Of course, Emperor Yongchang's and Thousand Faces' racing hearts were not racing for the same reason.
Emperor Yongchang's lust was pounding wildly.
Thousand Faces' murderous intent was pounding wildly.
One was thinking, Why is my sister-in-law on Kuang Mountain too? Does she want to do that with me in a Daoist temple?
The other was thinking, This fellow has actually fallen into my hands again. Does he want to give me three in a row?
The two, each harboring his own thoughts, shared a glance that seemed to span ten thousand years.
Onlookers such as Xia Xunyang simply could not bear to watch.
He had to speak up to stop them. "Your Majesty, what brings you to Kuang Mountain?"
His words were addressed to Emperor Yongchang.
But Xia Xunyang's gaze turned toward the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang.
He signaled for his Imperial Consort Mother to excuse herself at once.
There are so many people here. What is this, making eyes at each other in full public view?
At least give my father, whose bones have yet to grow cold, a little dignity.
Thousand Faces understood Xia Xunyang's meaning. With delicate, graceful steps, he approached Emperor Yongchang and bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"No need for such ceremony, sister-in-law."
Emperor Yongchang moved to help the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang up.
But Thousand Faces rose on his own, giving Emperor Yongchang no opportunity.
At last, this brought a smile to Xia Xunyang's lips.
It also left Emperor Yongchang with a trace of regret.
Although he had taken the initiative to reject the Princess Consort of the King of Jiujiang last time in the Imperial Palace, that had mainly been because his weakness was temporarily suppressed.
He had come to Jiangzhou intending to mend that weakness.
Once he