was as strong as a barrier, and tried to break free.
Chu Yuanhe, however, showed no mercy. He approached her step by step and pushed her to the edge of the bed.
His back hit the bedpost with a dull thud. Zhao Qingyi frowned and groaned softly. His lips parted, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "It hurts..."
He kissed her so fiercely that her red lips were rubbed so hard that they hurt, and her body felt like it had hit a solid wall and was trapped tightly.
The string in Chu Yuanhe's mind that was almost broken suddenly stabilized. He stopped kissing and slightly moved away from her lips.
Zhao Qingyi now looked like a fish on a chopping board, the only difference being that she was nailed to the bedpost by him with nowhere to escape. She avoided his gaze and her face was red.
Having lived two lives, she still understands some things.
No wonder it hurts.
"Um...you bumped into me..." Her breathing was disordered and she felt shy and embarrassed.
Chu Yuanhe also noticed something was wrong and reluctantly separated from her. He rested his firm jaw on her clavicle and said hoarsely, "Sorry..."
He just needs to slow down a little, it will be fine.
The two of them were in a stalemate, neither of them dared to move.
But Chu Yuanhe couldn't calm down at all. This stalemate was not a solution.
He racked his brains, but his rationality was overwhelmed by this secret joy. He could not think of a better way. He could only press down the source of the trouble in dejection and irritability, and the brocade robe became flat again.
Zhao Qingyi was shocked. She was not blind!
"You..." His voice trembled as he opened his mouth.
How dare he...
"I'm sorry." Chu Yuanhe moved his head, buried it in the crook of her neck, and exhaled a long breath. "...Please understand that I'm a normal man. If I remain motionless when you're teasing me like that, wouldn't that be humiliating you?"
He is not Liuxia Hui, and matters of love are not something he can control.
He explained while trying to suppress it, but as soon as he moved his hand away, all his efforts were in vain. No matter what, the bulging brocade robe only made him look more embarrassed.
Fortunately, Chu Yuanhe was thick-skinned and had not yet fled to the point of not daring to see anyone.
"I won't look at you. Just go away." Zhao Qingyi closed her eyes. He was thick-skinned, but she still had a sense of shame.
The main reason is that I’m afraid of getting stye. Just thinking about that scene is too indecent.
Chu Yuanhe's face also turned red. He knew that this was Zhao Qingyi's bottom line today. If he went any further, it would really scare her.
He took a deep breath, but it was no use trying to use his internal energy. He couldn't suppress it anyway, so he just let it be.
"Could you please...get it yourself?" Chu Yuanhe signaled her with his eyes, "I brought you something, it's on my waist."
"What?"
He paused, "...a token of love?"
Zhao Qingyi's eyes flashed, and she was in love...
"Don't you think so?" Chu Yuanhe bit her. "Is there no affection between you and me? If there is no affection, what were we doing just now?"
Zhao Qingyi was speechless after being asked this question.
Chu Yuanhe looked resentful, "...I don't ask you to marry me, but I don't want to follow you without any status or position."
Even if... even if she was just a mistress, at least it showed that she had him in her heart.
Zhao Qingyi felt her face burning again, hotter than being in a steamer, "I promise you..."
Things have come to this point, is all that's missing from her a verbal promise?
Chu Yuanhe was finally satisfied, "Then take a look at the gift I gave you."
Zhao Qingyi covered her eyes with one hand and reached out with the other hand tremblingly, feeling around his belt.
Chu Yuanhe's body tensed up, and after a while, he said, "...a little to the left."
Zhao Qingyi did as she was told, but felt his solid mermaid line through his clothes.
Chu Yuanhe was also helpless, "Go down further."
Zhao Qingyi was frightened and touched him randomly, just as her hand touched his belly button. Suddenly, her hand was hit, and she quickly shrank back in fright.
"You... are shameless!" What token of love? He must be teasing her!
Chu Yuanhe felt so wronged. If he hadn't been rejected before, he could have taken it out with his own hands, but this was not the case... He had just done something else and it was inconvenient.
"It's hidden around my waist. Look carefully."
Zhao Qingyi gritted her teeth and decided to trust him again.
Under the guidance of the other party, he finally found the right place and took out a long and flat brocade box from it.
"This is a gift for you, remember to wear it." Chu Yuanhe pecked her lips for the last time and walked away, his steps somewhat staggering.
Life is hard, and I have to solve it myself.
As soon as he left, Zhao Qingyi completely relaxed and gradually fell down against the bedpost.
After confirming that there was no movement, the maid knocked on the door, "County Lady?"
Zhao Qingyi quickly tidied up her messy clothes and let them in.
After lighting the candles in the room, Qiao Yue went over to support him, "County Lady, are you... okay?"
