Volume 2 Chapter 23 - Peach Blossom Spring! Long Yi"s Conspiracy
Time flies, and soon it is early spring in February. Although there’s still a bit of winter’s chill in the air, it can’t overshadow the warm sunlight of spring, which shines gently and comfortably on the body. The small gra.s.s that was buried under snow for two months is now stretching out, revealing tender green buds, and all the flowers are beginning to sprout again, waiting to bloom into beautiful blossoms in the warmth.
These past two months have been the most peaceful for Leng Jiu, with no one in the harem stirring up trouble. Long Yi has been too busy with the New Year’s affairs to have time for her. Other than the occasional hara.s.sment from the enchanting Long Yueli, her life has been quite tranquil.
Without any bothersome matters, she doesn’t feel particularly sad. Occasionally, she would go out to find Lan Xiang and Mo Yina, or visit the Prime Minister’s residence to see Gong Yuwei. Life, though plain, is quite pleasant!
Although she sometimes thinks about getting closer to Gong Yuwei, he remains so reserved. Until now, they’ve only shared kisses and hugs, leaving Leng Jiu feeling restless for a long time, but there’s nothing she can do!
“Ah!” With a soft sigh, she lies on the soft couch, the warm sunlight bathing her, making her feel extremely comfortable. Spring really is the best time for sleeping!
Ziyu’s injury had healed before the New Year, but she asked for leave to go home to visit her family. Leng Jiu allowed her to go, and she has been gone for two months now. It seems her father pa.s.sed away, and she must observe a period of mourning and cannot return for the time being! Xiang Ming’s injury has also healed, and she has been following Qing Ling around, occasionally reporting on Long Yueli’s activities.
After dozing off for a while, Leng Jiu sits up. There’s still a long day ahead, so she needs to find something to do! Just as she gets up, Lu Chang announces, “Your Majesty! Prince Xuan has arrived!”
Leng Jiu has heard this sentence so often that she’s about to retch. Yet, Long Yueli delights in this, coming to annoy her every day!
“The sun is just right today; how about I accompany Your Majesty to bask in it?”
Leng Jiu’s eyelids twitch: “Is the Imperial Uncle very free lately?” It’s said that Long Yi is so busy he doesn’t even have time to sleep, so how come this person finds time to run to her every day?
Long Yueli walks over and sits beside Leng Jiu, raising an eyebrow with a wicked smile: “There aren’t many things that can worry me, but nothing is better than spending time with Your Majesty!”
Leng Jiu gives him a sidelong glance and says nothing!
Long Yueli looks at the flowers and plants in the garden and suddenly remarks, “Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood these past few days!”
“Yeah! It’s good!” But it would be even better if you weren’t around!
Long Yueli suddenly leans closer: “The peach blossoms in my courtyard are currently in full bloom. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?”
Leng Jiu’s eyelids flutter as she looks at him coolly: “I can take a look! But, Imperial Uncle, could you please remove your hand from this one’s leg?”
Long Yueli doesn’t move his hand; instead, he leans in even closer, lightly rubbing and gradually moving upward: “Since Your Majesty wants to see, why wait for another day? Let’s go today, how about it?”
Leng Jiu raises her hand to grab Long Yueli’s hand but is preemptively caught by him. His voice, slightly pleading, whispers in her ear: “Jiu’er! I’ve endured for more than two months and have let you tease me for two months. It’s time for you to let go of your anger and stop torturing me, okay?”
Leng Jiu doesn’t know if it’s because of his words or the breath he’s blowing into her ear, but her heart feels a stir, and she softens. How could he not know he’s putting himself in her hands? Since New Year’s Day, he hasn’t come to hara.s.s her in the middle of the night; instead, he openly visits her every day, enduring her cold shoulders and disdain. After two months of this, even if she’s been angry, it should have cooled down by now!
With her gaze slightly lowered, she says, “Lu Chang! Prepare the carriage; I want to leave the palace to see the peach blossoms!”
“Yes!” Lu Chang takes his leave to make preparations.
Long Yueli, regardless of whether anyone is watching, suddenly embraces Leng Jiu and kisses her deeply, pouring in all the longing he’s held back for two months. After a long time, he finally ends the kiss, his voice hoa.r.s.e as he sighs, “I can hardly wait for tonight. What should I do?”
Leng Jiu raises an eyebrow, her charming eyes revealing a hint of threat: “You can choose not to endure!”
“Don’t! I can endure!” He finally got her forgiveness; he can’t make himself hold back for another two months!
The carriage is quickly prepared. Leng Jiu changes into a slightly simpler outfit and boldly leaves the palace. To be honest, every time she leaves the palace, she does so secretly, making her actual outings quite rare. However, she doesn’t mind; no matter how she comes out, as long as she’s happy!
