vrcanaries Chapter 142 This is insane!
Chapter 142 This is insane!
Fearing that Pei Yuanling would ask too many questions, Chu Qingyin gently tugged at Pei Yuanling's sleeve and said coquettishly, feigning dependence, "Your Majesty, I am so happy to be reunited with you today. Let's put all the troubles of these days behind us."
Pei Yuanling looked at Chu Qingyin with eyes full of doting affection. He raised his hand and gently stroked her delicate nose: "Okay, whatever you say."
Then, he raised his voice and said, "Since Minister Lu's injuries are no longer serious, then come back to the palace with me. I still need your assistance in handling affairs of the court."
Although he was speaking to Lu Zhiheng, he did not loosen his grip on Chu Qingyin's hand even slightly.
Lu Zhiheng respectfully replied, "Your humble servant obeys the decree."
It was already late at night, and it would not be safe to travel back overnight. Pei Yuanling immediately ordered the remaining guards to set up camp in the courtyard.
Lu Zhiheng naturally could no longer share a room with Chu Qingyin, but considering that Chu Qingyin's health had not yet fully recovered, he allowed him to set up a makeshift bed on the floor in the hall.
The hunter Liu and his wife originally wanted to give up their house, but Chu Qingyin refused. So the couple had to move out all the extra clean bedding in their house and burn mugwort in the yard to repel mosquitoes.
Chu Qingyin felt bad seeing the two of them busy running around, and wanted to go forward to help, but was stopped by Sister-in-law Amei.
"Your Majesty, please rest well. This humble servant will take care of these small matters." The woman was so humble and fearful that she didn't even know what to do with her hands and feet.
"Sister-in-law Amei, please don't be so reserved. I am deeply grateful for your and Brother Liu's care these past few days." Her voice was gentle and sincere.
Sister-in-law Amei waved her hands repeatedly, her eyes sparkling: "Your Majesty, what are you saying? It is a blessing that I have accumulated over many lifetimes to be able to serve Your Majesty."
The thought that she had actually made the current emperor's favorite concubine do this and that for her these past few days, and that she had even accompanied her on a long journey to the market to sell goods today, made her feel more and more guilty.
"Sister-in-law Amei, you can just call me Yinyin. There's no need for such formality..."
Over the past few days, Chu Qingyin has genuinely grown fond of Sister-in-law Amei, but now that her identity has been exposed, they can no longer interact as they used to.
Pei Yuanling took in the whole scene and said, "Since Yinyin gets along well with you, she will definitely invite you to the palace for a get-together when she has free time in the palace in the future."
"Your Majesty's kindness is truly overwhelming for this humble subject."
Liu the hunter hurriedly knelt down. Seeing the emperor was already a blessing that he and his wife had accumulated over hundreds of years. As for entering the palace, that was something they dared not even dream of in their lifetime.
"Alright, you all go and rest."
Pei Yuanling waved his hand and gestured for Chu Qingyin to come over.
Chu Qingyin still felt a little lost; she was afraid that her relationship with Brother Liu and his wife was over.
Seeing Pei Yuanling's gesture, she obediently walked to his side and said, "Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanling hummed in agreement, then casually put his arm around her shoulder, comforting her, "Meetings and partings are inevitable, there's no need to be too sad."
Chu Qingyin nodded and smiled at him: "Your Majesty is right."
Standing to the side, Lu Zhiheng felt a tightness in his chest as he watched Chu Qingyin and Pei Yuanling being so intimate.
Just a few days ago, she was smiling sweetly beside him, but today...
Although he knew she was the emperor's woman and that the days they spent together after falling off the cliff were just a temporary accident, he still couldn't help feeling suffocated when things finally returned to normal.
Lost in thought, Pei Yuanling had already led Chu Qingyin into the room where they had rested.
The wooden door was closed, completely blocking the view of outsiders.
Lu Zhiheng's eyes flickered slightly, his face remaining expressionless, but his long fingers inside his sleeve clenched tightly, clenching until his knuckles turned white...
**
The simple room was lit by only a dim oil lamp, and the bedding had all been changed to brand new. Although it was simple, it could still be described as somewhat cozy.
