When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 149

Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General

Heart Lock¹

Qiongyao Pavilion, Yuchi Bath².

Surging and billowy, delicate gasps unceasing.

Xiao Chuyu was limp in Wen Nuan’s embrace, so tired she could not open her eyes, and her throat was hoarse from shouting.

Wen Nuan picked up Xiao Chuyu, walked into the inner hall of Qiongyao Pavilion, and placed her on the bed. Seeing her lips move as if she were saying something, she leaned closer to listen.

“…Take your hands… and wash them clean… for Zhen…”

Wen Nuan laughed in spite of herself: “I know, I washed them very clean.”

The pads of my fingers are all wrinkled from washing.

Xiao Chuyu seemed to have heard Wen Nuan’s reply and, satisfied, snuggled into Wen Nuan’s embrace and fell asleep.

【You didn’t do it to the end again?】the System asked, looking at the blackening value that had only dropped by a tiny bit, very unsatisfied.

“I’m not even anxious, what are you anxious about?”

It was Xiao Chuyu’s first time, and in the water was not a good venue.

The System sighed: 【I’m anxious about the blackening value, the blackening value is only at 8.5 right now.】

“Don’t panic, take it slow,” Wen Nuan said, holding warm jade in her arms, feeling incomparably content, “as long as the blackening value doesn’t max out, it’s all a small matter.”

【Alright.】

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Once Xiazhi³ arrived, the Qinghe Pond⁴ in the Imperial Garden was filled with blooming snow-white and pink lotus flowers, their leaves dense and crowded.

Standing tall and graceful⁵, pure as jade and clean as ice⁶.

Yuan Qi watched Gu Wen Nuan sit by the pond, staring blankly at the water in the pond. She stared blankly for a full half shichen⁷, just sitting there motionlessly. It was a strangely alarming sight, making one fear she would try to sneak away.

Yuan Qi saw Gu Wen Nuan suddenly move. He only saw her cup a pool of water in her hands, look at it intently for a moment, then splash the water out, before getting up to return to the palace.

“….” Yuan Qi was watching in a fog of confusion and could not help but ask curiously, “Little General Gu, what were you doing just now?”

Wen Nuan gave a mysterious smile: “A secret.”

Yuan Qi did not continue to ask.

The two were walking on the palace path back to Zhongming Hall when they ran head-on into Ye Mingxiu, who had just come from the Imperial Study. Wen Nuan, seeing a familiar person unexpectedly, immediately greeted him: “Hi, Ye Mingxiu.”

Ye Mingxiu had already seen Gu Wen Nuan. Seeing her appear before him completely intact, he could be considered to have breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He bowed slightly and said: “Little General Gu.”

“You are a Chancellor, why are you bowing to a convicted subject like me?” Wen Nuan waved her hand and teased, “Isn’t this bringing me misfortune?”

Ye Mingxiu smiled slightly: “Little General Gu is joking.”

“Did you just come from the Imperial Study?” Wen Nuan asked curiously, “What were you and Her Majesty discussing? Matters of Mobei?”

Ye Mingxiu said in surprise: “How does Little General Gu know?”

“I’ve heard some rumors recently, saying that Yi Lai was enfeoffed as the General Who Pacifies the North⁸ and led fifty thousand officers and soldiers to Mobei to stabilize the war situation,” Wen Nuan saw a trace of worry between Ye Mingxiu’s brows, “What? Is the war in Mobei not optimistic?”

Ye Mingxiu was silent for a moment, then sighed: “It is somewhat difficult, but we can still hold on.”

Although Yi Lai was also a rare talent in generalship, there was still some gap when compared to Gu Wen Nuan. Recently, the bandits of Mobei and the surviving remnants of Yaodong Kingdom have been cooperating, and there is also the wolf cub’s wild-hearted⁹ Anlong Kingdom eyeing them like a tiger watching its prey¹⁰ from behind. They learned that Gu Wen Nuan was not in Mobei and began to unscrupulously harass the borders of Ming’an Kingdom, from time to time launching probing attacks on several of Ming’an Kingdom’s cities, thereby overtly and covertly investigating the situation within Ming’an Kingdom’s army.

When Wen Nuan heard him say this, she knew the situation in Mobei was likely not very good.

“That bunch of bastards must know that I am no longer in Mobei.” Wen Nuan’s eyes shifted, and she moved closer to Ye Mingxiu, secretly whispering a few words to him.

“Pass these words to Zhangsun Jiashi; he will understand their meaning. At that time, Zhao Liangcai and Yi Lai will know how to subdue that bunch of bastards.”

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Mingxiu’s eyes, and his tone of voice rose, “You can still… fight like this?”

The corner of Wen Nuan’s mouth hooked up: “Of course you can. Do you think you must be open and honorable in war? To deal with that bunch of bastards who don’t speak of martial virtue¹¹, you have to be even more sinister and vicious than them.”

