Chapter 22 In the dim light, Xie Zhuo devoured like a wolf...
The sensation in my palm was both strange and familiar.
In the past, when he was engrossed in a book at his desk, she liked to quietly walk behind him and hug him tightly, her plan being incredibly vulgar—she wanted him to hold something else.
A sharp whistling sound burst through the air, and the moment the arrow left the bowstring, Xie Zhuo abruptly pulled his hand back.
"Oops, the aim is way off!"
It was not just off-target, it completely missed the target, lying alone on the ground several feet away.
"General Xie, you don't know how to teach me," Xue Mingyao said coquettishly, putting on a convincing act without batting an eye.
Xie Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, remaining expressionless. "I told you, your clothes don't fit."
Still pretending to be nonchalant? I wonder who it was that had their fingers stuck to her chest just now.
Xue Mingyao secretly scorned him, lowered her bow, and gave the order in a coquettish and matter-of-fact tone, "General Xie, go and get me some arrows."
"Why should I pick it up?" Xie Zhuo retorted. "Why didn't you call a servant over?"
The training ground was empty except for the two of them. Apart from the brief appearance of Green Branch in the pavilion, Xie Zhuo had not seen Xue Mingyao's servants again.
“I noticed that the general often travels alone without attendants, so I deliberately cater to his habit by not having servants serve him.”
Despite holding the rank of Grand General, Xie Zhuo remained true to his humble origins and lacked the airs of a wealthy family with a retinue of servants.
But Xue Mingyao sent the person away, clearly because she didn't want anyone to see her frivolous behavior.
Seeing that Xie Zhuo didn't move, Xue Mingyao scolded again, "General, are you unwilling to pick it up? It's one thing if you can't teach me properly, but how can you have no manners at all?"
Xie Zhuo took a deep breath and slowly picked up the arrow.
"Does the princess want to practice more?" he asked coldly.
And she even grabbed his hand and secretly placed it on her chest?
Xue Mingyao handed him the bow, saying, "Why don't you set an example and shoot an arrow for me, General?"
Xie Zhuo didn't hesitate. He raised his bow, nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired in one smooth motion. However, the arrow missed the target and fell straight to the ground, exactly where Xue Mingyao's arrow had landed earlier.
Xue Mingyao's eyes widened, and she realized a beat late that Xie Zhuo was using this to mock her.
Her smile froze. "Is this the general's skill?"
"If the princess has no interest in learning, then I have no interest in teaching her either," Xie Zhuo said calmly.
Xue Mingyao angrily straightened the shawl that had slipped onto her arm, gathered her satin-like hair with one hand, and swept it all behind her shoulder.
From afar came Green Branch's loud voice, "My lord, the princess invited General Xie here simply to have tea and express her gratitude, and to ask him for some pointers on archery. There is no other intention!"
"Hmph, why did she refuse when I said I wanted to send an invitation to General Xie, but insisted on inviting him here on her own, and even forbade the maids to come along? Do you think I don't know what she's up to? One minute she's making enemies, the next she's flirting with someone. When has she ever given me a moment's peace..."
Two sets of hurried footsteps grew closer and closer. Xue Mingyao reacted quickly, pulling Xie Zhuo along and running towards the corridor next to them.
They dragged her onto the veranda, yelling, "Quick, squat down!" Xue Mingyao hid herself behind the railing.
Xie Zhuo refused to listen to her, and Xue Mingyao pulled him while saying, "You can't let my brother see you!"
A figure emerged from behind the wall at the west end.
Helpless, Xie Zhuo squatted down next to Xue Mingyao and tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to hide.
"The princess must be used to hiding," Xie Zhuo said in a low voice.
He remembered the intimate moments she and Zhao Jingyun had shared while hiding in the artificial hill.
Outside the corridor, Xue Xingtai angrily looked around, "Where is everyone?"
"Perhaps the princess took the general to another place to stroll around..." Green Branch murmured.
Xue Xingtai kicked an arrow on the ground. "Wasn't her mind on Chen Hanlin? Why is she eyeing General Xie now?"
Green Branch stammered and couldn't explain clearly.
Xie Zhuo looked at Xue Mingyao, "What is there between the princess and me that is shameful?"
Xue Mingyao leaned lazily against the railing, her red skirt draped softly over his green robe. "Brother, you're easily misunderstood. That's all."
She played with a lock of her hair, then suddenly leaned close to Xie Zhuo's ear and said affectionately, "Let's find a place where no one will bother us."
Xue Mingyao watched as Xie Zhuo's ears gradually turned red.
Her smile, like the new buds sprouting on a spring tree, blossomed unexpectedly.
