Chapter 210 My heart was pounding like a drum, and I was forced to kneel as punishment.
Ji Qingwu's breathing became completely out of rhythm.
She opened her eyes and looked towards the entrance of the palace.
Light streamed in through the slightly ajar gap, illuminating the row of bricks and stones, making them gleam with a golden light.
Feeling uneasy, Ji Qingwu struggled, knowing someone could break in at any moment.
But his kisses became even more intense, as if he were stealing her breath.
Ji Qingwu's head was tilted back in his palm, firmly held by him.
To punish her for her inattentiveness, Emperor Wusu's hand gradually moved from the shoulder blades on her back to the front, gently kneading her soft skin.
Ji Qingwu's eyelashes trembled rapidly.
The thought of Wei Ting and Prince Yong standing at the door made her increasingly nervous, and her physical senses became stronger.
His breath sent shivers down her spine as it brushed against her skin.
The rough fingertips landed on her skin, creating a unique sensation in addition to the pain and itchiness.
Ji Qingwu's face was flushed, and her ears and exposed neck were also flushed.
He had already ripped off the tie at the collar.
All she could hear was the heavy, drum-like pounding of her own heart; she couldn't hear any outside noise.
Emperor Wusu lowered his eyes, surveying the entire scene, and said in a hoarse voice, "They're all red."
Ji Qingwu was a little slow to react, not understanding what he was talking about, and looked down following his gaze...
Feeling something and seeing it with your own eyes are two different things.
The fragrance of snow seeped directly through the gaps between her clearly defined knuckles.
Her skin began to turn pink at a visible rate.
Outside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
After Tao Wanyin left, she didn't say anything and knelt down directly on the left side of Prince Yong.
Zhao Minghong didn't feel anything about kneeling there by himself, but when she had to kneel with him, he suddenly felt like a monkey whose butt had been burned.
Zhao Minghong said with a grim expression, "Is my imperial brother punishing you to come out and kneel?"
Tao Wanyin shook her head and remained kneeling quietly.
Her slender frame knelt on the gray-white floor tiles, looking as if a gust of wind could knock her over, her face so pale it seemed she might ascend to heaven at any moment.
Zhao Minghong was terrified, fearing that she would collapse in front of him.
His face was ashen, but he didn't hesitate for a moment. He put his palms on the ground and immediately kowtowed to admit his mistake.
But after the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, no sound came from inside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Li Yuzong stood at the doorway, able to hear everything that was happening inside the hall. He kept his head down, his expression hidden by the feathered hat on his head.
Xiao Dongzi is not mature enough yet; his little eyes dart around.
Originally, Zhao Minghong thought that if he knelt for a longer period of time, Wei Ting would have to kneel with him for just as long. This was much more comfortable than fighting, at least it would be a contest of equal strength.
The longer she kneels, the more relieved the vengeful fifth cousin will feel, and the more diligently she will treat Tao Wanyin's illness.
However, Zhao Minghong is now worried that Emperor Wusu is so angry with him that he will punish Tao Wanyin as well.
His eyes turned to the person on the other side, and he took the initiative to say, "General Wei."
Wei Ting ignored him, staring intently at the vermilion palace gate in front of him, as if trying to see the scene inside the palace through the door.
Zhao Minghong pinched his thigh hard, and his attitude towards Wei Ting completely changed.
"General Wei, what happened today was due to my momentary impulse, not intentional. We are all men, and the anger dissipated after the fight. I beg you, General, to show mercy and join me in pleading with the Emperor for leniency."
"Oh, really?"
Wei Ting smiled and said, "I remember a few hours ago, the prince told me with certainty that today the two of us would kneel down and fight to the death, and that it would not be over until one of us was carried out of the palace gate."
Zhao Minghong frowned in thought, as if he had forgotten about it.
Did I say such a thing?
The young eunuch chimed in, "That is indeed what the prince said."
Prince Yong turned around and slapped him.
At this moment, Tao Wanyin's body swayed in the wind, and Zhao Minghong's forehead twitched.
He took a deep breath and said, "It was my carelessness that led me to speak so bluntly. Please forgive me..." He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Please forgive me, General Wei."
Wei Ting's sleeves were also blown by the gust of wind, but he remained as steady as a mountain while kneeling there.
He said calmly, "Your Highness doesn't think this is too easy to say. You can fight if you want, and you can stop if you want."
"Is your time so easily wasted?"
Zhao Minghong glared at him and said, "You have no family, so what's wrong with you just accompanying me to practice martial arts? Don't be so stingy."
Seeing that he did not move, Zhao Minghong said earnestly, "If we continue like this, it will only lead to mutual destruction. I don't want Mother to worry. Look, your sister, Consort Wei, has sent her maids to check on you several times."
This method of appealing to emotions and reasoning with people was effective.
Wei Ting said, "It's better than the prince causing the princess to be punished by kneeling with you."
But it had the opposite effect.
Zhao Minghong pounded the ground with his fist, managing to refrain from punching Wei Ting's handsome, irritating face.
He said, "No matter what, it's better than General Wei being rejected when he wanted to marry my fifth cousin, and he's still a bachelor."
Wei Ting's face twisted for a moment as he said, "This humble general would rather have none than a bad one. My backyard is quiet and deserted, so it can't compare to the lively Yongwang Mansion."
Wei Ting's words hurt him more than if he had been punched.
Zhao Minghong quickly turned his head to see Tao Wanyin's reaction.
Seeing that she showed no discomfort and seemed unaffected by what she had heard, he frowned and quieted down.
Li Yuzong's ears twitched.
The sound of two people talking could be heard in the hall.
There were women's delicate, tearful reproaches, and the emperor's soft, gentle coaxing.
Ji Qingwu transformed from a beautiful crabapple blossom into a delicious crabapple fruit.
The blush on her beautiful face immediately revealed what good deeds she had done, and she wouldn't be able to show her face to anyone for a while.
At this time, the emperor was the easiest to talk to. Ji Qingwu, in a spoiled manner, ordered Emperor Wusu to bring over the coarse cloth clothes that he looked down on.
He not only complied, but also dressed her up again.
Emperor Wusu kissed her plump, peach-like cheek again: "Awu, rest here for a while."
"Li Yuzong".
Eunuch Li and his men bowed and entered the room, awaiting the Emperor's instructions.
Emperor Wusu said, "Lower the curtain."
A white apricot-blossom curtain hung down, obscuring the main hall and the inner room.
Li Yuzong stepped forward and adjusted the emperor's hair ornaments and court robes.
Ji Qingwu shifted to a more comfortable position on the couch, and through the curtain, only his outline could be clearly seen.
She slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth and realized that her lips were still swollen and hot. She was momentarily stunned, wondering why he could pull away so quickly.
He sat upright on his throne, regaining his imperial majesty that commanded the entire realm, as if he were not the same person who had just bent down and teased her with a smile.
Li Yuzong served new tea and snacks, and did not forget to instruct the palace maids to also serve Ji Qingwu a portion.
Emperor Wusu said calmly, "Let them in."
Li Yuzong quickly went out to invite him.
Prince Yong and Wei Ting entered the hall one after the other, bowing and then kneeling.
Emperor Wusu's heavy gaze fell upon them, and both of them felt as if their heads weighed a ton, daring not to lift them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
