Free Web NovelChapter 230: Chapter 230: No More, Let Go of Me
Tao Wanxin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "The Prince is drunk."
’What lover? What inseparable couple? What play did he get these fantasies from, to be forcing this role on me?’
The servants of the Princess Mansion were all watching. Though their heads were bowed, Tao Wanxin still felt a prickling discomfort from head to toe.
You can’t reason with a drunkard.
Tao Wanxin took his arm and said softly, "My lord, it’s getting late. Let’s return to the Prince Mansion and rest."
Zhao Minghong violently shook her hand off, then seized her arm in a tight grip, refusing to let go.
He said stubbornly, "No. You have to tell me the truth. Who is he? If you don’t, I won’t leave. I’ll stay right here until dawn."
A look of shame and indignation crossed Tao Wanxin’s face.
In front of all these people, Prince Yong was slandering her without a single thought for her predicament.
Mortified, she tried to wrench her hand free, but she was no match for his strength.
Seeing her dare to defy him, Zhao Minghong, who had intended to discuss things calmly, felt his own temper flare.
"You’re still trying to protect him, aren’t you? What’s so great about him? How is he better than me?"
His eyes were bloodshot. "Say something!"
The arm he was gripping felt as if it would snap. Tao Wanxin’s tone was rigid. "Is Your Highness sick? Must you insist on wrongly accusing me? Will you only be satisfied once you’ve made yourself a cuckold?"
Rage surged in Zhao Minghong’s chest, but then he saw the glint of tears in Tao Wanxin’s eyes.
He dragged Tao Wanxin away.
*
Once Princess Yong appeared, Princess Qingyun was finally able to slip away.
She walked over to Li Chengxun, and their eyes met. They could both see the exhaustion in the other’s gaze. There were surely no newlyweds busier than they were on their wedding night.
The two walked together toward the bridal chamber.
In the rear courtyard.
Under a tree behind an arched wall.
This time, Ji Qingwu was genuinely drained of all strength; she wasn’t faking it anymore.
She called for him to stop, her breath coming in shallow pants, but Emperor Wu Su turned a deaf ear.
His hand, utterly improper, slipped past the crossover collar of her robes and began to explore within, searching for his favorite spot.
Ji Qingwu had started this, but she had no power to call it to a halt.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps and conversation.
In the dark of the night, where vision was blurred, the sounds became exceptionally clear.
The two people approaching were none other than Princess Qingyun and Li Chengxun.
Just as Princess Qingyun reached the arched gateway, she stopped, having remembered something.
She asked, "When did Cousin Qingwu leave? Did you see her, Prince Consort? I wanted to see her off."
When Ji Qingwu had left the bridal chamber, she had run right into Li Chengxun, and they had even exchanged a few words.
He answered without a moment’s hesitation, "I don’t know either."
Princess Qingyun asked, puzzled, "Did you see when my Imperial Brother left?"
Li Chengxun replied, "I believe it was shortly after General Wei was drunk under the table."
Princess Qingyun pouted. "And here I thought my Imperial Brother came to celebrate with me. Who knew he just came to get drunk with his friends. I don’t know if they had their fill, but they certainly emptied the mansion’s entire wine cellar."
Princess Qingyun complained, "And Third Brother, too. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. People are supposed to tease the couple in the bridal chamber, but he’s causing a scene in the front hall."
Li Chengxun thought of the scene he had witnessed in the corridors and lowered his head with a self-deprecating smile.
’The Emperor didn’t come here to congratulate us. We just left the palace a few hours ago.’
’Later, the Emperor’s drinking contest with Wei Ting wasn’t just about military authority. It was more about how Wei Ting had brazenly proposed to Ji Qingwu in open court not long ago.’
Seeing his head bowed and his seemingly dejected air, Princess Qingyun asked, "Prince Consort, what are you thinking?"
Li Chengxun turned to her, his expression flawless. He smiled. "I was just thinking about how our wedding night has been taken up by everyone for so long. Now that we have half a night left, how should we best spend it?"
Gazing into his almond-shaped eyes, which were filled with tender affection, Princess Qingyun immediately grew bashful, her face flushing crimson.
No matter how clear-headed and rational her words, she couldn’t escape the fact that she was still an innocent young woman.
And tonight was their wedding night. Both excited and nervous, Princess Qingyun said, "Prince Consort, let’s... let’s go back now."
Just then, from beside the archway to their right, came a soft, irrepressible, and delicate-sounding gasp.
Princess Qingyun looked in that direction and asked suspiciously, "What was that sound? Who’s over there?"
Who would be so bold as to hide in the Princess Mansion? Princess Qingyun started to walk closer for a look.
Li Chengxun grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
"Princess, don’t worry. The wildcats come out to play at night. It would be terrible if you went over there and got your face scratched."
His gaze lingered meaningfully on the swaying branches of the thick, ancient tree. "I’ll have the servants deal with it tomorrow morning. The Princess shouldn’t let other matters delay our precious time together."
As Princess Qingyun gazed at his face, made even more handsome under the bright moon, she instantly forgot everything else.
"Let’s go," she said brightly. "Let’s go right now."
Once all was quiet again, Ji Qingwu felt she was about to suffocate from holding her breath for so long.
Her robes had long since been pushed aside. Spurred on by something, Emperor Wu Su had just bitten the soft flesh beneath her collar.
All she could do was bite down hard on the fabric of her collar to keep from crying out.
Looking at the head still buried in her bosom, Ji Qingwu tried to push him away, but her hands were useless. Her entire body had gone soft and limp.
A sob caught in her voice. Frightened of being heard again, her words were as faint as ripples on wind-stirred water.
"You..."
The ripples suddenly grew into waves.
As if to stop her from uttering another word of refusal, his efforts intensified.
Ji Qingwu took several deep breaths before managing to say, "...Let me go."
Emperor Wu Su looked up, displeased. His eyes were filled with silent accusation, making him look both wronged and pitiful.
Ji Qingwu felt she was the one who was drunk. The scent of wine from his breath clung to her, her cheeks were flushed a lovely pink, and her eyes were hazy and unfocused.
The night wind slipped through her open robes, brushing against her bare skin.
She clutched her robes shut. "No more. Let me go."
Emperor Wu Su nuzzled his face against her chest one more time before slowly pulling away.
Ji Qingwu quickly retied her loosened sash.
Two more people entered through the archway...
This time the footsteps were chaotic, as if one person was dragging the other.
There was no time for Ji Qingwu to recover. As soon as they entered, they headed straight for the thicket of trees.
Her heart pounding with anxiety, Ji Qingwu quickly pulled Emperor Wu Su deeper into the shadows until they were hidden in a corner against the wall.
"You..."
Emperor Wu Su had barely uttered a word before Ji Qingwu clamped a hand over his mouth.
Her eyes were fixed on the area behind him. She saw the two newcomers stop by the very tree they had just been under.
Ji Qingwu leaned close to his ear and whispered.
"It’s Prince Yong and the Princess Consort."
Her faint breath tickled Emperor Wu Su’s ear.
When she felt his body give a sudden shudder, the light in Ji Qingwu’s eyes seemed to brighten.
