Chapter 34 is about a woman's feelings for a man.
Which one is missing?
This rhetorical question is sharp, and its coercive intent is undisguised.
Yan Dibai was suspicious and cunning; his disbelief was to be expected. Qingqing roughly guessed what he was referring to. But that wasn't a connection she should be making.
Qingqing didn't want to waste time on this: "Friend."
Yan Dibai's face suddenly turned sinister.
The girl was very serious:
"Your Majesty has concubines, relatives, servants, ministers, and subjects. But it seems you have no close friends. If Your Majesty agrees, I hope to become one of Your Majesty's close confidants."
She hesitated slightly, then raised her face. Her eyes reflected the vast palace.
The space that had just belonged exclusively to Yan Dibai vanished in an instant.
"..."
Yan Di stared at her intently, then after a long while, he mumbled incoherently, laughing so hard his shoulders shook, as if he had seen something extremely funny.
The boy strode forward, pouncing like a hungry tiger in a zoo, tearing his outer garment and clawing at his violently beating heart.
She struggled to suppress a gasp, his hot breath washing over her. His cool, bony hand forcefully slipped inside her clothes, grasping her there without regard for gender. The moment his palm touched her, a tingling sensation shot through her spine.
A feeling I've never had before.
He paused, then suddenly felt a heat rising in a certain area. He held his breath for a moment, then Yan Dibai straddled her waist, looking down at her with a casual and arrogant tone:
"A man's heart is different from a woman's heart."
Men are often driven by ambition, rarely putting love and loyalty in the same basket. Women, on the other hand, seek true sincerity; whoever gives their heart is their loyal ally.
Yang Liuqing is a woman. If a woman is loyal to a man with whom she has no blood relation, she will inevitably give some part of her heart to that man.
A woman who neither seeks nor gives true love can easily find a new master. Since she is heartless, what loyalty can she claim? It's nothing but a lie.
Yan Dibai believed that no one understood these principles better than him.
Because he was a heartless person.
Qingqing's body trembled. The sensation of having her body held by someone else was terrifying, forcing her to bite her lip.
The pearly teeth crushed into red flowers create a striking contrast of colors.
Fluctuating emotions are like new shoots after the rain; they grow wildly after absorbing some moisture.
Yan Dibai felt a surge of desire to ravage her to death.
He gripped that spot tightly, his entire weight pressing down on Qingqing, baring his fangs, and sticking out his wet, bright red tongue: "I'll give you one more chance."
I'm giving you a chance to leave a mark on his heart.
If you still want to get away with it and pass off the real thing as the real one...
He is the most untrustworthy person.
Those who have seen his scars and read the stories he wrote down can only be the dead.
...Thinking to himself, he thought casually that if she continued to be so self-righteous, then his game with Yang Liuqing should come to an end.
Like a cicada clinging to a tree, her heart itched unbearably. Yan Dibai's strong waist seemed to be swaying against her, making Qingqing's whole body stiffen.
A dangerous heat emanated from their skin as they touched. Before Qingqing could even humiliate his actions, her mind was thrown into turmoil by those words.
The hall was brightly lit.
She didn't need to say much; she only needed to read his deep, dark eyes.
The background color was black, and under this light, Yan Dibai's eyes showed no lightness at all.
This time, there seems to be no room for maneuver.
The left side of his heart was still being pressed down, and with the rise and fall of his chest, that hand was manipulating and stroking it. He silently tormented himself.
Without a doubt, if hands were sharp blades, she would be like Bi Gan, her beating heart ripped out.
She quietly bent her legs, still trying to struggle, but the next second, the boy's body wrapped around her, and his red tongue began to lick the artery on her neck.
Qingqing opened her mouth in horror, and when she sensed that her waist belt was about to be untied, she closed her eyes tightly, ready to die.
"I understand."
The humid heat didn't stop immediately; she suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed Yan Dibai's hands:
"His Majesty."
Yan Dibai buried his face in her neck, his alluring gaze breathtakingly seductive. Lowering his eyes, he smiled.
"Understand?" Her hand lingered, almost touching her chest. Qingqing took a deep breath and said solemnly:
"My heart belongs to Your Majesty."
He wanted all of her, not just her maids, not just her so-called subjects.
It is the heart of a woman towards a man, the heart of the concubines who admired him and whom Yan Dibai discarded like worn-out shoes.
I won his trust with my sincerity.
She stopped struggling and decided to leave it with him for now. She could take it back later if needed… then she would.
Yan Dibai turned his head, gazing into her dim eyes, and suddenly felt a urge to touch them. His heart moved as he did. He reached out and gently brushed aside her trembling eyelashes.
She hurriedly looked away.
Yan Dibai smiled slightly, suppressing the heat that seemed to come from nowhere.
"You said it yourself."
Qingqing lowered her eyes and said, "Yes."
