I forgot that Meng Qing was an ancient person and wouldn’t understand.
“Uh, it’s similar to our acrobatics. In short, it’s very interesting, you’ll know once we get there.” As they spoke, they had arrived at their destination.
At this moment, the timing was just right, and the show was about to begin. The troupe leader, draped in a sable-fur coat, shouted with arms raised, ” Esteemed viewers, our good show is about to begin.”
Meng Qing saw a square object wrapped in black cloth in the center of the arena, not knowing what was inside, and felt a quiet sense of anticipation.
The troupe leader abruptly pulled away the black cloth, revealing an iron cage with a majestic white tiger locked inside. Suddenly exposed to the sunlight, the white tiger raised its head and let out a heaven-shaking roar, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the surrounding audience.
” Wow.” Meng Qing watched in stunned amazement. Previously, he had only seen white tigers in picture books, and now witnessing one with his own eyes, he felt it was incomparably shocking.
Shinian leaned down, pressing against Meng Qing’s ear to ask, “Are you scared?”
To his surprise, Meng Qing looked full of excitement, a strange light flashing in his eyes: “It looks so fierce, I want to reach out and pet it.”
As expected of the protagonist Shou, indeed extraordinary.
The performances were all wonderful, and Meng Qing watched unblinkingly until it ended, still feeling unsatisfied.
“Let’s go, we’ll come watch again in the future, there are plenty more kinds of shows.”
Meng Qing nodded and left with Shinian, “Those little animals are all so cute and fluffy.”
“Yeah, I used to have a puppy too, it was also exceptionally cute, I wonder how it is now.” A trace of nostalgia flashed in Shinian’s eyes.
“You actually used to raise a puppy? What did it look like, hurry up and tell me.” Meng Qing asked curiously, unable to hide his interest.
“It.”
Ji Yanche truly returned early today. Not long after Meng Qing had changed out of his outdoor clothes, he heard the announcement coming from outside.
Meng Qing hurriedly ran out of the room, rushing straight into Ji Yanche’s embrace.
Ji Yanche steadily caught him, a smile carrying in his voice: “Darling, did you have a fun time playing today?”
“Happy! Shinian took me to watch acrobatics and I saw a lot of small animals. I really wanted to pet them, but unfortunately we weren’t allowed to touch them.”
Suddenly, something seemed to move inside Ji Yanche’s embrace. Meng Qing paused, raising his head in confusion.
He saw a snowy-white ragdoll cat poking its head out from the collar of Ji Yanche’s robe.
Meng Qing’s eyes widened instantly, his tone filled with excitement: “It’s a kitty!”
Ji Yanche gently took the kitten out and handed it to Meng Qing: “Does Qingqing like it? Do you want to raise it?”
Meng Qing took it carefully, terrified of dropping it. He reached out to stroke the kitten’s head, it was fluffy, so soft, and so cute.
Just a moment ago he could only gaze longingly at those small animals, yet within an hour, he was touching one with his own hands.
Meng Qing’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at Ji Yanche, saying happily: “I love it so much! Husband, you understand me so well, I love you so much.”
With that, Meng Qing stood on tiptoe and planted a mwah kiss on Ji Yanche’s cheek.
Ji Yanche bent down so he was eye-level with Meng Qing, stroking his head: “As long as Qingqing likes it.”
“I want to raise it, I’ll take very good care of it.”
Ji Yanche wrapped an arm around Meng Qing’s waist, leading him into the house: “Alright, Husband and Qingqing will raise it together. Then what name is Qingqing planning to give it?”
Meng Qing looked down at the kitten in his arms. The kitten’s clean, soft fur rubbed against his palm, and a pair of azure pupils were also gazing up at him, as if eagerly anticipating its new name.
“Hmm, it’s as white as the moon, let’s call it Jiaojiao, how about that?” After saying this, Meng Qing lowered his head to gently pinch the kitten’s paws, calling out softly: “Jiaojiao?”
“Meow~” The kitten meowed obediently, burying itself in Meng Qing’s arms and rubbing against him.
“It likes the name Jiaojiao!” Meng Qing looked happily at Ji Yanche.
