Chapter 56: Li Dai Tao Jiang (2)

Hearing these words, Li Si nearby was both surprised and delighted. Master... could it be that he has decided to marry Princess Qie Lan? If the Master truly were to establish a queen, that would be for the best. The Changming Palace, vast, deep, and empty for so many years, was just like the Master—a palace cold and lonely, quiet and solitary, a palace that remained as still as water even with servants as numerous as clouds. If one more person were added, would it become different from before? Amidst her joy, she saw the Master's expression remain as usual, a quiet indifference that revealed nothing of his thoughts. His gaze merely fell upon the Nine Princess, carrying a faint, profound meaning, "My visit to see my royal uncle was indeed because of Qie Lan, but there was another matter: to personally thank him."

Zi Rao was puzzled, "Thank him? For what?"

Zi Hao looked at her, "For his timely intervention in Wangliang Valley. Otherwise, I fear you would have had to taste the severity of Qiaoku Daozhang once more."

Zi Rao froze. Her thoughts drifted, and she knew he had already asked Han Xi about all the dangers in Wangliang Valley and understood everything clearly. She had originally intended to downplay the severity and delay him for a while, hoping he might eventually forget, but she had underestimated his patience and memory. He knew she would not tell him, so he did not press her. He also knew the matter was not as simple as her and Ye Xuanshang entering the valley, meeting Han Xi, finding Zhu Jiuyin, and obtaining the Snake Gall due to the friendship between the royal uncle and Qiaoku Daozhang. Thus, without knowing the truth, he had never lashed out. As she looked up, she saw the smile at the corners of his lips fade, his gaze sweeping over her heavily. Under his motionless stare, her two dense, feathery eyelashes trembled ever so slightly. She lowered her eyes, stood up, and with a graceful, swaying motion, bowed her head and bent her knees before the man with the cold, indifferent expression. Every word she spoke was submissive, "Zi Rao knows she was wrong. Please punish me, Royal Brother. Zi Rao will never dare to do so again."

Within her glistening, crystal-clear eyes hid a flicker of agile light. At this bow, Li Si clearly saw the corners of the Master's lips twitch slightly, as if he wanted to say something but forcibly held it back.

Knowing she had always been reckless, and that she dared to go to a dangerous place like Wangliang Valley now, she would surely dare to do other dangerous things in the future. He had originally wanted to take the opportunity to rebuke her to prevent any real misfortune later, but at this moment, he was speechless. Because when the words reached his lips, he could not think of what to rebuke her for. With her bowing her head and admitting her fault like this, where exactly was her error?

Those who desire something will inevitably have anxieties.

He could see the outcome, facing life and death with composure, calculating and planning everything so that he himself was fearless, yet he only feared that one day, the things she sought and wished for would ultimately bring her pain.

He wanted to protect her, yet there was no way to begin. With the entire world under his command, he could protect people, but how could he protect that heart of hers, as clear as snow and as delicate as ice?

At the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion, the heavy gates and vermilion walls were lit like fire, illuminating the carved towers and magnificent platforms. The halls and palaces stretched on, so grand they seemed not of the human world.

A luxurious carriage stopped steadily. Shan Qi, at its side, dismounted and stepped forward to invite, "Young Lady, you may disembark."

The embroidered curtain was lifted. Her jade fingers were like scallion shoots, and the exquisite dangling hairpin of a phoenix butterfly amidst flowers swayed gently beside her dark hair, moving and enchanting. The beauty in the carriage stepped out with a graceful, swaying gait. She held the hand of a small maid, cast a smiling glance at the guards who had escorted them the whole way, and walked charmingly toward the mansion.

Every time he acted on orders, Shan Qi had gone to Ban Yue Pavilion more than once to fetch this beautiful concubine to the mansion. Now, walking by her side, a faint, lingering fragrance—like flowers yet not flowers, like dew yet not dew—drifted through the long corridors under the moon in the mansion's beautiful garden. Intentionally or unintentionally, it rippled at the tip of his nose and before his eyes, still making one's heart flutter for a moment.

