Tie Ci coughed, her gaze wandering everywhere.
A’dan was already listening in a daze.
Looking at Tie Ci’s guilty expression, then at the beautiful and gloomy Murong Yi.
Suddenly she burst into loud laughter.
She laughed with her hair disheveled, like a madwoman.
Tie Ci and Murong Yi said nothing, calmly watching her.
This woman acted strangely, but ultimately there were patterns to follow. Behind every woman who takes desperate risks to turn her life around, weren’t there several heart-wrenching past events?
Even the fake chieftain, that Second Madam, seemed to think of something and gave a low laugh.
A’dan stopped after a good while, wiped away the tears from laughing, and said, “I was foolish.”
After a pause, she said, “But I’m very happy.”
She raised her hand and released a cluster of bright yellow fireworks, saying, “This is the signal I agreed upon with the You father and son. It means you’ve been captured by me. But the other party is suspicious—whether they’ll believe it, whether they’ll come personally to verify, I can’t be certain.”
Tie Ci said, “That’s not your concern. In any case, you cooperated. I won’t touch your life or your lover’s. If you cooperate well, Nanyan will still be yours.”
“You don’t care about restoring order?”
“What is disorder? What is order? The three major Pacification Offices of Yannan have always been self-governing. If a chieftain can’t even protect his own position, then he should honestly stay aside.”
“Unfortunately, while you’re so straightforward, I can’t be as generous. The old Yannan Prince’s three thousand private troops have another garrison. We only managed them on his behalf, periodically sending grain, clothing, and weapons according to agreement. These supplies were originally secretly escorted by the prince’s mansion’s special personnel. After the old prince died, this continued for a while, then suddenly stopped. Our Nanyan didn’t have extra strength to support these people either. After helping them several times, they said they wanted to change camps and be self-sufficient. Since then, there’s been little contact. However, recently I encountered them training on the cliffs near Bright Moon Sea. The equipment they used was extraordinary. I suspect they’ve already been recruited by some force—most likely the You father and son.”
This was within Tie Ci’s expectations. It seemed her previous visit to the prince’s mansion had already been detected by the You father and son, who simply went along with it by letting her take the military talisman, setting a trap in advance to let her fall into their net.
Indeed, though it was the old prince’s secret contingency plan, in the old prince’s later years, Commandant You already controlled the entire prince’s mansion. As long as he had suspicions, what information couldn’t he extract? In the years after the old prince’s death, this private army had probably long been in the You father and son’s pocket.
How laughable that You Weixing still regarded it as a last lifeline, hiding and concealing it, unwilling to take it out.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the You father and son deliberately let You Weixing keep the military talisman—first to use it as bait, and second to string You Weixing along, making her think hope wasn’t lost so she would obediently submit to manipulation.
Honestly, in terms of deep scheming and meticulous planning, the You siblings truly weren’t worthy of carrying the You father and son’s shoes.
But since she had come, she couldn’t come for nothing.
“I’m no longer interested in that private army. I’m interested in another army.” Tie Ci smiled at A’dan. “Since you’ve become the behind-the-scenes chieftain of Nanyan, are you interested in becoming the chief chieftain of the three major Pacification Offices?”
…
After the fireworks were released, it would still take time for a response. Tie Ci and Murong Yi both lay on the roof of the circular house, looking at the stars and moon above that seemed close enough to pluck by hand.
The dense forest was like a sea, moonlight rippling on the sea surface, spreading boundlessly to the more distant real sea surface, then being trampled by countless bare feet until reaching the thousand-ren high cliffs standing by the sea.
Tie Ci pillowed her head on her hands, listening to Murong Yi’s quiet, clear breathing beside her, feeling peaceful.
She heard the person beside her suddenly say lazily, “Hand it over.”
“Hm?” Tie Ci truly didn’t understand—this was so out of nowhere.
Murong Yi leaned over, stretching his arm around her waist. Rich, elegant fragrance overwhelmed her. Tie Ci’s body went a bit soft as she stared at the crescent moon overhead, thinking right here on this rooftop?
The people below didn’t know what drug A’dan had given them—they slept very deeply. Otherwise…
Something moved lightly at her waist. Murong Yi had already taken something away. Turning to see her expression was strange, he was slightly stunned, then realized and laughed in surprise, “I never thought your lustful heart was actually stronger than mine.”
Tie Ci rolled over and simply hugged his waist, grinning as she said, “If that’s so, then submit to me!”
Previously, she had always felt it was better to maintain some distance with Murong Yi. With changing circumstances and worldly affairs like chess, leaving some room for herself and Murong Yi might allow for more maneuvering in the future. But after the love butterfly incident, she suddenly understood.
With changing circumstances and worldly affairs like chess, who knew when this chessboard might be scattered by wind? Why leave herself with regrets?
Just as her master always said, you never know which comes first—tomorrow or an accident. She chose to live today well.
But Murong Yi didn’t have her mindset transformed by life-and-death situations. He still thought she was joking. He reached out to hold her back and sneered, “Giving gifts to others, then seeking pleasure from me?”
Tie Ci looked down and saw it was the fan case from her pouch that Murong Yi had extracted.
