Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Heart is Cold, This Place is Hot
At these words, Wei Chi Lianping realized something wasn’t quite right.
His eyes brightened, and a smile played on his lips. "Our Princess hasn’t even broken a sweat, so how did she pick up such a sour scent?"
"Stop trying to be funny. Are you too guilty to answer?"
Wei Chi Lianping’s gaze shifted to the sesame pancake stall outside the carriage. Watching Yu Niang as she bustled around her customers, he narrowed his eyes and said, "The Princess doesn’t have a clear enough understanding of herself."
Princess Hua Chang pressed her lips together, her own gaze falling outside.
That Yu Niang, the pancake seller, was full of charm in every frown and smile. She was cheerful and warm, adept at winning men’s affection—especially rugged men from the army, who all seemed to love her type: a gentle and attentive young woman.
She was, of course, nothing like the Princess.
She withdrew her gaze and asked coldly, "What do you mean?"
Wei Chi Lianping gave her a deep look and said bluntly, "I’m not blind. With a princess as beautiful as a fairy right in front of me, how could I possibly have eyes for anyone else?"
It was hard to tell if he was being sincere, but the corners of Princess Hua Chang’s mouth relaxed slightly.
Seeing her muted reaction, Wei Chi Lianping continued, "To be honest, the first time I saw the Princess was during the Flower Festival. I had a dream about you when I went home that night."
It was the Flower Festival, on a bustling street.
Back then, he was just a minor Colonel in charge of the city’s defenses. He saw her parading through the streets wearing a floral crown, a silk veil over her head that was suddenly lifted by a gust of wind.
’Even Chang’e of the Moon Palace couldn’t possibly be more beautiful,’ Wei Chi Lianping had thought at that moment.
He asked with a suggestive smile, "Doesn’t the Princess want to know what I dreamt about?"
Princess Hua Chang was sure that nothing good could come from his mouth. She covered her ears and shuffled to the side.
He saw her move to the far end of the carriage, creating a clear divide between them. It was obvious she didn’t want to hear what he had to say and couldn’t be bothered with him.
But he wasn’t about to let her ignore him.
Wei Chi Lianping grabbed her by the waist and pulled her directly onto his lap.
Princess Hua Chang struggled, but she couldn’t break free. He was like a solid wall.
’Didn’t this man just get into a fight at the palace? Where does he get this endless brute strength?’
Wei Chi Lianping was holding back his strength, merely embracing her as he whispered in her ear, "Can the Princess really get jealous for my sake?"
His tone was earnest, yet tinged with caution.
Princess Hua Chang paused. Staring into his glittering eyes, she was too stunned to answer, and the coldness in her own eyes gradually faded.
Holding a beauty in his arms—and a princess who was willing to be jealous for him, no less.
Wei Chi Lianping grinned in triumph.
"There’s no one else in my heart. There is only a cold moon, hooking me in, making me long for you day and night, my heart itching with unbearable desire."
The icy barrier around Princess Hua Chang’s heart had just begun to crack when her shameless Prince Consort used his brute force to shamelessly worm his way in.
Her thousands of thoughts were still a tangled mess.
But that brute had a knack for shattering any touching atmosphere in an instant.
Wei Chi Lianping’s mind was already racing with indecent thoughts, and his hands began to wander inappropriately.
"Get your hands off me," Princess Hua Chang choked out, exasperated.
Whatever she told him not to do, he did with more gusto, his grip tightening.
Wei Chi Lianping would be leaving for the Northern Border soon. If he didn’t seize the opportunity to be intimate a few more times, when would he ever have such a pleasure again? It wouldn’t be him if he didn’t take advantage of the situation.
"The carriage window curtain..." Princess Hua Chang’s slender, jade-like fingers grasped at the empty air. "It’s not... drawn..."
But she heard him chuckle and say, "Why draw it? This is a perfect chance to let Yu Niang see clearly just who this General’s beloved little darling is."