Although the ministers felt it inappropriate for Prince Xuan to invite the Empress Dowager to enjoy the scenery, by the time they received the news, the procession had already set off. Even Long Yi only found out about Leng Jiu’s departure after she had left the palace, so it was too late to stop her. However, they did send a lot of people to monitor the situation.
Long Yueli naturally knows about the various spies watching him, but no matter how many there are, they must be able to keep an eye on him!
His villa is located five miles outside the capital, at the foot of a mountain. It’s a place he personally acquired, and very few people know about it, so naturally, not many have visited.
The carriage stops at the entrance of the villa. Long Yueli dismounts and walks over to the carriage, lifting the curtain to see Leng Jiu, who is still pretending to nap inside. He smiles and extends his hand, “Your Majesty! We’ve arrived!”
Leng Jiu opens her eyes, glances around, and finally places her hand on his arm as she gets up, slowly stepping down from the carriage with his support. Once she stands steady, she surveys the villa and remarks, “Are you sure there are peach blossoms here?” She hasn’t even seen a single petal, let alone a blossom.
“Could this King possibly deceive Your Majesty?” Long Yueli glances at her with a mysterious smile, raising his hand to push open the door. At that moment, countless peach petals come flying in, mingled with a faintly sweet and bitter floral fragrance, filling the air.
Leng Jiu is slightly taken aback. She hadn’t detected any scent earlier; where did these peach blossoms come from?
Before she can gather her thoughts, Long Yueli, ever the gentleman, gestures for her to enter: “Your Majesty, please!”
Leng Jiu raises an eyebrow and meets his gaze for a moment before stepping inside, followed closely by her entourage. Upon entering through that grand door, she realizes the meaning of “two worlds apart.” Outside, the greenery is lush yet somewhat desolate, while inside, it is indeed a paradise of peach blossoms, petals dancing, and spring in full bloom!
Seeing the amazement in Leng Jiu’s eyes, Long Yueli feels that the effort he put into preparing this for two months was worth it: “This place is enchanted; it remains like spring throughout the year. The peach blossoms outside haven’t yet bloomed, but those here can bloom endlessly!”
Leng Jiu reaches out to catch a falling petal. The pink petal rests in her fair palm, making it appear small and delicate. A gentle breeze sweeps in, swirling the petals in the air, creating a scene so beautiful it feels like a fairyland, leaving Leng Jiu mesmerized!
“This way!” Long Yueli takes her hand and leads her in another direction. Noticing that Leng Jiu hasn’t seen the disappearing scenery behind her, a hint of mischief flashes in his eyes as he smiles slyly!
In front of them are dense peach trees, with petals fluttering all around and tender green gra.s.s sprouting beneath them. Countless petals rest on the gra.s.s, the vibrant green mingling with soft pink, creating a sight that is incredibly pleasing to the eye!
“Beautiful!” Leng Jiu is enchanted. She’s not a woman who deliberately pursues romance, but who could resist such a breathtaking scene?
Long Yueli wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, placing a kiss near her ear: “No matter how beautiful it is, it can’t compare to you!” This garden full of peach blossoms intoxicated her, and she, in turn, intoxicated his heart!
Leng Jiu slightly regained her composure: “Don’t mess around! There are still people watching!”
Upon hearing her words, Long Yueli’s eyes flashed, and he gently bit her earlobe, teasingly asking, “If no one is watching, does that mean it’s okay?”
Leng Jiu turned her head and realized she was now in the middle of the peach blossom forest, surrounded by a world of peach blossoms. Not to mention the palace maids; not even a shadow could be seen. A thought crossed her mind: “Could it be that we’re in an enchantment?”
Long Yueli took a deep breath, savoring her scent. The long-suppressed longing was finally somewhat relieved: “Yes! This enchantment is called ‘Peach Blossom Slaughter,’ personally arranged by me. As long as I’m here, no one can enter, and no one will see or hear anything from inside!”
Leng Jiu heard his suggestive words and felt slightly speechless: “Is that all you think about?”
Long Yueli gazed deeply at her, his eyes revealing an unmasked desire as overwhelming as a tidal wave: “I think about you every day. Do you think of me?”
When Leng Jiu met his captivating gaze, a string in her heart was plucked. She raised her hand to caress his enchanting face and slowly closed her eyes. How could she not think of him over the past two months? It was just that she had more self-control. To punish him, she ended up punishing herself, so in this moment, why should she endure any longer?
“Jiu’er!” Although she hadn’t verbally said those words, her actions were enough to make Long Yueli’s heart tremble. He lowered his head to cover her lips, and soon pa.s.sion surged, spiraling out of control!
Removing his cloak and spreading it on the ground, he gently laid her down, leaning over to embrace her cherished body and showering her with fervent kisses.
