244: Chapter 244 The Rockery in the Imperial Garden: The Princess's Secret Training

The morning sun shone upon the palace, which had been renewed after last night's bloody purge. Dewdrops sparkled in the Imperial Garden amidst the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

The heart-stirring purge in the Golden Hall of Supreme Harmony last night seemed like nothing more than a dream. Apart from a lingering sense of solemn killing intent still hanging in the air, the palace had superficially returned to its usual tranquility.

Xu Chen had, for once, risen early.

After coaxing Wu Mingkong to sleep last night, the female emperor, perhaps because she had shed the burden of a thousand years, slept exceptionally soundly. Xu Chen couldn't bear to wake her, so he slipped out alone to stroll in the Imperial Garden to clear his mind.

"The garden design of this Great Xia palace is quite elegant."

Xu Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, admiring a pond of koi fish, when suddenly a faint yet hurried set of footsteps approached from behind.

The footsteps abruptly halted about ten paces away from him, seemingly hesitant yet brimming with barely contained excitement.

The corner of Xu Chen's mouth lifted. He didn't even need to turn around; the life aura in his spiritual sense, as restless as a fiery phoenix, had already revealed the visitor's identity.

"Since you're here, why hide behind that rockery? Planning to ambush your Great-Grandfather?"

Xu Chen turned around, looking with a half-smile at the Taihu stone rockery not far away.

"Ah..."

A soft, startled cry escaped.

Princess Wu Weiyang peeked out hesitantly from behind the rockery, revealing half her body.

Today, she had clearly taken great care with her appearance.

She was not wearing her cumbersome and formal court attire. Instead, she had changed into a pale pink dress with flowing cloud-patterned sleeves and a water-sleeve design. A moon-white silk ribbon cinched her waist, accentuating her slender, willow-like figure to perfection.

Even more remarkable was the design of the collar, which revealed just a glimpse of her snow-white collarbones. It was neither overly revealing nor frivolous, yet carried a hint of unspoken temptation.

And the alluring curves beneath the fabric, seeming ready to burst forth, trembled slightly with her breathing, showcasing the exceptional natural assets of this Princess.

"Weiyang... Weiyang pays her respects to Great-Grandfather."

Blushing, Princess Wu Weiyang walked towards Xu Chen with small, quick steps, performing a proper curtsy.

However, her large, dewy eyes seemed to have grown hooks, sticking to Xu Chen and refusing to look away.

Last night in the Golden Hall of Supreme Harmony, the heroic image of Xu Chen extinguishing a Saint with a single finger had been permanently etched into her mind.

Even in her dreams last night, they were filled entirely with the figure of this young Great-Grandfather.

Now, actually seeing him in person, her Nine Phoenix Rising Sun Body instantly began to rebel.

That deep-seated yearning from her bloodline made her feel feverish all over. Her legs grew weak, and she couldn't help but want to press herself against Xu Chen and rub against him.

"Great-Grandfather, you... why are you here alone? Where is the Ancestress?"

Princess Wu Weiyang made conversation, her voice soft and sticky as if coquettishly whining.

"Your Ancestress is tired and still resting."

Xu Chen's gaze swept over her body without restraint, finally lingering on her heaving chest as he teased, "But you, dressing up like this so early in the morning... are you waiting here to ambush someone?"

Having her thoughts exposed, Princess Wu Weiyang's face flushed even redder, like a ripe apple.

"Wh-what... no..."

She twisted the silk handkerchief in her hands, her eyes darting around. "Your granddaughter was just... just passing by and thought to come to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers..."

"Oh? Admiring flowers?"

Xu Chen took a step forward, closing in on her.

The supremely yang aura belonging to the Hongmeng Origin Body washed over her, instantly enveloping Princess Wu Weiyang.

"Mmm..."

Princess Wu Weiyang felt a jolt of electricity shoot from her tailbone straight to the crown of her head. Her body trembled, instinctively wanting to retreat, yet she couldn't bear to part with this intoxicating aura.

"If you're here to admire flowers, then why is your heart beating so fast?"

