Mercenary Princess - Chapter 11
"Who are you trying to fool? No connection? A man and a woman alone in the palace for half an hour, who would believe you two are nothing! What kind of person is Chu Xuyao? After all these years, I'm not blind or deaf, how could I not know? With a beautiful woman in my arms, would he let her go? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and pour the wine down this slut's throat!"
"Empress Dowager, I am a virgin! I am a virgin!!!" The moment the wine cup was brought to her lips, Rongyue mustered all her strength and roared like a lioness, the sound echoing through the Cining Palace and lingering in the sky for a long time…
Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Sixteen: Flying Needle Technique
Stepping out of the Cining Palace gates, a cool breeze swept over her, causing Rongyue to shiver involuntarily. She then realized her back was already soaked with cold sweat. Still shaken, she glanced back at the red-lacquered gate, imposing yet menacing. In a daze, Rongyue felt as if that gate were the gates of hell, and she had just narrowly escaped its clutches, almost never to emerge again…
Subconsciously touching the red mark on her shoulder, Rongyue secretly rejoiced. Thank goodness for it; otherwise, she would have truly perished today! The palace is truly terrifying, truly terrifying…
Although the Empress Dowager didn't kill her today, she still harbored some resentment and might offer her another cup of poisoned wine in the future. The Emperor wasn't much better to her, especially since she had seemingly defied him today! These two powerful figures in the Eastern Dynasty loathed and hated her, and with the Empress, the Prime Minister, and Chu Xuyao also involved, did she really have a chance of survival? Undeniably, Rongyue felt a sense of dread and hesitation: was it really worth risking her life for that familiar warmth?
The answer is, of course, no. If it were Yao-gege, she would stay without hesitation. As long as she lived, she would stay with him, even if the future was fraught with danger, even if it cost her her life, she would be willing and have no regrets. But he is not him; he is not worth her taking such a great risk for him…
That day, she returned to the Prince's residence alone, while Dongfang Yao naturally remained in the palace. She understood the Empress Dowager's reason for doing so; she feared that seeing her son's swollen, pig-like face would reinforce her negative image in his mind. It seemed she wouldn't allow Dongfang Yao to return until her face recovered! But this was for the best; it would allow Dongfang Yao to adjust to life without her, so that when she left, he wouldn't be overly saddened. Heh, how could she forget? How long could he be sad? After she left, as long as his elder brother or his mother gave him a better playmate, Dongfang Yao would probably forget her quickly! After all, he had only ever considered her a playmate…
Because she was wearing a veil, no one in the Prince's mansion noticed anything unusual about her. After quickly giving Liu Fu a few instructions, Rongyue locked herself in her room and retrieved a square pear wood box she had hidden under her bed. The moment she opened the box, a dazzling white light flashed in Rongyue's eyes, and her blood boiled in that instant!
What excites killers most, igniting their bloodlust? It's weapons—their ever-present weapons! Weapons are their other half; without them, facing an enemy is like losing half their life! In mercenary camps, every mercenary possesses their own specific killing weapon: guns, cannonballs, darts, knives, poison, whips, ropes, nunchucks… a wide variety, almost anything capable of killing can be used. And Rongyue's weapon is precisely the silver embroidery needle, about two inches in size, contained in this purple box!
"Ha! They've been married for over a month, and she's still a virgin!! Liu Rongyue, she really thinks she can take advantage of my brother's ignorance! What a fool! Is marrying my brother some kind of insult or humiliation for her?!" Looking at the message delivered by carrier pigeon, Dongfang Lie's face darkened, his hand tightening around the message. When he finally released it, the message had turned to dust, scattering in the wind.
Knowing that Rong Yue was unharmed, Chu Xuyao truly breathed a sigh of relief, but hearing Dongfang Lie's words, he felt inexplicably unhappy. However, he quickly resigned himself to the situation; everything about this woman was now completely unrelated to him, Chu Xuyao. That day she insulted and cursed him, and today, he had nearly killed her. They were now even! From now on, he was him, and she was her; their paths would diverge, and they would never cross again. Although he still felt a vague, inexplicable stirring in his heart for her, he would never provoke her again, because he would never allow himself to have the slightest weakness…
During the week Dongfang Yao was away, Rongyue secluded herself in her small courtyard, cutting off all access to servants, and rigorously trained her physical fitness. Of course, physical training was only supplementary; her main focus was on practicing needle throwing. Pinching the needle, turning sideways, bending her knees, flicking her wrist, aiming, flicking the needle—okay! The series of movements was completed in a moment, and instantly, a bird fell straight down from the tree. Bending down to pick up the bird, Rongyue examined it; there was a little blood flowing from its abdomen. Upon closer inspection, a silver embroidery needle protruded diagonally from its belly.
