Chapter 27: Concubine Yaoyao still has the energy to speak? It seems... it's me...
"Am I the only one who doesn't want to?" Shu Yao casually placed the compass on the table beside her. "Your Majesty, at court, in front of all the civil and military officials, said I needed to stay temporarily to recuperate. Then, he turned around and said I had to stay. Do I need to tell Your Majesty what to do after I recover?" She fiddled with the needle on the compass, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Your Majesty insists on staying. Isn't it because you find my resistance particularly amusing?"
She smiled, raised her eyebrows, and added slowly, "If I agree, wouldn't it spoil your Majesty's fun?"
Xiao Chengjing's eyes darkened little by little, as if pressing down on Shu Yao.
Shu Yao's breath stagnated, as if she was drowning in deep water, and every breath brought a burning sensation in her throat.
"Yaoyao, you're wrong." His voice was so low, like the cold, greasy whisper of a snake brushing against her ear. "If I only wanted you..." He paused deliberately, his dark eyes fixed on her suddenly constricted pupils, savoring every inch of her tense muscles. "A decree would be enough. I wouldn't even need to speak personally. Many people would understand the Lord's intentions, and you would willingly kneel before me and beg me."
Inside his sleeves, his knuckles were clenched tightly, and blue-white veins were exposed on the back of his hands.
"But I didn't." Taking a half step forward, he cast a shadow that swallowed her completely.
"Yaoyao." He gazed into her eyes almost greedily, not allowing her to look away even a moment. His commanding tone was strangely laced with a barely perceptible pleading. "You are a wise person..." The dark color that had been swirling in his eyes gradually subsided. "You should understand... who can truly protect you? Who can give you the favor that others can't even ask for?" His eyes were as delicate as a net, tightly enveloping every inch of her expression. "My patience is limited... but with you, I am willing to be more lenient. Yaoyao, think about it carefully."
The thick curtains hanging between the beams and pillars seemed to swallow up all the noise in the hall, making every breath particularly clear.
He no longer looked at her, leaving only a silent silhouette alongside her.
After a moment, he turned and left.
When returning to the palace, he passed by the Xuanzheng Hall and still saw three or five court officials kneeling precariously under the jade steps.
It goes without saying that at tomorrow's court meeting, Feng Shizhong and other upright officials will definitely use her matter to attack him.
Before the court meeting the next day, Cui Jinzhong came to report that an envoy from the State of Li had delivered a letter, wanting to pay a visit to the princess on behalf of King Li.
Xiao Chengjing's lips sank slightly, and he said calmly, "Okay."
The beginning of the meeting.
Without waiting for the ministers to start speaking, Xiao Chengjing glanced at Minister Feng with a cold gaze and spoke first, "Yesterday, the palace was cold and windy, and you all knelt down to beg me to take a concubine, your hearts truly sincere."
Upon hearing this, Minister Feng stiffened and his gray beard trembled almost imperceptibly.
He stepped out of the line quickly and bowed down.
"Your Majesty, understand!" He breathed slightly. "Yesterday, when we knelt to make this appeal, it was not for any personal reason, nor did we dare to ask Your Majesty to take a concubine." A thin layer of sweat trickled down his forehead, but his gaze was fixed on the scholar-official's stubbornness. "What we worry about is the state system and the etiquette! Jiang is neither a prisoner nor a guest, and her prolonged confinement in the palace is against etiquette. I fear that if this continues, it will damage your reputation and undermine the order of the court!"
At this point, he kowtowed deeply, the jade tablet gleaming coldly between his fingers. "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you promptly announce the disposition of the hostage woman, either by sending her back to the Kingdom of Li or by providing her with a new inn, so as to set things straight and reassure the people!"
Xiao Chengjing did not respond immediately, but lowered his eyes and gently stroked the dragon head holding the pearl on the armrest of the throne.
"Oh?" After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes and said in a long tone, "Not for taking a concubine?
At the same time, outside the palace.
An Yuanshan asked to see Shu Yao.
When Yunxiu came in to deliver the message, Shuyao was dressing in front of the mirror, with her long black hair half loose on her shoulders.
When she heard that the envoy from the State of Li wanted to see her, her hand holding the jade comb paused slightly.
He sneered and slammed the jade comb on the dressing table.
"Let him wait."
After a moment of silence, she waved to the side and called Chuntao over.
Chuntao half-knelt beside her, looking up, like a little bird waiting to be claimed.
