Chapter 1: The Laughing Point of Mandarin Ducks

  "It's better to know! Anyway, staying in the palace all day is suffocating, and it's better to die than be suffocated!" I said loudly, suddenly feeling that this closed space was driving me crazy! I belong to the ocean, not the palace!

  His face turned pale and he said in a hoarse voice: "You have to take care of the child in your belly!"

  I sprang up, "Anyway, they can't kill me wherever I go! What's there to fear? If jumping off a cliff won't kill me, what will this do?"

  "You're sick of living! You only think about seeking death!" He gritted his teeth. The veins on his forehead twitched almost imperceptibly.

  Smiling calmly, I leaned into his chest, feeling his obvious stiffness. I said in a hoarse voice, "I'm so scared! Your Majesty! Who spread this news?" Gently lifting his chin, I smiled seductively, "The several brothers of the Long family have all been appointed as chieftains of various tribes and hold the position of Wang Ye, some have become generals. Moreover, Your Majesty has left their mothers in the palace. What is the intention behind this? Is it to prevent them from rebelling or to prevent them from revealing certain things that are unfavorable to you? Although the princes of the Long family have different ideas, they all share a filial nature! Including the Crown Prince! Furthermore, if it was indeed the Crown Prince and his people who spread the rumor, do you think they would only say I'm a demon dragon and not mention that I'm Ye Hanmei?"

  He grasped my hand and said in a low voice, "Do you suspect me?"

  Generously nodding, I laugh, laugh loudly! "Is it that the Emperor has not done such things to me before? Do you want me to remind the Emperor one by one?" I laugh and pull his head down, biting his earlobe! He's in pain but doesn't push me away. Without a word, he just lets me bite him. I hate him! I hate him!

  It wasn't until I tasted the metallic tang in my mouth that I realized how deeply I had bitten. I loosened my lips, staring blankly at his chiseled features, and he too was gazing steadily back at me. After a pause, he spoke softly, "I know you won't forgive me for deceiving you like this!" His voice was filled with desolation.

  Shaking my head, I said resentfully, "The emperor actually has some self-awareness! What's the big deal about being a dragon of the Demon Dragon Clan? Who dares to touch me now? Can't even protect his own kind? Remember your promise, Your Majesty: once I give birth to the child, let me go!"

  He hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "On the condition that you safely give birth to the child! If you insist on going to war, I will retract my decision!"

  I raised an eyebrow, a seductive smile spreading across my lips as I leaned in close to him, my enchanting red lips lightly brushing against his tightly pursed thin lips. "If that's really the case, Ye Hanmei guarantees that Your Majesty will regret it for the rest of his life!" I declared resolutely between his lips.

  His whole body shook, he didn't say a word, his hands tightly wrapped around my waist, and he kissed me wildly. He swept away the food on the table, pushed me down, and his scorching hot hands gently placed on my belly! Carefully, as if afraid of breaking it! Hoarsely, he said, "Long'er!"

  I raised an eyebrow. "How's Long'er?"

  He didn't speak, just shook his head, and with a gentle yet firm tug on the waistband, he entered. There were no tears, no pain, but tomorrow he would choose his concubine, among so many beauties who would cater to his every whim, I wanted him to die without forgetting me! Until death do us part! I wanted him to remember my hatred for him and the mortal pleasure of today!

  He let out a low growl, embracing my body, panting heavily. I gently stroked his hair. After tomorrow, he would no longer belong to me alone! I don't know why, but this feeling is so unbearable!

  "Things will be settled, the joint petition they filed, I'll take care of it! You focus on giving birth to our child safely, no matter what, I won't let my woman and child get hurt!" He whispered in my ear.

  Smiling sweetly, yet spewing out venomous words from her red lips, "The one who hurt me is you, Your Majesty!"

  He hesitated for a moment, and I knew that such temptation, such actions, combined with such words, made him unable to extricate himself! Such feelings of hating to die and loving to live! He didn't speak, adjusting his clothes, and after a long while, he whispered painfully, "I know!"

  This cry, I knew, contained too much pain and meaning, and for a moment, I couldn't figure it out. What attitude did he have towards me?! Thinking of the uncontrolled kiss on Red Flame Island, the low growl with an extremely strong possessive desire, thinking of his life-and-death protection in the inn! The look of hatred and desire at Tian Jue's place.

  Ice lotus! In his eyes, I'm just the spoils of war he exchanged for his most beloved woman! An item that should have belonged to Long Yunya! I gritted my teeth. Sat up, slender fingers pointing at the door outside, softly saying, "Get out!"

