02. Spouse

Liu Bingyi was flustered and hurriedly knelt on the bed, bowing and pleading, "Good sister, I beg you, please do not speak of this!"

There is a beautiful person, graceful as a gentle breeze

Mother! Mother! Mrs. Xu helped her daughter by scooping water for a bath. She sat in the tub, playing with the water while sweetly coaxing, "Please don't let Liu Bingyi stay at our house, okay?"

Encounter and meet, together with you in harmony

Liu Bingyi groaned and turned over, holding his head, "I have no intention of scaring you, it's just... just... my bed is wet, I can't sleep..."

Your Majesty—Your Majesty—" Her face was pale as snow, and in her panic, she hastily removed her hairpin and earrings, letting her long black hair cascade down like a waterfall. She knelt beneath the bed, repeatedly bowing her head, her voice filled with sorrow, "Your Majesty—you cannot treat me this way, I am innocent..."

He pressed his lips tightly together, his heart racing like thunder, yet he dared not let her know even the slightest bit. After a long while, he finally uttered a single word: "Okay"

Pain

She finally closed her eyes, her lips slightly curled upwards, carrying a hint of sweet smile, mumbling indistinctly in her throat: "Call the mouse... bite... you..."

Xu Pingjun was momentarily taken aback, but quickly understood, placing her hands on her hips and laughing heartily, "How embarrassing! How embarrassing! At this age, still wetting the bed..."

What is this for? It turns out it's not a game, but a fight! Ouch... Just as the words left my mouth, a sharp pain shot through my ear, as Jin Shang twisted my ear and pulled me aside. "What are you doing, what are you doing... it hurts, Second Brother..."

Liu Bingyi, upon seeing the situation, was overjoyed and hurriedly slipped into the quilt. Pingjun then offered him half of her soft pillow, and the two children nestled together, their heads touching, in a very affectionate manner. Pingjun nudged Bingyi and said, "Go ahead and speak."

Suddenly, this poem surfaced in his mind. He gasped with disordered breaths, gripping Zhou Yang's shoulders tightly, his nails digging into her soft, delicate skin, causing her to emit a painful moan.

Wiping the droplets of water off her daughter, she wrapped her in a blanket and lifted her out of the bathtub. Xu Pingjun leaned on her mother's shoulder, close to her ear, and whispered softly: "Mother, actually... he gave me that long, beautiful green feather as compensation for my little bowl, but... I still don't like him"

Xu Pingjun, who had been crying and fussing, suddenly fell silent. Liu Bingyi covered his hands and began to feel a bit scared. "Hey, hey... why is there no sound?"

Xu Pingjun pouted, enumerating Liu Bingyi's various offenses: "I do not like playing with him. Today, he broke my ceramic bowl while riding a horse, pulled Ah Huang's tail, went to the backyard chicken coop to collect eggs, and plucked the feathers from the rooster's tail..."

Liu Bingyi could not tolerate the teasing tone in her words, his face flushed as he stiffened his neck, "Who says I can't tell stories? The poem I just recited to you contains a grand story. Do you know who composed this 'Ode to the Yellow Crane'?" Xu Pingjun certainly did not know, so she remained silent.

Liu Bingyi occasionally wet the bed at night when sleeping with Xu Guanghan, but Xu Guanghan had never mocked him like Xu Pingjun did. Recently, as he learned etiquette from his teacher, he gradually began to understand certain matters and was no longer as naive and ignorant as before. Xu Pingjun's mockery made him experience for the first time what it meant to know shame and honor. In a moment of desperation, he reached out and grabbed her ankle, pulling her hard. Xu Pingjun didn't even have time to scream before she fell heavily onto Liu Bingyi.

In the darkness of the night, Xu Pingjun's big eyes sparkled. She was not interested in who belonged to whom, but she was very curious about the legendary women in the palace. "I heard Sister Yi say that there are many fairies living in the palace. Is the emperor's mother also a fairy"

The yellow heron flies down to the Jianzhang, its feathers rustling as it walks unsteadily, dressed in gold and adorned with chrysanthemums, softly murmuring among the lotus and water plants, entering and exiting the reeds; reflecting on my own insignificance, I feel ashamed of your noble demeanor

Shh! Shh—

Thank you, Your Majesty. Zhou Yang stood up, with faint light shining from behind her. Although her features were not clearly visible, it was certain that the woman before me possessed a delicate and graceful figure. She was not wearing a long gown, but had draped a nearly transparent white cicada-wing garment over her undergarment.

