CH 71

November 5, 2022Merchie

The small man’s face was covered in tear tracks as he cried unabashedly, looking terribly heartbroken.

Pei Zheng’s fingers suddenly loosened in their grip. He wiped the little prince’s tears, hugged him against his chest, and coaxed him in a gentle voice.

“I know, I know, don’t cry. What will you do if your eyes are ruined from crying too much? Hm?”

“…If they’re ruined, then so be it…It’s…it’s not like anyone will care about me anyway…”

Upon seeing that his tears wouldn’t stop flowing, Pei Zheng turned over and pinned the small man beneath himself, propping himself up with his arm as he leaned over him.

“I care.”

Qi Changyi was still in a daze when he suddenly felt something press against his body, rendering him slightly breathless. A cool hand traced the exposed skin of his midriff.

The feeling of warm breaths puffing against him, and the numbness of his waist made the small man’s toes curl. That cool hand squeezed his slender waist with just the right amount of force. The small man’s weeping immediately ceased, and a soft, involuntary moan escaped him.

“Nn, ahh…”

The little prince also heard the sound he had just made. In a panic, he smashed both of his hands tightly against his mouth, his earlobes so red that they looked like they were dripping blood.

The corners of Pei Zheng’s lips curved upward, and he reached out, forcefully removing that pair of little hands.

“Cry out,” Pei Zheng kissed the small man’s brilliant red lips, “I want to hear your voice.”

“….No, I don’t want to…” Qi Changyi pouted aggrievedly as he choked back his sobs.

Pei Zheng laughed at the little prince’s refusal. His hands roamed all over the petite body beneath him, kissing and caressing every part of him. After a few moments, that small man in his arms had melted into a pool of water, limp and numb, unable to hold back his gasps and sobs.

At this point, Pei Zheng retracted his hand. He held the little prince and turned over, so that Qi Changyi was now lying on top of him.

The small man’s entire body was burning hot. His eyes were half-closed as he laid on Pei Zheng’s chest, unable to muster a shred of strength. Although he had just cried a river, an occasional sob would still escape his throat.

“Your body isn’t fully recovered yet, so I’ll wait until you’ve rested for a few more days. Don’t think that I’m going to let you go so easily…”

The small man was a little dazed, and couldn’t understand what Pei Zheng said. A pair of gentle hands stroked his back, and after a little bit, the little prince was fighting to keep his eyelids from drooping, and his breathing gradually evened out and became soft.

The candlelight in the little pavilion was immediately snuffed out, and the entire building fell into silence, save for the rustling sounds of shadowy trees from outside the window.

The next morning, Qi Changyi was shaken awake by Li Yu.

The moment his eyelids peeled open, his eyes were immediately stabbed by rays of bright sunlight.

Li Yu hurriedly reached out to block the sunlight for Qi Changyi, “Your Highness, it’s already noon, you should get up. Imperial Physician Jiang said that since you didn’t drink your medicine in the morning, you can’t skip drinking it this afternoon.”

Qi Changyi’s eyes adjusted to the light. Li Yu held him by the arm and helped him sit up.

He glanced downward at the bed; he was the only one on it. Then, he swept his gaze over the rest of the room.

Pei Zheng wasn’t here.

Qi Changyi seemed to sigh in relief, but there was an obvious lack of brightness or excitement on his little face.

“Your Highness, Lord Pei went to the morning court session. He still isn’t back yet.”

Qi Changyi nodded wordlessly.

Li Yu served Qi Changyi as he ate lunch, which consisted wholly of light dishes. However, Qi Changyi only took a few bites before he was unwilling to eat anymore.

A few servants cleared the table, and delivered Qi Changyi’s medicine, along with a few pieces of candied fruit.

After gulping down the disgustingly bitter medicinal juice with a deep frown on his face, Qi Changyi hastily grabbed a piece of candied fruit and tossed it into his mouth. Finally, the terrible herbal taste on his tongue was offset somewhat by the sweetness.

After drinking the medicine, Qi Changyi laid back on the bed. The other servants all retreated one by one until Qi Changyi and Li Yu were the only ones left in the little pavilion.

“Xiao Yuzi, where’s Imperial Physician Jiang? How come he didn’t even come here to watch me drink the medicine?”

