“It’s true,” Chu Zhaohuai said. “The Prince and I are already husband and wife. Although we cannot produce heirs, it is only right that I serve the Prince in this manner.”
The hidden guards: “…”
The hidden guards nearly had to pinch themselves to keep from passing out.
How could matters concerning the Prince’s bedchamber possibly be something they were allowed to hear?!
Yin Chongshan’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He stared at Ji Xun in disbelief.
Your Highness! Such blatant disrespect! And you’re not going to kill him?
Ji Xun did not kill him.
He even let out a muffled laugh. Then he raised a hand and beckoned.
The others withdrew as though they had just been granted a pardon.
Chu Zhaohuai breathed a sigh of relief and awkwardly began climbing down from the bed.
“I’ve offended the Prince. I’ll just…”
“Mm.”
Ji Xun suddenly caught him by the ankle. With a slight exertion of force, he dragged him back.
Chu Zhaohuai was startled and widened his eyes as he looked at him.
Ji Xun asked with a smile, “Weren’t you the one who wanted to get a little closer to me? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
The sight of Chu Zhaohuai looking like a startled golden hamster was simply far too pleasing.
The smile between Ji Xun’s brows and eyes became much more genuine. His cold fingertips slowly reached toward the veil covering Chu Zhaohuai’s eyes.
Although Ji Xun had never particularly cared about his appearance, he liked his voice, the soft, lingering Jiangnan accent that he could never quite conceal, as though every word were dipped in sugar and honey. He was also so easily startled and when frightened, the trembling note in his voice sounded almost like an aphrodisiac.
A trace of an unmistakable urge to destroy surfaced in Ji Xun’s expression. It was much like loving the little bird resting in the palm of one’s hand too much, loving it so dearly that one almost wanted to curl all five fingers inward and crush that fragile, warm little creature to death within one’s palm.
If he were to learn his true identity, perhaps Ji Xun would be able to see him trembling from head to toe in fright, crying as he begged for mercy and then make him use that trembling voice to repeat, word for word, all those rumors he himself had spread…
Suddenly, without saying a word, Chu Zhaohuai lunged forward.
Ji Xun’s hand paused.
Chu Zhaohuai’s slender arms gently circled around Ji Xun’s neck. His body, clad in nothing more than a thin sleeping robe, was as soft and light as a drifting cloud as he leaned against him.
The distorted desire in Ji Xun’s eyes suddenly receded like a tide.
Having brought this upon himself, Chu Zhaohuai had no choice but to force himself to get close to Ji Xun if he didn’t want to expose his true identity.
Besides, the two of them had already gone through the wedding rites and become husband and wife. Surely Ji Xun couldn’t possibly beat him to death over this, could he?
Fortunately, Ji Xun did not seem to dislike it. He neither said anything nor pushed him away.
Chu Zhaohuai breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
With their bodies pressed together, he could clearly feel that Ji Xun’s entire body was unnaturally hot, his heartbeat pounding like a drum. Even his breathing seemed to quicken for a moment.
The Divine Physician silently took note: heartbeat extremely rapid, body temperature excessively high, pulse at the neck rapid and forceful… Hmm, there also seemed to be a slight obstruction.
Uncertain.
The opportunity was rare and Chu Zhaohuai instinctively pressed his cheek lightly against the blood vessel at Ji Xun’s neck.
Indeed, there was an obstruction. It seemed that there was a very high chance he had been poisoned.
Just as Chu Zhaohuai was about to press against it again, Ji Xun finally reached out, caught him around the side of his waist and gave him a slight push.
Chu Zhaohuai stumbled backward. His collar had come loose, revealing his slender, sharply defined neck and collarbones, their whiteness almost dazzling beneath the light.
Ji Xun tilted his head and said indifferently, “Since Wangfei is so eager to be intimate, why not move in and sleep together with me?”
Chu Zhaohuai thought to himself: Sleep together with you in an ice cellar?
If he spent even one night sleeping under a thin blanket, his little life would be at risk. He hurriedly said, “I haven’t been feeling well these past few days and I can’t tolerate the cold. When the time comes, I will certainly share a bed and sleep with the Prince.”
The excuse was so flimsy that even Chu Zhaohuai himself was prepared to endure a round of Ji Xun’s sarcastic remarks yet he only heard the Prince give a soft “Mm.”
“Then go back and sleep.”
