Chapter 46 Shut up!
A kiss is no big deal.
Without hesitation, Shi Mi kissed him on the cheek. "Alright, let him go."
Everything happened in an instant, so fast he didn't even have time to blink. He was astonished, "So hasty, and they actually want me to release them?"
She knew it wouldn't be that simple; she had a feeling he was going to renege on his promise again. "Didn't you say you'd release someone after one kiss? I can give you eight kisses today, let's see if you keep your word."
He lowered his head, chuckling, "Why does everything sound so simple to you?" He took a few steps back, leaning against the desk, and pulled her close, looking up at her. "What I want is more complicated than you think. After all, these are human lives. Your kisses are too casual, as if their lives are worthless. You need to show sincerity, make me feel it's worthwhile. Remember how I kissed you before? Do it the same way, and that'll be about right."
She seemed very reluctant, "Exactly the same? That's too difficult."
“What’s so difficult?” he gazed at her and said, “When feelings are there, things will naturally become easier. You find it difficult because in your eyes I will always be a half-brother; you’ve never seen me as a man. Today, I want you to put aside your prejudices and give it a try. If you do well, one member of the Xie family will escape. If you don’t do well, then you will lose the right to negotiate with me, understand?”
Once you understand the truth, there's nothing you don't understand; just go for it!
Seeing that her expression softened, he pulled her even closer, their noses touching, and encouraged her in a hoarse voice, "Come on, give it a try."
Logically, since he did it himself, she knew every part of his body well and shouldn't be nervous. But her heart was pounding like a drum, her ears were ringing, and the closer they were to each other, the weaker her legs felt.
Looking back and forth is so pathetic. She steeled herself and pressed her lips directly to his.
He sighed softly and mumbled, "That's it... Continue."
His hand climbed up her spine, pressing against her back, gently drawing her closer. Unfortunately, the puppeteer's lips and tongue were far less nimble than his fingers; when asked to take the initiative, she was awkward and unsure what to do. He could only patiently guide her, teaching her the basics, showing her how to entwine. To him, her rapid breathing was as beautiful as heavenly music; she, too, was moved. What rules, what control over life and death—none of them mattered compared to the pleasure of love between a man and a woman!
She was struggling to breathe and had to restrain herself slightly, but that elusive distance was even more intoxicating. His lips moved down, invading her intimate area. It had been too long since they had been this close. Two or three months of self-restraint and propriety, not even allowing her to hug, had been more unbearable than being imprisoned in a dead city.
The artery in her neck throbbed, each beat like a tap on his heart. His lips were burning hot, his thoughts were fervent; one more step and he would ignite her.
Shimi was a little anxious. If she scolded him for kissing indiscriminately at this moment, would he start to nitpick again? In her confusion, she still retained some clarity. She had already gone through so much trouble, so she should just bear with it a little longer and not give up halfway.
Although he was wicked to the core, she didn't find him unpleasant at times like this. She even somewhat enjoyed his soft breathing and the feel of his fingertips tracing her skin. Regardless of whether they could consummate their relationship, he had certainly mastered the art of kissing.
Because he was leaning against the desk, he had a perfect position to descend all the way down. This wasn't right. She had to salvage the situation, so she pinched his chin and lifted his face… He still retained the innocent naiveté of his former self. She suddenly felt a pang of sympathy; seeing his pleading eyes, she had no choice but to kiss him again. The untimely thought of the Lady of the Heavy Cavalry's composure popped into her mind—after years of marriage, no longer caring about that matter; only those who had tasted both sweetness and bitterness had the right to say such things. Lu Min was pitiful; no matter how deep his scheming, he could only go so far. Thinking this, sympathy prevailed, and she unleashed her power, kissing him relentlessly.
We were locked in a passionate embrace, I don't know if that counts. Anyway, my lips are numb, that should be enough.
Shi Mi has always had this ability: to get involved quickly and to detach even faster. Once her mind returned to normal, she pushed him away, wiped her mouth, and asked, "Can you order the release now?"
He seemed a little dazed, leaning on the desk and panting heavily. Only after his emotions gradually calmed down did he slowly stand up and walk out of the study.
In the row of rooms facing south and north, there were clerks and advisors from the Grand Tutor's mansion. He raised his hand and beckoned, and someone immediately stepped forward to receive the order. After receiving the verbal command, they bowed and said yes, and then quickly went out to carry it out.
Shimi stood at the door and asked, "Shall we release it now?"
