Chapter 55 Relieving Desires Through Strange...Massage.
The Queen's Medical Clinic is in full swing. Banban named it the Six Diseases Clinic, which surprised Ying Zheng, who then inquired about the reason for the name.
Banban, with his head hanging low, said, "I also take naming seriously. That saying is so true."
"Heaven has six qi, which bring forth tasteless flavors, manifest as five colors, and are characterized by five sounds; excessive indulgence in these qi leads to six diseases. This means that if one indulges excessively in the six qi of the world, it will cause various diseases in life; the six diseases are a general term for all kinds of diseases."①
How could Ying Zheng not know? These days, the Queen had been racking her brains trying to come up with a name, looking through all sorts of books until her scalp was practically bruised. He found it quite amusing, but couldn't bear to laugh at her, since she was very concerned about her image.
"Your Majesty is so learned that I am completely humbled." He bowed with a smile, pretending to be serious and earnest.
Banban let out a soft "Oh dear," knowing he was teasing her but too embarrassed to expose him, so she simply tossed the medical book aside and leaned against her cousin.
He lifted her small face, kissed her gently, and then picked her up and held her in his arms.
She fell completely silent, her whole body like a soft cloth that would stick to a person when wet, tilting her head back to meet his demands, her slender fingers gently stroking his shoulder.
Ying Zheng felt his cousin's closeness and soft touch. He always liked to hold his cousin like this, because it allowed him to hold her completely in his hands and in his arms.
His fingertips gently caressed her delicate skin, and her throbbing pulse gradually quickened. Each slight increase in speed revealed that her emotions were for him, the best aphrodisiac.
The tongues intertwined, producing a subtle, sticky sound.
The next moment, she was lifted into the air, as if she had been carried horizontally towards the bed.
Banban noticed that her cousin liked to look at her face, no matter when or where, always facing her directly, or facing a mirror. However, the bronze mirror didn't provide good lighting at night, so the image was somewhat blurry.
She said her legs were sore.
Who can always put their legs on a man's shoulders? If it weren't for the fact that she had practiced dance since childhood and developed a body that was so flexible that it would hurt like hell!
She loved it when he propped her legs up with his arms; the muscles bulged with each movement, subtly sweating, and her ankles would feel damp and warm against his touch.
After a long and tiring day, it's usually time to do it again gently and slowly.
It was so gentle that she was about to fall asleep, but she was repeatedly awakened by the pleasurable sensation that reached her toes, and could only hum along with her instincts.
Sometimes her cousin would kiss her forehead to comfort her, and sometimes he would kiss the side of her neck.
He wasn't actually a man who was quiet at times like this; he liked to praise her and manipulate her, and he was a man with a very strong desire to dominate.
This desire for control doesn't come from him doing it himself, but rather from deliberately luring her in so that she can do it herself.
For example, her continued comfort was interrupted, and she finally regained her energy.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
She felt unwell and a little wronged.
He would gently support her waist and say tenderly and meaningfully, "What do you want? I won't resist."
He seduced her, made her do what he wanted, and then praised her as his good cousin.
Sometimes, it really does resemble his zodiac sign; tigers hunt like this too... when catching rabbits, they will tease them as they please.
Once they've had their fill of playing, they'll strike decisively, tearing the rabbit apart and devouring it.
It's completely over; even in the dead of winter, you'll be sweating buckets and feeling sticky all over.
I carried her to take a bath, and the two of us, clean and refreshed, fell asleep together.
Banban gently touched her cousin's nose. "Cousin, are you really sleepy?"
"Hmm?" Ying Zheng grasped her hand. "What's wrong?"
"No, they meant that if you—"
"It's not good to be greedy in everything, and it's not good for you either. Go to sleep, you have to attend court early tomorrow." Ying Zheng was indeed not yet satisfied. He was usually energetic, under great pressure and with great needs, but he would not indulge himself.
If a person cannot even control their own desires, what great things can they accomplish?
He was used to restraint and never indulged himself. The last time he got drunk and bullied his cousin, the imperial physician had to be summoned, and she had to apply medicine for two days to recover.
He still remembers: loving someone means cherishing them, not taking them for granted.
Banban buried her head in his arms and thought about things for a while before falling asleep.