“Your Highness, Imperial Physician Jiang had some matters to take care of, so he went back to the Imperial Hospital. He’ll be back later. And he’s already ordered this servant to watch you drink the medicine.”

“Oh…”

Qi Changyi replied, stretching the “oh” for a long time before his voice dropped into silence.

Li Yu knew that he must be feeling bored. In the past, His Highness could never spend the day vegetating in his bedroom; in one moment, he would be fiddling with something, and in the next moment, he would be knocking on something else. In this way, he could entertain himself for the whole day.

But it had been so long since His Highness had been able to play in such a carefree manner. Given his childish personality, he must be unhappy living like this.

“Your Highness, Lord Pei said that you cannot take half a step out of this pavilion until you’re fully recovered. Imperial Physician Jiang has also instructed the same thing. So all you need to do is lie down, and recover quickly so you can go outside.”

“Xiao Yuzi, it’s not that I want to go outside to play.”

Qi Changyi paused, “I…I just miss the palace a little bit…”

Li Yu froze.

He understood what Qi Changyi meant; he didn’t miss any objects in the palace. Rather, he missed the people in his old residence. The ninth prince’s palace was now uninhabited, so the maids and eunuchs who once resided there had now been split up and reassigned to other princes and princesses, leaving their former master’s residence empty and deserted.

“I also…miss Royal Father…and Mother…”

Qi Changyi’s eyes reddened as he spoke.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Why are you thinking about these things again? Didn’t we agree that you would only think about happy things in the future? Your Highness, don’t cry…” Li Yu panicked slightly when he saw tears falling down the small man’s face; His Highness had already cried so much. At this rate, his eyes wouldn’t be able to handle it anymore. Imperial Physician Jiang had also said that the little prince couldn’t be allowed to think about sad things anymore, nor could he be allowed to cry.

Qi Changyi turned over and laid facing the wall.

“Xiao Yuzi, I want to be alone for a little bit…”

Li Yu gazed at his back, before sighing deeply.

“Your Highness, this servant will be standing outside. If you need something, just shout, and this servant will come back inside.”

The person on the bed did not move.

Li Yu slowly retreated out of the room.

Qi Changyi closed his eyes, and his mind flooded with a collection of memories, all of which were scenes of his childhood self with his mother consort and Royal Father.

At that time, he was still young, so Royal Father could effortlessly lift him onto his shoulders. Then, with one hand on his leg, and the other holding his mother’s palm, the three of them would stroll through the imperial garden.

During that period of time, the fourth prince had been sent to the academy and spent every day with his teacher learning etiquette, poetry, and calligraphy. On the other hand, Qi Changyi was allowed to stay by his mother’s side, frolicking and playing to his heart’s content. The Emperor also favored the two of them a little more than he did his other concubines and children.

But those happy, peaceful days lasted only a brief moment.

The door to the little pavilion was gently pushed open, and a tall figure slowly walked toward the bed.

A slightly cold body pressed against the half-asleep little prince’s back; although the fire inside the little pavilion was burning furiously, he couldn’t stop himself from shivering.

Pei Zheng turned the small man over and hugged him against his chest. He laid on the pillow, and when he leaned down, he could smell the bitter, medicinal odor mixed with a sweet fragrance emanating from Qi Changyi’s body. He buried his face in the small man’s hair and inhaled deeply; he could even detect the faint, milky scent that the little prince always seemed to give off.

As he embraced that soft, warm little body, Pei Zheng’s tumultuous, restless mind calmed slightly.

However, the person in his arms was being far too obedient; he was limp and completely motionless.

Qi Changyi’s chin was grabbed and tilted upward, and his gaze crashed straight into a pair of deep, dark eyes.

“You’re crying?”

Qi Changyi hurriedly wiped the tears that were hanging at the corners of his eyes, and suddenly sobbed quietly,

“I…I’m not…”

“Let me see.”

Pei Zheng’s hands exerted some strength, and he lifted the little prince up to the side of the pillow. He cupped the back of the small man’s head and pushed it towards himself, his gaze sweeping over that rain-soaked pear-blossom1 face.

“Oh, you didn’t cry, but your face is so wet. It looks like those servants haven’t been serving our little Highness well. They should all be punished.”

