Cui Jianying was extremely lustful and indulgent in it.
So much so that aside from the very first time, Tuan Yun never dared let Zhu’er keep night watch again, afraid the commotion would be too outrageous for him to face anyone the next day.
Tuan Yun was small and weak. Even struggling against Cui Jianying could make people laugh, let alone the fact that he had no righteous reason to resist. Once things started, they were hard to stop. Without several hours of chaos, it would not end.
In truth, Tuan Yun always felt uneasy, after all, this was a place where such acts should not be done and both of them bore identities that were improper and illegitimate yet he had to admit that Cui Jianying was forceful and inventive. When two sparks collided, a great fire would result.
At first, no matter how green he was, being fed without restraint by a man like this gradually gave him capacity, until he could even taste the pleasure in it.
As this manifested in Tuan Yun, it became hard to say exactly when or at what moment it had begun but the grown young man’s figure and appearance started to change.
The first time Zhu’er suddenly said shyly to him, “Our madam has become a true adult now,” he hadn’t even reacted. Only when he looked carefully at himself in the mirror and saw that faint, indescribable allure on the person reflected there did he startle.
If Tuan Yun before had been a flower bud, then now he was a flower already in bloom, trembling as it entered spring, having tasted rain and dew.
No wonder Cui Jianying no longer called him a tender melon vine as he had before.
He had been thoroughly ripened by a man.
Seeing his embarrassment, Zhu’er smiled and comforted him. “What’s so bad about it? Madam looks even better than before now. Even a blind person would say you’re a rosy-cheeked beauty with snow-white skin.”
“I’m afraid even someone as cold-hearted as Second Young Master would be unable to walk straight after seeing you.”
Tuan Yun covered his face and said nothing, not daring to think about it, his face so red he couldn’t lift his head. He buried himself in the coursework Cui Jianying had assigned him.
In short, Tuan Yun settled down at the temple.
He was very busy. Cui Jianying came very often. At first he came every other day but later it was as though he had taken the temple as his own home. As long as he had no official duties, he came every day to see Tuan Yun.
When he came, Tuan Yun accompanied him meekly. When he left, Tuan Yun practiced writing and reading, following Cui Jianying’s method of memorization and comprehension, starting with single characters, ten or so a day, slowly accumulating.
Cui Jianying truly devoted great care to teaching him. For difficult characters, he would guide his hand directly. He would quiz him on the previous day’s lessons. He would spend a long time telling a rich, detailed story just to help him understand a single allusion.
The only drawback was that he liked to tease people. When doing these things, their postures never looked like teacher and student, either pressed close together or holding each other.
Tuan Yun had come here unwillingly yet life here turned out to be fuller and happier than the two years he had spent in Shengjing. He had to plan his time carefully just to squeeze out a bit of idle leisure from the vast stretches of time that had once gone nowhere in the Earl’s household.
When he daydreamed, Tuan Yun traced a character in his mind.
After finishing, he took out a long wooden object.
Just as he was about to put brush to paper, Cui Jianying entered from outside. Tuan Yun hurriedly stuffed it into the quilt, earning a laugh from Cui Jianying.
“Madam has been hiding it for several days now. Cui has cooperated in every way, how did you still leave such an obvious flaw?”
He added, “Stop covering it up already. If you keep it hidden like that, even a perfectly good memorial tablet will be suffocated by you.”
Tuan Yun flushed crimson. In front of the Commander of the Tian Shu Guard, who oversaw the world’s scrutiny, there truly were no secrets to be kept. Since it had come to this, he might as well give up entirely. With the resolve of a cracked jar beyond saving, he stopped hiding.
He went to the table, took up the brush, dipped it in gold lacquer and calmly began writing on the tablet.
Cui Jianying followed after him and asked with a smile, “You’ve been secretly preparing this for days now, who exactly are you planning to make offerings to?”
“I know Cousin sent people to drive Madam’s parents away, forbidding them from entering the capital, allowing them only to farm and beg for food back in their hometown but it seems the family of three are all still alive.”
His words fell and stopped.
On the tablet was the character Cui. Because Tuan Yun had practiced it for a long time, it was written with remarkable steadiness and form.
Tuan Yun wrote only that single character, adding nothing else. When he was done, he stood up, placed the tablet behind the small golden Buddha, added oil to the lamp and offered incense.
Cui Jianying had been about to speak but he was, after all, a very clever man. A flicker passed through his eyes and in that instant he understood.
It was a longevity tablet.
Tuan Yun had set up a longevity tablet for him.
Only after watching Tuan Yun press his palms together before the golden Buddha did Cui Jianying speak. “For what reason?”
If one were to trace the reasons, they were complicated beyond untangling. As outsiders said, Tuan Yun had only been able to secure a place in the Earl’s household because of Cui Jianying’s actions.
Cui Jianying treated him gently, taught him lessons yet Cui Jianying could hardly be called a good man, he acted solely for his own pleasure and many of his deeds merely provided indirect shelter to others. It wasn’t as though he expected Tuan Yun to rush forward in gratitude. When these opposing truths collided, there seemed to be little left standing.
Tuan Yun had his own reasoning. “For the money.”
