TL: Hua
Extra 10: Reflected in the Morning Glow – Little Pei & Big Zong
A new pleasure house had recently opened in Yejing. It was said that the musician Chu Qiu was an expert on the zither, and his piece “Moonlight Yearning” was so emotionally stirring and poignant that it captivated everyone who heard it. Coincidentally, Mei Xiu asked Pei Xiting to go out that day, so Pei Xiting decided to go and see for himself.
He never expected that a simple visit would lead to trouble.
When Zong Suiyang rushed to the scene, Pei Xiting’s forehead was slick with sweat, his face was strangely flushed, and he was trembling all over under the covers. When he saw Zong Suiyang, his eyes lit up immediately. He threw the blanket aside and pounced on him. “Suiyang, you’re here!”
His voice was hoarse and choked, sounding utterly pitiful. Zong Suiyang temporarily suppressed his emotions, holding Pei Xiting tightly and wrapping his arms around him.
The attending imperial physician quickly reached out to take his pulse. “Your Highness, don’t worry,” he said. “It’s just an ordinary aphrodisiac. If you don’t engage in intimacy, it can be suppressed and cleared with medicine.”
Zong Suiyang breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t ask the physician to prescribe medicine. “Wait outside,” he said.
He then looked at Mei Xiu, who was standing to the side and didn’t dare to look up. He said coldly, “Get out.”
Right! Mei Xiu quickly bowed, turned into a whirlwind, and rushed out the door.
The imperial physician followed closely behind.
“Your Highness,” Yu Shaoyun strode in, reporting from the foot of the bed. “We questioned him. Chu Qiu originally had his eye on Young Marquis Mei and wanted to use him to establish himself in Yejing. So, he prepared some wine with an aphrodisiac, hoping for a night of passion with the young marquis. However, our young master took a liking to the black lacquer porcelain cup with bamboo patterns that the young marquis had, and they immediately swapped cups. That’s how the incident happened.”
Seeing Zong Suiyang, Pei Xiting’s guard completely fell. He held Zong Suiyang’s neck as if he had no bones, rubbing his hot cheek against Zong Suiyang’s neck, like a person dying of thirst who had found a spring and wanted to bury his face in it. This desperate desire, which could even be called a plea for intimacy, received no response from Zong Suiyang. Pei Xiting felt a sense of urgency and bit Zong Suiyang’s earlobe in frustration.
Zong Suiyang sat as straight as a pine tree, his arms tightly wrapped around the person in his embrace, but he didn’t kiss or comfort him as he usually would. He looked down at Pei Xiting, his face grim. “It sounds like a simple misunderstanding, but the fact that Chu Qiu didn’t say anything at the time means he had ulterior motives.”
Yu Shaoyun didn’t dare to look at Pei Xiting, only staring straight ahead. He quickly said, “This pleasure house just opened. The reason it became famous so quickly is likely because of this Chu Qiu. Even though he’s new, people in his line of work have a good sense of their surroundings. They listen to everything. There’s no reason he wouldn’t know the young master’s identity. Since he knew, how could he still have designs on him?”
Zong Suiyang caressed Pei Xiting’s face. Suddenly, his fingertip felt a sharp pain as Pei Xiting bit him in a fit of frustration. He lowered his eyes and met Pei Xiting’s gaze. His eyes were on the verge of tears, filled with overwhelming desire.
“Suiyang,” Pei Xiting said with a gasp, still somewhat lucid. “Don’t punish me. I feel so awful…”
Zong Suiyang reached up and covered Pei Xiting’s eyes, letting the wet eyelashes brush against his palm. “There are many audacious people in this world. Investigate who is behind this Chu Qiu. The guards who were with the young master today will be punished with thirty lashes.”
Pei Xiting heard this and immediately opened his eyes. “Don’t…” he said anxiously.
At the end of last month, Yuan Fang had returned to the southwest, and Zong Suiyang had arranged for new bodyguards to accompany and protect Pei Xiting. Pei Xiting disliked pompous displays, so he would only take one bodyguard in casual clothes with him, leaving the others to follow him in the shadows. The others were far away, but the accompanying guard was supposed to be with him at all times. It was reasonable for Zong Suiyang to want to punish someone when something happened to him, but Pei Xiting felt that in this situation, it was a bit unfair.
“I was the one who wanted to swap cups with Mei Xiu. It’s not anyone else’s fault,” Pei Xiting pleaded. “You can be angry with me for not being cautious, and I’ll take the punishment. But thirty lashes is too severe. Can you go a little easier on them?”
Zong Suiyang said nothing.
Yu Shaoyun knew that His Highness couldn’t bear to let his young master feel guilty. But he was suppressing his anger right now and wouldn’t give in easily. He needed a way out. After some thought, he said, “Your Highness, Fu Sheng has been diligent and responsible during this time. Although he was a bit lax today, you can’t always guard against malicious intentions. Since the young master is pleading for him, perhaps Your Highness can be merciful and reduce his punishment. After this lesson, Fisheng will surely be grateful to the young master and will be even more dedicated in the future.”
Zong Suiyang had been harmed by people before and had never blamed his own men, knowing that it was impossible to guard against all malicious intentions and that being too strict was useless. But he was him, and Pei Xiting was Pei Xiting. It was different.
Zong Suiyang let go of his hand. Pei Xiting’s eyelids were flushed, his eyelashes were wet, and he looked at him pitifully.
Fine, Zong Suiyang sighed. “Have him investigate Chu Qiu’s matter. If he finds something out, he can atone for his mistake. Otherwise, the crimes will be punished together.”
Pei Xiting breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Shaoyun quickly agreed, turned, and hurried out of the room, closing the door tightly.
“They’re gone. Can we…?” Pei Xiting asked.
“Can we what?” Zong Suiyang asked as he began to unfasten Pei Xiting’s belt. “Yuanying Pavilion is one thing, but a new pleasure house opened in Yejing, and you became a VIP guest? Young Master Pei, you’re so attentive.”
