Chapter 500: Extra 15: Four Rooms at Xishan

Chapter 500: Chapter 496: Extra 15: Four Rooms at Xishan

That evening, the lights were on in all four rooms at Xishan.

「The Main House」

Ji Qingwu was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Zhao Mingyan reached out with a long arm and pulled her into his embrace.

She squirmed out of his arms, surprised. “You’re not asleep either.”

Zhao Mingyan hooked a finger under her chin. “How could I possibly sleep with a restless little kitten lying next to me?”

Since he was awake too, she had someone to talk to. Ji Qingwu hugged his arm and said, “What do you think of that girl Yuan Heng brought back?”

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow. “If Ah Wu likes her, then of course I have no objections.”

Ji Qingwu asked, “How did you know I like her?”

Zhao Mingyan replied, “If you didn’t like the girl, would you be thinking of going back with Yuan Heng? It’s because you don’t trust Yuan Heng to handle the three members of the Hu Family on his own.”

Ji Qingwu did indeed like the girl.

One look at Hu Yiyi and you could tell she was a child who had been well-protected by her parents. Her every move revealed an innocent, charming naivete, and her smile was as sweet as honey.

Paired with Yuan Heng, who was mature for his age and had a deep, contemplative mind, Ji Qingwu felt they complemented each other perfectly.

But compatibility was one thing. When it came to a man and a woman, there were things more important than just being a good match.

Ji Qingwu lifted Zhao Mingyan’s arm and snuggled back into his embrace, her moist eyes gazing up at him as she called out, “Ming Yan.”

Seeing her expression, Zhao Mingyan knew she wanted something from him again.

He sighed softly. “Whatever you want to ask, just say it.”

Ji Qingwu stared at him. “You have a keen eye. Did you notice if Yuan Heng has any feelings for the Hu family’s girl?”

After getting out of the carriage, Yuan Heng paid no mind to the girl. He didn’t offer to help her down or wait for her, and once inside, they didn’t even sit next to each other.

Ji Qingwu felt that something was off.

Zhao Mingyan said, “A mother knows her son best. If even you can’t read his mind, how could I?”

Ji Qingwu pinched his arm, then frowned and picked a fight. “It’s rock-hard. My fingers are sore now.”

She had been the one to start it, yet she was complaining to him, the victim.

Zhao Mingyan gave her a faint, teasing smile, but still gathered her fingers in his palm and began massaging their tips.

Ji Qingwu said haughtily, “It should be ‘like father, like son.’ When you were interested in me back then, I didn’t notice at all. In fact, I was scared half to death.”

‘If he had been gentler that night in the military tent, or had just said a few words to her, I wonder if things would have been different.’

After a moment’s thought, Ji Qingwu dismissed her wild fantasies. ‘Given that I had pursued Wei Ting before, how could he possibly have been kind to me?’

Zhao Mingyan said slowly, “Ah Wu, you really are slow when it comes to matters of the heart.”

Ji Qingwu retorted, “That was in the past. I’m not the person I used to be. I’ve figured out your little schemes from back then.” As she spoke, she poked him in the chest.

Zhao Mingyan said, “Which ones? Tell me.”

Ji Qingwu said, “That marriage prospect I had after I returned home—you were the one who broke it up.”

Zhao Mingyan’s voice sounded as if it carried a chilling wind. “Do you find that a pity?”

Ji Qingwu quickly shook her head. “It was an ill-fated match, an ill-fated match! Not a pity at all.”

But it was too late. His long-simmering jealousy was not to be trifled with.

For the rest of the night, using their impending separation of at least half a month as an excuse, Zhao Mingyan thoroughly exhausted her.

The mountain cabin wasn’t very soundproof, and Ji Qingwu had a hard time holding back her cries.

When they finished, Zhao Mingyan kissed her earlobe and said in a low, husky voice, “Xijin has been acting up again recently.”

Unsure why he would bring this up at such a time, Ji Qingwu asked dazedly, “Hasn’t Xijin already surrendered?”

