nycdaug Chapter 197 Yuwen Qingyue
Chapter 197 Yuwen Qingyue
Ten years later.
The sounds of weapons clashing rang out in the Imperial Garden. Upon closer inspection, one could see a red weapon and another a black weapon locked in combat, neither giving an inch.
"Grand Preceptor, you're always faking things like this. When will my swordsmanship improve?" A voice that felt like a gentle breeze rang out.
The woman in red deftly sheathed her sword, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and if I, the Imperial Preceptor, were to harm you in the slightest, those old fogies in the court would nag me to death!"
"The Imperial Advisor is afraid of their few words? That's truly strange! Imperial Advisor, take this!"
As soon as the words left his lips, a black figure flashed past, the blade gleaming coldly, aimed directly at the red-clad woman's throat.
Their fighting spirit was reignited, and the two clashed again until three incense sticks had burned before a victor emerged.
The woman pointed her sword at his throat and, with a hint of provocation, lifted his chin with the sword.
Upon seeing this scene, all the palace servants guarding the area knelt down, not daring to raise their heads, their bodies trembling like leaves.
"Imperial Preceptor, please don't hurt His Majesty!" the palace servants cried out in unison.
The woman ignored their words, her eyes filled with interest.
"Yuwen Qingyue, do you admit defeat?"
The man with his chin slightly raised looked at the spirited woman in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"I am completely convinced of my defeat to the Imperial Advisor."
The woman was in high spirits. She threw the sword in her hand on the ground and left with a smile.
Seeing that the danger had passed, the kneeling palace servants rushed forward and repeatedly checked on Yuwen Qingyue's health.
No matter how noisy the people around him were, he just stared at the departing red figure, unable to come back to his senses...
Ten years later, Yuwen Qingyue would have grown into a figure who could command respect from all directions.
In the imperial court, to his left was a long bench comparable to the dragon throne, but it was empty.
Yuwen Qingyue withdrew her gaze, her expression slightly stern.
"Where is the Imperial Master?"
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Advisor said she is on leave today!"
In this incredibly solemn imperial court, there was only one person who was exempt from adhering to these formalities, and that was Yun Zhouwan, the favorite of Yuwen Qingyue!
"A day off? Really?" Yuwen Qingyue's deep and magnetic voice rang out.
The man speaking below the hall looked away, clearly feeling guilty.
Yuwen Qingyue naturally noticed his unusual behavior, and her expression darkened.
"The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. My dear minister, you should think carefully before you speak."
The people below the stage knelt down with a thud, their heads pounding loudly.
"Your Majesty is wise! I dare not deceive you. The Grand Preceptor has recently recruited a new male favorite into his household, and it should be..."
"Shut up!" Yuwen Qingyue shouted sternly.
Sensing the emperor's fury, all the ministers lowered their heads, fearing that the fire would spread to them.
After finally enduring the court session, Yuwen Qingyue turned and left.
The oppressive aura that had been pressing down on them disappeared, and the ministers breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly cursing the culprit to the core.
As soon as the court session ended, a fine Akhal-Teke horse galloped away from the palace, and the figure on its back startled many.
"Your Majesty! That's His Majesty!"
Everyone knelt in unison the entire way, not daring to disrespect the slightest thing.
The gates of the Imperial Preceptor's residence were kicked open by horses' hooves, and the servants at the gate didn't even have time to announce their arrival.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor is resting. If you barge in, I... I'll lose my life!" A servant stood directly in front of Yuwen Qingyue's horse.
The reins tightened, the horse's hooves rose, stirring up sand and dust.
"Hmph, Grand Preceptor Zhou Wan is so audacious that even her servant dares to stop me! How many heads do you have to lose!" A sharp sword flashed straight at the servant.
Those whom the emperor wants to kill are certain to die.
However, there was one person who dared to stop them!
"Yuwen Qingyue, I think you've grown too big for your britches! You dare to kill even my own people!"
A pebble landed on his sword blade, knocking the sword out of Yuwen Qingyue's hand.
Yuwen Qingyue looked up at the woman standing on the steps, who was only wearing a thin white undergarment.
"Imperial Preceptor, now that I have come to your residence, I am a guest. Is this how you treat your guests?" His voice was low, tinged with helplessness.
The woman frowned slightly, completely bewildered by the young man's antics. But he was, after all, the emperor. If he were to lose face in front of so many servants, all her years of planning would be for naught.
"Your subject Yun Zhouwan greets Your Majesty." Yun Yao's expression remained unchanged, but her aura softened slightly.
The man on horseback dismounted and strode toward the woman.
Just as the woman was about to step aside from the doorway, a cloak was draped over her shoulders.
"If the Imperial Advisor catches a cold, it will only delay the affairs of our dynasty." After saying this, he did not look at her.
The woman touched the cloak on her shoulder, which was still slightly warm, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"I wonder what brings Your Majesty here today?" the woman said, tapping the table lightly a few times.
A moment later, a delicate-looking handsome man presented the tea that had been brewed.
"Greetings, Imperial Preceptor; greetings, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Qingyue looked at the person serving tea in front of her, her face as dark as could be.
"Is this the man for whom the Imperial Advisor would go so far as to deceive the Emperor to stay with him? He is truly incomparably handsome!" Yuwen Qingyue said the last few words through gritted teeth.
The woman didn't seem to mind and simply raised her hand slightly.
"Go down."
After the person left, the woman took a small sip from her cup.
"Your Majesty has come here today specifically to question me about my crimes?" The woman put down her cup, her eyes slightly sharp.
The teacup Yuwen Qingyue was holding was already cracked. He stared at her, furious.
"Yun Zhouwan, don't forget you're a woman!"
As he finished speaking, the blanket in his hand shattered, and shards pierced his palm, drawing blood.
But the woman opposite her remained completely unmoved, and gave a disdainful smile.
"Yuwen Qingyue, are you lecturing me?"
"Yun Zhouwan! As the Grand Preceptor of the Qingyue Dynasty, you have kept male concubines, corrupted morals, and deceived the emperor. You deserve to be executed!" His eyes were bloodshot, and every word he uttered was ruthless.
But the woman didn't seem to care and poured herself another cup of tea.
"Yuwen Qingyue, even your father wouldn't dare speak to me like that. Who do you think you are?"
Yuwen Qingyue did not take Yun Yao's threats to heart; these were never what he cared about!
"Yun Zhouwan, do you like men that much?" he roared at her.
This remark successfully angered the woman, who slammed her teacup down, spilling the tea inside.
"Yes, this national teacher is someone who can't live without men, what can you... do about it?"
Yuwen Qingyue was so angry that she lost her mind. She rushed up to her and questioned loudly, "Yun Zhouwan, you can have your own happiness, I will not stop you, but how can you be so desperate and depraved!"
In his eyes, none of those men were good enough for her.
The woman gave a half-smile, her icy fingertips lightly tracing Yuwen Qingyue's face as she sneered, "So desperate you'll eat anything? Fine, then I'll choose you."
“Okay!” Yuwen Qingyue said without hesitation.
The woman's eyes flickered slightly, and she pushed the person in front of her away with one hand.
It was just a joke, but she actually saw love in Yuwen Qingyue's eyes!
Yes, he is no longer that naive puppet emperor!
But he had his pride, the dignity that belonged to an emperor.
"Very well, then Your Majesty will have to be my fifty-fifth male favorite."
Sure enough, she saw resistance and disgust in his eyes.
"What? You're unwilling? In that case, Your Majesty... please get out of my residence!"