Chapter 108 Mutual Accusation
Thick layers of soot accumulated in the golden beast-shaped incense burner. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a fleeting glow on the brocade carpet.
Qingqing had a very difficult wedding night.
The difficulty lies not only in the leapfrog breakthrough from nothing to something, but also in Yan Dibai's five years of accumulation before his breakthrough, and his overly persistent pioneering spirit.
She awoke with a deathly pressure. The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with a firm, warm embrace—Yan Dibai was pressing most of his body against hers. His long, ink-black hair covered half the bed, with a few strands even coiled around his wrists.
He slept soundly, his long, curled eyelashes casting faint shadows under his eyes, trembling slightly with his breath.
It's too heavy. Qingqing felt as if all the air in her chest had been squeezed out. She weakly raised her leaden hand and poked his swollen arm.
Tight and firm, yet incredibly elastic. Feels fantastic to the touch.
Her heart swelled. Yan Dibai must have gone to war quite a few times over the years.
Are people who beat others really that bad now?
However, her little tricks not only failed to appease Yan Dibai, but also had a stimulating effect. His arms suddenly tightened, like iron hoops, digging her deeper into the ground, the force so great that her vision went black.
"Ugh... um..." Qingqing's cheeks flushed rapidly from lack of oxygen, and tears welled up quickly. The moment the tears fell, the person on top of her trembled violently and abruptly opened their eyes. Their phoenix eyes were still somewhat dazed, but they immediately turned sharp after seeing her condition.
"..." The person was still clearly beneath him.
Yan Dibai quickly withdrew one arm and propped himself up.
The sudden influx of air made Qingqing cough softly; her throat was dry and burning, and she couldn't make a clear sound for a moment.
The sensation of their skin touching, after their brief friction, was incredibly clear in the morning light; they were completely naked before each other. She recalled those chaotic, burning fragments—in her delirium, it seemed as if everything was spilling out like beans.
Embarrassment belatedly washed over her, and Qingqing awkwardly turned her head away, not daring to look at Yan Dibai. She desperately hoped that he would back down on his own.
The body beneath him was warm and soft, just as it had been the night before, as if it had been born to fit him perfectly. A faint blush swept across Yan Dibai's cheeks, but his expression quickly returned to normal, and he said naturally:
"Want some water?" The voice was still hoarse from the passion.
Qingqing's gaze had nowhere to rest, but it finally landed on the brocade quilt beneath her, the original ornate patterns of which were almost unrecognizable. Her face flushed, and she let out a soft "hmm".
This mattress... it was already covering her body, but Yan Dibai tore it to shreds. She had nothing to stop herself from struggling a few more times, but the mattress was reduced to shreds, and she couldn't escape it either.
This is so embarrassing!
Her long, jet-black hair brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Qingqing shifted uncomfortably, then her body suddenly froze—
...
Qingqing drank two cups of tea, feeling exhausted, and let out a small burp.
Yan Dibai picked up a piece of soft cheese and held it to Qingqing's lips, but Qingqing licked it and shook her head. She had no appetite.
The young man picked up what she had left, finished it in two bites, and then whispered in her ear, "Want some honey syrup?"
Qingqing frowned: "Put me down first."
The chest behind her remained silent for a moment, then, as if it hadn't heard a thing, lifted her up. Her body swayed, and Qingqing jumped in fright, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck.
What are you doing!
The charcoal fire inside the hall was warm. She was finally placed on a soft cushion, her posture still somewhat awkward, but at least she was free. She wrapped the outer robe she had grabbed tightly around her body, watching Yan Dibai move around the hall with curiosity—this pampered emperor was actually doing chores himself!
Time is a wonderful thing.
She sighed, glancing around absentmindedly.
The side hall wasn't large, but... Qingqing's gaze was instantly drawn to the dazzling array of hairpins, jewels, and fine clothes displayed throughout the room. She had been so focused on talking to Yan Dibai that she hadn't noticed the treasures because they were all casually placed around. She hadn't expected there to be so many!
