Chapter 166 The kiss marks grew increasingly intimate and familiar.
A spring breeze blows outside the door once, and a spring breeze blows inside the door once.
The spring breeze intoxicated the tourists; he was that spring breeze, and she was that tourist whose heart was wavering.
After the rain had stopped and they had been foolish for two rounds, Yue Yining said she was thirsty, so Xie Qingyu put on her clothes, got out of bed, and went to the table to pour tea.
He walked around the screen painted with golden plum blossoms, holding his teacup, and saw Yue Yining lying naked on the bed in the distance. She seemed to find it too stuffy and hot, as she had pulled the blankets up to her waist, her flushed cheeks resting on her arms.
The glow of the sunset fell on her slender, snow-white back, making it look like three flat mountains.
Xie Qingyu slowed his pace and stared at her intently, his dark eyes like pools of still water.
Yue Yining closed her eyes, heard footsteps, and knew he was back, but she was too lazy to hide anymore. Her mindset had changed; perhaps the recent passion had washed away any sense of shame. She continued to lie there openly, not caring what he would see.
Feeling her shoulder being touched, Yue Yining opened her eyes and saw Xie Qingyu leaning down to kiss her.
Her long, flowing hair clung softly to her waist, like a black serpent's tail. She reached out and grabbed Xie Qingyu's collar, pulling him close to her as naturally as possible.
Meeting those gentle yet dangerous eyes, Yue Yining suddenly realized that there was a hickey on her shoulder, left when he had entered her from behind, his hand on her shoulder and around her waist, during their second encounter.
The faint yet crimson hickey resembled a blood moon.
He was just deepening it.
Yue Yining released her hand, and Xie Qingyu had returned to normal. The turbulent blackness in her eyes faded, replaced by a calm and sunny scene.
He took her hand, handed her the teacup, and said softly, "Get up first. You'll choke if you drink like that."
Yue Yining refused the cup of tea. Lust can cloud judgment, but now that lust has passed, it's time for reason to return to its proper place.
She finally remembered the purpose of her visit and asked directly, "What did you mean by what you said at the gathering today?"
Xie Qingyu placed the teacup on the low table beside the bed, bent one knee, and knelt down beside the bed. He suddenly lowered himself, and Yue Yining, who was looking at him, was finally relieved of the soreness in her neck from stretching.
She blinked and pressed on, "Aren't you going to keep getting in my way?"
"Hmm." Xie Qingyu brushed aside the fine black hairs that clung to her cheek one by one. "I didn't know before that Miss was actually supporting Her Highness the Eldest Princess."
"If I supported the Third Prince, would you still intend to continue to obstruct me?" Yue Yining stroked her chin and suddenly said, "You know my fate, and you want to save me, which is why you oppose me. You think the reason I met such a tragic end is because I supported the incompetent Third Prince."
"How did you learn this, Miss?"
"Know what?"
“Many. You once supported the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince will frame you as a traitor in order to successfully usurp the throne. You will be executed.” Xie Qingyu said, “I remember Miss said that you only knew that if you participated in the struggle for the throne and failed, you would die.”
"This is the result you calculated. But you don't know the details, you don't know what variables will occur, and you don't know how you will die."
Yue Yining stared at him for a while, then her eyebrows lifted: "...If you agree to join us and serve under the Princess, I will tell you."
Xie Qingyu did not hesitate: "I agree."
Yue Yining didn't believe in empty promises: "Where's the sincerity?"
Xie Qingyu stood up, went to the table, pressed a few buttons, and took out a scroll. Seeing his solemn posture, Yue Yining stopped lying down. She put on her undergarment, smoothed her long hair with her hand, sat up, and watched Xie Qingyu walk closer to her.
He placed the scroll in her palm and said slowly, "This document records the crimes and incriminating evidence against seven powerful officials from prominent families. They all hold important positions in the court."
"I am giving you this scroll. As long as you have these things, they, and the families behind them, will be your most loyal dogs, at your beck and call."
Yue Yining's heart skipped a beat. But she remained calm as she took the document, only her eyes flickered for a moment after she opened the scroll, which Xie Qingyu noticed.
Xie Qingyu looked at her: "With this as collateral, does Miss think the sincerity is sufficient?"
