Consultante de vie de la dynastie Song du Sud

Chapitre 42

Yu Zhou chuckled inwardly; this was tantamount to persuading him to surrender. Did he really think a few words from Yuan Yang would make him betray his country? Yuan Xingzhi, you underestimate me, Yu Zhou.

Yu Zhou snorted coldly, pointing at the cherry blossom tree: "Prime Minister Yuan, do you know how cherry blossoms bloom?"

"Please enlighten me, Brother Yu," Yuan Yang nodded and sat on the lawn, listening to Yu Zhou's words. "Cherry blossoms bloom in many different ways. Some bloom before the leaves emerge, while others bloom simultaneously with the leaves. Among them, the mountain cherry and the Oshima cherry, which bloom simultaneously, have leaves and blossoms that complement each other beautifully. The cherry blossom season is very short, lasting only 4-10 days." Yu Zhou smiled brightly, just like the cherry blossoms.

"Brother Yu really likes cherry blossoms?"

"No, I only admire the cherry blossoms' fleeting brilliance. But I lament their pitiful life. I am the same; I just hope to walk step by step, not to be like the cherry blossoms, whose brilliance lasts only a moment." Yu Zhou said slowly, stroking the bark of the cherry tree, her face gradually becoming romantic.

Yuan Yang smiled faintly, closed her eyes, knowing that everything was impossible now, and that being Yu Zhou's enemy was inevitable. Her mood, however, was much more troubled. Looking at Yu Zhou, she said, "I hope you won't regret it later."

Yu Zhou walked slowly to Yuan Yang's side and sat down, gazing at the bright moon in the sky: "I will never regret being your enemy."

Yuan Yang was shocked, staring blankly at Yu Zhou, who exuded an aura of dominance and a fighting spirit that ignited the blood. Yuan Yang's smile remained gentle; he finally understood. Fate had ordained him and Yu Zhou… He had finally let go of his hand. He touched the face he had dreamed of for three years.

"Yu Zhou! Would you choose the people or power?" Yuan Yang asked Yu Zhou, his eyes filled with deep killing intent.

Yu Zhou chuckled, looking at Yuan Yang who was also chuckling. As he stood up, he said, "Same as you."

"Is that so?" Yuan Yang's smile was desolate. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, which she wiped away forcefully. She gazed at Yu Zhou's tall, slender back...

"Why not kill him?" Zhan Ge emerged from the shadows, his light blue eyes filled with confusion as he looked at the poisoned needle still lingering in Yuan Yang's hand.

Yuan Yang threw away the poisoned needle and said, "He already discovered it," forcing a difficult smile.

Zhan Ge frowned as he looked at Yuan Yang's bitter smile and said, "Perhaps I should have killed him three years ago."

"It's too late. We have no choice but to use the second plan. General Zhan, thank you for your trouble," Yuan Yang said to Zhan Ge. "Xingzhi is still so polite."

"What about Yu Qingqing?" Zhan Ge and Yuan Yang hadn't expected such a person to exist. But Yu Zhou's younger sister's eyes revealed that this person was no ordinary individual.

"Proceed as planned. Perhaps she will remain at the heart of our scheme," Yuan Yang said confidently. Everything was in order; he was now the Prime Minister of Ricang Kingdom, and no reason could hinder this plan. He was the Young Phoenix Prince, a Young Phoenix feared by the world. Yu Zhou stumbled back to the Prime Minister's residence. Her breathing was somewhat disordered. Although she had discovered the poisoned needle in Yuan Yang's hand in time and injected it into him, she herself was also injured. She barely managed to return to the residence.

"Cough cough!" Yu Zhou's violent coughing startled everyone in the Yu family. Yu Zhou clutched her chest in pain and leaned on the table for support. But the intense coughing forced her to sit down.

"Husband, what's wrong?" Bing Ning looked at Yu Zhou, whose face was pale, and supported him. Yu Zhou took out his medicine and swallowed it. After calming down for a while, he closed his eyes to rest.

“Zhou’er, what’s wrong…” Yu Qingqian said, feeling a little sorry for her son’s pained expression.

Su Rongrong watched anxiously, at a loss, her heart aching at the blood at the corner of Yu Zhou's mouth. Grandma Ning was also at a loss, while Yu Qingqing nervously clutched her handkerchief, looking at Yu Zhou with unease. Less than fifteen minutes later, Yu Zhou opened her eyes. Seeing her family's anxious faces, she smiled slightly: "Why are you all here!"

"Husband, you're finally awake." Bingning, tears streaming down her face, threw herself into Yu Zhou's arms, sobbing. "I...I thought..." Bingning said uneasily. Yu Zhou patted Bingning's back and said, "It's an old problem, but it's better now, isn't it?"

“But I’ve never seen you bleed before, this is the first time.” Bingning handed a handkerchief to Yuzhou, who wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. After a moment of silence, he said, “I accidentally bit my tongue.”

"Is that so?" Bing Ning looked at Yu Zhou suspiciously, while Yu Zhou's eyes flickered uncertainly.

Su Rongrong understood Yu Zhou's personality; if she didn't want to talk about it, she must have her reasons. She chimed in, "Yes! I often bite my tongue too. Zhou'er, you're so careless."

