Chapter 131: Shameless to the End

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Yishouli Mansion, dungeon.

"Keep your spirits up! Don't let anyone catch us off guard." The dungeon captain was giving orders. Seeing his subordinates tense up, a look of gratification appeared on his face; this was how it should be.

With the King personally present in the mansion, they dared not show the slightest negligence. Even the smallest mistake would be a capital offense.

In one of the inner cells, Gongshen Ling'er sat leaning against the wall, appearing somewhat distracted. She was still dressed in the pink attire of a maid. Curling her body, she could hear the squeaking of rats darting rapidly around her.

She had never imagined that she, Gongshen Ling'er, would fall to such a state; it was truly laughable.

She had arrived full of confidence, holding bargaining chips, thinking she could rescue Elder Jin. Who would have thought she would end up trapping herself instead...

She hugged her knees, a trace of unwillingness flickering across her cold, beautiful face.

In the garden pavilion, a chessboard was set out on the table.

For the past few days, the two had been quite leisurely, getting along harmoniously—or, to put it simply, they were a bit lovesick.

They sat in the pavilion, surrounded by early spring buds, vibrant with fresh, energetic red.

"Spring has arrived," Xue Xue sighed while holding a chess piece. The ongoing war between the Ji Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom was a bit of a mood-killer.

"Spring passes and autumn comes, as it always does. Why must Xue'er be so sorrowful?" Ji Wuqing, dressed in a black robe, placed his piece on the board. He looked at the chessboard with a hint of cunning in his eyes. "If you don't take this seriously, your husband will end this game prematurely."

"Gomoku is my specialty," she said dismissively.

"Don't you know there's always someone better?" Seeing her confidence, Ji Wuqing revealed a triumphant smile. "Look, this is the consequence of underestimating your opponent."

Indeed, the black pieces on the board had formed a line, declaring Ji Wuqing's victory.

"Then we can rest; that's perfect." Xue Xue stood up, unconcerned by the win or loss.

"Xue'er makes it sound as if you were letting your husband win." Ji Wuqing pouted as he remained in his seat.

"You could think of it that way," she said, not being modest, before reaching out a hand to him. "Let's go, let's take a walk." Their interaction was becoming more and more like an old married couple; though plain, it was an enviable simplicity.

After their walk, they returned to their room to rest.

Xue Xue naturally curled up beside Ji Wuqing. She slept on the outer side, her small frame pressed against him, her face showing signs of fatigue.

Ji Wuqing did not disturb her, instead picking up a book and reading on the bed. Within a quarter of an hour, Xue Xue had fallen soundly asleep in his arms, her breathing light and carrying a gentle warmth.

He put down the book, his fingertips lightly pinching the edge as he let it hang off the side of the bed, as if it might drop at any moment.

Lowering his head and casting his gaze downward, he watched her peaceful sleeping face.

Her fair, white complexion, her petite nose, and those pink, tender lips—the color of early spring buds—looked incredibly delectable.

His eyes darkened with a strange intensity. After watching for a long time, he finally lowered his head, slowly leaning in close to her. He pressed his lips against hers, flicked them with his tongue, and then held them.

Xue Xue was fast asleep and did not react, emboldening the King to push his luck further.

He reached out to cover her waist, gently kneading it, then moved his hand upward to touch her forehead and brush aside her long hair. When his hand reached the white silk blindfold covering her eyes, he paused.

He lifted his head, his eyes reflecting the white silk that obscured her sight; it was such an eyesore.

He reached out and untied the blindfold, revealing her tightly closed eyes.

He watched for a moment, then lowered his head again, gently nuzzling against her eyelids with his own lips.

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Finally, the sleeper stirred, appearing as if she were about to wake up.

He slowly and leisurely lifted his head, not at all afraid of being caught in the act.

Sure enough, as soon as he pulled away, Xue Xue opened her eyes in a daze. Without the constraint of the blindfold, she felt a bit unaccustomed. The brightness made her instinctively squint, finding it hard to adjust.

Then, she slowly widened her eyes, and a face emerged vaguely within her vision.

"Ziqing." She felt as though she were still in a dream.

Perhaps this really was just a dream...

"Hmm." Ji Wuqing responded to her dazed expression, lowering his head to nudge his forehead against hers.

"That wasn't a dream just now, was it? You kissed me." She reached out to hook her fingers into his hair.

"Since you knew, how can you call it stealing a kiss? Or does Xue'er want your husband to kiss you openly once more?" The King teased her without a shred of shame. He leaned his entire body over, completely enveloping her in his presence.

"Your Majesty is too shameless." And he truly was.

"Since Xue'er has already defined me as such, I cannot bear the title of 'shameless' without actually acting... shamelessly."

