Chapter 89 Accidentally Exposed: Next Spring, Will You Be Willing to Marry Me...?
Qiyun Temple
Chu Yueyuan leaned against the window, resting her chin on her hand, gazing intently at the blooming green plum blossoms in the courtyard. Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept by, and a few pale green plum petals swirled and gently landed on the woman's hair, like naturally formed jade beads, adding a touch of elegance to her charming face.
Even today, she still can't believe she's "dead".
However, the historical records of the Great Qi clearly state that in the winter of the third year of Xingfeng, the Empress Dowager passed away on the night of the rebellion of the rebel king.
As for her rebirth, it was all orchestrated by another treacherous minister.
It turned out that when Pei Muwei discovered that the brown bear in the hunting park was relentlessly chasing Xiao Yun, he keenly realized that the problem lay with Xiao Yun. He decisively ordered everyone to hide in the dense forest, and at the same time, he tore off Xiao Yun's animal skin vest and cut it into pieces with a dagger.
After Lin Mu led Xiao Yun to climb a tall tree and hide, Pei Muwei led a team of elites, carrying animal hide fragments, through the dense forest. They deliberately scattered the fragments in different locations so that the scent would permeate the forest.
This tactic worked. Distracted by the scent, the brown bears gradually lost their way and began to scatter. Pei Muwei seized the opportunity and directed his men to attack the scattered brown bears one by one.
The assassination attempt failed, and Prince Anxian must have had a backup plan. After Pei Muwei and Shen Zizhan met up, they went to the camp outside the capital to mobilize troops.
To deceive Prince Anxian and buy Pei Muwei enough time to mobilize his troops, Shen Zizhan stayed in the dark forest for three days, then carried back a mutilated corpse, pretending that he had died under the paws of a brown bear.
Sure enough, when Prince Anxian saw that Pei Muwei was "dead," he felt that half of his great worry had been removed. He immediately sent a message by carrier pigeon to his relative by marriage, the Duke of Fengguo, who was stationed in Yizhou, and launched a coup that very night.
While Chu Yueyuan was confronting King Anxian, Pei Muwei led the Futu Army up the four hillsides and surrounded the camp located at the foot of the mountain.
Upon seeing the signal coming from the hillside, Chu Yueyuan knew that the army was in position. So she deliberately provoked King Anxian. When the rockets landed on the golden tent and burst into flames, she had already followed the secret passage in the tent to a safe area a hundred feet away.
Thus, she transformed into Chu Niannian, the distant cousin of the Princess Consort of Chun.
Jin Tong lifted the beaded curtain, the glittering beads clinking softly. Holding a white jade vase, she entered the warm chamber and began:
“Princess Nianyi just sent someone to deliver this newly picked vase of flowers. The princess said that she had just recovered from a cold and was afraid of passing on her illness to you, so she will come to visit again in a few days.”
Chu Yueyuan turned her head to look at the vase of flowers that Jin Tong was holding.
Inside the pristine white porcelain vase, several sprigs of vermilion plum blossoms peek out, their scarlet petals layered upon each other, each flower blooming with extraordinary intensity.
She smiled slightly: "It's really beautiful. It's no wonder it was made by Princess Nianyi. Let's put it on the table."
Since changing her identity, she has been living in the Prince's mansion. The Prince and Princess treated her with great courtesy. The Princess Consort was worried that she would feel bored in the courtyard, so she would come over almost every day to inquire about her well-being. During their chats, she would also take the initiative to tell her about Xiao Yun's recent situation in the palace.
Although Prince Anxian is dead, many of his followers still remain in the court. Pei Muwei is currently purging these followers, and once these hidden dangers are eliminated, she will arrange for her to meet Xiao Yun.
Chu Yueyuan asked Xu Mama and Yu Jue to stay in the palace to take care of Xiao Yun, while she only took Jin Tong with her.
Jin Tong was still bothered by the incident where Princess Nianyi had wrongly accused her of accidentally knocking over the medicine bowl. She placed the vase on the table and muttered softly, "These flowers are pretty, but they only last a day or two. It's so unlucky..."
Chu Yueyuan saw through her little thoughts and reached out to tap her forehead: "What are you muttering about? The Prince Chun and his wife are both upright people. I'm sure the Princess Consort has already told Princess Nianyi the truth. Go and choose an elegant piece of jewelry from your makeup box as a return gift."
Jin Tong pouted, reluctantly accepting the order.
Chu Yueyuan was afraid that she wouldn't choose well, so she personally picked out a mutton fat jade bracelet and asked Jin Tong to deliver it to her.
