Hearing this, excitement rushed through her. She suddenly enveloped Liu Luoyi in a bear hug, grinning from ear to ear: “That’s wonderful.” She grabbed Liu Luoyi’s hand and strode out the door.
She did not spare so much as a glance for Baili Mingyuan.
After Yuchi Li left, the estate erupted into a commotion. Everyone was discussing what had just happened, as well as the other woman’s identity. Rumors of the Second Princess’ relationship with the beautiful common woman beside her soon dispersed throughout E’Gu. Some were even so bold as to conjecture that, based on their intimate relationship, the woman had relied on her divine beauty to seduce the Second Princess, making her develop feelings for her.
And others took to their brushes, determined to compose a tragic love story that would stir the soul: the desolating sorrow of the woman, who could now only live humbly in a side palace, yearning day and night while the Princess sought a Fuma.
But Yuchi Li was unconcerned about the rumors circulating. She pulled Liu Luoyi out of the Marquis Estate all the way to an inn and got a room. She flopped onto the bed without even removing her shoes. The likewise travel-worn Xin Ran, who had followed along at some point, helped her out of her dirtied outer garment.
“Oh, I’m exhausted…” Yuchi Li buried her face into the blanket, muffling her voice.
Liu Luoyi looked at Xin Ran anxiously. Xin Ran pursed her lips, saying: “The military camp was really inhospitable, especially that General Mu. He wasn’t teaching the Princess at all, just using the King’s orders to torment her.”
“Torment her?” Liu Luoyi was worried. She hurriedly caught Yuchi Li’s hands and looked them over carefully. Her originally fair fingertips were now marked with many scars and looked far more coarse.
A lump in her throat, she turned around to rush off and find some medicine but was stopped by Xin Ran, who gave her a jar of medicine: “Miss Liu, the Princess just purchased this. When she returned to the capital, she was sure to find you before applying medicine. She wouldn’t listen to me.”
“It’s nothing serious, I’m just a bit tired.” Yuchi Li hurriedly comforted Liu Luoyi. She clammered out of the bed and took off her clothes, revealing her reddened back.
Tears started sliding down her face when Liu Luoyi saw the red blisters covering her slender back.
“Xin Ran, go rest, don’t worry about me.” Yuchi Li turned her head and spoke to Xin Ran. She reached out to Liu Luoyi, “Why are you crying again? Don’t fret, it doesn’t hurt.”
Liu Luoyi opened her hands and washed them carefully, then started applying the ointment with her fingers.
Her movements were gentle, and from time to time she would lean in and blow on it.
The crisp coolness of her breath brushed across her wounds. Comfortable, Yuchi Li rested with heavy-lidded eyes. Instead of pain, all she felt was the greatest warmth in her heart.
“Don’t worry, my Royal Father only had me go over to learn a thing or two, it won’t be for much longer. That General Sheepdog is a bit unreasonable, but he’s a capable general, and aside from the excessive training, he teaches me military strategy.” Yuchi Li comforted.
After floundering for so long, she at last could follow her duty unwaveringly.
Since fate had made her a princess, then she should not only accept the rank and glory afforded the original princess, but also the responsibilities in her grasp.
How could she seek fortune, yet flee for fear of misfortune?[1]From 《赴戍登程口占示家人》, a poem by Lin Zexu
Liu Luoyi said nothing. Naturally, she knew what Yuchi Li was thinking. But, seeing the wounds on her, aside from applying the medicine, there was nothing really she could do. She felt a pang of sadness.
She placed the jar of medicine down, then helped Yuchi Li put on her middle clothing. She gently hugged Yuchi Li from behind.
The warm embrace she always loved to throw herself into, when she wrapped her arms around it from the outside, felt very thin.
Yuchi Li felt Liu Luoyi’s arms around her. She turned her head and saw her face, wet with tears, and smiled: “If the wounds hurt, as long as you soothe them, they won’t hurt anymore.”
“And you don’t need to worry at all about that Young Marquis So-And-So. You’re the only one I want for the rest of my life.”
She had never heard of any childhood betrothal, but she had skimmed through some of the major figures and events in E’Gu and was able to recall that Baili Mingyuan had a concubine in time to control the situation.
She thought to herself that she needed to settle this matter once and for all soon, or she would always be this uneasy. If any more childhood sweethearts appeared, there would be hell to pay from Liu Luoyi.
Liu Luoyi suddenly shifted behind her. Her arms tightened, then she slowly leaned forward to press small kisses on Yuchi Li’s cheek and neck.
The yearning of separation, the pangs of jealousy, and the heartache of seeing her wounds all melted together into these kisses, pious and devoted.
Yuchi Li trembled; she could feel Liu Luoyi’s emotions. She closed her eyes and let Liu Luoyi continue her kisses. The soft press of her lips against her skin felt marvelous.
Liu Liu Luoyi’s scent infused the air, seemingly enveloping Yuchi Li. Yuchi Li drew in a deep breath and turned her head slightly.
The syllables long and drawn out, she murmured: “Xiao Liu’er.”
The tone of her voice was both aggrieved and contented.
Liu Luoyi stopped what she was doing and climbed into bed, facing Yuchi Li. With how they were laying, they could both see the blush on the other’s cheeks and the affection in the other’s eyes.
