Thank you @Pei Xiting fan for the kofis
Bonus chapter 1/2
Chapter 82: Returning to the Capital – Little Fox
Pei Xiting was like a child who had eaten candy, savoring it well into the night, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. When he rolled over to Zong Suiyang, he would occasionally kick him with his leg, not provocatively or playfully, but simply because he wanted to kick.
Zong Suiyang thought, “This silly child,” and reached out to tuck the quilt around Pei Xiting, saying, “Doesn’t it hurt anymore?”
“It hurts, but just lying still isn’t very comfortable either.” Pei Xiting rolled onto Zong Suiyang, looking up at him. “You should go practice your technique.”
Zong Suiyang had always been someone who didn’t often hide his flaws. Hearing this, he calmly said, “We’ll talk about it after you’ve fully recovered.”
Pei Xiting couldn’t help but ask, “Did you try it once, find the experience good, and then fully accept it?”
Zong Suiyang’s gaze shifted slightly, but then he heard Pei Xiting immediately say, “Don’t os, say it out loud—os means inner monologue!”
Zong Suiyang met Pei Xiting’s “if you dare to ‘os’ I’ll beat you up” gaze, paused in his throat, and said, “Something like that.”
“Are there more words?” Pei Xiting rested his chin on his hand, his tone faint.
“The rites of Zhou Gong[mfn](Zhōu gōng zhī lǐ) is a classical Chinese euphemism for “s*xual intercourse”.[/mfn] should naturally only happen on the wedding night; otherwise, it would be too frivolous,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting smiled and said, “Then what about us hugging and kissing and biting?”
“Intimate contact happens when we’re in love. In love, I am not Liu Xiahui[mfn]A highly virtuous official and philosopher from the Spring and Autumn period (7th–6th century BCE) in ancient China. He is most famous for his unshakable moral integrity, particularly in stories highlighting his self-restraint and adherence to propriety even in morally challenging situations.[/mfn], nor am I a proper gentleman, so there’s no need to be so strict with me.” Zong Suiyang said with a serious tone while looking at Pei Xiting.
Pei Xiting couldn’t help but laugh and crawled forward a bit, only to be scooped into Zong Suiyang’s arms. He lay there securely, playing with Zong Suiyang’s loose hair, and said, “So, what do you think of my technique?”
Zong Suiyang seriously thought back and asked in confusion, “Do you have any technique to speak of?”
Pei Xiting said, “That’s slander.”
Zong Suiyang reflected for a moment, feeling he shouldn’t be so harsh, and said, “Your kissing skills have improved.”
Pei Xiting licked his lips, leaned closer to Zong Suiyang’s chin, and whispered, “What about that other aspect?”
Zong Suiyang stared at the face so close to his, his voice deepening slightly, “What aspect?”
“Well,” Pei Xiting’s eyes darted, “that mouth isn’t just for kissing, you know.”
As he spoke, he glanced downwards, clearly implying something.
Speaking of this, Zong Suiyang narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Pei Xiting’s face, or rather, his lips.
Pei Xiting felt a little bewildered, flustered, and burning under that deep gaze. He couldn’t help but dart his eyes away, avoiding the intense stare.
Unbeknownst to him, this reaction looked like guilt to Zong Suiyang. Zong Suiyang suddenly reached out, pulled Pei Xiting closer, locking his arm around his lower back, and said, “Confess honestly.”
Pei Xiting grew even more puzzled. “Confess what?”
Zong Suiyang took a deep breath, trying to speak calmly: “I won’t comment on the past. It’s all in the past anyway. But since you brought it up and I found out, just be frank.”
Pei Xiting thought for a moment, then understood. The Crown Prince had misunderstood that it wasn’t his first time. He was overjoyed, saying, “Are you secretly praising my technique?”
Many images flashed through Zong Suiyang’s mind. He said, “No, but you certainly have a method to it, not like someone who knows nothing.”
