PCA Chapter 132

Li Shi extended a hand toward him, just as he always did—his fingers adorned with a jade thumb ring. His voice was calm as he said, “Come.”

 

It was only a few steps up the stairs between them, but to Su Cen, it felt like an eternity. The sunlight was warm and gentle; cicadas sang in the distance. He walked through dappled light filtering through branches and leaves, crossing mountains and rivers in his heart until he placed himself into that waiting hand.

 

The moment they entered the bedchamber, Li Shi pressed him against the door without hesitation. There was no time for tenderness or hesitation—he devoured him whole.

 

There were no soft whispers or lingering caresses; Li Shi was direct and unrelenting.

 

Pain surged along Su Cen’s spine like a tidal wave. He shuddered violently from the intensity, gasping sharply before catching his breath just enough to murmur hoarsely, “Again!”

 

Li Shi withdrew slightly before gripping Su Cen’s emaciated waist tightly and thrusting forward once more with all his strength.

 

Tears streamed down Su Cen’s face instantly. The pain was overwhelming—but somehow, he wanted it to hurt even more. He wanted it to leave an indelible mark inside him so that every time he recalled these days, he could touch that pain and savor its bittersweet taste over and over again.

 

He cried out in pleas—hoarse and desperate—and even when his mind blurred into incoherence, he continued to beg.

 

And Li Shi answered every plea without fail.

 

Time after time, Su Cen was jolted awake from unconsciousness—his body spasming and trembling as tears blurred his vision. Through it all, he met Li Shi’s gaze—eyes so deep they threatened to drown him entirely.

 

He thought he might truly die this time—not from falling off a cliff or drowning in floodwaters—but here… on Li Shi’s bed.

 

It didn’t seem bad either.

 

The intimate encounter became like a battle, like a struggle to the death, with uninhibited release and reckless taking. Both were like trapped beasts in a desperate situation, only concerned with momentary bliss, not worried about tomorrow’s existence.

 

A fortunate event, called—losing, then regaining.

 

At the first light of dawn, Li Shi ordered people to come in and change the bedding, personally bathing and dressing Su Cen himself. By the time he had washed him clean and carried him to bed, the person in his arms had already fallen into a deep sleep.

 

Li Shi pinched that sharp, delicate chin and asked, “Do you want more?”

 

Su Cen, his consciousness already blurry, furrowed his brows and whimpered, unable to answer anything.

 

Li Shi drew close to his ear, enticing him: “Say you want more.”

 

Su Cen instinctively clenched his teeth, but that deep voice was too bewitching. Before he could think it through, his throat had already made the decision: “Want more…”

 

Li Shi laughed softly, trapping beneath him the person who subconsciously wanted to escape, and without a moment’s rest, pressed himself upon him.

 

For a full three days, the two kept to the room, unable to distinguish morning from evening, either in deep sleep or making love.

 

On the fourth morning, Su Cen woke up in the other’s arms, turning to kiss him awake. These past few days, Li Shi had been sleeping well. He frowned and pressed Su Cen against his chest: “Don’t be mischievous.”

 

“I’m hungry,” Su Cen said, biting Li Shi’s Adam’s apple.

 

Li Shi closed his eyes and responded, “Whatever you want to eat, have Qi Lin bring it in.”

 

Su Cen counted on his fingers as he thought: “I want crab meat lion’s head meatballs, jade-colored paired soup, winter bamboo shoots with stir-fried meat, and snow fungus with stir-fried eel strips.”

 

Li Shi laughed lightly, now fully awake, and slapped Su Cen’s bottom once: “You’re being ridiculous.”

 

This was Xuzhou, a Xuzhou that had just experienced flooding, not Xingqing Palace.

 

Su Cen thought again: “Then just a bowl of noodle soup.”

 

After giving the order, Su Cen lay on Li Shi’s chest and asked, “Shouldn’t we attend to proper business now?”

 

These past few days, the two had been like madmen, only obeying their physical instincts, exchanging all kinds of sweet nothings and passionate words, but never mentioning what had happened a few days ago.

 

Some things couldn’t be explained in a word or two, and some things needed no explanation—just one look and they both understood.

 

Su Cen said, “I have some accounts to settle with certain people.”