Chu Zhaohuai froze for a moment, then hurriedly climbed down from his legs.
“Then I’ll go back first.”
He ran away barefoot.
Ji Xun remained seated on the bed. The cold wind outside the window lifted the ink black hair hanging over his shoulders. His expressionless gaze remained fixed on the candlelight within the canopy bed.
Only after a long while did he raise a hand and touch his neck.
The blood vessels were throbbing violently, burning hot to the touch.
Inside the canopy bed, it was as warm as spring. Chu Zhaohuai curled up beneath the blankets and took a long while to settle down. Then he tilted his head and thought about it, suddenly feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Ji Xun smiled even when he was killing people. So why hadn’t he smiled just now?
He had even gone cold faced and refused to look at him.
Could it be that he really wanted to sleep with him?
Chu Zhaohuai shuddered and hurriedly went to sleep, not daring to think about it any further.
…..
Early the next morning, Chu Zhaohuai once again slept until the sun was already high in the sky.
He was still half awake and drowsily trying to wake up when the commotion outside disturbed him completely.
“Shizi! This is Wangfei’s sleeping quarters. You entered without permission and barged in without authorization. This…. this is against the rules! If His Highness finds out…”
“He isn’t a female relative. What’s improper about it? Move aside.”
“Shizi, you mustn’t!”
Yawning, Chu Zhaohuai looked toward the outside.
He saw Ji Yi striding in with a red robe as flamboyant as fire, his face dark and his steps brisk. Behind him, Steward Zhao was drenched in sweat from trying and failing to stop him. All he could do was bow apologetically toward Chu Zhaohuai.
“Wangfei, Shizi has arrived.”
The Shizi looked quite fierce, his face filled with anger. He had probably been standing outside in the cold wind for some time, because his cheeks and ears were flushed a deep red.
Chu Zhaohuai barely managed to pull himself together.
“What business does Shizi have?”
He had eaten far too many Fengxian oranges yesterday and after sleeping through the night, even his throat was slightly hoarse.
Ji Yi glared at him.
Chu Zhaohuai’s heart tightened.
Could something have gone wrong with Liang Fang’s medicine? Otherwise, why would he look so murderous?
That shouldn’t be possible. Although Liang Fang’s poison was difficult to cure, even if the medicine he had used was ineffective, it shouldn’t have caused his condition to deteriorate further.
He was still thinking when Ji Yi suddenly clapped his hands.
Several burly, broad shouldered guards strode into the room from outside.
Chu Zhaohuai instantly became wide awake.
Before he even had time to grow wary, he saw the guards carrying several large chests into the room.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
They dropped them onto the floor one after another. From the sound and weight, they clearly weren’t light.
Chu Zhaohuai stared at them in confusion.
“What are these?”
“Fengxian oranges,” Ji Yi said coldly. “Don’t you like eating these? This Shizi had eight large chests brought over for you. There are enough for you to eat until the Lantern Festival.”
Chu Zhaohuai: “?”
Fengxian oranges were delicious but even the most delicious food became tiresome if one ate too much of it. Of the three chests Ji Xun had sent yesterday, Chu Zhaohuai had eaten only half a chest before feeling like he was going to throw up.
And now there were eight more chests?
Chu Zhaohuai frowned.
“What does Shizi mean by this?”
Ji Yi hesitated, seeming as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring himself to do it. His hand fidgeted with the jade pendant hanging at his waist. After holding back for a long while, he finally muttered in a muffled voice, “I gave Liang Fang three doses of your medicine yesterday and he was already up and lively again. I… this Shizi, thank… thank you.”
Chu Zhaohuai let out an “Ah,” but instead of looking pleased, he spoke worriedly.
“Even divine medicine doesn’t take effect that quickly. Shizi, perhaps you should first consider whether Shizi Liang is experiencing a final burst of vitality before death?”
Ji Yi: “…”
Ji Yi had wandered around outside for half an hour before finally gathering enough courage to come and thank him. Hearing this, he glared at Chu Zhaohuai.
“You should just accept them. Why do you have so much nonsense to say?”
Chu Zhaohuai was puzzled.
How was that nonsense?
Ji Yi’s face turned unbearably red. With an awkward expression, he said, “Before this, Liang Fang was listless every day. Every fifteen minutes, he would have to fall completely unconscious and sleep. Today, he actually managed to stay awake for more than an hour before falling asleep. So that medicine must… must have worked.”
