Ne vous appuyez pas contre la rambarde ouest pour profiter pleinement de l'automne clair

Chapitre 68

She blinked her starry eyes, feigning ignorance: "What do you mean by 'out'? What do you mean by 'again'?"

The words struck Rongyue like a thunderbolt, leaving her stunned. A few seconds later, Rongyue roared in fury, "You scoundrel! You tricked me! I'll fight you to the death!!"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, don't hurt yourself..." Sensing that Rongyue was about to explode, Tuoba Chen quickly reached out and gently patted her back, coaxing her with a smile: "I was just joking! I've seen plenty of beauties, and even my concubines are more beautiful than your wife! So, I'm not so obsessed with your beautiful wife..."

Her anger subsided slightly: "That's absolutely right! A man like you, with both power and talent, wouldn't women be scrambling to get into your bed? With so many women chasing after you, wouldn't you have plenty of beauties to choose from? With your looks and abilities, what kind of beauty couldn't you have? So why do you have to compete with other men for wives, causing them to be separated and suffer from lovesickness day and night? It's so true!"

With a pout and a hint of reproach, Rongyue was completely unaware that her tone and expression revealed the coquettishness of a young girl.

Staring intently at Rongyue's cheeks, which were flushed with excitement, Tuoba Chen's lips moved slowly, uttering what was on his mind: "Little San, do you have an older or younger sister?"

My younger sister... does Liu Ruxu count as one...?

She sighed softly, "I guess so..."

"Really?" Tuoba Chen's heart skipped a beat, filled with an expectation he couldn't even comprehend: "Then she..."

"Dead." This topic inevitably brought to mind various events of the Eastern Dynasty, and an inexplicable sense of desolation washed over her.

He felt a pang of self-reproach at Rongyue's dim eyes. He'd really brought up the very thing he shouldn't have! Inwardly cursing himself for his abruptness, he looked at Rongyue's sorrowful face, seemingly sharing her pain. Tuoba Chen felt a tightness in his chest, a suffocating oppression.

Ha, why think about that! The past is dead; she should start anew now! There's nothing inherently wrong in the world; it's just that fools create their own troubles! Since it's painful, why wallow in it? One must always look forward!

Composing herself, Rongyue let out a long breath, raised her head and smiled: "Your Highness, I must go see my wife. Please allow me to take my leave!"

Seeing that Rongyue's complexion had returned to normal, Tuoba Chen finally felt relieved. But when he heard that she was leaving, his expression darkened.

"Young mistress, although I agree to grant you two a happy marriage, there are conditions! After all, I never do anything that puts me at a disadvantage."

With a sullen face, Rongyue said unhappily, "Conditions? Second Prince, your words are a bit too much!"

"Fine, if you won't agree, then so be it. I'm tired of the beauties in this mansion; a change of pace wouldn't be bad..."

"What are the conditions?"

His eyebrows curled up smugly: "How about becoming my personal attendant?"

Attendant? Personal attendant? Biting her lip, Rongyue hesitated...

"That beautiful lady doesn't seem to have left yet! Perfect, saves me the trouble of running errands..."

"Okay, I promise..."

Volume Two: The Resolute Heroine's Tale, Chapter Nine: Encountering Her Father in the Imperial Court

It would take about half a day to reach Ziye, the capital of Nancha Kingdom. After nearly seven days of bumpy riding on a tall horse, Rongyue felt like all the bones in her body were about to fall apart, and she was so weak and sore that she couldn't muster any strength.

Weak and listless, Rongyue slumped against the back of the culprit who had caused her such suffering, and cried out, "Please, let me get back to the carriage..."

A wicked grin spread across his face. Tuoba Chen raised his hand and flicked the whip hard. With a loud shout of "Giddy up!", the horse immediately perked up and galloped forward!