“Mn.” Ji Yanche curved his lips, thinking to himself: Two little kitties.
Inside the warm pavilion, candles flickered with a hazy halo, and the burning stove baked the entire room until it was cozy and warm. Ji Yanche sat leisurely on the warm couch, holding a piece of dry cloth in his hand as he carefully and meticulously dried the wet hair of the person in his arms.
“Qingqing, a month from now will be the New Year imperial banquet, and the two of us will need to attend together.” Ji Yanche’s voice was deep and gentle, breaking the quiet within the room.
The moment those words fell, Ji Yanche sensed the body of the person in his arms stiffen, even the white fingers that had been unconsciously kneading Jiaojiao pausing completely. Meng Qing slowly raised his head to look at Ji Yanche, his expression filled with entanglement, but in the end, he gently let out a sigh: “Alright, I know.”
Although Meng Qing had only been to the palace once, that heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled with strict rules everywhere always made him feel somewhat uncomfortable, and moreover… he always felt that the Emperor’s gaze toward him carried a subtle hint of dissatisfaction.
Meng Qing understood in his heart why Emperor Zhaoming was displeased; such an outstanding and brilliant son of his own should have been matched with a noble young lady from a high-ranking capital family, and who could have expected that a bout of severe illness requiring a wedding to drive away bad luck would result in someone like himself, a wild little country bumpkin from the south, taking advantage of the situation.
Seeing Meng Qing drop his head with a dejected look, his hand sluggishly pinching Jiaojiao’s ear, Ji Yanche leaned forward slightly, gently wrapping his arms around Meng Qing to rest his head on his right shoulder, and asked softly:
“Darling, don’t you want to go?”
Warm breath brushed lightly past his earlobe, bringing a flush of red to the auricle. Even though the two had long since become intimate, such tender gestures still made Meng Qing unable to stop himself from blushing. His voice trembled slightly with a hint of uncertainty: “It’s alright, I mean, can we just not go if we don’t want to?”
Meng Qing smiled helplessly, letting go of Jiaojiao in his hands and watching it scamper over to the windowsill, clearly showing it didn’t agree with such a statement.
“Then we won’t go.” Ji Yanche grasped Meng Qing’s hand without the slightest hesitation, his tone holding neither reluctance nor dissatisfaction: “Qingqing can just stay safely at home waiting for Husband.”
Hearing this, Meng Qing was stunned once more. He genuinely hadn’t expected Ji Yanche to be so indulgent, tolerating him to this extent. Meng Qing turned his head to look at Ji Yanche; the two of them were leaning extremely close, their lips inadvertently brushing lightly across Ji Yanche’s cheek, prompting Meng Qing to simply plant another kiss on the corner of his lips.
“Husband is so good to me, I love you so much, but I still want to go with Husband. During the New Year festival, as a son and son-in-law not to go pay respects is truly… a bit impolite.”
Seeing Meng Qing be so sensible, Ji Yanche felt a pang of heartache ripple through his chest. If not for Meng Qing’s ordinary background, why would he ever need to live his life walking on thin ice and carrying constant fears?
He pulled Meng Qing tighter into his embrace, speaking softly: “Alright, then after we offer our congratulations to Father and Empress Mother, we’ll leave early and won’t stay a moment longer than necessary.”
Meng Qing nodded obediently, smiling sweetly: “Okay.”
Immediately afterward, as if suddenly remembering something, he added: “Mm, but shouldn’t we prepare some congratulatory gifts?”
“Husband will take care of preparing them, Qingqing doesn’t need to fret over these things.” As Ji Yanche spoke, he slid his hand into the front of Meng Qing’s garments, burying his face in the crook of his neck to leave a succession of tender kisses.
“Ah ha…, how can that do, it lacks sincerity, mm~ I, still want to prepare them personally.” Meng Qing’s entire body melted into weakness from those intimate movements, soft whimpers involuntarily spilling from his throat.
Ji Yanche exerted slight strength in his arms, supporting Meng Qing’s hips so he sat securely astride his lap, a pleased curve forming on his lips as he said excitedly: “Alright then, darling, Husband will prepare them together with you.”
A night of debauchery.