Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 89

The tense Shangguan Ping was unaware of Tuoba Chen's earlier loss of composure: "The general inquired about the Second Prince's injuries..."

"Oh? What did she say?" A hint of secret delight flickered between his slightly upturned lips. It seemed that his mistress was still quite concerned about him.

"The general..." Shangguan Ping hesitated, looking troubled, as if he found it difficult to speak.

"What are you dawdling for! Speak up!"

"The general asked, 'Did those twenty lashes...spread out His Highness's...buttocks...'?"

The smile that had been playing on his lips froze on his face: "Continue."

Shrinking his neck, Shangguan Ping continued, "The general said, 'If his buttocks hadn't been beaten so badly that he couldn't defecate, why would I always see him with that constipated, stinky face?'"

His face was ashen, his fists clenched: "Catch!"

"Then the general began training the three armies, all together until the hour of You (5-7 PM)... After the hour of You, the general served the evening meal and went to the Prime Minister's tent..."

"She went there again?!" Tuoba Chen was both shocked and furious. He jumped out of bed, his slender fingers pointing outside the tent: "She went to Tuoba Jie's place yesterday, why is she going there again today! Is this never going to end?!"

pacing angrily back and forth in the tent, Tuoba Chen was still seething with rage. The resentment that had been building up in his heart for days burst forth: "We were both beaten with sticks, we were both injured, so why does she ignore me but care so much about Tuoba Jie! This is the second time, she went to see Tuoba Jie for the second time! This favoritism is outrageous! It's too much, she's gone too far!"

"Two grown men hiding in a tent! It's dark now, they're all in the dark, they..." With a stomp of his foot, Tuoba Chen abruptly ripped open the tent flap and strode towards Tuoba Jie's military tent, his anger blazing...

Setting down her chopsticks, Rongyue let out a soft burp, patted her belly, and sighed, "Man is made of iron, food is made of steel; you get hungry if you skip a meal. Being able to fill this belly is truly one of the greatest pleasures in the world!"

Looking closely at Rongyue, who was full and satisfied, Tuoba Jie sneered: "She's really easy to please!"

"Contentment brings happiness!" Stretching, Rongyue stood up, walked to the bedside, and looked down at Tuoba Jie, who was lying on the bed: "Prime Minister, aren't you hungry?"

Tuoba Jie snorted coldly, without uttering a word.

"Oh, I see. Your Excellency is surely afraid I'll poison you, isn't you? Tsk tsk, Your Excellency is certainly cautious! Although there's a saying, 'Better safe than sorry,' and another, 'One should always be wary of others,' Your Excellency's suspicion of me is a bit too much, isn't it? Your Excellency, I've always been upright and honest, a gentleman of integrity and openness. How could I possibly harbor such despicable thoughts? There's a saying, 'Don't judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.' Oh, of course, I'm not implying that Your Excellency is a petty person..."

"Have you said enough? If you have, get out!" Tuoba Jie's face was frosty, and he had almost reached the limit of his forbearance.

"Your willpower is really weak. You can't even handle this?" With an elegant and leisurely lift of her robe, Rongyue chuckled and sat down on the edge of Tuoba Jie's bed: "I'm sorry, Prime Minister, this general hasn't said enough yet."

"Jian Xiaosan!"

"Yes! What are your orders, Your Excellency?"

He gritted his teeth and spat out a number: "What exactly do you want to do!"

His eyes held a calm and collected expression: "It's not about what I want to do, but what you, Prime Minister, want to do? It's been three days, and I've invited you three times, yet I haven't seen a trace of you in the council tent. Is this your silent protest against me, Prime Minister?"

Tuoba Jie gave a cold laugh: "I was beaten with twenty strokes of the military rod by the General and I still can't get out of bed. How am I supposed to go to the council tent?"

