VBNWDW - Chapter 151
Chapter 151
"So hot, so hot!"
A boisterous voice rang out. Li Shigui was sucking in big gulps of air, but she was unwilling to spit out the food in her mouth, so she just kept yelling from the heat, "It's burning me to death!"
Beside her, a helpless Ruan He lifted a cup of ice water to her mouth.
Li Shigui quickly lowered her head to take a sip, sucking the water in. The water was so cold it felt like it was about to freeze. It wasn't hot anymore, but now she shivered and sputtered, "So cold."
It was enough to make one not know whether to laugh or cry.
It was now the eighth year of the Xuanwu era. With the Great Liang army stepping into the capital of the Chu state, the century-long standoff between Liang and Chu finally came to an end. From then on, the world belonged to Liang.
As for Li Shigui and Ruan He, they had led their troops on a hurried march back, finally reaching the Capital just in time for the first snow and managing to join in on the first hot pot of the year.
In the deep black of night, white, rice-grain-like snowflakes drifted down. The snow on the ground had already piled up halfway to their calves, with no sign of stopping.
A specially made winter house used glass instead of paper-pasted wooden windows. Inside, a large kang had been built. A group of people sat cross-legged on it, with a copper hot pot bubbling aromatically on a low table in the center.
Her tongue numbed by the cold, Li Shigui didn't dare pick up more food for a moment. But she couldn't sit still, and with a quick roll of her eyes, she praised, "It's all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress. Life is so much more comfortable this winter than in previous years. Even if a god came, we wouldn't trade this."
The kang and hot pot were both things that had never appeared in Great Liang before.
Luo Yueqing had previously experienced a harsh winter and felt that Great Liang was truly backward in this regard. They didn't even know the correct way to use charcoal, leading to many deaths from suffocation every year. As a result, people wouldn't burn charcoal unless absolutely necessary.
Even Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but frown tightly when she heard Luo Yueqing wanted to burn charcoal, telling her it was dangerous.
Annoyed, Luo Yueqing had no choice but to find animals for an experiment to make Zhong Jueyu and the others understand that it was fine as long as the space wasn't sealed. Afterward, she ordered people to use this method to spread the word in the markets. Before long, everyone was finally able to use charcoal with peace of mind.
As for the kang and other things, Luo Yueqing had figured them out with craftsmen while renovating the palace. Pipes outside the walls connected to the kang, allowing the doors and windows to be tightly shut.
Hearing this, before Luo Yueqing could even reply, a seven-year-old child beside her spoke up cheerfully, "Of course my Mother is amazing."
Anyone who didn't know better would think it was her own accomplishment.
Li Shigui laughed and agreed, "Yes, yes, the Crown Princess's Mother is the most amazing."
After speaking, Li Shigui hurriedly picked up another piece with her chopsticks and dipped it in her sauce bowl. The aroma shot straight into her nose.
It made her marvel once again. She, Li Shigui, considered herself an expert in having fun, yet she couldn't compare to the Little Daoist's ability to enjoy life. How could she have come up with such a delicious way of eating?
Seeing that she was about to speak again, Luo Yueqing, unable to bear the endless praise, quickly placed a piece of meat in her bowl and urged, "Eat more."
Then she turned and gave a piece to the little flatterer who was always ready. This little one had worshipped Luo Yueqing since she was small. Seeing Luo Yueqing give her meat, she immediately grinned so wide her eyes disappeared.
She chirped happily, "Thank you, Mother."
As if she had just eaten honey.
Zhong Jueyu, sitting beside her, said nothing. But upon seeing herself ignored, her expression darkened slightly.
Luo Yueqing, however, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had perfectly handled both of them with this method. She turned back to the hot pot, her face full of delight.
Zhong Jueyu pressed her lips together. In her hand was a perfectly peeled shrimp.
It was originally for Luo Yueqing, but now it had somehow lost its appeal.
Great Liang was landlocked and only gained a coastline after annexing Great Chu. Luo Yueqing had specifically sent a letter instructing Li Shigui to purchase some seafood and transport it back packed in ice and snow. Only now were they able to eat it.
