[Fantasy] Lady Fuyao (Complete) - 1-3

[Synopsis] Deep within the mansion, old dreams—all my experiences were for the sake of meeting you, the one I awaited, at the most beautiful moment. Part

1

Chapter 1: The Moonless Courtyard,

Prologue 1

The new snow of late spring, like fine salt, fluttered and scattered across half of the Great Ling Dynasty. The red plum blossoms planted throughout the Forbidden City bloomed overnight, their double petals pink and crimson, reflecting red for miles. Under the deep sky, it seemed to ignite the silent sea of snow, finally adding warmth to the solemn palace buildings.

This day was a grand feast in the capital. Ten years of war had finally subsided, and the frightened nobles needed a night of revelry to dispel the gloom in their hearts. As evening fell, palace maids in their finest attire carried glass lanterns through the long corridors. People thronged the streets, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the crimson petals on the branches were illuminated with crystal-clear light.

The stage erected high in front of the Jin Yang Palace was dazzlingly decorated. The charcoal fire and incense made the cold night incredibly enchanting. Six inner court officials were in charge of records, announcements, ancestral rites, artifacts, documents, and the imperial examinations. They led their respective female officials, patrolling to ensure the banquet proceeded flawlessly. Seventy-two squads of imperial guards patrolled the outer perimeter in shifts, while 180,000 elite soldiers stood in formation at Guangluo Gate awaiting review. The imperial palace, built at the highest point of Tiandu, shone like a jeweled crown in the night.

Qiuli Palace was one of the six secondary palaces adjacent to the inner palace. It was originally the residence of the Sixteenth Princess before her marriage. However, less than three years after her marriage, her husband passed away due to illness. Emperor Li, out of pity for his daughter, granted her permission to move back to the old palace for a short stay, which lasted for two years.

The Sixteenth Princess held her four-year-old daughter, carefully examining her body, fearing any possible wound. The palace maids all knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound. Only Tao Zhi, who had been taking care of the little princess, stood aside and spoke, letting the sixteenth princess know the details of what had happened that afternoon.

After waking up from her afternoon nap, the little princess didn't see her mother and ran out of Qiuli Palace alone. When the palace maids chased after her, they found that the little princess had somehow climbed up the old plum tree in the Imperial Garden. Before they could call the guards, they encountered the head of the Gu family, who was on his way to the banquet. He rescued the little princess and brought her back.

"The Gu family of Yunzhou?" The sixteenth princess, relieved to see her daughter safe and sound, held the little girl tightly in her arms. Upon hearing the name Gu family, she asked casually.

"Yes, today's banquet was attended by the head of the family, Lord Gu Lian, and his eldest grandson, Gu Feng," Tao Zhi replied carefully.

"Gu Lian must be over forty by now, right? His eldest grandson should be six or seven years old." The Sixteenth Princess had once led Tao Zhi and Crown Prince Su to the Gu residence in the capital to celebrate Gu Lian's eldest grandson's first birthday celebration before she was married, and she still remembered some things.

"Yes, Lord Gu is forty-one this year, and his young master is about seven years old." Tao Zhi paused and said, "The young master of the Gu family is still in mourning, and Lord Gu has also become quite haggard."

"Losing a child in middle age is a great misfortune. Now, the Gu family's direct descendants only have the three of them and a few children left, which is truly a hardship for that Lady Yu Gui." The Sixteenth Princess thought of that gentle and dignified lady and felt a sense of sympathy: "Tao Zhi, go to your room and pick out a box of tribute pearls, along with some rare tonics from the south, and send it to Lord Gu. Please thank him for saving my daughter."

"Yes, this servant will go right away."

The little princess moved her body impatiently, and a series of tinkling sounds followed. It turned out that she wore silver bracelets on her wrists and ankles, which were made of two-foot-long silver wire and covered with silver pieces. Whenever the little princess moved, the silver pieces would touch each other and make a pleasant tinkling sound that could be heard. But the little princess was very clever. That afternoon, she carefully wrapped the silver piece in fine silk, catching the palace maids off guard and causing her to run out of the palace.

"Where did Zhen'er learn that trick?" The sixteenth princess lowered her head to kiss her daughter's full forehead, a smile playing on her lips.

The little princess nestled in her mother's neck and said in a childish voice, "Every day when I put on my clothes, I see that the sleeve gets caught on the bracelet so it doesn't make a sound, so I took it to play with. Mother, don't be angry with Zhen'er."

"I'm not angry, my Zhen'er is so clever. Then Zhen'er, tell Mother, why did you climb that old plum tree?" This was what the sixteenth princess found most strange.

The little princess remained silent for a long time, finally whispering, "Zhen'er wanted to see if Father had come back."

She was too young to know that her father had passed away. The sixteenth princess had once comforted her, saying that Father had gone on a long journey to a very, very far place and wouldn't be back for a long time. The little princess had heard that the wind blows from a very far place, so she wanted to climb to a high place to see if Father was there where the wind was blowing.

The sixteenth princess sighed silently, hugging her daughter face to face, gently patting her back. After a long silence, she asked, "Zhen'er, do you remember what Daddy looks like?"

The little princess shook her head shyly, "Zhen'er doesn't remember, but Zhen'er knows Daddy is tall, handsome, smiles, and hugs Zhen'er." She tried hard to recall her father's appearance, but what came to mind was the uncle who had saved her that afternoon. For a long time, the little princess felt that her father and that uncle were the same person.

The sixteenth princess listened to her little daughter's words, responding verbally, but knew that it wasn't her father's appearance at all. Thinking of how her daughter had lost her father while still an infant, how could she possibly have any memory of him? Those innocent words were nothing but her own little longing. Her heart ached, and she hugged her little daughter even tighter.

“Mother,” the little princess kicked her feet, listening to the crisp sound, and tilted her head to ask, “Why does Zhen’er have to wear this? Tao Zhi and the others don’t.”

“Young children all have to wear it. You can take it off when you grow up.” The sixteenth princess’s voice was gentle, but she had to lie to her youngest daughter. Fortunately, there were no other children in the palace. Although Emperor Li already had grandchildren, there was only the little princess living in the imperial city. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace had postponed his wedding due to the war and had no children yet.

“Sixteenth Prince should change his clothes. If it gets any later, it might be too late.” Xing Zhi glanced at the water clock and had to get up to remind the sixteenth princess.

“Yes, you can all get up. Mei Zhi, Yu Zhi, help the little princess change her clothes.”

“Yes.”

The little princess was obediently carried by Mei Zhi to a soft couch on the side, where a light purple robe was taken and dressed for her. The little princess was still in mourning and could not wear anything too flamboyant. That year, she still took her deceased father’s surname and was called Suolanzhen. Her father was Solandor, a hostage sent by an allied nation in the Northern Lands.

Solanden, already dressed, saw herself in the mirror in Yu Zhi's hand, and also her mother behind her. A palace maid untied the sixteenth princess's sash, and the maids on either side carefully removed her outer robe and long skirt, revealing her beautiful body without a bra or undergarments. Her snow-white skin was marked with varying shades of red. A palace maid brought hot water, wrung out a towel, and wiped away the congealed white fluid between her legs; the thick, turbid stain ran from her thighs to her ankles. The palace maids, accustomed to this, quickly and lightly applied snow-white dew to her before changing her into a similarly light purple palace dress. During this time, the sixteenth princess initially wanted to put on a bra and undergarments, but after an older palace maid whispered something in her ear, she gave up.

The palace maids responsible for grooming styled her hair into a bun, securing it with only a single pearl-encrusted silver hairpin. The Sixteenth Princess was Emperor Li's most beautiful daughter. She needed little adornment to captivate all eyes; the palace maids simply applied a touch of rouge and a light pink lip balm, and that was enough.

As the lanterns were lit, the banquet began. The Sixteenth Princess, carrying Solan Zhen, took her seat. The seating for the ladies was also hierarchical, from their proximity to the head seat to whether they were to be seen in public or concealed by screens, all according to their status. Because the Sixteenth Princess was a newly widowed woman of high status, she was also given a screen, in a prime position directly facing the high stage. This screen was a six-sided floor-to-ceiling screen forming a small private room. The screen facing the stage used a special technique, allowing a clear view outside while obscuring the view inside from the outside, thus eliminating the need for the concubines to wear hats when foreign officials were present.

After a deep drumbeat, the performance begins with a breathtaking dance to break through enemy lines. The rapid drumbeats, the brandishing of silver swords, and the masked actors in silver armor performing a tragic epic on a high platform with their magnificent dance moves.

The Sixteenth Princess was engrossed in gazing at Suolanzhen when the screen behind her suddenly creaked. She frowned slightly and looked in that direction. It was Lan Yin who entered. Those of the "Yin" generation were senior palace maids, and those who had reached this age all held some power. Lan Yin served Emperor Li, so even the Sixteenth Princess had to address her as Granny Lan.

"Lan Yin greets Your Highness the Sixteenth. His Majesty learned of what happened to the little princess this afternoon and was very concerned. Therefore, he sent this old servant to take the little princess to see him. He will bring her back shortly." As she spoke, she placed an incense burner on the Sixteenth Princess's desk, saying it was newly presented plum blossom incense. Emperor Li knew his daughter loved plum blossoms and had bestowed it upon her so she could taste it. The

Sixteenth Princess was extremely unwilling but had no choice but to let Lan Yin take Suolanzhen away. The words spoken earlier, though tactful, were clearly an order. Several hours had passed since Suolanzhen's accident; why did she only think of visiting her granddaughter now of all times? However, that was, after all, her father, the ruler of a nation. She could only suppress her unease and watch the song and dance absentmindedly.

Chapter 2: Lamenting the Loss of Beauty .

On the other side, Solan Zhen was brought before Emperor Li. She was the only child in the palace, beautiful and well-behaved, and therefore deeply loved by the emperor. Emperor Li held his little granddaughter and gave her some dessert. Just like the sixteenth princess, he asked her if she was hurt, if she was scared, how she ran out, and why she climbed the tree. The little princess repeated her answer to her mother. Hearing her say that she missed her father, Emperor Li's eyes darkened. He glanced at Crown Prince Su, who kept glancing over, and asked her kindly, "Would you like a father?"

Solan Zhen looked at her grandfather with her big, watery eyes, not quite understanding his words. She asked in a soft voice, "Will the father you give me be Zhen'er's father? Will he hold Zhen'er, give Zhen'er lots of delicious food, and play with Zhen'er?"

"Haha, third brother, Zhen'er is asking you this." Emperor Li chuckled and turned to ask the man behind him. Because Solan Zhen was being held by Emperor Li, she only then noticed that there was a tall man standing behind her grandfather. He had deep-set features that resembled Emperor Li, but he had purple eyes.

He smiled and hugged Solan Zhen, saying, "Little Zhen'er, what's so difficult about that? As long as you like it, Daddy will hold you every day, play with you, and let you eat the most delicious things in the world. I'd even pluck the moon from the sky for you, okay?"

Solan Zhen was held in a strong, warm embrace. She looked up at the tall, handsome man with purple eyes, believing his words, completely unaware that this man was her mother's third uncle. She nodded innocently, "Okay."

"Why is Little Zhen'er wearing so many silver bracelets?" Prince Rong'an looked at the little princess's silver bracelets with curiosity, but didn't see the pale face of the Crown Prince beside him.

"Mother said that Zhen'er is small, so she has to wear them. She can take them off when she grows up." Solan Zhen shook her hand and wrinkled her nose, "But Zhen'er doesn't like wearing these."

"If you don't like wearing them, then don't wear them. Come, call me Daddy, and I'll take them off for you, okay?" Prince Rong'an smiled as he looked at the little girl in his arms, gently coaxing her.

"Really?" The little girl looked at Prince Rong'an with hopeful, wet eyes. The man nodded affirmatively.

"Daddy," Suolanzhen called out in her childish voice. Prince Rong'an was overjoyed. He hugged the soft little girl, summoned a palace maid to remove the bracelet from her, and secretly nodded to his brother, indicating the deal was done.

When he noticed Suolanzhen squirming in his arms, he asked her what she wanted to do. Suolanzhen said softly that she wanted to tell her mother that she had a father. Prince Rong'an laughed and kissed her little face, saying, "Daddy will tell your mother about this himself. Little Zhen'er, stay here obediently, and Daddy will go find your mother, okay?"

Seeing Suolanzhen nod, he handed the little princess to Granny Lan and strode towards the screen where the Sixteenth Princess was. Crown Prince Su stared blankly in the direction his Third Uncle had left, when Emperor Li secretly kicked him.

Prince Rong'an was Emperor Li's half-brother, born to a princess selected from a prestigious family in the four northern states. Because the ancestors of the four northern states had fled from the northern barbarians, they carried northern blood; both men and women were tall, with deep-set eyes, high noses, and distinct eye colors. Even after being forced to intermarry with people from the eastern states, the nobles still used their unique eye colors as a family mark, with purple eyes being the highest rank. Although

this purple-eyed son was not favored by the late emperor and had no chance of ascending the throne, his unique eyes represented the power of his family. Therefore, he escaped a calamity after Emperor Li's ascension and was granted a princeship in the north. During Emperor Li's reign, the four northern states were fragmented, so he considered his third brother, a useless pawn, to pose no threat upon his return. However, Emperor Li spent decades slowly gathering the strength of the four northern states, and they began to stir. Now that the chaos of war had ended, it was time to implement a policy of recuperation and development; if the north were to become unstable, war would inevitably break out again. Therefore, before abdicating the throne to the Crown Prince, Emperor Li needed to see the submission of the four northern states. This time, Prince Rong'an came to discuss trade and river transport. Tilo City possessed the largest port for northern freight and was also the capital of the four northern states. The wealthy merchants, who were demanding exorbitant prices, were still not satisfied. On one hand, they demanded that Emperor Li relax policies and reduce taxes; on the other hand, they monopolized cargo ships. Anyone wanting to do business with the four northern states had to hire their merchant ships, dock at designated ports, and have priority given to shops under the names of aristocratic families to select goods. Furthermore, they demanded a cut from the sales proceeds. Negotiations between the two sides were uncompromising on these harsh conditions for a long time without any result.

Until Prince Rong'an happened to encounter the widowed Sixteenth Princess. That very night, he sent someone to inform Emperor Li that if the Sixteenth Princess became his principal wife, all matters concerning trade would be negotiable. Prince Rong'an had initially married his cousin to gain the support of his family; however, she died of illness several years after their marriage without bearing any children. He had intended to adopt an heir from within the clan, but due to various reasons, no one was suitable. So, even now, nearing forty, despite the passing of his queen and his recent marriage to a concubine, he only has two betrothed daughters.

While it's not uncommon for an uncle to marry his niece in the Eastern Continent, it's not something to publicize openly, especially since a princess widowed less than two years ago is marrying her uncle, thirteen years her senior; the rumors would be rather unpleasant. While Emperor Li was still hesitating, news arrived that the young princess had gone missing. He always cared deeply for this granddaughter and immediately sent Lan Yin to investigate, also tasking her with helping the Sixteenth Princess punish the negligent palace maids. However, when Lan Yin returned, she reported that the Sixteenth Princess wasn't seen in the palace when she disappeared. The maids insisted the princess had gone out to look for her, but Lan Yin's inquiries revealed that the Sixteenth Princess had left Fengli Palace after lunch and hadn't returned. Left with no other option, she reprimanded the maids before returning to report.

Emperor Li frowned and summoned his shadow guards, giving them instructions. The news they brought back confirmed his deduction: the Sixteenth Princess had appeared at the Eastern Palace after lunch and only emerged two hours earlier. Emperor Li knew of the Crown Prince's affections for the Sixteenth Princess, but assuming the Crown Prince was discreet, he turned a blind eye, even arranging a Crown Princess for him and selecting extremely beautiful palace maids for his amusement, hoping he would settle down. He hadn't expected the Crown Prince to remain so.

The Sixteenth Princess's birth mother was the Empress's youngest half-sister. Because the Empress had once fallen out of favor, her family had sent her to the palace to help her regain power. However, the beautiful woman died young in childbirth, leaving behind a daughter who was adopted by the Empress and raised alongside the Crown Prince. Thus, the two grew up together, and it was inevitable that feelings would develop between them.

Although it was merely a sibling-like act of peeping, kissing, and touching out of curiosity, without anything physical happening, Emperor Li, who was aware of the situation, waited until the Sixteenth Princess turned fourteen. Then, while the Crown Prince was away hunting, he arranged for her to marry a hostage in the Northern Lands, hoping to extinguish any thoughts his son might have of

her. Unexpectedly, after the Sixteenth Princess returned as a widow, she actually climbed into the Crown Prince's bed. Parents can always find excuses to forgive their favored children. Coupled with his disappointment in his youngest daughter's irresponsible behavior as a mother, and his anger at the Crown Prince's constant excuses about the war to avoid marriage, Emperor Li increasingly felt that the Sixteenth Princess had been unfaithful and seduced his most valued son. Unable to allow anyone to ruin the Crown Prince's future, Emperor Li conceived the idea of eliminating his youngest daughter. Now that his third brother wanted the Sixteenth Princess in exchange, this deal couldn't be more advantageous.

Emperor Li summoned the Crown Prince and revealed the whole affair, threatening him with the throne and forcing him to choose between the throne and the Sixteenth Princess. As is often the way of the emperor, he patiently persuaded his son, explaining that as emperor, he could openly marry any beautiful woman he desired; why give up the throne and become a commoner, fixated on a woman who had already borne children? Furthermore, due to their sibling bond, they could not have children together, nor could they make their relationship public, lest they be branded as incestuous. The Crown Prince, unable to resist Emperor Li's persuasion, agreed to let his sister marry his third uncle, and also learned of the conspiracy that night.

Author's Note:

Yes, Suolan Zhen is Liu Zhenzhen. Why the name change, why use "Zhen" instead of "Zhen," will be explained later. After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he becomes Emperor Su. The ages of the characters are based on Lady Fuyao's version. I didn't think too much about the details when writing "Old Dreams," so there may be some discrepancies.

Chapter 3: Treading Through Plum Blossoms

, Returning Home Under the Moonlight. A seemingly insignificant event, the marriage of the Sixteenth Princess to the North, was inextricably linked to Solan Zhen.

Waking from her afternoon nap, Solan Zhen slipped out of the palace and climbed what she had chosen—the tallest plum tree. Sure enough, the higher she climbed, the farther she could see. Unaware of the danger, the little princess continued climbing until she could climb no further, then curiously looked down at the imperial city below.

Looking towards the direction from which the wind came, she saw her uncle and mother doing something strange in a courtyard full of red plum blossoms. Her mother's clothes were disheveled, her legs spread wide, and her uncle was standing between her legs, doing something unknown, causing the entire tree to tremble. She stared blankly, completely unaware that the palace maids were already searching for her.

Meanwhile,

under the snow-covered flower-lined corridors of the palace, a group of people walked slowly. Leading them were the ceremonial officials and two palace maids accompanying Emperor Li, followed by a middle-aged man in dark blue official robes and a young boy in mourning. The five walked silently until a commotion gradually arose outside.

"Lord Gu, please wait a moment." The leading official frowned slightly and stopped, bowing to the man behind him before gesturing for a palace maid to inquire about the situation: "This humble official has sent Qiu Zhi to investigate first, lest someone offend Your Excellency."

Gu Lian nodded slightly, thanking her for her trouble. The Gu family of Yunzhou was the only hereditary official family to have survived to this day since the founding of the dynasty, producing numerous renowned generals. They commanded the Mingxiao Iron Cavalry, stationed in the south. The Gu family's ancestral home was built at the highest point of Puyang City, its scale second only to the imperial court in Tiandu. As descendants of the Gu family, they received second only to the emperor in terms of courtesy wherever they went. However, this could not change the fate of the Gu family's sons who went to the battlefield and sacrificed themselves for their country. He squatted down and stroked his grandson's head, looking at Gu Feng's still slightly red eyes, his heart filled with bitterness. Gu Feng was seven years old that year, having lost his father two years prior and still in mourning.

