EBE Chapter 68 Reckless
Chapter 68 Reckless
The woman in front of me was gentle and kind, but she exuded an indescribable aura as she spoke.
Pei Yuanling stared at her, as if he could see Chu Qingyin in her younger days.
At that time, she was not yet married to him. Every day, she followed Chu Muyan around like a tomboy, riding horses and shooting arrows, carefree and unrestrained.
"If Yinyin hadn't been born a girl, with proper upbringing, she could have fought on the battlefield and become a mighty general!"
Chu Muyan's words were still ringing in his ears, but Pei Yuanling did not agree with them at that time.
After all, Chu Qingyin, who called him Yuan Ling Brother in a soft voice every day, was clearly like a delicate and fragile porcelain doll.
Because of her naivety and innocence, and her inability to hide her thoughts, she was repeatedly framed in the palace.
Without his protection, they would have been eaten to the bone long ago, and how could they have any connection with that general who was not afraid of the wind and sun, rough and unrestrained, and had a good plan?
But now, looking at the person in front of him, he felt a sense of doubt for the first time.
Is the person in front of me really the same simple, innocent, and naive Yinyin from before?
"Your Majesty, look, I've already lost."
Pei Yuanling lowered his eyes and saw that all the black pieces on the chessboard had been sealed off, leaving them with no way to survive.
He smiled knowingly; she had simply forgotten her past memories and was only relying on brute force to play chess.
It is said that the heart of a chess player reflects the heart of a person. Who else could be so spoiled, unreasonable, and reckless on the chessboard but Yin Yin?
"A game of chess is but half a day of leisure in this fleeting life; there's no need to be saddened by it."
Seeing the disappointment on Chu Qingyin's face, Pei Yuanling beckoned to her, "Come to my side."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin smiled brightly, as if she had received some treasure, and immediately stood up and moved closer to his side.
"His Majesty……"
The woman in his arms spoke softly, burying her head in his chest. The unique fragrance of rose water from the hair above her head wafted over and reached his nose.
Pei Yuanling felt a surge of heat, and his hand, which was restraining the woman's waist, tightened unconsciously.
Noticing the long, slender hand and the man's tall, imposing figure, Chu Qingyin unconsciously bit her lip.
Pei Yuanling's heart felt like it was being pounded by a wild beast.
He looked down at the woman in his arms and saw that her face was flushed, her eyes were alluring, and her red lips were slightly parted. He couldn't suppress the passion in his heart and lowered his head to kiss her soft red lips.
Chu Qingyin closed her eyes, letting the man pry open her lips...
For a moment, their breaths mingled, filling the room with an alluring atmosphere.
Having been married for many years, Pei Yuanling also knew how to make her enjoy herself.
His thin lips moved slowly down her cheek, leaving faint red marks on her fair neck.
Her lotus-pink embroidered dress had been torn open at some point, and in the dim candlelight, her smooth and delicate shoulders were as white as fresh lotus roots in autumn, dazzling to the eye.
And those large, well-defined hands had somehow lifted her skirt—
"His Majesty……"
Chu Qingyin grabbed Pei Yuanling's hand, her face flushed with lingering desire: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that I haven't been feeling well these past few days..."
The passion was abruptly interrupted, and Pei Yuanling's eyes darkened.
But seeing the person in his arms trying so hard to please him, he snapped out of his daze.
He gathered her clothes that had slipped off her shoulders and pulled his beloved back into his arms, saying in a hoarse voice, "I was being presumptuous."
"It's not Your Majesty's fault. It's all because I'm not feeling well and have spoiled Your Majesty's mood."
These words made Pei Yuanling feel even more pity for her. He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead: "I have said that you do not need to be so careful in front of me."
"His Majesty……"
Chu Qingyin raised her eyes, her gaze seemingly filled with a mixture of emotion and tears.
Pei Yuanling gently stroked her head, his gaze tender: "Does it still hurt today?"
As he spoke, his hand naturally moved down to her lower abdomen, the movement gentle and just the right amount of pressure to make her feel comfortable.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I am much better..."
Even after she said that, Pei Yuanling still gently rubbed her stomach.
Seeing the man's tender actions, Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered slightly.
If only they had never had those disagreements and could have stayed the way they were before.
Unfortunately, I can't go back.
Unlike the warm and inviting Feixue Palace, Shuhua Palace was littered with shards of broken vases, smashed in a fit of anger.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Do not lose your composure and cause worry to the officials outside the palace!" the chief eunuch reassured her.
Upon hearing this, Wei Yiqiu, who had been demoted from a first-rank concubine to a second-rank concubine, stopped in her tracks as she picked up the only remaining carved porcelain vase in the hall, intending to smash it to the ground.
Thinking of her father, General Huwei, her expression darkened, and her tone carried a hint of grievance: "Father..."
"Your Majesty, do not worry. Although His Majesty has demoted you, apart from the Empress and the aloof Consort De, everyone in the palace still regards you as the most respected. Given this, are you afraid that you won't find an opportunity to avenge yourself against that Consort Qiao?"
The head eunuch's words made perfect sense, and Wei Yiqiu's emotions gradually calmed down: "You're right. That little bitch is just a mere fourth-rank concubine. It's a piece of cake for me to handle her."
As soon as she finished speaking, a palace maid announced from outside the hall, "Your Highness, Consort Ning has come to pay her respects."
What is Ning Xin'er doing here?
Are you also here to see me make a fool of myself?
Wei Yiqiu frowned, then thought for a moment, and realized that Ning Xin'er was just a lapdog clinging to her side, and wouldn't dare to do that!
Raising her hand to tuck a stray strand of black hair from her forehead, Wei Yiqiu looked at her still exquisite and beautiful face through the mirror beside her before calmly instructing, "Clean it up."
Upon hearing this, the eunuch immediately opened the door and beckoned the serving maids to file in and quickly clean up the broken pieces on the floor.
Consort Ning dared not make a sound outside, only glancing at the porcelain shards on the ground out of the corner of her eye, feeling both envious and heartbroken.
These are all top-quality official kiln porcelains. She only had a few in her palace, yet Consort Shu used them all to vent her anger.
"Consort Ning, please come in."
The summons was delivered in a gentle yet undeniably authoritative tone. Upon hearing it, Consort Ning quickly composed herself and gracefully stepped into the palace.
"Your Majesty, this concubine pays her respects to Consort Wei." Consort Ning bowed gracefully to Wei Yiqiu.
Now that she has been stripped of her title of Consort Shu, she is only a regular Consort. Since she has not received a title from His Majesty, she will be respectfully addressed as Consort Wei, following the old custom.
Upon hearing this address, Wei Yiqiu's smile faltered slightly. The resentment and humiliation she had managed to suppress surged back like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming her.
"Consort Ning, are you here to laugh at me too?"