Ich denke an dich, wenn der Wind weht

Kapitel 24

"How is Jia Ye?"

"It's not necessarily all about lust."

"You mean..."

“There is a bit of suspicion.” Her hand climbed up his tanned chest, gently stroking his strong pectoral muscles. “It’s just that Jia Ye has been acting strangely this year, as if he’s being controlled by Qian Ming, leaving him no choice but to be suspicious.”

"So you're testing them in this way?"

"If Jia Ye obeys obediently, then her loyalty to the King is beyond doubt. At that time, we can give her some sweet treats, and Qian Ming's influence will be no concern."

"What if you refuse?"

“No one has dared to disobey.” Her voice turned cold. “Who would dare to refuse the Pope’s invitation to his favor? Even though Jia Ye has already secured her position as one of the Four Envoys, angering the Pope would still have dire consequences.”

"I'm also wondering, when did Jia Ye and Qian Ming form an alliance, and why do they always follow his lead? Could it be that they've already...?"

The woman suddenly bent over and burst into laughter, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Her voluptuous body trembled violently, arousing arousal in all who beheld her.

"What are you laughing at?" The man ignored her, asking casually.

"You men are really..." She finally managed to stop laughing, then looked up, her face revealing undisguised sarcasm. "Foolish."

"How so?"

"Everyone thinks that Jia Ye is controlled by Qian Ming, but no one thinks the other way around."

"You mean..."

“I mean you all underestimated Jia Ye.” She rolled out of bed, completely unconcerned, and put on her clothes one by one. “That girl is as cunning as a devil. Qian Ming has long been burdened by his lust and is completely manipulated by her.”

She snorted coldly, a hint of something unreadable flashing across her face. "Judging from her expression, Qian Ming is definitely not going to get anything out of it. He'll probably be played before he even gets a taste of the game."

"You're making Qianming sound far too incompetent."

"Incompetent, no. That guy is too ambitious and has too many desires. He always wants everything... There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"How do you know Qianming didn't succeed?" He silently agreed with her assessment of someone, but still teased her aloud.

"Judging from her appearance, does she seem to have been with a man before? She usually doesn't get close to anyone, so she's probably still a virgin." A hint of malice flickered in her seductive eyes as she smiled. "If he can't have her, Qian Ming will only covet her more. Men are just like that."

"That's quite a statement..." He lightly bit his earlobe. "Based on your reasoning, how will Jia Ye respond tonight?"

“Who knows?” The woman nestled into his arms. “Back then, I just treated it as being bitten by a dog and endured it for a while. Anyway, the King was only interested in something new.”

"If it were Jia Ye..."

"Are you worried about her bodyguards?" the woman asked bluntly, glancing at him with a smile.

"Yes." He didn't try to hide it.

"Well... if Jia Ye loses power, we can just bring him over."

"How do I do it?"

She seemed to see through his thoughts, "If it's inconvenient for you to come forward, how about I persuade the King to transfer him to his service? I guarantee you can rest assured."

"You?" He suddenly smiled. "When did you become so enthusiastic? Could it be that you've fallen for me too?"

"Speaking of which, that guy is indeed handsome and is Jia Ye's right-hand man. Taking him in would be very beneficial. Besides... I'm not as cold and boring as Jia Ye. It would be a waste to waste such a high-quality talent." She frankly admitted it and said it openly and frankly.

"You're quite frank, aren't you? You're always looking for more than you have, aren't you afraid of being too busy?" he chuckled softly, seemingly complaining but without any real annoyance.

They both knew perfectly well that besides lust, this move also carried a deeper meaning of using someone as a hostage. However, as long as Shuying was unharmed, Zisu's little scheme was nothing to worry about.

The only question is, how will Jia Ye... respond?

On the sheer cliffs of the Tianshan Mountains, the pine trees in the valleys surge and roar like a thousand layers of blue clouds.

A bright moon casts countless silver rays, illuminating the lavish night banquet ablaze with lights in the mountains.

