Chapter 98: Domineering White Moonlight 17 The blue tip accurately touched...
It was summer, and the entire palace was bathed in a bright and scorching light. Even the ground was steaming with heat. However, the imperial garden was lush and green, with shady trees, creating bursts of refreshing coolness.
The century-old trees by the Taiye Lake stretch out their vigorous branches, and the layers of green leaves interweave to form a huge canopy, filtering the scorching sunlight into tiny, flickering spots of light, scattered sporadically on the winding cobblestone path.
Yifang Garden, not far from here, is newly decorated today. The palace servants hold their breath and move among the banquets. The shimmering waves of brocade curtains reflect the afternoon sun, illuminating the entire garden with a bright and transparent light.
Today is the flower-viewing banquet in the palace. The ladies and young ladies from various mansions who have been invited are all dressed up in their best clothes and behave in a dignified manner. From afar, the garden is filled with beautiful women in fragrant clothes and graceful hair.
Sitting in the main seat was the Empress Dowager who had not been seen for a long time. She had a gentle smile on her lips, her eyes occasionally swept across the table, and occasionally she turned her head to whisper a few words to Wen Ying beside her.
Mrs. Fu led the women in the mansion to pay their respects. The empress dowager saw the graceful Fu Youzhi behind her and showed satisfaction on her face. She called them up to talk.
The women from other mansions at the banquet naturally noticed the Queen Mother's actions. The ladies who knew each other exchanged worried glances, thinking that the choice of the Crown Princess would probably fall into the Fu Mansion.
The news of this banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager had leaked out half a month ago. It was called a flower viewing party, but in fact it was a meeting of young ladies from various mansions, in order to add some popularity to the deserted East Palace. The Emperor and the Imperial Concubine also agreed.
These ladies all have girls of marriageable age in their families, so they have naturally made sufficient preparations. Now that Miss Fu has won the favor of the Empress Dowager, they have given up the idea of vying for the position of Crown Princess. However, given their husbands' status in the court, they can probably still get the positions of Liang Di and Liang Yuan.
The shore is covered with clusters of flowers, and everyone is preoccupied with their own thoughts. However, deep in the lotus flowers of Taiye Lake, a small black boat is parked, gently swaying on the clear blue water.
A cool breeze blew by, carrying the refreshing fragrance into the cabin.
The green cloth curtain was lifted, and Mingshuang walked in quietly holding a few long lotus pods. Seeing that the princess was still napping, she sat quietly aside and started peeling lotus seeds.
When Mingshuang finished peeling the last lotus seed, Ah Li slowly woke up and took off the light silk handkerchief covering her face. "What time is it?"
"It's just past noon. His Highness has been in the front court meeting all day. The princess can still sleep a little longer." Mingshuang helped her sit up.
Ali sat there for a moment, regaining consciousness, and then asked, "Has the Queen Mother sent anyone?"
"I sent Sister Su Yue here. Lan Xin didn't know where you were, so she replied truthfully." Ming Shuang said.
Ali nodded.
A few days ago, the Queen Mother specifically asked her to accompany her to today's flower viewing banquet to appreciate the flowers, but Ali was unwilling to go, so she found this secret place to hide away.
Anyway, if anything happens in the future, she will just put the blame on Xie Jingchuan and say that he was the one who detained her in the Eastern Palace. Xie Jingchuan will definitely not ruin her plan anyway.
Although this place is quiet, the chirping voices of the young ladies on the shore can still be heard inevitably.
Mingshuang looked at Ali nervously. She knew that her princess and the Crown Prince were in love with each other, and today the Queen Mother was going to choose a concubine for the Crown Prince to fill the Eastern Palace. The princess must be extremely sad.
As expected, Ali's expression froze, his chin resting on his hand. "Does Xie Jingchuan know that today is the day he chooses his partner?"
The flower viewing banquet was prepared and arranged by Shou'an Palace and did not pass through the Eastern Palace. He was buried in his work all day long. He just came back from an inspection outside the palace the day before yesterday, and then went to the camp outside the capital without stopping, and then went to the Qinzheng Palace. How could he know what happened here?