Because of the chaos in Yi Nan, the Great Ling Dynasty's iron hooves trampled across the Eastern Continent during a ten-year war, annexing neighboring countries. The price of this territorial expansion was the death of the eldest son of the Gu family, the disappearance of the second son, the serious injury of the third and fourth sons, the loss of thousands of cavalry, and a severe blow to the family's strength. Gu Lian, as one of the three patriarchs of the Gu family, came to the capital not only to attend the banquet hosted by Emperor Li, but also to bring back the remains of his eldest son. Gu Feng was there to help carry his father's coffin.

"Reporting to the official, the little princess suddenly disappeared this afternoon. Emperor Li was furious, and all the palace servants and guards are searching everywhere." A palace servant who returned shortly knelt on the ground and reported to the official.

"Does the sixteenth princess know about this?"

"This servant does not know. The palace servants have not mentioned this matter."

The official nodded and continued to lead Gu Lian and the others towards their lodgings in the palace.

"Official, is that little princess the posthumous child of Prince Solan?" Gu Lian took a few steps and, recalling what he had heard when he entered the capital, asked.

The official nodded and replied, "The little princess is indeed the daughter of the Sixteenth Princess and Solando. Because Prince Solando passed away, Emperor Li, out of pity for the Sixteenth Princess, granted her permission to return to the palace. This is now the second year."

"So she's a pitiful child after all," Gu Lian sighed softly.

"Grandfather, there's someone in that tree." The wind rustled through the treetops, bringing a faint tinkling sound. Gu Feng, with his excellent hearing, looked towards the palace walls and saw a very small child sitting motionless on a branch of a large tree. He quietly tugged at Gu Lian's sleeve and pointed it out.

Everyone stopped and looked in the direction Gu Feng had pointed. Sure enough, a little girl in a white dress sat on an old tree in the nearby palace, adorned with white plum blossoms and white flowers behind her ear. She held onto the tree trunk with one hand and pressed her skirt with the other, staring blankly in the direction the wind was blowing. The silver bracelets on her ankles jingled in the wind. She seemed lost in her own world, oblivious to the shouts and noise outside.

"It's the little princess!" the official exclaimed, hurrying towards the location.

"Who lives there?" Gu Lian knew that as a foreign official, there were certain places he couldn't enter. His grandson had discovered the little princess, so it wouldn't be right not to help.

"It's an abandoned palace. I don't know how the little princess got in." The official led them to the palace gate; indeed, the courtyard was desolate.

He instructed two palace servants, one to quickly report to His Majesty, and the other to summon the guards to find a way to rescue the little princess. He himself, lifting his palace skirt, rushed to the tree, anxiously looking up at the little princess who had almost climbed to the top of the canopy.

"My little princess, how did you get up there? Don't be afraid, Chunzhi and the others have already gone to call the guards to bring a ladder. Please hold on tight!"

The little princess in the tree watched her uncle dress her mother and then leave with her. She didn't understand why her uncle wanted to see her mother without clothes, just as she didn't understand why her father had changed his clothes to lighter colors after leaving home. Only when the two figures could no longer see each other did Suolanzhen hear a familiar voice calling her name. As if waking from a dream, she looked down at the official and said in a childish voice, "Auntie, Zhen'er can come down by herself."

With that, the four-year-old girl ignored the official's exclamation and began to slowly climb down. However, because of the cold wind at the top, her hands and feet were a little clumsy, and she was also weak, so she swayed all over. The officials below were terrified, their faces turning pale. They begged for mercy, "Little ancestor, please don't move anymore. Just wait patiently, the guards will be here soon. Be careful, don't, don't step on those spots."

Gu Lian watched the little girl shuffling among the slippery branches and felt a pang of worry for her. The wind outside picked up, and the little princess, lightly dressed, already had pale lips. She sat on a branch of a large tree, clinging to the trunk, and cried out to the official, her voice trembling with tears, "Auntie, Zhen'er is cold, Zhen'er wants her mother..."

The official was heartbroken, and seeing no one to help, he was extremely anxious. Just then, Gu Lian walked to the tree and said to the little princess, "I am Gu Lian from Yunzhou. Please be brave, Your Highness, and jump down. I will catch you."

The little princess looked at the tall man looking up at her from below, meeting his gentle gaze, the slight upturn of his lips, and the faint lines at the corners of his eyes. Suddenly, her image overlapped with that of her father, who had traveled far from home. So, she hesitated for a moment, closed her eyes, and jumped down, landing in a warm, broad embrace. The dry, soft fabric of the man's clothes had a faint sandalwood scent. She buried her face in it, wondering if her father would hold her like this when he returned. She wished time could slow down so that Zhen'er could remember her father's scent.

Even as a princess, Solan Zhen's small wish was difficult to fulfill. The official in charge of the ceremony breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Gu Lian catch the little princess, but before he could scold the late guards and palace servants, Eunuch Su, who served Emperor Li, rushed over with his men. They quickly took the little princess from Gu Lian's arms and had Eunuch Su take her to see Emperor Li.

Eunuch Su repeatedly thanked Gu Lian, then had a palace maid carry the little princess and hurriedly left. The official in charge of the ceremony led everyone on their way again. The delicate, beautiful girl, her chin resting on the maid's shoulder, watched the man who had just saved her and the little boy beside him from afar, until their figures disappeared from sight, leaving only a faint scent of sandalwood at the tip of her nose.

Sometimes, little Suolanzhen couldn't help but wonder if some people, even if they disappeared from sight, would reappear the moment she turned around. Like her mother and uncle, who disappeared from her sight, she saw them again at night; the Lord Gu who saved her in the afternoon, she saw again that evening. What about her little brother? Would she see him again tomorrow morning after leaving tonight? Little did she know that when they met again after that night, a year had passed, and everything had changed.

That night, the little princess, who had been taken away from Emperor Li, was led by Lanyin to Gu Lian, where Suolanzhen was asked to thank her savior. After the little princess properly bowed in thanks, Gu Lian persuaded her to stay and she sat down next to Gu Feng.

The two children, who had only met that afternoon, quickly started chattering in their own words, giggling incessantly, because of their similar experiences. The Gu family had never had a little girl before, so Gu Feng was very interested in this delicate and beautiful little thing. He discovered that his little sister, like her brothers, loved sweet and sour snacks, was afraid of the dark, loved to play, and liked to cling to her mother. However, the little sister was more obedient and well-behaved than her brothers, making one want to take good care of her.

Under the moonlight, the two whispering children, bathed in a colorful halo by the glass palace lanterns behind them, truly resembled a pair of golden boys and jade girls, so beautiful that one couldn't look away.

The Empress, still unaware of the situation, joked with Gu Lian, "Look how well these two children match! Why not arrange a marriage between them? It would be good for them in the future..."

Before the Empress could finish, Emperor Li interrupted her, "Haha, these two children are still in mourning, so it's not convenient to discuss this. Besides, Zhen'er is still young, and Ruoyu wants to keep her for a few more years. If these two are truly destined for each other, they will be together sooner or later."

Little did they know that Emperor Li, who originally only wanted to stop this marriage, would, twelve years later, have his words come true.

Not long after, the imperial decree of marriage was issued. To save face for the royal family, Emperor Li simply stated in the decree, "A daughter of the imperial clan is chosen as the principal wife of Prince Rong'an." Behind the scenes, however, he went to great lengths to strip the Sixteenth Princess of her title, remove her from the family register, and demote her status to that of a noblewoman. She was then bestowed the title of Princess Zheliu, and after the marriage, granted the title of principal wife, and reinstated in the royal family register as the Princess of Rong'an.

Along with this came a new name and identity bestowed upon Suolanzhen. Her original surname, Suolan, was replaced with the royal surname Liu, and her given name was Zhenzhen. She was also granted the title of Princess Tilan, recorded in the family register as the legitimate daughter of Prince Rong'an, and adopted into the new princess's family.

Even though she was already heartbroken, upon hearing this decree, the Sixteenth Princess couldn't help but sigh at the ruthlessness of the imperial family. These days were filled with busy preparations for the wedding and the journey. To prevent the little princess from slipping away again and causing an accident, the Sixteenth Princess held her daughter and instructed the palace maids on the last remaining items. Today was the day to depart north, and also the last time she would look around the palace that had given her birth and nurtured her.

Liu Zhenzhen was still not used to her new name, and kept muttering to herself. The Sixteenth Princess let her talk to herself like a little fish blowing bubbles, and checked the time; Prince Rong'an should be arriving soon.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the tall figure appeared at the door. The man strode over, took his little new daughter, let her ride on his shoulders, and after confirming with the young future princess, he led the two beauties, one big and one small, toward the carriage at the palace gate. They would board the most luxurious merchant ship on the entire continent and arrive at Tilo City, the capital of the four northern states.

Chapter 4

Jade Plum Blossoms Bloom on the Northern Branch The city of Tilo, where the Rong'an Prince's Mansion is located, is built on a fertile river valley plain. The outer city is constructed of massive stones, and it faces the harbor to the east, boasting nine wharves. The name is derived from the phrase "Nine dragons spouting water to nurture the body, eight divine lights illuminating the palace," and the city is constantly bustling with merchant ships of all sizes on the inland rivers and the sea, carrying countless goods, news, weapons, and people. Sailors can drink and solicit prostitutes in the dilapidated cowhide tents along the shore, and there are also underground casinos and black markets for trading and entertainment.

However, on this morning, the noisy and bustling harbor became solemn and silent for the first time. Tall warriors clad in iron armor formed a silent iron wall winding from the harbor into the heart of the city, the sharp tips of their spears and arrows gleaming coldly in the dim light of dawn. The shops and restaurants along the ten-mile-long street were tightly closed, and there was no sound inside. Officials and elders of noble families, dressed in magnificent robes, waited quietly inside the makeshift cowhide tents, the only sound the soft crackling of charcoal crackling in the braziers.

As the first rays of sunlight appeared, the massive merchant ship bearing the insignia of the Rong'an royal family slowly docked. The ruler of the four states had finally brought back the new mistress of Tilo City. When the Rong'an King appeared at the bow of the ship, carrying the young princess and the queen, everyone knelt in unison, shouting "Our Lord!" The startled seagulls, like specks of blue-gray in an ink painting, vanished in an instant.

Liu Zhenzhen was held in Rong'an Prince's arms, leaning against her father's shoulder as she watched the golden sunlight gradually illuminate the city of Tilo beneath her feet. Unlike the exquisite courtyards, flying eaves, and carved pavilions of Tiandu, with their clean and wide streets, the old city by the coast was filled with gray and worn-out buildings. The whitewashed exterior walls were slightly yellowed, and the once rich and intricate patterns on the windows and lintels had become mottled. The moss-covered roof tiles stretched out tightly together, and apart from the main road, which was still wide and flat, the other paths stretched like a spider web into the dark and unknown corners. Following the main road into the city, a river bend separated two worlds. A light white mist rose from the water, and looking down, the new city, laid out according to the Eight Divine Platforms, resembled a hundred golden rains in full bloom, pure white and dazzling, spotless. The entire city of Tilo was like a warrior in silver armor, with the blue sea at its back, but a pure white flower blooming in its heart.

This was Liu Zhenzhen's first and last time overlooking the entire city of Tilo before her marriage. When she resolutely left, she didn't want to look back at this seaside city where she had lived for nearly ten years. Her mind was filled with thoughts of leaving, leaving, preferably far away and never returning. Even when she got married, she left from the Gu family's Grand General's Mansion in Tiandu, and traveled south in a grand procession to the Gu family's ancestral home. It wasn't until the death of Prince Rong'an that she returned to her parents' home with Gu Feng.

That year, she was nineteen years old, just like the sixteenth princess back then. Leading her eldest son, Gu Zhili, and arm in arm with her husband, she looked at this city sleeping in the dawn once again, her heart filled with countless emotions. Liu Zhenzhen didn't know what her mother was feeling when she stood side by side with her father then. Now, with Gu Feng embracing her from behind, it felt so good to have someone to rely on. All her anxieties and nervousness were left behind.

Perhaps the gears of fate began to turn the moment she set foot on the land of Tilo City, bringing her pain in her happiest moments and hope in her most desperate ones. If she hadn't experienced those joys and sorrows, how could Liu Zhenzhen have seen Gu Feng again? How could two people with such similar childhood experiences have found each other and pledged their love amidst the vast sea of people?

Liu Yingying, Liu Zhenzhen's half-sister, came here to wait for her sister after school. The two tacitly avoided mentioning their parents, focusing instead on everyday matters concerning Gu Zhili.

The cremation ceremony for the deceased was to be held that night. After reciting the long eulogy, the high priest personally ascended the high stone platform to light the fire. Liu Zhenzhen watched as the flames engulfed the withered body. Her stepfather, whom she had always thought would be forever tall and strong, had suddenly passed away before the age of fifty. It truly felt like a dream, as if she had returned to the day her father and mother had just married, with so many people and such bright flames.

The wedding of Prince Rong'an and the Sixteenth Princess began at sunset. Tall braziers were lit in the new city, and loud songs resounded through the sky. After offering sacrifices to heaven, earth, and ancestors, the bride stepped over a saddle, red coals, and a basin of water, tossing a willow branch high into the air. Prince Rong'an, standing a hundred paces away, caught an arrow symbolizing male genitalia, drew his bow to its fullest extent, and fired three arrows in quick succession. Each arrow was inserted into a willow leaf, symbolizing female genitalia—a very auspicious sign! Afterward, the two joined hands to worship the sea god again, praying for many children and grandchildren to the statue of the tortoise and snake in intercourse. The princess personally placed a complete tortoise shell on the red coals she had stepped over, and the elderly Hesa, responsible for divination, would publicly cast a hexagram to reveal the future of the newlyweds. A moment later, the tortoise shell cracked open and fell to the ground. As everyone held their breath in anticipation, the Grand Shaman looked up at the Sixteenth Princess and said in a low, slow voice, "Excellent."

These two auspicious omens filled Prince Rong'an with joy. He personally opened three palm-sized raw oysters for his princess, soaked them in strong liquor, fed her half, and ate the other half himself. Such treatment from husbands at their weddings was rare among young couples deeply in love, and everyone secretly thought that Prince Rong'an had fallen for this beauty from the capital.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Liu Zhenzhen, now satiated and her novelty worn off, began to yawn incessantly. Rong'an Prince, who was receiving toasts from the crowd while holding the Princess, noticed this and instructed Tao Zhi to take the little princess to the inner palace to rest. Considering Liu Zhenzhen's young age and her constant sleeping with her mother, Rong'an Prince wasn't in a hurry to separate her from the Princess's palace. He had a side room built next to his own, where all of Liu Zhenzhen's dolls and crib from Fengli Palace were transported back to Tiluo City. He also ordered people to find some unique northern trinkets to place there, creating a delicate little room for her to rest in.

Tao Zhi helped the little princess, who had already closed her eyes in sleep, and had Mei Zhi help her change into a soft cotton robe before helping her to bed. After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Liu Zhenzhen, half-asleep, vaguely heard strange movements and the indistinct voices of men and women. She rubbed her eyes, clutching her rabbit plush toy as she woke up. The sound seemed to be coming from outside. Liu Zhenzhen got up and stood on the bed, reaching for the unlocked window on the wall. She was too weak to open it more than a crack, but she could see the brightly lit inner palace. The four northern states revered white, so the inner palace was draped with gauze curtains on all four sides. The magnificent bed in the center was where the newlywed prince and princess spent their night together.

Inside the semi-transparent gauze curtains embroidered with gold threads, two overlapping figures lay on a thick, luxurious carpet. The person on top swayed their hips and buttocks back and forth, while the person below wrapped their long legs around the waist of the person above, their bodies swaying in unison. Above their slender, almost broken waists were two trembling orbs, bobbing up and down. After a while, the person on top buried their head in them. Broken, faint sounds drifted from within, but Liu Zhenzhen couldn't discern whose they belonged to. She had never heard such sounds before—sweet and alluring, yet tinged with pain and a hint of pleasure. With a sudden silence, the person below arched their back, moving away from the carpet and pressing tightly against the person above, their arms wrapped tightly around the neck, their legs taut and straight, then slumped down as if all their strength had been drained.

It was like watching a shadow puppet show, occasionally performed in the palace. Liu Zhenzhen, clutching her plush rabbit, watched the two silhouettes perform their myriad tricks throughout the night. There were no long dialogues, no music, and no one told her what the play was about. She could only guess by listening and watching intently. Occasionally, she could hear faint whispers, such as a woman's "No...", "Spare me...", "Gently...", "No more...", "Save me..." or a man's "Good girl," "Squeeze tight," "Slut," "Still saying no," "Fuck you to death..." etc. She couldn't understand a single word; the other sounds were just low moans and groans, or a few low growls. The rest was the slapping or gurgling sound of the large silhouette's lower body shaking. Sometimes the large silhouette's head would be placed under the small silhouette's neck, and after the two swaying little round figures were no longer visible, there would be a smacking sound of wetness.

At the end of the performance, the large silhouette carried the small silhouette and walked around once, its hips still moving back and forth. When the two approached Liu Zhenzhen's small window, she could finally hear a dialogue:

"Does your royal uncle enjoy fucking you?"

"Mmm. It's good... mmm... slower..."

"Do you like being fucked like this, hmm? In this position, your royal uncle can go in even deeper and open your little mouth inside, right?" As he said this, Prince Rong'an thrust his penis into the uterus again with great force.

"Ah... be gentle... Mmm, I like it... Mmm... Mmm..."

"Is baby full yet? Do you want Uncle to do it again?"

"No, no more... It's going to burst... Uncle, you filled it so much... um... so much... it's going to burst Ruoyu..."

"Who told you to have such a tight and narrow hole? Uncle will fill you up more than ten times a day from now on, until this little cunt is all loose and saggy, okay?"

"Ugh, Uncle is so naughty... It's so embarrassing to say that..."

"What's wrong with that? Uncle has even naughtier things to say, baby, do you want to hear them?"

"Mmm... Mmm... Yes, I want to hear them, go back to bed, don't wake Zhenzhen... Mmm... Gently... Gently..."

As the two silhouettes gradually disappeared, Liu Zhenzhen was still wondering if this play was about her father and mother? The two silhouettes were gone, but the big bed began to shake violently. Filled with questions, Liu Zhenzhen finally felt sleepy again, hugging her doll and obediently falling asleep, even her dreams echoing with alluring low moans.

Chapter 5: The West Wind Blows Amidst the Green Waves (h)

The next morning, Liu Zhenzhen was still half asleep when she was awakened again by the rustling sounds from the night before. The little girl pouted and got up, pulling her doll rabbit along, peeking out through the crack left in the window the night before. Had the shadow puppet show started again?

Sunlight streamed through the double-layered white gauze lattice window, casting the intricate and ornate patterns onto the gray-blue patterned floor, illuminating the entire inner hall. Even shrouded in semi-transparent gauze, one could clearly see about 70-80% of the scene inside: the patterns on the long-pile carpet, the men's and women's clothing scattered on the floor, and the large bed covered with red silk.

The new play was about to begin behind the red silk. The two shadows, one tall and one short, sat facing each other. The petite one tilted her head back, while the tall one lowered it. They embraced and kissed, as tenderly as birds entwined on a branch. Then, the petite figure slightly raised herself, using the tall figure's support to sit back down, and suddenly began to tossing herself up and down. Her full breasts were covered by the tall shadow's hand. After tossing herself like this for a while, they changed positions. The petite figure knelt, her arms supporting her on the bed, her buttocks raised high because the tall figure was pressing on her slender waist. From her shoulders to her waist and then to her buttocks, she drew an alluring curve. Her waist, so thin it seemed about to break, was held by a large hand, and a long pillar appeared in the tall shadow's waist and abdomen. The pillar poked at the petite figure's pert buttocks from time to time. With each contact, the petite figure would tremble, and her two mounds, like dewdrops, would sway back and forth. Finally, when the tall figure pressed against the petite figure's buttocks, the stick magically disappeared, and the petite figure, whose head had been hanging low, tilted back. Soon, as the two figures began a strange striking motion, the bed started to shake as it had the night before. The soft moans coming from inside the curtains were like the swaying tassels hanging from them, gently brushing against the heart.

