Chapter 106: Jin'er, You Are So Naughty (Ten Thousand)

“Mo Yan... please tell me what happened, alright?” Earlier, she had overheard him venting alone in the room, mentioning that someone was pressuring him. Who could be forcing him? What were they forcing him to do?

Yet Mo Yan remained silent, only lifting his head slightly to press his warm, thin lips against her long, fair neck.

“Ah, don’t...” Jin’er shivered softly, trying to turn away from his lips, but his arms encircled her tightly, leaving her no room to escape.

Her sensitive reaction and enticing voice quickened his breath. What began as gentle kisses grew more insistent, trailing upward until his lips captured her tender earlobe with a soft bite. Jin’er trembled uncontrollably as an electric current seemed to shoot from her ear down to her core.

Then his tongue began to tease her earlobe. His heavy, heated breath whispered into her ear, unsettling her inexplicably, making her breathing deepen.

“Mo Yan, let me go...” Jin’er raised her hands to pry his grip, but he swiftly turned her around to face him. His hands pinned hers before her, rendering her immobile.

Frustrated, Jin’er realized she had no chance to resist. At that moment, he lowered his head to kiss her lips, the tenderness deepening into passion. His lips pried open her teeth, voraciously tasting the sweet nectar of her mouth, boldly and urgently teasing her.

Jin’er’s body grew weaker and hotter; she felt her rationality slipping away rapidly, bit by bit.

“Jin’er, I want you...” Mo Yan murmured, his fiery lips abandoning her cherry lips to trail kisses down her ear, along her slender neck, over the exposed jade-like skin beyond her collar, and finally resting on her enticing collarbone.

Her breaths came in short gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly. His words echoed in her mind, stirring an inexplicable anxiety within her.

Suddenly, she felt his hand withdraw and hastily begin tugging at her waistband. Alarm bells rang loudly in her mind.

“Mo Yan! Stop...” Gathering her scattered wits, Jin’er realized that if he continued in this drunken state, he might truly take her here and now.

Suppressing the shivers his lips and tongue sent through her body, she moved her hands, trapped between them, to touch his chest.

Sensing her movement, Mo Yan let out a soft moan, his breathing growing more labored as he slightly loosened his grip.

Encouraged, Jin’er gritted her teeth, ignoring his advances and caressing his body more provocatively.

Yet despite his heavier breathing, he still held her tightly, leaving her hands far from free.

Biting her lip, she slid one hand under his open collar, searching for his chest.

Frustrated—it was her first time making such a move on a man, and her heart pounded anxiously. But now was a critical moment; she couldn’t afford hesitation. Steeling herself, she continued.

Though separated by a thin garment, his well-defined chest muscles were so clear, so tempting, that she swallowed hard, her mind already wandering to the image of him bare-chested.

Lost in such fantasies, she suddenly felt her waist loosen, then a warm hand slipped into her outer robe, ardently tracing her slender waist.

Damn it! How could she be daydreaming at a time like this?

Jin’er cursed softly, fighting the tingling sensation his touch brought, and quickly found the small protrusion on his chest. A few gentle flicks with her fingertips made Mo Yan shudder, a soft moan escaping his lips pressed against her collarbone.

Uh... she vowed this was the first time she had done something like this. As the saying goes, if you haven’t tasted pork, how can you recognize a running pig?

Her cheeks flushed red as she abandoned further thoughts and continued.

After only a few touches, Mo Yan could no longer bear it. Slowly, he raised his head, leaned close to her ear, and whispered breathlessly, “Jin’er, you’re so wicked...”

At his words, Jin’er shivered, goosebumps rising all over her body, and her hands suddenly froze.

It was over. It seemed her image was ruined... Well, if she was going down, she might as well go all the way. Without hesitation, her fingers resumed their teasing, now faster than before.

Mo Yan frowned, moaning softly, breathing heavily as he straightened and tilted his head back, eyes half-shut, his body trembling with exquisite torment.

Jin’er continued her teasing while watching him. Though she had to admit, his expression was incredibly seductive, she knew if she didn’t act now, she might never have another chance.

