Chapter 52 Forcibly Instructing You: This humble subject is a despicable person, a despicable person who covets Your Highness's teachings...
The Great Khan of the Azure Wolf died suddenly, and the six princes fought each other to seize the throne, resulting in endless war and chaos.
Pei Muwei only stayed in Linchao City for one day. The next day, he went to the Beiting camp to mobilize troops and issue a declaration of war to the Canglang tribe.
Good news arrived every three to five people, first delivered to Chu Yueyuan, and then sent to the capital.
She often saw Meng Xun's name in the victory reports and learned that he had performed exceptionally bravely in this campaign. In several battles, he was the first to charge forward, beheading enemy generals and demonstrating the heroic spirit of the men of Qi.
Twenty days later, 150,000 Buddhist soldiers pursued the enemy relentlessly, forcing the Canglang cavalry to the southern foothills of Kunlun Mountain. After a century, their homeland was finally restored to its former glory, and Tianju Ranch was thus returned to the territory of the Great Qi Dynasty.
Chu Yueyuan could imagine the uproar this news would cause in the court when it reached the capital. After all, since ancient times, conquering a country is difficult, maintaining it is even more difficult, and reclaiming a lost country is the most difficult of all.
Upon hearing the news, the King of Feng immediately held a banquet to celebrate.
It should be known that the Heavenly Steed Ranch is less than a hundred miles from the Kingdom of Xixia. The Great Qi has always valued commerce over war. The arrival of these fine horses at the border market in Linchao City will surely attract merchants from all directions, generating more tax revenue. Xixia can then earn a steady stream of tax revenue from this.
During the banquet, Chu Yueyuan was treated as an honored guest by the King of Feng Kingdom, and the kings of many smaller countries bowed and scraped before her, treating her with the utmost reverence.
The Canglang tribe has bullied neighboring countries for years, relying on their strong army and powerful horses. They are truly hated. Now that Pei Muwei has driven them back to their lair in disgrace, it can be considered that he has vented his anger on their behalf.
After the banquet, Chu Yueyuan encountered Princess Feng Qi on her way back to Yixiantai.
Although Feng Qi's arrow wound on her left arm had been healing for over a month, her face still lacked color. Against the backdrop of her bright red attire, the sharpness of her battlefield appearance was washed away, replaced by a touch of gentleness.
She warmly invited, "I have hunted a fat sheep today. I wonder if Your Majesty would do me the honor of visiting my princess's residence and tasting Xixia's most famous roasted whole lamb?"
Pei Muwei was able to successfully cross Death Valley thanks to the help of Feng Qi, who was familiar with the local mountain terrain.
Now that Commander Pei is wreaking havoc on the front lines, she, the puppet Empress Dowager, naturally cannot hold him back.
Chu Yueyuan nodded slightly and smiled, "The Princess is a heroine among women. I have long intended to visit her. Since you have invited me, I will gladly accept."
Feng Qi laughed heartily and ordered people to prepare carriages and horses.
The princess's villa was not far from the imperial palace; it took about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to arrive.
On a June night in Xixia, the summer heat has dissipated, and the pavilion, with its bamboo curtains hanging down on all sides, is cool and pleasant. The bright moon hangs high, and a gentle breeze blows. Leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, the outlines of exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard sway gracefully in the moonlight, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air, creating a unique and beautiful scene.
Feng Qi, holding a jewel-encrusted dagger, cut off a piece of roasted lamb leg and handed it over casually.
Jin Tong was about to take the lamb leg meat with the porcelain plate when Chu Yueyuan raised her hand to stop her.
She grabbed the lamb leg with her hand, dipped it in the seasoning, took a bite, raised her eyebrows slightly, and sincerely praised, "The fat and lean meat are just right, fragrant but not greasy. Xixia has beautiful mountains and rivers, and the cattle and sheep raised there are equally delicious."
"Ahem...it's just that I can't handle spicy food very well..."
The woman was beautiful and had a noble air about her. Even when she took small bites of lamb leg with her hands, her movements were slow and deliberate, exuding elegance and grace.
