Chapter 97: The "Conspiracy" of Fengyi Palace
Xuanping Hou Mansion: The Morning Before Returning Home
Nangong Yue felt like a piece of dough that had been repeatedly kneaded and baked until it finally softened into a puddle. Even the cracks between her bones were sour and soft.
Sunlight filtered through the delicate window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the carpet. That shadow happened to fall on a dazzling, shimmering scrap of fabric—the last remnant of her "Galactic River" battle robe, a solitary pink crystal that stubbornly reflected the morning light, as if silently accusing the atrocity.
Fragments like this were scattered everywhere, on the expensive carpet, on the footstool, and even at the foot of the rosewood round stool not far away.
Red, pink, purple, gold... all kinds of light fabrics of various colors and textures, without exception, were turned into fragments the size of a palm or even smaller!
They were spread out miserably on the ground like the flags of the defeated, silently telling what a tragic cloth massacre had taken place in this gorgeous bridal chamber over the past three days and three nights!
The "wedding attire" carefully prepared by my aunt Dongfang Yuning filled an entire golden nanmu box. Each piece was worth a fortune and took countless efforts of a top embroiderer. Now... it's all turned into rags!
Nangong Yue was wrapped in a soft plain brocade nightgown, which Chen Xiaoyun had dug out from some corner this morning. The previous ones... well... didn't survive the first round of "war". She sat limply against the headboard, her eyes empty and filled with strong resentment, staring at the man who was standing by the bed, looking refreshed and neatly dressed, tying his belt.
Chen Xiaoyun was dressed in a moon-white casual suit, a jade belt tied around his waist, his black hair tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and the lines of his profile were as perfect as a jade carving.
There was a satisfied and lazy smile on his lips, and his whole body seemed to be nourished by the finest nectar. He was radiant, and his eyes and eyebrows showed a smug look. He was completely different from the henpecked man who signed the humiliating treaty in front of the palace gate three days ago.
This hypocritical and righteous look is completely different from the man who turned into an insatiable hungry wolf last night, the night before, and the night before that, pressing her down in various places (bed, couch, table, even... window?), doing whatever he wanted, and even tearing her aunt's precious "battle suit" into pieces like rags!
"Chen, Xiao, Yun!"
Nangong Yue's voice was hoarse and full of accusations. She pointed at the mess on the ground, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"Look at you! Look at what you've done! That's all my aunt's hard work! Each piece is a unique one! It's worth a fortune! The embroiderer spent months working on it! And you just... just..."
She was so angry that her chest heaved, and she couldn't find the right words to describe his brutality.
"...Tear them up like shredded paper for fun?! Do you know how many branches my Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce could open with these?!"
Chen Xiaoyun slowly fastened his belt and turned around. His handsome face showed no shame at all, but instead a natural and joyful feeling that belonged to a winner.
He walked to the bedside, leaned over, and his slender fingers, with the cool touch of the early morning, gently brushed away the slightly messy hair on her cheek. His fingertips brushed across the delicate skin, causing Nangong Yue's body to tremble subconsciously, and a tingling sensation instantly shot up from her tailbone.
"Yuer~"
His voice was low and pleasant, with a hint of the lazy magnetism of someone who had just woken up, but his eyes were like hooks, staring straight at her, and his gaze was so hot that it could penetrate the thin nightgown.
"Those clothes... are beautiful, but they're cumbersome to put on and take off, and they're also too fragile..."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over the pitiful fragments on the ground, his eyes as frank as if he was evaluating an inappropriate snack.
"...preventing me from appreciating the most authentic beauty of my little phoenix in a timely and thorough manner."
He deliberately lowered his voice for the last few words, and his hot breath brushed against her earlobe. He felt with satisfaction that the delicate body in his arms trembled again.
Appreciate?! Nangong Yue's face flushed red with anger! This shameless vixen! She's taking advantage and still acting like a spoiled brat! Admiring her for three days and three nights isn't enough?! He ripped her clothes off and said it was for "authentic beauty"?!
"You...you are shameless! A robber! A prodigal!"
She was furious. The resentment that had been accumulating for three days finally erupted. She wanted to kick this man, who had ruined such a good thing and acted so confidently, off the bed! She wanted him to also experience the pain in his back!
However, the idea is beautiful, but the reality is cruel.