Finally regaining some freedom in her hands, she swiftly tapped a pressure point behind his ear with near-imperceptible speed. Mo Yan’s body relaxed and he collapsed backward.

Quickly, Jin’er grabbed his collar, pulling him back to lean against the chair’s backrest. She then rose to tidy her disheveled clothes and hair, gulped down several mouthfuls of tea from the table, and only after her flushed cheeks cooled did she take a deep breath and step out of the room.

“Stone, come here.” Following her command, Shi Yuan appeared in a flash, expressionless but attentive, awaiting her orders.

“You two, help His Highness back to his chamber to rest,” Jin’er said, glancing at the elderly Liu beside her.

Liu was momentarily startled but quickly recovered and hurried inside. Shi Yuan glanced at Jin’er’s rosy face before following him.

Only then did Jin’er lift her head to the sky and exhale deeply, her eyes reflecting confusion and uncertainty.

——————————————————————

“Miss, I have finished washing His Highness,” Mo Yan’s maid announced as she opened the door and stepped out to report to Jin’er waiting outside.

Jin’er nodded and stepped inside.

Sitting beside the bed, she saw Mo Yan still restless in his slumber, his brows furrowed tightly, his face etched with pain.

Seeing this, Jin’er frowned and gently placed her hand on his brow, trying to smooth the tension. After a long moment, his frown eased slightly, revealing the heavy burden weighing on his heart.

With a faint sigh, she withdrew her hand to cover his handsome face, softly stroking his elegant eyebrows with her thumb. To her surprise, his furrowed brow relaxed further.

Her hand paused, moving lower to caress his smooth, pale cheek, then gradually approached his inviting, rosy lips. Once more, his brow seemed to soften.

Jin’er chuckled lightly. “You rascal, are you still thinking about earlier?”

Smiling, she gazed at his uneasy sleeping face, recalling how he had vented his anger alone in the study, and felt an unexpected pang of pity.

Leaning down slowly, her lips gently brushed his thin ones, closing her eyes to kiss him with tenderness.

After a long, soft kiss, Jin’er opened her eyes and pulled away. She licked the fragrant taste left on her lips, blushing and giggling sheepishly before rising to leave.

Today had been extraordinary—her first time teasing a man and stealing a kiss. She had truly broken new ground in her life.

The next morning, Mo Yan failed to rise on time due to a hangover. Jin’er called him twice with no response, so she sent Liu to notify that he would skip the morning court.

Only after most of the morning passed did Mo Yan struggle to sit up, rubbing his aching head as memories of last night gradually returned. At the end, he chuckled softly. It seemed Jin’er was quite adept at adapting to situations.

After washing and dressing, just as he prepared to leave, someone reported that Master Zhao had arrived.

Eager to meet him, Mo Yan felt his heavy heart lighten a bit upon hearing this and promptly sent a servant to invite him directly to the study.

Glancing toward the neighboring closed door, Mo Yan’s lips curved into a gentle smile. Moments later, the smile faded, replaced by a frown. He sighed quietly and turned toward the study.

As his figure receded, Jin’er’s door opened quietly.

She watched his hurried back silently, then stepped out and followed discreetly.

From a distance, she saw Mo Yan join Zhao Zimou at a crossroads before heading to the study together. Jin’er quickened her pace but found the study door firmly shut, with Liu guarding outside.

She guessed they were deep in secret talks and that approaching would be difficult. If she tried to incapacitate Liu, Mo Yan’s skills would likely detect it immediately.

Looking up at the roof and around the surroundings, she gave up. In broad daylight, with guards patrolling nearby, even if she climbed to the roof, she wouldn’t last long.

After some hesitation, she reluctantly frowned and turned away—not back to her courtyard but toward the Moonlight Palace gate, where she sat in the pavilion where she had previously met Zhao Zimou.

“Actually, there’s nothing surprising about this. Even if you don’t speak now, once you become emperor, the ministers will ensure your harem is full. Every ruler has thousands of beauties. It’s just that now you need their favor, so naturally, they want to secure the best for themselves,” Zimou said carelessly after hearing Mo Yan’s angry complaint.

