LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 96 - 096: The Wild
Chapter 96: Chapter 096: The Wild
Sang Yan wouldn’t allow it, she dodged and chided, “This is a pure land of the Buddhist Sect, you mustn’t behave so frivolously.”
He Ying disagreed, “The Buddha is merciful, surely he would be happy to see lovers eventually become a couple.”
Sang Yan: “…”
Unable to argue with him, she chuckled and changed the subject, “Has it been peaceful in the Imperial Palace lately?”
He Ying nodded, “Nothing much.”
Sang Yan glanced outside and surprisingly saw Yu Huai De, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, and grew puzzled, “Why haven’t I seen Pei Muyang?”
Pei Muyang was young and handsome, with a sweet mouth, making his presence felt.
Just now when the Emperor came in, he wasn’t seen attending by his side.
So she was a bit concerned.
“Is he sick?”
“No.”
He Ying didn’t want to say that after Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De returned to the palace, he reported that Pei Muyang was the illegitimate son of Pei Zhen.
Although since Pei Muyang had come to serve the Emperor, he had always been disciplined and without any signs of seeking revenge for his father, who knew what he thought inside?
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He could no longer be trusted.
Like the Empress, his very birth was a sin.
“Something feels wrong.”
Sang Yan looked at him and urged, “What happened? Did he do something wrong? You didn’t kill someone again, did you?”
He Ying shook his head, with an innocent look, “How could that be? Am I really such a bloodthirsty person in your eyes?”
“Sorry.”
Sang Yan knew she had misspoken and immediately apologized, then said, “So don’t hide it from me, what exactly happened to Pei Muyang?”
Seeing her relentless questioning, He Ying no longer kept it from her and told the truth, “Pei Muyang is the son of Pei Zhen.”
Sang Yan was stunned, “Ah? What? How did you know?”
He Ying said, “Yu Huai De has returned. As the Chief Eunuch, upon careful investigation, he discovered that Pei Muyang is the illegitimate son of Pei Zhen.”
Sang Yan raised doubts, “Pei Zhen was a powerful official, and a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, how could he let his own son enter the Imperial Palace to become a eunuch?”
He Ying explained, “Judging by his age, he entered the palace after Pei Zhen had died. This also makes his motives suspicious.”
“What does he himself say?”
“He says his mother was a singer, and he was never recognized by Pei Zhen, always depending on his mother for a living. When he was seven, Pei Zhen was killed, his mother passed away shortly after, and he, out of necessity for a living, entered the Imperial Palace.”
“Hearing you say this, he himself seems to be a pitiable person.”
“Though pitiable, he cannot remain by my side.”
In consideration of his long service, sparing his life was already a grace.
After hearing this, Sang Yan guessed, “Is the Emperor going to expel him from the palace?”
He Ying nodded, “I will give him some rewards to ensure a safe and carefree life for the rest of his days, currently letting him contemplate what he wants.”
Sang Yan was relatively satisfied with this outcome and thus did not say anything further.
He Ying, not wanting to talk about others, changed the topic, suggesting she show him around Long Chan Temple.
The two of them then chatted and strolled through Long Chan Temple.
“Amitabha Buddha, peace be with the Emperor.”
“We’ve seen the Emperor—”
The passing monks all bowed in salute.
Sang Yan laughed, “Next time you come, you could change your clothes, this golden color makes it easy to spot your identity.”
He Ying wasn’t wearing the imperial robe, but his casual clothes were also too lavish and flashy.
“I rather think it’s a matter of bearing.”
He deliberately said this with vanity, thinking to amuse her.
Sang Yan played along with a laughing compliment, “Of course. With the Emperor’s dragon energy, they naturally look on with awe.”
Unknowingly, the two had wandered to the back mountain of Long Chan Temple.
The mountain was filled with lush greenery.
There were also some fruit trees.
Sang Yan noticed a wild fruit tree, with green and red fruits hanging from the branches. She couldn’t name it, but it was plump and had a glossy sheen, wafting a fragrance and made them seem delicious.
“Emperor, I would like to climb up and pick some fruits.”
