Huangming

Chapter 382 Celebrating Victory, Ambition for the World (Bonus Chapter for 400 Monthly Tickets!)
Inside the Lijing Pavilion in the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace, silver charcoal was burning brightly in a brass brass stove.

This five-bay hall has a single-eave gable roof covered with peacock blue glazed tiles.

The interior furnishings are simple yet exquisite:

In the center was a rosewood octagonal table, its surface covered with a dark-patterned brocade tablecloth.

On the rosewood chairs on both sides, there were cushions embroidered with white fox fur.

These are furnishings that the palace provided to the nobles of the Khorchin people according to regulations.

now.

Zhe Zhe was sitting on an embroidered stool next to the soft couch, holding a plain silk handkerchief in her hand, on which she was carefully embroidering a golden lotus flower, a common sight on the grasslands.

A palace maid slowly entered the hall and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty will be having dinner at the Lijing Pavilion tonight."

Upon hearing this, Zhe Zhe paused in her embroidery needle, a faint look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Since entering the palace, His Majesty has not neglected me, but he has never set foot in Chuxiu Palace. Why has he suddenly come today?
But this surprise was fleeting. Zhe Zhe quickly put down the handkerchief, stood up, and gave instructions to the palace maid:

"Let's prepare to receive and serve His Majesty."

"Yes!"

The palace maids immediately went to prepare for the emperor's arrival.

"aunt……"

at this time.

A timid voice came from the side; it was Hailanzhu.

She had just come from the Yilan Pavilion in the West Annex Hall, wearing a light pink winter palace dress with delicate pearl patterns embroidered on the collar, which made her already fair skin appear even more radiant.

But those eyes, which had once reflected the sunset over the grasslands, were now filled with unease. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hem of her palace dress, and even her voice trembled slightly as she spoke in her familiar Tungusic language:

"Your Majesty... what kind of person is Your Majesty? Is he... is he very scary?"

Since she entered the palace with Benbutai, she had only seen Zhu Youxiao once from afar during the investiture ceremony. At that time, the emperor sat upright on the dragon throne with a majestic expression, which made her dare not look at him for long.

Now that she had to serve him at close range, the thought of the strict rules of the Forbidden City and the criticisms from court officials about "foreign women entering the palace" filled her with trepidation, like a fluttering deer.

Upon hearing this, Zhe Zhe turned around to look at her and gently patted the back of her hand.

She didn't respond in Tungusic, but instead answered in fluent Mandarin with a slight steppe accent:
"Hailanzhu, from now on, you must speak Mandarin in the palace."

Seeing a hint of unease flash in Hailanzhu's eyes, she softened her tone.

"You will see what kind of person His Majesty is in a moment. He is the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty, with the majesty of an emperor, but he is not unapproachable."

"Now that we've entered this palace, if we abide by the rules and fulfill our duties, we won't go wrong."

Hailanzhu nodded as if she understood, her fingers loosening their grip on her clothes, but the unease in her eyes had not completely disappeared.

Benbutai, sitting on a small stool, was fiddling with a little sheep doll he had brought from the grasslands.

She was not yet ten years old and did not understand what "serving His Majesty" meant. She only felt that the warm stove in the palace was more comfortable than the hearth on the grassland. Hearing Zhe Zhe's words, she raised her head, blinked her round eyes, and asked:
"Auntie, will His Majesty like my little lamb?"

Zhe Zhe was taken aback by her question, then chuckled and reached out to pat her head: "His Majesty will definitely like our Butai when he sees her. But you're still young, so just be a good girl and follow along without running around."

As she spoke, she called out to the outside of the hall.

"Someone is coming."

Two palace maids dressed in light green palace attire entered in response to the call, bowing and saying, "Your servants are here."

"Take the two princesses to the Phoenix Light Room in the East Annex to freshen up. Choose a pomegranate red brocade palace dress for Hailanzhu and adorn it with a pearl headband; change Butai into an apricot-colored soft satin dress, nothing too elaborate."

