Fan Changyu had no idea what time it was when she woke up.
Despite her robust physique from years of martial arts training, her entire body ached. As she changed clothes, she glanced at her wrists and unsurprisingly noticed faint blue fingerprints—evidence of Xie Zheng tying her hands to the bedpost last night when she struggled too fiercely.
Such minor injuries didn’t hurt much to her; they were nothing compared to the bruises she got during training.
But Xie Zheng last night… had been unusually intense.
Sweat dripped from his eyelids, scalding her skin and making her tremble uncontrollably, yet his obsidian-like eyes never left her, like a wolf fixated on prey finally within its grasp.
After their marriage, his stamina had indeed been outrageous. Before their wedding, they had only been intimate twice—once when he returned from a palace banquet under the influence of drugs, and the other after she rushed to save him following the coup. After that, he had restrained himself.
During their seven-day wedding leave, aside from the third day when she returned to visit Grand Tutor Tao, they barely left their chambers.
By the end of those seven days, the marital bed had to be replaced entirely.
Last night, his fervor had surpassed even those early days of their marriage. For the first time, he had tormented her while quizzing her on military tactics. By the end, Fan Changyu’s mind was in complete disarray, unable to recall what he had even asked.
She only vaguely remembered being pushed to the brink, her voice breaking as she pleaded incoherently—only for him to grow even more relentless, his eyes burning red with desire.
When she couldn’t take it anymore and tried to kick him, he simply seized her leg and hoisted it over his shoulder…
Fan Changyu cut off the memory, tightening her soft armor with an impassive expression, her knuckles cracking audibly.
She couldn’t retaliate today. If her strength couldn’t match his, it would only invite humiliation.
A maid outside, likely hearing the noise, lifted the curtain and entered. "General, you're awake?"
Her ears tinged pink as she spoke, avoiding Fan Changyu’s gaze. "His Highness instructed us not to disturb your rest before he left this morning. He also requested leave on your behalf for today’s court session."
Crack.
Another faint sound from her clenched fingers.
The maid peeked at Fan Changyu but only heard her ask calmly, "What time is it?"
Her voice was just a little hoarse.
"It’s youshi (5–7 PM)," the maid replied.
Fan Changyu: "..."
No wonder the sky looked so dim—it was nearly nightfall!
As the maid poured tea, Fan Changyu glanced at the dressing table. Thankfully, not only had the bedding and pillows been replaced, but the table had also been wiped clean…
She disliked servants witnessing intimate matters, so Xie Zheng always took care of tidying up afterward.
The memory of being pressed against the mirror last night still made her ears burn. Fan Changyu averted her eyes, sipping the warm tea to soothe her throat. "Where is His Highness?"
At this hour, Xie Zheng should have long returned from court.
"His Highness came back earlier and sat by your bedside for a while before heading to the study," the maid answered cautiously. "Shall I send word to him?"
"No need," Fan Changyu said. "Bring Ning Niang here and have the stables prepare a carriage. The Empress Dowager has been eager to meet Ning Niang—I’ll take her to the palace tonight."The Huainanzi: Military Strategies states: "When the enemy is strong, engage in battle; when weak, retreat."
Facing an opponent at the peak of their power, she knew she couldn't fight and decided withdrawal was the best course.
The maidservant stared blankly at Fan Changyu, uttering an "Ah," clearly finding it strange that Fan Changyu, after sleeping all day, would wake up and immediately seek refuge in the palace.
Fan Changyu glanced coolly at the maid. "Any questions?"
The maid hurriedly shook her head. "This servant will make the arrangements at once."
By the time Xie Zheng received the news in his study, Fan Changyu's carriage had already departed.
Unusually, he wasn't wearing his usual arrow-sleeved long robe but instead a light-colored scholar's gown, which accentuated his jade-like features with an added touch of refinement. Yet, the cold authority of one long accustomed to power still lingered between his brows, leaving Xie Wu, who had come to deliver the news, momentarily stunned.
Xie Zheng was annotating a book with a brush when he heard the news. He simply said, "She shares a deep bond with the Empress Dowager. Let her go. I'll fetch her in a couple of days."
Xie Wu found the situation peculiar. After their master had discovered the military treatise annotated by Li Huaian, the general had claimed to be bedridden with a chill the very next day, not stepping out all day, and then suddenly decided to visit the Empress Dowager in the palace that evening. It all seemed too coincidental.
Noticing Xie Wu still standing below, Xie Zheng paused his brush and looked up. "Anything else?"
Xie Wu quickly replied, "Nothing. This subordinate takes his leave."
As he bowed and clasped his fists, he caught sight of a book propping up the corner of the desk. From the cover, he could faintly make out the characters for Tiger Strategies .
Wasn't that the very military treatise Li Huaian had annotated for the general...?
Xie Wu's expression turned colorful, but he pretended not to see anything and retreated with a bow.
Only then did Xie Zheng set down his brush on the white porcelain brush rest. He pressed his fingers to his temple and murmured ambiguously, "She runs quite fast."
Meanwhile, after entering the palace, Fan Changyu devoured three bowls of rice at Yu Qianqian's Cining Palace before finally putting down her bowl.
Changning had dozed off in the carriage on the way and was already asleep in a side chamber.
Yu Qianqian, taken aback by Fan Changyu's ravenous appearance, asked in disbelief, "Did the Prince Regent mistreat you? Did he not feed you?"
Fan Changyu waved her hand, unwilling to elaborate. "Qianqian, I'll stay at your Cining Palace for a few days."
Yu Qianqian naturally agreed, but Fan Changyu's sudden arrival and famished state left her puzzled. "Did you quarrel with the Prince Regent?"
Fan Changyu mumbled, "No."
It wasn't a quarrel—it was a "fight," and she hadn't won.