The county lady looked so happy, needless to say, it must be the Prince of Pingxi who came again.
It's too much trouble. Look how tired the county lady is.
Qiao Yue was secretly worried about her.
His eyes swept over the brocade box in her hand, "Hey, what is this?"
Zhao Qingyi then remembered the token of love Chu Yuanhe mentioned. Without giving it much thought, she casually opened it. Inside was a red gold filigree phoenix hairpin with a tasseled gem in the phoenix's mouth.
It is not a popular style nowadays, but it is simple and elegant, with fine workmanship, and looks like something from a palace.
Chu Yuanhe didn't come again for a few days, and the day of the Flower God Banquet came in a blink of an eye.
Zhao Qingyi and Zhao Wenyi were both invited. After dressing up early, they took a carriage to the palace, while Meng and Feng saw them off at the door.
In terms of status, Meng was the wife of a cabinet minister and had a first-rank imperial edict, so she was qualified to attend the banquet, but she was in poor health and declined. Since she did not go, no one else was qualified to attend the banquet.
No one paid any attention to Aunt Fang, so she took advantage of this opportunity to quietly leave the house and went to the gate of a dilapidated courtyard in the outer city.
Mrs. Luo lay at the door all day, peeking at the people passing by outside through the crack of the broken door. She was very excited when she saw Aunt Fang.
"How is it? Is Susu here?"
She had been looking forward to her daughter for many days.
Aunt Fang took two steps away to avoid her scratching hands and told her coldly to wait. But a moment later, hurried footsteps were heard from the other end of the alley.
Today, Mrs. Wang went to the palace for a banquet, and Li Susu took the opportunity to sneak out. She followed the address on the letter and searched all the way. When she saw Luo lying on the ground, half-human and half-ghost, she burst into tears on the spot.
"Mom, how did you become like this?"
Aunt Fang settled her in this small courtyard, just to ensure that she would not die, and did not care about anything else. Therefore, Luo Shi still looked like a beggar with disheveled hair and dirty face, and there was no trace of her former arrogance.
Li Susu's life was not much better. She held Luo's hand, and her wide sleeves fell, revealing her arm covered with scars underneath.
The new and old wounds stung Luo's eyes and made them red. "Is the Bo Mansion not treating you well?"
Li Susu had become numb. Except for the first few days after her marriage when she would cry often, she had no tears after that. She accepted beatings and scoldings without resistance. But Luo's question made her sad again, and the mother and daughter immediately hugged each other and cried bitterly.
Aunt Fang was very impatient. She had sent a letter to Li Susu asking her to come out, not to watch them chatting. "Where is the thing I want?"
Mrs. Luo also urged, "Susu, didn't you pick up a box earlier? Take that box out quickly."
Li Susu's eyes flickered slightly. She had indeed picked up a box. She heard that it belonged to her half-brother Li Heng, and she had never returned it to him.
"Mom, what are you going to do?" After she married into the uncle's house, her mother-in-law taught her the most to be careful with her words and actions. She had to ask her mother clearly what she wanted to do.
"Don't worry about it. Just take out the box. As long as we have the box, we can take revenge on Zhao!" Luo pinched her daughter's hand hard and told her and Aunt Fang's plan.
At this point, Luo still suspected that Zhao Qingyi and Li Heng were having an affair. Otherwise, why did they kick them out while Li Heng stayed in the Li family's house?
Li Susu gritted her teeth and said timidly, "Mom, there's nothing personal in that box..." Besides, Zhao Qingyi would definitely be on guard against the same method.
Aunt Fang sneered, "Don't worry about that. Just hand the box to me and your job will be done."
Li Susu again claimed that she had forgotten to bring the box, and Aunt Fang became anxious, "Then go back and get it!"
Li Susu hesitated, "Mom, how about... forget it..."
Mrs. Luo couldn't believe it. Didn't she hate Zhao Qingyi? If it weren't for Zhao Qingyi, the Li family wouldn't have fallen, Li Che wouldn't have been imprisoned! She wouldn't have become a cripple begging on the street!
All this was caused by Zhao Qingyi, and Li Susu actually told her to just forget it?
How can we let go of this deep hatred?
"Mother, although life is difficult now, my daughter is still in the uncle's house and has a place to stay. I will have someone send you money every month, and we will live a good life from now on...ah!"
Before she could finish her words, she was slapped by Luo. "I'm disabled, your brother is in prison and his life or death is unknown, and you're the young lady of the Bo Mansion, and you've completely forgotten the hatred! How could I give birth to a selfish daughter like you?"
Li Susu covered her face with her hands, tears streaming down her face. "No, I'm not selfish, I just..."
She just saw it clearly and wanted to live a peaceful life.