Yan Dibai seemed to have eyes. "They're all yours. There are also a few gold coins that were played later... If you don't mind, use them often."
The number of games played in those five years was far more than just a few.
"These past years..." Qingqing chuckled lightly, "How could I possibly have managed to keep up?"
She noticed the golden shelf behind Yan Dibai, carefully stacked with the things he had brought. These were old items that seemed out of place in the magnificent palace: a blackened rag, a broom with sparse bristles, and even a pair of old trousers with holes in them... He had moved every single trace of her life to this deep, forbidden palace.
That palace, a replica of her old residence in Liangzhou, was where she was married. And this place, displaying traces of her past, is it home?
Qingqing was stunned.
Qingqing held the honey water to her lips, took two sips, but still didn't want to drink it. Yan Dibai followed her gaze, paused briefly, and snorted.
"I have nowhere to put all this junk of yours, so I'll just have to make do with keeping it myself."
Qingqing remained silent, feeling both warm and bittersweet inside. She mimicked his humming, "That must have been incredibly unfair to His Majesty."
Yan Dibai's face showed embarrassment and annoyance. Just as he was about to make a fuss, a pair of slender white arms suddenly hooked his neck and pulled him forward.
A light, wet touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and the sweet scent of honey lingered on her lips. His eyes darkened suddenly, and he was about to bite those lips when the mischievous girl pouted and shrank back.
A pair of soft, small hands touched her cheeks, kneading them carefully, just like he had done to her the night before.
Yan Dibai's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
Qingqing had no time to notice his thoughts; her eyes were fixed on his face. She studied him carefully for a moment and sighed sincerely:
"You're getting prettier and prettier as you grow up."
The young man raised his eyebrows slightly.
Qingqing's eyebrows curved into crescents as she lightly tapped his chin with her fingertips, sighing repeatedly.
She wanted to tell me this as soon as we reunited yesterday!
This person has different admirable qualities at different times. Qingqing couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she just felt that he was truly remarkable. He had shed the delicate fragility of his youth and acquired the dignified and majestic presence of an emperor. The sharpness between his brows and the faint white old scars intertwined, exuding a captivating charm.
Paper dolls are crushing three-dimensional beings?!
It's practically impossible to find a meal replacement!
Qingqing grew increasingly pleased with the sight, unaware that the young man's face, which had been momentarily smug, suddenly darkened. He abruptly said:
Am I beautiful?
"Is that even a question?" Qingqing nodded vigorously. "Absolutely stunning! I was blown away by her beauty the first time I saw her, and now she's even more..."
"You have corrupted all living beings, causing the sun and moon to lose their light!"
"Oh..." Yan Dibai drawled out, his meaning ambiguous, "Having seen my beauty, how could you still find other ugly women attractive?"
Qingqing's smile froze.
Yan Dibai pulled at her red lips, revealing her sharp white teeth that gleamed with an unfriendly light.
"You actually managed to deal with an ugly widower with a child in tow? Yang Liuqing, if I had been any later, would you have taken pity on me and become my stepmother?"
This blunt question left Qingqing completely stunned. "You..."
"I know you better than you know me."
"Who else?" Yan Dibai narrowed his dangerously sharp phoenix eyes and leaned closer, his tone already carrying an unmistakable chill.
This man was lying to her! He must know why she came back!
Qingqing tried to turn her head away, but he had already prepared for it and grabbed the back of her head.
Well, when people are under duress, they have no choice but to bow their heads.
With a stiff face, she said in a hard voice, "There are so many people who like me! I can't possibly count them all."
"..."
"Pfft." A suppressed chuckle escaped her lips. Qingqing's face instantly turned bright red. "What are you laughing at!"
Yan Dibai held the person in his arms, his chest trembling uncontrollably. Qingqing, utterly humiliated by the laughter, snapped angrily, "You knew all along, yet you still deliberately embarrassed me!"