Shu Yao reached out and brushed away the scattered hair on her temples. Her fingertips touched some traces of wind and frost, and her voice couldn't help but lowered: "How have you been these days?"
Chuntao's nose felt sore and her eyes suddenly turned red, but she forced her lips together, forced a smile, and answered in a trembling voice: "At first, I was washing clothes in the military camp, and then... I was sent to the farm to do odd jobs. The work was lighter than in the army, but I was unfamiliar with the place... Later, I was brought to my... wife's place." She spoke simply, but her fingers were unconsciously twisting the corners of her clothes, and it was obvious that she had suffered a lot.
Shu Yao gathered Chuntao's scattered hair and sighed deeply, "We are sorry for Chuntao."
"It's not bitter!" Chun Tao quickly shook her head, "Being able to see my wife again... none of this can be considered bitter."
She quietly raised her eyes, glanced around, and confirmed that Yunxiu was not nearby. Then she leaned forward and lowered her voice and said, "Miss, what are your plans for the future?
Intend?
Chuntao's question was like a needle that suddenly pierced Shuyao's defenses.
The thought that Xiao Chengjing would not hesitate to use the state machinery to get her.
She felt like a lab rat trapped in a maze; the more she struggled, the deeper she got stuck.
In this case...
Is she really going to escape? Can she really escape?
The thought of giving up, light and airy, contained the alluring temptation of sinking, pulling her into the abyss.
At this moment, Yunxiu quietly walked in and bowed slightly: "Madam, the envoy from the Kingdom of Li has been waiting outside the hall for a while. Do you want to see him now?"
I guess An Yuanshan couldn't sit still anymore, so he asked Yunxiu to come and ask.
Shu Yao's eyes remained unchanged as she said indifferently, "Let him wait a little longer."
At the court meeting yesterday, An Yuanshan treated her like an abandoned child and gave in decisively without any struggle.
What good things can I say if I ask for a meeting now?
Allowing him to wait outside was, in her opinion, a huge favor.
"Yes." Yunxiu didn't dare to say more and retreated quietly.
"Chun Tao, do you want to go back to Li Kingdom..." Shu Yao's eyes trembled slightly, passing over Chun Tao's face, and suddenly drifted down, finally resting on her slender fingers. "If you want to go back... I might be able to get an envoy to take you there." Her throat trembled slightly, as if swallowing something unfinished. "While I still consider myself the princess of Li Kingdom... Later... that may not be the case."
"Chun Tao won't leave!" Chun Tao shook her head fiercely, tears rolling down her cheeks, but she answered simply, "Wherever the girl is, Chun Tao will be there! I will never leave in this life!"
"Silly girl..." Shu Yao blinked, forcing away the tears in her eyes, and then stared at Chuntao for a long time.
Finally, she raised a smile that exhausted all her energy, a smile that contained too many things but not joy.
"I see."
The scent of agarwood lingers in the hall.
When Yunxiu led An Yuanshan in, Shu Yao was sitting upright on the main seat, holding a celadon teacup.
An Yuanshan was left out for a long time.
When he first entered the hall, there was a deep frown between his brows.
But when he came to Shu Yao, the sullen look on his face seemed to be wiped away by an invisible hand, and was replaced by an attentive smile, without any sign of resentment for having been waiting for a long time.
He quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Shu Yao remained silent, lowered her eyes, and skimmed the tea foam with the lid of the cup.
The porcelain lid knocked lightly against the edge of the cup, making a clear and faint sound.
She watched the tea brewing, as if studying the expansion of the tea leaves, and let the visitor stand still.
Seeing that Shu Yao ignored him, he saluted again with meticulous gestures: "Your Highness is very busy with affairs. I am very grateful that you can take the time to see me." There seemed to be something else hidden in his smooth tone, like understanding, or a reminder.
Shu Yao didn't get angry immediately. She just slowly raised her eyelashes, her eyes as cold as frost, staring coldly at An Yuanshan's face.
She stared at him for more than three breaths, until sweat broke out on his forehead.
Fang Dao said in a cold voice: "Are you allowed to speak?"
Shame and anger rushed to An Yuanshan's face.
However, the anger was extinguished before it could even start.
The person in front of him was not some insignificant hostage. She was the woman that Emperor Liang was willing to keep even at the cost of his reputation.
Thinking of this, An Yuanshan's throat choked, and he swallowed his anger. He forced himself to look respectful and bowed his head, saying, "I have overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me, Princess."
Shu Yao put down the teacup and waved casually at An Yuanshan.
