The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 505 I Want Both the Empire and the Beauty

Under the cover of night, the imperial city of Bianjing was illuminated by thousands of lights, making it as bright as day.

The solemn atmosphere of the daytime ceremony had not yet completely dissipated, but had now transformed into the faint sounds of ceremonial music that could be heard within the palace. Palace lanterns hung high, illuminating the carved beams and painted rafters in a golden splendor. Palace servants, dressed in brand-new court robes, bowed their heads and carried various delicacies, moving lightly between the halls.

The first state banquet of the first year of the Hongwu reign is about to be held in the main hall of Jiaolan Hall.

Xiao Yan removed his heavy sacrificial robes and changed into a lighter yellow casual outfit. He sat in the warm pavilion of a side hall, while Guangmu Tian carefully adjusted his final attire. With the imperial crown gone, his face was more clearly revealed. A day of tedious rituals inevitably left a slight trace of weariness, but it could not conceal the calm radiance in his eyes.

He slightly raised his hand, indicating to Guangmutian that it was alright.

“Your Majesty, it’s almost time.” Zhong Xiaokui’s voice rang out from outside the door.

Xiao Yan stood up and, surrounded by Guang Mutian and several eunuchs, walked out.

Inside the main hall of Jiaolan, the scene was quite different.

Musical instruments such as chime bells, chimes, zithers, and flutes were displayed at the corners of the hall, and musicians played variations of the "Shou He" melody. Civil and military officials, according to their ranks and titles, had already taken their seats, conversing quietly among themselves, their faces all relaxed and smiling.

The delegations of envoys from all directions, dressed in various styles, were also present: fur coats from the northern deserts, silver ornaments from the borderlands, brocade robes from the Bohai Sea, crowns and hats from Goryeo, and Uyghur attire from Khotan. They curiously observed the flourishing state of the new dynasty in the Central Plains, and also chatted quietly among themselves. The jade, fine horses, carpets, and other items they had brought with them were piled up in the corner of the hall, trying their best to show their sincerity in coming from thousands of miles away.

A moment later, Ding Zhaopu's shrill voice rang out: "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived—"

All sounds inside the hall fell silent instantly.

Xiao Yan and the Empress appeared at the palace gate and walked straight to the main seat on the imperial steps without pausing. Xiao Yan didn't even look at the people bowing on both sides, but simply looked straight ahead until he sat down.

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"

"Rise, my lords." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, sitting casually in the main seat. "Today is a banquet to celebrate the nation and the people, so there is no need to be too formal. I hope that you, my lords, and the envoys from all directions will join me in this banquet and celebrate the founding of the Hongwu era."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone rose and returned to their seats.

The music then shifted to the more lively "Jingyun Music," and a troupe of court dancers in colorful costumes gracefully entered, their long sleeves billowing and their lotus-like steps light and airy, unfolding a flowing scroll in the center of the hall. Palace servants then served up a series of delicacies on each table like flowing water, and in an instant, the hall was filled with fragrant aromas, and the subtle sounds of clinking glasses began to embellish the music and dance.

Xiao Yan sat upright on the throne and accepted the first round of toasts from his ministers, including Han Yanhui, Jing Xiang, Wang Yanzhang, Yang She, Zhang Quanyi, and Li Si'an. He then gave a slight nod to the Empress, who was sitting on the phoenix throne slightly to the side.

The latter, adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, possessed an elegant and dignified bearing, exuding the grace and poise of an empress. She smiled gently and nodded slightly to Xiao Yan; their eyes met, and everything was understood without words.

Subsequently, court nobles, officials from various departments, local representatives, and even envoys from various countries began to step forward in turn to offer toasts. Xiao Yan mostly just touched his lips slightly, occasionally saying a word or two to important figures or special envoys.

Amidst the harmonious atmosphere, at the seats of the Dingnan Army and the Shuofang Army, Li Wenqian, the cousin of Dingnan Jiedushi Li Renfu, and Han Dezhang, the nephew of Shuofang Jiedushi Han Xun, these two representatives of Hexi, although they also raised their glasses with everyone, their expressions always revealed an undisguised anxiety and unease.