Luo Yueqing bit into a piece of mutton, then turned her head and noticed Zhong Jueyu. She asked, puzzled, "Why aren't you eating?"
Zhong Jueyu's reply was a bit slow. She paused before saying, "I…"
Just then, the Crown Princess placed a peeled shrimp in Luo Yueqing's bowl and said with a smile, "For Mother to eat."
The imperial kitchen had only made a slit down the shrimp's back to devein it, so it was still a bit difficult to peel, especially for a seven-year-old child from a landlocked region. Her hands were covered in juice.
But it was a heartfelt gesture from the little one.
Luo Yueqing didn't show any disgust. She took a napkin and carefully wiped the Crown Princess's hands, then gently instructed, "Wash them properly later, and don't rub your eyes."
The Crown Princess immediately nodded, her clear eyes filled with trust.
After doing this, Luo Yueqing picked up the shrimp. After eating it, she gave it the highest praise: "The shrimp Bo'er peeled is truly sweet and delicious."
The child's smile grew even more smug.
And beside them, Zhong Jueyu simply lowered her head and bit into the shrimp in her own hand.
Since the shrimp someone else peeled is so sweet and delicious, then go eat theirs.
As she bit into the shrimp, she tasted a strange sourness.
Ruan He added another batch of meat. The red broth in the hot pot paused for a moment before starting to boil again, tossing chili peppers, red oil, and Sichuan peppercorns to the surface.
Barely ten seconds had passed before Luo Yueqing and Li Shigui were already reaching in with their chopsticks. The wooden chopsticks clashed as they competed, making a crisp sound.
Zhong Jueyu suddenly shot Li Shigui a glare. If I had known, I shouldn't have let Li Shigui neglect her etiquette. How improper!
Li Shigui didn't see it at all. She coated the meat in dipping sauce, stuffed it directly into her mouth, and let out a satisfied sigh with her eyes narrowed.
Luo Yueqing, on the other hand, placed the meat in the Crown Princess's bowl. The child's arms were short, and she was afraid of being scalded by the steam, so she needed an adult to look after her.
"Thank you, Mother," she immediately beamed.
"Eat slowly, there's no rush," Luo Yueqing replied gently.
Zhong Jueyu withdrew her gaze, feeling that this meat was also very sour. She wondered if the imperial kitchen had been lazy and used meat from a few days ago.
She was unhappy but couldn't find an outlet for her feelings. She looked up and saw Li Shigui with her cheeks puffed out from eating, which only made her more frustrated.
The steam obscured the view, and besides, no one would have thought Zhong Jueyu would be displeased at a time like this. Even Ruan He was more relaxed than usual and didn't notice Zhong Jueyu's mood change at all. She just lowered her head and pushed her own dipping sauce bowl to the middle.
Li Shigui loved the dipping sauce and had already used up half her bowl. Ruan He shared her own bowl with her.
The two had been inseparable since childhood, thick as thieves. They would even share a single steamed bun, let alone dipping sauce. Li Shigui naturally moved her chopsticks over.
A scene that would normally seem ordinary now seemed jarring, especially when Luo Yueqing hadn't even noticed her.
Zhong Jueyu swallowed the piece of meat but couldn't suppress her anger. She could only force out a stiff sentence: "You two have performed great deeds. Is there any reward you desire?"
The two across from her suddenly froze. Before they could answer, Zhong Jueyu continued, "You've been busy leading troops all these years and haven't considered marriage. If you don't have anyone in mind…"
She hadn't finished speaking when the person beside her suddenly tugged on her sleeve.
Luo Yueqing finally remembered I was here!
Zhong Jueyu glanced sideways at her, but Luo Yueqing was inexplicably looking toward Li Shigui, blinking as if signaling something.
Normally, Zhong Jueyu would have noticed something was amiss, but right now she was bubbling with jealousy and couldn't think that far. She was about to open her mouth to finish her sentence.
