HXC Chapter4

It was still a faint gray light outside when Ji Zhen, groggy from sleep, woke up. He rubbed his eyes as he looked at the tall, long figure in the dim light.

 

Shen Yanqing was already fully dressed. He wore a wide, dark blue robe with a pattern of floating clouds and wild cranes. A black silk belt cinched his slim waist, and his dark hair was pulled up in a high bun, topped with a court hat. The early morning sun outside the window cast a soft glow on the elegant lines of his face, as if morning dew were falling on a jade ornament, giving him an ethereal, otherworldly presence.

 

Ji Zhen was mesmerized. He stared at Shen Yanqing’s straight, broad back, and the scenes of last night’s folly flashed in his mind. His cheeks flushed crimson as he hid under the covers.

 

It had been a full seven days since the last time they had been intimate. Shen Yanqing was a very reserved person and wasn’t keen on the matter; it was always Ji Zhen who had to initiate. Ji Zhen had no doubt that if he didn’t take the first step, Shen Yanqing would probably never bother to touch him.

 

He wasn’t entirely shameless, forcing himself to use every trick he had to get Shen Yanqing into bed. It was just that, besides this, he couldn’t find any other way to feel close to him.

 

In Shen Yanqing’s study, the four characters “self-restraint and prudence” were hung in his own handwriting. His actions and conduct followed this principle: he was indifferent to desire, reserved, didn’t meddle in affairs, and stayed out of trouble. He was truly a man of refinement and honor. Even in bed, he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor.

 

Ji Zhen, who was pampered and spoiled by his family, couldn’t endure the slightest bit of hardship. After no more than two times, he would start crying and beg Shen Yanqing to stop.

 

Shen Yanqing wouldn’t get annoyed or angry, nor would he force him. The moment Ji Zhen spoke, he would immediately pull away and leave. Ji Zhen was happy for Shen Yanqing’s consideration, but at the same time, he was saddened that he was the only one falling deeper into this. Whenever they did it, Shen Yanqing would not let him lift his head. His face was half buried in the covers, and if he tried to look back and see the other party’s expression, his neck would be gripped, making it impossible to move.

 

Eventually, he gave up trying, fearing that seeing those cold, impassive eyes would extinguish all his passion.

 

Ji Zhen once heard Xiao Moli say that couples who were deeply in love couldn’t wait to be entwined in bed every day, but Shen Yanqing didn’t have him in his heart, so he naturally treated their marital duties like a task to be completed.

 

The blush on his cheeks faded slightly just as he met Shen Yanqing’s calm gaze. He stopped overthinking and said softly, “Be careful on the road.”

 

It had rained heavily last night, so the roads were likely muddy and hard to navigate today.

 

Shen Yanqing nodded and was about to leave when Ji Zhen suddenly sat up in bed with a hint of anxiety. “My elder brother sent some abalone over the other day. I had the servants stew it. Will you eat some when you get back from work?”

 

Afraid of being refused, he added, like he was presenting a treasure, “It’s excellent abalone.”

 

Shen Yanqing served at the Hanlin Academy as a fifth-rank Hanlin scholar, helping with literary matters and reviewing official policies. He usually got off work in the late afternoon. The triennial imperial civil service exam was approaching, and with so many things on his plate, Shen Yanqing had been returning home in the middle of the evening these days.

 

Ji Zhen watched Shen Yanqing expectantly. After a long moment, the other party gave a very soft “en” in response.

 

He was overjoyed and wanted to say more, but Shen Yanqing had already left the room.

 

Ji Zhen sat on the bed for a while, then remembered he had to greet Mother Shen today. Without a moment’s delay, he called for Ji An to prepare water for washing.

 

Ji An had been waiting outside for a while already. He brought the warm water in and, seeing the smile on Ji Zhen’s face, was happy for his master as well.

 

He had spent many years with Ji Zhen in the Shen Mansion. While Ji Zhen wasn’t truly depressed, his smiles were noticeably rarer than when he lived in the Ji Mansion.

 

His father, Ji Zhong, and elder brother, Ji Jue, loved and even doted on Ji Zhen. Before he was seventeen, it could be said that he got whatever he wanted. Even if he wished to pluck the moon from the sky or retrieve a pearl from the bottom of the sea, his father and elder brother would find a way to make it happen. Yet, after being spoiled all his life, encountering resistance from Shen Yanqing came as a startling shock.