Pei Xiting instinctively knew that tonight would not end well. He said anxiously, “I was only there to listen to music. I didn’t do anything else.”
Zong Suiyang knew that Pei Xiting was not the type to be reckless when he was out. Even if he were, with his men following him, the little fox wouldn’t dare to get into trouble. So, although Zong Suiyang was not happy about it, he didn’t stop him. Who would have thought that a simple outing would lead to such trouble?
“Pleasure houses are a mixed bag of people. Anyone could walk by you. If you don’t take enough servants, you can’t keep people away,” Zong Suiyang said leisurely as he peeled off and discarded Pei Xiting’s clothes, leaving him completely exposed. He continued in an unhurried tone, “Today, it was just a harmless aphrodisiac, so it’s fine. But what if it were some other poison? What would you do then?”
Pei Xiting felt incredibly ashamed under Zong Suiyang’s gaze. He put his feet on Zong Suiyang’s legs and curled himself up. “Why are you cursing me?” he said, pursing his lips.
Seeing that he was still trying to laugh it off, Zong Suiyang’s eyes darkened, and he stopped talking.
In the world of pleasure houses, you could get anything you wanted. Zong Suiyang’s temper was flaring. As Pei Xiting drank the antidote, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. The medicine was activated with water, and its power grew more and more violent, raging through Pei Xiting’s body. Although it cleared the aphrodisiac, Pei Xiting suffered a great deal.
His vision gradually became blurred. Pei Xiting couldn’t stay on his knees. As he lay on the bed, he looked outside and saw that the sky was starting to get light.
He eventually passed out.
Yu Shaoyun was waiting in the hallway. He finally heard Zong Suiyang call his name. He responded and had the prepared hot water, medicinal paste, and clean clothes brought into the room.
The air in the room was heavy. Yu Shaoyun tried his best to close off his senses, walking stiffly like a scarecrow to the edge of the bed curtains. “Your Highness, should the imperial physician come in?” he asked.
“Just take his pulse one more time,” Zong Suiyang said. He handed a warm cloth out of the curtains and tucked the blanket around Pei Xiting.
Yu Shaoyun took the cloth and made way for the physician, who walked up to the bed. A small wrist extended from under the curtains, and on its fair skin was a fresh set of teeth marks.
The physician didn’t dare to look too closely. After carefully taking Pei Xiting’s pulse, he also sighed with relief. “Your Highness, the young master’s body is free of the medicine. There are no major problems. He’s just a little weak from last night. I’ll go and write a prescription for some tonics. He’ll be fine in a few days.”
Zong Suiyang hummed in response. After a moment, he said, “That area is very swollen. Is the ointment we were using before still effective?”
The old physician’s face turned red. “Yes, it’s effective,” he said. “If it’s not too severe, there’s no need for any other ointment.”
It was visibly not a serious matter. Zong Suiyang didn’t want the physician to look, but he was also worried, so he described it in detail.
The physician listened and only heard one symptom: “swelling.” He reassured him, “Your Highness, don’t worry, the situation is not serious. He will be completely healed after a few days of rest.”
“Good. You worked hard last night. You don’t need to be on duty today. Take a break after you’ve written the prescription,” Zong Suiyang said, dismissing the physician. He took the ointment from Yu Shaoyun. “You go too.”
Yu Shaoyun nodded and quickly left the room.
Mei Xiu hadn’t gone home all night and had found an empty room to sleep in. He groggily rushed over, grabbed Yu Shaoyun, and pointed to the door. “How is he?” he whispered.
“The young master is fine now,” Yu Shaoyun said. He saw Mei Xiu sigh with relief and smiled slightly. “But as for you, Young Marquis, you might be in a bit of trouble.”
“I swear, I’ve only been to a pleasure house with Xiting three times this month. The first two times were to play cards at Yuanying Pavilion. This was the only time we came to listen to music! We really were just here to listen to music, and Xiting really didn’t want to fool around! I really had no idea that little bitch Chu Qiu would drug him!” Mei Xiu held out his right hand and made an “I’m kneeling to you” gesture with two fingers of his left hand, silently wailing.
Yu Shaoyun raised a hand to his forehead. “Young Marquis, you’re certainly not to blame, but you were the one who invited our young master here today, and he was the one who took the hit for you. His Highness is still angry, and our young master suffered quite a bit.”
Mei Xiu felt that yesterday was a bad day. He and Xiting were very unlucky. But that cup of wine was meant for him, and by a twist of fate, it ended up in Xiting’s stomach. He truly felt terrible about it. He scratched the back of his head and felt even more indebted to Pei Xiting. “As long as His Highness believes that I was unaware, I’ll accept any other punishment.”
“Good,” Yu Shaoyun said. “In that case, you won’t need to do your rounds for the next half-year. You will only get three days off per month.”
“Huh?!” Mei Xiu’s knees went weak, and he almost really fell to his knees.
Yu Shaoyun smiled slightly. “Young Marquis, please go back and rest.”
Mei Xiu walked away, crestfallen.
In the evening, Pei Xiting slowly woke up.
He instinctively wanted to turn over, but a familiar soreness spread throughout his body. This time, however, it was more severe than usual, and there was a distinct pain in his lower body.
“You’re awake,” Zong Suiyang said, sitting on the edge of the bed with a bowl of medicine.
Pei Xiting looked at him, and his mind replayed the scene from last night: Zong Suiyang’s uninhibited conquest, so fierce and cold, ignoring every plea. In his daze, Pei Xiting had even had the illusion that Zong Suiyang was going to kill him right there on the bed.
Zong Suiyang had never been a gentle spring breeze, but even though he had strong desires, he could control them. They were in tune with each other, each knowing the other’s limits. Zong Suiyang could tell if Pei Xiting’s pleas were just a way of teasing, a coy refusal, or a sign that he was truly at his limit. Aside from the very first time, when he had been out of his mind, he had never hurt Pei Xiting.
