His warm breath brushed against her delicate neck, and Chu Changning's breathing became slightly erratic. A strange sensation shot up her spine and onto her scalp.
She deliberately ignored it, forcibly suppressed it, looked away, and gave a perfunctory reply.
What exactly do you want to do?
Yan Beimo noticed the tears welling up in her eyes, so he hooked his arm around her waist, lifted her up, and pulled her into his embrace.
Chu Changning pretended to struggle.
He didn't let go, his head lowered as he gazed intently at her.
"I'm here to admit my mistake?"
Chu Changning pressed the tip of his nose against his lapel, clutching his dragon robe with both hands, her voice muffled.
Are you trying to back down to me?
"Um."
Although his voice was calm and his eyes and brows were cool, there was a rare tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her.
She looked up and stared at him with wide eyes.
Yan Beimo lowered his eyelids to meet her gaze and said gently.
"It was my fault before."
He actually bowed his head?!
Chu Changning's thoughts were complicated. She didn't want to break the surface of calm and argue about everything, leading to an unpleasant ending. So she gave a reluctant reply.
"Let's not talk about the past."
"So, are you going to stay in the palace?"
He only cares about that; he never considers her feelings.
He didn't care what she would do in the future, or what identity she would have in the palace; all she needed was to stay by his side.
She couldn't help but sneer inwardly, burying her face in his chest and asking in a muffled voice.
Will you let me go?
He didn't speak, but tightened his grip on her arm.
Chu Changning looked up, put her arms around his neck, and sighed.
"Never mind, with Ayu here, where else can I go?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of displeasure crossed Yan Beimo's mind, but he suppressed it, stroked her long hair, and lowered his head to kiss her.
Chu Changning said softly again, "I want to see Ayu."
Yan Beimo's eyes darkened suddenly. He grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and placed her on the round table behind him before speaking.
"From now on, I'll see you every day and every night."
After saying that, he grabbed her head and kissed her passionately, his rough fingertips sliding under her skirt.
Chu Changning's back trembled, and he couldn't help but let out a soft moan. But the moment he let go, his tongue slipped inside for a passionate kiss.
She tilted her head back, breathing slightly, her legs tightly wrapped around his waist.
He lowered his head and kissed her neck, sucking and licking it.
"Don't bite, you can't be seen by anyone now."
Yan Beimo paused, obediently ceasing his biting, but then ripped open her clothes and buried his face inside her bodice, kissing and nibbling at her.
Chu Changning frowned. "Can you please stop tearing clothes all the time? You have too much money and nowhere to spend it."
"The entire national treasury is yours."
He said something in a hoarse voice, then grabbed her waist and pressed her down hard.
Chu Changning grunted and nudged him, "It's still daylight."
I've been thinking about it all night.
He stared at her with bloodshot eyes, his hand gripping her waist tightly.
"Then--then back to bed."
Yan Beimo paused, then put his arm around her waist, picked her up, and sat her on the dragon throne behind her.
Chu Changning felt him staring at her, so she turned around and sat on his lap, tilting her head to kiss his lips.
The moment she kissed him, their breaths mingled together.
The palace doors were still open, and the outside light illuminated the interior.
Yan Beimo waved his hand, a strong wind swept by, and the palace door slammed shut with a bang. He casually tore off her underskirt and began to ravage her like a wolf.
Later, at some unknown time, she sat on his lap, her knees turning slightly red. He finally got up, carried her into the inner room, and pressed her onto the bed.
"A-Ning, kiss me."
His voice was deep and hoarse, and beads of sweat rolled down his chin.
Chu Changning was also exhausted from his antics, her eyes glistening with tears, more hazy than the moonlight.
She clung tightly to him, and in a daze, she reached out and hooked his head, tilting her head to kiss his thin, crimson lips.
The two were inseparable, their love entangled and unable to stop.
The sky outside had darkened at some point, and a sparse, cool light streamed in through the window. Inside the dimly lit tent, he entwined himself with her tirelessly, his eyes filled with wanton lust.
"Do you know who I am? Ah Ning~ call me."
Chu Changning's gaze was unfocused, and the overlapping voices made her turn her head away.
But her body was held captive by him, and his familiar voice lingered in her mind, as if it were drowning her.
"Yanbei Desert~"
"What's your name?"
"Husband--My lord--"
Yan Beimo, panting heavily, pressed down on her and rubbed against her fiercely.
The two of them tossed and turned all night, and when Chu Changning woke up the next day, he felt sore all over.
The person beside me is no longer there.
She tilted her body and looked around, then, coming to her senses, she lifted the covers and got up.
The palace maids outside were already waiting and came in to serve her as she took a bath.
Chu Changning changed his clothes and went directly to the warm pavilion next door.
For hundreds of years, the north was divided and in conflict, with more than a dozen regimes vying for power. Bloodshed among members of the imperial family to fight for the throne was a frequent occurrence. In the first year of the Longdong era of the Taishi era, after the Eight Princes were pacified, the north was able to recover temporarily.
However, the emperors in the north all wanted to unify the world, and one after another they took the stage, with frequent changes of power in the north.
Shen Yan successively destroyed the Northern Yan and Western Liang kingdoms, ascended the throne in the Northern Capital, launched numerous wars, and almost swept across the northern kingdoms, forcing the barbarian tribes to withdraw from Yujing Pass.
The Western Regions were conquered on horseback and had long desired to contend for control of the Central Plains. In particular, the Northern Chaoge was eager to establish friendly relations with the Northern Capital.
When the news reached Jiankang, immediately after the morning court session, several important officials began to offer their advice in the imperial study.
"With the death of the old emperor of Beidu, this man has suddenly emerged. His military tactics are truly ruthless, having successively destroyed several northern countries. If he were to unify the north and expand his power, and then plunder southwards, how could our Great Qi dynasty remain secure?"
"Your Majesty has the support of Libei and Beiyou, and has also conquered Nanliang and occupied most of the northern lands. Why not take advantage of the current chaos and launch a northern expedition?"
Yan Beimo sat high in the temple, looking down at the assembled court officials before him.
"Gentlemen, who do you think is suitable to lead the troops?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the old ministers below exchanged glances, speechless for a moment.
Their emperor was extremely fierce in his campaigns in the north. When the Great Jin Emperor was in power, he dared to conquer the Northern You and kill the You Emperor. If he could personally lead the expedition, the north might really be pacified this time.
But they dared not say these words openly. The new emperor came from a noble family, and was arrogant and aloof. If he died in the north, the entire Great Qi would be thrown into chaos.
Yan Beimo sat high on the dragon throne. Seeing that no one below spoke, he chuckled and picked up the letter that had come from Beidu yesterday, examining it carefully.
"If there's nothing else, you may leave."
At this moment, a member of a prominent family stepped forward and respectfully greeted them.
"Your Majesty, regarding the matter of establishing Lady Cui as Empress, which was discussed in court, we urge Your Majesty to make a decision. The country cannot be without an empress."
"Although Your Majesty is still young, the country will not be stable for a single day if there is no crown prince."
Yan Beimo flipped through the letter in his hand, speaking softly.
"Send the Ministry of Rites to make preparations."
As soon as the words were spoken, the ministers were delighted, but before they could say anything, someone suddenly burst in from outside, and they all turned around in surprise.
Who dares to barge into the Imperial Study without prior notice?
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