Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Impeccably Dressed and Sanctimonious Emperor

The person outside was being stopped, and it sounded like they were arguing about something.

The atmosphere in the room was hot as a flame. He was on the verge of claiming his prize, a treasure to be plundered in secret.

The commotion at the hall’s entrance grew louder, and an angry woman’s voice carried through, "Li Yuzong, don’t you dare stop me."

"Your Majesty, I have urgent business and request an audience!"

The word "concubine" poured into Ji Qingwu’s ears, jolting her back to her senses.

’If anyone sees me in this state of undress...’ The thought terrified Ji Qingwu.

She pushed at him with all her might, but her voice came out soft and weak. "Your Majesty, someone... someone’s here."

Her struggles were no more than a tickle to Emperor Wu Su. Not only did he not let go, he bit down hard again.

Ji Qingwu’s body trembled, and she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound that threatened to escape.

The calls from outside grew more and more urgent. "Your Majesty! I beg you to see me! I have an important matter to discuss!"

Ji Qingwu recognized the person at the door. It was Princess Consort Wei.

When a person is nervous, their body becomes all the more sensitive. Under his teasing, her waist couldn’t help but tense up, and her arms lost all their strength.

She spoke in broken fragments. "Your Majesty... it’s... it’s Princess Consort Wei."

He finally deigned to spare her a reply. "Let her come."

He was like a traveler starving and freezing, drawing warmth from her body. Ji Qingwu had never thought of Emperor Wu Su as a dissolute ruler, but right now, he was being incredibly difficult. It was like he was a completely different person.

Suddenly, the sound of the door being pushed open made Ji Qingwu’s whole body jolt.

She shoved him with all her might and finally pushed away the Emperor, who hadn’t been guarding against her.

Emperor Wu Su’s thin lips were now a deep, bruised red. The handsome, jade-faced man’s eyes were clouded with heavy desire.

Ji Qingwu had no time to look at his expression; she couldn’t even fend for herself. There was no time to straighten her clothes and fasten her buttons.

Her eyes darted around the room, but she couldn’t find a suitable hiding spot. Her heart burned with anxiety.

「...」

When Wei Liru burst through the door, the dim light prevented her from immediately seeing where the Emperor was.

But she thought she heard a woman’s cry, though it was so soft and indistinct that she couldn’t be sure.

She walked over to the curio shelf and finally spotted the corner of Emperor Wu Su’s bright yellow robe. He was alone. She started to walk around the shelf, but the man’s cold voice stopped her.

"Princess Consort Wei, what a grand display of authority, entering without an invitation."

Emperor Wu Su did not look at her. His gaze was fixed on the desk before him.

But this voice was different from his usual coldness. It was hoarse and low, laced with a strange, carnal undertone.

Wei Liru’s eyes were red. Not daring to move forward, she froze and knelt on the spot. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Seeing Emperor Wu Su sitting silently before the desk, his face dark and his chest still heaving, Wei Liru assumed the Emperor was furious at her for barging in.

She bowed her head and admitted her fault. "Your Majesty, I acted rashly in a moment of panic. I had no intention of offending you. Please, forgive me."

Princess Consort Wei was not someone who lacked propriety. Aside from her loss of composure at the entrance of Hongsheng Hall once before, this was the first time she had ever dared to barge into the Emperor’s private quarters.

Emperor Wu Su remained silent.

His gaze shifted to the space beneath the wide desk, meeting the eyes of the woman curled up there like a small animal.

Seeing Princess Consort Wei getting closer, Ji Qingwu had nowhere else to go but under the desk. There were storage cabinets beneath it, leaving her with very little room.

Before her were the Emperor’s brand-new Dragon Robe and a pair of strong, powerful legs. Her face was level with his groin.

Seeing Ji Qingwu blinking her clear, watery eyes, staring unblinkingly between his legs, Emperor Wu Su reached out with a black court boot and tapped her calf.

Ji Qingwu’s eyes immediately shot wide as she looked up at him, like a startled little animal.

The Emperor didn’t speak, so Wei Liru continued, "I was truly worried about my brother. That is why I acted so rashly."

When Ji Qingwu heard Princess Consort Wei mention Wei Ting, her expression faltered. ’What happened to him,’ she wondered, ’to make the Princess Consort so worried?’

Emperor Wu Su frowned.

Seeing his expression, Wei Liru’s heart filled with anxiety. But since she had already forced her way in, she had to state her plea.

She said, "I just received news that has made me frantic. The reason General Wei Chi was dispatched to the Northern Border Army so urgently is because my brother was ambushed by assassins from Xijin and gravely injured."

Wei Liru looked up, staring at Emperor Wu Su. "Your Majesty, is this true?"

Under the desk, Ji Qingwu also stared at him nervously. She, too, desperately wanted to know about Wei Ting’s condition.

Emperor Wu Su’s voice was flat. "That is a military matter."

Wei Liru’s voice broke with a sob. "Just give me one word. How is my brother doing? I am sick with worry."

Emperor Wu Su lowered his gaze, his eyes meeting Ji Qingwu’s.

He saw how worried she was about Wei Ting; her head was halfway out from under the desk, her cheek having just inadvertently brushed against his thigh.

Hair as black as clouds, a lovely, fair face, her collar now properly closed.

But from his angle, he could still see everything.

Emperor Wu Su’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly moved, his hand that was resting on his knee seizing Ji Qingwu’s arm and pulling her hand upward.

Ji Qingwu didn’t dare struggle, afraid that Princess Consort Wei, who was only a few steps away, would discover her.

Her hand was pressed directly against something beneath his robes. Above it was a coiled dragon embroidered in gold thread, and this dragon was not sleeping—it was wide awake, staring right at her.

She never could have imagined he would do such a thing. She glared at him, a mixture of shame and anger in her eyes.

Her mind was a complete mess.

All thoughts of Wei Ting—or any other Ting for that matter—were driven from her mind.

Just as Ji Qingwu came to her senses and tried to pull her hand away, she heard the Emperor speak again, his tone severe. "Such classified military intelligence is not for you to inquire about."

A look of hurt and disappointment washed over Wei Liru’s face. She pleaded mournfully, "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Wu Su paused for a moment before continuing, "But I pity your distress. Allow me to think on it."

As he said this, he patted Ji Qingwu’s cheek.

Ji Qingwu knew exactly what he was "thinking" about. With a trembling hand, she squeezed him.

Emperor Wu Su suddenly let out a sharp gasp.

The dejected Wei Liru immediately looked up. She gazed at him expectantly and asked, "Your Majesty, have you made your decision?"

Emperor Wu Su kept his eyes lowered, still looking at Ji Qingwu.

She bit her lip. Her face was completely flushed, and beads of sweat had formed on the tip of her nose. Her hand began to move.

After a long moment, Emperor Wu Su finally forced out three terse words, his expression grim.

"Wei Ting is fine."

Wei Liru had long since sensed the Emperor’s irritation. She had been enduring the pressure just to stay, so as soon as she received the reassuring news, she quickly excused herself.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. This concubine will take her leave."

After Princess Consort Wei left, Ji Qingwu was about to crawl out from under the desk, but he roughly yanked her out.

In a whirl of motion, he lifted her by the waist and pressed her down onto the red sandalwood desk.

She didn’t even get a clear look at the room’s ceiling.

A searing kiss descended upon her, as fierce as a sudden storm.