Well, all those adult videos I watched weren’t for nothing, were they? Pei Xiting was delighted and couldn’t help but poke Zong Suiyang’s face. The Crown Prince looked at him, his expression cold and serious, his gaze even a little fierce.
“Oh, come on, some people say they don’t care about the past, but they clearly do.”
Pei Xiting reached out and hugged Zong Suiyang’s waist, confessing honestly, “I’ve seen erotic paintings, so I have some theoretical basis, but no practical experience. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bitten you until it hurt.”
As soon as the words fell, he noticed the body beneath him immediately relaxed. He couldn’t help but chuckle secretly, but then another question arose—he had been rolling and rubbing all over the Crown Prince, so why hadn’t the Crown Prince reacted at all?
Was Zong Suiyang not interested in him sexually? No.
Was Zong Suiyang a saint like Liu Xiahui? Definitely not physically.
So what was going on? Pei Xiting looked up suspiciously at Zong Suiyang, who didn’t notice his thoughts. He reached out and pinched his chin, gently saying, “Stop messing around; go to sleep.”
Pei Xiting “oh’ed” and obediently rolled off Zong Suiyang, burrowing into the pillow.
Zong Suiyang then lay down and said, “Sleep on your side.”
Pei Xiting adjusted his sleeping position, turning sideways to snuggle into Zong Suiyang’s chest, and asked, “When are we going back to Yejing?”
“Soon.” Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting. “Tired of staying here?”
“I miss Little King,” Pei Xiting said melancholically. “It must have grown even bigger. Whether I can still pick it up is a serious question now.”
“If you can’t pick it up, then don’t,” Zong Suiyang said. “Once it grows bigger, it can carry you.”
Pei Xiting imagined himself riding a tiger all over the mountains and felt amused. He said, “I’m going to sleep.”
“Sleep.” Zong Suiyang patted Pei Xiting’s shoulder but saw him open his eyes and look at him. “What is it?”
Pei Xiting mused, “You’re so gentle with me now. I’m a little scared. Is this the legendary ‘fattening before slaughter’?”
Zong Suiyang didn’t answer, giving Pei Xiting a half-smile. Pei Xiting sighed mournfully, snuggled into Zong Suiyang’s embrace, and closed his eyes, falling asleep.
He said he was uncomfortable, but once he hit the bed and closed his eyes, he fell asleep very quickly.
Zong Suiyang had noticed that the little fox was not an honest sleeper. He could roll around and change positions several times throughout the night, occasionally even talking in his sleep, mumbling something incomprehensible, but his wrinkled face was quite adorable.
At this moment, the person had already rolled halfway out of his embrace, sleeping on his side facing the wall. Zong Suiyang didn’t pull him back like he did last night; instead, he got out of bed.
A medicine pot was in the cabinet. He took out a pill, swallowed it with water, and then got back into bed. As soon as he lay down, Pei Xiting rolled back again, vaguely calling out to him. Zong Suiyang’s heart softened. He held the person tightly and murmured, “Mm.”
The candles in the room remained lit all night. Yu Shaoyun wondered, “Why is there no sound at all?”
You Zong, who was flipping through Li Da’s case files at a square table in the corridor, heard this and asked, “What sounds?”
Yu Shaoyun said, “That kind of sound! His Highness and Pei-wenshu are so intimate. How could dry wood and a raging fire not burn?”
You Zong looked up at him, his gaze inexpressible. Yu Shaoyun inexplicably felt like he was being mocked. Just as he was about to speak, You Zong lowered his head and said, “Look at Xiting’s condition. Do you really think His Highness is a beast?”
Yu Shaoyun scratched his head and said, “Hasn’t Pei-wenshu’s fever already gone down?”
You Zong didn’t speak.
“Alright,” Yu Shaoyun said to himself.
—
The next day, Pei Xiting woke up when the sun was already high. No one was holding him, and Yuan Fang didn’t push open the door like usual. Pei Xiting pursed his lips, feeling a little unaccustomed to it.
