Chapter 26, first published on Jinjiang Literature City, Chapter 26 (Three Updates Combined)
Zulu Festival is an important festival for the Chaha tribe. Starting the night before, the entire tribe begins to get busy.
Ruan Yu couldn't sleep since dawn. She tossed and turned on the couch a few times, and Chao Lu woke up as well.
"What's wrong with you?"
Ruan Yu: "...I'm a little nervous."
Actually, her task was much simpler than Chaolu's; she just had to stand there holding a candlestick. But the simpler the task, the more challenging it was. Everyone would be passing by her, and if she lost face, it would be known to everyone.
Chao Lu smiled and sat up: "What's there to be afraid of? Even if there are any problems, no one will say anything about you. Everyone will just turn a blind eye."
Ruan Yu didn't believe it: "Where's Da Hadun?"
Chaolu: "For the sake of face and the important matter of Zulu Festival, she might come to you afterward at most, but what are you afraid of? If she does come to you afterward, I'm here for you."
Ruan Yu pursed her lips. Naturally, she still didn't want things to turn out this way. Why leave room for criticism when she could do her best?
Ruan Yu also got up.
"Can I watch you go horse racing today?" Ruan Yu suddenly asked.
Chao Lu: "Of course you can. You're not going to stand there all day. You can go over after it's over."
Ruan Yu nodded.
Chao Lu suddenly turned around, stared at her, and smiled: "You want to see me race horses?"
Ruan Yu: "..."
How was this conclusion reached?
Although she admitted that Chaolu was quite handsome on horseback, she wouldn't fawn over him in public. She ignored Chaolu's question and turned to go to the bathhouse to wash up.
Chao Lu smiled and followed.
The day before yesterday, he took Ruan Yu horse racing. They didn't return until midnight. When they were riding, she was both excited and scared. She gripped his waist so tightly that there are still red marks. When they came back, she was exhausted and fell asleep in Chao Lu's arms.
In the end, he carried the person back and helped them to sleep.
Of course, as compensation, Chaolu also found himself a lot of fun. The next morning, Ruan Yu found that there were more marks on her body, and she almost jumped on Chaolu and punched him a few times.
However, seeing that she really cared about this Zulu Festival last night, Chaolu didn't make trouble for her.
The two of them finished getting ready and went out the door, where Afu and Xuanniang were waiting.
"Your Highness, Khatun, preparations at Dabieji's place are almost complete. The lady said she would like to go to the Golden Tent together."
"Okay, I understand." Chao Lu nodded and led Ruan Yu to Madam Qiu's place.
Everyone was dressed very formally today. It was the first time Ruan Yu had ever seen her mother-in-law wear a Mongolian robe. Her appearance and demeanor were no less than any of the Khatuns.
Madam Qiu smiled at them and said, "Let's go."
Zulu Festival is a day of celebration. In the morning, the Great Khan, along with his family and officials, watches the horse race from the viewing platform. Chaolu is the flag bearer at the front, and this is an important moment to demonstrate the strength of the grassland people.
By this time, the area around the horse ranch was already adorned with colorful prayer flags, and the air was filled with the aroma of milk wine and roasted mutton. Men, women, and children of all ages in the tribe were dressed in brand-new Mongolian robes, their faces beaming with joyful smiles.
The riders had entered the arena, their horses snorting, the silver ornaments on their saddles gleaming in the sunlight.
Before leaving, Chao Lu suddenly squeezed Ruan Yu's fingers quietly: "I'll come find you as soon as the horse race is over."
His voice was low, and his warm breath brushed against Ruan Yu's ear. She unconsciously relaxed a little, nodded, and gave Chao Lu an encouraging look.
As the horn sounded, Hurile sat on the tiger-skin chair in the center, with Dahadun Saren beside him.
She wore a magnificent Mongolian robe adorned with pearls and gemstones. When her gaze swept over Ruan Yu, a faint smile appeared on her lips, but it was devoid of warmth.
