Chapter 11#
“Take Your Hands Off My Ass!” Chapter Number: 7211407#
The rear chambers of the Rong estate.
Lady Bai happily clasped Rong Qingxue’s hand. “This is wonderful—now that you’re with child, you can finally shut those gossiping mouths outside.”
Rong Qingxue leaned affectionately against Lady Bai’s shoulder. “It’s your daughter’s fault for making you worry, Mother.”
“You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking? As long as you live well, I’m at ease.” Lady Bai gently stroked Rong Qingxue’s head, her face radiating a mother’s tender smile.
But a moment later, her tone turned somewhat stern. “Although His Highness has always treated you well, let me tell you, Mother—men cannot be relied upon. If we women want to live well, we need capital of our own to stand on.”
As she spoke, Lady Bai meaningfully patted Rong Qingxue’s belly.
“This child will be the lifeline you cling to for the rest of your days.”
Rong Qingxue straightened up and looked at Lady Bai with feigned reproach. “Mother, what are you saying? His Highness has always treated me extremely well. All these years, when I never bore a child, he never complained once. How many women in the capital admire His Highness, and yet he’s never so much as glanced at another flower. If His Highness can’t be relied upon, then no man under heaven can be.”
Lady Bai poked Rong Qingxue’s forehead in frustration.
“You foolish girl—this is because I sheltered you too well since childhood, raising you with such an innocent, naive temperament! Let me tell you, every man in this world, without exception, is fickle beyond measure. One second he’s gentle and doting, the next he might turn on you completely. If you hand your life over to a man, you’re walking on knife’s edge, living in constant terror, as if treading on thin ice!”
Rong Qingxue rubbed her forehead and muttered, “But Father has always treated you well, hasn’t he? Father and Mother have been as loving as ever all these years—your daughter has seen it with her own eyes.”
“Don’t you look at how well your father treats me—there’s not a single year he doesn’t bring some concubine or mistress into the household. That’s not even counting the ones I discovered and quietly sent away before they could settle in. If not for your mother’s scheming abilities, I’d have been squeezed out by those little sluts long ago.”
Lady Bai’s expression grew grave, her tone increasingly severe. “You listen to me. Once you return to the residence, first give birth to the child safely. Then you take the opportunity to drop hints to the Third Prince to raise your rank. The position of principal consort has been empty all this while. You’re the legitimate daughter of a Vice Minister now, and once you bear a child to anchor yourself, even the principal consort position is within your reach.”
Seeing Lady Bai so fierce and stern, Rong Qingxue couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy, and she nodded in a daze. She leaned dependently against Lady Bai again. Thinking of how much effort Lady Bai had put in for her sake, grief welled in her heart, and she said softly, “Your daughter never knew Mother had been living such a life in this household. I thought that with that Yang woman dead, Mother had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. But why are you still so unhappy?”
Rong Qingxue’s words struck Lady Bai’s heart like a heavy hammer, causing her breath to stall for a moment.
Lady Bai was silent for a long while, then gritted her teeth and said, “Don’t worry about me. Once His Highness is granted a royal title, you’ll be the princess consort. Even if he later develops wandering eyes, no woman of questionable character will ever surpass you. You hold the authority of the princess consort and live your noble life—where a man’s heart lies doesn’t matter.”
Rong Qingxue said solemnly, “Don’t worry, Mother. Your daughter has committed this to memory.”
Lady Bai felt somewhat comforted to hear this, but her heart remained uneasy.
Back when she was a concubine, life had been hard, so she’d wanted to climb higher. After that Yang woman finally died and she became the legitimate wife, her days still hadn’t been peaceful. Putting herself in others’ shoes—if even she was like this, then what about her naive, simple-hearted daughter in a prince’s residence that was a den of tigers and leopards?
When people are dissatisfied with their desires, they become unwilling to accept their lot, and they’ll stop at nothing to climb higher. Once they reach a high position and hold great power, they worry that those beneath them will plot against them using the very same methods they once employed.
In short, as long as one lives, one must fight. Fight against heaven, fight against men—without a moment’s peace.
Who in this world doesn’t scheme and struggle… Lady Bai thought to herself.
But there truly were people in this world who wanted nothing at all—and at this very moment, such a person was waiting in the front garden to watch a show.