Zhe Zhe gave detailed instructions, and when her gaze fell on Hailanzhu, she added, "Make Hailanzhu's makeup lighter, and don't draw heavy eyebrows."

After being in the palace for many days, and with the help of the palace servants, Zhe Zhe could hardly be recognized as a woman from the grasslands.

The palace maids responded with "Yes" and stepped forward to help Hailanzhu and Benbutai toward the Fengguang Chamber.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Hailanzhu and Benbutai finished washing up and returned to Lijingxuan.

now.

Hailanzhu wore a pomegranate-red brocade palace dress with gold-embroidered lotus flowers on the collar and cuffs. She wore a pearl headband, the round pearl making her face appear even smaller. Her beautiful face, illuminated by the warm light of the stove, looked as if it were covered with a light layer of rouge. Even the unease between her brows was softened by her radiance.

Benbutai, dressed in apricot-colored satin, skipped and hopped over to Zhe Zhe, proudly holding up her little sheep doll: "Auntie, look! The palace maid tied a red string to my little sheep too!"

Looking at her niece, Zhe Zhe felt both gratified and emotional.

Hailanzhu's beauty was renowned on the grasslands, and now, dressed in palace attire, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Such beauty would surely win His Majesty's favor and bring more support to the Khorchin.

As for Benbutai, she is still young, with a childlike innocence in her eyes and brows. It seems that His Majesty will not let her serve him tonight.

Zhe Zhe also wanted to teach Hai Lan Zhu some court etiquette.

However, at this time.

Footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by a eunuch's high-pitched but respectful announcement:

"Your Majesty has arrived~"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she could no longer bother with teaching Hailanzhu proper etiquette. She quickly took Hailanzhu's slightly cool hand, then bent down and pulled Benbutai, who was playing with a sheep doll, to her side. She quickly straightened the hem of her dark blue palace dress and then helped Hailanzhu adjust the collar of her pomegranate red brocade palace dress.

Having done all this, she led the two quickly to the palace gate, her knees curtsying in an elegant arc, her voice respectful yet steady:

"Your Majesty, I am Zhe Zhe, I am Hai Lan Zhu, and I am Ben Butai. We respectfully welcome Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."

Benbutai didn't quite understand the difference between "slave" and "concubine," and just quietly repeated Zhe Zhe's tune, clutching the little sheep doll tied with a red string tightly in her hand. Her round eyes secretly lifted from her arms and curiously looked outside the palace.

Soon, Zhu Youxiao walked in.

His gaze first fell on the three people bowing, then swept over the dinner already laid out on the table, and finally settled steadily on Zhe Zhe and Hai Lan Zhu.

He had seen Zhe Zhe's docility before.

Unlike the reserved concubines of the Central Plains, or the timid palace maids, she was exceptionally skilled in bed, capable of exhausting a man until his legs went weak.

Although Hailanzhu was kneeling beside Zhe Zhe, with most of her body obscured, the curve of her figure extending from her neck to her waist was made particularly clear by her pomegranate red palace dress.

Just now, she was nervously clutching the hem of her skirt, and now her hands were still slightly curled up, like a frightened little animal, which made Zhu Youxiao even more interested.

"Everyone, get up."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

He didn't look any further, walked straight to the head seat at the table, and as soon as he sat down, he raised his chin toward the two of them and said, "Come and sit down."

Zhe Zhe quickly replied "Yes," first helping Hailanzhu to her feet, then patting Benbutai's head and whispering:
"Butai, go sit on the soft couch over there and wait for His Majesty to have his meal."

Benbutai obediently ran to the soft couch under the west window, sat down with his little sheep doll in his arms, but his eyes were still fixed on the three people at the table, blinking curiously.

Zhe Zhe and Hai Lanzhu walked to the sides of the table and were about to sit down on the embroidered stools next to them when Zhu Youxiao reached out and pulled them to the seats next to him, one on each side.

