Chapter 1424 - 773: Flowers and Moon in the Spring Breeze (Extended 2-in-1)

The wine had been poured three times, the dishes tasted five.

The roar and excitement inside the mansion's main hall finally ebbed away like the tide as time passed.

At the feast, everyone's faces were flushed with drunkenness, their words relaxed. After another round of mutual toasting, several esteemed elder relatives stood up first, citing age and inability to drink as excuses to leave.

Qin Qingluo remained seated in the main position, did not linger, nodded in acknowledgment, and offered farewell words. The housekeeper led them out of the hall and arranged for carriages.

Following them, several military officials, who came with families, also took their leave. They were more straightforward than the relatives, bowing and loudly expressing thanks to the Prince and Princess for their hospitality, saying things like "we must return to the camp for patrol duty."

Qin Qingluo still just nodded, her gaze flitting over their faces in permission. Their family members bowed to Zhu E, offering low-tuned thanks for the Princess's careful hosting, while the children, mostly weary, rubbed their eyes and were led away half-asleep by their wet nurses or maids, following their parents.

The attendees dwindled, and a few civil servants with close ties to the mansion wisely took their leave as well. The candlelight seemed brighter, reflecting off the disarray of cups and plates, remnants of food and drink. Maids began to quietly clear the bowls and plates from the edges of the tables.

Yin Weiyin also rose with Qin Yue.

The little girl had long been unable to hold on, asleep on the lap of the female crown, with a trace of sweet pudding still on her cheek. Yin Weiyin picked her up one-handed, expertly, while holding a horsetail whisk in the other hand, slightly bowing toward the main seat, without speaking much, turning to leave gracefully. His Daoist robe soon melded into the light and shadow of the hallway outside, arriving and leaving like flowing water.

At this point, the vast main hall had only a few people left near the main seat.

Zhu E watched their silhouettes disappear at the corridor's corner, gently sighed with relief, turning back into the hall. Her face still bore a decorous smile, yet there was a faint hint of weariness from the evening's management between her brows.

Zhu E silently observed them for a moment.

There seemed to be some difference between them…

How astute Zhu E was; she instantly realized that the two must have met before the feast.

The Prince of Annan remained seated at the main seat, still holding a white jade wine cup, but did not drink. Half her face was hidden in shadows, with crystalline grape wine in the cup, candlelight shimmering.

With no outsiders now, Chen Yi at the side appeared leisurely, stretching his arms and yawning.

The civil servants were no longer as cautious, flattering as before, which mildly surprised Zhu E, but then she chuckled.

Zhu E approached, Qin Qingluo spoke: "Thanks for your hard work, Aunt Zhu."

"Why say that, it's just my duty."

Zhu E said, her eyes falling on Chen Yi,

"What plans does the lord have next?"

Qin Qingluo glanced aside: "Don't ask him."

Yet Zhu E still looked at Chen Yi, who did not pay mind to Qin Qingluo, yawned and said:

"What else to do, go to bed early."

"Indeed, the night is deep."

Zhu E covered her mouth and laughed, glancing mischievously at Qin Qingluo, the Princess wore a stern expression, snake-like eyes fixed on the cup, her gaze shifting unpredictably.

All this time, she had always taken the lead, she rewarded and punished as she wished, but now as Chen Yi dreamt back to the past, no longer backing down, she felt unsure of how to proceed.

Perhaps even Zhu E wouldn't follow her now.

Thinking of this, Qin Qingluo felt a bit of belated chill from her spine, past scenes reminiscent of last night's reappearance.

He was seemingly destined to take everything from her.

For a moment, Qin Qingluo felt herself more like that young Emperor whose commands never left the bedroom.

Once everything was tidied up, Zhu E went to leave, pushed the door open, thinking, these two walked a path more twisted than others, misunderstandings, scheming, life-and-death grudges, strong confrontations, intertwined interests, blood and kin connections… suffering countless trials, unable to decisively make choices right away, thus chaos would persist longer.

So, more time should be left to them.

Qin Qingluo caressed the cup's carvings, sipping lightly, and slowly asked: "Tonight, what do you intend to do?"

She resembled a sovereign asking a minister what reward he desires.

Chen Yi left his seat, leisurely approached, and suddenly grasped her collar with a smile:

"Qin Qingluo, why are you acting like this?"

His hand slid down, gripping her heart.

This long-missed insolence made Qin Qingluo uncomfortable, yet she remained unfazed, retorting:

"Is the widow to change like you, a wench, day by day?"

Hearing this, she felt a pang in her chest.

Chen Yi indeed did not like her acting this way, yet felt he owed her.

And due to the excitement of reunion after separation, each time meeting the woman after a long absence, Chen Yi inevitably softened his heart, relenting more, coupled with her assertive personality, leading to prolonged yielding.

But today, he wished to liberate his nature.

"Shall we return to the room?"

Chen Yi glanced at her throne, slowly said:

"Not the dragon throne, it's dull here."

"All right."

Qin Qingluo shook off his hand, then stood up.

The two left the hall together, heading towards the bedroom.

Upon reaching the bedroom, Qin Qingluo was about to speak when suddenly she was pressed with great force onto the soft bed from behind.

His actions, restrained for days, seemed so much more forceful now.

Qin Qingluo was caught off guard, her cheek pressed into the bedding, sensing the seams of her garments being ripped open from behind, trying to struggle, yet held firmly with no movement possible.