Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Something big happened.
After the winter palace banquet, it was Laba Festival, and then New Year's Eve.
According to traditional custom, on New Year's Eve, Xie Yuan would distribute lucky copper coins to servants, maids, patrolmen, and other servants in the mansion. This was done to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, bringing good luck and good fortune; it was also a way to reward their hard work and win their hearts. The servants, naturally grateful for the kindness of their master, were more willing to work diligently in the future.
The entire Xie Garden was already immersed in a rich festive joy.
Furthermore, after the onset of winter this year, Ji Zhao announced a sabbatical from court and relocated his harem to the imperial estate outside the city to spend the winter. As a token of the emperor's great grace, he also granted permission for several high-ranking ministers from the Fengge to accompany him.
Xie Qingyan had originally intended to decline the invitation, but upon hearing that the imperial estate contained a hot spring, fed by melted mountain snow, boasting crystal-clear waters enriched with precious imperial herbs like ginseng, angelica, and ganoderma lucidum, known to relax muscles, invigorate blood circulation, and replenish vital energy, he knew it was the perfect place for Xie Tingyu to recuperate. Without hesitation, he and his family headed there.
It just so happened that Xie Helan also accompanied the emperor on this trip, so it could be considered a true family reunion.
But Xie Tingyu was preoccupied with the Northern Army's training. Despite repeated attempts by her Lord Xie to dissuade her, she persisted, heading there every day as if she were living in the military camp outside the city, rushing there before dawn. Today, being New Year's Eve, she had just hurriedly boarded a carriage to the imperial farm.
By the time the carriage arrived, it was already the evening of You. According to New Year's Eve custom, families stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year, so tonight's banquet had been postponed until the evening of Xu.
Led by the palace servants, Xie Tingyu walked straight towards the hot spring pool that was rumored to be used for healing.
This pond is hidden deep in the plum forest of Huangzhuang.
Perhaps it was a royal regulation, the pond was surprisingly large. At first glance, there was a barrier made of green bamboo standing in the pond. In the mist, the bamboo shadows were half-hidden and half-reflected, like a natural curtain, cleverly separating the pool water.
It seemed someone had already made all the arrangements. Lanterns hung high among the plum trees, casting a soft glow that enveloped the surroundings, as if shrouding everything in a warm, yellow mist. Bluestone slabs formed a platform by the pool, and the air was filled with a unique herbal fragrance that was so tranquil.
Her robe drooped to the ground, Xie Tingyu slowly descended the bluestone steps barefoot. As the water gradually rose to her ankles, she lowered her head to gaze at her reflection, then suddenly leaped like a fish, diving into the pool. Instantly, water splashed everywhere, spilling onto the bluestone slabs.
Xie Tingyu was a master at holding her breath while swimming, able to see with her eyes open even while submerged. Her hair drifted before her eyes like algae, her eyes clear as she swam aimlessly forward. She reached the bamboo barrier and suddenly saw ripples of water surging through the gaps.
Suspicious, she brushed aside her hair and took a closer look, only to catch a glimpse of a slender ankle. Raising her gaze, she saw a pair of white panties fluttering in the water.
The person opposite seemed to have noticed the movement and moved quietly to the edge of the green bamboo barrier.
There was actually a gap that people could pass through.
It turns out that these are two pools merged together.
Xie Tingyu remained in the water, looking up at the face of the person on the water in the dim light of the palace lantern. At this moment, the other person also lowered his head and looked back at him.
With a loud clatter, Xie Tingyu emerged from the water. Her wet hair barely obscured her breasts, and the water barely reached three inches above her abdomen. The night was dim, illuminated only by the two palace lanterns. Amidst the shimmering white mist, drops of water could be seen rolling down her eyelashes and neck, deftly sinking into the ravines of her chest.
Although it was blurry, when looking at each other at such a close distance, the parts that should not be seen were clearly visible.