Xu Chen extended a finger, gently lifting her chin, looking at that exquisitely beautiful face. "Or perhaps, it's not the flowers you want to admire, but a person?"

"Great-Grandfather..."

Princess Wu Weiyang looked at the handsome face so close to hers, her breathing becoming rapid, her eyes growing hazy. "Your granddaughter... your granddaughter wants..."

"Wants what?"

Xu Chen pressed with a mischievous smile.

"Wants... wants to ask Great-Grandfather for guidance in cultivation!"

Thinking quickly in her panic, Princess Wu Weiyang found a respectable-sounding excuse. "Last night, Great-Grandfather said my constitution was special. I thought about it all night but couldn't understand, so... I wanted to ask Great-Grandfather to clarify."

"Guidance in cultivation..."

Xu Chen drew out his words, the amusement in his eyes deepening. "That is a proper reason. However, this place has too many eyes and ears. It might not be convenient."

He glanced around. Although there weren't many people in the Imperial Garden at the moment, palace maids and eunuchs occasionally passed by.

"Then... then where should we go?" Princess Wu Weiyang asked nervously.

"I think the inside of that rockery looks good."

Xu Chen pointed to the massive Taihu stone rockery where she had been hiding earlier. "There's a grotto inside, quiet and secluded. Just as you wish, it's a perfect place for 'special training'."

"Ah? Go... go into the rockery?"

Princess Wu Weiyang was stunned for a moment, then immediately grasped the ambiguous implication. Her heartbeat instantly skyrocketed to its limit.

A dignified Princess, going into a rockery with her Great-Grandfather...

This was way too exciting!

"What? Unwilling?" Xu Chen made as if to withdraw his hand. "If you're unwilling, forget it. I'll go back to the palace to accompany your Ancestress."

"Willing! I'm willing!"

Princess Wu Weiyang grabbed Xu Chen's sleeve, afraid he would run away. "As long as Great-Grandfather is willing to teach me, I'll go anywhere!"

"That's a good girl."

Xu Chen took her delicate hand in his and, holding it, strode with her towards the rockery.

The interior of the rockery was a world of its own.

It was a natural grotto formed by several massive Taihu stones. The light was dim, with only a few strands of sunlight filtering through cracks in the rocks, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow.

The noise from outside was cut off. Inside the cave, it was so quiet they could only hear each other's breathing.

Once in this enclosed space, Princess Wu Weiyang grew a bit timid. Leaning against the cool stone wall, watching Xu Chen approach step by step, she was so nervous her palms were sweating.

"Shh."

Xu Chen raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence. "Special training begins now. Focus."

With that, he placed one hand on the stone wall beside Princess Wu Weiyang, effectively trapping her within his embrace in a classic 'kabe-don' move.

"I see your constitution is indeed quite interesting."

Xu Chen's other hand slowly landed on her shoulder, sliding down along the graceful line of her neck. "The Nine Phoenix Rising Sun Body is innately drawn to yang energy. Without the guidance of supreme yang energy, your cultivation will likely remain stuck at the Dragon Transformation Realm, unable to progress an inch."

"Then... then what should I do?"

Princess Wu Weiyang felt the scorching sensation brought by the wandering of that large hand. Her body grew as soft as water, barely supported by the stone wall.

"It's simple."

Xu Chen's fingers traced her collarbone, finally coming to rest on her violently heaving chest, pressing lightly. "You need someone to help you... clear your meridians and infuse yang energy."

"In... infuse yang energy?"

Instantly, countless shameful images flashed through Princess Wu Weiyang's mind. Even the roots of her ears turned crimson.

"Great-Grandfather is just helping you examine your bone structure. Don't think improper thoughts."

Xu Chen said with a serious expression, but the movements of his hands were anything but proper.

He gave a gentle tug.

The moon-white silk ribbon loosened and came undone.

"Ah!"

Princess Wu Weiyang let out a startled cry, instinctively trying to protect her lapels, but Xu Chen easily grabbed her wrist, lifted it above her head, and pressed it against the stone wall.

"Be good. Don't move."