Liu Zhenzhen bit her finger, not understanding why her father and mother were putting on a shadow puppet show, and she also really wanted to know how the stick had disappeared. Did her father know illusion magic?

The red silk was as thin as a wing, and as the bed shook several times, a corner of the brocade quilt was revealed, and a wide opening was also visible. Inside, two snow-white breasts were being grasped by bronze-colored hands, and fingers were freely abusing the high, pink nipples, occasionally flicking them or pulling them outward, squeezing them flat. Inside the tent, the most private part of the beauty was wide open, laboriously swallowing and releasing a jet-black, glistening penis. The shaft was already covered in white fluid, the abundant juice wetting the man's thick pubic hair, strands sticking to his bronze, thick thighs, extending all the way to his muscular abdomen. The Sixteenth Princess had never been penetrated from behind before. This position allowed the man to penetrate very deep, and since her uncle's penis was already extremely thick and long, her vagina was completely filled by his large penis, leaving no gaps. The increased friction distance intensified the pleasure, and she felt as if she was about to die under her uncle's penis, her whole body experiencing an indescribable tingling, soreness, and itching sensation.

“Uncle, um, be gentle…you’re so cruel…I…you’re really going to kill me…”

“Little thing, your little hole is so tight, it keeps gripping Uncle’s cock and sucking. Do you want me to fuck you to death…?…Do you want me to fuck your cunt raw…” Prince Rong’an breathed hot air into his niece’s ear, “From now on, you’re not allowed to wear pants under your skirt. I want to be able to fuck you anytime and fill you with my semen, understand?”

“Um…I…I understand…uh…”

The erotic scene inside the tent was just two overlapping shadows in Liu Zhenzhen’s eyes, and the fragmented words were beyond her comprehension.

The little girl just watched the adults’ game with curiosity, standing obediently on the small bed without saying a word, until the passion inside subsided and people began to call for service, then Liu Zhenzhen hugged the doll and lay back down.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, soft footsteps approached from the doorway to the bedside. The faint scent of plum blossoms was the Sixteenth Princess's signature, but now, mixed with that familiar fragrance was a scent Liu Zhenzhen had never smelled before. She would only realize it was the smell of her father's semen when she grew older.

"My little darling... time to wake up." The Sixteenth Princess sat by the bed, looking at her youngest daughter with affection, reaching out to touch her little face. Seeing the smile on the little girl's lips, she deliberately asked, "Is my sweet baby awake?"

Liu Zhenzhen touched her cheek with her little hand, her eyes still closed, and said, "Mother, kiss me and I'll wake up."

Prince Rong'an leaned against the doorway, watching his wife pick up their adopted daughter and kiss her fair, tender face. Liu Zhenzhen obediently opened her bright, grey-brown eyes, just like the Princess's, and smiled back at the Sixteenth Princess. In Tiro City, there were no strict rules; Liu Zhenzhen still called the Sixteenth Princess "Mother" and Prince Rong'an "Father."

“Zhen’er, you can’t be biased, okay? Daddy’s here too.” Prince Rong’an walked over and took the soft, tiny Liu Zhenzhen from the Sixteenth Princess’s arms, kissing her cheek as well. He rubbed his stubble against her chin, making the little girl giggle. Liu Zhenzhen cupped Prince Rong’an’s face and obediently kissed her father back.

Later that evening, Liu Zhenzhen met Prince Rong’an’s two concubines and two blue-eyed sisters. She only knew that there were many people in this house, her mind still preoccupied with the shadow puppet show she had seen the previous night and morning. The Sixteenth Princess, however, had obtained much more detailed information. That afternoon, she held Liu Zhenzhen and coaxed her to a nap, pondering the future of the two of them. Even if it wasn’t of her own volition, for Zhen’er’s sake, she had to conceive Prince Rong’an’s child and give birth to a legitimate daughter, though she didn’t know if she could achieve her wish.

The women in Prince Rong’an’s mansion were all chosen from aristocratic families. His principal wife was his cousin, who had never borne children and died several years later. The two who gave birth to legitimate daughters were made concubines, and the remaining three were concubines. The two concubines were around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, both illegitimate daughters from the Luo family, who came as part of the dowry of the legitimate daughters. Although they had dark green eyes, their two daughters possessed emerald green eyes, representing the legitimate line. Both were thirteen years old.

Prince Rong'an didn't only have these two children, but only children with specific eye colors were eligible to be recorded in the family genealogy and become legitimate descendants. Others, even those born to the princesses, were considered illegitimate. Because there were more men than women here, illegitimate daughters could live with their mothers, but their status was equivalent to palace maids, and they were often ordered around and beaten by the legitimate daughters. Illegitimate sons were all sent to Yongzong Mansion, where they were cared for by the nannies and palace servants until they grew up. They could then choose to enter officialdom or join the army, and only after achieving merit and military achievements would they be recognized by their families. Only the people of the four northern prefectures could understand what Liu Zhenzhen's legitimate line status meant, and how much envy and resentment it aroused.

The sixteenth princess remembered that the other eight daughters of the two concubines all had dark green or dark purple eyes, and they all stood with their heads bowed behind the two proud and beautiful blue-eyed girls. Only when paying respects to the new princess and receiving the red envelopes bestowed by Tao Zhiyi did she dare to glance at the Sixteenth Princess and utter a word of auspiciousness.

The three concubine princesses were older, with pure emerald green, lake blue, and gold eyes, presumably daughters of noble families who married into the family at the same time as the former princess. Because they failed to produce a legitimate heir, and their illegitimate daughters also failed to produce a legitimate heir after marriage, they were demoted. Now, their lives were even worse than those of the favored palace maids. The daily hardships had eroded their former beauty; no matter how much they dressed up, they could not hide the wrinkles around their eyes and their sagging skin.

The legitimate heirs of the northern noble families were dwindling generation after generation, and the lack of male heirs was a perpetual worry for the clan leaders. Once the legitimate daughters were recorded in the family genealogy at their first birthday, the elders would betroth them to suitable legitimate sons according to the family's interests. Depending on the number of legitimate daughters in each generation, a legitimate son could have two to four legitimate daughters.

After marrying at the age of fourteen, legitimate daughters began an endless cycle of childbearing in hopes of producing a legitimate heir. Upon a legitimate daughter's marriage, elders would select four to six illegitimate daughters, around twelve years old, as her dowry maids to serve her. If the legitimate daughter could not give birth to a legitimate son within two years, the husband could request one of her dowry sisters to serve him. If an illegitimate daughter gave birth to a legitimate heir, she was highly likely to be on equal footing with the legitimate daughter, or even higher. The two concubines of Prince Rong'an are excellent examples, demonstrating the fierce competition among women everywhere.

While male heirs were important, fertile legitimate daughters were even more precious. They were the most likely to produce an heir and were often betrothed to young, strong legitimate sons. After the age of thirty, even without an heir, a legitimate son could no longer marry a legitimate daughter from a prominent family; he could only rely on luck to find an illegitimate daughter to produce an heir, or adopt from within the clan.

Now, the direct descendants of several major aristocratic families are dwindling. The Rong'an Prince's Zi Tong clan, bearing the surname Helan, has only one young male direct descendant. Having passed thirty, the Rong'an Prince can no longer marry another legitimate daughter. His other concubine daughters, who were part of his dowry, have also been childless. Having already acquired two legitimate daughters, the Rong'an Prince can only accept his fate. In any case, the clan elders have begun to soften their stance, secretly discussing whether to allow a legitimate daughter to inherit the position of family head. His trip to Tiandu this time was merely because he was tired of trivial matters and wanted to clear his head.

News of the Rong'an Prince's remarriage to his principal wife almost met with opposition from the family elders in the north. Out of consideration for the sixteenth princess's heterochromatic eyes, they reluctantly accepted her as a lowly concubine daughter. However, exchanging countless gold coins that could have brought in for a useless widow and a burden was a terrible deal. The Helan clan holds a majority of seats in the elders' council of the four northern states, so even if the other clans are dissatisfied, they can only suppress their anger.

In the four northern prefectures, due to the urgent need for a legitimate son, women frequently gave birth, starting at the age of fourteen and bearing children year after year. Before they even reached thirty, most of them began to lose their figures. Even the two concubines, after having a legitimate daughter, had given birth to five illegitimate daughters, far fewer than the sixteenth princess. The Prince of Rong'an didn't expect his niece to give him a legitimate heir; he only wanted to experience the sexual pleasure he hadn't enjoyed in the previous thirty-two years, until he was tired of it. This young widow was a rare gem; her winding vagina seemed tailor-made for his penis. He had never enjoyed a woman so much; several times a day wasn't enough, he wished he could be inside his niece every second. Thanks to the Grand Shasa's kind words at the wedding, the clan leaders' expressions improved slightly.

Author's Note:

The previous attempts failed to upload; I'm revising this chapter now to see if it's readable.

Chapter 6 A Lonely Nightingale's Song in the Long Spring Day

The coastal city of Tilo catches tons of fresh seafood daily, and shellfish, oysters, and clams are indispensable in their daily diet. Young Liu Zhenzhen, lacking established eating habits, readily accepts these delicious and unique foods, enjoying them raw, stir-fried, or steamed. However, the Sixteenth Princess finds these foods unpalatable. To appease her, Prince Rong'an hires a renowned chef from the capital and has his merchant ships transport fresh southern ingredients daily for the kitchen to prepare, all to please his beloved.

Prince Rong'an is strong and healthy, and the Sixteenth Princess is of childbearing age, coupled with their unrestrained and frequent sexual activity. Soon, news arrives that the Princess is pregnant.

Following northern customs for pregnancy support, Liu Zhenzhen's small bed is placed beside the Princess's bedside from the moment the pregnancy is confirmed. The physicians of the four northern prefectures were all shamans, devout believers with their own unique beliefs and theories. Regarding the unborn child, they firmly believed that older children could guide the infant and soothe the still-unstable soul.

As the days passed, the sixteenth princess's belly grew round and full. Even with her previous childbirth experience, she still felt some anxiety. Fortunately, her daughter was by her side, which brought her some peace of mind. Sometimes, Zhenzhen would carefully lie by the bedside, pressing her ear to her slightly protruding belly to listen to the baby's movements and whisper secrets to the little one.

"Mother, will Zhenzhen have a baby in her belly someday?"

The Sixteenth Princess smiled, stroking her daughter's soft hair and whispering, "Yes, Zhen'er is so sensible. She'll definitely find a good man who will cherish her, a happy home, and lots of babies. Remember to come back and see Mother then."

"Like Mother? We already have a father and a home, why should Zhen'er leave? Zhen'er won't leave, Zhen'er wants to stay with Mother forever..." Liu Zhenzhen pouted and hugged her mother's arm affectionately.

"Silly child," the Sixteenth Princess simply stroked her head, remaining silent for a long time before softly saying, "If you have the chance, you should leave here."

Liu Zhenzhen didn't understand at the time, but she silently remembered it. Throughout her growing years, she always remembered the faint helplessness and sadness in her mother's eyes that day. In fact, her mother also wanted to leave, partly because the time hadn't come yet, and partly because she couldn't bear to leave her, who was still young.

Although she would be able to go to school in two months, four-year-old Liu Zhenzhen had already begun to recognize characters under the guidance of the Sixteenth Princess. The entire Rong Prince's Mansion was her textbook. She read and traced the inscriptions on plaques, couplets, paintings, and even the pretentious engravings on the Four Treasures of the Study.

Time passed by with each recitation, and in the blink of an eye, it was October, when the autumn maples turned red. The Sixteenth Princess's body was becoming increasingly heavy, and she was due to give birth at the end of the month. A small celebration for a fifth birthday and a big celebration for a tenth birthday. Liu Zhenzhen had just celebrated her fifth birthday in a lively manner at the beginning of the month. Not ten days later, when the baby's first cry rang out, the commotion centered on the Rong Prince's Mansion quickly spread throughout the four northern prefectures.

This woman from the Southern Barbarian tribes, whom they despised the most, had given birth to a purple-eyed heir for Prince Rong'an. This was the only boy born in recent years, so the unprecedentedly grand wedding banquet at the manor lasted for three days.

A dazzling display of fireworks illuminated the inner palace. The sixteenth princess, still in her postpartum confinement, was holding her little prince and playing with him. Liu Zhenzhen sat quietly by the bed, occasionally glancing at the fireworks outside.

"It's so lively outside, Zhen'er, don't you want to go see?" The sixteenth princess felt her daughter was like a water lily, preferring quiet, yet possessing the poise of a noble lady at such a young age.

"It's been going on for three days already, Zhen'er's tired of it." Liu Zhenzhen preferred looking at her soft, tiny brother; those round, purple eyes were so beautiful. Touching his smooth little face, she said, "Ah, Mother, look, my little brother smiled at me!"

"Yes, baby likes Zhen'er very much." The sixteenth princess had already resolved a major concern. With her eldest son, even if she had lost Prince Rong'an's favor, mother and son wouldn't be easily bullied.

The four northern prefectures belonged to four major families: the Purple-Eyed Helan Clan, the Golden-Eyed Helian Clan, the Jade-Pearl Huseluo Clan (also known as the Luo Clan), and the Blue-Eyed Xishilu Clan (also known as the Lu Clan). As the eldest son of Prince Rong'an, this child had to take the royal surname Liu, not the aristocratic Helan surname. Therefore, his name was Liu He in the imperial register, and he was directly recorded in the family genealogy

as the heir apparent. Liu Zhenzhen had been lonely for a long time, and now she finally had a younger brother to keep her company. The little heir apparent was extremely attached to this older sister, needing to see her for everything, including eating, drinking, and using the toilet. If he couldn't see her, he would cry loudly, and no one could comfort him. For this reason, Prince Rong'an specially ordered the construction of a garden called Heyuan next to the main hall so that Liu Zhenzhen and Liu He could live together. Before the garden was completed, the two children lived together in a side room. Liu Zhenzhen liked to share her crib and rabbit doll with her younger brother. However, Liu He was very jealous of the rabbit doll and always tried to hide it. He didn't like his sister hugging the rabbit doll at all; his older sister was his! Every night, Liu He needed his sister to hold him while he slept, so Liu Zhenzhen had to ask Tao Zhi to put the rabbit doll away because she couldn't hug it anymore. Her little brother was soft, warm, and definitely more comfortable to hug than the rabbit doll.

It seemed that the sixteenth princess was exceptionally lucky, giving birth to a son and a daughter, both of whom were direct descendants with purple eyes, in the following three years. Naturally, some people envied and some were jealous of the Rong'an Prince's good fortune in having children one after another.

"Hmph, another direct descendant. How did I end up marrying such a slut! You can't even have a child in three years, you're a complete waste!" The head of the Helian family looked at the wedding invitation on the desk and felt a surge of anger. It was an invitation from the Rong'an Prince's mansion to celebrate the full moon of their direct descendant's daughter. A blue-eyed woman was kneeling between his wide-open legs, vigorously sucking his penis. Hearing his words, she couldn't help but tremble.

Kneeling was the eldest daughter of Prince Rong'an, who had joined the Helian clan three years prior. However, neither of her two children born in those three years were legitimate heirs, and even her concubine-born daughter had failed to produce a legitimate heir, enraging the head of the Helian clan. The head of the Helian clan was now twenty-nine. Despite disregarding custom and deflowering Prince Rong'an's eldest daughter and her concubine-born daughter on their wedding night, he still only had four legitimate daughters. With only a year left, and the remaining three pregnant women having little chance of bearing a legitimate heir, he desperately needed a woman who could guarantee a legitimate heir. But where could he find one?

He stared at the bright red wedding invitation, a strange light flashing in his golden eyes.

"Enough. Get out of my way." The man kicked the blue-eyed woman aside, casually fastened his clothes, and left, instructing the steward to summon the elders of the Helian clan; he needed their help with an important matter.
Chapter 7 of 10-12 : The Garden of Jewels

in Tiro City. Summer in Tiro City wasn't as unbearably hot as in the capital. Under the bright sun, a sea breeze often blew. Roses with green leaves and red flowers hung like curtains from the white walls and fences along the streets, and the air carried a faint scent of jasmine. A magnificent carriage slowly passed through the western market streets, its small windows covered with bamboo curtains, creating a tranquil little world. Ten-year-old Liu Zhenzhen, hugging a soft cushion, leaned against the small window, gazing blankly at the bustling traffic outside through the gaps. She used to pass this lively road often on her way home from school, because her mother had given birth to a younger brother, Helian Yue, here.

She was going to visit the Helian family's residence. The carriage stopped at the gate of the Helian residence. The head steward personally waited by the gate, directing servants to bring out a sedan chair. A matron helped Liu Zhenzhen alight from the carriage and into the sedan chair, from where she entered the Helian residence through the main gate. This solemn reception was naturally at the behest of the Helian family head.

"Princess Tilan, you've arrived! The young master is in the old lady's room. Would you like to go see him? The old lady knew you were coming today and specially prepared your favorite white fungus soup and tea snacks." The head steward chatted casually with Liu Zhenzhen beside the sedan chair; this young lady was a distinguished guest of the residence.

"Hmm, and where is Mother?" Liu Zhenzhen leaned against the sedan chair. A small shed covered with bamboo strips was erected on four bamboo frames, with light blue gauze hanging from all sides to block the sunlight. She looked at the private garden of the Helian residence as she asked the head steward.

"This... the Princess is still in the Master's room, and the servants shouldn't disturb her. I'm afraid she won't be here for a while..." The old steward stopped there, not continuing.

"Is that so? Then let's go see Yue'er first." Liu Zhenzhen was already used to this excuse, so she decided to go see her half-brother.

Hearing Princess Tilan's words, the head steward breathed a sigh of relief and had someone carry her to the Old Madam's courtyard. From afar, they could see the plaque of Tangyue Pavilion and hear faint noises. The young master of the Helian family had quite a temper. Although he was still a few months shy of three years old, his future temperament was already evident. The Sixteenth Princess sometimes complained that her son was mischievous, and the head of the Helian family proudly said that his son was like his father, and that his mischievousness meant he would amount to something in the future.

Sure enough, as soon as Liu Zhenzhen stepped inside, she saw Helian Yue standing on a stone table with one hand on his hip, instructing the maids to catch butterflies, dragonflies, and cicadas. He had the sharpest eyes; the moment he saw Liu Zhenzhen, he immediately called for A Yuan to carry him down, and ran to his older sister for a hug.

Liu Zhenzhen bowed to the old lady from afar, then bent down and picked up Helian Yue. "Yue'er has gotten so fat! I can hardly carry you anymore."

Helian Yue hugged Liu Zhenzhen's neck, smelling her fragrance, and whined, "I don't care, I don't care! Even if I can't carry you, I still want you to carry me, sister!"

The old lady smiled and told Liu Zhenzhen, "Yue'er has been thinking about you all day. Since last night, he's been asking when you're coming, why you're not here yet. He's asked hundreds of times."

"Really, Yue'er?" Liu Zhenzhen asked the little dumpling nestled in her arms. Helian Yue became unusually shy, fidgeting and remaining silent. Suddenly remembering something, he jumped off his sister's lap and ran into the garden. A moment later, he returned carrying a flower wreath.

He showed the flower wreath to Liu Zhenzhen, saying, "Sister, sister, look, my flower wreath. Isn't it pretty?"

Liu Zhenzhen looked at the wreath, which not only had large flowers but also butterflies and dragonflies tied to it, and couldn't help but laugh, "Pretty, pretty."

"Then does sister like it?" Helian Yue looked at her sister with bright eyes, full of anticipation.

"I like it. But this is Yue'er's." Liu Zhenzhen looked regretful.

She clearly granted Helian Yue's wish, generously handing the flower wreath to Liu Zhenzhen and saying seriously, "Since you like it, Sister, then Yue'er will give it to you."

