The Female Alpha Consort Mistakenly Marks the Empress - TFACMME Chapter 29

“It seems I’ll have to give you everything before you’ll give up,” Mu Lanshi smiled softly, a warm happiness spreading through her heart.

Qi Yingzhu’s face showed pride. “Isn’t that how it should be? Didn’t you say you’d take care of me?”

Mu Lanshi stroked her soft hair ends, her voice muffled as she said, “Hmm, isn’t this taking care?”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t reply but started to fiddle with her front clothes, pulling them aside, wanting to see more—

Young Lady Mu’s face wasn’t pale, but what was wrapped beneath her clothes was uncertain.

Mu Lanshi noticed, but let Qi Yingzhu continue.

She then slowly leaned down and, doing the same as Qi Yingzhu, gently licked her earlobe, asking, “Then, mate, do you like Lanshi a little more now?”

Her hand rested on the soft flesh at her waist, almost certain of the answer.

There was no way she would refuse; a moment ago she was asking for people after all. Besides, Qi Yingzhu had just said the right bird chooses the right tree.

Unexpectedly, Qi Yingzhu lifted her watery apricot eyes, staring at Mu Lanshi for a long time.

Sunlight spilled on her delicate face, the fine fuzz decorated with gold specks.

Her eyes were clear, lips parted, saying, “Secret.”

Secret? Mu Lanshi laughed at the word. She was asking her for people, but didn’t even flatter her plainly with how much she liked her.

What a sly rabbit.

“Oh, it’s a secret,” Mu Lanshi said lightly, her hand still gliding over Qi Yingzhu’s soft waist, stirring a ticklish sensation. “Then whether Lanshi’s people can be borrowed is also a secret.”

Qi Yingzhu’s expression changed slightly but steadied, continuing softly, “But I already said it’s a secret…”

Since it’s a secret, it definitely wasn’t the same answer as last time.

Mu Lanshi leisurely said, “Lanshi is slow and stupid, can’t understand what ‘secret’ implies. What if mate actually dislikes Lanshi even more? Then what?”

“Aiya…” Qi Yingzhu was annoyed. She knew Mu Lanshi wanted to force her to say she liked her, but she just felt inexplicably shy. “Why do you think that of me?”

Mu Lanshi bent her head, warm breath on Qi Yingzhu’s ear, smiling softly, “I’m not thinking much, why did mate suddenly get anxious?”

She called her mate, and she didn’t resist that name.

Qi Yingzhu’s small face fell, she hummed, “Doesn’t matter, you just promised me.”

This lustful one. She made a deal to spend a spring night with her.

Seeing Qi Yingzhu angry and embarrassed, Mu Lanshi understood.

This was breaking the pot and smashing it—shameless to the end.

“When did my mate become so shameless?” Mu Lanshi laughed, kissing her lip corner.

Caught off guard, Qi Yingzhu stammered, “It’s not, not because you led me wrong!”

“Oh, led you to become shameless?”

Before she finished speaking, Qi Yingzhu knew she was trapped again, struggling to pinch Mu Lanshi, saying, “Who’s shameless like you?”

Mu Lanshi kept laughing softly.

“No more laughing,” Qi Yingzhu grew more annoyed, puffing her cheeks, “If you laugh again, that little bit of liking you just said is gone.”

That was indeed a trump card for Mu Lanshi. Hearing Qi Yingzhu say she wouldn’t like her anymore, she slowly stopped smiling, “Okay, I won’t laugh.”

Hmph.

So obedient, no fight at all! Qi Yingzhu was a person with backbone, unlike Mu Lanshi.

So her small face remained tightly frowned, mumbling unhappily.

Seeing her serious and tense expression, Mu Lanshi was interested and purposely teased her: So serious, one kiss and you probably won’t be able to hold it in, right?

—So while Qi Yingzhu was still fuming and sulking, Mu Lanshi bent down to kiss her, saying as she kissed, “Last time you initiated, this time Lanshi initiates, okay?”

The unspoken anger was crushed between their pressed lips and teeth. Mu Lanshi held those lips that always whispered sweet nothings, tasting the uniquely sweet and sticky flavor of Qi Yingzhu’s tongue—osmanthus wine.

Qi Yingzhu was still angry and unprepared for the sudden kiss, so she could only endure.