  He stood there for a moment, silent and still, then turned and walked away! Bang! The sound of the door closing almost made one jump! He's gone!

  Stroking the slightly visible belly, the skin under my hand suddenly hardened! Paused for a moment. It's the baby! The baby in the belly felt my emotions! Dragon boy! He called him Dragon boy!

  Tomorrow is the imperial harem selection, all the princes will also choose their own consorts, including him! Long Yunya! It's strange that the men of the Shenlong tribe have such a habit! The emperor cannot get married, and other princes are not allowed to get married either! This is also the reason why I saw them alone when I met them!

  But the Emperor can only ascend to the throne after sitting on it! So, as long as the old Emperor does not abdicate, the new Emperor cannot ascend to the throne! Long Nuyue's marriage was likely because he already knew that the old Emperor's life was not long. This kind of man, if he were in the imperial palace, by the old Emperor's side without any spies, I would never believe it!

  What's more, his eyes and ears knew that the old emperor was already dead! Before the old emperor pretended to die, he had already known the news, so he wanted to marry me! Who would have thought that the old emperor hadn't died after all? The chosen imperial consort should have followed the old emperor's greatness and become an empress, but because the old emperor didn't die, I could only be a ordinary concubine!

  As for his other children, they are among the ranks of Long Yunya. Since he has a mind to usurp power, he must have arranged for informants by the old emperor's side. However, they do not reveal their true intentions and if that is indeed the case, then the hearts of these few people are truly too deep!

  I suddenly feel very cold. Is winter approaching?

  On the second day, outside the small courtyard, gongs and drums shook the sky, a joyful atmosphere filled the air, and the sound of peeling and knocking echoed outside the door. The palace maid, Xiaoyu, softly said, "Your Highness! The Emperor has ordered me to bring you new court attire. Please get dressed and ready, then head to the Taiji Hall!"

  I frowned and shouted, "Come in and put things away properly. Tell the Emperor that I will go!" And I will go in the most beautiful way! I know Yun Ya and his brothers will all show up, no matter who they are for, as long as someone is watching, it's fine!

  The palace maid pushed the door, holding a bright red phoenix-patterned dress in her hands, with a box of hair accessories on top. She raised an eyebrow and hummed coldly, thinking that men indeed care about appearances, even if it's a pregnant concubine, she still has to dress up to look this good!

  The maid put the things on the table, and a cold smile spread from the corner of her lips. I opened the rosewood brocade box and frowned secretly. The bright red clothes matched with snow-white pearls are naturally the most beautiful. It's just that in order to stand out among so many beauties, it was easy before pregnancy, but after pregnancy, there is no such confidence! Although the clothes are the most striking red, they inevitably add a layer of doubt!

  She put on her clothes, slightly hooked her lips, took out the needle and thread, and took out the disheveled night pearls. Two pearls with a small green jade bead in between, alternating white and green, making it look so noble and extraordinary! She simply wore the pearl necklace around her neck. The person in the mirror looked elegant and refined! It completely hid my fiery personality!

  Now looking at the pearl necklace is nothing special, just ordinary pearls, but when it gets dark, it will show its difference!

  I smiled calmly, and just this string of pearls is the big belly, I also want to be the most beautiful among all flowers! Attracting everyone's eyeballs!

  In the grand Taiji Hall, the gloom of that day was gone, and hundreds of beauties stood inside. Each wore clothes of different colors, hoping to stand out among them and be chosen by Emperor Long as one of his concubines! Some even hoped to become his Empress! Others were waiting for the princes' favor, if Emperor Long didn't choose them, but was favored by the various princes, they would suddenly become rich and noble, becoming the prince's main consort, also a good thing!

  Long Nuyue sat in the first place, with Long Yunque and others sitting next to him. I slightly opened my lips and smiled faintly. The palace staff saw me get into a green soft sedan chair and loudly shouted, "The Dragon Queen has arrived!"

  As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed. The person at the top slightly raised an eyebrow but remained silent, I puffed out my belly and assumed a pregnant woman's posture. Slowly waving my handkerchief, I walked towards the first seat. Along the way, I received countless admiring and envious glances. When I arrived in front of the throne, I slightly bowed my head and softly said, "Greetings to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"

  Long Nu Ya seemed to have just woken up from the shock of seeing me, and after a while, he raised his voice and said, "The queen is carrying the heavy responsibility of giving birth to the dragon kind, hurry up and get up! Don't overexert yourself!"

  He said, Ai Fei! My lips twitched involuntarily. Slowly getting up, but suddenly "ah" a sound, dizzy in front of my eyes, fell to the ground! The kings beside me all stood up, wanting to come forward and support me, but it was not good to overstep. Long Nu Jiang quickly flew down from the dragon seat, wrapped his arms around my waist, and repeatedly asked, "What's wrong? Ai Fei! Are you unwell?"

