“Oh… ah… AH!” Jing Hengbo carelessly answered the first word, then suddenly jumped up, her voice completely changed. “What?”
Gong Yin looked up at her. Her face was full of shock, both cheeks already burning with fiery red clouds. Yet her eyes were extraordinarily bright, half surprised and half yearning.
Suddenly his heart ached.
Bone-piercing cold pierced through his heart like a sword in an instant.
The next moment he raised his eyebrows and smiled. “I meant that tonight we need to stay in the Shang royal palace for a while, to properly discuss compensation and such matters with the King of Shang.”
“Oh…” Jing Hengbo’s expression immediately fell from heaven to hell. She sat down limply, her eyes fixed and blank, the light in them confused and complex – impossible to tell if she was relieved or disappointed.
She herself didn’t know whether it was relief or regret. She was naturally outgoing and bold, clearly knowing what she wanted and brave enough to fight for it, regardless of all those rules and proprieties. She liked Gong Yin, wanted to pounce on him, wanted to be with him, but deep in her heart there always floated a layer of uneasy emotion that made her somewhat anxious about gains and losses.
Gong Yin glanced at the dejected Jing Hengbo and suddenly said: “What’s with that expression? What were you thinking?”
Jing Hengbo said leisurely: “Oh, thinking about what the three cubs should be named. Jing Se? Jing Zhi? Jing Dian? Jing Dezhen? Jing Tailan?”
Far away in Nan Qi, the little emperor suddenly shivered and looked around suspiciously. “Who’s talking about me behind my back?”
…
The guy beside her said nothing. Jing Hengbo rolled her eyes. Stuffy and pretentious – if you’re going to be stuffy, go all the way!
Was it so hard to say “surname Gong”?
Below the steps, that mother and son were still crying in each other’s arms. Shang Lue glared fiercely, staring intently at his father, hoping his old man would show great vigor and stab this mother and son to death with one sword, eliminating his greatest worry forever. However, he was disappointed to discover that his father’s sword was gradually drooping and seemed unlikely to be raised again.
Jing Hengbo watched coldly, feeling that just based on Shang Lue’s behavior, there was no need to kill that queen now. If Shang Lue became King of Shang, he would probably be another cold and vicious type, which would be bad for her grand plans. Better to keep these two people – one evil, one treacherous – and since today’s deadly feud was already formed, let them endlessly consume each other internally until they exhausted the Kingdom of Shang.
Having decided, she tapped the armrest of her chair and smiled lazily: “Hey, Great King, your family affairs should be handled privately and slowly. Just keep that woman of yours under control from now on. Today is getting late, you see…”
The King of Shang was delighted to hear she was willing to spare the queen. It wasn’t that he pitied the queen, but truly killing her with one sword over this matter would also damage his face. Moreover, his youngest son would inevitably harbor resentment, and he truly loved this younger son, not wanting to handle things too drastically and hurt their father-son relationship.
Therefore, even though Jing Hengbo’s hint about staying overnight made him uneasy and unwilling, he could only nod repeatedly, sheathing his sword and saying: “Yes, it’s already late and traveling is inconvenient. Distinguished guests, why not stay in the palace and make do for one night? Especially Your Majesty the Queen – this humble king still needs to discuss our future cooperation with you.”
“Good, good.” Jing Hengbo smiled and nodded, telling Yong Xue to go back and fetch change of clothes. Fetching clothes was false – she was eager to show off the things she bought at the auction to Gong Yin.
The King of Shang glanced at the queen again and said to his attendants: “Please escort the queen back to her chambers, and she need not come out again in the future.”
Once these words were spoken, the queen was struck as if by lightning – never being allowed to leave the palace again was equivalent to permanent house arrest. The King of Shang hadn’t even added the phrase “without imperial decree” to this sentence, clearly stating his position that even after this matter passed, he would not issue a decree lifting the restriction.
In other words, the queen was already essentially deposed, only allowed to keep her queen title until death to save face for her and the royal family.
Jing Hengbo’s lips curved up, expressing satisfaction. She naturally knew this was the King of Shang’s explanation to her.