A look of appreciation flashed in Feng Qi's eyes. She had someone bring a non-spicy dipping sauce to the young Empress Dowager, and then smiled and said:
"Miasma lingers in Xixia year-round. The local specialty, chili peppers, has detoxifying effects, so we locals like to eat chili peppers with every meal to keep the miasma away from our bodies. Over time, this has become a habit."
Chu Yueyuan suddenly realized: "No wonder the detoxification pills I take every day taste spicy. It turns out they contain chili peppers."
After chatting and laughing for a while, she took the initiative to ask about Feng Qi's injuries.
Feng Qi took a sip of wine, then lowered her head to look at her left shoulder. A tenderness suddenly welled up in her eyes, and she smiled.
"That night was truly perilous. The Canglang people somehow obtained arrows and crossbows. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Lord Pei arrived in time and deflected the fatal arrow, leaving only a flesh wound on my arm."
She first described in detail how Pei Muwei had shielded her firmly behind him during the critical moment when arrows rained down, then changed the subject, raising her eyes to look at the young Empress Dowager, her gaze fixed on the woman's beautiful face:
"There's a saying in your Great Qi: 'It takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a thousand years to share a pillow.' Including this time, Lord Pei has saved me twice in total. Lady Chu, don't you think Lord Pei and I are destined for each other?"
Chu Yueyuan calmly set down her wine cup, her bright eyes meeting the moonlight, and smiled gently.
"In that case, the Princess and Lord Pei have had two life-or-death experiences together, their fate is truly deep. You should really become sworn brothers and sworn sisters. It's just a pity that Lord Pei is not a woman, and has missed out on the Princess as a good sister."
Feng Qi was taken aback upon hearing this. She tried to catch the change in the Empress Dowager's expression, but the woman remained smiling, and her reaction when talking about that person was not as interesting as the whole roasted lamb on the shelf.
Feng Qi waved her hand listlessly, and the female steward, who had received the instruction, nodded and withdrew. A moment later, she led a group of male dancers into the pavilion.
"The dancers here are different from those in the palace. Your Majesty may wish to observe them closely."
Chu Yueyuan neither confirmed nor denied it. The male dancers of Xixia Kingdom all came from Chuanshi Pavilion, and they mostly danced Tuoji Dance, sword dance, Hu Teng dance, or Pangu dance, which showed off the masculine prowess.
The moonlight was hazy, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the bamboo curtains swayed lightly.
The male dancers, chosen from among thousands, each possessed unique beauty. They wielded long swords, their robes fluttering in the breeze, the swords flashing, their movements as graceful as dragons in flight. Sweat seeped through their thin, moonlit robes, making their already robust physiques even more striking.
Jin Tong had never seen such a vibrant and sensual scene before. She lowered her head deeply, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Despite having weathered many storms, Chu Yueyuan remained calm and composed, observing the scene with a serene expression.
After a moment, she gradually grasped the meaning behind the princess's words. These dancers all possessed a strange familiarity; their features, more or less, resembled Pei Muwei's—some had similar eyebrows and eyes, some had similar noses and mouths, some had similar figures and postures...
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Yueyuan's eyes. She knew that the princess harbored feelings for Pei Muwei, but she did not expect her love to be so obsessive that she would use her power to collect men who looked like him in an attempt to find a substitute.
Feng Qi gazed at the men she had collected with fascination, her eyes lingering on the features of one of them. A satisfied smile curved her lips.
"I was seventeen when I fought that battle outside Linchao City. It was the first time I saw what a man other than Xixia looked like. Later, I traveled to dozens of countries and found that not all men outside were as powerful and awe-inspiring as him."
She toyed with the red agate dagger in her hand; the sharp light reflected from the cold blade illuminated the woman's gentle and tender eyes.
"From then on, I began searching for men who resembled him—their appearance, stature, temperament, or even the arrogant look in their eyes. The people of Xixia mocked me for being a womanizer, while outsiders condemned me for being dissolute..."
“But I have never favored them. Except for Wushan, there are no clouds. They are not him.”
Chu Yueyuan: ....
She once thought Pei Muwei was the most obsessive person in the world, but after hearing the Princess's words, she felt that men could take a backseat.
When it comes to being obsessive, the two are quite a perfect match.
One is a future king harboring resentment towards his widowed sister-in-law. The other is a virgin, devoted woman who travels the world searching for a substitute.
