“Ten times a night is not a problem at all.”
“I… I…”
If I told you I literally passed out from exhaustion, would you believe me? Ha.
Whether it was just my imagination or not, the air pressure around Xiao Quanchuan seemed to be churning with dark currents.
He strode forward, his imperial aura unstoppable. The golden silk dragon patterns on his black robes rippled and shimmered with every step, their texture so fine that even Jiang Wangnan felt the urge to reach out and touch them.
A magnificent bearing, bright eyes with distinct brows, an air of refined grace, and a grand, heroic posture—this was how the original novel described Xiao Quanchuan.
His towering height of one meter ninety-five cast a shadow over Jiang Wangnan like a towering ancient tree, standing with dignified majesty. The height difference of nearly twenty centimeters created an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Instead of feeling like a passerby seeking shade under a tree, he felt more like a canary trapped inside a bird’s nest high up in the branches, with nowhere to run. His legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
He had never seen anyone so powerfully built and majestic.
It was obvious that his act of faking unconsciousness to avoid imperial favor had been seen right through at a glance by Xiao Quanchuan, this high-level player.
Jiang Wangnan subconsciously stepped back, curling up like a frightened, pretty little kitten, feeling weak, pitiful, and utterly helpless.
Xiao Quanchuan closed in step by step.
Even with good physical traits, one’s appearance can be warped by a malicious heart. Facial features twisted by evil intentions usually belonged to rat-like scoundrels who only knew how to slant the corners of their mouths up toward their eye tails, making them simply unlookable.
However, overthinking it was useless.
Now that the real person stood right before him, he instead projected the dignified elegance of a jade-like gentleman, combining the youthful good looks of a young man with the steady composure of an older man.
Amidst his worry and fear, Jiang Wangnan couldn’t help but catch his breath, sincerely sighing inwardly: “A generation’s tyrant, yet devastatingly handsome.”
“Your Grace… Your Grace… Please, save this servant! I’m going to be beaten to death, ouch!”
That young eunuch was lying facedown on the bench, his backside blooming with a massive patch of blood. As soon as he spotted Jiang Wangnan, he scrambled forward with his hands and feet, accidentally tumbling off the bench.
Panicking and at a loss, Jiang Wangnan imitated the characters in television dramas and dropped to his knees to plead for mercy: “Y-Your Majesty! I was the one who slipped; it has nothing to do with him. Please spare him.”
“You want to save him?” Xiao Quanchuan’s voice came from overhead, the tail end of his sentence slightly upturned, as if probing for something.
Desperate to save the person, Jiang Wangnan’s brain was fried into a single tangled thread, and without thinking much, he nodded and said, “Yes.”
He had forgotten: he was the crown prince of a fallen state, surrendered to an enemy nation, living in the inner palace, and had repeatedly threatened regicide. If he wanted to save someone, that person would automatically be considered his accomplice.
A moment later, Xiao Quanchuan ordered, “Men, drag this servant away and execute him with the heavy staff.”
Jiang Wangnan snapped his head up: “Your Majesty! You can’t!”
That was a human life!
This young eunuch looked only thirteen or fourteen years old, just a child in the prime of his youth! How could he be allowed to die unjustly?
Before long, his chin was pinched between Xiao Quanchuan’s fingers. The pressure sank straight into the bone, causing a tearing pain, and the rims of his eyes instantly reddened in a thin line.
“Are you teaching me how to do my job? Hmm?”
Xiao Quanchuan chuckled softly. Though it sounded as mild as a spring breeze, Jiang Wangnan felt as if his whole body had plunged into an ice cellar.
If it were the original protagonist Shou, he definitely would have jerked his head away, pointed straight at the Gong’s nose, and righteous-mindedly retorted: “You life-discarding dog of an emperor! I am the Crown Prince of Yue; what I choose to do is none of your business!”
Then the Gong would secretly admire him, murmur that he was interesting, and let him go.
Jiang Wangnan mustered up his courage to follow the original protagonist’s persona, but the moment he locked eyes with Xiao Quanchuan’s sharp, hawk-like gaze, cold sweat broke out all over his back.
What was the line again?
“…”
Could you please not look so fierce? QwQ
He was like a balloon, inflating in one second and deflating the next, repeating over and over again.
Xiao Quanchuan raised a hand to wipe at the red corners of Jiang Wangnan’s eyes. His fingertips were damp, and his brow twitched slightly: “Crying so easily?”
That was sweat! That was sweat!
What on earth is going on inside your Danmei-Gong brain!
Jiang Wangnan took a deep breath and, as if abandoning the struggle, said, “Didn’t Your Majesty want concubine tonight? The night is already deep; let concubine wait upon Your Majesty to rest.”
Xiao Quanchuan did things based on his mood. If his mood was soothed, a minor offense like a servant’s poor care could be dismissed with a wave of his sleeve.
