Yan Yihuan never expected there to be a hidden door behind the dragon bed. Inside was pitch black, a faint chill rushing out to meet him. Although it wasn’t very cold, he couldn’t help but shiver, a bad feeling rising in his chest.
Sensing danger, Yan Yihuan wanted to turn and leave, but Li Xuanming, holding a candlestick, blocked his way.
“Your Majesty, I won’t go anywhere. Can I just stay on your bed tonight?”
The orange candlelight flickered between them. As it swayed, Yan Yihuan unconsciously took two steps back. A cold wind blew towards them from the room behind him, brushing against his back, sending a chill up his spine.
But in the next instant his wrist was seized, the sudden strength pulling him into the room. Even with the candlestick, only a small corner of the room was lit, it was clear the chamber was quite large, its full extent still hidden from view.
“Wait here.”
Yan Yihuan wanted to leave, but the emperor’s words were an imperial decree. He had no choice but to stay put, watching as one candle after another was lit.
As the room gradually revealed itself, a memory he had nearly buried deep within was abruptly unearthed. Dizzy, his legs weakened, and in a daze he was led to a wide bed.
Then his vision cleared for a moment. Looking ahead, he saw two golden chains hanging from the head of the bed, their fine, dazzling gleam reflecting in the candlelight.
Wasn’t this the very room he had been dragged into from the brothel, the place where the emperor, under the name Zhao Chufeng, had taken him so ruthlessly?!
So this place had been within the emperor’s bedchamber all along. He had been brought into the palace on the very first night!
Yan Yihuan was dumbfounded, his heart pounding wildly, his face was slightly pale too. Even if he had already tasted sweetness in their intimacy, the shock and pain of that night had been the first time in his life that Yan Yihuan had ever been so deeply terrified and hurt. Fear had become an instinctive reaction.
Li Xuanming also knew that night had been pleasure for himself, but hardly so for Yan Yihuan. So he wasn’t in a hurry to bring him in at first, but seeing him like this now, it would be unreasonable not to satisfy him.
Yan Yihuan’s heart nearly leapt into his throat as he looked at the objects on the bed and the row of small cabinets within. He instinctively wanted to turn and run, but his legs went weak. Stumbling, he was pulled onto the bed and pinned down, unable to move.
“Your Majesty, it’s too late now. You still have court early tomorrow,” Yan Yihuan stammered, pushing weakly as he turned his head away, not daring to look. But there was a slight pain at his chin, and he was forced to turn back, locking eye contact with the blaze-filled eyes before him.
“Yihuan, how about being a demon consort[mfn]妖妃 – 妖 (Demonic/Bewitching//Seductive), 妃 (Concubine/Consort). In terms of appearance, it usually refers to someone who is exceptionally beautiful, a beauty that may carry a hint of wickedness or an alluring, bewitching charm. Usually isnt literally a demon, but a consort so beautiful and seductive that she is accused of bewitching the emperor.[/mfn] tonight?”
“A de… demon what?”
“You’ll be the demon consort, and Zhen will be the foolish king[mfn]昏君 – The ruler who “falls” for the 妖妃(demon consort) is often depicted as a 昏君 (foolish/ muddle-headed/decadent king). In Chinese history, such pairings were frequently blamed for indulgence, neglect of governance, and even the downfall of dynasties. Example: The Four Great Demon Consorts(四大妖姬) – Moxi, Daji, Baosi, Liji [/mfn].” Li Xuanming lifted his pale wrists high with one hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Yan Yihuan was dazed, so much so that he didn’t even hear the faint clink of chains. He saw only those beautiful lips parting, that pleasant voice echoing by his ear.
“Tomorrow, this ruler will not attend court.”
Yan Yihuan felt as if he had lost the ability to think. He stared blankly at the man before him, and almost instinctively wanted to reach out and hold him. But the sudden tightening around his wrist, the pressure of that firm grip, made his eyes fly wide, only then did he realize both his hands had already been captured in a single large palm.
He struggled, just about to speak, when a warm hand clamped over his mouth. The curtains dropped before his eyes, falling to seal off the bed in heavy folds. Then he heard the emperor’s voice,
“Attendants.”
“Mmph!” Yan Yihuan’s eyes flashed with startled fear, yet at the sound of attendants approaching, he ceased struggling and fell still.
