Chapter 220
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
There was someone carefully knocking on the door. Yue Qi said, “Master, the Master knows that you are back, and the palace has also sent men to inform you to enter.”
Picking up a coat, Zhao Che donned a giant robe, and with a giant black hat, one could barely see his face. Quietly, he said, “It is time for me to leave. You should take care.”
“You too. Leave from the secret pa.s.sage. Be careful.”
The two men nodded. Zhao Che pulled open the door, and with Huan’er and a few others, he walked into the heavy snow outside.
“Master.” Yue Qi walked in only to see Zhuge Yue standing in the room with his lanky figure standing upright, along with a face that seemed ever so glum. One could not tell what he was thinking.
The feeling of having a true friend was really so good.
Zhuge Yue was not very socially active, and even among his family and siblings, he did not have a particularly good relationship with any of them. Yet, with the security of Zhen Huang City, Zhao Che still took the risk to meet him. This was a deed that really touched his heart.
“Master? It is about time,” Yue Qi reminded.
Zhuge Yue flashed a carefree smile, before ordering, “Prepare the carriage.”
Yue Qi was taken aback. “Where do you intend to head to?”
“To court.”
“To court?” Yue Qi was still stunned. “Doesn’t Master need to shower and change? In the first place, you are the grand marshal. A general must not report to the court in a carriage, and needs to ride a horse.”
Zhuge Yue lowered his head, and a cold, sharp gaze shone from within his eyes. Without giving it much heed, he coldly explained, “I am not only the grand marshal of the Xia Empire, I am also the King of Qinghai who commands over 500,000 soldiers. As for the latter point, I am afraid they have already forgotten.”
The sun pierced through the layers of clouds in the sky. Zhuge Yue strode out from his room, as Fang Chu put a dull gold cape onto Zhuge Yue’s shoulders. The 18 doors of the Zhuge Residence opened at once. Light seemed to shine out from behind as Zhuge Yue revealed his immaculate face. His lips were crimson red, with his back completely upright. Coldly, with big steps, he walked out. As he walked out, a swarm of officials crowded over, only to be blocked by the Yue Guards one meter away from him. Without looking to the side, Zhuge Yue boarded the majestic carriage pulled by eight horses, and dictated, “Set off.”
“Where does Master wish to head to?” the chauffeur questioned.
Fang Chu was equally emotionless as he calmly answered on Zhuge Yue’s behalf, “Sheng Jin Palace.”
Even with the cold wind seeping into the carriage, Zhuge Yue’s face remained calm as he slowly settled himself on the soft chair in the carriage. He had never lacked the ability to stir up a fuss. Since that was the case, he would make the situation even more confusing, such that none could possibly take away anything from this situation, and n.o.body would be able to stay out of this mess.
With the darkness setting in, the banquet outdoors was still not stopped, yet a new banquet had already started indoors. Even if the Tang Empire was warmer, during the peak of winter, it would still feel colder than usual. With the night wind bellowing, even if one wore a windbreaker, the coldness would still seep through the fabric and up from the soles of the shoes, sending shivers through one’s body.
At mid-noon, a small downpour continued until dusk. This made the dark night even colder than usual. Yet, the ladies who were dressed in beautiful clothes were not shy in revealing their pristine white chests. With their eyes full of l.u.s.t, and their delicate porcelain like limbs crossing in their seductive movements, occasionally, a daring lady would head up to pour wine for him, and “accidentally” reveal her legs.
Li Ce drank a lot, as he squinted and leaned on the soft chair. With the door to the Roufu palace wide open, the luxury of the palace was in full view. Musicians who were playing their music were playing in the center of the lake, as the melodies could be heard all the way deep into the giant palace.
Like a snake slithering, the thin waists wriggled before his eyes, as their slender legs moved in tandem. With droplets of sweat dripping onto their peach colored skin, a daring dancer fell into Li Ce’s chest in one continuous motion. With her eyebrow slightly raised, a cloud pattern that was drawn out using golden dust. Her lips were full, and her neck was long and slender. Her curvaceous bosom was covered by a thin layer of fabric, and through that thin layer, one could almost see the pink color of her skin.