As their splendid garments slipped away, her fair skin glowed with a faint blush, even more dazzling than the peach blossoms in the garden. Long Yueli’s gaze had transformed into a pool of tender affection, wishing to drown Leng Jiu in it forever!
“Jiu’er!” He stripped off his own clothes, their bodies entwined, sighing contentedly.
Leng Jiu opened her l.u.s.trous eyes, reaching up to caress his back. She could still feel the remnants of his injury; gently pushing him back, her jade-like hands found the scars on his chest, revealing a hint of concern. With a small smile, she said, “You fool! If you lose your life, what can you do with me?”
Long Yueli caught her hand and brought it to his lips, nibbling it gently, going finger by finger: “I know you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but at that time, I really thought that if I couldn’t have your heart, it would be better to die!”
Leng Jiu didn’t mock him or think he was being insincere because no one understood his determination and that moment of desperation better than she did. At that instant, he truly wanted to die! She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her body against him, kissing down his neck. At that moment, she wanted nothing but him!
“Jiu’er!” Long Yueli’s throat let out a low, pa.s.sionate groan due to her movements. Unable to hold back any longer, he pushed her down and then tightly joined with her!
“Mm!” Leng Jiu frowned slightly in discomfort, but soon, with Long Yueli’s movements, it transformed into alluring moans.
Long Yueli looked at Leng Jiu’s face as it turned soft and charming because of him, her complexion more radiant than the blooming peach blossoms. He felt immeasurable satisfaction; he adored her appearance at this moment. Even if he were to die in her embrace, he would be willing!
“Jiu’er! My Jiu’er!”
The suppressed longing for two months felt like a hungry wolf that had been yearning for a long time. One can only imagine the scene that ensued, in early spring, deep within the peach blossoms, amidst abundant colors of spring!
When Leng Jiu awoke, it was already afternoon. She still lay in the peach blossom forest, with a thick blanket beneath her and a light covering over her. Next to her lay the alluring Long Yueli, who was holding her with a satisfied expression, sleeping soundly! She shifted slightly but felt no soreness, not even any burning sensations, and it seemed her body had been cleaned, leaving her feeling quite comfortable!
Turning to look at Long Yueli’s sleeping face, she noticed that although he was still alluring with his eyes closed, the wicked charm had faded, replaced with a softer expression that made him seem a bit innocent, warming her heart.
She reached out to touch his cheek, lightly stroking his brows, eyes, and nose, finally resting her fingers on his sensual lips. A few peach petals fell, cascading from the side of his face onto his lips, making Leng Jiu mesmerized by the beauty.
Suddenly, his lips caught her finger, and when she looked up, she met Long Yueli’s languid, affectionate gaze: “You’re awake?”
Long Yueli gently bit her finger before releasing it, grinning mischievously: “Caught a lecherous wolf!”
Leng Jiu flicked her finger against his nose, laughing: “Who’s the real lecher?”
“Are you saying I’m the lecher?” Long Yueli narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous glint.
Leng Jiu leaned in and pecked his rosy lips: “Not just a lecher, but a hungry wolf!”
Upon hearing this, Long Yueli flipped over, pinning Leng Jiu down, raising an eyebrow mischievously: “Now that you’ve attracted this hungry wolf, you must take responsibility for feeding me well. Otherwise, I’ll definitely nibble you down to the bones!”
Leng Jiu was speechless; had he not already done enough nibbling? Before she could respond, Long Yueli sealed her lips, his large hand wandering over her delicate body, igniting a string of flames in mere moments, causing the air to rise in temperature…
In order to avoid more accusations against Leng Jiu in the morning court session, Long Yueli returned her to the palace before nightfall. His demeanor remained elegant and carefree, with nothing amiss, leaving no room for others to find fault! But this was merely for the outside world to see; after a quick turn at home, Long Yueli changed his clothes and immediately rushed back to the palace. After two months of sleeping alone, tonight, he was determined to indulge in warmth and softness!
Leng Jiu couldn’t be bothered with him; a few more pillows wouldn’t matter to her!
Long Yueli embraced Leng Jiu and slept soundly through the night. Although it had been a difficult two months, it was all worth it! However, he hadn’t even slept until morning when he was awakened by an imperial edict from his emperor nephew, summoning him immediately. A landslide had blocked the river and buried a village, and he was ordered to go deal with it.
Long Yueli felt extremely helpless, but it was an imperial decree. Even though he was an imperial uncle, he had to give Long Yi some face, so he reluctantly got out of bed, dressed, and left!
Looking at the empty spot beside him, Leng Jiu felt a flash of unease. With Hua Jin gone, Long Yueli had also left, both due to Long Yi’s summons, which made her feel something was off.
Getting up distractedly, she lost her desire to play, spending the entire morning lying in bed, lost in thought. Just when she finished her lunch, Gungong Qu arrived!
