Vol 1 Chapter 8 (2/2)
“You too.”
Looking at each other while smiling, soundlessly gave each other their sincere wishes.
Hence upon, two people crossed path here and then. Each went to pursue the sky which belonged solely to them.
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“Can you be more faster?” Li Cong Qing frequently hastened the horse driver, really wished that he could grow wings to fly back home.
“Sir, this is already the fastest. If more, the cart will surely fall apart to pieces!” The driver was already diligently urging on his two pitiful horses to run like mad as if flying.
Originally, Li Cong Qing wanted to ride on horse so he could be faster, however, his riding skills were extremely disappointing. Who could know that even before he could reach the Capital, half the way he already broke his hands and legs by falling or twisted and snapped his neck? Although he was being impatient to go back, still, to obediently sit on the carriage would be much more safer.
While sitting on the carriage, one by one he recalled all sorts of affairs between him and the Emperor. Lastly, he recalled about the matter after that very night six years ago. Even though he had been peeled naked and eaten completely, the afterwards still remained undecided. Would he be just like that to be with the Emperor, become the Emperor’s… male favorite?
In the beginning, he intended to enter the court as a scholar and just leisurely hang around while taking it easy, how would he expect that without rhyme or reason he would actually be drifted to the Emperor’s dragon’s bed. Truly such a complicated and bizarre thing!
Remembering that day before dawn, the sky wasn’t bright yet. Because he usually had to attend the morning court, he had cultivated a habit of no matter what time he went to sleep, immediately in the morning he would wake up at a certain fixed hour. But would still stay in bed, until the servant came to call him up then he would get up in anguish.
Closing his eyes while in a half dreaming half awakening state, his hand touched a warm and smooth thing… ehh??... What did they put on his bed? Upon a touch it was rather comfortable.
The Emperor because of being caressed here and there was troubled and woke up. Caught a hold of that easily lit up a flaming hand, softly said: “It is still early, go back to sleep for a little while.”
“Mmm… Xiao Guo Zi, later don’t forget to wake me up...”
Has he mistaken me as the manor’s attendant? The Emperor smiled. “Yes.”
“Your Majesty, time to dress up.” Wei Xiao Miao already by the bed side waiting to serve.
The Emperor tucked the quilt for the person who still remained on the bed before he got up and climbed down the bed, allowed Wei Xiao Miao to serve him by was.h.i.+ng the face, rinse the mouth and change clothes.
After a while, Li Cong Qing absentmindedly muttered: “Xiao Guo Zi, is it the time already?”
“Not yet. You just sleep a little more.” Wei Xiao Miao answered.
“Xiao Guo Zi, today why do you have two kinds of voice…” His speech gradually became weaker, fell asleep again.
The Emperor turned back and kissed his mouth, ordered the people who left to wait upon him for not waking Li Cong Qing up, and then left.
Li Cong Qing half dreaming half awake, when his mind finally became clearer, the sky was already misty bright. Blinking his eyes, he shouted an “AH!!” and sprang up to sit. He lifted up the quilt, jumped out of the bed. Suddenly he felt a spell of slight chill, lowered his head to see that he was actually stark naked without even a line of thread. Eh, yesterday why did he go to sleep without putting on clothes? Not right! Where is this?
Blinking his eyes again to see clearly, he realized he was not at home. Just suddenly remembered that yesterday he stayed over in the Palace, his cheeks unwittingly flushed red from the heat.
“Sir, have you gotten up? Servants will enter to wait upon you.” Someone spoke from in front of the room.
“No need. Do not enter!” Li Cong Qing busily took the whole court uniform which hung on the screen and neatly dressed himself, hurriedly opened the door.
“Sir, please wash your face.” Two Palace’s attendants were holding fresh water standing outside the door.
Li Cong Qing carelessly washed and rinsed for a little while, rushed out just like that. Running while tying his official’s hat and fastening his official’s belt.
In the hall, they had begun to discuss about official affairs. He bended low his body, tiptoeing and quietly entered. Fortunately his place was on the foremost backside to the nearest to the door, he wouldn’t disturb the others.