Ruan Yu lowered her eyes and sat down on the west side with Madam Qiu and Haila, her gaze fixed on the entrance to the horse farm—Chao Lu was mounting his horse, his black armor making his figure appear even more upright. He pulled on the reins and looked towards the viewing platform. Although they were far apart, for some reason, Ruan Yu felt that his gaze was precisely on her. Unfortunately, before she could see clearly, the sound of gongs and drums rang out. Chao Lu immediately turned his horse around, tightened the reins, and his steed, Xiangwu, instantly charged forward—
The cavalry charged out of the paddock like arrows released from a bow, their hooves thundering on the grass and kicking up clouds of dust.
The crowd erupted in cheers!
Shouts and howls rose and fell in waves—
"Fourth Prince! Fourth Prince!"
This is the most exciting moment on the grassland. When the procession runs out of the horse farm, the people will also run out, and cavalrymen from the countryside will also join in. Their ultimate goal is to circle the Chaha tribe. The further they go, the larger the procession will become, until they run back to the altar of the Zulu Festival to offer the Khan the tribe's best wishes.
Chaolu led his cavalry on three laps around the vast horse track before finally charging out of the track on the last lap. As the thunderous sound of hooves faded into the distance, Hurile stood up and said, "Alright, let's go to the sacrificial altar and meet up with Chaolu there."
Everyone got up and followed. Ruan Yu was the one offering the lamps today, so she didn't walk behind as usual. Instead, she walked diagonally behind Sa Ren with Madam Qiu.
Dahadun suddenly turned around and glanced at Ruan Yu indifferently: "I wish you all the best, Xiao Yu."
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Da Hadun. I will."
As Ruan Yu walked, she suddenly noticed that her toes were swollen. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but after walking up a long flight of stairs, the feeling became more pronounced.
She looked down at her feet with some confusion. What was going on? She had tried on these shoes beforehand.
Suppressing her doubts, Ruan Yu followed the Khan and Hadun to the top of the sacrificial altar. Ruan Yu was to stand on the right side today. The priest had already handed over the candlestick, which Ruan Yu quickly accepted with both hands.
"Today, I entrust this to Siqdun."
Ruan Yu bowed slightly.
After walking up that long flight of stairs, Ruan Yu's feet seemed to swell even more.
She pursed her lips, already certain that there was something wrong with the shoes.
These aren't shoes from the Central Plains. She'd only worn them a few times, on her wedding and some other important occasions. Each time Xuan Niang and Qing Guo brought them, she'd try them on and, if they were fine, she'd keep them. But now it seems... these shoes, because of their high soles, tend to tighten up after walking in them, or her feet would swell. So they should be looser...
She has to stand here all day today; I can only imagine how painful that must be for her.
All the wedding attire was prepared by the grassland ceremonial department. Could it have been intentional? Ruan Yu recalled her own wedding; it didn't seem like it was like this at all…
Ruan Yu looked up at Sa Ren, her lips pressed tightly together.
There's nothing we can do now; the ceremony is about to begin.
The flickering candlelight reflected on her face. She took a deep breath, walked to the designated spot in front of the altar, and stood still. The crowd in front of the altar began to move slowly. The tribespeople, holding pine branch oil lamps, passed by Ruan Yu one by one, lit the pine branches with candlelight, and then offered them to their ancestors.
Ruan Yu straightened her back and held the candlestick steadily in both hands, not daring to shake it in the slightest.
The first to arrive were naturally the Khan and Khatun. When Saren passed in front of her, he glanced at her again, his expression unreadable. Nguyen Ngoc gritted her teeth, refusing to show any fear.
She tried to relax her legs; if she just stood there without walking, it shouldn't be a problem.
She may not have any other skills, but she is stubborn. The more people try to deal with her, the less likely Ruan Yu will let anyone see her make a fool of herself.
The procession moved forward slowly, for a quarter of an hour, then half an hour...
Finally, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves came from not far away; it was Chao Lu and his men returning.
