The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 10

Hi everyone! Just a little notice. Since this week my elder cousin will be having a wedding and I’m gonna be her bridesmaid (there will be some traveling and lots of wedding arrangements and rehearsals), this will be the only post for this week. Next week everything will go as usual (1 GMMU chapter and 2 TBIC chapters). Thank you for understanding and hope you enjoy the story ^^

On the other side, Zong Zheng Lin was lying flat on the daybed¹, recalling the scene he had seen during the day. The words ‘kill the horse’ had astonished him. The silhouette of her rushing out to save people that kept flashing before his eyes became clearer and clearer in his mind. The strange emotions he had deliberately suppressed when he left Qingzhou resurfaced once again, this time even stronger than before.

It’s her again! Did she come to Shengjing as a xiunu? Zong Zheng Lin felt annoyance at the thought of that woman being appointed to someone else. He tossed and turned restlessly on the daybed, struggling to fall asleep. He then recalled that dream once again. If it was not him but some other man………Zong Zheng Lin abruptly sat up. A somewhat irritated expression appeared on his face.

What exactly was going on? Why did that woman’s words and actions have such an impact on his emotions? Including today, he had only seen her four times. Either he had only seen her figure or only heard her voice. Even today, he was originally discussing court matters with Zong Zheng Ming while passing by a noisy marketplace, when he suddenly heard her fierce shouts. He looked up but couldn’t see her appearance from his distance.

This woman whom he barely knew could actually make him lose his cool time and time again. This cannot be left as it was! As soon as he found out the cause, he would take care of the issue.

At the present, Zong Zheng Lin was truly in a dilemma. The Sixth Highness was only sixteen years old by a nominal year of age² and although he acted mature and was endowed with high intelligence, he had never experienced these kinds of feelings before. How could Zong Zheng Lin understand it since he hasn’t discovered the mysteries of his heart’s yearning yet? Although he had been with women before, he harbored no tender feelings toward them. Slaking his lust on them won’t make him remember them. Moreover, the people who usually attended him were all men, so it was no wonder that he was like a blank paper when it came to the romantic feelings between a man and a woman.

That night, Zong Zheng Lin didn’t fall asleep until late at night.

In the dream, it was once again the figure of that woman. He saw the woman standing sideways, slowly taking off her outerwear until only the inner garment was left. Underneath the moon-white inner garment, the young woman’s beautiful and shapely curves were vaguely visible. Then, the woman’s pair of snow-white soft hands began unfastening the buttons on her clothes. As her inner garment was about to slide down…

Zong Zheng Lin suddenly woke up, breathing heavily. His manhood stood painfully erect underneath him, and his body felt unbearably hot. As he tried to suppress his lust, it came back burning even hotter, making him feel uncomfortable all over. The image of those small, fair hands popped into his head, and as he imagined the beautiful scenery that would follow after her inner garment slid down, Zong Zheng Lin’s male pride couldn’t help but throb. In the end, he couldn’t hold back his lust any longer. He leaned on the headboard, stretched his right hand inside his underpants, and started to work up and down on his flesh. All he could see before his eyes were the image of that maiden from his dream, whose garments had already slipped down her body. High and perky breasts, slender waist, straight and long legs…….Zong Zheng Lin couldn’t fight back the fervor. A groan slipped from his lips. The movements of his hand quickened. His panting also grew heavier. Until he hurled himself over the edge, his desire erupting. That white-hot bliss finally subsided.

After releasing his need, which had so abruptly built up, Zong Zheng Lin’s body went limp. He had never before felt so satisfied. That kind of pleasure that made his heart feel like it was about to burst out of his chest and the tingling sensation that penetrated his bones was truly unforgettable.

Once his emotions had calmed down, Zong Zheng Lin opened his eyes with an inscrutable expression. This was already the second time he had improper thoughts about that maiden, and the intense lust was completely beyond his control. Zong Zheng Lin couldn’t figure out what kind of impulse had possessed him to sit like this all night.

Since he could no longer suppress it, he had to figure out the root cause and make plans accordingly. After getting to the bottom of the matter, the Sixth Prince stayed up all night and got up as usual in the morning to practice fist and swordplay.

—–

Ever since Mu Xi Yao learnt from Zhao Qing that the one who had lent them a hand the day before was actually the Fifth Prince Zong Zheng Ming, she has been feeling down.

She had previously poached his person, and now receiving help from him felt truly awkward.

She absolutely mustn’t visit his residence. It would tarnish her reputation if she were to enter the prince’s residence privately before the Selection. Moreover, she would be in trouble if that fellow Zong Zheng Lin found out that she had visited the Fifth Prince. Mishaps were forbidden at such a critical time. However, she had already promised the other party that she would pay them a visit afterward. She ought not to break the promise. It caused Mu Xi Yao quite a headache to come up with a solution.

On the afternoon of the next day, the steward reported to Zong Zheng Ming that a small sedan chair had parked outside their residence. The maiden inside had not shown herself. She had only said that she came to express her gratitude for yesterday’s assistance and didn’t go into details. She had her maidservant hand over a letter, asking it to be passed on to the Fifth Princess Consort. Afterward, she said thanks and left. This content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!

Zong Zheng Ming narrowed his eyes. Very good. One could not detect a flaw in the way she handled things. Pass on to the Fifth Princess Consort? It was obviously just to make it seem more legitimate. She was indeed a cautious and meticulous maiden.

He opened the letter. The handwriting inside was elegant and quick-witted, each stroke smooth, making people think that the owner of such handwriting ought to be a delicate beauty. She didn’t conceal her identity as xiunu but explained that it was inappropriate for her to thank him in person. Her words were earnest, gentle, and sincere. She stated in the letter that the words could not convey how grateful she felt toward him and apologized for her lack of manners. After reading the whole letter, there was no trace of unpleasantness. One only felt pleased with oneself.

