VBNWDW - Chapter 117

Chapter 117

"Since the previous dynasty, the Luo family has made it known that their daughters only marry emperors and can only become empresses. What can you, a woman, do!"

Summer nights were always sweltering. The heat of the day had not faded, lingering in the treetops and under the eaves, making even breathing feel stuffy, to say nothing of the annoying chirping of insects.

Perhaps because of this, the lit candle flame flickered and swayed as if in protest, causing the shadows on the floor to shatter and break.

But the person leaning against the luohan couch paid it no mind, staring blankly at the cracked green floor tiles.

A breeze blew in through the open wooden lattice window, lifting the long hair she had let fall loosely over her shoulders. Her white inner robe was slack, revealing a glimpse of turquoise satin, making her appear dejected and melancholic.

The words from the afternoon echoed in her mind again, more irritating than the insects outside, impossible to shake off, forcing her to recall them over and over.

There were currently three great noble houses in the Liang Dynasty: the Luo, Wu, and Zhao families, in that order. The Zhao family was the newest and weakest, having always been based in Qingzhou. Zhong Jueyu's biological mother, the late empress, had come from the Zhao family.

The Luo family held the highest status. In the previous dynasty alone, they had produced six empresses. There was once a prince who, seeking the Luo family's support, had repeatedly come to their door asking to marry a Luo daughter, only to be dismissed with a single sentence by the Luo family patriarch of the time.

That was the very sentence Zhong Jueren had brought up today: the legitimate daughters of the Luo family only marry emperors and can only become empresses.

In truth, this was just a foolish remark made in anger by the Luo patriarch back then, after being pushed to his limit by the shameless prince. But it was spread by those with ulterior motives, and those who didn't know the full story heard it, connected it to the fact that several generations of empresses had come from the Luo family, and took it as truth. Over time, it became a so-called fact.

However, when the previous dynasty later fractured and Great Liang and the Chu state divided the realm, the Luo family began to look down on the Liang imperial family, who were of peasant origin. Even the position of empress was disdained. Consequently, no empress since had come from the Luo family, and the rumor gradually faded.

If Zhong Jueren hadn't suddenly mentioned it today, Zhong Jueyu would have almost forgotten about it.

She couldn't help but recall the Luo family's descendants. They had daughters from concubines, but there hadn't been a single girl born into the direct bloodline for three generations. This had led to a situation where even if the Great Liang imperial family wanted to marry a Luo, they couldn't.

No wonder the entire Luo family had been thrown into a panic when the imperial edict was issued. They had even risked angering the emperor by coming up with a plan to have Luo Yueqing go up the mountain to avoid the marriage.

A legitimate daughter of the Luo family, the first in three generations, was far more precious than she, the Grand Princess. It was no wonder Zhong Jueren placed such importance on her.

As her thoughts reached this point, Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but make a comparison. If the Luo family looked down on even the Crown Prince, then who could they possibly approve of?

The only family comparable to the Luos was the Wu family, but the eldest legitimate son of this generation was ten years older than Luo Yueqing and had long since married and had children.

The more Zhong Jueyu thought, the more agitated she became, her expression turning grim.

The person in the next room, showing no intention of giving her space, even deliberately knocked on the brick wall, wanting a response from the other side.

But Zhong Jueyu merely glanced in that direction without a word.

She was exceptionally vexed today and didn't know how to face Luo Yueqing for the moment, so she wanted to avoid her. Just as she was about to blow out the candle and pretend to be asleep, a knock came from the door.

The knocking wasn't as crisp and decisive as usual. The pauses were long, tentative, and careful. Perhaps having learned a lesson from the day's events, the person didn't even dare to push the door open, simply knocking and then waiting obediently outside.

Zhong Jueyu looked up at the wooden door. The silhouette on it was slender and delicate. Without even opening it, she could picture the young woman standing there timidly, her bright, dark eyes like those of a fawn, filled with both guilt and pity.

She frowned slightly, then couldn't help but sigh. In the end, she walked over and opened the door.

The creak of the wooden hinges was particularly jarring in the silent night, startling the person outside, who immediately looked up and called out joyfully, "Jinyan!"

Zhong Jueyu's response was instinctive: "Why are you wearing so little!"

It wasn't actually that little. After all, it was already summer, and those who couldn't stand the heat wished they could strip off all their clothes to cool down. Luo Yueqing was wearing a dark blue Daoist robe over her inner clothes.

But Zhong Jueyu was always worried about her health and still felt it wasn't enough.

The moment the words left her mouth, however, Zhong Jueyu regretted them. She was still fuming; why should she be worried about this person?

