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As the weather became hotter, Liuyu instructed her maids to get ice to cool down. Suddenly, the young maid from Maple Garden quietly brought her a piece of news. Liuyu was secretly pleased. She stayed in her room for a long time, calculating, and occasionally sent her maid to the front to check. When she heard that the advisors had left, she ordered her maid to bring some chilled lotus seed soup and went straight from the back garden to the study.
In the study, Xiao Qi put down the drafted list.
He had the candidates for the envoy to the Ice Kingdom, but the problem was their safety along the way. He was afraid that many forces would interfere and sabotage them. Recently, there had been some movements from the Mu Feng Kingdom at the border, and he really didn’t want to dispatch the Yue army to escort them. This was the first thing that bothered him.
After a short rest, he picked up the list again to check the candidates. Suddenly, he saw Liuyu personally bringing him soup and couldn’t help but scold her. “It’s hot. What are you doing out here?”
Liuyu motioned for the maid to leave. She personally placed the soup in front of him, watched him taste it, and said some caring words before taking the opportunity to ask, “I heard that His Majesty is sending an envoy to the Ice Kingdom?”
This matter was supposed to be a secret. Xiao Qi immediately frowned when he heard her. “How do you know?”
Liuyu then remembered his taboo. She was afraid that he would find out that she had planted spies in Maple Garden. Regretting it, she came up with a quick lie. “My personal maid accidentally overheard your brother talking about it.”
Xiao Qi’s expression softened slightly.
The matters in the residence indeed couldn’t be hidden from Xiao Yan. Fortunately, he had agreed to the conditions of the Land of Eternity, and the guards and maids in the garden didn’t have the guts to gossip. There was no need to worry about the news leaking.
Even so, he still scolded in a deep voice, “Maids gossiping, you should have beaten her!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already punished her. Don’t you trust me?” Liuyu sighed in relief. She pouted and wrapped her arms around his neck. “This is what I came to you for.”
“Yu’er, this is not something you should be involved in.” Xiao Qi could tell what she was thinking. His tone contained a hint of warning.
“I know it’s official business and I shouldn’t interfere, but I’ve never asked you for anything. Please listen to me this one time,” Liuyu sat on his lap and pleaded. “Although the Qin Chuan clan is a prestigious family, our family has been dwindling in recent years. The glory of our ancestors is long gone, and we are only a name. My brother is a nominal general in the court, and people always look down on him. Our parents died early, and my brother and I depended on each other. He has shown me deep affection and kindness and never let me suffer any grievances. How could we have been together without him? Besides, you know his abilities. It’s just because His Majesty doesn’t see it. I only ask you to give him a little boost. Think of it as repaying my gratitude. If the Qin Chuan clan prospers, it will be a face-saver for you as well.”
“He is your brother, so I naturally don’t treat him as an outsider,” Xiao Qi shook his head. “But how would you women know the dangers involved? His Majesty is wary of me and would only think that I am building up my own faction. It might not be a bad thing for him to stay at home like this.”
Liuyu quickly said, “Just let him escort the envoy this time. He can gain a small merit and get a title. It would also be beneficial.”
Xiao Qi said, “Sending an envoy to the Ice Kingdom is no small matter. There may be accidents.”
Liuyu said, “I know what you’re worried about. I’ve already thought about it. Since this is a secret operation, no one should know about it. Even if the King of the South and the Mu Feng Kingdom are interested, they will be after the envoy. You don’t have to promote him too much. Just make him a deputy and send more people to protect him.”
Xiao Qi was against it, but seeing her stubbornness and thinking that he had indeed let her down over the years, he nodded. “Fine, I will consider it.”
With his words, Liuyu knew the matter was settled. She was overjoyed and returned to the back garden with her maid.
Xiao Qi picked up the list again, ready to make a change. A servant suddenly rushed in to report. “Your Highness, we have received news from the Land of the Five Colors. There have been changes in their country.”
Although the Land of the Five Colors and the Yan Kingdom were not adjacent, they were always paying attention to each other’s movements. The urgent and secret report that Xiao Qi received had not been made public yet. This matter was temporarily set aside.
Here, Yan Chu had just walked into Maple Garden and saw Hong Ye and the maids all standing in the corridor, far away from the small building, with pale faces.