Finally, as the singing and dancing subsided and the atmosphere eased slightly, Li Wenqian and Han Dezhang exchanged a glance, seemingly having made up their minds. They both picked up their wine glasses, stood up, walked down the steps, and bowed deeply.

"Your subject is Li Wenqian, Deputy Military Governor of Dingnan Army..."

"Han Dezhang, the judge of the Shuofang Army..."

"Congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension to the throne! Long live the Emperor!"

Although the two tried their best to keep their voices calm and loud, they could not hide their unease.

Many eyes in the hall instantly converged on it, such as Han Yanhui and Jing Xiang, whose eyes narrowed slightly.

Xiao Yan did not respond, but only glanced at the two of them, which was his response.

Li Wenqian swallowed hard and forced himself to continue, "Your Majesty, your brother and I, the military governor, are deeply moved by Your Majesty's might and are filled with anxiety day and night. We regret that we cannot personally go to Bianjing to prostrate ourselves before the palace and behold Your Majesty's countenance. However, due to military affairs and the unrest on the border, we have been unable to go to Bianjing to offer our congratulations. Therefore, we are extremely apprehensive and have specially ordered us to apologize to Your Majesty and present this small gift to express our loyalty."

He paused, stealing a glance at Xiao Yan's face. Seeing the emperor's expressionless face, he had no choice but to continue: "Our Hexi region is remote in the western borderlands, its people fierce and valiant. Bordering the Dangxiang and Tubo, it has always served as a bulwark for the Central Plains. My brother and Military Governor Han are willing to forever guard the border, protecting the land and its people for Your Majesty, restraining the various barbarians, and serving as Your Majesty's bulwark for generations to come... Now, we only hope that Your Majesty will remember the generations of soldiers from Dingnan and Shuofang who have guarded the border and have rendered their small service, and grant my brother and Military Governor Han permission to continue guarding the strategic locations of Hengshan and Helan for Your Majesty, protecting the western borderlands. We are willing to immediately send our eldest son to the capital to serve Your Majesty and demonstrate our unwavering loyalty!"

After these words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere in the hall instantly cooled down considerably. Many officials put down their wine cups and focused their attention on them.

These words sounded respectful, but at their core, they were still the same old tricks of self-preservation and using vassals as hostages. The hall quieted down considerably, and the singing and dancing had stopped sometime earlier. Some of the vassal envoys exchanged glances, while the court officials wore various expressions.

"Oh!"

Before Xiao Yan could speak, Wang Yanzhang, who was among the military officers, slammed his wine cup on the table. His eyes widened, and he pointed directly at the two men, shouting sharply:
"Insolence! Under heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the land, all people are his subjects! Now the world is unified, and the hearts of the four seas are with you. All prefectures and counties are Your Majesty's territory, and all troops are Your Majesty's royal army! Now, all laws and decrees originate from Bianjing. No matter where you are, the court will send officials to govern, and Your Majesty's edicts and laws will be enforced! Hengshan and Helan are the border fortresses of the country, strategic locations. When did it become the turn of Li Renfu and Han Xun to 'govern' them? What are they, that they are worthy of governing the people on behalf of the emperor? Are you trying to carry out the practice of separatism with your words today?!"

His shout was like a thunderclap, making the hall buzz. Li Wenqian and Han Dezhang were so frightened that they trembled and their faces turned pale instantly. Han Dezhang, who had been silent, was about to speak up to defend himself.

Before this man could offer any further excuses, Han Yanhui slowly rose to his feet. He first bowed to Xiao Yan on the throne, then turned to the two envoys, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"What Privy Councilor Wang says is absolutely right. Your Majesty's ascension to the throne is a grand event, ordained by Heaven and supported by all the people. All the military governors of the realm who understand the times and obey Heaven's will have personally come to court to pay homage. Today, Your Majesty's ascension to the throne is a cause for celebration throughout the land, with envoys from all directions coming to pay tribute. Yet those two dare to use excuses not to come themselves, sending only you yourselves. This is already an act of disrespect towards the Emperor and a grave crime. Now, not only do they not repent, but they also dare to openly disregard the old court's customs in the Golden Hall and at the Imperial Banquet, attempting to establish a separatist regime. What do they think of the court's discipline? What do they think of Your Majesty's divine authority?"

