Arc 3: Chapter 19
Most of the boiling water was poured over the son of Prince Yanping’s hands.
The son of Prince Yanping jumped up from the seat, and his hands stung with sharp pain. He felt as if a layer of his skin had been torn off.
He was sure that Jiang Qian was taking revenge on him. His face contorted in anger and he shouted: “Jiang Qian! You did it on purpose!”
Jiang Qian stood calmly and his smile was indecipherable: “Sir, forgive me, this one did not mean to.”
The son of Prince Yanping didn’t believe him one bit. He lifted his reddened hands and sneered: “Didn’t mean it? Then how do you explain that you only burned me? I saw that you were serving tea quite stably, how come when you got to me things went wrong?”
Jiang Qian lifted his sleeves and his arms littered with scars were revealed to everyone’s eyes. He said meaningfully: “This one is just a weak scholar. After suffering from torture for so many days, my body sometimes acts separately from my thoughts. Although the little prince took good care of me, as soon as the weather became a little colder, my injuries would hurt again. Just now, this one’s old injuries flared up and so I accidently burned the Sir. Could the Sir… forgive this one?”
The son of Prince Yanping only felt that he was not cruel enough to Jiang Qian. He should have skinned him, ripped out his bones, and fed his flesh to the wild dogs.
“Scholar?” The son of Yanping jeered and looked Jiang Qian up and down: “You also deserve to be called a scholar? You are just a lowly, criminal slave, born to serve your master. Ha, the emperor has eyes, this slave status is a perfect complement to you.”
His father secretly glanced at the little prince and his heart thumped in fear.
As the father, he knew about his son torturing Jiang Qian, but seeing that his son liked it, he let it happen. He used to think that even if his son accidentally killed Jiang Qian, it wouldn’t matter. Never did he expect that Jiang Qian would experience a change in fortune and become the most favored male pet in Prince Chu’s mansion. Even exceeding the point of favor, the little prince allowed him to defy the law and the principles of heaven.
See, now Jiang Qian even dared to attack his son in front of him. How unprecedentedly spoiled.
Jiang Qian’s expression didn’t change. He said: “Whether or not I deserve to be a scholar, you have no say in the matter, as now this one is the prince’s person. Unless you want to exceed your status here in Prince Chu’s mansion and tell the little prince how to make his decisions?”
Indeed, Jiang Qian’s words were correct. Since Jiang Qian was the little prince’s person, regardless of what he said or did, it was not the son of Prince Yanping’s turn to admonish him.
Prince Yanping quickly stood up and saluted Lin Yuan: “Your Highness, my son is young and ignorant so he misspoke. I hope Your Highness can forgive us.”
Lin Yuan, who was comfortably drinking milk tea and watching the show, put down his cup. He pretended to tap the table like he was deep in thought, and then said: “Prince Yanping’s words are interesting. From what I know, your son is 23 years old. Oh wait, seeing today is the new year, he should be 24. But this prince is only 19 years old. Having Prince Yanping say his son is young and ignorant, this prince can’t understand where this youth comes from. As for ignorance…”
Lin Yuan slammed the table and his eyes turned gloomy in an instant: “Are you referring to how your 24 year old dog tortured my sweetheart for half a year and almost took his life? Prince Yanping, please enlighten me about how you taught your son to this point of ignorance.”
Prince Yanping hurriedly bowed his head, but he was calm in his heart. He believed that the little prince was just spouting harsh words, he wouldn’t actually do anything. After all, Jiang Qian’s status was not comparable to his son. One was the mud, while his son was the sky. He said: “Your Highness, please quell your anger. My son was indeed in the wrong in past matters. On the account of the long relationship between our houses, I hope Your Highness can forgive him.”
Lin Yuan had not forgotten the moment he first saw Jiang Qian at Prince Yanping’s mansion. How close he was to ordering people to kill the son of Prince Yanping on the spot only he knew. The only reason he let the son of Prince Yanping live was for Jiang Qian’s revenge.
Lin Yuan smoothed out his robe and said lightly: “In Prince Yanping's mind, past matters can be forgotten. But for this prince, this matter is not over. When it’s over, how it’s over, this prince does not have the final say. Only Jiang Qian can decide.”