“Mm… scoundrel…” Qi Yingzhu’s clenched fist hit Mu Lanshi’s shoulder, but her wrist was caught. Mu Lanshi’s loose hair brushed her neck, carrying the orchid scent into her collar, sparking a small shiver down her spine.

When she pried open Qi Yingzhu’s teeth, Mu Lanshi took the chance to chew on the word “scoundrel” mixed with the tea aroma and swallowed it. At this moment, the sunset broke through clouds, gilding Qi Yingzhu’s eyelashes, then brushed Mu Lanshi’s nose, tickling to a quiver in the heart.

This person seemed too skilled at kissing.

She was clearly the one being kissed, but in the turns and twists, she became the one holding Mu Lanshi’s lips. Yet her initiative also seemed born from Mu Lanshi’s.

She could only think Mu Lanshi kissed so well.

Wanting to resist but unable, she just followed the wandering tongue, letting herself be kissed, kissed wherever.

How could she be so good at kissing! Like she had lots of experience!

When their lips parted, pulling silver threads, Mu Lanshi finally let go of Qi Yingzhu, wiping her moist lip corner with a thumb. “Mate, why hold your breath?”

She said, sliding her finger along the jaw to the pulsing neck vein, softly, “It’s not the first time we’ve been this close…” then suddenly bit her earlobe gently, “How does Lanshi’s lip balm taste?”

After being kissed thoroughly and learning the art of kissing, now she was being teased!

Qi Yingzhu blushed and turned her head, showing her neck stained with light sweat.

Angry, angry, angry!

Outside the window, the noise never stopped, loud and bustling. Somewhere a storyteller read aloud, the wooden clapper banging loudly, making this small space feel even hotter.

Mu Lanshi just bowed her head, licking Qi Yingzhu’s ear and throat with wet lips, laughing, “Mate, have you learned how to kiss now? Come find Lanshi to practice more later.”

Her palm moved along the hollow of the waist, sensing the wetness under the robe.

“Shaking so much…” Mu Lanshi suddenly pinched the root of her thigh, “Are you nervous seeing the covert guards? Didn’t you say just now one guard for one night? How about…” Mu Lanshi smiled, her fingers tracing down the spine inch by inch, “one new position for every one night?”

Qi Yingzhu’s face flushed deeply.

Knew it, bullying her!

Qi Yingzhu felt more and more annoyed. She was skilled at kissing, and the reason was clear: she’d practiced with that princess in her past life.

Now she was experienced, and Mu Lanshi teased her like this! The more Qi Yingzhu thought, the angrier she got. Ignoring Mu Lanshi’s lewd words, she suddenly bit her hard.

So hard that blood came.

Mu Lanshi looked at her in pain, not understanding why those words made Qi Yingzhu angry enough to bite her lip.

“I’m getting down.” Qi Yingzhu said gloomily, jumping off Mu Lanshi’s lap.

They had stayed on Mu Lanshi’s lap too long, and the dress was wet.

Sweat, saliva, and sticky… hmm, just a kiss made such a mess?

Her face reddened further, unhappy because Mu Lanshi kissed too well.

“Why did mate bite me?” Mu Lanshi laughed.

Maybe a rabbit in a “hurry” bites? But this bite made no sense.

Qi Yingzhu crossed her arms, humming, “Guess why I bit you? It’s good I didn’t break your skin, so you won’t dare kiss others anymore.”

Mu Lanshi stared at Qi Yingzhu. Sunlight filtered through the gauze window, dusk melting gold, edging her face in gold.

She quickly understood what Qi Yingzhu was angry about.

…She was jealous.

Just a little action made her so jealous. No wonder in the past life she insisted on sulking alone till dead.

Like she drank a big jar of vinegar all by herself, unwilling to share with others.

Mu Lanshi’s eyes softened, immediately trying to make peace, pulling Qi Yingzhu into her arms, saying, “Lanshi doesn’t dare kiss others. After all, I’m raised by mate, how dare I?”

Unexpectedly, she gave up the fight so quickly, and Qi Yingzhu suddenly felt happy again.

She let Mu Lanshi hold her, and the two watched the busy Qinglong Street outside the window, listening to the noise.

“Mate, you’re generous. Please forgive Lanshi, okay?”

Qi Yingzhu always fell for Mu Lanshi’s tricks. A couple of hums and she was happy.

Mu Lanshi’s mouth curved slightly.

Looking at this little ancestor soaked in vinegar, who just turned unhappy because of her, then immediately lowered her head to coax and made this little ancestor happy again.

