[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - 24

Chapter 92, Phoenix City Lord...

Pei Yanxi never imagined that the first obstacle on her path to becoming Empress would not be Yan Huang, but the Empress Dowager.

Even if Pei Yanxi wasn't her biological daughter, Pei Qingyao still had feelings for her. Her only worry was whether Pei Yanxi was a member of the You family.

If the You family had replaced her daughter with someone from their own clan to save their own lives, and now she was making her Empress... how could she explain this to herself?

The whereabouts of the You family member who had escaped the net back then had been found. Although they hadn't been caught yet, there were already clues. No matter what, she had to wait until the truth was revealed.

Her daughter... every time she thought about this, her heart ached.

In the end, she was too confident, too arrogant... Where was her daughter now? How was she doing?

Every time she thought about the calamities she might face, she couldn't eat or sleep. The You family, the You family... she shouldn't have let her die so easily back then.

Compared to the Empress Dowager's inner turmoil and pain, Pei Yanxi was even more restless.

She hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to be the first to suggest postponing the matter, and she wondered if the Empress Dowager harbored resentment towards her because of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden incident. What should she do? She simply didn't have the courage to go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager, nor the courage to ask her why she had suddenly changed her attitude.

Little did she know, even more unsettling news was yet to come.

That day, the man in black had shown her what was supposedly a portrait of her birth mother. She remembered the name on the seal. With her status, finding such a person would be too easy; it would just take some time. So, two months later, her men returned with news: in Xiangchun Garden, Changhuai County, Dongyi, there once lived a courtesan named Qin Susu. She had a daughter, born in the same year as her, named Mo Liyue.

Mo Liyue, differing from Qin Liyue by only one character, and her mother's surname was Qin…

She felt herself collapsing. If, if it really was Qin Liyue… she would die a horrible death.

…

The night was pitch black, a crescent moon hanging in the sky.

In the ancient city of Yong'an, a shadow swept across the wall of Wuyi Tower like a wisp of wind, disappearing into the open window on the second floor, which then silently closed.

The ghostly figure turned around, the cold moonlight shining through the window paper onto his face—it was Murong Juan.

"The Emperor summoned me urgently. What are your orders?" he asked expressionlessly.

"Eliminate Pei Yanxi." Shu Ge, hidden in the shadows, was completely different from his gentle and composed demeanor during the day; his cold eyes flashed with a chilling light. "This is the action plan. The Emperor has instructed that you personally carry it out." He handed over a piece of paper.

Murong Juan took it, glanced at it in the moonlight, nodded, and turned to disappear out the window.

Pei Yanxi actually intended to marry Yan Huang; she had brought this upon herself. The Emperor even wanted to get rid of Pei Bangqing, let alone her?

*

In early February, Nanfo, located in the south, was already a delightful sight of spring. As the saying goes, "The sunrise over the river is redder than fire, and the spring river is greener than blue." For the past half month, Liyue had witnessed the breathtaking beauty of the Kasyapa River.

That morning, Liyue went up to the deck, where Su Yingge was already sitting at the bow, her white clothes fluttering in the wind, holding a monocular telescope and looking towards the shore.

Li Yue stretched lazily and laughed, "Looks like you're more concerned about the location than I am."

Su Yingge snorted and said, "By the time you wake up, you'll have missed so much scenery."

Before Li Yue could retort, he suddenly pointed to the left bank and said, "Look at that mountain, doesn't it look like a phoenix spreading its wings?"

Li Yue looked towards the shore in his direction and saw the verdant mountains, a truly beautiful sight. She immediately said, "It's excellent! If the city were built here, nestled against the mountains and facing the water, surrounded by vast fields, and with convenient transportation, it would be perfect."

She then turned and shouted into the cabin, "Niu Honghong! Niu Honghong!"

Niu Hong responded and came out.

"Pass the order: land here and set up camp. Tomorrow morning, gather all the soldiers at the foot of that mountain. I have something to say," Li Yue said, pointing to the mountain range she had previously chosen.

Niu Hong accepted the order and immediately began making arrangements.

In the evening, Li Yue and Su Yingge climbed to the highest peak of Phoenix Mountain and sat side by side on the branches of an old pine tree near the cliff, looking down at the dense, star-like military camps stretching out below.

Li Yue watched for a while, then sighed, "So many people, isn't my caravan a bit too big? How big of a city would I need to build to house them all?"

Su Yingge laughed, "That depends on how you plan to manage them. If it's just like a military camp, a city for 50,000 people is easy to build. But if you're going to help them get married and have children, then... I can only tell you, Sheng Yang only has a population of around 300,000. You'll have to figure it out yourself."

Li Yue scratched her head and counted on her fingers, "If each person marries one wife, that's 100,000 people. If they have one child, that's 150,000 people. Some families without brothers might bring their parents, so let's say 30,000. That's 180,000 people. It's impossible for every family to only have one child; some might have two or three... Uh, heavens, am I going to build a whole Sheng Yang?"

Su Yingge laughed loudly, "Now you realize how serious the problem is?"

Li Yue blinked, "I don't care. Anyway, Jin Lu is providing the money and labor, and your canal gang is responsible for transporting them. I'll supervise. " "Alright."

Su Yingge lowered her eyes, and after a long while, asked, "Why are you willing to owe Jinlu a favor?"

Li Yue swung her legs and said casually, "Who said I owe him a favor? These people are the subjects I protected for him, the city was built on his land, and the wealth he created all belongs to Nanfo. He gained a city comparable to Sheng Yang for no reason, and I have to go to the trouble of managing it for him. He's the one who owes me a favor, okay?"

Su Yingge laughed and shook her head helplessly: "You're really good at making things up." Li

Yue lifted her legs and placed them on the branches, then naturally lay down on his lap. Looking at the golden pine needles in the sunset, she sighed, "Ah, I really miss my beloved. Once this city is built, I'll bring it and all its wives and concubines back."

Su Yingge lowered his head, looking at her pink, lotus-like face nestled on his lap. Her long, black hair cascaded across his snow-white robes, creating a breathtaking contrast of black and white. He couldn't help but reach out, his slender, delicate fingers gently running through her silky hair.

Unexpectedly, as he lowered his head, strands of his hair cascaded down his shoulders, the mountain breeze, bathed in the glow of the sunset, brushing against Li Yue's cheek, mesmerizing her.

She reached out and grasped his glossy black hair, feeling its texture as it spun around her fingers. She wrapped one finger around it a few times, then brought it to her nose and inhaled lightly.

"How does it smell?" Su Yingge asked, watching her movements.

Li Yue looked up, her clear eyes meeting Su Yingge's. She smiled sweetly and said, "Not bad."

The light of the spring sunset was so soft and lingering, wasn't it? That smile seemed to have captivated his soul.

Seeing her radiant smile, Su Yingge suddenly reached out and pulled her onto his lap.

The mountain wind was strong, and Li Yue's unbound hair was blown forward, scattering the brilliant afterglow. In the hazy light and shadow, their eyes met, their breaths mingling.

"That sentence, could you say it to me again?" Su Yingge gazed at her slightly narrowed eyes.

"Which sentence?" Her hands, seemingly boneless, wrapped around his neck.

"The sentence you said to me at the inn next to the clinic in Xiwu Linying." Su Yingge reminded her.

Su Yingge, marry me. That was what she said then, in that place.

"I've said so many things, which one do you want to hear?" She tilted her head, a sly smile on her face.

“Alright…” He turned his head slightly, letting her hair brush against his face, seemingly a little disappointed. But the next moment, he suddenly turned back and stole a kiss from her lips. Had

he missed his chance? No matter, he'd create another.

She loved kissing him because his kisses were sweet and carefree. She believed that feelings had already blossomed between them, unspoken yet palpable. This ambiguous, ambiguous feeling was wonderful and alluring.

Their soft, tight lips intertwined, their agile tongues conveying affection, and they

gradually lost themselves in the moment. Listening to his increasingly heavy breathing and his arms tightening around her, Li Yue suddenly wondered, if she were to seduce him, how would he react?

Thinking this, she took advantage of his momentary lapse in attention and suddenly lunged forward, intending to pin him down. However, she forgot they were sitting in a tree,

and so…

in an instant, two screams pierced the air, followed by shouts of insults, “Qin Liyue, you wicked devil! Trying to rob me of my virtue and kill me?”