In Xie Tingyu's body, besides her beautiful, plump, soft and upright chest, there are two strong arms and a slender waist and abdomen that are half exposed above the water.
This was the first time Ji Lian had ever seen a woman's body. It was completely different from a man's, and every curve contained a flexible and vigorous power.
It’s really beautiful. This was Ji Lian’s first impression.
"Ah, Lianlian, so you're here too. Is this a mixed bathing pool for men and women?"
Xie Tingyu looked at Ji Lian's white inner garment, which was soaked by water and clung to her body, and chuckled, "Lianlian, you have to wear clothes even when you're taking a bath in the pool."
Ji Lian could hardly move her eyes away. She pinched her thigh secretly to wake herself up, then turned her head to look at Qingzhu's side, her tone awkward: "This, this is not a mixed bath. The other end of the pool is closer to where I live, so I came here. Logically, there should be separate pools for men and women. I guess I went to the wrong place."
He turned to leave, but a swift force grabbed his wrist and yanked him back. The man jokingly said, "Want to soak together for a while? If it's Lianlian, I'd love to try a couple's bath."
"don't want."
Ji Lian stepped back, but Xie Tingyu held her wrist tighter.
"I can tell at a glance what evil you have in mind."
Xie Tingyu didn't listen to any explanation. He pulled Ji Lian to him and pressed his shoulders against the pool wall. "Can't you stay with me for a while?"
"no."
Ji Lian turned her face away stubbornly, "If I really take a bath with you, I'll be late for the banquet and others will definitely notice it."
Xie Tingyu leaned against Ji Lian's shoulder and chuckled, "Are you saying you don't have enough self-control?"
"How can I have the willpower to stay in front of you?" Ji Lian's voice was as soft as a mosquito's.
She nuzzled his neck, her palm against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, and sighed slightly wearily, "I'm really tired from all the training outside the city these days. Please, let me hold you for a while to relieve my fatigue."
In the past, when they were together, he was usually the one with disheveled clothes. But now that it was her turn to be naked, he didn't dare to extend his arms to embrace her as usual.
Ji Lian pursed her lips, her fingers curled underwater and gripped the pool wall tightly. She whispered, "I heard from Brother Xie that you've been going to the military camp a lot lately. Your injuries have just improved, so don't overexert yourself."
"Um."
Xie Tingyu closed his eyes, the aroma of herbs in the pond and the refreshing scent of green lotus lingering on his nose. He couldn't help but bite Ji Lian's neck gently, "It's still the most refreshing thing to have a beautiful woman in your arms."
She raised her eyes and looked at Ji Lian: "Why don't you hug me?"
The mist lingered on Ji Lian's hair, which had been soaked and clung to her cheeks. His lips moved, and his eyelashes trembled slightly. "You're not wearing any clothes."
"What does being naked have to do with hugging me?"
Xie Tingyu looked at Ji Lian's awkward expression and smiled knowingly, "It's just that we're naked together, why are you so shy, Lianlian?"
"What do you mean naked facing each other? I'm still wearing clothes." Ji Lian defended in a low voice.
"Then I'll help you take it off."
Xie Tingyu pretended to reach out her hand, but Ji Lian was so frightened that she quickly grabbed her wrist and said in a low and urgent voice, "Don't do this... I can't control myself."
After a slight hesitation, he lowered his voice and said, "It would be bad if any noise was heard by outsiders. There are always palace servants here."
Xie Tingyu said gently, "I won't do anything to you. Please hug me."
Ji Lian couldn't hide his joy, and finally opened his arms to wrap around her waist. The touch of skin against skin was hot and lingering, making him feel trance-like. He couldn't help but bury his fingers in her hair, his breath hot on her ear, and kissed her a few more times.
At this moment, Jiangzhu's voice came from a distance, "Your Highness, soaking in the pool for too long is harmful to your health. Why don't you go back to your room and dress up and prepare for the banquet?"
