The new consort lived next door, but because she wasn"t yet married, she wasn"t allowed to walk around randomly, so she sent a maidservant closest to her to pay respect to the Empress.

Teng Yun recognized this maidservant from when he still lived in Teng Country. She was very favored because of her cleverness. Not only did she become Teng Qianyi"s favorite, Teng w.a.n.g even praised her, saying she was exceptionally intelligent. If not for Teng Qianyi didn"t like being served by a stranger, Teng Yun reckoned this palace maid would"ve left her branch and turned into a phoenix.

Seeing her in this place and time, Teng Yun didn"t know what to think of her.

On the 15th day of 8th month, Xue Junliang was very busy organizing the Mid-Autumn Festival. He was also busy welcoming Teng Country Princess. Only then Teng Yun felt he could have a leisure day without anyone disturbing him.

But he didn"t expect the Crown Prince, Xue Pei to come instead.

Xue Pei entered Yunfeng Palace, waited as Teng Yun finished what he was writing, before bombarding Teng Yun with questions regarding military tactics.

Teng Yun actually admired the Crown Prince"s wisdom and intelligence, but the Crown Prince would always be Xue Junliang"s son, so Teng Yun didn"t make his appreciation known. Also, he still had reluctance to teach the Crown Prince, because what if the Crown Prince used what he"d learn to attack Teng Yun"s own country?

The Little Crown Prince, of course, couldn"t know what was in Teng Yun"s mind. No matter how clever he was, Xue Pei was still eight years old; not yet an adult.

Xue Pei saw the other person was unenthusiastic for their study session, so he said, “Today when practicing riding and archery, my mentor brought an amazing horse; said it was a rare breed. Do you want to see it, Mother?”

Teng Yun really loved horses, but he"d only today had a leisure day, so he wasn"t that interested. Xue Pei thought for a moment, then asked again, “I see the wounds on Mother"s face have got better, does the medicine prescribed by the royal physician work?”

Teng Yun saw the child talking cautiously; talking about one thing then another. He couldn"t help but smile, “What is it that you"re trying to say?”

Having been exposed, Xue Pei was a bit embarra.s.sed, but he trudged on, “I heard Xiu Yao said that Mother seemed unhappy these days… For a Da w.a.n.g, taking a new consort is something as mundane as having a meal. This son asks Mother, please don"t be upset over it.”

Teng Yun blanked for a second, then immediately understood. The Little Crown Prince thought the Empress had been unhappy because Xue Junliang"s new consort. Xue Pei"s train of thought was so absurd, yet Teng Yun was unable to correct him.

Having fulfilled his purpose of cheering his mother up, Xue Pei left the Empress" palace relieved and happy.

Xiu Yao smiled, “It seems like you and the Crown Prince have grown quite close.”

—

Xue Junliang and Teng Qianyi had a grand wedding ceremony which carried on until the evening.

It was already dark and Teng Yun was having dinner when he heard a racket outside. He knew a wedding was a happy occasion, but he didn"t think it should be this noisy.

Xiu Yao threw open the door in her rush to get in. In a panicked voice, she said, “Empress! Da w.a.n.g is coming here!”

“What?”

Teng Yun, who was normally a level-headed person, was so surprised he didn"t react for a some time. His surprise was justified, as Da w.a.n.g should be sharing nuptial cups of wine with his newly-married consort at said consort"s bridal chamber. Why would he run away here?

But it didn"t take Teng Yun too long to understand. Seemed like Xue Junliang"s show wasn"t over yet; he was aiming to trash Teng Qianyi"s face in public.

The newly-married bride waited in a vacant room while Da w.a.n.g ran away to his other wife; wasn"t this the b.u.t.t of all jokes?

Other people might see that the Empress was the person Da w.a.n.g favored above a thousand people. But Teng Yun saw this Empress as a victim.

With indifferent expression on his face, Teng Yun greeted, “Your Majesty, welcome.”

Xue Junliang was surrounded by a cl.u.s.ter of palace servants, his attire was new and tailored to fit him perfectly; even his ta.s.seled crown looked more complicated than usual.

Xue Junliang looked drunk; even with Jiang Yu"s support, his steps were unstable, swaying right and left. The jade beads on his crown clicked against each other noisily.

Xue Junliang was a.s.sisted into the Empress" bedroom and onto the phoenix-decorated bed. No one dared to say anything and quickly retreated.

Teng Yun stood from a few steps away, looking down at the drunk Xue Junliang.

If Xue Junliang was truly drunk, Teng Yun could easily kill this insufferable king. His current body and strength might be that of a woman"s, but he was certain killing a drunk man was a piece of cake.

