The next day, I spent the entire day in a muddled state. Li Ying saw me absent-minded all day and thought it was because she had been too wanton last night, which made me so dejected.
After all, having her husband wipe off the semen that the paramour had ejaculated onto his beloved wife's face was truly too shameless.
However, Li Ying was wrong; I didn't mind helping her clean herself. I even hoped she could be more wanton~~ In fact, I had spent the entire day repeatedly thinking about my intimate contact with Zhen Jing last night.
Although Zhen Jing and I had no marital consummation, we had developed marital affection. The thought that Zhen Jing's figure, appearance, and personality were exactly like my first girlfriend in my later life made it even harder for me to forget her.
However, when I recalled the matters Zhen Jing had to complete, especially her words, "Unless you are a high official in the current court, or a descendant of a founding duke, you won't be able to help~~"
Upon closer thought, this made me extremely worried. Yet, it was true, as she said: with my current status as a commoner, what good would it be even if I possessed world-shattering ability? Not entering officialdom is like walking in fine clothes at night. But to enter officialdom, I would have to seek refuge with aristocratic clans, and I deeply disdained associating with those shameless scoundrels who leech off the common people's hard work.
If that were the case, I could only seize an opportunity to do something that could attract the attention of the imperial family. But what could I do to attract imperial attention...
In fact, I didn't know that this opportunity would arrive in just a few days~~ Over the next few days, I was extremely busy and overwhelmed with four tasks. The first task was the completion of the mansion renovation. I directed Lin'er and Ting'er to have the servants and maids begin arranging the various rooms in the mansion.
I also assigned Zaha a separate small courtyard near my and my wife's bedroom, and I arranged for the two little black slaves to live with Zaha, as those two little ones were still too young and needed looking after~~
"Lin'er! Lin'er! Come here!" I called out to Lin'er, who was directing the servants to clean, holding the invoice for custom furniture from a while back.
"Take this invoice and go to Zhangji Furniture Store in the East Market. Tell the shopkeeper to deliver the furniture I custom-ordered~~"
"Yes, I'm going now~~" Lin'er put away the invoice but didn't leave. She grabbed my hand and said coquettishly, "Master, there's a particularly, particularly delicious flatbread shop in the East Market~~"
"You little foodie~~" Looking at Lin'er's charming manner before me, I understood what she wanted to do.
So I took out the money pouch from my sleeve and handed it to her. "Here, take it. This is all the private money this master has left~~"
"Thank you, Master~~ Hehehe~~" Lin'er grabbed the money pouch I handed over and ran off with a sweet smile.
"Master, Zaha has already delivered the final payment for the mansion renovation to Khalid." Just as I watched Lin'er happily run out of the mansion gate, Zaha's voice sounded behind me.
"Oh! Zaha, you've come at just the right time, come!"
I turned around to Zaha, waved my hand, and ordered him to follow me.
When we reached the edge of the inner residence where my wife and I lived, I pointed to the small courtyard separated by only one wall and said to Zaha, "From today onwards, this will be your courtyard. This courtyard is separated from mine by just one wall; you can use that small gate to go back and forth in the future. However, those two little ones will have to live with you for a while longer. They are still too young and lack the ability to live independently, so just consider yourself their guardian, hehe~~"
"This..." Zaha looked shocked. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, his voice trembling slightly. "Zaha is unworthy of Master's grace. Please take it back~~"
"Alright, alright! Get up. Don't kneel down at every turn in the mansion from now on." I reached out and pulled Zaha up, then looked at him and said softly, "You understand the meaning of this arrangement, don't you?"
"Zaha understands! Please rest assured, Master! Zaha will obey your call at any time!" Zaha responded loudly~~
The second task was that the mansion had become larger, and there weren't enough servants. Well, I could only go to the West Market to buy some Silla maids, since there were already enough male household staff in the mansion~~
"Master~~" Just as I was sitting by the stone table in the inner residence, studying the "Book of the Green Pouch," Ting'er found me.