Ji Lian thought Xie Tingyu would tease him as usual, but unexpectedly she actually let go of his hand, and her fingertips carefully smoothed his wet lapel. A sudden sense of loss welled up in his heart.
While I was stunned, I heard her soft voice say, "Go, don't be late."
Ji Lian murmured a response and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he couldn't help but look back, only to see Xie Tingyu standing in the dim light, staring at him.
His heart moved, and without thinking, he turned back and ran back, hugged her waist tightly, pressed his chest against hers, and pecked the corner of her lips a few times, "I'll wait for you at the party."
Even so, he kept looking back at her, until his figure became blurred in the white mist, and then he actually stepped onto the bluestone and left.
By the time Xie Tingyu had packed up and arrived at the banquet, most of the guests were already there, except for the emperor and the noble. As soon as she sat down, she felt a gaze coming from the side in front of her. She looked up, and their eyes met several times in mid-air.
Ji Lian raised the corners of her mouth slightly and looked at her for a few more times.
Seeing that Xie Tingyu still had a thin jaw despite recuperating for several days, Xie Qingyan said in a gentle voice, "I see that you have been running around to the military camp outside the city recently. It is good that you are doing your best, but don't overwork yourself."
Xie Tingyu replied, "Mother, you're joking. It's just a few rounds of military training. It's not really tiring at all."
Xie Qingyan asked again: "How is the training going now?"
Xie Tingyu: "It's OK. But whether he can fight or not, and how good he is, will only be revealed after he goes to the battlefield."
It's easy to say, but how can you go to the battlefield just by saying so?
As the two were talking, they suddenly saw everyone in the room rise. They stopped talking and stood in silence. Ji Zhao and Xie Helan took their seats one after the other. Ji Zhao waved his hand to signal the start of the banquet. The musicians, who had been waiting behind the screen, flicked their fingers, and the sound of stringed instruments flowed out like flowing water. A group of young men in colorful dance costumes entered from a side door, dancing to the music with their wide sleeves fluttering.
The whole banquet was suddenly filled with laughter, and everyone gradually relaxed and started talking happily.
Ji Lian gently stirred the fish and water shield soup in the bowl, and looked up at Xie Tingyu from time to time, but her eyes did not linger on any of the dancing men. She just kept turning her head to whisper with Xie Qingyan beside her.
Just as the music of stringed instruments filled the air and the feast was in full swing, a galloping horse shattered the tranquility of the imperial estate, galloping towards them like lightning. The soldier on horseback was covered in blood and dust, and his panic was even more apparent in the darkness.
The Jinwu Guards guarding the village gate immediately stepped forward, only to see the man stumble off his horse, barely able to stand. Using the torchlight, they first verified that the badge worn around his waist was indeed that of a Great Zhou army officer. Then, noticing his damaged armor and bloodstains, they realized the gravity of the situation and hurriedly helped him inside.
The soldier took a deep breath, got on his horse again, and galloped towards the banquet.
The originally noisy banquet was filled with melodious music and endless laughter, but suddenly, from a distance, louder and faster shouts broke through the air: "Emergency military report! Emergency military report! Emergency military report!"
Xie Tingyu's ears twitched slightly, and she suddenly put down the wine cup in her hand. She looked up and saw, in the thick night, a soldier wearing a helmet and tattered sleeve armor tumbling into the banquet hall, tightly clutching a military report with three feathers stuck in it.
Her heart suddenly sank.
Judging from the shape of his clothes and armor, and the urgency of the feathered letter, it seems that there has been some important military information.
The soldier stumbled forward, startling the dancing girls into stepping aside. She knelt before the emperor, her hands trembling as she held the military report aloft. She shouted, "Your Majesty! Urgent news from Pengcheng! Bandits in the north are rebelling, having already conquered Liuxian and Sikou, and are heading straight for Xiapi!"
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The author has something to say: Double update.
Today's first update is at 0:00:15 AM, and this is the second update, which makes up for the chapter that was not updated in 9.2. (I am really too promising to actually update)
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