As he spoke, Pei Zheng was about to raise his voice and yell for one of his subordinates, “Come…”

He only managed to shout that one word, before his mouth was suddenly covered by two small hands. The owner of those hands wore an aggrieved expression; it looked as though his pearl-shaped tears were about to start dripping down again.

“D-don’t…It has nothing to do with them, don’t punish them…I’m begging you…” His pleading tone was alluring indeed.

Pei Zheng’s eyes narrowed, and he exhaled a deep, warm breath against the palms that were covering his mouth. That pair of hands immediately tried to shift away, as if they had been burned, but they were held in place by a larger hand. Then, Qi Changyi felt something warm and moist tickle the palm of his hand and trace his delicate white fingers several times.

“Ah…” After Qi Changyi figured out what that ‘something’ was, he jerked his hand away, his eyes red.

Pei Zheng’s grip loosened. He touched the corner of his lips with his fingertips and was about to recapture that pair of hands that were desperately trying to escape2.

“No…don’t do this…Brother Pei…”

Qi Changyi’s heart was thumping, and his breathing was becoming rapid. His head was spinning; if this went on any longer, he felt as though he would faint from the dizziness.

But that big hand still wouldn’t let go of him. Instead, Qi Changyi’s thin wrists were squeezed together and twisted behind his back.

“Don’t do what?” Pei Zheng leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

His lips formed a soft ‘o’ shape as they opened and closed to draw soft, shallow breaths. His reddish eyes were full of mist, and sparkling, bead-like tears were suspended at the corners of his eyes, ready to fall.

Pei Zheng cursed inwardly. His mind was overcome with the desire to flip the little prince over and ruthlessly press himself onto that petite body. Those tears would only be allowed to fall for him.

At this moment, voices suddenly sounded from behind the door to the little pavilion, and only grew louder and louder.

“Imperial Physician Jiang! Imperial Physician Jiang, please wait! Please wait! Don’t open the door yet!”

“Oi, you sure are something, Li Yu. You’re even trying to stop me! Wait, my ass, I’m here to check His Highness’s pulse. What, do I have to pick an auspicious day to come here?”

“Uh, that isn’t necessary…”

“Then why are trying to stop me?”

As he spoke, Jiang Yubai was about to step forward and continue pushing the door. Li Yu panicked, and said urgently, “His Highness is resting, he shouldn’t be disturbed! Why don’t you come back when His Highness is awake?!”

“He went to sleep without eating dinner? Wake him up, he can’t skip his evening medicine.”

Seeing that he could no longer prevent Jiang Yubai from entering, Li Yu’s expression twisted with pain, “Imperial Physician Jiang, Lord Pei is here as well.”

The hand Jiang Yubai was using to push open the door suddenly froze. His gaze flashed slightly. Then, he lifted his foot and kicked the door with all his might.

The door was flung open with a “bang”.

Pei Zheng had already gotten off the bed. He raised his hand and pulled the blanket back over the small man, tucking it tightly.

There were a few garments scattered on the floor beneath the bed, but Pei Zheng was dressed neatly and looked as handsome as usual.

“You crazy pervert3!”

Jiang Yubai stomped through the door, grinding his teeth as he said, “Pei Zheng, don’t you think you should explain yourself a little?”

Pei Zheng looked at him and didn’t speak.

Jiang Yubai continued, “I just came here from the Imperial Hospital. There isn’t a single person in the entire palace that hasn’t heard those rumors; it looks like His Highness is the only one who’s still in the dark, am I right?”

Notes

THE CLIFFHANGER

Also, author-san really likes to end exclamations with “…”, like “ah…”, so I’m not quite sure if he’s going “ah…you licked me…” or “AH WHY DID YOU LICK ME”

Day 2 of requesting Pei Zheng to stop licking him

Thanks for reading~~

1.Hm, I used this idiom before but I never explained it. 梨花带雨 (lí huā dài yǔ): rain-soaked pear blossom, a pretty crying face

2.临阵脱逃 (lín zhèn tuō táo): typically used to describe soldiers who abandon a battle at a critical moment, abandoning a sinking ship etc.

3.衣冠禽兽 (yī guān qín shòu): a beast in people’s clothing, someone who lacks morality, a pervert