Chapter 83 A New Beginning How could anyone else understand Your Highness as well as I, your humble servant?
The internal strife in the Canglang tribe lasted for a year and a half, and was finally ended by the fourth prince, Erhe, with an iron fist, who became the new Khan of the grasslands.
At the bonfire ceremony, the young and handsome new Khan personally hung his brother's head on the banner, waded through blood, ascended the wolf-skin throne, and gazed with eagle-like eyes at the distant outline of the beautiful mountains and rivers, vowing that he would definitely reclaim the rich land.
In the third year of Xingfeng, around the time of the Autumn Equinox, General Geng, who was stationed on the border, sent this news back to the capital, causing great anxiety among the court officials.
No one knows whether the new Khan is friend or foe to the Great Qi. The new policies are beginning to show results, and manpower is needed for water conservancy projects and farmland reclamation. The country cannot afford another war.
During the same period, Xiao Yunxin added two new subjects, and he started going to Zishan Hall earlier every day.
Upon learning that he had to get up half an hour earlier, he pouted and complained that it was unfair. Why did he have to get up before dawn, while his mother could sleep in a warm bed?
Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to adopt the spirit of Mencius' mother in teaching, and set an example by getting up early together to take him to Zishan Hall to listen to the teacher's lecture.
The autumn morning light shines on the layered glazed tiles, illuminating the mythical beasts on the roof ridges. The bright yellow roof tiles and vermilion palace walls complement each other, creating a magnificent painting against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, resembling a painting made of gold lacquer and cinnabar.
Sitting on the phoenix carriage, Chu Yueyuan's eyes were half-closed. She covered her cherry lips and yawned. If she went back to the Phoenix Perch Palace to catch up on her sleep now, she might oversleep and miss the court meeting.
After a brief internal struggle, the wise ruler's sense of responsibility ultimately prevailed over the timid ruler's weariness. He then raised his hand and ordered the palace servants to turn the imperial carriage around and head straight for the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Chu Yueyuan thought she could finally be more diligent than the Regent today, but when she saw the eunuch standing outside the palace, she knew she had lost again!
Alas... the Regent should not have been born in the Year of the Dragon, but rather in the Year of the Rooster, so that his daily task of crowing at dawn would not have been in vain.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Imperial Physician Zhao is currently taking the Regent's pulse in the study. Would Your Highness like to have a cup of tea in the side hall first?" Eunuch Wang greeted with a smile.
Chu Yueyuan frowned slightly: "Is the Regent ill?"
Eunuch Wang flicked the whisk in his hand: "No, Imperial Physician Zhao has been treating the Regent's health recently."
Conditioning the body...
Chu Yueyuan's gaze narrowed slightly as she couldn't help but recall Pei Muwei's strange behavior recently.
The man seemed to have transformed from a seasoned, victorious general into a greenhorn who couldn't even lift a gun. In bed, he embraced her and kissed her passionately, kissing her until she was covered in a light sweat and igniting his own desire. Yet, at every crucial moment, he would abandon his resolve and become a Buddhist monk.
On several mornings, she was even woken up by the heat pressed against her waist. Hesitating whether to help him, she was surprised when he put on his outer garment and went straight to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
"You don't need to come with me, I'll go in myself."
"Your servant obeys."
Chu Yueyuan stopped in front of the lattice door, leaned forward slightly, and heard a familiar, cool voice coming from the study:
"How much more medicine do I need to take before it takes effect?"
Inside the study, Zhao Qiming withdrew his hand from the Regent's wrist and bowed respectfully: "Ordinary men would see the effects of this medicine in a month or so. However... Your Highness has practiced martial arts for many years, is physically strong, and has more qi and blood than ordinary people. To be on the safe side, you need to recuperate for another half month."
Pei Muwei lowered his sleeves, his thick, handsome eyebrows furrowing slightly: "It still takes fifteen days..."
Every night he lay beside the young empress dowager, her soft, fragrant body filled with her alluring scent and the exquisite curves outlined by the moonlight.