Understanding what had happened, Yan Chu’s anxiety vanished, and her face lit up with joy. She walked quickly toward her room.
Hong Ye quickly tried to stop her. “Miss...”
Yan Chu stopped and glanced at her from the corner of her eye. A maid doing such an out-of-line thing must have been instructed by Xiao Qi.
Hong Ye reminded her in a low voice, “Miss, he is the Prince’s biological brother after all. It’s not appropriate for you to get too close...”
Yan Chu gave a faint smile. “So you’ve come to stop me?”
Hong Ye was stunned for a moment. She lowered her head and stepped back.
Yan Chu walked into the room and saw Xiao Yan half-lying on the bed, nonchalantly fanning himself with her fan. He already had a somewhat androgynous appearance, and in this state, he looked particularly interesting. Although Xiao Qi had sent guards to watch over Maple Garden, how could they stop him? For him, it was as simple as waving his hand and killing someone.
His eyes curved into a smile. He fanned her with the fan. “Master, your disciple is back to serve you.”
Yan Chu walked to the bed, snatched the fan from him, and got straight to the point. “Did you see the old general?”
Xiao Yan answered seriously, “I did.”
Yan Chu was still a little suspicious. “Really?”
Xiao Yan lowered his long eyelashes with a wronged expression. “How could your disciple lie to you?”
Yan Chu didn’t believe his nonsense. “Then did you pass on my message to him?”
“Oh, Master,” Xiao Yan said nonchalantly. “I only promised to see him for you, but I didn’t promise to pass on your message.”
“You...”
“I promised Xiling Fengqi that I wouldn’t show myself to outsiders. That should include Lu Shan. So I saw him, but he didn’t see me. Shouldn’t you have realized this outcome long ago?”
Her fingernails scraped the fan’s surface. Yan Chu stared at him and slowly revealed a smile. Her voice was so gentle it could drip water. “Xiao Yan, I really want to strangle you.”
Xiao Yan was playing with a maple leaf-shaped jade pendant on the silver hook of the curtain. Hearing her words, he turned his face to look at her and revealed an even more seductive smile. “You can’t.”
Having been played with again, Yan Chu didn’t say another word and threw the fan at his face.
“You’re angry,” Xiao Yan caught the fan. “Put your anger away. I brought you some good news.”
Yan Chu immediately asked, “What news?”
Xiao Yan said, “That woman fell for it. Big Brother has assigned a person named Lian to escort the envoy and let Qin Chuan Liulin be his deputy.”
“I expected that,” Yan Chu sneered slightly. “That disgusting woman, Qin Chuan Liuyu, it’s easy for me to deal with her. Xiao Qi is temporarily appeased by me and no longer on guard against me. He also feels that he has wronged her by hiding her for a hundred years as if she were a prostitute, so he will definitely agree to her request.”
She held her forehead, imitating him. “They owe me, but I can only get it back myself. It’s not fair!”
Xiao Yan laughed out loud. “Master, you are so beautiful and so despicable.”
Saying such venomous words in front of him, Yan Chu felt no shame at all. On the contrary, she felt relieved. She reached out and took the fan back. “I just want to see her lose her loved ones and suffer so much that she wishes she were dead. The more miserable she is, the happier I am. What, do you feel sorry for her?”
“You’re doubting your disciple’s loyalty,” Xiao Yan said. “Don’t you still want me to help you?”
Yan Chu scoffed. “Do you think I would fall for that again?”
“You can still try to move me. Although I didn’t deliver your message, I did tell you about the envoy to the Ice Kingdom, so I have already helped you,” Xiao Yan stroked her lips. “Now, are you willing to kiss your disciple?”
“You promised Lord Xiling you wouldn’t offend me.”
“If you want to touch me, what did I do wrong?”
“You always have a crooked logic.” Yan Chu suddenly snapped the fan shut, pushed his disheveled long hair aside, and leaned down to kiss his handsome face.
“I know why you failed,” Xiao Yan said, touching his face. “As a woman, you don’t cry, and you don’t even know how to seduce someone. How could my dear brother have chosen you?”
His wicked laughter was swallowed. Yan Chu hadn’t expected to do it so skillfully. She was easily provoked, perhaps because she didn’t have to pretend in front of him, or perhaps because of the transaction three days later—she was already a dead person. She had already lost everything. Now, as long as she could get her revenge, was there anything she couldn’t do, anything she couldn’t sell?
