Chapter 54 Jade Trembling Branch The Jade Trembling Branch needs a medicinal catalyst... This...
As soon as the lattice door closed, Chu Yueyuan eagerly began searching for the brocade box containing the erotic illustrations. Unfortunately, all the goods in the market used the same packaging, and the brocade boxes on the table were not only identical in shape but also in material. She searched for a long time but couldn't find it.
"What is the Empress Dowager looking for?"
A questioning voice came from behind her. Chu Yueyuan grabbed something at random, turned around, and opened her bright eyes wide, starting to make up a story: "I'm looking for Pei Qing's gift. This is... this is a gift I picked out for you at the market."
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes to examine the handful of peacock feathers in the little empress dowager's hand, his handsome, sword-like eyebrows raised slightly.
Since things had come to this, Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue making up a story: "When I was strolling around Linchao City these past few days, I saw that the feather crowns worn by the Baiyue men were very beautiful. Peacock feathers are bright and beautiful, and they are regarded as auspicious birds. So I thought I would make a peacock feather crown for Pei Qing."
To convince the regent, she stood on tiptoe, placed one hand on the man's broad shoulder, and with the other hand inserted a few peacock feathers into his jade crown adorned with golden branches.
The man was so tall that Chu Yueyuan had to tiptoe and sway a few times before her waist was supported by his warm, large hand. He even lowered his head to make it easier for her to decorate her feathered crown.
After finishing the decoration, Chu Yueyuan carefully examined her masterpiece.
Pei Muwei was dressed in a cobalt blue round-necked, wide-sleeved robe with cloud patterns all over it. He wore a jade belt around his waist and a moon-white inner garment. The gaudy feathered crown softened his sharp features and gave him a touch of unrestrained charm.
Her gaze fell on the man's rosy lips, and she couldn't help but recall the scene depicted in that erotic painting, her face suddenly flushing.
The man responded by tightening his grip on her waist.
Pei Muwei lowered his head and smelled the fragrance emanating from the young empress dowager, finding her scent particularly alluring today.
"Your Highness, have dismissed the palace servants. What do you wish to say to me?"
Oh no, there's still this lie I haven't covered up.
Chu Yueyuan steadied herself, lowered her eyes, and slowly said:
"Minister Pei is not here to discuss a marriage alliance with me. In my opinion, Princess Feng Qi is the younger sister of the King of Feng, and the two sisters are very close. If she marries into the Great Qi, she will have Xi Xia as her backing. If you, Minister Pei, grant her the position of principal wife, it will be an obstacle to your future. After all, there has never been a precedent in the Great Qi of a woman from a foreign race being made empress."
Her voice was as calm as a clear stream: "Even if Minister Pei only grants her the position of a concubine, it seems like she has gained Xixia's tribute for nothing, but she will owe the King of Feng a huge favor. Favors are the hardest to repay. If Xixia goes to war with another country in the future, will my Great Qi send troops or not?"
"Furthermore, Pei Qing's future principal wife will definitely be chosen from a prestigious family. If he takes a concubine first, he might miss out on many virtuous and dignified ladies from noble families..."
As soon as she finished speaking, the man stretched out his long arm, and the brocade boxes piled on the table fell to the ground with a clatter. The hand around her waist supported her jade-like buttocks, and he placed her whole body on the table.
"The Empress Dowager's analysis is very logical and reasonable. She truly deserves to be called the...good female ruler of the Great Qi!"
The man uttered the last three words through gritted teeth, so hateful he wanted to bite off her flesh.
Chu Yueyuan looked up in confusion, her gaze meeting the Regent's gloomy and handsome face. The few peacock feathers on the man's crown seemed about to stand on end.
Could she have made a mistake in her analysis? Even if the resourceful Chief Lin were present, he wouldn't have been able to find any fault with what she just said, would he?
The more confused the Empress Dowager looked, the more resentment Pei Muwei felt. Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. The woman had a clear mind and had never been involved in the situation.
She said so much, but not a single word was what he wanted to hear.
Although forcing growth is not the best policy, the young empress dowager was a disappointing seedling; no matter how carefully he watered her and waited patiently, she just wouldn't grow.
After a long silence, Pei Muwei said calmly, "Why does Your Highness think that my future wife must be a noblewoman from a prominent family in the capital...?"
Pei Muwei leaned down, his dark eyes fixed on the woman's shimmering, watery eyes, his voice hoarse: "Can't my legal wife be my sister-in-law?"
The man's shocking words and the heat from his breath reached Chu Yueyuan's ears, burning her cheeks almost to the point of melting. However, before she could rebuke him, his thin lips fiercely captured her earlobe.
