Chu Huanyi almost didn't know what to eat.
She shared the same table with a few princes 'wives and two princesses, but she did not know any of these people. In addition, her personality was originally silent and she was not good at socializing with others, so when she encountered such a situation, she really became a gourd with a stuffy mouth.
However, Chu Huanyi knew that the real reason for her unease and anxiety was not the occasion or the person beside her, but Xuanyuan Rui.
He…he was actually King Han? He was Xuanyuan Qi's half-brother and his uncle?
Did he know that she was the Crown Prince's concubine? No, he probably didn't know. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked for her name or who her parents were. Everyone in the palace knew that she, Chu Huanyi, came from the Phoenix Palace of Dunhuang and was the Nine Phoenix of Dunhuang.
But now he knew that he was still…still looking at her like that, still using his eyes to strip her naked, caressing her whole body, using his eyes to possess her again and again, making her not know what to do. She only wanted to escape, to escape far away, to a place where there was no one and no one.
However, she couldn't leave. At least, before the Emperor left, she couldn't leave.
Therefore, Chu Huanyi could only continue to sit on pins and needles, eating the delicacies that were supposed to be delicacies from the mountains and seas, but were now like wax pills to her.
Suddenly, a deep, pleasant, and magnetic voice sounded beside Chu Huanyi.""Sister-in-law, this bird's nest mushroom pot roast duck should be eaten while it's hot.”
Chu Huanyi was shocked. She quickly turned around and saw Xuanyuan Rui's good-looking, smiling face." You…"
Xuanyuan Rui held a glass of wine in his hand and said to the women on the table,""To sisters-in-law and sisters!"
When all the princes and wives saw Xuanyuan Rui come to their side, they were overjoyed and smiled. They quickly raised their glasses and returned the greeting.
Among them, King Ping's wife said with her eyes full of lust,"Eighth Brother, you look good and can drink well. Why don't you come to our house tomorrow? Your brother misses you, and I miss you too.”
Xuanyuan Rui smiled but did not answer. His passionate eyes were fixed on Chu Huanyi as he said meaningfully,"Sister-in-law, you haven't returned my wine.”
Chu Huanyi avoided Xuanyuan Rui's gaze and shook her head.""I don't know how to drink, please forgive me.”
"Is that so? Then I'll drink this cup on sister-in-law's behalf!"
"No, you can't do that…"
But it was too late! Xuanyuan Rui had already picked up her wine glass and drank it in one gulp, ignoring the strange looks of the others.
He held the wine glass in front of Chu Huanyi and looked at her half-jokingly and half-seriously.""Sister-in-law, today is the first time we've met. As the saying goes, ten years of cultivation can lead to the same boat, and a hundred years of cultivation can lead to the same pillow.”
" I…" Chu Huanyi's face turned red, and she was speechless.
This man is so bold! He clearly knew that she was his sister-in-law and the Crown Prince's concubine, yet he still teased her in front of everyone like this? Did he…did he not have any laws, family rules, or ethics in his eyes?
"Sister-in-law?" Xuanyuan Rui handed the wine glass to Chu Huanyi and stared at her with his burning eyes, as if reminding her of the passionate kiss that morning.
Chu Huanyi's face was red all the way to her neck. She didn't know what to do. Pouring wine was equivalent to accepting Xuanyuan Rui's teasing, but not pouring wine seemed to reject people thousands of miles away. What should she do?
At this moment, the voice of the King of Southern Qin, Xuanyuan Ting, came from the front.
"Zhen is old, it is not good to drink too much wine. Where is the Crown Prince?"
Xuanyuan Qi quickly stood up from his chair." Your son is here."”
"You are the Crown Prince and the boss. Since Zhen isn't here, you can receive them on Zhen's behalf! Logically speaking, they are all your brothers and sisters, and they will be your trusted subordinates in the future. You should get close to them and bond with them.”
Xuanyuan Qi's spirits were lifted as he said loudly,"Your son understands. Don't worry, father.”