Zhao Mingyan said, “Yu Wen Tianqing is playing with fire. Zhaozhao won’t let him get away with it.”

Ji Qingwu rubbed her aching lower back and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Then let’s go again.”

‘This way, I can accumulate more national fortune to help ease Zhaozhao’s burden.’

A dark glint flashed in Zhao Mingyan’s eyes. “Is that a good idea? I’m still recovering from my injuries.”

Ji Qingwu rolled over and sat on his waist, saying magnanimously, “You just lie back. It won’t tire you out.”

Zhao Mingyan said with mock reluctance, “Well, all right then.”

*

In the east wing lived Empress Chenzhao and Xiu Ningchuan.

Xiu Ningchuan had planned to greet the Empress at the door, but he overheard her conversation with Prince Yu and retreated back into the room.

When Empress Chenzhao entered the room, she did not find her Imperial Consort waiting to give her the warm welcome she expected.

Xiu Ningchuan stood coldly by the window. Empress Chenzhao cleared her throat, but he showed no reaction whatsoever.

She frowned. “Ning Chuan.”

Xiu Ningchuan remained unmoved.

Empress Chenzhao took two steps forward. Looking at his back, straight and unbending as bamboo, she asked, “What tantrum are you throwing now?”

Xiu Ningchuan turned around, his face pale. He looked utterly dejected. “I’ve been waiting too long. I’m just tired.”

Empress Chenzhao had never seen him like this. Uncharacteristically, she explained, “I was a little late. A secret report suddenly arrived from the Northwest Army, so I was delayed.”

She added, “I haven’t been resting well these past few days.”

Normally, her Imperial Consort would have come to massage her shoulders. But now, Xiu Ningchuan wore a sarcastic smile. “Your Majesty can’t sleep or rest well at night. Who are you thinking of?”

Empress Chenzhao could see he was in a foul mood, but this was her father and mother’s home. She didn’t want to argue with him here.

She said coldly, “Let’s get some rest.”

Empress Chenzhao turned to walk toward the bed, but Xiu Ningchuan suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Only then did she smell the alcohol on him—his favorite bamboo leaf liqueur.

With his left hand, Xiu Ningchuan lifted her chin, forcing her to turn her head and look at him.

No one had ever dared treat her this way. Empress Chenzhao snapped in a low voice, “What are you doing! How audacious!”

Xiu Ningchuan asked, “Is *this* audacious?”

His breath was hot, but his fingers were cold as he roughly tore at her clothes.

Unable to break free from his grasp, Empress Chenzhao said angrily, “Have you gone mad?”

Xiu Ningchuan said, “I went mad long ago!” His eyes were bloodshot. “You gave your heart to someone else long ago, yet you still tempted me to take it.”

Empress Chenzhao stopped struggling. As he bit her neck as if to vent his fury, she reached up to touch his face, her voice calm. “Ning Chuan, let’s talk.”

Xiu Ningchuan said stubbornly, “No talking. Only doing.”

He then continued his conquest, knowing her body like the back of his hand. Empress Chenzhao had wanted to refuse, but when she felt the tears on his lower lashes, she gave in to his desire.

With clothes strewn about the floor, the two on the bed slept in each other’s arms, showing no sign that they had just been arguing.

Xiu Ningchuan, supposedly drunk, was already asleep. The Empress, half-asleep herself, keenly sensed that something was wrong. There was no smell of alcohol on her Imperial Consort.

‘Has the smell of alcohol faded already?’

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. The corner of Xiu Ningchuan’s mouth tilted up slightly.

She confirmed it: no smell of alcohol.

Empress Chenzhao picked up the man’s clothes from the floor and sniffed them. Just as she suspected, only the outer robe smelled of alcohol.

Her gaze flickered in the darkness, but in the end, she didn’t expose Xiu Ningchuan’s ruse.

‘He just loves me too much.’

‘A little trick like this can be forgiven.’

The magnanimous Empress held her Imperial Consort and fell asleep.

「The West Wing Room」

Zhao Yuanheng, who had just closed his eyes, opened them again, a flash of helplessness in their dark depths.