The Emperor’s dragon seat was on a high place, of course he could see him secretly enter. Didn’t understand and pondered to himself, why was he so insist on attending court? The idea to confer upon him the Shang Jun t.i.tle became even stronger, but in the end, he restrained it. He did not wish to force him to do something he didn’t want to. But of course, with exception of that matter on bed.
Remembering last night’s first s.e.xual intercourse, his body inadvertently gave a rise to a great ma.s.s of fervor. The Emperor was not at all a s.e.x indulgent type of person, but Li Cong Qing had aroused his never had before enormous desire. He wanted to embrace him, kissed him deeply, deeply entered his inner body, one at a time firmly rammed on it… upon the thought, almost slightly trembling, his lower belly heated up and began to undulating a sweet electric current.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty?” An old high Minister softly called out to the inattentive Emperor.
“This matter, let me think about it again.” The Emperor collected his focus, half of his heart was on the court, the other half was on Li Cong Qing. After discussing several affairs, he simply ended the court.
Li Cong Qing went back to the Ministry of Rites, his mood appeared to be irritated and be in unease. His b.u.t.tocks was unsettled on the chair, once he sat down, he would spring up again, as if there were pins and needles spread on the surface, impossible to sit uncomfortable to stand. The old Minister saw his face in unusual color, body seemed to not be very comfortable, thus allowed him to leave earlier to rest.
When the Emperor asked Wei Xiao Miao to summon him, he had already left the Palace. Wei Xiao Miao reported back, asked the Emperor if he need or not go to the Li’s Manor to call him back, the Emperor said no need, in his heart he thought that it was good that he went home. If Li Cong Qing was within his reach, he would only be thinking about dragging him to the bed to do this and that. Because of this, he felt that he would completely turn into a s.e.xually pleasured indulgent person.
Shaking his head and sneering at himself, since long time ago, this was the first time he yearned for a person like this, this kind of thing had never happened before. Was he seeking out for a new thing? Or had he really fallen in love? No matter which one, this was absolutely not just only a momentarily sudden impulse.
Never mind. In one’s whole life, it was hard to come by a chance to just carefully and considerably follow the nature. If Li Cong Qing was not vehemently refusing the Imperial favor, he could obtain a kind of hard to explain by words’ pleasure, therefore didn’t need to closely force him to cause him scare and run away or make him deliberately complicate an issue.
After Li Cong Qing went back to his home, he went straight to bed and got into the quilt to nestle himself. He wanted to sleep but he couldn’t. His head was in a mess, he wanted to think about everything, yet he had no idea what to think.
Li Cong Yin heard from his subordinate that second master returned home in the daylight, quickly returned from his trading company. Becoming more proficient in his profession, he asked while knowing the answer: “Second Brother, last night you stayed over at the Palace, didn’t you?”
“Mm.” Angry but had no strength he gloomily replied.
“Busy about what? I see that you are tired, do you want me to ask someone to cook a bowl of soft-sh.e.l.led turtle to build up your strength?”
“I don’t eat turtle.”
“Aiii, sometimes you ought to eat this turtle even if you don’t eat turtle. I as your big brother worry that your kidneys will be poor in health.”
“You are the one with the weak kidneys!” Unable to restrain his retort, he stretched out his head to glare. This kind of stretch out the head appearance was a little bit alike with that soft-sh.e.l.led turtle.
Looking at Li Cong Yin whole face extremely wicked and sinisterly smiled, seemingly like he could see through the matter, Li Cong Qing felt that he was not having a weak kidney, but a weak heart. Last night’s affair undoubtedly was absolutely secret taboo. If only this matter was about a man on man improper s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p, it would be easy. However, that man was the current Son of Heaven. If he was to be frankly speaking, your little brother’s treasured delicate backyard was deflowered last night as you wished, to let the great and mighty, wise and brilliant His Majesty the Emperor to deflower, certainly could extremely amuse this heartless devil for sure! Tsk!
Li Cong Qing shrank his head back into the sh.e.l.l, not in the mood to deal with the master of Li Family who wholeheartedly sold his younger brother for glory. Continued to huddle up like a turtle drawing in its head and legs inside the cotton quilt. Sigh, very annoying… forget it, it would be better to just sleep first then think later. He didn’t want to think about whatever anymore. His head was distressed for having too many loads. He still wished for a leisurely long-drawn-out hundreds of years to live!