The seat was more spacious than a regular stool, just enough to accommodate three people.

Zhe Zhe was prepared and leaned over, gently placing her arm in Zhu Youxiao's arm.

Hailanzhu was so startled that she froze. When Zhu Youxiao put his arm around her waist, she trembled uncontrollably and even held her breath, afraid of disturbing the emperor in front of her.

Zhu Youxiao could clearly sense the difference between the two.

Zhe Zhe's waist and abdomen were soft yet plump.

Hailanzhu's body appeared even more muscular; through the thin palace dress, one could feel her warm skin and the slight rise and fall of her chest due to nervousness.

He looked down at Hailanzhu in his arms and saw that she kept her head down, her black hair falling down beside her cheeks, covering most of her face, only revealing a section of her fair chin. He then reached out and gently grasped her wrist.

Hailanzhu's wrists were slender but not thin, and her fingertips were icy cold. When Zhu Youxiao grasped them, she shrank back like a startled deer, but dared not break free.

"Do not be afraid."

Zhu Youxiao's voice carried a hint of amusement as his fingertips gently caressed her wrist.

"Raise your head and let me see."

Upon hearing this, Hailanzhu's eyelashes trembled violently. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly raised her head.

She initially lowered her eyes, not daring to look directly at Zhu Youxiao. Only when she felt the emperor's gaze did she muster her courage and slowly raise her eyes.

Once I looked up, I couldn't look away.

The Zhu Youxiao before me, still brimming with the spirit of the great victory in Liaodong, still carried an indelible air of heroism between his brows.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, with the brow peaks slightly raised, revealing a hint of imperial sharpness.

His eyes were bright as stars, and when he looked at her, they held a hint of inquiry, but not a trace of ferocity.

With a high nose bridge, well-defined lips, and a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, his face appeared even more handsome.

The warriors she had seen on the grasslands were mostly rugged and unrestrained; she had never seen a man who possessed both heroism and handsomeness.
Moreover, this was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the person she would be serving from now on.

Hailanzhu's eyes suddenly lit up, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. Even her previous nervousness dissipated, leaving only a shy flutter in her heart.

Seeing her like this, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but find it amusing.

He gently pinched Hailanzhu's cheek with his fingertips, feeling its delicate and smooth texture, and then teased with a smile, "What? Did my appearance frighten you?"

Hailanzhu quickly shook her head, her voice barely audible, yet tinged with genuine panic: "No...no, Your Majesty...Your Majesty is very handsome."

After saying that, she realized her words were too direct and quickly lowered her head, her ears turning bright red. Seeing this, Zhe Zhe, standing nearby, was secretly pleased; this was a good start. She immediately said softly:
"Your Majesty, dinner is getting cold. Shall I serve you some food?"

Zhu Youxiao then withdrew his gaze.

He nodded, but didn't let go of Hailanzhu's arm. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of chestnut, and held it to Hailanzhu's lips, his tone laced with a touch of lazy indulgence:
"Try this braised chicken with chestnuts. It was specially made by the imperial kitchen according to the Jiangnan style. See if it suits your taste."

Hailanzhu paused for a moment, then blushed, opened her mouth slightly, and put the chestnut in her mouth.

The chestnuts were soft, sweet, and fragrant, with the savory flavor of chicken, but she had no mind to savor them at the moment. Her heart was filled with the warmth of the emperor's palm and the eyes that had just captivated her. Even her chewing movements became exceptionally gentle.

A bite of vegetables, a bite of rice.

Soon, Zhu Youxiao had eaten and drunk his fill.

The fullness in my stomach has subsided, and a deeper craving is quietly spreading through my limbs and bones.

His gaze fell on Hailanzhu beside him.

The girl had just finished her meal, and her cheeks were flushed with a faint blush. Her eyes, which had been filled with fear, were now misty with a layer of moisture due to the alcohol and shyness, making them appear even more lively.