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
Leng Jiu picked up her teacup to rinse her mouth: “What brings Gungong Qu to visit me?”
“I’m not here because I have time. The Emperor instructed me to invite Your Majesty to the Weiyang Palace!”
“Weiyang Palace?” Leng Jiu squinted: “What does the Emperor want me to do in his chambers?”
“Back to the Empress Dowager! The Emperor has taken a liking to the daughters of several provincial officials and is preparing to bring them into the palace. The portraits have already been sent to Weiyang Palace for your review!”
Leng Jiu felt cautious and didn’t want to get involved with Long Yi, so she naturally wouldn’t go. Moreover, why should she care about Long Yi’s selection of concubines? “If the Emperor wants to take them, that’s his business. I have no objections and don’t need to review them!”
Gonggong Qu paused and said, “However, one of the women is from the Leng family’s collateral branch, which means she would be your cousin, so the Emperor is a bit hesitant!”
A collateral branch of the Leng family? Hearing this, Leng Jiu’s brow twitched slightly, but it was just a slight movement! She didn’t feel any sense of belonging to the Leng family, let alone to a collateral branch. Such distant relations had nothing to do with her.
“Tell the Emperor! The palace is divided by status and rank, not by family ties. Besides, she’s just the sister of a collateral branch. If he wants to take her, let him. I won’t interfere!”
Gonggong Qu’s expression finally changed slightly, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he continued, “What if this person is the fiancée of General Leng?”
Leng Jiu narrowed her eyes: “Qingling! The General has a fiancée? Why didn’t I know?”
Qingling was also puzzled, but after thinking for a moment, she suddenly recalled: “I remember there was such a person. She’s the paternal cousin of the old general and married a deputy general named Xia, stationed in Yishui City, a hundred miles away. This Madam Xia pa.s.sed away six years ago. Before she died, she sent a handkerchief to the General’s residence, requesting the old General to arrange this marriage. Upon learning this, the old General, unwilling to let her die with regrets, sent a piece of jade to Yishui City. Although it wasn’t a formal engagement, this marriage was considered settled!”
Gonggong Qu smiled and nodded: “This woman is named Xia Ke, the daughter of the Xia family in Yishui City!”
Leng Jiu tapped her nails and smiled coldly, her expression inscrutable as she casually asked, “Does the Emperor insist that I come over to feel satisfied?”
Gonggong Qu lowered his head: “Changle Palace is only a wall away from Weiyang Palace. Are you afraid the Emperor will harm you?”
“True!” Leng Jiu raised her eyes: “I will go see what the Emperor is really after!”
“Please, Empress Dowager!” Gonggong Qu bent his body and stood aside.
Leng Jiu took Lu Chang’s hand, glanced at him, and then rose from her seat! She didn’t know what Long Yi was up to, but since he had put so much effort into it, if she didn’t go, wouldn’t that be too ‘ungrateful’? She was curious to see what he really wanted!
Changle Palace and Weiyang Palace were just a wall apart, the two largest palaces in the entire imperial palace besides the Golden Hall. They stood side by side, magnificent and grand, symbolizing the esteemed status of the emperor and empress. Although the two palaces were close, it still took several hundred meters to walk from Weiyang Palace to Changle Palace.
After walking for a while, they finally reached Changle Palace. Leng Jiu looked at the dragon-carved palace in front of her, slightly larger than Weiyang Palace, appearing even more imposing and magnificent. This was the Emperor’s sleeping palace.
“Empress Dowager, please! His Majesty has been waiting for a long time!”
Leng Jiu retracted her gaze, slightly lowering her eyes: “Let’s go!”
This was her first time coming to Weiyang Palace, but since it housed that person, she couldn’t muster any curiosity. Stepping inside, she immediately saw several portraits of women hanging in the outer hall. Each was a full-body portrait, accompanied by the women’s names and ident.i.ties, even their birth dates were written beside them.
Not seeing Long Yi, Leng Jiu paused slightly: “Where is the Emperor?”
Gonggong Qu pointed toward the inner hall: “His Majesty is reading inside. He instructed that if the Empress Dowager arrives, you should go directly in!”
Leng Jiu stepped inside. Lu Chang wanted to follow but was stopped by Gonggong Qu: “His Majesty has matters to discuss with the Empress Dowager. Lu Gonggong, please stay here!”
Lu Chang narrowed his eyes: “Gonggong Qu seems to be increasingly favored by the Emperor!”
“Lu Gonggong is joking. I’m just a diligent servant, and my master wishes to send me,” Gonggong Qu replied with a practiced smile.
Lu Chang turned his gaze toward the inner hall and fell silent.