“Pah! If you hadn’t clung to me like that, none of this would have happened!”

…

The next morning, 53,757 soldiers, under Niu Hong’s command, stood in orderly formation in a large open area beside the camp at the foot of the mountain. Since there was no command platform, a temporary siege ladder over two zhang high was built. Liyue climbed up and looked around, seeing a vast, seemingly endless sea of heads.

She touched her forehead, exclaiming, “Goodness, so many men standing in a row, the scene is truly… spectacular!”

Niu Hong, standing behind her, frowned slightly, but remained silent. Li Yue suddenly plopped down, sitting cross-legged in a casual, conversational posture. Niu Hong was taken aback. Since she was sitting, his standing would seem like overstepping his bounds, so he sat down as well, nudging Li Yue's arm and saying, "City Lord, this isn't a proper posture for meeting the soldiers for the first time."

"What's wrong with it?" Li Yue replied nonchalantly, then turned to look at the more than 50,000 soldiers craning their necks to look at her. She cleared her throat and transmitted her voice with internal force: "I'm sure your deputy general has already told you who I am. I'll introduce myself again here. My name is Qin Li Yue, I'm eighteen years old, a genuine woman, and your current leader."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers below began to whisper amongst themselves, their voices buzzing like bees buzzing incessantly.

Li Yue had anticipated this. She knew Niu Hong would at most tell them she was a woman, a non-royal king of Nanfo, and would never reveal her age. However, she didn't think there was anything to hide, so she made it clear from the start.

Niu Hong, sitting behind her wiping his sweat, wondered if she knew that many of the soldiers below were seasoned veterans, hardened by countless battles. How could she, at only eighteen, command respect? Why was she revealing her age? She should have emphasized her status and strength! (Advertisement break: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain ejaculation sensation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint! Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.) She

's still young, inexperienced, and has never been a leader before.

Li Yue let them discuss for a while, then raised her voice, "You are men. If you have something on your mind, don't whisper like women. Stand up and speak up with backbone!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly carried to every corner of the camp, reaching everyone's ears. The soldiers, seeing her such skill at such a young age, were somewhat unsure of her strength, but some men of steel stepped forward and asked firmly, "Miss Qin, we know you saved our lives, but life is one thing, dignity is another. We want to ask, what makes you, an eighteen-year-old girl, worthy of leading us?"

This man undoubtedly voiced the thoughts of most people, yet some couldn't help but secretly sweat. They knew that in their current situation, without this woman's protection, they would likely still be captured and beheaded by the court.

"What's your name?" Li Yue asked instead of answering.

"Wang Hao," the man replied fearlessly.

Li Yue laughed and said, "Wang Hao, do you know you just saved your own life?"

Everyone was puzzled.

"You say I'm just an eighteen-year-old girl, and you question my qualifications to lead you? I can accept

that. But if you don't consider my age and question my qualifications simply because I'm a woman, I will kill you." At this point, Li Yue's smile vanished. She glanced around the camp and said, "Admittedly, throughout the history of Southern Buddha, there's probably no precedent for a woman leading troops. But what I'm saying is, just because it didn't happen before doesn't mean it can't. What's wrong with women? Are women necessarily incapable of leading troops? Your previous leader was a man, wasn't he? Did he lead you well? Dignity? What is dignity? Dignity is a human consciousness. To preserve one's dignity..." First, you need to confirm that you are all human beings. And where did you all come from? You crawled out of your mothers' wombs. Without your mothers, you wouldn't even be human beings, let alone have dignity. Ask yourselves honestly, do you respect your mothers? Over the years, how have you repaid her for raising you? Is she still alive? How is she doing? Raise your hands if you believe you have taken good care of the mothers who gave you life and dignity. Let me see.

Silence fell. Everyone lowered their heads sadly. These soldiers, who were stationed far away for many years, hadn't even been able to take care of their mothers, let alone their hometowns.

"What's wrong? Doesn't anyone want to argue with me? Can't you find anything to say in my defense?" Li Yue asked.

"It's not that we don't want to take care of our mothers, but loyalty and filial piety have always been difficult to reconcile," someone cried out in grief and indignation.

"What a dilemma of loyalty and filial piety! Speaking of loyalty, I think every one of you soldiers knows that your duty is to protect this country and be loyal to this court. Have you done that? The emperor represents this country and this court. He is still alive. Did he issue an imperial edict ordering you to rebel in southern Anhui and fight your way back to Shengyang? If your so-called loyalty is not to the court and the emperor, then what virtues and abilities do Yuan Junkai and Shen Dongzhi have that make you loyal to them even if you are unfilial? Who can answer this question for me?" Li Yue's gaze was like lightning, making them dare not look up.

After a long silence, someone finally whispered, "We didn't want to either, but we're just soldiers. Power is in their hands. What can we do?"

Li Yue, with her sharp ears, overheard this and sneered, "It's not that you don't want to, it's that you don't dare. You know this is wrong, you know this might mean you'll never rise again, but you don't dare to resist? Why? Because you're not united! You're afraid to be the first to stand up, afraid that if you stand up and others don't follow, you'll die. Everyone thinks this way, so you all lie prostrate, ready to be trampled on. If you could distinguish right from wrong and unite as one, what would Yuan Junkai and Shen Dongzhi be! Power—the court has given them power, but they also need your cooperation with that power." Force only has substance without you; without you, it's just a piece of waste paper, an empty title. If you had united and joined Feng Zhuo in turning against Yuan Junkai on the day he was killed, wouldn't you still be safely in southern Anhui? Why this execution?

I've never been in the army, but I know that from the first day you joined, your superiors must have constantly told you to obey. Being a soldier means absolute obedience. If there's a ditch on the left and a road on the right, and the general tells you to go left, you can't go right, even if the ditch is bottomless, right? That's all bullshit! Who in their right mind would choose to jump into a ditch instead of taking a road? If you can't even distinguish right from wrong, if you can't even turn around and walk towards the main road in unison, then I can only say that your deaths will be in vain!

I am not a general, nor do I command any strict military orders. I am merely a woman with wild imaginations. But please do not question my qualifications to lead you, for that question should be posed by me: what makes you worthy of being my leader? You have shown me no kindness, saved my life, or done anything for me, not even calling me "leader." Yet, I went to great lengths to save you from the brink of death, borrowed boats from all over to bring you here, and even planned to build a city of your own, so you could live freely without the stigma of treason, so you could bring your parents to fulfill your filial duties, so you could marry, have children, and continue your family line… and yet you still question my qualifications? Even if you acknowledge my virtue and ability, so what? Will it help me find a suitable husband or extend my life? Thinking it over, I'm the one who has suffered more in this whole affair. Have I lost my mind? The men

below softened upon hearing her words, especially her last paragraph, which sounded like a fantasy, yet... it was incredibly tempting! It was something they could only dream of: owning their own city, living with their parents and family, marrying and having children... They had thought their lives would end there.

So, they all craned their necks, staring longingly at the woman who had spoken so eloquently yet left them speechless.

"Those in front, stop craning your necks, or they'll break! Those in the back, stop rubbing your eyes, or you'll go blind and still not see me clearly—it's too far. Now turn around and look at this great mountain behind you. If you're willing, I'll provide the bricks and stones; you can build your city, plant your orchards, and cultivate your fertile fields right here. From today onward, you are no longer soldiers; you are bricklayers, transport workers, farmers, pioneers, all for the purpose of transforming into qualified sons, husbands, and fathers in the near future. Now tell me, are you willing?" "Li Yue asked loudly.

"Yes." Hearing her description, the soldiers seemed to see paradise before their eyes, their hearts surging with passion, and they responded one after another.

"Louder!" Li Yue stood up.

"Yes!" The soldiers answered in a thunderous roar, their voices reaching the heavens.

Li Yue looked at the burning gazes below, and suddenly muttered, "But I'm not quite willing yet."

The soldiers were stunned, staring blankly at Li Yue. After all this time, was she just playing with them?

Li Yue looked at the weathered, hopeful, yet somewhat dazed faces below, and couldn't help but giggle, pointing to the mountain and saying, "This mountain resembles a phoenix spreading its wings, and this city is built against the mountain. Therefore, I want to name this city 'Phoenix City.' Do you agree?"

