"You are playing with fire and inviting destruction."
Xu Qing's deep pupils were calm and collected. "Xie Beihan, as the Crown Prince, was ruthless and suspicious from a young age."
"So what?" Chi Yan laughed enchantingly, like a soft snake slithering into his embrace. Her slender fingers moved downwards. "He obstructed my plans, and Xiao Chi Zhan killed tens of thousands of my soldiers in Mobei. This hatred keeps me awake at night."
The spring breeze caressed their cheeks, and a rich floral scent permeated the air.
Xu Qing lowered his gaze to her. She leaned against the window lattice, languid and alluring. The lines of her fair, delicate neck curved up to her jawline, like a breathtaking glimpse from the frontier in days past, her beauty unparalleled.
Outside the window, green bamboo swayed in the breeze, and vast fields of lotus bloomed in the pond, rippling with gentle waves.
"Will the holy monk help me?"
"This humble monk has entered the Buddhist fold."
Chi Yan chuckled, her nails tracing his collar as she teased him playfully.
"You're back in Northern Qi, so why the pretense?"
Xu Qing's expression remained placid, his lips pursed in silence.
She extended her delicate, fair foot and hooked it upwards from his leg.
"Ah Xuan, back then I used you to capture Linzhou in Northern Qi, ruining your reputation. Haven't you already returned it all? Why can't you forgive me yet?"
Xu Qing's face was unchanged as his eyes, deep as an ancient pool, gazed calmly out the window.
Chi Yan paid him no mind, leaping onto the windowsill. She reached out and took the prayer beads from his wrist, playing with them.
"Buddhist vows cannot cleanse your sins. You, to take revenge on me, slaughtered my Mobei soldiers, ravaged my borders, and committed countless sins. Is this—not enough?"
"Since this humble monk has entered the Buddhist fold, all past affairs have vanished like smoke."
Chi Yan smiled enchantingly. She swiftly wound the prayer beads around her slender wrist twice, hooked her arms around his neck, and wrapped her legs around his waist, licking her lips suggestively.
"But you can't forget me, can you? Even after entering the empty gate, you still want to mingle with me."
She was so alluring that she seemed to steal one's breath.
Xu Qing, however, remained unmoved, allowing her to embrace him with an impassive face.
Chi Yan hugged him, pouting her red lips, her head resting on his shoulder, lazily swinging her long legs.
"He choked my neck so hard, blow on it for me."
"This humble monk is not medicine."
She smiled and licked his ear. "You are, you are my medicine."
Xu Qing's expression was cold, but his ears quietly flushed red.
Seeing this, Chi Yan kissed him even more passionately, deliberately tempting him.
"Back in Mobei, you presented yourself as pure and aloof, as if you were untouched by worldly affairs. But once in bed, you were so wild." She paused, her eyes curving into a smile. "Now, you can endure so much? Have you become pure?"
"Get down!"
His voice was so cold it could freeze.
Chi Yan, unfazed, gripped his neck and kissed him directly on the lips, silencing all his icy words.
----
The Eastern Palace was burned, and the war across the Nine Provinces was not settled. The gravely ill Emperor of Great Qi personally hosted a banquet in the Imperial Garden.
Ye Luan entered the palace with the Shen family early in the morning. They first paid their respects to the Empress Dowager at Chaoyang Palace. These palace women and noble ladies were all incredibly cunning.
She had no desire to listen to their insincere pleasantries and kept her eyes down, lost in thought.
After an unknown amount of time, she followed the Shen family's young ladies out of Chaoyang Palace and headed towards the Imperial Garden.
"When did the Shen family have a daughter raised on a manor that I didn't know about?"
Suddenly, several elaborately dressed noble ladies approached. The woman leading them wore a gorgeous pink palace gown, dressed in full regalia.
Ye Luan narrowed her eyes slightly, inwardly sighing. Trouble had arrived.
"Greetings, Princess Xuanle."
The noble ladies around them curtsied.
Ye Luan followed suit, mimicking their禮 (lǐ - ritual/courtesy).
Shen Qin, having been instructed by her family to look after Ye Luan, quickly smiled as Princess Xuanle approached to cause trouble. "The princess has returned from the northwest; she's become even more beautiful."
Princess Xuanle, accustomed to being spoiled and arrogant, gave face to no one.
She arrogantly raised her chin, looking at Ye Luan, who kept her eyes down. Malice flickered in her eyes.
"Is this Crown Prince's intended?"
Shen Qin smiled, "The Emperor has not yet issued an imperial decree for marriage."
"Hmph, how could such a fickle woman be worthy of the Crown Prince?"
As soon as she spoke, mocking and sneering gazes from all around fell upon Ye Luan. Some even laughed out loud on the spot, adding a few words in agreement.
Ye Luan's expression remained unchanged, her demeanor betraying no discernible emotion.
Shen Qin swallowed, unsure how to respond.
Princess Xuanle slowly walked over, looking at her with displeasure. "Since you are the Crown Prince's intended, how dare you flirt with the King of Dingbei? Where do you get such audacity?"
Everyone present knew that Princess Xuanle had admired the King of Dingbei of Great Liang since she visited Shangjing a few years ago and had always wanted to marry him through a political alliance.
However, Great Liang did not accept such alliances, and no one dared to question the King of Dingbei's marriage, so it had never come to fruition.
Upon hearing that someone from Great Liang had arrived in Northern Qi, she had rushed back from the northwest without delay.
However, this Shen family young lady who suddenly appeared had always stayed indoors. How could she have any connection with the King of Dingbei? Wasn't this Princess Xuanle picking a fight because she thought the girl was attractive?
Ye Luan thought it was Xie Beihan's trouble that had found her, but it turned out to be the trouble of that madman, Xiao Chi Zhan.
She felt annoyed but remained outwardly calm.
"Your Highness, why do you say that? I do not know the King of Dingbei."
Xuanle sneered, "Do you think this princess is stupid?"
What was the Crown Prince thinking, bringing this dilapidated young lady from Great Liang to Northern Qi, giving her a false identity, and planning to marry such a thing as his consort?
Is it just because she's a bit prettier? Bitch, she only knows how to seduce men.
She dared not speak loudly and quietly approached Ye Luan's side, whispering a threat in her ear.
"This princess has already investigated you thoroughly. If you want to marry the Crown Prince, then don't get involved with the King, or I will take your life!"
Ye Luan raised an eyebrow. "Then this humble subject congratulates Your Highness in advance on achieving your wish."
Xuanle was infuriated by her indifferent words, her heart clenching. She glared at Ye Luan maliciously but dared not act.
Currently, the Emperor was gravely ill, the harem was forbidden from interfering in politics, and the Crown Prince was overseeing state affairs, wielding almost absolute power.
If the Crown Prince truly intended to marry this woman, and she acted against her, the Crown Prince would surely blame her.
However, the thought of the information she had uncovered made her gnash her teeth in hatred.
That aloof man, the King, had been entangled with this woman for so long. She hated it.
She wished she could kill this woman!
"Do you think this princess dares not touch you?"
Malice flashed in Xuanle's eyes. She wanted to ruin this bitch, and the King would surely despise her and no longer like her.
She would ensure it was foolproof, never letting the Crown Prince know.
Ye Luan glanced sideways. "Your Highness is a favored daughter of heaven; naturally, you dare to do anything."
Though the words were meant as flattery, Xuanle found them disagreeable.
Some people, by their very nature, were destined to clash.
She looked at this woman and simply felt uncomfortable, wanting to destroy her.
Just then, a sinister and cold voice suddenly came from across the garden.
"Xuanle, what are you doing?"