Volume Five: Those Years When I Was the Prime Minister
Receiving the Imperial Edict
That day, in the Imperial Study.
The two were clearly moved by passion, yet Sheng Tingwan did not take advantage of the situation to be intimate with Wen Nuan.
Sheng Tingwan expressed her deep regret. She couldn’t help but worry, could it be that Wen Nuan still preferred a man’s body, and therefore couldn’t react to a woman’s body?
“Your Majesty has already sighed fifty-three times.” Shen Zhijin’s ears were growing calluses from listening. “What is troubling Your Majesty? Why not tell this subject-consort, and this subject-consort can help you think of a solution?”
If Sheng Tingwan kept sighing, he was really going to rebel!
Another thing that had been making his ears grow calluses recently was the Shen family incessantly sending him letters, urging him to quickly have a child with the Empress Regnant.
It annoyed him to no end. As a result, today Sheng Tingwan, possessed by who knows what madness, had run to his bedchamber to sigh and complain for a full shichen.
The sighing was making his head spin.
Sheng Tingwan glanced at Shen Zhijin and sighed again: “Ai——”
Shen Zhijin: “….”
What is this problem of hers!?
“What on earth is wrong?” Shen Zhijin suppressed his rising anger and forced a smile, saying, “What kind of monumental matter is causing Your Majesty such distress?”
Hurry up and say it!!!
Otherwise, he was really going to commit a great disrespect!!!
Sheng Tingwan looked at Shen Zhijin, wanting to speak but stopping, and said, “…If two people who love each other don’t have that kind of intention toward one another, does it mean that one person has no feelings for the other?”
Shen Zhijin: “….Don’t have which kind of intention?”
Is it the kind of intention he’s thinking of?!
Sheng Tingwan “tsked” once: “It’s that matter of the pleasures between a man and a woman. Does Zhen still need to tell you this personally?”
“….” Shen Zhijin pulled up his sleeve, pointing at the red dots on it. “Is Your Majesty asking the wrong person?”
Sheng Tingwan said, speechless, “Then who else can Zhen ask?”
Besides Shen Zhijin, she couldn’t think of anyone else.
“Don’t you often love to read some folk huaben?1 Aren’t the things written in them all about those matters between men and women?” Sheng Tingwan said. “Give Zhen some advice?”
Shen Zhijin rolled his eyes and said through gritted teeth, “This subject-consort reads proper books!”
He clearly read travelogues, history books, and famous autobiographies. How did Sheng Tingwan make him sound like… a shameless, vulgar, debauched gentleman?
Sheng Tingwan gave a dry laugh, “Then who was it that read 《Record of the Secluded Orchid》, 《White Jade Forest》, and 《The One Who Doesn’t Return on a Stormy Night》?”
“….” Shen Zhijin gave an awkward smile. “Come, Your Majesty, tell this subject-consort in detail, and this subject-consort will give you some advice.”
Sheng Tingwan carefully described what had happened between her and Wen Nuan in the Imperial Study that day. When she finished speaking, she saw Shen Zhijin’s grave expression and said nervously, “What’s with that expression?”
Shen Zhijin sighed, his brows furrowed with worry.
His sigh made Sheng Tingwan’s heart panic. She nudged him, “What are you sighing for? Speak, will you?”
Shen Zhijin looked at Sheng Tingwan with deep meaning in his eyes and sighed again.
“….” Sheng Tingwan poked her cheek and threatened, “This is getting endless, isn’t it?”
Seeing that Sheng Tingwan was about to get angry, Shen Zhijin immediately said, “This subject-consort is thinking. Your Majesty, don’t be anxious.”
“Then have you thought of anything?”
Shen Zhijin sighed, and just as Sheng Tingwan’s palm was about to strike down, he spoke: “Your Majesty, do you still remember what the Lord Prime Minister said at your birthday banquet?”
Sheng Tingwan’s movement paused. “…What did she say?”
“It was when the Lord Prime Minister said she was unable to perform human relations.”
“What you mean is?”
Shen Zhijin’s expression was grave. “It’s possible the Lord Prime Minister was telling the truth.”
Sheng Tingwan was as if struck by lightning, frozen on the spot.
Shen Zhijin pulled down Sheng Tingwan’s raised hand, patted her shoulder comfortingly, and sighed, “Your Majesty, a person inevitably has one illness, which may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a goose feather2. I’m sure the Lord Prime Minister didn’t want this either. We should understand the Lord Prime Minister, shouldn’t we?”
Sheng Tingwan: “….”
She glared at him. “Shut up!”
Shen Zhijin obediently shut his mouth.
Sheng Tingwan naturally didn’t believe that Ling Wen Nuan was unable to perform human relations.
This was mainly because she had once seen what Wen Nuan looked like when she was in heat.