Xie Zhuo silently moved a few inches away from her, dusted off his robe, and stood up. Xue Xingtai and Lüzhi had already left outside.
Xue Mingyao led him along a winding path, which led them to a delicate two-story building in the mansion.
The first floor is where the books are stored. Although the Xue family was a military family, after General Xue achieved fame and success, he still added hundreds of books for the sake of showing off his refined taste, decorating his family's image, and educating his children and grandchildren.
A thin layer of dust had accumulated on the bare wooden frame, indicating that it was rarely visited.
The staircase was narrow and slightly steep, creaking softly underfoot. Xue Mingyao's crimson silk skirt fluttered lightly against the brownish-yellow wooden planks, creating an unusual beauty. Xie Zhuo followed behind her, his eyes fixed on this swaying red figure.
The scene upstairs was completely different.
A thick, sandalwood-colored carpet with lotus flower patterns covered the floor, and stacks of scrolls piled high in wooden frames and boxes. The dim sunlight illuminated the paintings hanging on the walls, and the air was filled with the lingering scent of aged ink.
Xue Mingyao lit a few silver lamps, closed the curtains, and added a few pieces of incense to the small incense burner, instantly plunging the small room into a dim and tranquil atmosphere.
Xie Zhuo looked up at the paintings and asked in a daze, "Are these all from the princess's collection?"
"Yes." Xue Mingyao's smile was hazy in the dim light. "General, you didn't expect that, did you?"
"I've always heard that the princess is fond of martial arts but not literature, but I didn't know she was such a lover of painting," Xie Zhuo said, his voice hoarse.
"The rumors are not untrue. I was not interested in calligraphy and painting before, and it was only in the last two years that I started to study collecting them."
"Why has the princess taken a liking to painting in the last two years?"
Xue Mingyao was taken aback. "I was just bored while observing mourning at the ancestral home. There was no particular reason."
She casually pulled out a scroll, claiming it was a snow scene painting from the Hedong School of Painting. "Since the general is skilled in literature and calligraphy, I don't want him to misunderstand me as an unlearned and vulgar person, so I've come to show him my collection of paintings."
Xue Mingyao had a vast collection, and Xie Zhuo even found an authentic work by a painting master from a previous dynasty among her collections. She also had collections of paintings by almost every great and minor artist from the past few centuries. As the dusty ancient paintings unfolded before her eyes, Xie Zhuo watched with great interest.
Xue Mingyao knew that Xie Zhuo, who could write poetry and prose, must also know a little about painting, which is why she boldly led him here. However, Xie Zhuo's interest was a hundred times greater than she had imagined, so she also became interested and decided to show him all her prized collections.
“This painting was done by Prime Minister Yan.” She opened another scroll and began to speak slowly. “Everyone says that Prime Minister Yan was exceptionally talented, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I didn’t quite believe it until I found one of his small paintings.”
The Prime Minister Yan she mentioned was a wise prime minister from nearly a hundred years ago, who was not famous for his painting.
However, beneath the snow-white crabapple blossoms in the painting, a woman sits on the ground holding a wine pot, her demeanor innocent and languid, full of charm, clearly the work of an extraordinary artist.
Xie Zhuo held up a lamp to examine the brushstrokes of the figure, while Xue Mingyao explained from the side, "The inscription says that Prime Minister Yan painted his wife, so it seems the rumors of the couple's harmonious and inseparable love are true. The painting technique is simple, but its value lies in the expressions and spirit of the figures; Prime Minister Yan must have painted it with deep affection for his wife..."
After Xie Zhuo finished reading, she closed the scroll and continued to lead Xie Zhuo deeper into the painted pavilion.
"Judging from the princess's tone, she seems to envy the loving relationship between Prime Minister Yan and his wife," Xie Zhuo said.
"A loving couple, growing old together. Isn't that something to be envied?"
“Of course.” Xie Zhuo chuckled, “but it’s especially ironic that these words come from the princess.”
Xue Mingyao felt as if she had been walking along peacefully when this person kicked her. The harmonious atmosphere she had maintained while introducing the paintings had vanished completely.
"That's right." She sighed heavily, her voice twitching three times at the end, like a coquettish complaint, "My late husband died early, how could there be any marital affection between us? The general is too unkind, insisting on stirring up my painful memories."
Heartbreaking? Who was it that, after only six months of widowhood, dressed in bright red and green, rode up the mountain, and lured him to her mansion? If that unfortunate General Cen knew this in the afterlife, he would probably be so angry he'd come back to life.
Xie Zhuo snorted coldly in response to her feigning ignorance.