Then he tilted his head slightly, concentrating on examining his fingernails, his tone revealing a lazy and cold tone: "If the envoy has something to say, please speak frankly."
An Yuanshan's eyes flickered as he cautiously scanned Shu Yao's face. He then placed his hands on his chest, as if offering a sincere heart. "With the Liang-Jin war and the princess in distress, His Majesty Prince Li has been worried day and night, unable to sleep or eat." He lowered his voice, deliberately letting in a hint of sob, "The king... misses Your Highness very much."
Miss her?
As if she heard some extremely amusing words, Shu Yao couldn't help but turn her head and listen attentively.
The corners of his lips curved slightly, but his eyes were as calm as a deep pool, without a ripple: "Thank you, father, for your concern."
He ignored her for fifteen years, but now that she has some subtle value, he immediately starts to care about her?
How could such a coincidence happen in the world?!
On the other side, An Yuanshan was completely immersed in the tragic drama he had woven and was completely unaware of Shu Yao's indifference.
He spoke earnestly, his tone heavy with sorrow: "Your Highness, you must understand the King's painstaking efforts! Our separation in the past was forced by circumstances, but family is always connected. How can words express the torment Your Majesty has endured over the years? His Majesty is concerned about you every day, and worries about your well-being..."
As he spoke, An Yuanshan's eyes never left Shu Yao's face, not daring to miss a single twitch in her eyes or eyebrows. As he spoke, he pulled a letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands, his demeanor respectful. "Your Majesty is deeply concerned about your illness, and fearing that verbal expressions may be insufficient, I have personally written this letter. I hope Your Highness will understand your father's painstaking efforts."
"Your Excellency." Shu Yao suddenly raised her hand and made a sharp gesture to stop.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at the letter with an indifferent look as if he was looking at a piece of garbage.
"Please tell my father," she said, deliberately slowing her voice so that every word would hit him clearly in the face, "Jin State hasn't received a single letter in fifteen years. There's no need for any more letters in the future. Lest we arouse the suspicion of His Majesty the Liang Emperor through unnecessary correspondence, and tarnish my father's good reputation."
After saying this, she raised her chin slightly and pointed her gaze out of the hall, her intention to drive the guest away was self-evident.
Seeing her cold attitude and the fact that she seemed to want to send him away, An Yuanshan's disguised sadness instantly disappeared from his eyes, leaving only a lot of calculations in his mind.
The words remained respectful, but the tone had changed, his utilitarian intentions clearly showing through. "At yesterday's court meeting, His Majesty Emperor Liang neither held you hostage nor offered to send you back to your country. Do you understand the deeper meaning behind this?"
Know? She knows it too well!
Even if she was stupid enough to need advice, the person involved yesterday had already appealed to her emotions and reasoned with her.
Shu Yao raised her hand and brushed her wide sleeves, gently brushing away the nonexistent dust, as if wiping away something unclean. Her tone was casual, but each word was as sharp as a blade scraping at bone. "Speculating on the emperor's intentions is a capital offense." She glanced casually at An Yuanshan. "Does the envoy want to kill me, or yourself?"
The corners of his lips curled slightly, revealing an undisguised sarcasm. "If your Excellency is only trying to come up with a foolish scheme to recommend himself to the bed, please return. I suddenly feel a little unwell."
"Yunxiu. Show the guests away."
As soon as the order to expel him was given, the last trace of respect on An Yuanshan's face disappeared in an instant, and he showed a desperate and fierce look.
He knew very well that once this opportunity was lost, it would be difficult to get close again.
In a moment of urgency, he ignored Yunxiu's attempts to stop him and took a half-step forward. His voice suddenly rose, and every word he spoke carried a heavy weight: "Your Highness! Even if Your Highness refuses to consider yourself, you should at least consider the people of our Li Kingdom! The current situation is delicate, and this is the time when Your Highness needs to seize the opportunity! Are you really going to give up this opportunity to benefit the people of your homeland?"
People?
Didn't she help to reduce the annual tribute?
Didn't she just stay as a hostage in Jin State?
Anger instantly rose to my heart.
Shu Yao was so angry that her fingers in her sleeves trembled slightly, and her fingertips were numb and cold.
The rolling word almost broke through my teeth.
Pinch your palm tightly.
The stinging pain forced her to swallow the word back.
She couldn't lose her composure at this moment, let alone in front of this person.
Shu Yao suddenly turned around, completely avoiding An Yuanshan's disgusting face, and shouted loudly: "Yunxiu! Show me out!"