Why

How wonderful it would be if the moment could pass a little faster

Hmm

Liu Bingyi grinned widely, and Xu Pingjun's eyes widened. Having adapted somewhat to the darkness, she happened to see a set of white, sharp teeth, which immediately frightened her into tears, kicking her legs desperately. With her commotion, Liu Bingyi could no longer hold her down. He had just managed to say, "Don't shout..." when he was caught off guard and bitten on the hand by her, causing him to cry out in pain.

Madam Xu couldn't help but smile knowingly; after all, they were children, and even in their playful antics, they retained their childlike innocence. She carried her daughter upstairs, where Xu Pingjun was already feeling sleepy, her eyelids occasionally drooping. Upon reaching the bedroom, Madam Xu kissed Xu Pingjun's forehead, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket

He turned over another picture and saw a man depicted in the image using a long stick to poke at a woman, who had her legs raised high, in a position of being turned over.

Xu Pingjun is a filial daughter who originally did not intend to inform her mother about this matter. However, seeing Liu Bing's fear, she deliberately adopted a serious expression and insisted, "It is fine if you do not want to say anything, but I am in so much pain that I cannot sleep. I want you to tell me a story."

The emperor closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and firmly shut the lid of the box

Mother

Liu Bingyi hesitated for a long time and could only say: "This... this... cannot be discussed today"

He furrowed his brows, pain etched across his pale, handsome face. Why is it like this? Could it be that the so-called joy of male and female union is as terrifying as a bloodsucking leech? The mere thought of leeches intensified his feelings of disgust. Finally, when Zhou Yang, who had been lying on him, became weak and was left only gasping for breath, he forcefully pushed her away.

Xu Pingjun then moved her body slightly, curling her legs, and sullenly retorted, "Why hasn't the story started yet?"

The blanket was lifted, and a cold body squeezed into the warm bed. Xu Pingjun was pressed closely against it, her teeth chattering, unsure whether it was from the cold or fear

Shame! Shame! Again blowing!

In front of the bed stood a richly dressed woman, adorned with heavy makeup, her beauty as striking as snow. The emperor smiled faintly, sitting up calmly, "No, I am just a bit tired, I lay down for a while."

Liu Bingyi was dumbfounded, "I... I..."

"Your Majesty." After waiting for quite a while without any sign of movement from the Emperor, she recalled the instructions of the Princess, and thus mustered her courage to approach him, "Your Majesty, I... feel a bit cold."

He opened his mouth, tears streaming down his face

The emperor opened his eyes and cast a strange glance at him

"I am not speaking nonsense, what I say is true..." He became anxious, pulling at her arm, "If you don't believe me, go ask your father. My grandfather and the emperor are brothers. The emperor's surname is Liu, and my surname is also Liu. The late emperor is my great-grandfather..."

In the wild, there are creeping grasses, and the dew is gently falling

It is only natural to feel cold when dressed so lightly

His eyes sparkled, his nostrils flared, and with a slight excitement, he gazed at Xu Pingjun in the darkness. Although he could not see her expression clearly, the youthful nature within him stirred a hint of boastfulness, hoping she would show some admiration. However, after waiting for quite a while without receiving the expected response, he couldn't help but clear his throat with a soft "ahem".

Because... because it is too late, if I don't sleep now, I won't be able to get up. You see, you don't have to study, but I still have to go to Mr. Zhao's house...

"What is this good thing?" Jin Jian curiously leaned closer

"Your Majesty, where do you feel unwell?" A soft female voice inquired gently by his ear, as a warm hand rested upon his forehead. He closed his eyes, steadied his mind, and then slowly opened his eyes.

Do you speak or not

"Elder sister..." he called out hoarsely

In the wild, there are creeping grasses, and the dew is dripping abundantly

The emperor's face still bore a flush of color as Jin Jian gently lifted the lid of the box in front of him. Inside, a neatly stacked pile of silk paintings was arranged, with the topmost piece depicting a man and a woman, both bare, sitting opposite each other and embracing.

He felt a sense of pride and proclaimed vigorously: "This was composed by the current emperor at the Taiye Pool in the Jianzhang Palace when he was only nine years old, just one year older than I am now"

The fragrance has vanished from the corridor, as the evening breeze gently carries a wave of refreshing aroma

Sunset, dusk

Xu Pingjun scoffed, "What is there to be proud of? It is not your own work. Others can compose poetry at the age of nine, yet you cannot even write your own name..."

Xu Pingjun, wiping away her tears, smiled brightly as she climbed into bed. She noticed Liu Bingyi still sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze, so she scooted over a bit, creating a small space, and said, "You can lie down for a while."