Anyway, since he couldn’t escape the deep palace for the time being, sooner or later he would end up deflowered anyway. Sleep with him once to save a person, totally worth it, woo-hoo-hoo.
That was how Jiang Wangnan convinced himself.
Xiao Quanchuan fell silent for a moment, his gaze slithering across Jiang Wangnan’s face like a wandering venomous snake.
He intuitively felt that look carried profound meaning, but he just couldn’t grasp what it meant.
Then he heard the other man let out a cold snort, the playfulness fading from his eyes: “Isn’t your temper supposed to be quite fiery?”
Sun Nianhai at the side noticed his subtle shift in mood: “Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that Changzai Jiang bumped his head earlier and might experience brief personality changes. It is entirely normal.”
“Is that so.”
Jiang Wangnan’s pupils dilated slightly.
He caught it! He heard the sense of disappointment in that tone!
This crazy Gong loved the sense of achievement that came with taming wild beasts! The more unyielding and stubbornly resistant someone was, the more irresistible he found them.
He was extremely excited, feeling just like a failing student who finally encounters a function problem they can get full marks on during an exam!
Gathering his courage, Jiang Wangnan reached out to tug at Xiao Quanchuan’s sleeve, shaking it gently while speaking in an excessively sweet, coquettish voice: “Your Majesty~ Come on~ Be gentle, okay?”
Even Sun Nianhai felt a shiver run through his bones, giving him a start.
Didn’t he like fiery, untamed beasts?
Sorry to disappoint, but this person is a soft, obedient little kitten.
Sumimasen, did I gross you out? Meow =~=
The other man pulled his sleeve back.
Sure enough, the look Xiao Quanchuan gave him carried a few extra traces of annoyance.
He was genuinely bored to death by this kind of pet delivering itself right to his doorstep, and said listlessly, “Changzai Jiang’s health needs tending to; we shall let you serve another day. As for this clumsy servant, let him dispose of himself.”
Jiang Wangnan’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. Tears welling in his eyes, he pleaded, “Your Majesty, concubine’s health is already completely fine! I can wait upon Your Majesty, any position is fine, oh! Ten times a night and I won’t have a single complaint!”
If he didn’t keep acting for a bit longer, the obedient persona wouldn’t hold up. What if this crazy Gong changed his mind and came back?!
Xiao Quanchuan curved the corners of his lips downward, refusing even to look at him: “Sun Nianhai, send him off.”
Yes!
Hehehe, little emperor, completely handled!
Jiang Wangnan hurried over to help up the young eunuch with the bloody backside: “Sorry for dragging you down. Come to my quarters and let’s get some medicine applied.”
The young eunuch was overwhelmed by this unexpected favor, bowing with tearful eyes: “This servant thanks Your Grace for saving my life! Since this servant made a mistake, I will surely be transferred to the Washing Department; I only wonder when I’ll ever be able to repay Your Grace.”
The Washing Department was the most grueling place in the imperial palace. Was this child, so young, going to pay the price just because of his own act of avoiding imperial favor?
Jiang Wangnan couldn’t help feeling a pang in his heart: “Didn’t Your Majesty say it? Your departure or stay is up to me to decide. From today onward, you will follow me. What is your name?”
“This servant is called Luo Jing. Many thanks, Your Grace, for your great kindness and virtue!”
With that, he made a move to proffer a deep bow. Startled, Jiang Wangnan caught him just in time: “Hey, don’t. Since you’re following me, we’re good friends now. No need for such formal courtesies, let’s go.”
“Your Grace… you’re going the wrong way,” Luo Jing said in a muffled voice.
How could anyone possibly know the way back from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to Xiying Palace just from reading a novel?!
Jiang Wangnan scanned his surroundings, noting that everywhere he looked were flying eaves and red walls, extending in all directions like a maze. He scratched his head: “Sorry, I think I broke my head. Which way was it again?”
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Quanchuan watched Jiang Wangnan’s dazed and goofy appearance, his gaze flickering faintly: “You tell me, he just took a fall, so why is he acting like a completely different person?”
Sun Nianhai replied: “Reporting to Your Majesty, logically speaking, that should be impossible.”
Xiao Quanchuan tapped his fingers rhythmically against the window lattice, murmuring, “What on earth is he up to?”
Sun Nianhai said: “Your Majesty, Attendant Jiang attempted to assassinate the Imperial Person, which is a capital crime. If he goes unpunished, I’m afraid…”
“I’m actually hoping he tries again. It would just go to show that he’s faking it, deliberately retreating in order to advance to ensure his own survival, and very likely choosing to wait for another opportunity, for instance, secretly contacting the remnants of the fallen state.”
Sun Nianhai almost lost his grip on the horsetail whisk in his hand: “Isn’t Your Majesty releasing a tiger back to the mountains?”
The knife scar on the left side of Xiao Quanchuan’s chest throbbed faintly. With an expression as calm as still water, he instead seemed to relish the pain: “This strategy is called drawing the snake out of its hole.”
