Chapter 112

As they rolled about, things quickly spiraled out of control.

Perhaps it was the effect of the incense, or perhaps the feelings that had long since taken root in their hearts. One slender, jade-white hand reached out, while the other’s long, broad palm did not stop it.

The bed curtains fell, cutting off the scene within from the light outside.

Having lived two lifetimes—as a modern person and an ancient one, as both a woman and a man—if Yun Yaoyao still couldn’t understand her own feelings, she would truly have lived in vain.

Without realizing it, she had fallen for the tyrant. She had grown accustomed to his presence, to trading barbs with him, and to joining hands with him against their common enemies.

Having exchanged souls, they truly understood one another. She knew that beneath his cold, violent, and even seemingly heartless exterior lay a past he had forcefully sealed away, an unbearable history. Once the surface was peeled back, all that remained beneath was pain.

That was why he felt uncomfortable with the irrational affection Lin Qing and Xiuer showed her. That was why he secretly treasured the gifts she had given him. He had his own simple, pure tenderness.

Tu Shanjin raised a hand and caressed Yun Yaoyao’s face. Through those eyes, he saw the soul residing within her body.

In the past, he had fought loneliness and lived alongside suspicion. He had never easily entrusted anyone with his faith, and he had grown used to standing alone. But then she had come into his life, like a firefly entering the night.

From then on, he had hope at sunrise and someone to miss at sunset. His heart had something to look forward to. Though busy, he was no longer lost, and he could savor each ordinary day with joy.

Their eyes both shimmered with surging emotion.

At that moment, humanity’s most primal love and desire came crashing forth like a flood and a ferocious beast, breaking through every barrier and grievance between them.

Yun Yaoyao rasped, “A woman’s first time can hurt. I’ll be gentle.”

Tu Shanjin: “…Then leave it to me.”

…Omitted…

The bed curtains began to sway gently, then soon came to a stop.

After a brief, dead silence, a commotion erupted from within.

“…Omitted…”

“…Omitted…”

“Speak plainly!”

“No.”

“Then why is there blood?”

The two stared at each other in silence. After a moment, a bizarre thought surfaced in both their minds.

“Your period?”

“My period!”

The scene descended into utter chaos!

“Quick, get a clean cloth and press it against the wound!”

“Careful—don’t touch the dirty sheets!”

“Xiuer, hurry and bring over a sanitary belt!”

And so, the first attempt at lovemaking between the two of them had collided with the untimely arrival of her period and ended in failure.

Yaoyao suffered in silence.

When Yun Yaoyao and Tu Shanjin left the Yunyi Palace, Xiao Wuzi had already learned the whole story from the palace servants. He gazed at their departing figures with a look of satisfaction.

Who would have thought that the aloof and proud Concubine Sha would now resort to such a little ploy to keep His Majesty’s heart? His yet-unborn little master would be here, crying lustily, before long~~

Yun Yaoyao and Tu Shanjin arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Now that their desire had faded, the atmosphere between them had quietly changed.

The former held her neck high, pretending that she didn’t care in the slightest about what had just happened, while the latter—whose lips were usually drawn into a rigid, expressionless line—now wore a foolishly happy smile.

They entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity one after the other and went about their usual business: one lay peacefully at rest, while the other reviewed memorials. It was just as it had always been, and yet completely different.

As Tu Shanjin reviewed the memorials, he kept glancing toward the figure lying on the couch with her back to him in a rather peculiar position. A smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Next time, I’ll take everything into consideration. I certainly won’t let you down.”

Yun Yaoyao pointed her bottom toward him. “Who was disappointed?!” she said, tossing dried fruit into her mouth. “I merely fell for your little trick!” she continued, chewing. “I just failed to keep my lower half under control!” she declared, chewing even more fiercely.

“All right. Whatever you say,” Tu Shanjin replied, his smile growing wider.

The books written by Master Fugui never lied. Young women experiencing love for the first time were generally all the same—verbally resistant, yet physically honest.

When she said no, she meant yes. When she said nothing was wrong, she was surely furious inside. At times like that, one needed to say sweet words and offer expensive gifts to coax her back into a good mood.

The Book of Life and Death might have been broad-minded and disinclined to quibble, but he still had to learn more, just in case.

In a little while, he would write a letter and threaten Di Shunzhi, ordering him to present every book he had concerning women experiencing love for the first time. Otherwise, he would charge him with the crime of having slandered the emperor in the past.

Tu Shanjin was in an excellent mood after nearly getting lucky. His entire person had softened considerably.

Even when faced with the pointless greetings and rambling questions in some of the ministers’ memorials, Tu Shanjin no longer responded with cutting retorts. Instead, he picked up his brush and wrote things such as “Much appreciated,” “I am aware,” and “You have worked hard.”

Once the government affairs had been dealt with, another major matter awaited the two of them.

When it came to serious business, Yun Yaoyao dropped all pretenses. She rose, stretched lazily, and gave Tu Shanjin a detailed account of what had happened in court that day.

“The timing is perfect. We’ll move the plan forward,” Tu Shanjin said, picking up his wolf-hair brush and beginning to write a secret letter.

Yun Yaoyao nodded. “The early bird gets the worm. Strike first, and we won’t have to suffer the consequences of striking second. That’s what I was thinking too.”

The two exchanged a glance. Everything they needed to say was contained in that one look.

The plan to eliminate the Du faction had officially begun!