The selection of the Crown Princess is closely related to him, but has nothing to do with him.
Mingshuang didn't know what the princess meant, so she could only continue listening.
Ah Li really didn't expect anyone else to answer him, so he answered his own question: "He doesn't know, and the Queen Mother probably wants to execute first and ask for permission later. Given Xie Jingchuan's past personality, he wouldn't disobey at least."
She picked up a lotus seed and put it in her mouth. A very bitter taste exploded on the tip of her tongue. She frowned slightly: "It's so bitter."
Ever since he made up his mind to take the love blood, Ali has been feeling uneasy and guilty. Whenever he looked at Xie Jingchuan, he would start to have wild thoughts, and he almost let him notice something unusual several times.
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed, and she still hasn't taken any action. This shouldn't be the case.
When leaving Taiye Lake, Ali held a handful of gorgeous lotus flowers in her arms, each of which she had just picked with her own hands.
After passing through the nine-curve corridor, the East Palace is right in front of you.
Ali lowered his head and sniffed the lotus in his arms, but his brisk steps suddenly stopped when he saw Fu Youzhi's figure.
She was dressed softly and elegantly today, and she walked out of the East Palace gate with her skirt lifted. Behind her was Xie Jingchuan, who should have been in the Qinzheng Palace.
The two stopped not far away. Xie Jingchuan's focused gaze fell on Fu Youzhi's face, and suddenly he smiled gently, just like he always did to Ali.
He opened his mouth to say something, and Fu Youzhi opposite him immediately blushed, nodded shyly, and looked at him with eyes that seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
The huge lotus leaf in her arms swayed and trembled slightly, and cold and clear water droplets dripped down, wetting the fabric of Ali's chest and bringing a slightly cool touch. However, she was unaware of it and just looked at the tall figure quietly.
The two of them walked out of the East Palace side by side and slowly walked towards Shou'an Palace. They looked like a perfect couple made in heaven.
As if she was not used to wearing such a complicated palace dress, Fu Youzhi accidentally tripped, and Xie Jingchuan immediately held her steadily.
As their eyes met, Fu Youzhi's heart, which had just calmed down, began to beat wildly again.
Xie Jingchuan gently asked her if she could still walk, and held her arm until she stood firmly. The backs of the two of them walking hand in hand gradually disappeared at the end of the palace road.
Ali didn't know what he felt at the moment, he just felt that the scene was very dazzling.
Seeing this, Mingshuang carefully took the lotus from A Li's arms and said, "Your dress is wet, why don't you go back to the palace and change first? This flower is getting in the way, I'll help you throw it away."
Ali pulled the corners of his mouth, his eyes expressionless. "It would be a shame to throw away such beautiful flowers. Take them home, arrange them, and place them by my bed. That way I can look at them every day. How elegant."
*
It was late at night when Xie Jingchuan came out of Shou'an Palace.
With his eyes half closed and a faint smell of alcohol on his body, he dismissed the palace servants who wanted to follow him and walked towards Yinyue Pavilion alone.
Ali had just taken a shower and was sitting in front of the mirror drying his hair when he heard the announcement outside. Before he could stand up, Xie Jingchuan strode in.
Ah Li was stunned, remembering how he and Fu Youzhi had a good chat in the afternoon, and his face suddenly turned cold: "It's so late, what are you doing here, Your Highness?"
Xie Jingchuan noticed something was wrong with her, and his drunkenness dissipated a little: "Who made you angry?"
Ah Li played with the ivory comb in his hand and asked, "Is there anyone in the palace who is so blind as to dare to provoke me?"
Xie Jingchuan sighed and sat down, rubbing his tired brows, and leaned over to look at her: "Who is it? Tell me, I will definitely vent my anger for you."
But Ah Li suddenly pushed him away and stood up: "You reek of alcohol! Your Highness, please leave. I need to rest!"
This has always been her habit. Whenever she gets angry, she won't let anyone get close to her or touch her.
Xie Jingchuan looked nervous for a moment, then sniffed his cuffs, feeling somewhat regretful. "It does smell bad, but today the elder of the Fu family came to the palace, and I had to drink a few more glasses at the banquet. I'm sorry."