Xue Mingyao continued showing him the paintings, but had no interest in introducing them further, and was extremely perfunctory. Xie Zhuo silently admired them. Her collection did not only include works by famous artists, but also some works by unknown painters of the current dynasty, mostly depicting birds and animals with vivid expressions.
The faint scent of agarwood wafted over, but instead of calming the mind, it only increased the agitation.
Xie Zhuo found no trace of him among the hundreds of paintings in the room.
He recalled the room in Xichuan filled with his paintings, and the landscapes, flowers, and birds that she had praised, yet Xue Mingyao hadn't kept a single one.
Including the last one...
Xie Zhuo felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his chest, especially after he saw a painting signed Chen Liangqing in a corner.
The scroll grew eyes, grinned, and smiled smugly at him.
He stopped in his tracks and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for sharing your paintings, Princess. It's getting late, so I'll head back now."
Xue Mingyao sneered. Did he really think she brought him here to show off her paintings?
She's here to show off his fox tail.
"Wait a minute," she said softly, standing on tiptoe to put the scroll back on the shelf, deliberately placing it at an angle on the edge. As soon as she let go, the scroll tilted and tumbled down.
In a split second, a large hand reached out from her waist and pulled her forcefully.
The scroll fell heavily to the ground with a dull thud.
Xue Mingyao nestled against Xie Zhuo and exclaimed softly, "That was close!"
He removed his hand from her waist, but Xue Mingyao wrapped her arms around Xie Zhuo's waist instead, raised her head, and looked up with innocent and naive eyes, "General Xie, do you have eyes on me? You came just in time."
Xie Zhuo looked down at her innocent yet cunning face. "Let go."
"Why loosen up..." Xue Mingyao murmured softly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "The general always says one thing but means another. He probably really likes me being close to you, doesn't he?"
She went even further, wrapping her other arm around his waist.
In the dim candlelight, the young woman smiled charmingly. Her loose shawl had somehow fallen down again, revealing her radiant skin and smooth, black hair. She looked like a fairy appearing in the twilight, boneless, soft and fragrant all over.
Xie Zhuo's voice was as hard as a broken wooden stake.
"I don't understand what the princess is saying."
"Tsk, still won't admit it." Xue Mingyao pursed her red lips, looking somewhat troubled. She gently pushed Xie Zhuo back against the wall with both hands, pressed his shoulders down, looked up at his dark eyes that revealed no emotion, and breathed softly, her voice like that of a seductive enchantress. "I mean, General, you clearly like me very much, so why do you always pretend to be disgusted?"
Xie Zhuo's body tensed even more. He didn't speak, nor did he push her away.
Xue Mingyao's playful spirit grew stronger, and she leaned close to his ear, whispering, "General Xie, your ears are red."
One hand slid down from her shoulder, her fingers tracing delicately across her chest, continuing without stopping, accompanied by a charming sigh.
"What exactly does the general want me to do before he'll admit it...?"
Just as Xue Mingyao's hand swept past her waist and was about to go straight down, Xie Zhuo grabbed her hand.
"So that's why the princess invited me to the manor." His voice was hoarse.
"Yes, General Xie—do you acknowledge him?" Xue Mingyao's hands remained still, but her voice was still so sweet it sent shivers down one's spine.
Xie Zhuo's tone was unpredictable, "If I admit it, what will the princess do?"
Xue Mingyao was somewhat surprised that he could remain calm even at this moment. With a smile, she still acted like a vixen, "If you're willing to admit it, let's get along well. If you make me happy, I'm willing to give you a little treat—General."
Xie Zhuo asked, "What kind of benefits?"
Xue Mingyao crossed one arm over her chest and rested the other on her chin, seemingly pondering for a moment, "Next time you want to touch my hand, you don't need to make up an excuse, I..."
You can touch it directly.
Xie Zhuo forced out a harsh sneer from his throat.
Xue Mingyao's voice turned cold. "What, you want more?"
Xie Zhuo glanced at her, "The princess is only willing to give me this little bit of sweetness, so she must not have any feelings for me."
These words carried a hint of bitterness, which made Xue Mingyao feel a little better. He was simply annoyed that she didn't like him. After all, he was a tough general, more proud than the average person, and couldn't bear unrequited love.
She spoke softly, “General, you are incredibly brave and I admire you greatly. If I had met you when I was fifteen or sixteen and still unmarried, I would have been captivated by you and wished to marry you.”
Xue Mingyao had rejected countless people's advances, but none had ever been more tactful and charming than this.
She believed she had given Xie Zhuo enough face.