At this point, the queen could no longer maintain her previous dignified composure or pretend to be unconscious. She desperately crawled over, trying to embrace the King of Shang’s legs. “Great King! Great King! You can’t treat me this way! For the sake of our many years as husband and wife, for the sake of this subject-consort’s many years of companionship…”
“It is precisely for the sake of these feelings that this king allows you to continue being queen.” The King of Shang flashed backward, saying coldly: “Could you continue fulfilling queen duties after doing such things? When you did these things, did you ever consider even a fraction of the marital feelings between this king and you?”
“Great King…” Tears covering her face smeared the queen’s makeup. Her pitifully outstretched fingers weakly clawed at the cold golden brick floor.
“Mother Queen, stop begging!” It was her youngest son who showed some fierce spirit, forcefully helping her up. “Come, your son will escort you back to the palace!”
Shang Yueyue lowered her head and came over, supporting the queen on the other side. The siblings helped their weeping mother away, with guards silently following. Jing Hengbo watched the three figures supporting each other disappear forlornly at the far end of the great hall and sighed softly.
This Queen of Shang was truly not a good person, but she was lucky to have a pair of decent children.
She hoped the queen would know to cherish them and not cause more trouble. It didn’t matter if she brought destruction on herself, but it would be bad to implicate this pair of children.
“Hahaha, the matter is over, let’s speak of it no more. How about reopening the banquet?” The King of Shang’s forced hearty laughter echoed somewhat hollowly in the now-quiet great hall. “Master, please! Your Majesty the Queen, please!”
The originally prepared palace banquet now had only a few people remaining. Many table settings were removed and new dishes served. Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin descended from the platform and took their seats at the King of Shang’s invitation.
Only now did Jing Hengbo realize this meal wouldn’t be easy to eat.
Yélu Qi and Ji Wen were still there, Pei Shu was also there – three major romantic rivals gathered together. Add to that the discord between Pei Shu and Gong Yin, if the hot-tempered Pei Shu lost control…
She looked at Yélu Qi, who smiled and said: “Today I watched a good show and my appetite is wide open. I was just thinking about Shang’s grand feast.”
She glanced at Pei Shu, who glared back. “What are you looking at me for? I had to deal with the princess and beat people up. At this hour, you still want me to go home hungry?”
Jing Hengbo looked resentfully at the sky. The person beside her didn’t need to be looked at – whoever left, he wouldn’t leave.
That person’s attitude was quite good though, saying: “That’s natural. Perfect to borrow flowers to offer Buddha, thanking everyone for their assistance and friendship toward her.”
Yélu Qi smiled slightly, ignoring him. Pei Shu found it unpleasant to hear and retorted sarcastically: “We protect her out of duty – it’s not your place to thank us. What are you to her?”
Gong Yin suddenly pulled Jing Hengbo’s hand and walked past him.
Using the most intimate body language and the most aloof attitude to answer someone’s provocation.
Jing Hengbo seemed to feel the fury of Violent Dragon Pei shooting at her back…
The King of Shang also seemed to sense the strange atmosphere between these people and arranged Pei Shu’s seat far across from her.
This meal truly made Jing Hengbo nervous. Yélu Qi kept raising his cup to toast her, and with every sip she drank, she could feel the temperature beside her drop one degree. Fortunately, Yélu Qi said nothing and Gong Yin remained silent. Only she was like a sandwich cookie, silently experiencing the taste of being squeezed into crumbs by pressure.
She was very worried Pei Shu would also join the commotion, but Pei Shu kept drinking alone, as if wanting to burn all his words away with alcohol. Only then did Jing Hengbo relax, and then she noticed her bowl was full of dishes – fish with bones removed, shrimp with shells peeled, crab that looked whole but when touched revealed the complete shell covered complete meat arranged neatly, still in crab shape.
Looking at the person beside her, he looked straight ahead, barely eating anything, still holding a crab and displaying his superb crab-shelling skills.
Across from them, Yélu Qi suddenly smiled: “Crab is cold in nature. Your spleen and stomach aren’t particularly strong, so you shouldn’t eat too much. If you really crave it, next time I’ll make ginger and scallion braised crab for you.”
Jing Hengbo instinctively smiled: “Yes, yes!” Thinking of Yélu Qi’s cuisine made her beam with joy, but she suddenly felt the person beside her pause in his movements and immediately knew something was wrong.
