Chapter 36: Jinling City (13)
Lin Zikui wasn’t unaware that Zhao Ling had no filter when he spoke. In that regard… perhaps because he was quite a few years older, he tended to be impatient. Lin Zikui had already grown used to it, but even so, he still felt embarrassed whenever he heard such things. They weren’t married yet—how could they talk like that?
Considering that Mo Liu, the young attendant, was present, Lin Zikui deliberately ignored the topic and said, “The hot-water bed warmer…”
Mo Liu immediately chimed in, “This is Miss Xiao’s boat. I didn’t feel right asking someone to heat water for me, so I had to do it myself…”
“I’ll have someone fetch it.” Xiao Fu lowered his gaze, staring at the attendant on the floor. “Mo Liu.”
“Here!”
“Are you going to walk back to your room on your own, or do you want me to carry you there?”
“I… I’ll walk myself. Young Master, I’m going back to sleep now.” Mo Liu scrambled up, and Lin Zikui bent down to help him into his outer robe. Mo Liu clutched it tightly around himself, walking away while looking back every few steps.
Sigh, that Lady Xiao sure had broad shoulders and long legs… She looked like she could eat his young master alive. Once they got married, how was the young master supposed to handle her?
Once the attendant left, only Lin Zikui and Xiao Fu remained in the room. Under the soft glow of the candlelight, Lin Zikui’s lips were visibly red and slightly swollen, kissed until they glistened. Just looking at them made Xiao Fu’s throat tighten.
“I don’t need the hot-water warmer. No need to ask someone to prepare it.” Lin Zikui hadn’t yet taken off his cloak and felt embarrassed to undress in front of him.
Xiao Fu stared at him, gaze unflinching. “If it’s not heated, what will you do when it gets cold?”
Lin Zikui sat down. “I’ll just wear an extra layer to bed.” It was nearly spring now, and Jinling wasn’t as cold as Xingzhi Temple, though being on the river did bring a chill.
Xiao Fu leaned against the bedpost, looking down at him. “Is it that you don’t want to touch me, Lin Lang? It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before. Did I do anything to you then? You should know I’m not someone who takes advantage of others. When I say I’m warming your bed, it’s really just because I’m worried you’re cold…” Seeing Lin Zikui about to speak, Xiao Fu quickly interrupted, “And don’t give me any of your ‘thus and therefore’ talk. I don’t like it.”
“…”
Fine, then he wouldn’t say anything.
Lin Zikui looked at him with his one good eye and gently said, “Zhao Ling, I want to read a bit before bed. If you’re bored, I have chess manuals and musical scores you can look through while sitting beside me. I’ll sleep around the end of the Hai hour. Is that alright?”
Note: Hai hour: 9-11pm.
That way, they could still spend some time together. Xiao Zhaoling nodded and hung up the peony lantern.
Lin Zikui could still read with one eye—it just wasn’t very easy. Xiao Fu had originally been reading a rather suggestive book, but seeing Lin Zikui straining to read with his face so close to the pages, he couldn’t bear it. He tossed aside his book and grabbed the scroll from Lin Zikui’s hands. “I’ll read it to you.”
He had already seen how Lin Zikui’s attendant read aloud—Xiao Fu could manage.
“The Master said…”
Lin Zikui was slightly taken aback but continued, “Virtue is hard to attain, is it not?”
Xiao Fu held the book in his hands. “The Master said…”
Lin Zikui went on, “Counsel him loyally and guide him kindly…”
He had memorized the classics—Confucian Analects, Book of Poetry, Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals. He could recite them fluently. He recited until Xiao Fu started dozing off, muttering as he slumped over the table, “The Master’s damn sayings…”
Lin Zikui quietly took the book and closed it, whispering, “You’ve already made it to the Book of Poetry, and you’re still cursing ‘the Master said’?”
Xiao Fu, eyes still shut, grumbled, “Damn Book of Poetry…”
“Sigh.” Lin Zikui shook his head. He normally disliked crudeness, but when it came from Xiao Zhaoling, he had somehow grown used to it and didn’t mind.
He began tidying up the desk—ink, brushes, paper, books—everything had to be put in order. That had always been Lin Zikui’s habit. When he reached the book Xiao Fu had been reading earlier, he frowned and flipped through it, giving it another look.
Then he jumped.
At first glance, he thought it was an erotic picture book and shut it at once!
But something didn’t feel right. Lin Zikui opened it again.
This time, he saw it clearly.
Last time, Xiao Zhaoling had only read text versions of cut-sleeve novels. This time, he had actual illustrated ones!
On the page was a vivid image of two men, stark naked, grappling each other’s legs in a suggestive position—with dialogue written next to it.
