This was the first time anyone had ever taken advantage of him verbally.
Ji Yi was so furious that he actually laughed.
“The Zhenyuan Marquis’s Manor must have earned its title by relying on nothing but shamelessness. There’s no defeating someone who has no shame! You’re the same generation as me yet you actually dare to covet my father. Hmph! Dream on!”
…..
Chu Zhaohuai actually wanted to nod in agreement but he was afraid that doing so would expose his identity, so he could only remain silent and endure this round of abuse about his “wishful thinking.”
After Ji Yi finished cursing him, he immediately went on high alert.
He waited.
And waited.
After quite some time, “Chu Zhaojiang” still had not retaliated in the slightest. His face, which was plastered with rouge and cosmetics, even seemed to carry a trace of gentleness.
Gentleness?
That bastard bit everyone he met. Since when had he ever been gentle?
Ji Yi shuddered and could not help growing suspicious.
“What scheme are you cooking up now? This heir warns you, everyone in the capital knows about your arrogant and domineering behavior in the past. My father knows everything about it as well. He won’t be fooled by that pitiful appearance of yours. If you kneel down and beg for mercy right now, this heir might still be able to save your life. Otherwise, just wait for death.”
Chu Zhaohuai fell into thought.
When they were young, Chu Zhaojiang had already been taught by Madam Zheng that the two of them were mortal enemies. At such a young age, that little brat had become skilled at pretending to be pitiful and secretly tripping others up, successfully causing Chu Jing to harden his heart and send Chu Zhaohuai away to Lin’an.
After returning to the capital, he had seen Chu Zhaojiang once. At the time, that little brat had been arrogantly throwing a tantrum, loudly scolding and berating the servants. He had indeed been as arrogant and domineering as the rumors claimed.
Chu Zhaohuai could not tell whether he behaved this way toward everyone else as well but since this little heir had already come all the way to his door to provoke him, if he continued remaining silent, he was afraid his identity would be exposed.
“Oh,” Chu Zhaohuai said. “Everyone outside says that the Prince of Jing is cruel and bloodthirsty. I thought those rumors were merely exaggerated hearsay. I didn’t expect that even the heir believes your father is someone who indiscriminately kills innocent people?”
Ji Yi snapped angrily, “What nonsense are you talking about?!”
“Then I have done nothing illegal, nor have I poisoned or plotted against anyone. Why would your father want to kill me?” Chu Zhaohuai asked.
Ji Yi stiffened.
Chu Zhaohuai had skillfully changed the meaning of the argument and managed to leave him speechless, allowing him to quietly breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.
Ji Yi stared at him with wide eyes and remained silent for a long while. Then he suddenly asked, “What happened to your voice? And why does the way you speak standard Mandarin sound so strange? You even seem to have a Jiangnan accent.”
This time, it was Chu Zhaohuai who stiffened.
Lowering his voice, Chu Zhaohuai said solemnly, “I don’t have an accent.”
Ji Yi narrowed his eyes and stared at him intently, as though trying to investigate something.
Chu Zhaohuai’s heart immediately rose into his throat.
At last, Ji Yi withdrew his gaze and gave a disdainful snort. “I thought you were someone who feared neither Heaven nor Earth. You’ve only been at the Prince’s residence for one day and you’ve already become this timid, spineless coward. The courage of the Zhenyuan Marquis’s Residence amounts to nothing after all.”
Chu Zhaohuai’s heart kept rising and falling and the emotional strain made even his internal organs ache.
Lying was far too exhausting.
Right now, all he wanted was to placate the heir, see him off and be done with it.
“The heir is right, Is there anything else? I have to go find your father so we can enter the palace together to offer our thanks for His Majesty’s grace.”
“Good. So it really is you.” Ji Yi sneered. “The palace gates had only just opened this morning when His Majesty, the Eastern Palace and the Grand Princess’s Residence all sent people to inquire about whether Father had regained consciousness. I was just worrying over how I could find the spy. Who would have thought you would walk out and reveal yourself all on your own?”
Chu Zhaohuai: “Huh?”
Chu Zhaohuai had been inexplicably saddled with the accusation and felt so wronged that he could have died from it.
Ji Yi had been chattering nonstop ever since he arrived. Now he simply waved his hand grandly.
“Seize him.”