Chu Zhaohuai was startled.
“This is what you call being up and lively?”
Seeing that Chu Zhaohuai kept contradicting him, Ji Yi assumed that he was deliberately making fun of him. He immediately became embarrassed and angry.
“Do you want the Fengxian oranges or not?! If you don’t, I’ll buy you something else!”
“I want them,” Chu Zhaohuai hurriedly said. “Just leave them there.”
There was no reason to refuse something that was being given to him for free.
Ji Yi quietly let out a sigh of relief. The flush on his face still hadn’t faded and he didn’t dare look at Chu Zhaohuai. Turning his head to the side, he mumbled, “Your medical skills… cough, they’re passable, I suppose but where exactly did you come from?”
Chu Zhaohuai said, “That’s a secret.”
Ji Yi glared at him before saying, “Then let this Shizi see your face!”
Chu Zhaohuai coughed and deliberately tried to frighten him.
“I’m terribly ugly. My face is covered in red rashes, birthmarks and pockmarks. I’m as ugly as a person can possibly be. I’m afraid I’ll scare Shizi so badly that you’ll have nightmares.”
Ji Yi frowned. Seeing that he was talking nonsense, he could only give up asking. However, when he heard how hoarse Chu Zhaohuai’s voice was, he casually asked, “Are you ill? The residence has some excellent medicines. Use whatever you need.”
Chu Zhaohuai gave a soft “Mm,” and was just about to answer when Ji Yi seemed to suddenly realize something.
He abruptly let out a loud “Aah!” and jumped to his feet.
“Whether you live or die is none of my concern. This Shizi can’t be bothered to look after you. I’m leaving.”
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
Why was this child so loud and excitable?
Ji Yi rushed out of the canopy bed without stopping, looking almost as though a wolf were chasing him.
After eating so many Fengxian oranges, Chu Zhaohuai’s throat felt uncomfortable and he was listless with little appetite. Once Ji Yi left, he rested for a while longer before finally getting dressed and climbing out of bed.
The eight chests had been placed outside the canopy bed, filling the space so completely that there was barely any room left.
Chu Zhaohuai casually glanced over them and suddenly his appetite improved tremendously.
Of the eight chests Ji Yi had sent over, the top four were unexpectedly filled with piles of glittering gold and silver. Judging by the amount, they were worth at least twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver.
A note had been pasted onto the chests in flamboyant, sweeping handwriting:
“New Year’s Eve Wager.”
Chu Zhaohuai instantly became cheerful and suddenly everything about him felt comfortable.
This little brat really knew how to show his appreciation.
But hadn’t he won more than ten thousand taels on New Year’s Eve? Where had all the extra money come from?
Chu Zhaohuai didn’t think too much about it. He simply assumed that he must have forgotten the details. He called for Uncle Zhao to help him move everything inside the canopy bed, then, in a rare display of generosity, gave one entire chest of Fengxian oranges to the servants of the residence.
Uncle Zhao became even more convinced that the rumors couldn’t possibly be true.
How could Wangfei, who was so well behaved and adorable, possibly look like some spoiled wastrel?
Rumors truly could ruin a person.
Chu Zhaohuai happily put away the silver. After thinking for a moment, he asked Uncle Zhao, “Where has the Prince gone?”
Uncle Zhao answered cheerfully, “His Highness left the city before dawn. He should have gone to the hunting grounds.”
Chu Zhaohuai gave an “Ah.”
“He isn’t going to suppress the bandits?”
“His Highness has never liked doing that sort of exhausting, troublesome work. Besides, the Emperor was the one who directly handed it to him, so there is probably some hidden agenda behind it.” Uncle Zhao smiled as he spoke. “If His Highness isn’t going to suppress the bandits, he must have his reasons.”
Chu Zhaohuai: “Oh.”
Wasn’t the steward of the Prince’s residence a little too loose lipped?
How could he casually tell him things that amounted to criticizing the Emperor?
At that moment, the gatekeeper of the residence came forward to report.
“Wangfei, someone outside the residence is asking to see you. They say they are from the Marquis’s residence.”
Chu Zhaohuai was in the middle of counting his money. Hearing this, he raised his head and looked over. He seemed to have expected this long ago and calmly said, “Let them in.”
Not long afterward, one of Chu Jing’s attendants was brought over by Uncle Zhao.