Her face hardened, and her voice became stiff. "Imperial Sister-in-law is not sleeping so late at night. What are you doing here at my place?" she said flatly.

Unlike Zhong Jueren, who always liked to put on airs and repeatedly emphasize his status, Zhong Jueyu usually referred to herself with simple pronouns like "I." Now that she was angry, even terms like the royal "I" and "Imperial Sister-in-law" were coming out.

"Jinyan…" Luo Yueqing was at a loss. She could only lift the items in her hand and explain, "I didn't do it on purpose. I just bought some things and wanted to find you."

The little Daoist pulled out her prepared excuse: a pot of wine and some pastries.

Luo Yueqing didn't know that the other person was already aware of her identity. She thought Zhong Jueyu was angry about her concealment and was using the title "Imperial Sister-in-law" sarcastically, which made her feel even more guilty.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you…" she said again.

"Come in."

She was cut off before she could finish. Zhong Jueyu saw the white marks on her fingertips from where the string had dug in and finally relented with a stern face.

Luo Yueqing's eyes lit up. She immediately stepped over the threshold and walked inside with a sense of familiarity, sitting down on the luohan couch. She placed the items on the small table in the middle of the couch, moving with practiced ease.

This was Zhong Jueyu's own fault. For some reason, the furnishings in Luo Yueqing's room were extremely simple—a bed, a wooden table, a wardrobe, and a bookshelf were all there was. As a result, the two could only play chess on the bed or in the small courtyard.

The bed was inconvenient, and the courtyard was windy, so they eventually moved their games to Zhong Jueyu's room. The luohan couch, with its soft cushions, became the place they spent the most time.

The door was closed, and the flickering candlelight finally steadied.

When Zhong Jueyu returned to her spot, the other person had already diligently set everything out.

Two small white porcelain cups were filled with wine, and the unwrapped oiled paper held pastries. Perhaps it was because of the extra person, but the room no longer felt as empty and had gained a touch of warmth.

Zhong Jueyu pursed her lips but still sat down opposite Luo Yueqing.

The little Daoist quickly offered her the pastries, explaining, "You've treated me to pastries so many times, I thought I should treat you for once."

Luo Yueqing looked up at her, pitiful and aggrieved. "I didn't expect him to be there…"

Zhong Jueyu's anger subsided a little, but she remained sarcastic. "Oh? I thought Imperial Sister-in-law had specially prepared them for my Imperial Brother."

She didn't even know what she was angry about. If she had to find a reason, aside from deliberately hiding her identity, Luo Yueqing had done nothing wrong. Besides, she had known about it for a long time, so there was no reason to be so angry.

Yet she was being difficult, the Crown Prince's words replaying in her mind.

Compared to a disposable friendship and her one and only husband, who do you think she will choose, Imperial Sister?

Zhong Jueyu's fists suddenly clenched, and her expression, which had just softened, turned ashen again.

The person beside her immediately explained, "I don't want to marry him. Otherwise, I wouldn't have hidden away on this mountain."

Zhong Jueyu curled her lips into a sneer and retorted, "But he is the current Crown Prince, the future ruler of the nation. Does Imperial Sister-in-law not care for that?"

Luo Yueqing shook her head vigorously, like a rattle drum. "I don't care, I don't care. Whoever wants him can have him, just as long as it's not me."

She added, "I've already sent back all the things he sent me."

"Jinyan, I was wrong. Please don't be angry anymore," the little Daoist said, blinking her eyes. She pushed the cup toward her, her apologetic attitude utterly sincere.

"Who would dare be angry with Miss Luo?" Zhong Jueyu said coolly.

"There are no misses or princesses in Xuanmiao Temple," Luo Yueqing replied cleverly, lifting the wine cup to the other's lips.

"This is peach wine brewed by an old man from the foot of the mountain. It's sweet and not too strong. Many of the Daoists in the temple have secretly bought it. It's delicious," she said, trying hard to sell it.

Luo Yueqing smiled sheepishly. "It just gets you a little drunk. Last time, I drank this and ended up passing out in the michelia forest."

Zhong Jueyu ignored her. In the past, whenever the little Daoist softened her tone slightly, her anger would completely dissipate. This time, however, she remained impervious, sitting there like a block of wood.

Luo Yueqing didn't back down. Originally kneeling on the couch, she rose slightly, resting one hand on the low table and leaning toward her.

The posture was cat-like. Her loosely draped, wide robe slipped down, outlining her slender, bony figure. The unintentionally open collar revealed a sliver of pale skin, but she seemed oblivious. Her waist, dipping low, was as thin as a flower stem, as if it would snap under the slightest weight.

If it were anyone else, Zhong Jueyu would have suspected their intentions. But this was Master Qingyue, the little Daoist, whose bright eyes shimmered with moisture, filled with pitiful apology.