Hundreds upon hundreds of exquisite palace lanterns stretched out, like celestial dust fallen to earth. Rows of intricately crafted lacquered tables displayed rare delicacies on white jade platters, delicacies unseen even at grand banquets of various nations. Fine wine was poured into luminous goblets, dazzling like crimson jewels. Beautiful young women held wine jugs, their skirts swaying as jade pendants and ivory rings clinked together, creating a continuous, melodious sound.

The deacons, both high and low, sat in orderly fashion according to their rank, and there was not a single word spoken in the huge banquet hall.

On the heavy red carpet, alluring dancers twirled rapidly to the soft music, their bright red costumes bold and provocative, revealing their slender, snow-white waists. Barefoot, adorned with golden bells, and with tassels covering their foreheads, their gauze dresses and colorful ribbons fluttered in the air, making them appear as graceful as celestial maidens descending to earth.

On the jade steps, the venerable Pope, with a smile on his face, looked down at the crowd with noble elegance, like a deity.

The four envoys stood below, arranged to the left and right according to their duties, with their respective shadow guards standing at their sides behind them. The ranks were clearly defined, and the hierarchy was strict, with no one allowed to overstep their bounds.

After several rounds of drinks and in high spirits, everyone relaxed a bit. After all, it was an annual grand feast, and given the recent prosperity of the church, it was more than enough to indulge in singing, dancing, and revelry.

Qianming sat at the head of the four envoys, his expression gloomy and somber, drinking incessantly. Zisu, on the other hand, smiled broadly, occasionally throwing him a flirtatious glance, which did not seem to bother him at all.

Jia Ye didn't touch her chopsticks, but made an exception and poured herself a cup of wine, sipping it very slowly. Her pale hands, supporting the large jade cup, made her look even smaller, and her dark eyes were as deep as a pool.

Jiuwei sat at the lower end, her gaze occasionally sweeping across the three faces as she calculated in her mind. When she glanced at the person behind Jiaye, she sighed inwardly. That handsome face was expressionless, his head bowed as he stared intently at Jiaye's every move, his lips pressed tightly together, forming a sharp, straight line.

The King seemed to be in a good mood, casually chatting about romance and nature. Apart from Zi Su Wan responding with a smile and Jiu Wei occasionally speaking, the other two hardly said a word.

After a long and rambling conversation, the topic eventually circled back to the main point.

“Gaye”.

Several people were startled.

The king, with a faint smile, casually inquired.

"Why don't you wear the things I gave you today? Perhaps you think they're too light?"

"Your Majesty, how could I dare?" Jia Ye's hand trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Your Majesty's generous gift is too much for me to bear. Moreover, I know that I am as small as a child and of slender build, and I am not worthy of such a precious item. I fear that wearing it would only make me look like a poor imitation."

The king relaxed his long eyebrows. "Since it's a reward, why overthink it? Go down and exchange for me, let me see if it's really as you say."

Jia Ye paused, took a deep breath, stood up, walked to the jade steps, knelt down, and raised her head to exhale a clear voice.

“Gaya dares to ask the King to withdraw the reward, even at the cost of his life.”

Jiuwei almost thought she had misheard; Qianming's hand went limp, and the wine cup clattered against the glass; Zisu's smile froze on her face. The other followers remained oblivious, and the banquet continued as before, except for the highest point, which was deathly silent.

The Pope's smile vanished as he looked down at the kneeling figure.

"I didn't hear you clearly, say it again."

Speaking under such a threatening gaze is pure torture.

Jia Ye's face was as white as paper as she repeated each word carefully.

“Gaya dares to ask the King to withdraw the reward, even at the cost of his life.”

Even Zi Su began to admire her courage.

His cold eyes flashed with a chilling light, and his tall figure suddenly rose from the jade throne, stepped down the steps, and stood in front of Jia Ye. An indescribable pressure descended like a mountain shadow.

Do you know what you're saying?

Jia Ye prostrated himself at the foot of the steps, touching his forehead to the ground, yet his voice was perfectly clear.

