TL: Hua
At night, Pei Xiting leaned back in a bamboo chair, flipping through the storybook.
Chief Lu’s writing style was surprisingly direct and wild, making the first volume, “First Meeting at the Government Office, Emotions Secretly Born,” sizzling hot. With a total of about ten thousand words, Yang Pei and Xi Zong occupied at least half of the content, including desk play, bookshelf play, behind-the-door standing play, and outdoor pavilion play. The language was blunt, making Pei Xiting blush hotly. He couldn’t imagine what Chief Lu was actually thinking about while working in the document building every day.
Yuan Fang, munching on a steamed bun, peeked in from outside and said, “Are you in heat?”
Pei Xiting snapped back to reality, looked up, and glared. “You’re the one in heat!”
“I’m perfectly fine, unlike you, smiling like…” Yuan Fang struggled for words, shook his head, and left. “Go look in the mirror yourself.”
Hearing this, Pei Xiting got up and went to the dressing table. He saw his face, with flushed brows and eyes brimming with a spring-like ardor.
Pei Xiting stared blankly at himself in the mirror, then suddenly slammed the storybook onto the dressing table in frustration. He rushed out and said, “Boil water, I want to take a bath!”
Yuan Fang drawled, “Got it.”
Pei Xiting started to pick a fight. “I want to bathe right now, immediately!”
Yuan Fang walked over, dragged Pei Xiting into the kitchen, and prepared to throw him into a pot to fulfill his wish of bathing right away.
Pei Xiting, of course, didn’t want to be thrown into a pot. He struggled fiercely by the stove, twisting his arms and kicking his legs to escape from the “demonic claws.” In their playful scuffle, they got too close, and things went awry—
Pei Xiting haphazardly brushed against Yuan Fang’s thigh. As a man, Yuan Fang naturally sensed Pei Xiting’s “excitement” in that area. He quickly let go of him, stepped back two paces, and covered his forehead, saying, “You still won’t admit it!”
“…” Pei Xiting was slightly embarrassed but stiffened his neck and said, “It’s not for you!”
“Did I say it was because of me?” Yuan Fang knew perfectly well who it was for and couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Then he reached out and pulled away Pei Xiting, who was sprawling on the stove. “Move aside, I’ll boil water for your bath.”
Pei Xiting mumbled “Oh” and sat on a small stool nearby, his face sullen, completely withdrawn.
Yuan Fang skillfully lit the fire to boil water, glanced at him, and said, “Alright, tomorrow I’ll get you some medicine to cool down.”
It’s all your fault,” Pei Xiting condemned Yuan Fang, who lacked emotional intelligence. “In this situation, you should have pretended you didn’t notice anything.”
Yuan Fang snorted, saying, “Dare to be in heat and not let people talk about it?”
“Who’s in heat? I’m a normal man, and I don’t believe you’re always calm as still water—if you are, you’re practically a heaven-chosen eunuch saint! I’ll send you to the palace tomorrow!” As his words landed, Pei Xiting stood up and ran, barely dodging Yuan Fang’s “demonic claw” that aimed to drag him into the pot.
That night, Pei Xiting appropriately relieved himself, took a refreshing bath, felt revitalized, and guessed that his “heat” had probably subsided. So, with a calm mind, he lay down to sleep.
Perhaps he was tired from the day, but Pei Xiting’s sleep was unusually “deep.” He felt something pressing on him, making it hard to breathe.
“Don’t press me, get off…”
Pei Xiting frowned and cursed softly, but his neck was gripped. The force was neither light nor heavy; it wouldn’t hurt him, but it absolutely wouldn’t allow him to escape either.
He reached up to grasp the shackles on his neck but touched warm, strong finger bones. The sensation was very familiar… Who was it?
“Who are you telling to get off?”
A cold, pleasant voice sounded close to his cheek, like a snake’s tongue licking Pei Xiting’s earlobe. He suddenly opened his eyes and met a pair of eyes as black as the sea.
