Pei Jingyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily against the edge of the book. His voice was utterly wrecked. “My Lord is indeed a master of such methods.”
Gu Huaiyu suddenly leaned forward, his wet hair brushing against Pei Jingyi’s cheek. Like a viper coiled to strike, he tilted his head slightly. “What? Are you unhappy about losing to me?”
Pei Jingyi’s breath hitched. His tongue darted out involuntarily to lick his parched lips. “I am utterly convinced.”
“You wouldn’t dare be otherwise.” Gu Huaiyu’s wet palm patted his cheek with moderate force, water droplets sliding through his fingers.
Pei Jingyi took the opportunity to flick his tongue out, quickly licking that delicate, moist palm. The sensation was incredible.
Gu Huaiyu didn’t notice. He merely retracted his hand and said unhurriedly, “Go. Fetch my clothes and help me dress.”
Pei Jingyi strode out to the outer room, steadily placing the neatly folded clothes on a wooden tray and adding a clean, soft towel.
Gu Huaiyu could accept being served during his bath; after all, that was a “good dog” wagging its tail for a reward. But to stand stark naked before him? That was unnecessary. He grabbed the towel to wipe the water from his face and commanded coldly, “Turn around.”
Pei Jingyi’s eyes darkened, but he obeyed. His throat burned. Even with his back turned, every sound allowed his mind to sketch a vivid picture.
First, the rustle of the silk as he dried his ankles, the water droplets sliding down those slender joints and leaving dark stains on the brick floor. Then, the faint sound of the towel wrapping around his calves; the pale skin was surely flushed from the bath, like begonia petals fallen on snow.
Rustle—
The sound of fabric sliding over a waistline made the blood vessels behind his ears throb. The snow-silk of the undergarments was the softest; it would surely cling to the damp skin, tracing the line of that thin waist.
Then came the soft click of the rhinoceros-horn belt being fastened, the jade hooks clinking—a sound that seemed to scratch right at his heart.
What was this? This was a torture more agonizing than a thousand cuts. Pei Jingyi pressed his tongue against his canines, unable to stop the dark tide rising in his eyes.
At noon, the sun was bright, and banners snapped in the wind against the high walls.
The Eastern Liao delegation’s carriages arrived with great pomp, a forest of armored men charging forward and kicking up clouds of dust. The iron-shod hooves and wheels didn’t even slow down for the welcoming party, forcing the officials of the Court of State Ceremonies to scramble out of the way. The ceremonial formation was scattered into a mess.
One carriage, adorned with gold and silver, was particularly arrogant. Its heavy frame was carved with a pattern of a two-headed wolf howling at the moon. The wheels creaked loudly against the stone tiles as it drove right over the ceremonial carpets and up the stairs without decelerating, nearly crashing into the Great Drum at the front of the procession.
The minor official beside the drum recoiled in terror, retreating three steps and abandoning his ceremonial post.
The curtain was thrown aside, and a burly man with a face full of coarse hair leapt down. He was broad-shouldered and dark-skinned, with a curved blade at his waist and a heavy stride that carried a predatory aura. This was the main envoy of Eastern Liao, Wu Wei, a man of military background and a savage temperament.
After jumping down, he barked out a string of guttural Eastern Liao words, his voice harsh and aggressive, dripping with provocation.
As the Minister of State Ceremonies, Qin Zijin had no choice but to deal with these barbarians. He listened as if through a fog, then tilted his head toward the interpreter behind him.
Just then, the curtain shifted again, and a pale, slender hand emerged. A man stepped out, tall and thin, his hair styled in several small braids tipped with delicate silver chains. When he spoke, it was in perfect, standard Mandarin, though laced with a flippant, foreign lilt.
“My Lord Envoy has a question. Since the Emperor of Great Chen respects the long journey of the Eastern Liao envoys, why are we greeted only by people of your caliber? Why has the Emperor not come out of the city to welcome us?”
Qin Zijin didn’t know the answer himself, so he could only cup his hands and speak the truth. “Chancellor Gu was supposed to greet you personally, however… he has not arrived today due to being entangled in urgent matters. I hope the Honorable Envoys can be understanding.”
Hearing this, the interpreter’s lips curled into a smirk. He whispered a few words to Wu Wei.
Wu Wei listened and gave a predatory grin, patting his round belly and spitting out a string of Liao speech. He ended by making a lewd gesture toward Qin Zijin.
The interpreter sized Qin Zijin up and said with a half-smile, “The Lord Envoy says that since neither the Emperor nor the Chancellor is here, it would be better to send the women of your noble country to greet us. We of Eastern Liao at least want something worth looking at.”
“However, if you are the type to take pity on women and wish to take their place, our Lord Envoy is willing to condescend and accept your company for a stage of the journey.”