The Emperor and Empress stood before the small bed. Chu Qingyin raised her hand, "Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. Let me help you undress..."
Before her fingertips even touched the man's belt, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back sharply.
"what!"
In an instant, their positions were reversed, and Chu Qingyin was pinned down by the man, her hands restrained and pulled back to the headboard.
Chu Qingyin had already changed into the clothes that Pei Yuanling had ordered her to wear—a light purple long dress. She had washed herself, and the light gauze clung to her fair skin, revealing countless abrasions on her body.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"
Chu Qingyin looked up, her watery eyes filled with astonishment.
Pei Yuanling remained silent, his gaze dark as he stared at the scabbed scars on her body. His cold fingertips traced each one, and he felt a tightness in his chest, a truly unbearable discomfort.
"Yinyin, I'm so sorry you've suffered."
"I am already very content to see Your Majesty again." Chu Qingyin's eyes were filled with tears, and in the candlelight, she looked even more pitiful, arousing people's pity.
The man's hand lingered on her scars, the cold touch sending shivers down her spine.
"Your Majesty, I really miss you..." Chu Qingyin bit her lip, her soft voice tinged with a sob.
"And what about me?"
Pei Yuanling's eyes grew even deeper as he lowered his head and gently kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes. "These days, every time I think of the danger you are in, my heart aches."
As they spoke, the man's kisses gradually moved downwards.
The touch landed on the shallow wound on her neck, as gently as if it were a rare treasure.
Chu Qingyin tilted her head back slightly, her breathing becoming rapid, and her hands unconsciously gripped Pei Yuanling's clothes tightly.
Soon, the kiss became even more passionate.
The man's hands began to wander restlessly, as if measuring a treasure he had lost and then regained.
Chu Qingyin's cheeks flushed, and her body became weak and limp. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please don't..."
Pei Yuanling suddenly stopped what he was doing. "Why not? Doesn't Yinyin miss me?"
Although the man's tone was gentle, Chu Qingyin had been his wife for many years in her previous life, so she could hear the displeasure in his words.
Pei Yuanling was not a lustful person, and he was past the age of being impulsive and impatient. His current "displeasure" stemmed from suspicion.
Throughout history, emperors have been the most suspicious.
"Your Majesty, my injuries are still aching, and today I went to town with Sister-in-law Amei. We left early and returned late, and I am really exhausted."
Chu Qingyin softened her tone and even took the initiative to raise her two snow-white arms to wrap around the man's neck. Blushing, she leaned close to his ear and said, "When we return to the palace, Your Majesty, may I do as you please?"
A beauty in my arms, her breath as fragrant as orchids.
The suspicion in Pei Yuanling's eyes also dissipated.
He buried his head in the crook of Chu Qingyin's neck, his heavy breaths spraying onto her skin, "Yinyin, you belong to me."
"It can only be mine."
The man's voice was deep and possessive.
Chu Qingyin felt a pang of sadness and placed a kiss on his neck: "Your Majesty, what's wrong? I've always been yours."
She blinked, her expression both eccentric and playful.
The two embraced for a moment, then Pei Yuanling got up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Go to sleep. We have to travel tomorrow."
Chu Qingyin responded and obediently lay down. Pei Yuanling then lay down beside her, holding her tightly in his arms, and the two fell asleep in each other's embrace.
That night, Chu Qingyin did not sleep well, her brows furrowed and never relaxed.
Inside the hall, Lu Zhiheng leaned against the wooden wall, the sounds from inside the room clearly audible until there was no more movement.
It wasn't that he was eavesdropping, but the soundproofing in the room was extremely poor, and the sounds kept drilling into his ears. He lowered his eyelashes and pursed his thin lips slightly.
For some reason, the image of Chu Qingyin warming him up in the cave flashed into his mind. The woman, her clothes disheveled, pretended to be calm and said to him, "Lord Lu, our situation is only due to circumstances, so don't worry about it."
Don't worry about it.
Is it really possible to ignore it?
What if he insists on caring?
……
crazy.
It's crazy.
Lu Zhiheng frowned, amused by his own absurd idea.