Upon entering, Leng Jiu immediately sensed hidden figures in the dark, but thinking that this was Long Yi’s palace, she didn’t dwell on it. Her eyes scanned the inner hall, and she saw Long Yi sitting on a soft couch covered in bright yellow satin, reading. There was an open scroll on the tea table beside him; although she couldn’t see the woman’s face, she could see the words ‘Xia Ke of Yishui City’ written nearby.
Long Yi seemed to have just noticed her arrival, putting down his book and turning to look at her. After a slight pause, he revealed a faint smile: “You’re here!”
Leng Jiu’s expression turned cold: “Your Majesty should address me as Empress Dowager!”
Long Yi’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of gloom. He raised his hand and pa.s.sed the nearby painting to her: “Take a look!”
Leng Jiu reached out to take the painting, which was still partially rolled up. As she gently unfurled it, the figure in the painting fully revealed itself, causing her eyes to narrow. The woman in the painting, though a bit more youthful and looking smaller, was undeniably her!
“What does Your Majesty mean by this?” Leng Jiu shot her gaze up, but unexpectedly, Long Yi quickly reached out to press her acupuncture point, rendering her unable to move or speak.
“I have no ulterior motive! I just want to take a concubine!” Seeing that Leng Jiu couldn’t move, Long Yi’s expression finally showed satisfaction and calculation.
Leng Jiu’s anger surged within her. She had been cautious and sensed something wrong; she never expected Long Yi to be so bold as to act against her in this palace!
Long Yi approached her, his expression complex and changeable, filled with affection, deep feelings, and smug satisfaction: “Don’t worry! You’ll soon see me again, and by then, you will be my Xia Shufei(n.o.ble Consort Xia)!” – this btch im gonna kil him
Leng Jiu’s consciousness was submerged in his last words, and as her vision darkened, she lost all awareness!
Long Yi caught Leng Jiu’s body, staring foolishly at her breathtaking face. Suddenly, an unspoken, manic laugh appeared on his face, echoing with madness. He laughed for a long time before finally suppressing it, greedily gazing at her, his eyes filled with determination: “Hua Jin and Long Yueli both want to have you, but neither will get you. You are mine, and will always be!”
News spread in the palace that the Empress Dowager was ill, supposedly due to catching a severe cold after being outside with Prince Xuan in the chilly wind. She suddenly collapsed while discussing the selection of concubines with the Emperor in Changle Palace, shocking the palace maids. The Emperor summoned several imperial physicians to stabilize her condition. The physicians stated that her illness was unsuitable for the current weather, so the Emperor immediately dispatched a team of soldiers to hastily send the Empress Dowager to a distant palace to recuperate. Not only did he send several physicians, but he also dispatched a thousand Imperial Guards for her protection.
On the day the Empress Dowager left the palace, no one saw her, but as the palanquin pa.s.sed by, one could vaguely hear coughing sounds, indicating that she was indeed quite ill!
“d.a.m.n it!” Leng Jiu glared at the ceiling, wishing she could burn a hole through it with her gaze. She had just woken up and had no idea how many days she had been unconscious. The room was small but exquisitely decorated, clearly a woman’s boudoir. She didn’t need to think hard to know where she was; Long Yi actually wanted to replace her with a side branch of the Leng family and make her his concubine. Thinking of his last words, “Xia Shufei?” How ridiculous!
“Creak!” The door opened, and a woman in her thirties entered, looking dignified. She was surprised to see Leng Jiu awake, quickly placing down what she was holding and handing a cup of water to Leng Jiu. She bent down to help her drink.
Having been drugged with a muscle-softening powder, Leng Jiu felt weak all over; she couldn’t even move a finger, and her throat was dry. She took a sip of water from the woman’s hand and then asked, “What date is it today?”
The woman glanced at her and held up her hand to gesture, one finger for three and another for one, indicating it was the first day of the third month. Leng Jiu remembered that it was the twenty-sixth of the second month when she fell unconscious, meaning she had been out for five days! Her gaze shifted from the woman’s hand to her throat. “Are you mute?”
The woman nodded sadly, then turned to get a bowl of soup, a fragrant chicken broth. She propped Leng Jiu up, placed a blanket behind her, and began feeding her the soup.
Leng Jiu looked at the spoon in the woman’s hand, then at her face. The woman wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she was delicate and graceful. She must have been a beauty in her youth, but now, at thirty, her complexion bore traces of hardship, and fine lines formed at the corners of her eyes. A gentle aura surrounded her, and her eyes were sincere, making it hard not to like her. The woman walked lightly, deliberately keeping her footsteps quiet, suggesting she was a cautious person; her delicate hands showed she was untrained in martial arts.
Leng Jiu could tell at a glance that the woman was harmless. Meeting her slightly flattering gaze and looking at her hands, she finally spoke. Even though she was weak and could barely move, she couldn’t starve herself; otherwise, even if she had a chance to escape, she wouldn’t have the strength. Besides, Long Yi wanted her alive, not dead, so why be afraid?
