128
When Mu Peixuan returned, the rain hadn’t stopped. Duan Linzhou immediately noticed the dirt stains on his purple robe, and a closer look revealed that there were quite a few as well, which startled him. “What happened? Weren’t you at the palace? Why do you look like you’ve rolled in the mud?”
Seeing Duan Linzhou approaching from the corridor, Mu Peixuan quickly waved him off, saying, “I’m dirty, you go inside first. I’ll wash up and be right there.”
Duan Linzhou instructed Liu Guang, “Go prepare hot water.”
In the bath room, the bathtub was filled with hot water, and steam rose. Mu Peixuan stripped off his clothes and soaked in the tub, slowly recounting to Duan Linzhou how he had encountered Xiao Yuanqi in the palace and provoked him into a fight. He said, “My clothes are just dirty, but Xiao Yuanqi has quite a few injuries.”
He hadn’t aimed for the face, only the skin hidden by clothes, ensuring Xiao Yuanqi would be uncomfortable for days.
Duan Linzhou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said, “There was no need to fight in the palace. There are many ways to deal with him.”
Mu Peixuan naturally didn’t mention it was because Xiao Yuanqi had brought up Duan Linzhou and spoken disrespectfully, truly asking for a beating. He said, “My animosity with Xiao Yuanqi isn’t a new thing; adding this incident doesn’t change much.” Mu Peixuan had removed his hair crown, and his long hair flowed down. Duan Linzhou held it in his hand, feeling like he was grasping a piece of silk, dark and soft. Duan Linzhou scooped up a few wet strands that had fallen into the water and said, “After all, it’s a temporary palace, and you didn’t even bring any personal guards with you—”
Mu Peixuan looked up at Duan Linzhou and chuckled, “He wouldn’t dare.”
“Perhaps outside the palace there might be a chance,” Mu Peixuan said, “but in the temporary palace, Fu Ruhui’s imperial guards are present. With my skills, unless he could kill me in one move, it’s impossible.”
Duan Linzhou snorted with a laugh and said, “Your Highness’s skills are impressive, and you have your plans. I worried needlessly.”
Mu Peixuan held his fingers and kissed them. Duan Linzhou rubbed the corner of his lips, but Mu Peixuan pulled him down and kissed his mouth. Their faces were close, and Mu Peixuan’s voice was slightly hoarse as he whispered, “Linzhou, today His Majesty asked me what I wanted. He said he could give me anything I desired.”
“I almost couldn’t resist saying I wanted that pearl offered as tribute by the Arles tribe,” Mu Peixuan seemed to recall being in front of the throne. At that moment, he truly wanted to say it, but he didn’t dare to risk it. It might have just been Xiao Xun’s test. The Southern Bright Pearl was connected to the “Jian Huangquan” on Duan Linzhou’s body, and without complete preparation, Mu Peixuan was unwilling to take the risk.
Mu Peixuan said, “Although His Majesty is young, he is quite cunning and suspicious. Once he learns that I came for the Southern Bright Pearl, I’m afraid it will alert him.”
Duan Linzhou thought for a moment and understood what he was concerned about. Mu Peixuan was always decisive, but because of him, he had to think things over repeatedly. He smiled, stroking the young Tianqian’s nape, and said, “Now that we are in Yu’an, it’s good to be cautious.”
The nape of Tianqian’s neck also had a gland. Calluses on his fingertips brushed against it, causing an itchy, subtly tingling sensation. That spot was extremely sensitive for both Tianqian and Kunze. He tilted his head and bit Duan Linzhou’s ear, saying, “His Majesty was worried something might happen to me on the road, so he sent someone to escort me back. Linzhou, guess who I ran into on my way back today?”
Duan Linzhou let out a low hum, his thumb pressing into the gland on the Tianqian’s nape. His hot breath brushed against Mu Peixuan’s ear, almost burning it. “Who was it?”
“Yao Cong,” Mu Peixuan said. After speaking, he held the Zhongyong’s earlobe, grinding it lightly with his teeth. Hearing Duan Linzhou’s gasps, he whispered, “Remember him?”
Disturbed by this, Duan Linzhou’s thoughts were slow. It took him several breaths to recall who Yao Cong was. “The Jinyiwei who escorted Master Yu’s family to the capital back then?”
Mu Peixuan smiled and said, “Boss Duan has a good memory.”
Duan Linzhou propped himself up on the edge of the bathtub and asked, “What about Yao Cong?”
The soft earlobe escaped his mouth, and Mu Peixuan, still wanting more, leaned in to kiss Duan Linzhou’s lips, but Duan Linzhou dodged. Duan Linzhou pressed on his shoulders and said, “What happened to Yao Cong?”
Mu Peixuan leaned against the edge of the tub, looking at Duan Linzhou, and said, “Yao Cong was originally a Qianhu in the Northern Pacification Division. He was ordered to escort Second Brother Yu’s family to the capital for trial. After King Duan’s case was overturned, the political winds in court suddenly shifted, and all the officials who participated in King Duan’s case were impeached.”