When Pei Xiting went out yesterday, Zong Suiyang was in a meeting with his ministers. When he received the news that something had happened to him, he rushed over, all the worry and anxiety of the journey suppressed inside him. If something serious had happened, Zong Suiyang would have been too busy worrying and feeling distressed. But since the drug was just an ordinary aphrodisiac, Zong Suiyang’s fear and anger took over. He was scared that it might not have been a simple aphrodisiac and was angry that Pei Xiting hadn’t been more careful.
Pei Xiting understood all of this. He also felt guilty for making Zong Suiyang worry. But on the other hand, he also felt wronged. Yesterday was just a bad day; he had hit the jackpot with bad luck!
Perhaps it was because Zong Suiyang had always been so good to him, so indulgent, that when he was truly punished, he became childish and felt that the punishment was unfair. He felt as if he had suffered an immense wrong.
“…” Pei Xiting looked away and said nothing.
Seeing Pei Xiting’s expression, Zong Suiyang frowned slightly but said nothing. “Get up and drink your medicine,” he said.
Pei Xiting pushed himself up to a sitting position on the bed. The moment his butt hit the surface, his expression changed dramatically. It was no exaggeration to say that it felt like sitting on a bed of needles. Zong Suiyang put down the bowl of medicine and placed a pillow behind his head so that he was lying on his side. Pei Xiting obediently laid down, facing Zong Suiyang’s chiseled jaw.
After settling him, Zong Suiyang picked up the bowl of medicine again and fed him a spoonful. Pei Xiting opened his mouth and drank it without complaining. The medicine wasn’t hot, so he simply took the bowl from Zong Suiyang and drank it all down.
“…” Zong Suiyang’s eyebrows furrowed. He glanced at Pei Xiting’s lowered eyelids, a clear sign that he didn’t want to look at him. He took the empty bowl and left.
Pei Xiting looked at the hem of Zong Suiyang’s robe as he left without a second glance. He pursed his lips tightly, rolled over, and buried himself in the covers, falling back into a daze.
The next day, Pei Xiting went back with Zong Suiyang. It was uncomfortable for him to sit, so he took a pillow and lay on his side.
Zong Suiyang sat on the other side, looking through some documents. No one spoke in the carriage. The atmosphere was quiet, but unlike their usual tranquility, it was tense, like a cold war.
Yu Shaoyun, outside the carriage, secretly shook his head. Just as he was thinking he should find someone to give the Crown Prince some advice, he heard Pei Xiting’s voice from inside.
“Shaoyun, stop the carriage.”
Zong Suiyang paused and looked at Pei Xiting without saying anything.
Pei Xiting closed the carriage window, turned to face Zong Suiyang, and said in a calm tone, “It’s late spring. The potted plants in my courtyard should be blooming soon. I want to go back and stay for a few days.”
Is he asking for a separation? The atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became frigid. Yu Shaoyun didn’t dare to say a word outside. He even held his breath.
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting for a moment, then closed his documents with a clap and placed them on the small table. “Shaoyun, stop the carriage,” he said flatly.
Yu Shaoyun didn’t dare to argue. He stopped the carriage in front of the small courtyard on Lanyin Street, got out, opened the carriage door, and helped Pei Xiting down.
Pei Xiting gave a faint smile and thanked him. He turned and knocked on the door. It was Cheng Fu who opened it.
Cheng Fu saw Pei Xiting and called out, “Young Master.”
Pei Xiting hummed in response and walked into the courtyard. He didn’t hear Zong Suiyang’s voice until he heard the sound of the courtyard gate closing behind him.
That stupid Zong Suiyang! You really didn’t try to stop me, ahhhhh!
Pei Xiting’s composed expression broke. He suddenly reached out and slapped the air twice, then stomped into his bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Cheng Fu stood in the courtyard and exchanged glances with Cheng Lu, who had just come out of the kitchen. They understood.
The young couple was fighting.
Meanwhile, Yu Shaoyun couldn’t help himself. He leaned toward the carriage door. “Your Highness, why didn’t you stop him? You really just let him go back.”
“He doesn’t want to see me or talk to me. Why should I bother him?” Zong Suiyang’s tone was sharp. “Tell the people in the courtyard to attend to him carefully. If anything happens, report it to me immediately.”
Yu Shaoyun sighed and had nothing more to say.
Forget it. Let the young couple work it out themselves. It’s better if I don’t interfere.
That night, Pei Xiting tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He wouldn’t admit that he was unaccustomed to sleeping apart from Zong Suiyang. He just felt cold and empty inside. He blamed it all on his sore butt.
That stupid Zong Suiyang! He’s too proud for his own good!
Would it kill him to say just one nice thing to me, ah? Dammit!
Pei Xiting rolled around in bed until he rolled to the edge. He just decided to get out of bed. He put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth, fuming. Suddenly, a shadow flashed past the window, and his heart tightened.
Who was that? Or was he just seeing things?
Pei Xiting quickly walked back to the bed, pulled the crossbow from under his pillow, and crept to the door.
“Young Master?” Cheng Lu’s voice came from outside the door.
Pei Xiting asked, “Did someone break in?”
“No,” Cheng Lu said. “Don’t worry, Young Master. There are twenty-eight hidden guards inside and outside the courtyard. No thief can get in.”
Pei Xiting sighed with relief. He must have been so agitated that he was seeing things. He didn’t say anything else. He turned and went back to the bed, collapsing onto it. He poked his pillow and eventually drifted off to sleep.
Outside the door, Cheng Lu stood watch in the corridor. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Zong Suiyang, who had been standing silently by the window for a long time and was now walking past him.
Zong Suiyang gave him a couple of low-toned instructions and then left.
The next day, Pei Jintang came to the small courtyard for lunch around noon. Cheng Lu prepared five dishes and a soup and arranged them on the wooden table under the floral trellis.
“This is really good,” Pei Jintang said after he had eaten his fill and was sipping hot tea. He glanced at Pei Xiting.
Pei Xiting said, “Just say what you came to say.”
Pei Jintang was on duty in the palace, but not in the East Palace, so he couldn’t have heard the news so quickly. He must have heard something and come to check on the situation.
Pei Jintang scratched the back of his head. “Did you and His Highness have a fight?”
