TGPSAC – Chapter 84

Yu Jiuzhou paused for a moment, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. My only wife?

Still, she quite liked being called “wife.”

Seeing Yu Jiuzhou smile, Chi Wan finally relaxed, having worried she had angered her.

The two leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool, their thin silk robes clinging to their bodies.

In contrast to Yu Jiuzhou’s well-defined curves, Chi Wan’s figure was sleek and toned.

Their eyes met, and they simultaneously looked away. Their robes were too thin, and soaking in the hot spring made it impossible to look directly at each other, even if not everything was on full display.

Yu Jiuzhou lowered her gaze to Chi Wan’s abdomen, where the lines were distinct and very attractive.

Chi Wan followed her gaze downward, knowing what she was looking at.

Toned abs. In her past life, she had loved watching girl groups dance with their abs showing. It wasn’t that she had any particular thoughts about it; she just thought it looked cool.

She assumed Yu Jiuzhou also found her toned abs cool.

In both her past life and this one, Chi Wan had always maintained her figure. She didn’t have bulky muscles, but her abs, arms, and thighs were all well-defined.

It wasn’t obvious on the surface, but even in her past life, she could have handled several strong men without a problem.

But attractive lines weren’t something one could get from martial arts or intense exercise alone. It required technique and was much harder to achieve than simple muscle mass.

Chi Wan placed a hand over her navel, feeling a little embarrassed, and then submerged herself deeper into the water, closing her eyes in comfort.

She could feel Yu Jiuzhou sit down beside her. The movement of the water brought with it a sense of pleasure she couldn’t describe.

Chi Wan couldn’t help but shift a little closer, until she was right up against Yu Jiuzhou.

Their arms, separated only by the silk fabric, pressed together, the sensation exceptionally clear.

“Your Highness.”

As they were soaking in silence, Chun Gui entered and spoke from behind a screen. “Your Highness, both Beining and Nanyue have sent envoys.”

Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes snapped open. “Where are they?”

“When the message was sent, the Beining party had reached the vicinity of Wucheng and Dragon City. The Nanyue party is about to arrive in Jiangning.”

The distance from Dragon City to the capital was about eight hundred kilometers, while Jiangning was about a thousand kilometers away.

Two hundred kilometers might not seem like much, but it would still take a horse riding at full speed a day and a night without rest.

Chi Wan mentally calculated the time and distance. It would take both delegations nearly a month to reach the capital.

After all, an envoy delegation didn’t travel at full gallop. With so many people, carriages, and tribute items, covering a few dozen kilometers a day was good progress. Eight hundred kilometers would take twenty days, and a thousand kilometers would normally take twenty-five or twenty-six days.

Yu Jiuzhou had clearly thought of this as well. “Have you obtained the list of the delegation members?”

“Yes. The head of the Beining delegation is Daluoyan, the Great Khan’s younger brother. The two deputy envoys are Zhangcheng Xizeng, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Abao Ping, the son of the Chancellor. There is also one person hidden within the party—your aunt, Princess Lin’an’s daughter, Commandery Mistress Fu Qing.”

“Fu Qing?”

Chi Wan also looked at Yu Jiuzhou curiously. It was the first time she had heard that name.

She knew of Princess Lin’an. She was the current emperor’s biological younger sister. She had married at sixteen, was widowed at twenty, and in the same year, was noticed by the Great Khan of Beining and forced into a marriage alliance. It had been twenty years since.

Twenty years away from her homeland and family, sent to an unfamiliar place.

Beining also had a disgusting custom: a new Great Khan could inherit everything from the deceased one—not just property, land, cattle, sheep, and horses, but also people, including the late Khan’s wives.

Spies had already sent word that the Beining Khan was on his deathbed, and a new Khan would soon ascend with the support of the Chancellor.

The Chancellor of Beining was a man of immense power who had long since made the Great Khan a figurehead. Furthermore, this chancellor advocated for attacking Great Zhou.

One could imagine the consequences of someone who was not friendly to Great Zhou taking power.

Great Zhou and Beining already had constant friction, a feud that dated back to the founding of the dynasty. The first few emperors of Great Zhou had beaten Beining into submission and scattered them.

Now, Beining had once again united its three major tribes.

The Eastern Ning, Western Ning, and the Great Khan’s tribe. The Western and the Great Khan’s tribes were both close to Great Zhou.

The Eastern and the Great Khan’s tribes were near Yanbei and constituted Ning’s main force. If Ning were to wage war on Great Zhou, these two tribes would launch a pincer attack.