She sat in front of the dressing mirror, and just as she closed the makeup box, she looked up and saw a crimson brocade robe reflected in the dragon and phoenix patterned mirror. A golden spider pattern belt bound the man's slender waist, and only a simple iris embroidered pouch hung at his waist.
The man stood behind her, the silver embroidered cloud pattern on his cuffs faintly visible in the morning light. He raised his hand, his well-defined fingers plucking a green plum petal from her black hair.
Chu Yueyuan turned around, looked up at him, and asked impatiently, "How is His Majesty? Are Granny Xu and the others alright? Yesterday was supposed to be the day Imperial Physician Zhao took His Majesty's pulse. What did he say?"
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes and saw the woman raise her delicate, jade-like face. She was not adorned with a magnificent phoenix robe or dazzling jewels, but wore a light white jacket embroidered with bamboo leaves and a brocade skirt with flowing clouds. She possessed a natural and unadorned beauty.
He lifted her chin, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, his tone displeased: "Niannian has asked so many people, why doesn't she ask me how I'm doing?"
Chu Yueyuan's eyes shimmered, her chin brushing against his palm as she softly coaxed, "I see Lord Pei every few days, and every time I do, he's always in high spirits and full of energy. Why ask such a question? Tell me, how are the Emperor and the others?"
Pei Muwei felt the softness in his palm. He knew that her sweet words were more than sincere, but he still felt very pleased.
He pinched her rosy cheek, his gaze softening, and said slowly, "In a few days, the Emperor will invite the Prince's family to the palace for an audience in the name of the New Year. At that time, you will be able to see for yourself whether he is well."
Pei Muwei decided to arrange for the mother and son to meet in the palace, so that every time he came to the Prince's residence, the woman would ask about the young emperor's condition eight out of ten times.
Chu Yueyuan's eyes lit up, and she stood up happily. She tiptoed and lightly pecked his cheek, expressing her heartfelt gratitude: "Thank you, Lord Pei!"
The man was not an honest and upright official; a mere, fleeting kiss as a bribe was clearly far from sufficient.
Pei Muwei's dark eyes darkened slightly. He wrapped his arms around the woman who had thrown herself into his embrace, lowered his head, and kissed the lips he had longed for, wantonly sucking their sweetness.
In the unfamiliar Prince's mansion, Chu Yueyuan felt flustered as the man pressed his kiss against her. She tried to push away his hot chest, but he grabbed her by the waist, picked her up, and strode into the study. Without a word, he placed her on the rosewood desk, nearly knocking over a vase on the corner of the desk.
She hurriedly reached out to steady the swaying jade bottle, and the man took advantage of her distraction to press down on her. The two were pressed tightly together, and Chu Yueyuan immediately felt the undeniable scorching heat.
"Pei Qing, calm down... This isn't the palace; you can't act recklessly here..."
She quickly spoke up to remind him, her cheeks flushing slightly, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow. Her heart pounded under the man's burning gaze, and she couldn't help but call out the name she used to use.
The treacherous ministers were already deceiving the emperor in the palace, and now that they're outside, they're even more lawless.
Pei Muwei seemed not to hear her words, and leaned down to seal her lips with his again, turning his words of advice into soft moans.
After a long while, he finally released the woman's lips, his high, straight nose brushing against her fair, rosy cheeks.
At times like these, he regretted his decision. In the past, though bound by the distinction between ruler and subject, he could openly enter and leave the Phoenix Palace every night. But now, the young empress dowager had transformed into Miss Chu, a distant relative of the Prince's family, and could rightfully shut him out.
“Niannian…” Pei Muwei’s eyes were deep and unfathomable. He gazed at the woman’s beautiful face and said in a low voice, “Next spring, Niannian, would you be willing to tie our hair together and be of one heart with me?”
Chu Yueyuan's breath hitched slightly from his kiss, but she still retained a sliver of consciousness and subconsciously shook her head gently.
"Next spring, before the national mourning period is over, if Lord Pei suddenly marries a woman who looks like the late Empress Dowager, wouldn't all the officials in the court who were previously kept in the dark suddenly find out? When the emperor abdicates in your favor, they can use this as an excuse to prevent you from ascending the throne."
Pei Muwei's eyes darkened slightly. Although he knew that the woman was thinking of him in every way, he still felt a tightness in his heart. He wished that she would be less rational and more selfish in her feelings for him.
"When does Niannian plan to marry me?"