The fan case was something she bought while shopping in Kun Prefecture, intending to give to Rong Pu as thanks for his tireless efforts for Leap Carp Academy regardless of reputation. She could naturally bestow pearls, jade, and treasures in her capacity as Crown Princess, but for someone like Rong Pu, imperial rewards would only alienate him. Bringing back a local gift from her travels would please this capable minister.
Being Crown Princess wasn’t easy. Many things couldn’t be too light or too heavy. Tie Ci had sighed plenty while selecting gifts.
She chose a fan case—a daily item that didn’t involve private feelings or intimacy, a gift that could be given openly even in public.
This fan case was embroidered with Kun Prefecture’s three towers, one pond, and eight scenic spots. The embroidery was good, the layout proper, and it could be considered unique. Tie Ci had chosen for a long time, but now this thoughtfulness had apparently become an accusation. Murong Yi held it between his fingers with a smile at his lips, his eyes gazing at her affectionately, but his smile was full of murderous intent.
Tie Ci smiled apologetically, “How do you know this isn’t for you?”
“My fan can’t use this kind of brocade fan case. The size is also wrong.” Murong Yi patted the iron fan at his waist. “Besides, with a fan case, how would it be convenient to kill those persistent little bastards?”
“You’re right, so I carefully prepared a gift that only you deserve.” Tie Ci fumbled around in her bosom but couldn’t find anything for the moment. When shopping in Kun Prefecture, it wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of buying something for Murong Yi, but ordinary items weren’t worth buying, and she didn’t like intimate items made by others, so she had put it aside.
Murong Yi watched her act with a smile, neither exposing nor helping her.
This woman had three palaces and six courtyards, attracted both men and women. He couldn’t always follow her around. If he didn’t watch closely, be particular, and intimidating, heaven knew when someone would find a gap to exploit.
Tie Ci finally found something in her hand. Holding it, she turned and pounced on Murong Yi. Just as Murong Yi was about to be particular, his mouth was already blocked by a pair of soft lips.
Just as he was about to hypocritically scold her for impropriety, sweetness had already surged between his lips—a faint hint of sourness, just like the taste of love, quite worth savoring. A small piece of candy transferred between their lips and teeth. Both tasted each other’s sweetness and softness. The sugar dissolved between lips and tongues, sweet but filling their hearts. At some point, the wooden roof creaked, moonlight scattered on their intertwined clothing.
Who knew when the candy dissolved, but their lips were reluctant to part, like children tasting sugar for the first time, insisting on sucking each other dry until sweetness reached their very cores before reluctantly letting go with satisfied expressions. Tie Ci’s lips were messy from the sugar syrup. Murong Yi gazed at her breathlessly for a long moment, then leaned in again, his tongue tip slowly tracing her lips. Tie Ci had naturally smiling lips with full, perfect curves. Below her lower lip was a slight depression forming a round dimple, making her vermillion lips more radiant outside and white teeth fresher inside. Murong Yi traced with his tongue tip repeatedly, feeling this was the most beautiful taste and shape in the world.
Until Tie Ci laughed and gently pushed him away, saying, “Like a greedy little cat.”
Murong Yi let her push him down naturally, stretched lazily, “Aren’t I just a greedy cat?”
Tie Ci smiled, looked at the approaching dawn, raised her eyebrows, and straightened her clothes. When she moved deliberately, her deeply hidden arrogant and noble aura couldn’t be concealed, yet it didn’t seem glaring—only graceful and charming. Murong Yi lay on his side watching her, thinking of what this noble person had done for him. He felt he could never see enough, could never treasure her too much. Thinking of how they had almost lost control several times just now but he held back for fear of her anger, he couldn’t help but greatly admire his own self-control. He wondered if A’ci was also moved by this? There must be some—look at her now, with flowing glances and an enigmatic smile. She would surely find a place later to shed the tears she had barely held back.
But then he saw Tie Ci finish straightening her clothes, turn to look at him, and pat his abs with apparent regret, saying, “We’ve known each other for quite a while. I always thought you had tremendous courage, but today I learned you’re actually so modest and cautious. A good man won’t mount his horse, a greedy cat won’t eat fish. Admirable, admirable.” She stood up as she spoke.
Murong Yi was stunned, looking up at Tie Ci. In the morning light, the Crown Princess, facing the sunlight, very openly and lewdly made a gesture to Murong Yi.
Murong Yi could hardly believe his eyes. Just as he was about to rub his eyes and look again, Tie Ci had already turned to prepare to get down from the roof.
Murong Yi sat up, his mind instantly reviewing last night—she said he should submit to her, she said the gift only he deserved, she pretended to look for a gift, she actively pounced on him, his earlier sarcasm… Suddenly understanding, his intestines turned green with regret.
The great gift had long been prepared, but he had only focused on being jealous!
With a thud, Tie Ci jumped down from the roof, but her clothes were grabbed by Murong Yi.
Tie Ci turned back. On the roof, Murong Yi’s wails shook heaven and earth: “A’ci! I was wrong! A’ci! Don’t leave yet! A’ci, can we do it over again right now!”