Aliben was sitting on the edge of the bed sulking, but when he heard him apologize directly without even asking why he was angry, he felt even more depressed.
The footsteps behind him were getting farther and farther away. Ali thought that the man had left because of him, so he immediately beat the soft pillow in his hand to vent his anger.
The next moment, the faint sound of water in the bathing hall made Ali pause. She walked to the front of the bathing hall with a puzzled look on her face and called Lan Xin again: "Who's in there?"
Lan Xin didn't know either. After a moment's silence, she said, "Just now, there were only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Princess in the palace..."
Ali was even more puzzled: "Didn't he leave?"
Lan Xin shook her head: "I have been guarding the door the whole time, but I have not seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince come out."
Ali suddenly felt it was extremely absurd. What did he mean?
Do you treat this place as your own palace?
No, every palace in this imperial palace belongs to him. Of course he can sleep wherever he wants. Why would he ask her if she is willing?
Lan Xin saw that she looked unhappy, so she asked tentatively, "Shall I prepare a set of clean pajamas for Your Highness?"
Ali was so angry that he wanted to tell her not to worry about it, but after thinking about it, he held it back. He couldn't let him come out naked.
After all, he is the crown prince of a country. If he loses face, he will be beheaded.
Ali's expression changed several times, and he waved his hand weakly: "You go."
Lan Xin stepped back in response.
Xie Jingchuan didn't take too long to wash. When he stood up, he saw a set of pajamas lying beside him and couldn't help but smile.
He pushed the door open and stepped into the inner room. He saw that most of the candles in the hall were extinguished, but fortunately it did not affect his walking.
Xie Jingchuan walked straight to the bed, but was surprised to see no woman. He looked around the hall and found Ali hiding in a dark corner.
"What are you doing here?" Xie Jingchuan lowered his eyes and wanted to pull her up from the small couch.
Ah Que dodged his hand and shrank back sinisterly.
But the couch was too small, only big enough for one person to sleep on, and she would fall off even if she turned over.
Ali was about to fall because of this action, but Xie Jingchuan grabbed her waist, brought her back, and pushed her into his arms.
A moist and clean scent instantly floated to the tip of my nose, like a bamboo forest after rain.
Ali tried to push him away with her hands and feet, but Xie Jingchuan easily grabbed her kicking ankles.
He didn't even look down.
His hands and feet were restrained in an instant. Ali was like a fish waiting to be slaughtered, his cheeks puffed up with anger.
Xie Jingchuan ignored her struggles, carried her back to the soft bed, and asked, "Did I do something wrong?"
Ali was silent for a moment, staring into his eyes so close to her: "Who did you meet in the East Palace today?"
There was a hint of obvious surprise in Xie Jingchuan's eyes. He said the names of several court officials but never mentioned Fu Youzhi.
Ali was so angry that he laughed, turned over and ignored him completely.
Xie Jingchuan stood by the bed for a long time, his back revealing loss and loneliness.
Ali hadn't heard any sound behind her for a long time and almost fell asleep. She slowly sat up and saw Xie Jingchuan sleeping on the small couch.
This was originally a place for the night watchmen to rest temporarily. It was not spacious and was even more cramped for him.
Xie Jingchuan lay on his side, curled up slightly, with only an outer robe casually draped over his body. Even in his sleep, his brows were tightly furrowed.
Ali squatted in front of him, carefully tracing his eyebrows and eyes with his eyes, until his feet felt numb, then he stood up quietly and lit a special "calming incense".
When she came back, she was holding a unique box in her hand, which contained the things that Mrs. Tan had lent her.
She had considered many opportunities to draw blood, but she never expected it to happen so suddenly at this moment.
The hall was dead silent, with only the sound of Xie Jingchuan's gradually steady breathing remaining.
Ali stared down at him, the moonlight outlining his defenseless appearance at the moment, like a tiny needle that unexpectedly pierced her heart.
Although this magic did not harm him, she still deceived and used him.
Ali fixed his eyes, and a more overwhelming determination overwhelmed the slight hesitation.
