Chapter 64

The Princess Yong’an of Great Wei had never witnessed the Grand Tutor’s gallant figure as he carved paths through Eagle Beak Mountain, nor seen the valor of the Marquis of Dingguo, who led a few to triumph over many at the gates of the capital.

But the Wei Lenghou on the bed….oh, he was undoubtedly a flood dragon, fierce and relentless, thorough in his study and mastery!

The Grand Tutor had always indulged himself.

Yet after falling for this Dragon Pearl, he had abstained from women for a long while.

In the early days, he would toss and turn sleepless in his residence, yearning in the dark of night to gallop through the palace gates and properly “discipline” that lovely little thing.

But the beauty was frail and needed time.

So, whenever he couldn’t sleep, he would mentally replay the imagined taste of that first bite…like strategizing for war, calculating each move in his head.

Though his spear had yet to be drawn, every mechanism and maneuver had already been meticulously devised…

Who would have thought that at such a pivotal moment,just as he entered the city to quell the rebellion…that tender morsel he had longed for would fall into his mouth unguarded? Only then did he realize: all those mental rehearsals had been overthinking it.

That soft sweetness, once he had a taste, left no room for tricks or variation.

The only instinct was to pin her down tightly and never let go.

That wicked drug from Ge Qingyuan was indeed ferocious.

The once shy and timid Guo’er now seemed insatiable.

Luckily it was a man like him…strong and vigorous, serving Her Highness.

Had it been another, she might not have been satisfied at all!

Beneath the red canopy, the beauty gasped in alarm, “Grand Tutor, your hand is enough…what are you using ‘that’ for?”

The Grand Tutor mumbled unclearly, seemingly with something in his mouth, “It’s all antidote…”

What followed was the sound of the bed frame creaking violently under the red canopy, shaking as if it would collapse at any moment.

Not until the fourth watch of the night did those creaks gradually die down.

After several full-force assaults, the spirited little fish was finally subdued.

The Grand Tutor grabbed the long towel he had flung to the side earlier and wiped the sweat and stickiness from his body.

Having proven his manhood with iron-like stamina, the exhaustion of the past days crashed into him all at once, as if sated after a victorious siege.

After a few rough wipes, he kissed the flushed face of the little one beneath him and promptly collapsed on top of her, falling asleep.

Ever since she’d been abducted by that bastard, Nie Qinglin hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep.

After such a fierce, full-body battle, not an ounce of strength was left in her.

Clutched in the Grand Tutor’s arms, she too drifted off.

Outside, the capital was filled with cries and killing intent, while inside the bridal chamber, red candles flickered and the two slept in darkness until the heavens spun.

By the next morning, Nie Qinglin’s whole body ached, not a spot left untouched.

Though her eyes remained closed, her consciousness had returned.

The shameful mess she’d been in under the effects of that bottle of aphrodisiac still played vividly in her mind.

If possible, she truly wished she could keep her eyes shut and sleep forever!

So that’s what those books had meant, that was why beds shook so much during such things… The Grand Tutor had such strength, her head kept knocking into the bed’s headboard.

Though he eventually cupped the back of her head to protect it, she could still feel a bump forming… And below…she didn’t even want to think about it.

The dull ache there was a cruel reminder that she had completely lost her maidenhood…

No matter how mortifying, one still had to face life.

Reluctantly, Nie Qinglin half-opened her eyes—only to see that the supposedly dead Grand Tutor was sound asleep beside her.

His long lashes cast a crescent shadow across his phoenix eyes.

The hand that had held her down last night now rested lightly on her waist…

Biting her lip, Nie Qinglin slowly sat up.

But just as she moved, the Grand Tutor opened his eyes.

Seeing her upright, he sat up too and pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to ask gently, “Why are you up?”

Nie Qinglin dared not look at his bare, muscular body.

She murmured, “Thirsty…” Only then did she realize how hoarse her voice was.

No doubt from screaming when the Grand Tutor had gone all out last night.

The room was thick with the lingering scent of lust. The Grand Tutor didn’t want to summon a servant, so he got up himself, poured a cup of water from the table, and handed it to his Dragon Pearl.

After she sipped it slowly, he coaxed her back to lie down and rest a bit more.

