On the carpet, it says, "She's dirtied the Qin Dynasty robes."...
Interactions between nations are never settled with just a few words. Although it was confirmed that the King of Qi and the King of Zhao would be visiting Qin, the King of Zhao also felt that he should bring his queen along, since the King of Qin specifically requested to meet the Queen of Qi.
Banban waited all winter for such days, not even bothering to celebrate his own birthday.
However, Ying Zheng would not treat his queen lightly. He dispatched talented people from the common people to rehearse her favorite picture book, and invited the best musicians to compose music from the lines of the picture book, so that the actors could perform and sing at the same time.
Heaven knows how shocked Banban was. In her previous life, she had never heard of a stage play... but she had seen some clips on the TV set at the old man's small shop next to the orphanage. She never thought that one day she would be able to hear a stage play directed by a professional.
...It's still her favorite picture book, the one she's flipped through countless times!
Is this any different from having your favorite novel adapted into a movie by your husband at great expense?
She happily cupped his face in her hands and kissed him twice, exclaiming, "I love my husband the most!"
"..." Ying Zheng was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. Even after all this time, he still wasn't quite used to his cousin's occasional outrageous remarks. "How much is 'most loved'?"
That repressed pervert, his ears were all red, but he still pretended to be serious.
She feigned shyness, gently swaying her wide sleeves as if she wanted to embrace him.
He was already preparing to hug her waist, his hands already outstretched.
At the crucial moment, she paused and withdrew, giving him a knowing look, "I'll tell you tonight." Then she went to talk to the actors excitedly, "When Princess Yangman returns, they will perform it again. Some details are not good and need to be changed."
Ying Zheng: "?"
Not even a kiss? He uttered a vague remark and then turned to busy himself with the actors.
He was not very happy and stood there alone for a long time before turning around and leaving in a huff.
Banban turned her head and glanced at her cousin, who walked away angrily. He was tall and big, and when he was angry, his arms would swing more widely, so from behind, his wide sleeves looked like waves.
She covered her mouth and chuckled, then immediately became serious, coughed twice, and continued her discussion with the actors.
Today is the Queen's birthday, and the palace is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, making it a very lively place.
Of the original four alchemists, only two are still alive: one is Mo Kun, who is currently struggling to repair the Qin Palace, and the other is Liu Shiqing.
Mo Kun sat on the ground, on the verge of tears, counting the money in his pocket. "Even if I lose all my wealth, I still can't afford to repair this house. I might as well die."
They wouldn't be happy if they actually died.
Liu Shiqing silently complained to himself.
"Brother Liu, I never expected you to stay and keep me company. I have no way to repay your great kindness."
Liu Shiqing smiled slightly, "It's alright. We were classmates, and you're going through such a difficult time, how could I just leave?" As he spoke, he took out some money from his pocket, "Take this and use it."
"This..." Mo Kun was tempted, but after glancing at him, he quickly took it and stuffed it into his sleeve. "How could I accept this? Where would you get so much money?"
"The Queen greatly admires the elixirs I refine; they were all bestowed upon me by the Queen."
"That's not some kind of elixir at all, it's just herbs, isn't it?" Mo Kun muttered, then hesitated before chuckling, "Can you teach me?"
"Yes, but once you've learned from me, Brother Mo, you can no longer go around swindling and cheating people." Liu Shiqing needed to establish proper etiquette and addressed him with solemnity.
"Of course, of course," Mo Kun said with a forced smile, thinking to himself that if someone truly had some skill, why would they try to cheat people out of money?
The two brothers sat outside the house, watching the house being repaired. People were coming and going in front of the flower bed. Mo Kun tightened his dusty clothes, put his hands in his sleeves, and hunched his neck, saying, "Today is the Queen's birthday. Let's go and pay our respects to the Queen. Maybe we can get some reward money."
"Going to offer birthday wishes empty-handed?"
"……Too."
Mo Kun is talkative, or rather, he is lonely. Living in this palace, he is always on edge and has no one to talk to freely. He has been so pent up these days that he is almost having problems. Now he wants to chat about everything he sees.
"I saw His Highness the other day. His Highness's eyebrows and his physique, wow, he is indeed the child of the King and Queen. He will surely grow up to be a mighty and strong man."
Few in the Qin state disobeyed the King of Qin. Although they were living in poverty, they remained united despite the presence of external enemies.
Therefore, although Mo Kun feared the King of Qin, he also greatly admired him.
"I heard that the King of Qi and the King of Zhao are coming to Qin to congratulate Your Majesty on assuming power. You and I can watch the spectacle. I don't even know what they look like. Once I found a book from Qi, and good heavens, I couldn't understand it at all."
"I wonder if they can understand what they're saying? Is it the same as for us? The Zhao people are alright, though they have some accents, but we can generally understand them. The Queen speaks the same way, with a gentle and soft voice and a bit of a Handan accent, it's so pleasant to listen to."