She was sensitive to the cold, and in her sleep, she would often unconsciously wrap herself around like a vine, her gentle breath brushing against her chest like a soft breeze stirring up sparks in the ashes, almost igniting a raging wildfire several times.
Zhao Qiming could sense the man's restraint from his pulse. After a moment of silence, he suggested:
"Your Highness is showing signs of internal heat. You might try brewing three qian of Hangzhou white chrysanthemum tea with a small amount of lotus seed heart to clear the heat. If that doesn't work... you can also try to relieve the heat. If you try to suppress it forcibly, it will only harm your health."
"Wouldn't that prolong the medication period?"
“It will be delayed by three to five days, but Your Highness has insisted on it for more than a month. Now the medicine has almost completely blended with Longyang. Occasionally relieving it a little will not harm the root cause, but…” Zhao Qiming suddenly lowered his voice and expressed his concerns.
Pei Muwei pondered for a long while, then said in a calm voice, "I understand. You may leave."
"Your humble servant obeys."
Zhao Qiming, carrying his medicine chest, took his leave. As he walked out of the study, he bumped into someone. He paused, about to bow in greeting, but a woman's delicate hand stopped him...
At 1:15 AM, the court assembly began.
The eunuch flicked his whisk, signaling the cabinet ministers who were waiting outside to straighten their clothes and file into the imperial study.
The study was furnished as before, with a fan-shaped display shelf made of golden nanmu wood separating two desks, one on the east and the other on the west.
The Regent sat behind a rosewood desk with cloud and dragon patterns, while the young Empress Dowager hid behind a jade beaded curtain. Through the curtain, which resembled azure waves, one could vaguely see a slender figure with her hair swaying slightly.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Highness the Regent."
"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities."
Usually, after the young empress dowager finished speaking, she would remain silent until the end of the court session, like a beautifully painted puppet with only one line of dialogue, quietly waiting for the play to end.
As usual, as soon as the woman finished speaking, the Minister of War couldn't wait to start beating the gongs and drums.
"The Canglang tribe lives a nomadic life. Every autumn and winter, they ride south, slaughtering border towns, burning, killing, and looting—committing all sorts of atrocities. Although we now have the Gaotan Mountain as a natural barrier, the new Khan harbors wolfish ambitions and may use military achievements to win over the people. I request that we reinforce the northern border to prevent such a threat..."
The Minister of Revenue frowned: "Increasing troops requires military pay, and building water conservancy projects also costs money. The silver accumulated in the national treasury over the years is flowing away faster than a river bursting its banks. If the weather is favorable, it's fine, but if there is a severe drought or flood, then we will definitely be unable to make ends meet, and the people will be full of resentment!"
"Are we just going to hoard silver and not spend it, expecting the Canglang people to march all the way to the city gates and hand it over as tribute?"
"To repel external aggression, we must first secure internal stability. Once the canal is completed, grain from the south can be transported to the north, solving the most pressing issue of food supplies. What is there to fear when the iron cavalry of the wolves invade?"
"The canal project is massive and will take at least ten years to complete. The new Khan of the Canglang Kingdom, with his eagle-like eyes and wolf-like gaze, will not sit idly by and wait for our dynasty to grow strong!"
Seeing that his colleagues were getting into a heated argument, Xie Yu stepped forward to mediate:
"In autumn and winter, cattle and sheep are weak, and the Canglang people's iron cavalry will have difficulty replenishing their fodder in time. Moreover, they have just quelled an internal rebellion and should not be in a hurry to attack. However, a new official is bound to make a big show of things, and we are not sure what this new Khan is thinking."
Behind the rosewood desk with cloud and dragon patterns, Pei Muwei leaned back in his armchair. Beneath the cuffs of his black robe embroidered with gold pythons, a string of rosewood prayer beads was visible. His well-defined fingers were slowly moving the beads, the polished beads shimmering with a warm luster as they spun between his fingers.
His voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it silenced all the ministers in the imperial study, who bowed and listened attentively.
"Yesterday, I received a letter from the Canglang envoy. The new Khan mentioned in the letter his intention to form an alliance and to personally go to the capital to discuss the treaty. At the same time, he also asked to marry a noblewoman from the Great Qi as his Khatun, emulating the alliance between Qin and Jin."
On the grasslands, the Khan's principal wife was called Qatun, whose status was equivalent to that of the Empress of the Great Qi Dynasty.
The eunuch passed the letter down, and the ministers stared at it as they read it. The debate then shifted from whether or not to send reinforcements to the northern border to whether the words of the new Khan of the Azure Wolf were credible.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies stroked his long beard and said solemnly, "The new Khan has come from afar, showing his sincerity. If the alliance is formed, both countries will benefit. In my opinion, our dynasty should treat him with courtesy to demonstrate the demeanor of a great power."
The Minister of War snorted coldly and said bluntly, "Erhe is ruthless. On the day he ascended to the throne, he killed five of his own brothers and seized their wives and daughters. He even took the old Khan's youngest favorite concubine. How could such a barbarian, who has lost all conscience, keep his promises..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yu interrupted him with a light cough.
The imperial study fell silent instantly. Everyone who heard the Minister of War's veiled criticism felt a chill run down their spines.
The Minister of War was filled with remorse, wishing he could cut out his own tongue. In his moment of carelessness, he had also insulted the two people at the head of the table.
Fortunately, the young empress dowager behind the curtain maintained her elegant posture, resting her chin on her hand as she examined the vase on the antique shelf, seemingly admiring the chrysanthemums inside, and did not hear these words.
After a brief silence, the Regent spoke in a calm voice:
"I have already accepted the new Khan's request to visit. I have ordered the Honghu Temple to work with the Ministry of Rites to immediately prepare for the welcoming ceremony. I have also ordered the Ministry of War to dispatch 20,000 elite troops from Qiulu Town to Gaotan Mountain for strict defense."
Daqi had previously formed an alliance with Xixia and set up a military camp in Qiulu Town, which is located on the border between the two countries. Forty thousand troops were stationed in the city, firstly to maintain the security of Linzhao City, and secondly to keep a close watch on the Canglang tribe to the north so that troops could be quickly mobilized.
The ministers then realized that the Regent had laid this trap in Xixia a year earlier. No wonder he had insisted on taking the young Empress Dowager to Xixia to form an alliance despite the strong opposition from the officials.
This man possesses foresight and strategic brilliance, truly a rare and exceptional ruler throughout history.
The crowd replied in unison, "Your Majesty, with your wisdom and discernment, we obey your command."
It is the season when chrysanthemums are in full bloom. The "Purple Dragon Lying in Snow" chrysanthemum cultivated by the florist is placed diagonally in a plain jade vase. The deep purple petals are distinct and layered, like dragon scales, and against the white vase, they resemble a dragon coiled in the snow. The fragrance of the chrysanthemums exudes a graceful charm.
Chu Yueyuan rested her rosy cheeks on her hand, her gaze passing through the proudly blooming "Purple Dragon Lying in Snow" foliage. Amidst the layers of purple petals, she saw a man in a purple robe and jade crown opposite the antique shelf. The interlocking jade belt around his waist outlined his tall and straight figure. Although he did not wear any precious jade pendants, but only a simple embroidered iris pouch, it could not conceal his innate noble temperament.
Especially when he gives orders, his cool and aloof expression reveals the majesty of a superior, like a purple dragon transformed into human form.
Chu Yueyuan recalled Zhao Qiming's words:
“A month ago, the Regent approached me and asked if there were any other methods of contraception besides the contraceptive potion?”
"Actually, there is another method, which is for men to take a decoction to regulate their vital energy and prevent having children. Unlike the contraceptive decoction for women, this decoction needs to be taken for a month to be effective. During the period of taking the medicine, it is most important to avoid depleting one's vital energy, otherwise all previous efforts will be in vain."