“…Of course it’s enough.” Yue Yining smiled at him and gripped the scroll tightly. “But you really are willing to part with it.”
She leaned closer, a glimpse of white skin flashing beneath her open robe, her finger pointing at his chest: "To be able to obtain so much dirt on so many important officials, suppress their struggles and resistance, negotiate with them, and persuade them to work for you willingly... tsk tsk tsk, that's no easy feat. They originally only listened to you, didn't they?"
"None of that matters anymore." Xie Qingyu couldn't help but go to meet her as she leaned closer.
His hand grasped her waist. He gently caressed it, and her slightly raised chin tightened. Xie Qingyu smelled a scent on Yue Yining besides the aroma of tea and medicine—it was his scent, a rich, fresh orchid fragrance that still lingered on her.
Xie Qingyu's Adam's apple swayed slightly up and down.
"You pass." Yue Yining smiled. "Let me tell you, those things were all told to me by Her Highness the Eldest Princess."
Xie Qingyu's expression froze, and she asked in surprise, "Her?"
Wei Yihua? How would she know all this?
Could it be that—
Connecting this to his absurd experience of transmigrating into a book, Xie Qingyu seemed to have a guess, and her expression changed. Yue Yining had already confessed: "She is a reborn person."
After Yue Yining explained in detail, seeing that Xie Qingyu was gradually recovering from her surprise and astonishment, she continued to ask, "Before Your Highness went to war, we had a late-night talk by candlelight, and she told me many of her experiences from her past life."
She said that Wei Ye publicly chopped down the late emperor's memorial tablet during his enthronement ceremony, which caused great controversy and gave Wei Jing the opportunity to seize power.
Is what you see also like that?
Xie Qingyu replied, "Yes."
“Hmm…” Yue Yining pondered, “I can’t understand what he’s doing either.”
“He’s the one who ruined you.” Xie Qingyu looked at her, and upon closer inspection, he could see a hint of gloom in her eyes. “He was mediocre. You were the one who put him on the throne, but he still dragged you down and caused your death.”
"After the coronation ceremony, you went to see him every day, wanting to know the reason why he did this, but he never wanted to see you. Before he acted so willfully and recklessly, did he ever think about others, or about you who wholeheartedly assisted him?"
“I know you’re standing up for me, but this hasn’t happened yet. Don’t go after the Third Prince because of this,” Yue Yining said, patting his face to comfort him. “He’s one of our people.”
Xie Qingyu: "Incompetent people are just a burden as allies."
Seeing his icy expression, Yue Yining helplessly pinched his cheeks, forcing him to smile. "Alright."
“I’m not speaking up for him. It’s just that I’ve taught the Third Prince strategy before, so I know him pretty well,” Yue Yining said. “Wei Ye is pure of heart, without any scheming or cunning, but also without any greed or evil desires. I discovered this when I was teaching him; he’s actually not suited to be emperor.”
“Yihua said that I chose him in my past life, probably because I really had no other choice.” Yue Yining’s eyes were filled with spring water as she smiled. “When Her Highness the Princess talks about our past life, she always hesitates and tries to cover it up. But I can still guess that in our past life, we were probably sworn enemies.”
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen the mediocre and incompetent Wei Ye instead of the brilliant and talented Wei Yihua.
"People with pure hearts are often also very emotional and easily swayed."
"Wei Ye acted impulsively during the enthronement ceremony, and there must be another reason behind it. He is grateful and kind, and he must have understood the consequences of his actions. He would not have completely disregarded my safety. As for why he ended up implicating me and even causing my death, there must be some hidden story that we don't know."
Yue Yining finished telling Xie Qingyu her thoughts after learning about the matter, and watched as Xie Qingyu's eyes reddened.
He gripped her hand tightly and said in a hoarse voice, "...But you were the one who was slandered, the one who was imprisoned, and the one who suffered torture and died. What did he do for you? Yet you still think about his good deeds, and that he might have had unspeakable difficulties."
Why is his mistress so kind? Sometimes he would rather Yue Yining be a little selfish, at least that way she would suffer less harm and wouldn't always be let down by others.
Yue Yining didn't say anything. She leaned down and gently kissed his hot, reddened eyelids.
"Why do you cry so much?" She put her arms around his neck, sat on his lap, and laughed. "I thought you liked to use tears to show me your weakness, but now it seems you really do cry a lot."