But the pause lasted only a moment before returning to normal. After a while, half a crab was handed over. Before Jing Hengbo could thank him, Gong Yin had already reached over and taken half of the untouched crab from the plate to his own plate, saying: “Together it’s still one crab – perfect for you and me to share.”
Jing Hengbo silently thought – did he have to display intimacy so smoothly and naturally?
Over there, Pei Shu raised his eyebrows and suddenly lifted his cup to her, saying loudly: “Your Majesty the Queen, let’s have a drink.”
This was said naturally, and she had no reason to refuse, so she smiled and raised her cup to her lips. Seeing she was about to drink, Pei Shu’s eyes flashed and he smiled: “Drinking this cup means accepting my feelings!”
At this very moment, Gong Yin suddenly leaned close to Jing Hengbo’s ear and said softly: “What do you think of the name Gong Jing?”
Jing Hengbo didn’t react at first, then understood he was continuing the earlier topic about “son’s name.” Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but burst out “Puff—”
Gong Jing? (Sounds like “cervix” in Chinese)
“Stop talking nonsense!” She supported herself on the table, laughing uncontrollably.
The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat strange. She paused, suddenly remembering that Pei Shu seemed to have said something just now. Unfortunately, at that moment Gong Yin was talking about this “Gong Jing” and she hadn’t heard clearly. Then after Pei Shu finished speaking, she spat out and said “nonsense”…
She stared blankly, then looked up to see Pei Shu’s face across from her – very dark.
Her intuition told her this was bad. She nudged Gong Yin. “Hey, what was Pei Shu saying just now?”
“Just what you said,” Gong Yin unhurriedly poured wine for her. “Nonsense.”
Jing Hengbo held her forehead – God, please let her finish this meal quickly. Never again should this group of people dine together!
She wanted to finish quickly, but someone didn’t. Pei Shu was obviously the type who became braver with setbacks. After his face darkened for a while, he simply stood up and strode directly toward her.
Jing Hengbo hurriedly said: “Aha I’m finished eating thank you Great King for the hospitality now I want to go sleep…” Before she could finish, Gong Yin pulled her down. “If you haven’t eaten enough, don’t say you’re finished. Sit down.”
Pei Shu pressed down on her other shoulder. “Being with such a person, of course you can’t eat well. Don’t eat anymore – I’ll take you for good food later.”
Jing Hengbo wished she could teleport to the moon, but she couldn’t. If these two dry kindling and raging fire – no, heaven’s thunder and earth’s fire – really clashed, what would she do?
She could only stand between the two men, forcing a dry laugh: “Good, good, good, haven’t eaten enough, good, good, good, we’ll eat again later…”
Pei Shu suddenly went around her, leaning toward Gong Yin behind her: “Hey, always pretending to be mysterious, hiding your head and showing your tail, afraid to show your face – do you think monopolizing her like this is good for her?”
Gong Yin held his cup in one hand and pulled Jing Hengbo with the other, not looking at him, saying indifferently: “Speaking of monopolizing, Young Marshal seems more suitable for that word.”
“I’m just bravely pursuing someone I like.” Pei Shu sneered coldly. Under the brilliant lights of the great hall, his handsome face gleamed faintly. “Compared to some men with ambiguous attitudes, hot and cold, secretive even toward women, with unfathomable thoughts – at least I dare to act and take responsibility!”
“Pestering a woman whose heart belongs elsewhere – better not to act at all!”
“Hey, hey, you two don’t…” Jing Hengbo felt the gunpowder smell getting stronger and spread her arms to block between them. “Don’t fight, don’t fight, talk nicely if you have something to say…”
“You step aside.” Both men spoke simultaneously, simultaneously pushing her aside.
Jing Hengbo resentfully twisted her handkerchief – how could she stop two romantic rivals from arguing? Helping either one would make the fight more intense. This was truly an unsolvable problem.
She was now deeply grateful that fortunately Yélu Qi hadn’t joined in, or the situation would be too awkward.
The King of Shang above curiously craned his neck. He also sensed something was wrong here. Although both Pei Shu and Gong Yin kept their voices low, the atmosphere was obviously tense.
Yélu Qi suddenly took his cup and walked toward the upper seat, seemingly to toast the King of Shang, blocking the King of Shang’s view. Jing Hengbo breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Yélu was truly the most tactful good man…
Before this thought finished, Yélu Qi walked past her side with his cup and softly dropped a line in her ear:
“Look at those two – they bring you nothing but trouble. Even now, don’t you know who to choose?”