"The Regent has been taking the medicine for a month... but unfortunately, Your Highness's physique far surpasses that of ordinary people, and your vital energy is too abundant. I suggest that Your Highness appropriately relieve this excess. However, during this period, Your Highness... there is still a possibility that women may conceive..."
Chu Yueyuan raised her hand and pulled out a Purple Dragon Lying in Snow chrysanthemum from the plain vase. She lowered her eyelashes and carefully examined the unique chrysanthemum in her hand, as if she wanted to engrave every bit of the dragon-like spirit in the flower into her heart.
A man of his stature and bearing is destined to be the future ruler of the world. No matter what kind of noble lady or beautiful woman he could find, she would choose to settle down in front of a disgraced young widow like her.
She was naturally sensitive and never believed in those solemn promises, but this man, out of her sight, would turn those unspoken promises into real protection, bit by bit.
A ripple suddenly stirred in her once still heart.
An hour later, the court proceedings concluded, and the cabinet ministers withdrew from the Imperial Study. The vermilion doors closed, leaving only the lingering fragrance of sandalwood incense in the room.
Pei Muwei noticed that the young empress dowager was unusually quiet today.
Usually at this time, the woman would stretch lazily like a cat that has basked in the sun, lift the jade curtain with her delicate hand, and walk towards him with several plates of exquisite tea and snacks, muttering softly that she was finally done with her shift.
He put down the memorial, walked a few steps to the desk opposite him, lifted the beaded curtain with his long fingers, and couldn't help but chuckle.
The young empress dowager maintained the posture of resting her chin on her hand, her snowy cheeks slightly tilted back, a deep purple chrysanthemum held between her fingers, her eyes gently closed, as if she had fallen into the depths of a dream.
A ray of sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the deep purple chrysanthemum on the woman's cheek, and spreading a natural blush color across her snow-white skin.
Pei Muwei gazed at the woman's adorable and contented appearance for a while, then bent down and gently lifted her up in his arms, carrying her into the inner room and placing her on the rosewood chaise longue.
He was about to get up to attend to official business when his sleeve was gently tugged. Looking down, he saw the woman on the bed open her sleepy eyes, her watery eyes shimmering with a captivating light.
She raised her wrist, and with a gentle flick of her finger, the Purple Dragon Snowflake petal pressed against his chin. The woman's eyes lifted slightly, and her voice held a hint of languor: "Pei Qing, how many memorials... do you have on your desk today?"
Pei Muwei slightly parted his thin lips, not avoiding the beautiful young widow who was flirting with him.
"not much."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered, and the blush on her cheeks deepened. She released her grip on the other's sleeve and instead hooked her slender white fingers around the jade belt at his waist, giving it a gentle tug.
"If it's not much, then stay and serve me..." As she said the last few words, her voice weakened, becoming barely audible.
Pei Muwei stared at her peach-like cheeks with great interest, leaned down close to her, and teased her with a clear smile in his eyes: "How does Your Highness wish this humble subject to serve you?"
Chu Yueyuan's ears were bright red and about to bleed, but she still forced herself to raise her chin and snorted coldly: "It seems that Minister Pei has not served anyone for too long and has forgotten. Then I will find a more obedient and sensible minister."
The reason why a treacherous minister is a treacherous minister is because he has a rebellious nature that cannot tolerate being questioned by others.
The man's eyes darkened slightly as he lowered his head to hold the flower stem she was grasping. Under the vibrant reflection of the Purple Dragon Lying in Snow, his deep, slightly upturned phoenix eyes appeared both wicked and charming.
He spat out the flower stem he had been lightly biting between his lips, his dark eyes filled with intense possessiveness, and his voice was clear and pure: "How could anyone else understand Your Highness as well as I do?"
The next moment, he captured her full, red lips in his mouth.
