Chapter 54 Facing the Desires of Young People
The heat in her lower back lingered for a long time. After about half an hour, Yuezhi turned over with a groan, her consciousness waking from her sleep, and she felt her body being enveloped in warmth.
As dawn broke outside the window, the morning light filtered through the paper windowpane, casting a soft glow into the bedroom.
Yuezhi gradually regained consciousness. Warm breaths from above gently brushed against her hair, bringing a slight tickle, while the chest pressed against her body rose and fell slightly with her breaths.
The events of last night are still vivid in my mind. What's absurd is that, for the sake of her momentary cravings, she moved the hardworking emperor out of the palace. Not only did she not appreciate his hard work, but she also stubbornly clung to him and left him here.
How did she become so selfish and petty?
But with a child in her womb, she couldn't control her emotions. She truly adored his tenderness, and even with self-reflection at this moment, she still couldn't bear to let go of the person sleeping peacefully beside her.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. She took a deep breath before slowly pulling her hand away from his waist, wanting to move away from him and get out of bed.
He tentatively reached out with his palm, intending to push the other person away by touching their shoulder or arm.
The moment my palm landed, the sensation wasn't the softness of the fabric, but rather a warm and firm piece of skin.
The young man's clothes were loosely open, the collar falling to his arms, revealing a patch of pale skin covered in scars, and he could feel her breath with sensitivity and realism.
Yuezhi had no idea what he was thinking. She only knew that the touch under her palm was smooth and elastic, and the full and hard contours rose and fell slightly with the young man's breathing, full of power and aggression.
She had touched his body through his clothes before and only felt his firmness, but now a burning heat rose in her palm, and her fingertips curled up unconsciously.
Yuezhi blushed, her ears burning, her heart racing. She frantically tried to pull her hand back, but then, as if possessed, she bypassed his injured left chest and gently poked his right chest, which was softer from lying on his side.
The strong, powerful heartbeat beneath her delicate skin made her heart race, and she unconsciously held her breath and tightened her legs.
"Is it fun?"
A lazy whisper came from above, tinged with amusement.
Like a startled cat, Yuezhi abruptly pulled her hand back, burying her head deeply as if she wanted to disappear into the ground.
Pei Heng chuckled softly, tightening his arms around her waist and pulling her closer into his embrace, his chin unconsciously brushing against the top of her head.
"I was raised by my elder sister, and sooner or later this body will belong to her. You can touch it as much as you want."
A slightly hoarse voice, like a dreamlike murmur, deep and magnetic, came from above, brushing against her earlobe, making Yue Zhi's ears itch and her body go weak. She dared not move again.
He explained in a soft voice, "I wasn't touching you, I just woke up and wanted to wake you up."
She's not the type to be in a rush to seduce.
I was just curious; I really didn't touch him on purpose.
Pei Heng wouldn't take that seriously; he just liked to tease her. He chuckled and murmured, "So, when Your Majesty wakes someone up, you touch that spot. Well then, I'll wake Your Majesty up too."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi immediately withdrew her arms shyly, crossed them to her chest, and puffed out her cheeks in anger. She knew she was being teased by him, but she was also worried that he would really touch her.
Her breasts have been swollen lately, and they itch and hurt even when she doesn't touch them, so she wouldn't dare joke about it with him.
Shyness, panic, and a little fear... Amidst the complex emotions, a sweet feeling welled up, like honey secretly brewing in her heart. With his gentle touch, it melted in her body and slowly overflowed, causing her lips to involuntarily curve into a smile.
The light streaming in through the window grew brighter and brighter. Yuezhi tentatively asked, "Isn't it getting late?"
She heard the maid carrying a basin of water to the door, ready to come in and serve her.
Pei Heng lingered on the familiar bed and the sweet fragrance of the blankets, his heart filled with the warmth and peace of being embraced by him, and he was reluctant to get up.
Hearing her words, he not only didn't let go, but instead lowered his head and kissed her from the top of her head to her forehead, then kissed her nose bridge to the tip, tentatively touching her lips.