“No,” Pei Xiting said, briefly explaining what happened. “It’s more of a cold war.”
Pei Jintang “Ah-ed” in understanding. “No wonder Minister Kang of the Ministry of Rites was demoted and sent out of the capital today.”
Pei Xiting was stunned. Minister Kang of the Ministry of Rites, Kang Jie, was the father of Consort Kang. Could it have anything to do with this?
“I’m on duty in the palace. His Highness saw Consort Kang today and then immediately demoted Minister Kang,” Pei Jintang said. “You know, even though everyone knows that you and His Highness have a deep affection for each other, there are still some people who won’t give up. They’re all hoping that you’ll fall out of favor.”
It was not surprising that some people would do anything to seek wealth and glory.
The Kang family had a few other daughters who were well-known in Yejing for their beauty and were being raised to be imperial consorts. It was impossible that the Kang family didn’t yearn for a place in the East Palace’s inner court. But these people didn’t dare to test the Crown Prince. When they saw an opportunity, they dared to test Pei Xiting.
They believed that if Pei Xiting had an affair in a pleasure house, it would be a betrayal of the Crown Prince. No matter how much the Crown Prince loved him before, he wouldn’t be able to anymore.
“A bunch of idiots,” Pei Xiting said, frowning.
Pei Jintang soothed him, “That Chu Qiu was just following orders, going with the flow. This was an obvious scheme aimed at His Highness. He demoted Kang Jie, and no one dared to plead on his behalf. Once Kang Jie leaves the capital, he’ll never return, and his official career will be over. The Kang family’s rise is cut short by a generation.”
He who complies prospers; he who resists perishes. Pei Xiting took a sip of tea and said no more. “Sigh,” Pei Jintang fretted, “If you just stand your ground like this, how long will the silent treatment last?”
Pei Xiting actually regretted his stubbornness yesterday. Going back now would be like stamping on his own dignity. While dignity was something he was willing to let go of in front of Zong Suiyang, there was still…
“If he had just asked me to stay, I wouldn’t have left,” Pei Xiting muttered softly.
Pei Jintang heard him and said with a laugh, “You two, just quarrel. That’s what a married couple does.”
Pei Xiting scratched his face, feeling a bit down. He decided to go out for a walk with Pei Jintang to clear his head.
Whether by a twist of fate, as Pei Xiting walked down Yangliu Street, he saw a couple arguing heatedly in a corner. Over a trivial matter, they were red in the face, refusing to back down. To outsiders, it seemed so pointless.
Pei Xiting listened for a moment, shook his head, and walked away with Pei Jintang. The walk did nothing to lift his spirits; it only made him feel more unsettled.
Therefore, the next day, when he heard that Zhao Yi was going on a business trip to Qianzhou, Pei Xiting looked at the route. Qianzhou was in the southwest, and he could stop by to see Yuan Fang. He slapped the table, deciding to take a trip.
Cheng Fu saw his young master packing and instinctively thought he was finally going back to the palace. He was happy for a moment, but then it dawned on him.
Something was wrong. His Highness hadn’t come to get him, nor had anyone from the East Palace.
Was the young master running away from home?!
Cheng Fu thought to himself, This is not good, this is not good. Just as he was debating whether to report it immediately, Pei Xiting came out with a small bag on his back and said without looking back, “Fu Sheng, follow me back to the East Palace first.”
Fu Sheng, an 18-year-old young man, was tending to the flowers on the porch. He put down the potted plant, clapped his hands, and followed him.
Pei Xiting had originally planned to just leave, figuring that since everyone in the courtyard was Zong Suiyang’s people, they would immediately report his departure. But if they did, and Zong Suiyang heard, he might misunderstand and think Pei Xiting was running away, which would make him furious.
It was better to go back and tell him first.
Pei Xiting rubbed his nose and strode back to the East Palace.
Zong Suiyang was checking Zong Lu’s schoolwork. He looked up and saw Pei Xiting walking in. He was momentarily stunned, then told Zong Lu to go back to his work, got up, and walked to the entrance. “Decided to come back?”
Pei Xiting paused at the words, and his voice became inexplicably quiet. “I came back to pack a few things.”
Packing? Zong Suiyang glanced at the small bag in Fu Sheng’s hand outside the door, and his heart tightened. Was he leaving him?
Pei Xiting didn’t know that Zong Suiyang had a breakup scenario playing out in his head. He said, “Sifan is going to Qianzhou, and the weather is getting warmer. I thought I’d go with him and visit Yuan Fang for a few days.”
Zong Suiyang felt a sense of relief. He looked at Pei Xiting for a long time before saying, “Go if you want to.”
Pei Xiting said, “Oh,” and turned back to the bedroom to pack his bag.
Zong Suiyang followed him, helping him pack his art box and instructing someone to put it in the carriage. He turned around and saw Pei Xiting packing money. “Take your bank draft with you when you’re traveling.”
Pei Xiting went to the curio shelf to grab the bank draft and put it in his purse. With his bag on his back, he turned to face Zong Suiyang. Zong Suiyang looked at him, his gaze not as warm as usual. Pei Xiting felt a pang of discomfort and said casually, “I’ll be going then.”
Zong Suiyang simply said, “Mhm,” and walked him out of the East Palace. He gave a few instructions to Fu Sheng in front of the carriage and said nothing else.
After the carriage left, Yu Shaoyun came out from the back and watched it leave with Zong Suiyang. Then he said, “Your Highness, the young master made a point of coming to say goodbye before leaving home. It shows he’s not ignoring you.”
Zong Suiyang stared down the path. “He was afraid I’d misunderstand and get angry and do something I shouldn’t.”
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive,” Yu Shaoyun said. “If you went to coax him right now, he definitely wouldn’t leave.”
Zong Suiyang corrected him, “He’s not leaving; he’s traveling.”
Yu Shaoyun said, “Right.”