“Yao Cong was pushed forward by Guo Huai to take the blame,” Mu Peixuan said, “and he was demoted to a Baihu.”
Duan Linzhou listened and commented, “When immortals fight, the mortals suffer.”
Mu Peixuan flicked his fingers and said, “The chief eunuch, Zhang Luxi, died on the journey south. Tell me, how could a powerful chief eunuch like him just die mysteriously on the road?”
Duan Linzhou mused, “What you mean is… His Majesty?”
Mu Peixuan neither confirmed nor denied it, saying, “In Liangdu, Prime Minister Lin and Zhang Luxi colluded, wreaking havoc in the court, and His Majesty suffered greatly. Guo Huai is Zhang Luxi’s adopted son. Do you think His Majesty can tolerate him?”
“Zhang Luxi is dead, will Guo Huai not fear His Majesty bringing up old scores?”
Mu Peixuan hooked his pinky finger, smiling slightly, and said, “Yao Cong, Yao Cong. If he hadn’t come to stop my carriage today, I wouldn’t have even thought of the Jinyiwei.”
Duan Linzhou immediately understood and said, “You want Yao Cong to replace Guo Huai?”
The two had no secrets between them, and Mu Peixuan didn’t want to hide it from him either. He nodded and said, “I still don’t know if the Southern Bright Pearl is in the treasury or not. I need to find someone to help me investigate. Besides the palace eunuchs and imperial guards, the Jinyiwei are the best choice.”
“Guo Huai is useless, and if he defects to King Xin, it would be extremely detrimental to both His Majesty and us,” Mu Peixuan said. “Rather than that, it’s better to get rid of him and let Yao Cong become the commander of the Jinyiwei. If His Majesty can control the Jinyiwei, he’ll have more to rely on in Yu’an.”
Duan Linzhou pondered, slowly saying, “Yao Cong—can he be trusted?”
Mu Peixuan recalled the situation when Yao Cong stopped his carriage today. The carriage wasn’t stopped by Yao Cong himself but by another carriage approaching from the opposite direction. In the brief moment they met, Fen Mo already had a secret letter delivered by the other party.
Yao Cong invited him to meet at a teahouse.
When they met, Yao Cong no longer showed the proud and triumphant demeanor he had when he rode through Ruizhou. It was clear he hadn’t been doing well lately. The Jinyiwei were accustomed to running rampant in Liangdu, but in Yu’an, they had to be on their best behavior everywhere. As a pawn discarded by Guo Huai, a mere Baihu, it was already difficult for Yao Cong to have made it to Yu’an alive.
“We’ll know by testing him.” Mu Peixuan said.
Duan Linzhou remembered something and chuckled, “Ruan Xiu has made a friend recently.”
“Oh?” If it were just an ordinary friend, Duan Linzhou wouldn’t specifically tell him. He looked at Duan Linzhou, who then said, “The water’s getting cold.”
Mu Peixuan acknowledged him and stood up from the water. Duan Linzhou had already handed him a towel. He turned and watched Mu Peixuan wipe the water from his body. The young man was broad-shouldered and long-legged, with a strong physique, exuding the vigor and robustness of a Tianqian. Duan Linzhou’s gaze was too direct, mingled with admiration and affection, making Mu Peixuan a little uncomfortable.
When it came to thick skin, Mu Xiao Junwang was never a match for Boss Duan.
He asked Duan Linzhou, “Do I look good?”
Duan Linzhou chuckled, his lingering gaze dropping lower, utterly a rake, and said, “Good-looking. Why wouldn’t you be? There’s no tianqian that’s more good-looking than my Xiao Junwang.”
Mu Peixuan’s adam apple bobbed. He pulled Duan Linzhou’s hand closer, kissed the tip of his nose, and said, “If I look good, is just looking enough for you?”
Duan Linzhou couldn’t help but laugh. “Then what else should I do?”
Mu Peixuan whispered, “Don’t you want to touch?”
Duan Linzhou was only teasing him. Hearing that, his eyes were full of laughter. His palm slid slowly down Mu Peixuan’s waist, then he gave a crisp, light slap on his backside and took a step back, intending to run. “My Xiao Junwang, aren’t you cold being naked? Put your clothes on first, be good.” His hand was quick, hooking Mu Peixuan’s robe and tossing it to him. Mu Peixuan caught the clothes, moving even faster, closing the distance in one step, and embracing him fully. He bit Duan Linzhou’s neck. “Since you’re worried that I’m cold, shouldn’t you hold me tight? Why run away?”
Duan Linzhou was enveloped in the clean, soapy scent of the newly bathed Tianqian and felt a stirring of desire. He turned his head to kiss Mu Peixuan’s lips, saying, “Who begs others to hug them?”
“What’s wrong with begging your own Junwang Fei for a hug?” Mu Peixuan retorted self-righteously.
Duan Linzhou scoffed with a laugh, “Right now, I’m not your Junwang Fei.”