"Really? Yue'er is so good to Sister. Sister also wanted to give Yue'er something, but what should I give?" Liu Zhenzhen pulled Helian Yue back onto her lap, letting him personally place the flower wreath on her head.

"Yue'er wants to cuddle with Sister tonight!" Helian Yue immediately shouted out his wish; this was the main purpose of making the flower wreath.

The maids in the courtyard all laughed. Princess Tilan was famously likable. Whether it was the aristocratic children in the academy or the eldest sons of the four great families, whenever they fought, it was always for this little princess. Now even the young prince was so fond of clinging to her.

"Since Yue'er has said so, Zhen'er, why don't you stay tonight? You haven't been to the manor for a while, so it's a good opportunity to see the Princess." Old Madam Helian always favored this precious grandson and naturally advocated for Liu Zhenzhen to stay.

"Well, then we'll have to bother Grandma." Since Liu Zhenzhen was Helian Yue's older sister, she and her brother addressed the old lady as "Grandma." The other legitimate daughters of the Helian family could only respectfully call her "Old Madam."

Clinging to Helian Yue, it wasn't easy to get away, so Liu Zhenzhen had to carry her brother to her brother-in-law's room to find their mother. Helian Yue didn't like being disturbed during his precious time with his sister, so Liu Zhenzhen had to rest every few steps. Although Helian Yue was obedient and didn't fuss, he refused to walk on his own.

Liu Zhenzhen found a shady corner and put Helian Yue down, and the two sat side-by-side to enjoy the cool air. They were below a flower wall, and looking up, they could see the grapevines laden with large, green grapes, hanging heavily on the branches. Liu Zhenzhen licked her lips, told Helian Yue to stay put, stood up, tiptoed, picked a bunch from the bottom, wiped it haphazardly, and popped a grape into her mouth. Mmm, sour and delicious.

So she fed one to her younger brother as well. Helian Yue was actually very afraid of sour things, but he still bravely ate it. "Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, it's so sour!" He scrunched up his little face, tears welling in his eyes from the sourness. The pitiful little dumpling tugged at his sister's sleeve, sticking out his tongue.

Every time Helian Yue ate something sour, Liu Zhenzhen couldn't help but laugh. Her little brother, who rarely let her tease him, was so adorable. Just as she was enjoying herself, Helian Yue suddenly rolled over, knelt on the bench, and grabbed Liu Zhenzhen's shoulders, stubbornly trying to feed the rest of the grapes in his mouth to his sister. Unexpectedly, when he touched his sister's soft tongue, he suddenly tasted a sweetness he had never experienced before. Although Liu Zhenzhen reacted quickly and pushed her brother away, the grapes in Helian Yue's mouth were already inside. He covered his sister's mouth with both hands, stubbornly insisting that Liu Zhenzhen eat them, and wouldn't let go until he saw her swallow them.

"Sister, Yue'er wants to lick you again, sister is so sweet." Helian Yue hugged Liu Zhenzhen's neck and acted coquettishly, but his sister, who always doted on him, wouldn't allow it. Just as he was trying to squeeze out tears and use his killer move, he suddenly heard someone talking on the other side of the flower wall.

"Sister, I'm going to suffocate if I don't talk to someone soon. Why isn't that bitch leaving? Does she want to have another incestuous child?"

"Keep your voice down, be careful of eavesdroppers. This isn't a secret among the four great families, but we still need to be careful with outsiders."

"Alright, I know. It's okay, I checked, no one's around. Hehe, it's unbelievable that the Luo family head, who's over sixty, could still get that bitch pregnant with a son. It seems the pills in the Rong'an Prince's mansion are still somewhat effective, managing to keep such an old man so vigorous. I heard he's been dead for a long time."

"Hmph, the Rong'an Prince is obsessed with alchemy and immortality cultivation now, he has no time to care about that bitch."

"How can she be so lucky? What did the Elders and the Great Shaha say again? The True God bestowed upon the Heavenly Mother of the Four Provinces, bringing the dawn of our race. She's clearly been played with by men in turn, yet her reputation is still so good, all she does is give birth to a legitimate son."

"Indeed, she even put on such a grand ceremony, making the women of the four great families kneel before her and receive her blessings. Those who didn't know the truth would think it was a divine intervention, granting each of the four families a legitimate son. Who would have thought she was the only one who bore them all?"

"Speaking of which, our little prince was born to her and her nominal son-in-law. Look at how messed up the generations are, tsk tsk."

"You're saying she's already given birth to all the legitimate sons of the four great families, so she's useless now?"

"How could she be useless? She just gave birth to a son for the Luo family, and the master dragged him back to bed. Poor mistress, she has to raise someone else's son again."

"Does Princess Tilan have the same ability? She's only ten years old, and the elders almost turned against each other over who would be her firstborn."

"Like mother, like daughter. The elders won't let that girl go."

The two concubines chatted amongst themselves, while Liu Zhenzhen, separated by a wall, tightly covered Helian Yue's mouth and quietly dragged him to a pavilion. Helian Yue, now free, was about to explode in anger when she turned around and saw Liu Zhenzhen squatting on the ground, her face buried in her arms, silent.

"Sister, what's wrong, sister?" Helian Yue sat down beside Liu Zhenzhen and carefully tugged at her sleeve. "Don't cry. I'll go tell Father, and he'll teach them a lesson, okay? Sister, don't cry, I'll go get Father right away."

Helian Yue said, getting up to leave, but Liu Zhenzhen hugged her, her voice hoarse, "Don't go, I'm fine. Yue'er, promise me you won't tell anyone, not a single person, okay?"

"Oh. Yue'er knows, sister, don't cry, sister." Helian Yue pouted, reluctantly agreeing, wiping away her tears with her chubby little hands, while mentally adding another grudge against those two aunts.

Author's Note:

I've been quite busy lately. For those who sent gifts, I'll write about it here every other day!

Thank you 栀子932927 for the Japanese-style three-layer lunchbox! I absolutely love bento boxes!

Thank you catherinenax2, bluehomex2, and elisa711 for the hand warmers!

Thank you 木木倾橙, chlthx3, and 红丹蔻 for the Halloween pumpkin lanterns! Haha, I can save them for winter!

After much hesitation, I'd like to apologize to everyone here first! --》Is this a hint?

You all know I usually update every other day after starting my new game, because I have an important exam. And then something even more unfortunate happened—my workplace has a closed training session with an exam!! I heard that because the training location is quite remote, there's only an internal LAN. Apparently, although you can receive Wi-Fi, the previous students call it a ghost signal—meaning it's unpredictable. Damn, I seriously doubt I'll be able to write a horror story when I return.

After a week of training, the exam I signed up for is the weekend after next. I have to go into seclusion. If I don't pass this exam, my mom will be the first to punish me!

And if I have to take it again, I'll have to wait another year. The end of the year is truly painful. I've been experiencing writer's block on and off lately, which has nothing to do with your enthusiasm, everyone. I enjoy interacting with you all, but

I'm not satisfied with many of my writings. I don't know if it's because I've been too busy lately, my inspiration has been stifled, or what, I just haven't found the right feeling. *scratches head* During my temporary absence, you can check out my new stories. I'll definitely reply to everyone when I get back online.

This week's updates end at the weekend; I'm leaving for training on Sunday. I'll be back on December 3rd.

I'll miss you all!!!

Chapter 8: Still Withering with Time, Unbearable to Look At.

Liu Zhenzhen originally wanted to carry Helian Yue further, but Helian Yue dodged her hand, refusing to be carried. He grabbed her sleeve, looked up, and said, "Sister, let's walk slowly."

"Mmm." Liu Zhenzhen squatted down, hugged her younger brother, kissed his little face, and then led Helian Yue towards the main courtyard of the Helian family head. When they saw the courtyard gate, Helian Yue wanted to run over quickly, but Liu Zhenzhen stopped him. She asked her brother anxiously, "Yue'er, look, are my eyes still red? Will people notice I've been crying?"

Only after confirming with Helian Yue that no one could tell did she feel a little relieved. Although Helian Yue didn't know why his sister didn't want anyone to know she was crying, he understood her desire not to cause their mother pain. When Helian Yue grew up, he vaguely understood that perhaps this feeling was too deep, which was why, after their mother's accident, his sister harbored resentment towards the entire northern four prefectures, abandoning her young siblings and leaving heartlessly, only returning to see them after the death of Prince Rong'an. As soon as

they reached the courtyard gate, they saw the bare-chested Helian family head smiling broadly as he instructed the steward in the courtyard. He beckoned the two children over.

Liu Zhenzhen and her younger brother greeted him sweetly before she called him "Uncle Helian." Since the elders had allowed her mother to move into the Helian family home under the guise of praying for the Helian matriarch, she could no longer call the Helian family head her brother-in-law, but instead called him Uncle Helian.

"Little Zhen'er is so sensible and clever. Your teacher always praises our little princess for her exceptional intelligence." The Helian family head gently patted Liu Zhenzhen's head, then pulled his son, who was as mischievous as a little monkey, over to him: "Yue'er, when you grow up, you should learn from your older sister, understand?"

Hearing Liu Zhenzhen's name, Helian Yue calmed down, hugged her tightly, and snuggled against her, saying sweetly, "Yue'er has my older sister, why do I need to be like her? Daddy, older sister wants to sleep with Yue'er tonight, right, older sister?"

"Haha, it must have been you who caused trouble. You little devil." The Helian family head clearly didn't care about his son's attachment to Liu Zhenzhen. He vigorously rubbed his son's head and patted his bottom, saying, "Alright, your mother is inside. Come in and see with your sister."

The Sixteenth Princess was resting with her eyes closed on the chaise longue by the window. The carved wooden window was open, and the incense burner on the small tea table was burning with plum blossom fragrance. The joyful atmosphere in the room had mostly dissipated, but she was still too tired to move. She was covered with a man's wide robe, the length of which barely covered half of her thighs, and with each breath, warm liquid flowed out from beneath. She could faintly hear the voices of children outside, so she had to get up and pull over a thin blanket to cover herself.

As soon as she was covered, Helian Yue called out "Mother!" in a clear voice and ran in, clinging to the bed, trying to climb up and get a hug from his mother. Liu Zhenzhen, who had followed her in, picked up Helian Yue, who was struggling to climb, and sat her on the edge of the couch. She leaned on the Sixteenth Princess's shoulder and affectionately called out "Mother," finally revealing the innocent charm of a young girl. The Sixteenth Princess turned slightly, pulling both children into her arms, gently stroking their little faces, and whispering to them. This was the moment Liu Zhenzhen looked forward to most each day; only by feeling her mother's touch and warmth could she feel content and happy.

She smelled that familiar scent again. This time, Liu Zhenzhen knew it was the scent left by Uncle Helian. Was her mother about to have another baby? After two years of schooling, she had learned many, many characters and read many, many books in the Rong'an Prince's library. From those small booklets tucked away in corners, she seemed to vaguely understand what the shadow puppet shows of the past nights were all about, and she began to realize that it was immoral for her mother to give birth to brothers for her uncles and aunts. The books said that only unchaste women did such a thing, it was a sin of female infidelity.

But instead of secretly meeting her lover as described in the books, her mother went to various households openly, and the stewards treated her with utmost courtesy. No man ever showed her any disdain; her uncles and elders always tried their best to please her, even though they knew she had slept with other men. Even the usually stern elders would soften their expressions and nod slightly in greeting when they saw her. The teacher always said that the stories in novels were fictional. Was that really true? Therefore, her mother's actions must be normal. Those two women were just jealous of her mother, that must be it. Liu Zhenzhen kicked her legs, trying to find reasons to reassure herself.

After dinner, Helian Yue, who had been running around all day, finally fell asleep early. Liu Zhenzhen carried him to the bedside and put him down, finding her little brother already fast asleep like a pig. She smiled, kissed her brother's cheek, and took off Helian Yue's outer clothes, letting him sleep inside.

Not feeling sleepy yet, Liu Zhenzhen went to the courtyard and sat on the swing under the banyan tree. She understood most of what had been said that afternoon, but she felt lost amidst the blurring of morality and reality.

The courtyard where the two children slept was the side courtyard of the Helian family head. The man had gone to his study because he had business to attend to that night. According to custom, all the maids and guards nearby had been removed, leaving the entire courtyard empty. Seeing that there was nothing else around, the Sixteenth Princess went to check on the two children. From afar, she saw Liu Zhenzhen swinging alone, her little face showing a hint of loneliness and bewilderment.

"Zhen'er," the Sixteenth Princess called to her absent-minded daughter, entering the courtyard.

"Mother, Yue'er is asleep. Come, sit here, let's play on the swing together!" Liu Zhenzhen happily stopped swinging and moved to the side, letting the Sixteenth Princess sit down as well. The

Sixteenth Princess lifted Liu Zhenzhen onto her lap before starting to swing. The ten-year-old girl had grown quite a bit; unknowingly, her little girl was about to grow up. Her cheek pressed against her daughter's forehead as she softly asked how her younger siblings were doing and how their studies were progressing. At this time, her eldest son, Liu He, was six years old, her second son, Helan Zhe, was almost five, and Liu Yingying was just four.

"Your younger siblings are all very well-behaved. They've already started school, and Zhen'er checks their homework every other day."

Because the Sixteenth Princess didn't spend much time at the Rong'an Prince's residence, seeing them only a few times a year, her older sister, who had always taken care of them, was the closest person to the three children, compared to their somewhat unfamiliar mother. The Sixteenth Princess felt a little disappointed by the children's apparent unfamiliarity, but since they were all direct descendants of the Helan family, they naturally received meticulous care.

Seeing her mother in a good mood, Liu Zhenzhen finally asked the question that had been bothering her: "Mother, why don't you come home? Father doesn't care about my younger siblings, and he doesn't even pay attention to Zhen'er. Can I stay at Uncle's house? Zhen'er doesn't want to leave Mother."

The Sixteenth Princess gently patted her daughter's back and whispered in her ear: "My dear, there are many things you don't understand yet. But remember, don't give your heart entirely to one man. Being loved is much easier than loving someone. Mother hopes you can be happier. Remember, the more you love yourself, the more men will love you."

Liu Zhenzhen understood what her mother meant, but she didn't understand why her mother was saying these things to her: "Mother doesn't like Father? What about Uncle and Aunt?"

"Mother's heart is already full of babies, there's no room for men. Zhenzhen is the biggest one inside." The Sixteenth Princess cleverly changed the subject, which also amused the Helian family head who had come looking for her.

"Would Zhen'er be willing to let Uncle squeeze in and live in your mother's heart too?" The tall man knelt in front of the swing and asked the little girl, his golden eyes shining brightly.

Liu Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and pointed into the room, saying, "My little brother is small, Uncle can squeeze in with him."

The man laughed and playfully pinched her nose, "Zhenzhen is a little fox too, the young boys who fall for you are in for a world of hurt."

The Sixteenth Princess gently kicked him, "Zhen'er is still young, don't talk nonsense."

The Helian family head still smiled, carrying Liu Zhenzhen back to the room and placing her on the small bed. He stroked the little girl's face and said, "Zhen'er, be good, go to sleep early. Uncle will give you another little sister in a few days, okay?"

Without waiting for the little girl's reply, he closed the door and left. He picked up the Sixteenth Princess under the swing and carried her to his residence, thinking about having another child.

Chapter 9: How many tears, how much hatred, leaning against the railing

. The city of Tiluo on the Lantern Festival was a sleepless city. Large and small painted boats and small boats slowly sailed on the river between the old and new cities. The lively shouts of vendors on both banks and the cheers of the performers echoed as colorful lanterns illuminated half the sky.

Instead of boarding the exquisite painted boat of the Rong'an Prince's Mansion, Liu Zhenzhen rented a small, ordinary boat and took Alan aboard. The old boatman, having received a generous sum of money, silently rowed at the bow, while Liu Zhenzhen and Alan sat back-to-back at the stern, hugging their knees, watching the spectacle unfold in silence.

In the past two years, Liu Zhenzhen had become increasingly quiet. Gui Niang, known for her strictness in the Su Nu Mansion, admired her silence, believing it added a touch of mystery to the young woman, making her even more attractive to men. Liu Zhenzhen was the most outstanding student she had ever taught, possessing a soft voice and a sensitive body; the slightest teasing would make her blush, and the more alluring she became, the more stunningly beautiful she appeared. The elders had repeatedly warned her not to make a move on Liu Zhenzhen, so she could only watch with resentment. She knew that if such a beauty were to enter the Youlan Palace, she could guarantee her a fortune for thirty years.

Alan was a girl from the Northern Lands whom Liu Zhenzhen met in the Youlan Garden. She had been trafficked to the Youlan Palace a year prior and, due to the language barrier, had been frequently bullied. Her virginity was almost stolen by Wen Niang, who specialized in managing virgins, and sold to a military officer. Liu Zhenzhen, taking pity on her, saved her with double the amount of gold. At that time, although Alan knew a little of the local language, she still couldn't understand their arguments, but she knew that the girl named Zhen was helping her, and that she was truly formidable; even the usually fierce Wen Niang couldn't get the better of her. After that day, Alan was demoted to Liu Zhenzhen's room as her maid.

Only after following Liu Zhenzhen did she realize that this girl wasn't selling herself there, but rather a noblewoman who had come to learn. Liu Zhenzhen, still grieving, was numbly tormenting herself in various ways. As an outsider, Alan was the perfect confidant for her. She didn't need comfort; no one could comfort her anymore. The person who loved her most in the world was gone. All she needed was someone to listen quietly.

The Su Nu Mansion was where noble girls from the north learned the art of lovemaking before adulthood. The region was known for its open-mindedness; the better a woman's bedroom skills, the more favored she was and the more likely she was to have children. Most of them concealed their real names and were secretly sent to the mansion to learn at the age of eleven or twelve. Once the teachers confirmed their proficiency, they could return home to await marriage. This process usually took one to two years. Girls with exceptional talent or high expectations also received about six months of experience at the Youlan Palace. The Youlan Palace was a brothel secretly established by Gui Niang, a female official of the Su Nu Mansion, for the elders' council. It provided the girls with the best learning materials, a wealth of information, and facilitated money laundering. What attracted men most to Youlan Palace was that none of the girls serving customers were the typical courtesans; each one was pitiful and understanding, with names that evoked tenderness and sympathy. For a higher price, one could not only have sex with girls trained in princess etiquette in a lavishly decorated palace room, but also choose suitable girls to dress up and imitate to satisfy various desires. Therefore, there was so much to learn here.

Liu Zhenzhen, using the alias "Azhen," temporarily resided in Youlan Garden after completing her basic studies at Su Nu Mansion, beginning another form of learning. She no longer cared where she would marry after graduation. As Gui Niang had said, she was prepared for either serving one man with many women or serving many men alone, like her mother.

During the day, when she had more free time, she and Alan would teach each other to speak. While Liu Zhenzhen could speak some Northern dialect fluently, Alan could only understand some Eastern dialect and still couldn't speak it well, so she remained mute when outsiders were present. As she grew closer to Liu Zhenzhen, she gradually learned that A-Zhen was a year younger than her. It seemed that when she was ten, her mother disappeared at sea, her father neglected her, and her younger siblings were cared for by the clan elders. Despite having a family, she remained alone, so she entered the Su Nu Palace to study when she was just two months shy of eleven.

Actually, A-Lan also missed home. Liu Zhenzhen tried to help her remember, but all she learned was that A-Lan was the daughter of a tribal chief. After being bullied by her stepmother, she wanted to find her lover, but having never left home before, A-Lan got lost in the desert on the edge of the grasslands and was tricked by a merchant caravan and sold to the Youlan Palace at a high price. Wen Niang, seeing that A-Lan couldn't speak and wasn't very bright, but fortunately had an incomparably beautiful face, wanted to sell her as soon as possible to earn some money.

The two lonely girls huddled together, encouraging each other, but their future remained uncertain. In Liu Zhenzhen's eyes, her fate was nothing more than endlessly bearing children for the four great families, at most taking care of her younger siblings. Her only worry was Alan; what would happen to Alan after she married? As part of her dowry?