Just glancing at it made Lin Zikui’s eyes ache!
He quickly shut the book and shoved it to the bottom of the pile, weighing it down. Then he looked over at the slumped, unmoving Xiao Fu and muttered, “Why does he insist on reading this stuff…”
“Zhao Ling…?”
As if struck by a sudden thought, Lin Zikui glanced toward his Adam’s apple. Zhao Ling clearly had one. Normally, women didn’t—or at least not one so pronounced.
Xiao Zhaoling’s face was smooth, with barely any facial hair.
Lin Zikui slowly reached out and did something bold—borderline inappropriate.
He slid his hand under Xiao Fu’s collar and touched the Adam’s apple.
Xiao Fu hadn’t actually fallen asleep, only dozing lightly. He felt the movement, and his throat shifted uncomfortably as if he were restraining some dangerous impulse.
Lin Zikui immediately withdrew his hand, thinking his behavior was inappropriate. But… maybe not entirely unreasonable. It sort of made sense.
Just as he was trying to sort through the idea, Xiao Fu opened his eyes. “Did Lin Lang take advantage of me while I was asleep?”
“N-no…” Lin Zikui turned his head away in denial. “I was buttoning your collar.”
Xiao Fu knew exactly what he had been doing, but he didn’t expose him or admit anything. He stood and stretched. His tall, lean frame unfolded gracefully. Lin Zikui looked up at Xiao Fu’s peach-blossom-like features, and whatever doubts he had were instantly dismissed.
Zhao Ling was simply too beautiful.
He had thick eyebrows, deep eyes, a high nose bridge, and peach blossom-shaped eyes—handsome and heroic without losing softness.
With such a breathtaking face, having a slightly large Adam’s apple and a rougher voice was a minor flaw, wasn’t it?
Just as Xiao Zhaoling was about to leave, Lin Zikui called him back and pulled the heated bed warmers off the bed. Carrying them, he said, “My bed’s already warmed up. These bed warmers—I’ll give them to you. The boat gets chilly.”
Xiao Fu’s heart softened. He turned around and said, “Lin Lang, I’m not afraid of the cold. You keep them—one for your feet, one for your hands, one for your belly. That way your whole body will stay warm.”
Lin Zikui looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
The door opened, and the night breeze from the Qinhuai River blew in. The flower lanterns hanging from the eaves shimmered with scattered light. Xiao Fu reached up with one long arm and effortlessly took one down. “I don’t want the bed warmers. I just want this lantern hanging in my room, keeping me company as I sleep.” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes curving in a smile. “This flower lantern you gave me—I really like it.”
“As long as you like it.” Lin Zikui stood at the doorway, hand resting on the frame. “Shall I walk you back?”
“It’s only three steps—no need. Go back, Lin Lang.”
“Mm…” Lin Zikui didn’t leave, watching him walk away.
In the room, the lantern swayed gently. Xiao Fu lay on his side, eyes fixed on it, lips curved upward in a good mood.
Lin Zikui lay beneath the warm blankets, thoughts swirling uncontrollably.
What if Zhao Ling really was a man?
He sighed inwardly at how, as a scholar, he read far too many books and had too vivid an imagination. Such impossible thoughts—yet here he was entertaining them.
Then what? Xiao Zhaoling…
Lin Zikui buried his face in the soft pillow, lips pressed tightly together.
The next day, Xiao Fu had to enter the palace. He left Jinzun behind to stay by Lin Zikui’s side. “The boat’s safer than the Marquis’s residence. Jinzun, don’t leave Young Master Lin’s side—protect him at all costs.”
Xiao Fu lifted his head to the sky.
It was the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The weather was especially fine.
Although Empress Dowager Xiao was only forty-two years old, she already had a grown son like Yuwen Duo on the throne. Yuwen Duo could be considered a filial son—he generally obeyed the Empress Dowager’s words, especially when it came to matters involving Xiao Fu.
“Your uncle’s temperament—how could he possibly be interested in your throne? He’s a cut-sleeve. All these years and he’s never taken a wife, has no heir—he’s no threat to you. Besides, he’s suffered for years beyond the border. As soon as I wrote him a letter, he returned immediately and even found a divine physician to treat your illness…”
Yuwen Duo’s ears had grown calloused from hearing this.
“Aiya, Mother, stop already. It’s not that I don’t acknowledge Uncle—it’s just that back then, in front of the eunuchs, he slapped me! That grudge—I must settle it! If not, why don’t you have Uncle come over now and let me slap him back? Then we can call it even!”
At the time, Yuwen Duo had all the witnesses executed. Who knew that people from Concubine Hui’s side had still seen it? The shameful incident had gotten out anyway.