Jing Hengbo made an “uh” sound, staring dumbfounded at his graceful departing figure.
This person’s “silent smile killing invisible stealth execution sword” was also very powerful!
She held her forehead and retreated to one side. Over here, those two’s “verbal swords and tongue weapons, ambush from all sides, demons dancing wildly, eight-kill combo” was still in progress.
Pei Shu was no longer angry or irritated now. Holding his wine cup, he raised his eyebrows and smiled: “Do you understand what pestering means? Making someone fall into an emotional trap, then betraying her, kicking her away, then when you think of her you can’t bear it and come back with various attitudes – that’s called pestering, understand?” He said it all in one breath, then drank. “Let me tell you, whether a man is fierce, domineering, or shameless, none are as detestable as a hypocrite. If you love her, you must protect her well, protect her for a lifetime, cherish her. Never abandon her, give up on her, or leave her, no matter when – only then do you live up to your lifelong promise to her and to her as a person. If you can’t do this, everything else you say is bullshit!”
Jing Hengbo felt her heart contracting as she listened, thinking that Young Marshal’s violent temper could actually hit the nail on the head when cursing people. Honestly, these words somewhat hit her own thoughts too. The explanation Gong Yin had given about that past incident couldn’t completely put her mind at ease. She herself was unwilling to care anymore, unwilling to soak her life in hatred and resentment and make things difficult for herself, so she let it go. But if possible, she hoped to hear more convincing reasons.
Gong Yin also fell quiet. He lowered his head slightly, and from Jing Hengbo’s angle she couldn’t see his face, only his long eyelashes hanging down, concealing the expression in his eyes.
Then he said indifferently: “This is between her and me. Outsiders should not interfere.”
“Since I said I’d protect her, her affairs are my affairs!” Pei Shu took another fierce gulp of wine, grabbed the wine pot to pour another cup, and said fiercely: “Even if you occupy her and monopolize her, you can’t control people who like her caring about her! If her parents and brothers were here, could you also tell them this is between you and her, that outsiders have no right to interfere?” He turned to Jing Hengbo. “I won’t play ambiguous games with you. Taking a step back, even if I’m just your friend, your family, someone who cares about you – do I have the right to mind your business? You tell me!”
Jing Hengbo was forced back a step by his burning gaze, her heart full of emotions she didn’t know were gratitude or helplessness. Such questioning truly forced one into a dead end, yet she couldn’t refuse even a bit. To refuse would wrong her conscience and Pei Shu’s sincere heart.
She could only steel herself and say: “You do. Thank you, it’s just that I don’t…”
“That’s right.” Pei Shu immediately interrupted her words, turning to stare at the silent Gong Yin again. “If you acted perfectly, whatever others said would be stirring up trouble and finding fault. But if you didn’t do well from the start, don’t blame others for confronting you with questions! My pursuit of love isn’t desperate clinging. A real man need not worry about having no wife. Even if she has no fate with me for life, I have nothing to complain about. But even if we part ways, until old age and death, if she’s not doing well, I want to care for her, and I will!”
“Even if you could care, you should first care about yourself.” Gong Yin’s voice was cold. “She’s unwilling and reluctant now, embarrassed and helpless – why don’t you care about that?”
“Unwilling and reluctant, embarrassed and helpless is still better than being injured and expelled on a snowy night, exiled to the ends of the earth, heart-wounded unto death!”
“Crack.” The wine cup in Gong Yin’s hand suddenly shattered.
Jing Hengbo drew a breath, feeling a pain in her heart as if slashed by a knife, then drowned in the spilled wine.
“Don’t test my patience.” Gong Yin raised his eyes, his black pupils like an abyss that would draw people in. “You keep saying you protect her and are for her sake, yet recklessly tear open old wounds without regard for consequences – have you truly considered what’s best for her?”
“The pain of tearing open wounds can’t match the pain of creating those wounds!” Pei Shu didn’t retreat at all. “You’re just relying on her having you in her heart!”
“All the various things between her and me – I will give her answers, but I need not explain to you.”