Ruan Yu's back was already damp with a thin layer of sweat. Then came the Crown Prince and the Grand Khatun. When Da Mu walked past her, he didn't notice anything, but Una clearly saw Ruan Yu's condition—after all, she had stood here for many years, and no one could empathize with her better than her.
A fleeting smile crossed Una's eyes, but it vanished in an instant; Ruan Yu noticed it.
When Chaolu arrived with his men, most of the noble tribes had already lit their lamps and put them away, but there were still so many behind them…
Ruan Yu caught a glimpse of Chao Lu out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly felt a pang of grievance.
Chaolu knelt before Hurile, presented a hada (ceremonial scarf) according to custom, and reported on the situation of the tribe. Only then did he stand up and walk to Ruanyu to light a lamp.
From the moment he stood up, Chaolu's gaze was fixed on her, and now that he was closer, he couldn't look away from her face.
Because of their familiarity, Chao Lu quickly noticed something amiss. He saw the damp hair at Ruan Yu's temples and her slightly pale lips.
Chao Lu frowned slightly.
Is this... feeling unwell, unable to hold on any longer?
But only an hour and a half had passed. Ruan Yu's previous efforts had been seen by Chao Lu. Although she was usually a bit weak, she was not so delicate when it came to important matters. If it wasn't her own fault, then it must be something external.
Chao Lu took a step back and looked her up and down several times. Finally, Ruan Yu moved her foot and gave him a look.
Chaolu's brows were so furrowed they could practically trap a mosquito.
Are your feet uncomfortable?
The shoes don't fit?
In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through Chao Lu's mind. At the same time, because he had been standing in front of Ruan Yu for a while and the pine branches had not yet been lit, people behind him cast questioning glances. Ruan Yu also quickly gave him a look, signaling him to hurry up.
Chaolu came to his senses. Although his face had darkened, he eventually complied with her wishes, lit the lamps, went around to the altar at the back, and began to make offerings.
Una had already seen this scene and suspected that Chaolu had noticed it, but what could she do even if he did? The person offering the lamps was not allowed to leave the altar even for a moment, and once Ruan Yu was on the altar, there was no way she could get off halfway.
Una glanced at the figure, then looked up and found Chaolu staring at her.
She immediately lowered her head guiltily, and Damu, who was standing next to her, suddenly asked, "What's wrong with you? You seem distracted."
"Nothing, Your Highness."
"Be careful, don't make any mistakes." Damu also saw Chaolu. Actually, he was not very happy. In the past, he was the one leading the race, but this year it was Chaolu's turn. Everyone would see that Chaolu's superb riding skills were indeed better than his. Would no one remember him, the prince, soon?
But Damu said nothing and silently looked away.
Chao Lu walked around the sacrificial altar three times, and then there was nothing more for him to do. But he stood in the crowd, staring intently at Ruan Yu, his heart clenching.
Chaolu couldn't go to his mother's side, but he could find his older sister in the crowd. Hela had already finished offering the lamps and was watching the ceremony in the crowd.
When Chaolu found her and whispered something in her ear, Hela looked up in shock.
"No way."
She whispered to her brother using lip reading.
Chao Lu's face was grim: "She must be feeling unwell, I can tell."
Hela looked at Ruan Yu nervously, her eyes showing worry: "What should we do? There are still more than two hours left."
Is there any way?
Hela shook her head: "Once you're on the sacrificial altar, you can't come down."
Chao Lu's face darkened further.
"I'll go ask Xuanniang."
Hela glanced around nervously. She figured no one would notice if she left now, so she and Chaolu walked away one after the other while no one was watching.
Xuan Niang and Qing Guo were waiting outside the altar. When the Fourth Prince asked about the shoes, they were both taken aback.
"Khedun's shoes were delivered yesterday, and he tried them on."
Hela: "Didn't they say it didn't fit?"
Xuan Niang shook her head: "No..."