The next day, during his free time, Banban helped the physician compile a book and asked him to teach him massage techniques.
The physician was a woman whose specialty was massage. When the Queen asked for her advice, she was overjoyed. "Does Your Majesty wish to give His Majesty a massage?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty is usually burdened by state affairs and has accumulated a lot of frustration. Is there any way to relieve this through massage?"
The queen spoke tactfully, and the physician understood immediately.
The Queen's concerns were indeed valid. Energetic people are often lively and restless, which can be seen from childhood. Such people usually possess great strength and can find balance through military training, horseback riding, and other activities.
However, some people need to sit and handle official business, study, and read every day, and indeed have almost no time to release the energy generated by their own bodies.
The physician was a woman, and she knew that the Queen was unwilling to allow the King to take concubines. How could she bear it all by herself?
In any case, it's commendable that a woman knows how to protect herself in this regard.
The royal physician devoted himself to teaching the queen, and for half a month, she studied diligently.
Ying Zheng occasionally saw this physician and asked her what kind of medicine she was studying. Banban did not hide anything, "I just help compile books. Physician Li has a lot of insights into massage, and I learn from her when I have nothing else to do."
He wasn't so foolish as to think his wife would personally make house calls; it was obvious who she was going to massage.
That's how it is between husband and wife; they understand and care for each other, and they both want the best for each other.
Another half month passed, and Banban heard from her cousin that Qin and Yan were about to form an alliance. The new king of Zhao was arrogant, extravagant and licentious, and Yan's alliance with Qin was not only for self-preservation, but also to eliminate Zhao.
"Where does he get his confidence from?" Banban wondered.
She gave the awkward massage and said softly, "Cousin, let me try first. Tell me if it hurts."
Ying Zheng really wanted to say, what strength could his cousin, with her small frame, possibly have?
Just as he finished thinking that, her nimble, slender fingers pressed on some acupoint, and a chill that seemed to burst through his brain instantly assaulted his entire body. It was hard to describe what it felt like; did it hurt? Not really.
He stiffened slightly. She took a dark-colored blindfold and covered his eyes, pressing down his raised arm. "Don't move, lie down."
"Why would you need to touch the Qin King's sword when it's right next to me? Put your hands down."
I couldn't see her expression, but judging from her tone, she seemed rather unhappy.
Ying Zheng obediently shut his mouth and properly positioned his arm.
An indescribable anxiety arose within him. In fact, his tension did not depend on the Qin King's sword, but on his ability to wield a weapon. He also knew that no one in the Qin Palace could carry a weapon. Apart from his personal guards who were scattered and stationed throughout the vast Qin Palace, only he could carry the Qin King's sword around.
However, having one's vision blocked can amplify the restlessness in one's heart.
He had no choice but to say something else to divert attention: "The State of Yan considers itself to be the closest to the Zhou emperor's lineage, and even inherited the surname Ji. Many people in Yan believe that the State of Yan is the legitimate descendant of the Zhou royal family. Even if someone becomes the hegemon of the states in the future, in the eyes of the State of Yan, they are all traitors and rebels who should be executed."
"So when my cousin and Prince Dan were hostages in Zhao, he knew that my cousin was a prince of Qin, but he didn't react at all?" Banban remembered that Qin frequently launched attacks against other countries at that time. To the neighboring countries, Qin was no different from a villain who jumped around shouting about hegemony.
"Cousin, you're too tense, relax." She gently patted his calf muscles.
"..." My wife keeps touching me and won't let me move. What should I do?
It was broad daylight, and he hadn't meant it that way.
"..." After a long while, Ying Zheng finally spoke, "As the crown prince, Ji Dan's thinking naturally stemmed from the Yan state, so... my relationship with him was not good at first."
After his cousin's detailed recollection, Banban learned that he and Ji Dan had become friends after a fight. They developed mutual respect after the fight, which gradually led to their closer relationship.
She blinked and glanced at her cousin. Oh, he reacted! This massage technique was indeed effective. She officially began the massage!
Ying Zheng remained silent, but Banban insisted that he speak, constantly asking him questions.
A strange feeling arose that the relationship between the two had been reversed; he was the one who usually teased people like this.
But Banban asked serious questions.