Empress Dowager Xiao gripped her handkerchief tightly, thinking of how Xiao Fu would react. “You want to slap your uncle? Do you think he’s someone who’d just take that? If he got ruthless, he’d strangle you right then and there!”
“Exactly! So knowing full well what kind of person your brother is, why are you still trying to reconcile us?”
The Empress Dowager had no retort for that.
“When your father ascended the throne, he also had to win the court over. This kingdom—it’s yours, but not entirely yours…”
Yuwen Duo wouldn’t listen anymore. The Brocade Uniform Guard arrived to report that the officials were entering the palace one after another.
“Fine. Search them all. Not just for weapons—check jars and bottles too. Especially Grand Secretary Xu.”
A figure like Grand Secretary Xu, a First-Rank official, usually wouldn’t be searched this thoroughly when entering the palace.
Before leaving his residence, Grand Secretary Xu had held a jar passed to him by Prince Zhao. He said nothing.
Word had come from the palace that the Emperor, using some excuse, had thrown Concubine Hui into the Cold Palace. After that, all news was cut off. Even the maid who had been sending updates had died.
Just last night, Grand Secretary Xu had gone to the prison. Xu Zhuojun was still intact—no major injuries. But he had never suffered such humiliation in his life. He shouted, “Father, go plead with His Majesty! That dog Tang Mengyang is spewing lies, saying he and Prince Zhao are colluding and trying to drag our Xu family into disgrace!”
Before entering the palace, Grand Secretary Xu hesitated repeatedly, finally deciding to put the jar back—he hid it in the rafters.
Bringing it into the palace was too risky. Zhuojun still had hope.
Back on the boat, Lin Zikui and Jinzun were playing chess.
He wasn’t the type to bully children, so he often paused and made intentional but subtle mistakes, letting the boy feel the fun of an evenly matched game.
Jinzun couldn’t tell at all. He was simply overjoyed to be playing chess with Young Master Lin! It was way more fun than being with the Marquis.
Xiao Fu entered the palace from the Hongwu Gate with Xie Laosan. Because it was the day of the banquet, Xiao Fu wore a red fox-fur cloak embroidered with white cranes.
Naturally, the two were also searched. Especially Xiao Fu—the commander of the Brocade Uniform Guards patted him down thoroughly, to the point where Xiao Fu grew displeased. He took a few steps forward, hands clasped behind his back, and flicked a pebble with considerable force. Commander Huang, sharp as ever, instantly sensed danger and ducked aside, shouting, “Marquis Dingbei!”
“What are you yelling for?” Xiao Fu scooped up another handful of pebbles and flicked them out. One hit Commander Huang right on his ticklish pressure point!
Commander Huang dropped to his knees and immediately began writhing and trembling on the ground. All the Brocade Uniform Guards rushed to him. “Commander!”
“Master!”
Commander Huang gritted his teeth as he twisted on the floor, overcome with unbearable itching. He couldn’t stop himself. This Marquis Dingbei—he didn’t need weapons. With just a pebble or a leaf, he could kill without drawing blood.
To think he could hit a pressure point so precisely from such a distance—he was deliberately humiliating him!
“An hour later, it will naturally wear off,” Xiao Fu said with a wave of his hand, not even turning his head as he strode deeper into the palace corridor—straight into the tiger’s den.
Before the evening banquet began, Xiao Fu went first to visit his elder sister, Empress Dowager Xiao. After a few rounds of polite greetings, he said, “It’s your birthday banquet today, Elder Sister. I not only brought a gift, I also brought someone for His Majesty.”
“You brought someone?” Yuwen Duo stood behind the screen, eavesdropping intently. It was the Empress Dowager who had forced him to come, insisting that he and his uncle reconcile. But what was the point of that? The moment Xiao Fu entered, he simply hid—he had no desire to see him.
Xiao Fu continued, “But since His Majesty isn’t here, and the matter is rather important, I thought it best to inform the Empress Dowager first.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “Who did you bring?”
Could it be a woman? Did he bring someone to become a consort for the Emperor?
Xiao Fu said nothing. He clapped his hands. The door opened, and Yuanqing came in carrying a burlap sack over his shoulder. The sack was still squirming.
The Empress Dowager took a startled step back. “What is that thing?!”
Xiao Fu, “He’s not a ‘thing.’”
Yuanqing untied the sack and pulled the gag from the prisoner’s mouth.
“Mmm—Is that the Empress Dowager?” A filthy-faced Yuwen Zhou lunged forward and cried out, “It’s me! I’m not a thing—I’m Yuwen Zhou, your Zhou’er!”
“Yuwen Zhou?” It had been years since the Empress Dowager last saw him. The son of Prince Zhao—she barely recognized him. With difficulty, she nodded and tried to pull her gown out of his grimy hands. “Alright, alright—Zhou’er, how did you end up like this? Xiao Fu, explain yourself! How could you bring him in like this?”
