Chapter 65 Armor: "Come here, let me help you put it on, my lord."
Baili Qingxiao was gone for two months. Later, as the year was drawing to a close and the Chamber of Commerce was getting busier, many shopkeepers went to Jiangnan to invite him back.
Baili Qingxiao then leisurely returned to the capital.
He sneered inwardly. Before Baili Wenhan's leg injury healed, his father probably wouldn't dare to send anyone to bring him back, for fear that he would cut off his leg again with a sword.
After recuperating in Jiangnan for two months, his leg had completely recovered. Baili Qingxiao strode onto the carriage, "Let's go."
Even in Jiangnan, as the twelfth lunar month approached, there was a slight chill in the air. Han Siwen, wearing a light green cloak, stood at the entrance of the Chamber of Commerce, waving to him with a gentle yet dignified smile, "See you in the capital."
See you in the capital.
With the year drawing to a close and Xiao Xiaoyuan about to give birth, Han Siwen was determined to go back.
But it was too early to go back with the man now, as she watched the carriage disappear into the distance. A smile played on her lips, and she pondered the situation.
At the morning court session.
Baili Yi sighed, “Your Majesty, this year our Yun Kingdom has suffered from both famine and war. Even the people in the capital are having a hard time. The most important thing now is to replenish the national treasury.”
The emperor, seated on the high seat, nodded. "Then, everyone, please tell me how to replenish the national treasury."
A murmur rippled through the court officials.
One of the officials stepped forward and said, “Miss Han Jia Siwen’s business guild in Jiangnan is growing stronger and stronger, and she is also a royal merchant of our dynasty. Furthermore, the Wanyou Business Guild run by the eldest son of the Baili family is almost on par with her. Why don’t we ask these two to come up with some ideas to enrich our national treasury?”
He finished speaking with his head down, a slight smile in his heart, and returned to his seat, but unexpectedly heard the emperor suddenly snort coldly.
"This minister's suggestion is truly excellent. My entire court can't come up with a single solution, yet we're placing all our hopes on the imperial merchant."
"Then what use are you to me?"
"Why don't we just dissolve the imperial court now?"
Gu Huizhou spoke slowly, but his tone was not joking. This emperor was capable of even placing bets during the reign of the emperor, and on the day of his ascension to the throne, he killed twenty or thirty important officials.
They might actually do something like dissolving the imperial court.
The betting they made that day would cause them a lot of trouble later on. Many ministers waited anxiously for the court's money, hoping the Han family would see it, but also fearing the Liang family would find out.
It wasn't until the Liang family fell from power that they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
...
All the civil and military officials knelt down.
Baili Yi glared at the minister. If he wanted to die, no one would stop him, but why should his family be dragged into it?
In the silence, a trembling voice rang out, "Your Majesty, I have a plan."
"explain."
“When silver is being refined, some losses are inevitable. Our dynasty has always attributed these losses to the various prefectures and counties. Although these losses are all small amounts, our dynasty has a vast territory. If we add up all the losses from the various prefectures and counties, it will amount to a considerable sum.”
Gu Huizhou thought for a moment, raised an eyebrow and nodded, "Yes, let's hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue."
"Is Lord Baili capable of handling this matter?"
Baili Yi's heart skipped a beat. How was this different from the last time he had Baili Wenhan distribute grain?
He clenched his fist. "Your Majesty, this old minister obeys the decree. Please rest assured."
"With Lord Baili's words, I am naturally at ease."
With this person taking the lead, many ministers in the court also began to offer their suggestions.
The tax system was changed from collecting taxes from the population to levying taxes based on the amount of land owned, increasing the tax burden on the people. The silver in the homes of court officials was investigated again, and positions and titles were sold...
Some of the suggestions made Gu Huizhou nod in approval, but others were laughable.
"disarmament?"
"Perhaps this minister need not come tomorrow, but instead set an example for the troops."
Now that the war has just ended and the internal problems have been resolved, but the external threats are still looming and unclear, it is absurd to be thinking about reducing the military at this point.
"Your Majesty, I know my crime!"
The old minister was terrified. How could he have known His Majesty would be so furious! It was Lord Baili who had mentioned the matter of reducing the army in a casual conversation with them just a few days ago! How could it be unfeasible?