"Do not—do not—Your Majesty! I am the mother of Fuling, you cannot..." She was restrained by the approaching young eunuchs, her arms bound, tears falling onto her garment, her dark hair covering her face

"Take your time to look; this is a gift from your elder sister to you." The princess smiled as she gently patted the emperor's shoulder and gracefully stood up to leave. Just as she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and smiled at the emperor, "Remember to try it later; merely looking won't satisfy your cravings. You will surely like the gift I have prepared for you." With that, she elegantly stepped out of the chamber, followed by a group of yellow-robed maidens holding a ceremonial canopy.

Liu Bingyi did not know how to answer this question, as he had never seen the emperor's mother. However, he quickly thought of the beautiful fairies he had encountered in the Yeting, and thus confidently said: "Yes, she is a fairy"

Thus, the sound is silenced

Zhou Yang nestled in his embrace. Although the emperor was only eleven years old, he had grown robustly since childhood, towering over many children of the same age. The embrace she found herself in, while not particularly strong, was not as frail as she had originally imagined. A wave of joy surged within her, casting aside her previous worries. With arms as soft as if they had no bones, she wrapped around his waist, her voice resonating with infinite charm, whispering like an orchid: "Your Majesty, allow me to serve you well..."

Mother

Jin Jian let out a sound of surprise, reaching out to turn to the next image, which still depicted a pair of naked men and women, with the man pinning the woman beneath him. He flipped through the images one by one, quickly turning through seven or eight in a row, while laughing and saying, "This is really interesting, what kind of game are they playing?"

Mother

Weiyang Palace, Yeting, Hehuan Hall

Madam Xu could not help but smile; she had only this one daughter, Pingjun, who had been gentle and obedient since childhood. It was indeed the first time she had encountered a mischievous child like Liu Bingyi. "He is a boy, different from you, but if you reason with him properly, I believe he will listen."

She was dragged out of the dormitory with her hair disheveled, kicking and struggling in a desperate scream. The long corridor seemed endless, and she cried out hoarsely, repeatedly calling his name: "Fuling—Fuling—Fuling—my son..."

If you cannot speak, then let me tell you one instead

"Today the palace is busy, and your father has no time to take care of him, so he will be sleeping here tonight..." The main reason, however, is that Liu Bingyi has been clamoring to play with Xu Pingjun, refusing to return to the palace after finishing his studies. Thus, Xu Guanghan decided to leave him here for his wife to look after. Madam Xu dried her daughter's hair and said, "You should address him as 'brother'; how can you call him by his surname directly? That is too improper. How did I teach you before?"

"Hiss." He gasped in pain, finally unable to endure as he propped himself up with his elbow and slowly retreated. However, Lady Zhou Yang had no intention of letting it go, her breath coming in quick gasps as her legs tightly wrapped around his waist, drenched in fragrant sweat, she screamed: "Your Majesty... um, Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty, are you feeling shy?" She gracefully walked to the bed, twirled to lift her long hem, and knelt down opposite him, her crimson lips curling into a teasing smile. "Don't worry, I've already prepared everything for you, it will surely make you ecstatic."

A young eunuch entered after a wave of the hand, holding a jade-inlaid golden box. The young eunuch knelt by the bed, presenting the box with both hands above his head, smiling as he signaled the emperor to take it. The emperor, puzzled, accepted it and slowly lifted the lid. Inside lay a stack of silk paintings. As the emperor lowered his gaze, his eyes fell upon the topmost piece, and his fair face suddenly flushed, turning crimson as if it were about to bleed.

Jin Shang blushed and spat, "What nonsense are you talking about?" After thinking it over, he couldn't help but laugh again, and kicked him on the backside, "Prepare the carriage, we will send His Majesty to the Hehuan Palace shortly!"

A chance encounter, it suits my wishes

"Sleep, sleep," Mrs. Xu said with a smile as she tucked the corners of the blanket for her

Your Majesty ... ... The fragrant quilt rose high, her cloud-like hair disheveled, and the beauty gasped like a soft snake. He finally saw her face, which was beautiful, with delicate phoenix-like brows, a high nose, cherry lips, and enchanting eyes like silk. "Your Majesty ... ... " Her voice was like a soul-snaring thread, soft as water, alluring as silk. Yet he felt as if bitten suddenly by a snake, retreating in panic, and accidentally rolled off the bed.

"It is precisely for him that I cannot keep you any longer, leave quickly!" He waved his hand in annoyance, and more heartless words were hoarsely uttered from his lips, "You must not be allowed to stay, you cannot live..."

Xu Pingjun thought seriously for a moment and reluctantly said, "Well, fine. But will you still be staying here tomorrow?"

Mother ... ... '' In the midst of drowsiness and confusion, she still remembered to tug at her mother's sleeve, reminding her, `` Let him sleep in the storage room downstairs ... ... ''

Isn't it enough that I apologize to you? If you keep crying, you will wake up your aunt. Please stop crying, alright? Consider it my fault... Let me give you a massage.