Seeing that she didn't understand, Luo Yueqing grew anxious and interrupted directly, "I know you're concerned about their marriages, but they just returned from the border and are physically and mentally exhausted. You should let them rest for a while before considering such matters."
Li Shigui quickly agreed.
Zhong Jueyu's gaze swept over the two of them. Though she knew it was impossible, she couldn't stop her wild thoughts. Why did she only give food to Li Shigui? Why did she suddenly interrupt when I mentioned finding a husband for Li Shigui, trying to brush it off like that?
Looking at their identical, guilty expressions, her hand holding the chopsticks tightened, leaving deep indentations on her fingertips. Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Later that night, only the dregs of the broth were left simmering in the hot pot, and a few embers still burned stubbornly. The people from before had all left and returned to their own rooms.
Snowflakes landed on the fogged-up glass window, melting moments later from the heat inside. Someone stepped out of the hot spring water, walked through the enclosed corridor, and entered the room.
Droplets of water fell from hair being dried with a white cloth, splashing onto the floor and reflecting a rainbow of colors in the bright candlelight.
"Jinyan?" Luo Yueqing called out before she even saw her.
She tilted her head to look to the side. The person was leaning against a wooden couch, reading a book. Hearing the call, she lifted her eyes, cast a faint glance at Luo Yueqing, then looked down again, appearing completely engrossed in her book.
A little strange.
Usually, Zhong Jueyu would bathe first, and by the time she was done drying off, Luo Yueqing would have finished her bath. Then she would come over to help Luo Yueqing dry her hair. But today, she had already bathed and dried off, yet she was just sitting there silently.
Luo Yueqing sensed something was wrong but didn't overthink it, assuming she was just tired today. She finished drying herself off and then walked over to Zhong Jueyu's side.
She called out softly, "Jinyan, it's late. Shall we get some rest?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse from the warm water. A thin inner robe hung loosely on her body, its open collar unintentionally revealing a glimpse of skin.
The other person, however, wouldn't look up, only saying, "You rest first. I'll sleep after I finish this page."
Zhong Jueyu did indeed have this habit. No matter what, she had to finish the task at hand first. For example, if she started reading a few lines of a book, she had to finish the entire chapter. It was the same when she handled official business.
Therefore, Luo Yueqing just nodded, thinking she shouldn't disturb her, and turned to walk toward the bed alone.
But she didn't see the person sulking by herself, who had crushed the book into a roll. Her anger, which had been building since the beginning, hadn't dissipated in the slightest. Instead, it was growing more intense.
A strong gust of wind suddenly blew outside, scattering the snowflakes chaotically.
Luo Yueqing had just lain down on the bed when the other person followed, her footsteps thudding on the floorboards, completely forgetting the decorum her tutors had worked so hard to teach her.
Truly abnormal, Luo Yueqing muttered to herself. Looking at her, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhong Jueyu's phoenix eyes lifted slightly. Her expression was extremely dark. Her loose hair fell over her slender shoulders. Though she was only in her inner robes, she exuded a sense of pressure.
"Jinyan?" The other person still hadn't realized what was wrong.
Zhong Jueyu didn't answer. She bent her leg, pressed onto the bed, and then straddled Luo Yueqing, covering her completely.
Luo Yueqing frowned, reaching up to grab the other's collar. "What's gotten into you today?"
"Who made you unhappy?" She had some guesses, but she never imagined that she herself was the culprit.
Zhong Jueyu still refused to answer, leaning down to kiss her.
Though Luo Yueqing was confused, she subconsciously cooperated. Her hand moved from the shoulder and neck to the back, stroking it again and again in a soothing gesture, all while wondering what had made Zhong Jueyu so angry.
But after racking her brain, she couldn't think of anything wrong. These past few days had been a time of great celebration. Surely no one would choose this moment to cause trouble?
But Zhong Jueyu sensed her distraction. The anger she had been holding in all evening, like a barrel of dynamite, was ignited and exploded with a bang.