Chu Yueyuan clearly felt the arm around her waist tighten suddenly. She didn't answer immediately, but thought for a while. Her slender white fingers unconsciously drew circles on the man's front, outlining the taut muscles beneath the fabric.
After a moment, she spoke softly: "In three to five years, when you ascend the throne, if you still haven't let go of your obsession, I will marry you."
Three to five years!
What a shrewd Miss Chu, who has suddenly become single again! It's obvious she doesn't want to take responsibility for him!
Pei Muwei frowned, his deep voice revealing obvious displeasure:
"In the next three to five years, if other young men fall in love with Miss Chu at first sight and intend to marry her, will you remain steadfast in your devotion to me and wait until I ascend the throne?"
It wasn't just his overreaction; yesterday, after court, Xie Yu approached him with a mysterious air, lamenting that ever since his sister-in-law moved into the Prince's mansion, many promising young talents had come to him seeking his guidance: for example, the only son of the highly talented Duke Shen, and the heir of the loyal Earl Meng, both wanted to abandon martial arts for literature and become his students.
Finally, Xie Yu, with a gloating expression, sighed, "Wei Jin, you made a wrong move. Being in a position of power, you were too eager to succeed and tore down the whole building in one fell swoop. But the moonlight is too tempting... you couldn't prevent others from being captivated by this boundless allure..."
Finally, Xie Yu, his official robes open and carrying a few loose ornaments, walked out of the Hall of Diligent Governance, cursing and swearing.
Seeing the man's handsome face tense and his thin lips slightly pursed, Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but feel a desire to tease him. So she lowered her eyes, pretended to ponder for a moment, and then slowly spoke:
"I've been an empress, and I've been an empress dowager, but I've never experienced the joys of being a regular married couple. I'm actually quite curious about it..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt the hand around her waist move away, and she saw the man's well-defined fingers suddenly rip open the jade belt around her waist.
She looked up in surprise and met the man's narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, which were slightly narrowed.
Pei Muwei tossed the jade belt aside, a slight smirk playing on his thin lips, his low, husky voice carrying a hint of arrogance: "Since Miss Chu is curious about the experience of an ordinary married couple, I'll let you experience it for yourself..."
Seeing the man remove his outer robe, revealing his muscular chest beneath his white silk undergarment, Chu Yueyuan immediately understood what he was about to do. She quickly widened her dark eyes and warned, "This is the Prince's residence! You...you mustn't do such a thing..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was pounced on by the tiger-like man.
Outside the window, a cold wind howled, but inside, spring sunshine filled the room.
The red plum blossoms, slanting out of the white jade vase, trembled slightly. The dignified red plum blossoms bloomed even more beautifully in the steamy heat, revealing a hint of coquettishness. The slender-necked white jade vase seemed to be pushed by an invisible force, sliding little by little towards the edge of the table. Finally, with a few violent jolts, it suddenly fell off the table.
"Splash—"
Red plum blossoms fell to the ground, and the most vibrant branch landed on a white embroidered bamboo leaf patterned jacket. The dew on the flower stamen slowly seeped into the plain satin, leaving a delicate trace of spring.
——
The new year has passed in the blink of an eye, and winter is only a little over.
This year's New Year falls during the period of national mourning, so no banquets were held in the palace. The emperor only invited relatives of the imperial family to the palace for an audience. Because Prince Chun performed outstandingly in suppressing the rebellion, the emperor summoned his relatives to the palace several times.
On this day, a low-key carriage with a blue curtain drove out of the back gate of the Prince's Mansion. The carriage traveled through the bustling Zhuque Street and finally stopped in front of a shop. A plaque hung on the beam of the shop, with three large characters outlined in gilded gold: Jinxiu Pavilion.
Two women stepped gracefully out of the car, both wearing veils so their faces were obscured.
Jinxiu Pavilion was the most renowned clothing shop in the capital, offering everything from the finest Sichuan silks and Western Region leathers to imported fish-tooth silks. The pavilion also housed experienced tailors and embroiderers. Not only ordinary wealthy families, but even noble ladies from prominent clans would patiently wait for them in the main hall.
But the distinguished guest who has arrived today is different. Everyone knows that Princess Nianyi has an elegant taste. Any clothes and jewelry that she takes a liking to will be imitated by other noble ladies.
Manager Xu, who had been waiting at the door, approached with great enthusiasm and smiled at one of the more dignified women, saying, "I learned that the princess was coming today, so I cleared out all the other guests early this morning. The hall is filled with the finest Biluochun tea and pastries from Taotiezhai. Please enjoy them, Princess."