"There aren't enough servants in the mansion. Can we add some more female maids?"
"Yes, you can go discuss it with Madam and see how many servants you need to buy. Remember, Silla maids are the first choice."
I didn't even lift my head, just continued looking at the divine physician's work in my hands.
"Tsk~~" Ting'er saw that I was ignoring her and grumbled discontentedly, "Master is truly a lustful glutton~~"
"Huh? What do you mean? I heard that!" Hearing Ting'er call me a lustful glutton, I immediately put down my book and stared at her pretty face, which bore a disdainful expression, and retorted, "How does buying Silla maids make me a lustful glutton?"
"Hmph~~" Ting'er gave a very tsundere cold snort and turned to gracefully walk out.
"Ting'er, come back here! Explain yourself~~" I looked at Ting'er's retreating back, feeling quite helpless~
The third task was to plant some precious medicinal herbs in the herb garden in the rear mansion. These herbs were worth a thousand gold pieces, and I dared not entrust them to others, so I could only plant them myself. Thus, I spent every day from dawn till dusk in the herb garden, even neglecting to eat lunch, just wanting to finish quickly~~
"Husband, do you really have to do all this yourself? Couldn't you let the servants do it~~"
The night before completion, after I returned to the inner residence, Li Ying helped me undress, her voice filled with delicate reproach and tenderness, "Husband, you've been busy in the herb garden every day since morning, only coming back after two beats of the quiet street drum have sounded~~"
"Hehe, these herb seeds are quite expensive and not easy to obtain, so I can only plant them myself~~"
I looked at my wife and said with a smile, "But it will be soon, I estimate they'll all be planted by tomorrow."
"Sigh~~ This concubine is useless, unable to help Husband~~" Li Ying put my dirty clothes aside, and at the same time verbally expressed her guilt for not being able to help me.
"Hehe~~ Who says Madam can't help?" I noticed my wife's guilt, so I reached out and pulled Li Ying into my embrace, gently caressing her body. Then, in a teasing tone, I whispered in her ear, "Madam has been a great help to this husband in sexual matters~~"
"Aiyai~~" After hearing my words, Li Ying lightly clenched her soft hands into fists, and her charming face flushed crimson as she lightly pounded my chest. "Husband, you're so naughty~~"
"Those ten Kunlun slaves I bought will arrive in a few days. How about I arrange for a few of them to serve Madam together then?"
I enjoyed my wife's coquettish behavior. As I spoke, I extended my tongue and lightly licked her fair earlobe.
"You're annoying~~" Li Ying's delicate body trembled, and her sweet and cloying words became even more intense.
I just didn't know if her "annoying" meant that I licked her earlobe, or if she found it annoying that I said I would have a few Kunlun slaves serve her together~~
And this last task was that the ten Kunlun slaves I had bought a few days ago had arrived. So I took Zaha to arrange their accommodation and assign their work. Once everything was properly arranged, I had Zaha gather these ten black slaves and inform them of the rules in the mansion~~
"Listen up, all of you! My name is Wu Tao, I am the Head of this Household, and also your new master. You don't need to be afraid, nor do you need to worry that I will harshly criticize or mistreat you. On the contrary, there will be sufficient food and no lack of clothing in my mansion. If any of you fall ill, I will treat you medically. And if you do well, I will even give you rewards you've never dared to imagine!"
I stood in front of these ten Kunlun slaves, lecturing them loudly. Looking at their pale and malnourished black faces, I lost the desire to continue speaking.
So I beckoned with my hand behind me, signaling for Zaha, who was standing a step behind me, to come stand beside me. Then, pointing to the group of Kunlun slaves before me, I loudly stated the most important rule: "The one standing beside me is Zaha, your leader. I will convey any orders to him, and he will relay them to all of you. But! You must remember! The most important rule in my mansion is this: aside from Zaha and those two little ones who are only seven, none of you are to enter the rear mansion without my or Zaha's summons. Violators will be killed!"