The one who usually cooperated now took the lead. While biting the other's lips, she tore at her collar. Her movements were no longer gentle as before; the sound of fabric ripping could be heard.
"Zhong Jinyan, you!" Luo Yueqing's eyes widened suddenly, filled with surprise and shock.
They had been together for so many years, and everything that could happen had already happened. It was just that most of the time, Luo Yueqing took the initiative, while Zhong Jueyu preferred to cooperate. This was the first time she had pounced on her so aggressively.
The throat she bit trembled. Zhong Jueyu effortlessly left a red mark. The inner robe was pulled down to her waist, revealing delicate skin that glowed like moonlight in the candlelight.
"How did I provoke you?" Luo Yueqing raised a hand to press against the other's shoulder, wanting to sort this out first.
But the usually rational Zhong Jueyu refused. Completely overcome with anger, she bit down on the straight collarbone, and the force was not light at all.
"Hiss…" Luo Yueqing couldn't help but cry out in pain.
A hand, calloused from years of martial arts practice, gripped her side, not only preventing her from dodging but deliberately making her lift her waist to press against her.
"Zhong Jueyu, are you a dog?" Luo Yueqing finally lost her patience and cursed aloud.
But the response was another bite, this time below the collarbone.
Having just bathed, her body was soft from the hot spring water, like a warm glutinous rice ball. It seemed a gentle bite would release a sweet filling, making one unable to resist using force to taste this most delicious winter treat.
But she ignored how fragile that spot was. In the past, even an accidental bump would hurt for half a day, let alone such a forceful bite.
The hand on her back suddenly tightened, digging into her and leaving several crescent-shaped indentations.
"It hurts!" Luo Yueqing cried out immediately. She was used to being pampered by Zhong Jueyu; how could she endure such treatment?
The area around her eyes instantly turned red. Mist formed at the corners of her eyes, quickly gathering into a teardrop that rolled down her cheek.
"You dog!" Luo Yueqing was in so much pain she cursed without thinking, not caring if this person was the emperor or anyone else.
Her bent legs were pinned down, and the hands trying to push her away were restrained at the wrist, pressed above her head.
"Dog emperor!"
"Stinking dog!"
She didn't even know what she was cursing anymore; the words just poured out.
Fortunately, Great Liang had long since abolished the punishment of beheading for insulting the emperor. Otherwise, even if Luo Yueqing had three heads and six arms, it wouldn't be enough. But even with it abolished, such an offense still deserved punishment.
Zhong Jueyu moved lower, her hanging hair sliding down with her, creating a slight tickling sensation.
"Zhong Jueyu, you're dead!"
"Zhong, you big dog, mmmph…" The more Luo Yueqing shouted, the more wronged she felt, not understanding how she had provoked this ancestor of hers.
Only then did the person rise, still kneeling on Luo Yueqing, looking down at her from a commanding position.
"You left marks," Luo Yueqing said, looking down. She felt even more wronged, completely forgetting that she had been even more excessive in the past. These marks were nothing compared to the ones she had made during her own antics.
The other person didn't show her usual distress. Her eyes were dark and profound as she said faintly, "I should have ordered someone to build a golden cage and lock you inside."
To stop others from always thinking about you.
Luo Yueqing was no longer in the mood to coax her. She shot back through gritted teeth, "Then I'll lock you in a dog cage first."
Instead of getting angry, Zhong Jueyu laughed. "Luo Yueqing, are you doing this on purpose?"
Though confused, the other person refused to back down, her tone unwavering. "I don't understand what you're saying!"
"Then I'll make you understand!" Zhong Jueyu replied immediately, leaning down once more.
A large, gray shadow enveloped the person beneath her, wrapping her completely.
The wind and snow outside grew stronger. The glass window seemed to have frosted over, making it impossible to see outside.
A burning brazier sat in the corner, making the whole room stuffy and hot. The book that had been crumpled earlier now lay on the floor, unretrieved.
"Stinking dog! Stinking dog!" The shouts grew weaker and weaker, gradually mixed with ineffable gasps.