No, she wouldn't repeat her mother's mistakes. If Tao Zhi and Mei Zhi hadn't been instigated and climbed into their father's bed while their mother was pregnant with their sister, using poisonous aphrodisiacs to gain his favor, they wouldn't have died in vain, and their father wouldn't have gradually become impotent. After the witch doctors were helpless, her father became obsessed with alchemy, keeping many sorcerers around him. But even the most potent pills couldn't restore him; he continued to consume various pills in the alchemy room day after day, almost to the point of madness. As her mother's absences lengthened, and after the birth of her younger brothers, she began living in several different places. For Liu Zhenzhen, home was wherever her mother was. Every other day, she would visit her siblings at the Helan family's old residence. The stewards and heads of the household treated her very well, providing her with the same necessities as the head of the household. Living like this, with her mother and younger siblings, the days passed by like flowing water, until her mother was shipwrecked while traveling at sea to relax, leaving her behind. Liu Zhenzhen's world collapsed instantly. She didn't know how long she knelt on the high embankment. When she regained consciousness, her younger siblings were crying by her bedside. It turned out that she had been unconscious for several days due to the shock. Life had to go on, but she refused to let anyone tell her that her mother had passed away, refused to hold a funeral, and refused to wear mourning clothes. The adults couldn't force her, so they let Liu Zhenzhen have her way, but everything was kept simple, and an announcement of the princess's passing was still made. At this time, Prince Rong'an had already secluded himself in a mountain cave said to be rich in spiritual energy to practice fasting, completely ignoring the affairs of the outside world. His concubines were vying for the family fortune, and his young sons and daughters were being taught by their elders. Liu Zhenzhen, unable to return home, chose to enter the Su Nu Mansion ahead of schedule.

The elders originally hoped to depose Prince Rong'an and support someone else, but considering that the royal family's fear of the four northern states was largely due to the unity of the four major families against external threats, if they were to touch Prince Rong'an, it would inevitably lead to infighting for power, and if someone were to take advantage of the situation, it would be disastrous. Therefore, they had no choice but to leave him alone for the time being. The Helian clan's proposal, "One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer; the clan will perish with few descendants," had already been submitted. One suggestion was to have women not related by blood exchanged for wives in the hope of producing a legitimate son. However, intermarriage among the four great families had been long-standing, and the pool of suitable candidates was limited. The Sixteenth Princess was naturally the most coveted. Although it seemed fair—if she went to another family, suitable women from those families would be secretly sent to the Rong'an Prince's Mansion, sometimes in a one-for-many exchange—the men of the Helan clan would clearly lose the chance to have children. Those women were merely used and manipulated by the elders of the Helan clan, while the Sixteenth Princess genuinely gave birth to a legitimate son.

Even without knowing the reasons behind it all, Liu Zhenzhen understood that her mother's later life was closely related to the mistakes of Tao Zhi and the others. She would never make the same mistake again, even if the instigators were ultimately executed, it wouldn't bring back her former family. Women's jealousy is like an omnipresent poison; one careless move and it can shatter a person to pieces. Liu Zhenzhen didn't want to fall into that cycle of jealousy and rivalry, resorting to any means necessary to win a man's favor for a night, then cautiously getting pregnant, constantly on guard against every suspicious person around her, feeling utterly insecure. It was exhausting, that kind of life was truly exhausting, but she couldn't escape it. Perhaps compared to that, simply sleeping with men and having children would be simpler, but what would happen if she couldn't give birth to a legitimate son like her mother? Ha, would she end up like the women of Youlan Palace, merely tools for men's lust? Actually, it all sounds pretty much the same.

The small boat disappeared in the shadow of the large ship, and two beautiful young women gazed absently at the shimmering river, unaware that someone else was also watching them in a daze.

"Quickly, quickly inform the Ninth Prince that Miss Yilan has been found!" A man dressed as a merchant on the shore whispered in the Northern Land language to the young man who looked like a servant beside him. The man's figure flashed and disappeared into the crowd. A moment later, an eagle soared into the night sky and flew towards his homeland. Before sunset tomorrow, the irritable man, who even the Great Lord of the Northern Land could not appease, will hear the most wonderful news in the world: his woman has finally been found after being missing for two years.

On another pleasure boat, a young man saw the silent girl at the bow through a small window in the cabin. He sipped his strong liquor, stared for a long time, and then finally lowered the bamboo curtain.

His two younger brothers opposite him were fighting over a roasted lamb leg, oblivious to the commotion. Gu Hai, unable to win against his second brother Gu Lin, had to ask his eldest brother for help: "Big brother, second brother is bullying me~~"

"Gu Lin, give the lamb leg to fourth brother, he's still growing." Gu Feng, used to his two younger brothers' daily squabbles, intervened.

"Hehe, thanks, big brother, here, you take a bite first!" Gu Hai fawned over his eldest brother, offering him the fragrant roasted lamb leg. Gu Feng took a small, symbolic bite, and Gu Hai immediately beamed.

"Hmm, second brother, you eat too." He then moved closer to his second brother, trying to please him.

"Hmph! I'm full, be careful not to overeat!" The arrogant Gu Lin, though still doting on his younger brother, turned to eat peanuts.

The happiest of all was Gu Hai. Though young, he was big; two lamb legs weren't enough, but three were just right.

"Eat slowly, I'll buy you more if you're still hungry," Gu Feng said, amused as he watched his fourth brother sitting there, munching on a lamb leg thicker than his arm, its grease dripping.

"Mmm, mmm," Gu Hai grumbled, barely registering being heard.

Gu Feng couldn't resist lifting the bamboo curtain a crack again, revealing only the calm river surface. He finished his wine and, once the boat reached the shore, called his brothers to disembark.

Chapter 10: The Moon and Sorrowful Hearts are Similar .

Gu Feng and his two brothers had only walked a few steps when they heard what sounded like an argument ahead.

"Let go!" A woman's voice, though soft and angry, lacked any real threat. Instead, another scream sent a chill down their spines.

Liu Zhenzhen and Alan arrived in a carriage from Youlan Palace. Unable to stop on the bustling streets of the new city across the river, they had to stop on the old city side. Previously, some shops were open, and there were some pedestrians, but now everyone had gone to the more lively opposite side. Seeing no business, the shopkeepers closed to join the fun, leaving the streets deserted, with only the moonlight shining down on them.

The two, who thought they could easily catch a ride, were stopped halfway by several idle thugs. Four of them surrounded them, and seeing they were two beautiful young women, they began to harass them, some even physically assaulting them. They had only just held hands when they were suddenly struck by a powerful blow and sent flying, all unconscious before they could even see who it was.

Gu Hai, having just warmed up, saw the men motionless. Knowing he couldn't cause trouble for his elder brother, he could only grunt twice and stretch his limbs.

Gu Lin stood behind Gu Feng, watching. He wasn't very good at dealing with young ladies and was too embarrassed to approach. Gu Feng gently addressed the two frightened girls hiding in the shadows, saying, "Don't be afraid, ladies, everything is alright now. I'm from Yunzhou, and I've brought my two younger brothers to visit relatives. We mean no harm. If you don't mind, you can follow behind us so we can help each other if anything happens."

He had originally wanted to ask if they had any family waiting so his brothers could inform them, but then he thought that might make the girls feel uneasy, so he decided to see if they were willing to follow.

Alan, feeling like she was playing dumb, and Liu Zhenzhen, after considering the idea, thought it seemed feasible and whispered, "Thank you, young master. Please lead the way."

Recognizing the soft voice from the girl earlier, Gu Feng nodded, waved to his brothers, and walked ahead. They deliberately slowed their pace so the girls could keep up. Liu Zhenzhen led Alan out of the darkness, following at a distance. She remained vigilant, ready to pull Alan away at the slightest unsettling movement from the three.

Fortunately, Gu Feng had warned his younger brothers, and the three of them didn't look back. Only when they reached the crossroads at the bridgehead, where more pedestrians gathered and Liu Zhenzhen and Alan spotted the carriage from Youlan Palace in the distance, did they relax, catch up with the three boys, and thank them. Gu Feng's eyes lingered briefly on Liu Zhenzhen's face before he smiled and said there was no need for thanks. His expression changed slightly when he saw Liu Zhenzhen and Alan board the carriage from Youlan Palace. Surrounded by colorful lanterns, even Gu Lin hadn't noticed his brother's difference. Only after recognizing Liu Zhenzhen and Alan by the light did he whisper to his fourth brother, "Hmm, those two girls are so beautiful."

As Liu Zhenzhen was about to sit down in the carriage, her arm was grabbed. She turned to look at the handsome young man with his face upturned and asked softly, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"You... are you a girl from Youlan Palace?" Gu Feng tried to ask calmly.

"So what if I am? Even if you look down on us, Young Master, I still sincerely thank you." Liu Zhenzhen lowered her eyes. The time she spent in Youlan Palace had given her the illusion of being a courtesan, and she didn't correct the young man.

"No, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry for offending you. Please be careful on your journey, Miss." Gu Feng looked at the delicate Liu Zhenzhen before him, a hint of inexplicable sadness flashing in his eyes.

He led his younger brother back to the inn where they were staying, but suddenly stopped halfway and said to Gu Lin, "Second brother, take Ah Hai back first. I remembered someone said this afternoon that the writing materials for Third Brother have arrived, so I'm thinking of going to Xixinzhai first, so I can see Ah Shan earlier tomorrow."

"Alright. Anyway, the shops haven't closed yet." Gu Lin nodded.

"Big brother, I... um... um..." Before Gu Hai could excitedly ask his older brother to bring back some more food, his second brother covered his mouth and dragged him away.

Gu Feng caught up with Liu Zhenzhen's carriage in a flash. He watched from afar and saw that the girl had indeed entered Youlan Palace and hadn't come out again. His hands clenched into fists under his sleeves, his knuckles turning slightly white. He stood quietly for a moment before going to Xixinzhai to get the writing materials and also made some meat buns for his younger brothers.

Back at Youlan Palace, Liu Zhenzhen and Alan bathed together in the tub. Alan chattered away in the Northern Continent dialect, praising the handsome and skilled young man who had saved them. Liu Zhenzhen laughed and asked her who was better, Alan or her beloved Alan. Alan immediately replied earnestly, "You can't compare. Even if Alan isn't as good as them, he's still the best in my eyes." Her eyes dimmed again. "Why hasn't he found me yet? Alan is clearly very capable."

Not wanting to discourage her, Liu Zhenzhen comforted her, "He needs to be able to speak the Eastern Continent dialect to find you, so maybe he's learning it while searching."

Even she found the excuse silly, but it cheered the naive Alan up. "That's right! Alan hates those Eastern Continent books, military strategy books, he'll definitely learn slower than me. I'll wait for him."

At that moment, under the moonlight, the two rode their horses one after the other across the vast grasslands of the Northern Continent, heading towards its port. They would board the first merchant ship departing the next morning and head to Tilo City.

Gu Feng had already lay down with his arms as a pillow. The shadows of the trees cast on the window, dividing the light and shadow. His younger brothers' breathing was already steady and long. The night was still long, but he was wide awake. He was certain he hadn't mistaken the girl named A-Zhen. Why was the little princess, who should be living in seclusion in the mountains outside the capital, in Youlan Palace? He frowned, thinking of a possibility. This time, because the Vice Minister of the Chancellery was ordered to go to mourn the deceased Princess Rong'an, Gu Feng had hitched a ride to Tilo City. If Princess Rong'an was the sixteenth princess from back then, it would make sense for the little princess to be here. The newly enthroned Crown Prince had become Emperor Su, and given his affection for his sister, it was reasonable for him to come to mourn. But if he loved his sister so much, why did he let the princess marry far away to his uncle and not come to visit her in person? Ha, the royal family was a tangled mess.

The next day, the three Gu brothers visited their third brother, Gu Shan, at the Jialuo Temple on Shenxiang Mountain outside Tiluo City. Gu Shan had come here with his master on a pilgrimage. The four brothers, who had not seen each other for a long time, drank tea under the Bodhi tree instead of wine. It was rare that Gu Hai did not complain about the simple meal. They reminisced for a long time, and only when the sun set did they have to take their leave.

Upon returning to the restaurant, a stranger approached and presented an invitation, saying he wished the young master of the Gu family to dine with his master. Gu Feng glanced at the location, Youlan Palace, and accepted. Of the four brothers, fifteen-year-old Gu Feng and fourteen-year-old Gu Lin were already adults, but to take care of twelve-year-old Gu Hai, Gu Lin decided to stay behind. Thus, only Gu Feng met the illegitimate sons of the four great families who were being formally recognized as members of their clans.

Because the heir apparent was still too young, and with the unexpected death of the sixteenth princess, the elders of each clan had to select the most outstanding young men from among the illegitimate sons to be recorded in the family genealogy, serving as pawns to pave the way for future family heads. They also hoped that these young men would produce legitimate heirs for the adult Princess Tilan. Even if the illegitimate sons were recorded in the family genealogy, they had no right to inherit the position of family head; even legitimate heirs belonged to the family head. However, this generation of illegitimate sons was quite ambitious, attempting to win over the Gu family, which held the title of "uncrowned kings" in the south, to gain their support.

Their private room was called Zhenlan Hall. Eight young men of similar age leaned back on soft couches, while Gu Feng, with his military bearing, sat upright with his legs slightly apart. This didn't seem comical; rather, it inspired admiration for his robust physique. The faint sandalwood scent was quickly dissipated by the aromas of the dishes and the maids. A screen stood against the side wall of the room, behind which a private musician played in a small side room. This side room allowed the musician to observe the guests' expressions and change the music as needed, and offered a clearer view of the outside world.

Liu Zhenzhen was the new private musician for this room. Because of the high monthly salary at Youlan Hall and the lack of public exposure, they were able to recruit a group of hidden masters. The original musician was a woman who had taught her; although unassuming, her musical skills were superb, and she was very responsible, instructing Liu Zhenzhen continuously despite her large pregnant belly until she was satisfied before returning home to prepare for childbirth. Before leaving, Gui Niang told her that although this apprentice was still young, her skills were superb, and her understanding of the music was excellent. Only a discerning musician would guess she was only twelve. Gui Niang then reassured Wen Niang and arranged for Liu Zhenzhen to be the musician in this private room, paying her the same monthly salary. Alan, as Liu Zhenzhen's maid, naturally stayed by her side.

Every night, Liu Zhenzhen would play the zither in her private room, calmly observing the vibrant scenes unfolding before her. Tonight, she played the same piece as always, but the people who entered made her slightly startled. Her hands continued to pluck the strings skillfully, but her attention was drawn to the young men. Liu Zhenzhen recognized them. She had suspected that the elders were hiding her mother and trying to eavesdrop on their conversations, but she was just a child and couldn't penetrate the council hall. The most useful information she could obtain was that her husbands were illegitimate sons.

When they saw Gu Feng enter last, even Alan's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't recognize the boys, but she knew that only high-ranking officials

and nobles could afford to book this place, so she gestured to Azhen: "Wow, Azhen, the boy who was with us last night is also a nobleman!" When one of the illegitimate sons tried to get close to Gu Feng, Liu Zhenzhen was startled and misplayed a tune. She quickly changed to another song to cover it up, but a voice in her heart said, "God, he's Brother Gu Feng. Did he recognize me last night?"

Liu Zhenzhen couldn't find the answer, because at that time she hadn't thought to look at the boy much, nor had she noticed any of his expressions or movements. Come to think of it, Brother Gu Feng is already fifteen, he should be married by now, right?

While the girl was lost in thought, she didn't miss the illegitimate sons' grand scheme. The struggle for power among men is something women can never understand. She was just a little worried about her younger brothers' safety and curious whether Brother Gu Feng would agree to cooperate with them.

Gu Feng was well aware of the entire dynasty's situation and naturally understood what these young men were plotting. He wouldn't gamble with the safety of the Gu family, especially since the Gu family was already in chaos, and now there was another commotion involving the sixteenth princess. He wouldn't act rashly. However, he wouldn't completely reject their suggestions either, instead using evasive tactics to indicate that he needed to observe and consider the details of the cooperation further. The illegitimate sons were already satisfied that the eldest grandson of the Gu family hadn't objected, and they began to toast him one after another. With

the business over, they naturally had the mood to seek pleasure. The leading young man called Wen Niang in and asked her to bring in girls aged eleven to fourteen so that everyone could choose. Although they were regular customers, this was the first time they had booked a luxury private room, so they naturally wanted to enjoy themselves. Moreover, Gu Feng's silence was tantamount to tacit agreement.

Chapter 11 Phoenix City South Street, Years Later, Remembering

the Orchid Palace. Although the girls there couldn't be deflowered, other services were available. In addition, having only recently undergone training, they still had the instinctive naiveté, making them objects of many men's desire to play with. Out of concern for the budding wealth, Qin Niang had instructed Wen Niang not to let the hot-blooded young men play with the girls, fearing they might hurt them. However, although these men were illegitimate sons, they were still registered in the family genealogy, and Wen Niang dared not offend them. She immediately summoned all the women who could receive guests, sending in ten at a time for the young men to choose from.

The women of Youlan Palace were all carefully selected, so there were only about thirty of them. As the last batch approached, the others were all embracing the girls, their delicate and thin clothes scattered on the ground, while Gu Feng remained alone.

"Young Master Gu, haven't you found anyone you like?" The leading young man frowned slightly, kneading the newly formed breasts of the girl in his arms and pinching her nipple, while putting pressure on Wen Niang: "This is our honored guest. If the girls from Youlan Palace can't satisfy our guest, who knows what will happen to them?"

Wen Niang was also anxious, "Young Master Helan, all the girls here are here, we really can't find any more. Young Master Gu, there are still ten left, why don't you take another look?" Actually, she was thinking to herself, if we're talking about virgins, there's still one in the side room, but that little miss isn't going to come out.

Gu Feng didn't want to spoil the fun, so when the last batch came in, he casually pointed to the one closest to him. The eleven-year-old girl blushed, her eyes sparkling, and she whispered "Young Master" before snuggling into his arms. Gu Feng only held her loosely, but his eyes glanced at the side room.

Just as Gu Feng chose one, Liu Zhenzhen's hand trembled, and she misplayed two notes. There was no way to correct it now, so she had to grit her teeth and play it anyway. Fortunately, Wen Niang had finished her task and left with her men. The others were too busy playing with the young girls to notice. Gu Feng's deep gaze almost made her play the wrong note again.

Some of the boys had already pressed their girls between their legs, making them suck their penises with great effort; others had spread their buttocks and poked their anuses with their fingers. Although the girls were not fully developed, it didn't affect the boys' ravaging of them in any way.

"Brother Gu, do you think that girl isn't good enough? How about switching with this one?" He Lan Gongzi, who was pressing an eleven-year-old girl on his lap and slapping her buttocks hard, listened to her cries and saw Gu Feng only embracing the girl and drinking, not enjoying the other woman, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"No, the Gu family has ancestral rules that a man's first time is always given to his wife. I am not yet married

, so I cannot be presumptuous. If I have spoiled your enjoyment, I apologize in advance." Gu Feng raised a cup of wine from afar, indicating that he was fine. "I have long heard that the Gu family's ancestral rules are strict. I did not expect that even matters of lovemaking are subject to such rules. I wonder if there are any rules regarding taking concubines?" A young man with dark green eyes raised his head from between the girl's breasts upon hearing Gu Feng's words, pinching the soft nipple hard and looking at her wincing in pain, and asked with a smile.

"I will only marry one wife in my life and will never take a concubine." As soon as Gu Feng said this, even the music stopped. When he played another piece, the other young men came back to their senses, continuing to torture the girl beside them, while looking at Gu Feng with more respect and pity.

"No wonder Brother Gu hasn't married yet; you'd better choose your wife carefully in this life." After relieving the awkward situation, the young men resumed their flirtatious teasing of the naked women in their arms, their lewd voices filling the air. The young men, their desires aroused, began to release the women who had been limp on the ground, and went out to find their lovers to relieve their lust. Gu Feng also left with them, but claimed he was worried about his younger brother and went downstairs to go back. The illegitimate sons didn't try to stop him and went off to seek their own pleasure.