Qingguo suddenly said, "I suddenly remembered that Zhamuyan's shoes were delivered first, but they arrived two days late for Zulu Festival, because the workmanship was complicated..."
Hela gasped, "I'll go check on her shoes, including the embroidered shoes An'an usually wears!"
Fifteen minutes later, Hela tried it in the tent and discovered the problem.
"Shoes from the grasslands should be half a size larger than those from Chang'an because of their shape. You see, Zhamuyan's shoes fit perfectly; they must have been made to be larger. But the ones she's wearing now... I don't know."
Xuan Niang hurriedly asked, "What if we made shoes just like those in Chang'an?"
"They fit perfectly when you first put them on, but they will definitely become uncomfortable if you walk or stand for a long time."
After Hela finished speaking, everyone understood. Chaolu's face was so dark it looked like it could be wrung out, and his eyes held the urge to unleash a storm.
"Using such tactics..."
Xuan Niang and Qing Guo were filled with remorse: "It was all our negligence. What should we do?"
Hela sighed, "It's not your fault. I know she values this matter, and she should have thought of it earlier... I never expected that Big Hadun would be so petty..."
Chaolu suddenly turned and walked away quickly. Heila was afraid that he would do something impulsive, so she quickly followed him.
“I know you’re angry, but calm down first! An’an hasn’t said anything, which means she can stick to her word, and you should trust her! She’s put in a lot of effort for today, and she wants things to go smoothly more than anyone else. If you cause trouble, all of everyone’s hard work will be wasted. Even if Father Khan believes what you say, he’ll still think things didn’t go well today, and Da Hadun and the others should be happy!”
Hela patiently persuaded Chaolu from behind, and Chaolu finally stopped. Then he punched a wooden stake hard, almost knocking the colorful flags off it.
Hela stepped forward and gently patted his back: "Prepare some medicine for An'an, and comfort her well tonight."
As for this grudge, we can take our revenge slowly.
Chao Lu looked up, his eyes filled with darkness: "Sister, I didn't want to fight for it before. It was them who went too far."
...
Ruan Yu occupied the altar for a full three hours. Finally, the lamp offering for the day was about to end.
She felt like her feet no longer belonged to her.
It was so swollen; there was no room to expand inside the shoe. It felt like a piece of wood was clamped onto her feet, but she persevered.
The lighting of the lamps went perfectly without any mishaps.
In the end, Hurile gave her an appreciative look, while Saren's expression was somewhat complicated.
After the Khan and Saren left, Ruan Yu was finally free. She immediately put down the candlestick, and the next moment, Chao Lu rushed straight to her.
Because of the speed, Ruan Yu was stunned for a moment.
Chao Lu's lips were pressed into a tight line. "Can you still walk?"
Ruan Yu was taken aback for a moment, then realized that he already knew.
"I'm not sure... I'd like to change my shoes..."
Chaolu knew this, of course, and had prepared in advance. Now, under Haila's cover, he squatted down in front of Ruan Yu and took out a pair of shoes from his pocket: "Change them."
Ruan Yu was stunned. She quickly looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when she found that no one was watching. "Your Highness... how did you figure that out?"
Chao Lu didn't speak, but just held one foot. Even with a little force, it still wouldn't come off, which showed how swollen it was. His heart felt like it was being squeezed, and his face was grim, but his movements became much gentler. Ruan Yu gasped, not wanting anyone to see this, so she quickly cooperated and painfully changed the shoe.
The new shoes that Chaolu brought her were much softer and two sizes too big. Ruan Yu felt a sense of relief, but her feet were still injured, so it was still a bit difficult.
Chaolu then let her put her arm around his, just like on their wedding day, and wrapped his arms around her waist, almost carrying her as they walked. However, since it was winter, both of them wore cloaks, so their movements inside were not visible. To outsiders, they only appeared to be very close to each other, and someone couldn't help but joke, "The Fourth Prince and this new Khatun seem to have a pretty good relationship."
"Yes, they're really inseparable."
