Extra 1
In the second year of Zhao Youyi's reign, he changed the era name to Zhenyuan. It was springtime and flowers were in full bloom. People said that the empress was a rare and wise ruler who neither loved extravagance nor took in many concubines. There was only the empress in the harem.
"Do you think the Empress is really that beautiful?"
"I heard from His Majesty's maternal cousin that the Empress is a fox spirit reincarnated!"
"Really? No wonder His Majesty dotes on the Empress so much. Hearing that the Empress likes red plum blossoms, His Majesty transplanted all the red plum trees in the capital to the Yuanyang Palace."
Inside the teahouse, the storyteller recounted the deep and unbreakable love between the current Empress and the Queen. Zhao Youyi and Chu Chan, who were traveling incognito, listened with pale faces from a corner, while Su Chaoyang and Zhou Yaqing clapped and cheered with delight.
Although Su Chaoyang did not participate in the great battle, he stabilized the rear, which prevented the Liang Kingdom from taking advantage of the situation. Zhao Youyi appointed him as a General of the Cavalry. Coincidentally, Su Chaoyang returned to the capital at the end of the year to report on his duties and insisted on bringing a few people to listen to his storytelling.
"Ziyang, can't you have any other hobbies?" Chu Chan glared at him, barely able to contain her anger. "If you want to listen, then keep listening. Awan and I have something to do, so we're leaving now."
“Oh, Your Majesty…Miss,” Zhou Yaqing quickly called out to Zhao Youyi, “How can you leave the palace without someone by your side? Shall I go with you?”
Zhao Youyi was wearing an extremely elegant light green dress today, which made her look lively and playful. She reached out and tapped Zhou Yaqing's head: "Don't worry, with Brother Huai Cong here, how could I possibly get hurt?"
Su Chaoyang quickly grabbed Zhou Yaqing and looked at the two of them with a fawning expression: "Sister-in-law is right. Sister-in-law and Huai Cong are highly skilled in martial arts. How could it be your half-baked skills to protect them?"
Zhou Yaqing glared at him defiantly, "Where am I a mediocre fighter? Although I may not be as smart as you, my kung fu is definitely better than yours."
Su Chaoyang looked at her with feigned suspicion. "Really? If you're so capable, why don't you go to the training ground and have a match?"
Seeing the two bickering, Zhao Youyi quickly took advantage of their inattention and pulled Chu Chanyin away from the teahouse.
Today is the Lantern Festival, and it's very lively outside. The night sky is dotted with stars, and the bright moonlight shines on the two of them, casting long shadows.
Zhao Youyi pulled Chu Chanyin to a mask stall, and excitedly picked up a white fox mask, gesturing at his face: "Brother Huai Cong, look, this fox mask suits you perfectly!"
Chu Chanyin resignedly lowered his head and let her put the mask on him, asking with some confusion, "Why have you always chosen fox masks for me since we were little?"
Zhao Youyi picked up a white wolf mask and put it on. Chu Chanyin readily paid the silver. Zhao Youyi took Chu Chanyin's arm and walked into the bustling market. "Because Brother Huai Cong really wants to be like a fox, beautiful, clingy and loves to act cute."
Chu Chanyin felt that none of these three words had anything to do with him. Now, because of Chi Yuming's words, he was being called a vixen. Although he was somewhat proud of Chi Yuming because of Zhao Youyi's affection, he was Zhao Youyi's lawfully wedded husband. How could he compare to Chi Yuming's arranged marriage from who-knows-when?
Moreover… Chu Chanyin pondered for a moment. His appearance was indeed hundreds of times better than Chi Yuming’s. So what if he was a fox spirit? As long as he could please Awan, what did it matter if he became a femme fatale?
"Besides, don't you think the white wolf mask and the white fox mask look alike? That way, others will know at a glance that we have a close relationship," Zhao Youyi said, shaking Chu Chanyin's arm.
Because of the vendor's rough and childlike workmanship, the white wolf and the white fox did look quite alike at first glance. Chu Chanyin held her hand and said, "Okay, this way others will know we are a family at a glance."
"Would you like to release some river lanterns?" Chu Chanyin asked gently.
Zhao Youyi nodded, "Yes! I want to write down my wish!"
The two walked through the bustling crowd to the riverbank, where they bought two river lanterns from a vendor and borrowed paper and pen.
"What is A-Wan's wish?" Chu Chanyin asked as he wrote.
Zhao Youyi glanced at him, "This... it won't come true if I tell you, and you didn't tell me your wish either."
