Spring is in full bloom
On the third day of the third lunar month, spring was in full bloom in the capital.
Because the Empress was unwell, the Emperor specially ordered Consort Xiao to preside over the flower appreciation banquet.
In the Imperial Garden, peonies were just beginning to bloom, crabapple blossoms were in full bloom, and flowers of all colors were vying for attention. Noble ladies in brocade and fine clothes moved among them, creating a flowing picture of court ladies.
As Xu Qingyao followed her maid through the winding corridor, she could hear a silvery laugh from afar.
"Oh, isn't this Madam Xiao?" Princess Anyang, dressed in a pale yellow gauze dress and holding a round fan, glanced at Xu Qingyao and said with a hint of sourness, "I've heard that General Xiao has been very busy with official duties lately. How could he bear to let his wife attend the banquet alone?"
Before Xu Qingyao could answer, the Fourth Princess Chu Fuguang scoffed, "Sister Anyang, what are you saying? Does Madam Xiao need the General's permission to go out? Could it be that you're still thinking about..."
"Fourth sister!" An Yang's face flushed red, both ashamed and angry.
Xu Qingyao couldn't help but smile as she watched the two girls bickering.
She couldn't help but recall the time she spent joking around with her roommates in college, and thought to herself: Sixteen or seventeen-year-old girls are so cute, not yet overwhelmed by the job search.
Sixth Princess Chu Lingxi jumped in at the opportune moment: "Fourth Sister, stop fooling around! I just saw Fifth Brother preparing a poem topic at the Qushui Pavilion, let's go quickly!" After saying that, she grabbed Chu Fuguang and left, not forgetting to wink at Xu Qingyao before leaving.
At the flower-viewing banquet, the noble ladies would either compose poems, play the zither, or paint.
After dealing with several rounds, Xu Qingyao gradually felt the aftereffects of the peach blossom wine rising, so she wanted to find a quiet place to rest.
Upon arriving at the pavilion, they saw the Third Princess Chu Xue Zhao standing alone under the flowering tree, her white robes fluttering in the wind, like a lone crane standing alone.
"Your Highness," Xu Qingyao bowed.
Chu Xue Zhao turned her head, her expression aloof: "Madam Xiao, there's no need for such formalities." She paused, then asked seemingly casually, "I heard your brother recently went to Yangzhou?"
Xu Qingyao's heart stirred slightly, but he didn't show it on his face: "Yes, my brother was ordered to go south to investigate a case and has not returned for half a month."
Chu Xue Zhao gently stroked the petals with her fingertips and whispered, "Is the spring scenery in Yangzhou... beautiful?"
Xu Qingyao understood and said gently, "My brother wrote to me the other day saying that the magnolias in Yangzhou are in full bloom. If Your Highness likes them, I will have someone send a few branches to the palace another day."
Chu Xue Zhao's ears turned slightly red, and she coughed lightly, "No need to trouble yourself." After saying that, she turned and left, her back still aloof, but with a hint of panic in it.
[Host, why did the Third Princess ask about your brother?] The system was somewhat puzzled.
Xu Qingyao smiled mysteriously: "Children shouldn't pry into adult matters. Besides, aren't you a system? Look it up yourself."
The flower-viewing banquet continued until evening, and Xu Qingyao returned home late at night. She had drunk a little too much and felt dizzy, so Yuejian quickly prepared hot water and lit the calming incense given to her by Consort Li.
"This incense was specially bestowed by the Empress, who said it can calm the mind and soothe the spirit," Yuejian said with a smile.
Xu Qingyao didn't think much of it and lay down to rest after taking a bath.
But as soon as she got into bed, she felt unbearably hot all over, her breathing became rapid, her cheeks burned, and her fingertips unconsciously tugged at her clothes: "Tsukimi... open the window..."
No one answered.
Something's not right...
She struggled to sit up, intending to extinguish the incense, but her limbs went weak and she fell back onto the bed.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Zhouyan strode in, bringing with him the chill of the night dew. He had just finished a meeting at the Ministry of War when he saw Xu Qingyao curled up in the brocade quilt, her black hair disheveled and her eyes red-rimmed.
His gaze darkened: "Qingyao?"
"Hot..." She unconsciously grabbed his sleeve, her fingertips burning hot.
