Chapter 65 I feel disgusted even if you touch me.
Yunxi heard that she would be confined for three months?
A look of joy involuntarily appeared on his face.
very nice.
That's wonderful.
No one bothered her anymore.
For the first time, Yunxi bowed to Xiao Shenjing from the bottom of her heart.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Shenjing already knew what she was thinking. Without saying anything more, he sternly carried the blood-covered Cen Yuwei away.
Chengqian Palace.
The gilded cranes holding palace lanterns illuminate the palace.
Cen Yuwei's injuries were not serious. After being bandaged and treated, she took off her phoenix robe, her face pale, and lay prostrate on the ground, the phoenix hairpin with pearls inlaid in her hair swaying gently.
Seeing her actions, Xiao Shenjing remained seated in his chair without speaking, nor did he immediately try to stop her.
"Your Majesty, my frail body is truly inadequate to manage the six palaces. I request permission to return to the Buddhist hall to worship Buddha."
She lay prostrate on the ground, the white cloth wrapped around her neck particularly noticeable, making her appear even more frail and delicate.
Xiao Shenjing closed his eyes and remained silent.
But this silence is the most hurtful.
The next moment, Cen Yuwei burst into a violent cough.
The cough came on so violently that it burst open the wound, staining the newly wrapped bandages red.
Only after her coughing gradually subsided did Xiao Shenjing finally speak, "Yuwei, why can't you tolerate her?"
Cen Yuwei raised her eyes, looking at Xiao Shenjing with a sorrowful and anxious expression. "Your Majesty, I manage the palace with utmost care, and I am so afraid of not knowing the saltiness of my food. I do this only to manage the harem well for Your Majesty, not for my own selfish reasons."
Xiao Shenjing remained silent.
"Today, Lady Liu was merely instructing her on palace etiquette when she was slapped hard across the face." Cen Yuwei, still prostrate on the ground, continued, "As a member of the Six Palaces, what wrong did I do in disciplining her? If all the concubines in the harem were like her, how could I possibly face them?"
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “Even if Your Majesty pities Consort Yun, if she continues to be so barbaric, domineering, and disrespectful, it will surely lead to impeachment by the court officials and cause Your Majesty trouble.”
Xiao Shenjing stood up and helped her up. "In the future, I will send someone to keep an eye on Yunxi's affairs. You should take good care of your health."
After he left, Aunt Xueyu helped Cen Yuwei up and breathed a sigh of relief. "His Majesty did not pursue the matter of Your Highness secretly transferring people from outside the palace. He cares about you."
Cen Yuwei suddenly smiled. "He doesn't care about me. He only took this step back so that I wouldn't have to make things difficult for that bitch."
Yunxi felt that any place was fine for solitary confinement, except that the food was terrible.
It was obvious that the palace maids and eunuchs felt she was out of favor and cut back on her meals and other necessities.
She endured it for two days, but couldn't resist the urge to beat them up. In the end, Qiuyue stopped her, saying, "If you offend these people, who knows what they might do to your food."
"This damn palace is so damn annoying," Yunxi said through gritted teeth.
To prevent her from running away, her courtyard was guarded by imperial guards on rotation.
Yunxi sat on the wall and had the Imperial Guards bring her sword; only then did her meals improve somewhat.
With no one to disturb her, she practiced martial arts and drew the palace from her memories, but there were still many incomplete parts.
Sometimes she would stare at the map in a daze, and Qiuyue would come over mysteriously and say, "My lady, I've heard before that there are secret passages in this palace."
"Really?" Yunxi suddenly looked at her.
Qiu Yue nodded and lowered her voice, saying, "I heard that the young emperor escaped the capital through a secret passage, but ordinary people have no idea where it is."
Despite this, it still ignited all of Yunxi's fighting spirit.
Once she finds this secret passage, she can escape silently.
The only way to solve the problem once and for all is for her to 'die' in this palace, then Xiao Shenjing will never look for her again.
In contrast to the tranquility of Qionglin Garden, Xiao Shenjing was extremely annoyed, as many officials submitted memorials daily because Yunxi had been bestowed the title of "Beauty Empress".
"When the soldiers of the nine border regions heard that the Empress was in distress, they all lost their will to defend the border."
