In the box was a piece of smooth, white jade that was obviously priceless.
“I don’t want it.” Xie Caiqing struggled.
“You have to accept it even if you don’t want it. Remember this,” Xiao Yun said, “Be good, it’s much smaller than me, it won’t hurt.”
Xie Caiqing shook his head, his dark crow feathers drooping, as if his face would blush if he looked at the jade.
However, Xiao Yun took it in his hand, playing with it without blushing or his heart beating, and was very happy.
He has been hanging out with Xie Caiqing these past few days, and has been coaxing him for quite a while, but Xie Caiqing still won’t let him light a candle. Not allowed to see him in such a good mood, his interest dropped by half.
He used to spoil him, but now it seems that he has been spoiled, so he had to tease him a little.
Otherwise, wouldn’t it mean that the husband’s authority is weak?
How can you clean up the world if you can’t even clean up your own house? I am his heaven.
Xie Caiqing was full of resistance: “I don’t want…”
“I won’t light the candle.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Light the candle or use this, choose one.”
Xie Caiqing’s face turned pale and he shook his head repeatedly: “I don’t want any of them.”
He did not want to light a candle or use this.
“Let me talk to you seriously. The top scholar is playing rogue, so I have no choice but to choose,” Xiao Yun smiled maliciously, stood up and extinguished the candle, turned around and pulled back the rabbit that was about to run away, and stripped the man clean in no time.
He was already very skilled at this, unlike the first time when he was so impatient that he almost tore his clothes off.
Xie Caiqing pushed him, but Xiao Yun grabbed his two disobedient hands and held them down.
Xie Caiqing buried his face in the slightly higher pillow, and his back had to stretch and tighten, forming an inverse arch. His two butterfly bones were faintly visible, and the slightly concave spine in the middle was tough and clear, as if it could hold moonlight like water.
Every part of Xie Caiqing’s body was natural. He didn’t have anything that shouldn’t be there, and he had everything that men like.
There were still traces of the previous two days on it, snow falling and red plum blossoms, a poetic and picturesque scene.
Xie Caiqing’s skin was like a painting. He had great difficulty in coloring it, but it disappeared after two days. He had no choice but to embellish it again and again without getting tired of it.
Xie Caiqing tilted his head to look at him, as if he was angry out of shame: “Your Majesty!”
He never expected Xiao Yun to be so bad.
There was a hint of panic on his face, as if he was afraid of the unknown, and ashamed of being unable to resist, which was quietly captivating.
“Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Yun said, “You could even take on myself, so what’s wrong with this? You’ll like it. I have a lot of toys, all given by Qian Sisheng, and I want to try every one of them.”
Xie Caiqing was so ashamed and angry that he wanted to cut Qian Sisheng into pieces. How could there be such a lewd minister?
If Xiao Yun became obsessed with these things, then the possibility of him getting pregnant would be small, and he didn’t like it.
“I don’t want it.” Xie Caiqing’s usually elegant voice was slightly hoarse, with a hint of pleading.
Xiao Yun was afraid that he would give in, especially with this kind of voice and eyes. He hardened his heart, pressed the back of his neck, and said with a smile: “Top scholar, do you want to make an appointment with me? You said no tonight and at other times. I can’t tell whether you want it or not. You have to let me know whether you want it or not.”
“…I really don’t want it.”
“You said that tonight, too.”
“I really don’t want it… Your Majesty, please spare me…”
“You said that tonight, too.”
“…” Xie Caiqing, who had always had a mild temper, was angered for the first time. He bit his slender wrist as if he was biting Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun was determined today to bully Xie Caiqing.
Xie Caiqing quickly went from being silent to groaning uncontrollably. His body turned slightly red and he bit his lips tightly. When he heard Xiao Yun’s laughter behind him, his face became even redder.
He was so eager for revenge that he didn’t care about anything. Suddenly he stopped biting his wrist and immersed himself in it.
Xiao Yun saw that he was confused and lost. In the past, he had to coax and deceive him to make a sound, but now he kept doing it. His face darkened little by little. He stopped moving his hands, leaned down and bit the back of his neck, and asked in a low voice: “…you like him more than you like me?”
Xie Caiqing pretended not to hear what he said, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: “…Wu, don’t stop.”
Xiao Yun was shocked and furious, and asked viciously, “Do you really like him more than what I do?”
Xie Caiqing’s eyes were dazed: “I want…”
Xiao Yun said angrily: “You are too ignorant! It’s so small, so cool and smooth, how can it be better than me? I can hug you and kiss you, and can–“
Xie Caiqing ignored him: “Yes…”
Xiao Yun was dizzy and threw the thing away in anger. He turned the man’s face over and kissed him viciously.
Because there was no candle, the fleeting smile on Xie Caiqing’s lips could not be seen.
This guy was like the jealous dog raised by Nanruo’s Huo Xiao.
Even an object has to be compared.
How can such a majestic emperor act like a child from time to time?
…
The next morning, Xie Caiqing stood up, his legs trembling slightly and he almost fell down. Only then did he realize that he was too happy too early last night.
Xiao Yun went to attend court, and Xie Caiqing was supported by Taifei with an indescribable expression to have breakfast, with slightly red ears.
Taifei hesitated: “So he is so——”
“Don’t say it.”
Taifei smiled warmly and said, “Well, at least it doesn’t seem like you’ve been wronged. I told you not to believe your royal brother—what’s so bad about this anyway? Everyone acts like it’s something shocking, but if people truly disliked it, where would you have come from? Where would I have come from? Where would the millions of children born in Great Ning every year come from?”
“Isn’t it all just one face in public, another in private?”
Xie Caiqing: “…Please don’t say any more.”
Taifei: “You don’t like him?”