Una heard this, glanced at it indifferently, then looked at her mother-in-law, Saren, who also showed no expression.
Zulu Festival is finally over! There will be no royal banquet tonight; according to custom, everyone should go home and eat dumplings and drink poza wine.
So after leaving the golden tent, Chao Lu immediately picked up Ruan Yu and strode towards his own tent. Ruan Yu quickly looked around, and Chao Lu said, "No one is watching you. It's not the first time!"
Ruan Yu had nothing to say. Relaxing, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Chao Lu's profile. His taut jawline looked as if it had been cleaved by an axe, very sharp. The corners of his lips were also taut and straight, suggesting that his master was not in a good mood at the moment.
As soon as I got back, Xuanniang and Qingguo brought me some medicinal soup for soaking my feet.
"Khedun, this contains a decoction of medicine; it will make you feel much better..."
Ruan Yu was put down by Chao Lu: "You all know..."
Xuan Niang glanced at Chao Lu beside her, "It was the Fourth Prince who discovered it. He came and told me that it was all my negligence..."
Ruan Yu glanced at Chao Lu and said, "It's alright, you can go down now."
Chao Lu remained silent, and indeed did not want the maids to stay there. After everyone had left, he squatted down in front of Ruan Yu and began to help her take off her shoes and socks.
Ruan Yu asked curiously, "How did you figure that out?"
Chao Lu said sullenly, "I felt uncomfortable with you. From beginning to end, you only moved your foot once. Didn't you even wink at me back then?"
"Huh? Did I?" Ruan Yu thought for a moment.
"I... I was just trying to hurry you up. You've been standing in front of me for too long. Everyone's watching."
Chao Lu looked up: "Didn't you want me to help you?"
Ruan Yu: "No, in that situation, how could you possibly help me? It's just a little pain, I can bear it."
For some reason, Chao Lu became even more unhappy. Ruan Yu's shoes and socks had been taken off, and her originally fair and tender little feet were now obviously red and swollen, and painful to the touch. Ruan Yu couldn't help but gasp.
Chao Lu: "They're just like two big radishes! Still trying to act tough!"
Ruan Yu: "..."
Forget it, she decided not to argue with him, because as Chao Lu spoke, he pressed Ruan Yu's foot into the medicine basin.
Its mouth is as hard as stone, but its movements are quite gentle.
Upon contact with the warm water, Ruan Yu finally relaxed quite a bit...
"What kind of medicine is this...? It feels quite comfortable..."
Chaolu didn't say anything, but got up and wiped his hands.
Ruan Yu wisely shut her mouth, then watched as he turned and left, returning shortly afterward with the food.
Ruan Yu was even more puzzled: "Why didn't you call the servants in to serve you?"
Chao Lu smirked: "Isn't it good for me to serve you?"
Ruan Yu felt that Chao Lu was acting strangely tonight; how to put it, it was as if...
Never mind, she can't describe it anyway.
"That's nice, but I need to wash my hair and take a shower later. Will you serve me too?"
Ruan Yu had said it jokingly, but to her surprise, Chao Lu nodded and said, "Of course."
Ruan Yu suddenly regretted it. She had really been stupid. This was no trouble at all for Chao Lu; he might even be quite happy about it...
"No need... You've had a long day, you should get some rest..."
Chao Lu suddenly moved closer, leaned down and stared at her, grinning and saying, "It's okay, I'm not tired at all, I'm in great spirits!"
He emphasized these words, but for some reason, Ruan Yu felt like crying...
For dinner, they ate dumplings, which were plump and white. Ruan Yu ate a dozen or so and was full. She also drank a bowl of soup and ate a bowl of milk skin, which was a lot for her. When she looked up again, she saw that Chao Lu was still stuffing dumplings into her mouth, staring at her as if he was eating her, not dumplings.
Ruan Yu's feet need to be soaked for half an hour, so she was eating while soaking in the medicinal bath. Chao Lu didn't mind and insisted on moving a table in front of her to eat together.