The girl who had been with Gu Feng clung to his arm, unwilling to leave. Gu Feng took her hand, secretly slipped her two silver ingots, and whispered, "Do you know a girl here named A-Zhen? She's about eleven or twelve years old, and probably hasn't finished her apprenticeship yet."

"Those who haven't completed their apprenticeship are not yet suitable to receive guests," the girl thought for a moment and then shook her head. "There are two named A-Zhen. One of them, who was playing the zither just now, is already a married woman. The other one, who serves Yao Ji, is only fifteen years old."

The people of Su Nu Manor only knew that the girls would be taken outside to study, but they didn't know the connection with Youlan Palace. Youlan Palace would occasionally receive girls who couldn't receive guests, but they didn't know their origins. After a while, they would disappear again. The girls were all required to keep it a secret, so only the behind-the-scenes boss and a few confidants knew about the connection between the two places.

As for the zither player, apart from the behind-the-scenes boss, no one else could see his face, only knowing his general identity. Therefore, the girls didn't know about the departure of Master A-Zhen. After thanking them, Gu Feng left, feeling much relieved. He turned and entered a pawnshop. This was a secret shop of the Gu family. Before going to Youlan Palace, he came here to greet the owner, saying that he had his eye on a treasure but didn't have enough gold with him. If someone came with a message to collect money, he would give them whatever amount they wanted. This time, the reason for returning was to inform the owner that the owner of the treasure wasn't selling it, so that was that. Although the owner was curious about what kind of treasure it was that was worth a fortune, he didn't dare to ask any further questions.

Gu Feng, back at the restaurant, felt much more relaxed. He was relieved to confirm that Suolanzhen wasn't a prostitute there, but he still wanted to see her one more time. He suspected that the woman who had played the zither earlier might not be the same woman from before, but he didn't know how to probe her. He wasn't sure if Suolanzhen had come voluntarily or been forced, and he didn't want to alert her and harm her.

Meanwhile, inside the Youlan Palace.

"Mmm...no..." the girl moaned softly, twisting her body to try and escape, but the mouth holding her nipple remained tightly sucking, the slightly rough tongue constantly sweeping the tip, while her other pink nipple was being repeatedly played with by fingernails.

"Who are you? Let me go...ah...no, stop licking..." Liu Zhenzhen's moans were tinged with tears, making her very pitiful. But what she received in return was even more agonizing sucking, accompanied by shameful smacking sounds; the man seemed determined to draw out her milk.

In a secret chamber of the Youlan Palace, Liu Zhenzhen lay naked, her hands bound high to ropes hanging from the rafters, her long hair disheveled, her eyes blindfolded, kneeling on a cushion, her slender ankles locked in iron rings on the floor, unable to move.

Waves of pleasure spread from her being played with to her nipples, and Liu Zhenzhen unconsciously clenched her legs, rubbing them together, trying to relieve the itching in her vagina. But that wasn't enough, not enough; it hurt so much there. After playing the zither that evening, she had just finished bathing when Wenniang called her out, blindfolded her, and led her into a room. Before she could even react, she was in this state.

Liu Zhenzhen no longer had the energy to think about her situation; everything was beyond her comprehension. For the past two years, she had only studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, learning how to dress herself. She was pampered like a princess in the Youlan Palace, her body incredibly delicate; she could even feel a handkerchief beneath layers of brocade quilts. This pampered body was exceptionally sensitive; even slightly rough clothing gave her the illusion of being caressed, let alone now, with her most sensitive spot being teased. She trembled with sensitivity, each lick and bite causing her to moan softly, yet she didn't try to pull away.

"Ugh... Help... It's so itchy, so itchy..." Liu Zhenzhen murmured uncontrollably, the water deep within her flower-like opening beginning to seep out, the itching like insects crawling, driving her mad. The girl shook her head, pleading, her long hair scattered. Instinctively, she thrust her chest forward, begging the person before her to fiercely caress her sensitive nipples, to distract from the restlessness below. The small nipples, pinched between her fingertips, were stretched and flattened, the hard nails scraping against the delicate nipples. Why, even though her chest ached, was the urge below becoming increasingly unbearable? Finally, a strange hand patted her knees, signaling her to open. She passively opened her mouth little by little, hoping something could relieve the itching that made her want to cry.

Suddenly, hot breath sprayed onto her sensitive clitoris, and Liu Zhenzhen trembled involuntarily. Before she could figure out what it was, something soft and warm licked it, rubbing against her clitoris. Liu Zhenzhen let out a soft moan and tried to close her legs in tension, but instead, she trapped a head between them. Oh my god, someone was using it... She tightened her lower abdomen in fright, and her clitoris was sucked again. She moaned softly in pleasure, wanting to resist in her mind but her body wouldn't allow it. Finally, the thick petals were parted by a tongue, licking the engorged, bright red inside and slowly probing inside.

"Mmm, no... mmm..." Liu Zhenzhen protested verbally, but deep down she longed for more intense licking and biting. As if knowing what she was doing, the hard little pearl was gently bitten by teeth.

The girl screamed and convulsed, drops of sweet fluid flowing from her flower path. A cotton handkerchief was pressed against her vulva, and a finger crushed the poor little pearl through the handkerchief, ignoring her soft, tearful pleas for mercy, cruelly torturing it until the entire handkerchief was soaked through—proof of her passion.

Since becoming a musician at Zhenlan Palace, Liu Zhenzhen had witnessed too much lovemaking, her face flushed. The confusion she couldn't understand before about why those people were so obsessed found its answer in her convulsions and moans. Through Gui Niang's carefully arranged lessons, this body, though not yet mature, had already become familiar with desire and began to crave a man's affection. Chapter 12 ( 10-12
): Before Liu Zhenzhen could recover from her low, panting state

, a long cotton quilt was stuffed between her legs, covered with a cotton handkerchief covered with soft, terry cloth. With each twist of her body, her vulva rubbed against the short, dense fuzz, gently soothing her sensitive private parts.

A hand slowly moved forward from her bare feet, fingers nimbly gliding, flicking, and scratching. With each caress and teasing of her legs, the sensitive girl moaned softly again, involuntarily clamping the quilt and rubbing her clitoris. The clitoris was rubbed and squeezed between the slightly rough fuzz, seeking comfort for its owner, finally delivering Liu Zhenzhen to ecstasy once more.

Gui Niang had the ropes untied, watching Liu Zhenzhen collapse to the ground, panting softly, a small wet patch visible on the sheet. With the black cloth removed, Liu Zhenzhen blinked, trying to adjust to the light. Seated cross-legged on the armchair before her was the alluring Gui Niang, while the one who had just bitten her was another beautiful, older girl, Su Nu You, now the top courtesan of Youlan Palace. Su Nu You wore a collar, the other end of which was held by Gui Niang.

"Alright, our little beauty is already thinking about men. Someone, take this little bitch away and teach her some manners. If she continues to be so disrespectful, there won't be such a gentle punishment." Gui Niang waved for a matron to lead Su Nu You away on her crawling.

Liu Zhenzhen had secretly met Su Nu You; she was an extremely arrogant girl, also treated like a princess in Youlan Palace, practically considering herself a high and mighty princess. Unfortunately, she wasn't destined to be a princess; she too was destined to fall into the dust. Even without knowing what had happened to her today, Liu Zhenzhen understood that Gui Niang would make her understand her true identity, that the past few years were nothing but a beautiful dream, and it was time for her to wake up. Just like herself.

Gui Niang looked at Liu Zhenzhen, who had collapsed to the ground, staring blankly in the direction Su Nuyou had left. She got up, walked over to her, and squatted down, reaching out to touch the girl's delicate, jade-like skin: "Zhenzhen, how did you feel just now? Was it very comfortable?"

Unlike her previous indifference, Gui Niang was very gentle with Liu Zhenzhen. She opened the girl's limp legs, reached out and examined the plump, tender petals. The tender flesh there was bright red and eye-catching, and the little pearl was still bulging. The woman's slightly cool fingers slowly probed inside. Previously, because Liu Zhenzhen had been very dry, she was afraid of hurting the child and hadn't moved. Now, after her orgasm, Liu Zhenzhen was powerless to resist and felt something being squeezed into her body, moaning, "No, Aunt Gui, it hurts so much."

"So sensitive," Gui Niang's fingers were tightly wrapped and sucked by the tender flesh. She didn't pull out until she touched the slightly thick membrane, and didn't forget to pat her buttocks lightly, giggling, "What a wonderful place. In the future, when all the big men will be going in and out of your little hole, they'll taste the pleasure and won't feel uncomfortable anymore. Maybe you'll even shake your little butt and beg them to fuck you to death."

Hearing Gui Niang's words, Zhenzhen buried her face in her arms, seemingly shy, but actually giving a bitter smile. She understood the meaning behind her words. Like the girls here who had completed their training, they only obeyed their physical desires, needing no emotional connection. Any man could bring them to multiple orgasms. The more trained a girl was, the more sensitive she was, and the higher her price, because men didn't need particularly outstanding or powerful penises to easily bring them to a true climax. Su Nu You was already one of the more outstanding ones. Those who specifically requested her wouldn't come here themselves, but would pay and have a carriage take her to the designated place, only to release her after the session.

The fingers that lingered on her jade-like body caressed her pert buttocks, then pressed against Liu Zhenzhen's anus, pushing it inward, immediately eliciting a soft moan from the girl. Gui Niang then changed to a gentler massage: "When the time comes, this hole of yours will also be penetrated by a man. Have you been cleaning it yourself every night?"

"Yes, I have... ah... no..." Liu Zhenzhen's refusal was naturally futile, and Gui Niang's long fingers still went in. Thanks to Liu Zhenzhen's habit of filling a pot with sesame oil every night and holding it in for an hour before releasing, it was already large enough to accommodate the fingers without injury.

"Hmm, not bad." Gui Niang checked inside, then withdrew her hand with satisfaction, telling Wen Niang, "Next time we can let her try something different."

The woman sighed, her long, jade-like fingers pointing at Liu Zhenzhen's nipple. She instructed Wen Niang, "It's here, why isn't it growing at all? Increase the amount in the recipe, and have her try what I told you to do last time. Nipples are so sensitive, yet breasts are so small. This part has to be big and soft to make a man like it."

Two hours later, Liu Zhenzhen, even lying in bed, shyly recalled her previous wonderful experience. She couldn't help but try it again, clutching the blanket. That sour and comfortable feeling really made her heart race and her breath catch in her throat. Could it be like this when sleeping with a man?

The next day.

"A-Zhen, what's wrong?" A-Lan called Liu Zhenzhen several times but she didn't hear her. Although she was playing the zither, her mind was elsewhere. She had to be pushed to bring her back to reality. "I was acting strange when I came back last night, like I was out of my mind."

Liu Zhenzhen blushed and replied in the Northern Lu dialect, "I was a little tired from teaching last night, so I kept getting distracted."

She knew she couldn't concentrate on playing the piano, so she simply stopped. What was making her absent-minded wasn't just the pleasurable experience after her first encounter with love last night, but also Gu Feng's appearance.

The surprise of recognizing Gu Feng had been replaced by a small unease in her heart, especially after hearing his words last night. She suddenly felt that her life had gone off track and she could never go back to the past. She could no longer be like other girls, anxiously awaiting marriage and imagining growing old with her husband.

Suddenly, she was terrified of seeing Gu Feng again, because she didn't know how she would face him. Perhaps Gu Feng wouldn't even recognize her, and had long forgotten four-year-old Suolanzhen. If she went up to him and he asked in surprise, "Miss, have you mistaken me for someone else?" she would want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Liu Zhenzhen smiled bitterly. How had she answered when he asked if she was a girl from Youlan Palace that day? The troubled little girl buried her face in the pillow on the bed, thinking, "Don't think about it anymore, don't think about it anymore!" She couldn't even manage to say hello to an old friend.

On the fifteenth of this month, she was going to Jialuo Temple to pray for blessings as usual. Early in the morning, she changed into plain clothes and, along with Alan, hired an ordinary carriage and set off.

After offering incense and prayers, and giving money for the offerings, Liu Zhenzhen decided to buy some vegetarian ham or something similar from the temple to satisfy her cravings. They agreed to meet at the front hall while she went to the back mountain to relax. Jialuo Temple was built on a mountaintop; although not very high, it offered a panoramic view of most of Tiluo City and the distant horizon.

As Liu Zhenzhen sat under a grove of trees on the slope, gazing into the distance, lost in thought, suddenly a dark shape darted out, baring its teeth and making a gurgling sound. Liu Zhenzhen looked closely and saw that it was a half-grown black panther with golden eyes! Startled, she let out a low cry and tried to back away, but her long hair got caught on a branch, pulling painfully on her scalp with every movement. Caught between two difficult situations, she saw the little black leopard, as excited as if it had spotted prey

, lower its body to pounce on her. She had watched others hunt before and knew that the black leopards deep in the old forest were fierce and cunning, with extremely sharp claws capable of easily tearing out the heart of their prey. Even this small one was still a leopard with sharp teeth. In this life-or-death moment, she seemed to hear human voices and, without thinking, cried out, "Help! Help!"

Before her voice faded, several figures descended from mid-air, and the three Gu brothers reappeared before her.

"Ah, Abu's here!" Gu Hai exclaimed happily, and the little black leopard reluctantly moved towards its master, glancing back every few steps.

Gu Lin looked curiously at the girl standing under the tree—was she the one he had rescued a few days ago? The second Gu brother, while sizing up Liu Zhenzhen, didn't forget to swat away the little black leopard's claws that were trying to grab his sleeve.

"Fourth brother, if Abu comes out to scare people again, I'll have him castrated, you hear me!" Gu Feng frowned and scolded his younger brother, having warned him repeatedly not to bring the little black leopard out, but he wouldn't listen. "Apologize to this girl, then go to the meditation room to reflect on your actions."

"Okay." Knowing he had caused trouble, Gu Hai obediently held the restless little black leopard and looked at the familiar girl, then smiled, revealing a set of snow-white teeth: "I'm sorry, Abu just likes to scare people, but he's actually quite timid. Did I scare you?"

"No, it's okay." Liu Zhenzhen, unable to move, answered sullenly, feeling so embarrassed. Every time she saw Gu Feng, she felt so awkward.

After sending his fourth brother away, Gu Feng walked to the flustered Liu Zhenzhen and said gently, "Don't move, young lady. My second brother and I will untangle your hair as soon as possible."

"Okay. Thank you, Mr. Gu." Liu Zhenzhen didn't need a mirror to know that her face must be completely red. She was too embarrassed to look at Gu Feng, her heart pounding with a mix of emotions—hoping he would recognize her, yet unwilling to acknowledge him in such an awkward moment.

Lost in thought, Liu Zhenzhen stared blankly at the large tree in front of her, while the two Gu brothers carefully untangled her hair, piece by piece. Because they were so close, the girl's pure fragrance wafted into their breaths, making their hearts skip a beat. While Gu Lin was carefully tending to her long hair, which carried a faint rose scent, he would also steal a few glances at this petite beauty who only reached his chin.

Up close, she was even more stunning than the fleeting glimpse he had seen that day. Her skin was snow-white, her hair jet black, her eyelashes like raven wings, her slightly pursed lips a cherry-red hue, her neck long and slender, her body partially concealed by her thin spring dress. Involuntarily, a poem he had secretly read in a brothel about erotic scenes,

"The Beauty's Breasts," popped into his mind

: "In her prime, she is like a melting cream, her breasts like jade buds in spring.

Leaning against the painted railing, half-hidden, she is embraced by a sandalwood vase, partially hidden.

Her fragrance floats like the soft dew of early spring, her pink petals just rounded, like unbroken melons. Holding her tender heart

, it should be burning within; let not the clear veil conceal her."

Gu Lin, with patience, and his elder brother finally managed to untangle all of Liu Zhenzhen's long hair, but Liu Zhenzhen couldn't possibly go out like this. Gu Feng comforted the ashamed Liu Zhenzhen, who was on the verge of tears, and learned that the maid Alan would be waiting in the front hall. He then took Liu Zhenzhen's handkerchief as a token and asked Gu Lin to invite Alan for help.

"Alright, sweetie, don't cry. Let me help you loosen your hair, okay? When Miss Alan comes, she can comb it for you, okay?" Gu Feng gently coaxed Liu Zhenzhen, who was about to cry.

Seeing her nod, he took her wrist through his sleeve and led her to a place free of branches, removing her hairpins and letting her ankle-length hair cascade down like a waterfall. The fragrance of roses filled the air. For a moment, he held his breath.

Gu Lin returned without bringing Miss Alan. It was nearly noon, and the worshippers had gradually dispersed. He had checked the vegetarian food stalls, but they were sold out and closed. Having searched the entire temple without success, Gu Lin returned empty-handed.

Liu Zhenzhen no longer cared about her appearance. Alan didn't speak the Eastern Continent dialect well, and she was so innocent; what if she was tricked by bad people?

Author's Note:

Hi everyone, I'm finally back from my exams!

The first week of intensive training wasn't too bad, so I managed to write one chapter. I was planning to write more in my spare time so I could start posting on the 3rd, but my schedule was packed and my roommates were so curious... I didn't dare write too much.

The second week, I had absolutely no time to write because I didn't enroll in the training course—2000 yuan! Ugh! So I did everything myself, translating and researching, filling an entire notebook. I even had to cut off internet access every day to memorize things. Today it's finally over, and I should pass without a problem.

The only downside was that as soon as the tension eased after the exam this afternoon, I got a terrible headache. My stomach was growling, but I had no appetite and felt nauseous... I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer, so I finished writing what I wrote the week before last. I was also thinking of including the list of people I gave gifts to last month, but I just couldn't manage it. But I've already written everything down in my notebook, so I'm not worried about running out of things to record. I really can't keep typing anymore, my stomach is so upset, I'm going to bed now.

I should feel better tomorrow, don't worry about me, writing is addictive, you know. When I first stopped, I felt itchy every day, I really wanted to touch the keyboard and type, but unfortunately I was always holding a pen and taking notes. It's been almost a week since I last wrote, so my writing might be a little weak, but I'll get back to normal soon!!

Chapter 13 A Smile is Life

"Zhen... Miss Zhen, don't rush. How about this, I'll tie your hair into a simple bun first, and then we'll go back together. If Alan isn't here, I'll accompany you to report to the authorities, okay?"

Gu Feng used the old way of addressing her, and after calming Liu Zhenzhen down, he used Gu Lin's hairband to tie up Liu Zhenzhen's long hair. Since it was Gu Lin's turn to have his hair down, he was once again sent to watch over his younger brother, watching helplessly as his older brother and Miss Zhen left together. He pursed his lips, folded the handkerchief, and put it inside his chest.

On the way back, Liu Zhenzhen's mind was in turmoil. Why was she still so unlucky even after praying to Buddha? Today must be an inauspicious day to go out. Not only had she embarrassed herself in front of Gu Feng time and again, but now she had lost Alan. Just now, she sensed that Gu Feng seemed unwilling to let his brothers know that the two had known each other. This realization made her heart sink, her hands clenching involuntarily beneath her long sleeves. It felt as if a piece of her heart had been ripped out; so this was the taste of being constantly abandoned.

Gu Feng could see her dejection and sadness, but he hardened his heart and pretended not to know. He used the Gu family's influence to secretly investigate the mastermind behind Youlan Palace, meticulously examining every detail until he confirmed a close connection with Su Nu Mansion. He knew a little about the unwritten rules of the northern nobility, and since Liu Zhenzhen was here to study according to custom, he felt much more at ease. From what he understood, although the princess had encountered an accident and Prince Rong'an was indifferent to worldly affairs, the elders of the clan treated her very well, providing her with the best of everything and never letting her suffer any grievances. Furthermore, Liu Zhenzhen was so lovable, gentle, and obedient; he imagined many men would want to marry her.