The Crown Prince gazed steadily at him, his unbound hair falling around Pei Xiting’s face like a cage made of black silk. Pei Xiting felt even weaker, panting slightly as he said, “Get off, mm…”
The hand on his neck tightened. Pei Xiting grunted and arched his head, hitting the headboard. He struggled on all fours but then heard the jingle of bells. Only then did he realize his hands and feet had been handcuffed to the bed frame at some point.
The Crown Prince seemed to have transformed into something demonic, his eyes surging with inky waves, as if he wanted to devour him. Pei Xiting became timid but refused to beg for mercy, only pressing his lips tightly together. However, the Crown Prince pressed closer, allowing no refusal.
Noses brushed, breaths mingled. Pei Xiting was intoxicated by the cold bamboo fragrance that enveloped him.
Beneath the Crown Prince’s cold, restrained facade was a fierce, greedy ocean of desire. Once unleashed from the cage, it became endless. Pei Xiting plunged into it, being recklessly crashed into, with ups and downs that never stopped and lasted for a long time.
When Pei Xiting opened his eyes and woke up, all the bones in his body felt soft, as if he had truly engaged in a vigorous session. He lay stunned for a while, then reached out and tugged the bell by the bedside.
Yuan Fang pushed the door open, walked to the bed, and looked at Pei Xiting. “Why are you sweating so much?”
Pei Xiting didn’t answer the question but said absentmindedly, “Please take leave for me. Tell them I’m not feeling well and won’t be going to the government office today.”
His voice was hoarse, he was drenched in sweat, and his eyes were slightly red, looking as if he had just been bullied. He indeed didn’t look well. Yuan Fang didn’t ask further, simply saying, “Breakfast is in the pot,” and left for the government office.
Pei Xiting reached out to wipe off some sweat, then rolled over and burrowed into the thin quilt, letting out a sigh of relief.
Damn it.
*
In the afternoon, the Crown Prince entered the palace to pay his respects to the Empress.
Empress Qu was pulling Qu Zhao to look through a beauty catalog. Seeing the Crown Prince arrive, she immediately beckoned him, saying, “You’ve come at just the right time. The list was just delivered. You can also help Rui’er pick out a suitable young lady to be the princess.”
Qu Zhao turned and bowed. The Crown Prince excused him, then stepped towards the long scroll of beauties. He merely glanced at it, then turned and sat on the couch, saying, “This is a matter for King Ning’s mansion; why trouble yourself with it?”
“Fifth Brother and his wife specifically asked me!” Empress Qu glared at the Crown Prince in annoyance. “Not everyone is like you, without the least bit of worries!”
Qu Zhao smiled and said, “His Highness doesn’t even have enough time to worry about state affairs.”
“Isn’t a royal marriage a major affair? Besides, I don’t believe he’s only worried about official matters every day and never thinks of anything else for a moment,” Empress Qu said.
The palace maid presented hot tea. The Crown Prince took it and said calmly, “You have the heart, but if the chosen person doesn’t suit Fushu’s wishes in the end, won’t it all be for naught?”
Empress Qu rolled her eyes. “If Rui’er cared, would I need to worry? I heard from Fifth Brother that they’ve mentioned it several times, and Rui’er always gives them the ‘whatever you want’ look, not caring about his own marriage at all. In that case, it’s natural for us, as elders, to plan for him.” Qu Zhao’s eyes turned, and he said, “Auntie, something’s not right here.”
Empress Qu asked, “What’s not right?”
“Perhaps it’s not that Prince Ning is indifferent, but rather it’s a delaying tactic, not wanting to get married at all?” Qu Zhao opened the folding fan and pondered, “With Prince Ning’s temperament, King Ning and the queen don’t dare to push him too hard, yet they can’t let him keep stalling either. So, they turned to you to arrange a marriage.”
“Ah,” Empress Qu pondered and said, “So I’m being used as a tool?”
Qu Zhao said, “A marriage bestowed by the Empress is a great honor, but I fear if the wrong person is chosen, you’ll feel uneasy.”