"I have heard the Book of Changes say, 'When the proper place is within, the state will be well-governed.' The Book of Rites says, 'When the family is in order, the state will be well-governed.' Now, the beauty of the Yun family, with her lowly status in the inner palace, dares to commit the rebellion of assassinating the phoenix. This is not only a disaster for the palace, but also an omen of the world turning upside down!"
Even Dao Yi was implicated, accused of failing to protect the palace properly and neglecting its security.
The widely publicized memorial was ultimately suppressed by Xiao Shenjing with the words "presumptuous speculation about the palace."
But everyone understands that if Yunxi makes even the slightest move, everything that has been forcibly suppressed will completely erupt.
Yunxi was confined to her home for ten days before Xiao Shenjing's birthday.
On April 19th, he only held a family banquet with his concubines and imperial relatives, and did not allow any of his concubines to stay overnight.
The night breeze was slightly cool.
He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the full moon, and after a while asked, "How has Yunxi been these days?"
Fu Shun, who was behind her, immediately replied, "Yun Meiren is doing well."
Xiao Shenjing snorted coldly, "She'd love for no one to bother her."
Fu Shun didn't respond to this, but after a while Xiao Shenjing said, "Prepare the carriage for Qionglin Garden."
Qiuyue and her companions were chatting in the courtyard, talking about how much money the servants who served at His Majesty's banquet would receive as a reward. Unexpectedly, they saw the Emperor, dressed in ordinary clothes, appear outside the door.
After the initial shock, the group was about to bow when Xiao Shenjing waved his hand to stop them.
He wanted to see what Yunxi was doing, being locked up in the courtyard all day.
She has never been one to endure loneliness.
He just didn't expect that Yunxi was taking a bath.
Seeing the figure reflected in the screen, Xiao Shenjing couldn't help but recall the past.
With his Adam's apple bobbing, he went inside.
Yunxi hummed a song as she finished washing. Hearing footsteps, she thought it was Qiuyue and said, "Give me the bath towel."
She took the towel, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of bright yellow. She realized something was wrong and instinctively looked up.
Their eyes met.
Yun Xi's expression turned cold for a moment, then she asked warily, "Xiao Shenjing, what are you doing here?"
Her expression changed visibly, and she made no attempt to conceal it.
Xiao Shenjing looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What part of this palace is off-limits to me?"
"Don't forget I'm under house arrest. Didn't you say no one was allowed to visit me?"
“I am no one.” He approached the barrel as if it were his right.
Is this guy just bored and wandering around in the middle of the night? Yunxi immediately buried herself in the water.
Her attempts to avoid suspicion did not escape Xiao Shenjing's notice.
He looked down at her and said, "You are my woman, what are you hiding?"
Yunxi said with a look of disgust, "I don't want to argue with you, so just leave."
Ideally, we should never meet again.
Xiao Shenjing's face darkened slightly. "You caused such a disaster that day, and I only punished you with three months of confinement. How could you not show the slightest gratitude?"
Yunxi was also furious. "You dragged me back from Dali to this prison, and I'm being targeted by your women every day. You're delusional to expect me to be grateful?"
Her look of disgust angered Xiao Shenjing.
"You dare compare the Forbidden City to a prison?" He snorted mockingly. "Those brothels and theaters are nothing but brothels, as lowly as earthen kilns. Yunxi, I'm giving you face, but you don't appreciate it. You'd rather stay in those brothels and use your beauty to serve men?"
Yun Xi met his gaze without flinching. "The girls at Hongxiuzhao are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and they understand human nature. How is it lowly for them to earn a living on their own?"
She was so emotional that she forgot she was completely naked.
During the argument, she raised her neck and puffed out her chest, water droplets cascading down her neck, making the red spot on her fair, soft flesh beneath the shimmering water surface all the more alluring.
"Xiao Shenjing, what are you looking at!" Noticing his gaze, Yunxi hugged herself and roared.
"What part of your body haven't I seen?" Xiao Shenjing asked her.
"With so many concubines in the six palaces, you can't even look at them to your heart's content day and night?" Yunxi scoffed. "You're filthy! Get out of here!"
"What are you saying?" Xiao Shenjing roared, his face darkening menacingly. "Do you think I can't do anything to you just because I've given you an inch?"