He ate while watching her.
Ruan Yu felt uneasy under his gaze: "I'm full... have you finished eating? Is the bath ready? Can I get up now...?"
Chao Lu finished the rest of his dinner in a few bites: "Wait a bit, I'll apply the medicine for you when I get back."
He personally cleared away the bowls and plates. When he went out, Ruan Yu clearly heard Afu and the others outside, but for some reason, Chao Lu wouldn't let them in.
Ruan Yu also heard Hela's voice, as well as Yang Chong and Has...
Chaolu talked outside for almost fifteen minutes before returning with the medicine.
Ruan Yu peeked out and asked, "What's wrong? Did my sister come to see me?"
Chao Lu: "She came to see you and asked how you were. I told her you were fine and to go see her and your mother tomorrow."
Ruan Yu: "Can you let my elder sister in? And does Mother already know?"
"knew."
Ruan Yu wanted to ask Yang Chong and Has what they wanted to see him about, but Chao Lu refused to say.
He sat down in front of the tub, grasped Ruan Yu's ankle, and lifted it to examine it. Ruan Yu was forced to bend her leg, a position that made her a little embarrassed, because Chao Lu was very close, almost leaning over to get a closer look. Ruan Yu's cheeks flushed slightly: "I'm fine now... This medicine is very effective..."
Chao Lu looked up and gave her a deep look: "Want to take a bath? I'll help you."
Ruan Yu: "..."
They tried, but to no avail.
Ruan Yu resigned herself to her fate.
In the bathhouse, Chao Lu behaved himself and helped Ruan Yu wash her hair, just as Ruan Yu had done for him before.
After that, Ruan Yu slid into the bathtub like a fish, shrinking back and refusing to surface.
But to everyone's surprise, Chao Lu also stepped in after a while.
Ruan Yu turned to look at him in disbelief. The man hugged her from behind, and then showered her with kisses.
Ruan Yu let out a sob, gripping the tub tightly with both hands, petals from the water sticking to the back of her hands and arms.
Her delicate white skin and vibrant red complexion darkened further and further in Chao Lu's eyes.
But the man didn't make any further moves, only asking softly, "Does it still hurt?"
"No, it doesn't hurt."
Ruan Yu huddled in the corner of the bathtub. If she were seen from the outside, she would only be able to see Chao Lu's broad back. Perhaps she could vaguely see another small head through his head, or a head of black hair and a snow-white neck that were faintly visible.
This is a posture of confining private property; Chao Lu has cornered people.
The bathtub was naturally not deep enough, and Ruan Yu was half-sitting inside when suddenly a hand grabbed her foot and lifted her up a little.
Chao Lu seemed not to believe her, and touched her again to make sure the swelling had gone down. But this only made Ruan Yu curl up even more, and Chao Lu held her tightly in his arms without exposing her at all.
The water was getting cold, and Ruan Yu urged him to get up.
Chao Lu nodded and took a thick, soft handkerchief to wrap the person up.
By this time, it was completely dark. Ruan Yu was carried back to the bed by Chao Lu. The man didn't say a word the whole time, but he thoughtfully dried her wet hair. After Ruan Yu lay down on the warm and dry bedding, Chao Lu turned around. Ruan Yu thought he was going to get the medicine, but when the man came back, his shirt was gone.
Ruan Yu's cheeks suddenly flushed.
"Aren't you going to apply medicine...?"
Chao Lu: "Wait a minute."
He casually tossed his coat aside, pulled aside the cumbersome bedding, and even carelessly discarded the animal skin he originally liked.
Ruan Yu's heart pounded wildly; she knew for a moment that she couldn't escape it tonight.
"Wait, wait a minute. I need to get something..."
She spoke haltingly, pointing to the drawer in front of the dressing table, which Xuan Niang had prepared. Chao Lu was puzzled, but took it from her.
What is this?
The porcelain box was opened, and Chao Lu took a sniff.