 

Li Shi lowered his gaze to look at the person beside him and smiled gently, “What a coincidence, so do I.”

 

Liang Fang had been anxiously waiting outside for three days, pacing daily outside Li Shi’s door, thinking: It’s over, it’s over, what kind of nation-toppling little enchanter is this? As soon as he arrived, the prince stopped attending to state affairs. And to make matters worse, he had thoroughly offended this person. If he turned out to be the vindictive type and whispered in the prince’s ear, even a hundred mouths wouldn’t be enough to defend himself.

 

Unexpectedly, before he could continue his wait, Su Cen sought him out first.

 

When Liang Fang was summoned to the study, Su Cen was sitting behind the desk, wolfing down his noodle soup. The bowl looked even larger than Su Cen’s face, while Prince Ning sat at a side table, watching him with adoring eyes.

 

A beauty that brings disaster, truly a beauty that brings disaster, Liang Fang thought to himself. How could there be any reason for a mere favorite to occupy the main seat while the prince sat in a secondary position?

 

Just then, Su Cen looked up and smiled at him, “Lord Liang, please sit first. Let me finish these few bites.”

 

Liang Fang stood motionless, glaring at Su Cen with an angry expression. He was, after all, a properly appointed official of the court—how could he allow himself to be ordered around by a mere favorite!

 

Li Shi turned to look at Liang Fang, assuming he didn’t dare sit, and said, “Since Zi Xu has asked you to sit, please do so.”

 

Liang Fang cursed again in his mind about lust clouding judgment, and reluctantly sat down.

 

Su Cen had been drinking “insect soup” for several days and increasingly felt that food was precious. After finishing the noodles, he drank all the soup too. If Li Shi hadn’t been present, he might have even licked the bowl. Setting down the large bowl with lingering satisfaction, he looked up and smiled at Liang Fang, “Sorry to keep Lord Liang waiting.”

 

Li Shi stood up, walked to Su Cen’s side, took a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and asked, “Are you full?”

 

Su Cen looked at him with a smile and said, “Lord Liang is watching.”

 

Liang Fang snorted coldly, thinking to himself: Taking advantage of favor and being arrogant!

 

Li Shi stood behind Su Cen, sliding one hand down Su Cen’s nape, causing him to suddenly shiver.

 

Now Li Shi didn’t even need to enter him; just placing a hand on his body made Su Cen recall that bone-melting, soul-stirring sensation. Having developed a taste for it, he immediately responded.

 

Su Cen glared at him slightly reproachfully, but saw that while his hands were misbehaving, his face remained serious as he said to Liang Fang, “Today Su Cen has called you here. He is the chief investigator, and I won’t usurp his authority. I’m just here to watch the proceedings. Lord Liang doesn’t mind, does he?”

 

Lord Liang, in his fifties but with sharp eyes and ears, frowned and pointed out the key part of Li Shi’s words: “Su Cen?”

 

Su Cen knew Li Shi was helping him establish authority. After all, the other party was a provincial governor with high prestige among the people of Xuzhou, and Li Shi was afraid he might be overshadowed. Su Cen smiled gratefully at him, then turned to Liang Fang and said, “I forgot to tell Lord Liang, I am Su Cen, Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple, carrying out the Emperor’s decree to investigate the breach of the Xuzhou embankment.”

 

“Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple…” Liang Fang’s heart sank. This enchanter not only had bewitching skills but also held a higher official position than himself. He feared he was at a disadvantage this time.

 

Su Cen asked, “What does Lord Liang think of the three major crimes I mentioned that day?”

 

Liang Fang snorted coldly: “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

 

Su Cen stood up and bowed slightly to him: “I was hasty that day, confronting Lord Liang before verifying the situation. I apologize to Lord Liang first.”

 

After this courtesy, he continued, “Now that we can finally sit down calmly and talk properly, I hope Lord Liang will cooperate fully and not make things difficult for a humble official like me.”

 

Liang Fang thought to himself that this little enchanter was quite eloquent, speaking in a way that defused his anger. He also realized that since this person could bewitch the prince, his eloquence must be considerable, so he should be careful.

 

Sure enough, Su Cen’s face held a smile, but his words carried a blade: “Let’s start with the first matter. May I ask Lord Liang, where did the five hundred thousand taels for river repairs go?”

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)