Pei Xiting leaned back against the soft cushion, staring listlessly at the roof of the carriage. Zong Suiyang’s gaze flashed in his mind, and he felt incredibly uneasy. After a lot of thought, he suddenly sat up. “Fu—”
The carriage stopped abruptly. Fu Sheng said, “Your Highness.”
Pei Xiting was stunned. He quickly pushed the carriage window open and met Zong Suiyang’s eyes. He forgot to ask why he was here. “I—”
“It was my fault,” Zong Suiyang said first.
Pei Xiting’s throat closed up, and he was silent.
“I didn’t control my emotions and made you feel wronged.” Zong Suiyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I know this isn’t your fault. I was just—”
“I know. You were just too worried about me and were scared, so you got worked up,” Pei Xiting said, staring at Zong Suiyang. “I have been letting my guard down lately. I went to an unfamiliar place without being careful, and it made you worry. If you want to punish me, I’ll accept it. But when I woke up and saw you, the coldness in your eyes made me feel so bad, and I couldn’t help but be stubborn.”
“I know I went too far. I was afraid you were angry and upset, so I wanted to keep my distance,” Zong Suiyang said. “I wasn’t thinking anything inappropriate.”
“But you’ve been so cold to me since then.” Pei Xiting’s nose wrinkled. “If you had just said one word to coax me, I would have already written you a thousand-word apology!”
Zong Suiyang found Pei Xiting’s expression both adorable and pitiful. He couldn’t help but reach out and touch his face. “I saw you wouldn’t look at me, and I thought you were tired of me.”
Pei Xiting understood. Neither of them wanted to be the first to show weakness, each waiting for the other to make a move, with their perception clouded by the sadness in their hearts. He pursed his lips and said, “Have I changed?”
Zong Suiyang said, “In what way?”
“With my personality, I shouldn’t be so difficult. I should have cleared things up with you back at the pleasure house,” Pei Xiting said. “Acting like this now just makes me seem overly sentimental.”
Zong Suiyang smiled. “Not at all. I’m actually very pleased.”
Pei Xiting gave a bewildered “Huh?”
“The fact that you’re willing to be difficult with me shows that I’ve been doing well. It makes you especially sensitive to any slight differences, and you crave for me to be consistent with you,” Zong Suiyang said, stroking Pei Xiting’s chin. “But I learned a lesson from this, too.”
Pei Xiting stared at him. “What is it?”
“I shouldn’t have been afraid and backed away,” Zong Suiyang said, looking into Pei Xiting’s eyes. “Even though your eyes wander, they only want to look at me. So if there’s a next time, I’ll definitely be the first to explain things to you.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” Pei Xiting was his old self again. He reached out and tugged on Zong Suiyang’s hair. “You made me feel so miserable these last two days. Hurry up and make it up to me!”
Zong Suiyang wrapped his arm around the back of Pei Xiting’s neck and kissed him closely. Their tongues touched and tested each other before becoming passionately intertwined.
When they pulled apart, Pei Xiting’s eyes were hazy. He rubbed against Zong Suiyang’s cheek. “I’m leaving then?”
In his heart, he wanted Zong Suiyang to go with him, but he also knew how busy Zong Suiyang was these days, so he had to hold it in.
Zong Suiyang couldn’t resist. He stroked Pei Xiting’s face and kissed him again. “Go and do whatever you want, but you must take Fu Sheng with you. Don’t run off on your own, or I won’t be at ease.”
“I know,” Pei Xiting said, looking at Zong Suiyang’s expression. He immediately held up four fingers. “I swear.”
Zong Suiyang squeezed his fingers, a smile in his eyes. “Good. Go on.”
Pei Xiting lingered, leaning on the window, his eyes holding onto Zong Suiyang. Zong Suiyang met his gaze for a moment and then threatened, “Don’t you want to go and have fun anymore?”
“Okay, okay, I’m going.” Pei Xiting touched Zong Suiyang’s face, closed the window, and after a moment, leaned against it again. “Your Highness, I’m taking my leave now.”
The Crown Prince said coolly, “Hurry up and go.”
Pei Xiting hammered on the window and told Fu Sheng to go. After the carriage had traveled a short distance, he pushed the window open again, poked his head out, and saw that Zong Suiyang was indeed standing there with his hands behind his back.
“Bye-bye-bye!” Pei Xiting waved his hand.
Zong Suiyang waved back, watching the person leaning out of the carriage window, watching him grow smaller and smaller until he looked like a little dot. Like a little bird perched on a branch, he had lightly flown away.
The little bird flew over mountains and ridges, finally landing on a pear blossom tree in Qianzhou.
The tree was covered in white blossoms, looking incredibly beautiful and pure. Pei Xiting walked around the courtyard and gave his order. “We’ll stay here.”
Fu Sheng handed the innkeeper the money, gave him a few instructions, and when the innkeeper left respectfully, he returned to Pei Xiting. “Young master, would you like to sit down and rest? I’ll have someone bring hot water.”
Zhao Yi was sent by his superior in the Hanlin Academy to inspect the local history records, so he didn’t have time to play with Pei Xiting. Pei Xiting thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go out and wander.”
After putting their luggage away, they went out together.
Pei Xiting found a restaurant in the city, planning to eat his fill before getting tired from walking. Fu Sheng sat across from him, tilting his head to look downstairs. “What are the people gathered down there talking about?”
“Are you two travelers?” the innkeeper said with a sigh. “The officials came down and told us all to be on guard. Recently, there’s been a ‘Faceless Bandit’ who robs and… takes what he wants. He’s very slick, and no one knows his true face. If you have any women with you, please be extremely careful.”
The innkeeper then glanced at Pei Xiting, who noticed his look and said, “What?”
The innkeeper saw that this young master’s clothes and demeanor suggested he was wealthy and noble, but he didn’t seem to have a bodyguard with him, so he said, “You should also be careful.”
“…” Pei Xiting touched his face and shook his head with a laugh.
The innkeeper poured them some tea, took their order, and left.
“Don’t worry, young master,” Fu Sheng comforted him.
Pei Xiting said, “I’m not worried. I just don’t know where to find Yuan Fang.”