Chu Chan chuckled softly twice: "Which of my wishes isn't about you?"
After saying that, he showed the note completely, on which were written three sentences: First, he wished Awan peace, joy, and all things going smoothly; second, he wished Awan all her wishes come true and that she live a long and healthy life; third, he wished that they could be like swallows on the beam, meeting year after year.
Zhao Youyi smiled, her eyes crinkling as she looked at the person in front of her, feeling that his eyes were filled with affection.
Zhao Youyi also generously showed her note: "May the seas be calm and the rivers be clear, and may the world be at peace; may Brother Huai Cong have everything go smoothly and be happy every day."
She was not greedy; she only hoped for peace in the world and for the well-being of the people around her.
If she were to be a little more greedy... she would want Chu Chanyin to live to be 102 years old, so that the two of them could walk hand in hand through their lives.
Chu Chanyin usually presented a smiling fox-like image in court. Zhao Youyi specially commissioned a dragon throne for him next to the dragon throne. It was spacious and comfortable, covered with a fluffy blanket, and its luxury was comparable to that of the dragon throne. In winter, Chu Chanyin was afraid of the cold, so Zhao Youyi allowed him to bring a hot water bottle to court. Thus, the Regent Prince, draped in a fox fur cloak and covered with a fluffy blanket, lazily leaning on the dragon throne, became a beautiful sight in the court.
The censor bluntly stated that the regent was a femme fatale who had bewitched His Majesty, and was in fact a reincarnation of a vixen.
Upon hearing this, His Highness the Regent merely yawned lazily and glanced at the Imperial Censor: "Is the Imperial Censor jealous? It's a pity you're not as young and handsome as I am, and thus don't have His Majesty's favor."
The Imperial Censor was so angry that he fainted on the spot.
After this incident, Zhao Youyi had no choice but to play the good cop: "My Empress is still young, please forgive her, my beloved ministers."
The ministers: You call eighteen years old too young?
Later, everyone learned that Her Majesty the Empress was wise and powerful, and loved her people like her own children, but her only Achilles' heel was the Empress, whom she could not offend, speak against, or even look at.
"Look at what's happened to my reputation outside," Chu Chanyin complained as he combed Zhao Youyi's hair.
Zhao Youyi held his hand and coaxed, "Your reputation is so great that no one will let me participate in the selection anymore. Besides, the love between you and me, the emperor and empress, is a beautiful story. They are just jealous."
Chu Chanyin smiled upon hearing this, "It seems His Majesty is quite satisfied with this rumor?"
"I told you not to call me that," Zhao Youyi really didn't like the way she was addressed. She could call him that in front of outsiders, but she didn't like Chu Chanyin calling her that in private.
"Alright, A-Wan, these rumors wouldn't have spread so widely without your permission. Are you doing this on purpose?" Chu Chanyin put down the comb and looked at her.
Zhao Youyi pulled the other person to sit down next to him. The two liked to stick together, and they always made sure the chairs were extra spacious, no matter where they were.
"Yes, I admit I played a part in this, turning our brother Huai Cong into a jealous man. I'm really sorry." Zhao Youyi pulled the little fox spirit into his arms and rubbed her ears.
Chu Chanyin raised an eyebrow slightly, grabbed her hand and gently bit it: "Then shouldn't I exercise my rights as a husband? It's late, let me serve you to bed..."
After saying that, he kissed her with his rosy lips, his strong arms wrapping tightly around her body like vines, gradually taking over her breath and plundering the sweet fruit.
"Your Majesty—" A palace maid rushed in, and upon accidentally catching a glimpse of this scene, she immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the Queen's exposed, fair and jade-like shoulders, while Her Majesty the Empress's hand moved down from her shoulders. Their clothes were disheveled and tightly intertwined, their inseparable intimacy making her blush and her heart race.
Then she heard the Queen's deep voice, filled with desire: "Get out."
The palace maid hurriedly retreated, trembling with fear.
"Brother Huai Cong...why are you being so fierce?" Zhao Youyi kissed the corner of his lips, her fingers gently tracing his bobbing Adam's apple. "If you're fierce to her now, shouldn't you be fierce to me later?"
Chu Chanyin pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it: "How could I bear to be mean to you, my Awan?"
"Brother Huai Cong...how about we try something different tonight?" Zhao Youyi whispered in his ear.
"What do you want to play?" Chu Chanyin naturally wouldn't refuse.