His lips drew closer, and both their breaths grew rapid. He let out a muffled laugh before kissing her.

Her hands tightened in his hair, the dark strands as smooth as silk, making them hard to grip.

However, her actions only served to make Ji Wuqing's movements more domineering and intense. He hooked his arm around her waist, lifted her up, and placed her slowly toward the inner side of the bed, covering her with his body.

Xue Xue couldn't help but let out a soft cry, and then...

In short, Ji Wuqing used his actions to demonstrate exactly what it meant to be "shameless," and he did so most thoroughly.

Xue Xue suffered heavy losses in both body and mind.

She lay on her side on the bed, her face flushed, her lips blooming like a vibrant flower.

"The wound on your shoulder hasn't healed, why are you acting out? Did you forget Luo Hua's instructions?" She tried to make her voice sound indifferent, but it backfired, coming out soft and sweet, like marshmallow.

"With a beauty in my arms, and my wife at that," he implied that it was her fault.

"Perhaps I should return to Xicheng in a few days." She felt that her coming here had caused him too much trouble. Besides, little Xiao Xi was still waiting for her in the palace; she should return soon.

Although Miao Jian was there to look after Xiao Xi, she was still somewhat uneasy.

"Hmm." The person behind her seemed to pause for a moment before responding.

The situation here was unstable, and he hadn't intended for Xue'er to come in the first place. These extra days together could be considered a beautiful surprise.

Hearing his muffled reply, she couldn't help but turn around and nestle into his chest. "How do you plan to handle Gongshen Ling'er? Will you lock her up just like Elder Jin?"

"I don't know what use she could possibly be." Besides, he disdained using a woman as a bargaining chip.

The two fell into silence, leaning against each other.

By the time the sky turned a dim yellow, Xue Xue rose to change her clothes.

In the inner room, Ji Wuqing was fast asleep. Xue Xue stood by the bed after dressing, watching him. Her vision seemed clearer, though she still could not make out his features.

She rubbed her eyes and picked up the white silk to cover them once more.

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The world seemed to fall back into darkness.

She walked out of the sleeping chamber, where Luo Hua, dressed in green, was already waiting. "It seems the King is still asleep." He stood up and bowed elegantly.

"Please sit, Young Master Luo Hua. He has just fallen asleep," Xue Xue said.

"It is no matter. The wound on the King's shoulder truly needs careful tending. Just be sure to change the dressing and take the medicine," Luo Hua said with understanding.

"I feel that you and the King are very close." Luo Hua was someone who unexpectedly made her feel at ease and familiar.

"I saved the King's life; that is indeed a very strange kind of familiarity," Luo Hua did not deny it. "Besides, there are truly few people with whom I can truly be friends."

"It seems you were the one who told the King about my eyes." Ziqing had not been surprised by her eyes just now, so he must have known for a long time.

"Come to think of it, your eyes will soon be fully recovered, my Lady."

"Hmm." Xue Xue nodded, already looking forward to the moment her sight would be restored.

In the evening, it began to rain quietly.

At first, the rain fell in scattered drops, barely noticeable. Soon, it became a steady downpour, forcing people to cover their heads and run for shelter.

The mansion was also being washed by the rain. With the two kingdoms at war, something was stirring because of this storm.

In the dungeon, the guards were all on high alert, none daring to slack off. However, as the rain began to fall outside, people couldn't help but feel a bit lazy.

One guard yawned, "There's only one weak woman in there; are we making too much of a fuss?"

"True, she's just a woman, and we're all grown men."

Consequently, everyone lowered their guard, sat down, and became drowsy.

It was quiet, with the sound of the rain outside faint and distant.

Gongshen Ling'er, sitting by the wall, slowly lifted her head. Her cell was further inside, so if she made any small movements, they wouldn't see.

She took out a small, falcon-like object she carried with her and began to blow into it softly.

The object made no sound when blown, but a strange aura began to circulate.

The guards, who had been struggling to stay awake, slowly slumped over. One of them fell with a thud, his head lolling to the side, yet there was no reaction from the others.

She blew for a while longer before finally stopping, a triumphant look appearing on her face.

She, Gongshen Ling'er, was going to walk out of this dungeon in broad daylight. Who could stop her?

With a swift strike, she shattered the cell door. She looked at the guards who had lost their breath; blood was flowing from the corners of their mouths, and their eyes were bloodshot—a terrifying sight.

Gongshen Ling'er gave a contemptuous laugh and headed toward the exit.

However, before she could reach the door, she encountered a slender figure. The person walked as if without a sound, making her immediately tense up and take a defensive stance.

"I am here to help you."