Seriously... they're all more insane than the last!
Feng Qi looked at Chu Yueyuan with a complex expression, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and confusion: "Why would Lady Chu reject a man like Lord Pei, who is so exceptional that you could search the whole world for someone like him?"
Chu Yueyuan didn't know how to answer.
She thought she had disguised herself well. After all, in front of outsiders, she and Pei Muwei were inseparable, like a loving couple. When he was away fighting, she sent people to inquire about his whereabouts every day.
Chu Yueyuan picked up a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped the mutton fat off her fingers, her tone calm: "Is the Princess going to say next, since I don't know how to cherish such a good man, why don't I just give him to you?"
Feng Qi sheathed the dagger, her gaze suddenly turning cold: "Your Majesty underestimates me. What I, Feng Qi, want, I will take myself without needing anyone else to give it to me!"
Chu Yueyuan glanced indifferently at the dancers who had been trained to be respectful and obedient, and sighed, "Lord Pei is a man of strong character. I'm afraid the Princess won't be able to snatch them back to her residence as she did with these heirs."
Feng Qi raised her eyebrows slightly and said decisively, "Lord Pei has lofty ambitions and cannot be compared with these men who only care about continuing the family line. Therefore, I am willing to abandon my status as the eldest princess and follow him to the Great Qi."
She confidently raised her wine cup and said with a smile, "Accompanying me to the Great Qi is also 30% of the annual tax from Linchao City."
Feng Qi had enough confidence: her identity, the Xixia Kingdom behind her, and the Feng Kingdom ruler who supported her.
Although the Xixia Kingdom is a matriarchal society, it also uses marriage alliances between women. Now that the Great Qi has achieved a great victory over the Canglang Clan and recovered its homeland, its national strength has greatly increased, and the Phoenix Kingdom's ruler also wants to get a share of the spoils.
The marriage between the two countries brings many benefits.
Rather than placing the weight on Chu Yueyuan, this puppet empress dowager, it would be more reassuring to place it on one's own family.
Chu Yueyuan met Feng Qi's provocative gaze, her expression remaining completely calm, her slender fingers resting on the table tapping lightly.
She understood. The princess had invited her to the banquet tonight because she wanted her to accept her toast.
She was respecting the wrong person.
Chu Yueyuan smiled gently: "Who would snatch someone with such generous gifts? In my opinion, it seems like the Princess is begging for help."
Feng Qi's face darkened, and the smile on her lips gradually flattened: "Does Lady Chu not want to accept me?"
Chu Yueyuan shook her head with a slight sigh: "No, no, it's just a bit unbelievable. The bird in the cage wants to fly out, but the bird outside wants to..."
In the end, she suddenly thought of a saying: "You can't talk about ice with a summer insect."
Xixia and Daqi are two completely different countries, and she and Fengqi have completely different lives. What she says may not be listened to by the other party.
But she still wanted to advise her that Feng Qi was too sentimental. Such a devoted woman would not live happily in the palace and would not last long.
"Princess, there's no need to test my intentions. Since the King of Feng supports the marriage alliance between our two countries, your relationship with Lord Pei is determined by the amount of gifts exchanged, not by me. In this light, the marriage that you've been hoping for for so many years seems more like a real business deal."
She didn't say the second half of her sentence: "A deal that's rushed usually doesn't go through."
Before leaving, Chu Yueyuan thought it over again and again, and finally spoke her mind. She looked at Feng Qi, her clear eyes filled with no jealousy or anger, only confusion:
"Does the Eldest Princess truly understand Lord Pei? Did you give up everything you have now to pursue what you call love, or do you simply want to conquer someone you can't easily obtain to fulfill your obsession?"
Feng Qi's face suddenly turned pale. She pursed her lips, remained silent, and watched the woman's figure disappear into the night.
Dark clouds obscure the moon, the wind stirs the curtains, and fine rain falls like silk threads.
The weather in Linzhao City is always unpredictable. Feng Qi dismissed everyone and looked up at the golden wind chimes hanging under the bamboo curtain, recalling her conversation with the man not long ago.
