Xue Houyang came to an abrupt stop and quickly retracted his hands. The sword that heâd blocked fell to the ground with a clank; the sound was quite loud, alerting the guards outside. They rushed inside but then halted in shock.
Jiang Yu thought heâd been caught in dilemma too many times today. What kind of situation was this?
Her Majesty the Empressâ hair was loose as it wasnât pinned with anything; cascading down her shoulders. Her clothes were untidy, her belt was gone and her outer garment was opened, her wide flowing skirt barely covered her long legs.
Her Majestyâs eyes were slightly bloodshot, her lips blood-red as if she had been biting them. She was glaring at Xue Wang like she wanted to skin him alive.
Xue Houyang noted the way she was dressed at the same time he realized he was standing the closest to the Empress. He immediately lowered his gaze. Eyes still down and not daring to lift them, he stepped back behind Xue Junliang.
Xue Junliang reacted slower. He took off his own outer robe then reached his hands towards the Empress before tightly covering her with his robe; preventing others from seeing her disheveled state. He didnât look angry, instead smiled and said, âAifei, are you angry with Gu? Gu realized Gu must have worn you out.â
Hearing this, the others instantly lowered their gazes and scrambled to withdraw. The couple were having a loverâs quarrel; they, as lowly subordinates should remove themselves from the room as quickly as possible.
This incident only cemented their realization that no one could shake and doubt Her Majestyâs status. Her Majesty throwing a sword and glaring daggers at Xue Wang; instead of getting angry, Xue Wang actually put on such pleading expression, trying to appease the Empress.
A woman who could make a supreme king beg for her favor, really should not be taken lightly.
The Empress had gone pliant when tightly hugged by Xue Wang, confirming Xue Wangâs words.
But the truth was, Teng Yun couldnât move because Xue Junliang had hit his acupuncture point. His whole body felt so numb and painful that if Xue Junliang wasnât holding him, he would have already fallen on the floor.
After wrapping the Empress, Xue Junliang lifted her into his arms. Jiang Yu immediately pushed the door to the inner chamber open. When Xue Wang and the Empress had passed the door, Jiang Yu silently closed it.
Xue Houyang scratched his nose in embarrassment. Taking the urgent report away, he turned to go.
Xue Junliang threw Teng Yun on the bed and sneered, âYou actually tried to kill Gu. You must be courting for death.â
Then he tidied the Empressâ messy hair and covered her with the blanket. The action didnât match up with his menacing tone, making it hard for Teng Yun to predict Xue Junliangâs mood.
Xue Junliang added, âOr were you thinking that, even if Gu hated you, Gu wouldnât be able to kill you?â
As he said this, Xue Junliang turned to look at the inside of his own wrist. There was a small wound on it; it was still bleeding but didnât look very serious. If Xue Houyangâs reaction was a tiny bit slower than it had been, Xue Junliang reckoned the sword might have taken his life.\n
[T/N : Ooh⌠So the sword was actually well-aimed? Xue Houyang said it was clumsy so I thought Teng Yunâs skills had gone.]
Noting the other person said nothing, Xue Junliang continued, âGu has finally taken Teng Countryâs Eldest Princess as hostage, but now those barbarians are attacking, so Gu really cannot deal with you right now. If by any chance Feng Wang sends his troops here right this moment, Gu would have too many enemies attacking at the same time. But you must understand, even if Gu wonât throw you away to the Cold Palace; even if Gu canât kill you, you shouldnât be too happy. There are many ways to make your life so miserable, youâd think youâd be better off dead.â
It was at this time that the Empress opened her eyes and turned to look at Xue Junliang. There was a glint of something in those eyes that Xue Junliang was unable to comprehend.
Xue Junliang thought the other person opened her eyes because she was afraid with his threats, but it was obvious the Empress wasnât afraid. On the contrary, her eyes suddenly regained their brilliance as if she had found a reason to continue living. This expression made Xue Junliang speechless though he didnât understand why.
Xue Junliang, of course, couldnât understand. Teng Yun suddenly saw hope because Xue Junliang said there was an attack from the barbarians. This would prevent Xue Junliang attacking Teng Country anytime soon.