“Your answers? I’m a man – I know what men call unavoidable circumstances are just disguises for personal desires. Once there’s a first time, there will be a second. Looking at a person, look at their actions – ruthless, cold, harsh, decisive. How can I feel at ease with someone like you!”
“Arrogant, domineering, cruel, cold-blooded. What qualifies someone like you to speak to me of love and protection?”
“Because from when I met her until now, I haven’t dared to betray her in a single matter!”
“Is that so?” Gong Yin rotated his wine cup, his gaze suddenly adding a hint of faint amusement. “Don’t boast when faced with trouble. Look – someone who can make you betray her has arrived.”
“What arrived or not…” Pei Shu had just cursed out half a sentence when he suddenly sensed something and whirled around.
At the entrance to the hall, a figure stood at some unknown time.
Her hair was loosely gathered into a bun, her makeup lightly applied, her skirt hem trailing and her sash fluttering in the wind.
The palace hall was brilliantly lit like daytime, yet she stood in the half-light and shadow of the threshold, revealing half a face with exquisite features and red lips like a rose blooming late, glistening temptingly in the snow.
Jing Hengbo blinked and rubbed her eyes – who was this? She looked familiar.
The King of Shang was somewhat surprised. Gong Yin turned to explain to him: “A new guest brought by this old man’s carriage.”
Gong Yin’s carriage, bearing a gold-level invitation, could freely enter and exit the royal palace as long as not too many people accompanied it.
“In that case, also a distinguished guest. Please come in, please come in.” The King of Shang hurriedly welcomed her.
Before he could finish his welcome, the woman at the entrance had already stepped over the threshold.
Her every gesture carried three parts elegance and three parts nobility. Her skirt didn’t move, yet she flowed like clouds and water into the hall. Jing Hengbo felt her gait was indescribably beautiful. Looking carefully in the light, she exclaimed: “Po Tian!”
At this shout, Pei Shu, who originally hadn’t wanted to look at outsiders and was single-mindedly glaring at Gong Yin looking for a fight, also froze and couldn’t help turning back for a careful look.
This one look stunned him again.
Under the lights, Meng Po Tian was tilting her head slightly, smiling at him. Her smile still had that innocent girl’s lively and graceful manner, but added three parts elegant temperament and three parts intentional or unintentional seductive charm, reminiscent of night-blooming jasmine quietly blossoming on walls at midnight.
A girl’s sweet innocence and a woman’s mature allure bloomed in one person at this moment, and that person had a different meaning to him compared to others – she was the woman he had the deepest contact with in his life, aside from Jing Hengbo.
Pei Shu’s gaze deepened slightly, truly stunned for quite a while.
For a moment, he felt like he was seeing a perfect woman from his imagination. This woman wasn’t Jing Hengbo’s image, nor did he think Jing Hengbo was the most perfect woman. This was what he had fantasized about in his youth – the appearance of his ideal woman.
When people are in the bloom of youth, before having a lover, they always fantasize about their other half. This has nothing to do with who they ultimately choose to love – it’s just a vague imagination in the heart that is eventually forgotten.
Then one day, that type he liked suddenly became real, standing prettily before him – and she was a girl he knew was deeply infatuated with him.
His eyes were momentarily confused.
He kept looking at Meng Po Tian until she walked across from him, naturally and gracefully sitting down, generously pouring herself a cup of wine and toasting him with a smile: “Young Marshal, long time no see.” Only then did he wake up.
Once awakened, his eyes regained clarity. His gaze contracted, suddenly showing a trace of killing intent.
Turning his head, he stared at Gong Yin. Pei Shu leaned forward, pressing both hands on the table and lowering his voice to ask: “Your handiwork?”
Gong Yin raised his cup to him. “You have the right to interfere in the affairs of someone you like, so naturally, someone who likes you has the right to interfere in your affairs.”
Pei Shu stared at him for a long while, then suddenly laughed quietly.
“Calculating exhaustively, wasting effort.” He pointed at Gong Yin contemptuously, emphasizing his words: “Wasting effort!”
Gong Yin smiled without speaking.
Jing Hengbo breathed a sigh of relief. With Meng Po Tian here, Pei Shu couldn’t continue arguing. Many matters involved secrets unsuitable for Meng Po Tian to hear. She hurriedly went over to chat with Meng Po Tian, asking how she had changed so much. Meng Po Tian only said she had expert guidance. Jing Hengbo was envious and quickly asked who the expert was and whether she could arrange an introduction.