The emperor took a deep breath; it was not that he did not want to speak, but rather that the current situation and circumstances were entirely beyond his realm of understanding. He did not know what to do or how to endure this difficult night.

Only a few candles were lit, deliberately dimming the light in the room. The fragrance of incense filled the air, and on the spacious bed lay a soft brocade quilt, with a woman sitting upright on the bed.

Mother

He clutched the pillar, trembling slightly, his screams caught in his throat

"It hurts... it hurts..." Tears welled up in her eyes as he clumsily rubbed her bruised chin with his hand, only causing her more pain, making her grimace. "Mother will definitely ask about this when she sees it tomorrow."

The magpie startled and swooped, its wings gliding over the branch tips

Upon hearing this, Ping Jun became interested, extending his arm to embrace him, "Just talk about this, I want to hear the story of this fairy."

Um... Ping Jun twisted restlessly, feeling quite unwilling.

The little person in the quilt was just about to struggle when a hand tightly covered their mouth

Along the long colonnade, around the spacious courtyard, a small hand casually grazes one gilded bronze column after another.

The beauty of love, the joy of love, and the pleasure of love in literature... From a young age, he understood these concepts, repeatedly reading the "Book of Songs," the Yellow Emperor and the Plain Girl, the joys of male and female love, and the harmony of yin and yang... Therefore, he understood, understood how to allow his widowed elder sister to pursue her own happiness, thereby tacitly permitting her to seek solace in another man

There is a beautiful person, graceful and elegant.

"Bad guy, don't scare me again!" She, still feeling indignant, stepped on him and directly crossed over his chest.

As he gradually warmed up, Liu Bingyi instead fell into a state of worry. The ink in his belly was scant, and during his school days, he was quite restless, often receiving slaps on the palm from his teacher. Previously, the teacher had recounted many fascinating anecdotes, but when asked to retell them, he found himself at a loss. Seeing that Pingjun was urging him anxiously, he could only clear his throat and recite a poem that Master Zhao had discussed in class today. Although he did not study diligently, his memory was actually quite good, and this poem, filled with childlike charm, had stuck with him during the explanation. Seeing that Pingjun was urging him anxiously, he could only clear his throat and recite a poem that Master Zhao had discussed in class today. Although he did not study diligently, his memory was actually quite good, and this poem, filled with childlike charm, had stuck with him during the explanation.

Hu... Hu is talking nonsense, how could I not write my own name? Do you know who the current emperor is? He, he is my direct uncle and ancestor, passed down through generations, there is no reason I would be inferior to him

He reached out forward but did not touch anyone; the warmth of the bedding still lingered, yet Xu Pingjun was nowhere to be found. He sat up in surprise, a sudden gust of wind blowing at the back of his head, and a soft pillow came crashing down. Xu Pingjun was bouncing around, shouting, "I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you!"

The old man, leaning against the bed, fixed her with a strange gaze; his usually affectionate and peaceful face instantly transformed into one of sinister cruelty. "Whether there is a crime, you know best yourself. Drag her down and send her to the Yeting prison"

In the darkness, Liu Bingyi's mouth slowly curled into a smile, becoming increasingly radiant, "Hmm... good."

You are a villain! A villain! The worst of the villains... Woe is me...

The beautiful woman covered her lips and chuckled softly, her charming eyes sparkling like silk. Although she was not young anymore, her makeup was well done and her maintenance appropriate, making her appear at least more than ten years younger than her actual age

A soft pillow hitting the head is not very painful, but after being hit multiple times, one may feel dizzy. Liu Bingyi could no longer stand firm and stumbled, collapsing onto the bedding, and surprisingly, he did not move. Xu Pingjun's hands and feet became weak from the blows, and she reluctantly stopped.

The emperor stood at the door for quite a while, until the door behind him closed with a soft click of the hinges. Upon hearing the sound, the woman was initially startled, and then upon seeing him standing at the entrance, she immediately crawled down from the bed and knelt on the ground, bowing her head in reverence: "This humble servant, Zhou Yang, pays her respects to Your Majesty"

What?

Will you sleep with me again tomorrow? Please tell me another story

Speak! Speak...

He held her small, soft body, gently patting her back, and continued to coax her close to her ear: "Tomorrow... tomorrow I will tell you after school."

Your Majesty... In a moment of daze, Zhou Yang had already come close. A strange fragrance penetrated his nostrils, and his heart raced as if it were about to leap out of his chest.

His limbs trembled violently as he awoke from a terrifying dream, drenched in sweat, with his clothes clinging uncomfortably to his body