"Still not hot enough!" Frowning in dissatisfaction, Rongyue held her breath again and began the next round of launching.
The flying needle technique was taught to her by her mentor in her previous life—the father of her beloved brother Yao. Her master was proficient in the human body, and even the major acupoints of some common livestock and poultry. In fact, killing with needles was more like killing with acupoints. There are 409 acupoints on the human body, including 361 acupoints on 14 meridians and 48 extra meridian points. Among these, 108 acupoints will produce obvious symptoms after being struck or pressed. Of these 108 acupoints, 36 are considered "death points" by martial arts practitioners throughout history, meaning that if not treated promptly after being struck or pressed, they can be fatal. If listed in four categories—head and face, torso, back, and legs and feet—they are:
I. Head and Face Points: Baihui, Yintang, Jingming (both left and right points), Taiyang (both left and right points), Renzhong, Ermen (both left and right points), Yamen, Shenting (both left and right points), Renying;
II. Body parts: Tanzhong, Rugen, Qimen (both left and right acupoints), Shenque, Zhongji, Guanyuan, Qihai, Zhangmen, Taiyuan (both left and right acupoints), Yingchuang (both left and right acupoints), Ruzhong (both left and right acupoints), Jiuwei, Juque, Qugu;
III. Back Gate: Jianjing, Dazhui, Mingmen, Changqiang, Feishu (both left and right), Jueyinshu (both left and right), Shenshu (both left and right), Qihaishu (both left and right), Zhishi (both left and right), Haizi;
IV. Leg and Foot Gate: Zusanli (both left and right acupoints), Sanyinjiao (both left and right acupoints), Yongquan (both left and right acupoints).
Her master only had one son, Yao-gege, but unfortunately, the son didn't follow his father's wishes and disliked dealing with acupuncture points, preferring to spend his days tending to flowers and plants, which often infuriated the old master. Fortunately, there was another apprentice, Rong-yue, who shared the same tastes as her master (according to Yao-gege). Intelligent and eager to learn, she possessed a natural talent and mastered the old master's skills quickly. When her flying needle technique reached its pinnacle, she could kill without drawing blood, the needle piercing the body unseen, killing without a trace. During her practice, besides using bronze figures as targets, birds in the trees also served as excellent practice subjects. When she finally mastered her skill and descended the mountain, her flying needles would pierce the birds' heads perfectly, without missing a beat. Unlike now, where she aimed for the head but ended up hitting the abdomen!
Ten times isn't enough, try a hundred times; a hundred times isn't enough, try a thousand times; a thousand times isn't enough, try ten thousand times! If she doesn't reach the level of her past life, how will she survive in this world? The martial arts of this world are unpredictable and elusive, beyond her comprehension. Without becoming powerful enough, she'll only be at the mercy of others…
Volume One, Pear Blossom Courtyard, Melting Moon, Chapter Seventeen, Drunken Village Tower (Part One)
Night fell. As dusk settled, insects chirped and birds sang, and the royal palace was quiet and solemn at night.
She nimbly scaled the high walls of the Prince's mansion, and relying on her memory of her last trip outside, she searched and searched, and soon arrived at Jinxiu Pavilion, one of the top clothing workshops in the capital.
Having taken her measurements, ordered several sets of men's clothing, and paid a deposit of twenty taels, Rongyue lifted her robe and turned to leave Jinxiu Pavilion. Since she had made up her mind to leave the Prince's mansion, she needed to be fully prepared. Ancient times were different from modern times; the rules and regulations of the past bound women both physically and mentally. Women here were deeply influenced by the Three Obediences and Five Constant Virtues and the precepts for women, confined to their homes, obeying their fathers at home and their husbands after marriage. If they ventured into the world alone, they would inevitably be subject to pointing fingers, speculation, and gossip. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Rongyue decided to get several sets of men's clothing; after all, it was better for a woman to disguise herself as a man when traveling the world!
The imperial city at night is a stark contrast to its daytime hustle and bustle. As if washed clean of its superficiality, it exudes a quietude, a warmth, and a gentle tranquility. From the soft glow of countless lights, the faint sounds of laughter and joy seem to flow. In the dim light, scenes of paternal love and filial piety unfold. Alone, bathed in the lonely moonlight, she has nowhere to confide her sorrow. Each light represents a family, and each family holds a story unknown to outsiders. But what about her? A wandering soul from another world—where is her home? Where is her light?
She stretched out her fair, jade-like palm, letting the cool moonlight pour into it, then stream through her fingers, illuminating the wide imperial road. "Where is the way home, stranger in a foreign land?" she thought. Alone under the cold moon, Rongyue felt a pang of self-pity, then a touch of self-mockery. A way home? From the moment she was born, she had no way home. The country was not her country, the home was not her home, even the people were not her people… Perhaps, the only constant was the lonely, cold moon hanging above the willow branches.