Even if revenge was taken, what would it matter? Would it mean that my brother would be released from prison? Would my mother be able to stand up again? Would she no longer have to suffer in the uncle's house?
It cannot be changed. Zhao Qingyi is the county lady, a noble lady from a high and mighty family. She doesn't want to fight against a rock with an egg. If she fails, all that will be left for them is eternal damnation, and perhaps they won't even have the last chance to survive.
Li Susu tried to persuade Luo Shi not to be so stubborn, but was pushed away by Luo Shi.
Aunt Fang's face turned cold. "Since I can't get what I want, there's no need for me to care about your mother anymore. Drag her out and let her fend for herself!"
The maid carried Luo and prepared to throw her into the street. After all, this dilapidated courtyard was rented by Concubine Fang, and she also found a doctor to save Luo's life, all because she was still useful.
"don't want!"
Li Susu cried bitterly, hugging Aunt Fang's legs and begging, "I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you! I'll give the box to you! Don't touch my mother!"
—
When the Zhao family's carriage reached Donghua Gate, many carriages and sedan chairs of officials' families had already gathered outside the palace gate.
Zhao Qingyi was dressed up for a trip today. As soon as she got off the carriage, she attracted a lot of attention. Most of them were women who had lived in seclusion for a long time. They looked at her with curiosity and talked about her divorce not long ago in private.
Before coming, Zhao Qingyi had prepared himself mentally, so he didn't care about these looks.
Zhao Huaishu followed closely behind, bringing his daughter over.
Zhao Qingyi greeted her, "Aunt." She glanced at her cousin Xiao Wenyin subtly. She was still young and it was her first time entering the palace. She was curious about everything around her.
Zhao Huaishu asked Zhao Qingyi to help keep an eye out at the banquet to see if there was any young man from aristocratic family of suitable age who was suitable for marriage, as Xiao Wenyin would be of marriageable age in a few years.
But Xiao Wenyin was obviously clueless about the matter of marriage, and she sighed exaggeratedly, "What a pity, my brother isn't coming."
Zhao Huaishu was stunned for a moment, then continued, "Yes, and her brother Hanyu was originally going to come too, but he fell ill not long ago and can't go out. If you see any noble lady with good appearance and character, remember to tell my aunt."
Xiao Hanyu is the legitimate son of Marquis Yongning and his first wife. He will be of age in two years. He is his aunt's stepson. He is a solitary person and rarely appears in public, so Zhao Qingyi has no impression of him. However, since they are relatives, she still agreed with a smile.
Zhao Huaishu did not force her and led her daughter into the palace first. As soon as they left, Zhang Wanyan came over.
She likes plain clothes, but today she changed into brightly colored clothes for the banquet. She wore an orange-red brocade shirt with round flowers and an apricot-colored skirt with ruyi patterns. She walked in gracefully, looking very beautiful and charming.
Noticing Zhao Qingyi's gaze, Zhang Wanyan smiled shyly, "My mother told me to dress like this."
Zhao Qingyi understood that the Zhang family probably hoped that she would be chosen by His Majesty as a concubine in the harem, so she smiled and said, "Then congratulations in advance on getting your wish."
The two of them were close friends, and when they started chatting, Zhao Wenyi couldn't get a word in, so she found an excuse to leave and go find her own friend.
Without the others around, Zhang Wanyan spoke more easily. "It feels like I haven't seen you in a while. There have been a lot of rumors in the capital recently. Are you okay?"
"It's okay." Zhao Qingyi responded patiently, and the two walked into the palace side by side.
On the way, Zhang Wanyan noticed the phoenix hairpin on her temples and couldn't help but exclaim, "This gold hairpin is so beautiful. Is it a new style from your shop?" She also wanted to buy it.
Zhao Qingyi subconsciously touched it, and then thought of the closeness with Chu Yuanhe that night, her face flushed a little, "It's not a new style, it's not worth mentioning."
Zhang Wanyan understood and gave a mischievous smile, "Was it given to you by someone else? A man or a woman?"
She heard that after Zhao Qingyi's divorce, many handsome young men came to propose marriage to her.
It’s not that Zhao Qingyi was hiding something, but the current relationship was difficult to talk about, so she covered it up vaguely to prevent the other party from digging into the matter.
This triggered another round of teasing from Zhang Wanyan. As the two of them were chatting and laughing, a cold snort passed by their ears.
The two put away their smiles and looked in the direction of the voice. It was Madam Wang from the Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion. She was the younger sister of Wang Ci Fu, the wife of the Marquis, and the niece of the Empress Dowager. Naturally, she was qualified to enter the palace for the banquet. She was accompanied by a young lady from an official family who was about the same age as Zhao Qingyi and the others.
The other person's gaze passed directly over Zhao Qingyi and fell on Zhang Wanyan's face next to her.
