Qingyun burst into laughter, “What of it? Na Zhan’s chess is too rigid. No matter how many times he wins, it’s never satisfying.”
Huang Beishuang looked up at him, then moved her gaze back to the chessboard, “I heard… he once threw the chess pieces at you?”
Qingyun sneered at this, picking up a pastry from the table. As he ate, he said, “Hmm! He’s too cautious, a sore loser by nature! I was still young then, almost came to blows with him!”
“Hehe!” Huang Beishuang chuckled softly, her starry eyes and icy complexion uniquely captivating. Since becoming intimate with him, she was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, often bewitching him with a mere glance. Qingyun pursed his lips, moved behind her, and wrapped his arms around her. His cold jade lips pressed against her ear as he said huskily, “Just admit defeat, will you…”
Huang Beishuang tilted her head back and giggled, “Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. It’s not advisable to overexert yourself in bedroom matters!”
Qingyun tightened his grip, sliding off her outer robe. He turned her body towards him, seeing her docile appearance. No longer in the mood for idle chatter, he carried her to the bed, resuming their intimate activities.
“Qingyun, do you know that I’m very good at raising birds of paradise?” Huang Beishuang whispered in his ear, “And the birds of paradise I raise are very special. They can fly very far. There’s absolutely no second one like it in the great desert.”
Qingyun sensed a hidden meaning in her words and paused his actions, lying down to look at her.
Huang Beishuang, her clothes now disheveled, replied from proximity, “It’s just thirteen people. What tricks can they play before you? Let me see them!”
Hearing this, Qingyun seemed displeased. He forcefully tore at her clothes, instantly leaving her naked, curled up in his arms like a newborn. Then came his kisses, unusually rough, displaying his anger and repression. Only when he heard her whimper in pain did he suddenly let go?
“Perhaps…” he said into the air, “I should lock you up!”
Huang Beishuang smiled, her snow-white skin seeking warmth as she pressed against his body. She asked softly, “Alright?”
Qingyun remained silent for a while, pinning her hands above her head. Seeing that she didn’t speak further, only waiting for his answer, his mood improved considerably. He replied, “Only for tomorrow. I’ll have Suozana accompany you.”
Huang Beishuang finally relaxed, breaking into a charming smile.
Behind the jade-green curtains by the bed, the light dance was ending. Behind the drapes, only spring’s glow remained…
The bird of paradise, of the Passeriformes order.
With brilliant colors and graceful form, long tail feathers, and a melodious call, it’s a very precious wild desert bird. Among them, the most special is the King bird-of-paradise. The King bird-of-paradise is solitary by nature, disliking crowds, yet it takes the lead in every migration.
It only has one mate in its lifetime. Once its mate dies, it will starve itself to death, not lingering in the world of the living.
Huang Beishuang had loved raising these birds since she was old enough to understand. Generally speaking, such small birds rarely fly far, but the King bird-of-paradise raised by Huang Beishuang, named “Hong,” was very different. Not only could it fly for three days without landing, but when it saw its owner, it could also make a sound like a baby’s cry. There was no second one like it in the great desert.
So, when she saw Hong in the sky above Ice Thorn Palace, she knew Ye Pei had come to find her.
So, since they had come, she had to see them.
The next day.
The thirteen people, including Lian Huan and Ye Pei, who had been waiting outside Ice Thorn Palace, were once again allowed to enter under the watch of a hundred guards. Passing through long corridors and intricate palaces, they finally saw the owner of twenty-one Jiema trees in the deepest palace.
She sat on a wooden chair in a cool pavilion, wearing a peach-colored silk robe and a snow fox fur coat. She was still graceful and charming. The air carried a hint of intoxication. With a light laugh, suddenly it felt as if copper bells were ringing in the wind, tinkling pleasantly.
They stared at her dumbfounded, suddenly afraid to speak, fearing it was just a beautiful dream.
Huang Beishuang nodded to them, saying, “I knew you would come to find me. Come, sit down!”
“Na Xiu!” The three women, including Ye Pei, couldn’t hold back their emotions. They rushed over in two quick steps, wanting to embrace her, but then remembered they were just servants, and the mistress before them was a mistress no matter where she was. With this thought, the three girls, along with the ten guards behind them, knelt on the ground.
“Alright, alright!” Huang Beishuang patted their backs, smiling, “I’m fine, aren’t I? Why cry? Don’t kneel, let’s all sit down and talk.”
The thirteen sat down, staring at her intently, feeling invigorated, no longer confused or hopeless.
Huang Beishuang looked at each of the thirteen people one by one. Seeing that although they were travel-worn, they had no serious injuries, she felt relieved and said with a smile, “Jiang Lei and Yun Zai have also come!”
The two stood up and bowed.
“Then… has Zhan Bie left seclusion?” After pondering for a moment, she asked again.
Jiang Lei shook his head, “Zhan Bie’s vengeful fire burns ever hotter. He’s determined to leave seclusion, with a clear assassin’s intent. But he ultimately couldn’t get past us and couldn’t leave. Later, he could only join the army and is now under the Yunpei National Guard. Na Xiu must be cautious, lest he leave the battlefield on his own to attempt an assassination.”
Hearing this, Huang Beishuang felt a chill in her heart, remembering the black bow on Zhan Bie’s back, feeling very uneasy. After thinking for a while, she asked again, “Did His Majesty send you to find me?”
The thirteen nodded, and Lian Huan replied, “Master Qing said you were no longer in this world, but His Majesty didn’t believe it. He said he wanted to see you alive or see your corpse. Now, even the Guanhou Tomb has been prepared!”
“Haha!” Huang Beishuang laughed heartily, “That’s truly his style!”