Chapter 92 Chapter 92 There is nothing more serious than kissing you...
Although Xie Tingyu did not think it was a big deal to accept other people's handkerchiefs, sachets, or spend them, she was well aware of the principle of speaking differently to different people.
"No, absolutely not."
"Really?" Ji Lian moved closer, his lips almost brushing against hers. "Then why did you accept every gentleman's handkerchief last time at Qingliang Villa?"
Xie Tingyu remained motionless, her amber eyes showing no sign of panic at being questioned. "When did this happen? Lianlian, you're even counting things from half a year ago."
"Xie Tingyu, what do you mean? Are you saying I'm jealous of my husband?"
Ji Lian stared into Xie Tingyu's eyes, then suddenly cupped her face with both hands. "Why don't you kiss me? I'm so close to your lips, why don't you kiss me? You're really patient, Xie Tingyu."
He bit her lower lip lightly, the corners of his mouth curled up in grievance. "When I was away, did you kiss other men? After kissing them, you don't want to kiss me—ah!"
With a bang, the hand warmer in his hand fell to the snow and rolled around a few times.
Xie Tingyu suddenly ripped off one of his hands and, unexpectedly, pressed him against the trunk of the plum tree. The tremor sent petals tumbling down, leaving a few red petals dotting their hair.
She gently lifted his chin with two fingers. "We're not in this room right now, but in the palace. I'm a little uncomfortable with your sudden boldness."
"Oh."
Ji Lian snorted coldly, tapping her toes lightly on the top of her boots. "I can only blame myself for being so close to Yuan Sanlang, spending every day with him. Every time Xun'er visits you, I always see you and Yuan Sanlang chatting and laughing together in the inner room."
"Other people are examining me so carefully, I can't just look so sad. Lianlian, why are you so..." Xie Tingyu raised his eyebrows, put on a mischievous smile, and said deliberately, "You are so unreasonable."
Someone was so enraged that his hair stood on end. Just as he was about to spit out "you——" through gritted teeth, his lips and tongue were suddenly entangled with hers, blocking all the words he hadn't said.
Like tasting a candied haws, she first licked the sugar coating with the tip of her tongue, then tapped the hawthorn with the tips of her teeth. Hearing his muffled groan of pain, she rolled her soft tongue in to taste deeply, until their breaths mingled.
Xie Tingyu pressed his neck with one hand and skillfully reached for the belt around his waist with the other, but he held it down in time.
Ji Lian panted and leaned back slightly. "Xie Tingyu, don't do this! I have to attend the palace banquet later, and I can't take off my coat!" He looked at her shimmering lips and swallowed. "It's snowing now, and it's so cold outside, and you're pulling my clothes. Do you want me to catch a cold? Do something serious, Xie Tingyu."
"At this moment, there is nothing more serious than kissing you."
Ji Lian was wearing a wide-sleeved white robe today, with snow rabbit fur trimmed on the lapels to keep her warm. The soft fur just covered her chin, making her lips, which were dotted with lip balm, look even more gorgeous.
Xie Tingyu's fingertips lifted the front of his shirt, revealing a small patch of skin on his neck. He tightened his grip around his waist, rubbing the skin with his sharp teeth, unyielding. Ji Lian couldn't resist, his breathing becoming heavier. He closed his eyes and leaned back, offering the most vulnerable part of his neck to Xie Tingyu completely.
His tongue lingered on her skin, and he suddenly bit harder and more maliciously. The fingers pressing on her shoulders suddenly tightened, and her body pressed against the tree trunk couldn't help but tremble, causing the plum branches to rustle and fall red petals.
In the silent plum forest, snow blanketed everything, and lush blossoms obscured the figures embracing. The sound of falling snow mingled with the man's low gasps, and suddenly, a sob tinged with tears could be heard.
"Stop biting me, Xie Tingyu, it hurts so much... Ugh..."
"Are you really a dog? Don't bite my lips. It will be embarrassing to face people later... Ugh..."
"I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. Stop biting..."
Xie Tingyu raised her head from his neck with an unsatisfied look, reached out to straighten his collar, and covered his lips again under his tearful gaze, carefully tracing the shape of his lips with the tip of her tongue, licking them before kissing him deeply.
She rubbed the red center of his lower lip with the pads of her fingers, resting their foreheads against each other, waiting for his breathing to calm down.
"Now that the serious business is done," Xie Tingyu whispered softly, "it's time to go back to the banquet."
