Chapter 20: The Lanling Clan Has Talents in Certain Aspects...
When the laughter subsided, his gaze towards Xiao Che held a newfound trust as he asked, "Third brother, your visit wasn't simply to tell me that you will no longer hinder me from dealing with the Crown Prince, nor that you need to fear the evidence you possess, was it?"
"You previously told me not to act rashly, so in your opinion, when would be the right time?"
Xiao Che: "The snow-white horse was originally intended to be given to Xiao Jue. Since Father Emperor has changed it to be given to me at the last minute, he will definitely find another opportunity to make it up to him. And since it is compensation, it is very likely that there will be more than one horse."
"Xiao Jue is not good at riding and archery. He fell off a horse when he was a child, so he has always been afraid of horses. The Eastern Palace never keeps horses, nor does it have people who are dedicated to keeping horses. Since he has received horses bestowed by the emperor, and more than one, he will have to transfer a few people from the Shayuan Bureau."
"Second Brother," he called to Xiao Yan, smiling slightly, "isn't this your chance?"
"My chance? You mean..."
Xiao Che said, "Father has always liked to bestow gifts at palace banquets. He will surely be given an imperial horse at the next seasonal banquet. So from now until the next seasonal banquet, Second Brother, you can try to make some arrangements at the Shayuan Supervisory Office and place your own people there."
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he suddenly realized, "Yes, we should start planting people now. Once Father bestows the horse, Xiao Jue will transfer people from the Shayuan Supervisory Office, and my people will be able to smoothly enter the Eastern Palace. Even though Xiao Jue is usually the most cautious, he would never expect that I have planted people so early. In this way, if anything happens in the Eastern Palace in the future, it will not be traced back to me."
He looked up at Xiao Che and smiled, "If we only act within the Eastern Palace, it will naturally not involve anyone else. I will give orders to be more cautious in the future, and we will never let what happened last time happen again, so as not to implicate your beloved."
He added, “Speaking of which, I really took a risk when the horse was startled at Mount Li last time. It was thanks to my third brother who cleaned up the mess for me, saying that the snow-white horse had fallen off the cliff. Otherwise, the snow-white horse is usually docile and rarely goes crazy. If Father had become suspicious and investigated further, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have gotten away with it.”
"Second brother, there's no need to thank me. It was just a coincidence. My original intention was simply to avoid trouble. Besides, you and the Crown Prince have been at odds for a long time, and Father has always favored you, so he turns a blind eye to many things."
Xiao Yan patted Xiao Che on the shoulder: "No matter what, your second brother still wants to thank you. From now on, we're all in the same boat."
"For example, when crossing a river by boat, you can only take one boat. If that boat sinks, it sinks. There is no reason to change boats midway."
Xiao Che slowly curved his lips into a smile. A breeze blew in from the window, causing the candlelight to flicker and reflect a strange light in his amber eyes: "Naturally."
——
Later that evening, when Xiao Che returned to the palace, he went straight to Hanguang Hall.
This was his residence after he came of age. Originally, princes were supposed to establish their own residences outside the palace after they came of age, but he was the son of a concubine, and Emperor Wei Yuan always gave him supreme privileges because of his affection for the concubine.
After the death of the Imperial Concubine, he never returned. Her death was too much of a blow to him; he simply couldn't accept it. To him, she was not only his mother but also his only family member in the palace. They were connected by blood and relied on each other for warmth. But now, he was all alone.
No one in this world will ever truly love him again.
Even his father's so-called favoritism towards him was, in reality, nothing more than a case of loving the house because of the owner.
He loved him only because he was Jiang Chenyu's son.
As for others, out of respect for his status as a prince, they didn't say anything openly, but when they mentioned him behind his back, they all scoffed.
Just because he wasn't of the orthodox Wei bloodline.
Those who are not of their kind will naturally not be tolerated.
Nobody really liked him.
Those noble ladies who openly or secretly expressed their love for him, did they truly love him?
They loathe and reject half of his bloodline because of its lowliness and bad luck, yet they also like the physical appearance born from such a lowly bloodline.
How ironic.
But it didn't matter; he didn't like them anyway, so he didn't care at all.
As for the only woman he liked, her heart was never with him.
Only he believed the little liar's words.
But it's nothing. He never had it, so there's no point in talking about losing it. He was never a gentleman, and naturally he didn't have any hobby of helping others achieve their goals.
He was simply willing to let go and grant her this one wish.
This will be the only time, and the last time.