At that time, she had already been named the Crown Princess by the former emperor, and Ling Wen Nuan had also become the Prime Minister. A prince admired Ling Wen Nuan and wanted to marry her. However, Ling Wen Nuan refused him. The prince, dissatisfied in his heart, planned to drug Ling Wen Nuan, intending to cook the raw rice into cooked rice3. That way, he could marry Ling Wen Nuan.
The prince’s drugging was very successful. Ling Wen Nuan was indeed affected by him. She endured the desire, threw the prince out, and locked herself in a room to relieve herself.
And at that time, Sheng Tingwan was hiding outside the door, watching Ling Wen Nuan relieve herself through the crack in the door. That bewitching and wanton, lustful appearance made her eyes seem to be on fire, her brain was buzzing, her heart was pounding like thunder, and desire surged secretly.
Wen Nuan’s every impassioned and unbearable pant, every fierce yet gentle movement, seemed to be caressing her body wantonly, panting wantonly by her ear. And that pair of hazy peach blossom eyes, the reddened corners of her eyes, her long, fair legs, the clothes soaked with sweat.
Every part of Wen Nuan’s body held a fatal attraction for her. As expected, she became thoroughly wet.
Wen Nuan was a person who always took revenge for a grievance. The next day, that prince was ravaged by a succession of people. He committed suicide out of shame and humiliation, dying in a dry well. The former emperor, grieving the loss of his beloved son, ordered the well to be sealed.
Therefore, when Ling Wen Nuan said she was unable to perform human relations, Sheng Tingwan was the first to object.
The system was also puzzled: 【Clearly, you and the female lead were about to do something. Why did you suddenly stop?】
It had already prepared itself to be censored.
Ever since Wen Nuan was restored to her original post, she had not continued to live in Huining Hall but had returned to her former Prime Minister’s Manor.
“You called me a beast, but I didn’t expect you to be even more eager than me?” Wen Nuan smiled.
【It’s not that I’m eager. It was clearly a matter of when the water arrives, a channel is formed4. Your sudden stop could easily escalate the blackening value.】 The system pulled up the data console for her. 【Just because you didn’t do the deed with the female lead, her blackening value rose by 0.2!】
Wen Nuan waved her hand and said, “Don’t be anxious. How can one be anxious about this kind of thing?”
【Wasn’t it you who used to be so anxious to get the female lead into bed that she couldn’t get out?】
Wen Nuan: “….”
【I’ve discovered that you’re a person who either doesn’t touch meat at all, or goes on a wild binge. The female lead is also pitiful, being targeted by an old beast like you.】 the system lamented.
Wen Nuan: “….”
She said, exasperated, “Wasn’t it you who kept trying to bend me back then? Now that I’m bent, you’re actually scolding me?!”
The system gave a dry laugh: 【Who knew you looked so proper? How could you be so terrifying once you were bent!】
It thought of all the times it had been censored and felt a deep heartache for the female lead.
Wen Nuan: “….”
Forget it. No point in pestering unreasonably with the system.
“The reason I refused the female lead is that I plan to let her get revenge on me again.”
The system said, astonished: 【What do you mean?】
Wen Nuan looked at the snow falling thick and fast and gave a light laugh, “Just wait and see. It won’t be interesting if I say it.”
The system saw how mysterious she was being. 【Do whatever you want, just don’t joke around with the blackening value!】
Wen Nuan felt the gentle touch of snowflakes on her face, raised a hand, and gave it an “OK” sign. She took a cigarette from her bosom and slowly began to smoke it.
Recently, her addiction to smoking had lessened somewhat. Sometimes she didn’t even remember to smoke.
That’s right. The thing she was addicted to now was no longer cigarettes.
Wen Nuan exhaled a puff of white mist. The mist swirled, entwining with the snowflakes, landing in her palm, melting, and becoming wet.
On the festive day of Yuanri5. the whole nation celebrated.
The four main gates of the Capital City set off fireworks and firecrackers one after another, and the main streets and small alleys were hung with colorful lanterns.
It was a scene of joyful songs and laughter, a harmonious and happy atmosphere.
Wen Nuan fastened Sheng Tingwan’s dachang6, brushed off the floating snow that had landed on her head, and touched her hand, which had improved somewhat. “You’ve been taking Fang Minghe’s medicine properly.”
Although Sheng Tingwan knew what Wen Nuan was talking about, her heart still tensed up. “En, that medicine is very effective for me. My hands and feet aren’t cold anymore.”
“That’s good. Fang Minghe is returning to Xizhou after the new year. He has already left the prescription at the Imperial Medical Hall, so it will be much more convenient for you to take it in the future.”
Fang Minghe was a military doctor, after all. Xizhou couldn’t do without a physician; he had to go back sooner or later.
Sheng Tingwan: “Mm, okay.”