Her chest heaved more and more joyfully, and Qingqing completely lost her temper. Her gaze drifted to the old things—the ripped pants, which seemed to be hers in terms of size? But why was there a hole in them?
Just as she was about to move closer to take a closer look, the arms that were wrapped around her suddenly tightened.
"Yang Liuqing, you can answer that question from back then now."
Yan Dibai's gaze was piercing. He pried open her clenched fist and forcefully intertwined his fingers with hers, making them closely connected.
"Back then, you asked me that question, and I didn't answer. But you know, and I know too—"
"I truly love you." The words, which had been unspoken for so long, were suddenly uttered, and it wasn't as difficult as I had imagined. On the contrary, I felt a sense of relief.
His well-defined fingertips climbed upwards, grinding against her taut forearm, gently caressing it, while the young man's voice was distinctly low.
His fingertips lingered on the soft flesh of her arm, gently pinching it.
"And you."
As the last note fell to the ground, a night of inner turmoil ensued. After five years of unforgettable longing, Yan Dibai could no longer deceive himself and finally uttered the unspoken question that had tormented his heart day after day.
He needed her to have a truly genuine and unwavering heart.
"Now, what are your true feelings towards me?"
Qingqing gritted her teeth, staring into his unfathomable pupils, where too many emotions were surging.
She understood what Yan Dibai meant.
She suddenly parted her lips. Yan Dibai frowned slightly, but saw that the corners of her lips were turned down and her eyes were filled with tears, as if she was both crying and laughing.
She pulled her arms away from him and hugged him tightly, breathing heavily, "I like you too, of course I like you, Yan Dibai."
In the past, I lacked confidence, and even if I was tempted, I only dared to cautiously walk towards the predetermined destination.
If she had known earlier that this fate that transcended time and space could lead to a happy ending, she would never have deceived herself and been so hypocritical.
The girl took the initiative, rambling on and on, almost revealing her whole heart to him. "At first, you always touched me inappropriately, were incredibly narcissistic, and kept finding ways to bully me... I didn't hate you, but I felt the task was difficult and I had no choice but to follow you closely."
“But later,” her voice softened, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles on his heart, “I saw with my own eyes your strategic brilliance and wisdom… I told myself, look, he is a born emperor.”
“I come from humble origins, and I am not of this world. I also have a mission to complete. Even if... even if I feel affection for you, I dare not openly admit it.”
Yan Di's mind was buzzing. She was deeply moved by her repeated expressions of "like," yet also speechless at the mention of the task in her words.
I treated him with all my heart, all because of that stupid mission?!
His mind raced with conflicting emotions. He ground his teeth, trying to come up with a different answer: "Didn't you feel anything when you first saw me?"
Yang Liuqing was absolutely stunned when she first saw him, and Yan Dibai remembers it all!
Qingqing was so engrossed in this touching moment of opening their hearts to each other that she didn't notice the underlying annoyance in his tone.
She traced his collarbone with her fingertips, and said with dissatisfaction, "That's not true! Although it didn't take long after... didn't you try to kill me when we first met?"
It makes me angry just thinking about it!
"You mistreat the palace servants so badly that I almost died just trying to get a bite of meat!"
Bringing up old grievances, Qingqing couldn't help but glare at them coldly, "Why do you only bully me out of so many people! If I weren't thick-skinned, I would have jumped into the river long ago!"
The actual situation was not so bad, but at this moment, Qingqing, in her depravity, naturally wanted to experience what it felt like to be spoiled and arrogant, and to act domineeringly over him.
Yan Di's thin white lips were closed into a slit.
Seeing that he didn't reply, she became even more agitated. "He's always scolding me, laughing at me, and messing with me. How can there be such a bad person in the world? If it weren't for the mission, I wouldn't want to stay."
“…”
Just as Qingqing was about to recount all the old grievances, she saw Yan Dibai's taut, handsome face suddenly twist for a moment. He buried his face in her neck, his breath muffled, and tightened his arms around her with a force that seemed to crush her, preventing her from continuing.