The woman blinked her bright eyes, which were visible through her veil, but did not accept the job.
Xie Nianzhi, who was standing to the side, removed her veil and asked calmly, "I'd like to have some new clothes made. Are there any rare fabrics available recently?"
Manager Xu then realized he had mistaken someone for someone else, and after a moment of surprise, he hurriedly nodded: "Yes, yes, we've just received several bolts of Xiangyun yarn. This kind of satin is not only smooth and comfortable against the skin, but also has a faint fragrance, making it perfect for distinguished guests like you..."
Xie Nianzhi smiled at the woman beside him: "What do you think, Sister Chu?"
Since Chu Yueyuan changed her appearance, she has lived in seclusion in the Prince's mansion to avoid being noticed, and her life there is even more boring than when she was in the palace.
Yesterday, Xie Nianzhi came to Qiyun Courtyard and said that she was about to enter the mourning period and wanted to go to the clothing shops on Zhuque Street to pick out some new clothes and jewelry. She asked Chu Yueyuan if she wanted to go with her.
Pei Muwei happened to be in the mansion as well. He noticed the eager glint in the woman's eyes and arranged for a team of plainclothes guards to escort the two of them.
Chu Yueyuan had never been to Jinxiu Manor before, and to be on the safe side, she did not remove her veil, but smiled gently and said, "Alright, let's go and give it a try."
The private room for tailoring was located on the second floor. Xie Nianzhi selected several pieces of elegantly colored satin and went up the stairs with her maid. Chu Yueyuan stayed in the hall to enjoy tea and snacks. During this time, Manager Xu would bring out fabrics for her to choose from from time to time.
Just as Manager Xu was introducing a bolt of pale yellow Xiangyun yarn, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door, as if people were arguing.
Shopkeeper Xu's expression changed slightly, and he quickly bowed and said, "Miss Chu, please forgive me, allow me to go ahead and find out what's going on."
Chu Yueyuan held her teacup and smiled gently: "Shopkeeper, please go ahead. I'll call you back when I've selected the fabric I like."
"Please make yourself at home, Miss Chu."
After Manager Xu left, Jin Tong took down the Xiangyun yarn from the display shelf, her tone surprised: "Miss, this Xiangyun yarn really does have a fragrance, a delicate scent, and the feel is incredibly smooth. It's not much inferior to the imperial satin in the palace. Why don't we buy a few bolts? I'll make you some dresses, and you can wear them when the weather gets warmer..."
Chu Yueyuan gently placed the teacup on the table, reached out and stroked the lustrous fabric, nodding in praise: "It is indeed a fine material. Select a few more bolts and send them to the Princess Consort later. We have been staying at the Prince's residence for so long, and the Princess Consort has truly gone to great lengths for us."
The master and servant were selecting satin fabrics when they suddenly heard a loud commotion outside the door. A dark figure then crashed through the wooden door and flew in, slamming heavily onto the yellow wooden display shelf showcasing brocade. Instantly, colorful silks tumbled and fell to the ground.
Chu Yueyuan looked at the unconscious Manager Xu on the ground in astonishment. Before she could recover, several tall men walked into the hall. One of them shouted, "You snobbish bastards! You refuse to do business with us. You clearly look down on the Canglang people!"
The leading man wore an indigo-blue collared Hu-style robe, with a black leather belt tightly binding his waist. His black hair was tied into two braids that fell over his shoulders. He had a high nose and deep-set eyes, and his wolf-like dark green eyes were particularly intimidating. At this moment, they were fixed on Chu Yueyuan.
Chu Yueyuan's heart tightened suddenly. She took a few steps back without making a sound, shrank to the corner of the wall, and pretended to be panicked. Jin Tong, who was next to her, understood and immediately raised the cloth in her hand to cover her face as much as possible.
"Hahaha, the women of Daqi are so timid." Several Canglang people burst into laughter.
Elkhov raised his hand, and the rough laughter behind him abruptly stopped.
He nodded slightly: "Don't be afraid, young lady. I am the Great Khan of the Canglang Clan, and I am temporarily residing in the Sifang Pavilion across the street."
Chu Yueyuan kept her head down and deliberately lowered her voice: "This humble girl greets the Great Khan."
Erhe stared at the shivering figure in the corner. The woman had caught his eye the moment he stepped into the hall.
The brocade carpet shimmered with dazzling light in the sunlight, and she stood quietly amidst this fleeting shimmer, her face veiled by a white gauze, revealing only a pair of clear, dark eyes. In that fleeting glance, she gave him a sense of déjà vu.
