Chapter 113
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The bright yellow silk curtain hung quietly, undisturbed. The air was infused with a faint cold fragrance. With the scorching summer, even if the hall were covered in ice, it would still struggle to dispel the heat.
Li Yuanmin’s eyes were slightly red, and several strands of hair were stuck to his snowy-white face, dampened by sweat. Though disheveled, he seemed extraordinarily enchanting. Ni Lie looked at him, feeling a warm current flow through his heart. He wished he could gaze at Li Yuanmin like this forever. He gently kissed him and then leaned down to carefully tend to him.
Finally done, Ni Lie climbed up, his tanned skin glistening with sweat. He used his callused palm to brush away the sweat-soaked strands of hair from Li Yuanmin’s forehead, revealing a smooth and fair forehead. “Shall I carry you to wash up?”
Li Yuanmin was breathing lightly, pulling him closer. “Later.”
Ni Lie raised an eyebrow. “Uncomfortable?”
Shaking his head, Li Yuanmin soothingly brushed his fingers against the back of Ni Lie’s neck. “No, just a bit tired. Resting for a while will do.”
Ni Lie sighed and leaned his forehead against Li Yuanmin’s, inhaling the faint fragrance of sweat on his face. “You’re such a piece of tofu…”
He lamented, “My Jiaojiao is such a tender piece of tofu.”
He tenderly kissed his lips.
Ni Lie was well aware of how much Li Yuanmin cared about his own unique physique and how uneasy he felt about it. Yet, here he was, indulging in his desires so wantonly. Despite Ni Lie’s mature and composed demeanor, in Li Yuanmin’s presence, he seemed like a mischievous boy greedily savoring his tenderness.
Now, he had his child with him, a child growing within his unique body.
Ni Lie couldn’t help but pull him closer to his heart, which was never unyielding.
Li Yuanmin, eyes half-closed in relaxation, suddenly felt a movement from within his abdomen. He wrinkled his brows slightly, his flush growing more pronounced. Leaning closer, he murmured something near Ni Lie’s ear.
Ni Lie’s eyes lit up with joy. “Really?”
Seeing his reaction, Li Yuanmin’s eyes softened, he took Ni Lie’s hand to place it on his belly. After a moment, Ni Lie’s hand was firmly kicked. Startled, he exclaimed, “What’s this?”
Realizing something, Ni Lie’s expression became ecstatic. He gently placed his hand on Li Yuanmin’s belly again and felt another kick. With a laugh, Ni Lie exclaimed, “Ah, this little thing has quite some strength.”
He immediately propped himself up and used his nose to nudge Li Yuanmin’s abdomen playfully. Another kick came in response, causing Ni Lie to burst into laughter. “Looks like the little one is quite spirited.”
Li Yuanmin was slightly discomforted by his playfulness, but he grinned and began to laugh. He recalled the Red Tiger King, whose body was covered in blood, as he stormed through the capital. Looking at the man before him, so childish and innocent, his smile grew even broader. However, as he continued to laugh, his eyes started to glisten with moisture.
Seeing him like this, Ni Lie quickly approached. “Jiaojiao?”
Li Yuanmin shook his head. “I’m just happy, that’s all.”
“Fool.”
Ni Lie embraced him, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He thought back to their first encounter and where they were now, as if it were all a dream. At present, this man held him in his heart, this seemingly delicate body was carrying their child. There was a constant, unreserved tenderness and affection in his gaze. Inside and out, everything belonged to him. This unprecedented contentment overwhelmed him, filling every crevice of his heart to the brim.
Nothing in the world could bring him as much joy as this. He could even taste a hint of sweetness in his throat, making him surge with a frenzy of affection. He wished he could offer everything, including his life, to him.
In this moment, he was both infatuated and pure. Willing and unwavering, even until death.
No matter how chaotic and messy their initial encounter was, he couldn’t help but be drawn to the man before him, heart and soul.
It was destiny.
To be drawn and even ensnared by him was Ni Lie’s destiny.
Though it was deep into the night, Ni Lie was still reluctant to leave the palace. He was unwilling to easily let Li Yuanmin go. The two were both soaking in the warm water, washing each other gently.
