Chapter 31 Ah Ying, what exactly are you trying to do? ...
Yan Xue removed the peony from her head and asked Cheng Huai to invite Judge Lin.
Seeing his solemn expression, Chi Ying belatedly realized that she had only taken a sip of wine, yet her reaction was so strong. Could it be that there was something wrong with the peony?
At first, she felt slightly unwell, but she didn't think much of it, assuming that she and alcohol were naturally incompatible. Today was a palace banquet, and she didn't want to lose her composure or attract attention, so she just endured it.
After enduring this torment, it felt as if a floodgate had suddenly opened within my body, and the restlessness in my blood surged upwards, spreading densely throughout my limbs and bones.
Her cheeks were unusually flushed, and her mind was foggy. It was as if something invisible was driving her, making her want to get closer to him, even closer.
But she couldn't.
I had a vague feeling that once I got close to him and hugged him, everything would get out of control.
Chi Ying clenched her fingers tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, the pain bringing her back to her senses for a moment.
This was a palace banquet, and her thinning sense of reason wouldn't allow her to make any suggestive moves in front of everyone.
Yan Xue helped her to her feet, "Are you able to walk?"
Chi Ying bit her lower lip. "Yes."
Yan Xue chuckled and asked again, "Are you sure you want to come back with me?"
Chi Ying looked completely bewildered, not understanding why he asked that question.
Yan Xuecui remained silent for a moment, her Adam's apple bobbing: "Take my hand, let's go back to the manor."
Chi Ying's fingers trembled as she reached out and grasped his hand with a slight, almost imperceptible, dependence.
King Zhao was blind, and to others, it was just an ordinary act of her helping him away.
Princess Yu Xi, seeing that they were about to leave and noticing that Chi Ying's face was flushed and she seemed unwell, quickly went forward to check on her.
“I’m fine,” Chi Ying gave her a strained smile. “I’m just a little tipsy, so His Highness and I will head back to the palace first.” Princess Yu Xi could only nod: “Then, Seventh Sister-in-law, we’ll see you another day.”
Chi Ying: "Okay."
The carriage stopped outside Yongshun Gate. It wasn't a long distance, but Chi Ying found the journey extremely arduous.
In the bright and sunny spring of March, the sunlight felt like a scorching fire on the skin, and after only a few steps, fine beads of sweat appeared on the forehead.
She desperately wanted to be near anything cool, to bury her face in a mountain spring, to drink the cold tea from last night in one gulp, and to think of how every summer she would go into the mountains to pick wild fruits, soak them in well water, and take a bite, the coolness seeping straight to her heart...
She also remembered that silk nightgown, and wanted him to wear it, then press herself tightly against him, feeling the comfort of being enveloped in coolness, so as to extinguish the secret heat that was constantly burning inside her.
...
Side hall of Fufeng Hall.
Princess Rui's clothes were disheveled, her face flushed, and only a large cloak wrapped tightly around her trembling body as she hid behind the screen, her eyes red from crying.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. After a few drinks, her whole body felt like it was on fire. She was sweating profusely, and a burning itch coursed through her veins, but she couldn't scratch it.
Left with no other choice, he and his personal maid went to a side hall to rest. After lying down, he drank several cups of cold tea, but the heat did not relieve him in the slightest. From his chest to his waist and abdomen, and then to his groin, it felt as if countless tiny ants were gnawing at his flesh.
She tugged at her clothes impatiently, about to call her maid to fetch the imperial physician, when the palace doors were suddenly pushed open and the Eighth Prince, reeking of alcohol, barged in…
When Emperor Yongcheng stepped into the palace, he saw his daughter-in-law huddled behind a screen, trembling with fear, and his son, who was flushed and reeking of alcohol.
He grabbed a pot of tea from the table and poured it directly over the Eighth Prince's head, angrily shouting, "You unfilial son! What happened? Tell me the truth!"
The Eighth Prince was in a good mood today. During the banquet, he complained that the Pear Snow Wine was not strong enough, so he asked the servants for Jade Pot Spring Wine to drink. Unexpectedly, the wine was so strong that it burned his heart. After drinking a pot, he felt dizzy and lightheaded. He wanted to find a side hall to relieve himself and rest, but when he pushed open the door, he bumped into the Prince Rui's sister-in-law there!
He was so startled that he instantly sobered up, apologized, and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, a palace servant on patrol happened to be passing by, heard the commotion inside, and immediately went into the palace to check.
He had originally apologized privately and the matter would have been over, but this palace servant, fearing nothing more than peace and quiet, had even alarmed the Emperor!
Prince Rui followed Emperor Yongcheng into the palace. He was both shocked and furious to see his wife weeping uncontrollably and his younger brother trembling in fear.
The Eighth Prince knelt on the ground and swore to the heavens, "Father, please believe me! I just came in and didn't see anything! Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I had no idea Your Majesty's sister-in-law was inside!"
Prince Rui took a deep breath and finally calmed down. He said to Emperor Yongcheng in a low voice, "Father, Yu Zhen and Eighth Brother left the banquet not long ago. There is absolutely no possibility of anything bad happening in the short term. On the contrary, someone deliberately made a big fuss about this matter and attracted everyone here. This matter is suspicious in every way. I ask Father to investigate it thoroughly."