Prince Yanping did not expect Lin Yuan to be serious. He broke out in cold sweat and kneeled down: “Your Highness…”
The son of Prince Yanping interrupted: “Your Highness, if this son has done any wrong, then I will be punished by the law of our great country. The Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple can detain me and deal with me fairly. But Your Highness, even if you are a high-ranked noble, you cannot disregard the law and selfishly impose punishment.”
Lin Yuan couldn’t help laughing at Prince Yanping’s words. He casually took a sip of milk tea and said: “This prince hasn’t even said anything yet the son is bringing out the law. You seem like you’re anxious, why, are you afraid? Only thieves have a guilty heart, does the son think this prince is correct?”
The son of Prince Yanping thought to himself that this little prince was not easy to deal with. No wonder he got along with Jiang Qian, they were both annoying. But facing the little prince, he could only swallow his anger: “Your Highness’ words are reasonable, but this son is innocent and will not feel guilty.”
Lin Yuan sighed and waved his hand: “Since the son insists, then please sit. Since you’ve visited my mansion, this prince will treat you appropriately. The son has talked for so long he must be thirsty, Jiang Qian, please serve him a cup of tea.”
The son of Prince Yanping grinded his teeth as he saw the little prince talk nonsense with his eyes open. He was about to refuse when the little prince spoke again: “Is the son unwilling to appreciate this prince’s tea?”
Prince Yanping glared at his son and hurriedly responded: “It’s my son’s honor to receive Your Highness’ kindness.”
The father and son sat down again, and Jiang Qian went to boil tea. After he was done, Jiang Qian walked over to the son of Prince Yanping with the cup.
The son of Prince didn’t dare make any moves against Jiang Qian with Lin Yuan sitting in front. He warned: “Jiang Qian! Take care of your hands. If you hurt me again, I…”
Before he even finished speaking, the freshly boiled tea was again poured over his hands, right over his recent burns.
The son of Prince Yanping’s face twisted in pain. He looked at Jiang Qian maddeningly. How dare Jiang Qian stand elegantly and proudly in front of him. He should’ve been trampled into the mud, looking worse than the beggars on the streets.
The son of Prince Yanping had made sure to destroy Jiang Qian’s mind back then, so how on earth could he stand again? At this moment, his resentment reached the extreme.
Jiang Qian looked at the empty cup in his hand and said with a smile: “Sir, this one’s body is weak, it was an accident.”
“Two accidents huh?” The son of Prince Yanping couldn’t stand him any longer. He glared at Jiang Qian with murderous intent.
“Naturally,” Jiang Qian said slowly: “If Sir doesn't believe me, then this one will show you. But the tea has to be boiled again.”
When the son of Prince Yanping heard that Jiang Qian wanted to burn him again, he knew he couldn’t stay any longer. He didn’t dare make a fuss in Prince Chu’s mansion, so he faced Lin Yuan and saluted quickly: “Your Highness, it’s getting late. We will take our leave.”
As Prince Yanping walked away, he knew in his heart that their relationship with Prince Chu’s mansion could not be reconciled. Unless the little prince got annoyed with Jiang Qian… Alas.
Jiang Qian watched them leave with cold and gloomy eyes until they were out of sight.
Jiang Qian turned around and looked at the teeanger sitting at the table. The gloomy atmosphere around him gradually disappeared.
He walked over to Lin Yuan and hugged the other tightly as if he wanted to merge their bodies together past flesh and bones so they could warm each other’s hearts.
“I… I really wanted to kill him. But it would be too comfortable for him to die like that…” Jiang Qian mumbled lightly.
Lin Yuan felt that it was uncomfortable to hug while he was sitting down, so he stood up and held Jiang Qian’s waist. He stroked the other’s back and said: “Everything’s okay. Let’s not waste any more time on those stinky things. Today is an auspicious day, your time should be spent with me.”
Jiang Qian chuckled and buried his face in Lin Yuan’s neck and nodded: “Of course, I’m the little prince’s person. I’ll do whatever the little prince commands.”
Lin Yuan liked to see Jiang Qian act well-behaved. He happily kissed Jiang Qian's neck and said: “En, you are my person. You will always be…”
Jiang Qian felt as if what Lin Yuan just kissed wasn’t his neck but his heart. The clouds outside the window evaporated little by little and the sun’s rays reached the ground. He said softly: “The little prince must keep his word. This one is still waiting for the day he can completely belong to the little prince.”