"Yes!" Xuanyuan Ting's eyes narrowed. He glanced at Xuanyuan Rui and Chu Huanyi from afar before turning around and returning to the palace without saying a word.
As soon as Xuanyuan Ting stepped out, all the ministers, princes, princesses, and princesses in the room knelt down to see him off. This kneel had resolved Chu Huanyi's awkwardness.
However, Chu Huanyi did not expect Xuanyuan Rui to kneel as well. Coincidentally, he was kneeling beside her.
Chu Huanyi was taken aback. She wanted to dodge, but Xuanyuan Rui grabbed her hand." Don't go. Do you really not want to see me?"”
"I…"
Xuanyuan Rui leaned over and kissed her cheek unexpectedly. Then, he took off her earrings." I'll wait for you in the cave by Tianyin Lake at midnight tonight." If you come, I'll return the earring to you, but if you don't come, I'll give the earring the Empress Dowager gave you to the Crown Prince and see how you explain it to him!”
Chu Huanyi gasped." You…"
Xuanyuan Rui didn't give Chu Huanyi a chance to say no. He pointed at his own mouth and then kissed hers. Chu Huanyi immediately understood and blushed.
He kissed her again! Although he did not touch her directly, she felt that she had been ambushed by him again and kissed by him in front of everyone.
She…What should she do? What should he do?
In the third watch, Chu Huanyi sneaked out of Chuxiu Palace's side door. He avoided the guards guarding the door and headed toward the fake mountain cave by Tianyin Lake.
Fortunately, Xuanyuan Qi's confidence was greatly boosted after hearing what Xuanyuan Tinglin said. He was overjoyed, so he drank a few more cups. In addition, in order to curry favor with the future crown prince, a few ministers sent two Persian women to serve him. Otherwise, she did not know how to avoid him and come to Xuanyuan Rui's appointment!
Wastrel? Yes, Xuanyuan Rui was indeed a prodigal son. If he wasn't, would he dare to kiss her the first time they met? If he wasn't, would he still dare to tease her after knowing her identity and even take the earrings the Empress Dowager gave him? If he wasn't, why would he invite her to this place so late at night? He clearly knew that she was his sister-in-law, but he still did it!
[What is this man thinking? Doesn't he know that doing this is wrong and that he will be punished by the heavens?]
Chu Huanyi cursed Xuanyuan Rui in her heart, but she cursed herself the most.
Why did she come to his appointment? She could have ignored him and told Xuanyuan Qi directly. She had even told the Southern King of Qin and the Empress Dowager that he had molested her, but why hadn't she done so? Instead, she secretly went to an appointment late at night without Xuanyuan Qi's knowledge?
She did not know. She only knew that she had to get the earring back because it was a gift from the Empress Dowager. If others knew, especially Xuanyuan Qi, that the earring was taken away by Xuanyuan Rui, how would she explain it? When that time came, everyone would know that she, the dignified Yuetian, was actually involved with her uncle. Wouldn't that be…
Yes! She wanted to retrieve the earring. As long as she retrieved the earring, she would have nothing to do with this man anymore. From then on, she would stay in Chuxiu Palace and not leave his side. She would obediently be Xuanyuan Qi's concubine, wait for the consummation of the marriage, be his woman, and then have a few children. When the mission was over, he would return to the Phoenix Palace and continue to live happily with his other brothers and sisters.
Yes, that was it!
As he was thinking, Chu Huanyi had already arrived in front of the fake mountain.
She turned around the stone bridge and was about to enter the cave when a pair of strong arms suddenly hugged her from behind.
Chu Huanyi turned pale with fright. However, this person's movements were frighteningly fast. As soon as Chu Huanyi opened her mouth, he had already turned her over. Then, his two scalding lips covered her and sucked on her heavily.
Chu Huanyi was both shocked and angry. She tried her best to hit him, but her struggle was like rain falling into the sea. Instead, it made the man harden his heart. He raised her hands and pinned her to the ground, immobilizing her.