The rough edge of the cup was still pressed against her lips, trembling slightly as time passed.

Zhong Jueyu lowered her gaze, paused, and finally took a sip.

The other person smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. She brought the cup Zhong Jueyu had just drunk from to her own lips. It was unclear when sharing food and drink had become such a natural and ordinary thing between them.

The little Daoist was a lightweight and couldn't handle the taste of alcohol. Even this light wine made her frown, but she was greedy and refused to take small sips, downing half the cup in one go, leaving traces of liquid at the corners of her mouth.

Zhong Jueyu watched her helplessly. She wanted to raise a hand to wipe her mouth but stopped abruptly, turning her head away. "It's late. Sister-in-law should go back."

Why was this still not over?

"Zhong Jinyan!" The little Daoist, failing to coax her, became angry herself.

"I already told you…"

Zhong Jueyu interrupted, "Even if it's not my Imperial Brother, there will be others."

Luo Yueqing seemed to understand something. She suddenly smiled and said, "Is this what Your Highness is worried about?"

Before Zhong Jueyu could speak, she saw the other person get off the couch, walk over to her, and then draw closer, bit by bit.

Her bent leg rested on the couch, and moving forward, she knelt on the other's thighs. Zhong Jueyu didn't stop her; she even raised a hand to wrap around her waist.

"Is this what Your Highness is worried about?" she asked again, meeting her gaze at an extremely close distance. Her fluttering eyelashes nearly brushed against Zhong Jueyu's.

"Hm?" she asked once more, her beautiful features lowered, her lovely eyes like a shimmering, clear lake, misty and full of moisture.

The candlelight flickered unceasingly, casting the entire room in a dim glow. The wine in the cup rippled.

Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but pull back, trying to create some distance, but the other person pursued her relentlessly, hooking a hand around her neck, her cool fingertips resting on the round bone.

"Sister-in-law…" the Grand Princess said stubbornly, using the title the other completely disliked.

This time, Luo Yueqing was in no hurry. She casually picked up the wine cup and brought it to the other's lips again, murmuring, "Would Your Highness like another taste?"

The faint scent of peaches lingered in the air. It was no wonder the little Daoists were willing to break the temple rules to buy a pot of this fine wine.

Once, twice, three times—the words of the ancients always held some truth.

Though Zhong Jueyu was being stubborn, she still lowered her head and took a sip. Before she could even taste it, Luo Yueqing snatched the cup back and, pressing her lips to the spot where her red lips had touched, drank another half cup.

She claimed to have bought it for Zhong Jueyu, but she ended up drinking the most herself.

She refilled and drank again, three cups in a row. Spilled wine darkened her collar, and her wide robe slipped further down.

Luo Yueqing couldn't be bothered with it. Instead, she looked at the other person and said, "I apologize to Your Highness."

"Please don't be angry anymore, Your Highness."

Her voice, warmed by alcohol, carried a hint of intoxication. It was deliberately drawn out into a sticky sweetness, reminiscent of soft, delicious glutinous rice balls.

"Don't be angry, alright?" Luo Yueqing lowered her head to rest her forehead against hers, the hand on her neck tightening slightly.

The alcohol went straight to her face. Just a few sips had brought a misty, peach-blossom pink to the corners of her eyes. Her eyes shimmered with moisture, as if some little fox had donned a Daoist's robe, unable to hide the seductive charm in her very bones.

But the other was hard-hearted. Not only did she not forgive her, but she also brought up the disliked title again. "Sister-in-law worries too much. I, mmph…"

This time, Luo Yueqing chose another way to shut her up.

Her soft, wine-scented red lips pressed against the corner of the other's mouth.

The little Daoist was somewhat lacking in this area, clearly a bit inexperienced. At first, she only dared to press her lips there, but when she met no resistance, she began to nibble on the other's lip, bit by bit, as if eating a pastry.

But compared to Luo Yueqing's clumsiness, the Grand Princess was clearly even more flustered. She froze, not knowing what to do. Her hand on the couch tightened unconsciously, clutching the soft cushion.

The sounds from outside were a chaotic mix: the evening wind rustled the leaves, the chirping of insects rose and fell without end, and in the distance, someone started chanting scriptures again, a bothersome mumbling.

The fabric of the cushion was wrinkled into a messy pattern, pressing red marks into her palm.

Their cascading dark hair intertwined, becoming indistinguishable.

The little Daoist, annoyed by her uncooperative, wooden demeanor, gave her soft flesh a light bite as punishment.

Zhong Jueyu hissed in pain.

