Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 124

Bestowing Upon You the Realm (6)

Slipped past her palm.

Xu Jiao realized that her emotions had just been exposed.

            

She raised her arm, white as a lotus root segment (a traditional poetic phrase used to describe fair and delicate skin), to cover her eyes. She gently refused Yu Ye’s somewhat stiff concern, not wanting her current vulnerable state to be seen. She even turned her body away, facing her back to the other person.

In all the time Yu Ye had known her, this was the first time she had seen Xu Jiao not wanting her emotions to be perceived. Something stirred in Yu Ye’s heart, like an ancient guqin (a traditional Chinese zither) placed quietly in a room, suddenly having one of its strings lightly plucked.

The beautiful sound that flowed out surprised even herself.

            

Looking at the figure wrapped in the dark, fine velvet bedcover, Yu Ye could faintly see the snow-white nape of Xu Jiao’s neck, dotted with profuse sweat. Faced with this somewhat rejecting posture, Yu Ye didn’t mind. She raised her long sleeve and took out a handkerchief from within her garment, gently wiping away the sweat on Xu Jiao’s neck.

Suddenly touched by the silk handkerchief, Xu Jiao moved slightly. When she turned her head back, she had already adjusted her emotions to her usual calmness. She lowered the hand covering her face and instead reached for the thin handkerchief at her neck—

Yu Ye’s motion of wiping her sweat was interrupted. Seeing Xu Jiao pull the handkerchief away a bit, Yu Ye propped herself up on the bed with one hand, slightly narrowing her eyes, meeting the gaze of the other who had turned back.

            

Xu Jiao raised her hand to pull the handkerchief away, her neck avoiding Yu Ye’s movement. Her lips, like small pink flowers blooming in the early morning of the Imperial Garden, moved slightly, but the words that came out were not as soft as her appearance:

“Lord Yu need not do this.”

Yu Ye found these words somewhat familiar.

            

Allowing Xu Jiao to avoid the handkerchief in her hand, Yu Ye pondered briefly and remembered. During the day, when this Crown Princess said she would set an example by donating her monthly ice ration directly to the disaster-stricken people, she had spoken in the same manner.

Now, how was it that this little princess seemed to be… using her own words to counter her?

The current Xu Jiao formed a stark contrast to her earlier soft and coquettish complaining self—

            

Although Yu Ye didn’t know when she had done anything to deceive her, it didn’t prevent her from carefully recalling Xu Jiao’s previous behavior. The young lady lying on the bed had slightly reddened eyes, and her voice contained a hint of murmuring complaint. Of course, this might have been an illusion caused by her voice being too soft, but Yu Ye didn’t want to think too much about it. She just instinctively felt…

This slightly soft Crown Princess, different from usual, had a kind of adorable quality that she liked.

She wanted to see that version of Xu Jiao a bit longer.

            

But the other seemed very unwilling to show such a weak side.

This was just fine.

Previously, Yu Ye had felt that this little princess was like a hedgehog, making it difficult to know how to approach her, seemingly without any weak points. Now, having inadvertently glimpsed her soft underbelly, Yu Ye wanted to make her expose more of her true nature.

            

Both officially and personally, she very much liked this version of Xu Jiao.

Thinking of this, she simply tucked the handkerchief back into her bosom. Just as Xu Jiao thought they would maintain that safe distance again, the silk quilt beside her was suddenly lifted, letting in a slight breeze that brushed over her sweat-dampened undergarment on her back.

Xu Jiao: “!”

            

Seeing Yu Ye lift the quilt, she instinctively felt unsafe and no longer maintained the posture of facing away. Instead, she turned back over, even though her knees in the bedding were still curled up and she was rolled into a ball. She still raised her face to look in the direction of this regent, wanting to know what the other intended to do.

Yu Ye didn’t keep her waiting.

In the next moment, the one who had lifted the quilt actually dove straight into her bedding.

            

Xu Jiao couldn’t help but prop herself up on her elbows, her eyes slightly widened, looking at the person who had said last night that “serving” the emperor in bed was just a joke. Her voice caught in her throat as she tried not to appear too surprised:

“…What is the meaning of this, Lord Yu?”