Ni Lie splashed some water on him, and he saw the droplets glide down his snowy back. It was truly as if his skin was as smooth as condensed fat. Unable to resist, Ni Lie lightly bit down on it. Li Yuanmin made a soft noise of protest and turned to look at him, a slight hint of annoyance on his face. Ni Lie took advantage of the situation and pulled him into an embrace.
Their tanned and fair skin intertwined, warming Ni Lie’s heart. He lowered his head, capturing Li Yuanmin’s plush lips with his own. Their breaths merged, and they shared tender kisses.
Parting their slightly sticky lips, Li Yuanmin gazed at Ni Lie’s eyes with a gentle sigh. “Sometimes, it’s really hard to imagine you in the same place as my past life.”
Ni Lie playfully nudged his head against Li Yuanmin’s in response. Li Yuanmin chuckled. “Alright, no matter what, I always end up following your lead.”
He affectionately kissed the corner of Ni Lie’s eye.
A sense of contentment filled Ni Lie’s heart. At this moment, he wasn’t the Red Tiger King or anyone else. He was simply a man deeply pleased by his beloved partner.
Looking at Li Yuanmin tenderly, Ni Lie said, “Now, I finally understand the saying ‘lust makes you lose your senses.'”
Li Yuanmin chuckled softly, his fragrant breath tickling Ni Lie’s nose. He teasingly responded, “So you’re saying I’ve driven you mad?”
“Of course…” Ni Lie grumbled playfully, his hands becoming less well-behaved. “You can do whatever you want to me, even if you want my life, I’m all yours.”
Li Yuanmin’s eyes grew moist for no apparent reason, his heart feeling a pang from Ni Lie’s bold words. “How could I toy with you?”
He gently and affectionately kissed him. “How could I bear to toy with you?”
Ni Lie’s heart was also softened by his playful words. Everything he had never experienced in both lives, he was experiencing fully through this man. His movements ceased, and he held him in his arms. Softly, he said, “Jiaojiao, the happiest moments in both my lives were all because of you.”
Li Yuanmin’s heart warmed, and he snuggled further into Ni Lie’s broad embrace.
Their bodies pressed together, skin touching skin, flesh against flesh, they were as close as they could be.
There were gradual changes in the political landscape of the court. What appeared to be an unbreakable wall was gradually crumbling.
At the end of July, a constant stream of memorials detailing various accusations against General Ni Lie began to pile up. Accusations of disrespect and corruption flowed in.
In the quiet hall, Li Yuanmin looked at the stack of memorials on the table and rubbed his forehead.
Ni Ying brought fragrant tea. Unobtrusively, she quietly told Li Yuanmin, “Your Majesty, the Regent Prince is waiting outside.”
It had been the third day already. Li Yuanmin sighed. “Send word to Marquis Zhenbei that I am unwell and that he may return first.”
Before he could finish speaking, a commotion at the door disrupted him. Regent Prince Sima Ji entered with a few guards.
The guards almost drew their swords, and Li Yuanmin sighed inwardly but also intervened. He smiled. “The Marquis has arrived.”
Marquis Zhenbei, Sima Ji was over fifty years old, but he looked quite sturdy. Only a few strands of gray decorated his temples, his charisma was undiminished from his youth. Despite his defiance and offenses, he spoke with ease, “So, Your Majesty is here. These lowly servants took it upon themselves to deny the honorable minister an audience, truly deserving of death!”
“Oh, is that so?” Li Yuanmin furrowed his brow in feigned concern. He reassured, “Marquis, rest assured, I will address this matter.”
“Your wisdom knows no bounds,” Sima Ji bowed slightly. “Perhaps Your Majesty’s leniency in daily matters has encouraged them to be so disrespectful.”
He straightened, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, suggesting something. “Just like in our court, there are countless crawling worms like these.”
Li Yuanmin smirked faintly. “If you have something to say, Marquis, feel free to speak.”
Sima Ji let out a cold laugh and pointed to the stack of thick memorials in front of the imperial court, saying, “There’s no need for this old minister to say anything. The memorials for General Ni are almost filling up the court. If Your Majesty continues to show such favoritism, wouldn’t it chill the hearts of the officials?”