Baili Yi lowered his head, a hint of sorrow flashing across his eyes before disappearing in an instant.
Gu Huizhou laughed at their stupidity, gave Cui Xiangzhu a look, and turned to leave.
"The court session is over—"
The sharp sound reached everyone's ears, and the civil and military officials looked at each other in disbelief. They were gone already?
Li Wenjing straightened up, looked at the empty dragon throne above him and sighed, but the smile in his eyes was unmistakable.
His choice was right. After so many years, he finally saw the future of the Yun Kingdom in His Majesty.
"Would you like to join me for a cup of tea, Lord Li?"
Xue Qingping spoke in a leisurely tone. He and Li Wenjing were of the same rank, and he spoke to each other politely, as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years.
"Alright, Lord Xue, please."
"Please, Lord Li."
The two old men chatted and laughed with each other, creating an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.
On the other side, Cui Xiangzhu hurriedly followed behind His Majesty, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"What about thirteen?"
Cui Xiangzhu smiled and said, "The Thirteenth Lord took the Nineteenth Lord to check out the mountain villa where the autumn hunt will take place, and they left early this morning."
The man paused, "Have him come to the Imperial Study when he gets back."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cui Xiangzhu knew that His Majesty was referring to the thirteenth prince, but since both of them had already returned, they might as well go together.
The chief eunuch bowed and followed the emperor with small steps. "Your Majesty should rest well these days. The autumn hunt is coming soon. Why doesn't Your Majesty show off your skills in front of the officials and broaden their horizons?"
Gu Huizhou said, "Why should I show off my power in front of them?"
“Oh dear,” the two said as they walked, “then His Majesty should also show off his skills in front of the Nineteenth Prince, shouldn’t he?”
These words silenced the man. Cui Xiangzhu chuckled inwardly, but outwardly maintained a scheming demeanor.
"Your Majesty's horsemanship and archery skills are unparalleled, and recently the Nineteenth Prince has also taken to playing with bows and arrows. Your Majesty, why don't you..."
"That's a good idea," Gu Huizhou said before turning to go inside. "Have the Armory Bureau rush to make a bow and arrow. Make it bright and inlaid with many gems."
“Select the best from my private treasury and send them over.”
Cui Xiangzhu was about to nod when the emperor said, "Wait, I will choose it myself."
His Majesty is absolutely smitten with the Nineteenth Prince.
Cui Xiangzhu's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant will handle this matter perfectly for Your Majesty."
"Um."
Before she knew it, it was the night before the autumn hunt. Thinking that all the civil and military officials would be going to the mountains for the hunt the next day, Yao Ruyi couldn't sleep well. Part of it was because of the joy of the trip, but there was also some worry.
Who knows what kind of trouble these people will cause this time?
What are you thinking about?
Yao Ruyi was lying on the bed reading a storybook when he felt a warm body pressed against his back. He frowned and said, "You're pressing on me."
"I like it."
What do you like? Do you like being on top of him?
Yao Ruyi pouted, and somewhat guiltily closed his storybook, covering the cover with his hand. He then turned and licked the man's lips in a flattering manner, saying, "Thinking about tomorrow."
Why would the 19th Party Congress need to worry about this?
Yao Ruyi snorted lightly, "Of course, I don't need to worry about it."
Gu Huizhou chuckled, "Why think about so many things? You should think more about me."
The man's hot lips pressed against the back of her neck, and Mushroom shivered. "You kissed me there again, it really tickles."
"real?"
Yao Ruyi nodded, "Yes, I wouldn't lie to you."
The man exerted force suddenly, and the two switched positions. Gu Huizhou lay on the bed, Yao Ruyi straddling him. In the dim, flickering candlelight, the man reached out and tapped his neck. "I want to try it too, otherwise I won't believe it."
Mushroom was stunned. What was that all about?
"I won't."
She clung to the man, acting like a rogue, which softened Gu Huizhou's heart, but he wouldn't give in. "I'll teach you."
"Come."
The man gently raised his head. "Press your lips against mine." His eyes were seductive, but Yao Ruyi refused. "Just let the Nineteenth Lord come closer."
Before Yao Ruyi could move, he suddenly leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I'll move myself."