"Master, your great kindness and virtue! We will forever obey Master!" When I finished speaking, the ten Kunlun slaves knelt on the ground, loudly pledging their allegiance.
By the time all this was done, half a month had already passed. In this half month, my wife hadn't been idle.
She had taken Lin'er and Ting'er, along with the two little black slaves, on a massive shopping spree for various fabrics, diligently working on the erotic outfits I had designed.
And during this time, Li Ying told Lin'er and Ting'er everything she and I had discussed and done.
According to Li Ying: "Such things can't be kept secret; it's better to let these wily girls know early to avoid future troubles."
What caught me off guard, though, was that far from being speechless with shock, these two girls wholeheartedly approved of my actions. Lin'er and Ting'er even privately asked me if I intended to include them in the future. A few days later, just as my wife was showing me the erotic outfits she had made in the bedroom, a distinguished guest arrived at my mansion.
"Husband! This concubine has made all the clothes you designed. Husband, quick, see if they are right!"
Li Ying happily showed me several transparent gauze garments. These were precisely the Tang Dynasty versions of lingerie I had designed based on later generations' erotic underwear.
When she saw my affirmative and excited gaze, her beautiful eyes immediately filled with amorous feelings, and then her crimson lips slightly parted, "Would you like... for this concubine to wear them for you tonight, husband?"
"Yes! Yes!" The image of my wife's plump, delicate body in these erotic outfits immediately flashed in my mind, and I eagerly agreed. However, at that moment, I suddenly wondered how Zaha would react if he saw Li Ying in erotic wear.
Would he immediately seize my wife, press her onto the bed, and vigorously fuck her dry? Or would he carefully strip away her tempting gauze, and gently thrust and withdraw his big black cock into Li Ying's flesh cunt? So, with a lecherous smirk, I embraced Li Ying, my hands ceaselessly kneading her body.
"This husband has been busy with the affairs of the mansion recently and neglected Madam's needs. It is this husband's fault. How about I have Zaha come serve Madam tonight?"
"The clothes this concubine just made, and husband, you immediately want Zaha to enjoy them..." Li Ying, with her ice-and-snow intelligence, instantly understood what I was trying to do after hearing my words.
Playing along, her charming face immediately showed a hint of disdain and contempt as she said, "Husband truly is a living cuckold, deserving of being given a green hat by this concubine."
"Master, Madam, Princess Changle has arrived, bringing congratulatory gifts, saying it's to celebrate our new home!"
Just as I was about to respond to my wife, Lin'er loudly cried out as she burst into the bedroom. When she saw me kneading Li Ying, she immediately covered her eyes with her small hands, and at the same time, her little mouth opened, blurting out something that almost made me explode on the spot: "Oh dear! Daytime debauchery! Sister Ting'er was right! Master really does have boundless sexual audacity."
"Alright! I'll go right away! Madam, this husband will go greet her first, you tidy up here." I quickly replied, simultaneously releasing my wife, whose pretty face was flushed crimson.
As I reached the bedroom door, I lowered my head and said to Lin'er, who was still covering her eyes, "And you, how dare you enter the Master's bedroom without announcing yourself and just push the door open? A penalty for you!"
After saying that, I reached out and gave Lin'er's perky buttocks a forceful slap. I heard a crisp "smack," and the feeling in my hand was soft, full, and elastic; it felt quite nice.
"Ah!" Lin'er let out a shriek, then dropped her hands and covered her little buttocks, her eyes pitifully looking at Li Ying, "Boohoohoo... Miss... Master molested me!"
"I don't care. Sooner or later, you and Ting'er will both be taken into the household by my husband. Consider this touch a betrothal gift for now, hehe," Li Ying said with a sweet smile, adjusting her makeup and hair in the bronze mirror.
"Husband truly is something; Princess has arrived, and he's not rushing to greet her, yet he has the leisure to molest Lin'er. Doesn't he fear the Princess's anger? Indeed, on top of the word 'lust' is a knife."