"Agree!" As long as they have their own home, who cares about Phoenix City or Phoenix City.

"Then who am I?" Li Yue asked again.

The soldiers paused, and then answered in unison, as if by telepathy, "Lord City Lord!" Looking at the dense crowd below, Li

Yue felt a surge of pride as she thought about how their fates and futures were in her hands. With a wave of her hand, she declared, "In that case, disperse now! Eat well, drink well, and rest well today. Tomorrow, we'll begin construction!"

Descending the ladder, Li Yue said to Niu Hong, "The imperial court has dispatched a city design team and construction supervisors with us. I've already discussed the specific design requirements with them. Later, take a few capable men and discuss with them how to divide the work among the various sections. Make sure everyone among the 50,000-plus people is put to good use. Build me the best city possible as quickly as possible."

"Yes, sir!" Niu Hong excitedly followed behind her. To be honest, he hadn't expected her to be so capable at such a young age. In just a few words, she had not only established herself as his benefactor and leader among the soldiers but also revitalized the morale of the troops, which had been low for months.

"Also, there are several small villages nearby. Our city construction might require using their land. Don't force your way in during the demolition work, understand?" "Li Yue specifically instructed.

" "Yes, Lord City Lord, please rest assured," Niu Hong replied.

Just then, Su Yingge walked towards them. Upon seeing her, Niu Hong wisely made an excuse to slip away.

Su Yingge crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and glanced at Li Yue with

a smile, saying, "Not bad for your eloquence." Li Yue playfully curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your compliment."

Seeing this, Su Yingge shrugged and rubbed her arms, saying, "It's so cold."

Li Yue's expression froze, then she kicked her, saying gruffly, "Is lunch ready yet?" "

...

Starting the next day, boats on the Kassapa River shuttled back and forth, constantly transporting building materials down Phoenix Mountain. These soldiers were truly impressive at work; in just twenty days, the vast city was beginning to take shape.

That day, Li Yue and Su Yingge climbed the mountain and glanced at the bustling construction site below. After a short while, they started playing around again. Suddenly, Su Yingge took out a bracelet woven from some unknown material and put it on Li Yue's wrist.

Li Yue looked down; it was a deep turquoise color, and the texture seemed to be made of hemp silk. It was thin and narrow, very delicate, and looked stunning against her snow-white skin. It also had a medicinal fragrance.

"What is this?" Li Yue asked curiously.

"It's like a hallucinogenic drug; smelling it will cure it immediately. If you're poisoned, smelling it will delay the onset of the poison," Su Yingge said calmly.

"So magical?" Li Yue looked at it from all angles, then suddenly asked, "Why did you suddenly give me this?"

Before Su Yingge could answer, a sweet voice called out, "Sister Yue!" Li

Yue turned her head and saw Jinlu running happily towards her like a butterfly. Behind him, a white figure moved as

lightly as a cloud and as serene as the moon. Upon closer inspection, it was Yu Wuchen.

Chapter 93: The Truth About Her Own Background...

After a long while, Li Yue realized that today was March 16th, her birthday, which explained the actions of these men. She wasn't surprised that Jinlu had come; what surprised her more was that Yu Wuchen had come with her.

Wasn't he used to be a loner?

After not seeing him for several months, he looked much better, almost no longer the haggard figure he had been at Yuanming Pavilion. Seeing Li Yue's questioning gaze, he smiled, his expression naturally elegant, and said, "In previous years, I was the one who invited you on this day. This year, why don't you return the favor?" "

Since he said that, Li Yue naturally had no reason to refuse.

Jin Lü, for some reason, insisted on eating food cooked by Li Yue herself. Li Yue wanted to ask Su Yingge to do it, but Su Yingge refused. Li Yue was annoyed, but then she thought that even if her cooking wasn't good, they would be the ones suffering, so she felt better and readily agreed.

The four of them then went to the fully equipped kitchen and hall of Jin Lü's boat on the riverbank to prepare lunch.

The boat used coal stoves, ten in total, but Li Yue didn't have the ability to manage ten pots at the same time, so she only turned on one..." She had just picked out some ingredients and started stewing them when she turned around and found Yu Wuchen standing by the door watching her.

Although it was a royal ship, space was limited, and the kitchen wasn't very spacious. His presence seemed to make the cramped space feel cramped, unable to contain his warm, radiant presence, making her feel awkward no matter how she looked at him.

Li Yue sighed inwardly. This man she had first fallen in love with, even after so much time, no matter when or where, she could never remain unmoved upon seeing him again.

If there were truly any enemies in this world, he was certainly one of them.

"Need any help?" Seeing her looking at him, he composed himself, his thoughts still wandering, and asked.

"Aren't you afraid of getting your clothes dirty?" Li Yue looked at his spotless white robe.

He smiled slightly and walked in.

Li Yue turned her head, pretending to examine the dozens of bottles and jars of spices on the table, but her heart skipped a beat.

He was different today. Though his smile was still ethereal and otherworldly, the feeling he gave was no longer that of someone detached from worldly affairs and devoid of desire.

He longed to be close to her; she could tell.

Was it her parting words that gave him hope?

Actually, when she said those words… well, she admitted it. At that time, she was conflicted and struggling to make a decision, which was why she uttered such an ambiguous statement.

People always mature. Before, she minded that her place in his heart was not as high as his parents'. She had never considered things from his perspective: if her mother were still alive, could he replace her in her heart?

The answer was obvious: no!

Since she couldn't do it herself, why demand that others do it? If he could truly disregard his family and be unfilial for her sake, would that kind of Yu Wuchen truly suit her heart?

He was himself, and his family was his family. Being in love with him didn't mean she had to marry him, or get along with his family. Since they could leave each other alone, why should she be so bothered?

Besides, he had also said that he would leave Jiuhua Mountain after his parents passed away.

As for Yu Jiuxiao, such a self-righteous, arrogant, and selfish person, perhaps the greatest torment for him is not being able to become the leader of the martial arts alliance.

"Will you come to Jiuhua Mountain on June 15th?" Yu Wuchen stood beside her, watching her absent-minded movements, and asked.

"Will Yuexiao Manor send me a hero's invitation?" Li Yue countered.

"I'll invite you," Yu Wuchen said.

Li Yue smiled, pursing her lips, and said, "We'll see then." She paused, turned, raised an eyebrow at him, and asked, "Knowing it's my birthday, you didn't bring me a gift?"

Yu Wuchen looked down at her wrist and said, "What I wanted to give you, you already have."

"The same? Let me see." Li Yue opened her palm.

Yu Wuchen took out a red brocade box from his robes and placed it in her hand.

Li Yue opened it and exclaimed in surprise, "So beautiful!"

It was an exquisite sapphire bracelet, each gemstone crystal clear and flawless. The superb craftsmanship made the gemstones shine brilliantly from every angle. The clasp was adorned with delicate silver threads and tiny gemstone beads for adjustment.

Compared to the gaudy gold and silver bracelets and bangles popular today, this custom-made gemstone bracelet undoubtedly possessed the power to instantly captivate any woman.

As a woman, and as a woman who loved beauty, Li Yue was also successfully captivated.

The bracelet's beauty was only one aspect; it was the sentiment it contained that she cherished.

"Put it on me," she said, looking up at Yu Wuchen.

Yu Wuchen obediently picked up the bracelet, slipped it onto her slender wrist, and gently tightened the gemstone-encrusted tassels.

Li Yue raised her wrist, glanced at it, and smiled, saying, "Thank you!"

Yu Wuchen was about to say "You're welcome," but she suddenly placed her small hand on his shoulder, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek.

Seeing that she was about to leave after the kiss, he felt a surge of anxiety and instinctively reached out to wrap his arms around her waist.

Li Yue's retreat was stopped, and she couldn't help but look up at him.

His face gradually flushed under her gaze, like a newly blossoming flower bud, its delicate color slowly revealing itself in the spring breeze, rosy and flawless. Yet his eyes remained clear and bright, slightly misty, perhaps due to nervousness.

"Li Yue, there's something I've kept in my heart for a long time. I know you might not want to hear it now, but if I don't say it now, I'm afraid I'll regret it for the rest of my life. Li Yue, I like you." His cheeks were flushed, and his tone was still normal, but the rapid beating of his heart betrayed his nervousness to Li Yue through their close physical contact.