Xiao Fu, “The young prince of Zhao ambushed me outside Jinling City with three hundred death warriors.”
Young Lord Zhao protested, “That’s not true—it was only two hundred!”
Xiao Fu’s expression didn’t change. He nodded. “Right, the first time was a hundred, the second time was two hundred. That adds up to three hundred, doesn’t it?”
Young Lord Zhao fell silent.
The Empress Dowager was stunned. “The ones who tried to assassinate you were from Prince Zhao’s household?!”
Young Lord Zhao dropped to his knees. “This has nothing to do with my father. It’s a personal grudge between me and the Marquis Dingbei. Zhou’er knows his mistake!” He took all the blame upon himself, kowtowing. “Please, punish me, Your Majesty!”
Since the Marquis Dingbei wasn’t dead, Yuwen Zhou figured he probably wouldn’t suffer anything too serious either. Now that he had entered the palace, and with the Emperor harboring deep resentment toward Xiao Fu, surely His Majesty wouldn’t just let things slide.
Unfortunately, he had miscalculated.
Xiao Fu coldly questioned him, “Tell the Empress Dowager—when exactly did you sneak into Jinling? Don’t pretend you don’t know that vassal princes are forbidden to enter the capital without permission. Don’t tell me your pig brain didn’t know that?”
“But I’m not a vassal prince. I didn’t inherit my father’s title. Empress Dowager, I just thought, since it’s your birthday, I should come to pay my respects. I even prepared a gift—it’s sitting in the Zhao residence in Jinling…”
Xiao Fu raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you brought three hundred death warriors to deliver a birthday gift?”
The Empress Dowager’s expression changed instantly.
Behind the screen, Yuwen Duo was seething.
That Prince Zhao—so untrustworthy.
Xiao Fu went on, “Young Prince Zhao, must I really lay out all the evidence of your Zhao Prince Residence’s collusion with Xu Hui in a treasonous plot?”
“You…” Young Lord Zhao was dumbfounded. Then he burst out, “You’re spouting nonsense! There’s no such thing! I admit I entered the capital without permission. I admit I tried to kill you. I plead guilty! But the Zhao Prince Residence has no intent to rebel—let alone collaborate with the Xu family!”
“Enough!” Yuwen Duo kicked the screen down in rage. “Yuwen Zhou! Guards! Arrest Yuwen Zhou! Keep him under strict watch—don’t make any mistakes!”
“Innocent! I’m innocent, Your Majesty! Please let me explain! He has no evidence—he’s just making it up!”
But evidence wasn’t even necessary at this point.
The Brocade Uniform Guards swiftly gagged Young Lord Zhao.
Xiao Fu gave a quiet “Ah,” then shifted his gaze toward Yuwen Duo. “Your Majesty, I didn’t expect you to be here. I’d originally planned to speak with you tomorrow. Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday—such a joyful day—I didn’t want to spoil your mood. But as luck would have it, you overheard. Are you displeased?”
He didn’t kneel. He didn’t even offer a simple bow. Yuwen Duo’s temple twitched with fury. There was no way he and Xiao Fu could ever reconcile—not in this lifetime.
The way Xiao Fu looked at him now, it was as if he were already watching a corpse being laid to rest.
After Yuwen Zhou was dragged off, Yuwen Duo took a deep breath, then asked Xiao Fu, “Marquis Dingbei, you claim Prince Zhao colluded with Grand Secretary Xu. Where’s your evidence?”
Xiao Fu, “I don’t have any.”
Yuwen Duo: “?”
Yuwen Duo: “You have no evidence?! You dare accuse Prince Zhao of conspiring with a top-ranking court official? Xiao Fu, are you tired of living?!” He leapt to his feet and pointed a finger right at Xiao Fu’s nose.
Xiao Fu tilted his head slightly to avoid it, a faint smile playing at his lips—though there was no warmth in his eyes. “Your Majesty, you really are lacking in manners. After all, I am your uncle.”
“You dare insult me?!”
“Of course I do.” Xiao Fu raised his hand and slapped him—clean, crisp, and loud enough to echo off the palace walls. His voice was as cold as frost. “And I’ll hit you again. You brainless fool. Prince Zhao’s eight thousand elite troops have already arrived in Jinling, and you’re still acting like an idiot.”
If you’re loving the tangled fates and slow-burning tension in Peach Blossom Decree, help Ciacia keep the petals falling by buying her a Kofi.
Can’t bear the suspense? Join the Duo-a-cia Tier to unlock up to 5 chapters early—and get ahead of the drama before the next decree drops.