However, the three tribes were not a monolith. The Western tribe had been very powerful decades ago, nearly replacing the Great Khan’s tribe. Now, they simply lacked the opportunity to usurp the throne in one fell swoop; otherwise, it was uncertain who would be the Great Khan.

Even so, Ning remained a formidable enemy for Great Zhou. Hundreds of thousands of troops were stationed in Yanbei precisely to prevent a Beining invasion.

All told, with the border cities of Yanbei, the Duke of Xin’s hundred thousand soldiers, and the Marquis of Pingliang’s hundred thousand, there were roughly six hundred thousand troops in total.

It was clear who Great Zhou’s greatest threat was. Back then, Beining had threatened Emperor Shengyuan, demanding a princess for marriage or they would attack Great Zhou.

Great Zhou had only two princesses: Princess Lin’an and Yu Jiuzhou. One was an adult, the other a small child. The choice was obvious.

Fu Qing was born while Princess Lin’an was on her way to Beining and was granted the title of Commandery Mistress Fu Qing.

Originally, Emperor Shengyuan had wanted Fu Qing to be raised in the imperial palace with Yu Jiuzhou, just like Commandery Mistress Jiacheng. But Princess Lin’an had disagreed, adamantly taking Fu Qing with her to Beining.

Yu Jiuzhou explained to Chi Wan, “Fu Qing is the child of the former Fuma and should have been raised in the capital. But at that time, my aunt and His Majesty were on very bad terms. I was too young then to do anything for her.”

Chi Wan thought for a moment. “It’s not too late now. The old Khan of Beining is about to die. This is the perfect opportunity to bring Princess Lin’an back.”

“You’re saying we can still bring Aunt Lin’an back?”

Yu Jiuzhou raised an eyebrow. She had considered it, but it was very difficult.

Beining was already looking for an excuse to provoke Great Zhou; why would they do such a thing?

But Chi Wan was very certain. “The purpose of the delegation’s visit to Great Zhou is unclear at this moment, but one thing is certain: during Beining’s political transition, they will not want to start a war with us.”

“The Chancellor sent the Great Khan’s brother away, making the Prince of Dimen the chief envoy, all to ensure the crown prince’s smooth succession. Do you think the Prince of Dimen is willing to accept that? Now is the best time for us to negotiate with them.”

Once Beining’s political power was stably transferred, a major war between Great Zhou and Beining would be inevitable.

Yu Jiuzhou thought it over carefully. “I’m not worried about Beining. I’m worried about His Majesty and the Great Zhou court.”

The Emperor’s relationship with Aunt Lin’an had ended on very bad terms. The officials of the Great Zhou court believed that sacrificing one princess in exchange for peace between Great Zhou and Beining was a worthy trade.

They never understood that peace is won through battle, not through marriage alliances.

Otherwise, why had there been constant friction between the two nations for all the years Aunt Lin’an had been in Beining?

Those officials would never admit their own incompetence, preferring to pin their hopes on the life of a female Kun Ze.

They might even think that if Princess Lin’an died, Beining would lose the moral high ground, and Great Zhou would gain it.

Yu Jiuzhou had heard such talk countless times growing up.

Chi Wan squeezed Yu Jiuzhou’s hand. “Does Your Highness wish to stir up a major case?”

The training for the Imperial City Division would end in the fourth month. It was time to inspect the results. When the newly reformed Imperial City Division reappeared in the capital, it had to show everyone its power.

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t answer, instead turning to Chun Gui. “Continue.”

Chun Gui immediately reported, “The King of Nanyue has sent the Royal Daughter Duan Jinxian and one of the five Guardian Generals, Duan Hefeng, who was granted the royal surname. There is also a hidden individual among them: Xi Wu, the Young Valley Mistress of Nanyue’s Insect Valley.”

They were all major figures.

It was too much of a coincidence for both nations to send delegations at the same time. Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence at all.

In her past life, the delegations had also come, but the members were different from the current ones.

Then Chun Gui added, “Your Highness, the Marquis of Pingliang says she will escort the Beining delegation back.”

“Also, the Marquis of Pingliang has a message for Your Highness.”

Chun Gui looked hesitant. She should have delivered this last message to the Princess alone, but Her Highness and the Fuma had been inseparable, giving her no opportunity.

Besides, they had all thought the Fuma and Her Highness were going to consummate their marriage and were already looking forward to a little master. But instead, the two of them were just soaking in a hot spring.

