Chapter 122 I beg your mercy, I am His Majesty's captive...
Yuan Yan had no feelings for He Jia, and he only took him in as a concubine to get Yu'er out of trouble. Therefore, when he heard Yang Lingyi's question, he answered without thinking.
Upon learning this, the people in the palace understood Yuan Yan's attitude even more clearly.
Meanwhile, He Jia was still dreaming of vying for favor.
He was not unaware of Yuan Yan's cold demeanor in the palace today.
That mere position of Junior Minister was like a slap in the face to the people of Wu.
He Jia never expected that he, the royal son of the Wu Kingdom, would only receive such treatment in the Phoenix Emperor's harem, and he felt resentful.
Thinking this way, his ambition was actually ignited.
He Jia secretly resolved that no matter what means he used, he would conquer Yuan Yan, win the heart of this Phoenix Lord, and make Yuan Yan infatuated with him.
The eunuch who had come with Wuguo said, "Your Highness, the water is ready; you may take a bath."
With the help of the palace servants, He Jia undressed and soaked in the water. A group of palace servants poured liquid into his bathtub, which was filled with flower petals.
This is a secret royal recipe from the Kingdom of Wu, containing only the most precious medicinal herbs. It is said that bathing in it daily can make a man's skin fair and smooth, as soft as warm jade, making his wife love it dearly.
"Your Highness has just entered the palace. According to custom, His Majesty should come to Your Highness's residence tonight. Your Highness could act a little more gentle and submissive; women can't resist a gentle and obedient man..." The eunuch said, offering advice to Hejia. He urged Hejia to seize this opportunity, serve diligently, and leave a good impression on Yuan Yan.
"Don't worry, Father-in-law, I know what to do." He Jia picked up a petal, held it to her nose and gently smelled it, her eyes gleaming with ambition.
However, just as He Jia was meticulously preparing everything and eagerly awaiting Yuan Yan's arrival, a palace servant suddenly came to report.
"Your Highness..." A palace maid said anxiously, delivering the bad news, "His Majesty has gone to see the Seventh Prince!"
These words struck like a thunderbolt.
The palace servants knew this was a sign that Hejia was about to get angry, and they repeated it again with trepidation.
He Jia sneered and slapped the palace servant next to him across the face.
"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on those guys? Tonight is my big night, those wretches should be staying in the back. How did they even get a chance to see His Majesty!"
"Your Highness, please calm down." The palace servant who had been beaten dared not argue and immediately knelt down.
The first palace servant who delivered the message said, "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince insisted on going out despite our attempts to stop him, and encountered His Majesty outside the palace. Just then, the Seventh Prince slipped and fell right into His Majesty's arms, and that's how His Majesty carried him away..."
Hejia imagined the scene the palace servant had described and was filled with rage, scolding the servant.
"What kind of prince is that lowly Tuoba Yu'er? Using such despicable means to abduct His Majesty, she is just as shameless as her father, the hairdresser!"
What a precious opportunity to serve the emperor in bed, and it was snatched away by that vixen Tuoba Yu'er with her pretentious act.
He Jiayue grew angrier the more he thought about it, his anger blazing, and hatred flashed in his eyes.
...
Before a cup of tea.
Yu'er watched as the palace servants busied themselves preparing for He Jia's night of service, and crossed her arms.
Only he knew that Yuan Yan had come for him.
When He Jia was in the Wu Palace, he was domineering in everything. He would not allow any of the other princes to be superior to him, otherwise he would use various pretexts to torment and punish them.
Ever since Yu'er showed her face in front of Emperor Wu, she has been bullied by He Jia quite a bit, suffering countless grievances both openly and secretly.
Now, Yu'er sees that He Jia is being kept in the dark. He doesn't know that the so-called marriage alliance is just a result of Yuan Yan's secret efforts to save him. He is still fantasizing about gaining Yuan Yan's favor, and an indescribable sense of pleasure wells up in her heart. A slightly mocking smile appears on her lips.
"Hejia, you've finally met your match."
Judging that it was almost time, Yu'er ignored the palace servants' attempts to stop her and walked out of the palace.
Seeing Yuan Yan approaching from afar, and knowing that a group of palace servants were watching behind her, Yu'er pouted, intentionally provoking He Jia.
"oops!"
In front of the palace servants, he gave a haughty shout and staged a ridiculously fake fall, his body going limp as he collapsed into Yuan Yan's arms.
A fragrant aroma wafts over.
Yuan Yan raised an eyebrow at the scene before him, stretched out his arm, and caught Yu'er.
"Your Majesty... I accidentally fell, thank you for saving me."
Yu'er was in Yuan Yan's arms, and her arms naturally climbed up her neck. Her eyes were full of tears, and she made a weak and coquettish appearance.
When the palace servants around Yuan Yan saw this, they all felt that Yu'er was too bold and lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at her.
"What are you doing."
Yuan Yan pressed down on Yu'er's fingers, which were trying to slip inside her clothes, preventing her from moving any further. He said in a low voice, "Haven't you had enough fun during the day? Now you're trying to seduce me again."
"Does Your Majesty not like it?" Yu'er breathed softly, leaned close to Yuan Yan's ear, and whispered in her ear.
Yuan Yan watched his various little actions and smiled, "Hehe."
Go ahead and flirt with her now, or you'll regret it later.
Yuan Yan had no intention of entering He Jia's palace today, but seeing that Yu'er wouldn't let go of him, he simply granted her wish, picked her up, and took her back to his bedchamber.
The palace servants had never seen Yuan Yan treat any man like this before, and all the palace servants who saw Yuan Yan carrying Yu'er along the way couldn't help but be astonished.
