Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 117

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This is the Original Story’s Plot

The dead of winter.

A merciless wind raged. The previous night’s heavy snow had blanketed the entire military encampment, leaving the world a vast expanse of white. The only splash of color to be seen was the military banner standing tall in the training grounds.

Outside, the north wind howled. Inside her military tent, Ji Qingchi held a book on military strategy but found herself completely unable to focus, her heart fraught with agitation.

Huachen Kingdom was using some sort of strange sorcery. Not only were their military uniforms odd, but they also possessed weapons she had never seen before, capable of wounding many of their soldiers at once.

When they had dispatched their troops last month, they had beaten the forces of Yanxue Kingdom so soundly that they were sent fleeing in disarray. If she hadn’t personally risked her life to take the head of the enemy general, several border cities would have likely fallen into Huachen Kingdom’s hands.

Although they had managed to push Huachen Kingdom back for now, their main army was still coiled along the border of Yanxue Kingdom. The slightest misstep would mean the two border cities would become theirs.

“Your Majesty.” As she was lost in thought, her attendant maid brought over a bowl of meat broth and said softly, “Your Majesty, please have some.”

Ji Qingchi shook her head. “Zhen¹ can’t eat.”

Just as her words fell, the tent flap was lifted. A woman with charming, dashing features entered, fanning herself as she shook her head. “You should still eat a little. Starving yourself here isn’t going to solve the problem of those rats from Huachen Kingdom.”

Seeing the visitor, Ji Qingchi smiled. “Second Imperial Sister, it’s so cold outside. Why are you still using a fan?”

The only one who had contended with her for the throne was the Fifth Imperial Daughter. In recent years, with the help of the legitimate great-grandson of the Marquis of Pingyang, the Chancellor’s son, and the Young Master of Xuanji Tower, she had slowly plucked out the Fifth Imperial Daughter’s claws, demoting both the Marquis of Ding’an and the Marquis of Zhenwei. After securing her position as Crown Princess, her mother, the Empress, had died abruptly from a poisonous gu a year ago, and she had ascended the throne as a matter of course.

Aside from the Fifth Imperial Daughter, who was banished to a desolate land for trying to seize the throne, the rest of her sisters remained in the Capital. It was a show of magnanimity, but also a form of surveillance to prevent them from having any disloyal thoughts. The imperial daughters all knew this perfectly well. Fortunately, they had always kept to themselves, even avoiding morning court whenever possible.

But this time, Huachen Kingdom’s advance was ferocious. Ji Qingchi decided to lead the expedition personally, and her Second Imperial Sister, fearing she would be in danger, had requested to follow.

“Heh, isn’t it for the sake of flair?” The Second Imperial Sister covered her face with her fan. Only after watching Ji Qingchi finish half the bowl of meat broth did she slyly move the fan away and wink at her. “Little Nine, I see you’re in a bad mood. Your Second Imperial Sister recently found a fun place. Want to go and take your mind off things?”

This Second Imperial Sister of hers had no interest in power, only in having fun. Ji Qingchi didn’t want to be known as a heartless person who treated her sisters harshly, so she allowed them to continue addressing her with their old familiar terms. Hearing her words, Ji Qingchi knew it was no proper establishment. She was about to refuse when a second thought occurred to her. She was feeling miserable now; perhaps a little trip out could lead to a solution.

Thus, she nodded and stood up to leave, only to be stopped by her sister. “Look at you, in a full suit of armor. You look so intimidating, and you want to go out? Go, go, go, change into something else first.”

Without another word, she handed Ji Qingchi a set of commoner’s clothes. Taking them, Ji Qingchi paused. “Second Imperial Sister, why are these men’s clothes?”

“Aiya, it’s not that I wanted to, but only men are allowed into that place! Stop dawdling, hurry up, hurry up. Let’s go once you’re changed.”

After being rushed to change her clothes, the Second Imperial Sister led her along a small path to the border of Huachen Kingdom.

The path was surprisingly crowded. Ji Qingchi had never known such a place existed. Seeing the peddlers carrying goods on shoulder poles, clearly smuggling, she was just about to flare up when her sister patted her on the shoulder. “Forget it. They’re all just trying to make a living. As long as they don’t cause any major trouble, just let them be.”

Ji Qingchi frowned but said nothing. Fearing her bad mood would lead her to cut someone down with a single stroke, the Second Imperial Sister hurried her along. After walking for about half an hour, they arrived at a rather prosperous-looking area. Many vendors were hawking their wares. To the side of the street stood a building that looked like an ordinary tavern, with people constantly going in and out, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

“Fanhua Pavilion².”

Ji Qingchi slowly read the characters on the plaque. The Second Imperial Sister was already pulling her inside impatiently. “Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll be late if we wait any longer.”

The others around them were just as eager, all fighting to squeeze through the door, muttering things like, “She’s definitely going to be mine.”

After finally squeezing in with the crowd, she realized that this was a brothel. Many men, with young women in their arms, were shouting, “Bring out Lady Su Su!”