“I’ll blindfold you and do the moving, okay?” Zhao Youyi gently blew a breath into his ear.
"Back then, you didn't dare to look at me, brother. Do you dare to look at me now?" Zhao Youyi smiled slightly.
Chu Chanyin obediently let her blindfold him, his face covered with a white silk ribbon, making him appear even more vibrant and alluring, his rosy lips seeming to await her kiss.
The palace maid knelt tremblingly outside the hall, her ears turning red as she listened to the intermittent sounds coming from inside.
Zhao Youyi gently bit the small mole on his earlobe, her gesture intimate, her tone sweet: "Brother Huai Cong, how about you wear earrings for me to see? I found an extremely beautiful pair of earrings that will definitely suit you perfectly."
Chu Chanyin breathed softly. Because he couldn't see, his hearing and touch became exceptionally sensitive. He reached out and stroked her as he said, "Okay, you can pierce my ears. Whatever style you want to see, I'll wear it for you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youyi kissed his lips: "Brother Huai Cong is the best!"
The next day, Zhao Youyi got up with a sore back and aching waist to attend court. Looking at Chu Chanyin sleeping in the fluffy blanket, she couldn't help but smile. The two of them had stayed up late last night, and Chu Chanyin had even helped her wash and massage her, so he naturally went to bed later than her. He could sleep through the morning court session today.
Zhao Youyi specifically instructed the palace maids not to wake the Queen, but Chu Chanyin still woke up not long after Zhao Youyi left.
"Your Highness, did I disturb you?" The palace maid knelt down in fear and trepidation, not daring to look directly at the handsome king and queen.
Chu Chanyin tugged at his clothes to cover the traces left by Zhao Youyi's antics last night, then climbed out of the fluffy blanket, looking exactly like a fox spirit.
"Nothing." Chu Chanyin shrugged, squinting his peach blossom eyes as he lazily yawned: "Has His Majesty gone to court?"
"Yes, His Majesty specifically instructed that you should not be woken," the palace maid replied.
"You may leave." Chu Chanyin was not used to being waited on, so he told the servants to put down the toiletries and then let them leave.
Just as Chu Chanyin finished washing up and sat down in front of the bronze mirror to tie his hair, Zhao Youyi pushed open the door and returned.
"Brother Huai Cong, did they wake you up?" Zhao Youyi walked over and kissed the corner of his lips, then took his hand and rubbed it against her cheek.
"No, I can't sleep without you," Chu Chanyin said deliberately.
Seeing his flirtatious look, Zhao Youyi couldn't help but smile and say, "Then I'll sleep with you a little longer?"
“No need,” Chu Chan said, tidying his hair and clothes as he stood up. “Didn’t you say you were going to pierce my ears? How about we try it now?”
When Zhao Youyi saw that he had brought it up, she quickly called someone to bring in the tools, pulled Chu Chanyin to sit opposite her, and sat on his lap.
"Are you afraid of pain?" Zhao Youyi asked.
Chu Chanyin raised an eyebrow: "I can be afraid."
"You little whiny girl," Zhao Youyi said with a smile, giving him a reproachful look.
Zhao Youyi took out a small grain of rice and kneaded and pressed it on his earlobe to make it thinner. The process was exceptionally long, and the two of them almost breathed together, getting closer and closer, as if they were about to kiss.
Seeing that it was almost done, Zhao Youyi quickly picked up the needle and pierced his earlobe. Because the method was complicated, Chu Chan didn't feel much pain, only a slight itch in his ear.
Zhao Youyi put a tea stalk into the small hole in his earlobe to prevent infection. "You can't get it wet for the next few days, does it hurt?"
Chu Chanyin gently shook his head: "Just wear one side?"
Zhao Youyi touched his right earlobe, which wasn't pierced, and said with some heartache, "One side is enough. I can't bear to see you in pain."
Chu Chanyin smiled slightly, his eyes filled with tender affection.
A few days later, Zhao Youyi indeed found a pair of earrings, inlaid with rubies, with tassels swaying in the wind. The golden earrings made him look like a wealthy and noble flower, as if he had suddenly fallen into the mortal world.
Among the common people, it became fashionable for men to wear single earrings, making them appear elegant and charming. It was said that the Empress wore earrings and described her as having a graceful and radiant appearance, and the earrings added to her allure, which led the Empress to confine her to the Mandarin Duck Palace for three days and three nights of passionate lovemaking.
Upon hearing the rumors, Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin: ...
It really wasn't three days and three nights!
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