Before Meng Po Tian could answer, Gong Yin suddenly came over. Without greeting, he took Jing Hengbo’s hand and led her away. Just as Jing Hengbo was about to protest, he said indifferently: “You don’t need any expert guidance or training.”
“Why?”
Someone didn’t answer.
Jing Hengbo turned to leave. “Not even giving me one sweet word – what grudge, what resentment!”
Her hand was pulled again. She turned back to see someone formally telling the King of Shang he was tired and wanted to retire, while softly saying: “If you want to hear them, I’ll tell you everything later.”
He spoke quietly with nasal tones, making Jing Hengbo immediately go weak.
She weakly bid farewell, weakly accepted the King of Shang’s lodging arrangements, weakly agreed to discuss compensation tomorrow, weakly abandoned Pei Shu and Yélu Qi, and followed Gong Yin floating away like a ghost.
The King of Shang also arranged lodging in the outer court for Yélu Qi, Pei Shu and others. While graciously seeing off guests, he gave a meaningful look to the guard commander below.
Standing on the steps, watching the figures disappear into the distance, his gaze focused particularly on Pei Shu. Beside him, several shadows of varying heights suddenly appeared.
“BIUBIUBIU,” the King of Shang said. “Look, does Young Marshal Pei’s back look somewhat like that palace intruder from that day?”
A hook-nosed elder looked carefully for a long while, then pondered: “That day was chaotic and we didn’t see clearly. Looking now, there is some resemblance, but would anyone be so bold? Just after failing to break into the palace and steal keys, would he dare appear accompanying royal family members?”
“Others wouldn’t dare, but Young Marshal Pei who even dared hit Di Ge would definitely dare.” The King of Shang happily let out several BIUBIUBIU sounds, releasing all the frustration he’d held in all day, then sneered: “Tonight there will likely be more incidents. Please, everyone be alert.”
“Great King, rest assured!”
…
Lights were still on in the queen’s chambers, deathly quiet, with all palace servants hiding in their quarters, huddled and not daring to speak.
They had heard something happened at the front, but didn’t know what – only that many guards came and took away most of the palace servants, then sealed the doors and added guards. This series of actions terrified the palace servants who had weathered many palace storms – this was clearly sealing the palace! Something had happened to Her Majesty the Queen!
The queen was now lying in the main chamber, silent and motionless, staring straight at the ceiling.
Her youngest son Shang Yao sat beside her, back turned, face ashen. The youth had protected his mother at the crucial moment, but that didn’t mean he approved of her actions. Now clenching his fists, chest full of resentment, yet unable to vent even a word at his nearly collapsed mother.
However mad and unscrupulous, she was still his mother, and it was for his sake.
The phrase “for your own good” could stifle countless children’s resistance, writing the helplessness of being someone’s child.
Shang Yueyue sat beside the bed, holding a bowl of bird’s nest soup, softly coaxing the queen: “Mother Queen, Mother Queen, please eat something…”
A princess who had lived long in the deep palace with a weak personality could only stay loyally by her mother’s side at this time.
The queen seemed not to hear, staring blankly while her pupils moved intensely, as if still thinking about something. Seeing this expression frightened Shang Yueyue – Mother Queen always looked like this before making major decisions.
She brought the bird’s nest soup close to the queen’s lips again. “Mother Queen, please eat some…”
The queen suddenly raised her head, swatting away the bird’s nest soup. The bowl fell to the ground, fragments and soup splattering everywhere. Shang Yueyue was startled and quickly stepped back, shaking her soiled skirt. Unexpectedly, the queen suddenly sat up and slid down, kneeling at her feet.
Shang Yueyue was so shocked her pupils dilated. Shang Yao whirled around and stood up.
“Mother Queen!” Both rushed forward to pull up the queen.
Their calls and tugging couldn’t make the queen rise. Like a boulder, she knelt firmly on the ground, in the mess of bird’s nest soup, pushing away Shang Yao with one hand. “Go away! You’re not allowed to speak about anything today, or Mother Queen will die right in front of you!”
Shang Yao was shocked, trembling lips retreating.