“After we eat, I’ll take you to the back alleys to ask around,” Fu Sheng said.
Pei Xiting said that was fine, opened his fan, and swayed it. “I wish your crown prince was here.”
He couldn’t say exactly what would be good about it, but he just felt it would be.
“Since you wanted His Highness to come with us, why didn’t you say so at the palace gate?” Fu Sheng asked. “If you had, His Highness would have dropped everything and just followed you.”
This made the Crown Prince sound like an impulsive young man. Pei Xiting laughed and said, “He’s busy. I don’t want to bother him. When he’s free, I’ll go out with him again.”
Their food was quickly served: three dishes, one soup, and a complementary plate of fruits from the restaurant. Pei Xiting habitually scalded two pairs of chopsticks, handed one to Fu Sheng, and said, “Eat up. We both still have a chance to grow taller.”
Fu Sheng thanked him, gave a shy “yes,” and a pair of shallow dimples appeared on his face.
Outside the window, the spring breeze was fresh. Inside the restaurant, the aroma of food filled the air. After Pei Xiting and Fu Sheng ate their fill, they went downstairs to pay. The owner gave them some change, and the innkeeper kindly saw them out.
After they left, a servant-like person walked up to the counter and asked, “Boss, was that young master a regular?”
The boss looked up and recognized the person as a servant from the Qi family in the northern part of the city. His expression tightened slightly.
The old master of the Qi family was the maternal grandfather of Governor Li of Qianzhou. The sole grandson of the family, young master Qi, was a handsome man known for being a pervert. When he saw someone good-looking, he couldn’t help himself. At best, he would grope and flirt; at worst, he would take them home as a concubine. Unfortunately, the Qi family was wealthy, and quite a few pretty young girls had been taken in.
And this young master Qi only cared about looks and was not picky about gender. It was said he also kept male courtesans.
When the boss saw the way the young master in the maroon robe looked, he knew exactly why the Qi family’s servant was asking. He cursed his luck inwardly but replied politely, “No, it’s the first time I’ve seen him. He’s probably a traveler. His accent sounds like he’s from Yejing.”
The Qi family servant’s expression changed slightly at that. Yejing was a place with a rich man every ten steps and an official every hundred. He nodded thoughtfully and went back to report the news.
“Boss, did that young master Qi take a fancy to the young master just now?” the innkeeper asked.
“So what if he did? There’s always someone better. That young master just now, he’s clearly a high-class man, not someone to mess with,” the boss said, patting his belly and speaking in a low voice. “Did you see the yellow jade tassel on his fan? That quality is priceless. What kind of person can have such a treasure and casually hang it on his fan?”
The innkeeper said, “Is young master Qi going to trip and fall this time?”
“Don’t sound so happy about his misfortune, kid.” The boss thought to himself, I’ve already warned them. If young master Qi still dares to be so bold, then let him be bold.
What they didn’t know was that young master Qi, living up to his reputation as a pervert, was firmly and bravely acting on the principle that “lust leads to a knife, and I’ll be happy even if I die by it.” He completely ignored his servant’s warnings and objections and had already made his way to his destination.
Pei Xiting’s expression grew cold as he looked at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere to block his path and called himself a refined gentleman. “What’s the matter?”
“A very huge matter,” Qi Feng said, staring at the face in front of him with a slight smile. “I’m Qi Feng of the Qi family from the north of the city. I feel like we’re old friends at first sight, and I’d like to be your friend.”
Pei Xiting looked at him and knew exactly what he was up to. He said, “I don’t. Get out of the way.”
If an ordinary person dared to speak to him like that, Qi Feng would have already ordered a beating. But with such a great beauty, this kind of cold, feisty attitude only made him more interested. He smiled suavely. “You’re not from Qianzhou, are you? To be honest, I have quite a reputation in Qianzhou. If you make friends with me, you can walk around Qianzhou with ease.”
Pei Xiting wondered what kind of family could raise such an idiot. He swayed his fan and looked Qi Feng up and down. “Oh, so you have a connection to the governor’s office?”
“You are so smart!” Qi Feng liked him even more and stared at Pei Xiting, his eyes shining. “Governor Li is my cousin.”
“Oh, how impressive.” Pei Xiting waved his fan, signaling for Qi Feng to get out of the way. But this man was incredibly thick-skinned. Not only did he not move, but he also had the nerve to step forward.
Pei Xiting took a step back. Then, everything went in a blur. Fu Sheng blocked him, waved his arm, and Qi Feng was thrown against a low wall nearby. He screamed as he rolled onto the ground.
“Young master!” a few servants cried out tragically, rushing to swarm around him.
Qi Feng lay on the ground, in too much pain to move. He stared in disbelief at the person walking over. “Do you know who—”
“Who’s your cousin?” Pei Xiting interrupted him, his voice flat. “I know. I’m terrified, so I need to run away quickly.”
With that, Pei Xiting walked away unhurriedly.
Qi Feng: “…”
Young Master Qi had never suffered such a grievance since he was a child. He had the servants lift him up and carry him all the way to the Li residence.
When Governor Li saw his terrible cousin, he was also surprised. While he called for a doctor to treat his injuries, he asked him what kind of deity he had offended.
Qi Feng was too busy crying and complaining of pain to speak. A servant next to him relayed what happened. When Governor Li heard that the man was from Yejing, he quickly said, “Did you offend Fourth Young Master Zhao?”
“No, I’ve met Fourth Young Master Zhao. He doesn’t look like that,” Qi Feng said.
Good that it’s not Fourth Young Master Zhao. Governor Li breathed a sigh of relief. He sent someone to find out where the young master was staying and said he would personally go and apologize. He walked around Qi Feng with his hands behind his back, frowning. “You, you dare to provoke a young master from Yejing! There are countless wealthy families in Yejing, and their relationships are complex. If you offend the wrong person, it’ll be hard for me to even find a way to plead for you!”
Qi Feng clutched his swollen face. “He was just too good-looking. I couldn’t rest until I got a closer look.”