  I weakly rubbed my temples, and after a while, I said in a low voice, "Your Majesty! Ah! Since I became pregnant, my body has not been as good as before! The child is unexpectedly troublesome!"

  He raised an eyebrow, staring at me in confusion, as if he didn't recognize me. I smiled calmly, "Ah! Your Majesty, don't delay the selection of the imperial concubine because of me!" My charming eyes locked onto his, gazing at him intently.

  He smiled calmly, the corners of his lips slightly raised, staring at me with an air of indifference, saying, "The queen is not feeling well, yet she still comes to attend my harem selection ceremony, it's truly touching!" After that, he scooped me up in one swift motion and strode towards the dragon throne!

  The people below suddenly shouted out, never had any concubine been able to sit on the dragon chair! I leaned against him weakly, and his thick chest was surprisingly warm. This way, it's even more dazzling than all the gold, jewels, and jade! A triumphant smile appeared at the corner of my lips, disdainfully staring at a group of beauties, but also caught sight of Dragon Cloud Brook's pale face!

  At this time, his long hair had turned completely white, and even his eyebrows were surprisingly white. He was wearing a white dragon robe, representing the White Dragon Tribe's patriarch, King Wang, sitting in the great hall, looking as if he could be blown away by the wind at any moment!

  A faint heartache, it's only been a short while, and he's ended up like this! If only I had chosen him back then, if only I had chosen him back then! My nose slightly sour, I couldn't speak for a moment!

  Turning his head, he whispered, "Your Majesty, I think the third daughter of the White Dragon Clan is quite good! Let's take note of her and use her later!"

  Long Nu's face was slightly cold, and his hand on my waist tightened slightly as he said in a low voice, "No need for the beloved concubine to trouble herself!"

  I smiled slightly, turned my head to face the main hall, and shouted loudly, "The third daughter of the White Dragon tribe, the emperor praises you for being elegant and intelligent, looking like a beautiful orchid! She is specially granted the title of Xiufei! Live in Yulan Garden!"

  The woman who was called out was overjoyed and didn't know what to do, so she just took a few steps forward, knelt down, and replied loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Empress!"

  Long Nu Ya's body stiffened, his breathing grew rapid, as if he was about to erupt, but endured without making a sound. After a while, he raised his voice and said, "Get down! It was recommended by the princess, if you want to thank someone, thank the princess!" His tone unconsciously became aggressive, scaring the woman so much that she didn't know what to do!

  I couldn't bear it, so I spoke softly and said, "Get up! Little sister! From now on, you and I will call each other sisters until I give birth to a child!"

  The woman's face turned red with shame, and after a while, she bowed her head and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for promoting me!" After speaking, she stood up, left the nameplate on her body to the palace maid beside her, and carefully retreated to one side.

  "That's the second name of the Green Dragon Clan, and the fifth name of the Black Dragon Clan. Come forward to receive your title!" Long Nuyue said casually, I didn't speak, it seems he has regained control.

  Her eyes slightly turned towards Long Yunjiao, but saw him lowering his head, staring at the teacup in front of him, speechless and silent, as if considering something.

  Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart, and even the good appetite that could eat ten people's portions disappeared! Sitting next to Longnuyue was like sitting on pins and needles! How did I think of this move just now?! I gritted my teeth in hatred. Turning back, I saw that Longnuyue's lips were slightly raised, his mood obviously extremely good!

  What's he so happy about! Is he happy that he chose so many beauties?! My hand silently stretched to his back, pretending to wrap around him, but fiercely pinched him. He remained calm and composed, the smile at the corner of his lips grew even bigger! He reached out one hand to grab mine on his waist, tightly grasping it, not letting me move.

  The sound of a cup shattering beside my ear made me pause, and I quickly lifted my head to see Long Yunya's pale face, his eyes staring blankly at our hands. From his angle, it looked like we were holding hands behind his back!

  Although it was indeed hand in hand, it was far from what he thought! With a slight force, wanting to shake off his big hand, but being held even tighter. Long Nuyue coldly said, "Come on! Hurry up and change the new tea set for Prince White Dragon, what are you waiting for? Yunyue! Which woman do you fancy, just say it! Or, did you fancy the woman I just chose? You should know that once a woman is sealed as a concubine, she can no longer be your main wife! Yunyue, with so many beauties, can't you just choose one?"