Yunxiu no longer hesitated and summoned two eunuchs, and without any explanation, asked An Yuanshan, who was still chattering, to leave.
Shu Yao's chest heaved violently.
The unexpressed anger spread like wildfire, causing the corners of her eyes to turn red.
She flicked her sleeves and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Get out! Everyone get out!"
The palace maids had never seen her so angry. They exchanged frightened glances with each other, then held their breath, tiptoed, and retreated quietly.
"Madam..." Chuntao looked at Shu Yao worriedly, with a slight tremor of hesitation in her voice.
Seeing Shu Yao close her eyes, she looked tired and kept people at a distance.
Chuntao bit her lip and quietly retreated. The movement of closing the door for Shuyao was as light as a sigh.
In the empty hall, only Shu Yao was left standing alone behind the heavy curtains.
Looking around, the candles on the nine-branch copper lamp tree were about to go out, the incense in the lion-shaped incense burner was cold, and even the colorful lacquered table on the low couch exuded a sense of dignity that kept people at a distance.
There were so many treasures in the room, but not a single one of them could allow her to vent.
Finally, her eyes fell on the pillow beside the table, and she pounced on it.
He clenched his fists and hit the soft mass again and again, vowing to pour out all the humiliation and powerlessness that had accumulated over the years.
She stopped only when she was exhausted, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Suppressed breathing echoed faintly in this empty hall.
After leaving the palace, An Yuanshan walked faster, with a feeling of depression surging in his chest.
The princess is so ungrateful!
When he reached a secluded place under the palace wall, he suddenly stopped and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
He raised his hand and tapped the wall with his knuckles from time to time, making a slight tapping sound, as if he was tapping on an invisible abacus.
"Since she's so self-righteous that she disdains to associate with us..." He muttered to himself, a cruel smile curling up at the corner of his mouth, "Then I'll help her..."
Glancing at the sun.
At this hour, Emperor Liang's court meeting should not have ended yet.
He must meet with the emperor immediately to finalize the matter.
Thinking of this, An Yuanshan made up his mind and immediately picked up his robe and ran towards the Xuanzheng Hall, not even caring about the sound of the jade ring on his waist.
This audience went exceptionally smoothly.
Just a moment later, a eunuch led him into the palace.
The man on the throne had a deep gaze, as if he had been waiting for him for a long time.
An Yuanshan felt a little relieved.
As long as Emperor Liang has feelings for the princess, is it up to her whether she wants to or not?!
Once the golden book and the imperial seal are obtained, the princess's status as a concubine will be a ready-made and brilliant move for the State of Li.
An Yuanshan knelt down on the ground with a thud, performing an extremely grand ceremony.
His forehead touched the ground and he did not get up for a long time.
When he raised his head again, his eyes were wet and his voice was choked with just the right amount of sobs: "To repay Your Majesty for reducing the annual tribute of my country and saving the lives of my people..." He kowtowed again, his tone extremely respectful, but with a hint of flattery hidden in the ending tone, "My king has specially ordered the foreign ministers to report: I am willing to present the princess to Your Majesty, and have her always by your side to comfort your holy heart. This is not a marriage, but a sincere filial piety of our country to our father, the Heavenly Dynasty! I humbly hope that Your Majesty... will grant your consent!" The despicable words made the offering of the girl sound legitimate.
Xiao Chengjing sat high on the throne. If it weren't for the fact that he pursed the corners of his lips, trying hard to suppress a slight upward curve, he would have looked almost calm.
"Since Lord Feng and Envoy An are both so kind and generous, I cannot refuse..." His gaze slowly swept over Minister Feng and An Yuanshan, and he continued in a calm tone, as if discussing ordinary state affairs, "It would be disgraceful for me to refuse again."
His index finger tapped the dragon head relief on the armrest, his tone still calm. "Your country's princess is outstanding in appearance, both graceful and intelligent. I—" He paused, his eyes fixed on An Yuanshan's face, "I really admire her." Unmistakable possessiveness flashed in his eyes, and he didn't even bother to hide the predatory tone in his words. "Since she has entered my Daliang Palace, I will naturally not treat her badly."
Xiao Chengjing's words were like a thunderclap, causing Minister Feng to gasp.
Minister Feng opened his mouth, intending to offer some advice to correct the emperor's mind, but he found his throat was so dry that he couldn't utter a single sound.
His body swayed slightly, and he wished he could put all the weight of his body on the jade sceptre in his hand.
The surging waves in my heart eventually turned into a stagnant pool.