Passing through the flowers and brushing the curtains, the crescent moon illuminated her charming, slender shadow. Bai Shu'er was very familiar with where Huang Fei lived. Before she even entered, her soft, coquettish laughter reached inside, "Such a fragrant scent of wine. Young Master, why are you in such high spirits tonight? What good wine have you obtained that you want Shu'er to accompany you?"

In the room, on a wide and comfortable carved incense couch, Huang Fei leaned back, holding a crystal cup. He wore a single layer of brocade silk, flowing and white. The jade-like, moon-like material set off his black hair, which was tied up casually with a golden silk and jade belt, possessing a brilliance that did not lose to royal robes and tassels. Hearing Bai Shu'er enter, his gaze did not leave the chessboard before him. A chess piece fell into the game with a *tap*, and he laughed lazily, "You've come so late. You must be punished with three cups of wine first."

Bai Shu'er raised her charming, gentle eyes and suddenly saw the women standing on either side holding pots and cups. Her expression changed slightly, but she immediately put on a smile, "If I drink three cups, I'll be drunk and unconscious. Wouldn't that spoil the Young Master's mood? It would be better to let Shu'er pour wine for the Young Master to apologize." She raised her hand to take the jade pot from the side, her gaze sweeping over, "Oh my, when did the Young Master's mansion get these two beautiful women? This appearance and figure are truly lovable!"

Huang Fei looked up and reached out to pull her over, "The one in purple is called Long Yue; she was originally a female official in the palace. I like the way she looks when she is shy, so I asked the Queen for her yesterday. The one in crimson is called Zhao Yu; she was bestowed by the King. There was originally one more, but on the way back, she happened to catch the eye of General Yu of the Left Camp. I owed General Yu a drink that I forgot to return, so I had to bear the pain and part with her."

Bai Shu'er drank a cup of wine with him, her eyes sweeping sideways toward the two women, saying with a mix of feigned anger and resentment, "No wonder the Young Master hasn't been to Ban Yue Pavilion for several days. It turns out you have new favorites at home."

Huang Fei looked down at her, full of interest, "New favorites are not as good as old loves. Come, help me look at this game of chess."

Bai Shu'er leaned against him and examined the chessboard. After looking for a long time, she only shook her head, "Who in Chu Du doesn't know that the Young Master's chess skills are extraordinary? How would Shu'er have the ability to solve the Young Master's game? Young Master, please don't make things difficult for me."

Huang Fei's gaze shifted to her face, and he tapped the table leisurely with his finger, "This time you've guessed wrong. This chess game was set by someone else for me to solve, and it is quite interesting. I am wondering whether to wipe them out completely now, or play a few more moves to relieve my boredom. For a moment, I can't quite make up my mind."

Bai Shu'er cast a charming glance at him, her soft voice moving, "If you ask me, it's all the same. Anyway, they can never escape the Young Master's grasp!"

Huang Fei looked up and laughed, "Haha, well said!" At this moment, he suddenly heard Shan Qi report from outside, "Young Master, a letter has arrived from the north."

"Bring it in." Huang Fei released the person in his arms. Bai Shu'er quickly exchanged a glance with Zhao Yu, who was standing by, her eyes full of questions, but hindered by the presence of Long Yue in the room, it was inconvenient to speak for the moment. Through the embroidered screen, she saw Huang Fei take the secret scroll offered by Shan Qi. After opening and reading it, he turned and came in, placing it casually on the desk. He used the fragrant ink in the inkstone to moisten his brush on paper, wrote a reply in a few words, and resealed it in the secret scroll. "Send it back immediately. Do not make any mistakes."

