CH 22

Only Yun Qingci and Ruan Lian were left in Chaoyang Palace.

Previously, Yun Qing used to be insensitive, and whenever his spy reported that Li Ying was looking for someone to play music, he immediately rushed forward. Li Ying disliked him for interfering with his entertainment, but Yun Qingci thought that he was about to be seduced and often made trouble.

But in fact, if you want to tie a man, how can you always drive others away?

As soon as the door was closed, Ruan Lian sat in front of the qin, with his fingers plucking the strings lightly, and Yun Qingci suddenly felt a bit of pleasure.

The snow was falling outside the window and the moon was full in the sky. There was a beautiful man to accompany him and beautiful sounds to please his ears. If that was not a reason to be happy, then what was?

Recalling his past actions at this moment, he really felt out of his mind and incomprehensible.

Yun Qingci lifted off his robe slightly and sat down directly beside Ruan Lian who raised his eyelashes and glanced at him. He silently moved aside and pushed the qin towards Yun Qingci, saying, “Has Your Majesty touched an instrument before?”

Yun Qingci nodded. Even without his previous life, he was a young master of a noble family. Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting were all basic arts. Qin Feiruo taught him wholeheartedly, and he had never slackened in this regard.

“Then, Lord Empress, what kind of music do you want to learn?”

Yun Qingci thought for a while and said, “Fine time, beautiful scenery?”

‘Fine time, beautiful scenery’ was always a favorite song of lovers. When he said that, Ruan Lian was speechless for a while.

For a moment, he looked at Yun Qingci helplessly and said, “Lord Empress, do you have something against this little one?”

Yun Qingci raised his face to look at him, blinked, and said, “Why do you say that?”

He just thought that this song was right for tonight, and he didn’t know that it had another meaning in the eyes of music students.

“…His Majesty has already punished this little one because Lord Empress gave this little one an extra look,” Ruan Lian said slowly: “Moreover, he warned us not to tell Lord Empress.”

Yun Qingci’s face sank slightly.

He really didn’t know anything about this matter, and Yinxi and Jin Huan dared to hide it from him.

He got up abruptly, but his hand was suddenly grasped. Ruan Lian looked thin and weak, but his strength was significant. Yun Qingci was forced to sit down, and his eyes turned cold.

As if he had just realized what he had done, Ruan Lian withdrew his hand and said, “I beg Lord Empress to pretend not to know anything. This little one doesn’t dare to bother Lord Empress.”

Yun Qingci paused.

He sat down beside Ruan Lian again, frowned slightly and said, “I understand your worries, don’t be afraid. Since I dare to make you stay, of course, I can protect you.”

He patted Ruan Lian on the shoulder and said, “Just teach me.”

“Then, let’s change the tune?”

Yun Qingci was not very happy and said unwillingly: “To what?”

“Snow in Yangchun?”

“No.”

Ruan Lian thought for a while and said, “What does Lord Empress want to hear?”

“Something unrestrained.”

The palace was already depressing enough; he wanted to listen to something wild now. He wanted to indulge and feel free.

The qin player glanced at his expression, his lips curled slightly, and his tone was soft: “This little one knows a song…”

Before he finished speaking, Yun Qingci asked, “What?”

“This little one dares not say.”

“Speak quickly,” Yun Qingci said, “I order you to speak.”

Ruan Lian’s cheeks flushed slightly. Yun Qingci’s curiosity was aroused, and he stretched out his hand to push him, “Hurry up, or I’ll hit you.”

“…Tricky beauty.” Ruan Lian said, as if a little embarrassed: “I wonder if Lord Empress has heard of it before?”

This ‘Tricky beauty’ was a song made by a wandering musician. It also had another name, ‘Playing with flower pistils’. The song was full of romance and banter, a little bit sultry, but with some unexpected elegance in sultriness. As soon as it appeared, it became very popular with many aristocratic dandies. 

But such songs were not allowed to be played in the palace.

Yun Qingci’s eyes lit up immediately, he clapped his hands and said, “Okay, let’s learn that one!”

“If His Majesty hears it…”

“He is very busy and has no time to come over.”

Yun Qingci only heard of such a song, but he had never really listened to it. However, he was very intrigued and asked, “How come you know it?”