 

The Great Heng Empire was open-minded, and there were precedents for same-sex marriages. However, as soon as Ji Zhen and Shen Yanqing were married, gossip followed. Outsiders said that the empty-headed Ji Zhen was not worthy of the impeccable Shen Yanqing, making him a laughingstock. At first, Ji Zhen would argue with people, but after being mocked so much, he gradually became too lazy to even bother.

 

But Ji An couldn’t bear to hear anyone say a bad word about his master. He didn’t dare offend royalty or nobility, but he would go and argue with commoners.

 

In his eyes, his master hailed from a distinguished family and had been admired for his looks since childhood. Beyond being fit for a top scholar, he was more than worthy of any royal kin.

 

Ji An couldn’t help but think of the young marquis who had been arranged to be married to his master in a childhood engagement. If Ji Zhen hadn’t broken off the engagement back then, Shen Yanqing would have had to bow to Ji Zhen and call him Marchioness. How could a fifth-rank official be so presumptuous?

 

The young marquis, Jiang Yunyu, might have had a bad temper, but he was incomparably handsome and was his master’s childhood sweetheart. If they had married, they would have likely lived in harmony, even if they bickered for a few years…

 

“Ji An, why are you gritting your teeth?”

 

Ji Zhen had just finished washing his face when he saw the brawny Ji An clenching his teeth, looking like he was about to fight someone, which he found amusing.

 

Ji An tossed the wet cloth into the copper basin. “I’m sure that Madam Shen will find some excuse to scold you again.”

 

Ji Zhen also sighed in distress.

 

His father’s use of power to force the marriage had already made the Shen family despise him, but there were a few other things that the Shen parents couldn’t get over.

 

After Shen Yanqing aced the top three exams, General Wang Meng had even arranged a marriage proposal. It was nearly finalized, but Ji Zhen completely ruined it. Moreover, Ji Zhong’s original plan wasn’t for Ji Zhen to marry Shen Yanqing as a male wife, it was to force Shen Yanqing to married into the Ji family.

 

When Madam Shen heard about this, she was so furious she fell ill. Ji Zhen had not only ruined Shen Yanqing’s marriage to the Wang family but also wanted her only son to marry into another family. It was simply too much. The once-joyful Shen family was turned upside down by Ji Zhen. How could she not resent him?

 

Later, it was Ji Zhen who, not wanting to make things difficult for Shen Yanqing, persuaded his father to drop the idea of having him married into the family.

 

After successfully marrying Shen Yanqing, Mother Shen remembered all the wrongdoings Ji Zhen had committed. For three years, she would make things difficult for him from time to time.

 

If it were anyone else, Ji Zhen would never have quietly accepted the scolding, but it was Shen Yanqing’s mother. If he showed any disrespect, he feared it would make Shen Yanqing even more dissatisfied with him.

 

He was the one who had so obsessively pursued Shen Yanqing. Everything he was enduring now was what he deserved.

 

After eating breakfast, Ji Zhen and Ji An went to Mother Shen’s courtyard. All the servants bowed and greeted him along the way, “Young Madam.”

 

As he heard their greetings, and thinking of Shen Yanqing’s promise to have dinner with him, he resolved to let whatever Mother Shen said go in one ear and out the other.

 

The maid went in to announce him, and Madam Shen intentionally kept Ji Zhen waiting. It was about half an hour before he was finally allowed inside.

 

Madam Shen was over forty, and though she was still a beauty, her face was stern and unapproachable.

 

Ji Zhen bowed and said, “Greetings, Mother.”

 

He had never been so respectful, even to his own father. Madam Shen took her time to respond, and he respectfully kept his gaze fixed on his shoes.

 

After a moment, Madam Shen began to speak, repeating the same old platitudes about how a wife should be virtuous and gentle. The words went in one ear and out the other for Ji Zhen. His mind drifted, thinking about how to stew the abalone and what Shen Yanqing was doing right now…

 

Madam Shen called him twice before he looked up, confused. “What did you say?”

 

The woman in charge showed a flash of anger on her face, but she managed to suppress the scolding words and waved a hand at a maid.

 

Several maids holding rolled-up scrolls stood before Ji Zhen. He was puzzled until the scrolls were unrolled, each one containing a painting of a beautiful woman. Some were plump, some slender, and each had her own unique charm.