He lowered his head dejectedly, leaving only a faint call that spread throughout the palace: "Your Majesty..."
After the court meeting ended, Xiao Chengjing returned to the banquet hall.
I originally thought that the first people to come and ask for an audience would be Feng Shizhong and his group of upright censors, but unexpectedly, the person waiting in the corridor was Zhao Yan.
When Zhao Yan entered the palace, there were memorials piled up like a mountain on the desk.
Xiao Chengjing didn't sit upright, but slumped over the throne, one hand rubbing his furrowed brow, the other drooping limply on the armrest. He didn't even open his eyelids. As footsteps approached, he spoke in a hoarse voice, thick with weariness, "Zi Yan's request to see you is also about Jiang's matter?"
"Your Majesty is wise." Zhao Yan saluted respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am well aware of your feelings for Madam Jiang. It's just..." When he mentioned Madam Jiang, his voice obviously paused, as if a heavy object was pressing on the tip of his tongue.
He stood up, glanced at the emperor's tired face, then quickly lowered his gaze, his Adam's apple rolling slightly as he continued, "Your Majesty has long had six harems in vain, and now you have only one concubine. The court and the public are confused about your intentions and are only causing criticism."
He lowered his posture even more, holding the words in his throat and rubbing them carefully before speaking: "If Your Majesty accepts virtuous women, then both the court and the harem will be at peace. This move will show your grace and reassure the ministers. I hope Your Majesty will make a wise decision."
Xiao Chengjing's fingers pressing on his brows suddenly paused.
He opened his eyes, his pupils were clear, like cold jade washed by snow water, without any trace of tiredness.
"Oh?" He raised his voice slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching in a half-smile, his voice drifting down lightly. "Recruit many virtuous women?" His gaze seemed to weigh heavily on Zhao Yan's face. "Is this what the Zhao family wants, or is it what you want, Ziyan?"
Zhao Yan's back was as taut as a fully drawn bow.
He knew that his selfish motives had nowhere to hide in front of the king who was very observant.
A feeling of shame and helplessness rushed up.
If his parents had not forced him to do so out of filial piety, he really would not have wanted to mention this matter in front of His Majesty.
Zhao Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a stern determination to make a desperate effort. He spoke clearly, "Your Majesty, please understand. The weight of the country cannot be shouldered by one person. Recruiting virtuous women and continuing the imperial line is the key to stabilizing the country. I have a younger sister. Although her talent is humble, she has a gentle temperament..."
"Crown heir?" Xiao Chengjing chuckled, cutting off Zhao Yan's words. He pressed his knuckles silently against the red sandalwood imperial desk, using that coldness to calm his surging thoughts. "Mr. Zhao, you really think long-term for me."
The hall was eerily quiet.
Xiao Chengjing picked up the impeachment memorial on the table, flipped through it casually, and threw it away.
Then he spoke, his voice floating from far away, as if talking about something that had nothing to do with him: "Zhao Qing, do you know what it feels like for a person to have never received even a glimmer of hope or love from their parents?"
Zhao Yan lifted his armor and bowed his head to the ground with a dull sound.
"Your Majesty..." After calling out this, his throat seemed to be blocked by something and he was silent for a long time.
He understood better than anyone else: the reason why His Majesty was so resistant to taking a concubine was because of an accident in His Majesty's birth, not because of favor.
But he still closed his eyes, made up his mind and said, "It is precisely because I might be able to understand what might happen that I resorted to this desperate measure."
"I beg Your Majesty to take my sister into the palace to fulfill my filial duty." When he said this, his voice trembled a little.
He had to pause briefly to swallow the burning sensation in his throat before continuing with the even more difficult part: "As for the reality of our relationship..." Those few words exhausted all his strength. He hastily turned his face away and said hoarsely, "I only ask Your Majesty to grant my sister a legitimate status and ensure that...she will have enough food and clothing and live a peaceful life until her old age!"
After he finished speaking, his shoulders slumped slightly, and his originally dignified posture quietly fell away. He sighed softly, "This is the best solution I can think of as a minister and a son...a win-win solution." He kowtowed deeply again, his voice muffled on the ground, "Your Majesty, I will die!"
Xiao Chengjing lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on his open palms. "...I understand." He finally clenched his fist and gently placed it on the pile of insignificant memorials. "I...will consider it."
In the end, three imperial decrees were issued to confer the title of consort on her.
The first one was awarded to Shen, the granddaughter of Minister Feng.
At that time, Feng's house was crowded with people coming to congratulate him.