“In the eyes of a musician, every kind of music is fascinating.”

Yun Qingci clapped his hands happily: “Hurry up, play quickly.”

The qin player was as handsome as a beautiful jade, and his whole body smelled fresh and cold, but when his hands were placed on the strings, the atmosphere changed suddenly.

With the sound of the qin, Yun Qingci immediately understood why this piece was considered so awesome.

Many people described it saying that it was like throwing the noblest beauty in the world on the couch, or like relentlessly destroying valuable treasures, extravagant and depraved, arrogant and forceful.

Such a tune, especially when played by such a clean person as Ruan Lian, it was easy to understand why it was so popular.

Yun Qingci’s heart felt itchy as he listened, and his cheeks flushed involuntarily.

Ruan Lian tilted his head and glanced at him, the corners of his mouth hiding a smile, and a touch of amusement flashed in his clear eyes.

At this moment…

Yinxi and Jin Huan suddenly shouted: “Greetings to Your Majesty!!”

It was not a greeting but a warning.

The sound of qin stopped abruptly, and Yun Qingci turned around.

The closed door of the hall was kicked open, and the figure of the emperor, full of cold intent and the sound of thunder, appeared in front of the two of them.

Ruan Lian immediately left his qin and knelt down without hesitation: “This little one greets…”

Li Ying kept walking, came up to him quickly, and kicked him. The qin player flew back, knocking down the screen and falling on the floor. He coughed uncontrollably, his black hair scattered, and a trickle of blood flowed from his lips.

Li Ying was not moved at all and said coldly: “Drag him out, and bring five horses…”

“I’ll see who dares!”

With Yun Qingci’s voice, Li Ying’s dizzy mind suddenly calmed down. He clenched his fingers tightly and turned to look at him. Frowning fiercely, he said: “You want to protect him?!”

Yun Qingci looked at the qin player whose paleness, long drooping eyelashes and blood smeared on his lips made him appear particularly pitiful.

He walked up quickly and reached to help Ruan Lian, but the latter quietly avoided his hand.

Yun Qingci was taken aback for a moment, and realized that he had already caused the qin player enough suffering, so he could only withdraw his hand.

He stood up. Ruan Lian beside him struggled to get up and knelt down again, saying in a hoarse voice: “This little one is guilty…”

“What crime are you guilty of?” Yun Qingci’s eyes were cold, he stared straight at Li Ying, his chin raised. “Mr. Liu, since His Majesty had a hand in it, I would like to ask you to help Ruan Lian go to the Imperial Hospital to check his injuries. If there is something wrong with him…”

He said slowly: “Then Lord Empress will leave His Majesty and won’t stay in this boring palace.”

Being a hostage, he won’t do it.

Li Ying’s face was livid.

Yun Qingci felt very satisfied.

It seemed Li Ying was really afraid he would return to the Prime Minister’s mansion. He lowered his eyes with relief, and Ruan Lian coughed again. There was blood leaking between his fingers. Liu Ziru glanced at Li Ying hesitatingly and stepped forward to help Ruan Lian up.

The latter said dumbly: “Thank you, Lord Empress.”

Yun Qingci did not answer.

He never thought that Li Ying would come over suddenly, nor did he expect that Li Ying would kill someone he found disagreeable. This was not the case with Li Ying in the past. He was kind and magnanimous to others, not to mention allowing Ruan Lian to feed him a drink last time.

No matter what, he should have asked what was going on, instead of running in like a dog that was robbed of food and started going crazy.

The servants retreated wisely.

Yun Qingci stood very straight, and Li Ying also stood very straight.

They looked at each other. No one would yield.

Finally, Li Ying moved. He slowly stepped forward, came up to Yun Qingci and said, “I heard that Lord Empress called a few musicians to listen to music. I really wanted to join the fun.”

“Your Majesty’s words sound familiar.” Yun Qingci hesitated for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “I remember. When His Majesty enjoyed music with his concubines and this subject arrived, His Majesty used this excuse.”

Li Ying’s breath hitched, and he said, “Are you retaliating against me?”