“Awake?” Zong Suiyang came in from the outer room. Seeing Pei Xiting staring blankly at the pillow, he knew what he was thinking.
The little fox was perceptive about people, not one to be recklessly enthusiastic, but once you truly entered his heart, he would treat you with sincerity and care deeply.
Zong Suiyang felt a strange sensation in his heart, a terrifying possessiveness roaring. He secretly applauded Fu Wei for taking Yuan Fang away, but when he saw Pei Xiting’s unhappy face, his dark side was easily shattered.
When he came back to his senses, Zong Suiyang had already walked to the bed and reached out to pick up Pei Xiting. He stroked Pei Xiting’s back and said, “The letter has already been sent. When Fu Wei sees it, he will have Yuan Fang write back to you, so don’t worry.”
Pei Xiting nodded and said, “I know friends can’t always be together; everyone has their own path. But for a while, we were inseparable, and I got used to it. Suddenly being apart leaves me feeling empty.”
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting, his eyes subtly moving, but said nothing.
A moment later, Pei Xiting adjusted his emotions, got up to wash and change, and went to the outer room for his meal.
Zong Lu was already seated at the table. Pei Xiting sat down beside him, with three layers of soft cushions beneath his bottom. He looked at the boy and said, “How come you have dark circles under your eyes too?”
Isn’t it because I’m worried about Fifth Uncle and Future Fifth Uncle’s relationship problems? Zong Lu sighed inwardly with an old-fashioned air, maintaining a calm expression as he shook his head. He dared not look too much at the ambiguous marks on Pei-wenshu’s neck and said, “I ate too much dinner last night and couldn’t sleep.”
Pei Xiting also couldn’t sleep if he ate too much at night. Hearing this, he just told the little prince to eat less tonight, then picked up his chopsticks and began to feed himself.
Zong Suiyang scooped a bowl of yam porridge and placed it in front of Pei Xiting, saying, “No medicine today, so you can eat more.”
Hearing he didn’t have to drink medicine, Pei Xiting’s eyes lit up. He quickly said, “Thank you, Your Highness!”
Without medicine, Pei Xiting’s appetite soared. He completely devoured the mandarin fish and the Eight Immortals Platter, leaving the dishes spotless. After eating, he sat at the table drinking tea and suddenly had an idea: “From now on, when you two eat with me, you don’t have to abide by the rule of ‘no more than three bites per dish.’ If any dish is eaten more than a few bites, you can just say I ate it.”
“If we get used to eating like this, when Pei-wenshu isn’t around, won’t I subconsciously think of Pei-wenshu?” Zong Lu said.
Pei Xiting smiled and said, “Do you feel bad when you think of me?”
Zong Lu said seriously, “No, not at all.”
Zong Suiyang listened to the big and small person talking idly, not interjecting, sitting quietly, and rinsing his mouth with tea.
You Zong entered and said to Zong Suiyang, “Your Highness, the case files have been sent back to the Dali Temple. How should we deal with the people we’ve apprehended?”
“Common people from Bai Mian Fang can be released, but anyone involved with the cult is to be killed,” Zong Suiyang said. “As for the children we rescued, investigate their family ties. If they were unfortunately lost, send them back and provide compensation. If they were sent out or sold by their families, there’s no need to inform the families. Go to the authorities to remove them from their family registers, change their names, and let them choose whether to be adopted or fostered.”
You Zong nodded and said, “The new magistrate has arrived. He can begin handling this matter.”
Zong Suiyang said, “Alright.”
Pei Xiting was eating dim sum nearby and suddenly burped. Both the people who were talking and the little prince who was listening intently looked at him. He wasn’t embarrassed, grinning and saying, “Excuse me, please continue.”
With that, he got off the chair, took his dim sum and tea, and left.
Zong Suiyang said nothing. Only after Pei Xiting walked out of sight did he signal You Zong to continue.