"Oh my god!" Caught off guard, Rongyue's body lurched backward with a startled cry. She frantically grabbed at Tuoba Chen in front of her, trying to steady herself. Judging that Rongyue had regained her balance, he spurred the horse, whipped it, and increased the horse's speed to a new level! Hearing the wind whistling past her ears and watching the scenery rushing by on both sides, Rongyue felt dizzy. She clung tightly to his waist, her entire body like an octopus, afraid to move.

Rongyue's reaction pleased him, and he smiled with satisfaction. Gathering his energy in his dantian, he gave a shout to his horse, and riding through the swirling catkins and bustling streets, he whipped his horse eastward, his hooves swift and triumphant in the spring breeze!

A warm spring breeze swept over him, playfully ruffling his dark sideburns like a child's prank. Strands of hair danced in the air, their blackness fluttering gently against his flawless, jade-like face, tickling him lightly. Looking up, feeling the gentle spring breeze, Tuoba Chen couldn't help but let out a soft sigh: "Spring lingers, flowers and trees flourish. Orioles sing sweetly, and the gathering of wild herbs is abundant. Truly, spring bestows its blessings, and all things shine with glory!"

Listening to Tuoba Chen's exuberant recitation of poetry, Rongyue felt incredibly resentful and annoyed! That jerk! He prevented her from riding in the carriage and from being with her 'wife'! He dragged her onto the horse and made her suffer on the bumpy horseback for a whole week! And what about him? He seemed completely unconcerned, enjoying himself immensely!

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt; the more she looked at him, the more resentful she became. Her hand moved with her heart, her mind following her thoughts. Her soft hand slowly moved towards his waist, turning her resentment into strength. She concentrated all her strength in her thumb and forefinger, and without any mercy, pinched the elastic muscles of his waist beneath her fingertips...

He let out a painful groan. Hissing in pain, Tuoba Chen turned his head, his handsome face contorted in agony: "You little brat, what's wrong with you! It hurts like hell—"

With a cold snort, Rongyue turned her face away and let out a long sigh of resentment.

Seeing that Rongyue ignored him, he didn't want to make a fool of himself, so he turned back dejectedly and continued to spur his horse on...

"Ouch! You little brat, why are you pinching me again--" Grinning, Tuoba Chen pulled one hand away from Rongyue's mischievous little hand and looked at Rongyue with a wronged expression: "Little brat, my body is made of human flesh, not iron!"

Tuoba Chen, with a slanted eyebrow and a look of utter displeasure, declared, "Who told you not to let me onto the carriage! I'm not happy on horseback! And since I'm not happy, I won't let anyone else be!"

“Little San, as the saying goes, a real man should have the spirit of a real man! Look around, which country in this world didn’t conquer the world on horseback? It’s on horseback that true heroes are revealed! A real man should ride a horse, while carriages are for women! Do you think it’s proper for a grown man like me to be squeezed together with a woman? Think about it, isn’t that right?” He leaned back slightly, close to Rongyue’s ear, and coaxed her gently.

The warm breath gently sprayed into Rongyue's ear canal, making her feel warm and itchy, which made her feel embarrassed.

Turning her face away and escaping his presence, Rongyue's face hardened again: "I just like hanging out with women, so what!"

"The mistress..."

"It may be pathetic to hang out with women, but at least it shows that I'm a normal man! But if I ride on the same horse as a grown man, who knows what rumors or gossip might spread about me!"

His eyes flickered. With a playful laugh, Tuoba Chen leaned back further, until he was almost touching Rongyue intimately: "What rumors or gossip?"

Seeing Tuoba Chen closing in, Rongyue slapped him on the forehead: "Go back!"

Clutching his head, which had been slapped so hard, Tuoba Chen gritted his teeth: "Aren't you afraid of angering this prince?"

He scoffed, "If you think I annoy you, then don't use me as your personal attendant!"

Tuoba Chen was speechless. After a long while, he finally managed to retort, "This prince is willing! Besides, how dare you interfere in my affairs!"

"Look, look, you brought this on yourself. Who can you blame but yourself?"

"snort!"

"cut!"

...