Xiao Yanshi never imagined that he would one day be “taken” by another man. Moreover, the circumstances were so miserable that it was enough to bring one to tears. He hadn’t pulled his punch, and the man’s cheek had swollen instantly. Tsk, I should have aimed elsewhere.
“Well? Do you have an explanation?” Having landed the blow, Xiao Yanshi’s anger subsided slightly, but he could not treat the traces on his body in front of the man. He picked up the discarded clothes from the floor and draped them over his shoulders. The ambiguous marks were only half-hidden, adding a layer of illicit appeal to his appearance. Because the man had used such force, his waist and spine were aching, and a certain area was in unspeakable pain. He stood stiffly by the table, keeping a distance.
“I took advantage of your vulnerable state,” the man said, pushing aside the quilt and walking over barefoot.
Hiss! Xiao Yanshi gasped inwardly. No wonder I’m covered in such shocking bruises. The man had a bewitchingly beautiful face, but beneath his clothes lay broad shoulders, a thick back, and perfectly toned muscles. He was robust without being hulking, and his legs were powerful and strong. Xiao Yanshi stole a few glances, though he maintained a solemn, intimidating expression.
Just as he managed to tear his eyes away, the man suddenly extended a hand, holding a dagger.
Xiao Yanshi was shocked: Is he trying to silence me after the deed is done?! First rape, now murder!!
“The mistake has already been made,” the man said, thrusting the dagger into Xiao Yanshi’s hand. “Regardless of how the Heir chooses to deal with me today, I will not shrink back.”
The man wore only a thin inner garment, hanging loosely to reveal a large expanse of his chest. His eyes were lowered, reflecting a submissive obedience, as if he were waiting to be dealt with.
Xiao Yanshi gripped the dagger and thrust it forward. The sharp blade pierced flesh, and blood instantly soaked the fabric. It looked like a bold, dark stroke of ink on clean, white paper, the stark red stains on the pristine garment utterly startling.
Xiao Yanshi’s expression remained indifferent. “If I kill you here today, I have the ability to cover it up flawlessly. Even if my luck is poor and it is discovered, the Princess’s Estate cannot touch me…”
“I know.” With a gash in his chest, the man did not even wrinkle his brow. He looked at Xiao Yanshi throughout, the remorse in his eyes clear.
Xiao Yanshi threw the dagger aside and unconsciously rubbed the blood from his fingertips. “Are you truly not afraid that I will kill you?”
“I am more afraid that the Heir will be unable to quell his anger.” The man stood barefoot, his gaze blank.
Xiao Yanshi was stunned.
“I do not wish to add another enemy, especially one like the Heir.”
The Pingbei Marquis Estate held the northern border, and while they were far from the capital, they held genuine military power that made the court deeply wary. Moreover, the Princess’s Estate already harbored old grudges against them. If the Princess discovered this matter, given the current political climate, the man’s life would be difficult.
“Enough. I have injured you today, so we shall consider ourselves even.” Xiao Yanshi’s dagger thrust had avoided vital organs, but the man would still need time to recover. Let the scar serve as a reminder.
Xiao Yanshi stepped past the man to search for his clothes. They were torn beyond repair. Xiao Yanshi found himself in a dilemma. “Are there any other clothes here?”
The man paused, looked around, and went to rummage through the outer room. “None.”
Xiao Yanshi: “…”
He couldn’t exactly walk out wrapped in a quilt!
Two naked men exchanged glances, both feeling immensely awkward. Combined with the lingering scent in the room, Xiao Yanshi felt a burning desire to drag Xue Shao over and beat him to a pulp.
They reached a stalemate. Xiao Yanshi’s waist and spine felt increasingly uncomfortable, and just as he tried to lean against the table, the man stepped forward and scooped him up into a horizontal carry.
“You!” Xiao Yanshi’s face darkened. “Put me down!”
As the Heir, he had never been treated this way; he was simultaneously furious and mortified. Before he could react, the man set him on the couch. “The urgent matter is to fetch water. You… that place, it must be washed.”
Xiao Yanshi’s expression shifted. “No need!”
He would rather lose his sense of smell entirely than be washed; he felt nothing but shame, especially with the perpetrator standing right before him. The man hesitated, then walked toward the door—perhaps he could find clothing in the neighboring room.
In truth, staying put was the safest choice. The situation outside was unclear, and Xue Shao’s two attendants would eventually return. Escaping would be even harder then. But the person behind him…
The man’s steps faltered. What had happened earlier was not fueled by mere lust, but by the golden beast incense burner it was a potent aphrodisiac. Desire being hard to suppress was merely an excuse. His eyes dimmed; he had, in the end, brought disaster upon this man.
