Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 40

I glanced at them, and Jin Wulei, understanding, quickly turned to Lu Li, "The Master is very concerned about the Thunderbolt Hall this time, and has been telling us to be careful."

I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly. This kid was quite clever.

Lu Li was completely oblivious to the turmoil I was in, nodding intently. "This time, I hope to get the assistance of your manor lord. Needless to say, with the manor lord's approval, we will have the assistance of the entire martial arts world... Moreover, the Liao people have been eyeing our dynasty covetously for quite some time now, and heroes from all walks of life will not stand idly by and watch the enemy force their way into their own doorstep."

Mu Zihan nodded in agreement, while Jin Wulei secretly observed my expression. Seeing my expressionless face, he remained calm and said, "Your Highness, of course we will not suffer the humiliation of the Liao people, but... we will follow the orders of the Manor Lord. The Manor Lord is not currently at the manor, and we are eagerly awaiting his statement before the heroes of the world. Once the Manor Lord gives his order, we will certainly go through fire and water to assist him with all our might."

"Then I'll trouble you to convey this message to your lord. For our dynasty, this matter is of paramount importance, and you are my benefactors..."

"I dare not accept such praise."

Lu Li smiled slightly and turned to look at me, "Madam, please prepare lodgings for our two benefactors and treat them to fine wine and food."

"My benefactor..." I suddenly had the urge to laugh out loud. Calling my subordinate my benefactor would make me look like that, but I managed to suppress my laughter and said with a gentle expression, "Of course, Your Highness, please rest assured."

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam." His humility made me feel uncomfortable. In public, we were a perfect couple, playing the part of a harmonious melody. But behind closed doors, we were nothing.

I stood up, walked to the two palace masters, and gave them a slight bow, "Please follow me, my two benefactors..."

They both looked flattered, and Mu Zihan almost couldn't stand up after hearing my words. Jin Wulei pulled him to his feet, clasped his hands in thanks to me, and followed him out of the main hall.

Walking towards the west courtyard, and seeing that no one was around, Jin Wulei and Mu Zihan hurriedly said, "Greetings, Master."

"There aren't that many rules here, it wouldn't be good if others saw it."

"Master, what's your opinion on this matter?" Jin Wulei asked softly.

I stopped in my tracks. "I'd like to ask you what you think."

Mu Zihan hurriedly said, "Putting aside the repeated provocations from the Mo Shang Sect over the past few years, we should also contribute to the national vendetta."

"And you?" I asked Jin Wulei.

“Junior Brother Mu’s words make sense, but bullying the weak is unethical.”

"The martial arts world has never been involved in politics. The Nalan family and the government have always gone their separate ways. Now that they are colluding with each other, I'm afraid people will say it's unethical. In the conflict between the two countries, both sides want to weaken the other's strength... Let's wait and see..." I said with a slight frown.

"yes……"

Chapter Thirty-Three: Seeking a Child

After settling the two people in, I walked out of the west courtyard and saw Lu Li standing in front of the study, giving instructions to the steward.

I walked over, glanced at him, and said, "Master..."

He waved for the butler to leave, then just looked at me without saying a word.

I couldn't help but laugh. "The gentle and refined Prince Ning is always the same in front of outsiders. No wonder I never realized before. I've finally discovered that you're also an actor. Sigh... actors are heartless."

He gave me a sheepish look and pursed his lips. "You came all the way from the west courtyard just to tell me this?"

"No, no—" I waved my hand and smoothed the stray hairs from my temples. "I was just asking if you two would like to host a banquet."

“Of course.” He turned and walked toward the study, and I followed him inside.

He walked to his desk, wrote something, and after a while, put it in a letter and handed it over. "I'm afraid I can't deliver this letter to the Emperor in person."

"Why?" I asked, taking it from him.

"I'm going to Yangzhou with the two palace masters tomorrow. It seems that Fourth Brother's battle will start soon, and it's time to get started on the task we mentioned before."

I was taken aback. A little uneasy. "Where to..."

"Nalan Manor." The reply was crisp and clear.

A surge of heat rose in my chest. I coughed in alarm. He calmly handed me tea. "Look how anxious you are. It's not like you're going to the battlefield like Fourth Brother. These two palace masters don't seem to be in charge of anything important. I have to meet that manor lord myself."

I asked cautiously, "Could you please take me there?"

"That's strange. Why are you so proactive this time?" He smiled faintly. "Lan Ruo has just entered the manor. The Empress Dowager is really worrying me. The affairs of the manor still depend on you to manage. This time is different from usual. I'm not sure what to expect either."

"Understood. I will stay home and guard the palace for you."

As I turned to leave, I suddenly stopped, my fourth sister-in-law's words echoing in my ears once again.

"A legitimate son is the only way you can have the strongest backing in the mansion. With a legitimate son, no one can touch this position."

The eldest son, the eldest son, just those two words make my heart ache...