But Xie Zhuo was unmoved. "Don't you find such hypocritical words laughable, Princess? You have no feelings for me, you only like men's admiration for you. You take pleasure in toying with them, you control them, and you make them fools who only respect you."
Xue Mingyao's expression changed drastically, and she subconsciously took two steps back.
Xie Zhuo stepped forward, forcing Xue Mingyao to the wooden frame, and pressed his large hand on her shoulder. "How many men have you used this trick on me today, Princess? You're willing to use your body as bait just to get someone to admit they like you. Don't you know shame?"
Xue Mingyao was furious. "Let me go!"
Xie Zhuo's arms were like iron, and her desperate struggles were futile. Instead, he raised her hands and held her even tighter. Xue Mingyao bent her knees to push against him, but Xie Zhuo pressed her lower body down with his legs.
She was confident that she had practiced martial arts and knew how to use skillful force, but Xie Zhuo was as tough as iron; she couldn't lift him up or kick him, and was no different from a weak woman.
After all that fuss, the scrolls on the wooden frame fell off one after another, piling up messily on the floor.
Xue Mingyao was panting, her chest heaving, her breasts gleaming. Seeing Xie Zhuo's gaze soften, she spat at him, "Don't look!"
"Now you're scared. Have you forgotten what you did while practicing archery?"
Xue Mingyao glared at him resentfully, "I'm really throwing my eyelashes at a blind man. I've never seen anyone as ungrateful as you."
Xie Zhuo sneered, "Princess Yongning, you overestimate yourself. Do you really think you're invincible in front of men, that everyone respects and fawns over you, letting you manipulate them at will? Let me tell you, there aren't many upright gentlemen in the world, and I'm certainly not one—"
"What exactly do you want to do!"
Xie Zhuo slowly said, "Princess should know that I come from the Northwest Border Army. The Border Army is very fierce. They know how to fight wolves and how to tame women."
Xue Mingyao suddenly panicked.
How do you tame it? It's either through beating or...
Xie Zhuo dressed elegantly and spoke with a refined air, making it easy for people to overlook the brutal and bloodthirsty place he came from. Of the several armies of the Great Zhou, the Northwest Army was the most ruthless. The harsh lands had gathered a group of hooligans, ruffians, and desperados. Anyone who wanted to join the army would never consider going there if they had any other choice.
In an instant, Xie Zhuo's cold eyes, like those of a wolf, gleamed with ferocity. The wolf looked at her lips, then at her chest, as if choosing where to bite.
Xue Mingyao forced herself to calm down and threatened him sternly, "If you dare to humiliate me today, I will go to the palace tomorrow and tell His Majesty."
"Would His Majesty believe this? This is in your own residence, in your own painted pavilion. You've dismissed all the servants in the vicinity. Who wouldn't think that the princess is—" Xie Zhuo's enunciation was laced with malice, "—having an affair."
Xue Mingyao's face paled again.
She was careless.
The men who admired her all came from high-ranking families. Even if they had some sordid affairs in private, at least their interactions with noble ladies were based on mutual consent. Xue Mingyao was of high status, so while she flirted with others, no one dared to offend her.
Little did they know that Xie Zhuo was completely different from them!
She gritted her teeth, "So what! I am a princess personally appointed by His Majesty. You, a lowly general, dare to compare your favor with His Majesty's?"
Xie Zhuo's eyes changed slightly. He coated the blade with poison, and a blade appeared, filled with a hatred that Xue Mingyao couldn't understand.
"Xue Mingyao, I hate the way you use your power to bully others the most," he said coldly.
Xue Mingyao was somewhat intimidated, but refused to back down and continued to glare at him angrily.
Xie Zhuo suddenly changed from holding her with both hands to holding her with one hand. Xue Mingyao's wrist was gripped so tightly that it hurt, but she still couldn't shake it off. She could only watch helplessly as he freed one hand to touch her right ear.
"What are you going to do?" she asked urgently.
Suddenly, her ear felt light; Xie Zhuo had removed her earring.
The golden threads of jade lay in his palm, gleaming slightly. His large hand pressed against the delicate skin of her chest, gently circling and caressing her, the calluses on his fingertips making her tremble and feel hot.
Xue Mingyao's heart was pounding in her chest. She whispered, "Don't touch me..."
Its momentum has been greatly diminished.
Xie Zhuo paused for a moment, patted her, and said lightly, "Princess, your area has turned red too."
Her fair, snow-white skin was flushed and delicate, making her look incredibly pitiful. For the first time in her life, Xue Mingyao experienced the feeling of being controlled and humiliated. She was so ashamed and angry that her face burned, and she turned her head away, ignoring him.