“But I only want to marry Jin’er! I can give them power, but why must they force me to take another woman?! Even if I compromise and accept other consorts for the throne’s sake, the Prime Minister demands the position of Empress! Empress! Who does he think he is?!” Mo Yan’s fury flared as he swept books and papers off the table.

Zimou raised his brow and smiled, “Can’t you be a bit smarter? Just fulfill your promise first, then find an excuse to discard her. Is this small matter worth your distress?”

Mo Yan glanced at him, thinking for a long while before sighing deeply. “But that would also wrong Jin’er. Besides... I worry she won’t accept me having other women.”

“Men having multiple wives is normal, especially a sovereign. She won’t be so shortsighted, especially with your devotion to her. And your sacrifice isn’t small either,” Zimou said lazily, reclining in his chair, not understanding why Mo Yan worried so much about one woman while seemingly indifferent to the realm and its people.

If not for the Crown Prince’s behavior and Mo Yan being one of only two sons of the Fire Emperor, Zimou wasn’t sure Mo Yan could be a good emperor.

“That’s true, but I have this vague feeling she’s different...” Mo Yan sighed, troubled.

“Then tell her the truth, don’t touch the other women, and dismiss them when you can,” Zimou shrugged.

“But then the ministers will turn against me. And it wouldn’t be fair to those women,” Mo Yan frowned. He always felt unsuited for palace life, and now, before it even began, he was drowning in troubles.

Zimou rolled his eyes, frustrated. “Stop being a softie! If you’re soft, they’ll be tough; if you’re tough, they’ll soften. Don’t forget, you’re the supreme emperor. If you really assert yourself, what can they do? The ‘other women’ are just the Prime Minister’s and Minister of War’s daughters. Sacrificing them is better than plunging thousands into misery. Besides, they’re forcing them on you.

You have no choice but to agree now. Later, either fulfill your husbandly duties or do as I teach you. Only two choices. Worrying won’t help. You have to sit this throne, after all.

I’ve won over all the ministers I can; now it’s just those two big players left. Think carefully. I’m off.” With that, Zimou rose leisurely, leaving a tangled, pensive Mo Yan behind.

Sigh—what a femme fatale, turning a charming playboy into this mess. Tsk tsk. He’d better be cautious of women’s beauty in the future.

Zimou smiled to himself, approaching the pavilion where he had met Jin’er earlier. He glanced inside and was surprised to meet a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Noticing her steady gaze, Zimou smiled and entered.

“You’re here? I’ve been waiting for you,” Jin’er greeted, motioning him to sit on the stone bench opposite.

“Waiting?” Zimou raised an eyebrow, puzzled yet politely smiling like a refined gentleman.

Jin’er nodded. Seeing no one else around, she got straight to the point. “Mo Yan seems to be in big trouble. Tell me.”

Surprised by her natural use of Mo Yan’s name, Zimou felt she was unlike any woman he’d met. She apparently had no illustrious background but exuded an unyielding and dignified aura.

“Why not ask him yourself?” Zimou fixed his gaze on her, fanning himself with a faintly mischievous smile.

“I would if it helped. Why come to you otherwise?”

“But I’m not sure I should tell you, and even if I did, you couldn’t help,” Zimou said lightly.

“Whoever is pressuring Mo Yan must be serious. But if I know, maybe more heads thinking together can make a difference,” Jin’er said calmly, meeting his eyes.

Zimou smiled silently, studying her for a long moment before laughing.

“Alright, since you care so much, I’ll share a bit. Someone is forcing Mo Yan to marry and take concubines. He’s obliged due to his needs, but his heart is only yours, so he’s suffering.”

Hearing this, Jin’er’s heart tightened strangely. She couldn’t tell if it was pain, panic, or confusion.

Though she never dared hope for a future with him, she hadn’t imagined he would marry others. Now that the topic was exposed, she felt oddly distressed.

Enough; she wouldn’t think about it now. He said Mo Yan was indebted—was that because of the Fire Eye Stone? If her involvement caused him to bear burdens undeserved, how could she accept his help with peace of mind? She already owed him too much.

Thinking hard, she toyed nervously with her fingers before her eyes lit up with a plan.