Taichong acupoint! Press it with your thumb. This is the original acupoint of the liver meridian. It can relieve emotions, clear heat, and calm the liver and subdue yang.
The man lying down was breathing rapidly and had tried his best to remain still. His head was throbbing with agitation, and his body was like a surging wave under those skillful hands. "Ji Dan did not have a good time in Yan. The King of Yan was suspicious and distrustful of him, guarded against him, and even treated him very harshly. He was afraid that he would overthrow him and rebel, so he sent him to Zhao as a hostage."
"He is a sensitive and paranoid person, and he holds grudges quite easily. The gentleness you saw in him when you were young was all an act."
"So you can talk bad about people, huh?" Banban muttered, snorting and deliberately increasing the force of her blows. "And you still say you're not jealous!"
Yongquan acupoint! The starting point of the Kidney Meridian. Rub it with warm hands, press with your thumb or rub firmly to draw fire downwards, nourish Yin and tonify the kidneys, and calm the mind.
The heat surged and pounded against the vital point, causing a slight pain. The pervasive ache dissipated, replaced by a hidden soreness and comfort.
It was as if the pent-up emotions accumulated in the body had found an outlet, slowly dissipating outwards.
The second blow hurt even more.
This cycle repeats itself.
"Are you plotting revenge?" Ying Zheng grabbed her hand.
"It's not ready yet." Banban waved his hand away. "So Prince Dan is coming to Qin as a hostage? No wonder this matter has been postponed for two months. You never told me. Do you think I have something going on with Prince Dan?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's expression changed drastically, and he immediately stopped pressing down and tried to get up.
"You're acting like a spoiled child. Even Geng'er wouldn't give me this attitude." Banban complained to him, but still pushed him away, not letting him leave.
He stood there stiffly, a cold anger hanging on his captivating face.
She pushed it once, twice, but it wouldn't budge.
She immediately widened her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and stared at him.
"You're still angry? What are you angry about?!"
"Take it back."
He pursed his lips and stared at her with displeasure.
"What are you going to collect?!"
"The last sentence."
"What about the last sentence?"
The two glared at each other, neither willing to back down first.
The atmosphere became tense for a moment.
Banban slowly recalled what he had just said in his mind, going over each word.
After a while, she understood.
"...Could it be that my cousin thinks I have feelings for Prince Dan—"
She didn't say the rest, and under his murderous glare, she certainly didn't dare say it a second time.
"I was just joking," she muttered, annoyed that he was taking it too seriously. "I was just saying it casually!"
Banban knew very well that no other man would cherish her as much as her cousin.
Ying Zheng was pushed back down to sit by her. She looked at him longingly and kissed him. Seeing that he didn't dodge, she felt reassured. How could a man be so jealous? So hardcore?
She had no doubt that if Prince Dan had been standing there, Ying Zheng would have drawn his sword to vent his anger.
Not even allowed to make assumptions?
"Not even a joke is allowed." He stared at his cousin with a sullen face, needing her permission first.
"Fine, I won't say it then." She stopped pressing and plopped down on his calf, intending to hurt him, but he didn't react at all.
"Doesn't it hurt?" she asked uncertainly.
"..." Ying Zheng glanced at it, where did it hurt? What hurt? He only felt softness.
How did you feel during the massage?
"I don't feel anything."
"What does that feel like?"
Her expression clearly didn't suggest she wasn't affected; she could clearly see that he had...
"Let's go take a bath and freshen up." Ying Zheng was very calm, and picked the person up when no one was paying attention.
Afterwards, Banban raised an X in protest, saying, "No, no, we can't give up halfway through in the future. My cousin cheated by not persevering to the end. What does he take him for?"
Ying Zheng: "Wife."
"...Aaaaaaah!!"
I'm pulling my hair!
He did it on purpose.
However, it can be considered progress. They managed to blindfold him and make him lie there for so long without feeling safe, and they didn't even take the Qin King's sword. How can this not be considered progress?
Although Ying Zheng trusted his cousin and was not wary of her, he was indeed very dependent on the Qin King's sword.
Every night when they slept, she was on his left, and the Qin King's sword was on his right.
It's to the point where she can't help but curse someone as a lunatic.
One woman and one sword serving one husband, right?