He abruptly turned to the throne, bowed deeply, and said, “In my opinion, this trend must not be allowed to continue. An imperial edict should be immediately drafted to severely condemn Li Renfu and Han Xun's rebellious actions, ordering them to personally come to the capital within a specified period to plead guilty and await their fate. Their troops should be handed over to officials appointed by the court. If they hesitate or harbor any illusions, they should be treated as traitors. At that time, the imperial army will march forth, and the might of Heaven will descend to uphold the law!”

"I second the proposal!"

"This humble general requests to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard!"

"That's right!"

Among the civil officials, Jing Xiang, Yang She, and others voiced their support, while the military generals were even more excited. Li Si'an and others had their hands on their wine cups, glaring fiercely at Li Wenqian and his companion, as if they were just waiting for the emperor's order to immediately launch a military campaign.

The other generals were even more excited, cursing the two men repeatedly, as if they were afraid that the battle would not take place.

Li Wenqian and Han Dezhang were already terrified. Their legs went weak, and they knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, have mercy! We misspoke, we never meant it! My brother and Military Governor Han have no disloyal intentions! It's just... the situation on the border is complicated, and we were afraid that a sudden change of leadership would cause turmoil, so we resorted to this desperate measure. It was all for Your Majesty and for the court... Your Majesty, please understand! Your Majesty, please understand!"

All eyes were then focused on Xiao Yan on the throne. The Empress also slightly curled her lips, but her expression did not change much.

Xiao Yan remained calm as he looked at the two men kowtowing below the steps, glanced around at the civil and military officials in the hall with their varied expressions, and then slowly swept his gaze over the foreign envoys who were holding their breath. Finally, he raised his hand and waved gently.

Wang Yanzhang and Han Yanhui understood each other's meaning. Although their expressions were displeased, they still bowed and returned to their seats. The tense atmosphere in the hall immediately eased.

"Today is the first day of the first year of the Hongwu reign. It is a day of celebration, a time for feasting, a night for me, my ministers, and the envoys who have come from afar to celebrate the beginning of the new dynasty. I do not wish to discuss matters of war and execution at this time."

Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Li Wenqian and Han Dezhang: "The matter of Li Renfu and Han Xun will be discussed at the court meeting tomorrow. Since you have come to pay your respects, please enjoy the banquet, experience the atmosphere of the court, and understand my intentions. Now, please return to your seats and drink your wine."

The two envoys felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They kowtowed several more times before shakily getting up and returning to their seats. They were almost exhausted and dared not raise their heads again.

The envoys from various countries looked at each other, clearly sensing the power and will of this new empire from the calm demeanor of the emperor of the Central Plains and the strong presence of his ministers.

Xiao Yan seemed unwilling to let this little incident spoil the banquet atmosphere, so he turned his gaze to the several envoys dressed in Hu clothing at the table and softened his tone: "Where are the envoys from the Western Uyghurs?"

An envoy dressed in a collared Hu-style robe quickly stood up, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Heavenly Khan, your humble servant is here."

"The envoy has come from Gaochang, a long and arduous journey. I have heard that the Guiyi Army of Shazhou is located next to your tribe, both situated at a strategic point on the Silk Road. I wonder how the situation is in Dunhuang, the Buddhist kingdom? Is it still peaceful?"

The Uyghur envoy from Xizhou, not expecting the emperor to suddenly inquire about this matter, hurriedly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Cao family of Shazhou has always been peaceful, devoted to Buddhism and good deeds, and has not had any major conflicts with our tribe in recent years. However... the Silk Road is remote, and various forces are intertwined, so the Guiyi Army... is probably no longer as powerful as it once was. During my visit to pay homage, I heard that there seems to be some internal strife in Shazhou..."