A sudden wave of melancholy washed over her. Overwhelmed by a heavy feeling, she didn't want to return home for the time being. Instead, she strolled along the main street of the imperial city, bathed in the night, letting the cold wind carry away her gloom...
"Oh, isn't this Master Liu? Master Liu hasn't come to see me for quite some time! Could it be that Master Liu has forgotten me...?"
"Little vixen, are you jealous? Come here, let me give you a kiss ￣"
"Damn it! Master Liu is really wicked!"
...
A strong scent of osmanthus blossoms made Rongyue sneeze. She looked up in surprise, only to find herself, astonished, that she had somehow wandered into a brothel. The entire street was brightly lit, with large red lanterns hanging high. An ambiguous, hazy red glow floated in the air, mingling with the rich scent of perfume, creating a decadent and luxurious atmosphere, evoking a sense of decadent indulgence. Adding to this were the occasional sounds of men's flirtatious laughter and women's soft moans emanating from the brothels, creating an atmosphere of ambiguity and extravagance that stirred the imagination, made one's blood boil, and left one unable to resist.
"Young man, where are you rushing off to? The night is long, why not rest at Drunken Village Tower for a while and let your older sister take good care of you! Come on, hehehe..."
A soft, boneless lotus root reached out to Rongyue and, before she could even react, dragged her into the Drunken Village.
Upon seeing the arrival of guests, the girls who hadn't been serving customers in the building came over eagerly, tugging and pulling at Rongyue in a coquettish manner, finally bringing the astonished Rongyue back to her senses.
With a cold expression, Rongyue subtly distanced herself from the women who were trying to take advantage of her. She turned to leave, but then stopped. She slipped fifty taels of silver to the manager, whispered some instructions, and ignoring the manager's strange and probing gaze, Rongyue dismissed the persistent women and found a secluded table downstairs to drink alone.
A land of beauties, a tomb of heroes—this is the ancient brothel! Hidden in a corner, Rongyue, her eyes gleaming with amusement, brazenly observed the vibrant scenes unfolding inside the Drunken Village. Who says the ancients were reserved and pedantic, unable to let loose when it came to sex? Here, not a single shy or timid person could be found. Both men and women were so bold, and so… well, so unrestrained. Clothes half-undone, eyes gleaming with seductive allure, the women used every trick in the book to please their patrons; while the men mostly roamed freely over the bodies of the beauties in their arms, uttering lewd words and intoxicating sounds, causing the beauties in their arms to blush with spring and utter coquettish reproaches. No wonder brothels are one of the must-visit places for modern people who travel through time—they are truly fascinating!
Two men of extraordinary appearance walked slowly from the depths of Liuxiang Lane.
The man on the left was dashing and debonair, his tall, slender figure encased in a deep purple robe, making him appear both imposing and elegant. He held a white jade folding fan in his hand, his demeanor refined and unrestrained. Every now and then, he would curl his thin, sensual lips into a seductive smile at the women fawning over him, a wicked yet alluring gesture that sent gasps and gasps of delight through them, their hearts fluttering with desire.
The man on the right, dressed in a royal blue robe, possessed exquisitely refined features—beautiful yet not effeminate, a truly handsome young man! He seemed somewhat uneasy, nervously twisting his royal blue robe, occasionally stealing glances at the man in purple, hesitant to speak. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he tugged at the man on the left who was continuing to walk forward: "Royal brother..."
*Smack!* The fan rib struck his full forehead heavily, leaving a faint red mark on his fair skin. "It's brother, I'll remember that!"
As the man on the right called out, the man in purple robes on the left was his elder brother, Emperor Dongfang Lie of the Eastern Dynasty. And he himself was none other than the young prince of the Eastern Dynasty, Dongfang Yao.
Dongfang Yao glared at Dongfang Lie with a wronged expression, but after receiving a silent, stern warning from Dongfang Lie, she could only swallow her resentment: "Brother..."
"What's the matter?"
"Brother, those sisters look at me so scary, like they're going to eat me up... Brother, I think we should..." Under Dongfang Lie's cold gaze, Dongfang Yao shrank back and swallowed the words she was about to say.
With a cold snort, Dongfang Lie ignored him, brushed away the hand that was grabbing his robe, and continued walking forward, fanning himself. When they arrived at Zuixiang Tower, he looked up at the three large, golden characters, his strange eyes flashing a few times. He then grabbed the hesitant Dongfang Yao and threw him into the brightly lit hall.
"Pfft—" Before Rongyue could swallow the wine in her mouth, she was so startled that she spat it all out without missing a drop!
Dongfang Yao!!! The handsome young man in the hall who stumbled several times before regaining his balance, his good-looking face flushed red, was none other than Dongfang Yao!
Dongfang Yao came to visit a brothel?! That's shocking!!!