As soon as she lifted her legs a little, a strong feeling of soreness and weakness originating from deep in her waist and legs instantly swept over her whole body. Not to mention kicking people, she could barely even support herself to sit up!
It felt like all the strength in her body had been drained away, leaving only the softness of cotton. She cried out "Ouch!" and her body fell uncontrollably, just in time to be caught by Shen Xiaoyun's quick eyes and hands, and then he held her firmly in his arms, hugging her tightly.
"careful."
Chen Xiaoyun chuckled softly, his chest shaking as he hugged her tighter, his chin rubbing against the top of her soft hair affectionately. His nose was filled with the unique cold plum scent of her body and the ambiguous scent he left behind. The pride and satisfaction in his tone almost overflowed.
"It seems my little phoenix... needs more training on his physical strength."
He tightened his arms, making her soft body fit completely against his own.
"I, your husband, would be happy to teach you personally."
Nangong Yue was both embarrassed and angry. She struggled in his arms, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree. It was futile. Instead, the friction brought her more strange feelings.
She could only stare angrily at his beautifully shaped jaw, listening to him whisper in her ear over and over again in that voice that could bring down saints, like the most lingering spell:
"Yue'er, you are so beautiful..."
“You smell so good…”
"Holding you... feels so good..."
Every word he said hit her most sensitive nerve precisely, causing the anger she had accumulated with great difficulty to vanish in an instant, leaving only a deeper sense of powerlessness and palpitations shrouded by his breath.
She closed her eyes in despair and wailed in her heart:
[Men who eat meat are so scary! Such black-hearted foxes! He's as energetic as a bull! Aunt, help me! I've fed all your battle gear to this hungry wolf! My waist...my legs...I feel like they're not mine anymore!]
Fengyi Palace·Morning
Emperor Nangong Yu, for once, didn't leave for the Imperial Study early, instead enjoying a leisurely breakfast with Empress Dongfang Qiwu. The exquisite rosewood round table was filled with porridge, side dishes, and a variety of dim sum, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Dongfang Yuning was yawning, with his hair messy from sleep, and was "picked up" by Nangong Ye. He sat listlessly below the queen, poking at the crystal shrimp dumplings in the bowl from time to time, looking as if he was in a trance.
Nangong Ye sat beside her, still dressed in the dark-colored uniform of a prince, his face stern and his posture straight as a pine tree. He naturally picked up and cleaned the dropped chopsticks for Dongfang Yuning, then picked up a plump shrimp dumpling and placed it in her bowl, his eyes fixed on her, as if doing something perfectly normal.
Emperor Nangong Yu observed all of this, slowly and attentively scooping a bowl of green glutinous rice porridge. His gaze casually swept over his sister-in-law, whose drooping head and inner thoughts were clearly a hundred times more exciting than the breakfast itself. A faint smile flashed across his eyes, and then he glanced at Nangong Ye calmly.
Just then—
In Dongfang Yuning's mind, System 118, like a war correspondent pumped up with energy, began a passionate live broadcast:
[Ding! Host! Latest battle report from the Xuanping Marquisate! Target Chen Xiaoyun, codenamed 'Black-Hearted Fox,' has, over the past 72 hours, implemented a brutal 'scorched earth policy' against your carefully crafted 'Newlywed Nuclear Weapon' gift pack! The battle summary is as follows:]
Dongfang Yuning shuddered and instantly regained consciousness, forgetting even to poke the shrimp dumplings:
[Scorched Earth?! My battle suit! My Worry-Free Ointment?! Tell me! What are the losses?!]
System 118:
[Report to the host! The 'Glittering Galaxy' series (including all backup suits) totaling eight sets, made of materials including top-grade Flowing Gauze, Mermaid Tears Brocade, and Moonlight Ice Silk... All have been confirmed to be physically damaged! Method of damage: Violent tearing by bare hands!]
Damage rate: 100%! Tragic scene: Debris scattered throughout the new house, the largest fragment no larger than a palm! Preliminary economic loss estimate: Starting at 13,000 taels of gold! (System simulates the sound of gold coins clattering away)]
The silver chopsticks in Dongfang Yuning's hand fell onto the table again with a "click", and his face instantly fell into a bitter melon:
Thirteen thousand taels?! Ahhhh! My heart is bleeding! Chen Xiaoyun! You prodigal vixen! That's all money! Art! Does he think it's just cabbage leaves?! Is he just tearing them up for fun?!