"Alright! It's my fault again!" I shrugged helplessly, then straightened my clothes and stepped out of the bedroom.
When I arrived at the mansion gate, from a distance I saw a pretty lady, dressed in a goose-yellow palace gown, just entering her mid-teens, already stepping through the gate, surrounded by a group of female officials, gracefully walking towards me.
I saw her hair coiled in a bun, revealing a slender, fair, and rosy neck, elegant like a beautiful swan. Her snowy shoulders were sharply defined as if carved by a knife, her willow waist as if bound by silk, and her figure was slender, graceful, and lithe.
Her delicate face had brows and eyes like a painting, a natural beauty.
Her graceful willow-leaf brows were delicate and refined, her beautiful eyes clear as a spring, her nose bridge pretty and upright, and her vermilion lips warm and moist. Her entire being exuded charm and allure, graceful as a startled swan.
However, a faint trace of sorrow subtly appeared between her brows, adding a few more hints of delicate pitifulness. There was no need to ask; this was Princess Changle[1], Li Lizhi, the legitimate eldest daughter of Emperor Li Shimin and Empress Wende, and the niece and daughter-in-law of the current Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji!
"Your humble subject respectfully greets Princess Changle!" As Princess Changle approached, I immediately bowed and cupped my hands in salute.
"Dispense with the formalities. You must be Sister Ying's husband, right?" Princess Changle gently raised her jade hand, signaling me to rise.
"Replying to Princess Changle, your humble subject is indeed Wu Tao, Wu Xuanjing." I cupped my hands again in salute, confirming my identity.
"Before, whenever this Princess came, you were always at the medical clinic. This is the first time we've met today." Princess Changle smiled, but her words carried a faint sorrow. "Indeed, Sister Ying truly has a good fate. Her embroidery skills are renowned throughout Chang'an, and her husband is also imposing in appearance and benevolent in character. Ah... This Princess truly envies her so much."
Ugh... Why did that sound a bit off? Why was there a sour taste in her words? I don't remember provoking this legitimate eldest daughter of the current Emperor. She's not just Li Shimin's beloved pearl; she's also the niece and daughter-in-law of the current Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji. Provoking her would truly be like an old immortal eating arsenic—seeking death!
"Your common subject, Li, respectfully greets Princess Changle." Just as I was at a loss for how to respond, Li Ying appeared, conveniently easing my awkwardness.
"Sister Ying, please dispense with the formalities quickly. This younger sister's first reason for coming this time is to present a congratulatory gift, to congratulate you and your husband on moving into your new home."
Princess Changle's brow cleared of its gloom. She took Li Ying's hand and said in a sweet voice, "Secondly, this younger sister has recently encountered a difficult matter and would like to ask Sister Ying for advice."
"Princess, please follow your common subject. We can talk in the rear residence." Li Ying nodded her delicate head slightly, signaling Princess Changle to continue their conversation in the rear residence.
"En! Alright." Princess Changle happily agreed, then turned her head and said to the female officials behind her, "You may all withdraw. There's no need to follow this Princess."
After bowing respectfully and seeing Princess Changle off, my mind was full of questions.
Since when did Princess Changle start calling my wife "sister"? Was it because Li Ying often did embroidery for her? Or was it because they shared some common topic?
Watching Ting'er and Lin'er busy putting away the congratulatory gifts, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to make some very important accessories for my wife!
I had bought these accessories for my wife in later generations, but in the early Tang Dynasty, they could only be custom-made.
"Ting'er, tell Madam that I'm going out to buy something." I felt the money pouch in my sleeve, realizing there was still quite a bit of silver, then said to Ting'er, who was arranging the gifts.
"Hmph, Master isn't going to Pingkang Ward, is he?" Ting'er put her hands on her hips, striking the pose of a mistress. "Those girls probably aren't even up yet in broad daylight, are they?"
"No, no, Sister Ting'er, Master definitely won't go to Pingkang Ward. After all, Master's body..."
Lin'er also stepped in to chime in.
