Chapter 31 Long-Suppressed Desire
Chapter Thirty-One: Long-Suppressed Desire
Back at Yongshou Palace, the hall was brightly lit with candles, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere that dispelled the chill of the night and slightly calmed the fear and turmoil in Su Su's heart.
She took off her outer garment, which was slightly damp from the night dew, and was helped by Chunlan to change into comfortable everyday clothes. She sat down on the soft couch by the window, and only then did she feel her tense nerves relax a little.
"Chunlan," she said, picking up the calming tea that Qiuju had offered, taking a small sip, and asking, "Was the letter sent to the manor yesterday delivered without any problem?"
Chunlan quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the letter has been entrusted to Xiao Anzi. He has found an absolutely reliable channel and it will be sent out of the palace tomorrow. Judging by the time, the master should receive it by tomorrow afternoon."
Upon hearing this, Su Su felt somewhat relieved. Her father was a cautious man, and upon seeing her letter, he would surely understand its deeper meaning and begin to investigate the household.
After dealing with family matters, one heavy burden was temporarily lifted from my heart, but another concern began to surface.
Su Su pondered for a moment, then whispered to Chunlan, "Yongshou Palace is not like Changxin Palace. It is a big tree that attracts the wind. The backgrounds of these newly assigned palace servants and eunuchs may not be clean. You and Qiuju need to be careful and secretly investigate their origins, backgrounds, and connections with other palaces."
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant understands." Chunlan's expression hardened, and she solemnly replied.
With the instructions given, it was already close to dinner time. The small kitchen in Yongshou Palace had already prepared a sumptuous feast, with more than a dozen dishes according to the Consort's rations.
The bird's nest and shredded chicken soup is rich and fragrant, the winter bamboo shoots and magnolia petals are crisp and refreshing, the cherry meat is bright red like a gemstone, the braised sea cucumber with scallions is soft and chewy, the steamed shad retains its original freshness, and there are also seasonal fresh vegetables and several exquisite desserts.
Just as Su Su picked up her silver chopsticks, a slightly hurried announcement came from outside the hall: "The Emperor has arrived—"
Su Su's chopsticks paused slightly, and she was taken aback. Since she was demoted to Changxin Palace, Li Qianche had never summoned her, let alone arrived without any warning.
She quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, suppressed a hint of panic in her heart, and went to the palace gate.
Li Qianche stepped in, still carrying a hint of the chill of the spring night. His gaze swept over the untouched food on the table, then settled on Su Su, who was bowing her head respectfully.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Su Su bowed respectfully.
"Rise." Li Qianche's voice was devoid of emotion. "Has the Imperial Concubine had her dinner?"
"Your Majesty, we were just about to use it," Su Su replied, her eyes lowered.
"I haven't used it yet either," Li Qianche said calmly, his tone as natural as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary.
Su Su understood immediately; this meant they wanted to dine there. Her eyelashes lowered slightly, and her tone was respectful yet carried a barely perceptible hint of refusal: "With Your Majesty's arrival, I have been caught off guard and have not been able to prepare everything perfectly. I fear I may be disrespectful to Your Majesty..."
“It’s alright.” Li Qianche spoke before she could finish, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable air, and sat down at the table.
These words sealed the deal. All of Su Su's unspoken excuses were swallowed back down. She said no more, simply sitting down beside him as was customary, and instructing the palace servants to prepare bowls, chopsticks, and dishes. "Your Majesty, please eat."
The dinner proceeded in an almost frozen silence. Su Su adhered to the rule of "not speaking while eating," eating silently and gracefully, but she was no longer the lively person she used to be when dining beside him, chattering away, sometimes commenting on the dishes, sometimes telling interesting stories about the palace.
He even felt that the delicious food on the table seemed to lose some of its flavor because of his presence.
Li Qianche ate his meal in silence, but his gaze kept sweeping over the unusually quiet person opposite him.
He remembered how she used to always snatch the dishes from his plate that he thought tasted good, complain that the imperial kitchen's pastries weren't as good as the ones she secretly had the small kitchen make, and be so delighted that she would have the palace servants move a dish in front of him just because he glanced at it a few times... Now, she was as well-behaved as a lifeless jade sculpture, adhering to the strictest etiquette, yet keeping him far away from her heart.
This realization made him inexplicably irritated. He put down his silver chopsticks and tried to break the suffocating silence, saying, "Now that you are assisting in the management of the six palaces, there are many complicated matters. You must be working hard."
His intention was to ease the tension and show concern. However, upon hearing this, Su Su immediately put down her chopsticks and respectfully replied, "It is my duty, Your Majesty. I dare not complain of hardship. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will keep my responsibilities in mind and take good care of Consort Wan. I will ensure that she can rest assured during her pregnancy and give birth to the imperial heir safely."
Li Qianche frowned instantly. Why did this suddenly involve Mu Hanyan? When he mentioned the affairs of the six palaces, did he ever refer to Consort Wan alone? Was she so eager to express her opinion because she was truly so virtuous and magnanimous, or... did she simply not care who was by his side?
After the meal, the palace servants cleared away the leftovers and served tea. Li Qianche showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he strolled to the soft couch by the window, sat down by himself, picked up the teacup, and slowly sipped the tea.