His long eyelashes brushed her face. Occasionally, they fluttered, and his narrow eyes flashed with red light. Xiao Yan comfortably accepted her flattery, letting her suck on his thin lips without moving at all.
The deliberately shown passion gradually died down under his indifferent reaction. Yan Chu finally couldn’t continue. She suddenly lifted her face and glared at him hatefully. The sense of defeat was unbearable for any beautiful woman. It was as if he was watching her make a fool of herself.
Xiao Yan said “Oh?” “Why did you stop?”
Yan Chu said expressionlessly, “You only said to kiss you. I’ve already done that. Can you help me now?”
Xiao Yan laughed. “I asked you if you were willing to kiss me. What does that have to do with me helping you? You misunderstood.”
His retraction of his promise was both unexpected and expected. Yan Chu was much calmer this time. “Shameless.”
“You assumed that if you met my request, I would help you. You are imposing your will on me. How can you say I’m shameless?” Xiao Yan said. “Besides, keeping promises is your rule. I have never acknowledged it.”
“What will it take for you to help me?”
“What will it take for you to give up on revenge?”
Yan Chu said definitively, “Impossible!”
“The throne has a lot to do with my fate,” Xiao Yan picked up the fan and put it back in her hand. “According to the old rules, when Wen Zhu Chongxiao steps down from the throne of the Yan Emperor, this life of mine will end. Although I have a new evil flame spirit now, it might not be the same, but I don’t want to try.”
Yan Chu said no more, calculating in her mind.
The sun was setting. On the hillside, the leaves of the trees drooped lazily in the hot wind. Fu Lian Wan Yu sat in a wheelchair, wearing a light-colored embroidered dress, and gently fanned at the falling petals with a fan. Behind her were two unfamiliar maids.
“Lord of the Game.”
Hearing the voice, Fu Lian Wan Yu stopped her movements and looked at the person. “Have you come to blame me?”
Lord Xiling said, “Was it really you?”
“She took the wrong path and stumbled into the killing formation herself. What does that have to do with me?” Fu Lian Wan Yu said. “Even if I wanted to kill her for revenge, so what? Didn’t you say you have nothing to do with her anymore?”
Lord Xiling said “Hmm.” “Then so be it. It probably has nothing to do with you. I came to see you today for another important matter.”
Fu Lian Wan Yu sighed in relief and smiled sweetly. “What is it?”
Lord Xiling said, “The Ice Emperor is getting old, and his favored official, Feng Yue, is seizing power. Recently, I heard that General Fu Lian seems to be getting too close to him.”
Fu Lian Wan Yu understood. “I will send a letter to warn him.”
Lord Xiling said, “The Land of the Five Colors and the Thunder Marsh Kingdom are getting stronger every day. I am from the Ice Kingdom after all. Although I have entered the Daoist sect, I still can’t help but worry.”
Fu Lian Wan Yu quickly said, “I understand. I’m glad I can share your worries.”
Lord Xiling said, “Since ancient times, corrupt officials have never had a good end. The Crown Prince already deeply resents Feng Yue. When the Ice Emperor passes away, his fate is predictable. I am doing this for the sake of General Fu Lian. The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince after all. Don’t think about impossible things.”
“I’m glad you still care about the safety of the Fu Lian clan.” Fu Lian Wan Yu smiled faintly, a look of triumph flashing in her eyes. He still needed her because she had the entire Fu Lian clan behind her, a great clan that had been thriving in the Ice Kingdom for thousands of years.
Lord Xiling instructed the maids. “A storm is coming. Send the Princess back to the garden.”
After Fu Lian Wan Yu and the maids left, Envoy Lan appeared on the hillside. The wind lifted his white robe, giving him the appearance of a celestial being.
Lord Xiling said, “Release the news to the people of Prime Minister Chi.”
Envoy Lan smiled. “Your wisdom is profound, my Lord. Let’s see if Prime Minister Chi can seize this opportunity.”
Feng Yue and General Fu Lian were in collusion, trying to depose the Crown Prince and install the Noble Consort Jin’s fifteenth prince. Now that General Fu Lian was backing down, Feng Yue would definitely be angry. If a rift formed between them, the one who would benefit would be Prime Minister Chi and the Crown Prince.