Li Yue was slightly stunned. She had thought she would never hear him say those words aloud in her lifetime, because to her, he had always been so distant and unapproachable.

Even though she had already glimpsed his feelings over the past year, hearing him say them still felt like a dream.

"Say it again," she wanted to make sure it wasn't an illusion.

"I like you." His tone changed from slightly nervous at first to firm and resolute.

Li Yue looked at him, her lips curving upwards, then upwards again. Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe and bit his shoulder hard, then tilted her head to rest on his shoulder so he couldn't see her expression—a mixture of joy and sorrow. She said, "You keep holding back, keep holding back, and see if I still want you!"

"I know, I was wrong, forgive me, Li Yue." Holding her in his arms, he finally understood what true happiness was. Everything else, all the planning and preparation, was just empty talk. No one will stand still and wait for you forever. If you don't want to lose her, you have no choice but to chase after her.

Second floor of the ship.

Jinlu sat by the window, Su Yingge standing before him. His insistence on eating Liyue's personally prepared meal was merely a way to find an opportunity to speak with Su Yingge alone.

"Are you deliberately testing my patience?" Time was limited, and Jinlu didn't mince words, getting straight to the point.

Su Yingge bowed slightly, saying, "I don't understand what Your Highness means?"

Seeing his feigned ignorance, Jinlu's gaze swept over him, sharp as a cold wind, piercing Su Yingge like an icy sword.

Su Yingge remained unfazed, straightening her back to meet his gaze.

"Leave her." Jinlu stared at him, his tone commanding.

"Your Highness, I don't lie to a true person. In other matters, I am your subject, and I should obey your orders. But in matters of the heart, there are only winners and losers, no distinction of rank or status. If you want me to leave, you probably only have two options: defeat me, or kill me." Su Yingge remained neither humble nor arrogant.

Jinlu's bright eyes narrowed, his gaze as cold as a bottomless abyss. He knew, of course, that emotionally, his current position in Li Yue's heart was far inferior to Su Yingge's. It was a momentary lapse of judgment on his part. He had sent Su Yingge to rescue Li Yue several times when she was in trouble, forgetting that while Su Yingge secretly obeyed him, he was still a normal man, capable of developing feelings for Li Yue. He simply hadn't expected him to actually have the audacity.

The power of love was truly terrifying.

He was the crown prince, and soon the emperor would die, and he would ascend to the throne. Clearly, he couldn't possibly be as free as Su Yingge to spend every day cultivating feelings for Li Yue. To defeat him… how easy would that be?

But if he killed him… what if things weren't done cleanly and Li Yue discovered it? Then he would likely never be seen by her again, and perhaps she would even seek revenge for Su Yingge.

He stared at Su Yingge, his slender fingers lightly tapping the edge of the table, his thoughts racing.

With Li Yue's feelings involved, he indeed dared not easily touch Su Yingge at this moment. Moreover, Li Yue's attitude towards him hadn't changed, indicating that Su Yingge hadn't told him about his scheme against Huangfu Jue, and clearly, Su Yingge didn't want to openly confront him.

He was still somewhat wary.

It was good that he was wary; he couldn't be with Li Yue all the time, but he still had the leisure and inclination to play with Su Yingge.

After a long silence, he paused, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Alright, I accept your challenge. Let's see who wins the beauty's heart."

Seeing him back down, Su Yingge felt no relief.

They had known each other for a long time; for Jin Lü, promises, reputation, and honor were all meaningless. To achieve his goals, he could be a brother one moment and stab you in the heart the next.

Dealing with him is exhausting, incredibly exhausting, because no matter if he's happy or angry, whether he's being hypocritical or sincere on the surface, you have to be on guard against him at all times. A moment's lapse in vigilance will be a fatal mistake.

When the two arrived at the downstairs hall, they saw Yu Wuchen and Li Yue bustling about, setting out dishes and arranging food. Their movements were so synchronized, their eyes meeting in perfect harmony, that they seemed like a married couple, and Jin Lu and Su Yingge were their guests.

Jin Lu and Su Yingge were suspicious. Just moments before, when they met on the mountain, the two had seemed somewhat distant; how could they be so intimate in such a short time?

Observing Yu Wuchen closely, they noticed his slightly flushed cheeks and swollen lips. They weren't naive enough to think his lips were burned or bitten; the reason for this was obvious.

In an instant, they both realized that their jealousy had given the other an opportunity to take advantage of them. They were filled with rage, their appetite gone, replaced by a murderous urge.

Fortunately, both men were experts at putting on airs. Even though they were furious inside, they maintained a composed facade, sitting at the table marveling at how many dishes Li Yue could cook. As for the taste… their eyes were glued to the sapphire bracelet that had seemingly appeared on her wrist; who had the mind to care about the flavors?

Filled with jealousy, the two men channeled their anger into sharp glares at Yu Wuchen. Unexpectedly, Yu Wuchen remained completely calm, not even glancing at them. He elegantly tasted each dish, discussing with Li Yue whether it was too salty or too bland.

Li Yue, having just reconciled with him, was caught up in their passionate affair and didn't care what the other two men thought, interacting with him happily.

Furious! Even the two men, as ruthless as ninja turtles, couldn't help but redden their eyes and tremble in the face of this situation, almost flipping the table. Fortunately, someone intervened at the last moment.

"Your Highness, someone has come to deliver a gift to Miss Qin." Li Shi reported from outside the hall of the ship.

Another gift-giver? Who is it? Jin Lu and Su Yingge frowned, and Yu Wuchen put down his chopsticks.

"Oh? Is that so? Bring it in." Only Li Yue was happy.

"The person has already left, only the gift was left behind." Li Shi added.

The three men breathed a sigh of relief, but Li Yue was puzzled and said, "Then, bring the gift in."

Upon hearing this, Li Shi waved his hand towards the shore and said, "Bring it in."

Bring it in? What gift needs to be brought in? Now even Li Yue was puzzled.

As they spoke, two guards carried in a box. Li Yue was about to look at it when Jin Lu raised his hand to stop her and said to the two guards, "Open it." He was afraid that there might be a fake inside that could harm Li Yue.

Two guards pried open the lock on the chest, opened the lid, and saw a burlap sack writhing inside. They could vaguely hear a woman cursing, "Murong Juan, how dare you treat me like this? Do you want to die...?"

The guards untied the sack, and a woman, dressed smartly but looking disheveled, crawled out, leaning against the edge of the chest, panting heavily.

Upon closer inspection, this was none other than Pei Yanxi.

That day, when Li Yue encountered danger in Yong'an, Murong Juan had been transferred out on business and thus couldn't receive the news in time to rescue her. However, upon returning to Yong'an, he immediately received a report from his subordinates.

Hearing that Li Yue had suffered at Pei Yanxi's hands, he was so angry he wanted to immediately go to the Chen Prince's mansion and kill her, but considering Yan Huang, he suppressed his anger. He thought that as long as Yan Huang could successfully regain power, the people of the Chen Prince's mansion would die sooner or later.

Now that Pei Yanxi's ambition to become Empress had prompted Yan Huang to act prematurely to eliminate her, what reason did he have not to hand her over to Li Yue to deal with herself?

Thus, Pei Yanxi, who should have died in Yong'an, appeared here alive.

Li Yue, seeing Pei Yanxi in the box and hearing her cursing Murong Juan, immediately understood what was going on.

Jin Lu and Su Yingge knew who was responsible for Li Yue's injury in Yong'an, so of the four present, only Yu Wuchen was unaware.

Jin Lu immediately dismissed her men and ordered Li Shi to close the hall door. Pei Yanxi, regaining her senses,

froze when she saw the person before her.

Li Yue, sipping her chopsticks, looked at Pei Yanxi with her dark eyes, quite troubled: "Oh dear, I wasn't even planning to come looking for you, why did you deliver yourself to my door?"

Pei Yanxi trembled. She had tormented her so much in prison last time; now that she was in her hands, not only would she be even more ruthless, but even if she were to repeat the same methods, she would be severely punished.

Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed Yu Wuchen was also there. As if seeing a savior, she cried out, "Young Master Yu, save me!"