Xie Qingyu stroked her back, the calluses on his fingertips brushing against the hem of her clothes. He whispered, "...I feel sorry for you."
Yue Yining let him rub against her and said, "I know."
"Perfect timing, I also want to establish three rules with you."
Xie Qingyu stopped moving, and Yue Yining turned around, straightened her posture, and raised her hand to press on his shoulder, looking down at him.
“First, you can like me, but you can’t have only me in your life. Loving someone too much will make you extreme and obsessive, which is not good for you in the long run. It’s not a healthy love either, understand?” She spoke seriously and patiently, and her tone was very gentle. “You can divert your attention to other things, so you won’t always be thinking about me.”
Xie Qingyu looked at her and nodded obediently, but a voice in his heart answered for him, saying it was impossible.
He loved her madly and obsessively.
This is the only bad habit he can't seem to break.
"Second, whatever you do, whether it's good or bad, right or wrong, you must not hide it from me. If it's a big deal, you must take the initiative to discuss it with me, and not make decisions for me or bear the consequences for me."
"Third, you are not allowed to make me care about you or pay attention to you by hurting yourself," Yue Yining said. "If I find you cutting your arm with a knife again, see how I punish you."
Xie Qingyu readily agreed: "Okay, I won't do it again."
“But one last thing, I also want the young lady to agree to,” he said. “After all, she has a criminal record.”
Yue Yining: "What nonsense are you talking about? When have I ever—"
Xie Qingyu grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined, and slowly said, "I know that Miss used tortoise shells for divination before, and I also know that the price of tortoise shell divination is to take away ten years of Miss's lifespan. My request is that Miss can no longer use it for divination."
Yue Yining shuddered and immediately withdrew her hand.
Her obvious guilt was palpable; her two dark, grape-like eyes darted around, but she dared not look at him. She even chuckled awkwardly, "...How do you even know this?"
Xie Qingyu wouldn't let her escape, leaning down to pin her against the inside of the bed, getting closer and closer, "Then, Miss, do you agree?"
His warm breath brushed against her nose. After a moment of intense struggle, Yue Yining finally gritted her teeth and said, "I agree! I agree, okay?"
Xie Qingyu was still holding her, his head lowered, resting against her shoulder. Yue Yining didn't know what was wrong with him, and was about to pat his head to remind him when she heard his slightly trembling voice: "...If Miss insists on using it, please tell me first, okay?"
"I don't want to one day discover that Miss has already..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Yue Yining already understood.
She paused, taken aback.
She had never regretted doing tortoise shell divination, but for the first time today, she felt a little guilty.
“…Xie Qingyu,” she called softly, “where did you meet me from?”
She knew that he came from an era thousands of years in the future.
She couldn't imagine what the world would be like thousands of years later, nor did she know how Xie Qingyu had come to understand her story, her life, and a woman who lived thousands of years ago, a figure who was insignificant in the grand scheme of history.
"In a novel." Xie Qingyu's answer surprised her. "You are the protagonist of that book, and I am infatuated with you, unable to sleep day and night."
Hearing him say that, Yue Yining couldn't help but feel a flush on her cheeks.
She said, "...I thought you knew me from some history book."
“You are not in the history of Dongxi,” Xie Qingyu said in a hoarse voice. “Not only you. In the history of Dongxi, there is no famous female figure. Even the eldest princess, whose records are hastily made, has no name or deeds passed down to the world. The female official system that existed for more than ten years during the Jiahe era has also been lost.”
"I later discovered that you actually existed, but you were erased from history."
Yue Yining never expected it to be like this, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Why? Because I'm a treacherous villain? Because I'm a celestial master who cultivates mystical arts? Or—" Yue Yining paused, looking at Xie Qingyu's lowered eyelids, recalling what he had just said, her throat tightening for a moment before she finally spoke, "...Could it be because we're women?"
She didn't say "I," but rather "we."
Xie Qingyu felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He dared not look directly at her, afraid that he would be unable to control the emotions surging within him. He could only hold her tightly and gently press his forehead against her chest, "...Yes."
"......."
Yue Yining looked down at him, lost in thought.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly smiled, "So that's how it is."
"What about the world a thousand years from now?" she said softly. "Will such things happen in your time?"