Shan Qi took the order and left. Huang Fei waved his hand, ordering Long Yue and Zhao Yu to withdraw together. He walked to the couch and smiled, examining Bai Shu'er under the lamp, "Wine and beauty, a new glow upon your jade skin. I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've become even more enchanting."

Bai Shu'er's soft sleeves fluttered, and her jade arms wrapped around his neck like a water snake. Her eyes, filled with mist and charm, were brimming with spring, "How do I compare to your new people?"

"What do you think?" The wine cup was tossed aside. Huang Fei turned and embraced her on the couch. His half-drunk, half-sober gaze seemed to see through the alluring, demonic curves beneath the light silk and gauze at a single glance. Her soft, snake-like waist entangled him, and the woman let out soft, delicate gasps, perfectly responding, turning, and teasing...

The brocade curtains hung down, the golden lamps and jade shadows illuminated the painted screen, the room was filled with warm waves, and the scent of clouds and rain floated in the air.

"Young Master." Bai Shu'er leaned bonelessly against Huang Fei's shoulder. Huang Fei leaned against the pillow with his eyes slightly closed, stroking her smooth, fragrant shoulders. Her silk clothes were half-open, setting off her graceful and romantic appearance even more.

"Hmm."

"I heard that there are two rare snow-cloud flowers at Western Mountain Temple. Every time the new moon arrives, they bloom, and it is breathtakingly beautiful. Shu'er has always wanted to go and see them, but I never had the chance."

Whenever they obtained full pleasure, women would always seize the right moment to make small requests. A smile drifted from the corners of Huang Fei's lips, and he was too lazy to raise his eyes, "What is difficult about that? If you like them, I will order the abbot of Western Mountain Temple to send those two pots of flowers to Ban Yue Pavilion tomorrow."

"Young Master!" Bai Shu'er said urgently and coquettishly, "The snow-cloud flower is a holy item before the Buddha. How would Shu'er dare to profane it like that? Just to see it once is enough. It's just that the night is dark and the road is long, and it's always hard to make the trip. I wonder if the Young Master has the interest tonight?"

Her wonderful eyes were brimming with allure, waiting expectantly. Huang Fei's handsome eyes smiled with increasing depth, and he suddenly raised his voice to order, "Shan Qi, prepare the carriage. I will accompany Miss Bai to visit Western Mountain Temple tonight."

The mansion's drivers and guards were in a flurry of activity. A moment later, Bai Shu'er boarded the carriage with the Shao Yuan Jun and left. Before leaving, she cast a secret glance at Zhao Yu, who was following to serve and see them off.

The golden moon was like a hook, and the shadows of the trees were deep. The lights in the Helian Marquis Mansion had not yet been extinguished when a figure crossed the corridor and flashed into the room.

"Marquis!"

Helian Yiren looked up, recognized the person's face, and immediately stood up, "It's you!"

Under the lamplight, Zhao Yu, the maid who had been at the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion, was dressed in black night-traveling clothes. Her figure was slender and beautiful, and her smile, which had undergone special training, was elegant without losing its gentleness and beauty. Her every move had a unique charm, enough to make any man's heart beat for her. Seeing no one else, she stepped forward and bowed to Helian Yiren, "Zhao Yu congratulates the Marquis!"

Helian Yiren frowned and said, "Today I learned that you and Qing Ping were bestowed upon Huang Fei by the King and could not serve by the King's side. I was just worrying about this. What is there to congratulate?"

A smile rippled in Zhao Yu's eyes as she took a folded secret letter from her bosom, "A blessing in disguise, who knows if it is a misfortune? Huang Fei is naturally romantic. Although he unintentionally ruined our original plan this time, making it impossible for me and Qing Ping to get close to the King, the Hall Master is one move ahead. Once the Marquis reads this, you will surely turn your worry into joy."

Helian Yiren unfolded the letter and read it. The golden paper with ink writing had a vigorous and imposing style. Written on it, surprisingly, was the secret agreement between King Xuan and the Shao Yuan Jun.

(End of chapter)