“I have a way,” Jin’er said confidently. “Tell me more.”

Zimou’s eyes showed surprise. “You have a way? What is it?” He doubted it; both he and Mo Yan had been helpless so far. What could this girl possibly do?

“Will you tell me or not?” Jin’er rolled her eyes.

“Maybe you should ask him. This is complicated; I’m hesitant to reveal too much.” Zimou was concerned about telling her such sensitive matters. If leaked, consequences would be dire.

Seeing his serious expression, Jin’er smiled faintly, sensing his genuine concern. “Fine, I won’t ask for much. Just tell me who they are.”

Zimou frowned, puzzled. “What do you intend to do?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t act rashly. I just want them to obey Mo Yan,” Jin’er said calmly, obviously confident.

“Oh? How will you do that?” Zimou leaned forward, intrigued.

“That’s none of your concern. Just tell me their identities.”

After hesitation, Zimou saw the determination in her clear eyes and finally beckoned her closer.

After a whispered exchange, Jin’er nodded. “Don’t tell him for now, so he won’t worry.”

“But can you handle this alone?” Zimou’s concern deepened over his earlier decision.

Just then, in a blink, Jin’er flicked open a folding fan. Zimou looked down; his hands were empty.

“Surprising,” he smiled in admiration. He now regarded Jin’er with new respect.

“Piece of cake.” She closed the fan and tossed it to him, standing to leave. “I’m off. Wait for news.”

Watching her graceful figure depart, Zimou smiled and rose, departing at his own leisurely pace.

He was curious to see what this woman, who had Mo Yan so entranced, was capable of.

By lunchtime, Jin’er saw Mo Yan again. He approached with a soft smile, ignoring the servants nearby, and pulled her gently into his embrace.

Jin’er blushed, struggling to pull free, but he whispered in her ear, audible only to her: “I will avenge last night’s grievance.” His tone was playful and intimate.

Her cheeks burned as her heart raced wildly.

Damn, wasn’t he drunk? How could he still remember? This was bad, very bad...

Mo Yan released her, smiling at her flushed, shifting expression, then led her to the dining hall.

Throughout the meal, Jin’er kept her head down, embarrassed, eating quietly without daring to meet his gaze. She regretted what she had done the night before.

Finally finishing, she pushed away her bowl and slipped out quickly.

Seeing her flustered haste, Mo Yan was amused but didn’t tease her, instead returning to the study.

Relieved she didn’t follow, Jin’er noticed his tired expression at first glance. Though he smiled, there was evident pain and helplessness in his eyes.

This side of him was unfamiliar; she preferred the carefree, flirtatious Mo Yan of before to this somber, weary one.

Whether this was due to the Fire Eye Stone or whether he would marry others, if he didn’t want it now, she wouldn’t let anyone force him.

Tonight, she vowed to help clear his obstacles and worries.

After dinner, Mo Yan busied himself in the study, while Jin’er sat in the courtyard sipping tea.

Night was falling but it wasn’t yet time to light lamps. The courtyard was dimly lit enough to see about ten paces. Shi Yuan stood just at the edge of her sight.

After a small sip, Jin’er called Xiao Die to prepare fresh hot tea. As Xiao Die turned away, Jin’er rose and walked to Shi Yuan’s side.

Looking up at his stern, cold profile, she saw he didn’t even glance at her, which frustrated her.

She was, after all, a stunning beauty. They said heroes rarely resist the allure of a beauty, so why was he so detached? Not just calm—indifferent to the point of treating her like air!

After staring silently and feeling annoyed for a while, she finally gave up with a roll of her eyes and a deep breath, then spoke first.

“Hey!”

No response.

“Hey!!” Jin’er called again, poking his chest in frustration, only to find it as hard as stone. Could he really be made of stone?

Just as she wondered, Shi Yuan finally reacted, turning slightly and lowering his gaze to her with a questioning look.

Relieved, Jin’er stopped complaining, glanced around, then leaned closer. Looking up at him, she lowered her voice:

“At the second watch, you’ll escort me out of the palace once.”