Despite being agitated and fidgety, he still could sleep as usual, if not, he wouldn’t be the sleepy a.s.sistant Minister.
After sleeping for a whole day, the next day he headed to the palace to attend the court as always, persisted in not being absent from duty without good reason.
At first he thought that the Emperor would summon him, perturbed for a whole day yet he didn’t hear whatever notification. The second day, the third day also the same. The Emperor seemingly had forgotten about his existence.
Logically, Li Cong Qing ought to feel lucky, sighing in relief was the right thing to do. But he faintly had a slight disappointment as if missing something. During court, he also didn’t doze off but began to be absent-minded. Time and again secretly glanced at the person who sat on the highest place, unexpectedly expected that person to notice him a little. However that person did not share him even a glance.
Just like that, the Emperor’s indifference towards him had come to the sixth day. Li Cong Qing’s heart subconsciously raised a nameless anger. Told himself, the Emperor indeed only had a momentary interest to have a taste of a fresh new thing, in a result realized that he was not delicious at all, so that once he got down from the dragon’s bed he easily cast him to the back of his head, forgot about him completely.
Ai ai, fine! Just regard it as a scene of a strange spring’s dream. After all, he was a man, except for experiencing an unspeakable grievance, his body didn’t lose even a small chunk of flesh, unlike women who needed to put their chast.i.ty and reputation in the utmost importance thus attempted to commit suicide because of this. Also, one thing added was not like one thing less. Like this was also good.
The seventh day, Li Cong Qing’s undulating state of mind had already settled down, thereupon he intended to adjust back to his former calm as still water self. Not to think about and not put the matter with the Emperor in his heart again. Continued with his negligence to pull through the days, even if deep in his heart he still had a threadlike disappointed melancholy.
On the other side, these few days, The Emperor’s face seemingly was not different than the usual, forever without any distinct emotions, methodical, not allowing people to see his actual feelings.
In reality, the Emperor was aware of every move and act of Li Cong Qing, saw him attending the court punctually as always, by each pa.s.sing day, his thirst and desire was growing even more intense. He forcefully pressed down the desire thus not calling him, one side, not wis.h.i.+ng to indulge himself in the desired pleasure, on the other side, to give Li Cong Qing more time to ponder over and to adapt to the situation.
The Emperor because of this matter often found to be inattentive, no matter in the court discussing the matter or in the Imperial Study while managing the government affairs, even to the extent when taking a stroll in the Imperial Garden, he would fix his stare at the magnificently burst Chinese Rose for a long time.
Until the eighth day, the Emperor had to go to Bai Hu temple to wors.h.i.+p the Buddha and honor the ancestors. The Ministry of Rites was in charge for the Imperial Family’s rites and ceremony, naturally he would summon the a.s.sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites to accompany the Emperor, even not allowing the other high officials and n.o.bles to follow suit.
Bai Hu Temple was not far away from the Palace. There was a path that directly could lead to that place. The Emperor rode on the Imperial Carriage, the Li Cong Qing who came to accompany him, according to the custom, should walk behind. But the Emperor made an exception and granted him a sedan chair next to Imperial Carriage. In the past, to have this kind of honor to travel together, there was only the Empress. However, because amongst the courtiers who traveled together, Li Cong Qing held the highest post as an official, n.o.body dared to lodge an objection for this exception.
The originally prepared his heart to be calm and cool Li Cong Qing couldn’t help but have his heartbeat become faster. The golden sedan chair was half a foot lower than the Imperial Carriage, only needed to slightly turn his head, he already could see the Emperor’s side face. But his head was lowered and dared not to lift it all along, even more dared not to look at the Emperor.
The sedan chair swayed here and there lightly, despite having an unsettled heart, yet the sway was truly awfully comfortable. Only half the way, his eyelids already couldn’t help but narrowing, then he dozed off again.
The Emperor caught sight of his head throw to the left nod to the right, worried that he would fall from the sedan chair, he called out to him: “Li Cong Qing.”
“Mm?” Opening his hazy eyes, subconsciously directed his gaze at the person who called out to him.
The Emperor was looking at him, a smile was on his lips. That misted sleepy appearance on the Emperor’s eyes appeared to be extremely cute. He hadn’t ever met anyone who loved to sleep more than him, very rare to let whatever opportunity to doze off slip away.