Unable to get out of bed? A sharp glint flashed in Rongyue's eyes: "The Prime Minister's health is truly frail. He hasn't been able to get out of bed for so many days. Isn't this deliberately causing me great worry? The army is about to reach the Northern Frontier. Leaving aside the harsh cold of the Northern Frontier, the battlefield is rife with swords and shadows. If I were to be careless and something were to happen to the Prime Minister, wouldn't I be guilty beyond redemption? Therefore, for the Prime Minister's safety, I suggest that the Prime Minister return first to heal his wounds. After my triumphant return and the army marches back to the capital, I will apologize to the Emperor and the Prime Minister. How about that?"

What a sharp-tongued lad! Tuoba Jie pursed his lips, his phoenix eyes narrowed into slits, the glint in his eyes like a thin blade, occasionally reflecting a terrifying cold light.

"No need to trouble the general. It's just a minor injury; there's no need for such a big fuss!"

"A mere minor injury? Hmm, Your Excellency seems to be contradicting yourself?"

"I will go to the main meeting tent tomorrow! Jian Xiaosan, are you satisfied this time?"

"Very well! This is exactly what I've been waiting for, Prime Minister! It's settled then. See you tomorrow at the council tent!" A victorious smile spread across Rongyue's face as she raised her slender eyebrows, clapped her hands, and stood up. Just as she was about to turn and say goodbye, the pregnant flower spider descended from mid-air along its silken thread, stopping just inches from Rongyue's face—

"Oh my god!" The sudden appearance of the menacing creature startled Rongyue. She screamed and leaned back sharply, landing directly on Tuoba Jie's back!

With a painful groan, Tuoba Jie hissed through gritted teeth, "Jian Xiaosan! You think I can't do anything to you?!"

The warm body beneath her made Rongyue realize her current location. Cursing her bad luck, Rongyue struggled to sit up and move away, but Tuoba Jie roared again, "Where are your hands!"

His reminder made Rongyue realize that there seemed to be a very elastic lump of flesh under her palm... With a stiff face, she slowly moved her gaze to where her hand was, and she saw with shame and embarrassment that her left hand was indeed pressed on Tuoba Jie's injured spot...

As if stung by a bee, she reluctantly moved her hand away from his buttocks, but this movement caused her to lose her balance and fall from mid-air, landing back on him!

The last shred of reason in his mind snapped! Tuoba Jie roared, abruptly sitting up in bed and scooping Rong Yue from behind him into his arms! Rong Yue, caught off guard by the rapid shift, instinctively grabbed Tuoba Jie's collar. This forceful pull caused Tuoba Jie, already unsteady, to fall back onto the bed. This time, however, Rong Yue was beneath him.

"Jian Xiaosan! You believe it or not, if you provoke me, I really might chop you up!"

"Surely not? A prime minister is magnanimous; why would he make a big fuss over such a trivial matter?"

"A trivial matter?"

"I just bumped into you, what's with the fuss! Alright, move aside, I'm in a hurry to get back!"

"Just a touch? You make it sound so easy!"

"Hey, why are you being so unreasonable?! It's just that I touched your butt, is it really worth all this whining like a girl?! Do you expect me to take responsibility for this?!"

Veins bulged on his forehead: "Believe it or not, if you say another word, I'll chop you up!"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore! Fine, I've already promised not to say anymore, what more do you want? Get up, you're so heavy, you're really crushing me!"

Tuoba Jie felt a surge of anger and was unwilling to comply with Rong Yue's wishes. He deliberately lowered his body, putting all his weight on Rong Yue.

The immense pressure made Rong Yue's qi somewhat sluggish: "Hey, quick... move away..."

Seeing Rongyue's distress, Tuoba Jie finally felt a sense of balance. He deliberately placed his hand near his ear, pretending the key person hadn't heard him clearly: "What did you say? Say it again?"

"Tuoba Jie, I don't have time to... mess around with you! Get your pig body off this general right now!" Struggling to finish speaking, Rongyue pushed away the strong body on top of her and said angrily.

A wicked smile curled at the corner of his lips: "What if I say no?"

A cold glint flashed in Rongyue's almond-shaped eyes, and her index and middle fingers attacked Tuoba Jie's left side. However, due to insufficient strength, her movements were slowed down, allowing Tuoba Jie to notice and grab her mischievous hand.