Xie Zhuo loosened his grip, and a string of icy liquid slid into the ravine.
Xue Mingyao shuddered from the shock, looking down in disbelief. "How dare you—you treat me like a prostitute?"
She had witnessed how powerful and wealthy people frequented prostitutes, embracing and teasing beautiful women, stuffing gold and silver pastries into their bodies—a decadent lifestyle that made her uncomfortable.
"Isn't it the princess who first considered herself..." Xie Zhuo didn't finish his sentence.
He finally realized that humiliating her was tantamount to humiliating himself.
Xue Mingyao's cheeks were rosy, her brows furrowed with anger and grievance, and her eyes shimmered with tears as if they were about to well up at any moment, but Xie Zhuo knew that this was just an illusion.
Xue Mingyao will not cry.
He gazed at her captivating face, his expression becoming complex again.
Xue Mingyao believed that no one could rival her beauty and used it to commit crimes. Indeed, Xie Qinglang was once at a loss and suffered greatly because of her seduction. Later, Xue Mingyao lost patience and directly fed him aphrodisiacs—which was a kind of relief.
Years later, when they met again, Xue Mingyao was still annoyingly beautiful.
He still couldn't resist.
Xue Mingyao noticed that Xie Zhuo was lost in thought, and her grip loosened. She suddenly broke free and turned to run away.
She had only taken half a step when Xie Zhuo's iron arm blocked her way again, and without a word, he swept her up in his arms. Xue Mingyao's body was suspended in mid-air. She cried out in surprise, kicking her legs and punching him hard in the chest.
Xie Zhuo didn't even hum, but tightened his grip on her arm and said coldly, "If you behave yourself, I won't touch you."
Xue Mingyao was suspicious. Could it be that her threat had worked and he was afraid?
Xie Zhuo didn't care whether she believed him or not. While enduring the punches and kicks, he carried her around the small room quickly and blew out all the candles.
"Then what are you doing!" In the darkness, Xue Mingyao pinched his upper arm hard, both panicked and angry. He was clearly up to no good.
"Consider it a small favor from the princess," Xie Zhuo said self-deprecatingly.
He sat down on the brocade carpet, leaning against the wooden frame, and placed Xue Mingyao in his lap. Xue Mingyao had struggled for a while, but now she had no strength left. He held her down from behind with his arms around her, and she couldn't move. Just as she was about to curse him a few more times, something warm touched the back of her neck.
She was stunned. It was Xie Zhuo's face, the face without the mask.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and held her tightly.
Xue Mingyao was forced into his broad chest, and the overwhelming masculine scent didn't disgust her. It was because the position was rather strange; more like a snuggling than a forced embrace—if she were willing to ignore the hard object pressing against her lower back—she felt no embarrassment.
She actually felt that Xie Zhuo should be embarrassed.
He was just saying harsh things about taming women, but now he's holding her so tenderly.
She coughed lightly, "You blew out the candle because you didn't want me to see your face. Are you really disfigured? Are you so ashamed to be seen in public?"
Xie Zhuo's voice was much calmer, "Princess, you'd better shut up."
Through a few strands of hair, he kissed the back of her neck deeply, letting the beauty's intoxicating fragrance overwhelm him.
Xue Mingyao was struggling slightly again.
Xie Zhuo silently freed one hand and hooked it into her chest.
Xue Mingyao froze, and his rough fingers quickly pulled out the cold object. She was trembling with anger, her face flushed red.
Xie Zhuo didn't move again. He pressed down on the person in his arms and put earrings on her in the darkness, then held her as before.
Xue Mingyao said rudely, "With such skillful techniques, you must have had your share of affairs with women."
It was because when they were in Xichuan, she forced him to serve her, combing her hair, drawing her eyebrows and lips, and adorning her with hairpins and earrings... He refused to do any of these things according to her wishes, but he was still forced to learn them.
Xie Zhuo ignored her, burying his face in her neck and hair, nestled quietly against her. It was as if Xue Mingyao was his pillow.
In the dim light, Xue Mingyao heard their intertwined heartbeats, heavy and rhythmic. A gentle breeze occasionally rustled through the windowpanes. A moment later, the person behind her asked, "When will the Princess summon Chen Hanlin to paint?"
"Why should I tell you?" she said irritably.
“Give him up,” Xie Zhuo said decisively.
"Hmph, you think you can control me just by holding me hostage? I won't listen to you, I'm going to get him..." Xue Mingyao blurted out, not caring whether it was provoking Xie Zhuo.
A moment after she finished speaking, she felt Xie Zhuo turn her shoulder and lower his head to kiss the shallow dimple above her collarbone.