Pei Xiting walked along the long corridor, eating and digesting his snacks. As he passed a small window, he saw Doctor Su sitting by a small table grinding herbs. He greeted him and casually asked, “Whose medicine is this for?”
“For His Highness,” Su Chongyan said.
Zong Suiyang was sick? Pei Xiting was startled but then saw Su Chongyan also freeze, looking at him.
It seemed Doctor Su had let something slip inadvertently. Pei Xiting’s heart stirred, and he said, “Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Su.”
Pei Xiting asked nothing more, turned, and continued his stroll. Su Chongyan breathed a sigh of relief.
He had originally guessed that Pei-wenshu already knew about His Highness’s illness, having personally experienced it. But then he reconsidered: His Highness had always been good at self-restraint and endurance, and that night was no exception. Otherwise, Pei-wenshu would never have had the strength to crawl out of bed and escape. Moreover, His Highness had always detested this illness, so he probably wouldn’t actively inform his beloved.
He almost exposed His Highness’s little secret. Fortunately, Pei-wenshu didn’t ask further. Su Chongyan felt immensely relieved, unaware that Pei-wenshu had already made a mental note of it.
The weather had been cold these past two days, and Pei Xiting wasn’t feeling well. After dinner, he didn’t go out but lay in bed reading. When he got tired, he went to the table to write.
Zong Suiyang was in the outer room, guiding Zong Lu in reviewing memorials. His voice, muffled by the screen, grew even deeper. As Pei Xiting listened, he drifted off into thought. That night, Zong Suiyang had pressed against his back, leaning in and panting in his ear. Even now, thinking about it made his ears burn and his legs feel weak.
Suddenly, the back of his hand warmed, clasped by another hand. Pei Xiting quickly snapped back to attention, looking up to meet Zong Suiyang’s gaze.
Zong Suiyang leaned slightly, holding his hand to teach him how to write. He said, “If your mind isn’t calm, your characters won’t be straight and firm; they’ll be too floaty.”
Zong Suiyang told Pei Xiting to relax, guiding his hand to finish the remaining phrase: rinse with ice, wash with snow.
The Crown Prince was highly accomplished in calligraphy, having practiced diligently since childhood without ever slacking. He practiced characters as he practiced his mind, achieving great spiritual depth. Now, comparing the before and after characters, Pei Xiting smiled and said, “The difference is clear.”
“No matter, everyone has their strengths.” As he spoke, Zong Suiyang tilted his head slightly, and Pei Xiting also tilted his head, smiling back. Their four lips met perfectly. Both paused, neither moving away.
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting’s clear, moist eyes, then simply brushed his lips against his, tilting his head slightly. With the distance of a thin piece of paper between them, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”
The Crown Prince was indeed going to interrogate him. Pei Xiting smiled and honestly confessed, “Thinking about you.”
The little fox’s sweet words were like layers of checkpoints. Zong Suiyang might clear one layer, but he’d still get stuck in the next. He caressed Pei Xiting’s fingers, saying, “What about me are you thinking about?”
Pei Xiting’s fingertips curled, wanting to clench, but Zong Suiyang clasped them. His hand was large, completely encompassing Pei Xiting’s, like warm protection and also like an overbearing shackle.
Zong Suiyang brushed his lips against his, gently murmuring, “Hmm.”
Pei Xiting’s face flushed as he whispered, “Thinking about that night.”
“That night” seemed like an ambiguous euphemism. Zong Suiyang smiled almost imperceptibly and said, “Still savoring it? Didn’t you say I didn’t do it well?”
“It wasn’t that bad; it was just too long. I told you to stop, but you acted like you couldn’t hear me. I cried, and you didn’t comfort me,” Pei Xiting said, talking himself into feeling wronged. He grumbled, “Although you were unconscious, I brought it upon myself.”