The second one was delivered directly to Zhao Yan's residence.
When the decree was announced, Zhao's father and mother stood in front of the hall with solemn expressions.
The daughter of the Zhao family knelt down and listened to the holy music according to etiquette, not daring to make the slightest mistake.
The last one was carried by Cui Jinzhong himself and sent to the palace.
After reading the imperial edict, Cui Jinzhong bowed and left the hall.
When Cui Jinzhong returned to the palace to report, Xiao Chengjing was reading memorials under the lamp.
Hearing the footsteps, his eyes were still fixed on the lines of text. His hand holding the pen paused slightly, and he asked casually, "...How is she?" There was a barely perceptible tension in his voice.
Cui Jin lowered his head and spoke cautiously, almost numbly, "Your Majesty, the Empress...she obeyed your orders as usual." He remained bowed, waiting for a moment. Then, as if remembering something unrelated, he raised his eyelids and said, "It was two days ago...when the envoy from the Kingdom of Li requested an audience with the Empress...the Empress..." His throat moved, as if the next words were like pouring water into a pile of boiling oil, "she lost her temper."
Click.
Xiao Chengjing lowered his wrist slightly and calmly placed the pen on the pen holder.
He said nothing, but moved his hand to the side, bent his knuckles, and tapped the smooth table surface thoughtfully.
"According to the date, Envoy An and his entourage should be returning soon."
"Return to Your Majesty, I will leave Beijing tomorrow."
"Hmm." Xiao Chengjing responded lightly from his nose, as if he was saying it casually, "Jin is newly annexed, and the border is not peaceful after all. Be sure to let the envoy An be careful on the road." He said the last four words very lightly and slowly, but an inexplicable chill quietly seeped into the hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Cui Jinzhong shuddered and lowered his head even lower.
The palace lanterns are just lit.
Xiao Chengjing came to the palace and found it quiet.
Turning around the screen, I saw Shu Yao sitting on the cold ground with her knees hugged, in a daze.
Familiar footsteps are approaching.
Shu Yao was silent for a moment, then she slowly let out a breath as if she had made some kind of decision.
He stood up and saluted, his manners and etiquette were quite correct, but it seemed to imply some kind of silent contest.
She raised her eyes, her gaze as clear as autumn water, and spoke in a calm tone, "Your Majesty, are you here today to ask me if I've figured it out, or... just to hear your words of thanks?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chengjing chuckled and shook his head.
It doesn't sound like he's thought it through.
Cui Jinzhong understood what he meant when he saw this. He immediately turned around, opened the vermilion food box held by the eunuch behind him, and took out a plate of exquisite mung bean cakes.
"Why does Your Majesty still call yourself a minister?" Cui Jinzhong placed the plate of dim sum on the table, and his tone was measured just enough to please people without sounding flattering.
But the call of "Your Majesty" still made Shu Yao feel uncomfortable.
It felt like ants were crawling all over my body.
Cui Jinzhong gestured towards the cakes, "Your Majesty, this is a freshly made sweet-scented osmanthus and mung bean cake from the Imperial Kitchen. Your Majesty found it so delicious that he immediately thought of you and brought it here specially for you to try."
Shu Yao glanced at the mung bean cake.
The cake is as smooth as jade, with dots of golden osmanthus embedded in it.
I thought to myself somewhat unconvincedly: It looks quite delicious...
How about waiting until Xiao Chengjing leaves and then...trying it?
Xiao Chengjing saw her staring at the mung bean cake, trying hard not to say anything, and he felt both angry and amused.
Suddenly he recalled the day when she teased him about eating snail noodles, and he felt that cause and effect was cyclical and retribution was inevitable.
A plan came to mind. He cleared his throat, pretended to straighten his sleeves, and said calmly, "I have government affairs to attend to, so I won't accompany you."
The footsteps gradually faded away until they disappeared completely.
Shu Yao was worried, so she walked to the door of the hall and leaned out to look.
After confirming that the ceremonial team had really gone far away, he turned back.
But she may not know that people have unlimited patience when doing bad things.
He walked to the table and took a look at the plate of shiny mung bean cakes.
She deliberately looked away and pursed her lips before she made up her mind, picked up a piece, and carefully put it into her mouth.
The cake melted in her mouth, sweet and dense, and even more delicious than she had imagined.
"Is it delicious?" An indistinct low laugh sounded from behind him.
She was so frightened that she trembled all over and almost dropped the half piece of mung bean cake in her hand.