"You never know. Maybe Master has some other special fetishes?" Ting'er was relentless.
"Heya?! You two little girls, are you trying to rebel?!" I was furious.
Chang'an's East Market was incredibly prosperous, with people flowing through like crucian carp crossing a river, and merchants' cries rising and falling in succession, unending. I chose a large goldsmith's shop, since the accessories I wanted to make weren't large, but they required Fulin produced in the Roman Empire. This substance was actually enamel from later generations, but in the early Tang Dynasty, it wasn't cheap. Smaller goldsmiths wouldn't have it.
"Greetings, Young Master. May I know what you wish to purchase?" As I stepped into this goldsmith's shop called Jinyu Hall, the shopkeeper immediately came forward. "Is it for your beloved or for Madam of your esteemed household?"
"Oh... I'd like to customize some jewelry, but these pieces are quite special and require Fulin."
As I spoke, I took a design drawing from my sleeve, opened it, and handed it to the shopkeeper.
Then I pointed at the drawing and said, "This is a hairpin, made of gold. The pendant of the hairpin is of this shape, and the material also needs to be gold, but the surface of this pendant needs to be made with black Fulin. This is an anklet; the material is the same as the hairpin, and the graphic surface also needs black Fulin. The dimensions are already marked on the drawing."
"Oh... That's truly special. But no matter, this humble shop can do it, only..." The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then nodded, indicating he could do it.
"Shopkeeper, please wait. I have a few more requests. Firstly, I want to engrave characters on the surface of this pendant, but the characters must be raised engraving, and the black Fulin cannot cover the characters." I interrupted the shopkeeper, stating my most important requirement.
"Secondly, this hairpin and anklet are a set. I need to make two sets in total; the designs are identical, but the characters on the pendants are different: 'Ying' and 'Jing'."
At this point, I paused, thinking that Ting'er and Lin'er would also be my women in the future, so why not make their sets now while I'm at it?
"I'll revise that, I need to make four sets!" I pointed at the drawing on the paper and said, "The characters on the pendants are 'Ying,' 'Jing,' 'Ting,' and 'Lin.' Can the shopkeeper make them?"
"Hmm..." The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "No problem, but the price might be a bit..."
"Hehe, shopkeeper, rest assured, the price is negotiable. If the shopkeeper says he's absolutely sure, I can even pay the full amount now."
Upon hearing that it could be done, my face immediately lit up with joy. Finally, I paid a 50% deposit and left the goldsmith's, agreeing to pick up the items in five days. What I didn't know was that as I left the goldsmith's, Princess Changle in my mansion was confiding her troubles to Li Ying in the inner garden.
"Sister Ying, you don't know, but my husband and I have been married for a year already, yet our... that matter... is so few and far between."
Princess Changle looked at the flower bushes before her, speaking with melancholic sorrow in a soft voice, "I wanted to ask you, Sister, how you and your husband have been intimate for so long? Is there some secret method?"
"Ah!? This... how could there be any secret method for this?" Li Ying was stumped by Princess Changle's question. She thought, *Could I possibly tell Princess Changle to find a Kunlun slave to replace her husband for intimacy? But such words are too shocking to the world and utterly rebellious, impossible to say.*
So Li Ying countered, "Is it perhaps due to Sir Zhangsun's daily exhaustion from work?"
"No, that's not it. Although my husband holds the position of Minor Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan, he is usually quite leisurely and carefree."
Princess Changle turned around, the sorrow in her eyes even deeper.
"Hmm... then perhaps..." Li Ying couldn't bear to see Princess Changle lamenting in self-pity, so she leaned closer and whispered, "Recently, my husband designed some gauze dresses for women. I just finished making a sample. Why don't you try it on first, sister?"
"Gauze dresses? The kind one wears normally? What good would that do?" Princess Changle looked confused.
"Sister, you don't know. Come, seeing is believing." Li Ying smiled charmingly, gently took Princess Changle's small hand, and led the confused Princess towards our bedroom.