Qingqing lowered her eyes and could only see the top of his dark hair.
She pursed her lips, belatedly realizing that since waking up, Yan Dibai had been holding her like this, almost never letting go.
It was as if she could really disappear into thin air.
She sighed silently, patted his smooth, firm shoulder, and softened her tone: "Alright. It's getting late, and there are still many people waiting for you outside. We... should go out."
Yan Dibai seemed not to hear, and instead childishly buried her face even deeper.
She couldn't help but feel helpless. After all the twists and turns, she was still destined to be that worrisome and troublesome old woman.
Just as she was silently complaining and preparing to coax him again, she felt a warm, damp sensation slide across her neck.
That was where he buried himself.
She froze, then hesitantly called out, "Yan Dibai..."
The young man buried his entire face in her skin, and as she softly called out, another drop of scalding liquid seeped in.
Qingqing was immediately flustered and said in a panic, "I was just teasing you with what I said earlier. I'm not angry anymore!"
As she spoke, she was so anxious that her hair was practically steaming.
Yan Dibai seemed to have lost his hearing at this moment. Just as Qingqing was about to push him away to see what was going on, he raised his face first.
The young man's eyes were bloodshot, with a slight moisture around them. The tip of his nose, tinged with a rosy hue, made him appear even more beautiful than a flower. With his eyes lowered and lips pursed, he looked like a great beauty who had suffered a wrong.
Qingqing stared, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The arrogance that had just risen vanished in the face of this scene.
She'd hugged him, coaxed him until his face turned red, but Yan Dibai remained silent. She hastily cupped his face, her heart melting completely, "Don't take it to heart, I don't know what to do with you like this..."
"..." Yan Di's white phoenix eyes were fixed on her, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, "That wasn't the first time I saw you."
"ha?"
He said in a very low voice, “The first time I saw you, you were sitting on the stone steps of the palace garden, admiring the moon.”
It was frosty and dewy then, and she wore only a thin, faded palace dress, rubbing her hands and breathing on them to warm them as she faced the cold, lonely moon in the sky. Although she was shivering from the cold, she still sat upright, her face tired, but without the numbness often seen in palace servants.
Out of place with its surroundings, quiet and stubborn.
He climbed over the wall and returned home in the middle of the night, and immediately saw the little palace maid sitting alone under the moon.
It was thin and small, like a neglected weed, but its spine seemed to never bend.
He wondered when such a strange bone had arrived in the palace.
Later, it was discovered that this person was not only tough, but also foolish, naive, and always used a kind of tenacity that he could not understand to deal with all difficulties.
There shouldn't be such a person in the palace.
At first, he only wanted to tear off her mask of respect and crush her unyielding spirit. He was unwilling to accept her calm demeanor and didn't want her to see through his bluff.
He was born into a quagmire of intrigue and conspiracies, his heart was as hard as iron, and he never felt guilty about bullying anyone.
But to his utter surprise, he later fell in love with her.
The boy, with his twisted nature, didn't know how to handle those unfamiliar feelings. So he escalated his provocations and bullies, forcing her to give him her heart first.
Qingqing looked bewildered. "You saw me back then."
Yan Dibai played with her fingers, a barely perceptible warmth in his eyes. "Fate." It was from that moment that everything began to change course in the darkness.
Qingqing, however, was not moved by these tender memories; instead, her expression turned strange.
"But that day, I shouldn't have been the way you think."
Yan Dibai glanced sideways at him: "Hmm?"
She said, with a hint of embarrassment, "It's just that I didn't admire the moon that day."
"..."
The girl wrinkled her nose. "Sister Deng ate too much fermented soybeans that day, and the room didn't smell very good."
She couldn't stand it anymore, so she got up to get some fresh air. The thought of how difficult the start had been made her look up at the sky with a melancholy expression.
Yan Dibai: "…………"
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