’His mind is just full of vulgarities.’
Princess Hua Chang had half a mind to kill Wei Chi Lianping.
But after so many years as husband and wife, he knew all her sensitive spots inside and out.
If she were given a knife right now, she wouldn’t even be able to lift it.
If she hadn’t remembered the method Ji Qingwu had told her about—that it didn’t have to be in bed, that a change of scenery could be more effective...
And with his departure date drawing near...
Princess Hua Chang would never have allowed him to fool around like this in the carriage.
She bit her lip, refusing to let a single sound escape.
She didn’t dare make any large movements, afraid of messing up her hair and being seen by someone when she got out of the carriage later.
This, of course, made things much more convenient for Wei Chi Lianping.
"Why is the Princess so obedient today?" he wondered aloud.
"The Princess’s heart may be cold, but this place is warm," he sighed with a laugh.
"Princess, am I good?" he asked, suddenly thrusting with force.
Princess Hua Chang nearly tore the brocade cushion beneath her. She sucked in a sharp breath and snarled, "Shut up!"
"A kiss will shut me up."
...
After that day, Ji Qingwu became a frequent visitor to the Princess Mansion.
She came by even more often than the Prince Consort himself.
At first, Wei Chi Lianping couldn’t stand the sight of her, because she was Ji Changlin’s sister.
But later, he also noticed something was unusual.
One day, Ji Qingwu came to the mansion again to take the Princess’s pulse. Princess Hua Chang dismissed all the maids, leaving only the two of them in the inner chamber.
The two of them looked as serious as if they were discussing ancient texts.
A trace of astonishment in her eyes, Princess Hua Chang asked, "On the rockery in the small garden?"
Ji Qingwu nodded with a perfectly straight face. "On horseback is also an option."
The Eldest Princess mused, "Are there any more secluded places?"
To repay Princess Hua Chang for saving her at Cining Palace that day, Ji Qingwu had been suppressing her shyness and had read through all the updated Bedroom Techniques in her system.
Her theoretical knowledge was now frighteningly extensive.
Ji Qingwu thought for a moment and said, "In a hot spring would also work."
"The bed... The medical texts say that doing the deed in a stimulating location can increase the chances of pregnancy." She then took a pale green small pill from the pouch she carried with her.
"This is a pill to help condition your body. Although Your Highness is healthy, you still need to supplement with some nourishing substances."
Princess Hua Chang looked at the paper packet on the table and nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand."
Wei Chi Lianping didn’t mean to eavesdrop. He had just reached the door when he heard them mention a small garden and horses.
Puzzled and curious, he ended up listening for a while longer.
When Ji Qingwu pushed the door open and came out, she ran right into the Prince Consort. The two of them stared at each other, wide-eyed.
The scene felt familiar.
The difference from last time was that she was the one opening the door, and the person standing outside was Wei Chi Lianping.
Ji Qingwu was the first to react, offering a salute. "Greetings, General Wei Chi."
Wei Chi Lianping was starting to understand the reason for Princess Hua Chang’s change in recent days. Although she was still shy and easily angered, she had been remarkably cooperative with his outrageous behavior.
He had thought his deep affection had moved the heavens, which had specially sent down sweet rain to console him for the bitterness of only being allowed once a month all these years.
It turned out it was all because of the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy.
Wei Chi Lianping stroked his chin and began, "You—"
Realizing he had overheard their conversation, Ji Qingwu was so embarrassed she wished she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.
"I’ll be leaving now."
He raised an eyebrow. "Wait. You’re quite something. It seems this General misjudged you last time."
"Huh?"
Ji Qingwu didn’t understand why he would say that.
Wei Chi Lianping realized he had spoken too soon last time. This girl looked delicate and harmless, but in reality, she had quite a few tricks for handling men.
He generously offered his latest deduction: "Once she’s on the Dragon Bed, it’s still anyone’s game."