Li Yue stood up, kicked aside the stool, and went to the box. Looking down at Pei Yanxi, she shook her finger and said, "Don't waste your energy. Now that you're in my hands, even a god can't save you. Speaking of which, you really came a little too early. My city isn't even finished yet. Where should I settle you? How about we build a water dungeon by the river first, so you can take a bath and wash away the dust of your journey?"

"No, you can't do this to me! I am the Princess of Dongyi, and Yan Huang is my cousin!" Pei Yanxi huddled in the box, his face pale.

"Is that so? But what does this have to do with me?" Li Yue sneered, raising her head to call someone towards the hall door.

Pei Yanxi looked at Yu Wuchen with a panicked expression, pleading, "Young Master Yu, please save me! Please, for the sake of my father and my aunt the Empress Dowager's warm hospitality, please save me!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yue turned and asked Yu Wuchen, "Should we plead for her?"

"Since it's your gift, it's naturally up to you. I have no objection," Yu Wuchen said brightly. With

her last lifeline gone, Pei Yanxi slumped into the box, wondering if she had any chance of survival.

Li Yue was quite satisfied with his answer and was about to call someone in when Pei Yanxi suddenly grabbed her sleeve, looking up at her and asking, "Was your original name Mo Liyue? Was your mother named Qin Susu? Do you have a pink, petal-shaped birthmark on your right shoulder?"

Li Yue paused, frowning at her. "How did you know?"

It really was her… Pei Yanxi wanted to smile bitterly, but at this moment, besides telling her the truth, she truly couldn't find another way to save her life.

“If it really is, then you can’t kill me.” She loosened her clothes, took a breath, and sat back down in the box.

“Why?” Li Yue was even more confused.

“Because your adoptive mother is my biological mother. You can’t kill the daughter of the person who raised you.” Pei Yanxi dropped a bombshell.

Upon hearing this, all four people in the hall were stunned.

“Adoptive mother…biological mother? What are you talking about?” Li Yue had a bad feeling and stared at her as she asked.

Pei Yanxi looked up at her, smiled sadly, and said, “Haven’t you noticed that I look a lot like your mother? Actually, you’re not Qin Susu’s biological daughter. I am. We were switched at birth.” She took off the clothes on her right shoulder and showed her the tattooed birthmark on her right shoulder. The tattoo had been wiped off with medicine, but she had it re-stitched to avoid giving anything away. “This birthmark of mine is tattooed. You should have a birthmark on the back of your shoulder that looks just like mine, right?”

Seeing the birthmark on her shoulder and hearing her words, Li Yue felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She had carried the guilt and pain of murdering her mother for twelve years, and the guilt of murdering her father for two years. In the end… they weren’t her biological parents?

She had thought her life originated from a lie, but could there be another lie within that lie?

How could she bear this? How could she bear this?

She instantly lost control, grabbing Pei Yanxi by the neck and slamming her against the side of the box, asking, “You knew all this all along? Who told you? Tell me everything clearly, or I’ll kill you right now.”

Pei Yanxi's eyes rolled back as she was choked, her hands futilely trying to pry Li Yue's wrists open, a choking "gurgling" sound coming from her throat, unable to speak.

Li Yue then realized she had used too much force and loosened her grip slightly.

Pei Yanxi coughed, fearing that Li Yue might accidentally strangle her, she covered her neck with her hand, coughing and gasping for breath, "I... I just found out, cough cough... cough... a few months ago, a man in black came to me... saying I wasn't the real princess, that he told me everything... before that, I... knew nothing."

"Who is that man in black? Where is he now?" Li Yue asked.

"I don't know..." Pei Yanxi had barely opened her mouth when Li Yue choked her again, angrily saying, "Are you playing me?!"

"I really don't know, he came to me just to use me, but I know he has a fleet of ships in Dongyi that trades salt, around Mingjin Tongqu. I helped them get the connections, you can check, he knows everything." Pei Yanxi hurriedly explained.

Li Yue stared at her, her chest heaving, her mind a jumbled mess.

"Sister Yue, since she's your adoptive mother's daughter, please let her go. Right now, figuring out your own origins is more important." Jin Lu, who had been observing from the sidelines, suddenly stood up and pleaded for Pei Yanxi.

Li Yue snapped out of her daze, released her grip, paused, and without a word rushed to the door, opened it, and ran out.

Su Yingge, seeing this, quickly followed.

Yu Wuchen sat at the table, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Yanxi, unmoved.

"Young Master Yu, shall we take her away?" Jin Lu turned to Yu Wuchen and asked with a smile.

Yu Wuchen had wanted to ask her more details about Li Yue's mysterious origins, but seeing Jin Lu's attitude, it was clear she wasn't going to give him the chance. If he really took her elsewhere to ask, it would inevitably cause misunderstandings for Li Yue later.

So he shook his head and left the ship's main hall.

Seeing everyone had left, leaving only the kind-faced young man pleading for her, Pei Yanxi breathed a sigh of relief, emerging from the box and sincerely thanking Jinlu: "Thank you, young master, for saving my life. I will never forget your kindness and will repay you in the future."

Jinlu flashed a harmless, bright smile and politely said, "Princess Pei, you are too kind." She turned and called out to the door, "Li Shi."

Li Shi responded and entered.

"Receive the decree," Jinlu said.

Pei Yanxi, who had not known Jinlu's identity, knew he must be a member of the Southern Buddha royal family when he heard him about to issue a decree. This decree must be ordering his subordinates to send her back to Dongyi, and he was overjoyed.

Li Shi knelt down to await the decree.

Jinlu smiled and glanced at the expectant Pei Yanxi, saying clearly, "I order you to take this woman back and rape her to death."

After saying this, both of them froze on the spot.

"What's wrong?" Not hearing the imperial decree's sound, Jinlu looked down at Li Shi with displeasure.

Li Shi, who had been solemnly awaiting this unprecedented edict, instantly broke out in a cold sweat, wiping his forehead and stammering, "Your Highness, this... I'm too old to carry it out."

"Oh." Jinlu nodded knowingly, saying, "Then bestow it upon your subordinate, let him die then."

"You can't do this! Qin Liyue promised not to kill me! Aren't you afraid she'll hold you accountable for this?" Pei Yanxi, never expecting to encounter such a beast in human form, immediately screamed in a death throes.

Jinlu looked completely innocent, saying, "Kill you? Did I kill you? No, I sent you back to Dongyi. As for where you ran off to on the way, I don't know." With that, he smiled slightly, watching Li Shi drag her away through the hall.

*

Li Yue rushed out of the ship's main hall and headed straight for Dongyi to investigate the truth, without even saying goodbye to Niu Hong. Therefore, Jin Lu and Yu Wuchen, who arrived a step later, couldn't find her. Only Su Yingge, who followed her out of the hall without a word, caught up with her.

For half a month, the two used their light-footed skills and sprinted day and night from Nanfo to Dongyi, finally arriving at the Xiwang Mansion in Xiwu.

That day, Huangfu Jue was about to go out when he unexpectedly bumped into someone at the mansion gate. Looking down, he saw it was Li Yue. Before he could even process what was happening, Li Yue blurted out, "Is Guandu here?"

"Yes..." Huangfu Jue answered instinctively, but before he could finish speaking, the woman had already rushed towards the mansion's backyard like the wind.

Huangfu Jue was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw Su Yingge, her face slightly pale, resting against the stone lion in front of the mansion, clearly not intending to tell him what had happened. After hesitating for a while, he turned and walked into the mansion.

News of Pei Yanxi's disappearance had spread throughout Dongyi half a month ago, and Guandu had naturally received the news as well. He was currently discussing how to deal with the matter with Yanji in his room when Liyue suddenly kicked open the door and burst in, shouting, "Guandu, I have something to ask you!"

...

Huangfujue paced back and forth on the courtyard path, glancing at Guandu's door every now and then, but lacking the courage to go in. A moment later, the door opened, and Liyue walked out, looking utterly dejected. Behind her, Guandu and Yanji stood inside, their faces filled with worry and guilt, but they didn't try to stop her.

Huangfujue looked at Liyue. He hadn't appeared before her when he went to Shengyang to provide reinforcements, so this was the first time he'd seen her in almost a year.

He had never seen her like this before—haggard, blank, with empty eyes, like a soulless puppet mechanically walking towards the gate.

What had happened? What could have made her like this? His heart clenched, and he turned to look at Yanji and Guandu, but their expressions offered no answer.