Zong Suiyang had indeed been somewhat muddled towards the end, his consciousness controlled by instinct. Like a fierce dragon invading a sweet, moist lair, he only wanted to charge with all his might. He kissed Pei Xiting’s pursed lips in a somewhat coaxing manner. “I’m sorry; I lacked self-control.”
“Your Highness, you’re being too modest,” Pei Xiting said softly, looking at Zong Suiyang. “Do you particularly like ‘rear entry’?”
The Crown Prince innocently asked, “What do you mean?”
“It means from behind,” Pei Xiting explained.
Zong Suiyang now understood. He reached out, pinched Pei Xiting’s face, shook it gently, and said, “Don’t cause trouble.”
If this sentence were rephrased in a different style, it would probably be: Little imp, don’t provoke me.
“Who’s causing trouble? I’m just asking!” Pei Xiting said very seriously, “Don’t be shy.”
Zong Suiyang wasn’t shy; he was just worried that the medicine he’d taken would be for nothing. Yet the little fox, unaware, continued to stare at him intently, demanding an answer.
What a sin! This is really a curse on him. Zong Suiyang sighed secretly and said, “I like being able to hold you.”
“Me too.” Pei Xiting said excitedly. “It makes kissing easier, and I get to hear you pant!”
Zong Suiyang: “…”
He couldn’t help but flick Pei Xiting’s forehead, saying, “Little fox.”
Pei Xiting giggled foolishly, holding Zong Suiyang’s hand and cooing, “Master, teach me how to write~”
Goosebumps erupted all over Zong Suiyang’s body, and his gaze darkened as he stared at Pei Xiting. The little fox’s ears twitched, and his smile faltered. He turned to run, but Zong Suiyang grabbed him, pinned him to the table, and made him copy a Buddhist scripture.
Now, both of them were without desires.
—
It was still raining the next day, so they waited another day before setting off back to Yejing. Pei Xiting didn’t travel with Prince Zong, instead occupying a spot in Zong Suiyang’s carriage. As they left, he overheard Young Marquis Mei asking Prince Zong where Xiting had gone.
Prince Zong was too lazy to waste time talking to the idiot, so he asked the guards to carry Young Marquis Mei onto the horse and returned to the capital first.
You Zong also returned to the capital ahead of them to jointly interrogate Li Da with the Dali Temple. The remaining people disguised themselves as a merchant caravan and slowly made their way to Yejing.
Pei Xiting couldn’t ride a horse, so he hid in the carriage, playing chess with the little prince. When he couldn’t win, he’d call for backup. After a few games, the child wasn’t interested in playing with him anymore.
Pei Xiting sighed, deciding that chess wasn’t for him. He invited the uncle and nephew to play Fight the Landlord[mfn]A highly popular Chinese card game primarily played by three players. It’s a “climbing” or “shedding” game, where the main objective is to be the first player to empty your hand of cards.[/mfn] with a rule that each person started with ten taels of weights. The first to lose all their weight had to grant one request from the other two as a penalty.
The uncle and nephew were fearless, making Pei Xiting, the seasoned player, seem less imposing. He snorted, dealing the cards and saying, “Go ahead and be arrogant. When you fall into my hands, I’ll make you pay.”
“It’s not wise for Pei-wenshu to provoke us at this moment,” Zong Lu kindly reminded him.
“No matter. Pei-wenshu’s card skills are superb; how could he lose?” Zong Suiyang teased. “On the contrary, we should prepare to ask Pei-wenshu to go easy on us.”
“You can be sarcastic all you want. Just wait until the end to see the truth.” Pei Xiting flipped over a card, its number pointing directly at Zong Suiyang. He burst out laughing, “You’re done for.”
Zong Suiyang took the cards, saying calmly, “I won’t complain if I lose to Pei-wenshu.”
Pei-wenshu said coldly, “Don’t try to save face in advance.”