Zhu Youxiao slowly leaned forward, his warm breath falling on Hailanzhu's neck, causing the girl to tremble. She subconsciously buried her head in her chest, her black hair falling down to cover her reddened ears.

"It's getting late."

Zhu Youxiao's voice was deep and hoarse. He reached out and grabbed Hailanzhu's waist, and with a little force, he lifted her up in his arms.

"It's time to rest."

"what!"

Caught off guard, Hailanzhu let out a soft gasp, her arms instinctively wrapping around Zhu Youxiao's neck. Her palms touched the warm skin beneath his dragon robe, and her cheeks instantly turned as red as if they could bleed.

She dared not open her eyes, and could only bury her face in Zhu Youxiao's shoulder, her heart pounding like a drum, and her breathing becoming rapid.

Zhu Youxiao carried her and walked steadily toward the bed in the inner hall.

The brocade curtains had already been drawn, and a thick brocade quilt was laid on the couch.

He gently placed Hailanzhu on the couch and leaned down to gaze at her.

The girl's eyes were tightly closed, and her eyelashes trembled violently.

"Don't be afraid."

Zhu Youxiao gently comforted him.

Before long, sounds unsuitable for children arose in the inner hall.

Beside the soft couch in the outer hall, Benbutai held a small sheep doll, its ears perked up in curiosity.

She couldn't understand the soft sounds coming from the inner palace, but she felt that the sounds were gentle, like the songs her sisters sang on the grassland.

Seeing Zhe Zhe standing to the side, her cheeks flushed, she skipped over and looked up at him, asking:

"Auntie, what are my sister and His Majesty doing inside? Why do they sound so strange?"

Upon hearing this, Zhe Zhe's ears turned red.

She suppressed the heat in her heart, bent down and touched Benbutai's head, her voice sounding somewhat unnatural.

"They...they're playing a game for adults."

"An adult game?"

Benbutai tilted his head, his eyes sparkling.

"Is it fun? Benbutai wants to play too!"

"Silly boy."

Zhe Zhe smiled helplessly, her cheeks flushing even more, and she gently stroked Benbutai's nose.

"You can only play this game when you're as big as your older sister. For now, you'd better stay here and wait patiently, okay?"

Benbutai nodded as if he understood, then sat back down on the soft couch with his little sheep doll in his arms, though his curious eyes kept glancing toward the inner sanctuary.

Just then, Zhu Youxiao's somewhat languid voice came from the inner hall, clearly penetrating the curtains:

"Beautiful lady, come in too."

Zhe Zhe's body stiffened abruptly, then she took a deep breath, straightened her robes, and entered the inner hall.

Zhu Youxiao reached out his hand to Zhe Zhe, a smile in his eyes: "Come here."

Zhe Zhe obediently walked over, only to be pulled into Zhu Youxiao's arms.

The candlelight still flickered, and the figures inside the curtains gradually overlapped. The low murmurs of phoenixes and dragons intertwined with soft whispers, accompanied by the sound of the wind outside the window, making the night scene of Lijing Pavilion even more enchanting.

soon.

Everything became calm and peaceful.

Zhu Youxiao leaned against the headboard, one arm around Hailanzhu and the other lightly resting on Zhe Zhe's waist.

The lingering intimacy of the moment had not yet completely faded; the blush on their cheeks had not yet disappeared, and their hair was disheveled and clung to their necks, revealing a hint of post-coital fragility.

"I have good news to tell you all."

Zhu Youxiao's voice was slightly husky and lazy, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes. He looked down at Hailanzhu in his arms and gently pinched her chin with his fingertips.

"The Ming Dynasty has won a great victory in Liaodong. Nurhaci, that traitorous chieftain, has been beheaded by our soldiers. Your Khorchin tribe has made a great contribution by sending troops to help us this time."

"Nurhaci is dead?"

Hailanzhu suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with shock.