The barely perceptible touch and his breath made Yue Zhi feel itchy, so she quickly tugged at his loosely draped clothes.
"Stop fooling around, you should go to court."
Pei Heng paused, leaned back slightly, and sat up slightly to look at her, his eyes becoming serious: "I've been thinking about it, and I'm really worried about you being alone in the Princess's residence. This time you wanted to eat my cooking in the middle of the night, but next time if you're feeling unwell or in a bad mood, it's inconvenient for me to come and go from the palace."
He paused, his fingertips gently brushing her cheek, and earnestly persuaded her, "Imperial sister, come with me to the palace to rest during your pregnancy, okay?"
“Pregnancy is a major event, and it is even more difficult for you to be pregnant. I cannot see you well in person, and I am always worried about you. If my elder sister can enter the palace, I can see you often and it will be more convenient for me to take care of you. We can both feel at ease.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed in Yuezhi's eyes.
Entering the palace? The palace is not as comfortable as the princess's residence. Although she has his protection, the palace rules are strict and there are many people watching. Moreover, what identity should she use to enter the palace? ... In the end, it would be awkward.
Those deep palace walls always reminded her of some less free memories.
She subconsciously shook her head slightly: "Aheng, this, this is against etiquette, I'm afraid... let's forget about it."
Seeing her hesitate, the young man lowered his sharp phoenix eyes in a wronged manner, as if he were being unreasonable. He hugged her tightly, closed his eyes and said, "If you don't go, I won't go to court today. As for the affairs of state... let them wait. I will stay here with you."
Yuezhi's eyes widened in surprise.
He has always been diligent in his duties. He only stayed at Baoguang Temple for a few days to recover from his arrow wound before returning to the palace to attend court and review memorials. He has never neglected his duties for personal reasons. Yet now he says such things!
"Aheng, stop fooling around..." As the light outside grew brighter, Yuezhi grew anxious and urged him, "National affairs are of utmost importance, how can you delay because of me?"
Pei Heng, however, was determined. He kept his arm around her and started acting like a child, whining and being spoiled.
"Either you come to the palace with me and I can go to court in peace. Or I will stay here with you. Anyway, I can't finish reviewing all the memorials. Missing a day of court won't bring about the downfall of the country."
Yuezhi knew that it was not easy for him to ascend the throne. He had finally eliminated the rebels and was now ready to make great strides. How could she let him bear the infamy of being a "tyrant" for her sake?
He must have known that she was soft-hearted and couldn't resist his threats and inducements, so he said those things to scare her.
Looking at the young man's blurry outline, Yuezhi felt both helpless and heartbroken. In the end, she had no choice but to tug at his sleeve in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Alright, I agree. Go to court now."
Pei Heng opened his eyes in surprise, his eyes shining with joy, "You keep your word?"
Yuezhi blushed and nodded gently.
Half coquettish and half urging, she pushed his shoulder, "When have I ever lied to you? Hurry up and go to court."
Pei Heng was finally satisfied and quickly got up to call someone in to change his clothes.
Seeing his radiant appearance, even his blurry figure seemed to come alive, Yuezhi sat up from the bed and touched her slightly protruding belly.
Thinking to himself: With his emphasis and firm choice, staying in the palace for only a short time should be fine.
Just after seeing the person off, before Yuezhi had even finished her breakfast, people from the palace came to help her pack her luggage.
She brought her clothes, bedding, incense, jewelry, and even her usual cook and imperial physician to the palace.
It is not advisable to move during pregnancy. Even if you have to move, try to keep the new environment as similar as possible to the old one. Pei Heng specifically instructed the palace servants to take good care of her and allowed her to choose a few close maids to bring into the palace to serve her.
It was already noon when we got into the carriage.
She still rode in an ordinary horse-drawn carriage, and as she passed through the palace gate, she heard the young general's greeting through the window.
"Is Princess Ning'an inside the carriage?"
Because of the assassination attempt at the Buddhist temple, Duan Yunting privately approached her to plead for Liu Niang, and Yue Zhi agreed.