“Retaliate?“ Yun Qingci didn’t understand why Li Ying thought of this word. He said, “I’m just learning to play qin from a music teacher. Just like you, when you played music with your concubines in a relaxed manner.”

“You learn to play qin… what kind of music did he play just now?”

“It seems that you have heard this song?” Yun Qing asked rhetorically: “Where did you listen to it? It is not allowed in the palace.”

Li Ying’s eyes moistened, and he said, “In the backyard of Old Marquis’s mansion, I listened to it there.”

“Really?” Yun Qingci’s eyes were cold and narrowed: “So many musicians and talents in the palace and they were not enough for you?”

In his previous life, he didn’t know about it.

Perhaps realizing that he said something excessive, Li Ying slowed down and explained: “I have never wronged you. I went there to talk about things…”

“And enjoy the song and dance while you are at it, right?” Yun Qingci nodded, looked at the fallen screen and said, “Your Majesty, I am willing to continue to be your Lord Empress because I like the power here.”

There is also the account with your mother that has not been settled.

He added: “I don’t care who you are going to look for, but I hope we will respect each other as guests. You and I both know what this marriage means. Since it is due to mutual benefits, I will be your hostage to restrain the Yun family, and you are responsible for providing all the benefits I should enjoy as Lord Empress.”

“Do you think I’m holding you hostage?”

“What else?”

Li Ying stared at Yun Qingci for a long time, then took a step forward and said gloomily: “The benefits of Lord Empress do not include raising male pets.”

“I have never wronged you.” Yun Qingci turned his head to look at him with a more serious expression: “I called him because I wanted to learn how to play qin and listen to a song along the way.”

“You use my words against me.”

“Do I?” Yun Qingci thought for a while and said sarcastically: “Maybe it’s because we both are telling the truth.” 

Li Ying was angry. After all, a good chess piece who loved him to death suddenly didn’t love him anymore, so he must have felt something was missing.

But Yun Qingci knew that Li Ying would soon adjust, and he would re-examine his chess piece that no longer loved him.

Li Ying looked at him for a while, then approached silently. Yun Qingci did not avoid him. The tip of Li Ying’s nose almost touched him. Li Ying’s breath sprayed on his face.

“If you are so broad and level and want to ask me for the power of the Lord Empress, why bother to lose your temper and even refuse to sleep with me?”

“I have never lost my temper with Your Majesty,” Yun Qingci said without giving in: “Besides, am I the one who refuses to share the bed with you, or was it Your Majesty who threw me off the bed because I insisted on sleeping together?”

Li Ying choked and said, “So you went to pamper an entertainer?”

“I’ll say it again,” Yun Qingci couldn’t hide his anger: “I just called him to learn qin, and that’s all. At the beginning, it was you who told me to go to the music department to pick a music teacher. I don’t understand why you seem to suddenly change your mind!”

He stared at Li Ying.

The latter paused, unconsciously dodged his gaze and said, “Are you serious about just learning qin?”

“And admire the beauty along the way,” Yun Qingci said, “Why? Can’t I?”

Li Ying pursed his lips, and it took him a long time to say, “What about me? Am I not good looking enough?”

His Majesty Emperor Li was good-looking, of course. Every inch of him was molded exactly according to Yun Qingci’s aesthetics.

Yun Qingci liked his nose particularly, it was tall and resolute. No matter where Li Ying kissed him, the tip of Li Ying’s nose pressed against the nearby skin, and this sensation was very pleasant.

Yun Qingci was surprised that His Majesty Emperor Li would take the initiative to compare himself with an ordinary man, and he couldn’t help but sneer: “I dare not admire Your Majesty.”

Li Ying raised his hand, put it down again, and said, “You like him so much?”

Still struggling with this issue.

Well, he was the emperor after all, Yun Qingci thought sarcastically. He could hold countless people in his heart, but his Lord Empress had to keep his heart pure like jade.

He reminded him lightly: “Don’t worry, as long as I am still in this position, I won’t do anything to wrong you.”

He turned away, but was pulled by Li Ying.

“Since you are in this position, shouldn’t you… perform your duties?”

Yun Qingci looked at his hand.

“I won’t touch him,” Li Ying said in a low voice: “But from now on, Lord Empress will accompany me to bed every night.”