Chapter Three
"That performance was peak, and your words from the day before were also true. Is there any way we can come to an agreement that gives you a solid reason to stay for the long run?" The owner whose name Mo Qing Yin had come to be known as Wei Chu couldn't hold back her smile grasped the palms of Mo Qing Yin and her body shuddered as she slowly peeled the hands off of her.
"That won't be possible, I already got what I came here for and if you continue with what I have taught already, you wouldn't need me at all." She explained, subtly refuting her and her eyes turned all sad before she deflated.
"Alright, thank you anyway. This is simply fascinating." She gushed as she turned around to stare at the clients she had procured throughout the whole day.
Earlier after her performance, their record keeper had brought positive news of how much their sales and such had increased during these two days Mo Qing Yin was staying there.
Shaking her head, she turned around and stalked off, returning back to her room and slowly peeled off her veil and dress to go soak up in the tub.
As she did, her senses tingled and she smirked internally, of course she had calculated this outcome.
He was here already.
"You….." his voice reached her ears and she startled, forcing herself to get into character as she tried to quickly stand up and get dressed but found herself slipping.
A sharp gasp and arms encircled her waist once again, just like the day before.
"Be careful, don't go fallin-"
"Who are yo– it's you" she took on a fearful look as she began to take steps back, crawling to the other end of the bathtub to somehow hide herself and his eyes twitched.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." He tried, and Mo Qing Yin eyed the sword in his hands, already stained with blood.
Glancing in the direction she was facing, he saw the sword and sighed before sheathing it and turning to her.
"I just want to talk…" he tried and after a few seconds, she slowly began to stand up but he became transfixed instead of her body.
The Emperor just couldn't help himself– this was what had tormented him all these days. He had dreamt about her so much he felt like he would go crazy.
He even doubted this to be reality but pinching himself would be insulting in such a scenario so he held back and slowly raked his eyes all over her.
Her thin but supple waist caused him to swallow and desire curled up within his lower belly, his cock felt far too right for his inner wears at that moment.
Slowly, he stopped on her peerless face and his breath caught once again. He refused to believe such beauty existed after that one night but he just couldn't continue to lie to himself.
Because there she stood, in all her naked glory.
"Who are you?" She asked with a soft tone that almost made him want to sigh with relief as she quickly took her robe and threw it on her skin, covering her body from his intense gaze and he balled his fists.
"I-" his throat was dry, far too dry for a man who just had tea before coming to see her. Clearing his throat, he forced himself to control his urges but staring at her face brought back memories of that night.
None of his concubines or wife had such agility and ability to go such miles with himandn still enjoy it just as he had. There was nothing they didn't do during those long hours, of course there was still a lot to do but he… couldn't bring himself to try it anymore on his concubines.
The last time he tried, she didn't take to it very well and kept crying so he had left in anger but no, this woman was something else.
Something out of his fantasy world and he intended to make sure he has her to himself for the rest of his life. With such a woman accompanying him, he would enjoy his sex life.
Smirking, he took slow steps towards her and she squeaked when he suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into his arms and before she could try to scream for help, he jumped down her window.
Inside his carriage, he stared at her as she sat huddled up in a corner and he just knew there was nothing this fragile thing could do to him. There was no way she was connected to the deaths of those thugs.
His men had discovered their dead bodies the next day in a rotting heap at a wood shed down the mountain we got attacked on after that tryst with her.
How could such a trembling woman do that? It was simply preposterous thinking about it.
"I won't beat about the bush. My name is Long Ye Chen," he paused as her eyes glanced at him for a moment and she seemed to mumble his name for a while before her eyes widened and she fell to her knees quickly, causing his own eyes to widen.
"E-Emperor Long Ye Chen!" She exclaimed with shock and he detected something akin to fear there and his heart tightened. Quickly, he pulled her up and that was when the carriage hit a bump and she came crashing into his chest, her lips planted on his.
Her eyes slipped close at the contact but then she realized what she was doing and reared backwards in an escape. He licked his lips as he pulled her back down to him and slammed his lips on hers.
So soft, sweet, he bit down on her bottom lips and she gasped, causing him to deepen the kiss. He couldn't stop himself as he slowly made her wrap her legs around his waist.
"Your majesty, we're here." He groaned at the sound and slowly peeled his lips away from hers. He smirked as he took in her flushed face and wide eyes, so innocent.
He carried her out that way and she stuck her face in his neck in a bid to hide but occasionally, she raised her face up and got stunned looks all around her from the maids and eunuchs, even the soldiers stared.