Enraged, she deliberately held the Qin King's sword with reluctance before Ying Zheng went to court, saying, "Sister, I'm entrusting my husband to you, Sword Sister. Let's live a harmonious and happy family of three, without causing any trouble or jealousy."
Ying Zheng: "...?"
"Could she be pregnant?" He pretended to touch her stomach.
Banban gave him a resounding slap across the face.
As the days passed, the hostage from Yan set off. The King of Qin had no sons, so he chose the son of a master and sent him to Yan as a hostage. In comparison, the hostage sent by Yan was the crown prince, which speaks volumes about Yan's integrity.
During the court assembly.
A minister asked, "The State of Yan has allied with our Great Qin, hoping that our Great Qin will send troops to help Yan attack Zhao. Your Majesty, should we really send troops?"
While the question was ostensibly directed at the King of Qin, the minister's gaze was actually fixed on Lü Buwei, who sat to the lower left of the throne.
Lao Ai's seat was to the lower right of the throne, directly opposite Lü Buwei. Upon hearing this, he subtly raised his head to look at him.
Sure enough, before the King of Qin could speak, Lü Buwei spoke first, "Why send troops? His Majesty has tacitly agreed to the alliance and indeed agreed to send troops, but he has never said when the troops will be sent."
Sending troops this year is fulfilling a promise, sending troops next year is also fulfilling a promise, and sending troops ten years from now will certainly not be a breach of promise.
The minister was momentarily at a loss, seemingly not expecting such a way of playing the deadbeat, and silently stood back down.
Wang Jian noticed the King of Qin's gaze and stepped forward, saying, "Prime Minister, you are mistaken in speaking like this. Your Majesty and the Crown Prince of Yan have an extraordinary relationship. Wouldn't this cause Your Majesty to break your promise to the Crown Prince of Yan?"
Lu Buwei's lips twitched slightly; he wanted to curse.
You old fool, do you really think the young King of Qin is on good terms with that damned Crown Prince of Yan?
He looked at the King of Qin, "Your Majesty, I have overstepped my bounds." He slid down to his knees quickly, but without much sincerity. "What should be done according to Your Majesty's suggestion?"
Lu Buwei's eyes seemed to say: "Look at this old scoundrel, he doesn't have the same understanding as us at all."
King Zheng of Qin pondered for a moment, then smiled amiably, reassuring both sides. "General Wang Jian is wholeheartedly devoted to me, which deeply moves me. However, what the Prime Minister said is also true." He pondered for a moment and said, "Once the Crown Prince of Yan arrives in Qin, I will discuss this matter with him again."
After discussing the remaining war matters, the royal ministers began urging the King of Qin to get married.
Lord Weiling earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty and Queen have been married for two years, but the Queen has not conceived. We do not know if it is because the palace physicians are incompetent. Since the Queen has opened a clinic, why not recruit knowledgeable physicians from all over the country and bring them to the palace to examine the Queen?"
Before Lord Weiling could finish speaking, Lord Huayang, Mi Lai, interrupted him directly, "Hmph, in my opinion, the Queen is jealous and has no children. How can she be worthy of the position of the mother of the nation?"
These words angered the crowd, and Ying Zheng's face darkened. He stared at Mi Lai without saying a word, while the group of generals on his left were the first to shout.
"If the Queen can't be the mother of the nation, then who can? Children are important, but who's responsible for the Queen's health? How dare you jump out like that!"
"That's right!"
"If the Queen is unworthy, then is Lord Huayang's daughter worthy? That's utterly ridiculous!"
If Mi Lai were to advise the King of Qin to take concubines, the military generals would have no objection. But if she were to try to dethrone the Queen, they would be the first to disagree, and they could drown Mi Lai with their spittle.
"You—" Mi Lai was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. He really wanted to jump up and pull out his shoe to hit someone. Didn't anyone see that this was all the king's scheme? He was innocent!
You idiot! You complete idiot!
Do these military generals share a single brain?!
He's only thinking about the Queen's petty favors; his vision is narrow!
The King of Qin finally spoke, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, "Lord Huayang is getting on in years; it's best not to say things that no one likes to hear in court."
