Arc 3: Chapter 18
When he finally said the words out loud, everything seemed to come to life. Jiang Qian’s heart beat like a triumphant drum, like a dead winter tree that grew upright in the spring and bloomed with fragile, lively buds.
【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 85%.】
Jiang Qian thought back to his time in Prince Yanping’s mansion. Everyday he wondered why Teacher Shen begged the emperor to spare his life. Why did he have to continue to live and suffer? Why did he have to live and endure humiliation?
Now Jiang Qian understood. He thanked the teacher in his mind for pleading for his life, for making him survive, for letting him meet the bright moon that shone for him.
This thin piece of paper represented the boundless freedom he used to dream of every day. Waves of emotions crashed over him and choked his throat.
“I’m finally free. Lin Yuan, finally…… I can finally make my own decisions… I can finally give myself to you……”
【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 83%.】
【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 81%.】
【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 80%.】
Jiang Qian bowed his head and kissed Lin Yuan’s soft lips like a devout believer. His whole body wanted to immerse itself in the pure and soft teenager.
He felt unprecedentedly light and burdenless, yet simultaneously steady. He felt steady like he had finally firmly planted his feet on the earth.
The familiar feeling of desire swept through Jiang Qian’s thoughts. He bit Lin Yuan’s Adam’s apple and kissed up to the other’s ear, leaving a long trace of wetness.
Jiang Qian said breathlessly: “Sui Sui, it’ll soon be the new year. I want a present… spoil me, okay?”
Lin Yuan breathed heavily and slowly reacted. He wanted to agree immediately, but Lin Qiu had reminded him earlier that on the first day of the new year, many officials and nobles would visit Prince Chu’s mansion to give their blessings. As the master of the mansion, he naturally had to host and entertain all of them.
If he rolled in the sheets tonight, then he definitely would not be able to get up tomorrow morning.
Jiang Qian noticed Lin Yuan’s hesitation and pinched Lin Yuan’s cheek and said hoarsely: “Little prince, has this one lost his appeal? On such an auspicious day, why is the prince unwilling to spend a little time to spoil me, hm?”
Lin Yuan tugged Jiang Qian’s clothes and kissed Jiang Qian a few times. His voice was soft and like sugar: “No, that’s not it. Jiang Qian, I want to spoil you, but tomorrow……”
Jiang Qian lightly asked: “What about tomorrow?”
Lin Yuan told him everything. He put his arms around Jiang Qian and whispered: “I’m the master of Prince Chu’s mansion so I can’t ignore them.”
Although Jiang Qian was in the mood, he wasn't in any rush. They still had many days and nights to spend with each other. He looked at Lin Yuan’ guilty appearance and couldn’t help but want to tease the other. He pretended to be disappointed and said: “I see, the prince is willing to wrong me to go socialize with others.”
Lin Yuan didn’t mean it that way. How could he bear to wrong his husband? He immediately kissed Jiang Qian many times and blushed while saying: “I… tonight… I can help you twice… or…”
His throat unconsciously tightened and he seemed to already feel the pain and hardness, but he didn’t want his husband to be unhappy, so he tremblingly raised another finger.
Lin Yuan’s voice became as small as a mosquito and he said: “Three times… tonight, I’ll help you three times in exchange…… is… is that okay?......”
Jiang Qian’s Adam’s apple rolled dangerously. His fingers rubbed the corners of Lin Yuan’s lips meaningfully and he said: “Three times ah. I’m afraid the prince is going to suffer a little.”
Indeed, Lin Yuan did suffer.
That night was the most difficult night for Lin Yuan after he became a human being. His jaw was sore, the corners of his mouth almost ripped, his voice was gone, and his legs were worn out. The most maddening part was that they didn't finish until five in the morning.
Lin Yuan was so tired! His throat was dry and painful, and his inner thigh tingled. He was uncomfortable all over. He looked at Jiang Qian aggrievedly and complained: “You, it’s all your fault! You lasted too long every time!”
Jiang Qian quickly took the person into his arms and kissed and coaxed: “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all my fault. I made the little prince tired. Next time, I won’t do it again. The little prince is so generous, please forgive me this time, okay?”
Lin Yuan was successfully coaxed. After getting kissed twice more, his anger dissipated. His misty, round eyes looked at Jiang Qian and he said pitifully: “My throat hurts a lot. If I talk like this, will the guests think that I’m rude?”
Jiang Qian couldn’t help chuckling and he said: “If the little prince doesn’t disdain my ordinary-looking clothes, I can accompany the little prince to welcome the guests. But……”
He stopped talking all of a sudden.