He carefully chose his words, then emphasized: "But the Cao family of Shazhou still respects the Central Plains calendar, which is beyond doubt. Our tribe is also willing to forever serve as the western shield of the Celestial Empire and protect the safety of trade routes."

The envoy from Khotan also rose to express his respect and presented a beautiful jade.

The envoy from Khotan clearly had a closer relationship with the Guiyi Army. After Xiao Yan asked a few questions, he said:

"Your Majesty is wise and has inquired about the distant frontier. Dunhuang is indeed a sacred Buddhist land, but it is small in size and sparsely populated. In recent years, it has been under considerable pressure from its neighbors. Fortunately, thanks to Lord Cao's efforts, the situation has been maintained. The Celestial Empire has been newly established and its power extends throughout the land. If its holy light can shine on Hexi, it will be a blessing for Buddhism and a boon for all people."

Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully, then casually asked, "I have also heard that further west there are states such as Karakhanid and Samanid, which are quite powerful. I wonder what their situation is?"

The Uyghur envoy from the Western Regions cautiously answered some questions about the general situation of the two regimes, mentioning that the Karakhanid Khanate had recently placed great emphasis on Islamic law, while the Samanid Dynasty was plagued by internal strife.

The Khotan envoy was clearly surprised by the emperor's knowledge of the far west and hurriedly reported what he knew. Although he was vague, he and the Uyghur envoy from Xizhou sketched out a rough outline of the more western world.

Everyone in the hall listened intently, and many suddenly realized that the emperor's gaze was not limited to the Central Plains, but had long been turned to the distant Western Regions. Therefore, they were all filled with awe.

After listening, Xiao Yan did not immediately express his opinion, but simply nodded silently, as if he had memorized all the information. After a moment, he raised the golden cup in front of him, his gaze swept across the entire room, and he laughed loudly.

"Today, guests from all corners of the world gather here to celebrate the New Year and congratulate Emperor Hongwu. May the world gradually be at peace from this day forward, may the people be able to recuperate, and may all within the four seas enjoy tranquility. My lords, let us, together with the Emperor and the envoys of all nations, drink this cup to the brim!"

"Long live your Majesty!"

"Peace reigns throughout the land!"

Everyone in the hall, whether civil or military officials from the Central Plains or foreign envoys, rose solemnly, raised their wine cups, responded in unison, and then drank heartily.

At this moment, whether one is sincere or not is no longer important. What matters is that, before this emperor whose territory spans more than ten thousand miles and whose people bow down to him, no one dares to disobey the trend of "peace and prosperity".

The grand banquet lasted for nearly an hour before drawing to a close. Xiao Yan rose first and announced the banquet was over. The officials and envoys bowed once more to respectfully see the Emperor and Empress off.

------

After leaving the banquet, Xiao Yan changed into a more comfortable set of dark black casual clothes, with a black cloak over them. He walked side by side with the Empress on the high platform of the palace. Not far behind them, Guang Mutian and other palace servants carefully kept their distance, neither daring to get too close nor too far away.

On the high platform, a pavilion stood suspended in mid-air, offering an excellent view. Xiao Yan waved for Guang Mutian and the others to stop, then ascended the platform and stood with his hands behind his back by the railing. The Empress, also dressed in a light red palace gown and draped in a fox fur, appeared even more slender, her face radiant under the palace lanterns, standing beside him.

Looking out from here, the myriad lights of Bianjing stretch out under the clear night sky after the snow, like a galaxy scattered across the earth. The boisterous sounds of banquets are now shut out below; only the faint whistling of the cold wind rustling through the eaves can be heard high above, which only accentuates the tranquility of this palace.

Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the layers of palaces and landing on the faint outlines of the streets in the distance. The collar of his cloak framed his sharply defined jawline, making him appear slightly languid. The Empress did not disturb his thoughts; the fur of her fox cloak gently brushed against her cheek as she, too, gazed at the land that belonged to them, and that they would soon shoulder the responsibility for.