He rose with a delighted smile: "From this day forward, you belong to me, inside and out."
She fell silent, realizing that this trip had ultimately cost her everything.
Watching him cheerfully pick up the sanxian and sing loudly, Qingqing remained lost in thought for a long time.
...
Chaos reigned outside the palace.
Fu'an emerged from behind Zaiyue Palace and saw Yan Xifang indeed being helped out. He let out a barely audible chuckle.
The young eunuch Bi Shu, who had entered the palace with him, arrived unnoticed. "Young Master Feng'an, I don't think that maid is particularly outstanding. Why did you use the princess to help her? Although the young emperor seems to respect and love this older sister, he is, after all, a cold-blooded monster."
Feng An readily answered his subordinates' questions. He turned around, his demeanor gentle and serene.
"I'd like to see just how much this princess means to him."
"...Yes. Li Mingshao and Xiao Yuanjing are both outstanding individuals, but you did promise Li Er that you would be his honored guest. This year, trouble has arisen in Jizhou, and we finally managed to get Xiao Yuanjing here. The plan is on track. It would be best if you didn't get involved in these matters."
Feng An didn't take it to heart: "The world is bustling with activity, all for profit. I'm just seeking the greatest benefit. Although Yang Liuqing doesn't seem particularly special, if the young emperor likes her, she will be the most special one."
"You talk too much, Bishu, I don't like it."
Feng An has always been reluctant to mention the past.
From clutching the jade pendant to go to Longxi to find Yan Xifang and claim kinship, to being ordered by her and Li Mingshao to go to Jizhou to add fuel to the fire of the sorcerer's uprising, and then successfully joining Xiao Yuanjing's ranks as his pawn, disguising himself as a eunuch to enter the palace.
It hasn't been a glorious journey.
Oh, and there's that annoying Xue Ying'er.
Thinking of that chattering village girl, Feng An's smile turned slightly cold: "Li Er should have sent her away, shouldn't he?"
Feng An had foreseen Xue Ying'er's relentless pursuit of him to the capital. However, he had not yet fully gained Xiao Yuanjing's trust at that time, and being a double-dealer was difficult; he had to be cautious and prudent.
However, revealing the existence of such a woman would actually put Xiao Yuanjing and Chen Mian at ease, making him appear as someone who had achieved great things, yet who had not forgotten loyalty and affection.
However, before asking them to find Xue Ying'er, Feng An had already calculated the date and sent Bi Shu to ask Li Mingshao for help.
Li Er is quite shrewd; he should be able to handle things perfectly.
Whether he is dead or alive, just don't appear before him.
Bishu didn't understand why her master disliked that girl so much. She nodded.
"Miss Xue was kidnapped and said to have been thrown into a nunnery at the foot of the capital. It's a quiet place there, and she doesn't have to worry about food."
Feng An brushed the snow off his shoulders. "That's fine too."
During the six months Xue Ying'er cared for him, her most frequent thought was finding a secluded paradise where they wouldn't have to worry about food or drink to settle down. She envisioned raising a flock of chickens and ducks, two cats and dogs, having a son and a daughter, and cultivating two acres of land—one acre for vegetables, one acre for rice. If that wasn't enough, they would gather fruit and wild vegetables, and use his homemade traps to hunt wild boars and rabbits. She said, "Good things come in pairs."
He lived a simple and ordinary life like that.
As he leaned against the headboard, gazing through the broken window at the barren land in the distance, the girl sat beside him, busily washing clothes. She kept muttering to herself, as if she had been lonely for so long that she was afraid of forgetting if she didn't speak.
Even if he was tired of hearing it, she couldn't resist.
Feng An suppressed his smile.
Bi Shu suddenly said, "Young Master, is it Prime Minister Lin who has entered the palace?"
The boy snapped out of his reverie, glanced around, and smiled, "Looks like it's going to be another good show."
*
Yan Xifang was secretly overjoyed. She had mentioned the two women from the inner palace to Feng An when her brother visited her. She hadn't expected Yang Liuqing to be willing to go alone to see Yan Dibai for the sake of these two women.
If what Feng An said is true, and Yang Liuqing survives, she might indeed be a useful pawn.
During the time when Wen Puti was reciting scriptures for her, he also said that she was very easy to bribe.
A disabled father and a sick mother—a background with no other choice. For the player making the move, this is an excellent opportunity.
Since the matter arose from her casual remark, it didn't seem abrupt for her to resolve it.
Everyone knew that His Majesty's sister was ill, so the Imperial Guards dared not stop her, and Yan Xifang traveled smoothly without any obstacles.
However, when they arrived at the door, they were stopped by Wuxue.
Yan Xifang frowned: "I've come to see my brother, why won't you let me in?"
Wo Xue rubbed her hands together and smiled apologetically: "Princess, His Majesty is interrogating this criminal. It's not convenient at this time."