I had so easily overlooked this: a royal concubine who fails to give birth to a legitimate son within three years is considered to have committed a moral transgression. Even with the strongest backing, I would still be forced to step down from this position in a sorry state. I had intended to remain uncontested, secure my position, and support the Rong family, hoping only to offer my aunt and the Rong family some solace. But I never imagined that if I were to truly become a pillar of the Rong family in the future, I would need to… give birth to a legitimate son now. I counted on my fingers; I still have two and a half years. If only I could conceive Lu Li's child within that time.

So I took a deep breath, calmly turned around to look at Lu Li, who was sitting at his desk, engrossed in his work, and asked softly, "Master... are you still at Sister Qin's tonight?"

Lu Li put down his book, looked up in confusion, seemingly unable to understand why I asked that question.

I chuckled. "Can't you leave one night for your humble concubine, sir?"

Lu Li remained expressionless, his eyes somewhat stiff.

I turned my head and looked out the window. "Give this lowly concubine a legitimate son... I don't ask for much, just this one. I will never bother you again."

Silence remained, a stillness so profound it was almost deathly quiet.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the study door, and Qin Lanruo stepped in carrying fragrant tea. She was only slightly surprised to see me.

Before she could even greet me, I turned pale and fled out the door.

The dinner that followed tasted bland to me. I didn't hear what Qin Lanruo and Lu Li were saying at the table; I just felt that the meal was incredibly long, so long that no matter how much I ate, the rice in my bowl seemed endless.

After clearing the table, I led Lu Zhen to his room to check his homework, told him a few stories from Zuo Zhuan, and then, feeling that it was getting late, I leisurely returned to the main room. I lifted the curtain and went into the inner room, and was startled to see Lu Li sitting to the side looking at the book I had flipped through a few times during the day.

"Why are you here, sir?" I blurted out.

Lu Li looked up at me and said casually, "Look at what you're saying. Didn't I say during the day that I'd be here with you tonight?"

I was speechless. I thought it was hopeless during the day. I never expected him to come. I had only mentioned it casually during the day because of my fourth sister-in-law's words, and I never imagined it would happen tonight.

Liu Shang served me as I bathed. When I returned to my inner chamber, Lu Li had already taken off his outer clothes and was leaning against the bed in only a thin undergarment, holding my so-called "leisure book" in his hand. He seemed quite interested in its contents... In fact, it was some military strategies compiled by Nangong, who always forced me to study its mysteries. I always read it as a leisure book.

Seeing me come in, Lu Li put down his book and smiled emotionlessly. “Other princesses spend their days reading the ‘Admonitions for Women’ and copying Buddhist scriptures, while mine is better off spending all day reading military treatises that even men find boring. I think it’s a waste of your talents to make you a princess. If you were on the battlefield, you might be our dynasty’s Mulan.”

"Just flipping through it superficially, not really getting into my head, just watching for the spectacle." I chuckled along, sat in front of the mirror, let my hair down, and gazed at my calm smile in the mirror, feeling a touch of weariness.

Only a single red candle cast a dim light in the room. I sat quietly on the edge of the bed, turned my head, and gazed at him silently. "Let me help Your Highness undress..."

He didn't move, letting me take off all his clothes.

He leaned closer, staring intently at me, and I could feel the heat of his breath.

His unfathomable eyes were so close, and I suddenly felt afraid that I would be drawn into that darkness, so I turned my face away.

He smiled and said, "Are you scared?"

I didn't answer, but my heart drifted far away to a place where peach blossoms bloomed in abundance and willows swayed gracefully. There stood a young man with a smile on his face, his long white robes billowing in the wind. I wondered if that young man named Xiao Xuan was now silently watching my disheveled state from the darkness not far away...

He reached out and played with my loose strands of hair. "Your heart... isn't with me."

I looked up at him abruptly. His expression remained calm and composed, but a sharp light had appeared in his deep eyes.

"You like me?" he suddenly changed the subject and asked softly.

I was suddenly startled, my heart skipped a beat, and I quickly shook my head.

He frowned. "My queen doesn't like me."

"I..." Suddenly, I felt my mouth go dry, but I couldn't say anything more.

My heart began to tremble slightly, and my eyes welled up with a thin layer of mist.

He sighed, smiled bitterly, and gently slid his fingers down my forehead. "Fine, I won't pressure you anymore."

He held his breath gently, his pale fingers trembling as he gripped mine, his voice weak and feeble, "...What you want, I will give you..."

He held me close, paused slightly, then slowly lowered his head and kissed me... clumsily, his kiss landing on my lips.

I closed my eyes, raised my head, and tears quickly streamed down my face.

He seemed to sense my trembling and didn't let go immediately. He just raised his head, as if he wanted to say, "I'm sorry," but he didn't because I raised my head and continued kissing him.

My kiss was so desperate; deception, truth, Lanruo, the throne—everything stirred up the deepest despair in my heart.