Su Su stood to the side, feeling increasingly uneasy as she watched him show no sign of leaving.
She hesitated for a moment, then forced herself to speak, her voice still steady: "Your Majesty, Consort Wan is currently unwell and needs your care most. It is already late, so perhaps Your Majesty... should visit her at Shuning Palace?"
She thought, since he cares about Mu Hanyan, he should leave now that she has reminded him.
Li Qianche paused, holding the cup. He looked up and stared at her intently, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, as if trying to pierce through her calm facade and see her true thoughts.
Su Su felt uneasy under his gaze and couldn't help but wonder if she had said something wrong. She was merely fulfilling her duty as a "virtuous" imperial concubine by reminding the emperor to care for his beloved concubine who was pregnant with his child.
"Come here." Li Qianche suddenly spoke, his voice low and commanding.
Su Su didn't understand, but she still took a few steps forward as instructed and stopped a few steps away from him.
"Closer." His gaze was fixed on her.
Su Su had no choice but to take another small step forward. Just as her foot landed, Li Qianche suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. The force was so great that she was caught off guard. With a cry of surprise, she was pulled by him and, in a dizzying moment, fell onto his lap, her waist tightly held by his strong arms!
"Ah! Your Majesty!" Su Su's eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively struggled. "What...what are you doing! Let me go!"
Upon seeing this, the palace servants standing inside the hall, already well-trained, lowered their heads and quietly and quickly retreated. Chunlan and Qiuju wanted to step forward to help their Consort, but Shen Gaoyi pulled them out one by one and gently closed the palace door behind them.
Li Qianche lowered his head, looking at the person in his arms. In the candlelight, her cheeks, flushed with shock and shame, appeared even more beautiful. Her usually calm eyes were now wide open, like those of a startled fawn. Her long, curled eyelashes trembled incessantly, and beneath her straight nose, her full, naturally rosy lips parted slightly with nervousness, silently tempting him. The faint fragrance emanating from her body wafted into his nostrils, exactly as he remembered, yet it seemed even more alluring.
How long had it been since he had seen her this close? How long had it been since he had held her so tenderly?
A burning desire and a long-suppressed longing surged within him like wildfire. Without hesitation, he lowered his head and fiercely seized those two alluring red lips!
"Ugh...!" Su Su was completely stunned, her mind going blank. When she came to her senses, she began to struggle violently, her hands pressing against his firm chest, trying to push him away, turning her head to avoid his kiss, her voice broken as she cried out, "Your Majesty! No..."
She was both shocked and furious. Why was he acting so crazy here instead of spending time with his Mu Hanyan? Besides, she didn't want to! She didn't want any more physical intimacy with him! Why would a heartless and ungrateful man who cared for others bother with her?
However, her struggles and resistance only fueled Li Qianche's anger. He tightened his grip on her arms, held the back of her head with his other hand, and deepened the kiss, which was filled with an irresistible domineering force and pent-up desire. He kissed her relentlessly, conquering and ravaging her.
His breath was hot, mingling with her sweet scent. He explored her lips and teeth with such urgency, almost roughly, as if trying to penetrate her cold and distant exterior and find the Su Su who, in bed, would have captivated him with her gentle voice, her eyes sparkling, and her ability to wrap her arms around his neck, stirring his passion.
Su Su's struggles gradually weakened, and a certain memory that had been deliberately forgotten deep within her body seemed to be awakened, bringing a shiver. But this feeling made her even more panicked and humiliated. She couldn't... she couldn't sink any further!
Li Qianche's kisses grew increasingly passionate, his breathing heavier. Clearly unsatisfied, he picked her up and strode to the bed in the inner room, roughly placing her on the soft brocade quilt before pressing his heavy body down upon her. His kisses rained down upon her. One hand eagerly slipped inside her clothes…
Su Su closed her eyes in despair, tears of humiliation welling up in her eyes, her body stiff as she resisted.
Just as she was lost in passion, her clothes half undone, and her last line of defense was about to crumble...
Suddenly, Shen Gaoyi's voice, filled with extreme fear yet compelled to report, rang out from outside the palace: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Urgent military intelligence from the border! General Pei... General Pei..."
As if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, Li Qianche abruptly stopped all movement. He lay on top of Su Su, his chest heaving violently, his bloodshot eyes a frantic mix of desire and reason. After a long while, he sat up.
He took a few deep breaths, barely managing to calm his surging blood and qi. He straightened his disheveled robes, glanced back at Su Su, who was curled up in the corner of the bed, disheveled, still shaken, and tightly wrapped in a brocade quilt. He left with a hoarse voice: "I will come to dine with you again tomorrow."
Having said that, he turned and strode away without looking back, his figure quickly disappearing into the night outside the palace.
Su Su lay alone on the large, messy bed, her body still trembling slightly. She pulled the blanket over herself and wrapped it tightly, as if only in this way could she draw a sense of security.
The scene just now was like a nightmare. She didn't want to make love with him again. Mu Hanyan was between them, as were the tragic deaths in their past lives and the suspicions in this life. They could never go back to the way things were. What happened tonight only made her feel more exhausted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com