He, meanwhile, got out of bed, opened a trunk, and rummaged through some of Ge Qingyuan’s clothes.

Though his face showed distaste, he begrudgingly put one on.

Last night had been far too indulgent.

Though he still longed for the warm beauty in bed, there was a mess outside that needed cleaning up.

He could delay no longer.

After the Grand Tutor left, Nie Qinglin slowly got up, wrapped herself in the blanket, and climbed off the bed.

She intended to find something to wear, but as she passed the Western Lu silver mirror, that had been moved into Ge Manor by that old crone Shen…she halted.

Princess Yong’an of Great Wei stared at her reflection, stunned, and let out a low, pained cry.

Who was that blotchy-faced little monster in the mirror?

The tears and sweat of the entire night had completely ruined what had once been exquisite bridal makeup.

The peony forehead ornament had become a blurry red smear.

Her powdered face was streaked with white smudges, and her lipstick—most of it was probably rubbed off on the Grand Tutor’s handsome face…

Even she was startled by her appearance.

Was the Grand Tutor blind? Last night, he really looked at her like she was a beauty, pinning her down and kissing that ridiculous little face of hers, calling her his precious treasure from the bottom of his heart…

Yesterday, under the influence of the drug, she had acted so wantonly and shamelessly, and now, faced with the double humiliation of that memory and her current appearance, Nie Qinglin truly felt the urge to cry out: “Nanny Shan! Bring me a basin of cold water so I can drown myself in it!”

It wasn’t until Nanny Shan ordered the maids to boil water and let the princess soak herself clean in a wooden tub that she finally changed into fresh clothes and had her hair and makeup redone.

By the time Nie Qinglin stepped out of the room, the indulgent romance inside had vanished like smoke.

What greeted her eyes was the brutal aftermath of a coup.

Although the corpses in the courtyard had been dragged away, the bloodstains still remained, not yet scrubbed clean.

Grand Tutor Wei had designated the Ge residence as a temporary command post, presiding over matters from the main hall, while people of all sorts rushed in and out to report.

Ge Qingyuan had fled in such haste that he didn’t spare a thought for the palace, nor for the emperor who was his half-brother by a different father.

The poor child emperor was only seven years old and had no trusted aides in the palace.

When Grand Tutor Wei’s soldiers stormed the palace gates, the terrified eunuchs and maids screamed in panic, and the little emperor, frightened out of his wits, wailed loudly on his bed but no one paid him any mind.

Lu Yuda led a detachment of soldiers into the palace and found the emperor still sobbing.

Frowning, Lu Yuda, though reluctant to harm a child, knew the boy’s identity doomed him.

Whether as the son of the Ge family or as the late emperor’s illegitimate child, he would never have a peaceful life.

Lu Yuda ordered his men to keep the boy under tight watch.

By midday, order had largely been restored within and outside the capital.

In the past few days, the Ge family had indeed acted arrogantly, flaunting even more dominance than Grand Tutor Wei.

But their influence hadn’t taken deep root in the hearts of Wei’s officials.

How could a few days of posturing compare to the Grand Tutor’s decades of cultivation and accumulated power? If Wei Lenghou had died, perhaps the situation would’ve been different.

But since he lived, those three characters, “Wei Lenghou” were enough to strike fear into the hearts of the court’s officials.

No one had foreseen such a development.

Against someone as unreasonable as the Grand Tutor, who bulldozed forward with sheer military might, even the Ge family’s secret agents had no chance to act.

They could only cower at home, trembling in fear.

Once Lu Yuda’s troops captured the Ge family’s known accomplices, the capital was essentially pacified.

The Grand Tutor had no intention of staying in the Ge residence for long and planned to return to the palace with Princess Yong’an as soon as possible.

After all, he had only just had his first taste yesterday.

Much like Marshal Tianpeng swallowing a whole ginseng fruit, he hadn’t yet savored the full flavor.

(T/N: Marshal Tianpeng swallowing a whole ginseng fruit is a famous moment from Journey to the West. It shows how greedy and shameless Zhu Bajie(the pig-like guy who travels with Tang Sanzang) can be and people often joke about it or use it in parodies because it’s so over-the-top and funny. )

He needed to return to the palace, embrace the beauty in bed again, and properly relish it.

