Chapter 253：Geode

After resolving Zhao Xin Ran's marriage, Zhao Xuan recorded Zhao Bi Xuan's scheme in his heart, but he also grew suspicious. She was buried deep in the palace, why was her reach so long? She even knew about Ji Gou Duchy's dark secret. Even if Qi Yi Ning was pampering her, he would never talk about such a family scandal in front of an imperial concubine, so she must've made some contacts before entering the palace. Zhao Xuan couldn't stand being belittled by the enemy, when Zhao Bi Xuan ignored customs to suppress his family and promote her mother, she had already violated his bottom line.

He ordered a thorough investigation of Zhao Bi Xuan, planning to cut off her sticky fingers. Just knowing that she was that man's most beloved woman, he already couldn't control his hatred. But when the spies sent back news, he was shocked, Zhao Bi Xuan's backer was not Qi Yi Ning, nor was it Old Marquess Wen Yuan, it was actually Qi Jin Yu.

He still remembered the time child Qi Jin Yu snuck out of the palace and had gotten lost in the capital's Lantern Festival carnival, Zhao Bi Xuan had brought Qi Jin Yu to him, asking him to send him back to the palace. To his knowledge, this was the only time the two met. But now, it seemed that they have always been meeting in secret. A man being so protective of a woman, even divulging royal secrets to her so she could have her revenge, their relationship was obviously not just simple friendship. Why did Qi Jin Yu approach Zhao Bi Xuan? Was it simply attraction between man and woman? Or was he using her to get to someone close to her?

Zhao Xuan suddenly wanted to see that person learn of his most beloved woman's true face, what expression would he make?

Zhou Yun Sheng quickly granted the Gong Prince a marriage. In order to guard against any surprises, the Empress Dowager set the wedding date for March next year, but she also frequently called Luo Lan over to the palace to socialize, and didn't forget to call over the Gong Prince, so the future couple could cultivate their feelings. The Gong Prince was extraordinarily handsome and had a noble identity, Luo Lan was naturally very happy, blushing, she strolled with him around the Imperial Garden, her eyes darting between his tall his back and the garden full of autumn chrysanthemum. Zhao Bi Xuan seemed to have self-torture tendencies, specifically choosing to 'accidentally' run into the two people whenever they were alone. Seeing their flirting silhouettes, her eyes would sometimes redden, and she'd rush back to Feng Yi Palace, claiming sudden sickness.

While Zhou Yun Sheng was adding fuel to their adulterous fire, he stepped up on gaining control over the imperial court. Whether it was him, or the former Qi Yi Ning, they both possessed extraordinary governing talent. Because he'd slacked off for three years, the An Prince and the Gong Prince had managed to grasp some power, but it only took him a month to break down and recover that power, of course, this didn't include the Northwest Army's power.

Zhao Xuan could also play the servant boy, the day after he came back from the border, he willing handed over the Hufu. It made it seem like he had no attachment to power, but the whole Northwest Army were his loyal subjects, they only recognize the man, no this seal. And Zhou Yun Sheng's own imperial edict had given the man prestige, this Hufu was now a useless lump of broken copper and rusted iron. Moreover, the man had beat down every Northwest minister, but he beheaded without killing, like a wolf driving a flock of sheep, slaughtering the plumpest ones while leaving the rest to slowly grow fatter. In this way, he earned military achievements, and because of the border's instability, he gained long-term control over the Northwest regime, he really knew how to calculate. He even privately traded with each ministry, earning a huge profit.

The spies Zhou Yun Sheng sent couldn't find out more information, but from these random bits of data, Zhao Xuan's power and wealth was estimated to be no less than the Emperor's. If he started a rebellion, Zhou Yun Sheng didn't think he could fully suppress it, the country was bound to be split in half.

Zhou Yun Sheng gripped the Hufu and shook his head with a bitter smile, nevertheless, he had no plans to intervene in the Northwest's political affairs.

———–

A month later, the royal family held the annual Autumn Hunt. Zhou Yun Sheng took the roster of hundreds of officials and invited the rank four and higher officials, and the extended imperial family. Zhao Xuan was naturally invited.

"Grand General, when are we going back to the Northwest? The capital is fun, but it's not our territory, it's quite inconvenient to act." A Deputy General marched his horse up to Zhao Xuan's side, inquiring in a low voice.

"Just wait, I still have something left to do." Zhao Xuan stared at the imperial carriage up ahead.

The Deputy General nodded, not daring to inquire further.

When they arrived at the destination, the imperial guards had already set up camp, and the crowd would take a little break before going their own ways. Although every household had a few brothers that couldn't wait to kill each other, they were very friendly on the surface. The Gong Prince followed Zhou Yun Sheng left and right, calling out "Brother Emperor", wanting to go deer hunting with him. Zhou Yun Sheng noticed that his eyes always lingered on Zhao Bi Xuan, who was wearing a man's hunting uniform, and looking particularly valiant and handsome. He knew that he was fiercely missing Zhao Bi Xuan, so much so his eyes could almost spray out fire.

Zhou Yun Sheng was already planning to encourage their adultery, suddenly shouting 'prey', he led the imperial guards and galloped ahead, quickly leaving the slowpokes behind. Qi Jin Yu beat his horse and chased for a while, but when he noticed that Zhao Bi Xuan couldn't keep up, he also pretended to be weak at riding, slowly stopping at the roadside. How the two enjoyed this stolen time was not worth mentioning. Zhou Yun Sheng galloped into the forest and unexpectedly came across a snow white elk, then immediately gave chase.