Liu Shiqing listened silently for a while, then suddenly interjected, "However, kings always have envoys by their side, so it doesn't matter if they don't understand."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is robust and likes to crawl around in the palace. Although he cannot speak, he can understand human speech." He is almost monstrous in his intelligence.
As the two were talking, they noticed several eunuchs clearing the way, so they quickly stood up and moved aside to avoid blocking the nobleman's path.
Liu Shiqing, with his sharp eyes, noticed the nameplate hanging on the eunuch's waist. "It's the Queen."
Mo Kun asked suspiciously, "How do you know?" He tilted his head and looked in that direction.
It really was the Queen's ceremonial tent.
Perhaps it was because of the cold weather, but the Queen did not ride in a palanquin. She did not wear much makeup, but her pretty face was like spring snow in March, like a flower but not mist, with bright eyes and light eyebrows.
Her figure was slightly plump, but not simply fat; rather, it was a captivating blend of bone and flesh. From afar, she truly possessed a refined and dignified air, with delicate skin and a well-proportioned physique.
"It's like a painting." Mo Kun stared at it intently, unable to help but sigh.
Liu Shiqing bumped his waist hard, signaling him to shut up.
Mokun quickly shut his mouth, for saying such a thing would be an offense to the Queen.
"Liu Shiqing".
Liu Shiqing was taken aback; this time it was Mo Kun's turn to bump into him.
"Ah, my lord, you are here." He bowed upon arrival.
Seeing this, the Queen smiled, her eyes crinkling, and her voice sweet and clear, "No need for formalities, let me ask you. Were those pills of yours refined and then rolled into pill shapes?"
"Exactly."
"That's good. His Majesty has already sent a physician to examine it, and it's a very good product. Refine some more, and send it over directly when it's ready. I want to use it as a face mask."
"If it works well, I will reward you."
When the Queen was approachable, she would even smile and refer to herself as "I" instead of "I" (吾). Mo Kun was somewhat flattered. Although this intimacy wasn't directed at him, he was standing next to Liu Shiqing, so it was practically a favor to him.
After speaking, Mo Kun skipped to the palace road, tucked his sleeves into his sleeves, and stood on tiptoe to watch the Queen's departing figure. "Oh my, the Queen and the King are truly a match made in heaven."
After expressing his feelings, he urged Liu Shiqing, "Teach me quickly, and I will share the burden with you."
"..." Is that what you call sharing the burden?
Liu Shiqing was speechless.
As night fell, Banban had the actors rehearse the play again, ordering some braised duck feet, chicken feet, and chicken wings until they were tender, and then, while enjoying some milk tea, he leaned against the soft couch and watched with great interest.
Zhao'er crawled around on the soft blanket, getting excited whenever he heard music, shouting "Ah ah" non-stop. If there hadn't been a high platform he couldn't climb up, he probably would have gone up and sang along.
He's just like his father, a complete bastard.
Seeing his mother eat, he quickly crawled to her feet, raised his round head, and stared at her longingly.
Banban stared at him for a while, and then he saw that his son had a tail wagging on his butt. He almost wanted to throw the bone he had just finished eating to him.
“You can’t eat this.” She gestured to him that he couldn’t.
He seemed to understand, turned his head and crawled to the side. After crawling for a while, he got tired and lay down next to his mother's legs.
When Ying Zheng finished dealing with state affairs, he came to fetch her. Just then, the wet nurse and palace servants picked up the crown prince, preparing to take him down to rest.
The little guy fell asleep as soon as he said he wanted to. When he saw his father coming, he tried to open his eyes, probably wanting his father to hug him, but in the end he couldn't resist sleepiness and closed his eyes.
Ying Zheng glanced at him and waved for the wet nurse to leave.
He had no objection to his wife's leisurely life. Instead, he picked her up and sat down in her spot. The small couch was warm and cozy because of her. As soon as he sat down, he felt warm and comfortable all over. He sighed and opened his arms to lean against her back.
Banban initially resisted, hitting him several times, but when she touched his cold, stiff clothes, she wrapped them around him again to warm them up. "Is it snowing outside?"
"No." He closed his eyes to rest, then opened them when he smelled the aroma of braised meat. "What's this?"
"Braised duck feet, very flavorful with soy sauce, and a little bit of dogwood added for extra taste, have a taste." She gently broke one open; the duck feet were tender from the braising, with a springy texture, not tough at all. "I'll feed you, don't get your hands dirty."
"Um?"
"Hold me." She curled up in his arms, just like a little rabbit snuggling at the tiger's feet, the tiger protecting the rabbit from the cold wind.
"Hug me." He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up a little to make her more comfortable.
He placed his palm on her buttocks, his knuckles sinking in a shallow inch, then withdrew his palm and pinched and rubbed it.
She reacted strongly, nearly falling off his lap, her cheeks flushed red. "What are you doing?"