Thinking that he might see this Imperial Guard Commander often while he was in the palace these past few months, he asked the carriage to stop and spoke to him through the curtains.
"How have you been, General?"
"Fortunately, I have the Emperor's favor and am expected to be promoted." Duan Yunting changed the subject. "It's just that my luck in finding a wife is not good. I haven't met a satisfactory girl yet. I would like to ask the princess if she could introduce me to a good one if she does."
Yuezhi wanted to act as a matchmaker, but alas, "My pregnancy is progressing and I can't go out much. If the general wants me to be his matchmaker, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until seven months from now."
"Waiting a little longer isn't a problem," Duan Yunting replied with a smile.
"As His Majesty instructed, the princess will be staying in the palace for a few months to rest and prepare for childbirth? The young prince is precious, and I wish the princess and the young prince a safe and smooth journey."
"Thank you, General."
As the carriage entered the palace gates, the newly arrived Imperial Guards whispered in Duan Yunting's ear, "Just who is this Princess Ning'an? Why does the Emperor value her so much and keep her in his thoughts? Even though she's pregnant with another man's child, she's allowed to enter the palace to have her pregnancy."
Duan Yunting turned his head and glared at him, only giving him pointers because he was new.
"That person is the Emperor's darling. If you anger the Emperor, there is still a sliver of hope for him. But if you displease Princess Ning'an, she may let you off the hook, but the Emperor will not. Be careful what you say in the future."
The newlyweds nodded nervously.
As Duan Yunting gazed at the carriage entering the palace, he recalled the princess's smiling tone when she spoke, and felt quite emotional.
With the person entering the palace, the emperor finally got his wish.
Poor Princess Ning'an, she doesn't even know who the father of her unborn child is. She happily walked into the cage that the Emperor had opened for her, and now she doesn't know when she will be able to get out.
*
Once inside the inner palace, one can only proceed on foot.
Yuezhi stepped down from the carriage and crossed the inner gate of the palace, only to hear the eunuchs waiting inside shouting in unison.
"This servant greets the princess. Long live the princess."
Immediately, an older eunuch stepped forward to help her, cheerfully introducing, "His Majesty was worried that the princess's legs would get tired from walking, so he specially ordered us to bring a palanquin. Princess, please watch your step, we will help you up."
Yuezhi dared not lift her foot. "Only imperial concubines and empresses can ride in the imperial sedan chair. My rank is not high enough to allow me to ride in this."
The head eunuch smiled and flattered, "Princess, what are you saying? The entire palace belongs to the Emperor. The Emperor's words are imperial edicts. As long as the Emperor is willing to let you do it, you can sit there."
How could someone who has been immersed in the palace for so long not know how to fathom the emperor's thoughts?
Compared to the concubines who would only be selected for the palace once in a long while, this princess had entered and left the palace countless times, and had led the emperor out of the palace countless times. Everyone in the palace had seen it all, so how could they not understand her importance in the emperor's heart?
The eunuch helped Yuezhi into the palanquin, laughing and chatting.
"The child in your belly is the royal prince. The emperor values you, and the little prince also benefits from this. He can be raised in the palace even before he is born. If he can be raised under the emperor's care in the future, he will surely be a good child as intelligent and skilled in both literature and martial arts as the emperor."
Yuezhi found his words strange; what kind of child doesn't resemble their father but instead looks like their uncle?
But then I thought about it and realized he wasn't wrong. A child without a father naturally needs to rely more on his uncle, especially since she and Pei Heng had that kind of relationship…
She has no blood relation with Pei Heng, so this child naturally has no blood relation with him either. She doesn't expect him to raise the child, she just wants him not to dislike the child.
With my mind preoccupied with other things, I didn't notice how long the journey was.
The palanquin stopped, and the eunuchs and Huachun helped her down.
Yuezhi looked at the blurry gate in front of her, and the spacious and bright courtyard inside. "Is this where I will live from now on?"