“Yueyue!” The queen grabbed Shang Yueyue’s skirt, looking up at her. “Yueyue! Mother Queen has failed! You’ve failed too! Your brother has failed too! We’re going to be cast into hell! Most importantly, your brother will be ruined! It can’t be like this! It can’t be like this!”
“Mother Queen!” Shang Yueyue couldn’t pull her up, so she knelt down with a thud, embracing her shoulders and saying mournfully: “If we’ve failed, then we’ve failed! We can live quietly from now on. When Father King’s anger passes, he’ll think of you again. Father King dotes on Yao so much, he won’t completely deny him opportunities. Don’t despair, please don’t despair yet…”
“No, no, I know there’s no hope. Shang Lue won’t let us go…” The queen gripped Shang Yueyue’s arms tightly, sharp nails digging deep into her flesh. The girl winced in pain but dared not cry out.
“Then what do you want to do? What do you want to do?” Shang Yueyue finally couldn’t bear it and broke down crying. “Stop being unwilling! Stop being unwilling! If anything else happens, we truly won’t be able to bear it…”
“No, there’s still hope, still hope!” The queen grabbed Shang Yueyue. “Yueyue, go find Pei Shu, go find Pei Shu.”
Shang Yueyue was stunned.
Shang Yao couldn’t help saying: “Mother Queen, have you lost your mind? Didn’t you see Pei Shu’s attitude just now?”
“I said you’re not allowed to interrupt! Get out!” The queen’s eyes widened. Shang Yao had always been somewhat afraid of his mother and had to step back.
Seeing her brother driven away, Shang Yueyue felt even more uneasy.
“Yueyue…” The queen whispered in her ear: “Go find Pei Shu, become… his woman.”
“Mother Queen!”
The girl’s cry nearly broke, her face turning deathly pale, hardly believing her ears.
Her eyes quickly misted over. Unable to support the queen anymore, she covered her mouth with her hand, her voice already becoming a sob before emerging.
She was fifteen this year, old enough for marriage, and had been enlightened by old palace women about certain things. She knew what these words meant. But precisely because she understood, she couldn’t accept it.
She was the eldest daughter of the King and Queen of Shang, the most noble princess!
Yet Mother Queen wanted her to do what even the lowliest women wouldn’t do!
The queen lowered her eyes, avoiding her gaze. She too felt somewhat ashamed, but some obsessions couldn’t be erased and abandoned by a little guilt and self-reproach.
“Listen to me, Yueyue. Now all three of us mother and children are in desperate straits. What awaits us is a dead end. Even for your own life, you must try once more… Although Pei Shu doesn’t like us, Mother Queen can see he’s a man who dares to act and take responsibility. If he’s truly with you, he’ll definitely be responsible for you… With his military power and ability, he can at least ensure we don’t die. Maybe we’ll even have a chance to counterattack Shang Lue and help your brother seize the throne. Then you’ll be the most noble eldest princess, you’ll also have Pei Shu, and Mother Queen promises you that from now on, she’ll spend her whole life loving you well and compensating you…”
Shang Yueyue closed her eyes, silent and motionless, tears falling like rain.
“Yueyue! Yueyue! Yueyue!” Seeing she still wouldn’t answer, the queen’s body suddenly went limp and she kowtowed repeatedly. “Please, Mother Queen begs you! Mother Queen begs you! Yueyue!”
She deliberately hit her head on the fragments of the bird’s nest bowl. When she raised her head again, blood was already flowing. She moaned in pain: “Yueyue… please!” While smashing her forehead hard against the porcelain shards.
If not successful, then die – if she couldn’t move her daughter, she could only die here.
A hand suddenly reached over, cushioning under her forehead. The porcelain cut the fingers, and the blood from her fingers mixed with the blood from her forehead.
The queen looked up joyfully. “Yueyue, you agree!”
The girl still had her eyes closed, tears flowing, silently sliding from her cheeks into her collar. She sobbed, barely perceptibly nodding slightly.
“Yueyue, thank you!” The queen immediately straightened up. Blood flowed down from her forehead, yet she couldn’t help but smile, making her face look half angel, half demon – ghostly and terrifying.
She took out a small bottle from the hidden drawer beside the bed and tucked it into Shang Yueyue’s belt. “Keep this. When the time comes, sprinkle a little…”
Shang Yueyue bit her lower lip and turned her head away.