Qi Yingzhu brushed Mu Lanshi’s hair, winding it a few times around her fingers, awkward but pretending to be proper, asking, “Okay, then tell me, when is your next heat?” After saying that, she was a bit embarrassed but quickly added, “I’m asking as your mate caring for you.”

Not because she wanted anything else.

But the added line wasn’t said confidently at all.

Mu Lanshi saw it all but didn’t point it out. She seriously calculated with Qi Yingzhu, “It should be soon. Besides, today I went to the Qicheng Pavilion and scented myself. I think it’s coming soon.”

Qi Yingzhu nodded, “Mm.”

“What if Lanshi’s heat comes and mate isn’t around?”

Unexpectedly, Qi Yingzhu answered very firmly, “Who says I won’t be?” Then she paused, embarrassed, “You’d better stay by my side, don’t go far.”

Mu Lanshi smiled with eyes curved, “Okay, then I definitely won’t go anywhere.”

Though she said this, both knew the deeper meaning.

The two finally quieted, and the street noise became meaningless. Xu Yuan shouted loudly for a long time, but the man at the center of the storm hadn’t appeared.

Not showing up was fine! Xu Yuan had her own plan. If he didn’t show today, next time she’d catch him all at once! After all, this was what she and Qi Yingzhu had agreed.

Some officers, tired of the couple’s quarrel, came to ask Xu Yuan carefully if she wanted help to find Qi Zhongxuan. Xu Yuan thanked them but stayed, continuing to cry and shout.

Qi Yingzhu and Mu Lanshi finally tidied the room. Seeing the sky growing late, Mu Lanshi wanted to say she’d escort her home, but Qi Yingzhu suddenly turned, lifted Mu Lanshi’s chin with her fingertip, and said softly, “Come back with me.”

“Of course.”

***

Seeing that Xu Yuan was still making a fuss, Qi Zhongxuan grew increasingly irritated, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

This place was where he and his concubine, Mistress Hu, had recently found to live. He originally had no property in the capital. It was only because he had kept this concubine for seven years that he bought real estate—though his real intention was not to keep Mistress Hu in the capital.

The capital was so far from Jiangnan, and he was always thinking about his beautiful main wife. He actually preferred to bring Mistress Hu back somewhere closer to Jiangnan.

But he could not refuse Mistress Hu’s requests, especially since she was pregnant at the time—he had even checked on his two children before—neither had divided into alphas, so it was better to bet on a new one.

So, Qi Zhongxuan agreed to Mistress Hu’s request, bought her a house in the capital, and raised the son she bore. Once, Mistress Hu even told him that their son would surely matured into an alpha when he grew up.

This made Qi Zhongxuan happy for a long time. This was also why he was so certain about arranging the marriage between Qi Nian and Qi Yingzhu.

But now he could not be happy. That Xu Yuan, that wretched woman, had completely lost all the demeanor of a proper lady or head of the household. She even dared to expose his wrongdoing in public!

What was she trying to do? He was a man, the head of the family!

Though now he had no choice but to lower his head, having been beaten and driven out, and now ended up in Mistress Hu’s small courtyard…

Mistress Hu told him to be quiet, so he obeyed. Being a quail was better than going out and being humiliated.

He just could not stand his authority and dignity being trampled on like this. He sighed hundreds of times a day, hoping the matter would quickly end. Was it just because he kept a concubine? What was the big deal? At most, he might be punished for being “undisciplined at home.” What more could happen?

Qi Zhongxuan’s thoughts were simple. So he never wondered why the house in the capital was bought by Mistress Hu, or why she had this little courtyard.

Mistress Hu rubbed her forehead, having calmed this foolish man, then started planning to send a letter to her lord—last year the grass was plentiful, so this year the royal court should have some activity. She needed to send the message back quickly.

But this foolish man happened to have married a fiery woman and had his disgrace exposed on the street…

This made things difficult for her to act. Not only that, she also had to soothe this cowardly, stupid man who sighed hundreds of times daily and wondered what it was all about.

Mistress Hu thought that after sending the letter, she would definitely leave this place.

Just as she was thinking this, the child poked his head out, “Mother, how long will father stay here?”

“I don’t know!” Mistress Hu answered irritably, not even looking at the little boy.

It’s not like he’s flesh off her own body!