The several attendants exchanged glances.
The Prince of Jing held immense prestige within the residence and his temperament was notoriously unpredictable. Whenever his madness flared up, corpses would be carried out of Changfeng Courtyard one after another. It was a terrifying sight.
Although this newly married Princess Consort was a man, he was still not someone of their lowly status whom they dared to touch casually.
Ji Yi was so furious that he nearly toppled backward.
“Useless! I’ll do it myself!”
The heir had trained in martial arts with Ji Xun for several days. Against Chu Zhaohuai, a sickly man who could not even overpower a chicken, dealing with him was naturally effortless.
Seeing that he was about to be grabbed and carried away like a little chick, Chu Zhaohuai hurriedly stepped backward.
“I stayed in the bridal chamber the entire night and never stepped even half a foot outside the room. Your father, Ah!”
He had been busy defending himself and failed to watch where he was going. His heel suddenly lost its footing and his waist slammed hard against the sharp corner of the table.
Pain instantly brought tears to his eyes.
Ji Yi was startled. He instinctively reached out, wanting to support him.
Chu Zhaohuai had always been particularly intolerant of pain. His voice tightened slightly as he struggled to brace himself against the table, drawing in sharp breaths through the pain while still forcing himself to explain.
“…The secret guards beside your father can testify to it. If you don’t believe me, go ask them right now.”
Ji Yi’s brows drew tightly together.
He stared down at Chu Zhaohuai from above for a long time. Then, in an extremely strange and almost weightless tone, he asked, “Are you really Chu Zhaojiang?”
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
Huai or Jiang or whatever, w… were they not all the same?
His heart fluttering with guilt, Chu Zhaohuai said in a low voice, “If I’m not, then are you?”
Ji Yi’s expression remained unchanged. He stared at Chu Zhaohuai’s face, which was covered in layers of powder and rouge, then casually waved a hand and instructed the attendants, “Bring a basin of water. Splash it in his face.”
The attendants accepted the order and hurried away.
Chu Zhaohuai’s hand curled inward.
“You…”
Ji Yi gave a mocking laugh.
“Everyone in the capital knows that Chu Zhaojiang is arrogant and looks down on everyone. If you really are the genuine article, then even if you had broken a leg, you would still crawl back up and beat me. How could you obediently stand here explaining yourself and trying to prove your identity?”
Chu Zhaohuai tilted his head back and looked at Ji Yi, his expression unreadable as he wondered about something.
After a long while, he suddenly nodded.
Straightening himself, he rolled up his wide sleeves and said calmly, “I understand.”
Ji Yi was still snorting arrogantly.
“What do you understand? …Ah!”
The attendant hurriedly returned with a basin of water.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, a dull, heavy “thump” suddenly rang out.
The attendant was so startled that the basin slipped from his hands and crashed to the ground, water splashing everywhere across the floor.
The attendants in the bridal chamber all stood there dumbfounded, their eyes wide with shock. For a moment, none of them seemed capable of processing what had just happened.
It was not until Ji Yi let out a furious roar that they finally came back to their senses.
“Chu! Zhao! Jiang!”
Inside the enormous bridal chamber, Chu Zhaohuai stood with one hand braced against the table, his expression calm and composed, looking as steady as if nothing had happened.
Yet Ji Yi, who had been charging forward with such imposing arrogance only moments ago, was now sprawled on the floor at some point, clutching his waist and abdomen as cold sweat poured down his face from the pain.
His lips trembled with fury.
He stared at Chu Zhaohuai in utter disbelief, apparently so shocked that he could not even organize his thoughts into coherent words.
“You dared to hit me… You dared to hit me?”
Chu Zhaohuai slowly lowered his wide sleeves, deliberately imitating Chu Zhaojiang’s manner. He lifted his chin and spoke with the same arrogant, disdainful air of someone who looked down upon everyone around him.
“This young marquis studied under General Huang when I was young. I even hunted snow wolves as a child. I am a rather formidable warrior. Yesterday, I had just married the Prince of Jing and on such a fine day, I originally intended to value peace above all else. Unfortunately, the heir insisted on forcing me to make a move. In that case, I can only apologize for offending you.”
Ji Yi could not hear a word of what he was saying.
After sitting there in stunned silence for a long moment, his fury finally exploded.