Yu Ye gently pressed on her shoulder, pushing Xu Jiao back down into the bed and quilt, even tucking in the corners of the quilt for her. Then, the hand under the quilt once again covered Xu Jiao’s soft abdomen, slowly massaging her at the original rhythm, but only said:

            

“The Crown Princess’s body is worth a thousand gold pieces. Taking care of your health is the most important thing.”

The implication was that she was helping Xu Jiao take care of her health.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Xu Jiao’s eyes. Rationally, she didn’t want to let Yu Ye get close, especially considering Yu Ye’s suspicion and wariness towards her. Xu Jiao wanted to avoid contact with this person, but physically… Yu Ye’s touch, infused with internal energy, was genuinely comfortable. The rejections and stiff refusals that came to her lips lingered, and after much hesitation, were silently swallowed back.

            

In the end, she only lowered her eyes to experience this sudden “goodwill” from the other.

“Goodwill” needed quotation marks because Xu Jiao didn’t understand why Yu Ye had this sudden whim.

In this quiet, somewhat ambiguous atmosphere due to their proximity on the bed, for a moment there was only the slow movement under the quilt. Neither of them spoke again until a voice announced from outside the hall:

            

“Reporting to Your Highness and Lord Yu, Imperial Physician Fang has arrived.”

Xu Jiao felt an inexplicable sense of relief and hastily responded: “Let him in.”

Simultaneously, she naturally pushed away the person in dark clothes beside her. Suppressing her instinctive reluctance to leave this source of warmth, she instead used her foot under the quilt to move a still-warm bed warmer up, hugging it to her chest. She wrapped herself in the quilt and sat up.

            

Yu Ye, being pushed away like this, felt a bit displeased. Seeing the imperial physician’s shadow cast on the eight-paneled landscape folding screen as he entered the hall, she suddenly extended her long arm and forcefully pulled Xu Jiao back into her embrace. Her voice, tinged with a hint of cold amusement, sounded by Xu Jiao’s ear:

“Does Your Highness seem to dislike this subject?”

Her voice was very low, just enough for only Xu Jiao to hear.

            

Xu Jiao glanced sideways at her, her lips seeming to smile, the curve already forming, but then forcibly suppressed. After a moment, she replied coolly: “Lord Yu is overthinking. I simply don’t wish to impose on you. You are now the pillar of the state and an important minister of Da Yan. Such a minor issue as stomach pain doesn’t warrant Lord Yu’s concern.”

Yu Ye’s jet-black eyes stared at her, her expression inexplicably darkening. It was unclear whether this was due to Xu Jiao’s rebuttal or her earlier unhesitating push away.

She replied coldly: “There are no small matters when it comes to the Crown Princess.”

            

“If Your Highness dislikes this subject and is unwilling to let this subject approach, then—” she would likely be disappointed in the future, as she intended to appear before this little one daily.

Before she could finish, Imperial Physician Fang had arrived at the bedside. He lifted his robe and bowed to both: “This humble servant pays respects to the Crown Princess and Lord Yu.”

Xu Jiao shifted her gaze from Yu Ye and ordered the palace servants who had followed in to help the white-haired old imperial physician up. Then, she extended her hand from under the quilt for him to check her pulse.

            

Throughout this, Yu Ye kept Xu Jiao in her embrace. Though the gesture was intimate, her expression didn’t seem close to the person. Rather, it looked as if… she was trying to control Xu Jiao.

The imperial physician checking Xu Jiao’s pulse hardly dared to raise his head, diligently focusing on his duty. After placing his fingertips on Xu Jiao’s wrist for a while, he bowed again and said:

“Reporting to Your Highness and Lord Yu, Your Highness is experiencing her first menstruation. The abdominal pain is likely due to catching cold at a young age, leaving a chronic condition. Your Highness should take good care daily. I’m afraid this abdominal pain may persist for several days…”

            

He slowly explained the diagnosis results, which were not far from Xu Jiao’s own judgment.

Finally, he prepared to apply moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy that involves burning dried mugwort, or moxa, on or near acupuncture points to stimulate the flow of qi, or life force) to Xu Jiao to temporarily relieve the abdominal pain.

Yu Ye ordered the palace servants to note down the dietary restrictions for the next few days, while watching Imperial Physician Fang apply moxibustion to several acupoints on Xu Jiao in succession. After this treatment, the young lady’s complexion indeed improved noticeably.

            

By the time Imperial Physician Fang withdrew and the palace servants retreated, the moon outside the hall had already risen.