“Light all the braziers.”
Noises came from beyond the curtains as people moved about. Even after the emperor released the hand covering his mouth, Yan Yihuan dared not make a sound, letting that hand wander slowly downward until it paused at his most vulnerable point.
Sensing the change in his palm, Li Xuanming let out a low laugh and leaned close to whisper,
“You seem to be enjoying this.”
Partly from being unable to control himself, and partly from having his secret so sharply exposed, Yan Yihuan’s body shuddered, a low sound spilling from his throat.
“Shh.”
Li Xuanming pressed a finger to his own lips, eyes flickering with a subtle reminder that there were still people outside, yet his hand never stopped its movements.
Yan Yihuan couldn’t even cover his own mouth. At first, he managed to endure it, but as the pleasure built, all he could do was bite down hard on his lower lip, silently lamenting how unbearably slow these palace attendants were in their work.
The skin beneath that palm grew ever more taut. Li Xuanming lowered his head to claim those tightly bitten lips, his hand bracing against the delicate shoulder blades that no longer touched the bed, drawing the violent tremors into his embrace.
His vision blurred, his breath stolen away, and the near-suffocating sensation brought a flush to his pale hands, his clenched fists refusing to loosen for a long while.
“Your Majesty, the braziers are all lit. Your servants will take our leave.”
“Go.”
The door creaked shut. Li Xuanming smiled as he kissed Yan Yihuan’s tightly shut eyes open, “Alright, no one’s here now.”
Yan Yihuan was still lost in the lingering taste of what had just passed. But it was clearly not enough. Although his hands were bound, he arched his waist upward with effort. He said nothing, but his intent was clear.
“Since court won’t be held tomorrow, there’s no need to rush.”
As warmth spread through the chamber, the garments that had held so well began slipping away piece by piece. Yan Yihuan’s brow twitched as he caught Li Xuanming glancing towards the row of small cabinets built into the bed frame, his expression as though deliberating over which one to choose.
Yan Yihuan’s heart gave a jolt. Even without seeing inside, he could guess well enough what shameful things were hidden there.
Just as he feared, Li Xuanming really was picking through them. At last, he drew out a brocade box, opened it, and held it before Yan Yihuan’s eyes.
Yan Yihuan glanced down at the box. Inside lay a string of smooth wooden beads, resembling a necklace yet larger than an ordinary one. On the velvet lining of the lid rested two faintly gleaming golden clips, joined together by a gold chain, resembling a pair of connected earrings.
Surely His Majesty wasn’t planning to make him wear these earrings? No man would wear them!
Unease stirred in him, swelling into irritation. He tried to edge away, though escape was impossible.
“I’m a man. I don’t want to wear earrings.”
“Then you’re choosing this, are you?” Li Xuanming seemed not to hear him at all. Taking up the linked gold rings, he leaned over and pressed Yan Yihuan back onto the bedding, deliberately brushing them against his earlobe. “Shall we try?”
The cool touch at his ear made Yan Yihuan flinch and shake his head in panic, “I’m a man, I’m not wearing that!”
“Didn’t Zhen tell you before? Zhen knows you’re a man.” Li Xuanming’s tone suddenly grew serious, “But do you realize? In this harem, aside from Zhen, there cannot be a second man.”
Ah? No way!
Yan Yihuan froze. His mind raced through with the thought, only to realize that it was true. There was indeed no other complete man[mfn]Male servants (eunuchs) have to remove their male reproductive organs before entering the palace, therefore not a “complete” man.[/mfn] in the palace besides the emperor.
All his defiance was instantly extinguished. He sat stunned for a moment, then thought to himself that a true man must know when to yield and when to bend. Although unwilling, he softened, his voice coaxing as he murmured,
“That won’t do… Then… then Your Majesty, just don’t treat me as a man.”
A low laugh followed. The icy ring left his trembling earlobe, sliding slowly down along his neck until it lingered at the blossom of his chest.
Under Yan Yihuan’s startled gaze, Li Xuanming gave a gentle squeeze, opening the delicate little clip with a click.
Author’s Note:
Li Xuanming: Perhaps being a foolish king isn’t so bad after all?
Little Yihuan: Demon consort? No thanks, not applying.