“Only my father is allowed to hit me, Guards! Hold him down! If I don’t beat him until he kneels on the ground and begs for mercy today, I’ll take his surname!”
The attendant finally came back to his senses and, without having the time to worry about anything else, immediately rushed forward to pin Chu Zhaohuai down.
Although the Prince of Jing’s heir was not Ji Xun’s biological son, he was the only surviving bloodline of his elder brother, Prince Ning. When Prince Ning died in battle, Ji Yi had still been very young.
At the same time, the imperial court had been thrown into turmoil and the young heir had survived several assassination attempts. In the end, Ji Xun had simply taken him into his own name as his adopted son.
From a young age, Ji Yi had relied on the reputation of the Prince of Jing’s residence to run rampant and throw his weight around. Ji Xun had always indulged him, allowing him to grow into a good for nothing young master who knew nothing but how to enjoy himself.
What was more, the Prince of Jing was notorious for being fiercely protective of his own people. If he found out that Ji Yi had been beaten, there was no telling how he would make Chu Zhaohuai pay for it.
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
So what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t win if he didn’t fight but he couldn’t win if he did fight either?
Chu Zhaohuai’s move just now had not relied on brute force. He had simply taken advantage of Ji Yi’s lack of preparation, located the right acupoint and struck it with a single decisive blow. It would only leave him sore for a while and could hardly even be considered an injury.
His mediocre, half baked martial arts were more than enough to deal with a pretty boy like Ji Yi but against the tall and sturdy attendants and guards, they were completely inadequate.
Seeing that the attendants were about to charge toward him with great ferocity, Chu Zhaohuai deliberately maintained a calm expression and said in a low, stern voice, “Let me see who dares touch me. Last night, after our wedding, we completed the nuptial rites and consummated our marriage. I am already your prince’s man. If even a single strand of this prince consort’s hair is missing, none of you will have an easy time of it.”
The attendants froze.
Ji Xun’s fearsome reputation was simply too useful. Even without knowing whether the threat was true or not, no one dared to act recklessly.
Ji Yi, who had been clutching his waist, was struggling to be helped back onto his feet. The moment he heard those words, he nearly collapsed straight back onto the ground.
Wh.. What?
The nuptial rites, consummated…
People in the capital were particular about etiquette and had countless rules for everything. Even when it came to romance, they emphasized things like admiring flowers beneath the moon and indulging in poetic courtship. Besides, Ji Yi was only sixteen. He had been completely unprepared to hear his own father’s bedroom affairs discussed so openly.
Ji Yi nearly flew into a hysterical rage.
“You shameless lecher! Don’t you dare slander my father’s virtue!”
Seeing that things were about to go badly, Chu Zhaohuai immediately turned around and ran.
Ji Yi was so furious that he nearly spat blood. Seeing that the attendants were still hesitating because of those words about him being “the prince’s man,” he simply grabbed the stool beside him and, completely abandoning all dignity, chased after Chu Zhaohuai while swinging it at him.
“You shameless bastard! If I don’t tear that mouth of yours apart today, I’ll take your surname!”
While clutching his robes and running for his life, Chu Zhaohuai still did not forget his original intention.
“My surname is Chu.”
Ji Yi: “Aaaah! Drop dead!”
Chu Zhaohuai hurriedly ran out of the room but after only a few steps, his legs, weakened by hunger, nearly gave out beneath him and sent him straight to his knees.
Ji Yi was already consumed by rage and was determined to beat him.
Chu Zhaohuai was afraid of pain and had no desire to be beaten. Now that he had already acted arrogant enough to dispel any suspicion that he was not Chu Zhaojiang, he immediately became willing to bend with the circumstances and prepared to admit defeat.
However, before he could even make a move, the furious Ji Yi strode forward at a rapid pace and, beating him to it, suddenly dropped to the ground with a loud “thump,” throwing himself into a full prostration.
Chu Zhaohuai: “?”
Chu Zhaohuai was startled.
“There’s no need to perform such a grand greeting.”
Ji Yi’s eyes, which had been clouded by fury only moments ago, instantly became crystal clear with fear. He had no time to continue being angry with Chu Zhaohuai. His hands trembled as he placed them against the ground, lowered his head and respectfully performed the formal salute.
“Father.”
Chu Zhaohuai froze.