Ye Mingxiu understood: “Good, I will send this message out as soon as possible.”

Perhaps this time, the tense situation in Mobei could be eased somewhat.

“Chancellor Ye, I’ve helped you with such a big favor, how about you help me with one too?” Wen Nuan gave him a cryptic look.

Ye Mingxiu’s brow furrowed slightly. He moved closer to Wen Nuan, looked meaningfully at the surroundings and Yuan Qi, and said warily: “This matter cannot be discussed now. There are too many eyes and ears around.”

Wen Nuan knew Ye Mingxiu was overthinking it; he thought she wanted him to rescue her.

“No, I don’t want you to save me and help me leave, but rather…” Wen Nuan leaned closer and spoke in a low voice.

The more Ye Mingxiu listened, the more incredible he found it. In the end, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Wen Nuan carried the meaning of “is there something wrong with your brain”, which also left Yuan Qi watching in a state of confusion.

Ye Mingxiu carefully pondered what Wen Nuan had said and uttered, baffled: “Gu Wen Nuan, what on earth…. are you thinking in that head of yours?”

He could not figure it out for the life of him: “Why are you doing those things?”

Wen Nuan said embarrassedly: “Isn’t it to curry favor with Her Majesty? Maybe Her Majesty will spare me.”

“….” Ye Mingxiu resisted the urge to roll his eyes and said speechlessly, “Instead of believing in that useless method of yours, you might as well hope that I can rescue you.”

Wen Nuan patted Ye Mingxiu’s shoulder with an “I understand” expression on her face and said understandingly: “It’s alright, I know you’re eager to save me, but I don’t want to drag you down with me. I can handle these things myself.”

A complex look appeared in Ye Mingxiu’s eyes: “As you wish.”

“By the way, Ji Bei, do you know where he has been imprisoned by Her Majesty?”

Wen Nuan was still very worried about Ji Bei. This child, in order to save her, had gambled away his own future and life; she really couldn’t bear it in her heart.

Ye Mingxiu said coolly: “You can’t even protect yourself, and you have the spare time to worry about others?”

“He ended up in such a state because he was trying to save me. One cannot be so heartless.”

“He is being held under close guard in the Zhaoyu¹²,” Ye Mingxiu sighed, “Right now, the Zhaoyu is heavily guarded. The Imperial Guard has surrounded the Zhaoyu so that not even water can leak through¹³. You cannot save him.”

Hearing that Ji Bei was still alive, Wen Nuan breathed a sigh of relief and said: “It’s alright, I don’t plan to break into the prison to save him. As long as he is safe and sound, that’s good enough.”

Ye Mingxiu really could not understand Wen Nuan’s thoughts at this moment. Right now, Xiao Chuyu wished she could execute her immediately, yet she, without any distraction, wanted him to go make some messy thing, thinking of using that stuff to exchange for Xiao Chuyu’s heart to soften. It was truly a fool telling a dream¹⁴.

“Do you still remember that you are about to be beheaded after autumn¹⁵?” Ye Mingxiu really had to hold back from reminding her.

Wen Nuan nodded and said: “I remember. I’ve even thought about where I’ll be buried after I die.”

Ye Mingxiu: “…..”

When words don’t match, half a sentence is too much¹⁶. Ye Mingxiu flicked his sleeves and left.

Wen Nuan watched Ye Mingxiu’s angry back and called out loudly: “Remember to help me get it done.”

Ye Mingxiu ignored her and walked away even faster. Wen Nuan took it as his agreement and returned to Zhongming Hall, satisfied.

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The Shadow Guard would report Gu Wen Nuan’s whereabouts to Xiao Chuyu every day. She learned that Gu Wen Nuan and Ye Mingxiu had met and chatted.

“What did they say in the end?”

The Shadow Guard shook his head and said: “Little General Gu seemed to know that this subordinate was monitoring her, so when she spoke with Chancellor Ye, she leaned very close, and her voice was very low. This subordinate did not hear.”

Xiao Chuyu gripped her brush tightly, her face gloomy, “Be dismissed.”

“Yes.”

The Shadow Guard quietly withdrew, as if he had never appeared in the Imperial Study.

Xiao Chuyu set her brush down; three large characters leaped into view on the paper.

[Ye Mingxiu]

Xiao Chuyu returned to Zhongming Hall and found no one inside. In the past, at this shichen, Gu Wen Nuan would have washed up and gone to bed early. Why was there not even a shadow of her to be seen today?

“Where is she?”

A reply came from the empty air: “Replying to Your Majesty, Little General Gu is in the Imperial Garden.”

What is she doing running to the Imperial Garden late at night instead of sleeping?

Xiao Chuyu turned and hurried to the Imperial Garden. Worried that Gu Wen Nuan would escape, she broke into a run after just a few steps. When the palace attendants saw the Emperor running, they all immediately started running after her.