Ji Lian opened her lips slightly, and white mist escaped from between her teeth. Within a short distance, their breath and atmosphere had already blended together.
"It's still early." He murmured softly, licking the corner of her lips with the tip of his pink and swollen tongue. "It's never too much to do this serious thing a few more times."
Winter days always darken faster than usual.
By the afternoon, the sky was already filled with purple clouds, and the setting sun filtered through the intertwined branches, casting dappled light and shadows on the two people who were kissing passionately. When the palace lanterns in the plum garden were first lit, the two people finally separated, tacitly choosing their own paths to go.
The palace banquet hall had already been decorated with lanterns and colorful lights. Guests chatted quietly, and undercurrents surged amidst the clinking of glasses. The seating arrangement for this banquet was very appropriate, with the younger generations gathered together, while the elders in higher positions had separate seats.
When Xie Tingyu sat down, he saw Yuan Wangshu and Cui Yuanying on his left and right, and Yuan Fuxue opposite him, but there was no sign of Wang Lanzhi and Wang Qiwu.
She asked the question in her mind.
"Wang Lanzhi's grandmother was General Wang Hengwu, a veteran of three dynasties, and her mother, Wang Zhuozhang, died for her country. Descendants of such merit have always sat alone at the royal table as a sign of grace and honor." Yuan Wangshu raised his sleeves to pour wine for her.
Xie Tingyu paused as he stroked the lines on the desk, his fingers pausing as he recalled that face, always tense and serious. Over a decade had passed, and he wondered if General Wang had gotten over the grief of losing his daughter.
"Is General Wang coming today?"
"No." Yuan Wangshu pushed the wine cup in front of her. "Since the end of the war, the old general has devoted himself to the mountains and rivers. Now no one knows whether she is in Jiankang. Perhaps she is traveling around the world by carriage, or perhaps she lives in seclusion in a village outside the city. None of us outsiders know these things."
"Neither of you has ever asked Wang Lanzhi?"
"What's the point of asking?" Cui Yuanying waved his hand nonchalantly. "I'm not interested in this. Besides, before you returned to Jiankang, Wang Lanzhi and I were just acquaintances. Not to mention Yuan Wangshu, who would often target Wang Lanzhi—"
Seeing Yuan Wangshu's cold glare, Cui Yuanying smiled apologetically and said, "In short, we have never asked about these matters. If you are interested, you can ask later."
Cui Yuanying patted Xie Tingyu's shoulder vigorously, "Let's not talk about this! Today is your first time attending the Winter Palace Banquet. In addition to the feasting, singing and dancing, there will be fireworks and lanterns later. You can have fun until the early morning at the latest. Tonight, you must have a good time, hahahahaha!"
“Cough cough cough cough——”
Xie Tingyu was hit so hard that his wine splashed all over the table. "Please be gentle."
Her loud laughter attracted attention from everyone around her, even people at distant seats cast their eyes over to her.
"I heard that Captain Xie was seriously injured, but fortunately he was saved by a magical medicine. Now he looks as good as usual, so Grand Tutor Xie can rest assured." Someone came forward with a cup to toast Xie Qingyan.
Xie Qingyan raised his sleeves in greeting, "It is all thanks to the magical medicine given by Captain Wang Xuanji that my daughter is where she is today."
It was unknown which word in the conversation had touched Yuan Zhaoyun. She suddenly glanced at him coldly, then quickly lowered her eyes to stare at the reflection in the wine cup, and remained silent.
The guard of honor sang loudly, "The Emperor has arrived—the noble has arrived—the Imperial Minister has arrived—"
Everyone put down their wine cups, stood up, and looked towards the throne at the same time.
"Stand up—and bow—"
Everyone bowed in greeting. The women clasped their hands together and bowed, while the men placed their hands on their foreheads and bowed.
As Xie Tingyu lowered her head, she caught sight of a brilliant yellow dragon robe passing by the corner of her eye, followed by a dark outer robe, its seams accented with white thread, its hem embroidered with cranes, their necks raised and wings spread, seemingly reaching for the sky. Before she could react, a pure white robe, whiter than snow, had arrived, accompanied by a refreshing fragrance of green lotus that lingered for a long time before slowly dissipating.
After Ji Zhao and Xie Helan took their seats, Ji Lian stepped forward and whispered a few words. After Ji Zhao agreed, she turned around without hesitation.