“Gaya was born into humble circumstances, and all that I have today is thanks to the cultivation and education of the King. I could never repay even a fraction of that kindness. The opportunity to serve Zuo Jin is something I could never ask for, and I am extremely fortunate. However, my fate is unfortunate and my fortune is meager. Although I yearn for it, my body is unfit to serve. I humbly beseech the King to understand.”

The king paused, feeling slightly relieved of the pressure.

"What do you mean?"

“When Jia Ye was young, he learned secret arts from his master, and his martial arts foundation was entirely supported by these secret arts. This art can be mastered in a short time if one’s physique is similar. However, once one begins, one must never have sexual relations with men or women for the rest of one’s life, otherwise one’s power will be exhausted and one’s meridians will be ruptured, leading to death. Jia Ye is ashamed of his physical condition, but thanks to the King’s compassion and mercy, he dares not fail to report the truth.”

The cold voice paused for a moment, then continued.

"My life is not worth cherishing. It is already a blessing from Heaven that I can serve you. It is only because I can no longer serve you as a loyal servant that I feel truly regretful. I hope that you will have the foresight to have mercy on my loyal heart."

The air seemed to freeze.

"What kind of secret technique has this effect? If you dare to lie and deceive, you should know what will happen to you." The calm words contained an immense threat.

"The Mind Method of Marakunna." Upon hearing this, all those who knew about it paled.

The Marakunna Mind Method is said to be a secret technique from India.

It cannot be practiced by anyone other than a virgin, because the practice requires the use of poison, which induces hallucinations. Only those who are devoid of emotion and desire can endure these hallucinations, and they are extremely prone to going astray and dying from vomiting blood. Even if one succeeds in mastering the skill, one must not have any desires; any transgression is tantamount to suicide. Therefore, although it is extremely powerful, very few people practice it.

“Gaya is of dull talent, and it is only now that my master has taught me this art that I have achieved some success. I would never dare to lie or deceive my superiors. If it weren’t for this insurmountable obstacle, I would certainly personally serve you. My sincerity is as clear as the sun and moon. If Your Majesty harbors any resentment, I will gladly accept the ink pill.”

Upon hearing this, even the sinister Pope couldn't help but be slightly moved.

The Ink Pill and the Red Pill are similar in that they both involve a Gu worm that infiltrates the human body and controls its movement.

However, there is no ultimate antidote for the Ink Pill. The only way to suppress it is to take it periodically. Once taken, it will be permanent. It is only used on the lowest-ranking slaves. As one of the Four Envoys, Jia Ye admitted that she was willing to take the Ink Pill, which is tantamount to putting her life on the line.

"The Morokunna Mind Method... So you're still a virgin?" After a moment of contemplation, he asked.

"If the King has any doubts, please use the 'shougongsha' (a type of cinnabar) to verify it."

With a slight nod, a servant quickly brought over a jade box and used a silver needle to remove it.

The bright red cinnabar landed on her slender, jade-like arms, and indeed, it could not be wiped away; instead, it made her even more beautiful.

The Pope's gaze finally softened.

"Since it is due to the limitations of the technique, let's abandon this matter. It is my fault for not being aware of this."

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. I, Jia Ye, could never repay this kindness, even if I were to die a thousand deaths."

“Since the jewels have already been bestowed, there is no reason to take them back. Consider it compensation for the injustice you suffered.” The king nodded, returned to his throne, and declared the matter closed. “No need for further farewells.”

"I am deeply grateful for the King's great kindness."

A mountain breeze blew by, making her sweat-soaked vest feel cold. She slowly raised her head.

Not far away, the tightly pursed lips finally relaxed, and the tense nerves gradually eased.

Self-bondage

"Are you really practicing the Morokunin mental cultivation method?"

The messy bedroom has been tidied up, the shelves are back in their original positions, and broken items have been cleared away, as if the previous chaos had never existed.

Jia Ye lit the incense burner, and the quietly rising smoke swirled and lingered in the air.

"That's not important. As long as the Pope thinks it is, then it is true."

"Does he really believe it?"