Gu Feng suppressed a slight displeasure and stayed about a step behind Liu Zhenzhen, protecting her. Even when boarding the carriage, he gently helped her through his sleeve, everything so polite and proper. Since

it was inconvenient for Gu Feng to ride in the same carriage as Liu Zhenzhen, he hired a new carriage, and they went to the side gate of Youlan Palace, one after the other. After helping Liu Zhenzhen down, he said to her, "I'll wait here. If Alan is here, send someone to let me know. If not, come back here and I'll go with you to report to the authorities. I know some of the officials here; they can help. Don't worry, okay?"

This gentle and polite young man, with his pleasant scent, made Liu Zhenzhen reluctant to blame him, even though he had unintentionally hurt her feelings. She nodded, lifted her skirt, and went inside. Gu Feng watched her until she disappeared at the end of the corridor before returning to the carriage's driver's seat, waiting patiently.

Almost an hour passed before Liu Zhenzhen's figure hurriedly appeared in his sight. Was she not here? Gu Feng went to greet her but saw that she had changed her hairstyle, and the worry in her eyes was gone. He figured she had come to let him know she was safe.

As expected, Liu Zhenzhen first gave a graceful curtsy before looking up at the handsome young man and softly thanking him, "Alan couldn't find me and assumed I had returned first. Even Wenniang was alerted, so it took some time to explain. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's alright. I'll take my leave now." Gu Feng returned the curtsy and then got into his carriage and left. Liu Zhenzhen leaned against the doorframe, watching the carriage clatter away, and remained dazed for a long time before returning to her room.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw a golden-eyed Northern Continent youth lying on what had once been her chaise longue, flipping through a book. Even dressed as an Eastern Continent person, he couldn't hide his Northern Continent features: deep-set features, slightly dark skin, and a beast-like, chilling gaze. The youth glanced at her, then turned back to his book, ignoring her completely. Inside, Alan sat by the bed, tending to an injured man from the Northern Lands. Even in his unconscious state, the man's right hand tightly gripped her left, refusing to let go.

Unable to stay in her room, Liu Zhenzhen went to the courtyard to pass the time. Just as she turned to walk towards the door, the Northern Land youth leaning against the railing spoke, asking her in the Northern Lands dialect, "Where are you going again?"

"To the courtyard, to play the zither," Liu Zhenzhen replied. Only after the man behind her hummed in agreement did she open the door and leave.

An hour earlier, she had entered her small courtyard, pushed open Alan's door, and felt a gust of wind behind her. Her mouth was then covered, and a gleaming curved blade was pressed against her neck. A deep male voice spoke fluent Eastern Continent dialect: "Be quiet if you want to live."

She nodded, and the hand covering her mouth was removed, but the cold blade remained pressed against her artery. Liu Zhenzhen dared not move. The man behind her was much taller than her, his arms like iron clamps, tightly holding her arms and slender waist in front of him. This man was as hard as a rock.

At that moment, someone emerged from the inner room—it was Alan, carrying a basin of bloody water, her eyes slightly red. Seeing that the Crown Prince had Alan held hostage, she quickly put the basin aside and explained to the Crown Prince in Northern Continent dialect that this was the girl who had saved her.

Liu Zhenzhen hadn't learned much Northern Continent dialect yet, and could only understand a little. It seemed this person wasn't a bad guy, but someone who had come to find Alan. As expected, the man released Alan after hearing her words, walked around to her, paused, and then said, "I'm sorry."

His voice was arrogant, showing little remorse. However, Liu Zhenzhen was too lazy to argue with him, and whispered that it was nothing. She then took Alan's hand and asked what had happened.

Alan carefully glanced at Yelü Yingjia, and seeing the Prince, who was once again ignored, reclining on the chaise lounge with a sullen face, she picked up the basin again and gestured for Azhen to go out with her.

It turned out that the Prince was somewhat suspicious of the news. Their two-year search had yielded nothing, yet a few scouts had managed to bump into them while purchasing medicinal herbs in the Eastern Continent. Anyone would be suspicious. Unfortunately, the usually shrewd Uncle lost his mind upon hearing Alan's name and actually left alone, shaking off his guards. He was worried about the Ninth Prince venturing into danger alone, so he privately instructed his trusted confidants on various matters, secretly left Dadu, and caught up with the Ninth Prince that very night. Fortunately, there were two of them, which caught the ambush off guard. However, both were injured in the fierce fight. He was only shot in the right arm with an arrow, while the Ninth Prince was stabbed in the abdomen and was bleeding profusely.

The trusted men who caught up learned from scouts that Master Solang Danzeng was at Jiayin Temple. They covered the two and moved them to Master Danzeng's meditation room overnight, which saved the Ninth Prince's life. Solang Danzeng lived alone in a courtyard. The room where the Ninth Prince was recuperating had a view of the vegetarian food stall. So the Ninth Prince, whose injuries had just started to heal, immediately spotted the girl he loved in the bustling crowd. Ignoring his newly stitched wound, he shouted for the guards. Although Alan arrived, he was still under the influence of the anesthetic used to stitch his wound and only managed to gaze at her for a moment before falling into a deep sleep.

Alan watched as her beloved, whom she had longed for day and night, grew so haggard and thin, her heart breaking. Her eyes were fixed on her lover on the bed, oblivious to the presence of anyone else beside her. It wasn't until a bold guard noticed the dark-faced Crown Prince coughing softly that Alan realized the future King was also there.

"Alright, there are no outsiders here, no need for formalities. It's good that we found you. Your Ninth Uncle has already forced your father to divorce that old woman, so no one will dare to disrespect you when you go back. Outside, call me Asule." Yelü Yingjia dismissed the guards, sat down and chatted with Alan for a while, learning the whole story of how she was abducted. He then instructed her to take care of your Ninth Uncle here, while he went out and ordered the guards to dig three feet into the ground and find that foolish merchant, delivering him to your Ninth Uncle so he could vent his anger.

When he returned, he saw Alan looking hesitant and frowned: "What's wrong?"

"I, I, I'm currently living in Youlan Palace... If I don't go back to manage affairs, they'll report me to the authorities..." Alan's voice grew softer and softer.

"Youlan Palace? What kind of place is that?" the prince, now calling himself Asule, asked. Because the scouts knew the place but couldn't tell the Ninth Prince directly, they only mentioned the name in their secret report without saying what it was for. Although the Ninth Prince and his companions were also puzzled, they didn't have time to think much before coming out.

"It's...it's...a brothel, a red-light district..." the scout stammered, his heart filled with dread.

"A brothel?" Asule put it more bluntly, and the scout nodded reluctantly.

"You..." Asule was trying to figure out how to subtly inquire whether his future sister-in-law had lost her virginity when Alan, unusually clever, immediately said, "I'm a maidservant to Miss Azhen. If she hadn't saved me, Alan would never have seen me again."

Although it was humiliating for the dignified Ninth Prince's wife to be a maidservant, it was negligible compared to being a courtesan in a brothel.

"Today, Azhen came to worship Buddha, which gave me the opportunity to come. Azhen is kind-hearted and will definitely help us...but..."

Alan looked at the unconscious Ninth Prince with difficulty. Naturally, she wanted to stay and take care of him, but she couldn't hide it from Azhen and send her back alone.

Her problem was a trivial matter to Asule: "That's easy, we can't stay here long anyway. We'll stay in Miss Azhen's room for a while, and then we'll take you away once things are settled."

Before Alan could agree, Asule had someone wait in the front hall with Alan's earring as a token, while they successfully sneaked into Youlan Palace, taking over Azhen's courtyard. The Ninth Prince slept in Alan's room, which was connected to Liu Zhenzhen's boudoir in the inner room. Asule was very familiar with the customs and culture of the Eastern Continent and had no interest in sleeping in a young lady's fragrant, soft bed, but it wasn't good for him to be curled up on a chaise longue either. Unfortunately, Alan couldn't make the decision right now, so she could only comfort the prince and tell him to wait, and that she would prepare a guest room for him to rest later. First being ignored, and then being hastily dismissed, the prince, who was always the center of attention, didn't show any outward expression, but he was very unhappy inside.

The two girls, carrying the tokens, had no idea that the man was the one they were looking for. Naturally, they returned empty-handed after everyone had left, leaving the two girls worried for nothing. The Ninth Prince's injury, Alan's redemption, and the missing Azhen—a pile of troubles were giving Asule a headache when he heard someone enter the courtyard. Alan and the others inside were unaware, and all the guards had been dismissed. He silently drew his sword and placed it behind the door, which led to Liu Zhenzhen being taken hostage as soon as she entered.

In the courtyard, the two girls stood facing each other. Alan's Eastern dialect wasn't enough to explain everything, and Liu Zhenzhen's Northern dialect couldn't understand all the reasons. They switched between Northern and Eastern dialects, gesturing frequently, which made Asule, watching from the window, laugh out loud.

Liu Zhenzhen was trying hard to understand the situation, ignoring Alan's explanation that the person was of high status, and gave Asule an annoyed look. Little did she know that in the eyes of the Northern Prince, her phoenix eyes shimmered with a shy yet reproachful charm. Standing gracefully in a white dress amidst a wall of roses, she had captivated half his soul.

Chapter 14: The deep courtyard is closed, the small garden empty, fallen flowers fragrant with dew.

Asule didn't get angry at her rudeness, but he didn't look at the two men again, instead going to the inner room to see the Ninth Prince.

Liu Zhenzhen, through a combination of guesswork and deduction, understood that these uninvited guests had come to take Alan back. They had been robbed and injured on the way and needed to recuperate for a while. The one sleeping in Alan's room now was the Alang she always mentioned, and the other was Alang's nephew. Alan was very uneasy about bringing people here to hide without permission, fearing it would anger Zhenzhen.

Although her courtyard was off-limits to outsiders, and she had a small room in the Youlan Palace where she could stay, making them relatively safe, Liu Zhenzhen still felt uneasy sharing a roof with a strange man. However, she was genuinely happy for Alan; clearly, Alan's lover hadn't forgotten her and had traveled a great distance to find her.

Alan was also delighted to see that Liu Zhenzhen wasn't angry. She prepared another basin of hot water and took her best friend to see her lover. Inside the room, the Ninth Prince had been awake for a while, half-lying on the headboard. The Crown Prince was telling him about Ulan Queqiu, explaining that Alan had been sold into a brothel, but fortunately, a girl had rescued her and prevented her from being violated. As he spoke, the man's gaze swept over his shoulder towards the door, his eyes sweeping away the previous rage and filled with pity and tenderness—naturally, these were for Ulan.

"Chi Sang!" Seeing that the Ninth Prince had woken up, Alan put the small basin on the table and threw herself into his arms. All the grievances and fears of the past two years turned into soft sobs.

The Ninth Prince, having listened to the Crown Prince's words, had already felt guilty and remorseful to the point of wishing he could take her suffering in his place. Now, seeing his beloved girl crying in his arms, his heart broke. He held Alan, gently patted her back, kissed the girl's face, and whispered in her ear. Seeing them like this, Liu Zhenzhen thought they must have a lot to say. She said softly, "I'll go and ask someone to prepare some wine and food," and hurriedly ran off.

Asule also got up and followed her out. Through the window of the outer hall, he only saw Liu Zhenzhen seem to wipe the corner of her eye as she stepped out of the courtyard gate. Women of the Eastern Continent are so easily moved, he thought silently.

Half an hour later, when Liu Zhenzhen returned carrying two food boxes, she saw Alan waiting at the courtyard gate with a smile. Clearly, the man called Chi Sang had already coaxed her.

The table was laden with food and wine, and Liu Zhenzhen had even secretly brought over a jar of Daughter's Red wine. The two men, both injured, dared not drink too much. Normally, men from the Northern Lands wouldn't care about such things, but Solang Danzeng knew their temperament well and repeatedly warned them not to drink too much if they wanted their injuries to heal quickly after using his medicine. Having witnessed the young holy monk's abilities, the two men had no choice but to refrain from drinking.

In the end, Liu Zhenzhen and Alan finished the jar of wine, both getting drunk, but fortunately, they were both well-behaved when drunk. Alan clung to Chisang, refusing to let go, muttering about how much she missed him while she was alone outside, and then burst into tears at the sad parts. Perhaps the Ninth Prince's gentleness in the previous twenty years combined didn't amount to as much as tonight. He pulled the little woman onto his lap, their foreheads touching, whispering sweet nothings, and then they kissed. Alan was truly drunk, while the Ninth Prince was dizzy with joy at finding his lost treasure. Seeing their clothes fall to the ground one by one, Asule couldn't sit still any longer.

He looked up at Liu Zhenzhen. The girl was quietly drinking cup after cup, seemingly not drunk, but her eyes were already hazy. A rosy blush spread across her porcelain-like face. She rested her chin on one hand and sipped her wine in the other, her demeanor carrying a hint of melancholy, a different kind of beauty compared to her coquettishness in the courtyard that afternoon.

Liu Zhenzhen envied Alan. She had a father who worried about her, a husband who loved her, and soon she would have her own home. As for herself, everything she thought she possessed was already gone. Still reeling from the day's series of blows, Liu Zhenzhen suddenly had her glass taken away. She looked up but couldn't make out the person's face. Someone seemed to be saying something, but she couldn't hear clearly, so she mumbled, "Could you repeat that? I can't hear you."

Asule took the girl's glass, about to think she was being tactless and wanting to see a live sex show, when he saw the pretty girl looking at him with misty, watery eyes, like a newborn fawn innocently observing the world. His heart softened, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back down. He said, "You're drunk. Let me take you back to your room."

He didn't quite catch what the pretty girl mumbled, but he couldn't ask a second time. He scooped up Liu Zhenzhen and strode into her room. The door had barely closed when he heard the door to Alan's room slam shut as well.

It was obvious what those two were doing, not to mention the faint moans and groans coming from within. It seemed the Ninth Prince had had enough of seeing but not being able to have, and had taken matters into his own hands, officially taking Alan's place. But what should he do now?

Liu Zhenzhen's bedroom was the innermost room; to get out, he had to pass through Alan's outer room. Clearly, the prince's path was blocked. It was absolutely impossible for him to lower himself and climb out the window. Similarly, in this room with only one bed, he couldn't possibly condescend to sleep on the floor.

Of course, he couldn't bear to let such a delicate, pitiful beauty sleep on the floor. Asule swiftly removed his outer robe, got into bed, and leaned over to cover Liu Zhenzhen, who was embracing the brocade quilt. What a petite girl! Hmm, the scent of wine was even more enticing than her.

He rarely left the Northern Continent, but his trusted confidants and scouts frequently traveled between the two countries. He often heard them talk about how petite and tender the women of the Northern Continent were. Now, seeing Liu Zhenzhen, he understood what it meant to be so tender you could squeeze water from her skin. He sat on the bed and removed Liu Zhenzhen's outer garments one by one, leaving only her undergarments and panties. Asule unfolded the quilt and wrapped them both in it, then embraced Liu Zhenzhen and held her as they fell asleep.

On one hand, the medicine for his wounds prohibited all possibilities; on the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to touch a girl who was only twelve or thirteen years old. But indulging in a little fantasy was always acceptable, wasn't it? Because Liu Zhenzhen wasn't wearing a bodice, her almost translucent silk dress revealed glimpses of her small, pink nipples and her small, perky breasts. Asule placed his hand over one breast and gently cupped it, squeezing it lightly. He looked down at the sleeping girl; she only let out a soft moan and didn't wake up. Asule almost held his breath as he untied the ribbon at Liu Zhenzhen's waist, opened her undergarment, and finally got to knead her pair of beautiful, snow-white breasts.

Her skin was so beautiful, so delicate and smooth, even more comfortable than the finest silk. There was a small, bright red mole between her breasts, making them even more white and lovely. He wanted to ruthlessly ravage them, yet he couldn't bear to. He could only lower his head and gently lick the pink nipple, playing with it tenderly for a while before taking one breast and falling into a deep sleep. The next day, he woke up early and saw Liu Zhenzhen nestled obediently in his arms, still sleeping soundly. As she fell asleep, the hand that had been holding one of the girl's small breasts had now grasped her bottom, giving it a gentle squeeze—it was so bouncy.

The boy looked helplessly at the brightening sky outside the window, fastened Liu Zhenzhen's inner garment, got out of bed, dressed himself, sat at the table, and slept for a while until he sensed someone approaching, at which point someone draped an outer garment over him.

Liu Zhenzhen, who had no recollection of the previous night, woke up with a slightly aching head, but her heart was filled with sweetness. She had a dream that made her blush and her heart race. She had dreamt that Gu Feng was holding her, gently caressing her breasts, suckling them, and the two of them were sleeping in each other's arms. Such a shameless yet incredibly comforting dream made her unwilling to wake up.

When she sat up, her face flushed, clutching the blanket, she discovered that Asule was asleep on the table. She was in a particularly good mood today, so she found the noble young man more agreeable. Liu Zhenzhen figured the two of them must have been drunk last night. Alan had Chisang taking care of her, while Asule carried her into the room. Although she found herself stripped down to only her undergarments, she felt a pang of guilt seeing that he hadn't taken advantage of her and had simply slept by the table all night. She got up, dressed, and draped an outer robe over him.

Chapter 15: Waking from a Dream, the King of Xiang was Annoyed .

In the outer room, when Alan woke up the next morning with a splitting headache, she frowned and reached to press her temples. A large hand was already on hers, massaging her. Still half-asleep, Alan stared blankly at Chisang, who was lying on his side beside her, shirtless, wearing only his clothes. He was supporting his chin with one hand and massaging her with the other. He seemed to be in a good mood, even a slight smile playing on his lips.

Alan seemed to remember that the two of them had done something they shouldn't have last night. Thinking this, she tried to turn over, but the soreness in her joints and muscles, and the swelling in her lower body, made her cry out in discomfort. Chi Sang quickly pressed down on Alan, kissed her, and whispered, "Little one, we were husband and wife last night. When we get back, I'll make you my principal wife. Now, just rest quietly. I'll have Miss Azhen take care of you."

"No, Azhen, she..."

"Didn't you say that you two, nominally master and servant, are actually like sisters? Since you can't reveal your identity and need someone to take care of you, she's the perfect choice." As the Ninth Prince spoke, he got up, dressed, and put down the curtains that Alan hadn't had time to put down last night. He then went to knock on the inner room door, but as soon as he raised his hand to knock, he thought to himself, "Oh no."

If he remembered correctly, the Crown Prince had carried Miss Alan in last night, and the two of them hadn't come out all night. He recalled the Crown Prince's expression the last time he saw before he was passionately holding Alan and about to do his thing—that look of a wild beast aiming at its prey was a meaning that a man could understand all too well.

Ninth Prince glanced guiltily at the bedside. Alan was still lying there. He desperately hoped that if he knocked, it would be that girl, Azhen, who answered. Although, given the prince's exceptional prowess, the possibility was slim, that girl, Azhen, didn't seem capable of handling the energy of a mere lad who had just experienced the first taste of life.

As Ninth Prince's thoughts wandered,

a sound came from inside. "Ah..." Accompanied by a girl's soft cry, a muffled thud came from inside.

"Hmm..." The muffled thud was that of a man.

"...You, you get up..." The soft voice was naturally Liu Zhenzhen's.

"I...move...a little...okay?"

"No, get it away."

"I...move...a little more...and it'll be fine..."

Because the room's soundproofing was poor, and with the creaking of the bed, the conversation was fragmented. Alan, blushing, reluctantly pulled back the curtain and watched her man quietly retreat from the doorway to sit by the bed. She mouthed to him: Prince, Azhen?

The Ninth Prince nodded, and she asked again, "So?"

The Ninth Prince nodded again. Alan was envious. Ah Zhen was so amazing! She herself was in excruciating pain even from the slightest movement, yet she could still continue making love with the Crown Prince.