Xie Tingyu looked up. A dark purple glow hung heavy over the sky. Within the shadows, Ji Lian, clad in a robe whiter than snow, slowly approached her. Palace lanterns flickered around him, and several palace attendants, their heads bowed, trailed behind him. Yet, her gaze seemed drawn to him, locked firmly on him alone.
Cui Yuanying's heart skipped a beat, and the wine in his throat suddenly became unsettling. He stared with wide eyes as Ji Lian walked slowly towards Xie Tingyu. He bowed slightly, his tone calm and distant, "It's been a long time since we last met. Seeing that Master Xie looks so rosy now, I know you've recovered."
Xie Tingyu found his expression utterly amusing, his lips tightened as he spoke in a serious, polite manner. Who could have imagined that just two quarters of an hour ago, in the plum garden, he had kissed her passionately. She also suppressed her smile and returned the greeting with a pretentious gesture, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. I'm fine now."
Ji Lian nodded without saying anything more. She turned and took a seat, right next to Yuan Fuxue, across the table from Xie Tingyu. She looked up several times, their eyes meeting several times, and the heat she had felt in the Plum Garden now coursed through her bloodstream.
"Your Highness, you're in the mood again." Yuan Fuxue whispered softly, "Just a few glances and you're already so agitated?"
"Yuan Fuxue, you really care too much."
"If a man is constantly consumed by lust and unable to relieve it, it will be extremely harmful to his health," Yuan Fuxue warned calmly. "If he repeatedly masturbates, it will further damage his vitality."
"……I don't."
"I have a book on health preservation here. Would Your Highness like to borrow it?"
“No need.”
Feeling thirsty, Ji Lian picked up the wine cup, covered his sleeves and drank. When he saw Xie Tingyu turned his head to look at the throne, he followed his gaze.
A clear sound of copper bells rang out. The man wore a string of silver bells tied to his ankles, jingling with his steps. He was wearing a robe that was definitely not from the Central Plains. It was embroidered with a gray wolf totem in gold thread, clearly the clothing of the Xianbei people.
When the bright light from the palace lanterns illuminated his face, it immediately revealed his deep brow bones and high nose bridge, which was indeed a typical Xianbei appearance.
After bowing to Ji Zhao and Xie Helan, the young man shyly whispered a few words to Ji Zhao, causing her to burst into laughter. At a wave of his hand, he snaked over to her, offering her roasted venison. After she tasted a few bites, he entwined his arms around her waist, and the two of them continued their flirting.
Throughout the whole process, Xie Helan said nothing, did not even glance at anyone, and just looked indifferently at everyone who was toasting each other.
"Ah... How could there be Xianbei people infiltrating the harem?" Xie Tingyu was puzzled. "After that incident, I thought all the Xianbei people had been dealt with."
"What?"
Cui Yuanying and Yuan Wangshu both looked over, the latter whispering, "You wouldn't know if you hadn't been there before. This Xianbei man was originally a palace slave who should have been executed. Somehow, he caught the eye of His Majesty during the hunt and entered the imperial tent that night. It seems he's in great favor."
"Really?" Xie Tingyu became increasingly confused. "I've never seen a Xianbei palace maid in Penglai Palace before. How come there's suddenly one?"
"How should I know? You and your lord are siblings. I'll ask you later if I have time."
Cui Yuanying, drunk, thought she was venting her anger on Xie Helan's behalf, and slammed the table, causing the wine to splash. "To allow such a vixen to climb over the master and into the dragon bed is truly despicable!"
As they were talking, the Xianbei young man was raising his cup and feeding Ji Zhao wine. Their faces were hidden in the light as they kept flirting.
Xie Tingyu turned his head back expressionlessly, just in time to meet Ji Lian's eyes.
She opened her lips.
Ji Lian understood the silent question, "Lian Lian, why would the emperor fall for a man like this?"
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The author has something to say: Xiao Xie’s love words +1: There is nothing more serious than kissing you.
Today's update was pretty quick! Because my workload was much reduced during the summer, I had a break today, so I wrote a little faster. I'll update tomorrow too! (After posting this chapter, I'll take a break and write the next chapter right away)
I’ll try to write 4,000 words tomorrow and post it out!
I think I probably won't be able to finish 400,000 words (most likely more than 400,000), but that's okay, I'll just treat it as practice. Once I finish this book, I'll review it carefully and make sure the next one is better than the last one. I was too anxious about the data before, which made me emo for a long time. I've adjusted myself in the past few days. [吃瓜][吃瓜]
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