Still in shock, she patted her chest repeatedly to calm herself down.
I finally recovered.
Just as he was about to speak, he felt a lump in his throat and choked without any preparation.
It must have been caused by swallowing too quickly due to shock.
Seeing that she was choking and out of breath, Xiao Chengjing instantly threw all his teasing thoughts out of his mind.
While she was saying how could she be so careless, she had already hurried forward and patted her back lightly with her palm.
As he was clapping, Xiao Chengjing suddenly realized that something was wrong with his men's movements.
The hiccups had subsided at some point, replaced by a slight tremor that he tried hard to suppress.
Why is she crying?
Xiao Chengjing frowned.
The tears came without any warning, and even Shu Yao herself was stunned.
She always thought she was strong. When she encountered problems, she would find ways to solve them. No matter how difficult the situation was, she would always find a way out.
But this time, she seemed to have no idea...
In fact, she was not afraid of becoming Xiao Chengjing's concubine.
What she feared was that she would have to live the way he expected her to for the rest of her life.
"Fifteen years..." Shu Yao turned around and looked up at Xiao Chengjing.
She bit her lip, as if trying to swallow back the sobs, but the tears could no longer be contained and continued to roll down. "Fifteen years... I had barely... learned to walk when I was treated like an object and sent to the State of Jin... This stage lasted for fifteen years..."
"For the past fifteen years... everyone has treated me like a toy... I really don't want to be anyone's toy anymore..." She didn't cry, just staring at him with silent tears. "Your Majesty can treat a middleman with courtesy, so why can't you show mercy and let me go?"
Her tears were clearly reflected in Xiao Chengjing's eyes, which were as deep as a pool.
Her face was wet.
His Adam's apple rolled up and down uncontrollably.
However, he did not soften his heart.
"Let you go?" He repeated, a gentle smile curling up at the corners of his lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Where should I let you go? Back to Li Country? Or back to Mu City?"
"Anywhere..."
Before she could finish, he asked coldly, "The Li Kingdom offered you as a gift for peace. Mucheng has been brought under the rule of the king. Where else can you go but to stay?"
Offer her to seek peace?
Shu Yao sniffed her sore nose.
Suddenly, I felt that everything in front of me, including my own tears, was so ridiculous.
If Xiao Chengjing had always treated Li Guo coldly, how could Li Guo have come up with such a foolish idea of offering his daughter?
Deliberately ignoring the resistance in her tearful eyes, he leaned over, gently stroking the corners of her moist eyes with the knuckles of his index finger, his voice so low it was almost bewitching: "Yaoyao, I'm different from those people... I have never regarded you as a plaything, I regard you as my wife. Stay by my side, and I will get you whatever you want."
The more sincere the affection in his eyes, the colder Shu Yao's heart became.
She understood completely that everything was never a negotiation, but a gentle coercion with a predetermined outcome.
In a blink of an eye, it was the auspicious day selected by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory.
Inside and outside the palace gates, brocade screens covered the ground and the ceremonial guards were magnificent.
It was time for the enthronement ceremony.
Shu Yao sat in front of the dressing table, staring blankly at the figure in the mirror, dressed in red brocade.
Cui Jinzhong walked in quietly with two eunuchs.
With his usual respectful smile on his face, he bowed politely to Shu Yao.
"Your Highness." He bowed slightly, his voice low and soft, filled with just the right amount of concern. "The auspicious time waits for no one. It's almost here..." Seeing that she still didn't move, he sighed and spoke even more slowly, which inexplicably sent a chill down his spine. "If we miss the time, I'm afraid Chuntao will suffer on my behalf... I hope Your Highness will have mercy on us and complete this ceremony smoothly."
Shu Yao took a deep breath as if her soul had returned.
He glanced back at Chuntao's pale face, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he whispered two words through his teeth: "Let's go."
The palace maid held her arm and led her to complete the three kneelings and nine kowtows.
The weight of her hair full of jewels and jade made her neck feel heavy and sore, and the gazes from all directions made her feel uneasy.
She could clearly feel every gaze.
I feel sorry for her because she has no choice.
Some people looked at her appearance, curious about what color she was that could cause the king to make an exception.
There are even those who despise her coquettishness and believe that she must have earned her current position through some unsavory means.
On the throne, Xiao Chengjing watched all this indifferently.
After all, this grand ceremony was merely a necessary ritual for him to legitimately receive the tribute that he deserved.
At night, red candles shine brightly, filling the room with joy.