In Zhenzhen's room, Asule secretly watched her as she got up and dressed. In the dim light of dawn, the girl's face, rosy and charming, was captivating. The beautiful curve of her slightly raised breasts made his mouth dry. The smooth, soft feeling he had experienced the night before seemed to still linger on his fingertips, making him thirsty. Liu Zhenzhen, however, was completely unaware. She quietly savored the passion of her dream, slowly getting dressed, unaware that the man she trusted was secretly watching her every move.

When she draped a coat over Asule, he pretended to wake up and tried to sit up. Because he had been lying prone for so long, half of his body was numb. Before he could brace himself against the table to prevent himself from falling, Liu Zhenzhen rushed to help him. Since the small table was right next to the bed, Asule chuckled inwardly and leaned towards Liu Zhenzhen, pinning her to the bed.

"Ah!" Liu Zhenzhen exclaimed. Although the bed was soft, this man was so heavy, pressing against her chest and making her breathless.

"You're so heavy! You, you, get up!" Liu Zhenzhen blushed and hurriedly tried to push Asule's shoulder, but she couldn't budge the tall, sturdy boy.

"My body is numb, I can't move. Can you wait a moment?" Asule was considerate enough to only use most of his body to pin Liu Zhenzhen down when he fell. But secretly, he tore open Liu Zhenzhen's outer garment, pressing his face against the upper part of the girl's chest, his lips almost touching the tender breasts beneath the semi-transparent silk undergarment.

The boy's warm breath and nostrils blew onto her sensitive nipples, sending a tingling, warm sensation through them. This was the first time Liu Zhenzhen had been so intimate with a man while so fully conscious. Gui Niang's training had clearly had a significant effect; her body was already weak. Even if she wanted to change this embarrassing position, her limbs were too weak, and she couldn't even speak.

After a while, Liu Zhenzhen felt her strength returning a little and asked him softly, "Can you get up now?"

"I'll try." Asule, who was already fine, began to move with great difficulty, rubbing his face against the cute little breasts and pressing his body against the even softer, more fragrant body beneath him.

At his actions, Liu Zhenzhen's body went limp once more. She could clearly feel the unfamiliar body, much hotter than her own, transmitting a heat that made her weak to the core. The boy's firm muscles rubbed against her delicate, sensitive waist and long legs. Just this contact was enough to arouse her; her private parts gradually became wet.

Before Liu Zhenzhen could panic at her loss of control and try to make him stop, Asule stopped first, because a hard, long, hot rod silently pressed against Liu Zhenzhen's soft lower abdomen.

"Ah~ you, you quickly get it away!" Liu Zhenzhen roughly knew what it was. Gui Niang had said that men were like this in the morning, easily aroused, and if they didn't want to please, they shouldn't be provoked. But why didn't Gui Niang say that thing would be so thick, long, and hot? This thing is supposedly meant to be inserted into her little flower hole and manipulated. How could that be? Wouldn't such a frightening thing go in and ruin her stomach? No wonder every time she saw those young girls in the side room being penetrated, they looked pained and cried out in varying degrees of pain. Just thinking about it filled her with dread. If she wanted to give birth, she would have to be done several times. Liu Zhenzhen couldn't imagine what her life would be like after marriage.

"I still can't move... there, it'll be fine in a bit, I'm sorry to trouble you a little longer," Asule said with difficulty, while comfortably and contentedly lying on top of Liu Zhenzhen, enjoying her soft, fragrant body. What an innocent and adorable little thing.

After Asule finally finished playing with her and released Liu Zhenzhen, he helped the limp Liu Zhenzhen up and carefully dressed her, also hinting that the Ninth Prince and Alan had already consummated their marriage. Therefore, when the two dressed up appeared together before Alan and the Ninth Prince, the men exchanged knowing glances, while the girls sympathized with each other.

Liu Zhenzhen had already told Wenniang that she hadn't been feeling well these past few days and wouldn't be playing the zither, so she would have her meals delivered to her door. Wenniang didn't want to force this little princess, so she agreed. Because of this, the Ninth Prince and the others could go to the front yard to get their breakfast without worry, and they even thoughtfully left the rooms for the two girls, while they and the Prince went to the music room in the side room.

Yesterday, their confidants sent a secret message saying that everything was arranged and they could set off to return on a chosen day. Now, given the incident that happened last night while they were drunk, and the high possibility that even Miss Zhenzhen would be taken away, the departure might have to be postponed.

Chapter 16 The Broken Dream of Clouds

and Rain In the music room, the Ninth Prince and Asule examined the sheet music and the precious zither while discussing their departure. If nothing unexpected happened, the departure date was set for ten days later. The Ninth Prince looked at Asule. The two were close in age and had practically grown up together, practically like brothers. The Crown Prince had just come of age, but his mind was deep; sometimes even he couldn't fathom his nephew's thoughts. Therefore, he still needed to inquire about the matter of Miss Azhen.

"Yingjia, did you sleep well last night?"

Yelü Yingjia glanced at his uncle and scoffed, "I would have slept better if you had been quieter. And now I am Asule."

"Good, good, Asule, that little girl is not even thirteen years old, how could you do that?"

"I..." Asule suddenly felt that it would be embarrassing if he said he hadn't gotten any. "Anyway, she's mine now. Ask Alan later how much it would cost to redeem her, and we can take her back with us."

"Haha, if you didn't touch her, you didn't touch her. It's good that you care about women. I told you, with your temper, if you really succeeded, the girl would be lucky to even catch her breath." The Ninth Prince patted Asule's shoulder to comfort him: "Take her back and care for her properly. In a year or two, she'll be yours."

Asule nodded, but in his mind, he remembered that when he climbed off Liu Zhenzhen that morning, the girl had become silent and avoided him. She was probably angry. So, how should he coax her?

After hearing Asule's brief description of the morning's events, the Ninth Prince suddenly missed the Eastern Lu teacher who had appeared beside the Crown Prince a couple of years ago. If it were that person, he could easily teach him how to distinguish between a woman and prey, right? Especially now that he has trained the Crown Prince to be like a leopard, fond of teasing his prey until it is exhausted before devouring it, and enjoying this method immensely. This method might work on those who disobey him, but for a woman, especially a young girl who is easily won over, revealing his identity would suffice; why bother with all this effort?

Asule scoffed at his uncle's suggestion. He had little interest in women throwing themselves at him, just as he disliked using animals tamed by others. His gyrfalcons, warhorses, and even the wolf pack outside his tent were all personally trained; his women would be no exception.

As for why he chose Liu Zhenzhen, it probably had something to do with his teacher. Two years ago, he and the Ninth Prince, leading their men, stopped briefly in a border town. One day, while they were having a drink at a small tavern, they unexpectedly saw Master Solang Danzeng hurrying past. This monk, revered as a master for his miraculous healing abilities, was actually quite young. He had once helped a mother wolf give birth to her cubs during a difficult labor. Later, he lost his way and collapsed in a blizzard, where he was rescued by a pack of wolves and eventually brought to the prince's tent, where he met them and became their friend.

Solang Danzeng was the name given to him by the people of the Northern Lands, meaning "Holy Mountain," while Ningyi was his Dharma name. When Asule and the Ninth Prince stopped this friend, whom they rarely met while traveling the world, they learned from him that his haste was due to a request to treat a woman. This woman was the wife of his new teacher. While Danzeng was treating the woman, who had been unconscious for nearly three months, with acupuncture in the inner room, the man who called himself Huse entertained the Ninth Prince and Asule in the courtyard. Although he was very worried about his wife's condition, he treated his guests with great care, and his conversation made Asule feel as if they had known each other for a long time.

After Lady Hu finally regained consciousness, Huse accepted Asule's invitation to become his teacher, instructing him in the culture of the Eastern Continent. Although Danzeng felt deeply apologetic that he had only awakened the lady, and that her memory was irrecoverable due to severe brain injury, the overjoyed Huse paid little attention to his wife's amnesia.

Lady Hu was a very beautiful and gentle woman from the Eastern Continent, timid and shy, always following Huse closely, even when he was lecturing the Crown Prince, she would wait quietly behind the curtain. If she couldn't see her husband, she would wait blankly, tears streaming down her face, like an abandoned little animal, evoking pity. Everyone in the royal family felt sorry for such a delicate beauty, speaking softly to her for fear of frightening her. Now, even though she was a mother of three, she still clung to her husband as before, a sight that filled others with envy.

Perhaps it was her completely different temperament from the bold and straightforward women of the Northern Continent, or perhaps it was the teacher's deep affection for his wife that instilled in the growing Asule a touch of the delicate fragility of a woman from the Eastern Continent in his vision of his future wife. That hazy prototype suddenly became clear when he saw Liu Zhenzhen. He wondered if all beauties from the Eastern Continent shared some similarities: delicate, prone to tears, and possessing a light and pleasant scent. At least for now, this young girl was the kind he desired.

Meanwhile, Liu Zhenzhen clarified the misunderstanding between her and Asule. She brought hot water to wash Alan's body and applied medicine. The marks of their lovemaking made both girls blush. However, having experienced this, Alan told Liu Zhenzhen with the air of someone who had been there before that she didn't have any painful memories because she was drunk the night before, only that her body ached terribly in the morning, and her legs wouldn't even close. As

the two were whispering, they heard someone knocking on the door outside. The person who came was Wen Niang's maid. She had heard that Liu Zhenzhen was not feeling well and came to visit her. Fortunately, the men were all in the music room, and Alan had just finished dressing. However, Liu Zhenzhen could no longer pretend to be sick and had to tell them that she was almost recovered and could continue playing the zither tonight or tomorrow.

Before leaving, the maid who had received the reply said to Liu Zhenzhen, "I've heard that Miss Zhenzhen is a Buddhist. A new wandering master has arrived at Jiaye Temple. If you want to relieve your boredom, you might as well go and listen to that master preach the Buddhist scriptures."

These words reminded Liu Zhenzhen that after what happened this morning, she was hesitant to stay in the same room with Asule again. It wasn't that she sensed his ill intentions, but rather her own insecurity. Her body was too easily out of control. Two hours had passed since morning, and just thinking of Asule and his hot body made her weak in the knees. She didn't want Alan and the others to see such a shameful thing; it would be better to go away and avoid it.

So Liu Zhenzhen took the opportunity to tell Alan that she would stay in her room at Youlan Palace for the next two days and come back when she had time off, to avoid constant visits and potential exposure by outsiders. She also went to retrieve Alan's indenture, so she could find an excuse to go back with Chisang and the others.

"Ah Zhen, aren't you coming with us?" Alan was reluctant to part with her good friend.

"You're going back to get married, do you expect me to accompany you as part of your dowry?" Liu Zhenzhen laughed, tapping Alan's cheek. "I'm already engaged, how could they let me go? But once you leave, I don't know when we'll see each other again."

The topic turned to sadness, and the two girls fell silent until the Ninth Prince and his entourage entered, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere.

Chapter 17: No Room for Complaints, Only Coldness

. Liu Zhenzhen temporarily stayed at Youlan Palace. That night, a performance in the side chamber was scheduled, but a very important banquet forced her to return to the Helian Manor. After her mother's departure, she couldn't return to the Rong'an Prince's Mansion. The Helian family head, pitying her situation, vacated the courtyard where the Sixteenth Princess had lived, promising that the Helian Manor would always be open to her. Even so, Liu Zhenzhen rarely stayed there. These places held too many memories related to her mother; she wasn't strong enough to calmly face everything familiar from the past, including her younger siblings.

Upon her return, she still stayed at the Helian residence, but the Helian family head thoughtfully arranged for her to stay in a secluded courtyard, so she wouldn't be reminded of her painful past. Although the location was somewhat remote, the furnishings were all of the highest quality, showing no neglect of Liu Zhenzhen.

Helian Yue and her other younger siblings were all out traveling, leaving the courtyard quiet and deserted, without even a maid. This was Liu Zhenzhen's request; she still didn't want to see anyone there. Her studies at Youlan Palace had enabled her to style her hair beautifully without a maid. After changing her clothes and applying a little makeup in front of the mirror, she gracefully boarded a special carriage and departed for the palace where the banquet would be held.

As Liu Zhenzhen followed her maid to her seat, she immediately spotted the handsome young man, Gu Feng, surrounded by a group of women. This time, the guests were from the younger generation of the royal family, and knowing that Gu Feng would also be staying there, they had invited him to accompany them. Among these privileged individuals, Gu Feng was always the most dazzling. The Northern Lands are known for their open-mindedness, and the unmarried girls, clearly having received prior notice, flocked around him, each dressed in revealing clothing and adorned in their finest attire, creating a lively and bustling scene. The engaged girls, though unable to join the festivities, also kept their eyes glued to the handsome young man.

Surrounded by these beauties, Gu Feng earnestly answered the various questions the girls had painstakingly devised, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger. Ironically, it was precisely this aloofness that made the girls even more eager to see him display a different expression for them, to prove their own charm.

When answering, Gu Feng would politely look into their eyes; each pair of heterochromatic pupils, some deep and some shallow, held a profound affection, yet none of them held the allure he desired. The banquet began, and veiled dancers took to the stage one by one. Beneath the sheer fabric, they wore only strapless tops that barely covered their breasts and low-waisted skirts with slits reaching their thighs. They swayed their snow-white waists and long legs to the seductive music, then sat down next to the single men, pouring them wine and feeding them.

Gu Feng finally escaped the smoky atmosphere and saw the beautiful figure sitting behind a gauze curtain in the small room diagonally opposite. Among millions of people, he was certain he wouldn't mistake her. He also didn't miss another man staring intently at Liu Zhenzhen—the newly crowned heir of the Husseruo family, and Liu Zhenzhen's future husband. Upon hearing this, Gu Feng, even though he was somewhat prepared, couldn't help but tense up. However, he didn't have time to look any longer. The lead dancer, before the dance was over, seized a seat next to Gu Feng, nestled into his arms, poured him a glass of wine, and tried to feed him.

Gu Feng lowered his eyes and drank the strong liquor the dancer offered to his lips. The beauty giggled, removed her veil to reveal a pair of beautiful, azure eyes. This was Josena, the legitimate daughter of the Xi Shi Lu clan.

"Lord Gu, you are so handsome. Josena toasts you." The girl's high, soft breasts brushed against Gu Feng's chest. She held the wine cup in her delicate hand, filled it with wine, and then, with her lips still on the spot where he had just drunk, stared intently into the man's eyes and slowly drank. Fourteen-year-old Josena was of betrothal age. Now, because of Liu Zhenzhen, even if she married into one of the four great families, her status would not be higher than Liu Zhenzhen's. Therefore, she thought that seducing Gu Feng and becoming a first-rank lady would be excellent.

All of this was also observed by Liu Zhenzhen. She stiffly held her chopsticks to pick up the side dishes in front of her, avoiding looking at the glaring scene opposite her. Because of Josena's identity and the Lu clan chief's tacit approval, Gu Feng tried several times to push her away without making a sound, but Josena clung to him even tighter. She even wrapped her arms around Gu Feng's neck, sitting on his lap as if asserting her ownership, occasionally feeding him wine and food, covering her mouth and giggling, and boldly confessing her admiration in his ear.

"What, you've also taken a fancy to Lord Gu?" The teasing voice in her ear startled Liu Zhenzhen, who was not paying attention to the performance. She turned her head to look at the dark green-eyed boy behind her, Husserlos, her nominal husband.

Before she could speak, the boy grabbed her chin: "Since you're engaged, you'd better behave yourself. Don't hang around in front of Lord Gu, don't pollute his eyes. A daughter-in-law of the Gu family isn't like you, a little slut born to be taken advantage of by men."

His words struck a nerve with Liu Zhenzhen. "I'm not!" Her eyes welled up with tears, and she struggled to reach out and pry open the vise-like hand.

"What, you won't admit it?" Si Ru twisted Liu Zhenzhen's hands behind her back, holding one hand down while still pinching her chin with the other. "Listen to me carefully, don't think you're something just because the elders treat you well. Those old men secretly love torturing little girls. If you can't give birth to a legitimate son, we'll have no choice but to send you to their beds to be brutally violated."

Hearing Si Ru's words, Liu Zhenzhen's face turned pale with fright. She knew this young man wasn't lying. Su Nu You was the elders' chosen concubine, and she had heard that she was taken advantage of by five or six old men every night, and her womb had long since lost its ability to bear children. If she fell into their hands... Si Ru then whispered in her ear, "Do you think your mother might have been taken advantage of by them too?"

Looking at the distraught Liu Zhenzhen, he secretly crushed the pill between his fingers and sprinkled it into the wine glass on the table. He released his grip on Liu Zhenzhen, pulling her into his arms and soothingly saying, "Alright, I was just giving you a heads-up. Here, have some wine to calm your nerves. As long as you behave, I'll treat you well, okay?"

He then held the cup of wine to Liu Zhenzhen's lips, watching her drink it all, a smile playing on his lips. This medicine was called "Seductive Skirt-Powder," containing peony flowers, henbane, and eggplant flowers. It was ground into powder and mixed with tea or wine for women to consume, inducing them to become intoxicated and at the mercy of the ruler.

Si Ru had long coveted Liu Zhenzhen, but the delicate beauty remained hidden in the Su Nu Mansion, preventing him from making a move. Now, with such a good opportunity, he naturally wouldn't miss it. This woman was meant to bear legitimate sons; after giving birth to one family's child, she would be given to the next, to be played with by countless men. Naturally, the sooner he possessed this young girl, the better. He was the first, and once he was tired of her, whoever wanted her could take her. He had put a lot of effort into arranging things for tonight, and now the guards and patrolmen at the exit had voluntarily made room for him for half an hour to facilitate their actions, so they quietly took Liu Zhenzhen out.

Gu Feng was constantly pestered by Josephine, but he didn't miss the commotion around Liu Zhenzhen. Through the thin veil, he could only see that someone seemed to be carrying Liu Zhenzhen away, and then he noticed that Si Ru's seat was empty. Even knowing that the man was her rightful husband, his heart still ached. His grandfather had always taught him to be unmoved by external things and to take a detached view of worldly love, but he couldn't suppress his subtle feelings for Liu Zhenzhen, especially the desire to take her away from another man and keep her in the Gu family to enjoy.

He made a decision in no time, found an excuse to leave, and when Josephine followed him relentlessly, she found that the man had disappeared around a corner, and she stomped her feet in anger. Meanwhile, Gu Feng had caught up with Si Ru and, hiding in the shadows, saw the man carrying the unconscious Liu Zhenzhen towards the empty room in the backyard. He silently pressed himself against Si Ru's back, and before Si Ru could react, he was knocked unconscious with a karate chop. Liu Zhenzhen, whom he was holding, fell into Gu Feng's arms.

With just a pulse check, Gu Feng knew Liu Zhenzhen had been given an aphrodisiac, the "Skirt-Holding Powder." He glanced at the fallen man with disgust, determined to teach him a lesson. First, he hid Liu Zhenzhen in a room, then searched Si Ru and found the "Skirt-Holding Powder" and the "Favor-Gaining Pill." The latter was made by grinding cloves, aconite, licorice root, cinnamon, and gecko, one mace each, and alum, dogwood, and sulfur, seven fen each. Grind them into a fine powder, mix with honey to form pills the size of a paulownia seed, and take three pills each time. It was said to make a man strong and erect, able to rival ten women in a night…

Gu Feng smiled coldly, carried him to a small courtyard, threw him onto the bed in the room, forced him to swallow three pills, and then quietly left. The courtyard was inhabited by a flirtatious young widow. She dared to undress and seduce Sonam Tenzin in the meditation room of the Gara Monastery. Fortunately, the meditation room was divided into inner and outer sections. Seeing the situation was turning against them, the fourth brother, Gu Hai, quietly led his third brother out the window. They then returned and, while the woman was searching for Tenzin in the inner room, stole her clothes from the outer room. They also put several non-venomous snakes they had caught into the inner room, then watched as the woman screamed and ran naked out of the room, laughing heartily from the shadows. Gu Feng, upon learning what had happened, didn't reprimand his younger brother much. He investigated her background and discovered she was a widow rumored to bring misfortune to her husbands. This time, he decided to be a good man and let this thirsty woman taste the pleasures of being favored by a young, tender woman.

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