Empress Qu also came to her senses, saying, “Yes, I should ask Rui’er first… By the way, aren’t you two often together? Does he have a girl he likes?”
“No girls, the prince doesn’t usually associate closely with women,” Qu Zhao said.
“Then does he associate closely with men?” Empress Qu held Qu Zhao’s wrist and smiled slightly. “Whose child is it?”
Qu Zhao had no intention of revealing Qing Lingling’s name and smiled, “No men either.”
“Oh,” Empress Qu paused, then asked, “Then does Fuchuan usually associate closely with any young ladies or gentlemen?”
When the conversation abruptly shifted to him, the Crown Prince’s hand, holding the teacup, paused. He heard Qu Zhao say, “Don’t you already know all the people around His Highness?”
“Can’t get anything out of you!” Empress Qu released Qu Zhao’s hand, gathered her skirts, and sat beside the Crown Prince, slapping the table. “Why are your marriages all so late? Can I see you getting married before I’m buried?”
The Crown Prince was the first to speak, “Don’t place your expectations on me; you’ll be disappointed.”
“What do you mean?” Empress Qu looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief. “You don’t want to now, but I won’t even see it before I die?”
The spearhead of the conversation was now focused solely on the Crown Prince. Qu Zhao, observing quietly, stood by and watched the show.
The Crown Prince said, “Mm.”
Empress Qu stared at the Crown Prince and said, “During this time, my mindset has broadened considerably.”
“Congratulations,” the Crown Prince said.
Empress Qu took a deep breath and said, “So, even if you like men, I can accept it. I truly mean it. Don’t hide it from me anymore; tell me, my child, give me an answer.”
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Empress Qu suddenly slapped the table, excitedly saying, “You hesitated! You wavered!”
“…” The Crown Prince closed his eyes. “I was just wondering if I should summon the imperial physician to check your brain.”
“If I need my brain checked, then you need your body checked, you good-for-nothing,” Empress Qu said. “Many people your age are already fathers!”
The Crown Prince said calmly, “There are also many people my age who are already laid to rest.”
Empress Qu angrily poked the crown prince’s arm and turned to grab Qu Zhao’s hand, “Zhao’er, why doesn’t he like any of these talented and beautiful men and women?”
Qu Zhao wouldn’t dare stand on her side and urge the Crown Prince to take a consort. He could only pat her shoulder and comfort her, “Fate cannot be forced, Aunt.”
“If I don’t force it, he’s truly going to become a monk.” Empress Qu sobbed, holding Qu Zhao’s arm, occasionally glancing at the Crown Prince. His cold and indifferent profile nearly made her gasp for air. “When I think of decades from now, you, with white hair, will be alone and lonely; it makes me feel sad. I’m afraid you won’t even be able to live comfortably underground.”
The Crown Prince kindly comforted her, “Please don’t worry; perhaps I won’t live to old age.”
“What are you saying!” Empress Qu turned to scratch the Crown Prince’s arm. “Don’t say such unlucky things. Shut up, shut up, shut up!”
The Crown Prince indeed stopped speaking.
“I’m not talking to you anymore!” Empress Qu unilaterally broke off relations with the Crown Prince and turned to Qu Zhao. “Do you remember that child who painted for you at the Qixia Banquet last time?”
The Crown Prince’s hand, adjusting his teacup lid, paused almost imperceptibly. Qu Zhao said, “Are you talking about Pei Xiting?”
“That’s him,” Empress Qu said. “Yesterday your mother came to the palace and said that your little sister Zhen has taken a liking to that child. She wants me to consider whether to approve this marriage.”
The Crown Prince caressed his teacup, guessing that Empress Qu was perhaps too idle, always thinking of playing matchmaker. It was harmless, but unfortunately, her judgment was poor and her ability insufficient for the task.
Objectively speaking, Qu Zhen’s lively personality wasn’t suited for Pei Xiting.