No wonder he insisted on dragging Jiang Wangnan back to the state of Zhao at the time; it turned out to be for the purpose of luring out the remnants of the fallen state and uprooting them completely.
Following this train of thought, Sun Nianhai experienced a sudden flash of enlightenment.
This emperor had always kept a distance from wine and women; his sudden summons of Attendant Jiang for imperial service also followed a discernible logic.
Just imagine, how would the remnants of the fallen state feel when they heard that their revered Crown Prince was taking pleasure under the body of their enemy?
That would inevitably deepen their resentment toward Zhao, draw their bowstrings tight, and prompt them to rescue Changzai Jiang all the sooner. Once that happened, all the remnants would gather in one place.
All it would take was a single fire to burn them to ashes without a trace, wiping them all out in one fell swoop.
Xiao Quanchuan’s face was as dark as water: “The bait has already been cast; now we just wait for the fish to take it. Tell Bai Tan of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to have someone keep an eye on him. If there are any unusual movements, report back immediately.”
Sun Nianhai’s heart gave a slight tremor: “Yes.”
The Emperor had actually mobilized Bai Tan…
The Heavenly Secret Pavilion was an organization he had personally established, answering directly to the emperor and tasked with overseeing the hundred officials. It consisted of two major departments: Bai Tan and Hei Wei.
Bai Tan was responsible for espionage and reconnaissance, while Hei Wei carried out assassinations.
In the five years since Xiao Quanchuan ascended the throne, no fewer than two hundred officials had died at the hands of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s blades. Consequently, they were dubbed the Black and White Impermanence, earning Xiao Quanchuan the nickname Jade-Faced Yama.
Sun Nianhai silently observed a three-minute moment of silence for Jiang Wangnan.
The next day, the sun was high in the sky, at Xiying Palace.
Outside the door, someone seemed to be arguing in lowered, tense voices.
“Who wouldn’t want to leave this place? All the eunuchs and palace maids have already left; it wouldn’t hurt if one more person did!” The speaker’s voice was crisp and clear, belonging presumably to a young maid in the prime of her youth.
“Miaojuan, if you want to leave, I can’t stop you, but the least you can do is wait until Your Grace wakes up and ask for permission, right?” That was Qiu Ruo’s voice.
Upon returning to the palace last night, it had been dead silent with sparse lamplight, and only a palace maid named Qiu Ruo had been waiting for him.
It turned out there was also someone named Miaojuan.
“That’s right, Sister Miaojuan.” This was Luo Jing.
“Ask for permission? Hmph. Ever since he entered the palace over a year ago, he hasn’t received a shred of imperial favor. Last night, he finally went to serve the emperor, only to be sent right back to the palace in the middle of the night. Everyone in the inner palace is laughing at Xiying Palace. If I stay here any longer, I’ll likely lose what little face I have left,” Miaojuan said, raising her voice.
Jiang Wangnan tossed and turned, all sleepiness entirely gone.
Before his first night of imperial service, the original Shou truly had not been favored, treated essentially as a plaything casually tossed aside by Xiao Quanchuan, until Shou’s fierce temperament struck his fetish, after which the obsessive favoring truly began.
“Stop arguing. Come in and talk,” Jiang Wangnan said as he sat up.
Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched gasp escaped his lips.
“Your Grace, Your Grace, what is wrong?” Qiu Ruo hurriedly pushed the door open and bowed by the bedside.
“Is Your Grace feeling unwell?” Luo Jing asked with concern.
Jiang Wangnan’s neck was awkwardly tilted to the left side. Frowning, he let out a hiss, struggling to open his eyes as he said groggily, “I slept in an awkward position.”
Qiu Ruo: “…”
Luo Jing: “…”
Jiang Wangnan said to Miaojuan, “It’s fine. If you want to leave, then go.”
A forced melon is never sweet.
Miaojuan grabbed the strap of her bundle, didn’t even offer a single word of thanks, and strode out of the room without looking back.
As if finishing a bout of sleepwalking, Jiang Wangnan lay back down, his neck stiff, his breathing gradually growing steady. He still mumbled fuzzily, “What’s for breakfast?”
Terrified that he would suppress his emotions, Qiu Ruo let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that he still had an appetite, though her face wore a bitter expression: “Your Grace, have you forgotten? The Imperial Kitchen has never set aside a portion for our Xiying Palace.”
Jiang Wangnan bounced up like a hooked fish, nearly spraining his neck: “What?!”
Qiu Ruo asked, “Is Your Grace hungry?”
“Well, not quite that hungry yet. Never mind, I’ll sleep a bit longer. Lunch should at least exist, right?” Jiang Wangnan gave a lazy yawn, his limbs feeling weak and soft.
Qiu Ruo’s expression became unspeakably complicated: “Yes, it exists, but…”