Seeing Leng Jiu open her mouth to eat, the woman smiled slightly and fed her spoonful after spoonful of chicken soup. After she finished, the woman fed her a bowl of minced meat porridge, likely thinking she was still dazed from her illness, so everything was easy to eat. Once Leng Jiu finished the porridge, the woman set down the bowl and carefully wiped Leng Jiu’s mouth with a handkerchief. After cleaning it up, she took the bowl and left the room, but returned shortly with a basin of warm water, wringing out a towel to gently wipe Leng Jiu’s face and neck.
Looking at the woman in front of her, Leng Jiu felt no animosity at all; she found her very approachable. There was not a trace of deference on her face; she remained soft and occasionally smiled faintly, which was very pleasant to see.
After two days of lying in bed, Leng Jiu had become completely dependent on this woman. She felt like she was turning into a useless person, completely unaware of the outside world or whether anyone was looking for her.
She slept from dawn to dusk, and then from dusk to dawn, to the point where she didn’t want to sleep anymore. As soon as it was just getting light, Leng Jiu opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Suddenly, the window made a slight sound as it opened, and a shadow darted in. Sensing her presence, the person quickly tried to press an acupoint but was startled when they saw her, an expression of surprise crossing their face.
For Leng Jiu, this was a real surprise. She looked at the newcomer and had never felt such warmth before. “Mo Zhai!”
Mo Zhai’s eyes also lit up with joy, but it quickly vanished. He walked over and said, “Get up quickly; I’ll take you away!”
Leng Jiu smiled bitterly. “Right now, I can only move my mouth; I can’t move anywhere else!”
Mo Zhai stepped forward to check her pulse and quickly understood. He took out a pill from his pocket and fed it to her. “This is the antidote for the muscle-softening powder, but it will take half an hour to take effect!”
Leng Jiu swallowed the pill. “Half an hour is fine; I’ve already waited two days, so what’s another half hour?”
Mo Zhai frowned slightly, puzzled. “The Emperor sent Eunuch Qu and the Imperial Guards to bring the young lady of the Xia family into the palace. Is the young lady he’s referring to you?”
“He wants to replace me with someone else; he’s coming for me!” Leng Jiu replied flatly before suddenly asking, “How did you know I was here?”
“I have people planted in Weiyang Palace. The day you were taken away, it wasn’t the Empress Dowager; I’ve been investigating these past few days and only just found out where you are!” Mo Zhai said in one breath as he leaned closer. “Eunuch Qu has arrived; we need to leave now. It’s urgent!”
With that, he picked up Leng Jiu from the bed and turned to the window!
“Creak!”
At that moment, the door opened, and the woman entered with a basin of water, her eyes widening in shock at the scene. Mo Zhai instinctively prepared to strike, but Leng Jiu stopped him, saying, “No! Considering she took care of me for two days, let her go!”
Though Mo Zhai still wanted to act, he ultimately said nothing and held Leng Jiu, quickly leaping out the window.
As the woman watched them disappear, a hint of sadness crossed her face, quickly replaced by a faint smile of relief. She set the items down on the ground, raised her hand to close the door, and returned to the small kitchen as if she hadn’t seen anything.
Mo Zhai carried Leng Jiu out of the Xia family home, wrapping her in a cloak before leaping onto the waiting horse. He cracked the whip, and they sped away.
“Go!” The morning air was cold, and the wind created by their speed felt even colder than frost on the snowy ground. Leng Jiu’s face turned icy as she shivered. Mo Zhai noticed her tremble and raised his hand to cover her head with the cloak, wrapping her tightly in his arms while continuing to gallop forward.
Wrapped inside, Leng Jiu didn’t feel as cold anymore; one side of her face pressed against Mo Zhai’s warm chest, and she could hear his strong heartbeat. She could also breathe in his unique scent, and Leng Jiu squinted her eyes, feeling inexplicably at ease!
The horse galloped swiftly through the streets, charging out of Yishui City toward the capital just as the sun began to rise. But before they could travel five miles, Mo Zhai’s body stiffened, and Leng Jiu sensed something was wrong. A convoy was approaching, and it was sizable, seemingly a military unit!
With a slight recovery of strength, Leng Jiu turned around a bit, peeking through the cloak to see the group was the Imperial Guards, led by Long Yi himself. He clearly did not trust anyone else and had come personally!
Leng Jiu glared at Long Yi, elegantly adorned on horseback, wishing she could just go up and chop him to pieces, but she could do nothing!
Mo Zhai quickly wrapped Leng Jiu’s head again with the cloak. “Don’t move! As long as I don’t show any unusual behavior, he won’t notice us!”