The attendant got straight to the point.
“Wangfei, the Marquis asked me to bring you, ”
Before he could finish speaking, Uncle Zhao said with a smile, “Is this the etiquette of the Marquis’s residence? Do you not even perform the proper formal salute upon seeing Wangfei?”
The attendant froze.
Chu Zhaohuai was sitting upright in the seat of honor, wrapped in a grand cloak trimmed with fox fur. His eyes were lowered as he leisurely sipped his tea, putting on an air of dignified elegance without even raising his head.
In merely a few short days, the eldest young master, who had never received much attention in the Marquis’s residence, had already become Wangfei, a person of considerable status. The attendant hesitated for a moment before having no choice but to kneel and perform the formal salute.
“Greetings, Wangfei.”
Only then did Chu Zhaohuai raise his eyes and look at him. He put on the act convincingly enough.
“What message does the Marquis have for me?”
The attendant glanced at Uncle Zhao, looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Chu Zhaohuai understood immediately.
“Uncle Zhao, please step outside for a moment.”
Uncle Zhao did not ask any questions. He merely nodded and left.
Only after they were alone did the attendant finally say, “The Marquis said that he has finished sorting through Madam Bai’s belongings over the past few days. He asks the Eldest Young Master to return to the Marquis’s residence and inspect them.”
世子 (shìzǐ): The eldest son of a feudal prince or noble lord in ancient China
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ END OF CHAPTER ✦ BEGIN COFFEE NEGOTIATIONS ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Substitute BrideChapter 2 · Chu ZhaojiangChapter 3 · Very safeChapter 4 · He is the prince’s manChapter 5 · It was really hard to refuse their kind invitation.Chapter 6 · Thankfully it was just poisoning.Chapter 7 · Haha, I spit on “golden and jade hall”!Chapter 8 · Are you not satisfied with the homecoming gift?Chapter 9 · You must keep your identity hidden.Chapter 10 · I like whole fish banquetChapter 11 · BankruptChapter 12 · Add some funChapter 13 · FightChapter 14 · Three taels of silverChapter 15 · Go back to restChapter 16 · They’re all spendthrifts.Chapter 17 · Enough for branches and leavesChapter 18 · Rumors can kill peopleChapter 19 · I want to get closer to the prince.Chapter 20 · Why not move in and share a room?Chapter 21 · Ha, I’m not stupid.Chapter 22 Part 1 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 22 Part 2 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 23 · Be more cautious and vigilantChapter 24 Part 1 · Don’t touch meChapter 24 Part 2 · Don’t touch meChapter 25 Part 1 · Golden NeedleChapter 25 Part 2 · Golden NeedleChapter 26 · To avoid suspicionChapter 27 · Committing numerous evil deedsChapter 28 Part 1 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 28 Part 2 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 29 · I really didn’t mean to kill youChapter 30 · Protect the prince!Chapter 31 · The bird that fell into the trapChapter 32 · Embracing someone on the couchChapter 33 · The miracle doctor is going home!Chapter 34 · I shouldn’t have wanted to hurt himChapter 35 · A bout of madnessChapter 36 · NightmareChapter 37 Part 1 · SpecialChapter 37 Part 2 · SpecialChapter 38 · Being hunted downChapter 39 · Cause and Bitter FruitChapter 40 · Is he honest and kind?Chapter 41 · I am flattered and overwhelmed.Chapter 42 · No, I want to buy.Chapter 43 Part 1 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 43 Part 2 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 44 · It’s the face of a notorious thiefChapter 45 · Are you trying to comfort me?Chapter 46 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 47 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 48 · It’s delicious!Chapter 49 · SeducingChapter 50 · By imperial decreeChapter 51 Part 1 · Potent MedicineChapter 51 Part 2 · Potent MedicineChapter 52 · Wasn’t it impotence?Chapter 53 · I’m not busy todayChapter 54 Part 1 · Break his legs directlyChapter 54 Part 2 · Break his legs directlyChapter 55 · I really didn’t mean to mess with youChapter 56 · Don’t play the victim when you’re having a medical episodeChapter 57 · Let’s do it one more time!Chapter 58 Part 1 · I’ve got you!Chapter 58 Part 2 · I’ve got you!Chapter 59 · A doctor’s dutyChapter 60 Part 1 · Are you at peace with yourself?Chapter 60 Part 2 · Are you at peace with yourself?