A soft footstep came from the back stairs. Guangmu Tian stopped at the bottom of the steps and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Your Highness. Consort De is talking with the Duchess of Qian in Yaohua Palace; Consort Gui is also there. Consort Xian and Consort Shu seem to be interested in the scenery of Raojiang and have gone there with Aogu; Consort Zhao has led Consort Zhaorong, Consort Xiuyi and Consort Yu Shanggong to familiarize themselves with the various palaces and their duties in the inner palace."

The so-called Lady of the Duke of Qian was none other than Xian Shen. Xiao Yan drank quite a bit of wine with his father-in-law at the banquet, while Chi Li, who couldn't hold his liquor, had Wen Tao and Shangguan Yun Que take him back to the post station. Xian Shen, on the other hand, was kept in the palace by Chi Meng.

It wasn't surprising that Ji Ruxue accompanied them, but it was unexpected that Shuliduo and Jiangchen would also join in the fun.

As for Qianwu taking Bago and Li Cunren to familiarize themselves with the inner palace, that was to be expected.

Xiao Yan and the Empress couldn't help but chuckle, but didn't ask any further questions.

After Guangmu Tian silently withdrew, only the two of them remained on the pavilion. A cold wind carrying the scent of snowflakes swept by, and the Empress slightly pulled her fox fur coat tighter around herself.

"Everything is arranged," she said softly. The day's hustle and bustle had subsided, and things were finally settled.

Xiao Yan then turned his head slightly and glanced at her. The soft glow of the palace lanterns illuminated her face, stripping away the majesty of her daytime imperial presence and revealing a serene beauty that one could never tire of. He reached out and took her hand in his palm.

"You've worked hard. It hasn't been easy from Qi Kingdom to today."

The Empress let him hold her hand, her fingertips warming, bringing a tingling warmth. She shook her head and looked at him: "How can it be hard? To be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to this point, and to see the dawn gradually breaking in this chaotic world, I feel only gratitude."

She paused, her voice softening, "Sometimes when I think back to those days in Fengxiang, or even earlier, in Qi... I feel a little dazed. Back then, although I knew you were no ordinary person, I never imagined we could actually get to where we are today. I never imagined I could be with you until today."

"There's nothing I didn't expect. The road is built step by step. Fengxiang was the first step, Qi Kingdom was the second step, and every step after that was taken steadily and solidly. Getting to where we are today is a natural result."

“As for you,” Xiao Yan turned his head, his gaze fixed entirely on her face, and he tightened his grip on her hand slightly, “you didn’t ‘accompany’ me to this day. Since the coup, half of this path has been paved for me by you. Without you laying the foundation in Qi Kingdom, without you stabilizing the rear, without you…”

He paused for a moment, as if recalling many specific events from the past that did not need to be detailed at this moment. Then he reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had been ruffled by the wind behind her ear, and whispered, "Without Li Yunji, there would be no Xiao Yan who can stand here today and look down on this land with peace of mind."

His fingertips were warm, touching her slightly cool earlobe.

The Empress paused slightly, but did not flinch. Instead, she looked at him, her phoenix eyes gleaming in the night.

"You're always like this, making the most serious words sound so ordinary."

Xiao Yan smiled but didn't say anything. He just continued to hold her hand, as if he couldn't get enough of those jade-like hands.

The two stood silently for a while, enjoying the tranquility and peace.

With the nation in sight and heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, they were just a slightly tired couple who had just gone through a huge ceremony.

The night breeze seemed to grow colder, and the Empress gently leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. She looked down at their clasped hands; his fingers were long and strong, and she couldn't help but play with them for a while.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke very softly: "The title Your Majesty bestowed upon me today, 'Holy Virtue'... I have consulted the ancient texts, and the word 'Holy'... is too heavy."

"You think you can't handle it?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at her sideways as if joking.

