The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

A chain adorned with tiny silver bells and colorful glass beads hung around her waist, producing a soft, captivating tinkling sound with her subtle movements.

Her black hair was not tied up, and her neck was as long and slender as a swan's.

When I looked up, those eyes, which were usually watery, suddenly revealed a strange, dazzling brilliance against the backdrop of such rich colors.

Xie Yanzhao's breath hitched; the scene before him had exceeded his expectations.

Shen Tinghe straightened up and boldly leaned in to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Is it pretty, brother?"

Xie Yanzhao raised his hand and put it around her waist, his fingertips brushing against her soft skin.

"nice."

His voice lowered, and his gaze lingered on her.

"This outfit is..."

Shen Tinghe: "This was a gift from Princess Yuanxia. I suddenly remembered it today, so I dug it out and wore it. Doesn't it suit me well?"

Xie Yanzhao did not answer, but bent down and gently buried his face in her chest, taking a deep breath.

"It smells so good, Jiaojiao."

His voice muffled through her clothes, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

Shen Tinghe ran her fingers through his thick black hair and gently rubbed it.

"Where did you go, brother? I've been waiting for you for so long."

Xie Yanzhao straightened up and carried her to the bed.

"Just some trivial matters, not worth mentioning."

He gently placed her under the brocade quilt, his fingers already caressing the sash at her waist, a familiar desire surging in his eyes, his voice deep and hoarse.

"Jiaojiao, is it okay?"

Shen Tinghe's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, muttering softly.

"...When have you ever actually listened when I said no?"

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, and then his kiss landed.

……

……

The air inside the tent was still damp and hot. Shen Tinghe was so tired that her eyelids were heavy. Her clothes were loose and disheveled, barely covering her body.

Xie Yanzhao remained lying in front of her, his thin lips lingering on her delicate belly, occasionally sucking and biting, leaving wet marks and red marks.

Seeing that she was about to fall asleep, he moved over and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her loose hair with his palm.

"Jiaojiao..."

"Mmm..." She unconsciously snuggled into his arms.

"I need to go to Xingzhou in a few days to take care of some business."

He kissed the tip of her ear, his voice very soft.

"Jiaojiao, stay in the palace and wait for me, okay? I'll be back soon."

He had intended to coax her into agreeing while she was half-asleep, but Shen Tinghe suddenly woke up upon hearing it.

She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

"I want to go too."

Xie Yanzhao sighed helplessly, "Goodness, what about Xingzhou..."

"I want to go."

She rolled over and lay on his chest, looking up at him with her eyes glistening with tears.

"Don't leave me alone. You promised we'd never separate again, brother, you're lying again."

By the end, his voice was choked with sobs.

Xie Yanzhao's heart clenched, and he quickly helped her sit up, pulling her into his arms and gently patting her.

"Yuan Yuan, don't cry..."

But she really did shed tears, hot teardrops falling onto the back of his hand, her voice both soft and stubborn.

"I want to go too... I know medicine, maybe I can help. Brother, don't leave me behind."

Shen Tinghe cried as she snuggled into his arms.

Given this situation, Xie Yanzhao couldn't possibly utter a single word of refusal.

He wished he could meld her into his very bones and present her with all the peace and joy in the world.

"well."

He kissed away the tears on her cheek, his voice as gentle as water.

"We won't separate; we'll take Yuan Yuan with us."

Xie Yanzhao cupped her face in his hands: "Let your brother see, is your little crybaby still shedding tears?"

Shen Tinghe sobbed and accused, "It's still falling... It's all my brother's fault."

Xie Yanzhao lowered his head and kissed her eyes, then her cheeks, and finally covered her trembling lips with his.

Pity and love almost overflowed from the corners of his eyes and brows.

"We won't separate."

He pressed his forehead against hers, speaking each word as if it were a promise, or a vow.

"How could I bear to leave Yuan Yuan?"

Xingzhou, the Qi Prince's Mansion.

The main hall was brightly lit by candles, but they could not dispel the somber and chilling atmosphere.

King Qi sat high on a sandalwood chair. Although he was over forty, the sharp features of his former self could still be seen between his brows.

But the scar on his left cheek, running diagonally from the corner of his eye to the tip of his nose, resembled a dead centipede, completely shattering any remaining gentleness and leaving only a chilling ferocity.

The subordinate knelt below the hall and nervously recounted the news from the capital.

Xie Yanzhao did not die, but Xie Xuancheng was executed for treason.

The expected thunderous rage did not materialize. King Qi merely leaned back slightly, his knuckles tapping absently on the cold armrest.

The silence was like invisible ice water flooding the hall, almost drowning people.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"A bunch of useless good-for-nothings. We practically used up all the resources in the capital to send them to the hunting grounds, and they still haven't completed their mission..."

He paused, lazily lifting his eyelids, but his gaze was sharp as a poisoned needle.

"Then kill them all."

The subordinate shuddered, almost doubting he had misheard, and instinctively looked up: "Your Highness...all of them?"

The King of Qi's gaze fell on his face, which was eerily empty.

"Don't understand what I'm saying? You can die with them."

"Understood! I'll take care of it right away!"

The subordinates scrambled to their feet and hastily retreated, afraid of being a step too slow.

Feng Yi, the strategist who had been standing quietly to the side, now had fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

He carefully considered his words before speaking: "Your Highness, managing things in the capital has not been easy. Should we keep some of these people for the future? Such a decision might discourage the people below."

The King of Qi did not answer immediately; the candlelight flickered in his unfathomable eyes, reflecting a cold, murderous intent.

"Mr. Feng, I want to make an example of them. Let those incompetent and opportunistic lackeys see that in my hands, failure means certain death."

He tilted his head slightly, the scars distorting in the candlelight: "You think...it won't work?"

Feng Yi immediately lowered his head deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing: "This subordinate dares not."

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; he knew his master's temperament all too well.

Violent and unrestrained, capricious and unpredictable.

To him, human life was nothing more than a pawn or a blade of grass.

At that moment, the side door made a soft sound.

Princess Qi, with her head bowed and eyes lowered, entered slowly and cautiously, carrying a freshly brewed cup of tea.

She was only in her early twenties, but her face was shrouded in an inescapable haggardness and dejection. The fine lines around her eyes and her dim gaze made her look like she was in her thirties.

Mingyan walked silently to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured warm water into the porcelain cup.

He held it up with both hands and respectfully handed it to the King of Qi.

The King of Qi did not accept it.

His cold gaze fell on her lowered neck and her submissive, almost numb posture, and a strange, wicked fire suddenly flared up.

He suddenly raised his hand and swung it hard!

"Clang—"

The porcelain cup flew out and shattered into pieces on the smooth ground, splashing scalding tea onto Mingyan's skirt and the back of her hand.

She trembled violently, but did not utter a sound, and immediately knelt down.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. I know I was wrong."

"Do you know you're wrong?" King Qi looked down at her, his tone full of annoyance.