"What a ruthless heart, what great anger. This is your first reaction when you see your lover? I waited for you here for half a night and the wind blew all night in vain." Xuanyuan Rui's sturdy body pressed down on her, holding her hands with one hand and caressing her beautiful face with the other. Even though he couldn't see her face clearly in the darkness, he knew that she must be furious at this moment.
"Only a ghost would acknowledge you as his lover! Let me go, let me go!" Chu Huanyi struggled and twisted her body.
Xuanyuan Rui's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked deeply at Chu Huanyi, feeling the warmth and touch of their bodies."If I'm not your lover, why would you give me earrings and come to my date late at night?”
"Nonsense, when did I give you earrings? You took it from me! Give it back, give me back the earring, give it back!”
Xuanyuan Rui laughed softly, and his hand that was caressing her face moved down one by one. First, it was her round shoulders, and then…
"I can return it to you, but how are you going to thank me?”
"Why…thank you?"
"Yes, as far as I know, this earring was a token of love that the Retired Emperor gave to the Empress Dowager when she was selected to enter the palace. If the empress dowager knew that you gave this token of love to another man, what do you think she would do?”he said evilly.
Chu Huanyi was fuming, and her entire body trembled." You…I…"
He caressed her slightly angry face lovingly." Don't be angry. Don't you know that when you're angry, people will want to take you for themselves?”
Chu Huanyi blushed." You…You're despicable. You're shameless. You…You're not human. You even dared to flirt with your own sister-in-law. You're simply…simply…"
"Simply what?"
"This is simply…"
"How dare you?" Xuanyuan Rui's mouth twitched."I've always been like this. I'll try my best to get what I want, no matter what it is."But now, I want you. No matter who you are or where you come from, I want you! Because you were destined to be my woman!”
After saying that, he lowered his head and covered her mouth again.
Chu Huanyi had no way to defend herself. Firstly, her hands were pinned down by him, and her legs were tied up by him. Furthermore, her body was being held down by him, teaching her how to resist and how to move. Secondly, she had never let anyone kiss her like this before, so she didn't know what to do to stop him from bullying and taking advantage of her.
Although Xuanyuan Qi had kissed her before, she knew what Xuanyuan Qi was thinking. She would usually avoid him the moment he moved. However, the man in front of her was different. She realized that she had no idea what he was thinking, and she could not guess his thoughts and actions. This made her panic and even more anxious to leave him.
She struggled weakly, trying to find a gap in his passionate kiss." No, no…"
Xuanyuan Rui propped himself up and looked down at her." No? You should have known what would happen before you came here, and now you're telling me not to?”
Chu Huanyi was so embarrassed that her entire body was trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes." I'm here to get my earring back. Let me go and give me back my earring, okay?"”
"Not good! I said I want you. Unless I can get you, I won't return the earring to you.”
Chu Huanyi shook her head desperately, and tears slowly dripped down her ears."Let me go! I'm the Crown Prince's wife, your sister-in-law. Have you forgotten?”
He shook his head." I've said that I want you. I don't care what your identity is, what your position is, where you come from, or what kind of fate you carry. I want you for the rest of my life!”
" But I've already married your big brother. Why did you have to…"
"You're still a virgin, aren't you?" Xuanyuan Rui interrupted.”
Chu Huanyi was stunned." You…"
He carried her to the moonlight. Through the sparkling moonlight, the pearl red chastity sand on her right arm was clearly visible." As far as I know, as long as it's a woman from the Phoenix Palace, there will be such a chastity sand on her body to ensure that they won't lose their chastity before their eighteenth birthday and won't endanger the fate and mission they carry. As for the men of the Phoenix Palace, they were not allowed to marry before the age of twenty-eight. Otherwise, they would suffer the curse of fate. You come from the Phoenix Palace and are Yue Tian of the Nine Phoenixes of Dunhuang. Even if you marry my brother, you can't consummate your marriage with him before you turn eighteen, right?”
"You…you know?"
"The reputation of the Nine Phoenix of Dunhuang is too resounding, and the legend of the Phoenix Palace of Dunhuang is too mysterious. It's hard not to know.”