Xue Junliang sighed as he covered the other personâs eyes with a hand. He could feel the other personâs eyelashes brushing gently against his palm. He whispered, âI really cannot understand you. How could someone be so ignorant about their own life and death?â
As he said that, Xue Junliang couldnât help once again recalling that Iron-handed Great General who had died by Xue Junliangâs own hands. That person, Xue Junliang couldnât understand either. How could that person be so ignorant of death? How could that person be so loyal and determined to such extent?
Cheng Tian pushing the young king to the throne, he wasnât disloyal. Otherwise, heâd have already appointed himself as a king. Zou Zhenying kidnapping the young king, he wasnât disloyal. If he was disloyal, heâd have already appointed himself as a king so much earlier.
But they didnât appoint themselves as kings despite having so many chances to do so. It was because in their hearts, they were indeed loyal.
Then something that was more beneficial to them came up and their loyalties changed. They became arrogant and started disregarding their own kingâŚ
However, Teng Yun wasnât like that. Teng Country, for him, seemed to be his one and only faith.
Xue Junliang pushed away his thought and said, âWhen we return to the Imperial Palace, reflect diligently about your own actions.â
The next day, they all returned to the Palace, but this time the Empress didnât ride in Xue Wangâs carriage.
Xue Wang also transferred a palace maidservant that heâd just taken in to Her Majesty the Empressâ side; the maidâs name was Jiao Shui.
Xiu Yao and Jiao Shui rode in the Empressâ carriage; waiting and ready to serve Her Majesty at any time.
Xiu Yao was very unhappy with the transfer of Jiao Shui. Firstly, she thought Jiao Shui might be a fox in a sheepâs clothing. She could betray Teng-fei without batting an eye. Having this vicious and untruthful person by her side, Xiu Yao felt unsafe.
Secondly, Jiao Shui was quick-witted and skilled in using her mouth. If somehow the Empress grew fond of Jiao Shuiâs sweet talks, wouldnât Xiu Yaoâs own position be threatened?
All the way on their journey, Empress didnât talk. Xiu Yao had heard about the quarrel between the Empress and His Majesty last night. She thought maybe His Majesty had made the Empress too tired, so the incident wasnât something so serious.
As soon as he arrived at the Imperial Palace, Xue Junliang didnât delay for a moment; immediately summoned a group of court officials and informed them he was appointing Xue Yu as a chief commander and Teng Shang as an army consultant. The officials inwardly questioned this decision but because Xue Wang had said it, they didnât dare objecting. Xue Junliang also let Xue Yu take a few of his own trusted soldiers, and spared Xue Yuâs a thousand soldiers of the military evaluation; letting go of his own plan of detaining Xue Yuâs military power.\nXue Yu and Teng Shang were both skilled and smart. Xue Junliang only needed to say a few words and they immediately understood. As soon as the preparation of the army provisions completed, they set off.
When an army went to war, it was important that they had enough food. Therefore, the transportation of food supply should be handled seriously. Added that they only had a short period of time to prepare.
Xue Junliang rarely had rest these few days. Heâd taken to personally supervise everything and didnât dare to relax.
When Xue Junliang was busy reviewing a set of documents, Jiang Yu, who had been waiting on him, fell asleep leaning against the door. Jiang Yu was no longer young; he was considered one among Xue Junliangâs most trusted aides because heâd been following Xue Junliang for so many years.
Xue Junliang cleared his throat. Jiang Yu woke up with a jolt, hitting his head on the door. Before he even could start apologizing, Xue Junliang said, âYou can go. I can handle this by myself.â
Feeling moved, Jiang Yu thanked him and then withdrew himself.
Having no time for a good rest these few days, Xue Junliang felt exhausted. He still wanted to finish reviewing this set of documents but started feeling a little bit sleepy. He forced himself to continue reading for a few more minutes before he finally decided he couldnât read any more. He considered resting his head on the table to take a short nap before continuing the task at hand.