Cui Jianying asked, “What money?” He had always spent lavishly and had long forgotten.
Tuan Yun lifted his eyes and said softly, “You gave me a hundred taels of gold. Gold is so bright, so beautiful. I’ve never seen so much money in my entire life.”
“….”
Cui Jianying suddenly laughed. As he laughed, he pulled Tuan Yun into his arms.
That night, the two of them did not entangle themselves for long. After one round, Cui Jianying propped himself up on his arm, resting his chin on his hand as he smiled and examined Tuan Yun.
Tuan Yun was confused by his gaze. “My lord?”
Cui Jianying said it was nothing. After a while, he added, “Remember to eat some fruit tomorrow morning. It’s getting hotter. I’ve had someone put it in the kitchen cellar to chill overnight.”
The next day, when Tuan Yun got up, he indeed found fruit in the kitchen.
Calling it fruit was not quite accurate, it was more like sweets. Every time Cui Jianying came, he never arrived empty-handed. He brought all sorts of small items, from delicate little trinkets to street-market snacks.
Earlier, Zhu’er had mentioned that a certain shop’s fruit preserves were especially famous and delicious. Tuan Yun had casually mentioned it to Cui Jianying. Now, opening the paper package, he saw that every item he had mentioned was inside.
Tuan Yun did not eat alone. He immediately sought out Zhu’er and shared it with her.
Zhu’er loved peach crisps, which Tuan Yun did not care for. Seeing a portion large enough for one person of peach crisps, she was stunned for quite a while, stunned that Tuan Yun remembered her preferences and equally stunned that after Tuan Yun mentioned it, Cui Jianying remembered as well, even keeping a portion in mind for her, a mere maid.
How did this still look like illicit desire between a sister in law and a cousin?
In her view, when these two were together, they looked far more like a genuine married couple than when Tuan Yun had been with the second young master in the household.
Zhu’er couldn’t help but speak up. “Madam… I think Lord Cui truly likes you.”
Tuan Yun chewed slowly on a candied fruit, nodded and looked obedient and earnest.
Of course Cui Jianying liked him. Otherwise, why would he come barging in like a lecher, endlessly sneaking around with him for so long?
Seeing that he hadn’t quite understood, Zhu’er straightened her back, clapped her hands to draw his attention and said solemnly, “Not that kind of liking, Madam. Onlookers see more clearly. I think Lord Cui treats you with genuine sincerity.”
“Madam, do you trust me?”
“……”
Sincerity.
Tuan Yun froze with the fruit still in his mouth. Because of Zhu’er’s words, he felt dazed the entire day. By evening he could no longer sit still and went to wait for Cui Jianying at the courtyard gate on his own initiative.
This time, Cui Jianying also did not come empty-handed. He brought a large pot of peonies.
Truly, man and flower reflected each other’s redness, both possessed a captivating beauty. Seeing Tuan Yun waiting, Cui Jianying quickened his steps. Once close, he wrapped an arm around Tuan Yun’s waist.
“How rare. I was wondering when you’d finally feel bored enough to come out. Couldn’t hold it in any longer today?”
“This is a new variety cultivated by palace gardeners. I brought it for you to see something fresh. Do you like it?”
“Madam?”
Tuan Yun was still studying Cui Jianying’s expression. No matter how he looked, it was unfathomable. As he drifted in thought, a gust of wind blew over, irritating his eyes. He jolted uncomfortably, scrunching up his face.
When he opened his eyes again, they were watering from the abrasion. Cui Jianying set the flower aside, frowning as he leaned in to blow gently at Tuan Yun’s eyes.
At first Tuan Yun’s vision was blurred. Gradually, the pain subsided. Through a veil of tears, he saw Cui Jianying with a cold expression, staring intently into his eyes.
This was a man Tuan Yun had never been able to understand.
He laughed too easily, his thoughts too many. His sturdy build and tall frame naturally pressed down on others by several degrees, not to mention the heavy authority he carried.
But this moment was strangely different, as if time had stretched without reason. Even the wind brushing past his hair seemed suspended in midair.
Suddenly, Tuan Yun’s heart trembled. All at once, he felt as though he understood him, just a little.
This man liked him, Tuan Yun thought silently.
He couldn’t help but cherish him.
Cui Jianying truly liked him.
✦ ✧ ✦
Fleurveil
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · How can you, so crude and vulgar, be a match for me?Chapter 2 · Children don’t just appear out of thin air if you want themChapter 3 · I also grew up reading the classicsChapter 4 · I am willing to dress up as the Goddess of MercyChapter 5 · If Cousin Ji doesn’t like me, do you not like me either?Chapter 6 · He actually summoned such a YamaChapter 7 · Am I not worthy of your attention, Madam?Chapter 8 · I think Lord Cui likes you very muchChapter 9 · Dragon and phoenix twinsChapter 10 · I will never allow anyone to belittle or despise you againChapter 11 · If that’s true, then marry your wife to meChapter 12 · Well, it really is true that one thing can subdue anotherChapter 13 · Extra 1Chapter 14 · Extra 2Chapter 15 · Extra 3Chapter 16 · Extra 4