No, she had to provoke the Fuma a little. “The Marquis of Pingliang said that if Your Highness has been wronged, she will take you away from the capital.”

The Marquis of Pingliang?

A love rival!

Chi Wan reacted instantly. This was a formidable person. When she learned that Yu Jiuzhou was to marry Chi Wan, the Marquis of Pingliang had sent a message back, saying that if Yu Jiuzhou agreed, she would bring her hundred-thousand-strong army back to snatch the bride. She had been thoroughly scolded for it.

It was a good thing Emperor Shengyuan didn’t know, or he would never have trusted the Marquis of Pingliang so much.

In any case, Chi Wan knew one thing: the Marquis of Pingliang was in love with Her Highness the Grand Princess.

It was because of this love that, upon learning of Yu Jiuzhou’s death, she had led the Yanbei army in rebellion.

The news of the Marquis of Pingliang’s return filled Chi Wan with a sense of crisis.

Because she believed that if Yu Jiuzhou agreed, the Marquis of Pingliang would truly dare to lead a hundred thousand soldiers to the capital to snatch her, even if it meant being accused of treason. And besides, the Marquis of Pingliang really had rebelled in the past.

Not only that, but she even dared to speak of taking Yu Jiuzhou away from the capital. Was she, the Fuma, dead?

Yu Jiuzhou frowned. “What is she coming back for? The Duke of Xin is returning to the capital, and now she is too. Who will guard against Beining?”

“This is simply willful. Go, submit a memorial to His Majesty on her behalf. Say that the Beining delegation is visiting, filled with high-ranking Beining officials, and the matter is of great importance. She was worried and could only escort them to the capital personally.”

Chun Gui bowed. “Yes.”

Yu Jiuzhou added, “Send it by six-hundred-li express.”

“Understood.”

Angry as she was, Yu Jiuzhou would still clean up the Marquis of Pingliang’s mess.

This was probably the source of the Marquis’s audacity—she knew someone would always cover for her.

Chi Wan had to admit she was jealous, incredibly so.

After Chun Gui left, she couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness is truly good to the Marquis of Pingliang.”

Her grand-aunt’s granddaughter. Were they beyond the fifth degree of kinship?

Oh, right, in ancient times, cousins could marry. There were many instances in history of a princess’s daughter marrying an emperor. And a grand-aunt’s granddaughter was even more distantly related.

Hearing Chi Wan’s sour words, Yu Jiuzhou tilted her head. “Of course. The Marquis of Pingliang is an amusing person.”

Not like her Fuma, who was so unromantic. There were some things she wouldn’t say, but she could say half and let Chi Wan figure out the rest.

Chi Wan’s mind filled in the rest of the sentence. Fuming, she turned and stepped out of the hot spring pool. “This subject is finished soaking.”

She had already guessed what Yu Jiuzhou had left unsaid—something about being unromantic, a block of wood.

If she were truly a player who would love them and leave them, would she be in such a dilemma?

She was angry, and she wouldn’t be placated.

A hint of a smile appeared in Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes as she watched Chi Wan’s retreating back. Only when she was out of sight did she smile and follow behind her.

Of course she had smelled that thick scent of jealousy.

Someone’s little pouting expression was really rather cute.

Separated by two screens, they changed their clothes on either side.

Chi Wan kept her back to the screen. It was somewhat translucent, and if she turned around, she might see something.

Even if it was just a blurry silhouette, sometimes what you couldn’t see clearly was the most alluring.

Changing in such an environment made Yu Jiuzhou a little embarrassed, the tips of her ears turning hot.

Fortunately, Chi Wan was quick and left the heated chamber first.

When Yu Jiuzhou returned to the room, Chi Wan was already lying down on the outer edge of the bed. To get into bed, Yu Jiuzhou would have to climb over her.

She had thought the person would be too angry to even sleep with her.

How could that be? Chi Wan had her own logic. The angrier she was, the more she had to sleep with Yu Jiuzhou. What if the Marquis of Pingliang found out they slept in separate rooms? Wouldn’t that just encourage her?

She, the Fuma, wasn’t dead yet, and someone was already coveting her Highness.

That was unacceptable. No matter what happened between them in the future, they were heading towards consummating their marriage. Under these circumstances, her possessiveness would not allow another person to covet her wife.

Whether it was to declare sovereignty or to show her possessiveness.

