Chapter 13

Sweet Rain Courtyard.

The misty water vapor rose, carrying a sweet floral fragrance that curled around her hair. The perfectly comfortable water temperature made Yu Yunji close her eyes contentedly.

These past few days she had been on edge, each day busier than the last. Interacting with these characters was like having her head tied to her waistband – she didn’t dare take a single breath.

Now, soaking in this warm pool of hot spring water, she felt like she had returned to her initial state.

The Princess Han truly deserved her reputation as the number one pleasure-seeker in the world. She understood best how to enjoy life.

At this moment, Yu Yunji just wanted to empty her mind. She didn’t notice at all that someone had appeared behind her at some point.

A fair hand slowly curled around the ends of her hair, gently applying fragrant oil to it.

Yu Yunji only sensed an additional faint fresh scent, different from Gu Qi’s cool fragrance. It was a slightly sweet aroma mixed with something else.

She opened her sleepy eyes and looked behind her. The sight startled her fully awake: “Who are you?!” Before her was a young man adorned with various accessories, like a carefully wrapped gift. His eyes were full of confusion.

She was naked in the water. Fortunately, although the hot spring was crystal clear, the rising mist prevented too much exposure.

He can’t see anything, Yu Yunji thought.

“I am… the one brother sent to serve you, wife-master,” the young man before her said haltingly in broken Central Plains speech.

Brother… the image of Gu Qi’s viper-like beautiful face floated through Yu Yunji’s mind.

In an instant, a chill ran down her back. Even the hot spring water no longer felt comfortable.

“I don’t need anyone to serve me,” Yu Yunji said. Seeing him staring blankly, she was afraid of frightening him, so she softened her tone, “You may go. Return to your courtyard to rest. Don’t come looking for me without my orders.”

The Silla youth tilted his head: “Is it because I’m not doing well enough? I… can learn. I’ll learn for wife-master. Please don’t reject me.” Though he hadn’t been in the Central Plains long, he knew that if a male couldn’t please his wife-master here, he would be scolded and go hungry.

Not seeing the wife-master meant no food to eat – this much he understood.

Yu Yunji didn’t know what the person before her was thinking. She only knew that her eyes were currently being… assaulted.

It was springtime, and the Silla youth wore only a thin gauze robe.

Now there was a patch of dampness on the gauze robe – she had accidentally splashed it earlier in her surprise. It clung tightly to his thin abdominal muscles.

This thing clearly couldn’t hide anything!

Adhering to the principle of not looking at improper sights, Yu Yunji turned her head away: “I’m not rejecting you. You go back first, I’ll speak with you again later.”

The Silla youth nodded, seeming to half-understand: “Then, Yi Ruo will await wife-master.” With that, he finally left with the servant beside him, the various ornaments on his waist and legs jingling.

Yu Yunji let out a long breath. Ignoring her pounding heart, she immediately dried off and put on her sleeping robe.

At the Half Moon Hall, Gu Qi was drinking tea in a rather good mood.

“Gu Qi,” Yu Yunji pushed open the door. Seeing his demeanor, she took a deep breath, “What exactly are you trying to do? You’re being too presumptuous.” She tried to channel the original owner’s aura, wanting to intimidate him.

But she had forgotten that the person before her was no ordinary man, but a complete madman.

“Oh?” Gu Qi said lazily, “But wife-master, you gave the order to keep these people. As your prince consort, of course I should arrange for them to serve you. I don’t see what’s inappropriate?”

Yu Yunji frowned slightly: “Such eloquence. You clearly know…”

“Wife-master’s words truly make one feel wronged,” Gu Qi raised his eyebrows, smiling lightly, “What do I know? That you’re not Princess Han, but some wandering spirit from who knows where?”

The words “wife-master” from his mouth carried a strange, mocking tone. But his words sent a chill down one’s spine.

Seeing her expression darken slightly, Gu Qi burst out laughing.

“Ah, so even Princess Han can get angry? I thought you were a Bodhisattva…”

Yu Yunji’s palms grew slightly damp with sweat: “Gu Qi, I’ve reminded you more than once to mind your status. Do you really think there’s no one watching here?”

Though they were clearly confronting each other, the distance between them was a bit too close. Gu Qi could smell the faint fragrance on her body.

It was a floral scent he had never smelled before, mixed with a faint soap scent – clean, pure and crisp.

Gu Qi followed her gaze. Sure enough, there was a faint black shadow on the window lattice outside the door. If Yu Yunji hadn’t pointed it out, he truly wouldn’t have noticed.