He furrowed his brow slightly. Jin’er quickly pointed at his nose, pretending to glare fiercely:

“Don’t tell Mo Yan!”

Shi Yuan stared blankly at her fierce expression, showing neither emotion nor nodding or shaking his head.

Jin’er’s mouth twitched, realizing she looked like a clown trying to intimidate him. Though he was an elite guard, he showed a calm and respectful demeanor toward Mo Yan—and even more so with her.

She forced a smile and pleaded softly, “Shi~ Yuan, just help me this once, alright? It’ll be quick.”

If he weren’t so aloof, she might have grabbed his arm and shaken him.

Over recent days, Jin’er had sparred with Shi Yuan for an hour daily. Though he never spoke a word, she considered him an acquaintance.

Shi Yuan, having observed her varied expressions, felt a flicker of something unfamiliar pass through his heart.

Seeing her so persistent and hopeful, he finally averted his gaze, looking at the darkened night and emitting a mosquito-like sound: “Mm.”

Though faint, Jin’er caught it immediately and beamed, excitedly patting his shoulder. With such a master’s help, she needn’t worry about mishaps.

Just then, Xiao Die returned with fresh tea. Jin’er said no more and turned toward the stone table.

Only then did she notice her neck ached from looking up so much. She pinched it, silently cursing: Why so tall? Just talking to him is exhausting...

After a while, Jin’er returned to her room to bathe and prepared to extinguish the lights for her nightly cultivation. Since she began training until the third watch, she avoided lighting lamps to not alert servants and to concentrate better. Xiao Die assumed she was sleeping.

Seeing her ready to rest early, Xiao Die couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, you’re going to sleep so early tonight? No sword practice?”

Jin’er smiled and said, “No. For some reason, I feel very tired tonight. Maybe I trained too hard today.”

“Oh, then rest early. But your hair isn’t dry yet. You should sit a while longer until it dries, or you might get headaches,” Xiao Die warned seriously.

“Okay, I know. You go rest in your room. I’ll sleep when my hair’s dry.” Jin’er thought Xiao Die had the makings of a good housekeeper, feeling comforted by her presence.

Xiao Die agreed and quietly closed the door behind her but lingered outside. She wouldn’t rest until her mistress turned off the lights.

Jin’er sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, cultivating, losing track of time until she heard Mo Yan’s voice faintly outside.

“His Highness, Miss has bathed, changed, and is ready for sleep,” Xiao Die reported faithfully.

Mo Yan felt a twinge of disappointment. He had barely spent the day with her except at meals. He had tried to return early from the study to spend time alone with her but hadn’t expected her to rest so early.

He hesitated to enter when the light went out. Reluctantly, he returned to his room.

Jin’er estimated the time and used the faint window light to get up, tying her long hair into a loose ponytail with a ribbon. She donned night travel clothes, gathered some prepared items into her arms, and sat at the round table sipping tea while waiting.

When the distant drum heralding the midnight watch sounded faintly, she stood, hesitated, then covered her face with a silk veil.

Whether going to do something improper or just keeping a low profile, she smiled lightly, picked up her flying flower sword, and quietly opened the door.

After stepping out, she cautiously closed the door behind her.

Fortunately, Mo Yan wasn’t like the perverted Crown Prince, who stationed numerous guards near his chamber’s beams. Otherwise, sneaking out would have been impossible.

She slipped into the shadows of the courtyard, searching for Shi Yuan. A cold breeze blew, and the tall figure appeared beside her.

Prepared this time, she didn’t scream in surprise.

She glanced him up and down. Except for his cold, expressionless eyes, every part of him was covered, even his forehead and eyebrows, making her want to laugh. But professionally, he was doing well.

Suppressing her amusement, Jin’er whispered, “Prime Minister’s residence. Lead the way.”

Shi Yuan’s eyes flickered with doubt but quickly returned to their usual calm. He turned and dashed ahead, covering a long distance in the blink of an eye.

Jin’er didn’t dare delay and followed swiftly using lightness skills.

Compared to modern nights, ancient nights were pure and silent, almost hearing one’s own breath. The wind rushed by their ears; their footsteps were barely audible, reflecting their excellent lightness arts.

They arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence and easily found Lin Fengsheng’s bedroom.

With a faint sound, the door was gently pushed open. Two black-clad figures slipped inside like the wind.

“Who?!” Lin Fengsheng, who had only recently lain down, suddenly opened his eyes and half-sat up, looking toward the door. The moonlight streamed through window grids and the half-open door, illuminating the dark room and revealing its interior.

“Master, what’s wrong?” His wife, roused by his sharp call, rubbed her sleepy eyes and struggled to sit up.

Seeing two shadows just steps from the bed, she gasped, about to scream—but her mouth froze, her voice stuck, and her body became immobile.

Recovering from shock, Lin Fengsheng noticed his wife’s wide eyes and open mouth, motionless—clearly struck by some pressure point as something flew past him. He forced himself calm.

Turning to the black-clad men standing by, he said coldly, “I wonder what business two heroes have calling on Lin at this late hour?”

Impressed by his composure, Jin’er raised an eyebrow, admiring him.

“Let’s speak plainly,” she said, sitting at the nearby table. “I heard you want to marry your daughter to the Second Prince?”

Startled, Lin Fengsheng asked, “Who are you? How did you...?” He stopped mid-sentence, growing uneasy.

He was always cautious when meeting the Second Prince. How could this woman know? Had the Crown Prince discovered the plan?

“No need to be so nervous. I simply won’t tolerate rivals for the throne. Besides, the Second Prince doesn’t want to marry your daughter,” Jin’er said lightly, resting her cheek on her hand like a spoiled girl.

Lin Fengsheng was slightly stunned, but his panic eased as he analyzed her words.

She likely wasn’t from the Crown Prince’s faction. Could she be...

“You’re the woman the Second Prince favors?” he probed.

He knew the Second Prince had been distracted by a woman for two years, and recently regained composure after another woman appeared and stayed close. Rumors said they were intimate.

“Yes, that’s me,” Jin’er answered openly.

Lin Fengsheng raised his eyebrows knowingly. When the Second Prince rejected him, he had mentioned an Empress candidate. This must be her.

He hadn’t expected her to be so bold and skilled to come here, evading all his guards.

“Since it’s late, I won’t keep you, Prime Minister. Let’s be frank,” Jin’er sat up straight, looking him in the eye. “I want you to promise any demand the Second Prince makes, including refusing to marry your daughter to him.” Her voice was sweet yet carried an unyielding authority. Even Shi Yuan glanced at her in surprise.

“Hahaha... What nonsense. Why should the Prime Minister listen to you? I advise you, young lady, not to be arrogant just because the Prince favors you. If your jealousy ruins his great plans, you won’t only lose the Empress position; you might not keep your life.”

Since this was serious, he deliberately called the Empress the “main consort.” If she knew the secret, it would be one thing; if not, he wouldn’t leak it.

Jin’er smiled. “I expected you wouldn’t cooperate, so I’m sorry—I just slipped some medicine into you.”

“What?!” Lin Fengsheng’s face paled in disbelief. Thinking back, when his wife was struck, he smelled a strange fragrance—could that have been poison?

“What did you give me?!” he shouted furiously. “Without me, the Second Prince will never succeed!”

“Don’t worry, I don’t want your life. Unless you want to throw it away yourself,” Jin’er said as she pulled a small vial from her pocket and placed it on the table, then stood.

“This is an antidote for the poison ‘Death’s Obedience.’ It will activate tomorrow, but one pill will suppress it temporarily. You must take it daily. If you follow my demands, I’ll supply the antidote. Once this is over, I guarantee to cure you completely.

Don’t get any ideas. You can have someone investigate what Death’s Obedience is. I only used such a rare poison because I care deeply for the Second Prince. Enough talk, good night, Prime Minister.”

She turned to leave but paused, glancing back.

“I don’t want him to know about this. You should know what to say and what not to say.” Without waiting for a reply, she kicked off and vanished like a shadow.

The late autumn night wind blew through the door as they left. Lin Fengsheng shivered, his hair standing on end.

////// Dear readers, Merry Christmas!! //////