The heartless little Daoist felt no sympathy. Instead, she let out a soft laugh, forgetting who was holding her steady to keep her from falling.

"Don't call me Sister-in-law. I don't like it," Luo Yueqing whispered.

Zhong Jueyu looked down at her but didn't answer.

The other continued, "Or does Your Highness just like this title? You just…"

She paused, her expression turning playful. "You just like this kind of forbidden, unspoken relationship."

"Then what should I call Your Highness? Little Sister-in-law? Or Imperial Sister?"

Zhong Jueyu finally lost her composure, snapping in a low voice, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

The next second, she fell into the hunter's trap. Her tightly sealed lips once again tasted wine, mixed with an unknown sweetness that hooked Zhong Jueyu's tongue.

Luo Yueqing tugged at her collar, becoming bolder as she grew more practiced.

Her bent leg forced her robes upward, revealing a long, fair calf pressed tightly against the other's thigh.

Zhong Jueyu didn't know how to cooperate, but she didn't push her away either, letting her do as she pleased, recklessly conquering every inch.

The only sign of her nervousness was the hand that kept clutching the cushion, the veins on it bulging, yet never letting go.

The candle beside them had been burning for a long time. A drop of wax finally fell, slowly dripping down, solidifying halfway and sticking to the side.

Beginners always falter when it comes to breathing, and Master Qingyue was no exception. After just a short while, she had to pull away, their foreheads touching as she steadied her ragged breath.

But this didn't mean she was stopping. Luo Yueqing, feigning strength, spoke again, her voice teasing, "Does Your Highness like it?"

The question was ambiguous, its subject unclear.

Zhong Jueyu stared into her eyes, trying to find an answer there, but instead said, "You're drunk."

"As long as I'm drunk, I can do whatever I want to Your Highness?" Luo Yueqing laughed. "Then tomorrow I'll rush down the mountain and buy all the wine from the old man's house."

Her almond-shaped eyes held a sly glint as she unabashedly revealed her plan. "And then I'll get drunk and come find Your Highness every day."

"To do… whatever I want."

"Don't talk nonsense," Zhong Jueyu frowned, chiding her in a low voice.

"Then what should I do? Should I marry into the imperial palace and come find Your Highness for a tryst every night?"

Perhaps because she was drunk, Luo Yueqing's words grew bolder and more outrageous, the hand on her collar tightening.

She said, word by word, "Is that what Your Highness is thinking?"

Of course, Zhong Jueyu didn't agree. She frowned and muttered, "Those are just drunken words."

"Then what wouldn't be drunken words?"

Luo Yueqing looked at her and added, "If I must marry someone, how about marrying Your Highness?"

Zhong Jueyu's heart trembled for a moment, then began to beat rapidly. Perhaps she was drunk too, feeling dizzy and muddled, as if she were soaking in wine. Even speaking was difficult. "I…"

Luo Yueqing was too impatient to wait for her. With a gentle push on her shoulder, the Grand Princess, who had trained in martial arts since childhood, was pushed down onto the couch.

Then, a light gray shadow fell over her, enveloping her in the scent of sandalwood.

A hand reached out, caressing her cheek, and a low voice asked, "Don't you want to?"

The question needed no answer. Luo Yueqing spoke again, "Zhong Jueyu, I don't believe you don't want this."

Zhong Jueyu didn't reply. Her lips were captured once again. This time, there was no hesitation. The little Daoist had a particular talent for this; with a little practice, she could achieve excellent results.

The person lying on her back turned her head to avoid it, but was caught and pulled back again.

Luo Yueqing didn't rush to deepen the kiss, instead touching her lips lightly, again and again, unconsciously moving lower.

As she fell, Zhong Jueyu's white inner robe was pulled open, revealing a pale shoulder. The thin strap hung precariously from her neck, and below it was turquoise satin embroidered with a pattern.

Luo Yueqing was curious and wanted to see what was embroidered on it.

But Zhong Jueyu stopped her, cupping her face in her hands and kissing her.

The soft, wet sounds of their kisses echoed, one after another.

The candle sputtered, and the accumulated wax grew, solidifying into a large patch.

The sounds from outside finally faded. The leaves on the branches drooped, looking as if they were about to fall. The distant chanting also disappeared, leaving only the faint chirping of insects.

The round moon emerged from behind the mountains, revealing a sliver of its bright, clear outline.

The window of the room was finally closed, shut tight. The light wine on the table was left untouched, standing alone.

At some point, the little Daoist was now held in the Grand Princess's arms, her head tilted back, being kissed lightly, on and off.

The wide robe covered them both, hiding what was happening underneath. One could only see the princess gently patting the other's back, as if coaxing a drunkard.

Get instant access to all the chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next