“What does that have to do with me,” Gu Qi sneered, “The upright need not fear a crooked shadow. Yu Yunji, are you feeling guilty…”

Before he could finish speaking, her palm covered his lips.

“Don’t make a sound,” Yu Yunji leaned close to his ear, her warm breath enveloping him, “Do you know who’s outside?”

A woman’s body temperature was much higher than a man’s. He had suffered from a cold constitution since childhood. Now with her warm palm against him, mixed with that alluring fresh scent, Gu Qi’s breathing quickened for a moment, forgetting to struggle.

Yu Yunji was extremely beautiful.

Those peach blossom eyes were especially enchanting. Now looking at him seriously, they carried a different meaning.

Though she had just had her identity exposed, in such an urgent situation, no trace of panic could be seen on her face. Her dark eyes carried a calming quality.

But Gu Qi could not stay calm.

A sudden indescribable stabbing pain came from his lower body, immediately eliciting a muffled groan from him. His phoenix eyes welled up with a thin film of tears.

Damn it. Even in this situation, Yu Yunji still had such an unrestrained appearance, deliberately choosing this moment to torment him. Yet he couldn’t say anything.

This chastity lock was clearly a torture device. Yu Yunji appeared proper in front of him, but was actually full of mischief.

Men were most susceptible to teasing. She was clearly doing it on purpose.

The person outside the door couldn’t hear any movement inside. They seemed to come closer, the black shadow growing darker.

Seeing his reddened eyes, Yu Yunji thought she had frightened him. She said softly: “It’s alright. I guess it’s Mother Emperor’s people. Keep quiet, don’t let Mother Emperor know we’re putting on an act. Otherwise, you may not be able to marry Imperial Elder Sister.”

The discomfort below could no longer be endured. Gu Qi bit down hard on her palm. Taking advantage of Yu Yunji’s loosened grip, he exhaled a hot breath mixed with a pained groan.

Yu Yunji was slightly surprised: “Are you feeling unwell?”

Knowingly asking.

“…I’m fine.” Gu Qi said through gritted teeth.

She knew this wasn’t the time for idle chatter. The old Emperor was concerned about her, and had even sent people to watch her. After repeatedly emphasizing her desire for an imperial grandson recently, this surveillance was undoubtedly to see if their marital life was harmonious.

The old Emperor’s worries were not unfounded. Gu Qi’s temperament was truly concerning.

To get out of this predicament, they had no choice but to do this. Yu Yunji came up with a plan. Taking a deep breath, she thought this was truly an unavoidable measure, they could only deal with it like this for now.

“Relax a bit…”

The hot breath whispered by his ear. Gu Qi met her eyes.

The corners of his eyes had reddened, steamed by the hot air. Like a flower blooming to the extreme, just a light pinch would cause it to burst with nectar.

Before Gu Qi could react, she pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

Gu Qi’s eyes immediately widened: “Ah…”

Men were originally delicate and soft. Moreover, he was currently tormented, his whole body burning unbearably. Like a traveler longing for sweet rain after walking thousands of miles. Yet Yu Yunji deliberately tormented him, focusing her strength on his waist.

In that instant, a buzzing filled his mind. It was like suddenly ascending a high tower, like soaring through the clouds. Gu Qi completely lost his defenses.

Hearing this sound from inside, the figure standing outside paused, then immediately disappeared.

Crisis averted. Yu Yunji finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Gu Qi sitting there.

He was now leaning weakly against the jade table behind him, his face flushed as he looked to the side.

Yu Yunji was about to express concern when her gaze unconsciously moved downward. She saw a damp patch on his thin shirt.

Her mind immediately went blank as she stared at the person before her in shock: “I didn’t mean to…” At that moment she understood everything, but was afraid of making things worse. For a time she didn’t dare to speak rashly.

Yu Yunji tried to calm down. Though she didn’t know what she had done wrong just now, in this situation it really seemed like she had taken advantage of him. No matter what, she still had to play matchmaker and call Gu Qi brother-in-law in the future.

He said in a hoarse voice: “Yu Yunji, you’re the worst.”

—

Yu Yunji didn’t know how she had escaped. She only knew that she was like a scoundrel who ran away after pulling up her pants.

In her two lifetimes of experience, she had never encountered this kind of situation before. Today’s events truly left her unable to recover.

So, the two naturally slept in separate rooms.

Yu Yunji stared blankly at the canopy, her mind truly in chaos, unable to focus for a moment.

If it weren’t for the soft body carefully snuggling up beside her.

Frightened from earlier, Yu Yunji sat up straight, looking vigilantly at the person beside her: “Why did you come?”