Chi Wan had never been a coward. She had her own principles.

Of course, in a matter like this, only one person could call a halt to the process: Yu Jiuzhou.

Chi Wan lay stiffly on the bed, listening to Yu Jiuzhou’s movements.

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t go straight to sleep. Instead, she picked up her skincare products—also made by Chi Wan from pure, natural plant extracts. They had a short shelf life but contained no additives.

Their main purpose was hydration, moisturization, and repair.

Listening to the sounds of skincare, Chi Wan felt every second crawl by. Why wasn’t she done yet?

According to the previous flow of events, it should be time to consummate the marriage.

Step one of consummation: kissing.

Chi Wan began to imagine the process, thinking about how to accomplish it.

She closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering noticeably.

Yu Jiuzhou glanced over with a smile, then quietly walked over. She looked down for a moment at Chi Wan’s obedient, sleeping face—or rather, her pretending-to-be-asleep face—and then blew out the candle.

The moment the room plunged into darkness, Chi Wan opened her eyes.

Then she saw a dark figure above her, carefully climbing over her body.

Wait, did this woman really think she was asleep? Should she move a little to give her a hint?

A thousand thoughts raced through Chi Wan’s mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to move.

As Yu Jiuzhou passed over her, she deliberately lowered her body, letting it brush against Chi Wan’s.

She could feel Chi Wan’s body go rigid.

Perhaps emboldened by the darkness, Yu Jiuzhou pretended to lose her balance and pressed down a little. For a fleeting moment, her entire body was pressed against Chi Wan’s.

Chi Wan almost reached out to steady her.

Then, Yu Jiuzhou lay down beside her, very close.

She felt Yu Jiuzhou pull the quilt over her; they were sharing the same one.

Their bodies were pressed together, and neither moved again.

Chi Wan could hear Yu Jiuzhou’s breathing beside her. She wasn’t asleep; the sound of breathing was different when one was awake.

Neither of them made a move, perhaps waiting for the other to take the initiative.

Chi Wan, for her part, was wondering whether she should roll over and pin her down, or sneakily reach out a hand.

If she pinned her down, what next? What should she do?

If she touched her, where should she start?

How vexing. If only she had watched those artistic instructional videos with her roommate, she wouldn’t be so awkward now.

And how were they supposed to exchange pheromones? It seemed she had to bite Yu Jiuzhou.

If she wasn’t mistaken, she had to bite Yu Jiuzhou on the neck to mark her.

Chi Wan considered her options. Maybe she should just go for it, kiss her directly. Perhaps she had a natural talent and would know what to do once she started.

She mustered her courage and was about to move when Yu Jiuzhou beside her stirred.

Not only did she move, but her hand also touched Chi Wan’s face.

What did this mean?

She felt Yu Jiuzhou’s hand exploring her face, and soon, the pad of a finger came to rest on her lips.

How could even someone’s hands be so fragrant, so soft and tender?

She just didn’t know what Yu Jiuzhou intended to do, with her hand resting on her lips like that.

Just as she was considering whether to ask, Yu Jiuzhou’s breath suddenly came closer, and the next second, her lips felt a soft touch.

Chi Wan’s eyes widened. Amidst the shock in her gaze was a hint of excitement. She… she had just been kissed.

After the shock, the corners of Chi Wan’s lips lifted, her eyes filled with unconcealable delight.

Her hand gently gripped the bedsheet, suppressing the uncontrollable emotions in her chest as her heart beat faster and faster.

Chi Wan felt like she was about to explode. She wanted to run out, do a lap around the Princess’s Residence, and shout to release her current emotions.

Meanwhile, Yu Jiuzhou, who had kissed Chi Wan, felt a little guilty. She knew the person beside her wasn’t asleep and had wanted to tease her.

To let this person experience what it felt like to be frustrated.

But Chi Wan felt no frustration, only a pleasant surprise.

Whatever the future held, right now, she wanted to devour Yu Jiuzhou.

Before Yu Jiuzhou could react, the person behind her pulled her forcefully into an embrace. The woman was too strong, practically clamping her in her arms, pressing her tightly against her back.

Feeling the person’s breath behind her, warm and intoxicating as it washed over her neck, she felt her entire body go soft.

Though they were already pressed together, Chi Wan still felt the distance between them was not close enough, so she pressed her body even closer.

“Is Your Highness teasing this subject?”

Now it was Yu Jiuzhou’s turn to freeze. Her legs were parted by Chi Wan’s, which had slid between them, and the arms holding her tightened.