He strode over, his voice deep: "I have come to the Great Qi to seek a noblewoman as my wife. I have long heard that you Great Qi people are particular about the three letters and six rites, and that the betrothal gifts must include gold, silver, jade, and fine silks. I have brought quite a few rare animal hides and agate gems from the Northern Border, and today I wish to complete the rest of the items in this shop..."
He smiled and leaned closer to her: "These colorful fabrics are dazzling to me. You are from the Great Qi, so I suppose your tastes are similar to those of my future queen. Why don't you help me choose a suitable fabric?"
As the man approached step by step, Chu Yueyuan's heart skipped a beat.
What a coincidence! On her first day out dressed in a different guise, she bumped into Erhe, whom she had met before.
With no way out at the moment and worried that the other party would notice, Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to lower her eyes and answer: "This humble girl is of mediocre talent and dares not make decisions on behalf of the Great Khan."
Erkh persisted, as if deliberately teasing her, saying, "Miss, there's no need to be modest. Just pick what you like. If you don't like the satin here, I'll take you to other shops."
Chu Yueyuan: ....
Just then, more than ten armored guards burst through the door. The wolf-men inside the hall reacted quickly, drawing their curved swords from their waists. In an instant, tensions rose, and the brocade in the room reflected the gleam of the blades.
When Erkh saw that the leader was Lin Mu, a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes. He then turned his gaze back to the woman, raised his thick eyebrows slightly, and said in a playful tone, "It seems that I, the Khan, have failed to recognize your greatness, that the Buddha Army has actually stood up for you."
Xie Nianzhi’s calm voice came from the stairs: “General Lin, please put away your weapons. This is a misunderstanding. The Great Khan came here only to buy some silk.”
Lin Mu first glanced at Chu Yueyuan in the corner, and seeing her nod slightly, he then ordered everyone to sheath their weapons.
The Canglang tribesmen opposite them also put down their scimitars, each of them looking wary.
Lin Mu cupped his hands and said, "I was ordered by the Regent to protect Princess Nianyi. In the heat of the moment, I offended the Great Khan. After escorting the princess back to her residence, I will apologize to the Regent. I hope the Great Khan will forgive my rudeness in consideration of the good relations between our two countries."
The friendship between the Regent and Prince Chun was common knowledge.
Erhe narrowed his long eyes thoughtfully: "So it is Princess Nianyi. No wonder you have the Buddha Army protecting you... May I ask who this young lady is?"
Xie Nianzhi walked gracefully down the stairs, pretending to inadvertently block Chu Yueyuan's path. She bowed gracefully to Erhe Yingying and explained softly, "Miss Chu is my cousin. She is new to the capital and does not know the Great Khan, which has caused this misunderstanding. Please forgive her, Great Khan."
Erkh pondered for a moment, then laughed heartily, “It was I who offended Miss Chu first. Today, all your expenses at Jinxiu Pavilion will be charged to my account as an apology.”
Xie Nianzhi bowed again: "Thank you for your hospitality, Great Khan. My cousin and I are going to Fuxiang Hall to choose incense pills, so we cannot stay here any longer. May the Great Khan choose a suitable betrothal gift and soon marry his beloved."
Faced with the gentle and charming Princess Nianyi, Erhe's sharpness subsided somewhat, and he gracefully stepped aside to make way: "I am willing to do as the princess says."
Xie Nianzhi took Chu Yueyuan's arm and said, "Cousin, let's go."
Seeing that Xie Nianzhi had resolved the situation with just a few words, Chu Yueyuan breathed a sigh of relief. As she walked past Erhe, she could still feel his probing gaze following her like a shadow, so she had to force herself to remain calm.
Jin Tong, who was following closely behind her, had been covering her face with a piece of cloth. She hadn't noticed the scattered pieces of cloth at her feet, and in her haste, she tripped over them, cried out, and stumbled forward.
Lin Mu reacted quickly and caught Jin Tong, who was about to fall. However, Chu Yueyuan was still slightly swayed by the impact, and her veil fluttered slightly. Although she immediately pulled it off, half of her face was still revealed in an instant.
A glint of light flashed in Erhe's eyes, like lightning cleaving through dark clouds, instantly illuminating the gloom lurking in his heart. His fingers tightened sharply, but his face remained expressionless until the woman's figure disappeared outside the door, at which point he slowly curled his lips into a smile.
Very well, his spoils are still here.
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