Chapter 12 Drawing a Circle as a Prison to Lock Up the Moonlight (Part Two) Such intimate moments...
The slender hand resting on her waist was suddenly covered by a warm, large palm, the palm bearing the thin calluses unique to martial artists, its temperature scorching.
Ye Yixiang looked up in surprise and met a pair of deep, cold eyes.
The face before him did bear some resemblance to Lu Qingyuan, but its features were sharper and more rugged, with a coldness and power honed on the battlefield between its brows. It was a more handsome and dazzling presence than Qingyuan.
Her heart pounded, and she frantically tried to pull her hand away. Her cheeks burned, and she stammered an apology in a low voice: "General... I'm sorry, I... I admit it..."
The fingertips covering the back of her hand paused slightly, stopping her from finishing her sentence.
The pressure on the back of his hand did not loosen; instead, it tightened slightly. His fingertips pressed lightly against her skin, as if it were a silent warning.
In the misty air and soft light, her cheeks, flushed from running, resembled newly blossoming peach blossoms. A few strands of her dark hair fell across her smooth forehead, making her skin appear even whiter than snow and her lips naturally red.
Her pair of bright, clear eyes widened in shock, and long eyelashes still held wet tears, like the wings of a black butterfly stained with morning dew, revealing a breathtaking fragility and beauty.
"I said, why does General Chu repeatedly refuse the stunning beauty that I brought from Western Xia all the way?"
A slightly frivolous voice with an exotic accent rang out from the right. The Western Xia envoy stared intently at Ye Yixiang, making no attempt to hide his amazement.
"So it turns out he had been keeping a beauty hidden away all along, with such a stunning beauty by his side. Tsk tsk, such looks and temperament are indeed incomparable to ordinary cosmetics."
Ye Yixiang finally calmed down from her panic and looked ahead in the direction of Chu Huaili's calm and unwavering gaze.
This was a private room with seating by the water. To the left sat a middle-aged man in casual clothes with a resolute face, who was none other than Nie Huaizhang, the garrison commander of Liangzhou.
At the next table to Nie Huaizhang was none other than Geshu Lin, the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians, who was still dressed in fur armor, a style quite different from the clothing worn in the Central Plains.
On the right, the person with the opening is an envoy dressed in a style very characteristic of the Western Regions. He wears a small embroidered hat, a colorful brocade robe, and large turquoise earrings, which is completely different from the reserved elegance of the people of the Central Plains.
At each table, a beautifully dressed woman from a foreign land stood serving wine. The Western Xia envoy was even more unrestrained, openly embracing the woman serving him wine in an intimate manner.
Ge Shulin's hawk-like eyes scrutinized Ye Yixiang with great interest. He smiled slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips: "The beauties of the Central Plains are gentle and graceful, with exceptional charm. Especially the one behind General Chu, she is truly pitiful and captivating."
Chu Huaili's expression remained unchanged. He simply turned slightly to the side, cleverly using his tall and straight figure to completely shield Ye Yixiang from those probing gazes.
His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable air: "My wife has always been timid and shy, dislikes receiving guests, and usually keeps to herself."
"It is probably because I have not seen you for a long time that I have been thinking of you and have come here unexpectedly. It is my fault for disturbing your enjoyment. I will punish myself with three cups and ask for your forgiveness."
Ye Yixiang understood immediately, suppressing all her doubts, and obediently knelt on the futon beside him, lowered her eyes, picked up the jade pot, and poured him a full cup of wine.
The occasion appeared relaxed, but undercurrents were swirling beneath the surface. Chu Huaili clearly intended to use her status as his "wife" to fend off the "beauties" offered by various factions. Having just made a rash intrusion, she now had no choice but to cooperate fully to avoid revealing her true intentions.
Watching from the side, Nie Huaizhang couldn't help but admire her in his heart. No wonder even a cold-hearted person like Chu Huaili was willing to make an exception for her. This woman was indeed like a secluded orchid in a valley, pure and elegant, and every frown and movement of hers was worthy of being painted.
"Haha, I've long heard that Brother Chu is not interested in women, and there are even suspicions of homosexuality in the army. I never expected that he secretly has a wife as beautiful as a fairy. No wonder he even declined the beauty bestowed upon him by the Emperor." Nie Huaizhang laughed loudly, his tone filled with familiar teasing.
Chu Huaili picked up the wine glass he had just filled, gestured to his left and right, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. His tone carried a rare hint of doting helplessness: "Brother Nie, you may not know this, but my wife is good to everyone except for one thing: she is very jealous."
"If I dared to take another beauty as a concubine, she would probably really make a scene and run to the mountains outside the city to shave her head and become a nun, spending her days with only the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp. At that time, I would truly regret it."
As they spoke, I caught a glimpse of her ears, which were slightly flushed from her words; the blush stood out starkly against her alabaster skin.
Ye Yixiang's hand holding the wine pot trembled suddenly, almost spilling the wine.
Her mind went blank, a sudden, overwhelming noise. She could only keep her head down, using the act of pouring wine to mask the turmoil within her.
She had been married to Qingyuan for over a year but had no children. Her mother-in-law had indeed mentioned taking a concubine. At that time, she had only said to Qingyuan in private, half coquettishly and half aggrievedly, "If you take a concubine, I will shave my head."
These intimate whispers between lovers... how did Chu Huaili know them?!
Qingyuan had a distant, even cold, relationship with his cousin during his lifetime. Was this just a coincidence? Or... were there already spies all over the inner quarters of the Lu family mansion? A chill ran up from the soles of his feet.