The warm lips and tongue sucked over the most sensitive spot, the teeth seemingly biting but not biting, bringing a tingling, bone-deep stimulation that made Chu Yueyuan's lips slightly part, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
She turned her head to dodge, but the man chased her even more greedily. The commotion caused the narrow four-cornered table to shake uncontrollably, and several more brocade boxes fell to the ground with a clatter.
One of the boxes fell to the ground, spilling out the erotic picture book, which landed right at the man's feet, its spine snapping open to the sides.
Chu Yueyuan stared blankly as the erotic illustrations fell at their feet, her mind going completely blank. She even forgot to dodge the lingering kisses.
Feeling the woman in his arms stiffen, Pei Muwei lifted his head from the soft crook of her neck, his long, narrow eyes faintly flushed, and followed her wide, astonished gaze...
The soft hand that had been pushing against his chest suddenly clenched, pulling him closer, and her long, shapely legs wrapped around his waist like a serpent.
"Pei Muwei!"
The young empress dowager suddenly reached out and cupped his face, her misty eyes shimmering. Her red lips parted: "You...you always bully me, it's my turn to bully you once."
The woman straightened her back, tilted her head back, and fluttered her long eyelashes gently, as if she had made up her mind. Her soft, rosy lips slowly approached him.
She didn't close her eyes; her dark, bright pupils were filled with—him.
It wasn't until those soft, slightly cool lips touched him that Pei Muwei felt an undeniable sense of reality, making him believe this wasn't a dream.
The woman in his dream wouldn't be so clumsy, like a kitten looking for milk, only rubbing against his lips haphazardly.
His furrowed brows relaxed, and he couldn't help but gently bite her beautifully shaped lips, encouraging her, "Your Highness, you can bully me even more."
Chu Yueyuan: ....
Now that things have come to this, although it's unclear how the two of them ended up like this, there's no turning back.
Not wanting to lose both her wife and her army, Chu Yueyuan finally steeled her heart and kissed the man's thin lips again, boldly venturing deeper into his territory.
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, watching as the woman's beautiful face gradually turned a vibrant red, a stunning color that even the most expensive rouge could not replicate. Her breath became heavier, and though she was clearly both ashamed and afraid, she pretended to be experienced, her tongue darting wildly and without any rhyme or reason.
His eyes darkened slightly; the man who would not yield an inch of ground on the battlefield was now utterly routed.
He put his arm around her waist, turning the tables and taking the initiative.
The woman's lips were fragrant and soft, like a flower bud about to bloom. Beneath the delicate petals lay a fragrant heart glistening with dew. Instinct drove the man, who was parched with thirst, to pry open her lips and teeth and plunge in to claim the dew from the flower's heart.
While they were locked in a fierce battle of words, Chu Yueyuan still managed to subtly move the boxes on the table to the edge, pretending to be unable to bear the weight and leaning back. This caused the man to bend down and press down on her, sweeping up many more brocade boxes and quickly burying the open picture album on the ground.
Her initiative was met with his tenfold enthusiasm in return.
After burying the "evidence," Chu Yueyuan tried to slip away from the pretense, whimpering that the table was too narrow. Pei Muwei kissed her tenderly, and upon hearing her complaint, he carried her behind the screen without saying a word.
Men generally have an innate talent for matters of love and romance. Under his increasingly skillful kisses, Chu Yueyuan's mind went blank and her legs went weak. If it weren't for the screen behind her, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold on. She could only take a moment to catch her breath and say that it was too dark here.
She heard the man chuckle softly. His straight nose brushed against hers, and then he swept her up in his arms and gently placed her on the long table under the spacious and bright window.
Chu Yueyuan had completely run out of excuses.
As the sun sets behind the western mountains outside the window, the crimson glow filters through the carved window and falls upon the man's deep brow bone. The afterglow is like red ink mixed with fine gold powder, delicately outlining the man's beautiful and affectionate phoenix eyes.
Chu Yueyuan could not bear the burning red light in Xuan's eyes and closed them in evasion.
———
When Jin Tong returned to her room at dusk, she was startled by the mess inside.
The brocade boxes that were once neatly arranged on the rosewood table were gone, scattered on the coral carpet instead. The embroidered screen was crooked, the glass vase on the windowsill had been moved, and peacock feathers were scattered all over the floor.
Something seemed to have been burned inside the silver incense burner. Both carved windows were open, but a faint smell of burning could still be smelled in the room.
"Your Highness, what...what happened? Did the Regent fight with you?"