Lin Yuan blinked his eyes and wanted him to continue: “But what?”
Jiang Qian restrained the darkness in his eyes and said: “Those guests will smile and laugh in front of the prince, but in private, I’m afraid they’ll all gossip that the prince is muddle-headed and head over heels in love with a man. They’ll probably say that I don’t have any decency, saying that after becoming a slave, I even begged to become a male pet.” Jiang Qian couldn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice.
Lin Yuan felt that what Jiang Qian said was reasonable. He hummed twice and got out of Jiang Qian’s embrace. He went to get two new outfits from the closet.
These pieces of clothing were made before the new year. Both of them were white with light blue embroidery. Lin Yuan had personally chosen the design.
He had long wanted to wear couple’s clothing with Jiang Qian. He showed the clothes to Jiang Qian and smiled: “Don’t worry about those people. Today is an auspicious day, so let’s wear the same color. This is called couple’s clothing, when we wear them, other people will immediately see that we are a loving pair. Is that okay?”
It was Jiang Qian’s first time hearing about couple’s clothing. He thought about that scene, and couldn’t help but look forward to it. Jiang Qian nodded with a smile: “Ok, let’s wear it.”
After they finished breakfast, Jiang Qian helped Lin Yuan put his cloak on.
The cloak was snow white, and the edge was lined with soft fur. Jiang Qian pulled the hood over Lin Yuan’s head, making the teenager look even more delicate and soft.
The more Jiang Qian looked at it, the more he liked it. He whispered: “Sui Sui looks really good wearing this.”
Lin Yuan’s invisible tail stood up straight and waved proudly. He picked up Jiang Qian’s cloak and dressed Jiang Qian in the same fashion and boasted: “Sir Jiang also looks really good wearing this. We are both good looking, let’s anger those officials to death!”
The two of them held hands and walked from Lin courtyard to the front hall. Lin Yuan sat at the end of the table, and Jiang Qian ordered servants to bring over the gifts.
A tall pile of blessing cards were handed over. The people who were waiting to pay respects to the Little Prince Chu didn’t expect to see the once famous Jiang liuyuan sitting next to him when they entered the hall.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Qian looked even more exceptional than before.
At the end of the table, Jiang Qian was boiling tea for Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan received his cup and added milk and sugar to the tea, and happily drank milk tea in the ancient era. The rest of the guests were served normal tea by the servants.
One of the guests said a few words of blessing. Jiang Qian accepted the blessings and straightforwardly excused him out the hall. The guest wanted to complain that Jiang Qian was just a lowly slave that had no right to order him around, when he heard the little prince say calmly: “Jiang Qian’s orders are this prince’s orders. Please leave, won’t send off.”
Half an hour later, Lin Yuan read the blessing card in his hand and his face changed.
Jiang Qian immediately noticed. He took the card and looked at the signature, Prince Yanping and the son of Prince Yanping.
Similar the cloudy, gloomy weather outside, his eyes darkened until they did not reflect any light.
Lin Yuan placed his hand on top of Jiang Qian’s hand and said worriedly: “Jiang Qian, are you okay? If you don’t want to see them, I will make them go back immediately.”
Jiang Qian held Lin Yuan’s hand and warmth flowed to the tip of his heart. He suddenly wanted to love his little prince dearly, but now was not the appropriate time and place.
Jiang Qian smiled shallowly and whispered: “I’m fine. Let’s meet the guests.”
Prince Yanping and his son entered the hall and saluted: “It’s good to see the little prince.”
Lin Yuan lifted his chin: “Prince Yanping and his son, sit.”
The father and son sat down. Prince Yanping glanced at Lin Yuan and then at Jiang Qian, who was making tea. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jiang Qian placed down his newly made cup of tea in front of Lin Yuan and spoke first: “Prince, please enjoy the tea.”
Jiang Qian looked at Prince Yanping, smiling but not smiling: “After the prince finishes his tea, this one will make tea for the two of you.”
Drinking tea was a long process. Lin Yuan silently sipped his tea without a care, while Prince Yanping felt more worried with each passing second.
When steam rose from the cup and the fragrance of the tea leaves permeated the air, Jiang Qian first placed a cup of tea in front of Prince Yanping. Then he walked over to the son of Prince Yanping with the other cup: “Sir, here is your tea.”
Jiang Qian’s hand tilted, and a stream of burning water poured over the son of Prince Yanping.