Жизнь сельских жителей в городе во времена династии Сун

Глава 113

Li Tianqi wasn't about to stop. He moved to a dry spot, moistened a large area with his mouth, and smeared it on without mercy.

"How can there be so much saliva?" the drunkard cried out in his heart.

The person in his arms was being tortured to the point of barely breathing. "Even murder is no more than this, Boyuan, please spare me, it's really... disgusting."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianqi angrily retorted, "How come you don't feel disgusted eating other people's saliva—"

"I...I didn't eat." Sigh, she denied it outright, but she got caught red-handed. How would she know? Everything was hazy, she couldn't remember anything. See, being drunk makes it easy to do bad things.

...

The Chongde Hall of Daxing Palace spans nine bays and is divided into a front hall, a rear hall, and east and west side chambers. The rear hall was converted into the emperor's private quarters, while the side entrance of the front hall features a hidden L-shaped screen wall, serving as the emperor's office for handling state affairs. The interior is exquisitely beautiful, with carved dragon-lacquered pillars, beams and rafters adorned with gold dragon paintings, and a precious rosewood dragon table covered with brocade. Above the top plaque are inscribed the four large characters "Zhongzheng Renhe" (meaning "Uprightness, Justice, Benevolence, and Harmony").

The two people sitting beside the dragon table remained silent, both looking down at the memorials in their hands.

After a long while, Li Tianqi couldn't hold back any longer. He looked up and stared at Wei Zijun for a while, but when he saw that she was still looking down with her head down and her eyelashes lowered, and she looked extremely serious, his anger returned.

Because he was angry, he didn't say a word to her from beginning to end. Why was she so calm and composed?

"He's incorrigible, always flirting with everyone!" I finally couldn't help but snort.

The person intently reading the folded document slightly raised their eyelashes, then lowered them again after a moment's thought.

Seeing that she still didn't react, he was furious and slammed a folded document in front of her. "Look at this!"

Wei Zijun looked up at him, pushed aside the Western Turkic memorial she was reviewing, silently picked up the memorial he threw at her, and unfolded it to read.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her straight, moist nose glistening, and her lips pursed gently as she quickly glanced at the area behind her and said, "I don't think your instruction is appropriate."

Li Tianqi said coldly, "What's wrong with it?"

"Offering disaster relief at every turn may seem benevolent, but in reality, there should be a distinction between what should be done and what should not be done." He closed the document and pushed it back to someone.

"What should be saved? What should not be saved?" He remained expressionless.

"The true love of a ruler lies not in bestowing gifts, but in prioritizing the well-being of the people. These disaster victims whose homes have been destroyed should be given aid." He paused, then continued, "As for those disaster-stricken areas that have produced very little, they should be encouraged to cultivate the land and weave textiles. Grain can be transported to these poorly harvested regions and sold cheaply, while in exchange for other local products to sell in areas with abundant harvests. This way, disaster relief can be provided without harming the national treasury, and it can also stimulate a cycle of production. When there is plenty, buy at high prices; when there is famine, give at low prices. This is the way to enrich the people."

Li Tianqi curled his lips, "Then proceed with the instructions as you said. You handle this matter." Then, as if remembering something, he raised an eyebrow at her, "Is it done there?"

"Huh?" Wei Zijun was taken aback by the question. "Where?"

"Down there!" Li Tianqi raised his chin, gesturing towards a certain part of her body.

"Below?" Wei Zijun was even more confused.

Li Tianqi rolled his eyes at her. "Yesterday I heard that you harassed women in broad daylight and raped a respectable woman in the street, and that the fierce woman scratched your genitals."

Wei Zijun's lips twitched. It's gotten this far? "You believe it?"

"Of course I don't believe you. You're only interested in men, aren't you?" Li Tianqi turned his face away from her.

Wei Zijun glanced at him but ultimately said nothing. Should she explain? But she had been caught red-handed yesterday; who would believe her if she explained it was because she was drunk? The more she tried to explain, the worse it would get; it was better to ignore it.

“The man you injured is the son of Wu Qiao, the Vice Minister of the Secretariat. Today, Wu Qiao has already filed a complaint against you with the Ministry of Justice. This man has always been at odds with your father, and you have only added fuel to the fire. All you do is fight and seduce men. You'd better figure out how to clean up this mess.” Li Tianqi rolled his eyes at her again and called out to the door, “Serve the meal.”

Lunch was brought in one after another, with dishes of all sizes covering the entire table. Just as they were about to eat, someone rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, Princess Shangluo (Princess Shangluo was a title for princesses in the Sui and Tang dynasties, usually based on their fiefdom. Shangluo is a place name, although this princess did not exist in history) is waiting outside. She wishes to see His Highness Prince Feng and requests that Your Highness come over for a talk."

Li Tianqi lazily raised his eyes, "Seventh Sister, what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry, right at mealtime?"

"I'll go take a look." Wei Zijun got up and followed the eunuch, passing by pavilions and waterside terraces, and turning around several rocks, and then saw the figure behind the rocks.

The eunuch delivered the person and withdrew without waiting for further instructions.