The young man on the bed looked at her with a wronged expression, blinking his eyes. He was like a little dog who didn’t know what he had done wrong but was scolded by his owner.

“Wife-master said she would talk to me later,” Yi Ruo said softly.

Yu Yunji had completely forgotten about this. Moreover, her words earlier were just to brush off this little male pet. She didn’t expect him to actually follow her here.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

Yi Ruo quietly looked at her, waiting for her response.

“What I meant was, be good and don’t cause any trouble. Just quietly be a part of this household. That would be very good. Can you understand?” Yu Yunji looked seriously at the little dog… no, at Yi Ruo.

But Yi Ruo’s eyes were too pure. Yu Yunji sighed to herself.

What could he understand?

“But wife-master forgot about Yi Ruo. Yi Ruo will go hungry,” he frowned.

“How could that be,” Yu Yunji said with amusement, “Such a large prince’s mansion couldn’t possibly neglect your food and drink. It’s late, go rest quickly.”

He nodded and got off the bed quietly.

After his interruption, Yu Yunji’s mind was much calmer.

But tonight was destined for someone to be unable to calm their heart.

Gu Qi’s sleep was not peaceful. He bit the corner of the quilt, a thin layer of cold sweat on his forehead. He was curled up like a shrimp, as if enduring some torture.

A spring thunder boomed loudly. The person on the bed scrambled up in fright, his black hair like a waterfall mixed with moonlight spilled over his body.

Recalling the amorous dream just now, the hoarse voices by his ear and his own entanglement, Gu Qi viciously bit down on his own forearm.

The next day, at Jade Hall Palace.

“Mi’er, I heard that your prince consort is quite domineering. He actually wanted to beat your male concubines to death.” As soon as Yu Yunji entered the hall, the old Emperor approached with a serious expression, looking her up and down.

It was clear that Gu Qi’s danger level in her heart was extremely high. She was afraid her daughter would have some problem at the hands of this prince consort.

“Mother Emperor, I naturally wouldn’t allow it. Though Jiao Lang’s conduct is improper, he is obedient and docile. I quite like him.”

Having her identity exposed by Gu Qi, Yu Yunji was especially cautious in her speech now.

The old Emperor reproached: “When you initially said you wanted to marry him, I disagreed. The position of primary husband was originally meant for the second son of the Gu family. That old fox Gu Shu’cheng actually got to you first.”

“As long as Mi’er likes him, no matter what Mother Emperor says, I can’t go against your wishes. Keep the male concubine in the back courtyard. However, if the prince consort’s conduct is improper, we can’t just let it go.”

Yu Yunji felt a bad premonition rise in her heart. She looked at the old Emperor.

“When a son doesn’t behave, we can just lock him up for a few days and he’ll never dare defy his wife-master again,” the old Emperor said. “Mi’er, didn’t you used to keep your husbands in line? How come when it comes to this little spirit Gu Qi, you can’t bring yourself to do it?”

Yu Yunji explained with a pained expression: “Mother Emperor, I didn’t…”

“Boys just can’t be spoiled too much. If you’re unwilling to lock him up for a few days, I’m afraid that little boy will start walking all over you.”

She had said it – even if the original owner was arrogant and domineering, her mother was still the reigning Emperor after all. If she hadn’t indulged her, how could she have become like this?

Now she understood. Not only did the old Emperor not prohibit imprisonment, she actually advocated for it.

Before she could respond, the old Emperor continued: “You’re not young anymore. You should learn to handle political affairs. Otherwise, how can Mother Emperor feel at ease handing state affairs over to you?”

“Do you remember the grandson of the Imperial Tutor, Xi Hui?” The current Emperor truly seemed like a kind mother, chattering on, “He is virtuous, of noble character, and has profound knowledge. He would be most suitable to assist you. You also have childhood friendship with him.”

If Gu Qi was the first most dangerous character in the book, Xi Hui was the second.

At the mention of Xi Hui, Yu Yunji was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“Mother Emperor, there’s really no need to trouble the Imperial Tutor so,” she said with a forced smile after a moment of shock.

The old Emperor said with amusement: “You can’t say that. The two of you can be considered childhood sweethearts.”

She had even verbally agreed on a marriage contract with the old Imperial Tutor. However, now that the position of primary husband had been given to the Gu family’s son, this matter was dropped.

The old Emperor didn’t mention this, only saying: “It’s settled then.”

Yu Yunji was just thinking about how to maneuver out of this when she heard the eunuch announce loudly from outside the hall.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Imperial Tutor Xi has arrived.”