He said, "Not yet. Let the counselor draft the documents and bring them to the high seat for filing tomorrow. Only after everything is settled can we legitimately release him, instead of having to hide like a rat in the street."
That's good too. Once you're out, you need to find a way to make a living. You can't live your whole life in anonymity.
Shi Mi breathed a sigh of relief, but in her heart she was actually very worried and wanted to go and see for herself.
He turned his head to look at her, and without saying a word, he understood her hesitation.
"Are you worried that I won't keep my word and won't fulfill my promise?" He smiled gently. "Don't worry, if you're still concerned, I'll take you there tomorrow to take a look from afar."
She was an independent woman and didn't appreciate his gesture. "I can go by myself. You just do your thing and don't worry about me."
He said no, “I need to keep an eye on you and prevent you from acting recklessly. There’s something I must warn you: you can ask me for people one by one, but remember, you must not have any contact with them. Although we have all the advantages now, it’s far from the time to act without restraint. If you want to win without bloodshed, you must be good at concealing your weaknesses. The Sixteen Guards of Shangdu are not to be trifled with. If they find out your identity, the Sixteen Guards on the border will be too far away to help us. We, husband and wife, will only be able to become a pair of fugitives.”
He said a long string of things, which must have made sense. Shi Mi's mind was still somewhat confused, so she obediently nodded.
He was satisfied and kissed her cheek. "That's how you behave."
As a puppeteer, she had her pride after all. She was unwilling to be treated like a child by him, so she said fiercely, "Releasing one is the same as releasing two. Lu Min, do you want to do it again?"
This time, he was the one who was shocked. He probably never expected that this woman would be so daring.
He thought it over and over. While he was undeniably captivated by the excitement, pardoning two at once, even if it were Emperor Shengyuan's decision, would be met with strong opposition from his advisors. Therefore, he had to proceed slowly and deliberately; one cannot achieve everything at once. Afraid of disappointing her, he smiled and declined, "Once has already left me completely disoriented. If it happens again, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to prolong my life tonight. Let's wait a couple of days. But… if you're willing to share a bed tonight…"
Shi Mi looked at him with sympathy and said, "Don't make things difficult for yourself."
These words stunned him, and before he could react, she had already run away.
The next day, Fifth Hai escorted the trunks and led Ali Dao and the others into Baiyujing. As soon as they settled in, Gu Jingguan told him to prepare, as Lu Min had already made arrangements to send him to Longcheng.
“With your close assistance, we can ensure everything goes smoothly. Currently, the Yan King is a puppet, while the Empress is the real one. The slightest mistake could lead to our exposure. We must find a way to replace the Empress, the sooner the better,” Gu Jingguan said. “Can you do it within three days?”
Fifth Sea never hesitated, “No need for three days, one day is enough.”
Ran Dian offered a bad suggestion from the side, "Why not change the Empress's body? The skin is already ready."
Shi Mi and Gu Jingguan exchanged a glance and couldn't help but smile wryly. This Ban Yan thing was really hard to control.
Having a heart brings selfish desires, which is completely different from being a puppet. Look at Lu Min; isn't he the best negative example? What if that Empress Song is also a formidable character, using our strength against us and turning the tables on us? We'd have to deal with two of them then, and that would be a nightmare.
Therefore, everyone has their own expertise, and craftsmen shouldn't try to compete with politicians in terms of cunning and strategy; they could easily suffer a backlash. For now, it's best to maintain stability and for all parties to refrain from rash actions. Shi Mi entered the world with only two goals: revenge and rescuing his imprisoned clansmen. He has now accomplished half of that. Once he has rescued everyone from that cage and settled his scores with Lu Min, he can return to Lingyin Mountain to serve his master.
Someone peered out from behind the door. "By order of the Grand Tutor, we are here to escort Mr. Fifth into the Forbidden City."
Fifth Sea had nothing to prepare, so he bid farewell to Gu Jingguan and went out.
Before long, Lu Min arrived and had someone come in to greet Shi Mi and help her get into the carriage to see the relatives she had been longing for.
The carriage headed towards the outskirts of the city, to the circular manor that had imprisoned the former Yu royal family, located on the very edge of the city. Last time she passed through, she had dozed off in the carriage and hadn't gotten a feel for the route. This time, she was careful, memorizing every turn.
Unfortunately, she couldn't get close. The carriage stopped in the alleyway diagonally opposite the gate. She sat in the carriage watching Bai Heliang go in to pick up people, and watched a weathered old man bend over and come out of the gate.