Raising a cup of red wine, the dancer’s backside was protruding out in a seductive curve. Her arm raised up high, and with a flick of her arm, the liquor spilt, and along her swan-like neck, it flowed into her cleavage that seemed like two snowy mountains.
“Your Majesty, are you drunk?” She was indeed a rare beauty. Not only she was pretty, but her voice was bewitching. Her flexible body twisted, and she rubbed her bare shoulder on Li Ce’s chest, and with that, her tender hand slid into his shirt. Moving all the way down, she stopped short of reaching the end.
This lady was Lady Zi Ming, a woman that had gained Li Ce’s favor over the past year. Li Ce was a playboy and rarely paid much heed to a lady for too long. Yet, this Lady Zi Ming, who was born to a fallen n.o.ble, had captivated him for so long. This was evidence of her extreme seductiveness.
Li Ce, with his slightly drunk eyes, looked down. Wearing a robe that was blue and purple, he had a scarf that was made out of wolf fur. With his collar slightly open, one could see his fit body under the swaying torches. Habitually, he squinted, and his brows flirtatiously furrowed together. In the depths of his eyes, there was light flashing, making him look like a cunning fox that was deep in thought.
The dancers in the palace continued to dance. They were dancing a folk dance of the Donghu people. Daring and revealing, they only wore a few thin clothes that barely covered their private parts. With their soft bodies waving around, one could see that they were covered with perspiration.
“Your Majesty, you have not entered Roufu palace for half a month. Have you so quickly forgotten about this lady?” Lady Zi Ming lightly leaned over. With her eyes tearing, she gently looked at Li Ce, like a seductive succubus.
Li Ce’s eyes were drunk, and it seemed that his limbs were drunk as well. Yet, between his eyes, he was ever so sober. The crimson nails of the lady floated up from his abdomen and reached out for his brows. Whispering in his ear, she lightly asked, “Whose fault is it that Your Majesty is unhappy?”
The corner of Li Ce’s mouth curled up, and he calmly smiled. He forcefully grabbed her thin waist, and his palm rubbed her smooth skin. Lightly chuckling, he said, “You little devil.”
“Will Your Majesty be still so cruel as to make Ming’er stay in her room alone?”
Li Ce was taken aback as a figure suddenly surfaced in his mind. He frowned in regret, and his mind almost lost his usual peace. He had already gone mad the past half a month. Was still going to continue?
Turning around and looking at the seductive face of Lady Zi Ming, a miasma seemed to rise from his heart, suppressing something that seemed like both bitterness and desire. In his heart, there was no more anger nor happiness, and he seemed no longer so carefree. He merely smiled, and recovered his composure, before chuckling, “Since when was I not a man who cared about beauties like you?”
“Your Majesty,” a calm voice spoke from beyond the palace.
Li Ce lifted his head up only to see Tie You standing outside of the door. Li Ce waved, and with that, this commander, still fully armed, walked into the palace. Disregarding the expression of the surrounding ladies, he knelt on the ground, and firmly reported, “Your Majesty, Miss Chu is back.”
Li Ce was stunned. Although he looked calm, the wine in the cup that he was holding seemed to have almost spilled. There was a singing voice that seemed to resound from in the distance. The song was slow, like one that was supposed to soothe one’s heart. On the lake, the wind was cold, and carried a fragrance. With his lanky build and dense black hair, Li Ce’s figure seemed ever so handsome.
“When did that happen?”
“Just now.”
“Where is she now?”
“She returned to Mihe Residence.”
“Let’s go.” Li Ce stood up and headed out.
Tie You was taken aback, and quickly asked, “Your Majesty, where are you going?”
“Mihe Residence.” From afar, Li Ce’s voice floated into this grandiose night. Tie You quickly followed after with the other guards.