“It’s not that I can’t bear it.” The Empress shook her head slightly, her gaze returning to the distant lights, her eyelashes drooping. “It’s that I feel… Your Majesty’s expectations of me are perhaps heavier than this title. The ‘peace’ that Your Majesty desires is by no means easily attained. Therefore, I want to do something to please Your Majesty.”

"What's the big deal?" Xiao Yan shook his head indifferently, and couldn't help but chuckle.

But the empress's next words immediately startled him.

"Your Majesty knows that there is something Your Majesty has never said outright, but perhaps has some thoughts about it. Although I feel ashamed, I am willing to set aside some of my pretense of dignity for Your Majesty's sake today."

Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her. He saw that her eyelids were lowered and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, revealing a rare shyness.

"But..." The Empress's cheeks flushed slightly, but fortunately the darkness concealed her embarrassment, "...As for Xue'er, Your Majesty must speak to her personally. If Your Majesty can persuade her... then I... am willing to serve Your Majesty well together with Xue'er."

After saying the last few words, she seemed to have used up all her strength, even her ears turned a blush. She subconsciously wanted to bury her face, but she forced herself to maintain her dignified demeanor in front of Xiao Yan, just like usual, always smiling no matter what. But her slightly trembling fingers still revealed the extreme turmoil in her heart.

Xiao Yan was completely stunned at first.

He knew all too well how proud and strong-willed the Empress was. Although she was tender and affectionate in bed, she always had her own bottom line of modesty. So, although he occasionally had such thoughts, he never actually expressed them aloud, let alone expected her to give her her consent.

But immediately, a tremendous surprise washed over him like a warm current.

He looked at her, trying to remain calm yet unable to contain her shyness, and found her a thousand times more captivating than her usual elegant and graceful demeanor. He suddenly chuckled softly, stretched out his arms, and pulled her tightly into his embrace, wrapping her in his cloak.

"My beloved Yunji, my wonderful Empress. I am overjoyed, overjoyed! I desire the empire, and of course, I desire the beauty... I cannot lose either of them!"

The Empress was held in his arms, listening to the vibrations from his chest and his undisguised joy. Her face burned, but her heart felt as sweet and soft as if it were soaked in honey. Her shyness strangely melted away, leaving only a fullness of indulgence and excitement that was born solely for him.

……

After a brief moment of tenderness on the pavilion, Xiao Yan truly kept his word.

He took the Empress back to her palace, but instead of going directly to the Empress's Lizheng Hall, he took a detour and went to the Penglai Hall where Ji Ruxue lived.

The hall was warm and cozy, brightly lit by candlelight. Ji Ruxue was dressed in a light blue casual robe, without any makeup, her long hair cascading down like an ink waterfall, making her appear even more elegant and refined.

After returning from Chi Meng's residence, she was now sitting under the lamp, holding a book, quietly reading with Xiao Li Dai. It was a volume of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and she was currently reading the section about Guan Yu slaying Hua Xiong, and she was extremely focused.

Upon noticing that Xiao Yan and the Empress had entered together, she quickly stood up to greet them, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

"How did you all get here..."

She instinctively reached out to curtsy, but Xiao Yan gently pulled her back, his gaze shifting slightly between the two of them, somewhat puzzled by his intentions. Especially when she saw the lingering blush on the Empress's cheeks and the unusually bright look in Xiao Yan's eyes, her confusion deepened.

Xiao Yan waved for the wet nurse to take little Li Dai away, then pulled the empress, who seemed a little embarrassed to look at Ji Ruxue, to sit on the table and then reached out his hand to Ji Ruxue.

"Xue'er, come here."

Ji Ruxue's gaze swept over the two of them, and she walked closer as instructed, placing her hand in his palm.

Xiao Yan gently pulled her to sit beside him.

“Xue’er,” Xiao Yan said, his voice lower than usual, “Yun Ji, you, and I, the three of us… have come a long way, experiencing life and death, and are no longer ordinary people.”

Ji Ruxue nodded; this was an undeniable fact.

Xiao Yan then said, "So, Yun Ji and I just agreed on something."