It was more than just affection; it was like a hungry wolf devouring her flesh.
Xue Mingyao first felt a heat, then a numbness, then a tingling sensation, and then an itch. He kissed her, sucked on her, and licked her, as if he wanted to forever brand his mark on that thin skin.
Xue Mingyao rained blows on his shoulder, but Xie Zhuo remained unmoved until he finished kissing her and looked up. The two faced each other in the darkness, and Xue Mingyao couldn't see his face clearly, but she was absolutely certain that he was grinning maliciously.
Xie Zhuo rubbed his fingers against the spot where he had been brutally treated, his voice hoarse, "At least you won't be able to see him for the next few days."
Xue Mingyao slapped his hand away, "All I know is that I will never see you again!"
"Unfortunately, I will not grant your wish. Princess, we shall meet again next time."
Xie Zhuo said those words, then abruptly released her, picked up the mask, put it on, and stood up to light the lamp.
Light returned to the painted pavilion. Xue Mingyao, her clothes disheveled and hair half-undone, angrily hid behind a wooden shelf, tidying herself up. When she came out, Xie Zhuo was nowhere to be seen.
Outside, the sky was clear and the sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing, and indistinct wisps of catkins were drifting by; it was still a peaceful afternoon.
Xue Mingyao wrapped her outer garment tighter and stood in front of the deserted building, feeling as if everything that had just happened upstairs was a dream.
But the vivid marks on her body reminded her of the reality of what had just happened.
Xue Mingyao held the bronze mirror and looked at herself from different angles, becoming increasingly annoyed with each reflection.
Scattered on her neck and chest were hickeys of varying depths, the one Xie Zhuo had kissed most forcefully turning a purplish-pink, so alluring it made one's ears burn. Touching it with one's fingertips, one could still feel the lingering heat, accompanied by a soft texture.
It felt as if I had just experienced a passionate love affair.
"Princess, what happened to you..." Green Branch stood behind her, covering her mouth in surprise.
"Don't ask!"
Xue Mingyao grinned at a sharp tooth on the side of her lip, her face darkening as she tore off the pearl pendant from her ear and tossed it to Lüzhi. "Take it and pawn it. Keep the money for yourself."
Green Branch quickly fell silent, put away the pendant, and took a damp cloth to apply heat to the princess.
Later that evening, Xue Xingtai, still worried, went to her courtyard. Xue Mingyao excused herself, saying she was feeling unwell and needed to rest early, and Xue Xingtai had no choice but to leave disappointed.
That night, Xue Mingyao tossed and turned on the bed, smashing the brocade pillow and quilt as if they were Xie Zhuo before she calmed down a bit and finally went to sleep.
But soon after closing his eyes, he dreamed of Xie Zhuo.
They were still in that painted pavilion, where two or three lamps silently emitted red flames. In the dim light, Xie Zhuo bit her like a wolf. She was both disgusted and afraid, and desperately pushed him away.
But as she pushed, somehow, her legs wrapped around his waist, and her hands slipped inside his collar.
The floral carpet is brightly colored, and the painted pavilion sways precariously.
Xue Mingyao curled her toes with joy and hugged Xie Zhuo as passionately as if she were embracing her lover.
She still couldn't see his face clearly, but she knew his lips were soft, his eyes were bright, and his chest was strong...
From within the deep curtains, a young woman let out a startled cry.
Xue Mingyao sat blankly in bed, the scene from her dream still lingering in her mind, making her mouth dry and her heart pound.
Having not had this kind of dream in a long time, Xue Mingyao, a widow with a reputation for promiscuity, didn't feel ashamed, only angry.
Xie Zhuo was strange and domineering. She hated him so much that she couldn't wait to see him make love to her after being humiliated by him.
It wasn't without reason. Xue Mingyao knew very well that when his hand caressed her body that afternoon, she was filled with anger, half of it from Xie Zhuo's disrespect and half from the fact that she actually felt something.
If Xie Zhuo had truly humiliated her to the end back then, it wouldn't seem so bad...
Xue Mingyao pinched her palms until they turned white.
Xue Mingyao, do you really think you're promiscuous?
......
The faint sound of drums could be heard outside; a rough calculation suggested it was the third watch of the night.
The silvery moonlight spilled across the ground, cold and sticky.
Xie Zhuo sat on the couch, leaning against the wall. Sleep had been wandering the earth, never visiting this place. The images of the painted pavilion during the day lingered in his mind. He could smell her fragrance, touch her hair, and feel the soft snow overflowing in his palm.
She possessed a voluptuous and beautiful appearance, and a soft, fragrant body.
