Spoiling You
Song Song’s chin was held in place as Li Xiao cradled the back of his head and finished the kiss with tender care.
Then Li Xiao tightened his arms around him and said, “You really are sweet.”
A hint of teasing glinted in his dark eyes. Song Song, who had come into this with an ulterior motive, suddenly blushed. He pressed his lips together and lowered his head, feeling that this Prince Ping was somehow different from the man in his previous life. Of course, he might have imagined it. After all, he and Li Xiao had shared only one brief affair.
Li Xiao ran his fingers through Song Song’s long hair. Seeing a few loose strands caught between his fingers, his eyes dimmed slightly.
Song Song tried several times to get out of his arms, but Li Xiao held him tight. The man took the initiative to change the subject. “What do you usually like to eat, Songer?”
“Anything is fine.” He was lucky if he got a meal at all. How could he afford to be picky?
He had always thought that after spending long enough as a ghost, he would see through the world and let everything go. But after being reborn, he realized that old grudges and grievances couldn’t simply be cast aside. The more meek and timid he had been in his previous life, the more resentful and discontented he was in this one.
He hated the woodshed, hated going hungry and cold, hated his own soft, yielding nature. He hated his father, who had treated him like a rag doll ever since his mother died. Most of all, he hated the hypocritical Song Ge.
His thoughts churned, but his face remained meek and composed, betraying nothing.
Li Xiao asked again, “Is there anything in particular you want to eat?”
Song Song couldn’t help laughing. He looked up at him. “Your Highness needn’t worry. I’m very easy to feed. If it pleases you, one or two steamed buns and some water each day will be more than enough.”
Li Xiao considered this. “You really are easy to feed.”
Song Song fell silent. In his previous life, he had often hidden the wounds covering his body from others. When his father casually asked how he was getting on, he would simply say everything was fine. Only later did he understand what people meant when they said that the child who cries gets the candy. The obedient, sensible child he had thought he was, the one who never caused trouble for anyone, was never going to matter to anyone.
Some people even thought his good behavior was an act.
He didn’t mind showing Li Xiao a little of how miserable he was, putting on the face of someone strong but pitiful. If Li Xiao took pity on him and made his life better, all the better.
If Li Xiao refused to show mercy, Song Song wouldn’t pin any hopes on it. He knew what he had to do now, and he would no longer be consumed by anxious hope and disappointment.
The carriage carried them all the way to the prince’s mansion. Song Song suddenly struggled harder. “Your Highness, please let me get down by myself.”
Li Xiao wouldn’t let go. “What are you afraid of?”
He wasn’t afraid. He just didn’t want to invite trouble. Li Xiao might like men, but there were bound to be side consorts in the household he couldn’t refuse. The Mad Prince’s reputation preceded him. If he carried Song Song down from the carriage, word would spread through the entire mansion within a day. Then someone would surely come looking for trouble. Song Song had only just arrived, and he didn’t want to make enemies.
He hesitated, not yet answering, but Li Xiao saw right through him. Leaning close to Song Song’s ear, he said in a low voice, “From now on, you’ll be the only one for me. No one is fit to compete with you for my favor.”
Who, who wanted to compete for his favor?!
Song Song’s mouth fell open in astonishment, but Li Xiao had already carried him down from the carriage.
Steward Qi, who had come out to greet them, looked just as astonished. But since the prince had always been eccentric, Steward Qi quickly suppressed his questions and followed the Mad Prince into the main residence. He watched as Li Xiao set the person in his arms down on a chair, so gently and carefully that it was as if he feared he might drop him.
When Steward Qi got a good look at Song Song’s face, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. His features were handsome enough, but his complexion was truly dreadful. The prince must have been so used to fair, delicate beauties that this little wretch who looked like a refugee had caught his eye.
Still, the prince had finally taken a liking to someone. It wouldn’t do to spoil his good mood. Steward Qi smiled faintly. “I’ll have someone prepare Mapleview Court for Young Master Song.”
He was about to take his leave, pleased to have thought of everything, when Li Xiao said, “No need.”
Steward Qi looked up in confusion. Could it be that the prince didn’t intend to keep him for long and planned to put him in a side room?
Instead, Li Xiao casually stroked Song Song’s face, his voice full of delight. “Songer can stay in the main residence with me.”
Steward Qi’s eyelid twitched. He was sure he must have misheard.
Since Da Qian was founded, not even a princess consort had ever shared the prince’s meals and quarters. People were divided into ranks, and beneath the emperor came the princes. A princess consort had to understand the difference in status between herself and her husband. First, it was the rule. Second, if the emperor was the true dragon, then the princes were all dragons still waiting to ascend. The main residence of a true dragon’s son was naturally a place of great fortune. If anyone else lived there, they might ruin the feng shui, and with it the dragon-ascension scheme.
Steward Qi thought the prince probably only meant to let Song Song stay the night. Sharing the main residence for the night was hardly unheard of, so he asked, “Shall I prepare a side room, then?”
A flicker of displeasure crossed Li Xiao’s face as he looked at Song Song like a treasured possession. “I mean he’ll live in the main residence from now on. Don’t you understand?”
Steward Qi opened his mouth, then silently shut it again. Good heavens. It wasn’t merely hard to understand; it was utterly unbelievable!
But he had served the prince since the prince was still living in the palace. He knew there was no way to stop the prince once he had made up his mind, and pushing the matter could even provoke him. So he hurriedly answered, “I understand.”
“The weather is turning cold. Have some warm clothes made for Young Master Song. For now, go prepare dinner.”
Steward Qi hurried off to see to it.
Song Song watched as Li Xiao issued one order after another. At last, he found a chance to speak. “Your Highness, this is…”
“Spoiling you.” Li Xiao pinched his thin cheek. “My rank is higher than yours. You have no right to refuse.”
“…” With that, Song Song could only swallow the rest of what he had been about to say. He stared at the man before him, feeling as if his brain couldn’t keep up.
Li Xiao had eventually ascended the throne in Song Song’s previous life, which was an extraordinary feat. But where did he get the confidence to act like this now? Song Song was only an unwanted nobody from the duke’s mansion. What had he done to deserve Li Xiao breaking the dragon-ascension scheme for him?
What did he want?
Was it his bony frame? His sallow face?
And yet Song Song couldn’t even refuse. Li Xiao wouldn’t allow him to say a single word of protest.
Dinner was soon served, and the table was laden with dishes. Song Song didn’t remember Li Xiao being this extravagant. He gripped his chopsticks and suddenly felt as if he were about to become a sinner for the ages.
What had gone wrong? Why did Li Xiao seem like a different person?
“Try them all.” Li Xiao served him some food. “See which ones you like.”
He leaned close to Song Song’s ear and whispered conspiratorially, “If there’s a dish you particularly like, when I ascend the throne, I’ll order that no one else be allowed to cook it.”
“Only Songer will get to eat it.”
Song Song: “…”
He was so startled that he dropped his chopsticks!
Mad talk! Treasonous nonsense! If the reigning emperor heard him, he’d give just one order: execution!
Song Song would be finished too!