  Long Yu Ya suddenly jumped up, not following the rules, "How can this be! Your Majesty is too biased, why didn't you let us choose first? Why did you have to let Yun Ya choose first and say it was settled?! To be my official wife, not being able to drink wine won't do! Not being able to cook also won't do!"

  Long Nu's expression eased, and he shouted, "Enough! Bring a jar of wine for each of the beauties who stayed behind. Let's all drink together. Whoever gets drunk first will be excused, and whoever doesn't get drunk can choose. Yu Ya, what do you say?"

  "He snorted, 'No way, how can you not cook?! What if I want to drink in the middle of the night? Wouldn't that be a disaster?' He wailed, his pretty doll-like face filled with discontent."

  "You're supposed to be a princess, who's going to cook for you? Can't you cook yourself if you want to eat? With an appetite like yours, having Long Rui and Er Ge is enough, no need for everyone to cook!"

  Others also said in unison, which princess still wants to cook by herself? Just be responsible for eating!

  He scratched his head, staring at me blankly, "It seems like you've said it all! Alright! Let's just go with what the Empress wants then! Empress, you can choose one yourself!"

  I raised my eyes, smiling calmly, and pointed to a certain doll-faced woman in the White Dragon tribe. As soon as she saw me pointing at her, she became flustered, wishing she could dig a hole in the ground. "It's her! The king is greedy for good food and has a doll-like face, this woman looks very similar to the king when I see her. Isn't this proof that they are from the same family? If the king is with her, he will definitely be happy!" I also sincerely hope they can be happy!

  The woman's face turned red, and it wasn't until after a while that she realized she had been appointed as the Dragon King's consort. She then hastily knelt down and exclaimed loudly, "I understand! I understand!"

  Long Yu's eyes stared blankly for a moment before he shouted loudly, "What did you find out?!"

  The woman knew she had misspoken and quickly changed her words, "I know I've already been chosen as your concubine!"

  As soon as she finished speaking, everyone burst out laughing! What did she know? Who would have such a sharp tongue? With such a temperament, paired with the straightforward Long Yuyan, they can be considered a perfect match!

  Long Yu saw her like this, pursed his lips and said loudly, "The queen's eyes are really good!"

  "I think so too! Why don't you choose one for me instead? Then I'll grant you a wish!" Long Lie Yan smiled eerily, his face more beautiful than a woman's, with a faint flush. A man like him was bound to be a calamity!

  Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Choosing a consort for the fierce king is not an easy task! One must choose a woman with exceptional martial arts skills!" With a slight raise of my chin, I loudly declared, "Among you, who are practitioners of martial arts? Come forth and let's settle this with a fight to decide who will be the fierce king's official consort!"

  The beauties exchanged glances, now that the Dragon Emperor had finished selecting his consorts. If they didn't seize this opportunity, they would be sent back to their hometowns! But if they showed off their skills, there were still seven more princes in line, and then there wouldn't be another chance! Several of the women carefully took a step forward.

  "Why give me a wife with kung fu skills? My kung fu is not good, when the time comes and we fight as husband and wife, I won't be able to beat her, isn't that just asking for ridicule?" Long Lie said discontentedly.

  He looked him up and down, and judging from his build, it was likely that he would lose to the bride. I couldn't help but want to laugh, "But Prince Wang, if Princess Wang doesn't know martial arts, what about the jealous tigress of a mother-in-law in the prince's residence? Would she beat the princess to death?"

  "What a vinegar-drinking mother of a tiger! You think you're the emperor's woman and carrying his dragon seed, so you can be so arrogant? Who dares to arrange her marriage! I'll kill her first!" The princess rushed in, a 18-year-old girl wearing a bright green dress, holding two specially-made kitchen knives, with such fierce momentum that even the guards at the door couldn't stop her!

  I covered my mouth and smiled secretly, asking in a low voice, "Liu Wangye, who is that woman?"

  The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he said in a low voice, "She's just a concubine! No need to remember her!"

  She heard this, loudly shrieking, "You're a good one, Long Lieya! You actually said I'm just a concubine! Good, good, good! When you were in Fengguo, going to fight with others over women was already bad enough, now you've even come to choose a main wife for me! Long Lieya! Do you deserve me!" After speaking, she picked up the kitchen knife and charged forward.

  Long Nuyue had told me before that Long Lieyue's family had a concubine who loved to eat vinegar, and it turned out to be her? I smiled calmly, such a true and natural woman, is actually to my taste! No wonder he asked me to help him choose a concubine, it turns out he was afraid of this tigress going on a rampage!

  Long Lieya took a step back, his face pale with defeat. "In the Taiji Temple, you dare to be so presumptuous! Who gave you the audacity? Don't you fear being put to death by the Dragon Emperor?"