Li Yue stumbled to the gate of the mansion, not even knowing to step over the threshold. If Su Yingge hadn't rushed over to catch her, she would have fallen flat on her face in public.

Stumbling, Li Yue snapped back to reality, looked up at Su Yingge, her eyes suddenly filled with pain, and she turned and ran.

Su Yingge hurriedly chased after her.

Li Yue ran and leaped, covering dozens of miles in one breath, until she reached a high mountain cliff. On the other side of the cliff was a waterfall, its snow-white waves crashing down with a thunderous roar.

"Ah—ah—" Li Yue stood at the edge of the cliff, clenching her fists, her back arched, screaming hoarsely.

Guan Du said he didn't have concrete evidence; he only suspected that even if she and Pei Yanxi had been switched, she wasn't Prince Chen's daughter, Pei Bangqing, but rather the daughter of Empress Dowager Dongyi.

She had seen the letters from the Empress Dowager's wet nurse, You Shi, and had seen the person responsible for switching her and Pei Yanxi.

She and Guandu were neither teacher nor friend, yet they were also both. She held a strange certainty and trust in his judgments.

She recalled the difference in the way the Empress Dowager looked at Yan Huang and Pei Yanxi in the Eastern Palace…

…

For so many years, everything she had been grateful for, suffered for, persisted in, carried, and believed in… everything was wrong…

It turned out she had never known who she was. The life she thought was real was nothing more than a mistake imposed upon her by others…

Why? Why treat her like this? Why make her bear all this?

For over a decade, she had suppressed her pain and pretended to be strong, only to be told in the end: You've wasted your time. This was never your responsibility; you were simply misplaced!

Her nails dug deep into her palms; she felt a splitting headache, on the verge of collapse.

…

"Unbearable pain?" A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder, Su Yingge's voice clearly mingling with the roar of the waterfall.

She reached up, cupping her head, tears streaming down her face.

"Then die." He sighed, suddenly shoving her. Caught off guard, Li Yue plummeted uncontrollably towards the abyss like a withered leaf.

He still held onto her hand, jumping down after her, tightly gripping her wrist, and together they plunged into the unknown, dark abyss.

Chapter 94: The Elopement Anecdote...

The rapid fall and the feeling of weightlessness instinctively instilled fear. Li Yue recalled that day twelve years ago, at a similar cliff, she was forced to jump. The despair and fear she felt before hitting the bottom could only be known by those who had experienced it.

But today, she felt less fear, because she wasn't alone; there was someone on her wrist.

He held her, facing the wind, their clothes fluttering—a posture that made it seem less like suicide and more like flight.

The tears on her cheeks had long since dried in the wind. It felt like an eternity, yet also like a fleeting moment, that they were nearing the bottom of the cliff.

A waterfall lay opposite them, and unsurprisingly, a deep pool lay at the bottom. The two plunged into it, creating two small splashes.

It was late spring, April, yet the water in the pool was icy cold. Upon falling in, Li Yue instinctively tried to swim to the shore, but after a few strokes, she found herself motionless. Turning her head, she saw that Su Yingge was pulling her.

She struggled to turn back and push him away, but at this moment, even her superior martial arts skills were useless. Su Yingge, born and raised by the river, was a far superior swimmer than she was. No matter how much she struggled or resisted, he resolutely dragged her deeper into the pool.

The pain and helplessness of drowning quickly overwhelmed Li Yue. After struggling several times, she nearly collapsed, floating in front of Su Yingge with her limbs spread out. Su Yingge then lifted her to the surface and pulled her ashore, placing her on a smooth, large blue stone. He pressed on her chest a few times, and seeing that she began to spit out water and breathe, he lay down beside her, coughing and panting.

He wasn't much better off than her. In fact, with her martial arts skills and endurance, she could have easily held her breath at the bottom of the pool for so long; it was only because her emotions had fluctuated and she had lost her composure that she had choked on water and collapsed so quickly.

Li Yue vomited up all the water she had swallowed and then returned to calm, lying there silently. The waterfall was not far away, and wisps of mist mixed with water droplets drifted towards them from time to time. Coupled with the cold wind blowing in the deep valley, it truly sent chills down their spines.

Neither of them moved.

After a long while, Su Yingge regained some strength and energy. She sat up, turned to look at Li Yue, who lay on the bluestone, soaked to the bone and with a pale face, and asked, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Li Yue's dark eyes shifted from the sky to his equally pale face, and he said weakly, "What do you think?" He had almost killed her; how could she have the energy to think about anything else, to feel unwell?

Living is the greatest instinct; when life is threatened, even the greatest pain vanishes like dust in the wind.

Su Yingge smiled slightly, looked up, and saw a cluster of blood-red flowers growing on the cliff face, like a seductive enchantress luring one into hell, dazzlingly beautiful.

"See that flower? It's called 'love-giving grass.' There's a bird called the Orchid River Sparrow. Every mating season, the male bird will hold this flower in its beak and perch on a branch. The female bird, upon seeing the flower, will always touch it with her beak. Thus, the act of touching the flower leads to a marriage. People say this bird is very romantic, but the truth is, the fragrance of this flower simply has the effect of stimulating the female Orchid River Sparrow's desire, just like an aphrodisiac for humans," Su Yingge said softly, pointing to the flower.

Li Yue looked in the direction he was pointing. The bright red flower stood out against the dark background, awakening her still numb visual senses.

Su Yingge rose, his years of experience gathering rare herbs on cliffs making the terrain easy for him. With a few light leaps, he scaled the cliff face, landing and turning back to find a sprig of love-giving grass dangling from his mouth. The emerald green stem rested between his pale lips, the blood-red blossoms contrasting beautifully with his fair complexion, and a mysterious light flickering in his clear eyes…

At this moment, he appeared both elegant and alluring, a sly, enigmatic smile playing on his lips—utterly captivating.

Without a word or gesture, he slowly approached Li Yue, sat down, and leaned forward, offering the flower to her lips.

Catching the delicate, ethereal fragrance, Li Yue parted her lips slightly, her snow-white teeth gently biting the small section of stem closest to the flower.

Su Yingge sat up, looking at the girl beside her. Her features were striking: dark blue-green stone, jet-black hair, snow-white face, and a bright red flower at the corner of her lips—a beauty that was both almost desperate and alluring, can you imagine?

The waterfall crashed violently against the boulders at the bottom of the cliff, steam rising and spreading like mist endlessly. The vibrant, delicate petals were quickly covered with tiny, glistening water droplets, just like her cheeks.

The mist drifted and drifted, seemingly seeping into Su Yingge's clear eyes, making his gaze towards her misty as well. Yet, a smile played on his lips, and as if by magic, he produced a sprig of love-giving grass, gently stroking Li Yue's delicate neck with its slender, stiff stem, as if tickling her. He whispered, "Be grateful for the hardships you've encountered in life, but don't let them cause you pain. The reason I ask you to be grateful is because if your world is a sea of darkness, then even seeing a small red flower might bring you joy. The monotonous background can amplify this joy infinitely, if you're willing. But in a world bursting with flowers, do you know how difficult it is to find such a flower that brings joy?

Believe me, our lives will definitely be..." Similarly, when you were wandering the world alone, you might have envied people like me, but let me tell you, people like me are not worth envying. Having everything means having nothing, and that numbness brings emptiness that is far more terrifying than loneliness. You are lonely and therefore unhappy, but at least you know what kind of person and what kind of life can make you happy. But I didn't know that back then. Someone like me, materially fulfilled but emotionally lifeless, can only be happy by luck. I seem to be lucky; from the moment I met you, the world came alive before my eyes, as if I were reborn.

As he spoke, he used the stem of the love grass to gently and gracefully part her soaked clothes, revealing a large expanse of smooth, delicate skin.

"Everyone has their own perspective on fate, and I've never been so bored as to discuss these things with others, but for me, you are different. I believe affection is more important than blood ties. In my heart, the debt of giving birth can never compare to the debt of raising a child, because as long as two people are physically and mentally healthy, even if they don't want children, desire can still lead them to have one. Not every child is born because of love, but every child's growth is certainly because of love. I once adopted a two-day-old leopard cub; it was weak and helpless, needing meticulous care every moment. Later, I got tired of it and abandoned it because I didn't love it. From this, I infer..." If raising a leopard requires so much effort, how much heart and soul must parents pour into raising a cub? Without the support of immense love, how could they persevere?