Just then, a squad of soldiers brought Ge Yun’er before the Grand Tutor and Nie Qinglin.

“Reporting to the Grand Tutor, the Ge family members have all been detained awaiting interrogation. Should this young lady of the Ge family be thrown into the prison?”

Nie Qinglin looked up at Ge Yun’er.

Her hair was disheveled, her hands tied behind her back, and she looked a complete mess.

A wave of sorrow swept through Nie Qinglin’s heart.

After all, she and Ge Yun’er had gotten along well during her time as the princess.

She had even considered her a friend.

Though she loathed Ge Qingyuan, she knew this had nothing to do with Ge Yun’er.

What could a girl possibly do about the ambitions of her father and brother?

How pitiful.

Just days ago, this noble daughter of the Ge family had basked in glory.

Yet the moment things collapsed, her father and brother hadn’t spared a thought for her.

Wasn’t this exactly like how her own mother and the late emperor’s consorts had been abandoned to die when Wei Lenghou launched his rebellion?

Thinking this, Nie Qinglin suddenly lost all interest in speaking.

Wei Lenghou, ever sharp, immediately sensed the dip in her mood and gently wrapped his arm around her.

After the chaos of last night, it was now noon, and bright sunlight poured into the Ge residence.

The Grand Tutor had quelled the rebellion, reclaimed his dragon pearl, and even consumed it to his satisfaction.

He was in fine spirits, and even the usually grim look on his face seemed softened by the light.

Nie Qinglin, having just tasted love, still blushed prettily, her face radiant.

When Ge Yun’er lifted her head and saw Wei Lenghou and Nie Qinglin standing side by side in the sunlight like an immortal couple, her heart filled with a violent storm of jealousy and hatred, ready to explode.

Like many other young women in court who harbored secret crushes, Ge Yun’er had always held an ideal in her heart.

She often read romantic tales in private and dreamed even more boldly than most.

To her, aside from her older brother, only Wei Lenghou could be considered a true man among men.

During court banquets, she would secretly glance at the Grand Tutor’s divine appearance and fantasize about romantic encounters with him, lighting incense together in a temple, bumping into each other in a garden.

Though she had overheard her brother and father plotting in the study, and knew her brother harbored ambitions for the throne, she had still grieved in silence when she heard that Wei Lenghou and his Black Banner Army had been wiped out in Li county.

Who would’ve thought the god-like man from her fantasies would show up and use her entire family as sacrificial offerings?

Her father died under Wei Lenghou’s blade, her brother’s fate was unknown, and her younger brother was now imprisoned in the palace under who-knew-what conditions.

And now… now she was witnessing this? Especially the way the Grand Tutor looked at Princess Yong’an…with such tenderness.

The jealousy and hatred that surged up in Ge Yun’er’s chest were like a pack of wolves devouring the last remnants of her once-innocent heart.

Princess Yong’an had always seen this beautiful and intelligent woman as her dearest friend.

Just moments ago, the two of them had been chatting sweetly about girlish matters in the palace.

Yet now, she had turned cold and distant, refusing to meet her again, as if they had never been close at all.

At first, she thought she must have done something wrong.

She had sincerely hoped that the princess would marry her clever and capable brother, looking forward to the days they would spend together in the same residence.

She believed this future sister-in-law would remain as affectionate with her as ever.

But this noble princess of Great Wei had, on the very night of her wedding, when her new husband’s household was thrown into catastrophe…been in her family’s bridal chamber indulging in passion with another man.

That night, her father died a tragic death, her brother fled for his life, and she fell from a pampered heiress to a fallen woman whom anyone could trample.

And now, as she watched the two people she once treasured walk out of the newlywed chamber of the Ge residence, the innocence and romantic notions she had clung to collapsed completely.

All that remained in her heart was hatred and resentment.

Even if she died, she would drag them down with her.

As the malice in her heart surged, the obsessive nature of the Ge bloodline took over.

She let out a piercing, deranged laugh, sharp and shrill:

“Princess Yong’an, you’re truly something! Eating from one bowl while eyeing the pot! You’re cozy with the Grand Tutor, yet sneaking around with my brother behind everyone’s back. The moment word came that Grand Tutor Wei had perished, you miraculously became Grand Tutor Ge’s lawfully wedded wife. And now that the Ge family has fallen, you’re secretly meeting the Grand Tutor in my brother’s wedding room! Playing both sides—no wonder you thrive!”