“That…” The queen seemed to find it hard to speak. After a long while she gritted her teeth and said: “That Purple Micro Master… if it’s convenient for you, you could also… get close to him… Such an elevated person, though he might not be willing to take responsibility like Pei Shu… but perhaps he might… look after us somewhat…”
Shang Yueyue’s eyes flew open.
The fury in her eyes made the queen shrink back, stammering and lowering her gaze.
Shang Yueyue said nothing more. She stood up, turned around, and drifted out like a ghost. Only when she reached the entrance did she say quietly: “Am I your daughter, or a prostitute?”
The queen hung her head, covering her face, her body trembling violently. After a long while she said in a trembling voice: “…I have no choice either. It’s all for your brother…”
“Yes.” Shang Yueyue’s voice was hollow. “I think, in the next life, I never want to be a woman again, never want to be your daughter again.”
She drifted away lightly.
After a long while, violent weeping erupted from the chamber.
…
The King of Shang arranged a separate palace chamber in the outer court for Gong Yin. Originally, according to protocol, female distinguished guests should be arranged in the inner palace, but Jing Hengbo immediately refused. Joking aside, she didn’t want to live in the same area as the Queen of Shang. What if the queen got angrier thinking about it in the middle of the night and came after her with a big knife? She wasn’t afraid of the queen trying to kill her, but it would be bad if it interfered with her romantic time with Gong Yin.
She insisted on staying next to Gong Yin – convenient for climbing over walls at night.
She had Yong Xue go back once to fetch her auction treasures and a certain mysterious gift. She would properly show off her treasures to Gong Yin later, like that Fire Heart Armor – very thin, silver-white and transparent, in other words, with see-through effects! If Gong Yin wore it and lay down for her to see… She remembered that time in Di Ge when she snuck into the bedchamber at night and saw Gong Yin in transparent sleepwear…
Jing Hengbo raised her sleeve and wiped the drool that was about to flow out.
To climb the most stunning wall, she went to rummage through her dress trunk, wanting to find a beautiful, convenient, yet not too eye-catching little dress to have a nighttime date with Gong Yin.
She rummaged in the trunk for quite a while and was originally disappointed. Sixteen dresses, all long and conservative styles. Pretty was pretty, but except for hands, no skin was exposed. She seriously suspected these clothes were designed by Gong Yin!
Her hand suddenly felt something smooth and soft at the bottom – not like a dress, but definitely clothing. Interested, she pulled hard, and the thing slid into her hand with a whoosh. She unfolded it and said “Yo ho!”
This was clearly a sexy embroidered nightgown!
Low neckline, short sleeves, fitted waist, flowing short skirt, rose-red silk like the softest petals.
She remembered having a nightgown left at Jade Palace that looked vaguely like this style.
“Yo, is someone giving me hints?” She examined the garment front and back, murmuring with a smile. She held it up to the mirror and proudly puffed out her chest.
At this moment, far away in Di Ge, Commander Yu Chun was looking at the stars and moon in the sky, also smiling and stroking his chin.
“Master, you had one crossed-out page in those blueprints, but I went ahead and made it anyway. Hehe, if you can see that garment, then congratulations – the Queen plans to seduce you!”
Jing Hengbo compared for a long while, then suddenly threw down the dress and jumped aside, rummaging in her big trunk for a while before pulling out something red.
The thing was small when bunched up in her hand, but not small when unfolded – red, square-cut, a simple square piece with no technical content, looking like men’s underwear. The only highlight was what seemed to be embroidery in the crotch area, depicting something with a rather strange shape, somewhat like a sea cucumber.
Jing Hengbo held up the underwear and compared it with her nightgown, saying rapturously: “My handiwork is just this exquisite, and the color choice is perfect, matching this nightgown perfectly. Hehe, when that guy sees these underwear, will he be so excited he faints?”
She put away the underwear, muttering: “Finally finished. Got to try the size, right?” She quickly changed into the silk nightgown. The cold silk made her shiver, so she found a cloak to put on and tucked the underwear in her chest.
“Whoosh.”
The next moment she appeared in Gong Yin’s room.
The next moment she stared wide-eyed, nearly stumbling and falling.