 

Ji Zhen genuinely loved beautiful people, regardless of gender, and he complimented them sincerely, “Mother, where did you find these paintings? They’re lovely.”

 

He walked around, admiring the portraits. The more he looked, the more he liked them. He was just about to ask Madam Shen for one to take back and appreciate when he heard her say, “You and Yanqing have been married for almost three years. It’s time to get him a concubine.”

 

Ji Zhen was stunned. He looked at Madam Shen. “What do you mean, Mother?”

 

“Yanqing is the only male heir of the Shen family. Of course, we need to have children to bring good fortune. Although you are a daughter-in-law of the Shen family, you are still a man and cannot bear children. Even if your husband doesn’t mention it, you should still know how to act. Since you’re young and inexperienced in these matters, I will make the decision for you.”

 

Ji Zhen had thought he would just listen to the scolding today and everything would be fine, but he hadn’t expected Madam Shen to bring this up. He couldn’t care less about respecting his elder now and retorted, “The Shen family’s lineage is indeed thin. Since you are so concerned with tradition, why don’t you find a few concubines for Father to add to the family’s fortune?”

 

Although he wasn’t a great debater, he could still talk back to anyone except Shen Yanqing, with whom he was willing to get the short end of the stick.

 

At his words, the room became tense.

 

Madam Shen’s face changed drastically. She slammed the table. “Impudent!”

 

Ji Zhen knew his words were highly disrespectful. He felt a bit of regret as soon as he said them, but there was no turning back. He continued, “Mother, as long as I am here, Shen Yanqing will never take a concubine. This is not up for discussion.”

 

Madam Shen’s beautiful eyes widened. “How can you know Yanqing’s thoughts? He was already forced into this marriage with you. Do you also want him to be without children and a legacy for the rest of his life?”

 

Ji Zhen pursed his lips. “If he dies before me, I’ll keep vigil for him. If I die first, he can marry as many people as he likes.”

 

Unless he was dead, he would never allow Shen Yanqing to be with anyone else.

 

“You’re actually cursing my son to die.” Madam Shen was trembling with rage, her words slurred. “Fine, that’s just wonderful. This is the great wife Yanqing married. Someone, open the ancestral hall!”

 

Ji Zhen gritted his teeth, still standing ramrod straight.

 

“Go to the ancestral hall and kneel before the ancestors to reflect. You won’t come out until you’ve changed your mind.”

 

Ji Zhen walked out of the courtyard without looking back.

 

When Ji An heard that his master was going to be punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall again, he said angrily, “I must tell the Elderly Young Master.”

 

Ji Zhen stopped him. “Don’t bother my elder brother. Kneeling for a bit won’t hurt.”

 

Before Ji An could reply, he added, “Tell the small kitchen to start stewing the abalone. Shen Yanqing is coming over for dinner tonight.”

 

After persuading Ji An to keep it from his elder brother, he followed the maid to the Shen family ancestral hall and knelt directly on the prayer mat.

 

Ji Zhen looked at the Shen family tablets. He was actually a bit afraid that they would blame him for ending the Shen family’s lineage, but despite his fear, he knew he couldn’t change his mind, even if he had to kneel until his legs were ruined.

 

Ji Zhen knelt from morning until evening, feeling lightheaded. As Shen Yanqing’s workday neared its end, his anxiety began to rise.

 

He rubbed his legs, which were numb and tingling with pain. He was about to ask the maid to call Ji An when he saw Ji An standing at the door with a miserable expression.

 

“Is Shen Yanqing back?”

 

Ji An shook his head. “Young Master, Lord Shen sent word that there’s too much work at the Hanlin Academy today, and he won’t be able to make it back for dinner.”

 

Ji Zhen had waited all day for this, and hearing that, he felt a surge of emotion. He furiously hit the prayer mat a few times with his fist.

 

“Ji An, help me back to the courtyard. We’ll have the soup ourselves.”

 

Ji An cried out and rushed forward to help the unsteady Ji Zhen, his heart aching for him.

 

As they were leaving the ancestral hall, the maid timidly said, “Young Madam, the Madam hasn’t given you permission to get up yet…”

 

Ji Zhen shot her a glare. The young girl hunched her shoulders, too afraid to intervene, and watched him stagger off.

 

The author has something to say:

Lord Shen, you should hurry back and comfort your wife!

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T/N: True tho😂if you want more heirs to the family, get your own husband a few concubines.