So, does it really matter who your biological parents are and who aren't? The one who abandoned you didn't love you, while the one who caught you and raised you is the one who loves you. Never forget those who loved you. As for those who don't love you, let them go as far away as possible. You survived the most vulnerable time of your life without them, so now they have even less reason to exist. Why should you be troubled and tormented by their existence?"

Li Yue looked at him; his eyes were lowered, his eyelashes dark. She could feel the stem of the love-giving grass brushing against her sensitive skin, itching, but his words distracted her, making it impossible for her to concentrate on either side.

She knew he was right, but many things couldn't be ignored just because you said you didn't care. Knowing them but not being able to forget them was the greatest torment.

"A sorrowful fate is like this soaked clothing. Just because you don't care doesn't mean you won't feel its dampness and coldness, or that you can feel refreshed. So, what should you do?" He looked up at her. He

had hit the nail on the head. She bit a flower branch, staring intently at him, hoping he could give her an answer.

"Wrap yourself in more clothes? Obviously not. As long as your innermost layer is wet, no matter how many clothes you wear on the outside, you won't be warm and dry. Let someone hug you and warm you? This method only solves the immediate problem, not the long-term solution.

Only by taking off this wet clothing, returning to your original sincerity and freedom, and then striving to radiate warmth yourself, can you find true liberation." He loosened her belt, and the soaked hem slid down her waist, revealing the girl's flawless white body.

The mist washed over her, and her exposed body felt even colder. Li Yue shivered involuntarily.

He ignored her, his gaze fixed on her exquisitely curvaceous body. He changed the direction of the love-giving herb in his hand, using its vibrant red petals to caress her skin, starting from her neck and slowly moving downwards.

"Many people can't do this because they're afraid—afraid that once they take off their clothes, their ugly nature will be exposed, afraid that once they take off these clothes, they'll find no more beautiful garments to cover their flaws. But you're different. You are perfect as you are. No matter how magnificent the clothes, they can't compare to you. Why won't you let go of all this? Besides yourself, who is worthy of your pleasure and satisfaction? Tell me." His voice seemed to possess a magical power, gradually drawing all of Li Yue's thoughts in. His words echoed in her mind, and her delicate skin felt the coolness of the distant mist. So completely open with the world, she felt a strange sense of liberation, like being reborn.

Yes, those who loved her were gone, and those who didn't love her were there, indifferent. Even if they were related by blood, what did it matter? They had never sensed each other's presence.

Did it really matter who her biological parents were? From the age of six, she had been an orphan without parents. Qin Susu raised her, though only for a short six years, but she would never forget how Qin Susu warmed and nurtured her with her not-so-strong embrace during that hungry and cold childhood. She was her mother, then, now, and forever!

She was not Pei Yanxi, not the Empress Dowager's daughter, not the princess of Dongyi, she was simply Qin Liyue.

Having been controlled by fate for eighteen years, she had had enough, she was fed up. From now on, she would no longer be bound by this damned fate; she would live only for herself, she would live out her truest and purest self.

A thin mist fell on her skin, forming a layer of fine droplets. The vibrant, soft petals brushed against her, gathering the tiny droplets together into a large droplet, which then slid down her jade-like, translucent skin like a pearl.

He stopped speaking, replacing his fingers with flowers, intently caressing her body inch by inch.

She could feel the soft, smooth petals like a lover's cool lips, gently pressing lingering kisses down her small, full breasts, finally landing on her sensitive, cherry-red nipple. The layers of petals enveloped the tiny bead, gently rotating like a nimble tongue licking in circles. She tilted her long neck slightly back, sweet breath escaping from her nose. Her

mind was empty, a pure tranquility, an unprecedented relaxation making her skin sensitive.

The moist petals continued downwards, kissing her soft waist and abdomen, stopping at her navel. The circling pressure and sensation felt like a soft, wet tongue lightly flicking across it. She writhed slightly, her cold body beginning to heat up from the gradually aroused desire.

The feeling of the petals gently brushing against her private parts and inner thighs was almost unbearable; Li Yue's cheeks flushed, her breathing quickened.

He wasn't having an easier time either. Faced with such beauty, he had to patiently tease her; it took immense willpower to suppress the urge to transform into a wolf.

Seeing her flushed face and hazy eyes, he leaned in, took the love grass from her mouth, tilted his head to set it aside, and gently pecked at her cheek, more beautiful than any flower.

His lips were burning hot, like a spark in a winter night, and Li Yue was the one trembling in the darkness.

She reached out and hugged him, turning her face to him. The moment their lips met, they were like people struggling on the edge of life and death in a desert, their partner the most perfect and freshest spring they could find. Holding it in their hands, their most direct and intense instinct was to suckle without restraint.

A deep kiss, an impatient, passionate exploration.

His hands caressed her body like a spring breeze, finally landing on her hidden pearl, stroking and kneading it.

The pleasure, both premeditated and unexpected, surged forth. She felt like a block of ice melting into a puddle of water under his warmth, its surface rippling and gradually coalescing into a surging wave.

"Mmm...uh..." She squeezed her legs together, involuntarily moaning between his lips.

His lips moved down, kissing her chin, gliding like butterfly wings across her neck, climbing her high, snowy breasts, and taking her sensitive, cherry-red nipples into his mouth, sucking like an infant.

The pleasure was like an electric current, radiating outwards from the two sensitive spots he had conquered, eventually forming a dense, net-like network that numbed her limbs and completely conquered her mind.

Even the rubbing of her thighs together couldn't resist the increasingly intense pleasure brought on by his fingertips. Her body tensed, her breath quickened, and her small hands unconsciously clutched at his black hair that fell across her chest. The accumulating, unreleased pleasure made her furrow her brows, revealing an almost painful expression, her nerves taut, anticipating the overwhelming ecstasy that would release her.

However, just as she was about to reach her climax, he suddenly stopped and instead stroked her thigh.

Li Yue was taken aback, and before she could even complain, his lips were already on hers, another intense and lingering kiss. When his tongue reluctantly withdrew from her lips, her mind went blank. At that moment, his fingers silently slipped inside her. Her body,

which had just relaxed, tensed again. She gasped and looked at him, but he, with an almost worshipful posture, used his burning lips to trace the path her petals had just left, kissing her breasts downwards.

His thumb gently caressed her erect nipples again, while his middle finger slowly withdrew from inside her. He didn't deliberately seek out her sensitive spots, but always subtly and skillfully brushed against them.

A cool mist kept spreading, sprinkling onto her skin, which was burning hot from passion. It felt as if a raging fire was burning inside her; the cold and heat collided and exchanged energy through her skin, the direct result being an even more wondrous and intense pleasure.

She was almost driven to ecstasy by his maddening fingers. He had moved his entire body to her lower body, his fiery lips pressed against her incredibly sensitive inner thighs, licking and kissing her skin, occasionally nibbling lightly with his neat teeth, bringing a pain-itch sensation that intensified her desire.

Unable to reach him, she could only clutch her damp clothes, moaning and trembling, awaiting the ultimate release.

However, just as she was about to reach climax, he suddenly stopped.

He withdrew his long fingers from her body, he stopped caressing and kissing her. The overwhelming pleasure that had accumulated was suddenly replaced by a cold emptiness, a contrast that almost made her cry out in unbearable pain.

"No..." She had just uttered those two words, writhing restlessly, after being teased to the extreme and then suddenly abandoned, when suddenly a hot, hard object squeezed into her private parts, resolutely thrusting deep inside, instantly filling her up and causing her pain.

Her sensitive inner walls, brimming with pent-up pleasure, were suddenly and forcefully pushed open and brutally rubbed against her. The intense and clear sensory pleasure caused Li Yue's body to arch instinctively before she could even process what was happening. After a brief stiffness, the long-awaited yet sudden surge of ultimate pleasure crashed into her mind like a dam breaking, leaving her thoughts blank.

Having experienced two intense urges to reach orgasm but being unable to release it, this pleasure felt particularly strong and prolonged. She involuntarily spasmed and contracted, sucking tightly and tightly at his member buried deep inside her.

Su Yingge initially tried to hold back, but after a short while, he let out a low gasp and quickly withdrew from her. If she continued to squeeze and suck at him like that, he would explode. He didn't want to lose face like this on their first time together.