Zong Suiyang shook his head, adjusted his cards, and began to play. The game was simple, requiring little concentration, so he watched Pei Xiting. The little fox would scold or laugh, frown or look up, occasionally rubbing his chin or scratching his ears. One round he’d laugh heartily; the next he’d sigh to the heavens. After several rounds of cards, it was as if his whole body had been in motion, remarkably restless yet so vibrant and endearing.
He wasn’t this active outside. Zong Suiyang thought to himself, suddenly recalling Empress Qu’s words.
At that time, when he took over the East Palace, he rarely dined in the Central Palace. Although they were still in the Imperial Palace, the distance between them suddenly became greater than the distance between Yejing and the ends of the earth had once been.
Empress Qu looked at him, her eyes filled with heartache, and said, “A crown prince has his own decorum, but there’s always a difference between how one acts at home and outside.”
He was not one to sweet-talk and coax people. Even though he knew Empress Qu was sad, after a long silence, he could only say, “Your son knows his mistake.” Empress Qu understood his nature and sighed, no longer forcing the issue, even though she still complained often later.
What about Pei Xiting? Zong Suiyang wondered. Pei Xiting also knew his nature, but the little fox was candid and stubborn. He would pursue and demand what he wanted. Whatever grievances or perplexities he felt, even if he didn’t say them at the moment, he couldn’t keep them hidden for long, eventually forcing an answer out.
The process of demanding an answer was also the process of forcing him to open his heart.
This one was here to challenge him, to control him, but also to perfectly complement him by nature. Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting and suddenly smiled.
Pei Xiting was engrossed in shuffling the cards and didn’t notice, but Zong Lu did. Though the child got goosebumps from his fifth uncle’s smile, he was also immensely relieved. This feeling was akin to parents finally seeing their children find a soulmate.
The little prince was in excellent spirits. When he teamed up with his fifth uncle, he would fully attack Pei-wenshu. When he teamed up with Pei-wenshu, he would conspire secretly with his Fifth Uncle. In the end, Pei-wenshu was tricked into losing all his weight first and buried his head in his hands, crying bitterly.
“You uncle and nephew, you’re a den of vipers!” Pei Xiting said indignantly, glaring at the younger one and prodding the older one with his eyes.
“Don’t make baseless accusations, but Pei-wenshu losing is an undeniable fact,” Zong Suiyang said calmly. “You proposed the wager, so don’t be the first to renege. When you’re out and about, your reputation is very important.”
“…” Pei Xiting took a deep breath, puffed out his chest fearlessly, and said, “Bring it on! Let the storm drown me! I am a warrior forged of steel, impervious to wind and rain, unshakable by thunder. You may shatter my body, but you will never crush my spirit!”
Zong Suiyang applauded, saying, “Pei-wenshu has great courage and spirit.”
Zong Lu sighed, saying, “I admire Pei-wenshu’s character; I truly can’t bear to punish Pei-wenshu.”
Pei Xiting heard this and showed a look of relief and gratitude, unaware that the little prince was “a shrewd and calculating person”: punishing Pei-wenshu now, even if Fifth Uncle approved, would definitely make Pei-wenshu hold a grudge—a eunuch once lamented that “pillow talk” was one of the strongest forces under heaven, imperceptible to outsiders and thus most irresistible—therefore, if Fifth Uncle were later swayed by pillow talk and retaliated against him on Pei-wenshu’s behalf, that wouldn’t be good.
Pei Xiting benignly patted the little prince’s head, then turned to look at Zong Suiyang, his meaning clear: learn from your nephew.
But apparently, His Royal Highness had his own plans. Upright and impartial, he tapped his lips with the cards in his hand and said, “Come here.”
Pei Xiting instantly changed his evaluation. It turned out His Royal Highness was the best and kindest person, not only not punishing him but also giving him a reward.
The little fox wagged his tail and pounced into Zong Suiyang’s arms, cupping the kind man’s face and giving him a kiss.
“Mwah!”
It was a loud smack. Zong Lu couldn’t help but rub his ear and quietly got out of the carriage.
So sweet, my tooth aches 😆😆😆