Chapter 1206: Repaying debts (1/2)
The one and only Qinwang that Long Feiye conferred was none other than Gu Qishao!
Actually, Long Feiye was planning to make Ning Cheng a Northern Li king, but the man went back on their promise and was still missing to this day. He respected the man for his choice to leave that way. They only had private debts between them now.
As Pill Fiend Valley was located in an area historically called Yu (豫),[1] Long Feiye’s official title for Gu Qishao was Qinwang Yu.
Han Yunxi was surprised by this as well. She only silently chuckled that Gu Qishao couldn’t have a free an easy life anymore. If anything important happened in the imperial court, or the palace needed its Qinwang to present at some social gathering, Gu Qishao had no place to run!
Gu Beiyue was also caught unawares. His thoughts differed form Han Yunxi’s and he approved of Long Feiye’s actions. Little Qi had paid too dearly over the past two years. He had fought a battle without gunpowder against Bai Yanqing that was no less crueler than any way. None of the civil or military officials here would ever know the price Gu Qishao paid, but Long Feiye didn’t forget. Little Qi deserved such honor and glory!
Although Gu Qishao wasn’t present to hear the conferment, the matter was as good as set with the edict!
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Currently, Gu Qishao was researching a certain new type of teatime snack in the kitchens of a certain manor. He had missed Rui’er’s one-month anniversary present and decided to build up a tea plantation as his one year old birthday gift. He was extremely busy and had no interest in Long Feiye’s court affairs.
Whether or not he had any reactions to his new status was a story for another day.
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After the formalities ended, Long Feiye led the crowd to the western suburbs of Yunning where an altar had just been erected. There he prayed to the Heavens to officially end the coronation ceremony. When they retuned to Yunning Palace, it was already evening. Long Feiye gave a banquet to all officials of third-rank or higher. The whole affair lasted until late night.
Han Yunxi was extremely tied, but never stopped missing little Rui’er. These past few days she’d been busy preparing for the ceremony and didn’t have much time to spend with her son. Now all the dust had settled. Long Feiye would likely continue to be busy as he was now emperor, but she should have more free time for a while as empress. There were no wars she had to oversee during an era of peace.
Han Yunxi entered the rooms and told the servant girl inside, “Have Zhao mama carry Rui’er here. I want to spend time with him tonight.”
But Long Feiye stopped her coldly. “No need. All of you withdraw, there’s no need to serve us tonight.”
Han Yunxi felt something was amiss. Did Long Feiye have something important to tell her? She sat down and personally brewed some tea as she waited for him to join her. As soon as he drew close, she rose to hug him and murmured, “Whatever you need to say, save it for later. Let me hug you first.”
Her arms circled around his waist as she buried her head against his warm chest, inhaling his special scent. She’d wanted to embrace him in the hall during daytime but had held back until this moment.
She said, “Long Feiye, today...I was very surprised. It was like...like this was the real day I officially married you.”
Long Feiye lightly stroked her hair before planting a soft kiss on her forehead, smiling wordlessly.
Han Yunxi grinned. “What do you think would have happened back then if I never got off my sedan chair?”
“Didn’t you get off in the end?” Long Feiye retorted.
Actually, he and Han Yunxi were both perfectly clear: if Han Yunxi hadn’t gotten off, there would only be two paths before them. First, Han Yunxi would have been trapped inside the carriage and died on the Duke of Qin’s doorstep. Alternatively, she would have been carried back to the Han Estate and be sentenced to death for defying an imperial marriage decree.
Emperor Tianhui was only giving Long Feiye a warning back then and wouldn’t have really forced him to marry. No matter how the emperor and Long Feiye interacted, Han Yunxi would end up as the unluckiest party to shoulder all the guilt and blame. However, the entire capital was taken aback when Han Yunxi came out on her own.
Han Yunxi circled her arms around Long Feiye’s neck and looked up at him. He met her gaze and grew serious. “Yunxi, it’s all my fault. Thank goodness you got off. I...wouldn’t be able to afford the consequences of missing you.”
“I wouldn’t have, either,” Han Yunxi said, before stepping on her tiptoes to pull Long Feiye down for a ferocious kiss. That single missed kick to the sedan chair door could have cost them an entire lifetime. Thinking of it now left fear in their hearts.
Their kiss deepened as their figures entwined. After busying themselves for so long, it had been ages since they shared a really good kiss while tangled up with each other. Now they were reluctant to let go. In the end, it was Long Feiye who released Han Yunxi first. Actually, he was always the first one to let g. Otherwise, Han Yunxi would never be able to extricate herself. No matter who initiated first, he always ended up leading them both.
Han Yunxi was a bit flummoxed after such a long kissing session. Her cheeks flushed red like a young girl’s instead of an already married woman. She released Long Feiye, knowing him all too well to not sense the flames and desire in his kiss. They still had to talk proper business first, especially since Long Feiye had his first morning court session tomorrow. She couldn’t be some female fatale who delayed his work.
She turned to pour some tea in hopes of waking herself up. But Long Feiye actually hugged her from behind and rested a smooth chin against her shoulders. “How did you know I had something to talk to you about?”
“Why else would you send everyone else away? And refuse to see your precious son?” Han Yunxi responded.
In the past, neither of them were used to having servants in attendance overnight. But after birthing little Rui’er, even a peerless, undefeated couple like them couldn’t guarantee to quell his cries in the night without help.
Seeing Long Feiye remain silent, Han Yunxi grew puzzled. She asked, “Unless you have nothing to discuss?”
Long Feiye must have a heap of things to do tomorrow. The Six Ministries had just been established and there were plenty of policies up for discussion so he could make the final call. Even Han Yunxi had her to-do list pending in the future. For example, someone in the military might bring up the issue of military pay. It was required during wartime, but peacetime soldiers needed silver to support them too! Perhaps the Ministry of Revenue would suggest reducing the budget of aid to Northern Li, or the Ministry of Works would ask the Ministry of Revenue for money to build up the imperial palace.