She couldn't hesitate any longer.
Ali spread out her palm, and an ice-like magic weapon appeared in her hand, crystal clear and emitting a cold blue light.
She took a deep breath, and the last bit of emotion in her eyes calmed down. She lifted up Xie Jingchuan's slightly open pajamas, revealing the skin on her chest.
Ali's fingertips were inexplicably cold. When they touched his warm chest, Xie Jingchuan shuddered unconsciously in his sleep and uttered a vague mutter.
Her hand froze in mid-air, and she held her breath until he fell asleep again.
We can't wait any longer.
Ali's eyes flashed, and he grasped the magic weapon, placing the dark blue tip precisely two inches above his heart, applying a little force with his hand.
"Hmm..." Even though he was sleeping soundly under the effect of the "calming incense", Xie Jingchuan seemed to feel the sharp and cold pain. His body trembled violently and his brows were twisted in pain.
Ali was panicked for a moment.
Madam Tan once told her that when this magic weapon worked on a person, no one would feel anything and no trace would be left, but Xie Jingchuan in front of her clearly felt the pain.
But it was too late to stop now, so she bit her lower lip and continued to cast the spell.
As time passed, the tip of the magic weapon lit up with a strange red light, as if it was absorbing greedily like a living thing.
After a few breaths, an extremely thin line of blood containing tremendous vitality was forcibly drawn out from Xie Jingchuan's heart and slowly injected into the magic weapon.
The whole process was extremely short, but Ali broke out in a cold sweat. After the magic weapon gradually dimmed, she couldn't help but collapse to the ground.
After quickly putting away the magic weapon, Ali did not bother to recover his magic power. Instead, he pulled up Xie Jingchuan's clothes, brought his own quilt over, and placed it lightly around his waist.
After doing all this, Ali was still a little dazed. She lay beside Xie Jingchuan, reaching out and stroking his eyebrows over and over again.
Xie Jingchuan seemed to sense her presence, and his originally furrowed brows gradually relaxed. He subconsciously took her hand and placed it on his heart.
Ali was stunned for a moment, and it was too late to pull his hand away.
It was hard to tell whether it was out of guilt or something else, but she stopped struggling and just put the box containing the magic weapon into her sleeve. She lay down beside Xie Jingchuan and slowly fell asleep.
The hall returned to peace again.
In the boundless darkness, the man on the couch slowly opened his eyes, without any trace of drunkenness or confusion from just waking up.
He tilted his head and stared at Ali beside him for a long time, his eyes full of scrutiny and vigilance.
The faint light of the candle danced in his bottomless pupils, but could not bring in any warmth.
Xie Jingchuan moved his fingertips slightly, but did not feel the pain in his chest. This made the corners of his lips curl up slightly, with a twisted meaning.
In this palace he built with his own hands, Xie Jingchuan brushed the hair away from Ali's face, lowered his head to touch her soft lips, and rubbed them carefully at an extremely slow speed, as if he was playing with the prey he had already caught.
Ali, who was sleeping soundly, seemed to feel uncomfortable. He let out a very soft moan and stepped back slightly.
This subtle reaction greatly pleased Xie Jingchuan and also aroused his desire for control.
No longer content to linger on her moist and slightly swollen lips, he began to pry open her teeth slowly with a gentle but irresistible force, gently sucking, entwining, biting, exploring, leaving his mark on her inside and out.
In the dream, Ali was forced to be caught up in this unfamiliar tide of emotion. His breathing became rapid and unstable, and his broken sobs were drowned out between his wet lips.
Xie Jingchuan half-closed his eyes and controlled it very patiently, looking at her cheeks that were red due to lack of oxygen, with a dark look of unsatisfied in his eyes.
When he was young, Ali once asked what he could give him.
At that time, he replied that he would give her everything he could, including life.
He always kept every word she said in his heart, and naturally he would never forget what she said, that she would always be with him.
Xie Jingchuan stretched out his fingers and gently stroked her slightly swollen lips. His movements were gentle, but his eyes were cold and focused.
He would not let her escape from the promise of forever.
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