After Wei Luo said these words, Zhao Jie finally noticed that her fingers were icy cold. He didn’t know how long she had been standing outside. Zhao Jie didn’t think any further. He turned his hand over so that he was the one holding her hand and asked, “When did you come?”


  Wei Luo tilted her head to think. “Around 8PM. I didn’t wait that long.”


  It was almost 10 PM and she said it wasn’t long! Zhao Jie’s face sunk. His cold and dark eyes looked at Jin Lu and Bai Lan. Caught off guard by the cold glare, the two servant girls trembled.

  Wei Luo knew what he was thinking and explained, “It’s not their fault. I insisted on coming here. Don’t be angry.”


  Zhao Jie rubbed both of her hands in his and they became slightly warmer. He said, “Let’s go inside the carriage to talk.”


  They didn’t realize that other people would see this gesture as very intimate.

  The soldiers, who were wearing zhao jia armor, couldn’t help gaping at this scene. These soldiers followed Zhao Jie as he did his work and were used to seeing him callously and unwaveringly slaughter people. But, they had never seen him act so considerate and gentle towards another person. Look, he had even personally warmed her hands. These were hands that had recently broken a prisoner’s neck.

  They had never heard of Zhao Jie mentioning his young princess consort, but they had heard about her from other people. They said that Prince Jing pampered his young princess consort greatly and wanted to give her the best of everything. He had even personally released water lanterns in Huai An River for her. Of course, these were just rumors. They hadn’t actually seen this with their own eyes and didn’t believe these rumors. But after seeing this sight today, their eyes were opened to the truth. Look at his tender posture. Not just precious objects, he seemed as if he would even be willing to give his life to her.

  A few of the soldiers came forward and respectfully said, “Greetings, Princess Consort Jing.”


  The solider that had been dragging the assassin also came over. He dropped the half-alive and half-dead assassin. Just as he was about to speak, Wei Luo furrowed her eyebrows and retreated.

  “Yu Zhi.” Zhao Jie said.

  That person immediately stood ramrod straight. “Your Highness.”


  Zhao Jie expressionlessly said, “Go away.”


  Under the gaze of everyone, Yu Zhi silently dragged the prisoner away.

  Zhao Jie gently patted Wei Luo’s back, then he picked her up without any warning and instructed the soldiers, “The rest of the work will be handed over to this group to handle. This prince won’t come back until tomorrow.” He looked at the departing Yu Zhi, narrowed his eyes, and said, “Also, the task of next month’s training exercises will be led by Yu Zhi. The training will be running around the capital ten times while weighted down with 150 kilograms.”


  In their hearts, the soldiers felt very sympathetic towards Yu Zhi, but they only said, “Subordinates will follow orders. Your Highness, please take care as you leave.”


  Wei Luo didn’t feel better until she got into the carriage.

  Wei Luo had been exposed to the chilly winds. As soon as she sat down in the carriage, she sneezed three times. Zhao Jie’s clothes had been stained by someone else’s blood, so he couldn’t take it off to give to her to wear. So, he wrapped her up with quilt inside the carriage and stretched his fingers out to tap her head. “Silly, Ah Luo. Next time, you’re not allowed to come to place like this.”


  Wei Luo wasn’t convinced. She blew her cheeks out and said, “Who told you not to come home? I waited for you for a long time. I was worried that something happened to you.”


  Zhao Jie brought her and the quilt into his arms and asked, “How could something happen to me?”


  Wei Luo said, “People tried to kill you on Huai An River yesterday. Who knows if there was another ambush waiting for you today?”


  Zhao Jie felt both helpless and moved after hearing her words. He lowered his head to touch her forehead and said, “Nothing will happen to me. Ah Luo, I still have to go back to see you.”


  Wei Luo nodded and honestly said, “Big brother, you should go take a bath after we return home. You stink.”


  She had already tolerated this smell for too long.

  Zhao Jie, “…”


  ——–


  After Zhao Jie finished taking a bath and walked out from the cleansing room, Wei Luo was lying down on the couch and reading an anecdotal story.

  Her two little legs were raised and her eight-treasure style skirt decorated with pearls slid down to reveal a pair of smooth white legs that resembled lotus roots. They were so snowy white that they dazzled the eyes. Jin Lu was holding a jar of wild rose ointment. First, she rubbed the ointment between her palms to warm it up, then she rubbed it on Wei Luo’s legs. The weather had recently been very dry, so Wei Luo used wild rose petals to create a skincare ointment. A little bit would be applied to her skin every night so that her skin would be smooth and soft the next day.