Rong Yu and Chu Tan were hidden behind a rockery. Rong Yu instructed Chu Tan, “In a moment, you must not make a single sound. You can’t let anyone find out we’re here, understand?”
Chu Tan looked at him and said nothing.
Rong Yu frowned. “Did you hear me? I’ll let that little trick you pulled on me in the front hall slide for now. In a bit, a wonderful show is going to unfold here. You’d better keep your wits about you and not mess things up.”
Chu Tan still didn’t speak.
Rong Yu narrowed his eyes. “Cat got your tongue? Or is your skin itching?”
Chu Tan opened his mouth. “Didn’t you say this servant isn’t allowed to speak, Young Master?”
“I meant in a moment!” Rong Yu couldn’t help raising his voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of figures entering the garden, and hastily lowered his voice again, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed excitement. “They’re here, they’re here.”
According to this section of the plot, Rong Yue was jealous, and the Third Prince chased after him to soothe him—their first mutual confession of feelings.
Rong Yu had deliberately taken his leave early and had Chu Tan push him here to lie in wait, all for the sake of watching the drama.
Sure enough, in no time at all, the two arrived.
Rong Yue walked in front, with the Third Prince following behind. “Erlang, slow down—mind you don’t trip.”
Rong Yue ignored him entirely, walking faster and faster.
The Third Prince said to the attendant following behind him, “Give me the food box. You go wait outside and don’t let anyone in.”
With that, he took the things and hurried after Rong Yue.
“Erlang, look what I brought you?” The Third Prince took a bamboo tube out of the food box and lifted the lid. Inside was warm, milky-brown liquid.
“This drink is called milk tea—it’s all the rage in the capital these days. I had someone queue up specially to buy it, then wrapped it in cotton cloth to carry it here. It shouldn’t have gone cold yet. Have a taste.”
Rong Yue pressed his lips together, then took it and had a sip.
The Third Prince watched him eagerly. “How is it?”
Rong Yue’s eyes lit up slightly. “Delicious.”
“I know you have a sweet tooth, so I knew you’d like it.” The Third Prince grasped Rong Yue’s shoulders, gazing at him tenderly. “Erlang, I’ve always kept your preferences in my heart.”
Rong Yue seemed deeply moved, but then something occurred to him. His eyes turned lost and sorrowful, and he turned his face away, avoiding the Third Prince’s touch.
The Third Prince’s expression shifted slightly. “Erlang, are you upset because your sister is pregnant?”
Rong Yue forced a smile. “How could that be? I’m overjoyed that my sister is pregnant. This child is something the two of you have longed for for so long. I should congratulate you—ah, Brother-in-Law.”
“Don’t call me brother-in-law.” The Third Prince frowned in displeasure. “This child isn’t one I wished for. That night I drank too much and forgot to have someone bring her the contraceptive decoction. Who would’ve thought that one single night would result in this mistake?”
Rong Yue was shocked. “How could you give my sister contraceptive decoctions? No wonder you two haven’t had a child in three years! You—you’re simply—”
The Third Prince’s eyes grew extremely deep and passionate. “Erlang, you should understand what’s in my heart. I only want you.”
Rong Yue’s face immediately flushed crimson. He looked around in all directions, then stamped his foot in anger. “Yan Mingxuan! You—you’re shameless! You’re my brother-in-law! How can you say such things?!”
“You know I never wanted to be your brother-in-law.” The Third Prince forcefully wrapped an arm around Rong Yue’s waist and pressed him against the rockery. “Erlang, six years ago at the palace banquet, I fell in love with you at first sight.”
Behind the rockery, Rong Yu perked up his ears in excitement, and even took a moment to glance at Chu Tan, his eyes teasing, as if saying, Your wife’s getting touched.
Chu Tan… Chu Tan’s eyes widened slightly, his face showing the shocked expression of someone savoring fresh gossip—looking even more excited than Rong Yu.
Rong Yu: “…”
The two in front of the rockery were even more agitated now, already embracing and devouring each other’s mouths.
Rong Yue shoved the Third Prince away, flustered and furious. “How can you do this to me? You’re my brother-in-law! Besides, I was only twelve years old six years ago!”