After the intense wave of passion subsided, Li Yue's body felt soft and supple. Her flushed face was covered with a layer of mist or sweat, glistening brightly. Her watery eyes opened lazily and weakly, not intentionally, but with a seductive allure.

In this situation, if Su Yingge could still hold back, he wouldn't be a man.

He thrust into her again without hesitation. The warm, tight, and intoxicating feeling made him almost lose control. The little vixen lying beneath him possessed a top-quality treasure that could drive any man mad.

"Uh, you..." Li Yue came to her senses and was about to complain that he was too big when he suddenly leaned down and lifted her up. His weight caught Li Yue off guard, and she swallowed him completely. She couldn't help but gasp against his chest, "Too deep!"

Su Yingge kissed her flushed cheeks. Hearing this, he smiled and whispered, biting her earlobe, "You can't even handle a silkworm, can you?"

Seeing him bring up the past at this time, Li Yue angrily bit his shoulder.

He didn't seem to mind and moved up and down while holding her waist.

"Ah... umm..." Li Yue buried her face in his neck and shoulder, clinging to his neck.

Perhaps because he didn't practice martial arts, he didn't have bulging muscles, but he wasn't thin either; his fair skin was smooth and firm, and it felt great to bite.

She meowed like a kitten in heat, occasionally nibbling lightly at his neck with her sharp teeth.

"Oh, you little vixen." After a moment, Su Yingge cursed under his breath in annoyance, stopped his thrusting, lifted her face, and kissed her lips fiercely.

After this brief entanglement, she had gotten used to his size, and just as she was getting aroused, seeing him stop moving, she gently twisted her waist and began to rub against him. After only a couple of moments, he hurriedly reached out and pressed down on her smooth, bouncy buttocks, panting, "Don't move!"

Feeling his throbbing inside her, she immediately understood that he was about to reach his limit and couldn't withstand any more stimulation.

A mischievous smile played on her lips as she teased, "Who's really having trouble taking it?"

Su Yingge, unfazed by her provocation, didn't reply. He kissed her neck deeply, released his arms, and let her lean back, placing her hands on the bluestone, her feet on the ground, her hips slightly raised. Then, he gripped her slender waist and began thrusting forcefully in that position.

"Ah...so sore...so numb, no..." The stimulation from this position was direct and intense. After only a few thrusts, Li Yue felt her limbs trembling uncontrollably.

Su Yingge, however, loved this position. Not only were her beautiful curves on full display, but even the area where they were joined was clearly visible. But it was better not to look; seeing it made him want to get a nosebleed. He

thrust rapidly inside her as if punishing her, but after a while, he too couldn't take it anymore. This vixen held him so tightly, her delicate moans making his bones feel like they were melting.

Even though he himself wanted to surrender, he outwardly toughened himself and grabbed her, demanding, "Tell me, who couldn't take it anymore?"

Li Yue's face was flushed red; the intense stimulation made her limbs tremble and she almost collapsed. Her dark eyes were watery and filled with endless grievance as she looked at him, softly admitting, "I couldn't take it anymore."

He was satisfied and mercifully released her, turning her body so her back was to him. Then he thrust into her again, holding her upper body against his chest, and began to thrust once more.

"Mmm...so good..." This position prevented him from penetrating deeply, but the most intense friction was precisely in her sensitive areas. He reached under her armpits and caressed her full, snowy breasts with one hand, while the other hand moved downwards, pressing her engorged nipples in rhythm with his thrusts. He brushed the wet black hair behind her neck to one side with his nose, and then his hot lips pressed against hers.

Li Yue felt that her body had never been so pleasurable before. She felt a tingling sensation all over her body, as if she were melting.

A mist drifted from ahead, splashing onto her fair skin with a cool touch, while behind her, the man's body pressed against her like fire. The fusion of ice and fire ignited her deepest desires and wildness. She hooked her arms around his neck, her waist arching forward in an exquisitely supple curve, turning her face to meet his lips. While passionately kissing him, she softly swayed in rhythm with his movements.

Meeting her, all the women she had known before seemed no longer women. Only he had ever made others experience such intense pleasure; now she was experiencing it herself.

It was a feeling of wanting to merge her into her very being, never to be separated again.

The collision and eruption of passion intensified their union. The sounds of flesh slapping and the soft splashing of water painted a blush of shame on the edge of the deep pool. Under the intense and continuous stimulation of pleasure, Li Yue felt like a thirsty fish, constantly secreting fluids to moisten herself and him, waiting for the moment of release to swim together towards their paradise of pleasure.

Her body ached and tingled from his friction, and she gradually went limp, too weak to continue kissing and responding. She could only moan and gasp under his relentless assault.

Suddenly, her arms around his neck loosened, and she cried out, falling forward, instinctively bracing herself on the bluestone.

"God..." Her startled, shrunken movements pushed Su Yingge, who had been suppressing his desires, to his limit. He panted, taking advantage of her forward movement, positioning her in a doggy style, and thrusting deeply into her from behind.

"Ah—" The deep penetration elicited a scream from Li Yue.

"Oh, you little devil!" Su Yingge felt a surge of pleasure, his hair standing on end. He disregarded everything else, gripping her waist and thrusting wildly. Watching her plump, white buttocks tremble like jelly with his vigorous movements, he couldn't help but increase his force, wishing he could just die on top of her.

"Ah...no, it's too deep..." Li Yue cried out in uncontrollable pain, barely managing to turn her head and reach out to push him away.

Su Yingge grabbed her wrist, his movements continuing, leaning down to kiss her palm, then down her arm and onto her shoulder.

"Mmm...uhmm..." The pleasure, already beyond her limits, tormented Li Yue's nerves. She shook her head wildly, her damp black hair clinging to her snow-white back, stimulating Su Yingge's vision.

Her instinctive contractions as she approached climax drove him wild. He breathed heavily, the pale blush on his cheeks deepening, the veins on his arms gripping Li Yue's waist bulging, a testament to his surging passion and boiling blood. His thrusting became faster and harder without restraint; he was on the verge of exploding.

"Ah...no...I really can't take it anymore...uh..." Li Yue's small hands gripped the hem of her clothes, her body tense, her words incoherent, only eliciting more intense thrusts from him.

Nearing her climax, Li Yue could no longer scream. Only during one of his deepest thrusts did she suddenly freeze, letting out a high-pitched moan like a kitten, followed by violent tremors and spasms, her muscles clenching and contracting.

Su Yingge tilted his head back and inhaled. He knew she had climaxed. He had wanted to considerately stop and let her enjoy it, but… the feeling was just too intoxicating. Unconsciously, he looked at the cascading waterfall in the distance, feeling an unprecedented urge to ejaculate.

So he stopped holding back, pressing her body down and thrusting in and out like a storm.

Her incredibly sensitive body, subjected to such rough treatment, immediately went numb and tingling, causing Li Yue to scream, "No...no...no more..." She weakly refused, her voice shattered by his thrusts.

"It'll be over soon, just hold on..." he panted, leaning down to kiss her neck, coaxing her gently.

The pleasure continued to build uncontrollably. Su Yingge, his handsome face taut, completed one last, deep, and fierce surge, pressing tightly against her as he ejaculated deep within her. The overwhelming ecstasy caused his vision to go black for a moment, as if he had sunk into a deep, sweet dream, his consciousness blurred, unwilling to awaken.

Li Yue continued to convulse, slowly collapsing to the ground. Two consecutive orgasms in a short time had drained all her strength. Her burning cheeks pressed against the cold bluestone, her breath coming in gasps as if she had just crawled out of the water.

After a long while, Su Yingge finally regained some of his senses. He reached out and lifted Li Yue's limp body, then lay back on the hard stone, letting Li Yue lie on top of him, his arms around her.

Their sweaty bodies pressed tightly together, their breaths rising and falling. The intense pleasure they had just experienced made them more intimate than ever before.

He managed to steady his breathing, kissed Li Yue's cheek, and said, "Baby Yue, how about I take you out for a walk to clear your head?"

Li Yue, still feeling the lingering tingling sensation, lazily opened her eyes, only to see a clear, azure sky with wispy clouds.

"Okay," she said, nuzzling his shoulder lightly before closing her eyes again.

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