“What is it?” Yuchi Li smiled. She reached out to touch her face, then pinched her cheek..
Liu Luoyi shook her head to free up her cheek. She slowly leaned in toward Yuchi Li. Her hands roamed about, caressing her shoulders. Yuchi Li shivered and hurriedly snatched her hands and pressed them down in front of her. She frowned: “Xiao Liu’er, don’t mess around.”
She was only human, after all. In this context, with the beauty she likes in her arms, there is no way she could hold back.
Liu Luoyi suddenly raised her head and beamed. Because she had just cried, her eyes sparkled and shimmered, as if filled with starlight. The sight made Yuchi Li’s heart leap.
“A’Li…” She called. Her voice was quiet and the syllables drawn out, making Yuchi Li go weak from head to toe.
“Ai.” Yuchi Li said helplessly. She almost bit the inside of her cheek to stay clear-headed.
“A’Li, I like you.” Liu Luoyi said. She straightened her waist and angled her neck to kiss Yuchi Li.
“Me too.” Yuchi Li was stuck between laughing and crying. She reached out to hold the other’s waist and accepted her kisses obediently. Liu Luoyi was like a mischievous child, playing with her innocently.
“Say it back.” Liu Luoyi tugged on her hand.
“Nope, not unless you coax me.” Yuchi Li put on a cold appearance and shook her head, wanting to tease her.
Liu Luoyi lowered her eyes, disappointment sweeping through them. Her reddened nose and eyes would make anyone feel tender.
“Okay, okay, okay, I’ll say it.” Yuchi Li immediately surrendered. With a gentle push, Liu Luoyi fell backward, her hair fanning out onto the bed.
Yuchi Li leaned in close to her ear and said, her voice low:
“I love you.”
Hearing this, Liu Luoyi was stunned for a moment. Then, the corners of her mouth lifted and tears started streaming down. Like a broken dam, her tears would not stop. She smiled as she cried, letting out a few small sobs.
Her sobs pricked at Yuchi Li’s heart. Yuchi Li hurriedly wiped her tears away, feeling both amusement and heartache. She also had a peculiar sort of feeling, that the one she liked seemed to be…
A leaky faucet…
How would she deal with her crying at the drop of a hat in the future?
“A’Li…” Liu Luoyi, weepy, grabbed Yuchi Li’s hands and put them on her shoulders.
Yuchi Li felt Liu Luoyi’s body heat through the fine fabric of her clothing, making her tighten her grip. Liu Luoyi suddenly crooked her neck and lightly kissed her, strands of their hair entwining and warmth from their bodies melding together.
The room temperature seemed to rise. Heat flooded into the space, making Yuchi Li’s body flushed with warmth. She loosened her middle clothes, a cool current flowing into through her collar. She slowly responded to Liu Luoyi’s kisses.
After some time, Yuchi Li let her go and leaned against Liu Luoyi, feeling the heaving of her body as she gasped for air.
Liu Luoyi felt blissful. She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Yuchi Li’s waist, as if embracing the world; she wished nothing more than to just lay here like this and forget the shifting of its tides.
Yuchi Li licked her lips and reached out to caress Liu Luoyi’s sleeves, saying softly: “I’m planning to notify my Royal Father in advance, then propose to you at my crowning ceremony.”
“The day I propose, I’m going to spread the news to all corners of the country, to everywhere far and wide. I’m going to tell everyone about our marriage, and when we do get married, there’ll be a dowry procession and everything. Then, we’ll enter the bridal chamber[2]i.e. consummation together.”
The moment when she mentioned the ‘bridal chamber’, Yuchi Li smiled and reached under Liu Luoyi’s sleeve and pinched her arm, making Liu Luoyi shiver and clutch Yuchi Li’s lapels.
“Princess…” She chided shyly.
“Call me A’Li.” Yuchi Li instructed with a frown.
“A’Li.” Liu Luoyi whispered obediently, “But, what if your Royal Father doesn’t agree, or the common people object? What should we do then?”
Yuchi Li was thus satisfied. She craftily settled the score with Liu Luoyi’s provocative liberties just then and continued: “I came to see you today, but there’s actually something else to discuss. The emperor of the Yan Kingdom passed and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. He reorganized their forces on the border but did not withdraw them, so presumably there’s to be a battle to test our strength. My Royal Father called on me to lead the troops into battle, and if it goes in our favor, I will soon have the support of the common people. Then, when the time comes, there will be far fewer voices of opposition.”
Liu Luoyi stiffened. She said nothing and continued to listen.
“So, I might have to leave again for some time.” Yuchi Li’s voice lowered the more she spoke. She was a little afraid to continue, feeling pangs of guilt. She herself had promised Liu Luoyi many times, but now she had to break her word and leave again.
“Okay.” Against expectations, Liu Luoyi agreed without hesitation. Her voice was light, and she smiled.
“It’s what you should do as a Princess. I won’t stop you.” She drew close and rested her head against Yuchi Li’s shoulder, “But I also want to go, to follow right behind you. I won’t bother you at all.”
She did not want to hold Yuchi Li back, and while she could not help her, there was one thing she could do:
If anything happened, she would live or die by her side.
Aww, how sweet ☺️
My heart 🥰