The head eunuch smiled and said, "This is the Emperor's bedroom, the Taiji Hall. Knowing that the princess was arriving at this time, the Emperor specially waited for you inside."
Yuezhi was puzzled. "But my luggage and maid haven't been settled yet. Let me familiarize myself with the place before I come to see him."
"These are trivial matters that Your Highness need not worry about. We servants will take care of them. Your Highness can simply stay with His Majesty without worry," the head eunuch said, leading a group of junior eunuchs behind him to get to work.
Yuezhi had no choice but to be helped into the Taiji Hall.
Instead of entering the main hall or the sleeping quarters, they entered the west side hall.
This is the emperor's inner study. Unlike the Hall of Diligent Governance, this place has more books and contains more confidential edicts and memorials. Without the emperor's permission, even the palace servants are not allowed to enter.
As soon as she entered the room, she heard someone calling her from the window: "Your Majesty, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you."
As he spoke, he got up and took her hand. Because Huachun was nearby, Pei Heng did not hold her hand directly, but only took her sleeve and asked her to put her hand on his forearm, and led her to the soft couch in front of the window.
Yuezhi asked curiously, "Why aren't you busy with politics? What are you waiting for me for?"
After Huachun released her hand, she quietly left the room. The palace servants guarding the west side hall closed the door from the outside, and the hall immediately became quiet.
The gentle spring sunlight shone through the window onto the soft couch placed in front of the window. Pei Heng helped her sit down, and as he spoke, he sat down beside her with his back to her, frowning and letting out an impatient sigh.
"My back is terribly itchy, like ants are crawling on it. I can't reach it, and I feel that it would be beneath my dignity to have the palace servants scratch my back, so I can only ask my elder sister for help."
The arrow wound that ran from his back to his chest had completely healed, with a thick scab forming at the wound site. The itching during the healing process was more unbearable than the pain.
"Royal sister..." he said in a muffled voice, pleading softly, "Could you scratch it for me?"
Yuezhi always felt that he did it on purpose.
Why would making a palace maid scratch her itch cause her to lose her dignity? Does that mean it's not a problem if she scratches it? It's clearly an excuse to act coquettishly.
After going blind, there was very little she could do for others, and even though his intention to tease her was part of it, Yuezhi was still delighted.
She pursed her lips, suppressing a slight smile. "Where does it itch? I'll scratch it for you."
She reached out, her fingertips landing near the back of his bright yellow dragon robe's collar, and groped and scratched at the shoulder blades covered by the thick fabric. "Is it here?"
"Hmm... It's like scratching an itch through a boot, not quite satisfying." Pei Heng turned his head slightly, becoming more and more demanding with a hint of pleading, "How about you help me take off my shirt? I can't scratch it like this."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Yuezhi's face flushed slightly. She knew he was deliberately trying to see her helplessness as she undressed him, but this unspoken game did indeed stir a secret joy within her.
She gave a soft "hmm," her fingertips sliding down the back of his neck to his waist, where she untied his belt, easily removed his outer robe, and then found the knot in the sash of his inner garment, gently pulling it open.
Because she is blind, she relies entirely on touch and memory to move, which ironically adds to her focus and tenderness.
Once the thin strap was pulled open, the hem of the garment loosened.
Her hands rested on his broad shoulders, her fingertips inevitably brushing against the warm skin of his neck. She slowly removed his undergarment, the fabric rustling softly as it rubbed against him, gradually revealing his smooth, well-defined back.
He tentatively pressed on the scabbed scar, gently rubbing and scratching around the scar with his fingertips.
"Is it itchy here?" she asked softly, her breath brushing against the back of his neck.
Pei Heng did not answer immediately; the muscles in his back seemed to tense slightly for a moment under her fingertips.
After a long pause, a low, husky sigh of satisfaction came through: "Yes, right there... um..."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi tightened her grip slightly.
As she touched him, the heat emanating from the young man's skin became more pronounced. A slightly familiar, masculine aura, mixed with a faint medicinal scent, reached her heart through her fingertips.
Yuezhi's heart began to beat faster for no reason, and her breathing became slightly rapid.