Mu Peixuan picked him up and pinned him against the screen. Their lips and teeth intertwined, he murmured indistinctly, “Yes, you’re my new lover, my Master Zhou.”
While tenderness filled Junwang Mansion, King Xin Mansion was also “lively.”
Xiao Yuanqi followed King Xin back to the mansion. No sooner had he stepped inside than King Xin called for the family discipline. Unexpectedly, Princess Consort Xin arrived just as quickly. Xiao Yuanqi, as if seeing a savior, let out a wail and hid behind Princess Consort Xin, “Mother, Mother, Father’s going to beat me to death! My father’s going to beat me to death!”
King Xin pointed at Xiao Yuanqi, “Rebellious son! Get out here!”
Princess Consort Xin shielded Xiao Yuanqi, saying, “Your Highness, what’s with all this anger for no reason?”
King Xin angrily retorted, “For no reason? You haven’t even heard what this scoundrel said in the palace today!”
“What could he have said?” Princess Consort Xin dismissed it lightly. She said, “Even if Qi’er said something he shouldn’t have, he’s just a child. What’s the big deal if he occasionally says the wrong thing?”
Xiao Yuanqi chimed in, “Exactly! Everything today was stirred up by Mu Peixuan. If he hadn’t deliberately provoked me, how would I have said the wrong thing? He just wanted to harm me!”
Prince Xin raged, “He harmed you? He got you into a trap with just a few words, and you still blame others?”
“What a joke,” Princess Consort Xin said. “Your Highness, now that Qi’er has been harmed, why do you blame him instead of going after the person who harmed him?”
King Xin was furious, his finger pointing at Xiao Yuanqi trembling. He said, “A doting mother spoils her son. This rebellious child’s rash and reckless behavior today is all because of your pampering.”
Princess Consort Xin scoffed coldly at his words, saying, “I’m certainly not like Your Highness. You can’t stand your own legitimate son, yet you favor a few illegitimate ones.”
Xiao Yuanqi also poked his head out and said, “In Father’s eyes, there’s only Third and Fourth Brother, not a shred of me? Everything I do is wrong. Father, you might as well depose my heir apparent position and give it to Third or Fourth Brother.”
Princess Consort Xin frowned, her expression growing colder as she looked at King Xin. Princess Consort Xin had once been Yu’an’s most beautiful Kunze, truly stunning, and even time had left no trace on her face. She said, “If Your Highness wishes to depose Qi’er from his position as heir apparent, you might as well divorce me first.”
King Xin looked at Xiao Yuanqi with a mixture of anger and disappointment. “How did I ever have such a foolish son like you?”
“If only you had half the ability of your two younger brothers…”
As he spoke, two young men entered from outside the door. They were King Xin’s third son, Xiao Yuanrui, and fourth son, Xiao Yuanhe.
Xiao Yuanqi caught sight of them from the corner of his eye, stiffened his neck, and said, “Anyway, in your eyes, I’m useless. Back then, I wasn’t as good as Yuanmin, and today I’m not as good as Third and Fourth Brother—”
At the mention of “Yuanmin,” both King Xin’s and Princess Consort Xin’s expressions froze, and the courtyard suddenly became somber. Xiao Yuanrui stepped forward, respectfully bowing, “Father, Mother.”
King Xin, Xiao Shao, let out a deep sigh, looked at Xiao Yuanqi, and said, “You go back and reflect properly. Come out when you’ve understood.”
Princess Consort Xin cast a cold glance at Xiao Yuanrui and Xiao Yuanhe, then pulled Xiao Yuanqi by the hand and left, sweeping her sleeves.
Xiao Yuanqi had sustained injuries. While applying medicine, he cried out in pain, and Princess Consort Xin was heartbroken. “That damn person is so vicious.”
Xiao Yuanqi’s once flawless skin was now bruised and purple, indeed quite alarming. He said, “Mother, look, despite all this, Father still won’t stand up for me.”
Princess Consort Xin patted his arm and said, “Your father may not look after you, but your mother will.”
Xiao Yuanqi looked up at Princess Consort Xin and asked, “Mother, Father is relying more and more on Third and Fourth Brother now. Will he—”
“No,” Princess Consort Xin said with a smile. “You are your father’s legitimate son. Those two little bastards, one the son of a singing girl, are nothing to worry about. As for Xiao Yuanhe, he can’t be the heir. Don’t be afraid; with me here, both the position of heir and—the future position of crown prince will only be yours.”
Princess Consort Xin continued, “You, in the future, don’t be so impatient. Think things through more. Your father will see your good qualities.”
Xiao Yuanqi nodded heavily and said, “Only Mother loves me the most.”
Princess Consort Xin smiled, tapping him gently. Finally, she added, “Don’t mention your younger brother again in the future.”
Xiao Yuanqi paused, seeing the gloom in Princess Consort Xin’s eyes. He pursed his lips and whispered, “Yes, Son misspoke today.”
The author has something to say:
Xiao Yuanqi: The number one naive and sweet character in the entire text.
Obrigada pelo capítulo 😘🥰❣️