Yunxi stared at him, but this time she didn't talk back.
It wasn't because she was afraid, but because she felt there was no need to make things difficult for herself.
Xiao Shenjing saw that she lowered her eyelashes and remained silent, but her chin had a stubborn curve.
After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Yunxi, why can't you be more docile and obedient?"
Yunxi remained silent.
She didn't argue back, and Xiao Shenjing, unusually, softened his tone. "I won't pursue the matter of you assaulting the Palace Attendant last time, but you must diligently learn the palace etiquette, lest you..."
"To avoid what?" Yunxi suddenly scoffed. "To avoid having to kneel and thank the emperor after being beaten?"
Xiao Shenjing frowned, his tone cold and stern, "Do you know that the memorials impeaching you from the previous dynasty were piled up three feet high? If it weren't for me pressing them down..."
"If it weren't for you suppressing me, I would have rotted into bones in the imperial prison long ago, wouldn't I?" Yunxi sneered.
"Why are you so stubborn?" The two were already at loggerheads the moment they met. Xiao Shenjing really didn't understand, "Why can't you try to change yourself?"
"Why should I change it for you?" Yunxi suddenly asked.
The sarcasm on her face was so glaring.
It pierced the blood, causing one's blood to rush to the top of their head.
"Why don't you change?" Xiao Shenjing leaned against the edge of the wooden tub, approaching inch by inch. "You are extreme in temperament and short-sighted in knowledge. You know nothing about needlework, needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. You haven't even read half a volume of the Zizhi Tongjian. How will you raise my children in the future? Do you intend to raise my sons to be bandits in the mountains?"
Feeling so insulted and scorned, Yunxi's anger flared instantly. "Since you despise me so much, why did you bring me back? Cen Yuwei and Consort Xue, aren't they all noble ladies? Aren't they all vying to bear your children? You still want me to have your children? Dream on!"
"Do you even realize that allowing you to conceive my child is already an immense favor?" Xiao Shenjing roared in fury.
"Favor? Xiao Shenjing, listen to me carefully, I, Yunxi, will never have a child for you in this lifetime!" Yunxi sneered, her eyes filled with hatred as if she wanted to tear Xiao Shenjing to pieces. "I feel disgusted even when you touch me."
"Disgusting? You dare say I'm disgusting?" Xiao Shenjing laughed angrily, grabbing Yunxi's chin tightly with one hand. "Tonight I'll see how you beg me to be disgusting."
"You dare!" Upon hearing this, Yunxi's eyebrows shot up in anger.
"Is there anything in this world that I dare not do?" He grabbed her wrist with one hand, about to forcefully pull her out of the bathtub, when Fu Shun's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, urgent report from the border."
Despite the splashing water, Xiao Shenjing remained unmoved.
Enraged, Yunxi struck at him with a palm, but because she was inside the wooden tub, her strength was hindered, and Xiao Shenjing easily grabbed her other wrist.
"Don't touch me, you're disgusting." Yunxi was completely naked and unable to get up, but she still refused to give up struggling.
During the resistance, the water from the wooden bucket soaked Xiao Shenjing's long robe.
"Who are you calling disgusting!" Xiao Shenjing was not a weak scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken; he was strong and muscular.
Despite Yunxi's resistance, she could not stop Xiao Shenjing from grabbing her hands and lifting her up.
"Xiao Shenjing!" Just as Yunxi was about to kick Xiao Shenjing without hesitation, Fushun's voice rang out from outside the door again, "Your Majesty, urgent report from the border: the main force of the Turks has gathered on the Tumochuan Plain south of the Gobi Desert."
Xiao Shenjing paused.
Turks.
Yunxi immediately thought of Xu Yuansi.
The same applies to Xiao Shenjing.
The moment their eyes met in mid-air, Xiao Shenjing instantly guessed her thoughts.
The young emperor gave a heavy, cold laugh, shook her off, and strode toward the door.
Soon, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial arrived carrying a lantern to announce the imperial edict.