He honestly didn't know whether he was indulging or restraining himself at the time.
Beside the pillow lay a piece of soft, begonia-red silk, a woman's undergarment. It was made of the finest material and, despite the years, it didn't look old, only wrinkled from prolonged use. Some were old wrinkles, while others were new ones that appeared tonight.
Xie Zhuo couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly whenever he thought about how Xue Mingyao had kicked him out like a dog and even stolen one of his undergarments.
Scholars, you've read all the classics and learned nothing! You indulge in fleeting pleasures, forgetting ethics, morality, and even who you are.
He donated the money Xue Mingyao gave him to incense offerings, and knelt before the Bodhisattva, silently praying for a safe journey. He asked for nothing more, and he felt that dirty deeds would offend the Bodhisattva's ears; as long as he was alive, he would take care of himself, without needing the gods or Buddhas.
After finishing his prayers, he left the Buddhist temple, carrying only a thin bag, and set off alone for Gansu and Liangzhou. Hidden inside the bag was Xue Mingyao's undergarment; there wasn't a single book.
The young woman followed him all the way from one camp to another, from a cramped tent with twenty people packed together to a private tent, which was even larger than a cramped tent. Before he became a squad leader, his bundle was ripped open and stolen. When he went to get it back, he was severely beaten. Fortunately, he got it back, and it didn't hurt too much. He would never have been beaten more badly in his life than at the residence of Princess Xichuan.
People in the military camp actually carry some women's items on them, such as underwear and handkerchiefs, to remember their loved ones when they see these things, in a rather obscene way.
Xie Zhuo's intention was not that; he used Xue Mingyao's undergarment to remind himself not to forget. As it turned out, it was unnecessary. That past event lingered in his mind day and night, like a solid dam that could never be breached or moved.
On the day he was promoted to the sixth rank of General Dingyuan, the sky in the northwest was as blue as an inverted lake. The soldiers celebrated with strong wine, and Xie Zhuo drank several dou (a unit of volume) of it. He thought, "That's enough. I should live well and stop clinging to things."
That night, an old friend appeared in his dream, and the newly appointed general suffered a crushing defeat.
Whether you call it gratitude or resentment, since he can't forget it, he has to face it eventually. Like a battle he has to fight, and he knows he must win.
He can't afford to lose to Xue Mingyao again.
......
Xue Xingtai was determined to take control of Xue Mingyao, and within two days, he brought someone to see her.
"Ah Zhao?" Xue Mingyao, dressed in an apricot-colored spring robe with the collar turned up high, glanced at the person standing straight outside the window on the veranda and asked listlessly, "What does it mean that you sent him here, brother?"
"You encountered assassins in Beiming Mountain, a very dangerous situation, and you couldn't rely on Lüzhi. Your brother was worried that you might encounter danger again, so he sent Qi Zhao to protect you. Remember to take him with you when you go out in the future," Xue Xingtai said solemnly.
"Thank you for your kindness, brother." Xue Mingyao raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were worried that I was flirting with other women and had someone keep an eye on me."
"That's certainly the intention," Xue Xingtai readily admitted. "Yaoniang, you can't be so willful anymore. Whether it's Chen Hanlin or General Xie, they are people we can't afford to offend. I'm afraid you'll get yourself into trouble."
"It's already happened once," Xue Mingyao thought to herself.
She smiled with a pout, "Qi Zhao is such a good boy. What kind of image is it to have him by my side? If people see this, won't it ruin my reputation even more?"
"That's still better than nothing." Xue Xingtai's stern face relaxed a little. "Besides, your reputation can't get any worse."
Xue Mingyao shrugged. "Alright, I'll do whatever you say, brother."
She got it quite readily, which surprised Xue Xingtai, who was prepared to argue with his younger sister for half an hour.
Little did he know that Xue Mingyao was afraid of Xie Zhuo after suffering a severe loss at his hands last time. With Xie Zhuo's strong physique, she would be powerless to fight back if he really wanted to bully her. It would be good to have a guard by her side to prevent Xie Zhuo from bothering her again.
After Xue Xingtai left, Lüzhi said with a long face, "I'm sorry, Princess. If I were any more useful and could protect you, there would be no need to call Qi Zhao back."
"Who says you're useless?" Xue Mingyao patted her shoulder. "Go and call Qi Zhao in."
Qi Zhao, dressed in all black, with a solemn expression as if covered in frost, knelt as soon as he entered.
Xue Mingyao stopped him, stared at his face for a while, and suddenly burst into laughter, "Ah Zhao, you've aged so much in the past few years!"