She had no idea what madness had seized Xie Zheng, but to avoid walking into the lion's den again, it was wiser to stay away for now.
Still slightly choked from eating too quickly, she poured herself a cup of tea and gulped it down.
As she tilted her head back, Yu Qianqian caught sight of the faint marks on her neck and instantly understood.
Teasingly, she said, "Our mighty General Fan, who fears nothing in heaven or earth, turns out to be afraid of her wolfish, tiger-like husband at home."
Fan Changyu, caught off guard, coughed violently. Once she recovered, she slumped dejectedly. "Qianqian, you're mocking me too."
Yu Qianqian tapped her forehead. "My silly Yu'er, to hide in my Cining Palace over such a trivial matter—you've truly lost all your general's dignity."
Fan Changyu clutched her teacup, her ears turning red, as she struggled to find the words. "I... I can't handle him."
Yu Qianqian shot her a reproachful look. "Just because he wants it, you give in? You mustn't indulge a man. Even if you're already in bed, there are plenty of ways to train him like a dog."
Fan Changyu looked utterly bewildered.Yu Qianqian, seeing this, leaned over with exasperation and whispered a few words into her ear. Fan Changyu's face instantly turned red all the way down to her neck as she stammered, "I did say some soft words."
But it seemed to have the opposite effect—he had nearly shaken her bones apart.
Yu Qianqian gave Fan Changyu a once-over before murmuring, "Well, with the Prince Regent’s wolf-like waist, it’s no surprise he’d wear you out like this."
This was the first time Fan Changyu had heard such a description. She thought about Xie Zheng’s lean, narrow waist, her face flushing even redder, though her eyes betrayed a hint of innocent confusion. "W-wolf-like waist?"
Though no one else was in the hall, Yu Qianqian still glanced around guiltily before clearing her throat and explaining, "It’s a saying from where I come from—praising a man’s waist."
Fan Changyu fell silent. Xie Zheng’s waist strength… was indeed impressive.
Yu Qianqian observed the faint shadows under Fan Changyu’s eyes and recalled what Qi Yu had mentioned—that she had taken sick leave from court that morning. After a moment’s thought, she advised, "Since the Prince Regent is so… forceful in that regard, don’t confront him head-on, but don’t be too soft either. The former will only make him want to dominate you, and the latter… the only time you can show weakness to him is in bed—how could he not take full advantage of that?"
Fan Changyu: "…"
Yu Qianqian seemed to think of something else and leaned in to whisper a few more words. Fan Changyu let out a soft "Ah," her clear eyes filled with fluster, her face burning even hotter.
Yu Qianqian propped her chin on her hand and grinned. "I think this is the only way to keep that man of yours in check."
Then, with a mischievous wink, she pulled out an illustrated manual from a drawer and handed it over. "Take this and study it. Learn a few more positions. When I saw this, I realized the ancients were far more creative than people in my time."
With that, Fan Changyu was ushered into a side chamber, clutching the manual.
Sitting by the bed under the glow of the palace lantern, she flipped through a couple of pages before decisively stuffing it under her pillow and lying down to sleep.
The next morning, Yu Qianqian was awakened by the sound of clashing weapons in the courtyard. After being dressed by her attendants, she opened the door to find Fan Changyu in martial attire, wielding a long staff with fierce precision. Her movements—thrusts, sweeps, jabs, and strikes—flowed seamlessly, drawing the admiring gazes of several blushing palace maids who had gathered along the corridor.
Yawning, Yu Qianqian asked, "Up so early? Couldn’t sleep a little longer?"
Fan Changyu lowered her staff, sweat-dampened strands of hair clinging to her forehead. Dressed in a half-armored tunic and a tea-white brocade robe with split sleeves, she exuded a striking aura, her eyes gleaming with an unconscious allure in the morning light.
"I’ve figured it out," she declared. "No amount of learning compares to the power of a strong fist. Martial training is what’s real."
Yu Qianqian: "…"
And just like that, the allure vanished—she was still the same simple-minded girl.
As it was a day of rest, the court officials were exempt from morning assembly.
Qi Yu came to the Cining Palace to pay his respects to Yu Qianqian and learned that Fan Changyu and her sister had stayed overnight. He joined Yu Qianqian for breakfast.
While Fan Changyu and Yu Qianqian chatted about trivial matters, Qi Yu focused on piling all sorts of delicacies into Changning’s bowl until it resembled a small mountain.
Changning shoveled food into her mouth as fast as she could, but the mound in her bowl only grew taller. Finally, she huffed in frustration, "Stop! I can’t eat all this!"Her voice drew Fan Changyu and Yu Qianqian's attention to the two little ones.
Qi Yu sat upright with perfect posture. If not for the small mountain of food piled in Changning's bowl, no one would have guessed what he'd done.
Yu Qianqian couldn't help but laugh. "Since Bao'er ascended the throne a year ago, he's only been truly happy when Changning comes to the palace with you. I think the child is too lonely, and the burden on his shoulders is too heavy—that's why his temperament has grown more withdrawn. Just the other day, I discussed with the Junior Tutor about selecting a few study companions for him."
At this point, Yu Qianqian suddenly paused and looked at Fan Changyu. "Aren't you still worrying about finding a private tutor for Ning Niang? How about... letting Ning Niang come to the palace?"
Fan Changyu quickly replied, "Choosing study companions for His Majesty means they'll be learning statecraft under Gongsun to assist him in the future. Ning Niang is still young and mischievous—I fear she might disturb His Majesty instead."
Qi Yu suddenly spoke up. "I won't be disturbed."
Fan Changyu was taken aback. When she looked up, she met a pair of earnest puppy-dog eyes.
Though already a young emperor, the way he gazed at her still carried a hint of pitiful loneliness.
OpenNovel