Wei Zijun stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Does the princess have something to discuss with Wei Feng?"

A long sigh escaped her lips, and the person with their back turned slowly turned around. When the body turned to her, Wei Zijun was slightly surprised. Li Siyi, whose face had always been full and beautiful, was now so thin that she was practically skin and bones, looking extremely haggard and pitiful.

“Siyi went to Lucheng a few days ago and met that Miss Die’er. Everyone who knows about it knows about it. Siyi wants to ask the King of Wind why he has repeatedly rejected her in this way. Is it because Siyi is repulsive?”

Unexpectedly, she was so serious. Wei Zijun felt extremely guilty and did not know how to answer. "Princess, it is not that Wei Feng intended to deceive me. It is simply that Wei Feng is unable to marry. Wei Feng just does not want to marry."

Is it true, as rumored, that the Wind King only has a fondness for men?

Wei Zijun bit her lip. "Yes."

A single, glistening tear spilled from the corner of her eye. "Does the Wind King know that Si Yi waits at the Sunflower Gate every day, just to see the Wind King pass by, to catch a glimpse of his handsome and dashing figure? But she can only see him once, and then comes endless longing... Unable to touch him, unable to keep him. Wind King, how cruel you are..."

When emotions run deep, tears stream down one's face, covering her haggard cheeks like withered lotus leaves in the rain, swaying in the wind, a pitiful sight.

Wei Zijun felt a pang of sadness. She gently raised her eyes and said softly, "Princess, please don't cry anymore. It's all Wei Feng's fault; he's dragged you down with him..."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Siyi burst into tears and threw herself into Wei Zijun's arms. Caught off guard, Wei Zijun stumbled and quickly reached out to catch Li Siyi for balance.

Just then, a cold voice came from behind, asking, "Seventh Sister, has someone bullied you?"

Li Siyi hurriedly pulled away from Wei Zijun's embrace, her face flushed.

Wei Zijun glanced at Li Tianqi, who had followed her, gave him a slight nod, and then quickly left this place of trouble.

After Wei Zijun left, Li Tianqi asked softly, "Seventh Sister, how did the Wind King treat you?"

Li Siyi lowered her head shyly and remained silent.

"Did he bully Si Yi?"

Li Siyi gently shook her head, then gently nodded. After a while, she mustered her courage and said, "Your Majesty, please grant me a marriage with the Prince of Feng, so that I may be fulfilled."

Li Tianqi was stunned by these words, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. A betrothal? The question he had been deliberately avoiding was finally out in the open. In truth, Zijun should have had a princess long ago, shouldn't she? Yet he had deliberately allowed himself to ignore it. Why did the thought of Zijun marrying a princess cause him such heartache? So much heartache that he selfishly ignored the question. And today, his most beloved seventh sister wanted the Wind King—would he grant it to her or not?

"Siyi, there are plenty of good men out there. You know the Wind King..." Could he say he didn't like women? How could he allow others to discuss his preferences? He could only offer a perfunctory reply, "Don't think about him anymore. Third Brother will definitely find you a consort a hundred times better than the Wind King." Better than the Wind King? Would that even be possible? He was deceiving Seventh Sister, deceiving her, and deceiving himself.

He thought about it all the way, and he was in pain the whole way. Whenever he thought that Wei Zijun would eventually marry and have children, that stabbing pain would come. It was as if his throat was being tightly choked, as if a huge stone was blocking his heart, making it impossible for him to breathe.

A sense of fear began to grow within him; his most cherished Ziju might be taken away by someone else.

Upon reaching Chongde Hall, he saw several ministers from the Secretariat waiting outside. When they saw their emperor arrive, they rushed forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Tubo have launched an attack on our Dayu, with an army of 200,000 men heading straight for our Tongchang County."

"Hmm." Li Tianqi frowned slightly. "When did you receive the news?"

"Your Majesty, it was about what just happened. We received the news and rushed over immediately."

Li Tianqi glanced around. "Is the Wind King here?"

"Your Majesty, the Wind King has gone to the Ganlu Palace to see the Imperial Concubine," a guard quickly replied.

"Go and call him back." He then looked at the ministers and said, "Immediately order the troops stationed in Jiannan Road to rush to Tongchang, and discuss this matter in detail at the morning court tomorrow."

"yes."

...

Ever since she was called back, Wei Zijun had been looking down at the map on the table, thinking about the marching route, single-minded, focused and serious.

Li Tianqi remained seated in the back of the chair, fanning himself. The two remained silent; she looked at her map, and he fanned himself.

Today, Li Tianqi's mind was in turmoil. His mind was filled with alternating images of him holding Li Siyi and Zhang Shi kissing her. As he was thinking, his fan was torn in half with a tear.

He let out a long breath, clearing his mind of his chaotic thoughts, and looked at her retreating figure. This glance made his heart skip a beat.

At this moment, Wei Zijun leaned slightly forward, her slender body wrapped in a moon-white long robe. Perhaps because her inner robe was too thin, or perhaps because the robe was too light, the lines of her slender back and waist and hips were visible through the long robe, revealing a surprisingly graceful figure.