  Zhao Jie was wearing a forest green sleeping robe with his hair behind his shoulders. He stepped forward and took the wild rose ointment from Jin Lu hand. “I’ll do it.”


  Wei Luo heard his voice and turned her head. “Are you done washing up?”


  Zhao Jie nodded, poured a little bit of wild rose ointment into palms, rubbed his hands, and placed them on Wei Luo’s swinging legs. “En.” By now, he was very used to doing this type of thing. Or perhaps, it should be said that Wei Luo had taught him well.

  Zhao Jie’s hands were coarse. When they were placed on Wei Luo’s soft and smooth legs, she felt very itchy. “Aiya, it’s better if Jin Lu does this. There are callouses on your hands. It hurts when you do it.”


  Zhao Jie didn’t listen to her. He only said with a smile, “You’re too delicate.”


  It was one thing if he was only applying wild rose ointment, but his hand wasn’t honest. It slid upwards on her legs. Wei Luo grabbed his hand and turned her head to glare at him, “What are you doing?”


  Zhao Jie said, “Didn’t you want to play with me last night? I’m giving you the chance right now.”


  Wei Luo blinked and remembered what she said yesterday.

  Whenever they were intimate, Zhao Jie was always the one taking charge. She would just accept whatever posture he positioned her body into and pander to his wishes. Some positions made Wei Luo feel like she was going to die from embarrassment but Zhao Jie really liked them. Moreover, whether it was length of time or force exerted, it was too much for Wei Luo to endure. She complained to him many times. He would say sweet, agreeable words that left her feeling as if she was floating on clouds, but he went back to his old habits the very next time.

  If Wei Luo were allowed to take control, this would truly be a novel experience.

  Wei Luo kicked his waist. “Dry your hair first before you catch a cold.”


  Zhao Jie put the towel in her hand. “Help me dry my hair.”


  Wei Luo sat up. She wasn’t bashful as she diligently dried his hair. Then, she used a double-edge fine-toothed comb to brush it over once.

  After dinner, Zhao Jie told the servant girls to withdraw from the room. He raised his chin and smiled at Wei Luo.

  Wei Luo understood his intention. He was waiting for her to “play” him.

  Wei Luo pretended that she was calm as she rinsed her mouth and said, “Go to the inner room to wait for me.”


  Zhao Jie raised his eyebrows, “Oh, is the princess consort going to prepare something?”


  These words were too teasing.

  Wei Luo glared at him, “I’m just going to change my clothes.”


  Zhao Jie snickered.

  By the time Wei Luo came back from outside, Zhao Jie had already lied down on the bed. He was stilling properly wearing his clothes. Wei Luo had Jin Lu and Bai Lan stay outside while she walked inside towards the bed. She looked downwards at Zhao Jie.

  Zhao Jie’s phoenix eyes swept up to look at her. There was a hint of a smile on the corners of his lips.

  Wei Luo’s heart jumped for a moment. Then, she climbed onto the bed and while she was half-kneeling, she diligently untied Zhao Jie’s belt.

  Zhao Jie was currently still very calm.

  Then, Wei Luo lifted up both of his hands and tightly tied his wrists to the yellow rosewood bed.

  A hint of surprise was seen in Zhao Jie’s eyes. Soon after, he meaningfully closed them. “Ah Luo, are you sure you want to play like this?”


  Wei Luo thought that if she tied up his hands, then he wouldn’t be able to resist no matter what she did later. She raised her small face. There was a very pleased with herself smile on her face. “Why can’t I? Big brother, didn’t you say you would do whatever I wanted?”


  The young girl didn’t realize she was lighting a fire. She straddled Zhao Jie’s waist and lightly patted his cheek, “Big brother, smile for me.”


  Zhao Jie looked at her with burning eyes.

  Wei Luo didn’t care if he was smiling or not. Her fingers slowly stroked the outline of his cheeks. When she reached his thin lips, she rubbed his lips for a while before her soft, white fingers separated his lips and slipped into his mouth without any fears.

  Zhao Jie gently held her fingers with his teeth. His gaze was like a bright torch.

  Right after that, Wei Luo saw him exerting his strength and easily breaking apart the belt that she had used to tie his hands.

  Wei Luo stared at the fragmented pieces of cloth. Before she could react, she felt her vision spinning and she was pressed underneath Zhao Jie’s body.

  Wei Luo’s eyes opened wider in astonishment.

  Zhao Jie leaned over and bit down on her smooth neck. He hoarsely said, “It’s my turn to play with you.”