Lady Zi Ming slowly stood up, her silk clothes slowly swaying in the incoming night wind. Yet, not a single trace of the seductiveness that she displayed just now was left. Calmly looking at Li Ce leaving, her gaze was calm, without any emotion.
“Lady.” A maidservant carefully approached her. Taking the overcoat from the servant, Lady Zi Ming waved her hand. “Dismiss the banquet.” The ladies dispersed like the wind. In the aroma of the wine, the only sound left was by the singer from afar. The flowers in the lotus pond had long ago withered, and even the sycamore tree that was in front of the gate was completely empty. The moon was a simple hook, shining its clouded light onto the pristine white stone steps.
With the bead veils. .h.i.tting each other, giving out crisp sounds of collision, Qiu Sui, who was guarding the outer room, was awakened. Li Ce made a hand signal to indicate for her to stay quiet. The maidservant lowered her head and knelt on the floor, not daring to make any noise.
In the cold weather, the window was tightly shut, yet there was still dim moonlight shining through the pure white windows. Chu Qiao was sleeping as the white moon colored blanket covered her body, leaving only her tiny head exposed. Looking clean and neat, her face had a rare look of peace. Leaning on the door, Li Ce tilted his head, and for moment he merely stood there without any motion.
Certainly, that would have been the best choice for her. Without many responsibilities and burdens, without many strong feelings and intense hatred, she could leave whenever she so wished to.
Focusing his vision on her, his gaze was so gentle. The gentle light shone onto her, giving off a light glow that seemed ever so lonesome. The wind pa.s.sed by from the outside, the shadow of the trees swaying like a lady trying reach out for them, gently caressing this palace that seemed to be in permanent solitude.
“The lady slept upon returning. She seemed very tired,” Qiu Sui whispered to Tie You. As quiet as she was, her voice still reached Li Ce’s ears.
Standing there, Li Ce seemed to have understood something. The charcoal in the corner of the room still gave off a warm glow. The birds which lived in the trees gave off a light melodic chirp that was extremely pleasant to the ear.
“Whatever happened, if she is tired, she should rest.” With that said, the man turned around and walked out of the main bedroom. In the empty palace, his footsteps echoed, reflecting the emptiness of the room.
As the night grew colder, Chu Qiao slowly opened her eyes. In the darkness, her eyes seemed like obsidian. In stark contrast, her pale white fingers grabbed onto the cotton blanket with all her strength. Before long, the sound of music resumed from Rou Fu Palace, and it sounded even more boisterous than before. She slowly closed her eyes. She was really very tired.
Three days later, she decided to leave the Tang Capital. She did not alert anyone but merely brought along Mei Xiang. This time, she went to greet Li Ce before she left. Li Ce did not mention anything about seeing her off, only that before her carriage exited the city gates of the Tang Capital, under the Sycamore tree in the distance, Li Ce, along with Tie You, Sun Di, and a few others, greeted her upon her arrival. The crowd quickly dispersed, with only Li Ce and Chu Qiao left. They finally had their first conversation since her return.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.” Seeing how Li Ce showed a gaze of suspicion, Chu Qiao smiled. “Don’t look at me like that. I am not kidding you. I really do not know where I will be going.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“I just want to travel and see the world.” Chu Qiao took a deep breath. Smiling, she observed the surroundings. With a crisp voice, she elaborated, “Look, the weather is getting warmer. The West Meng Continent is so big, yet I never had the chance to head out to relax and enjoy the scenery. This time around, I will take it as if I am on vacation.”
Li Ce deftly prepared the tea as he continued to ask, “How long do you intend to rest?”
“I don’t know, depends on my mood. Perhaps one day when I am broke, I will come back to get some food from you. That is why you must make sure you keep your throne properly. Do not end up losing all your money before I can come back.”
Hearing that, Li Ce quickly picked up an envelope from the table and took out the thick stack of silver notes from within. He removed a good half of the notes and stuffed it into his shirt while muttering, “You will only return after you are broke? Then I must not give you too much money. If not, by the time you come back, you might have already become an old woman who does not even have any teeth left.”