Xu Chen lowered his head, his warm breath spraying against her ear. "This is for your own good. Your bone structure is remarkable. It needs deep development."

At this moment, Princess Wu Weiyang completely gave up resisting.

Or rather, she never wanted to resist in the first place.

The feeling of being forcefully controlled, combined with the restlessness in her bloodline, plunged her entire being into a state of bewilderment.

"Great-Grandfather... I am your great-granddaughter..."

She spoke these words of taboo, yet her body involuntarily arched.

"Now you remember the generational difference?"

Xu Chen chuckled softly, then lowered his head to capture her small mouth in a kiss.

"Mmph!"

Princess Wu Weiyang's eyes widened.

Her first kiss!

This was the first kiss she had guarded for so many years!

Her mind went blank, as if fireworks had exploded.

Xu Chen's kiss was domineering and passionate, instantly prying open her teeth and invading like a conqueror. That rich masculine aura swept over her senses like a storm, causing her to instantly succumb.

"Mmmph..."

Princess Wu Weiyang went from stiff to clumsily responsive. Her hands, now freed, immediately wrapped tightly around Xu Chen's neck. She clung to him as if he were the only lifeline for a drowning person.

Inside the rockery grotto, the temperature rose rapidly.

The rustling sound of clothes rubbing together, accompanied by the blush-inducing, wet smacking sounds, echoed in the dim space.

Xu Chen's large hand slid down her spine, giving a light, firm squeeze on that astonishing curve.

"Mmm-hmm~"

Princess Wu Weiyang trembled all over, letting out a sweet, nasal moan. Tears of physiological response welled up in the corners of her eyes.

This was too much.

Great-Grandfather was simply a scoundrel.

But he was so good at this...

"Can't handle it already?"

Xu Chen released her lips, looking at the young woman in his arms who was already intoxicated and half-undressed.

At this moment, Princess Wu Weiyang's eyes were hazy, her red lips slightly swollen. Her originally fair skin was flushed with an enticing pink hue.

The carefully chosen flowing cloud dress was now in disarray, revealing large patches of snow-white skin and the edge of a pink undergarment.

"Great-Grandfather... I want more..."

She instinctively rubbed against Xu Chen's chest, like an insatiable kitten.

"We can only go this far today."

However, Xu Chen chose this critical moment to stop. He helped straighten her disheveled lapels.

"Ah?"

Princess Wu Weiyang instantly sobered up halfway, her face filled with disappointment and disbelief. "Wh-why?"

After all this, he wasn't going to continue?

The pants were... ahem, the skirt was already messed up!

"Because this is a rockery. The conditions are too crude."

Xu Chen tapped her nose and smiled. "You are the Princess of Great Xia. How could your first time be so casual? Although Great-Grandfather isn't exactly a good man, I can't bear to let you suffer in a place like this."

These words were spoken with great propriety and utmost gentleness.

Princess Wu Weiyang felt her heart melting.

So Great-Grandfather was thinking of her!

He was so gentle! He really loved her!

"Then... then when can we?" She asked eagerly, without a hint of reserve.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the rockery, accompanied by the anxious shouts of a eunuch:

"Princess! Your Highness, Princess! Where are you?"

"Something terrible has happened! An urgent military report from the border, delivered by express relay! The crown prince of the neighboring Da Chu Dynasty has led troops to the border, demanding... demanding your hand in marriage under threat!"

Hearing this, Princess Wu Weiyang's face instantly changed.

Her mood, which had just been immersed in pink bubbles, was instantly doused with cold water.

"What? A forced marriage?"

She hastily straightened her lapels and rushed out of the rockery, her face filled with rage.

"A fool who doesn't know his place, a toad lusting after swan meat? Tell him to get lost!"

After cursing, she immediately turned around, putting on a pitiful expression as she grabbed the sleeve of Xu Chen, who had just walked out:

"Great-Grandfather! Look at this! Just as your granddaughter was about to receive your 'special training', someone dares to cause trouble! You must stand up for your granddaughter! You can't let anyone steal your obedient granddaughter away!"