Yan Xifang said with feigned seriousness, "I just had a dream. My brother was flying like a dragon in the sky, but he accidentally got blood on his claws and fell from the clouds in an instant. I was very worried, afraid that he had inadvertently glimpsed the will of heaven. That Imperial Attendant Yang is a kind and righteous girl. Why did my brother have to get his hands stained with blood? I'm afraid it's a very bad omen. Woxue, please open the door and let me go in and persuade him."
This precognitive dream came at just the right time. Wo Xue found it strange, but still said politely:
“Princess, this is really inappropriate.” If it’s bloody inside, he can’t bear the responsibility if it frightens her.
Yan Xifang's face showed anxiety, and she was about to argue with him when suddenly a heavy crash came from inside. Startled, Yan Xifang quickly stepped past Wo Xue and earnestly pleaded with the main entrance:
"Brother, our ancestors left behind a legacy, admonishing future generations to always reflect on their own faults. Your elder sister is not blaming you, but I had a dream today and do not wish for you to be stained with blood. Brother, could you open the door first? Brother?"
She called out several times, but there was no response from inside. Wo Xue craned her neck, and couldn't help but worry about Yang Liuqing's safety.
The moment I thought about it, I immediately spat twice in my mind.
What does it matter to him whether he lives or dies? It would be best if he went to the Western Paradise.
He began copying, feeling perfectly justified in listening to Yan Xifang's hoarse admonitions. A moment later, another clattering sound erupted from inside. Fearing Yan Xifang might be affected, Wo Xue quickly asked her to move away. Then, a loud voice rang out:
"The princess has gone to such great lengths, yet His Majesty remains stubbornly deluded? This old minister shall be the sinner!"
Everyone was startled. The person who came was none other than Prime Minister Lin, who had been staying at home in a huff and refusing to attend court. He drew the sword of the Imperial Guard and raised it high, ready to smash the door.
"Bang—" Wo Xue hurriedly shouted to stop, but couldn't stop the old man from using his full strength, smashing half a groove into the door bolt. The noise startled Yan Dibai, who was sitting on the fallen incense burner inside, playing music. Only then did he reluctantly release Yang Liuqing, whom he had forcibly held in his lap.
"What the hell?"
A few more flashes of light appeared through the crack in the door, and the bolt broke in two and fell to the ground.
Yang Liuqing quickly jumped down, feeling she couldn't bear Yan Dibai's doting affection; if others saw this, it would be impossible to explain herself.
Just as he finished tidying his clothes, Prime Minister Lin kicked the door open and entered, sword in hand. Behind him, Yan Xifang and Wo Xue stepped over the threshold one after the other, but upon seeing what was happening inside, they all took a step back.
The young emperor, with disheveled hair, sat on the belly of the stove, holding a sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument) in his hands, with countless musical scores scattered at his feet.
The girl, whom everyone thought was going to be tortured to death, stood unharmed to the side, her face without a single scratch, looking at them in astonishment.
Prime Minister Lin:...
Wo Xue: ...
Yan Xifang: "...What is this?"
The scene did not match Yan Xifang's expectations.
Under the current cruel and ruthless young emperor, Yang Liuqing showed no signs of being tormented at all.
…What Wenputi said is not true at all.
It should be known that those concubines and eunuchs once suffered numerous cruel tortures. Tortures such as branding, slow slicing, and being cut in half at the waist are insufficient to describe the extent of the abuse.
She looked at the thin girl again, and her hand holding the handkerchief tightened inexplicably.
"What could possibly warrant my sister coming to see me personally?" Yan Dibai was in the middle of something exciting when she was abruptly interrupted, and she jumped down in displeasure. Seeing Lin Xiang's disapproving look, she grimaced.
Yan Xifang swallowed her words of advice. It wasn't the right time to be the first to speak.
Lin Xiangyu couldn't bear to watch and angrily took the lead:
"Your Majesty, the south has been plagued by snow disasters for many days. This old minister has been submitting memorials for nearly a month. When will you send an imperial censor to inspect the situation?! If this is delayed any longer, nearly ten thousand more people will die, and then the taxes will not be collected in full. Who will support your extravagance?"
"Let whoever wants to manage it do so," Yan Dibai said, too lazy to care. Everyone dies eventually, sooner or later.
He waved his hand casually: "Go back and enjoy your old age. I will not punish you for breaking into the palace today, so you should worry less."
Lin Xiang was furious. He pointed at Yan Xifang and said, "Even a woman like the princess is reasonable and knows to advise His Majesty to be kind to the people. How can His Majesty be so muddle-headed and indifferent? If this snow disaster is delayed any longer, the world will truly rebel!"
Yan Dibai picked at his ear and said, "Oh."