“I told you, I don’t want to be your brother-in-law! So what if you were twelve? If you were a woman, I would have begged Father Emperor to grant us a marriage, and when you came of age, I would have welcomed you into my residence as my one and only wife—me, Yan Mingxuan. But you happen to be a man. If it weren’t for the fact that Rong Qingxue resembles you, do you think I would have married her?! Every time I lie in bed with her, all I can think about is you!”
The Third Prince tightly embraced Rong Yue. “Erlang, I know you have feelings for me too. Otherwise, why would you be so grieved when you heard she was pregnant? You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
The Third Prince pressed closer step by step. “Erlang, don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, you don’t need to care about anyone.”
Rong Yue lowered his head, tears spilling from his reddened eyes. “I can’t. She’s my sister. I can’t not care about her.”
The Third Prince’s eyes lit up with joy. “You didn’t deny what I said before—I knew you had me in your heart. Erlang, I’ll treat you well.”
And so the two started devouring each other’s mouths again.
The smacking sounds of their kissing drifted into the ears of the master and servant behind the rockery. Rong Yu raised an eyebrow. At this intensity, if they weren’t out in the open, the two of them would probably be going at it right then and there.
Rong Yu looked at Chu Tan again—your wife’s being kissed!
Chu Tan’s gaze was dark and deep, fixed on Rong Yu’s moist, red lips.
Rong Yu’s face instantly turned grim. He mouthed silently, “Do you want to die?”
Chu Tan raised an eyebrow. His hand let go, and the wheelchair slid down the small slope. Rong Yu hastily grabbed the armrests, glaring at Chu Tan in shock and fury. Chu Tan, unhurried, pulled the wheelchair back up.
But the sound of gravel skittering from the wheelchair’s movement had already been heard.
The Third Prince called out warily, “Who’s there!” Even as he spoke, he was already walking toward the back of the rockery.
Chu Tan lifted Rong Yu—wheelchair and all—in one go, took a few steps in another direction, and tucked the wheelchair into a blind spot. Then Chu Tan scooped Rong Yu up in his arms and hid inside a narrow stone crevice.
The whole series of movements was so fluid that Rong Yu didn’t know whether to first marvel at how strong Chu Tan was, or first curse him for presuming to lay hands on his master.
“Take your hands off my ass!” Rong Yu said through gritted teeth, mouthing the words.
Chu Tan shook his head with a perfectly straight face. “If I don’t hold you this way, I can’t support you.”
With that, he bounced Rong Yu up slightly, his large hand cupping Rong Yu’s backside and giving it two squeezes.
If looks could kill, Chu Tan would have been dismembered into a thousand pieces by Rong Yu at that very moment.
The two were very close—so close their breaths intertwined. And yet, the atmosphere between them was not in the least bit romantic because of such an intimate distance. On the contrary, it was daggers drawn.
One face was dark and icy; the other’s gaze was wanton and unbridled.
Their eyes clashed, practically striking sparks off each other.
Outside, the Third Prince’s footsteps drew closer and closer. Even Rong Yu felt a bit tense.
As if to avoid detection, Chu Tan pressed almost flush against Rong Yu, his tall frame completely enveloping Rong Yu. Chest against chest, he buried his face in the crook of Rong Yu’s neck, every breath spraying onto Rong Yu’s skin.
Rong Yu couldn’t help but shiver, his body trembling—which rather looked like he was nuzzling against Chu Tan.
Chu Tan’s gaze grew deep and dark. His nose was filled with the rich fragrance emanating from Rong Yu.
This habit of burning incense belonged to the original owner. Rong Yu took medicine year-round, and the room was always permeated with the smell of herbs, so he constantly burned incense—even his clothes were always perfumed.
And yet, it still couldn’t mask the scent of Chinese medicine that seeped from within, mingling with the incense to create an extremely distinctive fragrance.
Chu Tan inhaled deeply, almost rapturously. Rong Yu viciously pinched the flesh at his waist.
He’d thought that would make Chu Tan restrain himself—but who would’ve guessed that Chu Tan, as if deliberately taking advantage of the fact that Rong Yu could do nothing to him right now, pressed even closer instead of backing off.
How close? Close enough that Rong Yu could clearly feel a hard, burning shaft pressing against the base of his thigh.
[Author’s Note:]
Chu Tan: Time to get beaten up again (excited)