Jin Tong was shocked. He couldn't understand why the emperor and his minister were arguing so fiercely. It was as if they were about to tear down a house and set it on fire.
Chu Yueyuan had changed into a pale blue embroidered bodice with intertwined floral patterns, covered by a thin purple gauze outer robe. Her hair, which had been recombed, was tied back. She leaned against a pillow, one hand supporting her forehead, her eyes closed, and shook her head listlessly.
My tongue still feels sore and numb, and I really don't want to speak.
Seeing that she looked tired, Jin Tong didn't ask any more questions. She called the maid to come in and tidy up the room, and threw the books that had burned down to just the covers in the stove outside.
Chu Yueyuan opened her eyes and looked at the busy maids, reflecting on the consequences of her haphazardly placed pieces.
If the Regent had previously used the pretext of teaching Xiao skills to take liberties with her, then today's actions can be described as brazenly kicking open the widow's door.
"Can't my legal wife be my sister-in-law?"
Just recalling the man's outrageous and despicable words, Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but shudder.
He...want to marry her.
Has he gone mad? Or does he feel that his reputation for murdering the emperor to seize the throne isn't bad enough, and he wants to add the infamy of seizing his brother's wife?
Chu Yueyuan had already prepared for the worst: that Pei Muwei would not send her to the imperial mausoleum after ascending the throne, but would secretly confine her in the harem, favoring her whenever he felt like it. He would not deprive her of food and clothing, and she could live out her life in peace. The price would be that she would never be able to leave the palace.
After all, in name, she was always his sister-in-law. Bound by traditional ethics and morality, once she became his woman, she was destined to remain hidden from the public eye.
This is why she doesn't want to get involved with him.
But Pei Muwei is a man who has no moral compass or ethics, and he actually... actually wants to marry her and make her his empress.
Isn't he afraid of being drowned in the spittle of future generations?
Chu Yueyuan comforted herself, saying that it is said that men can tell any lie before engaging in romantic relations, so perhaps he was just deceiving her.
She didn't believe it; she didn't believe that the love between men and women could compare to the taste of power.
Chu Yueyuan lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the inside of her forearm.
A bright red mark, like a dot on her snow-white skin, was dazzlingly vivid.
Although she was the Empress Dowager, she was never favored by the late emperor. Every six months, two female officials from the Imperial Secretariat would come to examine her and announce the results to all the officials until she handed over the imperial seal and stopped ruling from behind the curtain.
This method of self-proof was to prevent her from keeping male favorites and causing chaos in the court, because her chastity was not only related to the late emperor's reputation, but also involved the succession of power.
Counting the days on her fingers, she knew that after returning to the capital, she would have to see those two impartial and selfless historians again.
I just don't know if she will still be able to hold onto the vibrant color of that cinnabar by then.
———
On the eve of their departure from Linchao City, the King of Feng intended to host a grand farewell banquet for Chu Yueyuan and her entourage, but she declined, citing the need to get up early the next day to set off.
The King of Feng refused to give up and eventually reduced the scale of the banquet, setting it at the Yixian Terrace.
The moon hangs high in the night sky, its bright light spilling across the valley. Pavilions and towers appear and disappear among the swaying shadows of the trees, and the melodious sound of a zither drifts from the valley.
"I don't know when I will be able to meet Chu Nujun again after this parting. The Canglang tribe has retreated to the west of Kunlun Mountain. From now on, most of Xixia's territory will be adjacent to Daqi. I hope that the two countries can be on good terms forever, with green mountains and clear waters flowing forever."
Chu Yueyuan understood that the Phoenix King's words were meant for the Regent.
The King of Feng was a wise man. He knew that the prosperity of the border market in Linchao City would only be a flash in the pan if the friendship between the two tribes lasted. Only if the friendship between the two tribes lasted would the business in the border market continue to prosper.
Chu Yueyuan smiled and raised her glass: "Then I wish that the Great Qi and Xixia will be friendly forever, that the people will live in harmony, be as close as one family, and never turn against each other."
"I hope so."
Because this farewell banquet was a last-minute decision by the King of Feng, only five people were present: Chu Yueyuan, Pei Muwei, the King of Feng, Feng Qi, and the Grand Tutor You.
The presence of one man and four women made the already sociable Regent even more taciturn.
Fortunately, all four women were talkative, and they chatted about everything from the people's livelihoods in both countries to cosmetics, and the conversation never stopped.
Pei Muwei sat next to Chu Yueyuan. When the maid brought two plates of steamed whitebait, he carefully picked out the fish bones with his chopsticks and then exchanged the cleaned fish bones plate with Chu Yueyuan at the next table.