When she was on the grassland, she often heard her people talk about Nurhaci's ferocity. Now that she heard he had died in battle, she looked at Zhu Youxiao with more admiration.

Zhu Youxiao looked into her bright eyes, his smile deepening: "Not only that, I will also grant your father, Buhe Taiji, a special permission to come to Beijing. So that he can see for himself what it's like for you in the palace."

Upon hearing these words, Hailanzhu's eyes instantly reddened.

Although she had been in the palace for several days and had Zhe Zhe by her side, she always missed her family who were far away on the grasslands. When she heard that the emperor wanted to summon her father to the capital, she thought that Zhu Youxiao was showing her concern for her homesickness and was deeply moved.

Ignoring her shyness, she reached out and hooked her arm around Zhu Youxiao's neck, gently kissing his cheek, her voice soft and slightly choked with emotion:
"Hailanzhu... Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is so kind to Hailanzhu!"

The warm touch on his cheek, carrying the unique fragrance of a young girl, stirred Zhu Youxiao's heart, and he tightened his arms around Hailanzhu's slender waist.

"You are my woman, so naturally I will treat you well."

Of course, while he was showering Zhu Youxiao with sweet words, he had other plans in mind.

Sending Buhe and Taiji to the capital was not only to fulfill the promise made to the Khorchin, but also to let him see with his own eyes the favor bestowed upon Zhe Zhe and Hailanzhu in the palace, and to use this glory of being "royal relatives" to completely bind the hearts of the Khorchin.

After all, nothing is more comforting than letting the tribal chief witness his daughter's nobility.

He will conquer the grasslands one day!
Let's make arrangements for the Khorchin tribe first.

While Hailanzhu in his arms was still overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her father, Zhu Youxiao's gaze turned to Zhe Zhe beside him.

His fingertips traced Zhe Zhe's back, his tone carrying a hint of deliberate teasing:
"Now that Nurhaci is dead, Daišan has died in battle, and Mangultai has been captured, the Jurchens are leaderless. It seems that Huang Taiji will be in charge from now on."

Your husband might soon become the Khan of the Jurchens.

"His Majesty!"

Zhe Zhe's body trembled suddenly, then she patted Zhu Youxiao's arm reproachfully, her cheeks flushing even more deeply.

"I am now Your Majesty's woman and have long since severed all ties with him. If Your Majesty mentions him again, it will surely displease me."

Zhu Youxiao chuckled inwardly as he watched her feigned coquettishness.

Of course, he wouldn't tell Zhe Zhe the wicked humor hidden in his words.

Historically, Zhe Zhe, Hai Lan Zhu, and even Ben Butai, who was still holding a lamb doll in the outer palace, were all Huang Taiji's women, but now they have all fallen into his hands. If Huang Taiji knew that he had been cuckolded three times, he would probably be so angry that he would vomit blood.

However, this wicked sense of humor was fleeting.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze gradually deepened.

Conquering a nation is never just about winning on the battlefield; it also means conquering their hearts and minds, and even their women.

The Jianzhou Jurchens were just the beginning.

In his hands, the Ming Dynasty will eventually return to its peak.

Even further!
When the Ming Dynasty's iron cavalry can sweep across the four seas, reach the coast of England, and drink from the Seine River in France, why can't those so-called Queen of England and Princess of France become his bedmates?
At that time, he would let the whole world know that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty could not only sweep away powerful enemies on the battlefield, but also take all the treasures and beauties from all directions into his arms.

It can only be said that the great victory in Liaodong has made Zhu Youxiao arrogant.

Of course, Zhu Youxiao hadn't completely gone astray yet.

Enjoy life when you can, and work hard when you can.

Work and rest.

Have a good dream today.

Tomorrow, I will once again be immersed in the heavy affairs of state.

New policies, ancestral system, Nanjing, Korea, Liaodong.
thing
There are quite a lot!
ps:
Please subscribe!!!

This is really important to me!

(End of this chapter)