Then she turned her eyes toward Wei Lenghou.

“And you! Don’t be so quick to celebrate. Do you really think this woman is sincere with you? Don’t you know she and my brother grew up together? She seduced him long ago! Without her hints during the imperial exam, would my brother, a noble son of a prominent family, have stayed in the capital at all? Don’t forget…her surname is Nie! She’s the emperor’s own sister! If she could hook my brother, she could easily ensnare someone else. Sooner or later, she’ll find a man stronger than you. And when that day comes, it’ll be your turn to die with no grave to your name. My Ge family is the perfect example of your future! I’ll be watching your downfall with my own eyes…”

At that, the soldiers beside her stuffed a cloth into her mouth and dragged her out of the estate.

Wei Lenghou said nothing.

He simply reached out and took the princess’s hand.

Once they stepped out of the Ge residence and into the carriage, he did not speak again.

For a long time, silence filled the space between the two of them.

Nie Qinglin sighed inwardly.

Ge Yun’er…people say you’re innocent and naive, but those words just now were far more poisonous and effective than any scheme your brother could’ve devised.

Every sentence struck right at the heart of that petty, vengeful Grand Tutor.

Sure enough, by the time they reached the palace gates, the Grand Tutor’s expression had turned completely grim.

Yet outwardly, he remained calm as he helped the princess down from the carriage.

But when they entered Fengchu Palace and saw the golden chamber he had carefully decorated now emptied out, his voice turned cold as frost.

“That Ge Yun’er was full of nonsense. I won’t take it to heart. But as for what she said about the imperial exam, I do hope Your Highness will offer an explanation. Whatever you say, I’ll believe.”

His tone, though, was full of gritted teeth and chilling undertones.

Nie Qinglin knew that someone as clever as Wei Lenghou would’ve instantly recalled the suspicious incident back in the study, when she tampered with the exam paper.

The fact that he was bringing it up now meant he had figured it out.

So she no longer hid it and admitted stiffly, “Regarding the imperial exam… it was indeed my fault.”

Wei Lenghou’s phoenix-like eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

“And how exactly did Your Highness make this mistake? Please enlighten your humble servant in detail.”

“It was just… at the time, I was taken by his talent. I left a few acrostic lines on his exam sheet… hinting at the canal topic…”

“Oh? So Your Highness truly believed that bastard from the Ge family to be a literary genius, so delightful that you had to secretly help him to compete with your ‘useless’ humble servant? Was that it? Was this humble servant’s return ill-timed? Did I ruin Your Highness’s beautiful fate with your beloved Ge boy?”

He ended with a sneer, even dragging out crude barracks language in his fury.

Nie Qinglin knew that nothing she said now could make the Grand Tutor believe her.

Still, the frustration and guilt she had bottled up over the past few days demanded an outlet.

When a smart person does something foolish, the self-blame alone can be unbearable.

She had trusted the wrong person for the first time in her life, and it had nearly caused the fall of the nation.

Now, hearing him throw such harsh words at her, she snapped and blurted out everything:

“If the Grand Tutor insists on believing that, then so be it! From your words, it sounds like I was really in league with that Ge traitor! Perhaps you’ve brought me to the wrong place? You’ve got everything you wanted anyway. There’s no use keeping me around. Just toss me into prison too, so I stop being an eyesore to you!”

The Grand Tutor had never taken seriously what Ge Yun’er said about Nie Qinglin’s ambition for power.

He knew this so-called Dragon Pearl was clever but lazy, a free-spirited drifter with no hunger for control.

But Ge Qingyuan…young, handsome, with a tragic past, fit the archetype of the fallen scholar from every cliché romance novel.

He had always suspected her heart leaned toward that man, but now he realized they’d been flirting right under his nose.

Jealousy surged like a tidal wave into unquenchable fury.

He had hoped that Nie Qinglin, as usual, would smooth things over with sweet talk, glossing it all over so he could swallow his pride and let it go.

But to his surprise, the one who started this whole mess had a worse temper than he did! She acted as if she had done no wrong at all! How could he save face now?

Infuriated, he bellowed: “Men! Throw this foolish girl into the prison!”