Pei Zei truly understood her best. He could easily make her heart race and her limbs go limp with his kisses. She leaned softly against his arm like an obedient silk puppet, letting his long fingers part the layers of silk to reveal her delicate skin. As the moist trail flowed along her fair neck, a vibrant blush gradually spread across her skin.
Pei Muwei removed the sandalwood prayer beads from his wrist and reached into the layers of brocade robes. One smooth sandalwood bead after another was pressed against the delicate skin, gradually becoming moist and glistening with a soft whistling sound, and releasing a rich fragrance. Each touch made the person in his arms tremble slightly.
The air inside the warm pavilion was filled with the subtle fragrance of sandalwood, and the dripping water from the gilded water clock with its inlaid coin-shaped ornaments continued incessantly.
After a long while, Pei Muwei sat on the edge of the couch, slowly putting on the Buddhist prayer beads that were imbued with the woman's fragrance, and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, which was covered in fragrant sweat.
"Your Highness, you got up early today. Why don't you sleep a little longer? I'll come back to have lunch with you after I finish dealing with the memorials."
Chu Yueyuan's gaze swept lightly over his perfectly folded crimson brocade robe. If it weren't for the faint blush still shimmering at the corners of his eyes and his lips being three times more vibrant than usual, she would have almost suspected that the man had mastered divine skills.
She sat up, looking at him hesitantly. The soft silk that had slipped off her shoulders piled up at her waist, revealing her slender, snowy back. A small iris-colored embroidered magnolia-patterned blouse covered her ample bosom, the embroidered flowers trembling gently with her breath.
Pei Muwei raised an eyebrow slightly: "What, Your Highness, do you feel it's not enough?"
She quickly shook her head, the blush that had just faded from her cheeks returning, but she still said in a serious tone, "Ahem, it's only polite to reciprocate. I'm not one to accept favors without giving them back. Since Minister Pei has served me once, then I'll smooth things over for you..."
Pei Muwei narrowed her phoenix eyes and stared at the Empress Dowager who was about to repay her debts with a leisurely air. She immediately understood that the Empress Dowager had overheard her conversation with Imperial Physician Zhao.
It was precisely because he had tasted that intoxicating pleasure that he refrained from touching her. After all, if he lost his composure once, he would need to take medicine for several more days to recover. It was better to endure it until he succeeded, and then indulge himself. It was always better to only have a small taste and not eat until he was three-tenths full.
However, the woman's proactive attitude was rare, which made him feel very satisfied.
How can we bear to extinguish the life force of a seed that has been nurtured with painstaking effort and tender shoots?
He lowered his eyes and smiled gently, his voice exceptionally clear and pleasant: "Then how does Your Highness intend to return the favor?"
Chu Yueyuan felt her ears burning from the man's teasing gaze. She turned her head, placed her hand in his palm, and whispered, "Just... just like before."
The young empress dowager's hands were exceptionally beautiful, fair as jade, with delicate pink palms that seemed boneless. Placed in his large hands, they appeared even more tender and delicate. In the past, he would have had to coax her softly for a long time to ease her worries.
She is generous now, but he has become greedy.
Pei Muwei's gaze fell upon the magnolia blossoms that exuded a faint fragrance, and his throat bobbed involuntarily.
Chu Yueyuan closed her eyes shyly and waited for a moment, but the man did not grab her wrist and commit the same absurd acts as before. She only heard him say in a hoarse voice:
"Your Highness's return gift to this humble subject was somewhat lacking in sincerity."
She opened her watery eyes wide in surprise, about to ask what would constitute sincerity, when she suddenly felt a chill on her chest. Her wrist was grabbed by the man and raised above her head, forcing her to tilt her upper body back. A moment later, her chest felt hot again.
Inside the room, the incense balls in the peacock blue glazed palace incense burner had burned out, and the exquisite sandalwood scent finally prevailed.
————
The fifteenth day of the ninth lunar month was the day when women of the second rank or above would enter the palace for an audience.