Chu Yueyuan never deprived herself of food. The Regent insisted on playing the role of a devoted subject from beginning to end, and she cooperated to the end, accepting his service with a calm expression.
When Feng Qi saw this, her smile faded slightly, and she lowered her head to drink a cup of wine.
After several rounds of drinks, the King of Feng poured another cup for Chu Yueyuan, saying with regret, "Why must Lady Chu depart in such a hurry? The scenery of each prefecture in Xixia is different, and you have not yet had the time to visit them. Right now is the season for the Qiongju Xianglan flower to bloom. This flower can only be found in Xixia. Its petals are like snow, with a deep blue color and a refreshing fragrance. Its nectar also has the effect of nourishing and beautifying the skin."
The Grand Preceptor You chimed in, "Your Highness, why don't you stay for another three or five days? The weather in Linchao City is cooler than in the capital. In a few days, when the weather warms up, large patches of fragrant orchids will grow on the grasslands outside the city. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Your Highness, it would be a pity to miss such a beautiful sight!"
Chu Yueyuan smiled and politely declined: "I wish to see the Qiongju Xianglan flower bloom with my own eyes, but the rainy season in Daqi is about to end. If I do not set off as soon as possible, I am afraid the return journey will be inconvenient. All good things must come to an end. I thank the King of Feng for his warm hospitality these days. When the King of Feng comes to Daqi in the future, I will certainly welcome him with open arms."
Just as the two rulers were exchanging pleasantries and bidding each other farewell, Feng Qi suddenly spoke up: "Does Lady Chu still remember that I once said I would prepare a farewell gift for you?"
Feng Qi barely touched her chopsticks during the meal; she kept drinking in silence, and her cheeks were already flushed. However, her eyes, which were fixed on Chu Yueyuan, were extremely clear.
Chu Yueyuan nodded: "I remember."
Before the two parted ways at the city gate last time, Feng Qi said she would give her a gift, so Chu Yueyuan also prepared a return gift for her, which was a Lu horse that she asked the Regent to select from the Beiting horse farm.
The untamed Lu.
Chu Yueyuan thought: Feng Qi failed to tame the Regent, this wild wolf. If she could tame Lu, it would lessen her regret.
Feng Qi smiled slightly at Chu Yueyuan. Although the curve of her lips was deep, it revealed a hint of reluctance: "I am attending the banquet tonight and have brought a farewell gift for the Lady."
As soon as he finished speaking, a maid carrying a flower basket walked into the hall.
National Preceptor You's eyes widened. She pointed to the flowers in the basket and exclaimed in surprise, "Qiongju Xianglan? It's only June now! How could there be Qiongju Xianglan in Linchao City?"
Feng Qi said calmly, "I rode to the capital. Lady Chu traveled a long way to Xixia, and I don't want her to have any regrets."
A bamboo flower basket was presented to Chu Yueyuan, who curiously examined the flower she had never seen before.
National Preceptor You did not boast. The Qiongju Xianglan flower was fresh and refined. The petals were not pure blue, but rather a series of shades of blue. The stamens were white, like rolling waves or a blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Mysterious and magnificent.
Chu Yueyuan buried her face in the flowers and smelled them, finding the fragrance delicate and refreshing.
"It's so beautiful!" she said sincerely. "Thank you, Princess, for ensuring that I have no regrets."
Feng Qi looked at the young Empress Dowager and Lord Pei sitting side by side. Although the two hardly spoke during the meal, the man's gaze never left the woman, especially when she lowered her head to smell the fragrance of flowers and smiled, the corners of his eyes also curved slightly.
When your heart is full of someone, even someone who doesn't show their emotions will be moved by that person's every smile and frown.
Sure enough, you can't hide the look in your lover's eyes.
Feng Qi became even more determined in her heart. She took a deep breath and smiled, "The honey of Qiongju Xianglan has the effect of calming the mind and relieving fatigue. Lady Chu and Lord Pei may wish to try it."
Chu Yueyuan, who loves eating and drinking, readily agreed.
A short while later, two cups of honey water made with jasmine honey were served. Silver Needle tasted the water first, and then it was offered to the distinguished guest.
Chu Yueyuan lifted the tea lid, took a small sip, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Perhaps the maid had added too much nectar, making the honey water taste excessively sweet. She glanced at the regent, who had never liked sweet things, and saw him calmly drinking the honey water, his expression revealing nothing.
It seems that in terms of forbearance, she is still far inferior to the Regent.
