Chapter 39 "Why are your hands so cold?"...
The evening drum of Chang'an had just sounded, and the lights in the Daming Palace were as bright as day.
Incense burners were placed at the four corners of the main hall, and wisps of smoke rose up, mingling with the sounds of string and wind instruments.
Yang Chengxiu sat high beside the emperor, while Pei Shang'er beside him gently waved a round fan, her smile as beautiful as a flower.
The banquet welcoming the Yang family to the capital was very grand, with singing and dancing. The dancers danced gracefully to the rhythm, their gauze skirts fluttering and their arm bracelets jingling.
"Where is the Crown Princess at this grand banquet?"
"I heard that the Crown Princess fell seriously ill a few days ago and moved to Shengguang Temple to recuperate."
"It is said that the Crown Princess was punished by being sent to Shengguang Temple to reflect on her actions because she had a dispute with the Crown Prince a few days ago. Her serious illness was just an excuse."
"Is it because Miss Yang came to Chang'an? I've heard that the current Crown Prince was originally going to choose Miss Yang..."
"Stop talking, don't you want your head?"
"There isn't a single man who isn't shameless."
A golden platter held sliced carp, a silver bowl contained stewed camel hoof soup, and a dessert of crispy mountain cheese drizzled with sugarcane juice, all gleaming in the candlelight.
These were all foods that Ling Zhenli usually liked to eat. She knew that Pei Xuanlin also liked them, so she would feed him bite by bite while smiling and talking to him.
With Ling Zhenli not by his side, Pei Xuanlin felt like he had lost his soul. He had no appetite, but he still had to force himself to stay awake.
Palace maids, carrying wine jugs, moved among the guests, filling them with amber-colored grape wine.
The Yang family slowly entered the hall.
The leader was Yang Xiande, the former crown prince who escaped the coup and is still alive and well, in good spirits.
Following behind were Yang Xiande's current wife, and their son and daughter. Yang Chengxiu was raised in the palace from a young age and was personally taught by Yang Mingkong, so she did not have a close relationship with her father and stepmother.
After many years, this was the first time Yang Chengxiu had met her half-brother and sister.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!" Yang Xiande led his family in kneeling and bowing.
Seeing this, Pei Xuanlin walked down the steps with a smile and personally helped Yang Xiande up: "No need for formalities. You have worked hard and made great contributions. It is a wish of mine to be able to come to the capital for a gathering today."
Yang Xiande broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.
In the past, Yang Xiande repeatedly harmed Pei Xuanlin's mother in order to marry his sister to Pei Xuanlin's father and make her empress. Now, he wants to remove Pei Xuanlin from the position of crown prince. With both old and new grudges, Pei Xuanlin is determined to settle accounts with him.
Pei Shang'er watched Pei Xuanlin's performance with cold eyes, her face full of disgust but she didn't say anything. Yang Xiande was no good. In the past, he treated the Pei family members like they were raw meat and blood. If it weren't for Yang Chengxiu, he would have died a hundred times over.
Just half a month ago, Pei Xuanlin had advised her father that the Yang family was wielding considerable military power in the northern frontier and might harbor rebellious intentions.
Now they pretend to be so enthusiastic. Why be so hypocritical? It's disgusting.
The young lady of the Yang family, Yang Huiqiao, whom the noble ladies of the capital were talking about in their idle chatter, was smiling at this moment, her eyes occasionally stealing glances at Pei Xuanlin.
She had overheard a few of the noble ladies' conversation. It was true; she was originally the one who was supposed to marry Pei Xuanlin. However, Yang Chengxiu missed out on the position of crown prince, so Pei Xuanlin had to marry Xue Yingyue instead. And she was unwilling to remain a concubine, which is why she did not marry Pei Xuanlin.
Looking at Pei Xuanlin now... how could he not be a good husband? As soon as he heard that she had come to the capital, he immediately sent Xue Yingyue to a Buddhist temple for quiet cultivation.
If he were willing to demote Xue Yingyue to the rank of concubine and marry Yang Huiqiao, then it wouldn't be impossible to consider.
The Yang family members took their seats. Yang Huiqiao's older brother, Yang Jiming, glanced at the empty seat next to Pei Xuanlin and winked at his sister.
"How is it, future Crown Princess?"
"Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?" Yang Huiqiao looked around, pretending to be afraid of being seen, but in reality, she was overjoyed.