Just as Leng Jiu was about to nod, she suddenly saw someone chasing from behind and was startled. “There’s no time! Into the woods, quickly!”
Mo Zhai was about to spur his horse forward when Leng Jiu suddenly shouted, causing him to stop abruptly. In that fleeting moment, he sensed a skilled opponent approaching them with lightness skills from behind. Without hesitation, he urged his horse toward the nearby woods!
As the horse galloped away, a shadow landed at the spot they had just vacated and yelled in the direction of Long Yi, “Master! They’ve escaped! Block their way!”
Long Yi, initially preoccupied with the day’s events, was startled by the shout. His gaze fell on the two figures about to leap into the woods, and his expression changed. “Catch them!”
“Yes!” The Imperial Guards immediately spurred their horses to give chase.
Long Yi cracked his whip and followed suit. The black-clothed man leaped onto Long Yi’s horse and gasped, “Miss Xia Ke was kidnapped early this morning. I’ve been chasing after the hoofprints and just caught up!”
Long Yi’s face darkened instantly as he coldly commanded, “Shoot! Aim for that horse! Don’t harm Miss Xia; kill that man!”
“Yes!”
“Shameless sc.u.m!” Leng Jiu leaned against Mo Zhai’s chest, her expression calm, but her eyes were filled with rage. Long Yi had crossed her bottom line this time, and she wouldn’t hold back any longer!
With her weak hand gripping Mo Zhai’s belt, she still wore the ring Leng Yue had given her. Long Yi likely thought she would soon be brought back to the palace, so he hadn’t touched her belongings. Hearing the whistling sound approaching from behind, Leng Jiu struggled to remove the eagle-wing ring from her finger and stuffed it into Mo Zhai’s belt. “If we get surrounded, you must abandon me and escape. He won’t kill me! Then take this ring and go to the frontier to find Leng Yue. Tell him what I said, and ask him for ten thousand eagle riders. Dress them in the clothing of the nomads, change their weapons, and fight your way back to reclaim everything that belongs to you!”
Mo Zhai tightened his grip around her waist, almost as if making a vow. “I will obtain everything with my own strength!”
Leng Jiu chuckled lightly. “Why are you being foolish? Didn’t you used to want revenge? This is the best opportunity!”
Mo Zhai no longer hesitated, tightly embracing her in his arms. “The people of the gra.s.slands ultimately honor their promises. I swore an oath of loyalty to you for life; you are my master. Unless I die, I will never abandon you!”
His words lacked any flowery sentiment or flattering oaths, spoken plainly and without inflection, yet they instilled an unshakeable belief.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” Countless arrows whistled through the air and struck their backs in an instant. Mo Zhai bent down slightly and yanked on the reins. “Go!”
“Hiss!” One of the horse’s hind legs was. .h.i.t and immediately went lame, collapsing to the side. Mo Zhai had been prepared; in that moment, he scooped up Leng Jiu and leaped into the air, using lightness skills to fly forward.
Arrows continued to rain down behind them. Leng Jiu’s legs dangled helplessly in the air, and just then, an arrow struck her thigh. She frowned slightly but didn’t make a sound.
Mo Zhai’s face changed dramatically when he saw her leg was. .h.i.t, feeling immense guilt!
With the pain bringing some strength back to her, Leng Jiu raised her hand and grasped Mo Zhai’s shoulder. “This injury is manageable; let’s shake them off first!”
Mo Zhai immediately focused all his energy and sprinted! Behind the woods was a rocky gorge with uneven terrain, making it difficult to traverse, preventing Long Yi’s cavalry from following. Mo Zhai’s toes pushed off the protruding stones as he rushed up the gorge.
Seeing Mo Zhai’s face turn slightly pale, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Leng Jiu pulled her thoughts together and tightened her grip around his hand, only to realize his back was soaked—not with sweat, but with blood! When Long Yi shot the horse, Mo Zhai had also been injured, but she hadn’t noticed because she had been struck by an arrow.
Looking at Mo Zhai’s face, when she sensed his expression, she didn’t say a word. Instead, she raised her arms to wrap around his neck, sharing a moment of silence.
Long Yi’s cavalry was blocked at the foot of the mountain. Although some skilled fighters could use lightness skills, they couldn’t match Mo Zhai’s speed. His hidden guards weren’t among them, and fearing for their lives, they didn’t dare to pursue alone, watching helplessly as the two disappeared.
“d.a.m.n it!” Long Yi angrily drew his sword and channeled his internal energy into a powerful swing. The nearest person next to him had their head severed, blood spraying everywhere.
“Stop! He won’t pursue for now!” Once it was clear there were no pursuers, Leng Jiu spoke up.