Thinking that Feng Qi had just recovered from her injuries, she personally rode to the capital to collect Qiongju Xianglan for her. Hearing the King of Feng repeatedly praise Feng Qi for her hospitality, Chu Yueyuan couldn't bear to spoil the atmosphere at the banquet, so she suppressed the sweet taste and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing that the young empress dowager was drinking heartily, the Grand Preceptor You warmly invited, "Quickly, add another cup for Lady Chu."
Chu Yueyuan: ....
As the young empress dowager drank her second cup of flower tea, Feng Qi's eyes began to flicker.
Just as the Imperial Preceptor You ordered a maid to add a third cup of flower tea, before Chu Yueyuan could refuse, Feng Qi suddenly shouted, "Enough!"
The shout was so abrupt that it drew the attention of everyone present.
Feng Qi pursed her lips, her face displaying a complex mix of emotions as she stared intently at Chu Yueyuan.
Pei Muwei was the first to notice something was wrong. His brows furrowed, and he took the cup back from Chu Yueyuan's hand. His dark eyes immediately turned cold.
He stared intently at Feng Qi, his aura intensifying, his voice cold and deep as iron: "What exactly did you give the Empress Dowager to drink?"
Chu Yueyuan then noticed that the flower tea she was drinking was different from that of the Regent. The petals in the man's cup were blue and white, while the petals at the bottom of her cup were pure blue, clearly not the Qiongju Xianglan.
However, the petals are not noticeable when soaked in water; you can only discover the mystery by drinking the water to the bottom.
Pei Muwei immediately ordered, "Protect the Emperor!"
In an instant, the sound of metal scraping together filled the air. The Buddhist soldiers in the hall drew their swords, their cold glints reflecting a palpable killing intent. The musicians playing their instruments turned pale with fright and huddled together in fear.
Both the King of Feng and the Grand Preceptor You were stunned by this sudden turn of events. The Grand Preceptor You quickly said, "This...this must be a misunderstanding, Princess, please explain it to Lord Pei and Lady Chu!"
The Phoenix King frowned deeply, pondering a strategy to deal with the situation.
Feng Qi's gaze shifted to the man's cold and stern face. Her heart felt as if it were being pierced by the man's sharp, razor-sharp eyes. She forced a smile and said, "Lord Pei, rest assured, I, Feng Qi, am not a despicable and narrow-minded woman. What Lady Chu drinks is not the Qiongju Xianglan, but the Biyu Chanzhi."
These words elicited varying reactions from the people in the hall.
The King of Feng's expression relaxed, and he loosened his grip on the bone whistle. He glared at Feng Qi and scolded, "You're being ridiculous again!"
The Grand Preceptor's tone became more relaxed, and he quickly cupped his hands to Chu Yueyuan to explain, "The Princess was just being playful and played a joke on Lady Chu."
Pei Muwei was shaken. He waved Lin Mu and the others away and turned to look at the woman beside him. His deep eyes were fixed on her, reflecting the flickering candlelight, calm yet burning.
Chu Yueyuan believed that Feng Qi had not poisoned her, because she did not feel any discomfort in her body.
She turned to look at the Regent and asked, "What is the Jade Trembling Branch? Is it harmful to my health?"
The man's handsome eyebrows were furrowed, and his thin lips were pursed, as if he was pondering how to speak to her.
National Preceptor You broke the eerie silence first, avoiding the main point:
"The Jade Trembling Branch is a type of Yao flower that grows on the cliffs of Gaotan Mountain. It is extremely difficult to harvest, and its nectar is even more precious. It is sweet, warm in nature, and has excellent beautifying effects. Women over fifty years old who consume it can rejuvenate overnight and become like young girls..."
As Chu Yueyuan listened to the Imperial Preceptor You's eloquent description of the wonders of the Jade Trembling Branch, she inexplicably felt a surge of heat rising within her.
She wanted to pick up her cup and take a sip of water, but then she remembered the problem with the honey water, so she endured her dry mouth and asked, "So, this jade branch is a good thing. If the Princess meant well, why did you deceive me and say it was a precious jade incense?"
National Preceptor You smiled awkwardly and rubbed her hands together, saying, "Lady Chu, you may not know, but the Jade Trembling Branch needs a medicinal catalyst... and that catalyst is a man's primordial yang."
Male virility!!!
This medicinal ingredient was clearly too shocking for Chu Yueyuan, a widow who was devoted to her life. She was as if she had been swept up by a gust of wind, and her body swayed involuntarily. The regent grabbed her shoulder.
The man's palms, usually warm, were now refreshingly cool, making one want to snuggle into his arms.
Chu Yueyuan's heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't that the man's hands were cold, but rather that her body was too hot.
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