"...!" Lin Xiang's eyes widened in horror, and he began to breathe heavily. Wo Xue knew something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Don't worry, sir—"
"How could I not be anxious!"
"Prime Minister Lin," Yan Xifang, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped in to smooth things over, "I have some fields and shops that I can donate for disaster relief. If someone is needed to keep an eye on things, I think... Erlang can also lend a hand. His Majesty is young and doesn't understand things, so please don't hold it against him."
Lin Xiang's heavy breathing immediately subsided, and a hint of disbelief appeared in his eyes as he looked at Yan Xifang:
"really?"
Yan Dibai was about to veto the idea for his sister when Yan Xifang gave him a rare, light glare and nodded to Prime Minister Lin.
"Without the people, there is no nation; without the nation, there is no me. Since I enjoy the support of the people, there is no reason for me to shrink back in times of crisis. Prime Minister Lin, please calm down first, and I will discuss this carefully with His Majesty."
Lin Xiangyi remained silent.
The beautiful woman spoke gently and respectfully as she asked the old man to leave.
Wo Xue looked left and right, then gave Qing Qing a look before following closely behind Prime Minister Lin to protect him.
All that remained of Xianning Palace were a broken door bolt and two people.
Yan Dibai's disdain vanished abruptly. He kicked aside the sheet music on the ground, turned into the inner hall, and grabbed his sword to vent his anger by chopping things.
Just as he touched the hilt of the sword, a pair of women's hands reached out and gently enveloped the back of his hand.
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
Yan Di's white eyebrows twitched, only then remembering Yang Liuqing was there. He instinctively wanted to shake off her hands, "Don't be angry." But she boldly patted them, as if to comfort him softly.
Upon hearing this, his anger surged back:
"What, Yang Liuqing, you're starting to act so self-righteous again, even trying to advise me—"
She chuckled, "Your Majesty, I just think this is just a casual remark from you. Why go against Lin and deliberately provoke him? It's always like this. Aren't you tired? Even I, an outsider, am tired of watching it."
The repeated arguments all ended in the same way. If she was fooled at the beginning, she would definitely not be fooled by Yan Dibai's bluffing now.
Yan Dibai's body stiffened abruptly. "Who deliberately angered him? Stop talking nonsense." He feigned insincerity, reverting to the stubborn and awkward demeanor of a fourteen-year-old.
But he didn't push her hand away again.
Qingqing sighed, "His Majesty respects Prime Minister Lin's advanced age and never criticizes him harshly. Even if His Majesty refuses to admit it, everyone can see it. His Majesty clearly has a tolerant heart and is magnanimous and heroic."
Her words froze.
The boy remained expressionless, waiting for her to continue offering her well-intentioned advice, saying something high-sounding and righteous.
However, Qingqing changed the subject: "Your Majesty is so magnanimous and heroic, could you also pardon these palace maids and let them go home like Prime Minister Lin?"
Yan Dibai was momentarily speechless.
Suddenly, he turned to look at Yang Liuqing, whose face was full of sincerity.
She blinked slightly, and suddenly her eyes sparkled with a lively and spirited look.
Yan Dibai's eyes widened in sudden horror, her expression strange and intense. Her brows furrowed, then furrowed again, finally forming a twisted, knotted mess.
The two looked at each other.
After a long while, Yan Dibai clicked his tongue, habitually trying to scoff, but somehow couldn't manage it. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a muffled voice:
"Yang Liuqing, you're quite clever."
His tone wasn't bad, and unusually, it even lacked any hint of sarcasm. Qingqing's mind raced, and she inexplicably chuckled to herself, striking while the iron was hot:
"Your Majesty is so insightful, you've seen right through me. Could Your Majesty be a little kinder to the palace servants in the future? The princess also hopes Your Majesty will do good deeds and doesn't want Your Majesty to get involved in unnecessary filth. In this freezing weather, would Your Majesty bear to let the princess, after seeing off Prime Minister Lin, still drag her ailing body to have such a long talk with you?"
"The Lunar New Year is approaching, how wonderful it would be if everyone could be happy and safe."
The cold wind howled outside, but her cheeks were flushed from the heat and covered with a fine layer of sweat. She looked much healthier than before.
In the distance, Yan Xifang indeed slowly approached.
Yan Dibai immediately thought of those fly-like words and felt extremely annoyed. Looking at Qingqing, he mentally prepared his refusal, but then his mouth inexplicably broke into a tirade:
"Hmph..." For my sister's sake.
It's not impossible.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Ding ding! The sisters can finally leave the deep palace! Feng An is a villain, and Miss Xue will soon be entering the palace to join Qingqing in dealing with this pervert. (xue克迅行辉 2023-09-23 21:17:10~2023-09-24 19:43:27 Little angels who voted for me or watered my plants during this period, please!)
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: I am a book (26 bottles); copper (4 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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