Xiao Zhouyan grabbed her fidgeting hand, and with his other hand reached for the incense burner, picked up a pinch of ash, sniffed it, and his face turned cold: "Aphrodisiac incense?"
He immediately swept out the incense burner with a flick of his sleeve, picked Xu Qingyao up horizontally, and headed straight for the bathhouse. Immersed in cold water, Xu Qingyao regained some consciousness, but still could not suppress the heat within her body. Her soaked gauze dress clung to her skin, outlining her graceful curves.
Xiao Zhouyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He forcibly looked away and said in a hoarse voice, "Bear with it."
Xu Qingyao used the buoyancy of the water to wrap herself around his neck, her breath sweet as orchids: "Help me...please..."
"You..." Xiao Zhouyan's breath hitched. He grabbed her groping hand and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Do you know who I am?"
She opened her eyes groggily, his silhouette reflected in her misty pupils, and suddenly smiled softly: "...Husband."
This sound seemed to be the final blow that shattered reason. Xiao Zhouyan leaned down and bit her lips, pressing his palm against her lower back and pulling her completely into his arms.
The candlelight flickered, casting intertwined shadows on the screen.
Xiao Zhouyan's hands were large and strong, bearing the calluses from years of wielding a sword. His movements were clumsy yet gentle, and each touch of his fingertips sent a shiver down Xu Qingyao's spine.
"Relax……"
He whispered a seductive whisper in her ear, his other hand gripping her waist tightly to keep her still. Xu Qingyao tilted her head back, her slender neck forming a beautiful arc, tears sliding down her tightly closed eyes and disappearing into her hair.
...
Outside the window, the rain was pouring down and thunder was booming.
*
As night deepened, the candlelight flickered inside the Lichun Palace, casting half of Shenrou's face into shadow.
Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and torrential rain poured down. The raindrops pounded on the glazed tiles, making a rapid tapping sound, as if echoing her turbulent thoughts at that moment.
Shen Rou leaned against the soft couch, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table as she listened to the report from the guards.
"General Xiao personally detoxified Xu Qingyao?" She chuckled, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. "I didn't expect him to be able to hold back."
A trusted palace maid whispered, "Your Majesty, that 'Spring Night' drug is extremely potent; ordinary people simply cannot withstand it. How could General Xiao..."
“If he were an ordinary person, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.” Shen Rou lazily raised her hand, signaling her to step back.
Once she was alone in the hall, Shen Rou took out a secret letter from her sleeve and slowly unfolded it. The letter was in Yan Zhan's own handwriting:
"The delegation will arrive in Beijing in three days. Don't forget your promise."
She lightly stroked the letter with her fingertips, a cold smile playing on her lips.
"Xiao Zhouyan, do you think the detoxification is the end of it?"
"The real show has only just begun."
*
The next morning, when Xu Qingyao woke up, Xiao Zhouyan was no longer in the room.
[Host, you're finally awake.]
The system looked mournful; it had been locked in a dark room ever since Xiao Zhouyan arrived last night.
Xu Qingyao's eyes darted away: Who told you not to remind me?
Yuejian brought in a bowl of hangover soup. Seeing that she looked dazed, she asked cautiously, "Madam, are you... alright?"
Xu Qingyao rubbed her temples, the memories of last night returning, and her ears burned again.
She coughed lightly, feigning composure: "It's alright."
She paused, then asked, "Where is the general?"
“The general entered the palace early this morning, saying that His Majesty summoned him.” Yuejian hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice. “Also… news came from the palace this morning that the Li Kingdom delegation will be coming to the capital in three days.”
Xu Qingyao paused, her eyes darkening slightly.
Indeed, the fragrance of Consort Li and the arrival of the delegation were no coincidence.
She looked up out the window; the spring sunshine was beautiful, but a storm was already approaching from the shadows.
Three days later, the carriages of the Lebanese delegation slowly drove into Shangjing.
The streets of Zhuque were bustling with people, all craning their necks to get a better look. The delegation was a long procession, with heavily armored guards. The black, gilded carriage at the very front was particularly eye-catching, its curtains drawn low, revealing glimpses of the slender, jade-like fingers of the person inside lightly tapping on the window frame.
"The presence of the Regent of Li Kingdom in person certainly gives the Great Zhou a lot of face," the Minister of Rites remarked in a low voice.
Xiao Zhouyan stood at the head of all the officials, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Yan Zhan's trip was by no means solely for trade.
The carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and Yan Zhan stepped out in a dark blue brocade robe. His face was as handsome as an immortal, with a smile on his lips, but his eyes seemed to be filled with ice.
"General Xiao, I've long admired you." He nodded slightly, his voice clear and melodious.
Xiao Zhouyan returned the greeting with clasped hands, and the two men's eyes met, their gazes swirling with tension.
Xu Qingyao stood in the line of ministers' families when she suddenly felt a gaze as sharp as an icy blade scrape across the back of her neck. Meanwhile, the concubines at the front of the line appeared completely relaxed.
"I've heard that this Regent detests formalities," Consort De whispered, leaning against the phoenix carriage. "Yet today he's willing to wear a twelve-tassel crown according to the Zhou rites, which is quite unusual."
Consort Xiao crushed a peony petal between her fingers: "A wolf in sheep's clothing is the one we should be most wary of."
*
Inside the Zichen Palace, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.
Yan Zhan raised his cup in a toast: "Your Majesty, the two countries of Li and Zhou have severed trade ties for twenty years, and the people are suffering. Our king wishes to rebuild trade routes with the Great Zhou and exchange goods." The gilded casket was opened, and the brilliance of the South China Sea Pearl filled the hall.
The Emperor laughed heartily: "The Regent's personal visit demonstrates his sincerity!"
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious, with toasts exchanged and drinks flowing freely, but beneath the surface, tensions were running high.
Halfway through the banquet, Consort Li sat gracefully at the table, her fingertips lightly tracing the rim of her glass, her gaze inadvertently meeting Yan Zhan's.
A cold glint flashed in both of their eyes at the same time.
*
Xu Qingyao sat beside Xiao Zhouyan, her fingertips lightly tracing the rim of her cup. The wine in Li Kingdom was strong, and the dishes were also quite spicy; she felt a burning sensation in her throat after only half a sip.
"I'm going to the garden for some fresh air," she whispered to Xiao Zhouyan.
Xiao Zhouyan nodded slightly, but his gaze never left Yan Zhan.
The moonlight was hazy in the Imperial Garden.
Xu Qingyao had just rounded the artificial hill when she suddenly heard a rustling sound.
"My lord...please stop..." the woman gasped softly.
She paused, and through a crack in the rocks, she saw a palace maid being pinned against a rockery by the Vice Minister of Justice, her clothes half undone.
By the moonlight, she was able to see the woman's face clearly; it was Princess Anyang!
Holy crap... Heavens above!
Xu Qingyao was shocked. How did they end up together?
[There are people ahead, host, do not go.]
Just as she was about to back away, she suddenly heard footsteps in the distance.
"Who goes there?!"
Several guards came with lanterns, and the token of Consort Xiao's palace hung at their waists.
wrong……
Xu Qingyao narrowed her eyes. Why would Consort Xiao's people patrol here?
The two men were terrified, but were immediately apprehended by the guards.
"Take him away, don't disturb our distinguished guest," the head guard said coldly.
Xu Qingyao quietly withdrew, but a suspicion arose in her heart that this matter might have been deliberately orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives.
*
The banquet ended, and the moon disappeared behind the clouds.
Yan Zhan slipped away from his spies and sneaked into Lichun Palace.
Inside the palace, red candles flickered, and the scent of ambergris mingled with the lingering aroma of desire. On the imperial bed, the emperor slept soundly, while Consort Li, draped in a gauze robe, her snow-white shoulders half-exposed, leaned languidly against the headboard.
"Your Highness has quite a unique quirk," she chuckled, twirling the end of her hair with her fingertips.
"My beloved concubine's skills in serving others have certainly improved." He emerged from the shadows, strolled to the bedside, and looked down at the sleeping emperor.
Shen Rou sneered: "Your Highness came to visit so late at night just to say this?"
Yan Zhan grabbed Chen Rou's chin, his eyes cold: "One month, no progress."
Shen Rou's smile faded slightly: "Xiao Zhouyan is extremely cautious; he even failed to 'spend the night together'."
"So, you failed." He suddenly grabbed her chin, his grip fierce. "I despise useless people the most."
With his other hand, he tore open her clothes, revealing an old arrow scar on her chest. "Don't forget, it was someone who got you out of the death row in Li Kingdom."
Shen Rou was forced to look up, but still managed a smile: "Then, Your Highness... how do you intend to punish me?"
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