This is a man's body, strong, hot, and full of silent, wild attraction.
"My sister's hands are so soft... they feel so good to me."
Pei Heng's low murmur, whether intentional or not, brushed against her eardrums like a feather, sending shivers down her spine.
"Are you alright?" Yuezhi's cheeks were burning hot, not only because the sunlight streaming in from the window had warmed them, but also because his deep voice seemed to carry a unique meaning.
Pei Heng turned his head and saw her reddened earlobes and helpless expression. A faint smile of triumph flashed in his eyes, but his tone remained obedient.
"I'm much better now, thank you, Your Majesty."
Yuezhi hurriedly lowered her head, grabbed his shirt hanging at his waist, and pushed it onto him, saying, "Put it on yourself."
Pei Heng slowly dressed, his deep eyes fixed on him as if he were looking at a precious treasure, already held in his palm, ready to be licked, kissed deeply, and devoured—it was only a matter of time.
He likes her.
He likes her to be by his side.
I prefer that she only has eyes for him, and belongs only to him.
In the brief silence, Yuezhi listened to the rustling sound of him dressing, and her mind kept wandering to the other side, as if he wasn't putting on clothes, but rather taking them off even more completely.
Pei Heng was not the despicable person she thought he was. Yue Zhi only regretted that she had assumed bad things about him, which made her feel flustered and confused.
Finally, the palace servants outside the hall knocked on the door.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Jinghezhai has been prepared for Your Highness. You may go there to rest at any time."
Pei Heng gave a soft "hmm" and didn't ask any more questions.
Yuezhi hurriedly got up, "Since the place is all ready, I'll go take a look first."
She summoned Huachun and left in a hurry, thinking that Pei Heng would try to persuade her to stay a little longer, but he just watched her leave through the window and told her to walk slowly.
After leaving the west side hall, Yuezhi breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to find someone to talk to, but remembering how embarrassing she had just been, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
After walking a few steps, we arrived at our destination.
"We've arrived already? How come we're so close to the Taiji Hall?"
The chief eunuch explained, “This is the Jinghezhai behind the Taiji Hall. It is quiet and elegant, and you can even absorb the dragon energy of the Taiji Hall. For generations, it has been a temporary residence for favored concubines to rest during their pregnancies. When the late emperor was alive, this place was abandoned for more than ten years. It was not until our emperor ascended the throne that it was slowly repaired and cleaned up. This place is the most suitable for the princess to rest during her pregnancy.”
It is indeed a good place to stay near Pei Heng's residence.
But she felt it wasn't that good. What if he wasn't honest and came over at night to cause trouble?
Three days later, Yuezhi realized she was worrying unnecessarily.
It's been three days, and he hasn't come over once. I often run into him during the day when I stroll in the Imperial Garden, and we also have dinner together in the Taiji Hall.
For the first two nights, she was grateful for his thoughtfulness and restraint, which allowed her to catch her breath. But tonight, unease and anxiety entangled her like vines, tightening their grip and making her feel suffocated.
The annoying reactions during pregnancy are hard to control, emotions fluctuate, breast pain and leg aches occur from time to time, and a wave of inexplicable grievances surges up, causing me to overthink at night.
Isn't he the one who loves to cling to her the most? Why isn't he here?
Was it because she'd been eating too much lately, becoming increasingly plump? Did she hastily flee after sensing his hints? Or was his bringing her into the palace truly just to allow her to focus on her pregnancy, without any other ulterior motives...?
Daydreaming yielded no answers. In frustration, Yuezhi punched the soft bed, hating herself for being so weak-willed. Despite being six years older than him, she acted like a crying child, craving his attention.
A surge of emotions welled up in her throat, and a bitter taste lingered on her tongue. If she didn't find an outlet, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
It was only a hundred steps from Jinghezhai to Taiji Hall. With Huachun's help, Yuezhi walked to the door of the emperor's bedroom. The palace servants on duty saw her from afar and were all stunned. No one stepped forward to stop her.