"The arrival of these two envoys coincides with the Empress Dowager's birthday. The Empress Dowager will surely be pleased with the generous gifts you have presented." Nie Huaizhang raised his cup at the opportune moment, steer the conversation back to the main topic, and drank with Geshu Lin and the Western Xia envoy, Zhenqiang King Yuan Wuzu.
"Speaking of the congratulatory gifts, several rare items were able to reach the capital smoothly thanks to General Chu's secret mediation." Yuan Wuzu put down his wine cup and bowed respectfully to Chu Huaili.
Chu Huaili raised his cup and calmly replied, "You flatter me, envoy. If we can take advantage of this audience to promote lasting peace on the border, open trade between the three countries, ensure smooth trade routes, and allow the people to live in peace, then we can achieve our goal."
"This is a fortunate event that benefits the present and future generations, far surpassing any rare treasure."
Ye Yixiang knelt quietly to the side, enveloped by the refreshing herbal scent and faint aroma of alcohol emanating from Chu Huaili. This scent, however, inexplicably reminded her of the new wounds he had sustained in the Northern Di royal court.
Seeing him drink several cups in a row, she couldn't help but stop pouring wine. Her fingers tightened slightly, and she whispered in a voice barely audible to the two of them, with a hint of concern: "General... you are injured, it would be best if you drank less."
Her voice was as soft as a feather brushing against his heart. Chu Huaili's hand holding the cup paused almost imperceptibly, and he glanced at her. In the light streaming down from the dome, her lowered eyes and meek demeanor were exceptionally gentle. Her long eyelashes cast a small fan-shaped shadow under her eyes, and her lips were slightly pursed due to nervousness, as if she were holding a flower petal.
His gaze was deep and unfathomable, as if a fleeting ripple passed through it, too quick to catch, before returning to its previous calm.
He did not respond, nor did he immediately raise his glass again. He simply placed the glass gently on the table, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim, as if the warmth of her fingertips still lingered on it.
The sounds of string and wind instruments suddenly turned passionate.
Several dancers dressed in exotic dance dresses, their faces partially obscured by colorful peacock feather fans, gracefully approached from both sides of the water's edge, their movements synchronized with the drumbeats.
Their skirts were as light and thin as cicada wings, and under the light they had a translucent texture, vaguely outlining the graceful curves of their bodies and their long, straight legs. As their clothes fluttered, they carried with them a sweet and alluring fragrance.
Ye Yixiang had never seen such a daring and revealing outfit. She only glanced at it and felt her face turn red. She hurriedly lowered her eyelashes and stared at the embroidery on her skirt. She dared not look up again, as if the dancer was covered in scorching flames.
She could feel the admiring or greedy gazes directed at her from all around, making her feel extremely uncomfortable, and even her ears burned red.
In contrast, Chu Huaili remained calm and didn't even glance at the dancers. He simply picked up his wine glass and took a sip, his gaze sweeping calmly over everyone present, as if this was just an ordinary entertainment program.
The dancers gracefully leaped onto the small drums that had been prepared beforehand. With their toes touching the ground, they spun and moved to the rapid drumbeats. Their waists were as supple as snakes, and their eyes sparkled with allure as their feather fans opened and closed.
The pervasive fragrance seemed to grow even stronger.
Sudden!
"ah--!"
A piercing, terrified scream shattered the peaceful revelry!
Before Ye Yixiang could react to what was happening, she felt a sudden tightening around her waist, and a powerful force pulled her up from the futon. In a dizzying moment, she fell into a firm and warm embrace!
The man's scent, carrying the crisp aroma of herbs, instantly enveloped her.
A sharp gust of wind whistled past her ear!
A crisp "clang!" rang out!
Chu Huaili raised his hand and used the wine glass in his hand to accurately knock away the cold, gleaming dagger that was aimed straight at his face!
The porcelain cup shattered, spilling wine everywhere. Without pausing, he delivered a powerful kick, sending the disarmed dancer flying into the icy stream with a splash!
Geshulin reacted quickly, throwing the silver knife he was playing with in his hand. With a flash of cold light, it accurately pierced the back of another dancer who was raising a hidden weapon to slash at Yuan Wuzu.
The dancer died on the spot.
"Assassins! Protect the general and the envoy!"
Pei Hong roared, and the lightly armored soldiers who had been lying in ambush surged out like a tide, quickly subduing the remaining dancers who were trying to resist or escape, and pinning them to the ground.
The assassin who had fallen into the water was also pulled up. After being soaked in the water, the heavy makeup on his face came off, revealing a handsome young man's face. His thin, wet dance costume clung tightly to his body, almost transparent, making the scene extremely eerie.
Chu Huaili's eyes suddenly sharpened, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Immediately seal off the entire building, no one is allowed to leave! Search thoroughly, dig three feet into the ground to find them—alive!"
"The King of Zhenqiang was frightened and cut his arm. Quickly come with me to the mansion to get it bandaged and treated!" Nie Huaizhang said in a deep voice as he helped up the pale-faced envoy from Western Xia.
Chu Huaili looked around at the mess and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Geshulin and Yuan Wuzu: "I'm sorry to have startled you all. It was my fault for not being able to defend myself properly."
Ge Shulin patted his robes and laughed loudly, but there was little smile in his eyes: "General Chu, you flatter me. I'm used to living a life of danger and bloodshed, and such scenes are all too common. General, you handled it well, I admire you." His gaze swept over Ye Yixiang, who was still being held tightly in Chu Huaili's arms, seemingly casually.
A note from the author:
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