"Since that's the case, why do you have to make things difficult for me? Give me back my earring and let me go, okay?”She clung onto his arm and begged.
He still shook his head. Under the moonlight, his handsome face looked even more elegant." Impossible! I said that I want you for sure in this life! Even if you were my Imperial Father's concubine, I would still want you, let alone my sister-in-law.”
" You…" His gentleness and affection, his arrogance, and his determination to only see her made Chu Huanyi almost speechless.
"In order not to embarrass you, and also to not make the Crown Prince make things difficult for you, I won't touch you tonight, lest he finds out that you've lost the Chastity Sand. But remember, I will take you away on the day you turn eighteen and become the Crown Princess. I will make you my woman!”
He gently took out an earring and helped her put it on, then straightened her clothes. Then, he sent her to the side door of Chuxiu Palace and gently stroked her face."Wait for me, I will definitely come and take you away!”
A month later, the South Qin Kingdom officially held the Crown Prince Xuanyuan Qi's coronation ceremony.
Early in the morning, the princes, ministers, and civil and military officials stood by the royal roadside according to their ranks. All the ceremonial guards had set up the honor guard outside Chuxiu Palace the day before, and set up Zhonghe Shaoyue under the east and west eaves of Chuxiu Palace. In the further West Gate, there was Danbi Great Music, together with the festival table, the book table, and the treasure table. When the auspicious time arrived, the coronation ceremony could begin.
At three quarters in the morning, Xuanyuan Qi, led by the officials of the Ministry of Rites, came to the West Gate in a golden dragon robe to inspect the festival table, the book table, and the treasure table. Then he heard the sound of bells and drums, and the sound of Zhonghe Shaoyue.
"The Crown Prince has received the decree of the Sage Emperor to take the Chu family of the Phoenix Palace of Dunhuang as the Crown Prince's concubine.”
After the guard finished speaking, loud music sounded. Chu Huanyi was wearing a ceremonial dress and phoenix crown. Under the lead of the female officer, he walked slowly toward Xuanyuan Qi on a red blanket.
Logically speaking, today was Chu Huanyi's great day as the Crown Princess. She should be jubilant and more beautiful than flowers.
Chu Huanyi was indeed prettier than a flower. Her red dress made her skin whiter than snow, and she was peerlessly beautiful. However, there was no smile on her beautiful face. On the contrary, there was an indescribable nervousness, uneasiness, and hesitation. Her watery eyes peeked behind her from time to time, as if she was waiting for someone.
Just as Chu Huanyi was about to approach Xuanyuan Qi, the female officials and palace maids behind him suddenly let out waves of exclamations. Even the officials and guards were in a commotion because someone had ignored this solemn ceremony and pushed everyone aside to walk straight towards Chu Huanyi. It was the King of Han, Xuanyuan Rui.
Xuanyuan Rui grabbed Chu Huanyi's hand." Huan 'er, come with me!”
Before Chu Huanyi could say anything, Xuanyuan Qi shouted from the throne,""Men, release the arrows! Shoot this traitor who betrayed the emperor and raped his sister-in-law!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a female official beside Chu Huanyi immediately hugged Chu Huanyi and rolled to the ground. For a moment, the sound of arrows being shot at Xuanyuan Rui could be heard.
Xuanyuan Rui was caught off guard. His shoulder, left chest, lower abdomen, and thigh were hit by arrows, and he was instantly covered in blood.
He stared at Chu Huanyi in disbelief." You…"
Chu Huanyi bit her lip and tears fell like rain." Forgive me. I am the Crown Prince's wife. I cannot leave with you.”
He stumbled backward and fell to his knees." I…I really like you. I really want to give up everything and take you far away. You…You actually…"
Before Xuanyuan Rui could finish his sentence, blood spurted out of his mouth.
Chu Huanyi shook his head repeatedly and cried,""I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Forget me, forget me!”