After discussing matters for a while, the Dragon Shadow Guards summoned the Yaoyao Legion—which had long been secretly waiting in the imperial palace—to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to appear before His Majesty.

One secret order after another was issued. The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, the Dragon Shadow Guards, and the Imperial Guards—in short, nearly every force under the emperor’s command had been mobilized, all with the Du faction in their sights!

Storm clouds were gathering inside Qianqing Palace. Outside, a shivering figure stood alone in the freezing cold, looking small, helpless, and utterly miserable.

Gao Dexiang shuddered and edged toward Qianqing Palace once more. “Has His Majesty still not arrived?”

This time, the Imperial Guards finally relented. “Lord Gao, please wait a moment. I’ll go inform His Majesty.”

Gao Dexiang breathed a sigh of relief, only to grow anxious again immediately afterward. Every so often, he craned his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening inside.

Before long, a guard came out and said, “Lord Gao, please come with me.”

Only then did Gao Dexiang truly relax. He obediently followed the guard inside. When he finally stood before the emperor, he lowered his head so far that he wished he could turn himself into a quail, just to show how frightened and submissive he was.

Yun Yaoyao picked up a memorial that Tu Shanjin had already reviewed and flipped through it. After a long while, she finally said in an indifferent tone, “Vice Minister Gao, what brings you here?”

Gao Dexiang hurriedly lifted his head and bowed. His ingratiating smile was almost blinding. “Your Majesty, what you said in court today regarding the matter of establishing the empress was truly admirable. I’m not surprised that my son holds Your Majesty in such awe and admiration. As expected of Your Majesty, you are truly—”

(One thousand words of flattery omitted.)

They were both sly old foxes. How could Yun Yaoyao fail to see that he was testing the waters? Using Gao Chongguang as an excuse, he was secretly declaring his loyalty to her.

Hmph. Loyalty that comes late is cheaper than grass. In the past, you treated my attempts to recruit you with indifference. Today, I’ll make sure you’re unworthy of even trying to curry favor with me!

Yaoyao let out a cold snort. “Vice Minister Gao, have you found yourself unable to get along with Minister Du and decided to abandon your former master for my side?”

Sincerity was the deadliest weapon of all. Her blunt question left Gao Dexiang completely at a loss.

Your Majesty, what happened to the subtle and indirect art of speaking like an emperor?!

Gao Dexiang wiped away a bead of cold sweat and immediately dropped to his knees with a thud. “This humble subject has always been wholeheartedly loyal to Your Majesty! My relationship with Minister Du is merely that of a superior and subordinate. Even if I occasionally overstepped my bounds, I was forced into it by his abuse of power! The principles of the ruler-subject relationship have always been what I hold most firmly to. Your Majesty is the one I am willing to follow to the death! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!”

Yun Yaoyao continued flipping through the memorials without saying a word. An invisible pressure spread throughout the room, making Gao Dexiang increasingly uneasy. Cold sweat streamed down his back.

After a long silence, Yun Yaoyao finally said, “I value practicality. I have no interest in empty words.”

Gao Dexiang released a heavy sigh of relief. He immediately presented the item he had prepared in advance, his smile sly and obsequious. “Your Majesty, this is my sincerity. Please take a look.”

Yun Yaoyao accepted it. It was a thick book.

After opening it and giving it a cursory glance, Yun Yaoyao set it down at once and strode over to Gao Dexiang. Moved, she took both his hands in hers. “Lord Gao, I knew long ago that you possessed great talent. I truly haven’t misjudged you!”

Gao Dexiang was startled. A moment ago, she had still been calling him Vice Minister Gao in an icy tone, and now she was holding his hands and calling him Lord Gao. The speed at which His Majesty changed faces was downright terrifying!

But mockery was one thing; he still had to maintain appearances.

Gao Dexiang looked deeply moved. His gaze grew equally cloying, and he even squeezed a hot tear from the corner of his eye. “Your Majesty is too kind! It is this subject’s good fortune to ease Your Majesty’s burdens!”

“Vice Minister Gao!”

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, their gazes seemed to stretch into silken threads. No one could possibly tear them apart!

Hidden behind the screen, the corners of Tu Shanjin’s mouth twitched faintly.

Yun Yaoyao continued grasping Gao Dexiang’s hands and brainwashing him with promises and grand visions. By the time she was done, sparks were practically shooting from his eyes. In his mind, he could already see himself dressed in the robes of a minister, trampling all the officials of the Ministry of Personnel beneath his feet!

Only then did Yun Yaoyao stop, satisfied. She patted him on the shoulder. “As for the position of Minister of Personnel, why couldn’t you take the seat, Lord Gao?”

Gao Dexiang had arrived anxious and uneasy, but he left excited and exhilarated, his mind filled with magnificent plans for the future!

If he, Gao Dexiang, could truly become Minister of Personnel, he might as well establish an entirely new branch of the family tree with himself as its founder. In the future, every descendant of the Gao clan would burn their first incense in his honor!

His wayward son’s choice of patron really was excellent!

After Gao Dexiang left, Tu Shanjin emerged from behind the screen. He picked up the book and examined it carefully, surprise appearing in his eyes.

“This Gao Dexiang is far more clever than he lets on.”

Yun Yaoyao nodded. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to recruit him. What he brought us this time will be a major asset in dealing with the Du faction.”

With the script of the novel in her hands, Yun Yaoyao knew that Gao Dexiang was by no means as simple as he appeared...