The expected excitement and tears didn't come; she found she couldn't remember who this person was at all. She had followed her master into the mountains when she was six, and she had forgotten many faces. Perhaps even the people closest to her when she was a child were now blurred in her memory.
Lu Min, however, knew how to cut to the heart. "The person you're trying so hard to save, you don't even know who he is. Don't you find that ridiculous? Of the twenty-six members of the former Yu royal family, perhaps half are from collateral branches. Those closest to the throne usually don't survive to the end. You might have your cousins in this round city, but you'll never have your older brothers or sisters. So what's the point of dwelling on it? The Yu Dynasty you remember is gone forever. Even if they came out, they wouldn't have the ability to rebuild the country. Dynasties change, emperors come and go. If you can understand that, you shouldn't be so resentful. After all, those who enjoy more wealth and glory than others will surely die faster when dynasties change. It's a fair trade, ordained by Heaven long ago."
Shi Mi's mood plummeted as he watched the old man standing outside the door, looking around blankly, like a kite with a broken string, completely unaware of where he would drift to.
She had thought he would leave first and then try to find old friends to settle down, but that didn't happen.
Shi Mi's gaze turned to astonishment and unease, while Lu Min beside him smiled calmly—
The man turned around and pounded on the small door, shouting, "Open the door! I'm not leaving! Let me in!"
Shimi rarely cries, but this time the tears really flowed uncontrollably, as if all her efforts had been in vain.
She tried her best to rescue them, but never considered whether they wanted to. These people, whose self-respect and pride had been severed, had become accustomed to the confines of the high walls. There was no place for them to survive in the capital city. Rather than fighting alone, they preferred to accept their current situation and stay with their familiar loved ones day and night.
This is also Lu Min's brilliance; he understands human nature too well and releases them one by one. It's like a duck that's been penned outside a fence; it won't leave, but will only try its best to return to the flock.
Shi Mi cried bitterly, but he didn't try to comfort her. He felt it was more important to face the reality of the situation than to console her. "The Yu Dynasty is gone, its people are gone, and now you are the only remaining member of the royal family, the only true descendant of the Xie family. Do you still want to support those others? You don't even know their origins! I think you should save your energy. Instead of relying on others, focus on yourself." He wiped away her tears with his sleeve. "Emperor Sheng Yuan is in your hands. You can hide behind the scenes and issue orders, realizing your ambitions. For example, abolish corvée labor, and ensure the people no longer have to worry about their daily lives. There's also the curfew in Chong'an City; with just a word from you, Zhongdu can become a more prosperous place than the Never-Sleeping City. These things are easily achievable, so why rely on others? Even if you exert all your efforts, the one who obtains the throne may not be a good emperor. No one in this world can be trusted; the only one you can trust is yourself."
She took his words to heart and murmured, "Indeed, everything depends on oneself."
He then realized that his advice had been too thorough, seemingly driving her to the other extreme, and quickly said, "No, there's still me. You can trust me. We have a symbiotic relationship, and no one in the world wants you to live better than me. Ami, have a child, make him the crown prince of the Yan Dynasty, and in the future, if you're willing, you can even change the name of the country back to the Yu Dynasty."
Shimi turned to look at him and saw that his gaze was cold. He hadn't said "Let's have a child," but rather "You have a child." Had he already become so noble as to abandon his personal love for the greater good?
"And you?" she asked. "How do you plan to spend your time?"
He smiled forlornly. "I will continue to be the emperor's tutor. I know nothing else but how to assist the monarch. If you don't mind, I would like to stay by your side forever. I don't need you to devote your whole heart to me alone. Just leave a place for me in your heart, and that will be enough."
Confused and disoriented, she eventually understood: he meant she could have many male lovers? Yesterday's kisses and hugs weren't because he was virile again, but a setup to lure her into seeing the reality of the day. Such a pitiful and tragic character—if she didn't have some sense, she might have truly believed his good intentions.
"Let me think about it some more." She looked at the old man clinging to the door, shouting hoarsely. "If he doesn't want to leave, let him go back. We don't need to keep our agreement from yesterday."
He was reluctant, saying, "Why? Just because this person is unwilling doesn't mean others aren't. You should give them a chance. As for how they choose, that's their business. You should do your best and leave the rest to fate."
Shi Mi glanced at him disdainfully, "Do I look like a fool to you?"
He opened his mouth, but found there was nothing he could persuade her of, so he decided to follow her suggestion and had the small door reopened.