It has little smell, but it looks like an ointment or something similar.
Ruan Yu blushed, unable to speak, and stammered.
But Chaolu's observation skills are actually very good; otherwise, he wouldn't have noticed her discomfort so quickly. So, after a moment of doubt, he touched her again. Most importantly, combining the "knowledge" he had learned in the past few days, he quickly guessed the answer.
He smiled, looking rather handsome in the candlelight, then casually tossed the porcelain bottle aside and leaned closer to Ruan Yu.
Do you want to use it?
Her voice was soft and seductive, even a little provocative.
Ruan Yu closed her eyes: "Xuan Niang said, said it would be better to use it..."
Chao Lu said, "But I want to try it first."
Ruan Yu: "..."
Seeing that she kept her eyes tightly closed, as if she would not open them again, Chao Lu leaned forward and softly kissed her lips.
He didn't stay for long before raising his head.
Ruan Yu seemed a little puzzled. The next moment, she felt her bedding being pulled away.
…………
She finally understood why Chao Lu hadn't helped her apply the medicine earlier; it would have been pointless anyway, as it would have had to be washed off eventually.
Chao Lu massaged her feet again, and Ruan Yu really couldn't feel anything anymore, but the man just wouldn't believe it.
Suddenly, she felt a light touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and she shivered.
It was clearly very light, but her reaction was extreme!
Ruan Yu suddenly heard Chao Lu chuckle softly, very quickly and very quietly, but she heard it nonetheless.
She pulled the blankets over her head, like an ostrich burying itself in the sand, refusing to acknowledge him anymore.
That familiar feeling came back that day.
From bottom to top.
Ruan Yu's hands sometimes gripped the edge of the bedding, and sometimes scratched the soft couch beneath her.
Finally, struggling to breathe, she suddenly threw off the covers, gasping for air, her cheeks flushed, sweat trickling down her forehead like a rosy peony after the rain.
I still felt it—that inevitable pain.
But it didn't seem as difficult as I had imagined.
Because it's just too long.
She couldn't even tell what time it was anymore—
But Ruan Yu remembered everything that happened afterward very clearly.
Chao Lu's arms were supporting her on both sides. No matter whether Ruan Yu turned left or right, she could see his swaying forearms. His lean forearms had well-defined muscles and taut veins, without an ounce of fat.
Ruan Yu could no longer tell what time or place it was; she only remembered being enveloped and embraced, completely covered.
...
Morning.
The first rays of sunlight shone on the grassland.
It probably rained last night.
Dewdrops dripped from the tips of the grass blades, like dewdrops hanging on Ruan Yu's curled eyelashes.
She finally opened her eyes, still groggy, and felt the morning light.
However, the figure of Chao Lu was still the first thing that caught my eye.
He lay on his side, his chest exposed, with a jade pendant right in front of him. Ruan Yu blushed, her consciousness returning, and she finally struggled a few times, trying to escape from this terrible confinement.
Chao Lu clicked his tongue. "Awake?"
Her voice sounded normal, not like she had just woken up, so he lay on his side, watching her for who knows how long.
Ruan Yu looked up and glared at people. She must look terrible right now because she felt like her throat was on fire, her eyes were red, and her eyelids were tight.
Chao Lu sensed her resentful gaze and coughed lightly: "Want some water? Or something to eat?"
"Water..." Ruan Yu began, startled by her own voice.
Chao Lu immediately got up, brought over a bowl of warm water, and held her in one arm as she sipped it.
Extremely thirsty, Ruan Yu finished the entire bowl of water.
Only then did I feel my throat, which felt like it was on fire, get much better.
"Do you want more?" Chaolu asked, staring at the person.
Ruan Yu shook her head and curled up in bed again.
Chao Lu lay down next to her, but his hands were restless. He reached over to wipe the water droplets from her mouth, then lingered on her cheeks, pinching the soft flesh and touching her earlobe. In the end, he even tried to crawl under the covers.