About half an hour later, I hummed a tune, carrying the fermented fish maw that Li Ying loved, the sugarcane flatbread that Lin'er loved most, and the raw fish sashimi that Ting'er loved most, all bought from the East Market, as I returned to the mansion.
However, as soon as I entered the inner courtyard's entrance hall, I vaguely felt a hint of killing intent. As I slowed my steps and observed carefully, Ting'er and Lin'er suddenly flashed out from behind the entrance hall door.
Ting'er held a fire poker, blocking my way, while Lin'er blocked the entrance hall door behind me. Before I could even react, Ting'er's little head pressed against my chest, her tiny nose sniffing, sniffing. Then, with a look of satisfaction, she looked up at me.
"Good, you didn't go to Pingkang Ward," Ting'er said with a proud tsundere expression.
"Oh, for crying out loud!" I truly hadn't expected Ting'er and Lin'er to block me just because they were afraid I was fooling around in Pingkang Ward. So I raised my hand and flicked Ting'er's forehead lightly.
"What are you thinking about with that little head of yours all day? And you even bring a broken stick to ambush and check on me!"
"Ow!" Ting'er rubbed her forehead, still defiant. "I'm checking on behalf of Miss, to prevent Master from having any unspeakable fetishes!"
"Tch... Too lazy to bother with you!"
I looked helplessly at this tsundere girl, then turned and handed the food in my hands to Lin'er, who was still standing behind me, blocking the entrance hall door.
"Here, take this. This sugarcane flatbread is for you, and this, this raw fish sashimi is for that little tigress with the fire poker."
"Oh yay!" Lin'er was truly a little foodie. As soon as she heard I was handing her food, without waiting for me to finish, she snatched the bag from my hand, letting out an excited sweet cry, then turned and ran off quickly.
"Why are you running! Nobody's going to snatch it from you! Don't fall!"
I quickly shouted loudly at Lin'er's disappearing back, "There's also a box of fermented fish maw for my wife in there! Don't you dare sneak a bite!"
Turning back around, I saw Ting'er staring at me with a pretty face flushed crimson, which made cold sweat break out all over me. I wondered if this little girl was going to cause some new mischief.
"Master... Tonight..." A moment later, Ting'er suddenly plunged into my embrace, her delicate body trembling, and said shyly and sweetly, "You... will you take me in, please? Ting'er wants... wants..."
"Huh!?" I was startled. Just as I was about to push Ting'er away, I suddenly realized what she meant.
"So embarrassing!" Ting'er pushed me away, covered her face with her jade hands, and instantly disappeared without a trace.
I was stunned stiff by Ting'er's sudden confession, dazedly watching her run away with her pretty face covered until she was completely gone. I wondered if this little girl had eaten something unclean this morning, or if she had been stimulated by something.
Hadn't she always been discontent with me? Why suddenly did she want me to take her in?
Although I knew Ting'er and Lin'er were my live-in maids, these two little girls had just reached adulthood last year. In later generations, they would be like first-year high school students; they were too young.
As I entered the rear residence with a head full of questions, from a distance I saw my wife Li Ying and Princess Changle chatting and laughing in the pavilion in the garden. I quickly walked over and saluted Princess Changle, wondering why she hadn't left yet.
"Husband, Princess Changle specifically waited for you to return. The Princess said she needs your help with something," my wife said, immediately rising and pulling my hand when she saw me return.
"Oh?" My expression froze, and I immediately said, "Princess, please speak. Your humble subject will do his utmost."
"Sir, there's no need for such ceremony, nor to call yourself a humble subject. From now on, Sir, you and this Princess... no, you and I shall address each other as equals. I now... indeed have something to ask of you, Sir." Princess Changle's face flushed crimson, and her jade hands twisted together continuously, seemingly very nervous.
"Sir's medical skills are superb; even the esteemed Immortal Sun calls you a fellow Daoist. I trouble Sir to help regulate my body. Recently, I constantly feel chest tightness and shortness of breath, and sometimes, when it's severe, I cannot even walk. The imperial physicians in the palace can't figure anything out and only make me drink very bitter herbal medicine."