He hadnât even managed to shut his eyes when Jiang Yu stumbled back in to report, âYour Majesty, the Empress has fallen ill.â
Xue Junliangâs heart jumped but he immediately strove to stay calm, âGu is not a physician, why are you telling this thing to Gu?â
âButâŚâ
Jiang Yu felt maybe His Majesty was having a bad mood. He was hesitating for a long time before Xue Junliang had to add, âWhat are you mumbling to yourself?â
Jiang Yu hurriedly said, âThe palace maids serving by Her Majestyâs side said that Her Majesty didnât let them call the royal physician. Now Her Majesty has fainted.â
Xue Junliang smacked the table-top and stood before saying, âShe was sick and unable to think clearly when she said not to call for the physician, they obeyed and didnât call for the physician? Now the Empress has fainted. Do they want to have their head severed?â
Jiang Yu stammered he understood before rushing out to order people call for the royal physican for the Empress.
Xue Junliang pondered for a few moments before deciding to go to Yunfeng Palace.
â
Teng Yun was half-awake. He heard Xiu Yao shouted; she sounded like she was crying and afraid. After that, he thought he was dreaming but he could not wake up.
He could not move his hands and feet, looking down he saw he was tied securely against a wooden stake. The sun was glaring down at him and he had to squint to see anything.
In a few steps in front of him, there was a man wearing black robe. The man was standing straight, holding a bow in one hand and a red-tipped arrow in the other.\n\nTeng Yun began to shake his head violently but the other man didnât seemed to be softening in the slightest. He slowly opened Teng Yun and then entered insideâŚ
â
[T/N : (>///<)]
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When Xue Junliang arrived at Yunfeng Palace, the place was in a mess. The royal physician had come and examined the Empress. He said the Empress had caught a common cold, but her heart was suffering from a pent up emotion which was disrupting her blood circulation.
Xue Junliang was relieved, but then he was irritated. Why did he have to worry over this person? Their relationship was that of a person who used and a person who was used. Also, this person only recently planned to rebel against him.
The more he thought about that, the more Xue Junliang became annoyed. He ordered everyone to retreat before sitting on the bed, watching the sleeping form in it.
The Empressâ sleep didnât look peaceful and her forehead was drenched in sweat. Xue Junliang touched her arms briefly to find her clothes were wet.
Xue Wang, who had never taken care of any sick person before, decided to help wiping her sweat. Looking around, he found a basin of water and a towel just beside the bed. He put the towel in the water to wet it, then used the towel to wipe the Empress.
First, he wiped the Empressâ forehead and temples. Then, loosening the neckline of her clothes, he wiped down her neck. The Empress seemed to sweating a lot.
Afraid the Empress would feel the cold wind, he pulled the blanket. But he didnât know how to cover her when he was wiping. In the end, he used a hand to wipe her and his other hand to hold the blanket over her; doing his best not to let her catch a cold.
With every intention to care for the Empress, he started opening her clothes. That was when he heard the Empress saying lowly, âXue Junliang.â
Never had he expected the Empress would call out to him with that kind of pleasant voice. The voice made something explode inside Xue Junliangâs heart, his eyes which were staring at the Empressâ body turned dark.
His hand didnât stop wiping her sweat, but the action turned more and more naughty.
The person on the bed frowned as if her sleep became more restless. Her lips were pursed, and her throat was trembling; occasionally letting out low mewling sounds.
Xue Junliangâs breathing grew heavier. His hand traced all over the other personâs skin, every time he touched, the other person would tremble harder and harder. This reaction, naturally, pleased Xue Junliang very much.
Xue Junliang lowered his head. Then, seemingly in a trance, he gently traced the other personâs lips with his thumb before pinching her chin. The arrogant and dignified king couldnât even stop himself leaning down to kiss the person sleeping on the bed.
The Empress keened like a little kitten, looking helpless and vulnerable. The Empress didnât usually show this kind of vulnerability. Perhaps the illness had exposed her usually hidden self without her being aware of it.
When Xue Junling let go of Teng Yunâs lips, Teng Yun was half-awake but still in a daze. He felt he was lying on a bed and was panting heavily. Unconsciously, he stuck out his tongue to lick his lips.
Xue Junliang watched as the person on the bed started to open her eyes. Finally, he helped rearranging her clothes, covered her with the blanket then called for the maidservants to attend to her.