"The Great Khan of the Azure Wolf is dead, and the matter is settled. I see that the sky is full of dark clouds, and there will definitely be a torrential downpour tonight. The mountain roads are slippery and dangerous. Lord Pei should stay and return with the main group. It won't make a difference if we stay a few more days."
The sunset was enchanting, and the mountain mist swirled around the man covered in blood. Bathed in the thin twilight, his clear and cold features appeared even more handsome.
Pei Muwei took the handkerchief handed to him by the guard and wiped the dark blood off his hands. He then pulled on the reins, mounted his horse, and when he lifted the man up, his icy voice softened slightly:
"The Empress Dowager is timid. I should return as soon as possible so that she can be at ease. The Princess is injured, so I will leave a team of guards to escort you back."
With that, he spurred his horse and rode away, his figure disappearing into the rumbling thunder of the twilight.
This is probably what it means to be eager to return home.
A bolt of lightning ripped through the silent night sky, and Feng Qi was jolted awake. Suddenly, she felt a dull pain in her left arm, which slowly spread to her heart, causing a shallow crack to appear in her heart, which she had held onto for many years.
———
Then there's Chu Yueyuan, who braved the rain to rush back to Yixiantai.
Before even stepping into the courtyard, one could hear the sound of a flute coming from inside the house, melodious and gentle, like silk and water.
Zheng Lu, that little master, is really dedicated. He even came to check her homework late at night.
Chu Yueyuan ran into the house and went to the warm pavilion to change her wet clothes.
"The Empress Dowager really shouldn't have gone to the Princess's residence as a guest. Not only did she get her eyes dirty and her belly full of anger, but she also got soaked in the rain at the end."
Despite complaining, Jin Tong quickly helped Chu Yueyuan change out of her wet clothes and removed the hairpins from her hair.
"The weather in Xixia is so unpredictable! I'll go to the kitchen to boil some water so Your Highness can have a cup of hot tea and avoid catching a cold."
Jin Tong was about to take the wet clothes out when she heard the sound of a flute coming from the bedroom. She immediately raised her eyebrows and scolded him with dissatisfaction: "This Zheng Lu is becoming more and more unruly. He actually barged into His Highness's bedroom without saying a word. This servant will drag him out right now."
"No need. Go and boil some water. I'll tell him to come back tomorrow."
After Jin Tong returned from the Princess's residence, she was like a firecracker, easily set on fire. Chu Yueyuan was worried that she would take her anger out on Zheng Lu, who couldn't speak, so she sent her away.
Following the sound of the flute, Chu Yueyuan, drying her wet hair, pushed open the sliding door.
A folding gauze screen stood in front of the door, and through the gossamer-thin gauze, the silhouette of a man leaning against the bed could be vaguely seen.
Chu Yueyuan frowned. She felt that the sound of the xiao played by Zheng Lü tonight was very different from the usual. It was the same piece of music, but the sound of the xiao was sharp and resonant, like a long sword cutting through the sky, full of power and decisiveness, making people imagine the scene of sword energy cutting through the sky.
Chu Yueyuan stood behind the screen, listening intently until the flute music stopped. Only then did she come back to her senses and cough lightly, saying, "I just returned from the Princess's residence and I'm a little tired tonight. Mr. Zheng, please go back first and come again tomorrow."
The figure behind the screen remained motionless, as if he were the true master of this chess-playing platform.
Chu Yueyuan understood. She gracefully walked around the screen. Even though she was prepared, her gaze still flickered when she saw the person on the bed.
The man wore a well-fitting ivory-white brocade robe with gold trim, and a jade crown on his head. The elegant colors accentuated his colorful eyebrows, bright eyes, and refined appearance.
"It seems I've come at the wrong time again." He looked ordinary and spoke in a calm voice, pausing slightly on the word "again".
Chu Yueyuan thought to herself: Since she knew, she still came. It's a shame that Pei always said she was pretending.
She sat on the edge of the tatami mat, picked up the teapot and poured two cups of tea. She drank one herself and handed the other to him, casually changing the subject of his question:
"Has the situation in Beiting stabilized?"
Pei Muwei naturally took the teacup that the young empress dowager had drunk from, brought it to his lips and drank it all. Then he twirled the jade flute between his fingers. His palms were large, and the delicate jade flute looked like a child's toy in his hands.
"Things have stabilized for now."