Since Jiang Chenyu's death, he has kept himself locked in the Pixiang Palace, the last place where her scent lingers. He just wants to keep her here a little longer.
Only after Yan Xiao returned to the capital and reminded him that he still had important matters to attend to did he leave that place.
Walking in the sunlight, the long-lost sun was a little dazzling, and a gentle breeze brushed his cheeks. For the first time, he truly felt that he was still alive.
I never expected to run into Yan Jiarou on the road. It seems like I always run into her when I'm at my most miserable.
The little girl's voice was soft and gentle as she clumsily comforted him, just like that rainy night many years ago when she held up an umbrella for him and told him in a childish voice not to be sad.
Her words of comfort weren't particularly sophisticated, but they possessed a magical power to soothe and heal his inner wounds.
Only when I'm with her can I find true peace in my heart.
Her words finally convinced him that his separation from his mother was only temporary, and that they would reunite one day.
When people are in extreme despair, they often become so immersed in their current emotions that they cannot extricate themselves. However, if they can turn around and receive some guidance, they may suddenly realize that there is still a chance, and their vision will suddenly become clear.
Xiao Che felt he was much better.
When he returned to Hanguang Palace, he happened to run into Ji Le in his bedroom, sitting on the edge of his bed and gently stroking his pillow.
He frowned slightly and called out to her, "Ji Le, what are you doing here?"
Ji Le seemed startled, quickly stood up and stepped aside, secretly glancing at him before lowering her eyes again. Her breathing was a little erratic, and she bowed to him, saying, "This servant...this servant saw that Your Highness had left Pixiang Palace and was probably heading back to Hanguang Palace, so I came to help Your Highness get ready..."
"These matters will be arranged by Granny and Xue Zhi. You should go back now."
Xue Zhi was his constant attendant.
Ji Le's eyelashes trembled slightly. She looked up at Xiao Che, tears glistening in her eyes, and bit her lip, saying, "Your Highness...where do you want me to go back to?"
Xiao Che was slightly taken aback. He glanced at her and then remembered that since his mother had passed away, she, as her personal maid, had nowhere to go. Moreover, his mother had left her to him before she died, so she was still useful to him.
He said calmly, "Then stay here. Go find Granny Li, she will arrange accommodations for you."
After speaking, he turned around and walked to a clothes rack made of huanghuali wood with auspicious beast patterns in relief. He put his hand on his belt and was about to take off his clothes when he suddenly noticed that there was no movement behind him. He couldn't help but feel a little impatient. He turned around and looked at her, frowning, and said, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Ji Le stepped forward, her eyes lowered, and said, "This servant will help you undress."
"What?" Xiao Che said, "Didn't you hear what I said before? The things like helping me wash and undress will be done by the nanny or the eunuch. You don't need to do it. You can leave now."
“But the old nanny is getting old after all… those young eunuchs are not as careful as women. Your Highness, why are you not having young palace maids serve you? Is it because of what happened before?”
“Those lowly maids were indeed despicable. Your Highness was only a child then, but now Your Highness has grown up and come of age. There are some things you should learn.”
“If the Imperial Concubine were still alive, she would have arranged for a maid to attend to you in your bedchamber. Now that she is gone,” she said, taking another step forward, looking up at him with brimming eyes, a blush gradually rising on her cheeks, as if offering herself up, her eyes sparkling with spring, her words full of suggestive meaning: “Your Highness’s affairs, I should naturally worry about them for Her Majesty…”
Xiao Che raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, glanced at her indifferently, and scoffed, "No need, I have no interest in that kind of thing."
Ji Le was taken aback, seemingly somewhat surprised: "How could this be? You... how could this be..."
Xiao Che said he wasn't interested in that kind of thing, but she naturally didn't believe him. How could that be?
Men are naturally passionate about matters between men and women, especially since he also has the blood of half Lanling people.
Although she was not a member of the Lanling clan, she had grown up with Jiang Chenyu since childhood and knew everything about the Lanling clan.
The Lanling people are different from ordinary people in many ways, with outstanding talents, including, of course, in matters of the bedroom.
The men of the Lanling clan were exceptionally gifted in that area, and naturally, they were particularly enthusiastic about matters between men and women. Not long after the fall of the Qi Kingdom, the Wei Dynasty was established. At that time, Xiao Yuangan's sister, the eldest princess of the Wei Dynasty, collected many men from the Lanling clan to serve her.
The men of the Lanling tribe were handsome and beautiful, and had amazing talents in certain areas, far surpassing the men of Wei. Naturally, they were the best choice to be male concubines.