She felt as if Chi Wan wanted to knead her into her own body.

Yu Jiuzhou wanted to escape, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know where Chi Wan got such strength to hold her so firmly.

“Your Highness, this subject cannot withstand your teasing,” Chi Wan said again, as if announcing the start of something.

Yu Jiuzhou had only wanted to make the person behind her feel a little stifled; she hadn’t planned on doing anything today.

She had been rushing around nonstop since returning from Xuanyang Temple and was truly tired. Besides, her Rain and Dew Period was still two days away.

“What is the meaning of ‘teasing’?” Yu Jiuzhou tried to change the subject, to escape this predicament.

However, Chi Wan didn’t know what Yu Jiuzhou meant. She only knew that this person had pretended to fall and then kissed her, which must mean she wanted to consummate the marriage.

She took the opportunity to wrap her arm around Yu Jiuzhou’s waist and pull her even closer. “Seduction.”

Yu Jiuzhou clenched her fists. “Chi Wan!!!”

She cried out in exasperation. She had not been seducing her.

Chi Wan let out a muffled laugh. She could hear the annoyance in Yu Jiuzhou’s voice, like a cat that had been teased to its limit and was about to scratch.

Indeed, once the lights were out, people’s personalities tended to open up a bit.

When had she ever seen her Highness so adorably vexed?

From behind, Chi Wan buried her head in the crook of Yu Jiuzhou’s neck. “This subject has misspoken. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”

“Your crime is unforgivable.”

Yu Jiuzhou spoke the four words haughtily, not sounding angry at all.

Shrouded in darkness, her face was burning hot, probably flushed a rosy red without any need for rouge. The corners of her eyes were red, a single tear clinging to them.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think Chi Wan had done something outrageous.

Chi Wan hadn’t even done anything yet. Yu Jiuzhou felt helpless too; it was the first time she had experienced such a strange sensation.

The moment Chi Wan drew near, she had gone soft, with no room for resistance.

Damn thing, how could she be so strong? And her body was so hot; she wouldn’t even need a bed warmer in winter.

Chi Wan slightly loosened her grip. The body in her arms was too delicate and soft; she was worried she might accidentally hurt her.

Even before getting this close, she knew Yu Jiuzhou had a wonderful figure. She looked slender, but she was curvy in all the right places.

The atmosphere had reached this point. If she didn’t do something, wouldn’t she be letting down the courage she had worked so hard to muster?

Just thinking about it made Chi Wan’s breath turn scorching hot.

Yu Jiuzhou felt it most clearly. She instinctively sensed danger.

Especially the hand on her waist, its fingertips pressing into her, making it impossible for her to escape the embrace. When she tried to shift away, even though the movement was small, it always resulted in a few brushes of contact.

The power of those few brushes should not be underestimated; she immediately lost all her strength.

Yu Jiuzhou quickly grabbed Chi Wan’s hand. “I’m tired.”

Chi Wan’s advance halted. Then she rolled over to lie flat on her back. It was true. They hadn’t slept all night at Xuanyang Temple, had dealt with assassins, and had been riding horses down the mountain. They had been busy until now.

All told, they had been awake for two days and one night. She had internal energy and could recover her strength quickly, but Yu Jiuzhou couldn’t. The woman had no strength at all.

Yu Jiuzhou felt the pressure on her body release, and then the other person deliberately created some distance between them.

Even though it was only a little, compared to the intimacy of a moment ago, the distance of one arm’s length seemed a bit too far.

Then Chi Wan’s voice sounded. “Your Highness should rest well.”

Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes flickered. Under the quilt, her hand secretly moved closer until it found Chi Wan’s. “Sleep.”

She was truly exhausted, or else she wouldn’t have refused Chi Wan.

Thinking of the internal energy cultivation method Chi Wan had taught her, she resolved to practice it diligently whenever she had time. She absolutely could not let her stamina be a hindrance.

Chi Wan smiled and squeezed Yu Jiuzhou’s hand in return. She thought to herself that even if they were to part one day, before that happened, they should treat it like a real relationship and give it their all.

Perhaps their affection for each other was still slight, but they were already married. There was nothing wrong with love after marriage.

However, she still hoped that some things, once started, would have no end.

Yu Jiuzhou felt Chi Wan’s returning squeeze and then commanded, “Come closer to me.”

Chi Wan smiled. This woman, she even had to command someone to come closer.

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