Xiao Chengjing's tall shadow pressed down heavily, blocking out all the light and sound around him, as if to cut off all escape routes.
When Shu Yao saw his hand reaching out, she raised her hand and grabbed his wrist without thinking.
His wrist bones felt hard as their skin touched.
Her heart was pounding and her mind was racing.
I wondered what to say to resist the approaching heavy shadow.
He spoke first, his voice low and gentle, brushing against her ear: "Yaoyao..." Just this one sound made her spine stiffen. "As a couple, you and I must go through this together."
Before she could finish her words, the hand she was holding suddenly turned around and firmly grasped her slender wrist.
The force was so great that it actually caused her some pain.
She hurriedly used her other hand to pry open his fingers, but he easily caught them. Her hands were tied behind her back.
He held her in his arms, unable to move.
Their breaths intertwined, his chest pressed against hers, and she felt his steady, strong heartbeat.
After struggling a few more times, she finally realized the situation.
It seems that there is no way to escape tonight.
He simply released his strength and relaxed his body.
She turned her head away, avoiding his burning gaze, and said in a mosquito-like voice, "Can you be gentler..."
He seemed a little surprised.
His free hand gently touched her cheek, his slightly calloused fingertips caressing her delicate skin as he chuckled softly, "So good."
What's so funny?
Shu Yao snorted lightly, mixed with an inexplicable resentment.
She couldn't beat her, so being a good girl would save her some pain.
In the second half of the night, candle wax piled up.
The air in the hall seemed to be stagnant, leaving only the sound of each other's unstable breathing, which was incredibly hot.
Jiang Shuyao felt so weak all over that she couldn't even lift a finger.
Her thoughts drifted and sank, as if she were caught in a raging sea, and the man before her was both her only floating piece of wood and the source of her drowning. She wanted to lean on him, but she felt suffocated.
Her black hair was wet with sweat, sticking to her flushed cheeks and neck.
There were tears on her eyelashes, and her eyes were shining with water.
When he looked at people, there was a hint of almost sad pleading in his eyes.
"That's enough..." She was so weak that her voice ended with tears, like a kitten's claws, weakly scratching at people's hearts, "Let me go... please?"
Xiao Chengjing paused for a moment and stared down at her condescendingly.
Her broken yet gorgeous expression was almost breathtaking in the hazy light and shadow.
The darkness in his eyes grew darker, surging with an unsatisfied undercurrent.
Gently stroking her slender and fragile neck, he greedily felt the rapid pulse under her skin.
He blew warm breath against her ear.
His voice was hoarse with emotion, yet it was filled with unmistakable teasing: "Yaoyao still has the energy to speak? It seems... I'm not trying hard enough."
What happens next.
The author really wanted to write it, but Lujiang would not allow it to be published.
final.
A drop of hot tear quickly slid down from the corner of her eye and suddenly disappeared into the dark black hair at her temples.
A sound like a sigh, like a sigh of satisfaction, escaped from Xiao Chengjing's throat.
In that sigh, satisfaction and emptiness were intertwined, and it was the sudden silence that came after the noise.
He leaned over and carefully kissed the wetness off her face, his movements so gentle that it seemed like a deception.
Then, he pressed his forehead against hers, their breaths blending together as his voice was hoarse and firm: "...Okay, I won't bother you anymore."
But he still refused to loosen his arms around her, instead he tightened them even more, declaring his sovereignty, and with a gesture of absolute possession, he confined her in an airtight place.
Shu Yao no longer had the strength to respond. She closed her eyelashes with trembling eyes and let her consciousness sink into darkness.
The hall finally became completely quiet, leaving only the gradually calming heartbeats of each other, entangled together, unable to distinguish between you and me.
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The author has something to say: Which idiot only realized that there was no comment after the review was passed? Ah, it turned out to be me, then it’s okay [burst into tears]
I have to make a special statement here. Although the male protagonist has two concubines, he only touches the female protagonist until his death. Bao Jie's [evil smile]
In addition, these two concubines are good people, there will be no palace fighting plot, so I won’t spoil it here [Panda Head]
Finally, please pre-collect the next book "Sorry, I Have a Death Retrospection"~
It's probably a story about a heroine who is repeatedly reborn and fights wits and courage with the hero. It's a happy ending [pink heart]
I haven't figured out the outline yet, so there's no copy. Please save it as you see fit [let me know]
I'm not greedy, I just want to have a dozen collections, I just want to be on the list when I open the article [scatter flowers]
Finally, I really want to thank you all for your support. I am so happy [milk tea]
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