Mo Zhai remained silent, continuing to run until they reached a rocky platform protruding from a steep cliff. The platform was covered with weeds, perfectly hiding their figures, and the elevated terrain made it unlikely for anyone to look there. If Long Yi’s men followed, they would be the first to spot them.
Mo Zhai gently set Leng Jiu down and reached to pull the arrow from her leg. However, upon seeing the b.l.o.o.d.y fabric of her pants, he hesitated to act! Leng Jiu grasped his hand gently, removing it and pulling out the arrow from the side with the arrowhead, wincing as a trickle of bright red blood flowed out. Leaning back against the stone, she looked at the bloodstains on her leg and smiled. “It’s been years since I’ve suffered an injury like this; I almost forgot the feeling of being seriously hurt!”
Mo Zhai glanced at her, seeming somewhat puzzled, but didn’t ask further. He tore off part of his clothing and wrapped the injured area on her leg, remaining silent and sullen.
Leng Jiu took a moment to collect herself, then opened her eyes to look at him. “Come here; I want to see your back injury!”
Mo Zhai didn’t move, sitting across from her and refusing to let her see.
Leng Jiu narrowed her eyes slightly. “Don’t try to show off; come here. This is an order!”
Mo Zhai paused, but eventually moved beside Leng Jiu, bending down to expose his back to her.
When Leng Jiu saw his back, she was immediately shocked. No wonder she hadn’t noticed or seen the arrow’s tail; the weapon embedded in his back was a leaf-shaped dart, several of which had sunk in, rendering the tails invisible. Two had insufficient force and still protruded slightly, and his entire back was drenched, a mix of blood and sweat as he tried to hold her and channel his energy simultaneously, causing his back to tighten and blood to flow out faster. He could wring blood from the clothing on his back.
Leng Jiu pulled out the two darts still visible and examined their color. “At least they’re not poisoned!”
Mo Zhai handed her his sword. “Use this to cut the flesh to retrieve the darts!”
Leng Jiu glanced at the sword; even a casual cut could make a wound several inches long. Such a small injury would become larger if he cut it. Without accepting his sword, Leng Jiu pulled his collar, saying, “Take off your clothes first!”
Having seen him practice swordsmanship in the nude many times, Mo Zhai didn’t mind and swiftly removed his thick clothing, revealing his broad and strong back, along with a b.l.o.o.d.y wound!
Leng Jiu looked at the nine-turn cherry blossom bracelet on her wrist. She knew it could transform into a small knife but wasn’t sure if the knife would also be poisoned, so she dared not use it on Mo Zhai. Returning her gaze to his wound, she closed her eyes and pressed her mouth against his back, using her tongue and lips to suck on the leaf-shaped flying dagger!
Mo Zhai felt her actions and instantly stiffened; the pain in his back was nothing compared to the shock brought by the softness of her lips. She was actually using her mouth to suck! Before he could think too much, Leng Jiu bit out a piece of the flying dagger and spat it on the ground, expelling a mouthful of b.l.o.o.d.y saliva before covering it again.
There were a total of seven flying daggers. Leng Jiu sucked them out seven times, her cheeks hurting, and she was forced to swallow several mouthfuls of blood. After expelling the last flying dagger, she tore off a piece of Mo Zhai’s clothing to make a bandage, wrapping it around his chest and tying it. Once finished, she wiped her lips, stained with blood, leaned back against the stone, and pretended to sleep. She was neither tired nor in pain; rather, she felt nauseous. To avoid throwing up, she had to ignore the rusty, b.l.o.o.d.y smell.
When Mo Zhai turned around, he saw her with her eyes closed, leaning against the stone. There were still traces of blood on her lips, and her clothes were stained with his blood. Previously, he had always found her mysterious, cunning, and wise, but this time, he thought of nothing else, just looking at her, the purple hue of her eyes softening!
Many women had surrounded him in the past, and there were plenty of beautiful and charming women among the n.o.bility of the gra.s.slands, but he had never taken any notice of them. After the royal family suffered a catastrophic change, he had fled with Mo Yina and had no thoughts about women. When he later met her, even though she was more unique and attractive than any other woman, he had felt no stirrings in his heart. It wasn’t until last year when she told him that he was an eagle with a broken wing on the gra.s.slands and that she would wait for him to soar again. Her words were not blind encouragement, but they landed in his heart, one by one.
His gaze drifted over her eyebrows and eyes, where there was sometimes coldness, sometimes sharpness, sometimes distance, and sometimes warmth—things he had never noticed before. However, at this moment, he felt that no matter how much he looked, it was never enough!
－－－－－－A note from the author－－－－－－
I’m lovable in the beginning, but then I get myself in trouble again! o__o… By the way, I’ve been suffering from respiratory infections and throat inflammation for the past two days and haven’t slept at night. If I don’t reply to messages promptly, please be forgiving!