[Dynasty Storm: Seduction]

"Zhou'er understands." Yu Zhou smiled coldly. But his eyes were fixed on Yu Qingqing, whose lips were tightly pursed. Her face was pale, and the emotions in her eyes were hard for Yu Zhou to understand.

Yu Zhou stood up and said, "Grandson will go back to his room first." Yu Zhou rubbed his fist, shook off Bing Ning's support, and returned to his room alone. Bing Ning followed him.

The imperial edict arrived the next day. Just as Yu Zhou had predicted, Yu Qingqing was bestowed the title of Consort Yu. However, Yu Qingqing's expression was one of astonishment, even reluctance, which puzzled Yu Zhou greatly. Wasn't this her goal? Why was she so opposed and unwilling?

"Qingqing, the concubine, is marrying into the palace alongside Princess Wuyueying. This is unprecedented in history, an unparalleled honor!" Old Madam Ning said excitedly, completely ignoring Yu Qingqing's unwilling expression.

"I don't want to get married," Yu Qingqing said resolutely, her tone filled with sorrow.

Grandma Ning's originally happy smile turned gloomy, and her dragon-headed cane trembled: "Qingqing, do you know what you're saying?"

"I don't want to marry! I don't want to go to the palace! Father, I beg you, please don't make me marry!" Yu Qingqing cried out hoarsely. She frantically grabbed Yu Qingqian's trouser leg and knelt on the cold blue bricks. Her beautiful, narrow phoenix eyes were shrouded in a misty haze.

"Qingqing, get up first," Yu Qingqian said, looking at her daughter with heartache. She tried to help Yu Qingqing up, but Yu Qingqian remained kneeling and said, "No, Father, please promise me you'll get up." Tears streamed down her face as she hoarsely cried out. Su Rongrong was astonished to find that her usually gentle daughter possessed such strength.

"Qingqing, marriages are arranged by parents and matchmakers; you have no right to decide. This matter is decided by me." Old Madam Ning said, glaring fiercely at Yu Qingqing. Qian'er locked Qingqing up until the day she entered the palace.

"Grandma, no, no!" Qingqing knelt and moved towards Old Madam Ning. She grabbed the hem of Old Madam Ning's skirt, but Old Madam Ning shook her off, and Qingqing fell to the ground. The cold blue bricks seeped into Qingqing's body, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Old Madam Ning closed her eyes helplessly and coldly left the hall.

"Qingqing, are you alright?" Bingning hurriedly helped Qingqing up. Yu Qingqing stared sharply at Bingning, causing Bingning's outstretched hand to freeze in mid-air. She took a few steps back in fear. Fear... even a chill...

"None of your business," she said, pushing Bing Ning aside and staggering to her feet. She looked at the people in the hall with a cold smile, her eyes filled with ruthless indifference as she gazed at Yu Zhou. Her eyes held an indescribable bitterness and coldness, resentment and sorrow.

Yu Zhou was shocked. Why was Yu Qingqing looking at her like that? Was it blame... or hatred, a deep hatred that seeped into her bones? The despair was terrifying.

"I hate it so much, I really hate it so much," Yu Qingqing said, each word distinct, her beautiful face shrouded in cold despair. She glanced around at her father.

Yu Qingqian was also completely shocked. Her affectionate expression reminded him of his mother back then. But did his daughter have someone she liked? Who was it?

"Qingqing, do you have someone you like?" Yu Qingqian asked. Yu Qingqing closed her eyes, filled with despair. She glanced coldly at her parents, then smiled bitterly. She silently walked towards her room, coldly looking at her father. Her father never dared to contradict her grandmother.

That evening, Yu Qingqing didn't cause any more trouble. The Yu family returned to peace. However, Yu Zhou felt a vague unease; for some reason, his eyelids kept twitching.

Yu Zhou walked to the study, picking up his brush in frustration. Looking at the white paper, he hesitated to write. His mind was filled with the image of Qing Qing's desperate eyes.

A pungent fragrance wafted over, and Yu Zhou looked up to see the study door open.

With a creak, Yu Qingqing, dressed in a transparent red gauze, her chest shimmering in the breeze, couldn't conceal her beautiful figure. Her alluring eyes exuded a captivating charm. Beneath the gossamer-thin fabric, her long, slender legs were glistening with white light. She gazed at Yu Zhou with a seductive allure, like a bewitching fox spirit, utterly captivating. This attire was even more scandalous than that of a prostitute in a brothel. Why would Qingqing wear such clothes? Yu Zhou frowned.

Yu Qingqing knew that only in this way, only in this way, could she harden her heart, bite her lip, and walk step by step towards Yu Zhou, each step exceptionally alluring. She exuded the seductive charm of a bewitching woman. Every movement was incredibly captivating. She abandoned all her reserve, all her womanly dignity; she only sought this one chance—to win the heart of her lover.

Setting aside her pride, Yu Qingqing was determined to master the skills she had secretly learned in the brothel today. The thought of her long-awaited lover right before her eyes made her heart pound, and she trembled as she gazed at Yu Zhou's stunningly beautiful face.

[Dynasty Storm: Forbidden Love]