Good, let them stare long enough to get every detail on her and report back to their respective Masters, she didn't come here to play the long game with them.
Although she hated the touch of this bastard, she was willing to use him as a sword to destroy those thieves and murderers.
Taking her back to Qián Tiān Gōng- Heavenly Authority Palace, his palace and straight to his room.
Slowly, he brought her down onto his bed and took a seat beside her, his eyes never leaving hers.
She glanced around in confusion and he smiled. "We're at my Palace. Don't fret, I won't hurt you." He promised and slowly, she nodded and his whole body tingled with delight.
Such obedience, this was what he had always wanted from everyone of his concubines but since their families had strong powers in his kingdom, they had a hard time being told what to do.
"I…why am I here?" She asked, her voice low and he nodded.
"I won't be shy about it. I want you to stay here, as my concubine." He instantly said and her eyes widened like saucers.
"You want me to be your… concubine? One of them?" She asked and he nodded, his mind reeling. Maybe she didn't want to be a concubine to anyone and that night with those people who were after him spoiled her entire life.
Sympathy filled him and he instantly declared. "I won't wrong you, I will confer you the title or Huìfēi !"
"Huìfēi?" She echoed with surprise and he nodded quickly, causing her to laugh softly, the sound melodious to his ears.
"I'm sorry, I don't need all these titles. Your Harem would murder me before I even get to my Palace if I get one." She explained and he shook his head.
"I won't let that happen, I will order three of my guards to go with you and if it isn't on your orders, no one can touch you." His brows furrowed at his own words and her sigh told him all he needed to know.
She didn't believe that he could protect her. "Alright, I will try it. Is there free accommodations, and food?" She asked and he smiled, something he had never done in years around anyone.
"There is…" he smirked before he leaned in closer to her and her face flushed, she was so cute and so beautiful. He loved every single one of her innocent reactions, he felt her untouched by the world.
"Rui Feng!" His sudden yell made her startle and he swiftly apologized for scaring her. "My apologies for scaring you" she nodded as a guard rushed in, it was the same guard as the last time.
One look at her and he beamed foolishly.
"Rid your face of that smile, Arrange for three to four guards strong enough to protect Huìfēi-" the guard spluttered.
"Huìfēi?" He asked with shock and Emperor Long Ye Chen's face furrowed.
"Too small?" He questioned and his guard looked choked for words but eventually he shook his head.
"And also some Palace maids, and make sure they are unreliable or you'll have your salary to play with." Rui Feng nodded, his eyes rolling backwards as he crossed his arms and she let out a tinkling laughter which caused him to flush and Long Ye Chen's eyes narrowed with irritation.
"And also arrange the Anhe Palace for her!" He ordered, the exchange making him more irritable and Rui Feng jumped before nodding and bowing then left the room to get his job done.
He turned to the smiling woman and almost sighed, such peace of mind. No complaints about anything, it made him want to make sure she never lacked anything at all in her life.
As if he could no longer control himself, Long Ye Chen leaned in and quickly took her lips in a searing kiss that left her breathless and him losing the last bit of control he had been holding onto all this while.
He palmed her neck and pushed her more into the kiss, deepening it as he slowly pushed her down to the bed and climbed up.
At that moment, he could no longer hold himself back and by the next morning, he woke up satiated but also unsatisfied at the same time.
But her exhausted face made him withhold himself and quickly got ready for court after instructing his guards and servants that they were to treat her with absolute care.
As soon as he left, Mo Qing Yin snapped open her eyes and smirked before she slowly stood up and called out.
"Can I get a bath drawn up?" A servant walked in, her face blushing red as she gazed upon the bite marks scattered all over her skin and Mo Qing Yin almost smirked.
She slowly stood up, her skin bare as and stepped towards the mirror seated by the table and the servant quickly slammed her eyes close.
"Hmm, coverable but why should I?" She mumbled to herself as she gazed at the shy servant through the mirror and said.
"Do I have to wait till you feel better?" The maid quickly shook her head vigorously as she raced off to begin drawing up her bath and soon she was washed and dressed up in a fine costume.
"Huìfēi, these are the guards and maids assigned to you and also one Eunuch was assigned to you. The maid who helped you out is called Cuiyao, she'll be in charge of the others if that's fine with you?" The guard, Ruin Feng said as he walked in with some people and gazing at them, Mo Qing Yin adopted a face of pure wonder and excitement.
"Thank you so much, Tell your majesty that I love them." She said, her eyes sparkling and sighs reached her ears. How funny, this was going way better than she thought it would.
Hooked already.