Xie Caiqing averted his gaze and, after a long pause, gave a faint shake of his head.
“You don’t like him? I could hear the commotion from all the way across the residence last night.”
“…” Xie Caiqing’s face flushed bright red. “Niang Niang, do you know you’re just like a female version of Xiao Yun?”
“Really?” Taifei’s eyes widened, clearly pleased.
Xie Caiqing: “…You like him that much?”
Without hesitation, Taifei said, “Of course.”
Xie Caiqing was caught off guard, clearly unimpressed. “What’s so good about him?”
“I used to dislike him just because I was from Nanruo, but after watching the way he treats you, I’ve come to quite admire him,” Taifei replied. “That’s what a straightforward man should be like—he goes after what he wants, treats you well without holding back, sleeps with you and enjoys it without hiding it. He’s open to trying everything. That way, when he’s old and weak, he won’t have regrets.”
Xie Caiqing: “…”
He had to admit, this was indeed how Taifei lived her life, so her appreciation for Xiao Yun wasn’t surprising.
Xie Caiqing didn’t nod or voice agreement, nor did he argue—he didn’t want to refute her and risk hurting her feelings by denying both Xiao Yun and her way of life.
Taifei added, “Unlike your imperial brother, who’s always brooding and overthinking things—it’s bad for the health and such a dull personality.”
Xie Caiqing: “My brother is much better than him.” He couldn’t help saying it.
“Sure, sure, your imperial brother is the best,” Taifei replied knowingly. She understood that in Xie Caiqing’s heart, his brother always came first. He had even stood up for him when a candidate made an offhand remark at Yixian Tower, so it was no surprise he’d take his brother’s side against Xiao Yun. Taifei stopped speaking in favor of Xiao Yun.
“If only you and Xiao Yun’s temperaments could balance each other out,” she mused. “One’s too calm and quiet, the other’s too fiery and impulsive.”
She grew a bit perplexed as she spoke, but the thought struck her—come to think of it, the little Wangye and the emperor of Great Ning were actually quite well matched.
She quickly shook the strange thought from her head.
…
Xie Caiqing eventually returned to the Hanlin Academy, albeit late.
A colleague approached him and said, “The old master is asking for you.”
Xie Caiqing acknowledged with a nod.
The same colleague quietly added, “He’s really angry. You’d better act humbly.”
Xie Caiqing responded with a faint smile and sighed as he stood before Liu Yun’s office door.
What else could he do?
Xiao Yun had endless energy, never resting a day, and never seemed to tire. But Xie Caiqing was exhausted. Human stamina had its limits—what was used up in private couldn’t be summoned again for work.
Unfortunately, Liu Yun was a strict teacher, not much different from his elder brother. He had always kept Xie Caiqing’s schedule packed to the brim. Now that Xie Caiqing seemed “lazy,” he was bound to be angry.
Once inside, with the door closed, Liu Yun frowned and said, “You’ve been so idle lately—do you think this is how you repay the emperor’s favor and trust?”
“…Your student admits his mistake.” Xie Caiqing stood obediently.
“Come here,” Liu Yun said.
Xie Caiqing stepped forward.
Liu Yun sighed. “You were born into poverty. Compared to those sons of noble families, you started off at a disadvantage. If you don’t strive for improvement, what will become of you? The emperor’s favor is temporary. There’s an old saying in the palace—no flower blooms for a hundred days. The same applies to the court. In life, even lasting friendships are rare—how much more so the emperor’s affection?”
Xie Caiqing: “Your student understands his mistake.”
He sighed inwardly.
He did know it was wrong—but he truly couldn’t help it.
Liu Yun still wore a stern face. “Unless the emperor dotes on you for life—which is impossible. Do you even know? The person he favored the longest only lasted not even two months.”
“The commander had shared-life bonds with His Majesty, yet he still walks on thin ice. How long do you think your favor will last?”
“…Your student understands.”
Liu Yun warned, “If this happens again, don’t blame me for punishing you.”
Xie Caiqing’s expression shifted, but he said nothing.
Liu Yun didn’t notice his silence. His expression softened as he took Xie Caiqing’s hand and spoke earnestly: “To be honest, I really admire you. In both character and talent, you’re impeccable.”
A slight blush crept onto his usually stiff face, though his tone stayed stern. “My daughter saw you once from a carriage and took quite a liking to you. If you apply yourself, since you’re all alone, I can always be your backing.”
Xie Caiqing froze.
Was he suggesting marriage to his daughter?
Xie Caiqing was both flattered and anxious. In just a few months, he would return to Nanruo—he didn’t want to form any attachments here, especially when things between him and the emperor were still so ambiguous.
Knowing Liu Yun’s temperament, once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Xie Caiqing was just about to politely decline when Liu Yun, still holding his hand, suddenly paused.
By chance, Liu Yun had lifted Xie Caiqing’s sleeve slightly. Now that he looked closely, he noticed a faint red mark on Xie Caiqing’s pale, slender wrist.
He stared at it for a moment.
Xie Caiqing glanced down and saw the kiss mark Xiao Yun had left there last night. His heart skipped a beat. He reflexively tried to pull his hand away, then realized how suspicious that would look, and quickly let Liu Yun continue holding it.
Liu Yun asked, “How did this happen?”
“…The weather’s hot, and there are a lot of mosquitoes. I must’ve been bitten.”
At first, Liu Yun thought nothing of it—but then the excuse struck him as oddly familiar.
He suddenly realized: like the emperor, Xie Caiqing—who used to wear a scented pouch to ward off mosquitoes—was no longer wearing one.
The emperor’s attire had become uncharacteristically neat and proper lately. Xie Caiqing, who was always fastidious, had come to court today not in official robes, but in a high-collared outfit.