Ruan Yu could no longer bear it and glared at him again!
Chao Lu paused, realizing she was truly angry, and then sheepishly withdrew his hand.
"Go to sleep, it's still early. I'll tell my mother that there's no need for me to pay my respects."
Ruan Yu closed her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to him. Chao Lu was not annoyed and continued talking to himself: "Then I have to go to the training ground and the horse farm. I'll see how things go at noon. If I can come back to have lunch with you, I will. If not, you can eat by yourself."
Ruan Yu silently thought, "It's best if they don't come back."
Finally, Chaolu chuckled, put on his clothes, and came closer again.
"What are you doing now?" Ruan Yu opened her eyes impatiently, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu. She didn't say anything, but she leaned in and kissed her!
No, it's not kissing, it's more like sucking.
Then he jumped up, turned around, and left quickly.
Ruan Yu had neither the strength to hit nor the strength to scold. Just like last night, she only glanced at the empty porcelain vase on the bedside table.
Did Xuan Niang prepare five or four?
Ruan Yu closed her eyes in anger, wanting to cry.
...
Chao Lu was in high spirits and greeted everyone with a friendly expression when he arrived at the training ground.
Good morning, Your Highness!
"Your Highness looks quite well!"
Chao Lu smiled and went straight to the training ground, where Has and Yang Chong were already waiting.
Upon seeing them, Chao Lu's smile vanished.
"Is everything taken care of?"
"Yes, don't worry!"
Has has plenty of tricks up his sleeve, and Yang Chong is a cautious man, so he shouldn't cause any trouble.
Chaolu glanced at Hadun's tent and nodded.
"You've worked hard, go and take a rest."
At that moment, Sarin had just gotten up when he heard Una run in, crying and sobbing.
"Mom! Mom, please help me..."
Saren glanced at her: "What's wrong with you?"
Una's eyes were red: "Chaolu went too far! I got the news this morning that Batu's braid was cut off last night, and the cut hair was left by his bedside! Ruan Yu's shoes were also left there!"
Saren was so startled that he stood up!
"What audacity!"
Una cried, "There's blood on the sole of the shoe. I don't know if it's Ruan Yu's or if Chao Lu put it up there to scare people. Mother, what should we do!"
Batu was in charge of all the servants in the Ministry of Ceremonies; this was a warning...
Batu is actually Una's distant uncle, but not many people know this.
Saren clenched his fist.
"Chaolu..."
Una: "This is too humiliating for him. What does Chaolu want to do? Is he going to cut off his head over such a trivial matter?!"
Saren: "He dares!"
But her voice was clearly trembling.
She thought of that day when Cha Su made a scene, and how Chao Lu's second crossbow could have pierced his genitals. Also, a few days later, she heard that the person who injured Ruan Yu had lost an entire arm and hand.
The devil! The child born to that Han woman is a devil!
Saren slumped down: "The devil has awakened...and declared war on me..."
Una pursed her lips and sat down beside her: "Mother, Chaolu's bloodline is not pure after all, so it won't affect Damu's position, right?"
Saren gave a wry smile: "Impure? Look at the Great Khan now, does he still care about that?"
A look of horror flashed in Una's eyes: "Mother..."
Saren pinched his palm. "Write a letter to your father right now and tell him to have Damu come to see me later."
Una was completely flustered and lost all sense of direction. She stumbled and retreated.
Aunt Mu stepped forward and hesitated, saying, "Da Hadun, the Fourth Prince probably just wants to teach the people in the Ministry of Rites a lesson. Please don't get too emotional about it."
Saren: "No, he's a wolf cub, he's grown up and can't be tamed. If I don't act now, sooner or later he'll bite my neck off...!"
Aunt Mu lowered her eyes and remained silent.
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Author's note: 30 red envelopes. The next chapter will be released tomorrow at noon, probably.
[Kiss] I changed the cover! Isn't it gorgeous! I also ordered a character card of Chaolu, which cost several hundred yuan. °(°°)°
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