Lord Xiling said indifferently, “If he is incompetent, it would be better to depose the Crown Prince early.”
Envoy Lan said, “My Lord is right. But what about General Fu Lian...”
Lord Xiling said, “The Fu Lian clan has been relying on their favor and seizing power in the Ice Kingdom for a long time. It’s time for them to be replaced.”
“Your disciple will handle it properly. This matter will have nothing to do with the Land of Eternity.” Envoy Lan sighed softly, looking in the direction where Fu Lian Wan Yu had left. The Fu Lian clan had indeed been kind to him, but it was a big mistake to think that they could use it to control him. If he were so easily bound by kindness, how could he have become the venerated emperor of the Five Spirit Realms?
Lord Xiling nodded. “Is she here?”
Seeing him ask, Envoy Lan quickly replied, “Miss Yan Chu has been brought here. She is at the Flower Stream Pavilion now.”
Lord Xiling said no more and slowly walked down the hillside.
At the Flower Stream Pavilion, a few maids brought in water and a set of clothes.
The water was from a special kind of hot spring in the Land of Eternity, which had a warming effect and was good for healing. Yan Chu finished bathing with a complex mood. When she got up to get dressed, she found that the clothes prepared for her were very special. They were so thin that they were almost transparent. All the places that shouldn’t be revealed were clearly visible. At a glance, she knew what she was expected to do.
Yan Chu stood there stiffly.
The maid said, “The Lord of the Game said that if you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”
Yan Chu immediately shook her head. “It’s fine.”
The maid handed her a cloak. “Then, please go to the Garden of the Game, Miss.”
Yan Chu took the cloak and wrapped herself from head to toe, which made her feel a little better. When she walked out the door, the outside was dim with twilight, and the air was still humid and hot. The maid led the way with a lantern, her eyes never looking at her. Yan Chu had never felt so humiliated. She lowered her head and ran forward as if she were fleeing.
After turning a mountain bend, the sound of the waterfall disappeared completely, and an elegant small garden appeared in her sight.
The Garden of the Game. It was not a strange name, but it was very fitting for his identity. The garden was filled with maple trees that also looked many years old, very similar to the ones in Fengling. There was not a single weed in the courtyard, and the paths were very clean.
The maid led Yan Chu inside. After walking about a hundred steps, they arrived at a small wooden building with a wooden railing and wooden steps.
The maid walked to the steps and said respectfully, “My Lord, Miss Yan Chu has arrived.”
A moment later, Lord Xiling’s voice came from inside. “Come in.”
The maid bowed to Yan Chu, then turned and left the garden.
Yan Chu walked up the steps and raised her hand.
With her hand on the door, the half-open wooden door suddenly felt incredibly heavy, and she couldn’t push it open.
She had already made her decision, but at the last minute, she still wanted to back out. However, she knew that if she lost this opportunity, she would never have another one. She was not confident that she could continue to challenge his patience.
To still care about such things at a time like this... she should be grateful that he was willing to accept the transaction. Her husband had betrayed her, so why should she pretend to be a chaste and virtuous woman?
Yan Chu pushed open the door.
In front of her was a light-colored wooden screen. The color was simple, but the carvings were exquisite and definitely not the work of ordinary craftsmen.
Yan Chu examined the patterns on it. When her heart had calmed down, she slowly walked around the screen.
The furnishings inside were excessively simple. Against the wall was a large bed with a plain curtain and bedding. In front of the window was a wooden table with two or three chairs. Other than that, in a corner diagonally opposite was a floor vase. The vase was as white as jade and had a painted branch of fiery red maple leaves slanting across it, which was very alluring. Next to it were two lines of poetry. The vase was filled with large branches of red crabapple leaves from the Yan Kingdom, which added some bright color to the room.
A tall figure stood by the table. The lamplight shone on his handsome face, which looked peaceful.
He had probably just bathed. He was wearing a loose, floor-length blue robe that was casually draped over his body. The sash was untied, and the front was wide open, revealing a white inner garment. In such casual attire, he still looked as awe-inspiring as he would at a banquet in a grand hall, making people feel reverent and afraid to approach.
Feeling his gaze, Yan Chu’s heart beat faster. She couldn’t help but tighten her cloak.
After a long while, he walked over to her and reached out to lift her cloak.