"Consort Yun, relying on the emperor's favor, has repeatedly violated palace rules, made outrageous and disrespectful remarks, and acted rebelliously and presumptuously, yet she remains unrepentant. Her conduct violates the virtues of a woman, and her heart despises the majesty of the emperor. If this trend is allowed to continue, how can the order of the palace be maintained and the six palaces be disciplined? Now, Consort Yun is stripped of her title of 'Consort' and demoted to the rank of 'Attendant,' confined to her quarters to reflect on her mistakes, and is not allowed to leave without an imperial edict. Her ceremonial regalia is removed, her expenses are reduced, and all palace maids and eunuchs are to be reassigned by the Imperial Household Department. Each day, she is only permitted to be served a small bowl of vegetarian food and a pot of water by a lowly maid. In addition, she is given ten volumes each of 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Inner Instructions,' and is ordered to copy one volume each day and burn it in the incense burner in the courtyard to cleanse her heart of impurities."
The two palace maids and two eunuchs who were accompanying Yunxi soon left, leaving Yunxi alone in the large courtyard.
She peered out the window and saw the door slam shut and lock.
She was demoted to a lower rank shortly after becoming a beauty.
For a moment, the palace maids and eunuchs all thought that His Majesty was avenging the Empress.
Xiao Shenjing returned to the Qianqing Palace.
The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial presented a military report delivered by express messenger, traveling 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers).
Your Majesty, I, the Imperial Envoy and Commander-in-Chief of Datong, respectfully report: The Second Prince of the Turks, Ashina Yuansi, has led 50,000 archers to garrison at Tumochuan in southern Gobi Desert. He has dispatched an envoy carrying a wolf-headed golden sword and a white yak-shaped staff to the border to request an audience, declaring that he will present the "Yinshan Covenant" to seek a lasting alliance. We, Your Majesty, bow deeply and humbly beseech you to issue a swift decree. The Emperor's majesty is imminent, and the Turks' intentions are volatile; any delay will be futile. I respectfully submit to Your Majesty the "Illustrated Explanation of Defense Against the Nine Borders" and a genealogical table of the Turks for your perusal. May Your Majesty make a decisive judgment; the nation will be greatly fortunate!
Xiao Shenjing stared at the words "Second Prince Ashina Yuansi" and looked at Gu Wenqian, asking, "Is the Second Prince Xu Yuansi?"
Gu Wenqian nodded.
Xiao Shenjing frowned for a long time, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Immediately summon the Grand Secretary, the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, and the Left Commander of the Central Military Commission." He paused and asked, "I remember that the Assistant Commander of Xuanda is currently reporting for duty in the capital. I will make an exception and summon him to the Imperial Court for an audience. I will have him bring the 'Geographical Map of Tumochuan' to explain to my ministers the patterns of the enemy cavalry's gathering."
After the eunuch left to carry out his orders, Xiao Shenjing looked down at Gu Wenqian in the hall and asked, "What is your opinion on this Turkic gathering?"
"This trip south by the second prince can be considered a good opportunity. If we can entice him to use the power of the Celestial Empire to restrain his brother, we might be able to split the Turkic Khaganate in two. However, the second prince's provisions will only last for half a month. I'm afraid he may be using the guise of paying homage to actually seek food."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shenjing suddenly stared at Gu Wenqian.
Gu Wenqian knelt down swiftly. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have overstepped my bounds."
“You have indeed overstepped your bounds,” Xiao Shenjing said coldly. “If there is a next time, I will not let you off lightly.”
Gu Wenqian immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude, but he also realized that he had spoken out of turn.
In war, envoys are not to be killed.
Unless the Jing Kingdom is prepared for a northern expedition.
Ashina Yuansi's grand arrival was likely partly aimed at testing the Jing Kingdom's attitude.
If the envoy were killed without hesitation, not only would there be no room for maneuver, but it would also ignite the desire for revenge among the 50,000 Turkic soldiers stationed in Tumochuan, south of the Gobi Desert.
The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances.
Emperor Xiao Shenjing was never a foolish ruler, nor would he risk the fate of the country for his own selfish reasons.
At first, Yunxi felt carefree being alone, but the food was so simple that it was hard to swallow.
She climbed over the wall only to find that the Imperial Guards on all sides had been replaced, now in groups of four, giving her no chance to get out.
Aside from practicing martial arts, she would spend the entire day alone.
No one spoke a word to her, and when she couldn't bear it any longer, she would sit on the wall and tease the imperial guards.