Zong Zheng Ming looked at the surname ‘Mu’ mentioned in the letter and committed it to his memory.

—–

Wei Zhen listened to the instructions His Highness gave to Chief Steward Tian with a dumbfounded expression, “Summon the concubines from the inner yard. I’ll see them in the side hall in two hours. Tell them to freshen up and dress up like xiunu. They are not allowed to look seductive.” After that, he went straight to the main hall without saying a word.

Tian Fu Shan was overjoyed. Did it mean that His Highness had finally taken an interest in women? He happily went to carry out his errands.

Inside a chamber with closed doors and windows, Zong Zheng Lin ordered all the servants to leave and quietly fixed his gaze on the two women in front of him, looking as if he was lost in thought.

“Extend your hands,” he said in a relatively mild tone.

The two women did not dare to move and just stood there quietly with their heads down. Dressed in xiunu clothes, they looked a little more refreshing than usual. Though they didn’t know the reason behind it, they still raised their arms before them fearfully and spread out their palms as commanded by His Highness. This action caused their sleeves to slide back, exposing snow-white wrists and a portion of their flesh.

After a while, the man sitting in the head seat ordered: “Take off your outer garments.”

The two women’s faces immediately flushed into a shade of pink, too shy to lift their heads. Their hearts were pounding madly.

How could His Highness give such an order? It was still daytime, and it was just three of them. It was a little……too scandalous.

Seeing the two blushing and acting coyly, Zong Zheng Lin repeated his order, this time with impatience in his tone.

The women looked at each other and with trembling hands, they slowly untied their outer robes, revealing the inner garments. Afterward, they clutched their handkerchief tightly, feeling uncomfortable. Another moment of silence passed. Lady Kong sneaked a peek at His Highness and saw that his brows were furrowed. His eyes repeatedly swept over the two of them. They were clear, and one could not detect a bit of lust in them.

“Retreat,” the man commanded with a tired voice while waving his hand.

Zong Zheng Lin lowered his head slightly. He could not lie to himself anymore. It was different, completely different. Despite the same fair and delicate hands and the same slim and graceful bodies, they couldn’t stir him up.

“Wei Zhen!”

Hearing His Highness’s summons, Wei Zhen pushed the door open and entered, stopping three steps from his Master.

“If there was a woman who had a great influence but couldn’t be controlled, what should one do?”

Wei Zhen froze. This was the first time His Highness had asked for his opinion. But what did it mean? Based on His Highness’s temperament, if someone couldn’t be controlled and posed a threat, shouldn’t they be removed in secret? Why ask this question?

“Your Highness, is this woman of a special status that makes it difficult to get rid of her?” Wei Zhen asked carefully.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw his Master looking at him strangely. Zong Zheng Lin watched him for a good while before sighing and waving for him to retreat.

Wei Zhen was bewildered. He stood silently in the corridor, lost in thought. He was recalling His Highness’s recent strange behavior along with the very odd question he had been just asked. He was well aware that he wasn’t smart enough to figure it out by himself.

It wasn’t Sir Wei Zhen’s fault. It was not that he wasn’t smart enough, but rather he dared not to think about it in ‘that’ way. Especially when the person asking was the Sixth Highness Zong Zheng Lin, who was notorious for being solemn and cold, not indulging in women, and neglecting his harem.

Lost in thought, Wei Zhen saw Di Wu Yi Zhao slowly walking toward him. Wei Zhen hesitated for a moment but ultimately stepped forward to bow to him. After that, he disclosed to him the matter that had been troubling him in a low voice. Mister was His Highness’s respected advisor, renowned for his intelligence and unfathomable personality. He was much brighter and sharper than Wei Zhen, so he should be able to discern His Highness’s recent behavior.

Di Wu Yi Zhao listened carefully to Wei Zhen. After all was said, Di Wu Yi Zhao’s face first showed a surprised expression, then his eyes slowly glinted with amusement. When he heard Wei Zhen reply to Zong Zheng Lin that they should eliminate the maiden, Di Wu Yi Zhao burst into laughter. He nodded at Wei Zhen, indicating that he had understood everything, and then left with his hands behind his back, leaving Sir Wei all alone.

Wei Zhen was confused by the laughter, but seeing how relaxed Mister looked, he assumed it wasn’t a bad thing and let the matter drop.

At the moment, Di Wu Yi Zhao couldn’t help but feel elated.

Since entering the prince’s residence, he had only seen the deadpan and cool-headed Sixth Highness. He was well aware of Zong Zheng Lin’s extraordinary self-control. Who would have thought that this most serious person has yet to discover the realms of love? As a result, that person was still dealing with this headache. It was truly interesting.

Should he clear up the confusion for His Highness or not? Well, there was no rush. He probably wouldn’t have another chance to amuse himself at the expense of the Sixth Prince in his lifetime, so he should enjoy it a bit more…

If Mu Xi Yao learnt of Di Wu Yi Zhao’s childish behavior, the admiration she felt for this world-renown strategist would certainly shatter into pieces.

Not exactly how was his dream depicted, but I guess this is what he wanted to do to his maiden inside the dream

Translator’s notes: 

[1] Daybed refers to a piece of furniture that served as a place for quiet relaxation and contemplative meditation or as a platform from which to engage in lofty conversation (source).

[2] Zong Zheng Lin is 16 years old according to the traditional Chinese method of reckoning. In this system, a person’s age is one year at birth and increases by one year at the beginning of the first solar term, so his true age should be 15 (the same goes with the age of other characters in this story).

List of TBIC Character

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)