He suddenly shuddered.
Father?
Then wouldn’t that mean…
Chu Zhaohuai’s entire body stiffened as he slowly, inch by inch, turned to the side.
The plum trees beneath the corridor were in full bloom.
Ji Xun had arrived at some point without making a sound. He was sitting upright in a wooden wheelchair, his thin brocade robes outlining his tall, imposing figure. His head was tilted slightly to one side as he looked over with a smile.
The scar around his neck seemed to gleam like the cold flash of a blade, inexplicably carrying an aura of murderous severity.
Everyone in Changfeng Courtyard had already dropped to their knees in a chaotic wave.
Chu Zhaohuai’s heartbeat nearly stopped.
How long had the Prince of Jing been here?
That wheelchair was so heavy and it should not have been particularly quiet. Why had he not heard a sound?
More importantly, had he heard that shameless nonsense he had just said?
Chu Zhaohuai cautiously tried to study Ji Xun’s expression.
He glanced over and was horrified to discover that Ji Xun was actually smiling.
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
This was bad.
His ears turned bright red. For the first time in front of Ji Xun, his embarrassment completely overwhelmed his fear. He wished he could find a crack in the ground and crawl straight into it.
Ji Xun lazily toyed with the string of colored glass beads around his wrist, his tone utterly devoid of fluctuation.
“At this hour, where should you be?”
Ji Yi straightened his back while kneeling. Cold sweat streamed down his face and he looked nothing like the arrogant, swaggering heir he had been only moments earlier.
He took a deep breath. His voice trembled.
“The Imperial College was, was already closed for vacation a few days ago. It won’t reopen until the fifteenth day of the first month.”
Ji Xun thought for a moment.
Indeed, it was time for the New Year holiday.
“Then why are you here?”
Ji Yi was trembling so badly from fear that his entire body shook. He stammered, “Reporting to Father, I I just… just came to see Zhaojiang.”
Ji Xun narrowed his eyes.
Ji Yi immediately understood what that look meant.
Cold sweat broke out all over him and his voice came out with an unmistakable hint of tears.
“It’s true! We, we made plans a few months ago to go play on Ming Lake on Little New Year’s Eve. Liang Fang, Liang Fang can testify!”
Ji Xun turned toward Chu Zhaohuai with a smile that was not quite a smile.
“Wangfei, is that so?”
Chu Zhaohuai choked.
He had no idea whether such an arrangement was real but seeing that the little heir was already so frightened that his eyes were brimming with tears, he hesitated for a moment before forcing himself to nod.
“Yes, there was such an arrangement.”
Ji Yi, who had been trembling in terror, immediately let out a silent breath of relief.
Ji Xun withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, “He is already the Prince of Jing’s Wangfei…”
Ji Yi thought Ji Xun was going to say that he should not go outside and show himself in public. Instead, he heard him continue, “…You should not be so lacking in etiquette as to address him directly by his name.”
Ji Yi: “…”
Ji Yi raised his head in disbelief.
“Father?!”
Ji Xun glanced at him.
Ji Yi gritted his teeth, turned around and respectfully addressed Chu Zhaohuai.
“I have offended Wangfei.”
Chu Zhaohuai said nothing.
Ji Xun said, “Go back. Tomorrow, I’ll check your studies.”
Ji Yi, who had only just breathed a sigh of relief, immediately turned as pale as gold paper.
Both frightened and aggrieved, he respectfully bowed before retreating.
Before leaving, the young heir still shot Chu Zhaohuai a furtive glare.
Just wait.
This time, on Little New Year’s Eve, he would definitely make sure this shameless bastard suffered so badly that he would regret it!
Ji Yi left with the attendants.
The entire Changfeng Courtyard was now left with only three people.
Ji Xun slightly raised his eyelids and looked toward Chu Zhaohuai.
Chu Zhaohuai had beaten the son right in front of his father. His heart was filled with both guilt and dread. He desperately suppressed the trembling in his calves, maintained an utterly composed expression and forced himself to remain calm as he bowed respectfully.
“Father.”
Ji Xun: “…”
Chu Zhaohuai: “…”
Perhaps they should just bring Ji Yi back and let him tear Chu Zhaohuai’s mouth apart.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator sacrificed sleep for this chapter. A coffee offering seems reasonable.
☕ 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?