She seemed to see countless gold ingots growing wings and flying away wailing, and she felt like she was having a heart attack.
System 118 continued to broadcast, the electronic voice carrying a subtle excitement:
Consumption Report on 'Blooming Twin Flowers Worry-Free Ointment': Target Chen Xiaoyun's usage is... ahem, extremely unrestrained and the amount used is astonishing! Consumption is enormous! Current remaining amount: less than 5%! User experience feedback (indirectly obtained): Excellent lubrication and soothing effects, but it seems... it fails to effectively suppress the user's 'frenzy' state? Perhaps even... it acts as a catalyst? (System indicates data anomaly confusion.jpg))
Dongfang Yuning was heartbroken and roared inwardly:
[Reverse catalysis?! Does he think it's wall putty? Why put so much on it?! My formula! My spiritual spring essence! Wuuuuuu… Pay me! He must pay me!]
System 118:
[Ding! Additional core intelligence! Target Nangong Yue, status update: Continuously in 'ultra-low battery' mode! Body aches: Extremely high! Mobility: Severely limited (specifically, this morning's attempted 'kick off the bed' counterattack failed due to insufficient core muscle strength)!
Emotional State: Shame, anger, and resentment max! This morning, I've already had my third cup of ginseng-stewed snow frog soup for emergency energy! Key words have been captured in private conversations between her personal maid and the maids: "The Prince Consort is...tsk, tsk, doing very well!" "...It's been three days...and I haven't seen His Highness leave the main courtyard..." "...Hot water in the bathroom...I need it so often..." (The system automatically censors overly explicit descriptions)
Dongfang Yuning was stunned and even forgot about being sad:
[Three days?! Didn't leave the house?! Did he drink three cups of ginseng soup?! Oh my god! Is Fox Shen the reincarnation of a glutton or a starving ghost?! How can Yueyue, with her tiny body, withstand such... such...?]
She couldn't find the right words.
[What a beast! What a beast!]
Her inner thoughts were turbulent, and the expressions on her face were naturally varied. Sometimes she was heartbroken, sometimes she grinned, and sometimes she stared in shock.
Emperor Nangong Yu took in his sister-in-law's inner thoughts, as well as her unpredictable expression, which resembled a dyeing workshop. He put down his bowl of porridge, picked up his handkerchief, and wiped the corner of his mouth with an elegant gesture. Then, seemingly casually, he raised his eyes and calmly looked at Nangong Ye, who sat across from him.
The brothers' eyes met briefly in the air.
Nangong Yu's eyes were deep and calm, yet they held a questioning and certainty that only brothers and long-time subjects could understand. He didn't speak, but only raised his eyebrows slightly, barely perceptible, the message conveyed in his eyes clear as day:
[Aye, did you see that? A man who's had sex, especially a black-hearted fox like Chen Xiaoyun, is incredibly powerful... How long will your wedding leave be? Ten days? Half a month? I'll give you enough time off then! You must completely 'conquer' this lively and outgoing sister-in-law of mine, the one who can whip up a 'battle suit' and a 'worry-free cream'! Let her also experience... um... the feeling of being 'restricted in movement'. Don't let her have the energy to mess around with these... ahem... nonsense.]
This silent "conspiracy" was carried out behind the back of Dongfang Yuning, who was wailing inwardly about the economic losses and the fate of her niece. Nangong Yu was certain that the little girl could not hear what he was saying to his brother.
Nangong Ye received his brother's gaze, and his icy face remained calm. His deep eyes were like a cold pond, calm and without ripples. He did not nod or shake his head, but only lowered his eyes very slightly, almost imperceptibly. This subtle movement, in Nangong Yu's eyes, was the clearest response:
[Understood. I will manage the time. I will conquer you completely.]
He didn't even need words; the composure and determination of a top predator were already conveyed vividly through his eyes. His hands rested on his knees, his knuckles slightly bent, silently measuring the limits of a certain "resilience."
Nangong Yu was satisfied. He picked up the teacup and took a sip, hiding the knowing yet slightly mischievous smile that came from someone who'd experienced it all. Well, it seemed the Prince Yong's mansion's warehouses needed to be stocked with plenty of... uh... "consumables" in advance. This sister-in-law was much more troublesome than his own daughter, Yue.