Ji Ruxue looked up at him, then at the Empress beside her, whose eyelashes were slightly lowered and whose face was slightly flushed. She seemed to have a vague idea of ​​what was going on, and her cheeks began to heat up involuntarily. Her voice was somewhat cold and weak: "Your Majesty... what is it you are talking about?"

Xiao Yan pulled her closer, while his other hand reached out to the Empress. The Empress hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and was embraced by him as well. Ji Ruxue's body stiffened slightly as she felt the warmth and faint fragrance emanating from the Empress, and her heart suddenly raced.

"Tonight, there will be no more disturbances." Xiao Yan's voice rang in their ears, deep and alluring. "I only wish to completely relax with you and share this rare peace. I hope that we can be more...intimate and inseparable. Like an ordinary family, husband and wife as one, without any barriers, is that alright?"

Ji Ruxue's eyes widened instantly. She glanced at Xiao Yan, who looked composed yet clearly embarrassed. Seeing him winking at her repeatedly, and then at the equally embarrassed Empress, her cheeks slowly flushed red.

She wasn't some naive young girl, and she and Xiao Yan had been married for a long time. Hearing his ambiguous yet suggestive words, her heart pounded like a deer. She had actually vaguely guessed something earlier, and seeing that this lecherous Xiao Yan had no intention of pretending anymore, she was so ashamed that she could hardly lift her head.

"Your Majesty..." Her voice was barely audible, and she realized that she couldn't be aloof even if she wanted to, so she felt a little shy and flustered.

“Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms, “It’s just that I have a selfish reason. Yun Ji… she’s willing too.” He lowered his head and whispered a few words in her ear.

Ji Ruxue's ears turned bright red, and she looked as if she were on fire.

The Empress raised her eyes to look at Ji Ruxue, took a deep breath, and tried to make her voice sound steady, though her cheeks were still burning: "Xue'er... what His Majesty said... is true. Today... I also want to... set aside those formalities... let's... let's spend time with His Majesty together..."

Ji Ruxue looked into the Empress's phoenix eyes, which were also filled with shyness but which were trying to remain calm. She also felt the expectation in Xiao Yan's arms. She had always been obedient to Xiao Yan and respected the Empress. The more she did so, the more shy she became. She had never thought that such a situation would occur.

"Xue'er..." Seeing her hesitation, the Empress called out softly again, reached out and gently took her hand.

This handshake seemed to carry a strange, comforting power. Ji Ruxue looked at their clasped hands, then playfully glanced up at Xiao Yan's expectant and tender gaze, and her last trace of resistance quietly crumbled. She nodded gently, then immediately buried her flushed cheeks in Xiao Yan's shoulder, refusing to lift them again.

Xiao Yan was overjoyed. He laughed heartily, embraced the two of them, and walked towards the large bed in the inner hall, which was covered with thick brocade.

The candlelight flickered red, the curtains hung low, and clothes that had quietly slipped off piled up beside the bed, a mix of dark black, deep blue, and light green. Soft breaths and suppressed moans replaced words, occasionally punctuated by a coquettish plea for mercy tinged with sobs, which were quickly swallowed up by the deeper waves of passion.

Xiao Yan reveled in this unparalleled bliss and sense of conquest, watching the two noble and beautiful women in his arms display their most exquisite charm for him. With the empire in his hands and beauties in his arms, the joy and satisfaction in his heart were indescribable.

The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped late into the night.

Ji Ruxue was already exhausted and curled up on the inside, fast asleep. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but a sweet smile played on her lips. The Empress also nestled lazily beside Xiao Yan, her black hair spread across the pillow, her phoenix eyes half-closed, her body limp, not even wanting to move her fingertips.

Outside the palace, Guangmu Tian, ​​on night watch, carefully trimmed the overly long candle wick, making the light softer and more diffused. The distant sound of the water clock faintly drifted in, heralding the approaching start of a new day.

The first long night of the first year of Hongwu's reign passed quietly.

(End of this chapter)