  ——–


  Next morning, Wei Luo felt as if her waist was going to break in half.

  The consequence of lighting a fire was that the raging inferno had reached her body and almost burned her to ashes. Zhao Jie was really too much. He had clearly said she could play as she wanted, but he still did what he pleased at the end! Wei Luo rubbed her waist and rolled farther away inside the bed. She wanted to be far away from this starving wolf. She would never trust his words again.

  As a result, when Zhao Jie opened his eyes, he saw a young girl hiding from him and her eyes were gleaming with tears. Her dudou was loosely hanging on her body and her neck and shoulders were full of blemishes. A glance would show that she had been fiercely tormented. Zhao Jie’s eyes deepened. His hand stretched out to bring Wei Luo closer, then he pressed her beneath him and fiercely tormented her once again.

  Wei Luo wouldn’t say a single word to him even after he came back from practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

  He waited until after Wei Luo finished her bath and was sitting in front of the bronze mirror having her hair brushed. He took the comb from Jin Lu’s hand and continued brushing her hair. He didn’t forget to lower his voice as he asked, “Did you have fun playing?”


  Wei Luo threw a hairpin with golden wires twisted to form a grasshopper sitting on a blade of grass down onto the dressing table. Then, she turned around, glared at him, and said, “Big fat liar!”


  Zhao Jie smiled, “How did I lie to you?”


  “You clearly said…” Wei Luo was utterly flustered and exasperated. Right after she stood up, her waist and legs felt weak, so she ended up falling down to sit again. Since she had lost her imposing manner and there were so many servant girls watching them, it wouldn’t be good for her to mention their agreement. Wei Luo’s eyes turned red. A long time later, she finally squeezed out the words, “Go sleep in the study tonight.”


  This was a big deal. Zhao Jie finally realized the seriousness of the situation. He sent Jin Lu, Bai Lan, Yun Gua, and Yu Suo away from the room, then he carried Wei Luo onto his lap, rubbed her waist, and tried coaxing her.

  Fifteen minutes later, Wei Luo’s residual anger hadn’t disappeared. She stretched her hand out and scratched his neck. “This is completely your fault. I was planning on going out today. How can I go out like this?” She didn’t even have the strength to stand up.

  Zhao Jie took hold of her hand and held her fingertips in his mouth. “Where did you want to go?”


  Wei Luo said, “Yang Zhen is returning to the capital today. I promised Liuli that I would go with her to Emerald Restaurant to look.”


  Emerald Restaurant’s private rooms would have an excellent and clear viewpoint of the army when they returned to capital.

  Zhao Jie hesitantly said, “I’ll arrange for a carriage to bring you over there.”


  Wei Luo nodded her head in agreement. This was her only option.

  After Wei Luo changed her clothes and was going out, Zhao Jie was coincidentally also leaving the residence to go to Shen Ji Barracks, so they left the residence together. Zhao Jie supported Wei Luo’s waist the entire way there. Only a fool wouldn’t be able to tell what had happened. His action annoyed Wei Luo to death. She kept pushing his hand away. His action revealed what she wanted to hide! Unfortunately, Zhao Jie was thick-skinned and her resistance was futile.

  Only one morning has passed before most of their servants knew that the prince had fiercely loved the princess consort last night.

  When Wei Luo arrived at a private room in Emerald Restaurant, Zhao Liuli had already been waiting for a long time.

  Zhao Liuli was currently leaning out the window to look. The army hadn’t passed the capital’s moat yet, but she was already impatient enough that her neck was extended pass the window frame.

  Wei Luo asked, “How did you get Her Majesty to allow you to come outside?”


  Zhao Liuli said matter-of-factly, “Imperial father has been pestering imperial mother every day and she hasn’t been able to get away, so she hasn’t been watching over me as much.”


  Zhao Liuli’s words didn’t seem improbable. Wei Luo thought of how attentive and solicitous Emperor Chong Zhen had been toward Empress Chen on that day.

  About an hour later, the army that had put down a revolt slowly came through the capital’s gate and the common people enthusiastically welcomed them. Multitude of people came out from everywhere to celebrate. This time, the army had put down the armed rebellion and saved Guang Dong’s common people. Since ancient times, it was always easy to feel respectful towards heroes. The common people were lined up in the streets to welcome the army.

  Wei Luo and Zhao Liulie saw Yang Zhen sitting on a horse from a distance.