***

When Mu Lanshi returned to the Qi family’s temporary residence, it was very quiet; not a single servant was cleaning. She was not surprised since the Qi family was a noble family of Jiangnan, and the recent quarrels between Xu Yuan and Qi Zhongxuan had almost torn this temporarily formed home apart.

Mu Lanshi asked Qi Yingzhu, “Miss, what did you bring me here to see today?”

If it were just to escort her, she could have left at the door. But Qi Yingzhu didn’t. Instead, she had Mu Lanshi follow her inside.

Qi Yingzhu walked a little ahead. Hearing this, she turned around, a profound and mysterious smile at the corners of her eyes and brows: “I’m letting you stay and watch me, consider it a trade for your person.”

“…You can’t deny that,” Mu Lanshi suddenly stepped forward, whispering some ambiguous words in her ear, “Watching and doing are not the same.”

Qi Yingzhu’s ears flushed again. Sometimes she was speechless about this woman. Don’t listen when she often says things that make your ears hot, but when the two were truly alone in the carriage, Mu Lanshi was cool, poised, and self-controlled to an unreachably refined degree.

Noble demeanor…

Qi Yingzhu murmured those words as if she wanted to swallow the four characters with a certain someone, so that she would…

Never dare kiss anyone else again.

“Hey, Miss, you and Young Lady Mu came back together?” Little Mi appeared from somewhere, looking confused but pleasantly surprised at Mu Lanshi and Qi Yingzhu.

Hehehe, she knew there was something going on between the two! But now everyone knew, so Little Mi’s excitement lessened.

Still, she sometimes felt superior: after all, she was the first to know about them! Think about the events at Yushu Pavilion, wasn’t she the first to know?

Having just heard Mu Lanshi’s nonsense, Qi Yingzhu’s cheeks were still flushed, but she walked quickly forward to hide it and asked, “Yes, did you finish your task?”

Little Mi had become very perceptive recently.

Of course, maybe it was because Young Lady Mu was here that she became more insightful. Anyway, hearing her young lady ask, even if the task was finished, she would say she hadn’t finished it.

“No, no, no, I’m going to do it now!” she said, then slipped away.

Mu Lanshi looked at Little Mi’s conscientious back and nodded approvingly: “When Lanshi becomes the head young lady, she will never mistreat this girl.”

Qi Yingzhu looked at her somewhat reproachfully, “My girl, you care too much.”

“Last time Miss did not say that,” Mu Lanshi said casually.

Qi Yingzhu was stumped, her temper flaring again: “Last time was last time!”

Mu Lanshi shrugged and said no more.

Qi Yingzhu originally wanted to take her into a room.

The room was tightly closed. Mu Lanshi wondered whose room it was when a young maid hurried over and whispered, “Younger Miss, are you coming to visit Older Miss?”

It was Qi Nian’s room. Mu Lanshi raised her eyelids slightly.

Qi Yingzhu smiled gently, “Yes, I want to visit my sister. Please open the door for me.”

The maid pursed her lips and nodded. She seemed hesitant but still reminded her, “Younger Miss, Older Miss has been sick and weak these days. Are you sure you want to go in?”

“She’s my sister,” Qi Yingzhu said.

Hearing this, the maid knew she couldn’t stop her and respectfully stepped aside.

***

Pushing open the door, a heavy smell of herbal medicine filled the air. Behind white curtains lay a woman’s figure.

It was Qi Nian.

The last time Mu Lanshi saw her was on the day of her own coming-of-age banquet—she hadn’t expected that in just a few short days, Qi Nian would be bedridden.

“Is your sister awake?” Mu Lanshi looked for a while before finally asking.

Qi Yingzhu shook her head, eyes lowered, tone indifferent: “No, since Xu Yuan quarreled with Qi Zhongxuan, she was frightened and has been lying in bed without getting up.”

So that was the reason? It seemed these “clever people” had pretended to be a model couple well enough at home; otherwise, their eldest daughter would not have been so scared she fell ill after a fight.

“Can she hear us talking?” Mu Lanshi asked, moving closer to the white bed curtains.

Qi Yingzhu glanced at her lazily, “Why, if she can’t hear me, are you going to say something bitter again?”

“You were very nice to me just now. Now that you have what you want, you don’t recognize me?” Mu Lanshi replied calmly. “But I haven’t moved those people in front of you yet.”

Meaning she still had to listen to her, at least not snap at her again.

Hmph. Qi Yingzhu pouted and slowly walked to the bedside.