The Imperial Household Department brought in over a hundred pots of rare and precious chrysanthemums, adorning the Phoenix Perch Hall with a profusion of flowers, vibrant colors, and an elegant, fragrant atmosphere.
"The chrysanthemums in Your Majesty's palace are truly exceptional. In all my years, this is the first time I have ever seen such a rare variety as the green peony."
"Then Madam Ruan is quite knowledgeable. The chrysanthemums in this palace are so colorful that I don't even know their names, let alone appreciate them. Today, thanks to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, we have broadened our horizons."
"Well, after drinking the Biluochun tea here from Your Majesty, my palate has become quite discerning. I'm afraid that any other tea I drink in the future will taste bland."
Chu Shuheng hanged himself in the imperial prison, and his son was exiled to Beiting. However, the decline of the Chu family did not affect the young empress dowager in the palace.
As the saying goes, what is lost on one front may be gained on another.
The regent's faction, who had previously been critical of the young empress dowager, are now all impressed by her selfless and courageous act of putting righteousness before family.
When an official questioned the Empress Dowager's "lack of talent and her monthly salary far exceeding the ancestral system" during the morning court session, Chief Minister Lin was the first to jump out and berate the official severely.
Therefore, on the day of the audience with the emperor, apart from Princess Anxian who did not come, all the wives of officials of the second rank and above in the capital came.
Chu Yueyuan sat on the phoenix chair, her forearm resting on the armrest with its peony pattern. As she listened to the flattery that filled the hall, she smiled and said, "This year, the tribute tea garden sent a lot of fresh Longjing tea. I have already had the palace servants distribute it. You can take it back and have your families try it later."
Everyone rose from their seats and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, we thank you for your generous gift!"
As they sat down, a sharp-eyed noblewoman suddenly spoke up: "Oh dear, Your Highness's skin is so red. Did you get bitten by mosquitoes?"
The others looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the young empress dowager was wearing a blue silk palace dress, which made her skin look as white as snow. However, there was a faint red mark on the heart-shaped neckline with jade chrysanthemum patterns, which was very conspicuous on her delicate white skin.
Chu Yueyuan picked up the doucai lotus porcelain cup on the table, perfectly covering the mark, and smiled: "I am allergic to pollen, and I have some small rashes on my body."
Several flattering ladies sighed, "His Highness has really suffered to accompany us to admire the flowers!"
Chu Yueyuan smiled and subtly changed the subject: "I heard from the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies that the new Khan's army has arrived in Yongzhou and will reach the capital in seven or eight days. It just so happens to be the autumn hunt season, and the Ministry of Rites is preparing to invite the new Khan to participate in the autumn hunt. At that time, a hundred tents will be set up in the hunting grounds, and when it is quiet at night, bonfires will be lit to roast the deer, boar, roe deer and elk that the warriors have hunted during the day."
Princess Zhu's eyes lit up, and she sincerely praised, "That's a good idea. Those Canglang people are used to living in felt tents, so they won't be used to staying in post stations. For us, it will also allow us to experience the customs of the frontier."
The ladies in the hall nodded in agreement, and everyone discussed it with great interest.
Some said that as the weather turned cooler, they should prepare several sets of fox fur cloaks, while others planned to bring hand warmers, mosquito repellent sachets, and other items to broaden the horizons of those uncivilized Canglang people.
Chu Yueyuan sipped her tea from the porcelain cup, her lowered gaze falling on the red mark revealed at her collar, her eyes flickering slightly.
There are so many ways to alleviate the problem, yet Pei Ze insists on choosing the most frustrating one.
Even now, recalling it, she still feels her heart burning. That scorching touch felt like a branding iron, grinding over her inch by inch. At first, it was just a faint burning sensation, then it intensified, almost tearing her delicate skin apart. And that final touch was so hot it felt like her whole heart was melting...
At this moment, a marquis spoke up: "Speaking of the bonfire feast in this hunting ground reminds me of an old story..."
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