"Dog emperor!"
Anyone who didn't know the situation would think the Emperor of Great Liang was some kind of tyrant to have earned such disgust from the Empress.
But the one being cursed showed no reaction—or rather, her reaction was purely physical, unlike Luo Yueqing's useless struggles.
And funnily enough, the one cursing like a dog was kneeling and leaning over the head of the bed, looking more like the thing she was cursing than the other person did.
"Zhong Jueyu, you just wait!"
The wooden bed shook, making a grating, creaking sound. The legs braced against the bed couldn't help but tremble, and even her ankles flushed crimson.
Zhong Jueyu was never one for words in these matters. The hand gripping the other's waist simply pulled her back, not allowing Luo Yueqing to escape. Then her movements quickened, and the sound of water echoed throughout the room.
A spark jumped from the candlewick and quickly vanished into the air.
The snow outside was already knee-deep. It was unclear how it would be dealt with tomorrow.
The night was exceptionally dark. The entire Capital was enveloped, with only a few faint lights remaining. Most people had already burrowed into their quilts to sleep, trying to get through this extremely cold winter as quickly as possible.
The sounds in the room gradually became broken, changing from initial fury to tearful pleas, unable to form a complete sentence.
"Zhong Jue… yu…" Luo Yueqing tried to collapse but was caught, not allowed to lie down.
Her knees were already chafed red, and other places were covered in messy bite marks and red welts.
"Tired… I'm tired," Luo Yueqing tried to turn her head to look back. Her doe-like eyes were covered in a misty haze.
Without the slightest pause, the fabric beneath her became soaked.
She wailed again, "It's spicy!"
"Your hand… your hand…" Luo Yueqing sobbed, finally managing to get the word out after a long while: "Spicy."
"Did you touch the chili peppers just now?"
Her mumbled words were hard to make out, and after the string of curses from before, Zhong Jueyu had already learned to ignore them. She didn't pause in the slightest, and could only watch as Luo Yueqing cried harder and harder.
And so, it wasn't until late at night that conversation was heard from the room again.
The one whose anger had subsided had become the humble one again. While massaging the other's waist and legs, she coaxed guiltily, "Perhaps it was because I peeled the shrimp earlier…"
"Get lost, you dog," said the other, her eyes red and swollen. She didn't even have the strength to lift a hand, cursing with what little breath she had left. Her voice was extremely hoarse, truly a sound to make listeners grieve and onlookers weep.
"I washed up once, but I didn't expect the spicy residue to remain…"
"I'm not listening to your excuses! Don't you touch me ever again! Don't touch me for the rest of your life!" Luo Yueqing was so angry she even said something like that.
Zhong Jueyu wasn't stupid and naturally didn't take it seriously. She continued kneeling beside her, rubbing her waist and coaxing, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have let my imagination run wild."
"Imagination my ass! Don't you know Li Shigui likes Ruan He? And you were trying to pick a husband for her. Does that brain of yours think of anything besides state affairs?"
Luckily, Luo Yueqing had no strength left, or she would have kicked her off the bed.
"You stupid dog," The tears that hadn't finished falling slid down again. A sense of grievance enveloped her, unlikely to fade anytime soon.
"Yes, yes, I'm stupid," Her Majesty the Emperor immediately agreed.
Luo Yueqing rambled on, "Why would a grown adult get angry with a child? She was afraid of getting burned and didn't dare reach for food, didn't you see?"
"Yes, yes, I didn't notice," Her Majesty the Emperor quickly nodded.
Luo Yueqing rolled her eyes, turned over with difficulty to face the other way, and said resentfully, "I don't want to talk to you today. Go sleep on the side."
This was the first time in so many years. It seemed she was truly angry this time.
The person behind her hesitated before speaking, "Should I bring a basin of water to wipe you down… Does it… still sting?"
The person was silent for a long time, then finally burst into angry tears, "Then go! You dog!"
Zhong Jueyu threw on her clothes and ran outside, her steps hurried, not pausing for a moment.
Comments
Post a Comment