Murong Qingqing tried to kick out, but Jia Lingyun caught her ankle. She felt her entire body go limp, drained of all strength.
As a young woman who had never known a man, and who lived her daily life as the exalted Empress Dowager, who would dare to be so presumptuous with her? A mix of shyness, nervousness, and thrill made her heart race like a trapped fawn; it was a sensation beyond words.
"You... release me at once, you little scoundrel!"
"Even if your father were still alive, he would not dare to be this insolent!"
Jia Lingyun gave a wicked laugh.
"The student surpasses the master, and the waves behind drive the waves ahead!"
"A treacherous official must also keep pace with the times and stay abreast of the era!"
"If the Empress Dowager refuses to issue the decree, do not blame this subject for being discourteous!"
What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this!
Murong Qingqing was in a state of utter disarray, terrified that the little scoundrel might do something reckless in the Huaqing Pool.
"You... what are you trying to do?"
"Hehe... tickle your soles!"
Upon hearing that he only meant to tickle her feet, Murong Qingqing let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, he was just a fool who had only recently recovered!
He probably didn't understand the ways of men and women yet.
He didn't even know how to harbor malicious intent.
A defective man? A cripple?
At a time like this... he actually proposed tickling...!
Was this really the time for tickling!!!
For no reason, a sense of disappointment washed over Murong Qingqing, and she glared at Jia Lingyun with a coquettish, indignant look.
"How dare you!"
With all these emotions swirling, Murong Qingqing found the sensation of Jia Lingyun tickling her soles unbearable. She wanted to struggle, but being completely limp and unable to resist, she was forced to let out peals of giggly laughter.
"You little scoundrel... you... you will meet a terrible end... I... I will surely have Shangguan Wan'er kill you!"
"This is but a small request from this subject; does the Empress Dowager truly refuse?"
Murong Qingqing’s stubborn streak took over; she gritted her teeth and refused to give in.
"No... I refuse!... I absolutely refuse!"
"...I... will never... leave you... to be a scourge for the Emperor!"
"I... I... stand against you... to the death!"
"You want... to be granted... the Nine Bestowals?... Keep dreaming!"
Seeing that, aside from the flush on her cheeks and her heavy breathing, the tickling tactic didn't seem to be working on the Empress Dowager, Jia Lingyun changed his approach.
"If that is the case, then I shall tickle the Empress Dowager’s armpits!"
Murong Qingqing’s expression shifted instantly.
Tickling her armpits!!!
If that little scoundrel tickled her armpits, wouldn't he be taking every possible advantage of her?
Seeing the wicked grin on the scoundrel's face, Murong Qingqing understood.
He did understand the ways between men and women!
He was merely holding back because of her status as Empress Dowager, and thus dared not go too far.
All that talk of tickling was just a pretext to take liberties with her!
Murong Qingqing’s breathing grew rapid. She dared not dwell on it, feeling her body grow feverish, and she scolded him softly.
"No!"
"I am a woman of the Late Emperor!"
Jia Lingyun stepped forward, cornering Murong Qingqing until she had nowhere left to retreat.
"I have heard that after the Empress Dowager entered the palace, the Late Emperor was constantly ill and you were unable to serve him. This subject is willing to offer his humble efforts to fulfill the Late Emperor’s final wish..."
Murong Qingqing’s mental defenses completely collapsed.
He truly was lusting after her body!!
How vile!!
So this fellow had been playing the role of an innocent all along, when in reality he was as lecherous as they come!
He knew everything!!
Murong Qingqing remembered back before she entered the palace, when her equally lecherous sister, Murong Yanran, had told her: once a man and a woman engaged in such carnal desires, they would end up with children!
She was the Empress Dowager now; if she became pregnant, what would become of her? She would surely be drowned in a pig cage by the court officials!
With no time to wait for Shangguan Wan'er to return, Murong Qingqing hurriedly said:
"Enough, Minister Jia, I... I shall agree to your terms!"
"My thanks, Empress Dowager!"
Voices of palace maids and eunuchs drifted in from the doorway.
"Greetings, Lady Shangguan!"
The faint sound of footsteps followed, which terrified the two in the Huaqing Pool.
Murong Qingqing looked frantic.