The person outside went back in. What will the scene inside be like? Will they regret not cherishing the opportunity, or be moved by their choice to be with their family?
Shi Mi was disheartened and leaned against the side of the carriage, remaining silent for a long time.
Seeing that she looked listless, he wanted to invite her to eat something nice, but she suddenly spoke up, "Yesterday I received the kite that Master released. Master's letter said that I should go back for a visit. My senior brother and I discussed it and decided to leave in a couple of days. We'll admit our mistakes and accept the punishments that need to be accepted. We haven't seen Master for a long time and we really miss him. Even if we hadn't received this letter, we should have gone back to visit him."
This news was no small matter; it caught him completely off guard. "You're leaving now? What am I supposed to do?"
She said it casually, "As long as you don't act rashly, you can hold out for a month or two without any problem. It takes about six or seven days to travel from Baiyujing to Lingyin Mountain, day and night. The round trip will take half a month, plus a short stay of three to five days, so you will definitely be back within a month. If you are worried, I will leave you the iron box, which is filled with blood and sealed with talismans and incantations. It will last for half a year, so don't worry."
Such things cannot be guaranteed to be foolproof just because they are arranged perfectly!
He frowned and asked, "You've all left. Those two in Dragon City are Yanren; they won't last a month."
“There’s Fifth Sea,” Shimi said. “Senior Brother also has an iron box. Just have Fifth Sea bless them. Besides, it’s alright for Yanren to be out of commission for a few days. He can go back to the box to recuperate. Once the Emperor claims to be ill, you can hold absolute power on the high platform. Such a good opportunity is rare, so don’t take it for granted.”
But compared to life and death, power doesn't seem to have that much appeal.
"Let's postpone it for two days, and I'll make some arrangements to go back with you. I also want to see my master and report our situation to him."
Shi Mi was startled. "Our business? You and I are completely innocent. We've never broken any rules of the sect. Don't try to get me expelled from the sect. Shut up!"
He was displeased. "Clear and innocent, how can you still explain yourself? Just yesterday, you changed the name on the marriage certificate, and the three characters 'Jie Shi Mi' were clearly visible. You actually say you didn't break the rules of the sect?"
"Of course not." She decided to stick to her guns. "I was just using you against your will. I don't understand why that marriage certificate is still valid. It's all your fault for repeatedly setting traps and scheming against me."
He was so angry with her that he lost his mind. "Lady, you're really good at kicking people after they've served their purpose."
Without batting an eye, she said, "The people in Yuancheng don't want me to save them, so of course our previous agreement has to be terminated."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was pinned against the car wall and subjected to a brutal, torrential beating.
He vented his anger brutally, almost biting her lip until it bled. "Does it not count? Besides me, who else have you done this with?"
Shi Mi waved his hands in a desperate struggle, "Shut up...shut up...shut up..."
He held her shoulders tightly, his eyes gazing straight into her heart. "I want you to remember that those three words, once written, will last a lifetime. Even if it means death, I will chase you to the King of Hell's palace, holding the marriage certificate, and ask the King of Hell to judge."
Sigh, I can't take it, I really can't take it... He's domineering and ruthless; she really can't think of any other aspect of him that's imperfect besides his own problems. It's just that fate played a cruel joke on him, letting him be poisoned. If he were still in his original body, perhaps she would never have had any contact with him.
Those lips had their own destiny; Lu Min's passion was enough to ignite them in a new round of fire. Her allure to him was irresistible, intense to the point of being fatal. He loved everything about her, from her voice to her face, from her scent to her personality; even her blunt way of speaking was utterly adorable to him. Therefore, he wanted to be with her every moment, and he even had to struggle to suppress the wildness within him to barely resist the urge to bite her.
However, her sudden change of heart really angered him. Should he continue to tolerate it?
During the struggle, her collar loosened, and he bit her shoulder without hesitation, but he couldn't bear to break the skin, leaving only two rows of clear teeth marks. She screamed in horror, but before he could scold her, he quickly covered her mouth with his, grinding his teeth fiercely, with a resolute attitude of fighting to the death.
She finally stopped resisting, her hands falling limply to her sides. He pulled away from her slightly and asked in a resentful voice, "Does it still count? Say it!"
Shimi felt he was going to die, and waved his hand groggily, "I was wrong, it's okay... it's okay."
Satisfied, he changed to a gentler demeanor and slowly kissed her tenderly, saying, "Ami, I love you. Even if you take my life, I will still love you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