If her hands weren't covered in greasy duck feet, she would have slapped his hand away.
"What?" he asked, feeling the softness of the hand against his palm tighten instantly, a question rising in his mind.
He did it on purpose, taking advantage of her busy hands.
"The reaction is so strong, and it's not like it's the first time I've squeezed it."
The performers on stage had already left after the King of Qin embraced the Queen, leaving only the two of them on the empty stage and below.
Can the situations be the same?
Banban was speechless and embarrassed, so she simply held her oily hands and pushed him, saying, "You've dirtied your court robes, get up quickly."
He was most majestic and outstanding when he wore court attire. His black robes were embroidered with layers of gold characters, a symbol of royalty. The only difference was that he rarely wore a crown in his spare time.
"Perfect for wiping your hands." He rolled up his sleeve and unabashedly used it to wipe her fingers.
How could we possibly clean it properly? There was no cotton available at the time, and the clothes were all stiff.
Even so, her heart skipped a beat, and she softened, leaning against his chest.
He lowered his face, captured her lips with his own, and stroked her cheek with one hand.
A soft sound came from their lips rubbing together. She bit his lower lip, then nibbled at his jaw like a passionate little animal, and pecked at the side of his neck.
He gently stroked her long hair and untied her sash.
The magnificent golden coat instantly fell to the ground, and the pale collar slid down, revealing a pair of delicate shoulders.
Banban nibbled at his neck, and her Adam's apple was also frequently touched by him.
The next moment, in a dizzying spin, she was no longer on the small couch. Above her was a dark and intricate dome, and the neck of the man she had bitten with red marks. Beneath her was the soft carpet that Zhao'er had just crawled around on.
She laughed playfully, lifting her leg and pushing against his stomach with the sole of her foot, "I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to~"
"How can I not want it?" This is clearly a ploy to lure him in; it reveals a childish nature.
He didn't have to use much force to pin her down on the blanket so she couldn't move.
"Don't press here." She moved his hand away from her waist and placed it on her chest instead. "Touch it."
She wasn't really saying no; though she said it, her legs were already wrapped around his waist.
He actually followed her hand movements, kneading and pinching her skin, then leaned down to kiss her.
Before long, her cheeks flushed and she began to moan softly, rubbing against his neck.
It started snowing outside. The snowflakes were weightless, swirling and falling, gradually covering the rooftops and turning them white.
It was bitterly cold outside, but warm and cozy inside, a scene of perfect springtime beauty.
"How unfair!" She still had the strength to speak, gripping her cousin's wide sleeve. Her fingers touched the intricate gold patterns embroidered on the Qin Dynasty robes. She unconsciously tightened her body, and her eyes reddened.
"Hmm?" He hissed softly, trying to make her relax.
"Why do you not have to take off your clothes, while I've been stripped naked by you?"
"You can take it off." He kissed her neck again, and then he really did take it off.
"Ah, no!" she quickly stopped her. "I like this dress."
How can it not be considered a uniform fetish?
Ying Zheng did notice that his cousin really liked the robe; she became much more excited, and their intimate moments were incredibly pleasurable.
Afterwards, his court robes were indeed dirty, but fortunately, he had more than one, so he could simply take them to be washed.
After making a ruckus here, they returned to Zhaoyang Palace and went to the bathhouse together. They stayed there for another half an hour amidst the swirling mist, until Banban was so tired that she couldn't even lift her fingers.
She was carried back to the bed, but she was still reluctant to sleep, thinking about her birthday and how much she liked the gift he had given her.
The two lay facing each other on their sides, with her back against the wall, a position she loved.
It turns out that not only men like to look at a woman's expression and listen to her voice, but women do too; they even know how to use their voice to figure out how to retaliate against him.
Their foreheads touched, and he lifted one of her legs and draped it over his side.
In this way, the two became extremely close.
Banban was made drowsy, not because she wanted to sleep, but because all her brain nerves were activated and electric currents were coursing through her brain.
Completely driven by instinct, I hummed along with my cousin's movements, my mind a complete mess.
I don't even know when I finally fell completely asleep.
Even in her dreams, her cousin was holding her, as if they had returned to the time when they first held hands as children.
It was naturally her initiative; she was very enthusiastic and straightforward when they were young, while he was always the passive one.
She still remembers what it felt like to touch his hand for the first time. His fingers were long, longer than those of people his age, with slightly protruding finger bones, and they looked especially beautiful when he held a calligraphy brush with a little force.
So she wanted to touch it and hold its hand.
She took his hand without thinking, and she had completely forgotten what his expression was like. She only remembered that he suddenly glanced at her and almost at the same time tightened his grip on her hand.
He asked a question, "Are you like this with all your brothers?"
-----------------------
The author says: Her demeanor is elegant and refined, her skin is delicate and her body is well-proportioned.
Taken from Du Fu's poem "A Song of Beautiful Women".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