Qi Zhao lowered his head, "I have offended the princess."
Both of them knew he wasn't talking about appearance.
"Once disloyal, always disloyal," were the words Xue Mingyao said to him five years ago when she drove him away. Qi Zhao had been her bodyguard since she was ten years old, and was only transferred away by General Xue after she got married. Even years of master-servant relationship could not make her show leniency.
"It's alright, I won't hold the past against you," Xue Mingyao said calmly. "You are a retainer of the Xue family, not someone of Princess Yongning. There's nothing wrong with what you did."
"Thank you for your understanding, Princess," Qi Zhao said in a muffled voice.
"Now that you're back, do your job well. Has your martial arts improved? I might need you to beat someone up from time to time..." Xue Mingyao said to herself, without letting Qi Zhao answer.
After Lüzhi arranged a room for Qi Zhao, Xue Mingyao waved for him to settle in.
She sat in front of the dressing table, loosened her collar, looked at the few marks that hadn't faded much, and sighed heavily.
......
As springtime grew more vibrant each day, around the Shangsi Festival, the powerful families of Zhongjing would traditionally perform purification rituals by the water, enjoy spring outings and feasts, and amidst the lively atmosphere, the bloody shadows of the spring hunt seemed to fade away.
The results of the investigation were not made public. All the court officials knew was that all the officials involved in the spring hunt were punished, either demoted or had their salaries reduced. Even the Crown Prince, who had always acted in accordance with the emperor's wishes, was reprimanded and had several important duties removed from his post.
Most officials felt a sense of impending doom, while only the remonstrating officials who had always opposed the spring hunt stood tall and proud, adopting an air of hindsight, though they didn't say so openly, lest they be perceived as gloating. However, among them was a newly promoted eighth-rank censor, a young and impetuous man from Xichuan, who hadn't yet learned the subtlety of the officials in Zhongjing. While waiting in line for court, he brandished his official tablet and spoke eloquently about the evils of the spring hunt.
"The victory in the southern campaign should have been a joyous occasion, but a trip to Beiming Mountain turned into a funeral. It's truly heartbreaking!"
"Looking back now, it's clear that hunting in the mountains is inherently unsafe; it's just that nothing bad has happened before."
A senior censor standing nearby advised him, "Say less."
"That's not quite right. We are, after all, the mouthpiece of the government; our words are indispensable—"
The young censor's voice abruptly stopped, and a strange expression appeared on his face as he looked at the person who had come into view.
Not only him, but the other officials who were still whispering also stopped talking and looked over.
The newcomer was tall and imposing, with handsome features. His crimson court robe was embroidered with a majestic lion. At that moment, the rising sun cast its golden rays, which shone brightly against the blue glazed tiles on the roof and the thirteen white jade belt around his waist.
Such appearance, such majesty.
The gatekeeper announced the registration in a respectful voice, and Xie Zhuo calmly responded, walking slowly along the steps.
He claimed to be ill shortly after returning to the capital, and most of the court officials had only heard of him but had never met him, let alone seen his face. Today was his first appearance at the morning court session.
As Xie Zhuo passed the young censor, the censor's lips moved, and he murmured a name, "Xie Qinglang..."
Xie Zhuo paused briefly and gave him a gentle smile. Then, guided by the eunuch, he arrived at the right-hand side of the military rank and stood at the head of the rank, holding a tablet.
He remained unperturbed despite the many astonished stares from behind.
The morning court session, held a few incense sticks later, was in a better atmosphere than in the previous days. The emperor rarely showed a smile, and he was pleased that the general had returned to court after a long illness. He then bestowed upon him a new post in court.
Just as Chen Liangqing completed the first draft of "The Southern Expedition Records", the court officials put aside their anxiety and joined the emperor in their joy.
After the court session ended, Xie Zhuo met with Emperor Deyuan to express his gratitude.
After a long conversation, Xie Zhuo bowed deeply before leaving, saying, "I have another request, and I beg Your Majesty's permission."
"Speak frankly, Your Excellency," Emperor Deyuan said with a smile.
"I won first place in the archery competition, and Your Majesty bestowed upon me a reward. Today, I dare to suggest using this reward."
Emperor Deyuan became interested and leaned forward to ask, "What reward does Minister Xie desire?"
"Your Majesty, I request a marriage decree." Xie Zhuo, facing Emperor Deyuan's piercing gaze, spoke resolutely, "Princess Yongning is of noble birth and possesses graceful manners. I have long admired her and wish to marry her."
-----------------------
Author's note: I'm asking for your hand in marriage.
The truth came out very quickly. [Dog head with rose in mouth]
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