However, the Imperial Guards were all strictly forbidden from doing so and completely ignored her.
For someone who enjoys excitement, this is probably the cruelest form of torture.
And it had only been ten days since she was imprisoned.
Sometimes she would sit in the house, watching the sunset slowly fade away, and when she wondered if she would also wither and die in this prison, the courtyard gate that had always been closed finally opened.
Suddenly, a group of palace maids rushed in to do Yunxi's hair and makeup.
She asked them what they wanted to do.
The head palace maid said, "His Majesty summons you."
Yunxi smiled at herself in the mirror.
Xiao Shenjing's search for her could never be for anything good.
What she didn't know was that Ashina Yuansi had arrived in the capital the day before.
On the day of his arrival, he went straight to the palace to see Xiao Shenjing without even taking a break.
The cicadas' chirping, carrying waves of heat, crashed against the gilded roof of the palace. The sound of the Turkic delegation's bronze bells grew louder as they approached, startling the crested ibises perched under the eaves. The Second Prince, Ashina Yuansi, dressed in a black Hu-style robe, stepped into the palace gates, the gold wolf pattern embroidered on the hem of his garment blazing like flames under the scorching sun.
With deep-set eyes and a high nose, he was incomparably handsome.
On the throne, the young emperor rested his hands on the gilded armrests, gazing at the second Turkic prince who stood proudly below the steps, his eyes obscured by a twelve-tasseled beaded curtain.
Like a deity at the edge of the heavens, his gaze is lowered, leaving one utterly unable to fathom his depths.
"Ashina Yuansi wishes Your Majesty good health."
The word "Your Majesty" was pronounced very heavily, still carrying the accent of the capital.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
On the throne, the emperor raised a slight eyebrow, his gaze lingering on the jade flute pendant on Ashina Yuansi's left ear.
The jade flute was exactly the same style as the one Yunxi wore around her neck.
In that instant, Xiao Shenjing's knuckles snapped together, and the veins on the back of his hand suddenly became prominent.
Ashina Yuansi knelt on one knee in a Hu salute and said loudly, "In order to establish an everlasting friendship with the Jing Kingdom, I, on the orders of the Great Khan of the Turks, present the 'New Alliance of Yinshan' to Your Majesty."
The sheepskin covenant unfolded three zhang (approximately 10 meters) with a "whoosh," and Ashina Yuansi stood up and read aloud: "First, the southern part of the Gobi Desert is divided: the area three hundred li north of Yinshan is designated as the grazing land for Turks, and the Jing Kingdom withdraws from Shoujiang City and Baidao Garrison. The area south of Yinshan to the 'Ji' bend of the Yellow River is designated as the 'Jing-Tu Joint Protectorate,' and the Turks may send three nobles to participate in the deliberation."
Second: The Tea and Horse Markets were open for 100 days each year. Ten thousand Turkic warhorses were allowed to enter the market tax-free, and the Jing Kingdom exchanged them for 500,000 catties of tea and 300,000 bolts of silk.
Third: Special supply of salt and iron: Jing State annually supplied the Turks with 100,000 catties of refined iron and 50,000 shi of green salt.
Fourth: A blood oath of non-aggression against the Western Rong: If any Turkic tribe plunders even one civilian of Jing's border, they must compensate with one hundred fine horses; if any Jing army crosses the Yin Mountains without permission, they must compensate with one thousand bolts of silk. If the Oirats or Uyghurs invade the Turks, Jing must provide twenty thousand elite cavalry to assist in the battle; if the Tibetans invade Jing, the Turks must offer ten thousand fine horses.
Amid the uproar of the courtiers, Ashina Yuansi closed "The New Alliance of Yinshan," looked up at Xiao Shenjing, and said frankly and fearlessly, "Fifth, my wife Zishu, whom I married in Jing Kingdom, has been missing for many days. I hope His Majesty of Jing Kingdom can help me find her and hand her over to me to take back to the Turks."
Behind the twelve-tasseled beaded curtain, the young emperor's eyes suddenly darkened.
"Who is this Zi Shu?" The ministers were immediately puzzled and asked one after another.
The assembled officials only saw a smile on His Majesty's lips, while the personal eunuch noticed the bulging veins beneath the wide sleeves of his dragon robe.
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