  The woman let out a loud wail and cried, "I'm not afraid! You chose the main wife, I'd rather die than suffer like this! It's better to be killed by someone else and still have a heroic death!" After she finished speaking, she knelt down and urgently said to Long Nuoye, "Your Majesty, I was originally just a cook in Lie Wangye's mansion. Because I fell in love with this man, I forced him to take me as his concubine! He once said that the Dragon Emperor would not marry, they could not establish a main wife! I've been resentful and gritting my teeth all along! But now, he can actually establish a main wife! Who would have thought that it would be among these women?! I'm furious! I'm indignant! In a moment of impulse, I rushed into the Taiji Hall! Please grant me death, Your Majesty!"

  Long Nu furrowed her brow, just about to speak, when I took over the conversation and said loudly, "So that's how it is! Lie Wangye, with such a virtuous and beautiful wife at home, why must you still go out and flirt with other women? This kind of behavior is truly chilling to all the beauties present! Any woman with conscience and integrity would not compete with such an infatuated woman for her husband's affections. Isn't that right?" My gaze swept around the circle of beautiful women.

  The crowd heard me say so and didn't dare come out to fight, they all retreated.

  I smiled calmly, "So, the rightful queen of King Lie has already been chosen!"

  Long Nu sneered coldly, "Is that so? But her status is too lowly. If someone of this status were to become the official consort, Second Brother would be ridiculed by others!"

  The woman's face was deathly pale, her tears like pearls that had been cut off, crying so hard that she couldn't be recognized as the same woman who had just charged into the Taiji Hall with two knives in hand! "Is it? Will I be ridiculed by others? Ah, Lian! So you never intended to make me your official wife because of this reason? Fine, fine, fine! How can I bear to see the man I love being ridiculed? Ah, Lian! Sorry, I won't let you be ridiculed! Thank you for your kindness, Guagua understands in her heart! For as long as she lives, she will remember it! But since she and Lian are not fated to be together, she can only leave!" After saying this, she slammed the knives on the ground, stood up carelessly, and walked away with a swaying gait.

  Long Lie's face suddenly turned iron-green, and he fell silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I'll take my leave first!" After that, he picked up the two kitchen knives that the woman had thrown to the ground and sprinted off in the direction she had left!

  Looking at the back of the two, I couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. Throughout history, how many men and women who truly loved each other were unable to be together due to their social status, ultimately becoming an eternal regret. "Your Majesty, grant them permission to marry!" I said softly, overcome with sadness!

  He stared at me for a moment, carefully gazing into my eyes. Seeing that I didn't speak, he raised his voice after a while and said, "Forget it! Since you're a loving couple, how can I be the one to separate you? Let's just do this then. Get married!"

  "Yun Ya, I originally gave you the first choice, who would have thought that until now, you still haven't made a decision! Alright! Hurry up and choose one that suits your heart as the official consort! If not, I'll have to let your imperial sister arrange a marriage for you!" Long Nu Ya said half-threateningly.

  He slightly raised an eyebrow, stood up obediently, took a few steps forward, and his eyes scanned me without any doubt or difficulty. Without pausing, he said in a low voice, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  That one sentence shattered my heart! I trembled all over, watching him walk step by step towards the beautiful women, my whole body screaming, don't go! Don't go! You are mine! You are mine alone!

  The slender figure in white, however, seemed not to have heard my call, standing amidst the beauties of various colors, smiling calmly, carefully examining each one, as if truly intending to choose a satisfactory one.

  Long Nuyue's face turned iron-green, and the hand placed on my waist involuntarily tightened.

  Every beauty saw Long Yunya's appearance and straightened their posture one by one.

  Halfway through the walk, Long Yun stopped beside a woman in yellow clothes and smiled faintly at her, lifting her chin slightly and turning back to us. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, is this the one? Is it okay?"

  My heart is extremely cold, and my eyes are slightly closed! He has a legitimate wife now! He has a legitimate wife now!

  "As long as you like it, that's all that matters!" Long Nuyue curled up her lips and smiled contentedly.

  The eunuch stood up straight and bowed his head, "Thank you Your Majesty! Thank you Your Highness!"

  I feel like all the strength in my body has been sucked out of me, he calls me "wife"! My body trembles involuntarily.

  The beauty in yellow clothes slightly smiled, and swiftly drew out the short sword from her waist. Before anyone could react, she stabbed it into Long Yunya's back! Long Yunya then fell like a leaf in the wind, his hand slightly reaching towards me, but his mouth was filled with a large amount of blood. He just fell down like that, and didn't move again!