The forest trail gradually became overwhelmed with weeds, if they continued riding horses, hunting would become very difficult. Zhou Yun Sheng appointed two guards to watch over the horses and led Meng Kang deeper into the forest. When he reached a brook and drew his bow at the deer, a black masked man suddenly jumped down from the trees, attacking with amazing speed.

Meng Kang saw someone heading straight towards the Emperor and quickly pulled out his sword to block them, but after going a few rounds, he gradually started losing ground, and couldn't help but panic. He knew that he was not this man's opponent, so he immediately blew the whistle hanging around his neck, summoning the other guards. Zhou Yun Sheng stood outside the battle arena with his bow and arrow, observing the masked man's muscle lines sketched out under his black clothes with great interest. No matter where he looked, this man's figure was first-class, if drenched with sweat after a night of passion, Zhou Yun Sheng would eagerly lick that sweat stained, bronze skin clean, inch by inch.

That's right, this masked man was Zhao Xuan. Forget about wearing a mask, even if he was turned to ashes, Zhou Yun Sheng would still recognize him. He wanted to see what the man thought he could accomplish by doing this, but soon he had no mood for relaxation, because Zhao Xuan's moves were getting more and more ruthless, actually attacking Meng Kang with killing intent.

His eyes narrowing in an instant, he unsheathed the sword at his waist and kicked Meng Kang out of Zhao Xuan's attack range, narrowly saving his life. Meng Kang was speechless, before this, he always thought that although the Emperor was trained in martial arts, his strength would certainly not be as high as these battle hardened soldiers, but the reality showed him that he was outrageously wrong. The masked man's martial arts skill was high enough to be rare, but the Emperor faced him evenly without the slightest sign of losing ground. The two warriors collided, you strike I dodge, within a few breaths, dozens of blows were exchanged, the moves critical.

When the Emperor suddenly joined the battle, the black masked man's killing intent instantly vanished, replaced by surprise and appreciation. He attacked and retreated, stealthily leading the Emperor deeper into the forest, according to the two's pace, in less than a quarter hour, Meng Kang and the pursuing guards would lose their trail.

Zhou Yun Sheng didn't believe that Zhao Xuan was trying to kill him, so even knowing that he was being isolated, he didn't hesitate to follow.

As the surrounding trees grew larger and thicker, layers of foliage covered up the sun, making the surrounding light grow dim. Zhao Xuan suddenly increased his offensive, in one move he knocked the sword out of the Emperor's hands, then pressed him face first against a tree trunk and bound both his wrists with a rope. He ripped off his black mask and repurposed it as a blindfold, blinding the Emperor.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Zhou Yun Sheng asked knowing the answer. He was too familiar with this blindfolding trick, instantly, many erotic scenes popped into his mind, making his throat feel dry, his body becoming compliant.

Zhao Xuan didn't say something melodramatic like 'to fuck you', but he used his actions to convey his intent. He first caressed every inch of the Emperor's jade white face, his fingers lingering over his soft lips for a moment, then he slowly pushed them into his mouth. To prevent him from suddenly biting, he used his other hand to pinch his jaw, forcing him to keep his mouth open.

A familiar taste entered his mouth, making Zhou Yun Sheng instinctively stretch out his tongue to lick, but fortunately, he regained his reason at the last moment, and started desperately shaking his head, struggling to break free.

"Behave." Giving a hoarse order, Zhao Xuan pressed his knees into his lower back, stopping him from squirming.

"Taste." After a brief order, he pressed down on the Emperor's tongue, feeling out the moist silkiness of his mouth. The black mask covered half of the Emperor's face, but his exposed half was clearly flushed glowing pink. Zhao Xuan's breathing grew heavier, he leaned in closer to get a better look. He could imagine the man's bright peach eyes filling with mist, there might be humiliation, anger, and surprise inside. It made him want to tease him even more, possess him.

What expression did he make when he was aroused? Would his eyes flush red? He must look very sexy. For the past few months, he could only see such a charming scene in his dreams or on paper, now that the real person was in front of him, how could he back off? What Emperor, what troubles, to hell with it all, he'd endured patiently for months, but he could no longer suppress himself.

He took out his fingers and replaced them with his lips and tongue. He licked, nibbled and nipped without restraint, his big hands fully exploring the Emperor's curves, his actions coarse and impatient.

Zhou Yun Sheng was simply going mad, on one side he was struggling to prop himself up and stop his legs from turning into jelly, on the other side he was fuming with dark rage: Sure enough, a leopard couldn't change its spots. This nymphomaniac, even though he has amnesia, still has lustfulness flowing through his blood. He would never be able to act like a Liuxia Hui for too long. It seems that the indifference last time was just an exercise in extreme acting skills. Who knew how long he retrained himself, like a hungry wolf allowed to endlessly chew on a bone, but not allowed to directly swallow it.

But because of these months wasted in brooding celibacy, Zhou Yun Sheng naturally couldn't let him easily have his way, so he reached out his tongue to actively wrap around the other man's, and while he was captivated, he used that opportunity to explode into resistance.

Zhao Xuan instantly noticed his rising leg and nimbly dodged, then once again pressed the Emperor into the tree trunk, fiercely kissing him until his lips were swollen, then reached for his belt.