The Eighth Prince echoed, "Yes, Father! Someone must have framed me!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the cries of a young child came from outside the palace gates. The young prince, who had been entrusted to the care of his wet nurse, suddenly burst into the palace, crying and shouting, "It's not Mother's fault! Grandfather, please don't punish Mother!"
Prince Rui's expression changed drastically. He immediately covered the child's mouth and sternly rebuked the wet nurse following behind him: "Who told you to bring him in?"
The wet nurse knelt on the ground, weeping, "A palace maid I don't recognize ran over. The princess made a mistake in the side hall and told the young prince to come and plead for her immediately, otherwise His Majesty would punish the princess..."
Emperor Yongcheng angrily rebuked: "This is utter nonsense!"
Originally, this matter could have been suppressed, but with the palace servants instigating the prince to make a scene, this scandalous affair is likely to become common knowledge.
Emperor Yongcheng's face was grim. He ordered everyone in the palace not to spread the word, and asked the Empress to preside over the trial, sending all those involved to the Shenxing Division for severe interrogation.
Princess Rui was weak and powerless, and had no choice but to cooperate with the investigation. Prince Rui had to take her and the young prince back to his mother, Consort Yi's palace for the time being, and ask the imperial physician to come and treat them.
However, despite the attempt to suppress the news, it was still secretly spread by those with ulterior motives.
Inside Fufeng Palace, some people watched from the sidelines, while others gloated. In particular, seeing that Madam Zhen, the wife of Governor Pei Zhi of Jiliao, had a livid face and that Miss Pei was also sullen, everyone knew that this marriage was probably doomed.
With Pei Zhi gone, the Eighth Prince's supporters were relieved, though the other princes and concubines didn't show it on their faces.
Outside Yongshun Gate, horse-drawn carriages rumbled back.
Chi Ying's blood was burning hot, and her clothes were soaked with sweat.
The once spacious carriage now felt so cramped, the curtains around her like an impenetrable net, making it hard for her to breathe, her reason almost completely burned away by the heat surging beneath her skin.
The only person she had ever been close to was right in front of her, and the refreshing scent of garland lured her closer.
She knew he couldn't see, which was why she dared to stare at him with such a sticky and yearning gaze, shamelessly trying to find some comfort. But she soon realized it was useless.
The burning sensation within her body made her tremble and restless. The antidote was right in front of her, visible yet untouchable, and she had no right to ask him for anything. She wasn't sick; rather, she was very likely contaminated by something unclean. This realization made her feel ashamed and almost brought her to the brink of collapse.
If he wanted to help her, he would have done so already, wouldn't he?
But could you please ask him?
They were still husband and wife, and she had helped him a few times. They kissed and embraced each other every night before falling asleep. He had even said that she should tell him if she felt unwell...
Yes, you can tell him. He can't see, so he doesn't know how miserable and tormented she is.
Chi Ying slowly moved closer to him, her breathing becoming more and more rapid, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably. After hesitating for a long time, she finally reached out and gently grasped his fingers.
Just as withered flower petals receive a drop of water, the anxiety in her heart was not completely quelled. She boldly, yet cautiously, intertwined her fingers with his.
Whether it was my imagination or not, the man's hand seemed to tremble slightly as well.
Chi Ying spoke softly, "Your Highness, may I..."
Yan Xuecui's fingers were held by her, and the veins on her arms were visible beneath her wide robe.
He didn't know what she was worried about. She usually used sweet words to say that she loved him and would obey him, but at this moment, she still hesitated and was unwilling to give herself to him.
Was it for King Xuan's sake?
In fact, ever since he discovered her abnormal behavior in Fufeng Palace, her disordered breathing, the heat in her palms, and her soft, sticky tone of voice had been repeatedly eroding his will.
But he kept waiting, wanting to see what she would do—whether she would try to beg her master for help, or settle for second best and ask her, her nominal husband.
A strange restlessness surged through her body. Yan Xue rubbed her temples and asked with a deep laugh, "Can I what?"
Chi Ying bit her lower lip, her eyes red-rimmed.
She was a criminal who impersonated a princess. In the past, she obeyed him and served him only to please him, to protect herself, and to avoid revealing her secrets. But she was too ashamed to admit that she would take the initiative to seduce him and ask him to satisfy her.
Seeing that she hadn't moved, Yan Xuecui chuckled softly, "Aying, what exactly do you want to do?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the girl's soft, hot lips gently landed on his lips, shy and timid, pressing down on them little by little.
A long silence fell around him, and though he couldn't see, the sensation on his lips became exceptionally clear.
Her hot breath brushed against his lips and teeth, and as if that wasn't enough, she stretched out her arms to hug his neck, sat on his lap, and pressed her whole body against him.
Just like how he held her tightly every night.
The girl's soft tongue cautiously probed in, mingling with his lips and tongue, as if she had timidly come to his door, clumsily trying her best, just to ask him for a sip of water.
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A note from the author: I have a herniated lumbar disc, and the back pain is so bad that I can't sit or lie down comfortably all day. I can only write this much, I'm really sorry. I'll send some red envelopes in the comments section to comfort everyone [heart][heart]
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