But Teng Yun knew very well Xue Junliang wasn"t drunk and was just acting.

A person who toyed with everyone"s heart would never be intoxicated and vulnerable in front of his so-called beloved-wife, especially if this wife wasn"t from his own immediate family.

And it was true; Xue Junliang wasn"t drunk because he suddenly said, “Why is Aifei standing so far away? Come here and accompany me.”

Teng Yun didn"t come closer and instead said, “Today is your and your new consort"s wedding day, so Your Majesty, please hurry go, lest you attract people"s criticism.”

He was stating the obvious, but he also knew Xue Junliang was very clever. Xue Junliang would naturally understood what Teng Yun really meant; that he wanted Xue Junliang to go away and not to think that Teng Yun was a foolish little wife who only cared about competing for favor.

Xue Junliang laughed. He got up and reached out to grab Teng Yun"s waist. Seeing the panicked expression on the other person"s eyes, Xue Junliang wanted to tease instead.

Xue Junliang pushed Teng Yun onto the bed and leaned down. The jade beads on Xue Junliang"s crown was cold against Teng Yung"s forehead, making him shiver. But then Teng Yun calmed down, his expression melted into indifference. Smiling, he asked, “Your Majesty, are you going to kiss me?”

Xue Junliang caught the other person confidently challenging him and paused.

Looking down at the Empress" face, he noted the blue-green bruises had mostly gone and the skin had gradually showed its true color. But the bruises had changed into scars. The Empress" face did indeed look a lot better than before, but considering she lived in this Imperial Harem where beauties were a common sight, she wasn"t anything remotely noticeable.

Xue Junliang thumbed Teng Yun"s earlobe and used the other hand to gently caress Teng Yun"s cheek, tracing the scars and scabs on Teng Yun"s face.

Teng Yun"s skin had started to heal; when touched, it no longer felt painful, but it also became more sensitive. Teng Yun tensed against the feeling. He wanted to turn his face away but Xue Junliang gripped his chin, preventing him to move his head.

Xue Junliang stroked the Empress" cheeks, the bridge of her nose and even the corner of her lips. He whispered, “Is it still hurt?”

Teng Yun swallowed against a lump in his throat. Suddenly he remembered, a long time ago when he was a little child, vying for his father"s praise, Teng Yun and his brothers had competed to hunt the biggest prey. Teng Yun ended up with an injury. People had been clamoring to praise this prince for getting the biggest prey and that prince for being the bravest. Only Teng Shang cared about Teng Yun and came to visit him.

Since Teng Yun was sent to the battlefield, Teng Shang was so far away in the capital city and no one had ever cared enough to ask if Teng Yun was okay.

Never would have Teng Yun expected that, many years later, he"d heard this sentence from Xue Junliang"s mouth.

While Teng Yun was distracted, he felt a shadow fell upon him and something warm touched his lips.

Actually, Teng Yun was very sure Xue Junliang would never be interested in this ghastly and ugly face. Even if the Ugly Empress wasn"t as ugly as before, no one would consider this face as beautiful. Especially not Xue w.a.n.g; who was used to seeing many unusually pretty faces.

But Teng Yun miscalculated Xue Junliang"s character. The more people thought he couldn"t do something, the more Xue Junliang determined to prove he could. That was why, despite seeming like an average prince, Xue Junliang could successfully claimed the throne in relatively short time.

At first, Xue Junliang just wanted to tease the Empress. Then when he traced the other person"s lips with his fingertips, he didn"t want to take his fingers away. Those lips felt so soft and supple. Added with the Empress" ‘provocation", in the end Xue Junliang really leaned down further and touched those soft lips with his.

Seized with shock, Teng Yun didn"t react at all for a time. Xue Junliang"s lips against his were warm and wet. Xue Junliang even bit his lower lip and traced it with his tongue.

Teng Yun"s eyes widened. He was once a great general, but right now all he felt was his strength failing him.

When Xue Junliang pressed his hips against Teng Yun"s, Teng Yun"s whole body shook all the way to his lips.

Xue Junliang felt the person beneath him trembled and suddenly a fire surged through him. Capturing the other person"s jaw, he deepened the kiss.

Xue Junliang"s other hand wasn"t idle. He"d opened Teng Yun"s belt, sneaked a hand inside the hem of the clothes and stroked Teng Yun"s bared waist.

It was only then Teng Yun emerged from his daze. With a renewed effort, he pushed Xue Junliang away and recoiled back into the corner of the bed where he furiously wiping his lips with his sleeves.

—