Chapter 167: Don't let the prisoner look under your robes

With great effort, Xi Zirui pulls away from Han Yu and his puppyish pawing at his ass.

"Don't forget where we were," Xi Zirui says, sucking on a steadying breath. 

Han Yu smacks his ass awkwardly. "This King will fuck you, don't worry."

Xi Zirui throws him an unimpressed look over the shoulder and mouths 'behave' at him, as he opens the door for the Empress Dowager.

She enters his room after gesturing at her maids to stay back. Xi Zirui closes the door behind her, and she casts her eyes in confusion around the room.

"Where are the Emperor's servants?" she asks.

"This son has been careful to restrict access to him while the matter of uncovering the traitors hasn't been dealt with." 

The Empress Dowager points an accusing finger at Han Yu. "And yet, the Emperor allows this barbarian access to his most private quarters."

Kneeling with his hands on his knees and his head lowered, Han Yu's shoulders shake with faint amusement. Xi Zirui can imagine the images what the words 'most private quarters' have conjured. 

"The barbarian has been successfully subdued," Xi Zirui says. "Imperial mother needn't worry."

She scoffs. "This widowed one saw the spectacle you made at court earlier to demonstrate just that. This one doesn't know what the Emperor hopes to achieve with that kind of display."

Xi Zirui gestures towards the twin couch by the window, inviting the Empress Dowager to make herself comfortable in his rooms but she shakes her head in denial.

"This son understands imperial mother's concern, however it was this one's hope that the traitors would see the barbarian at this Emperor's side and think to approach him again, this time exposing themselves."

"Congratulations Host! Empress Dowager's Favor up by 5 points. Now at 20 of a possible 100 points."

Xi Zirui isn't lying to her, he does hope that his open flaunting of Han Yu will lead whoever wants to get rid of him to show their hand.

The Empress Dowager's expression remains stoic. "The Emperor is presuming that several things will happen according to his plans."

Xi Zirui clasps his hands behind his back and paces around the room. "It's true, Imperial mother is wise, but if this Emperor is a better judge of human nature than many take him for, and if my suspicions are right the traitors will show their true colors soon."

Meaning: Su Xueyi won't resist trying to show just how smart he is, regardless of whether he has his memories back or not -- and that's when Xi Zirui will strike.

"This widowed one admits she never took the Emperor for a strategist." She casts a look at Han Yu, her eyes stilling over the chains across his thin robes. "Instead this one has always believed the Emperor much preferred to spend his time surrounded by beautiful flowers than pouring over paper and brush."

Xi Zirui smiles at her. "Let's hope that our enemies share the same opinion as Imperial mother."

"Congratulations Host! Empress Dowager's Favor up by 10 points. Now at 30 of a possible 100 points."

She gives him long look of appraisal. "It seems everyone has misjudged his Majesty."

"Nothing this one didn't count on."

She makes her way towards the door. "That has become clear." She stops halfway out of the room. "His Majesty should consider Minister Tong's counsel. It would boost morale if an Empress was crowned."

He's not surprised she would bring this up. Xi Zirui needs to play his cards right if he doesn't want to lose her favor.

"This Emperor would like nothing more, but until the traitors are rooted out that would be imprudent."

The Empress Dowager's eyes shift once again towards Han Yu. "A wise decision."

Xi Zirui isn't sure if she really thinks so, or is just giving him the benefit of the doubt.

In any case, Xi Zirui has no interest in being married to anyone who isn't Han Yu, but he can imagine how well that would go in this world.

He'll think of something.

For now he just bids the Empress Dowager goodbye and tries not to look too relieved to see the back of her.

Han Yu is already standing by the time Xi Zirui turns around.

He clicks his tongue as Xi Zirui approaches him. "Does the old lady know you'd rather be on your knees for me than marry some pretty pampered noble girl?"

Judging by her fleeting looks towards Han Yu, she has at least an inkling.

Not that would be a problem, Xi Zirui would hardly be the first or last Emperor to prefer men, but unfortunately they were still expected to produce heirs. 

Since Xi Zirui already has children, and is very much interested in getting them back, he will be skipping on the whole harem experience.

He fixes Han Yu with a heated look from beneath his eyelashes. "Keep talking like that and I won't take off the cuffs."

Han Yu walks towards Xi Zirui with a smirk. "Don't worry, this King isn't going anywhere before fucking you."

Xi Zirui lets himself be backed against the wall. "You're talking such a big game, but I haven't seen anything yet."

Han Yu raises his hands between the two of them. "Release me and I'll show you what I can do."

It might be a bad idea, but Xi Zirui is too horny to care.

He searches for the lacquered box the collar and chains came in in the drawers of the cabinet and vanity in his room but can't find it.

"What's going on?" Han Yu asks, pushing Xi Zirui into the edge of the desk, and trying to ruck of the skirts of his robe over the back of his legs with his bound hands. "Are you too excited to focus? I can do you right here if you want."

Xi Zirui keeps frantically searching for the lacquered box and finally his fingers make contact with a smooth wooden surface. He pulls it out of the drawer and opens it with trembling fingers.

Instead of the keys to the cuffs Bai Mi gave him, he finds three jade balls connected by silk thread, nestled inside a silk cushion.

Looking over his shoulder Han Yu peers into the box and lets out an amused chuckle. "So is this what you do in your free time?"

Xi Zirui looks at the jade balls in shock. Who would have thought the original was so adventurous.

Han Yu's efforts to get his skirts over his back redouble, and eventually he manages to bare Xi Zirui's lower half to the cool air.

"With an ass like this you're better suited as a courtesan than an Emperor," Han Yu says, appreciatively, pinching one smooth cheek. 

"Stop, I can't find the keys," Xi Zirui says, trying to keep looking while Han Yu fondles him.

"Maybe I don't want them anymore, I'm perfectly capable of fucking you like this." 

He might very well be, but Xi Zirui isn't sure he wants him to now. His skin feels like it is on fire, and Han Yu's touch is the only balm that will soothe it.

Xi Zirui tries to lift himself off the desk but Han Yu pushes him back down. "You've been parading me around like a pet," he says, whispering the words into Xi Zirui's ear. "But you're the one panting for a good fucking."

His hands tighten clumsily on Xi Zirui's ass, pinching and kneading all the skin he can reach. "This soft skin has never seen the harshness of battle, your beautiful lips have never drunk rainwater because even the springs were red with the blood of your brothers."

Xi Zirui tries to dislodge him again, but Han Yu pushes him down harder, his thighs driving into the back of Xi Zirui's thighs, pinning him in place as surely as the arm across his back, still holding up the skirts of his robe.

"If this King were to win you as spoils of war, he would claim you right there in the battlefield, in the middle of all the destruction your people have caused."

Xi Zirui tries to speak but his throat clicks together. He doesn't know if he should be worried about how hard Han Yu's words are making him.

"After that, I would take you into my tent and keep you chained to my bed so I could make use of you whenever I wanted."

Turning his face to the side, Xi Zirui manages to smirk at Han Yu. "We're not so different after all then, you and I."

Han Yu scowls and his hands grow more demanding, pulling at Xi Zirui's underwear, trying to untie it.

It's then that a dainty knock sounds outside the door.

"Does younger brother want to go for a stroll in the courtyards? The weather is lovely," Bai Mi asks, her voice pleasant.

Xi Zirui nearly knocks his head against the table in frustration.

"Get rid of her, you've teased me enough." Han Yu nips at Xi Zirui's earlobe, his canine digging into the soft lobe. "If I'm not balls deep in your Majesty's ass in half an incense time, we'll have a problem."