“Your Majesty has what command?” Li Cong Qing busily gathered his shattered spirit, lowered his brows and eyes submissively.
“Beloved Minister, recently when you observe the stars, do you find any exceptional configurations of the stars?”
Li Cong Qing was stunned for a while. Since when did he become the Emperor’s ‘Beloved Minister’, how come he didn’t know any of it? “Answer Your Majesty, humble subject hasn’t observed the stars for many days.”
“Heee… No wonder you didn’t doze off during the morning court.” The Emperor softly laughed, and in a manner of idle chat he said: “Official Si Ming from the Ministry of Astronomy has seen that my red phoenix’s star secretly moved.”
Li Cong Qing stared blankly and did not understand the words. The little deer in the pit of his stomach had begun to move wildly disregarding his wish. The Emperor was hinting on what to him? Why did he feel that his heartbeat became even faster?
The Emperor saw that his cheeks became red, whole face stupefied appeared that he understood but didn’t understand. Very cute to the point that it made him really wanted to pull him to enter the Imperial Carriage, hold him in his embrace, and then immediately inside the Imperial Carriage make this and do that, to convey his recent days of constrained pa.s.sion and longing.
Several days ago, the Emperor saw that Li Cong Qing didn’t doze off during the morning court for days, his mood appeared to be rather not calm. He basically was not someone who was good at concealing his feelings, couldn’t hide his restless with anxiety, a little sad, a thread of losing. Although the Emperor seemed to be indifferent, but he could clearly understand everything.
As a trial was fine, leave him to apprehend himself also good. The Emperor at least could see that Li Cong Qing towards that night’s affair was not at all stemmed from the helplessness of being forced, much or less was also willing. Therefore the Emperor realized that he was not only yearning for Li Cong Qing’s body, but also yearned for his heart. If he was a woman, the Emperor thought to himself, certainly for sure he would welcome him to enter the palace and conferred him the Imperial Concubine t.i.tle.
Unfortunately, Li Cong Qing was a man through and through. Impossible to become Empress or Concubine. To make him a Shang Jun, he also disagreed. Only way was to make him stay by his side.
As an Emperor, why should he waste too many thoughts if he wanted a person? Upon his decree, what couldn’t he obtain? But to secure something by force was not his style. He did not want to force a helpless subject to submit. He wanted Li Cong Qing to be willing from his heart.
Li Cong Qing, Li Cong Qing. Do you know how much thoughts I put on you?
End of Chapter 8
Notes:
1) To propose a marriage, basically means that he wants to form an alliance by marriage.
2) Mandarin ducks refer to an affectionate couple.
3) From muddy to sandy basically means from wet to dry.
4) Uncle here 舅舅 is read as Jiujiu which means maternal uncle, or the brother of his mother when he is actually 伯伯 (Bobo – father’s elder brother) or 叔叔 (Shushu – father’s younger brother), paternal uncle since he is obviously Li Cong Xuan’s brother. Or maybe Song Xi refers him as her brother because Li Cong Qing is in relations.h.i.+p with her brother, the Emperor. Actually I don’t have to explain this because in English, whichever is called uncle. However, I think it won’t hurt to learn. LOL… XD
5) If I’m not wrong, this kid already existed six years ago during the lantern festival, if so, he is actually six years old, but the original text said he was three… Unless this is a different son. LOL… XD
6) Li Cong Qing also refers himself as 舅舅 … sobs T.T … don’t ask me why, I am also confused…
7) Chinese addressed the Maternal and Paternal part differently. Waigong (外公) is used to address Maternal Grandfather. Waipo (外婆) is used to address the Maternal Grandmother. Yeye (爺爺) is used to address Paternal Grandfather. Nainai (奶奶) is used to address Paternal Grandmother. And here, Li You Rong said “Waigong” (外公).
8) Tai Shang Huang (太上皇) also can be translated as the father of the reigning Emperor. And since he was the previous Emperor, I think a retired emperor is a more proper translation here.
9) Both sides of Yangtze River (id) means throughout a vast area, basically, they went everywhere.
10) Nope. I didn’t translate it wrong. It was in the text. Written as Song You Rong (宋有容). They both called him both, as Li as well as Song.
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