Yu'er was taken to Yuan Yan's bedchamber. The palace servants quickly dressed him in his bedchamber attire and then withdrew.
Yu'er was wearing only a thin nightgown, sitting on the couch with the neckline slightly lowered, revealing her fair neck and beautiful collarbone.
"Yu'er, I wonder if you are the most beautiful courtesan this time, or an assassin... or perhaps a captured young prince."
Looking at Yu'er's current attire, Yuan Yan couldn't help but recall Yu'er's different identities each time they met, and he found it somewhat amusing as he stroked her face.
Yu'er took the initiative to place her cheek in Yuan Yan's palm, rubbing against it like a clingy cat.
He tilted his head back, his warm breath hitting Yuan Yan's palm, and said in a low voice, "I am His Majesty's lowly captive, and whatever His Majesty says I am, that is what I am."
As Yu'er spoke, she slowly removed her thin nightgown and took Yuan Yan's finger into her mouth.
Amidst the faint sound of water, his voice was indistinct, sweet as melting honey, exuding an alluring fragrance, "Tonight, I am Your Majesty's captive, and Your Majesty can do whatever you want with me..."
The bed creaked and groaned.
Inside the bedchamber, high-pitched and melodious voices rose and fell, causing the palace servants on night watch outside to blush.
In the hazy, indistinct gauze curtains.
Yuan Yan asked Yu'er, "...You were such a lazy person before, why are you working so hard tonight?"
"Your Majesty rescued my father and me from the mire and gave my father a place to stay. Yu'er is not an ungrateful person, of course I must repay Your Majesty properly... Hmm..."
Yu'er's voice was somewhat intermittent, yet it was captivating and enchanting, as if it could drip water.
[No, is this reward you're offering legitimate?]
The system overheard a sentence and was so shocked that it couldn't help but complain out loud, thus revealing that it had been eavesdropping.
Yuan Yan had no time to pay attention to it at this moment. His breathing became slightly stagnant, and he increased the pressure on his hands.
After another shiver, Yu'er bit her lip, her pupils dilated, her body went limp, and her mind went blank.
"You would be so grateful?" Yuan Yan's voice was lazy as he played with Yu'er's hair, waiting for him to recover from his trembling. His expression clearly showed disbelief.
"..."
After a long while, Yu'er's brain, which had been numb from the summit, gradually began to function again.
"To be honest, Your Majesty, the barbarian also has his own ulterior motives. The barbarian is already Your Majesty's person. He has gone to a foreign country and is all alone in this Phoenix Palace, with no one to rely on. Only Your Majesty can pity him."
"Your Majesty is a tall tree, and I am but a vine clinging to Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty, I can hardly survive in this Phoenix Palace... If Your Majesty likes Yu'er, please give me a title."
Yu'er rested her face against Yuan Yan's chest, pleading softly, her expression quite pitiful.
...
That night, Yu'er's behavior was quite different from before.
Although he appeared alluring and unrestrained on the surface, he was actually a pure virgin and was somewhat reserved when he touched Yuan Yan's skin.
But tonight, Yu'er seemed to have unlocked some kind of secret, and the barrier in her heart completely disappeared.
Without the constraints of political stances and familial ties, he became exceptionally proactive.
Or perhaps it was also due to the influence of the Gu worms, but Yu'er's entire body clung to Yuan Yan like a snake, tightly wrapped around her. It was as if she wanted to draw out the burning heat from Yuan Yan's body, and she never seemed to tire.
As dawn broke, she fell into a deep sleep, her face streaked with tears.
The next day, Yuan Yan went to court as usual.
Yu'er had enjoyed the pleasure of the night, and after indulging herself to the extreme, her body felt weak and sore. When she awoke, only a group of palace servants remained in the hall.
He had just gotten up and was doing his hair when a close attendant entered the palace to announce an imperial decree.
The imperial edict was very brief, stating that Tuoba Yu'er was exceptionally beautiful and had rendered meritorious service, and therefore she was specially appointed as Yu Shiqing.
Upon hearing the contents of the imperial edict, all the palace servants were astonished.
After one night, His Majesty actually promoted the prince of Wu Kingdom, who was serving as a concubine, to the position of Attendant Minister and even bestowed upon him a title.
With the added title, this rank is comparable to that of Yu'er's elder brother, the emperor.
As a man who had just been favored by the emperor, his rise to power was remarkably swift.
Yuan Yan valued rules and regulations. Everyone originally thought that among the men in His Majesty's harem, only those like Lian Guiqing, who had a deep affection for His Majesty and made great contributions, could be granted high positions.
Didn't you see that Lu Shiqing, who came from the Prince's residence, is still just an ordinary Shiqing?
But now, Yu Shiqing has suddenly become an exception.
Everyone couldn't help but wonder if it was because Yu Shiqing had served him well last night that His Majesty was very satisfied with him.
The attendant put down the imperial edict, beaming with joy, "Congratulations, Attendant Yu! Congratulations, Attendant Yu! This humble servant offers his congratulations!"
"To be granted the title of Attendant Minister on the very first time His Majesty has shown him great favor is truly an immense blessing."
The attendant flattered Yu'er with auspicious words and introduced him to the rewards bestowed by Yuan Yan.
"Minister Yu, look! These jewelry and fabrics were specially bestowed by His Majesty. They are all of the finest and most precious items. Even the other ladies in the palace would be eager to possess them..."
Yu'er's movements carried a hint of languid weariness. He picked out a string of pearls from among the imperial gifts, admiring the large, round, and lustrous pearls.
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