Rui Feng nodded, his eyes as wide as saucers as he gazed upon the beauty and as soon as his eyes made contact with the bite marks still showing on her skin, he blushed red.
"I- I'll get going now. They will take you to Anhe Palace." He turned and fled her sight and she almost chuckled but held back before standing up and stepping forward.
"I'm Ru Qingshuang," She gave a light bow and they followed suit, bowing lower than she did.
"Don't be too polite, we're going to be working together from now on. I'm simply trying to let you know that I won't treat you badly." She explained and they nodded.
"Okay, who will lead the troops?" She asked and they laughed before Cuiyao came forward and took her arms before she began to lead her away.
As she passed through thenImperial Lotus Garden, leading to her palace, she was stopped by a very beautiful woman who stared at her with blatant disgust and disdain.
This woman, she knew who this was… it was none other than Fēi, a General high-level consort.
"A new girl, and already named." She began and Mo Qing Yin smiled as she went to greet her but her maid, Cuiyao stopped her.
"Huìfēi, you have no reason to do that. Your title far surpasses that of the Fēi consort," she said in explanation and she nodded, before turning to the fuming lady.
"How dare you speak about me in such a manner before my very eyes, don't you have any respect for me again. XingXing, slap her immediately!" She ordered and the maid holding her hand instantly began to step forward but as she came closer to her, she decided to step forward and return the slap of she even dared, but before she could do so, her senses tingled and she instantly recognized the heat signature of the emperor just a few feet away from them.
"Please I will discipline my maids by myself, there's no need to hit her in front of me, where would I put my fa-"
"Shut up, you stinking fox. Look at you, how dare you speak to me like we're on the same level. I will make sure you pay for this wi-"
"Fēi Consort, I would like for you to finish that sentence of yours if you don't value your life." The Emperor's voice filled the place and the Consort instantly turned pale as she slowly turned to the direction the voice had come from.
"Y-Yours majesty!" She exclaimed as she quickly fell to her knees and her maid followed suit.
Taking on a shocked and innocent but also confused expression, Mo Qing Yin went to kneel just like the others but arms stopped her, of course it was none other than the emperor.
"If I hadn't been here, you wouldn't even be alive for me to see anymore." He said with a soft smile that almost made her punch a hole straight into his face but she smiled and shook her head.
"It's nothing, the Consort was just trying to help me out. I just didn't want her to hit Cuiyao for no reason." She forced a pout and the emperor gave her a stare of disbelief before he shook his head at her.
"I wonder who you respect more, your ruler or yourself?! Because I think you're tired of living to lay a hand on what's mine!" If it were possible for Shao Ningxue's face to pale even more than it already was, then it happened in that second.
But she wasn't foolish, this was just a joke. He would not punish her just as she wanted but no problem, she would do that herself.
"I-i wouldn't dare.!" She cried out and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"I think you would, don't think you're at this position because of your family's influence and as you said earlier, your position in regards to that of Qingshuang is far different so be sensible." He informed her and she nodded, bowing her head to the ground.
"Take her away and lock her up for a whole month, if she dares do this again then throw her into the Cold Palace!" He ordered and two men came to escort the woman away amidst her struggles.
"How are you? Hope that didn't startle you?" Long Ye Chen asked softly and she shook her head with a small smile.
"I'm fine, are you sure you want to keep her locked up?" She asked, her brows knitting together and he shook his head at her.
"You still have the mind to worry about someone else right now, call the physician to check up on her. I have to go meet with the Empress." At that name, she felt her fingers flexing as she tried to withhold herself from balling her feet as a strong surge of hate rose in her heart.
Empress Zhen Ruotong, her sworn enemy number one, a woman she would love to teach apart, limb from limb.
What had happened today was just the tip of the iceberg for what she had planned for these Harem and it's occupants.
She would slowly destroy each of them but first of all, she would start from the fool that had crossed her today.
Staring at the retreating back of the Emperor, she smirked painfully. His time wasn't yet close, his death would be a much needed reprieve from her years of pain and misery.
He would feel every single stab he gave, every single slice he gave. He would feel like he was already dead by the rime she was done with him… he should wait his turn, it would reach every single one of them.
In her past life, she has gotten to know everyone involved in her family's tragic ending and that of her beloved, every last one of them.
Even down to the ones who made the suggestions, none of them would be left to roam free by the time she was done.
Unintentionally
, her hands balled into fists but Cuiyao brought her out of her thoughts.
"You really love the Emperor, Huìfēi." She said with a wide smile and she snorted, covering it up quickly with a cough.
Love shit.