Yang Jiming could tell at a glance that his younger sister was secretly delighted. He also wanted his sister to marry into the Crown Prince's palace as soon as possible so that he could use his connections to get an official position.
"Look, the seat next to the Crown Prince has been cleared out for you, just waiting for you to sit down."
"Oh brother, I'm going to get angry if you say that again."
"Look at you, your face is all red, and you're still pretending to be unhappy."
The brother and sister talked to each other, and Yang Xiande listened and was happy too. In his eyes, either his daughter-in-law Pei Shang'er would ascend the throne and his whole family would enjoy endless wealth and glory, or his daughter would marry Pei Xuanlin and become his favorite concubine or even empress, and the Yang family would have immense power.
At the height of the banquet, Emperor Pei Lian, in high spirits, ordered someone to bring out the luminous cups that had been presented as tribute from the Western Regions, and drank with his ministers.
Throughout the banquet, Xue Wenmian's face remained grim. With rumors circulating in the court that the Crown Princess might be deposed, the noble families related to the Xue family by marriage could not smile, especially Xue Haoting, whose anger was impossible to conceal.
Xue Wenmian was neither deaf nor dead. Yang Xiande's two children spoke rudely in public, yet Pei Xuanlin showed no reaction whatsoever.
Even though it's just an act, this is going too far.
Feeling disgusted by the faces of the Yang family, Xue Wenmian decided to leave and resigned from his post with the emperor, returning home with his family.
The Yang family was even happier to see this. Their trip to the capital was to arrange for the Crown Prince to marry Yang Huiqiao as a concubine. Now it seemed that the rumors of discord between Lady Xue and the Crown Prince were true. If Yang Huiqiao gained favor after entering the Eastern Palace, becoming Empress would be just around the corner.
Xiao Chongheng, sitting below, frowned. The incident happened suddenly, without any warning, Pei Xuanlin had sent Ling Zhenli to live at Shengguang Temple.
This is a matter of great importance. Recently, some people in the court have been advising that the tragedy of Empress Xue of the previous dynasty must never be repeated. The Crown Prince must bring the Crown Princess back to the Eastern Palace after she has recovered. However, the Crown Princess has been at Shengguang Temple for four or five days, and Pei Xuanlin has shown no intention of bringing her back to the palace.
Pei Xuanlin frequently raised his glass, chatting and laughing with the Yang family, as if it were truly a joyful family banquet.
"I heard that Young Master Yang made another contribution to the northern frontier the other day. Like father, like son," Pei Xuanlin said to Yang Xiande with a smile.
Yang Xiande cupped his hands and said, "My son was fortunate to achieve merit, all thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune and the soldiers' bravery."
A cold glint flashed in Pei Xuanlin's eyes, then he smiled and said, "You're too modest. Come, let me offer you a toast."
At this moment, Pei Chang'er noticed that whenever Pei Xuanlin raised his cup, several guards at the corner of the hall would exchange glances.
She followed their gaze and discovered that many unfamiliar guards had appeared around the main hall, their hands always on the hilts of their swords.
"Shang'er, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?" Yang Chengxiu asked softly beside her.
Pei Shang'er suddenly had a bad feeling. She continued Yang Chengxiu's words, "Yes, I'm starting to feel dizzy again. Come back with me to rest."
Without hesitation, Yang Chengxiu agreed: "Okay."
Yang Chengxiu had already sensed something was wrong, and took this opportunity to take Pei Shang'er away from this place.
*
As the moon rose, the ancient temple was bathed in the deep blue of the night.
The gentle moonlight seeped in, spreading a layer of silver frost on the blue brick floor.
Ling Zhenli sat in front of the Buddha, her fingers twirling the beads.
Footsteps came from outside the hall, steady and powerful, unlike the light and airy steps of the monks inside the temple.
"Princess."
Xie Daojian stood outside the threshold, dressed in a black brocade robe that seemed to blend into the night. The jade belt buckle at his waist reflected the light from the lamp in front of the Buddha, flashing once and then again.
Ling Zhenli did not turn around.
"Breaking into a sacred place at night, Lord Xie, are you not afraid of offending Buddha?"
"By order of the Crown Prince, I have come to deliver a calming soup to Her Majesty." Xie Daojian smiled and held up the food box.
The ancient cypress trees behind the shrine rustled, as if sighing.
