Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 960

Chapter 960: Chapter 956: Seize the Day and Night

Clearly having no prior experience, she somehow knew what Xiao Rongyan was enduring with utmost restraint. She was apprehensive and even more so due to her complete ignorance of such matters, which filled her with unease and panic.

But she never feared truly being with Xiao Rongyan.

She never doubted Xiao Rongyan’s feelings for her and also understood that in this lifetime, apart from Xiao Rongyan... her heart could not accommodate anyone else. She knew that although they couldn’t marry at this moment, once the world was at peace, they would surely be together. Yet, she didn’t know when that day of peace would come.

Due to their long separations and brief reunions, she did not wish to adhere rigidly to a mere marriage contract. She was willing to follow her heart and seize every moment with Xiao Rongyan.

Bai Qingyan’s honesty ignited the desire within Xiao Rongyan, a desire he had been suppressing, almost to the point of breaking him.

Her arms tightened around Xiao Rongyan’s neck, her ears reddening, and she once again kissed his thin lips.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Xiao Rongyan continued kissing her, pulling off several pearls from his belt...

The pearls struck the copper hooks entwined with brocade drapery in the hall, and with a slight bouncing sound as the pearls hit the floor, the drapery billowed lightly from the hooks, layering down to tightly cover the end of the hall.

In the hall, a half-height gilt incense burner released a light sandalwood scent in swirling smoke. A gentle breeze stirred the smoke, making the thirty-two entwined branch lamps lining the hall flicker, the brocade curtain’s ends fluttering gently, beautiful like a delicate yet vividly blooming bud trembling in the wind.

·

When Bai Qingyan awoke suddenly, she found herself properly lying on a blackwood bed. She pulled aside the bed curtain and saw the sky outside was half-dark. Xiao Rongyan, with his hair hanging loose, sat beside a small table, sorting through memorials for Bai Qingyan.

Not many lights were lit inside the hall, only a warm golden glow on the desk in front of Xiao Rongyan.

Hearing rustling sounds from inside the bed curtain, Xiao Rongyan lifted his head, smiling as he rose to draw aside the curtain and walked towards Bai Qingyan.

Seeing Bai Qingyan with her eyes lowered, tying her clothes and belt, he stepped forward, grasping Bai Qingyan’s hands, and softly said, "Let me help you..."

Their eyes met, and Bai Qingyan’s ears were still red.

She couldn’t hide the smile in her eyes, nodded, and asked Xiao Rongyan, "You haven’t left...?"

"The hairpin broke, and if I went out dressed like this, rumors would quickly spread that Xiao Rongyan was forcibly favored by the Empress of Zhou! This is the Zhou Imperial Palace, Yue Shi can’t come in, so I had to wait for Kid to wake up and instruct someone to quietly prepare clothes for me," Xiao Rongyan said with a smile at Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan’s ears turned even redder, and she just smiled silently with her eyes lowered.

"Are you feeling any discomfort? Can you bear it?" Xiao Rongyan asked softly.

Xiao Rongyan had no experience in matters of intimacy between a man and a woman.

The issue Xiao Rongyan raised was something Bai Qingyan had naturally noticed. She intended to have Chief of Staff Lu, Imperial Secretary Shen Jingzhong, Minister of the Presence Dong Qingping, and the six Chief Ministers gather to discuss this matter openly.

Bai Qingyan hoped that in the Zhou court, ministers wouldn’t need to resort to guessing her thoughts. A new dynasty should bring new atmospheres. She didn’t want the bad habits of the Jin Dynasty to be brought into the Zhou Dynasty.

To be an honest minister and emperor requires openness, which eliminates many unnecessary twists and turns, resulting in better service for the nation and the people. Bai Qingyan desired a harmonious relationship between officials and the monarch, a unity of heart between sovereign and subject.

The great path is simple; she just needs to lead by example, ensuring purity and clarity.

Bai Qingyan nodded, said to Xiao Rongyan: "Don’t worry, I have it under control."

Bai Qingyan instructed Wei Zhong to quietly bring a set of clothes for Xiao Rongyan. While changing, Bai Qingyan asked Xiao Rongyan about the situation in Xiliang.

Xiao Rongyan put on a long robe and tied the buttons, saying, "The few major aristocratic families of Xiliang aren’t hard to deal with, but it’s not easy to reach the core figures of these families, especially when doing so as a merchant. This is the same for all countries; merchants hold a low status unless they can offer sufficiently significant benefits to the aristocratic families. Oddly enough, dealing with members of the Imperial Clan is somewhat simpler."

"Have you had dealings with any of the major aristocratic families in Xiliang?" Bai Qingyan asked.

Seeing the dark circles under Bai Qingyan’s eyes, Xiao Rongyan studied her for a while, then knelt across from her and asked seriously, "Are you preparing to attack Xiliang, or... planning something there? If you’re preparing for an attack or to arrange something in Xiliang, it might be better to send someone trustworthy."