Mu Lanshi followed behind.

Though just scolded twice, Mu Lanshi felt relaxed. It wasn’t that she had any masochistic tendencies, but because Qi Yingzhu brought her here, it was obviously something important to show her.

Something about her arrangements.

Qi Yingzhu gently lifted the half-lowered white curtain and sat on the edge of the bed, as if sniffing some scent.

Mu Lanshi stood beside her, puzzled, waiting quietly for a while, but Qi Yingzhu made no move. She was about to speak when Qi Yingzhu suddenly pulled a sachet from under Qi Nian’s pillow. The sachet was made with visibly high-quality materials but was not a common style.

“What’s this?” Mu Lanshi asked, curious, leaning closer. “Who gave your sister this sachet?”

Qi Yingzhu slowly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with too much blush, covered with a mysterious expression: “Not who gave my sister this sachet. Someone… accidentally left it here.”

She suddenly lowered her head, removed the hairpin from her hair, opened the sachet, and a rather rough scent hit her nose.

…Not something from Great Qi.

“What’s inside?” Mu Lanshi pressed.

Qi Yingzhu didn’t answer directly but leaned close to her earlobe. Warm breath sprayed over her ear, flickering candlelight danced on the edge of intimacy and ambiguity between them.

“Good stuff.” She said softly, her voice trembling with a sweet laugh, like honey.

Mu Lanshi’s heart trembled without reason.

She recalled Qi Yingzhu’s behavior on the second floor of the teahouse earlier today.

After tidying the sachet, Qi Yingzhu carefully looked at the sleeping Qi Nian again. More accurately, it wasn’t certain she was unconscious.

Her black hair lay smoothly against her neck, obviously carefully groomed daily.

Mu Lanshi leaned beside her, lightly asked, “Are you waiting for your sister to wake?”

Qi Yingzhu stood up and smiled, “No. I’m making sure she won’t wake.”

Mu Lanshi’s eyes darkened sharply.

Interesting.

Qi Yingzhu kept walking forward with her head down. Mu Lanshi still followed but, seeing her determined attitude, wanted to tease her and deliberately stopped heavily, asking, “Wife, why are you walking so fast? Are you in a hurry? Don’t want to stay with Lanshi?”

Qi Yingzhu’s steps paused at those words—she suddenly turned around, smiling brightly at Mu Lanshi.

But the smile on her face didn’t last long. A coldness rose in her eyes as she closed in on Mu Lanshi, pushing her against the door.

Mu Lanshi had not expected Qi Yingzhu to suddenly get close and found herself pressed against the door with her waist against the door panel.

The shadow from the door split them into light and dark halves. Qi Yingzhu looked at Mu Lanshi with a mysterious expression and said, “You still haven’t told me exactly when your heat phase is.”

Her tone was tinged with irritation.

Heat phase?

Mu Lanshi tilted her head, seeing her annoyed expression, and got more excited. “What if I say it’s right now?”

She pulled down her own collar, and the scent of orchid suddenly filled the air.

Unlike the honeyed tone of her face, the skin tightly wrapped beneath Mu Lanshi’s clothes was as white as a crescent moon.

The flickering candlelight made it even more enticing.

“Right now?” Qi Yingzhu was stunned for a moment, then a low laugh rolled out from her throat, “What a ‘now’ indeed.”

Mu Lanshi also smiled. She raised her brow and suddenly straightened—her figure was already taller than Qi Yingzhu’s.

Her long figure loomed over, forcing Qi Yingzhu to keep her eyes glued to her.

“Come,” Mu Lanshi moved closer, the orchid scent growing stronger, “So, mate, do you want to smell it yourself?”

The signal scent of a top-rank alpha in heat was already strong, especially since the two had long been bonded. Sure enough, Qi Yingzhu’s knees suddenly gave out, and she fell into Mu Lanshi’s arms.

The candlelight, the gaze, and the body collided, wrapped in pure white.

Qi Yingzhu clicked her tongue quietly in her heart but stopped caring as well.

—At certain moments, neither she nor Mu Lanshi would show weakness.

Then she hooked her hand around Mu Lanshi’s waist, her fingertips gliding from the jaw down, finally grabbing Mu Lanshi’s hand and placing it over herself.

“The heat phase can also be eased with calming ointment, or you can…” Qi Yingzhu sneered and let her hand wander over the forbidden area, “use me?”