He lifted his eyelids, his dark eyes falling on the Empress Dowager's jade-colored embroidered silk gauze dress, lingering on her high, rounded breasts, and then slightly raised the corners of his narrow eyes: "Does the Empress Dowager usually wear this dress to meet Zheng Yin and Zheng Lü?"
Chu Yueyuan dried her hair and replied deftly, "Zhengyin and Zhenglu know the rules and wouldn't sneak into my bedroom at night without a word."
She reached behind her back with one hand, tilted her head back to wipe the damp ends of her hair, and her upright upper body outlined a full curve.
Pei Muwei stared intently for a moment, then suddenly took the handkerchief from her hand.
Chu Yueyuan wanted to refuse, but the man had already lifted the ends of her hair and gently wiped them.
She casually grabbed the jade flute from the couch and asked, "Does Minister Pei know how to play the flute?"
I know a little bit about it.
"What other surprises does Minister Pei have that I don't know about..."
Chu Yueyuan had previously been resentful of the man's mockery of her flute playing, which resembled the chirping of geese, until she heard the man playing music just now.
It seems the Regent did hold back in his writing.
A man who is skilled in both literature and martial arts is a rare commodity, even in the fiercely competitive Xixia region.
No wonder the eldest princess was willing to abandon her status and leave her homeland just to stay by his side. When he becomes emperor in the future, under the influence of his power, countless women will admire him in the same way.
But... what does all of this have to do with her?
Realizing she was overthinking, Chu Yueyuan banished these chaotic thoughts from her mind and randomly pressed the tone holes with her long fingers.
Pei Muwei watched the young empress dowager playing with the jade flute. The woman's slender, fair hands were lightly twirling the translucent body of the flute, which inexplicably exuded a seductive charm.
He swallowed hard and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness's fingering technique when playing the flute is fine. If the sound of the flute trembles, it must be because your breath is unsteady."
Chu Yueyuan nodded like a goose: "Zheng Lu also said that I should take deep breaths and exhale shallowly, but I have never learned how to swim and I am not good at breathing."
"Your Highness can practice breathing exercises using a different method."
She turned her head and met the man's deep gaze, asking curiously, "What method?"
The woman tilted her head slightly back, her slightly damp black hair cascading over her shoulders, which accentuated her small, fair face. Her eyes, as black as lacquer, shimmered in the candlelight.
Stunningly beautiful, and even more alluring.
With his long fingers lifting her chin, Pei Muwei gazed at her intently, his low, husky voice carrying a seductive undertone: "Does Your Highness wish to learn?"
During their time in Xixia Kingdom, although the two, the monarch and his subject, slept in the same bed, they slept in separate beds, and Pei Muwei never made any inappropriate advances towards her.
Chu Yueyuan hadn't seen a man's eyes filled with lust for so long that she lowered her guard and silently allowed him to help her braid her hair.
By the time she realized the danger, it was too late.
Before she could even utter the word "no," the arm around her waist tightened suddenly, and then those cool, thin lips pressed down on hers.
The lotus lamp standing by the bed clearly reflected the desire in his eyes. Chu Yueshi stubbornly pursed her lips, but the man did not force her. His thin lips patiently pressed against the woman's soft lips, and his palm around her waist was very hot, climbing up along the silk gauze dress.
Chu Yueyuan was furious and couldn't help but curse, "You bastard..."
The man's cunning tongue seized the opportunity to enter, greedily entwining with her lips and tongue, like a wolf tasting meat for the first time, relentlessly pursuing her, kissing her until Chu Yueyuan's tongue went numb, and she could hardly breathe.
This was the first kiss between the emperor and his subject when both were fully conscious.
Such intimate entanglement heightened every sense, the hot breath washing over her cheeks. Chu Yueyuan's head spun from lack of oxygen, and her hands, which had been pushing against the man's chest, grew increasingly weak. She could only clutch his clothes tightly to support her trembling body.
A faint sound came from outside the lattice door.
“This servant went to the small kitchen and saw that His Highness had some mare’s milk cake, which he likes, so I took a plate of it.”
Jin Tong noticed that the carved lattice door was half-open, and she could hear a cat-like whimpering sound coming from inside, which made her feel itchy inside.
