Xiao Shan gritted his teeth, "This was arranged by my eldest brother. I swear I've never seen anything like it."
Truly, he had only ever witnessed ordinary song and dance, never this.
Did Feng Shihao truly want to be beaten?
"Eldest brother indeed lives a carefree life. It was the right decision for Linglong to leave him."
Ling Yao said, opening the window again.
Why was she still watching?
Xiao Shan simply squatted beside her, massaging her calves.
"No, this one is too thin."
"Too pale," Ling Yao commented as she watched.
Xiao Shan thought, "Don't all men like that? As expected, women's tastes differ from men's."
"Weak in the waist and hips."
"This one is acceptable, well-developed chest muscles."
Chest muscles? Did his wife use the wrong word?
"Ah, indeed, when men become alluring, women have no chance!"
Men? What men?
Xiao Shan straightened up and looked down, almost dying of anger!
So she had been watching all this time, looking at a line of men striking seductive poses! When did they switch to men?
"What kind of eyes does the Turkic princess have? The one she invited is nowhere as handsome as the third one."
What was the third one!
Xiao Shan looked again, his anger burning, only to find no one on stage. They had all been invited to dinner.
"Who is the third one?" he asked, consumed by jealousy.
Ling Yao closed the window, lay down on the couch with a smile, and looked at the awkward man before her. She lifted her smooth, small feet to caress his strong jaw.
"None are as handsome as this."
"Mighty, divine, and unrivaled."
It was an aura that surpassed the heavens, unmatched by anyone.
It was hers.
Ah, she was becoming strange, always wanting to pounce on him, to bite his sexy throat, his hard chest muscles, and to make him respond, just as she did.
"I smell it, the fragrance of flowers," Xiao Shan swallowed hard, his dark eyes locked onto her passionate expression.
"Can you see my heart clearly? Is it healed?"
Perhaps it was, perhaps it was healed. He didn't know, only that she was now extremely unrestrained, making it difficult for him to handle.
"Are you happy today?"
"Very happy! It feels like I've been reborn, even my breathing is much lighter. Is this what freedom feels like?"
When the heart is free, it is boundless. It turned out that what confined her was not the small Fengque Tower, not the imperial palace, not the capital, but her own fragile heart!
"A Shan, nothing can confine me anymore."
"Yes, my noble goddess."
Xiao Shan piously kissed her fair, luminous toes.
Ling Yao let out a "giggle," clear and pleasant.
The Turkic people soon signed an agreement with Da Jing, a ten-year truce with annual tribute. After the signing, the envoy quickly took leave of Emperor Mingde, setting his return journey.
However, before departing, the Great Prince made a request, asking Princess Yongfu to act as host and show him the customs and traditions of Jing country.
Emperor Mingde agreed and dispatched guards to accompany them.
The Great Prince seemed to have transformed, completely shedding his ferocity. He was polite to Qing He, showing no overstepping. Even Qing He found it strange, thinking to herself: Is this wolf cub still plotting something? Is he planning to abduct her back to Turkestan?
She was filled with poisons. If he truly harbored ill intentions, she would not hesitate to administer a potent dose.
"Qing He, who gave you your name? It's so beautiful."
"The Princess gave it to me."
Green seedlings. The Princess said they symbolized hope. At that time, her entire clan had been annihilated, and she was forced into the palace. As a child, she was listless. If not for the lingering hatred, how could she have painstakingly tried to survive?
If not for the Princess, she truly would not have survived.
"Why is your heart always with your Princess!" Tulu sighed mournfully.
His love rival was a woman.
"Qing He, I didn't touch those two women the Emperor sent. Do you believe me? Also, ever since you gave me that medicine, I haven't touched any women after I recovered."
"Do you believe me?"
Tulu looked at her anxiously. He thought if Qing He cared, he would still have a chance. Otherwise...
Qing He smiled faintly, "Great Prince, are you afraid you haven't fully recovered? Don't worry, the dosage of the medicine I gave you was precise. It will heal properly and leave no lingering effects. You don't need to have any psychological burden."
"It's not that. I mean, I'm not interested in other women anymore. I only want you..."
Qing He's expression changed. "Great Prince, if you say such things again, I will have to take my leave."
The light in Tulu's eyes gradually faded, and his raised eyebrows drooped.
"Why? I just didn't know I would meet you. If I had known, I would have been as loyal to one woman as Xiao Shan. But I didn't know!"
"I didn't know! Qing He."
Qing He turned her head away. She didn't want to see Tulu like this, like a defeated beast, whimpering powerlessly.
This was not him at all, not that savage, baring-teeth, fur-on-end wolf cub.
He must be faking it.
Faking pity, just like that night.
Once he got the prey he wanted, he would reveal his fangs and tear it apart.
"Can you not get married? I will write to you. Can you give me another chance? I really like you."
"I don't want any other women anymore, truly. I will remain chaste for you. Please don't marry anyone, okay?"
Qing He's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers curled.
Turkic people were always direct and passionate. It was like when he took her galloping across the grasslands, shouting to everyone: This is the woman my prince loves most.
It was like when he, covered in sweat after wrestling, laughed heartily and carried her into the tent, making her both angry and resentful.
She admitted that she had been lost in this undisguised passion.
"I don't care who your body belonged to, truly. As long as in the future..."
"Enough, Tulu!"
Qing He suddenly came to her senses. Yes, he was passionate, but that passion was not given to her alone.
Being amorous and unrestrained was the instinct of Turkic people. Nothing was exclusive. He could be fiery towards her today and confess his love to another woman tomorrow.
No one would condemn him; they would only cheer him on and praise him as a warrior.
She didn't want it anymore, never again!
"Let this mistake end! Tulu, there is no possibility between you and me anymore."
"Why? We were fine back then. I thought... you liked me too." He looked at her pleadingly, hoping she would give him a reason.
"That's impossible. How could I possibly like a Turkic person?" Qing He looked at him coldly, her gaze as icy and frosty as when they first met, devoid of emotion.
"Great Prince, take care. Tomorrow, this county princess will not see you off."
"Return to the palace!"
"Qing He—" The Great Prince tried to pursue, but was blocked by the guards.
"Wait for me for two years, just two years. Don't get married, Qing He—"
In two years, he would ascend the throne. Even if he had to cede cities, he would marry her as his queen!
As the figures disappeared, Tulu leaned against a tree, dejected.
"Really, just two years. I won't ask you to wait longer, okay?"