dognovel Chapter 106 Deeply Rooted
Chapter 106 Deeply Rooted
Perhaps it's true what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
That night, Pei Yuanling seemed exceptionally excited, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
She didn't know how many times she called for water; all Chu Qingyin remembered was that the sounds coming from her throat made her blush. She was so tired that she couldn't even lift her fingers. Leaning against the edge of the bathtub, she enjoyed the rare tenderness of the emperor and fell asleep.
Chu Qingyin doesn't dream often, but tonight she dreamt of things from the past for the first time ever.
She dreamt of her and Pei Yuanling, from their first meeting to their growing acquaintance, from their phoenix coronet and wedding gown to the cold corpse in the harem, their vows of eternal love echoing in her ears again and again.
She dreamt that Pei Yuanling was holding her hand, walking step by step to the top of power, stepping on the bones of someone unknown, and hanging in the high hall someone unknown.
She looked closely and saw that the memorial tablet had several words engraved on it: "Tomb of General Chu Tianheng".
No... this is a dream...
Chu Qingyin struggled to open her eyes and found herself slumped on the palace path in a downpour. In the distance, a tall, elegant man stood holding a green bamboo paper umbrella, his dark eyes piercing through the rain as he looked at her.
……
Chu Qingyin was half asleep and half awake, only feeling that the rain had been falling for far too long, and she couldn't help but shiver from the cold.
The next moment, she felt herself fall into a familiar, warm embrace.
Chu Qingyin's thoughts were scattered, and she subconsciously called out, "Pei Yuanling..."
The girl's soft voice murmured unclearly, with a lingering drowsy tone.
She is dependent on him.
In the darkness, the man's lips curved into a smile that even he himself was unaware of.
His heart seemed to be filled with something.
*
Chu Qingyin slept very soundly.
When I opened my eyes, the sunlight was bright, and dappled shadows were cast onto the curtains through the window lattice.
And there she was, still in the man's arms. The familiar touch washed over her, and her sleepiness vanished completely.
Pei Yuanling noticed her stiffness and deliberately leaned in to hug her tightly, pressing his thin lips against her shoulder and gently sniffing her.
Chu Qingyin kept her eyes tightly closed, her long eyelashes trembling like a butterfly about to take flight.
Pei Yuanling was incredibly soft-hearted and decided to tease her, so he pressed himself even closer to her, making her feel his undeniable presence even more.
"Awake?" he asked.
Chu Qingyin's cheeks flushed red from his breath.
Memories of last night flooded back, and she belatedly felt embarrassed and annoyed, saying irritably, "Doesn't Your Majesty have to attend court?"
Pei Yuanling chuckled softly in her ear: "What's wrong with being a tyrant once in a while?"
But she didn't want to be a demon concubine. Chu Qingyin thought to herself.
The fate of a femme fatale is usually not good. She had already died once, and died so tragically, that she didn't want to die a second time.
She lowered her eyes and casually changed the subject: "What time is it?"
Pei Yuanling assumed she was just shy and didn't think much of it, saying gently, "9:00 AM."
Chu Qingyin's eyes widened in surprise. "It's already 9 AM?"
She slept until almost noon.
Even when she was an arrogant and domineering imperial concubine, she had never gotten up this late.
Pei Yuanling comforted her, saying, "It's alright, I haven't gotten up either."
It's because you didn't get up that it's so dangerous, okay?
Chu Qingyin inwardly scoffed, inexplicably recalling the poem: "From then on, the emperor neglected his morning court." She wondered how those old fogies from the previous dynasty would criticize her if they knew.
She covered her eyes, somewhat resigned, and said, "It's all His Majesty's fault for not calling me 'Consort'..."
She was acting coquettishly, and although it seemed a bit disrespectful, Pei Yuanling was quite pleased and couldn't help but give her a light kiss on the eyebrows and eyes.
With the guy still standing behind her, Chu Qingyin was afraid he might do something lewd in broad daylight, so she quickly grabbed his hand and stared at him with her watery eyes: "Your Majesty, I'm hungry."
She was genuinely a little hungry.
I didn't eat much for dinner to begin with, and after doing *that* all night, it's almost noon now. Even a person as strong as me should eat.
As she thought this, her stomach cooperated perfectly, letting out a soft "gurgle".
Chu Qingyin's ears turned bright red instantly.
She seemed to hear the person behind her chuckle softly, then the arms binding her loosened, the bed felt light, and the man got up.
Listening to the sound of fabric rubbing together, Chu Qingyin thought absentmindedly, Pei Yuanling sometimes really doesn't seem like a high and mighty emperor.
He knew she disliked being served closely afterward, so whenever he stayed overnight in her palace, he did all the chores himself, even when she was asleep.
He was willing to make concessions for her, but that was all.
Pei Yuanling, dressed neatly, saw that the person on the bed was still not moving. He smiled and gently pulled the pretty girl, whose face was half red, out of the quilt.
"I order someone to bring the meal."
**
After lunch, Pei Yuanling wanted to pester her a couple more times, but Chen Zhongliang reported from outside that Grand Secretary Lu Zhiheng had important business to discuss with him.
Having no other choice, Pei Yuanling had to leave first.
Before leaving, he kissed Chu Qingyin on the forehead and said, "I'll come and keep you company when I'm done with my work."
Chu Qingyin was already extremely sleepy, and seeing that he was finally leaving, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt a rare moment of gratitude towards Lu Zhiheng.
After another long sleep, she woke up feeling sore all over. Leaning against the soft cushions beside the bed, her once radiant face now held less of the girlish innocence and more of the allure of a young woman.
"Xianglan, what time is it now?" She raised her hand to press her aching forehead, her voice low and hoarse.
Xianglan picked up a cup of water and handed it to her to drink before answering, "Your Majesty is sleeping soundly. It's already evening, time for dinner."
Evening? She slept the whole afternoon?
It's all Pei Yuanling's fault for being too vigorous yesterday, carrying her around and tossing her countless times. Like a ravenous wolf that never seems to be satisfied, he wouldn't let her go no matter how much she cried and begged for mercy.
He tormented her until she was completely exhausted, until finally she couldn't take it anymore and passed out with her eyes closed.
Chu Qingyin drank her tea for most of the night before feeling much better. She asked softly, "His Majesty hasn't returned yet?"
Xianglan took the teacup from her hand and replied with a smile, "It should be soon. Eunuch Chen said that His Majesty will also be dining here tonight."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin nodded slightly.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty treats you so well," Xianglan said from the side, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.
Chu Qingyin suddenly remembered the words Pei Yuanling had whispered in her ear last night when he was aroused... Only now did she understand the meaning of his words.
She immediately looked up and instructed, "Xianglan, quietly invite Lingxuan over."
"Dr. Ling?"
Xianglan looked at Chu Qingyin with surprise, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Seeing that she couldn't see anything unusual, she asked with a hint of doubt, "Is Your Highness feeling unwell somewhere?"
Chu Qingyin remained expressionless: "No need for further words, just go and invite them."
"Yes." Xianglan didn't dare to delay any longer and quickly withdrew.