The hidden wild side within her was surfacing.
Remembering the moment she had leaped from the carriage before, her playful and adorable side, He Ying decided not to restrain her and smiled, “Alright.”
Then, he knelt down in front of her, instructing her, “Then step on my shoulders to climb up. Take it slow. Be careful not to scratch yourself.”
Sang Yan was surprised by his willingness, “Are you sure? I’ll step on you?”
He Ying nodded, “Don’t you want to go up and pick the fruits?”
“You don’t think it’s beneath your dignity?”
“As long as you’re happy. There’s no one else around.”
He thought of the Hidden Guard and added, “If you’re embarrassed, I can tell the Hidden Guard to keep their distance.”
Sang Yan shook her head, “That’s not the reason.”
Such things, she didn’t care at all what others thought.
Seeing him obediently kneeling down.
She stepped on him and climbed up the tree.
The tree wasn’t too tall.
It wasn’t very difficult, either.
She quickly climbed up and sat on the thick branch.
When He Ying saw that she was seated, he lightly leapt and sat down beside her.
Sang Yan was stunned, “Why didn’t you just carry me and fly up here?”
He Ying seriously replied, “Didn’t you say you wanted to climb up to pick the fruit?”
Sang Yan: “…”
It seemed like the problem was hers.
Stupid.
Stupid.
How did she not think of that method!
“Then can you carry me down and then back up again now?”
She wanted to experience the sensation of being carried and flying up.
He Ying agreed, his long arms encircling her waist, gently landing her on the ground, then once again, he channeled his energy to take her flying back up.
Sang Yan found it fun and played with it three times before finally sitting on the branch to pick fruit.
The fruit looked appetizing, but it tasted very bitter.
She disdained it and threw it to the ground, “No wonder there are so many; no one picks them.”
He Ying didn’t speak. He picked one after another, biting each fruit once before tossing it away.
Sang Yan watched, puzzled, “What are you doing? Even if they taste bad, don’t waste them. Pick them and sell them for chickens and ducks to eat; it’s still food.”
He Ying explained, “I’m tasting to see if they are all bad. With so many, there must be a tasty one.”
He actually wanted to find a tasty one for her to eat.
He searched, and indeed he found one.
“Oh. This one is not bad. Try it.”
He offered it, avoiding the spot he had bitten, and held it up to her mouth.
Sang Yan didn’t mind and bit where he had eaten, indirectly kissing him.
He Ying, with a heated gaze, said, “You—”
Sang Yan, chewing the fruit flesh, nodded contentedly, “Indeed, it’s not bad. Very sweet. Quite crunchy. Very fragrant. It has an aftertaste that lingers.”
He Ying: “…”
He felt like she was talking about something else.
Every move she made seemed to be flirting with him.
A bit hot.
But there was no sun today.
The breeze rustled through the woods.
It was indeed refreshing.
Yet he felt unbelievably hot all over, “That… that—”
He turned his gaze away, his mind in a fog, feeling as if he wanted to lose control.
Just then, the sound of a woman’s running and panting came from below the tree.
Accompanied by a string of angry curses:
“Slut!”
“Stop running! You won’t escape!”
“Damn thing, you did something so shameless and still have the face to run!”
“Misfortune has befallen our family! Misfortune indeed!”
…
The voices grew louder as they approached.
Sang Yan saw a young woman in tattered clothes collapse at the base of the tree, with whip marks across her body, from her neck to her face, covered in blood, making it impossible to discern her true features.
And behind her, a large crowd closed in, some in fine clothes, others in coarse garb, but all brandishing knives and clubs, with the same murderous aura.
What was going on?
Forcing a good woman into prostitution?
Or trafficking?
“I didn’t!”
“I’m not!”
“I haven’t done anything!”
“I am innocent!”
With her last breath, the woman, covered in wounds, completely exhausted, couldn’t get up and could only cry helplessly, like a dying little animal.
But the men clearly wouldn’t let her go and gradually surrounded her.
As they were about to drag the woman away—
“Stop!”
Sang Yan shouted fiercely, signaling for He Ying to carry her down.