In the center of the first floor was a stage, clearly a place for the courtesans to display their talents. The Second Imperial Sister pulled her to an empty table and sat down. Without taking her eyes off the stage, she explained, “The top courtesan here is named Lady Su Su. She’s as beautiful as a flower, a real jade. Today is the day of her debut, so all these men have come to win the top prize.”

Besides eating, drinking, and having fun, the Second Imperial Sister’s greatest hobby was looking at beautiful women. Ji Qingchi sighed internally. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted my flighty Second Imperial Sister’s words. Just as she was trying to think of an excuse to leave, the madam led a young woman slowly down the wooden stairs from the second floor.

The woman was indeed stunningly beautiful. Her waist was so slender it seemed it would snap with a single touch, giving her a delicate and fragile air. She wore a faint smile, yet for some reason, it felt a little cold. Her slender, pale hands held a pipa³. She sat on the stage and slowly began to play and sing, “By the willow bank, under the waning moon, we held hands, gazing at each other with teary eyes, choked with silent sobs…”⁴

What surprised Ji Qingchi was that not only was the woman’s melody beautiful, but the lyrics she had composed were also a masterpiece. She was actually a woman of considerable talent. From the moment she sat down, the cheers from the surrounding crowd never ceased, and waves of thunderous applause rolled through the hall.

When the song ended, the madam’s face bloomed into a wide smile. “For the lady’s first night, it will cost three thousand taels of silver to win.”

Three thousand taels of silver was enough to buy several mansions and countless servants on this border. This madam was truly daring with her price. However, she did indeed have the confidence to back it up, because the men below had already started bidding.

The price slowly climbed from three thousand taels to four thousand, then to five thousand. It was still rising, but the increments were tiny. A man had already started shouting, “A sl#t ridden by a thousand and tasted by ten thousand, who knows how many hands she’s passed through, and you want this old man to pay so much?!”

“This old man only has one thousand taels in total, take it or leave it! D#mn it, just a prostitute, and you want to jack up the price?!”

“Is she even a virgin? Let this old man have a taste and see if she’s loose or tight, hahahahahaha…”

The men cursed and grumbled. Some even pushed forward, trying to drag the woman away. The madam forced a smile and had her thugs restrain the troublemakers while trying to appease the other customers. Despite the insults, the woman showed no anger. She just sat quietly on the stage, hugging her pipa, like a statue carved from jade.

Ji Qingchi watched this farce quietly. Beside her, the Second Imperial Sister looked at the woman with a hint of pity and nudged her arm. “Little Nine, your Imperial Sister has been spending a lot lately and is a bit short on cash. Do you have enough silver?”

Ji Qingchi glanced at her. “Imperial Sister, surely you’re not asking me to bid for her?”

“Sigh, she’s quite pitiful. I heard she’s from our Yanxue Kingdom, but somehow she ended up in this place,” the Second Imperial Sister sighed. “She is one of our own people. We failed to protect them, letting them…”

Before she could continue, Ji Qingchi raised her bidding paddle. “Eight thousand taels. But I want her indenture contract.”

In an instant, she became the center of attention. The rowdy crowd fell silent, staring at her, dumbfounded. They had probably never seen such a fool before. A prostitute was for fun; who would actually buy her freedom?

The young woman was no exception and looked over at her.

Ji Qingchi remained unmoved. The madam haggled with her until the price reached eleven thousand before finally relenting. Grinning from ear to ear as she held the silver notes, the madam stuffed the indenture contract into Ji Qingchi’s hands and had someone lead her to the young woman’s room.

When Ji Qingchi entered, the other party was sitting on the bed. The hairpins she had worn earlier were all removed, her long, dark hair draped over her shoulders. Her face and body were bare of adornments, truly suiting her flower-like name, Su⁵. Seeing her enter, she slowly stood up.

Ji Qingchi didn’t want to waste words. She slapped the indenture contract directly onto the table. “Take it. you’re free.”

With that, she turned to leave, but the woman behind her suddenly spoke. “Is Your Majesty leaving already?”

Ji Qingchi whirled around instantly, her expression grim. In a flash, she was before her, her hand clamping around her neck. “What did you say?” She had come in disguise, even wearing men’s clothes. How did this woman recognize her?

The force in her hand could end the woman’s life in an instant, yet she showed no fear. She met her gaze directly and said, “Cough, cough… I recently heard from the madam that a wealthy young master often comes here for amusement, and she told this servant⁶ to serve her carefully… cough… When this servant saw her, although that lady was well-disguised, this servant has seen too many people and could still tell she was a woman. Moreover, one time when she was giving a tip, she accidentally gave this servant a hairpin with something carved on it.”

As she spoke, she struggled to take out a golden hairpin. Ji Qingchi recognized it at a glance as the one she had gifted her Second Imperial Sister on her birthday. It was engraved with her sister’s name and the national surname of Yanxue Kingdom.

“That was an imperial daughter, but just now, this servant observed for a while and saw how respectful she was towards you. This servant thought, the only one an imperial daughter would treat with such reverence, besides the Empress who ascended the throne a year ago, could be no one else.”

Never expecting the woman to be so meticulous and clever, Ji Qingchi, having been exposed, no longer bothered with concealment. She released her hand and frowned. “Are you trying to threaten Zhen?”