“The Regent Prince’s words are heavy,” Li Yuanmin waved his hand casually, still carrying a smile. He took out a few memorials from the stack and tossed them onto the table in front, saying, “If we talk about favoritism, I’m not favoring just one side.”
Sima Ji’s brows furrowed, and he took a few steps forward, hastily flipping through one memorial after another. His eyes suddenly widened in anger. One of the memorials was from Su Xie, the inspector of Jiangning Province, reporting on his farm fields account books. Several other officials, including Zhao Yanlu, the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, the Right Imperial Censor, were also mentioned in these memorials, all of whom had been promoted by Sima Ji himself. Yet, in the end, they seemed to have forgotten their gratitude and loyalty.
Sima Ji’s heart pounded, he narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised his head abruptly, saying, “Your Majesty! Someone must be sabotaging this. Your Majesty mustn’t believe this!”
Li Yuanmin sounded relaxed, “I won’t make hasty judgments. I have loyal officials on both sides, and it’s not easy to favor one side.”
He glanced at the stack of memorials and smiled, “Let’s put aside these confused matters for now.”
Sima Ji couldn’t hold back his anger any longer and stepped forward with heavy steps. His eyes were sharp like a hawk, scanning Li Yuanmin. He whispered, “Your Majesty, it seems you’re still relying on us.”
“What reliance or lack thereof, marquis words are a bit excessive. Both of you are my loyal ministers; there’s no need to distinguish between the two.”
Li Yuanmin chuckled gently, as if pacifying him, “Besides, marquis, given your age, why bother comparing yourself to young people?”
Even though Sima Ji was a master of intrigue, he couldn’t help but feel furious. He raised his voice, “Your Majesty!”
He fixed his gaze on Li Yuanmin, glaring intensely, “Is Your Majesty trying to force me into a corner?”
As the words left his mouth, Sima Ji was surprised by Li Yuanmin’s lack of panic. The smile on Li Yuanmin’s face, however, grew colder, and an eerie chill surfaced in his eyes.
“Oh? Into whose corner would I be forcing them?”
Li Yuanmin slowly stood up, unreservedly rubbing his belly in front of Sima Ji. He took slow steps towards him, saying, “My eldest brother has long passed away, and my fourth brother is like a fool, unaware of anything…”
“Right, what about my second brother?” Li Yuanmin smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes anymore. “Marquis, care to guess where he is now?”
“Or is marquis still thinking about the distant branches of our family?” His smile turned even colder. “Unfortunately, marquis, you’re old and can’t fight anymore, let alone…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, only walking up to Sima Ji, staring straight at him, “Marquis, how do you think my child’s father defeated Liang Haduo?”
“We just need to leak a bit of false information to the spies planted by the Wala in the palace, confusing their understanding. Even if there were 800,000 troops, what’s there to fear?”
Sima Ji’s fists clenched tightly, his pupils trembling slightly.
The new emperor in front of him had already lowered his gaze. “Marquis, why don’t you take a look? How many of the soldiers in your Zhenbei mansion are secretly loyal to Cao Gang’s faction?”
He paused for a moment and smiled again, “So, as I said earlier, my protection also includes marquis. Isn’t that right?”
The person in front of him continued to smile, looking at him calmly, yet Sima Ji felt a deep chill running down his spine.
He suddenly realized that he wasn’t removing a ferocious beast; he was targeting the b*stard son who controlled that ferocious beast!
His muscles tensed, waves of anger and resentment surged within him. He wished he could crush the figure in front of him to pieces, but in the end, he clenched his teeth, turned around, and left.
Li Yuanmin watched his departing figure for a long time, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he let out a cold laugh.
His greatest advantage laid in them being in the dark while the Sima father-son duo played their roles openly.
As long as it remained this way, the Sima family would never know which of their trusted allies had betrayed them, and the constant infighting, driven by suspicion and fear, would eventually allow Li Yuanmin to firmly grasp the situation.
The author has something to say:: Suddenly, I remembered that earlier, His Highness used to act coquettishly in front of the 18-year-old Xiao Ni, and now the “old dog” (referring to Sima Ji) is doing the same in front of His Highness. I didn’t intentionally write it this way, but when I looked back during the plot development, I found it amusing. Ha-ha-ha, it’s quite interesting how things turned out this way!
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