Wen Nuan put a hat on her and interlocked their fingers. “Let’s go. Let’s go see what’s up ahead. It seems there’s an acrobatics performance.”
Sheng Tingwan smiled sweetly, “Okay.”
The two of them, as if tireless, wandered aimlessly through the main streets and small alleys of the Capital City. For a while, they watched acrobatics performances; for a while, they watched people reciting poetry and composing couplets; for a while, they admired the flower lanterns and guessed lantern riddles; and for a while, they went to the moat7 to release flower lanterns.
Wen Nuan held the peach blossom lantern8 she had just won, leading Sheng Tingwan on the road back to the imperial palace.
Even though the night was already deep, the white snow covering the road and the moonlight pouring down from the sky reflected each other, making the person before her look as beautiful as a celestial fairy.
Sheng Tingwan stopped and met Wen Nuan’s gaze, saying nervously, “The moonlight is so beautiful tonight. I don’t want to go back to the palace. Can we go to your Prime Minister’s Manor? Can we drink wine and admire the moon together?”
Wen Nuan said with a hidden meaning, “Is it just… drinking wine and admiring the moon?”
Sheng Tingwan looked at the person before her. The red dachang made her features even more beautiful and striking. Those eyes, shaped like peach blossoms, were full of charm, stirring one’s heart like an ape and mind like a horse9.
She swallowed. “Mm… Mm, drinking wine and admiring the moon.”
Wen Nuan’s lips curved. “Okay.”
The two turned and went back to the Prime Minister’s Manor. Wen Nuan had someone prepare good wine and good dishes.
She did it on purpose. The wine was called Hechou Jiu10. It made Sheng Tingwan extremely embarrassed, and she kept apologizing to Wen Nuan, saying she had been too impulsive at the time.
Wen Nuan gave a faint smile. “It’s nothing. I just think this wine tastes good. It has nothing to do with Your Majesty drugging me.”
Sheng Tingwan: “….”
It is often said by the people of the world that Lord Prime Minister Ling is small-bellied and chicken-hearted11, and now she could be considered to have experienced it firsthand.
The Hechou Jiu was a bit cool. Sheng Tingwan suggested warming the wine. Wen Nuan was originally going to call a servant to warm it, but Sheng Tingwan refused, “No need. I will warm the wine for you.”
Wen Nuan rested her chin on one hand. “What virtue or ability does this humble subject have?”
Sheng Tingwan set up the stove. “Zhen’s Lord Prime Minister Ling naturally has great ability and great virtue.”
She laughed at her, “Since I have great ability and great virtue, is Your Majesty just going to send this humble subject off with warmed wine?”
“Then what does the Lord Prime Minister want?”
Wen Nuan was half-reclining on the soft couch, pretending to think while intentionally ignoring Sheng Tingwan’s small movements. “Then this humble subject will have to think carefully.”
Sheng Tingwan moved quickly. Taking advantage of the moment Wen Nuan wasn’t paying attention, she poured the warmed wine into a cup, passed it over, her nervous voice trembling slightly, “Why doesn’t the Lord Prime Minister drink while you think?”
Wen Nuan looked at the wine brought to her lips and deliberately teased her, “Your Majesty is so enthusiastic, it makes this humble subject a little scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared that there’s poison in it.”
Sheng Tingwan’s heart jumped in alarm. She feigned composure and said, “What if Zhen really did poison it?”
“As the saying goes, if the ruler wants a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die12.” Wen Nuan held Sheng Tingwan’s wrist and drank the cup of wine.
Sheng Tingwan watched as the corners of Wen Nuan’s eyes reddened and her eyes filled with a watery sheen, like a peach blossom in full bloom. “Even if this cup were gut-wrenching wine, as long as it is fed by Your Majesty personally, this humble subject will naturally drink every last drop.”
“Was… was it good?” Sheng Tingwan was so bewitched by Wen Nuan that her whole body grew hot and trembled.
Her body was tense with nervousness, her heart pounding wildly.
Wen Nuan felt the desire surging inside her. She lowered her gaze, looking at the empty wine cup. “Your Majesty… really drugged it?”
“You… you said it before.”
“What?”
Sheng Tingwan took a deep breath, pressed Wen Nuan down on the couch, her face flushed red as she said, “To achieve a goal, one can even resort to any means necessary.”
Wen Nuan let the desire surge madly, her eyes gradually becoming bloodshot. She swallowed. “What does Your Majesty want?”
“I want you.” Sheng Tingwan finally couldn’t control the temptation and fiercely kissed the one she had yearned for day and night.
Wen Nuan’s eyes darkened. She wrapped her arms around Sheng Tingwan and, under her panicked expression, walked toward the bed.
She pressed Sheng Tingwan beneath her, a smile hooking her lips. “This subject… receives the imperial edict.”
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