Queen Dongfang Qiwu wiped the corner of her mouth elegantly with a handkerchief, thinking:
[Ning'er~ You have to counterattack! We'll see who wins!]
Dongfang Yuning, completely unaware of the situation, was still furiously complaining to System 118 in her mind about Shen Xiaoyun's wasteful behavior, and mourning for her future "boudoir economy" (if there still was a blue ocean), completely unaware that she had been "arranged" clearly by the two top men without making a sound.
On the Way Home: Inside the Carriage
The princess's magnificent carriage drove along the Imperial Street leading to the palace. The interior of the carriage was thickly cushioned. Nangong Yue, dressed in a dignified and elaborate palace dress, stood straight, striving to maintain the dignity of the eldest princess.
However, only she knew how much effort it took to keep her back straight! Every time the wheels rolled over the slightest bump in the road, a soreness shot through her waist, making her want to frown. She quietly pressed her lower back with her hand under her wide sleeves.
The culprit, Shen Xiaoyun, sat beside her, dressed in the crimson-purple garb of a prince, a striking figure resembling a graceful figure. He was relaxed, a gentle smile playing on his lips, but his eyes would occasionally drift towards his wife, sitting solemnly beside him. His gaze still held a lingering sense of deep satisfaction, a hint of... a lingering desire. Three days and three nights of demands had only just whetted his appetite.
Nangong Yue felt uncomfortable being stared at by him. His gaze reminded her of being stared at by a hungry wolf, and her calves began to feel weak again. She couldn't help but move quietly, wanting to get away from the source of the dangerous aura.
"Yuer?"
Shen Xiaoyun immediately noticed her movements, stretched out his long arms, and naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his arms.
His palms were warm and strong, pressing precisely on her sore waist through several layers of clothing, kneading with moderate force.
"Hmm..."
An indescribable feeling of soreness and comfort came over Nangong Yue, and she almost couldn't help but groan. This bastard! His technique is quite skilled!
"But you're tired?"
Shen Xiaoyun's voice was so gentle that it could drip water. He leaned close to her ear and whispered,
"Lean on me and rest for a while? Last night... it was your husband Meng Lang who was so reckless."
It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as he mentioned "last night", Nangong Yue instantly remembered those "battle suits" that were torn to shreds and worth a fortune. New and old hatreds surged in her heart! She turned her head abruptly, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she lowered her voice and said angrily:
"Chen Xiaoyun! You still have the nerve to say that! All my clothes! You tore them all! They belong to my aunt..."
"Shh..."
Shen Xiaoyun extended his index finger and gently pressed it against her soft lips, stopping her from speaking. His eyes were deep, filled with a kind of heart-pounding concentration and a natural dominance.
"Clothes, tear them if you want. My Yue'er, you look beautiful in anything. Even more beautiful without clothes."
The last three words were as light as a whisper, but they were so hot that Nangong Yue's ears turned red instantly.
"you…!"
Nangong Yue was so angry that she wanted to bite him, but his waist was firmly held in those magical hands, and she couldn't break free. Looking at his handsome face so close to her and the undisguised, wolf-like possessiveness in his eyes, she only had one thought in her mind:
"Men who indulge in meat are terrifying! Once the seal on this black-hearted fox is broken, it will be a disaster! Three days! Three whole days! Aunt, help me! I'm about to be sucked dry by this vixen! After the holiday, I'm going back to the palace to stay for a few days! I must! Immediately! Right now!"
She seemed to have seen the soft and comfortable big bed in Fengyi Palace waving to her.
Meanwhile, in Fengyi Palace, Emperor Nangong Yu, who had just received the news that the imperial carriage was about to enter the palace, picked up his teacup and whispered meaningfully to Nangong Ye, who was standing quietly beside him with his eyes lowered, in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Aye, did you see that? The effect of this 'conquering' is...very good. Is your marriage leave...ten days enough?" His eyes flashed with a gleam of anticipation.
Nangong Ye's long eyelashes still drooped, casting a faint shadow on his stern face. He didn't answer "enough" or "not enough," but simply pursed his thin lips almost imperceptibly. The subtle curve of his lips revealed a certainty and... anticipation that everything was under control.
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