The princess was quite infatuated with the two men from the Lanling tribe, and at one point she was even unwilling to appoint a husband for them.
Following the example of the eldest princess, many other noble ladies who were bold and unafraid of losing face also followed suit.
All the noblewomen who had been intimate with men from Lanling were infatuated with them. Women in the Wei Dynasty had a very high status, and the favor of noblewomen gradually gave those favored men from Lanling more power, allowing them to freely enter and leave the palace and government offices.
At first, no one took them seriously. The Lanling people were using their looks to please men. How could a man do such a thing?
The man from Wei scoffed at this.
Until a spring banquet, many meritorious officials who had participated in the extermination of Qi were present. The musicians were Lanling women, and the sword dancers were the two male favorites of the princess. The princess was of noble status and favored the two Lanling men. It was not unreasonable for her to have the two male favorites perform a sword dance to entertain the guests.
No one dared to object.
The sounds of string and wind instruments were melodious. The Lanling people, both men and women, were all exceptionally beautiful. The ministers naturally stared at the Lanling women. Their bright, phoenix-shaped eyes were charming and captivating. Every glance they made was mesmerizing.
Such beauty is hard not to make one's heart flutter.
But staring at it for too long, I couldn't help but feel a strange dizziness.
When I came to my senses again, a white light flashed before my eyes—it was the cold glint of a blade!
The weapons that the men of Lanling used for sword dancing had long been regarded as tools for their amusement, but now they suddenly reverted to their most primal nature, piercing their chests.
This caught everyone off guard.
Blood splattered everywhere, and the cups and chopsticks on the table shattered all over the floor. The minister, who was half-drunk with wine, was sobered up by the blood and hurriedly got up to defend himself.
One moment the spring banquet was filled with singing and dancing, the next it was filled with the clash of swords.
The assassination attempt killed many people, including three of the thirty-six meritorious officials of Yunxiao Pavilion.
They forgot that the Lanling people were not only outstanding in appearance, making them perfect for amusement, but also exceptionally skilled in combat.
Not to mention, they also have an appearance that is enough to deceive the masses.
The Lanling clan is indeed fascinating, but it also poses a deadly danger.
This is also why the Lanling people were almost completely slaughtered by the Wei people later.
The Wei people discovered that almost every member of the Lanling clan, regardless of gender, harbored a strong desire to avenge the extermination of their clan and to restore their kingdom.
Moreover, his skills and strategies are not to be underestimated, and even his ability to lie low and endure is admirable.
Leaving them in this world will always be a scourge.
Emperor Wei Yuan also nearly died in the assassination attempt. At that time, Jiang Chenyu and the Eldest Princess were sitting on either side of Emperor Wei Yuan. The Lanling tribe man, who was also the Eldest Princess's lover Si Heng, was about to pierce Xiao Yuangan's throat with his sword. At the critical moment, the Eldest Princess stepped forward and blocked the sword for him.
The eldest princess died on the spot, and before she died, she even pleaded with Xiao Yuangan for Si Heng, begging him to spare his life.
This further confirms the rumors that the Lanling people are capable of bewitching people.
Xiao Yuangan was devastated by the loss of his elder sister and ordered the massacre of all surviving Lanling clan members, except for Jiang Chenyu.
Jiang Chenyu threatened to kill herself to plead for her clansmen, and Xiao Yuangan agreed on the surface and exiled them. However, news soon came that her clansmen had contracted an epidemic and died during the exile, with none of them surviving.
Ji Le remembered that Jiang Chenyu had been seriously ill. After recovering, she would often sit alone by the bed in a daze, and the hatred in her eyes would become more and more intense. Only when Emperor Wei Yuan came would she briefly put away her hateful expression and put on a fake, superficial smile.
She came to her senses and realized with a start that she had unknowingly recalled so many old memories. At that time, Xiao Che had not even been born yet, and she was just a child of a few years old, but the impressions were still very deep.
That's a bit of a stretch. I was just thinking about why men from the Lanling tribe were so popular as male concubines in the past, because they were incredibly talented in bed.
Correspondingly, their demands were exceptionally high. It was rumored that the Lanling royal family of the previous dynasty could have sex with several women in one night and make them cry out for water several times.
That's why she was so surprised when she heard Xiao Che say he wasn't interested in that kind of thing.
But upon closer reflection, it's true that he's never been seen being intimate with any woman, not even a concubine... That makes sense; he must have never experienced such ecstasy, which is why he's uninterested. If he had experienced it once...
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