“No, although women still don’t have an easy life as men, it won’t be like that. They can do anything that men can do, they can become the ruler of a country, or they can become a general or a prime minister.” Xie Qingyu looked into her eyes, “If one of them becomes a hero worthy of being remembered in history, no matter who she is, no one can erase her name from history.”
“…That’s good.” Yue Yining smiled faintly. “Even if Your Highness and I fail, a thousand years from now, there will be an era in which women’s names can be recorded in history with dignity—that is the best comfort for me.”
"Before deciding to support Her Highness the Eldest Princess in her bid for the throne, I had genuinely hesitated. I thought that if there had been an empress in the thousand years of Chinese civilization before Dongxi, Yihua's path wouldn't have been too difficult," Yue Yining said slowly. "...But unfortunately, there wasn't one."
Those who dare to be pioneers often suffer setbacks and die a near-death experience. Even if they eventually overcome all difficulties and make a name for themselves in history, they must bear a price that is unimaginable to ordinary people, a price that is a lonely and heavy century.
However, if future generations discover glorious relics of the past, it may provide unexpected inspiration to people today, and this kind of inspiration is the most precious. Even if that period in history was just a fleeting moment, and even if that great person did not have a good end, her spirit has been passed down and praised for thousands of years, which is still a glorious defeat.
When later generations look back on these works and see that their predecessors had reached such heights, they will naturally feel a surge of pride and a sense of "If they could do it, so can I."
This is far more profound than the successes and failures of a hundred years; it can illuminate a thousand years and its merit will last for ten thousand generations.
"I am a cowardly person, often retreating, and even when I met you in Jinling, I was still hesitant. Because I knew that once I chose the path, I could never turn back."
Her short stay in Jiulian Town was cruelly beautiful. The more reluctant she was to leave, the more she longed for it, the more clearly she understood that separation was imminent. One day, she would have to face the questions of fate and make her choice.
Just as she was hesitating, the eldest princess arrived.
People say that fate is invisible and unpredictable. But at that moment, Yue Yining, sitting in the courtyard, saw Wei Yihua, dressed in crimson robes, slowly walking towards her, and she clearly saw her destiny.
“But do you know?” Yue Yining stroked his eyebrows and eyes, and smiled gently, “Sometimes I can be very impulsive and reckless. Whether it’s recklessness or caution, whether it’s cowardice or courage, I think these are all part of me.”
“I once told you that I would never regret any choice I made.” She gently kissed his forehead. “I still feel that way now.”
Xie Qingyu held her hand, saying nothing more, but slowly tightened her embrace. A rich, warm sensation flowed between their skin, gradually intensifying.
The heart in the chest was also beating vigorously.
He didn't want to be just her confidant and admirer. He wanted to be her accomplice, her weapon, to cut through the iron curtain of destiny and worldly norms that bound her.
He harbored delusions that he dared not tell heaven and earth or the world, but only dared to echo in his heart.
He also hoped to grow old with her and spend the rest of his life with her.
...
In the capital, the rumors about the eldest princess finally subsided.
As the head of the Princess's faction, Yue Yining always took the lead in everything, burdened with political affairs. She would often go to the Xie residence to seek pleasure and relieve stress, but unfortunately, while the stress was relieved, she would always stay up until midnight, and then she would get even less sleep.
Xie Qingyu was concerned about her sleep, so she arranged for people to help her and also took care of some backlogged documents for her.
Yue Yining and Xie Qingyu had always been rivals, but now that their relationship has been overturned, she realizes how convenient and pleasant it is to have a powerful ally.
Previously, she always needed to explain things in detail and give instructions in every aspect in order to get her subordinates to do things to her liking. But Xie Qingyu seemed to be able to read her mind and handle many things perfectly without her having to give any instructions. She couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
However, Yue Yining had only enjoyed a few days of peace when trouble came knocking again.
That day, Yue Yining was working in her residence when the gatekeeper knocked on the door, saying that someone had come to visit and claimed to be surnamed Ye.
Ye Miheng?
Why would he suddenly come looking for her?
Yue Yining was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Please invite him in and take him to the side hall to sit down. I will come over as soon as I finish what I have to do."
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Author's note: Yu Yu's jealousy is about to strike! [Sprinkling flowers] Master will be out soon too!
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