Mi Lai knew perfectly well that the King of Qin didn't want to smile at all; his forced smile was obvious to all the civil and military officials in the hall. "Otherwise," she said, "the King of Zhao is fond of beautiful women, and the daughter of Lord Huayang is stunningly beautiful. I wouldn't mind acting as matchmaker."
Mi Lai froze, her expression immediately changed, and she knelt down with a thud.
The hall was quiet, with the faint sound of someone sneering at him.
Qin and Zhao are irreconcilable enemies, and it is said that the King of Zhao is afraid of his wife. What good will it do to send a daughter of Qin to him?
This was a blatant threat from the King of Qin, and he was extremely impatient, no longer bothering to hide his disgust for Lord Huayang's petty tricks.
Mi Lai moved his lips and honestly said, "I know I was wrong."
Kneeling below the throne and looking inside, he could see the King of Qin's appearance clearly from this angle. His face looked somewhat familiar from this angle.
Mi Lai couldn't remember where she had seen it before, so she lowered her head and stopped thinking about it.
He was indeed very old, and until he left after court, no one except members of the imperial family helped him.
Lord Ying Yu of Weiling pleaded earnestly, "Lord Huayang, why say so much? Do you still think of yourself as a thirteen-year-old child? I dare say he really will do it."
Ying Xi watched for a while, then made an excuse to send Ying Yu away. He then smiled slightly at Lord Huayang and left as well.
Lord Ying Yu of Weiling uttered two consecutive "Hey, hey," and asked, "What are you doing?"
Ying Xi kept her eyes straight ahead and pulled him towards the exit of Xianyang Palace. "Don't associate with him in the future. He's about to die. If you don't want to get involved, listen to me."
"Varied--"
Ying Yu paused. "You mean?"
Ying Xi nodded almost imperceptibly. "His Majesty does not need worthless ministers, especially since this minister is constantly stirring up trouble against his Queen."
Ying Yu snapped out of her daze, shuddered, and quickly left.
Sure enough, seven days later, news came from Lord Huayang that he had died of illness. It was said that Lord Huayang had said something wrong and angered the King of Qin. After court, he was filled with guilt and fear, and fell ill that very day. He was bedridden for several days and did not survive.
Those who heard the news clicked their tongues in admiration, saying, "This Lord Huayang is really living a long life. He should enjoy his blessings and then go, so we won't get angry."
"Yes, yes, how could he say that the Queen is unfit to be the mother of the nation? I think it was Heaven that couldn't bear to see him suffer and took him away."
"Evil people will indeed be punished by Heaven."
When Banban heard that Lord Huayang had passed away, he was so happy that he ate a bowl of steamed rice at noon. He secretly cursed that the old bastard was finally dead. Perhaps it is true that evil people will be punished by heaven. God is so good.
A few days later, the Crown Prince of Yan arrived in Qin, and the escorting carriage took him to Xianyang City.
Prince Dan gazed at the surrounding Qin scenery and sighed, "This is Xianyang, the kingdom of A Zheng."
Li Xie, who was serving by the Crown Prince's side, did not comment on these remarks.
He had visited the Qin state many years ago, and he never expected that in just a few years, Xianyang would look so much better than it had been in previous years.
I can't quite put my finger on what's so good about it.
As if the smiles on the faces of these people had increased, they gathered in twos and threes to chat before sunset.
He has a scar on his forehead from being hit by a stone, and a piece of his ear is missing. To be honest, it is a blessing from his previous life that he can still serve as the prince's companion.
“This place looks quite nice, Your Highness.” He smoothly echoed what Prince Dan had said.
"I heard it's all thanks to the Queen." Crown Prince Dan smiled slightly, lost in thought. "I never imagined that my little sister, who was only this tall back then, would now be the Queen of a nation, capable of standing on her own, and possessing a benevolent heart."
He gestured to a height that reached his waist and hips.
He was a few years older than Ying Zheng, so he was already very tall in the State of Zhao. Ying Zheng was not as tall as him, so his sister Ji Chengyin was naturally even shorter.
Looking back now, those days are still vivid in his mind, and her adorable, innocent face is once again reflected in Prince Dan's mind.
He remembered that the little girl liked to secretly look at his face, and occasionally, when she rested her chin on her hand, her eyes would sparkle.
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