“Stop!” Xiao Yanshi refused to let him leave. He stepped off the couch, enduring his discomfort, and grabbed the man.
The man reacted instinctively, moving to parry. Xiao Yanshi’s expression shifted—fearing the man was returning to his primal instincts to restrain him, the two exchanged blows.
“Xiao…”
The man gripped his arm, but before he could say more, Xiao Yanshi nimbly twisted out of his hold and delivered a palm strike to his shoulder. This blow could have been avoided, but the man didn’t dodge, taking it head-on. The previous wound bled again, smearing Xiao Yanshi’s fingertips.
Xiao Yanshi paused.
But in that moment, Xiao Yanshi felt a sudden force at his waist, and he lurched forward.
Hiss!
The man served as a cushion as they crashed onto the couch, his back hitting the frame. Xiao Yanshi was pressed against him, his hand landing squarely on the man’s fresh wound. Even so, the arm around his waist didn’t loosen.
“Let go.” Xiao Yanshi was agitated, having been countered several times. But the man beneath him seemed not to notice, his grip remaining firm as he gazed fixedly at him.
Having engaged in the most intimate of acts only moments ago, even with a clear conscience, they felt inevitably guilty. Xiao Yanshi’s voice was strained. “Let go!”
“…Someone is coming.”
“What?”
Before Xiao Yanshi could react, the force around his waist tightened. He slumped forward, his forehead slamming into the man’s chin.
“…Right inside!”
“Is he alone? Ashi, he…”
“…Your Highness!”
The chaotic footsteps were too abrupt. Xiao Yanshi instinctively wanted to hide, but as the two were “stacked” together, they scrambled in confusion and could not rise.
Bang! The door was kicked open.
Xiao Yanshi felt as if the sky were falling, then heard Xiao Yanzhi and Xue Shao speak simultaneously.
“Ashi, you…”
“How could it be him!”
The Flower House was not intricately furnished; there were only a few paintings and small stools. Perhaps for fear of guests damaging the property, there wasn’t even a screen to block the view. Consequently, the moment the door was pushed open, anyone could see the two “in the midst of it” on the small couch.
If waking up to find you had “lost your purity” was like being struck by lightning, then being gawked at by a dozen people while tangled with a man was like being crushed by a mountain of them.
Xiao Yanshi had never felt such a strong urge to kill everyone in the room. But in his moment of stupor, the man beneath him quickly pulled the quilt to cover Xiao Yanshi. This action made the situation look even more suspicious, and it focused all of Xue Shao’s attention on him.
“How could he be here!” Xue Shao was beyond furious. He grabbed an attendant nearby and threw him aside. He had nearly blockaded the Flower House and posted guards at every alley, yet it never occurred to him that the person he couldn’t find would be in this very room.
What infuriated Xue Shao the most was that his trap hadn’t disgraced the “bastard,” but instead had caused Xiao Yanshi to be drugged.
“Your Highness, spare us!”
“Your Highness, we two…”
“Get out.” With a wave of Xue Shao’s hand, attendants dragged the two away. Everyone knew their fate. But taking their lives was useless—it only made Xiao Yanshi and the man look even more pathetic.
Xiao Yanzhi was seething, but mindful of Xue Shao’s status, he could not lash out. He could only say stiffly, “I ask Your Highness to grant Ashi some dignity.”
Xue Shao paused. He dared not look at Xiao Yanshi. After hesitating, he said stiffly, “No one else shall know of today’s events. Ashi, you…”
The word “don’t worry” stuck in his throat, and Xue Shao swallowed it. The people below were all trembling, understanding his meaning perfectly. If a single word leaked out, they would pay with their heads.
Xue Shao led his men out, but left guards outside the door. The implication was clear.
Xiao Yanshi could not spare the effort to care. He and the man were still “trapped” on the couch. Xiao Yanzhi told everyone to clear the area and stood just outside the door, as if fearing another mistake might happen.
Before leaving, he had someone deliver a set of clothes to Xiao Yanshi. Xiao Yanshi, however, called out to him. “Wait.”
“Heir?”
“Bring another set of clothes for him.” Xiao Yanshi was calm now, his expression unchanged.
“Heir, this…” The attendant looked toward Xiao Yanzhi. Everyone had seen the Second Prince’s reaction, and the Princess’s Third Young Master was “notorious” everyone knew of him. Being associated with him now would only invite trouble.
Even a minor attendant understood this. How could Xiao Yanshi not?
Xiao Yanzhi finally spoke: “Listen to the Heir.”
“Yes, Young Master.”