"Leave it there." She deliberately didn't take it and remained sitting on the cushion.
"Are you being stubborn with me, or with His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Xie Daojian smiled weakly, shook his head, and placed the food box next to her.
Ling Zhenli finally turned around, stared intently at Xie Daojian, and said defiantly, "Why am I being so stubborn?"
Xie Daojian sighed and reached out to touch her hand.
His palms, slightly calloused, scraped against her smooth, creamy skin like flint striking a new bud.
"Why are your hands so cold?"
Xie Daojian's breath brushed against her ear, causing a slight shiver to run through her.
"This is a sacred Buddhist place, yet you're holding my hand." Ling Zhenli was still angry. Although she didn't pull her hand away from Xie Daojian, there was a hint of anger in her eyes.
"His Majesty is hosting a banquet for the Yang family tonight. I do not wish to engage in any pretense with them at the banquet, so I have asked the Crown Prince to grant me permission to come and see you on his behalf."
Ling Zhenli was a little better: "What did the Crown Prince say?"
"The Crown Prince said that you called out the name of Duke Xiao in your sleep, and he got angry in a moment of anger, which is why he argued with you. He hopes you can understand his feelings and not be angry with him anymore..."
Seeing Xie Daojian looking preoccupied and unable to express himself, Ling Zhenli assumed he was going to blame her and preemptively scolded, "What, are you here to interrogate him on his behalf?"
"I'm just sad, Ah Li. Why aren't you calling my name? Is Xiao Xun better than me?"
Ling Zhenli frowned slightly, wondering if Xie Daojian was focusing on something wrong, but her hands were once again covered by his hot palms.
"Why are you calling out Xiao Xun's name? Do you like him?"
Looking at Xie Daojian's face, his gaze filled with longing and sorrow, Ling Zhenli seemed to be bewitched as she answered, "I don't like it."
"Could you consider whether you like me?"
I like you, no questions asked.
Ling Zhenli still remembers the warmth of Xie Daojian's fingertips brushing against her palm many years ago. At that time, the spring breeze was too gentle and people's hearts were restless. Watching a petal fall on his shoulder, she thought that such days could last forever, until the end of time.
Unfortunately, the universe is multiplied by the three, and this applies not only to her and Xie Yu.
Even now, though his clothes are soaked with the passage of time, that youthful figure remains pristine in the old days.
The first love I felt in my youth has never changed.
Night dew dripped from the eaves.
As the first drop hit the stone steps, Xie Daojian's hand was stroking the jade hairpin in her hair...
The second drop fell to the edge of the stone steps, his breath already pressed against the back of her neck...
When the third drop struck the stone steps, Ling Zhenli found her back pressed against the lotus pedestal of the Guanyin statue, the cold, hard stone carving causing a sharp pain in her shoulder blades.
"You're absolutely insane..."
Her breathless rebuke was swallowed between hot lips and teeth, and incense ash fell from the offering table like a silent snowfall.
Ling Zhenli looked at her plain white skirt piled up next to the futon, like withered flowers and plants.
"No, not here..."
She struggled to reach the scattered sash, but her fingertips touched the gemstones inlaid on the jade belt at his waist.
It was both icy cold and scalding hot.
The shadows of the ancient cypress trees swayed.
"Ah Li, this is the first time I've done something like this. My heart is beating so fast. Feel it."
It's unclear whether Xie Daojian was referring to his first time having sex with a woman, or his first time trying it with a woman in a sacred place of spiritual cultivation.
It didn't matter anymore; she didn't want to think about it anymore.
When Xie Daojian bit open the ties of her inner garment, Ling Zhenli saw their shadows cast on the stone wall, overlapping with the painted murals.
His fingers were probing into her most secret place, like a spring breeze prying open frozen soil, causing dormant seeds to tremble and awaken.
The night wind swept through the hall, causing the prayer flags to flutter like waves.
She looked up and saw Guanyin's lowered eyes, compassion mixed with a cold scrutiny.
Just as she was about to say that this was against etiquette, Xie Daojian's lips immediately sealed Ling Zhenli's words, suppressing her reason as well.
"Let's go back to the palace." Ling Zhenli forced herself to stay still and tugged at his clothes.
Xie Daojian agreed with Ling Zhenli's suggestion: "Alright, our first time together should be enjoyed to the fullest."
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