Your Highness has made rapid progress. After only a few days of practice, the sound of the flute has transformed from mournful and strange to plaintive and plaintive.
However, the moment the partition door was pushed open, Jin Tong's eyes widened in surprise.
The woman's black hair was loose, and she held tightly to the man's clothes with both hands. Her slender neck was turned around, and she was passionately kissing the man. She was like a peony flower wet by the rain, her whole body covered with a layer of mist, her pink cheeks were flushed as if she were drunk, and her eyes and eyebrows revealed a bewitching beauty.
Jin Tong quickly swallowed her scream, dared not look any further, and fled out the door.
Hearing the noise, Chu Yueyuan's mind, which had been almost completely confused, regained some clarity. She bit down hard and managed to escape the wolf's jaws.
"Pei Muwei, you...you bastard!"
She gasped for fresh air, her chest heaving violently, her voice trembling with anger.
"Isn't Your Highness going to learn breathing exercises?" Pei Muwei chuckled softly, his long, narrow eyes gleaming red, a satisfied smile in them.
Chu Yueyuan was so ashamed and indignant that her hair felt like it was burning dry: "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? This isn't a method of breathing exercises, it's clearly..."
"What is it?" Pei Muwei admired the little empress dowager's flushed face with great interest, and raised his hand to smooth her disheveled hair.
Chu Yueyuan slapped his hand away and said coldly, "Zhenglu has never taught me like this before."
The man seemed to dislike the name she mentioned, his brows furrowing slightly: "A mediocre teacher is incompetent and misleads students. If Your Majesty doesn't try, how will you know my method won't work? Success isn't achieved overnight. Your Highness, try a few more times, and perhaps you'll get the hang of it."
His large hand naturally wrapped around her waist again. The regent, who had offered himself as her teacher, was full of enthusiasm and insisted on personally instructing her.
Chu Yueyuan had never seen such a nasty side of a man. Since she had already lost the verbal battle, there was no reason for her to lose it again.
She sneered, "What Pei Qing said makes some sense. Then when Zheng Lu comes tomorrow, I'll try it out with him. We should compare and see which master's breathing technique is more impressive... Ugh..."
Master Pei's second lesson was far more forceful than the first, overwhelming her like a storm, almost brutally crushing her lips, chasing her evasive tongue, as if he wanted to possess her entirely, from body and soul.
Men with exceptional intelligence seem to possess an innate talent for matters of love and romance.
Chu Yueyuan's mind was in shock, her heart was in turmoil, and at the same time her body was honestly enjoying herself.
She was like a small boat tossed about on the crest of a wave, without direction or control. Every time she was tossed high into the air and plummeted down by the waves, she felt a heart-pounding thrill, accompanied by the danger of being smashed to pieces.
After the long course of instruction ended, the jade-colored embroidered silk gauze shirt that had been hanging on her shoulders became wrinkled. Although this silk gauze, which was as thin as a cicada's wing, was bright in color, it was also very delicate. It could not be washed or rubbed, and once it was creased, it could not be restored.
It's very much like the relationship between a ruler and his subjects right now.
Pei Muwei stroked the woman's smooth forearm, his long fingers gently circling the bright red mark on her virginity.
He said in a calm tone, "The Empress Dowager is eager to learn, and I will not stop her. However, Your Highness is of noble birth and cannot be defiled. If you accidentally come into contact with something unclean, I will have to cut off its mouth and tongue and break its hands and feet. Any place that touches Your Highness will be destroyed."
The man's fingers were slightly cool as they touched Chu Yueyuan's skin, like a cold dagger, giving her goosebumps.
She lay weakly in his arms, her delicate brows furrowed, and gently advised, "Pei Qing once warned me not to provoke you, but now that you've provoked me, then... then we're even, okay?"
She was met with a long silence.
Chu Yueyuan gritted his teeth, trying to use his arrogance to turn the page on tonight's events, and said again, "Minister Pei is untrustworthy, which is not the behavior of a gentleman."
Finally, a low laugh came from above. He lifted her arm and kissed the mark on her virginity with his thin lips, as if he were tasting a rare and precious fruit, taking a bite with extreme restraint.
"Your Majesty, I am a petty person, a petty person who covets Your Highness."
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