It was already deep into the night.

Xu Jiao’s pain had temporarily subsided, her brow relaxed considerably, and her complexion was no longer as frighteningly pale as before. She gathered her spirits and looked at Yu Ye: “Is Lord Yu reassured now? My health is not seriously affected. As it’s late now, Lord Yu should retire early. Please excuse me for not seeing you out.”

            

Yu Ye had a sentence left unfinished earlier, which she had almost forgotten. Seeing Xu Jiao so eager to make her leave, she suddenly recalled it. A cold glint appeared between her brows, her gaze as sharp as an unsheathed blade revealing a frosty glare. Even her voice turned cold:

“Your Highness’s health is inconvenienced these days. This subject fears assassins or petty criminals might seize the opportunity. It’s only right that I provide close personal care.”

She emphasized the words “close personal care”.

            

Xu Jiao’s gaze paused. Just as she was about to continue this verbal sparring, she was suddenly pressed into the bedding like a duckling being pushed underwater. Yu Ye stroked the back of her neck as she pressed her down. Simultaneously, Yu Ye quite naturally, as if in her own bed, casually pulled the quilt over, apparently intending to sleep while embracing Xu Jiao.

Xu Jiao: “…?”

It was just her big maternal aunt (a colloquial term for menstruation), why was Yu Ye making it sound like she was paralyzed? Why had the risk of assassination suddenly increased?

            

She emerged from under the quilt, her lips barely parting before Yu Ye covered her mouth. Simultaneously, she was pushed and turned over, her waist grabbed and pulled into Yu Ye’s embrace, her back facing Yu Ye. Then, Yu Ye’s other hand, using the same technique as before, rested on her abdomen, transferring warmth.

A slightly impatient voice sounded by her ear:

“Shh.”

            

“Your Highness surely doesn’t want me to cover your mouth while you rest, right?”

Xu Jiao: “…”

She just couldn’t understand how this person had so arbitrarily and matter-of-factly come to squeeze into her bed again!

            

She raised her hand, trying to forcefully pry away the palm covering her lips, but Yu Ye’s strength was far beyond what she could budge. Instead, this struggle only made her be held tighter. Xu Jiao’s breathing became somewhat erratic, her moist breath brushing against the side of Yu Ye’s fingers.

Just as Yu Ye was about to sternly warn this princess not to oppose her, as the consequences would be serious—

Xu Jiao suddenly seemed to deflate, lowering her hand.

            

Yu Ye raised an eyebrow:

So obedient?

No more struggling?

            

Had she recognized the situation? Learned to be compliant?

Everything that happened tonight was too fast, leaving Yu Ye no time to sort out this strange emotional journey. To think that the dignified regent would childishly oppose a fifteen-year-old girl – if word got out, it would make the remaining four countries laugh their heads off.

At that moment, she thought Xu Jiao had finally decided to obediently listen to her, no longer opposing her or using words to provoke her when…

            

It felt as if a loach tail had suddenly swept across her palm.

A moist, warm softness brushed through her palm.

When she realized what it was, Yu Ye’s entire body froze for a moment.

            

Xu Jiao actually dared!

She actually!

As the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace! To use such a shameless trick like a street ruffian… This was simply… What has become of propriety!

            

Compared to her momentary stupefaction, the instigator also seemed a bit dazed. Xu Jiao only realized what she was doing after the act. Her gaze emptied for a moment, then she hurriedly pulled down Yu Ye’s palm. As she turned over, her eyelashes trembled. Xu Jiao struggled to calm her breathing, averting her gaze to avoid looking at the other’s face. Her voice shook as she tried to steady it:

“I…”

Before she could finish.

            

Her cheeks were firmly gripped, and Yu Ye lifted her face. Yu Ye’s deep black eyes were like the night sea, making it impossible to discern if there were any waves within, only feeling like a terrifying darkness that could devour people.

Xu Jiao heard her ask softly:

“What was Your Highness’s intention with this act?”

            

Xu Jiao didn’t know where to begin explaining. Then she heard a cold laugh, saying: “These days, this subject has been entangled in various matters, forgetting to examine Your Highness’s progress in etiquette lessons. It seems the results are poor, causing Your Highness to commit such an act of disrespect towards this lowly subject—”

“Perhaps Your Highness would like to suggest how this subject should punish you?”

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