“Is that ‘a closer look’?” Governor Li didn’t bother to expose his lie. He flicked his sleeves. “You told him who you were, and he still attacked you without mercy. It means he doesn’t even care about who you are!”
From Yejing, eighteen or nineteen, stunningly handsome, in a maroon robe, with a ruthless servant… wait!
Governor Li’s eyes widened. He roared, “You didn’t go and provoke young master Pei, did you?!”
“Who is young master Pei…” Before Qi Feng could finish asking, Governor Li was already hurriedly telling someone to get his carriage and rushing out of the room.
Qi Feng grabbed the steward. “Who is young master Pei?”
“Who else? The East Palace’s clerk, Pei-wenshu!” the butler said.
“Clerk?” Qi Feng said, confused. “What rank official is that?”
“My little ancestor, is rank the point? The point is ‘East Palace’! Anyone who has a proper title in the East Palace is someone who can speak directly to the Crown Prince. What kind of influence is that? Not to mention, this Pei-wenshu is said to have the Crown Prince’s deep affection and favor. He’s the big shot in the East Palace, an ancestor and a deity who can walk sideways in Yejing. And you—” The steward looked at the bewildered Qi Feng and thought, He’s doomed.
“…” Qi Feng slumped back in his chair, his mind blank.
Meanwhile, Governor Li rushed to the inn where Pei Xiting was staying. The courtyard was empty, and he didn’t dare to go in on his own. He didn’t even have someone bring him a stool; he just stood at the door and waited for two hours. It wasn’t until he heard voices outside that he turned to see the young master entering. His maroon robe was gorgeous, and his phoenix-like eyes were radiant.
Damn it, damn it, Governor Li cursed Qi Feng in his heart. He quickly stepped forward and bowed. “Li De, Governor of Qianzhou, greets Pei-wenshu.”
“Oh,” Pei Xiting bowed back. “A distinguished guest.”
Li De felt there was a hidden meaning in Pei Xiting’s words. He smiled apologetically, then offered a series of apologies, finally hanging his head and waiting for Pei Xiting to speak.
“Young Master Qi blocked my path, and my man taught him a lesson. That’s the end of it. But with me, there’s no ‘third time.’ If it happens again, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Pei Xiting said, pointing at Li De’s shoulder with the top of his fan. “Governor Li, a family matter handled improperly could harm an official’s reputation and affect his performance. What a shame.”
Li De repeatedly said yes, promising there would be no next time. He also asked if he should prepare the official guesthouse for Pei Xiting to stay in.
“No need, it’s nice here; I like quietness.” Pei Xiting said calmly, “It’s getting late; I won’t keep Lord Li any longer. Goodbye.”
Li De bowed and left.
Fu Sheng had someone bring hot water to fill the bathtub, hung a clean undergarment for Pei Xiting on the rack, and then closed the door and left.
Pei Xiting sat in the tub, leaned back, and let out a comfortable sigh. He soaked a hot cloth and put it over his face, closing his eyes to rest for a bit. With Zong Suiyang gone, no one was there to give him a massage.
Fu Sheng had left a message in the back alleys, and Yuan Fang would know he was here as soon as he received it. He’d probably see him soon.
First, find a place to have some fun tomorrow. Pei Xiting was making plans in his head when he suddenly heard a faint sound. He ripped the cloth off his face and looked up at the ceiling, about to call for Fu Sheng, when the noise from the ceiling suddenly grew louder.
“Shadowless Eight-Forms! You’re the one and only Master Yuan Qu?!”
A man’s startled cry rang out from the ceiling. Pei Xiting pulled the bath cloth around himself, wrapped it tightly, and, as he dried himself, thought, ‘The one and only’—that’s a cool title.
He put on his undergarment and went outside. As he opened the door, a man fell from the roof and landed in the courtyard. The black-clad figure who jumped down after him and stepped on his chest to prevent his escape was none other than Yuan Fang.
“Young master,” Fu Sheng said, putting a cloak around Pei Xiting. “Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Pei Xiting wrapped the cloak around himself. “What’s going on?”
“This man was sneaking around on the roof. I was about to make a move, but Yuan Fang got to him first,” Fu Sheng said.
Pei Xiting understood. He walked behind Yuan Fang, still wrapped in his cloak, and said with a pleased smile, “Did you get the message so quickly?”
“When you left, your man sent out a flying message telling us to meet you. I knew the moment you set foot in Qianzhou. But I was out on a mission yesterday and just got back,” Yuan Fang said, stomping on the man on the ground. “The Faceless Bandit. The governor’s office has a five hundred tael reward on him.”
Pei Xiting, who was concerned about Yuan Fang’s income, asked, “Do you get a commission?”
“No commission,” Yuan Fang said. “I’m on a private job.”
“You two…” the Faceless Bandit said weakly. “Can you let me go first… ugh!”
Yuan Fang kicked him and knocked him unconscious. He called the innkeeper and told him to get the authorities, offering to exchange the person for money.
“Master Yuan Qu,” Pei Xiting said with a smile. “Is that your real name?”
Yuan Fang nodded. “I was born without parents, without a name. I took the Corridor Master’s surname, and he gave me my name.”
Pei Xiting turned and went back into the room. He poured Yuan Fang a cup of tea. “What’s the origin of ‘Fu Yuanqu’?”
“There used to be a mountain here called Yuanqu Mountain. Corridor Master found me there, so he gave me this name,” Yuan Fang said.
Pei Xiting sipped his tea. “Then if you’re using your real name to be a hero and take private jobs, and you’re quite famous, wouldn’t Master Fu know?”
“He doesn’t control me. Oh, right,” Yuan Fang remembered something. “Corridor Master knows you’re here and told me to tell you that if you get into any trouble, you can find him and he’ll take care of it.”
That was the tone of a mob boss, wasn’t it? Pei Xiting quickly praised Master Fu, then asked, “Where would I even find him?”
“Your family crown prince knows the location of the Immortal Corridor, but the path is hard to find and full of traps, so he probably didn’t tell you,” Yuan Fang said. Seeing Pei Xiting nod, he continued, “It doesn’t matter; I’m here now, so it’s the same thing.”