Yan Chu subconsciously took a step back.
He put his hands behind his back and watched her without saying a word.
Knowing that this action might have displeased him, Yan Chu was only left with tension and fear. She didn’t dare to retreat again.
He watched her for a moment and then said, “You can go.”
Go? Yan Chu understood what he meant. She let out a long sigh of relief. Her tense body mysteriously relaxed. After all, her previous intimacy with the King of the South and Xiao Yan had been an act, a mutual use of each other, and there had been no actual progress. His refusal made her disappointed, but it also gave her a good reason to escape.
Having taken in the change in her expression, Lord Xiling said calmly, “Xiao Qi would be moved if he knew.”
Yan Chu was silent.
For a moment, she did think of Xiao Qi. When she was a girl, she also had those beautiful and shy fantasies. Such a thing shouldn’t be used as a transaction. It should only be done with the person you love. She had thought that person would be Xiao Qi.
Suddenly, the cloak was mercilessly pulled away. Before she could react, her hands were already pinned behind her back, and she was lifted up.
This posture made her body even more exposed, and it also allowed him to see her more clearly.
Yan Chu’s whole body was stiff. “Didn’t you say I could go...”
He said “Oh,” and interrupted her. “I was joking about that.”
What followed was not a gentle treatment. Her clothes were torn, and her body was completely exposed in the lamplight. She subconsciously tried to cover herself with her hands but immediately gave up.
There was no chance to regret it.
Seeing him lean in, Yan Chu lay on the bed, not daring to resist. She only tried her best to cooperate based on what she knew. She reached out to untie the embroidered sash around his waist. Unexpectedly, her fingers suddenly lost their usual dexterity and became inexplicably clumsy. She couldn’t untie it for a long time.
He looked down at her from above, with no emotion in his eyes.
He held her hand with one hand, undressing her without haste or rush. He only stopped after she had blushed and untied his sash. He then moved his hand down, finally stopping at her abdomen.
Yan Chu felt his gaze turn cold and knew that she had angered him. She was wondering what she had done wrong when her legs were suddenly pulled apart. The sudden pain interrupted her thoughts, making her cry out and gasp for air.
Without any warning, he entered her. The swelling and pain were unbearable. This feeling was surprisingly familiar.
There was no time to think more. The impact made her mind go blank, and she felt as if her body had no weight.
There was no extra comfort. It was heavy, forceful, and almost like a punishment. Yan Chu struggled a few times, wanting to escape, but he forcefully dragged her back. In the end, she could only clench the bedsheets with her hands, bite her lip, and endure, but she still couldn’t help but let out broken moans.
The night was endless. She didn’t know when she fell into a daze. A voice, like a cold snake, endlessly wrapped around her in her dream.
“I really want to kill you.”
...
Having gotten used to nightmares, Yan Chu didn’t feel scared. She woke up groggily and found that she was alone. She quickly propped herself up and saw Lord Xiling sitting at the table, holding a book. His blue robe looked exceptionally cold under the lamplight.
Outside, there was a series of thunderclaps and the sound of rain. The dim light made it hard to tell the time. The previous stuffy heat had disappeared, and the air was fresh and cool.
There was no discomfort in her heart, but the rest of her body was sore and aching. Yan Chu looked down at the marks on her body. She couldn’t bring herself to get up in front of him, so she pursed her lips and quietly pulled the blanket up a little.
He put down the book. “I have to go out. Stay here for lunch, and someone will send you back later.”
So he had already noticed. Yan Chu was extremely embarrassed. She realized that she had slept until lunchtime. “Does what you promised still count, Lord Xiling?”
He was very straightforward. “A year from now, I will no longer restrain the Lord Yuanjun.”
Yan Chu was relieved. Seeing that he was about to get up and leave, she quickly said, “Lord Xiling, please stop.”
He did turn his face to look at her.
Yan Chu’s heart inexplicably fluttered. She avoided his gaze. “I have one more thing I’d like to ask for your guidance on, Lord Xiling.”
He repeated, “What else do you want guidance on?”
It was a simple, plain sentence, but for some reason, it sounded charming and ambiguous in her ears. Yan Chu remembered her current situation and was so embarrassed that her face turned red and she couldn’t say a word.
He seemed to be completely unaware of this. He broke the silence. “Speak.”
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