Jinbao quickly lowered her head, silently performed a salute, and then waved for all the palace servants to quietly retreat to a distance, as if her arrival were nothing out of the ordinary.
Yuezhi pushed open the door and entered. A faint fragrance filled the hall. She stopped in her tracks, standing on the screen separating the inner and outer rooms.
A faint candlelight shone from the inner room; Pei Heng was still awake.
He released the maid's hand and was about to speak to the person behind the screen when he heard some faint noises coming from inside.
It was a suppressed, rapid breathing, mixed with the rustling sound of fabric rubbing together, and occasionally a low, muffled groan that seemed to come from deep within the throat.
She had heard that sound before, on the bed, during the act of lovemaking between men and women… Her heart tightened, and her face flushed instantly.
She should turn and leave; this is not something she should listen to.
But her feet seemed to be nailed to the spot, and she couldn't move them no matter what. The voice was like an alluring poison in the darkness, drilling into her heart through her ears, burning her with panic.
She could even see the shadows reflected on the screen, the candlelight and shadows intertwined, undulating.
"Royal sister..."
"Yuezhi... huff..."
The sounds coming from inside were sticky, and the air seemed to have become thick and scalding, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Only when a satisfied sigh faded away did Yuezhi seem to be suddenly awakened. She took a step back, wanting to quickly hide back in Jinghezhai and pretend that she had never been there.
But Hua Chun, who should have been waiting by her side, was nowhere to be found. She took a few steps in a panic, and then heard hurried footsteps behind her.
A hand steadily supported her as she staggered forward, her body about to fall.
"Royal sister?" The young man's voice was still slightly hoarse, filled with doubt. "Why are you leaving so soon after arriving?"
Yuezhi stiffened, her slightly protruding belly supported by his elbow. Not daring to turn around, she stammered, "I got up in the middle of the night and accidentally went the wrong way... Look at my memory, I thought I was in the princess's residence... I'll go back right now..."
She spoke softer and softer, embarrassed and ashamed, her excuse ridiculously clumsy.
Pei Heng straightened her body, and seeing her body almost flushed red, he smiled and reached out to tidy up her messy hair.
Having just finished a game of self-entertainment, the young man still carried the lingering heat of his nightgown. The belt of his nightgown was loosely tied, revealing a small patch of his muscular chest. His eyes cast a sharp light, like a wild beast staring at its prey that had already stepped into a trap, hungry and excited.
"Wrong way?" He chuckled softly, his fingertips brushing against the inside of her burning wrist, sending a shiver down her spine. "Your Highness can't see, so it must have been difficult for you to find your way to my bedchamber in the dark, right?"
He leaned down, his breath almost brushing against her cheek, "How long have you been standing here? Can you hear me through the screen?"
Yuezhi felt dizzy and her face turned as red as if it were about to bleed: He had heard her a long time ago, but he still didn't stop. He was doing it on purpose!
"I know that pregnant women are sensitive, not only in their minds, but also in their bodies."
His deliberately lowered voice sounded like a ghostly whisper. Yuezhi couldn't even tell if it was real or a dream. Just a few words from him sent shivers down her spine and made her heart race.
He gently placed his hand on her waist and said with concern, "I have already consulted the imperial physician. I have noted down where to massage, where to massage, and how to be gentle or forceful in treating a pregnant woman."
As he spoke, he loosened her belt, and her skirt fluttered down like flower petals, revealing her curvaceous figure outlined by her inner skirt.
"My elder sister will marry me sooner or later, and this child will call me father sooner or later. Why don't I see it tonight?"
Yuezhi had almost lost her mind. Even her steady breathing became deep and rapid because of him. She was half-heartedly picked up by him, and her arms floated up to his neck.
They shouldn't have done this, but she so desperately craved intimacy and gentle comfort.
She felt so empty and cold, but just by leaning against him, she was melted by his burning heat and the lingering scent of the sandalwood flowers in front of the dragon bed, and she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
The boy's burning and sincere desire surged forth, and she had nowhere to escape.
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