The patrolling Imperial Guard, not knowing the situation, also started running along, thinking the Emperor had encountered some urgent matter, and one by one, they stood in stern readiness.

Wen Nuan had guessed that Xiao Chuyu would come to the Imperial Garden to find her; after all, she had deliberately lured her here. But she truly had not expected Xiao Chuyu to mobilize such a large force just to find her.

Looking at the nearly one hundred people from the Imperial Guard and palace staff, Wen Nuan suddenly felt a bit awkward.

“Your Majesty.. you are…?”

Xiao Chuyu paid no mind to the people following behind her. Seeing that Wen Nuan was still in the Imperial Garden and had not escaped as she had anticipated, she relaxed inwardly.

She walked forward, gripped Wen Nuan’s wrist tightly, and said through gritted teeth: “It’s nighttime and you haven’t returned to the palace. Did you come to this Imperial Garden because you want to run away?”

Her wrist felt as if it were being clamped viciously by pincers. Wen Nuan’s expression did not change as she said: “Tonight happens to be a full moon. This convicted subject came to admire the moon, and while I’m at it, to pluck the moon from the sky for Your Majesty.”

Xiao Chuyu’s birthday was in three days. The Directorate of Astronomy¹⁷ had surveyed the recent weather; apart from tonight, which would have a full moon and numerous stars, the nights for the next few days would all be cloudy with light rain.

Anger rose from Xiao Chuyu’s heart. She said in a cold voice: “Gu Wen Nuan, do you take Zhen to be very easy to deceive?”

“Your Majesty doesn’t believe me?” Wen Nuan grabbed Xiao Chuyu’s hand in a reverse grip, “Then Your Majesty should see for yourself.”

Xiao Chuyu was taken aback and followed Wen Nuan to the side of Qinghe Pond. She watched as Wen Nuan scooped up a handful of water from the pond and came before her, swaying unsteadily.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Chuyu said irritably.

“Wait a moment,” Wen Nuan said, staring intently at the water in her hands, “Let this convicted subject find an angle.”

She had originally thought of doing it in Zhongming Hall, but Zhongming Hall did not seem as romantic as the Imperial Garden, so Wen Nuan had planned to admire the moon with Xiao Chuyu in the Imperial Garden.

Two people and one moon, one couldn’t mention how pleasant it would be. But unexpectedly, Xiao Chuyu, afraid she would run, brought over a hundred people to catch her, completely and thoroughly ruining the atmosphere she had envisioned.

Xiao Chuyu watched Gu Wen Nuan with great impatience. Just as she was about to forcibly drag her back to Zhongming Hall, she heard Gu Wen Nuan shout: “Done.”

“Your Majesty, look quickly,” Wen Nuan called to her, “This convicted subject has plucked the moon for you.”

Xiao Chuyu lowered her eyelashes, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. She saw only Wen Nuan holding a pool of water in both hands, and in the water was, strikingly, the moon hanging high in the sky.

It was clearly as far as the ends of the earth, endless to the gaze, yet at this moment it was close enough to touch.

She had actually, truly plucked the moon.

Seeing Xiao Chuyu stunned, Wen Nuan smiled and said: “Is it beautiful? Do you like it?”

Xiao Chuyu could not help but raise her hand to touch it, only to see the surface of the water ripple, and the moon swayed along with it. She suddenly realized that this was not the real moon, but just the moon’s reflection in the water that Gu Wen Nuan held in her cupped hands.

In reality, they both knew clearly that the moon was so high and unreachable, it was fundamentally impossible to be plucked down.

However, the moon in the sky she could not pluck, so the moon in her heart, she naturally had to find ways to keep.

Xiao Chuyu raised her head and looked at Wen Nuan’s eyes. The clear, cold moonlight bathed her limpid pupils, making them beautiful beyond description.

She gave a faint smile: “It’s beautiful, I like it.”

“So, will you help Zhen keep it forever?”

Wen Nuan paused: “Keep the moon?”

That’s a bit difficult to do.

“Tongzi, can you do it?” Wen Nuan could only turn to the System for a move.

The System said helplessly: 【Can you suggest something practical?】

“…Alright.” Wen Nuan also understood the System’s uselessness.

System: 【….】

Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu; this was the first time she had seen Xiao Chuyu smile so amiably. “How does Your Majesty want to keep it?”

Xiao Chuyu splashed away the water in Wen Nuan’s hands and intertwined her fingers with hers, “Let Zhen think it over carefully.”

“….”

Wen Nuan’s dangerous sixth sense suddenly erupted. She cautiously asked the System if the blackening value had increased. The System said it had not increased, but had instead decreased a little.

“Zhen has thought of it,” she suddenly said.

“Hm?”

Xiao Chuyu’s expression was as gentle as water, but her tone was as cold as the moonlight, her eyes deep, “Zhen will lock you up, alright?”

Wen Nuan: “…..”

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