"Princess, this is a respiratory illness, if I'm not mistaken..." My tone was serious, and as I spoke, I cupped my hands and bowed towards the Imperial City.
"Does your Empress Mother, the current Empress, also suffer from a respiratory illness?"
I didn't even need to look to know that these symptoms were a respiratory illness, and a very severe one at that.
Historical records also stated that Princess Changle suffered from a respiratory illness. This was clearly inherited from her biological mother, Empress Wende, and her symptoms were even more severe than her mother's, because historical records state that Princess Changle passed away suddenly at the age of twenty-three due to a severe respiratory illness.
"Precisely! My Empress Mother also has a respiratory illness!" Princess Changle's face turned pale with fright after hearing what I said.
"Sir is truly amazing! Although my Empress Mother's respiratory illness is not an imperial secret, only close imperial relatives know a thing or two about it; outsiders have no way of knowing!"
"Alas... that's it then. This respiratory illness has hereditary characteristics. Princess, your respiratory illness is inherited from your Empress Mother,"
I sighed, saying with a helpless expression, "I'm afraid I will disappoint the Princess; this respiratory illness cannot be completely cured. It can only be managed. You must not get angry, and you should not stay cooped up indoors. You need to breathe plenty of fresh air."
"Ah! So that's why Imperial Father insisted on taking Empress Mother to the Lishan hot springs these past few days!" Princess Changle was startled again.
Just then, I suddenly thought: Princess Changle is the legitimate eldest daughter of the current Emperor, and his most beloved daughter. If I could extend Princess Changle's lifespan, wouldn't I be able to rise rapidly in status? In that case, not only would I bring honor to my ancestors, but even my wife could obtain an imperial noble title. Moreover, there was Zhen Jing, that female knight-errant who constantly haunted my thoughts and dreams.
Thinking of this, I immediately made a decision in my heart.
"Furthermore, Princess, though you usually live a life of fine clothes and delicious food, seemingly unharmed, this is actually completely wrong. Princess, you must pay attention to your diet. Many foods can trigger your respiratory illness. If you don't pay attention, I can guarantee, Princess, your lifespan..."
At this point, I stared fixedly into Princess Changle's clear-as-a-spring eyes, my voice as cold as winter, "will absolutely not exceed twenty years."
"Ah!" Princess Changle turned pale with fright, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief as she abruptly rose, and she forcefully covered her vermilion lips with her jade hands, as if to stifle her cry of surprise.
"Husband, speak cautiously!" Li Ying also stood up at the same time, her soft hands tightly clutching my sleeve.
"This... this..." A moment later, Princess Changle forcibly suppressed her fear, and asked with a trembling jade voice, "Is it really that serious, as Sir says?"
"That's not all. Princess, you are still in your mid-teens this year, aren't you? I have no intention of presumptuously discussing imperial matters, but Princess, you married last year. Marrying too early is also one of the triggers for respiratory illness."
I gently removed my wife's soft hands from my sleeve, and tried to speak in a gentle, soft tone: "Moreover, Princess, your husband is Zhangsun Chong, the legitimate eldest son of Chancellor Zhangsun, and he is also your first cousin. This is a consanguineous marriage, and there is a high possibility that your offspring may suffer from mental retardation."
"Husband, speak cautiously! Don't say any more!" Li Ying again tightly clutched my sleeve, her face terrified.
"Whew~~ It feels so good to have said it all!" I let out a long breath, thinking that this should attract the attention of the imperial family.
After Princess Changle heard my words, she walked away distraught. However, after respectfully seeing Princess Changle out of the manor, Li Ying suddenly launched an attack, directly pinching my ear.
[1] Note: Changle (长乐) mean 'Eternal Happiness'. Also if you read this, let me know if you want I add "Title Notes" for name like this, so this is the only one I add a note for this.