That disdainful look made Zhao Qingyi and Zhang Wanyan very uncomfortable.
The atmosphere between the two sides was tense and no one spoke. After Mrs. Wang walked away, Zhang Wanyan explained in a low voice that the woman just now was Wang Yingxue, the legitimate daughter of the Wang family.
Was it actually the Wang family? Zhao Qingyi understood. No wonder she had such deep hostility towards Zhang Wanyan. Just one look made her want to stab her to death.
"It's not just the grudges between our fathers." Zhang Wanyan sighed, "It's mainly because Wang Yingxue is determined to win the position of Queen. Now that I want to compete with her, of course she dislikes me."
She herself was not afraid of who would become the queen. After all, she was the only daughter in the Zhang family. The original plan was to let her find a husband, but her mother hoped that she would seize the opportunity and enter the palace to become the queen.
Now the Zhang and Wang families are competing against each other in the court. Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. Even if the Zhang family has never coveted the throne of queen, they cannot let the daughter of the Wang family succeed. Zhang Wanyan naturally became the pawn pushed out to compete with them.
Zhao Qingyi seemed to be thinking about something.
In her previous life, she was married to Li Che. With Li Che's rank, she had no qualifications to enter the palace for banquets, so she knew very little about what happened at the Flower God Banquet. She only knew that Zhang Wanyan died shortly after the Flower God Banquet.
At the Flower God Banquet, news of Zhang Wanyan's affair with a man outside the family spread, bringing shame to the Zhang family. Impeachment petitions against the Zhang family were numerous, but Zhang Wanyan had a strong personality and could not bear the humiliation, so she committed suicide to prove her innocence, thus preserving the reputation of the Zhang family.
But what good would that do? She was gone, and even if Zhang Wanyan's innocence was later proven, it wouldn't have helped.
Zhao Qingyi thought of Wang Yingxue's eyes again, and guessed that the problem in the previous life was with this person. After all, if Zhang Wanyan got into trouble, Wang Yingxue had the greatest chance of winning, so it was hard not to be suspicious.
Wang Yingxue was also thinking about Zhang Wanyan. She took a small palm-sized bronze mirror from her maid and carefully examined her makeup. In terms of appearance, she was comparable to Zhang Wanyan, and they both had similar backgrounds, but there was only one queen.
For herself and her family, she cannot lose.
But after she recovered, she still asked, "Aunt, who is the young woman next to Zhang Wanyan?"
Seeing that he has a close relationship with Zhang Wanyan and is wearing court robes, he must be of an unusual status.
Madam Wang sneered, "That's the recently crowned Princess Chenhua, what an unlucky creature!"
When the name of the county lady was mentioned, Wang Yingxue understood. It turned out to be the divorced woman who had caused a stir in the city not long ago. Thinking of that face...
Fortunately, we got divorced. As a second-time bride, there is nothing to worry about.
Seeing her niece's thoughts, Madam Wang consoled her, "She just received her title and is close to the eldest princess, so we made an exception and allowed her into the palace for the banquet. She won't stand in the way of your career."
"So, it was the eldest princess who sent her the message?" Are they so close?
Wang Yingxue was lost in thought. This person was also close friends with Zhang Wanyan. What if he took Zhang Wanyan directly to see the princess, or even met His Majesty through the princess?
When people have similar family backgrounds and looks, they always have preconceived notions.
If His Majesty had chosen Zhang Wanyan first, what would her role be? And what would the Wang family have to do with the court in the future?
Thinking of this, Wang Yingxue couldn't help but look back at the two people talking and laughing behind her, and alarm bells rang in her heart.
She had to think of a way, either to trip the other party, or to find another way to see His Majesty before everyone else.
But...what does His Majesty look like?
Wang Yingxue felt discouraged again. She didn't even know what the emperor looked like, yet she was trying to see him before the other female relatives.
Wang Yingxue was racking her brains to think of a solution. When she arrived at the Imperial Garden, several of her playmates came over and pulled her aside to chat. She perfunctorily curled the corners of her lips to deal with them.
Why are you pretending to be good sisters? Who of those attending the banquet today is not here for His Majesty?
Even if they cannot become queens, some of them will become your majesty's concubines, and in the future, they will be the ones competing with you for favor.
That's a life-and-death situation.
Wang Yingxue was even unwilling to give a perfunctory response.
The young ladies noticed her arrogance and disdain, looked at each other, and each had their own thoughts.
At this moment, the eunuch's sharp voice rang out in the imperial garden: "The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
Wang Yingxue was originally worried about how to get past the others to see His Majesty first, but when she suddenly saw the dignified and majestic Empress Dowager, her eyes suddenly lit up.
Yes, she has the Empress Dowager as her great-aunt! So why would she worry about not being able to see His Majesty?!
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