  He had obtained first class merit by capturing the rebel army’s leader alive and had advanced from an insignificant garrison guard to a second-ranked commander. Only a few months had past, but it seemed as if he had changed his face. He had become thinner and his skin had darkened, but he also looked more mature and radiated a heroic aura with his imposing appearance. Yang Zhen was wearing silver-white body armor and a helmet and riding on a Qinghai horse.

  (Note: Qinghai is one of China’s northwest provinces.)

  Zhao Liuli clutched Wei Luo’s hand and her eyes didn’t even know how to move anymore. “Ah Luo, I… I saw older brother Yang Zhen.”


  Wei Luo felt that the situation was very humorous, glanced her, and said, “Don’t cry.”


  To be honest, Zhao Liuli actually did want to cry a little bit.

  As Yang Zhen rode past the window, he felt something and raised his head up to look. His eyes met Zhao Liuli’s eyes.

  Suddenly startled, Yang Zhen even forgot how to ride a horse. He stopped in place.

  The two of them looked at each other. She looked at him and he looked at her. Only three months had passed, but it felt as if they hadn’t seen each other in three years.

  Finally, someone from behind urged, “Sir Yang, why did you stop?”


  Yang Zhen returned to his senses. He took a long look upstairs, then he urged the horse forward.

  When the army had walked far away, Zhao Liuli pulled Wei Luo’s hand to go outside. “They’re going back to the barracks. Let’s go there too.”


  Wei Luo was really pitiful. Her waist and legs felt sore, but she still had to scoot about with Liuli.

  A carriage was parked behind Emerald Restaurant. It was the carriage that Zhao Jie had arranged for Wei Luo. The two of them took the carriage to the barracks. Because they were dressed too conspicuously and the barracks were full of rough men, it wouldn’t be good for them to enter. So, they could only wait at the entrance.

  An hour later, Yang Zhen and the other military officers came out of the barracks.

  It wouldn’t be good for Zhao Liuli to show her face, so she could only sneakily lift up a corner of the curtain. She wanted to wait until everyone else had left and give Yang Zhan a surprise.

  By chance, she heard their conversation.

  One of the people fawningly said, “We captured many prisoners while putting down the revolt. It’s all thanks to Sir Yang’s effort.”


  She hadn’t seen Yang Zhen in a while, but he didn’t change much and still had a reticent temperament. It was only that the bloody nature of battle had sharpened his tenaciousness. He only said, “Without everyone working together, I wouldn’t have been victorious by myself.”


  The over-the-top bootlicker wasn’t discouraged. He had had probably seen stubborn people like Yang Zhen. “Some of the captured prisoners are first-rate beauties from Guang Dong. Sir, you stayed in the south for a few months. You probably experienced the delicate and exquisite women there. These prisoners are the highest quality. They’re voluptuous beauties with snowy white skin. Sir, if you like, this subordinate can send them over for you to taste.”


  Men, who had lived in the barracks for a long time, spoke about vulgar topics without any scruples or hesitation.

  Inside the carriage, Zhao Liuli’s smile gradually dimmed.

  Yang Zhen said, “No need. I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be leaving for now.”


  But, that military officer wouldn’t let him go. He blocked Yang Zhen’s path. “Sir Yang, wait. At least look at them first…”


  As it turned out, soldiers had already brought two of the captives over. They were two plainly dressed young women. It seemed like this had already been prepared in advance. Although the two young women were dressed simply, their clothes were very clean and their hair was combed into two glossy braids. Their appearances were pretty good and they seemed to only be fourteen to fifteen years old with inexperienced appearances. They had probably suffered a lot of torment on the way to the capital. When they saw Yang Zhen, they were somewhat afraid and obediently called out, “Sir Yang…”


  That military officer thought Yang Zhen was bored of pampered seductress and would definitely be interested in these two timid, young women. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhen furrowed his eyebrows and said, “Sir Zhou…”


  Before he could finish speaking, a carriage curtain was suddenly lifted up from the carriage across from them. A small, beautifully adorned face was revealed. Zhao Liuli angrily said to the driver, “Return to the palace!”


  Yang Zhen turned his head to follow the sound of the voice and was shocked stiff at the sight of the exquisite girl. For a moment, he thought he was seeing a mirage.

  Previously, the domed umbrella-like roof carriage had stopped at the barracks’ entrance with its curtain hanging down. Yang Zhen and the others had thought the carriage belonged to one of the other officer’s family. But when the curtain was lifted up, it had been the person he had been missing day and night.

  He didn’t recover from his shock until the carriage had turned around and traveled far away. He hurriedly jumped onto a nearby fine horse and urged it forward.