Qi Yu Ming looked up and saw Princess Xing Yue, whose appearance had not changed at all from years ago. He was still a little surprised. He had paid attention to Princess Xing Yue's beauty back then, and seeing her looking the same now, his desires were instantly aroused.
Standing beside her, Ta Xue could see the Duke of Qi's second prince's unrestrained gaze. She angrily said, "This second prince is so rude, staring at Her Majesty like that. I really want to dig out those eyes of his."
Hearing this, Xue Xing Yue chuckled softly, "I am sitting here to be seen. If I were afraid of being seen, I wouldn't be sitting here. So, don't be angry with him and upset yourself."
Ta Xue bit her lower lip and said, "But Your servant cannot help but feel angry when someone looks at Your Majesty so flippantly."
"Ta Xue, what's the hurry? There will be plenty of time," Wu Hen said slowly.
For some reason, Ta Xue felt that Wu Hen's words had a hidden meaning.
"I am honored that the two princes have come to Xing Jiu Kingdom to celebrate with me. Please be seated."
The second and third princes took their seats.
What followed was music and dancing.
Only then did Qi Yu Heng look up and carefully examine the Empress of Xing Jiu seated above. This was his first time seeing the Empress of Xing Jiu, no, it should be the second time.
The first time he saw her was when he saw the Empress of the former Chang Jiu Kingdom. Although the Empress of the current Xing Jiu Kingdom and the Empress of the former Chang Jiu Kingdom did not look very similar, he would never mistake those eyes. They were exactly the same as the former Empress of Chang Jiu.
"Your Majesty, that third prince is also secretly looking at you," Ta Xue said angrily.
"Why, am I afraid of being looked at?" Xue Xing Yue asked Ta Xue.
Ta Xue replied, "She's not looking at Your Majesty like that. Your Majesty isn't some rare treasure. Is it worth looking like that?"
"Perhaps in their eyes, a woman as Emperor is a rare treasure, a commodity to be hoarded?"
Ta Xue was stunned and frowned, "Are they so ignorant? Your servant knows that the Empress of Chang Jiu was also a ruler who unified the world. What's so strange about that?"
Xue Xing Yue also glanced at Qi Yu Heng. This third prince was not as annoying as the second prince.
Qi Yu Heng had not expected to receive a gaze from the Empress of Xing Jiu. He was somewhat surprised and a little dazed. After a long while, when he felt an angry stare, he realized he had been staring at the Empress for quite some time.
That angry stare came from the female official beside the Empress.
Qi Yu Heng lowered his eyes, feeling a sense of strangeness in his heart.
After that, he couldn't hear any of the subsequent music, his mind filled with that refined and beautiful face and clear eyes.
After the banquet ended, Qi Yu Heng and the second prince Qi Yu Ming walked out. "Third brother, you go back to the posthouse first. Your elder brother has something to do."
Qi Yu Heng nodded, "Alright, Second Elder Brother, be back early."
After Qi Yu Ming left, he called his subordinate and said, "Go and watch him, see what he is going to do?"
Xue Xing Yue was supported by Ta Xue and Wu Hen. She didn't know what was going on, but her head felt heavy.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Shall I call an imperial physician for you?" Ta Xue asked from the side.
Xue Xing Yue shook her head, "I'm fine. Perhaps I drank too much and my head hurts."
"I'll help you back to Xing Yue Palace to rest," Ta Xue said.
Xue Xing Yue nodded. She felt Ta Xue help her onto the bed, wash her face, and change her clothes.
When everything was ready, Ta Xue withdrew and stood guard in the outer hall.
Qi Yu Ming arrived at a secluded corner of the palace and handed a gold ingot to a black hand that reached out from the darkness.
The person was overjoyed, "Thank you, noble sir."
"If you do well, I will give you more."
As it neared midnight, Ta Xue watched the snow flakes drifting down and couldn't help but say, "Winter has come."
"Little Tuan Zi..."
Ta Xue saw a small figure in the distance and quickly walked forward, "Little Tuan Zi, why are you here?"
Little Tuan Zi looked at the sleeping chambers and asked, "Has Aunt Xing Yue slept?"
Ta Xue nodded, "Yes. Your Aunt Xing Yue has been too tired lately, so let her rest well, okay?"
Little Tuan Zi nodded, "Okay."
Since Aunt Xing Yue was in the sleeping chambers, there should be no problem.
Little Tuan Zi was someone the Empress had encountered while leaving the palace a few days ago. Perhaps Little Tuan Zi resembled the late Emperor so much that the Empress brought her back. Little Tuan Zi was very cute, and everyone in the palace liked her.
"Aunt Ta Xue, can Little Tuan Zi see Aunt Xing Yue?"
Ta Xue hesitated. Little Tuan Zi said, "Aunt Ta Xue, Little Tuan Zi will be very obedient. Just a glance from afar, okay?"
Ta Xue thought for a moment and nodded, "Then Little Tuan Zi must be good."
Little Tuan Zi nodded.
Ta Xue picked up Little Tuan Zi and brought her into Xing Yue Palace. She put Little Tuan Zi down and whispered, "The person sleeping inside is your Aunt Xing Yue."
Little Tuan Zi looked at the figure in the room very carefully.
Ta Xue inexplicably felt that she saw affection in Little Tuan Zi's gaze. She rubbed her eyes, afraid she was mistaken.
Little Tuan Zi slowly walked forward. Ta Xue did not stop her. Just as Little Tuan Zi was about to lift the curtain, Ta Xue suddenly felt a tingling sensation all over her body, and then she fainted.
Little Tuan Zi climbed onto the bed and snuggled into the covers. The inside of the covers was warm. He reached out and touched the hand, which was also soft.
Suddenly, there was a thudding sound from outside. Little Tuan Zi saw a figure outside the covers. This figure was clearly not Aunt Ta Xue's. In a moment of desperation, he was about to shout.
Seeing the maid beside the Empress knocked unconscious, Qi Yu Ming looked at the figure faintly visible behind the curtain and sneered. What does it matter that she is the Empress? Isn't she still mesmerized by him?
As long as he cooks the raw rice into cooked rice, won't the Empress become his plaything?
Women should stay at home and raise children, why learn to be an emperor like men?
He lifted the curtain and looked at the sleeping face on the bed. His eyes were full of desire. He reached out to touch Xue Xing Yue's face.
Suddenly, he felt a piercing pain in his fingers, and he couldn't help but cry out. Immediately, a tender voice rang out, "Take your dirty hands away. Don't touch my aunt."