Li Tianqi felt his breath catch in his throat as he stared at the retreating figure. He tried to look away, but his eyes seemed glued to that silhouette. He struggled to calm his breathing, but couldn't. Before, he had always stood straight, never revealing his physique; he never imagined his figure could be so… captivating…

To avoid having wild thoughts while looking at that figure, she simply got up and stood next to Wei Zijun. Only by not being able to see her could she control herself from looking.

Unexpectedly, what he saw upon approaching was even more astonishing. His eyes were immediately drawn to a large expanse of snow-white skin behind Wei Zijun's ears and on her neck. Her dark hair was tied up high, revealing this pristine white skin to him, making him feel dizzy.

Gazing at that smooth skin, Li Tianqi, in a daze, unconsciously leaned closer, as if to bury his head in that snowy whiteness.

Just inches away from that face, a faint, still-warm fragrance wafted into my nose.

With his heart pounding, Li Tianqi sighed: Zijun, why do you torment me like this!

Wei Zijun felt Li Tianqi approach her and immediately turned her head, only to find herself facing his dazed face. Their eyes met, their breaths mingled, and because their faces were so close, they could no longer see each other's expressions. Only the heat of their breath evaporating between their faces made them feel even hotter.

Wei Zijun felt a pang of panic, her face burning. The handsome face before her, so hot it almost made her dizzy. To escape the awkward atmosphere, she smiled and turned to say, "Boyuan, look here..."

Perhaps it was the ambiguous blush that made her smile so alluring, as radiant as the morning sun and as enchanting as the evening glow, as if a hundred flowers were in full bloom, making everything else pale in comparison.

Li Tianqi had completely lost his mind at this point, his eyes filled only with that rosy smile that had bloomed like a hundred flowers, so he didn't hear a word of her military strategy.

Seeing no response for a long time, Wei Zijun turned her head and saw Li Tianqi staring blankly at her. She was surprised and couldn't help but call out softly, "Boyuan, Boyuan, what's wrong?"

Li Tianqi, who had already endured to his limit, could no longer hear anything, but he felt the red lips in front of him moving, exuding an indescribable allure. His heart, which had been tormented to the point of fragility, was stabbed again.

finally.

There was a loud "thump".

He actually fainted.

The Emperor's fainting was an unprecedented event, throwing the palace servants into chaos. While they frantically ran around, they couldn't help but mutter among themselves: their valiant and majestic Emperor, not only tall and strong, always walking with a brisk pace, but also highly skilled in martial arts, never even catching a cold, had suddenly fainted after spending half a day with the Wind King. Could it be that the Wind King had sabotaged him?

After much murmuring and whispering, the final conclusion was: the Wind King was the prime suspect in His Majesty's fainting spell.

"His Majesty is much better now. He will recover after a couple of days of rest and is asleep now. His Majesty's illness was caused by a prolonged surge of blood qi that lingered in the upper court and caused fainting. It may have been due to excessive stimulation. I wonder if it is related to what the Prince of Feng was talking about." Imperial Physician Lin, who came out of the Emperor's bedchamber, bowed to the waiting crowd and then looked at Wei Zijun.

"Imperial Physician Lin, I did not discuss anything with His Majesty. Perhaps His Majesty is unwell due to his tireless work on state affairs, and the unusually high temperature today has also contributed to this. Now that His Majesty is well, my colleagues and I are relieved," Wei Zijun replied, bowing.

Although everyone had doubts, they lacked evidence. Even if they heard that His Majesty had fainted in front of her, could they just arrest someone at will? Besides, it was obvious to everyone that His Majesty doted on the Wind King, and the Wind King was highly skilled in martial arts; how could anyone capture him? And with his extraordinary status, who would dare to offend him? Therefore, they could only wait for His Majesty to wake up before making a decision.

About an hour later, Qin Zhong, who was serving Li Tianqi, came out.

"Lord Qin, has His Majesty awakened?" everyone asked.

"Yes, His Majesty has instructed everyone not to remain here and to return home."

"May we see His Majesty?" The group remained silent.

"His Majesty says that all ministers may come in if they wish, but only the Prince of Feng is not permitted to see him. Prince of Feng, please leave." Qin Zhong said, turning to Wei Zijun and bowing as he saw her off.

Wei Zijun was stunned for a moment, not understanding why Li Tianqi was like this. Perhaps he was still angry with her? Everyone was also stunned. His Majesty's fainting was indeed related to the Wind King.

"Well—please convey my regards, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now." Although he didn't understand why, it was always good to be able to go back and rest.

"I'm sorry to have startled you all." Li Tianqi sat up on the dragon bed. He seemed to be in good spirits, but his cheeks were flushed, as if he had a fever.

"Your Majesty, we have failed to take good care of you." The crowd knelt on the ground.

"Get up, all of you. I'm not that delicate." Li Tianqi gestured for everyone to rise with his left hand.

"His Majesty fainted, was it sabotaged?"

Li Tianqi was stunned when he heard this. How could these people have such thoughts?

Seeing their emperor in a daze, everyone assumed that was the case, but the emperor seemed to have some unspeakable troubles.