" I..." Xuanyuan Rui held his hands unwillingly and wanted to stand up." I'm not willing, I'm not willing!" I like you so much, but you…Woo!”
Xuanyuan Rui grunted as another arrow hit his back. This arrow was shot by Crown Prince Xuanyuan Qi himself.
" You..." Xuanyuan Rui fell to the ground, blood pouring out of his body.
Xuanyuan Qi stood tall with a bow in his hand." Eighth Brother, don't blame me! Who taught you to do such a thing?”
As he spoke, Xuanyuan Qi raised his bow and arrow again, ready to shoot Xuanyuan Rui, who he had always regarded as a mortal threat.
Suddenly, Xuanyuan Ting's aged and furious voice, which was tinged with grief and pain, rang out,""Stop! He's your biological brother. Do you really want to kill him?”
All the princes, ministers, palace maids, and guards knelt on the ground." Your Majesty!”
Xuanyuan Ting came in front of Xuanyuan Qi, pointed at him, and roared,""The reason why I agreed to you setting up such a fake conferment was because I wanted to teach this unfilial son a lesson. But you put on a show and buried an archer to kill your own brother. Tell me, how much better is your behavior than him raping sister-in-law?”
Xuanyuan Qi quickly dropped his bow and knelt on the ground." Father, I didn't do it on purpose." Your son also knows that this is wrong, but your son really can't take this lying down!”
" I agreed to your request because I knew you couldn't take it lying down. I didn't expect you to…" Xuanyuan Ting sighed." Forget it, what can I do now?" I can only blame myself for not teaching my son strictly, and I can only blame Rui 'er for not being upright. Otherwise, how could I have caused this chaos within the walls and the scandal of brothers killing each other?”
"Imperial Father, please calm down! Your son knows his mistake, your son will not blame eighth brother.”
Xuanyuan Ting snorted." Don't blame him? If you can spare him, I won't let him off! Men!"
A few guards immediately rushed forward." Your Majesty!”
"Remove all of King Han's title and salary, and demote him to a commoner. He will be imprisoned with Concubine Ling in the Great Harmony Palace and will not be allowed to leave for the rest of his life without my permission. Anyone who dares to release him without permission will be punished with the death penalty!”
"Yes!"
"Crown Prince!" Xuanyuan Ting turned to his son.
"Your son is here!"
"As the Crown Prince, you are below one person and above ten thousand people. Now, you are so angry for a mere woman that you don't even care about your own brothers.”
"Imperial Father, please punish me!"
"The Crown Prince will be punished to reflect on his mistakes in Chuxiu Palace for three months and his salary will be suspended for half a year. During these three months, no one is allowed to visit. If anyone disobeys my orders, they will be punished according to the laws of the South Qin Country!”
"Your son obeys."
Xuanyuan Ting's gaze turned to Chu Huanyi. His sharp gaze made Chu Huanyi's heart skip a beat.
Xuanyuan Qi clearly knew what his father was thinking and hurriedly kowtowed to the ground." Father, please spare Huan 'er! She's innocent…"
Xuanyuan Ting interrupted him." Innocent? Since ancient times, beauties have brought disaster to the country and people. If it wasn't for this beauty, how could such a matter of brothers killing each other happen?”
"Imperial Father?"
Xuanyuan Ting waved his hand." Men!"
The two eunuchs hurried out of the room." Your Majesty!”
"Degrade Chu Huanyi to a slave and send him to the laundry bureau to fend for himself.”
Xuanyuan Qi was shocked." Father, you can't do this. You can't do this to Huan 'er. She's innocent, she's innocent…"
Xuanyuan Ting ignored him and turned around to return to the palace.
However, perhaps because he was walking too quickly, or perhaps because his anger was attacking his heart, Xuanyuan Ting stopped after taking a few steps. With one hand on his chest and the other on the pillar, he said with a pale face,"My heart hurts!"
Following that, his body swayed and he fell heavily forward.
Xuanyuan Qi and the eunuchs, as well as all the princes and ministers, surrounded him in panic and shouted," Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
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