Pei Xiting nodded. “Actually, I won’t run into any trouble. I have who knows how many tails following me.”
Yuan Fang did a quick check. There were at least ten hidden guards around the courtyard, not to mention the ones outside. When Pei Xiting was away from home, the Crown Prince was clearly only at ease when he had people protecting him under his watchful eye.
Pei Xiting had the innkeeper bring another bed. He and Yuan Fang tidied up and went to bed.
When friends get together, they don’t have to do anything special. Just walking around together is enjoyable. The next day, Pei Xiting and Yuan Fang gambled a little for fun, then headed up Qingquan Mountain with their bags, planning to watch the sunrise.
There was an inn on Qingquan Mountain. Yuan Fang had someone book two rooms for them on the second floor, side by side, which was convenient.
Pei Xiting invited Yuan Fang to share a room, but Yuan Fang refused, saying he had to go out at night and didn’t want to disturb him. He’d stay in the room next door with Fu Sheng.
Pei Xiting didn’t mind, but seeing that Yuan Fang had already thrown his bag into the next room, he didn’t say much and just asked for water to wash up.
A calming incense was burning in the room. Pei Xiting was standing at the washstand, washing his face and brushing his teeth, and wiping himself with a cloth. The door suddenly opened. He thought it was Yuan Fang, since Fu Sheng would never come in while he was washing up. “Are you really not going to sleep with me?” he asked.
The person didn’t reply. A familiar scent came from behind him. Pei Xiting froze and quickly turned around, only to be locked in a strong embrace.
“Sleep with who?” Zong Suiyang tightened his arms slightly. Pei Xiting let out a yelp and quickly explained, “Same room, but not the same bed!”
Zong Suiyang didn’t say a word. He just reached out and started to pull down Pei Xiting’s pants.
Pei Xiting’s behind felt cold. He was about to use a move to fight him off, but his face was pinched and his lips were blocked. The kiss was hot and fierce, as if Zong Suiyang wanted to eat him bite by bite. He whimpered and kissed him back with all his might.
After being apart for a few days, their longing was inexpressible and could only be acted out. Zong Suiyang, of course, led Pei Xiting to the bed. The latter’s bare buttocks were convenient for him. Pei Xiting, holding the person he had missed day and night, no longer cared about anything else. He quickly used some face cream as lube and flipped over, straddling Zong Suiyang to hold him down.
Their souls seemed to be soothed. Both of them let out a simultaneous moan.
Pei Xiting was aggressive, but his stamina couldn’t keep up. He went limp after a short while. Zong Suiyang wrapped his arms around Pei Xiting’s supple waist and went for two more rounds before finally stopping when Pei Xiting told him to.
“The sunrise, the sunrise!”
Zong Suiyang clicked his tongue but didn’t continue. He just held Pei Xiting, stroking his face and back. Pei Xiting lay on him, not daring to move and stirring up trouble. They rested for a while, their breaths entangled.
“How did you get here?” Pei Xiting asked.
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting’s face. “I couldn’t sit still.”
Pei Xiting smiled. “You missed me?”
“You know the answer.” Zong Suiyang gave Pei Xiting a gentle swat behind. The person in his arms let out a muffled groan and flinched. He locked him with his arm. “Don’t you dare run.”
Who’s running? Pei Xiting glared at Zong Suiyang. Only now did he realize why Yuan Fang had been acting so strange. He must have known Zong Suiyang was coming tonight.
“You guys were secretly colluding behind my back,” Pei Xiting said, starting his interrogation.
“Oh, don’t be angry,” Zong Suiyang said, thrusting his hips. “Shall I make it up to you some more?”
Pei Xiting’s scalp tingled. He immediately and spinelessly said, “I’m the bigger person! I won’t hold it against you guys!”
Zong Suiyang chuckled, lightly patting Pei Xiting’s back. He stared at those wet eyes for a moment before saying, “I missed you.”
Pei Xiting pouted and asked for a kiss, saying, “I miss you waking up with wet underwear every morning.”
Zong Suiyang narrowed his eyes. Pei Xiting giggled and didn’t dare to say any more lewd jokes. The two of them hugged for a while, then had someone bring them hot water to take a bath together.
Before dawn, the group left the inn and continued their climb to the peak. Pei Xiting felt he was making progress. He could still hike after just two rounds with Zong Suiyang.
Zong Suiyang heard Pei Xiting humming. He saw that his tail was practically wagging. “You’re so happy?” he asked.
“The fox got the meat. How can he not be happy?” Pei Xiting winked.
Zong Suiyang said nothing. He just squeezed Pei Xiting’s hand.
There were other people on the path who saw Zong Suiyang and Pei Xiting holding hands. They all had a reaction, but any shock or disdain was stopped by the knife on Fu Sheng’s waist.
The hazy clouds in front of them were suddenly pushed aside by a large hand, revealing a golden-red scene. Pei Xiting said, “It’s coming!” and quickly grabbed Zong Suiyang and started running. As they reached the peak, the sky suddenly erupted in ten thousand golden rays of light, like a goddess holding silk, scattering glistening light across the cliffs.
The red sun had risen.
Someone gasped in admiration. Pei Xiting sighed. “It’s so beautiful.”
Zong Suiyang said, “Mhm.” His gaze was fixed on Pei Xiting’s profile, which was speckled with light and tinged with gold. Reflected in the morning glow, he looked like a lotus flower, a sliver of sunset, and a hint of red. In short, all the beauty in the world couldn’t compare.
“What are you thinking about?” Pei Xiting turned his head like a playful child, his phoenix eyes looking at him full of affection, as his gentle lover.
Zong Suiyang thought for a long time. He gripped Pei Xiting’s hand and said solemnly, “I’m thinking about what we’re going to eat for lunch today.”
Pei Xiting understood. He squeezed Zong Suiyang’s hand back and said with a smile, “As long as you’re with me, anything tastes good.”
(The End)
Why Yuan Fang has completely two different background? I remember he has Chen surname 🤔