“Your Majesty bought my freedom. This servant is endlessly grateful. How could I repay kindness with enmity?” Clutching her neck, she slowly knelt. “This servant is also a citizen of Yanxue Kingdom. My name is Yin Su⁷. I beg Your Majesty to take this servant away. I will work like an ox or a horse, as your slave and servant, and I will be eternally grateful.”

Ji Qingchi was unmoved and turned to leave again. “Zhen has no shortage of maids.”

“This servant can help Your Majesty defeat Huachen Kingdom’s invasion.”

This sentence struck the very heart of Ji Qingchi’s worries. She halted her steps and turned back, her voice laced with suspicion. “Truly?”

“It’s a desperate measure. This servant is but a lone woman. Taking me with you will only cost a bit of rice. But if this servant can truly help you repel the enemy, wouldn’t Your Majesty’s troubles be solved with ease?”

Her eloquence was impressive. She laid out the pros and cons in a few short sentences. After a long moment of consideration, Ji Qingchi agreed. “Zhen can take you, but you had better not have any disloyal intentions.”

“This servant would never dare.”

Still not entirely at ease, Ji Qingchi brought her back and had several shadow guards watch her. Yin Su was extremely shrewd, staying so quiet and well-behaved that she often didn’t even step out of her room.

She provided Ji Qingchi with immense assistance, leading them to a great victory. They not only drove away Huachen Kingdom’s army from the border but also captured three of their cities. Ji Qingchi was overjoyed. Upon returning to the palace, she brought Yin Su with her, letting her live in a side hall closest to her own palace. Yin Su’s origins were unknown, and there were still men in her harem. For safety’s sake, it was best to keep her under her own watch.

After the great victory, Ji Qingchi held a palace banquet. She drank a lot of wine, not even refusing a cup offered by Su Tianci, whom she knew harbored ill intentions.

On her way back to her palace, her entire body felt as if it were on fire, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable. She knew she would inevitably drink some tainted wine at the banquet and had taken an antidote pill beforehand, but she hadn’t expected the drug’s effects to be so potent. Even after using her true qi to expel some of it, it wasn’t enough.

A palace maid lighting her way saw her state and cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, shall we go to one of the Lord Consorts’ halls?”

Her Majesty’s harem included a Noble Consort, a Constant Consort, and an Attendant Lord, yet she rarely visited their halls. Even on the nights they were welcomed into the palace, nothing ever happened. The next day, when the maids went to clean, they would find Her Majesty’s clothes still perfectly neat. Some in the palace said Her Majesty was cold and unfeeling; others said Her Majesty didn’t like men at all.

“No need.” Ji Qingchi lowered her eyes, only speaking after a long moment. “To the side hall.”

When she arrived at the hall, the person inside had just finished bathing but was not yet asleep. Her long, damp hair was draped over her white cotton inner robe, soaking a large patch on her back and chest. She seemed utterly unaware, holding a book and reading quietly by the window. The wind blew her long hair aside, revealing an alluring sight.

Ji Qingchi instantly felt the fire in her body burn even hotter. She dismissed everyone and slowly approached.

Hearing footsteps, the woman turned around. Realizing it was her, she put down her book and stood up. Just as she was about to speak, Ji Qingchi had already pinched her chin, lifting it slowly. “You rendered great service in helping Zhen repel the enemy. What do you want?”

She had the same calm expression as when they first met. “This servant is a citizen of Yanxue Kingdom. Helping Your Majesty repel the enemy is this servant’s duty as a citizen of Yanxue.”

“Is that so?” Ji Qingchi smiled faintly, scooping her up and pressing her down onto the soft bed. “Then let Zhen see just how much loyalty you have.”

Using her true qi to dry the woman’s hair and clothes, she reached out to untie her inner robe. The woman didn’t resist, only closing her eyes in silence as she was pressed down.

Only when they were embraced could Ji Qingchi feel how soft her body was, and how fragrant.

Half by force, half by seduction, and with the help of instruments, she tossed her about eight or nine times. As dawn approached, Ji Qingchi finally felt the heat in her body dissipate. She glanced at the person who had fainted in her arms. Her body was covered in marks, and the tear stains at the corners of her eyes had dampened the pillowcase. She was soft and limp, without a trace of her usual poised and strategic demeanor.

Ji Qingchi said with a grin, “Quite stubborn.”

Her lips had been sealed shut, refusing to be pried open. No matter what, she wouldn’t make a sound, as if by doing so, it wouldn’t count as them having slept together.

Gazing at her exquisite face, Ji Qingchi extended a finger, placed it in her own mouth, and tasted it, chuckling softly. “Not bad. You’re sweet.”

As she got up to wash and dress, the head palace maid, who had been kneeling outside for a long time, came in to report, “Your Majesty, Attendant Lord Su was looking for you all last night. When he heard you were here, he insisted on coming in. This servant feared he would disturb Your Majesty and had him stopped. He is still outside the palace now. Does Your Majesty wish to see him?”

“No. Tell him Zhen is occupied with important matters and it is inconvenient to see anyone. Go prepare food and things for a bath. When Lady Yin inside wakes up, attend to her.”

“Yes.”

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