For some unknown reason, Yao Ruyi's ears suddenly turned red. He glanced at the storybook that the two of them had pushed to the bedside, then lowered his head and leaned closer.
"Oh."
His voice became hoarse and unbearable. Gu Huizhou reached out and pressed his hand against the back of the neck of the person in front of him, making Yao Ruyi unable to lift her head. Her lips were still pressed against the man's neck. "So this is what it feels like to be itchy..."
"Then the 19th Party Congress should like it very much."
Yao Ruyi bit the man's neck in a fit of anger, her eyes dark and menacing. "You lied to me again."
This time it was Gu Huizhou's turn to be taken aback. "Your Excellency is innocent."
"When did I ever lie to you again?"
Yao Ru's words were stern and precise: "We agreed that we wouldn't be so intimate after the itch."
"Who did you agree to talk to?"
Gu Huizhou smiled, looking at the other party as if they were delusional.
"Just now—" Yao Ruyi's expression changed halfway through her sentence. The man had only said he didn't believe it would itch, and hadn't said anything else...
"Hmm? What did I say?"
"Gu Huizhou!"
She reached out and grabbed the hand that was misbehaving on her chest. "I'm here."
Yao Ru, unable to contain her anger, groped and pinched the man's body. She had been thinking about this for a long time, but only dared to do it in a moment of impulsiveness.
"Have you caught enough?"
Yao Ruyi rolled out of bed, grabbed her storybook, and quietly placed it on the shelf beside her. "That's enough."
Gu Huizhou's clothes were disheveled, and his chest was wide open, revealing clusters of red fingerprints and several scratches. He nodded and sat up, "Then come and take a look."
"What?"
The emperor smiled but said nothing. "These are some nice things I've prepared for the Nineteenth Prince."
His words piqued the mushroom's interest, and it eagerly asked, "What is it?"
Gu Huizhou picked up a box from the shelf by the window and slowly walked over to place it on the table. The mahogany box had been there a few days ago, but it was locked, and Yao Ruyi didn't ask any questions about it.
The man fiddled with a key in his hand. "Come and take a look."
Yao Ruyi nodded and stepped forward to stand in front of the man, but the next second he was pulled into someone's arms. "Shall I drive?"
"Um."
He took the keys from the man's hand, and someone lightly hooked his palm with their finger, but he didn't notice, which made Gu Huizhou laugh.
Clatter—
With a crisp sound, Yao Ruyi opened the box, revealing two items inside.
His heart skipped a beat. Gu Huizhou's bow from before was pure black, with alluring red jade stones on it. But the bow and arrows in the box now faintly glowed orange, and were inlaid with no fewer than four or five gemstones.
Yao Ruyi fell in love at first sight.
Staring at me, he asked, "For me?"
"For you."
Seeing his delighted expression, Gu Huizhou's heart softened. Such a small thing could make him so happy.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I like it very much." Yao Ruyi held the bow and arrow, playing with it with great affection, and looked repeatedly at the gemstones inlaid on it.
Orange-red, silver, bright yellow...
The bow and arrow themselves were silver-white, but the string was a bewitching red, just like the jewels on Gu Huizhou's bow and arrow.
With a slightly lighter touch, Yao Ruyi turned her head and asked with a smile, "Why was it lighter?"
Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked, "Does Your Highness perhaps wish for me to massage your shoulders every day?"
He clicked his tongue. "It's not that it's impossible, but..."
The man hadn't finished speaking, but Yao Ruyi already understood the rest of his meaning, recalling the day he massaged her shoulders and held her hand...
He turned around. "It's good to be gentle."
"Ha," came a sneer.
That's all he's good for.
He carefully placed the bow and arrows aside, afraid of bumping or damaging them. When he first let go, Yao Ruyi was worried that the table was too hard and would break the gems. He even considered running over to put them on the bed, but then thought better of it.
"What's this?"
After asking the question, Yao Ruyi reached out and picked up the object. It looked like a series of iron plates connected together. As he shook it, it shimmered, and to the uninitiated, it looked like moonlight reflecting on the water.
It felt cold and stiff in my hand, like an undergarment.
Yao Ruyi felt it resembled a suit of armor, similar in style to the one Thirteen wore at Yunsi Hot Spring. However, there were some subtle differences, so she wasn't entirely sure.