"Oh no, it’s... it’s Wan'er. You must get to the shore and hide!"
One of them was stark naked, and the other was soaking wet. If Shangguan Wan'er saw them, they would never be able to clear their names, even if they jumped into the Yellow River.
Jia Lingyun thought what she said made sense. Just as he was about to climb out, he caught a glimpse of a smile flickering at the corner of Murong Qingqing's lips, and his heart skipped a beat.
Wait!!
This girl... she is telling me to get out... but she actually wants to kill me!!
*Creak!!*
The doors of the Huaqing Pool palace were pushed open, and Shangguan Wan'er walked in carrying a phoenix robe made of gold-threaded silk.
"Empress Dowager, the phoenix robe has arrived. Please allow me to help you change!"
A long time passed before the Empress Dowager gave a stuttering reply.
"I... I wish to soak a little longer. Why don't... why don't you step out first!"
A cold light flashed in Shangguan Wan'er’s eyes.
Having spent many years with the Empress Dowager, she keenly felt that something was amiss.
Ignoring the taboo of looking directly at her sovereign, she lifted her head to scan the surroundings.
She saw the Empress Dowager looking flustered and acting unnaturally.
Aside from the four-panel screen, there was nowhere else in the Huaqing Pool to hide a person!
"Empress Dowager, has any stranger been in the Huaqing Pool?"
As she spoke, Shangguan Wan'er stepped softly, slowly approaching the screen. Holding her breath, she suddenly slammed her palm against the ground!
*Whoosh!!*
All four screens were knocked into the air by Shangguan Wan'er’s internal energy. She scanned the area, only to find it completely empty!
No one there!!
Could it be that I was just overthinking?
The Empress Dowager had been caught in an undignified state before her subject, and Shangguan Wan'er was filled with apprehension.
"Please forgive this subject for her offense!"
Murong Qingqing spoke in a stuttering manner.
"You... were only acting out of loyalty... I... I will not blame you!"
"You just now... asked if a stranger had been here..."
"Actually, it was just one of the Emperor's maids, saying the Emperor wasn't studying hard... Ah!"
Murong Qingqing let out a sudden yelp, and Shangguan Wan'er hurried forward.
"Empress Dowager, what is wrong?"
Murong Qingqing’s face flushed scarlet, and she hastily stopped Shangguan Wan'er.
"Don't come any closer!!"
"I am fine, I just accidentally twisted my ankle!"
Shangguan Wan'er frowned slightly.
"If it is just a twisted ankle, why is the Empress Dowager so flustered?"
"Don't mention it, it's all your fault... you suddenly pushed the door open, you frightened me quite badly, and I am still shaken!"
"So that is how it is!"
Shangguan Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on her face.
"Since the Empress Dowager is unharmed, shall I scrub your back?"
Murong Qingqing’s expression flickered, and she shook her head like a rattle.
"No need! I shall do it myself!"
"Wan'er, I wish to rest for a while, you may leave first!"
"Yes!"
Shangguan Wan'er bowed and exited.
Though she still felt that something was wrong with the Empress Dowager, the pool area was empty and she was unharmed; perhaps she really had just been startled.
Shangguan Wan'er left with a hint of guilt, and the true culprit, after she was gone, emerged from the water beneath Murong Qingqing.
*Splash!!!*
"I nearly suffocated!!!"
Murong Qingqing was both ashamed and furious, simply because this fellow had actually kissed her back right in front of Wan'er.
"You are insolent!!"
"How am I insolent?"
"You... you...!"
Murong Qingqing found it hard to utter the words. A subject kissing the Empress Dowager’s back—how could such a crime be judged?
The court officials would die of laughter!!
Forget it, forget it!!
I will just pretend I was bitten by a stray dog!!
Murong Qingqing felt like weeping. She had been thoroughly bullied by Jia Lingyun today!
In front of him, she had been left with no reservations and had lost all her dignity.
Murong Qingqing spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum.
"Now that Wan'er has left, you... you should leave quickly as well!"
Jia Lingyun floated on the surface of the water, staring at Murong Qingqing’s delicate, slightly indignant face.
"Empress Dowager, you just tried to use Shangguan Wan'er to have me killed. I am not the type to let a slight pass; I really must collect some interest from you before I go!"