"The armor made by the eleventh is softer than ordinary armor. When worn under an outer robe, it can protect against swords."
It really was armor.
Yao Ruyi recalled that she had paid Eleven to make something for her, but he refused.
Looking back now, I'm afraid they were already doing it back then.
Seeing that the armor was smaller than usual, Yao Ruyi asked, "How am I supposed to wear this?"
One sentence made the man's eyes crinkle with laughter, as if he had been waiting for this sentence: "Hmm, perfect, I'll help you put it on."
Gu Huizhou reached down to his belt, then tugged at his wrist, loosening his clothes.
The clean white undergarment inside was a bit disheveled and clung to her body.
Yao Ruyi watched as the emperor removed his outer robe and reached out to take off his inner garment, "Wait..."
"I saw before that Thirteen wore it on the outside of her inner garment."
"He's dressed inappropriately."
As Gu Huizhou spoke, he continued to move, reaching out to loosen the belt of his inner garment. "This one is different from his; it should be worn close to the skin."
Her upper body was quickly stripped naked.
Scattered red marks were visible on it, which made Gu Huizhou's eyes itch. He held the sleeveless armor in his hand, his fingers warm, but the armor itself was icy cold.
Yao Ruyi's lean and muscular physique became even more pronounced, her delicate Adam's apple and collarbone were slightly flushed, and her chest also appeared tender.
Gu Huizhou's eyes were dark, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I will dress you, my lord."
"Hmm—"
The moment the cold armor plate touched his lower abdomen, Yao Ruyi flinched, but with a table behind him, he couldn't escape.
"It was my oversight."
"I'll warm you up, Your Majesty." As he spoke, a large hand touched him.
Yao Ruyi stared wide-eyed. Is this how you warm yourself up?
But then he saw the man sticking the armor onto his body, and he wasn't angry anymore.
It wasn't so cold anymore, but even when applied little by little, it still made Yao Ruyi shiver. The armor was stiff and silky; if it hadn't made a crisp sound when it hit the edge of the table, he really wouldn't have believed it was made of iron.
Flicking it with your fingernail only made your finger hurt.
"Hmm—"
The two scratches on his front, against the cold armor, made Yao Ruyi let out a muffled groan, as if a man were gently kissing the side of his neck, making his legs go weak.
"Your Majesty, it's a bit tight."
Yao Ruyi pressed against the man's chest, and after a while, he no longer felt cold. He tilted his head back and rested it on the man's shoulder, letting Gu Huizhou hold him and reach out to fasten the buttons at the back.
Clatter—
The armor did not extend to the shoulders, and ordinary women's undergarments were usually worn in front of their chests.
Yao Ruyi was already thin, but the tight straps still caused some soft flesh to bulge out.
Gu Huizhou smiled and swept his hand up and down before finally pressing it on. "It was my mistake to give you the wrong size. I will adjust it for you later."
As he spoke, the man leaned in and licked Yao Ruyi's Adam's apple.
"Hmm—"
He was leaning against a table, wearing only a suit of armor on his upper body, and the fabric beneath him had somehow fallen off.
Gu Huizhou squeezed his hand and suddenly sat down in the chair.
"Yao Ruyi, come here. I'll help you."
Her face flushed red, and Yao Ruyi turned her face away from him, but those hot hands were wrapped around his waist. The man's warm breath on his skin made him involuntarily tighten his lower abdomen.
The candlelight flickered, whether from the wind or someone blowing it, it was unclear. The windows were tightly shut all around until midnight.
A satisfied-looking man got up after everyone had gone to bed and walked around the dimly lit hall.
He was still holding the armor he had just thrown aside.
He walked from the dragon bed to the table and reached out to take out the other two fragments from the mahogany box.
Clatter, clatter—
With two crisp clicks, the emperor fastened the entire suit of armor. The faint moonlight filtered in, casting a silvery glow on the armor.
The armor now includes shoulder protection that extends all the way to the collarbone, and a red, jewel-like ribbon joins the back.
If Yao Ruyi were awake, she would find that the armor now looks almost identical to the one Thirteen wore.
Gu Huizhou turned around with a smile on his lips and went back to bed, pulling the person into his arms and showering them with light kisses on their shoulder.
They're so easily fooled.
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