Forcibly Snatched by the Tyrant After Transmigrating into a Book 12

Chapter 12: Climbing the Wall to Escape

“A-Yi, will you ever leave me?”

Chu Yi felt a sharp pain from Sheng Qianheng’s strong grip, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes without him realizing it. “I won’t. We’re about to be wed. Once I’m in the imperial register, I’ll be by your side for a lifetime.”

Sheng Qianheng didn’t believe him, but Chu Yi’s wronged expression couldn’t help but move him. Ever since Chu Yi’s differentiation that day, after he had helped relieve him, he couldn’t control his thoughts at all whenever he sensed Chu Yi had the idea of escaping.

“You said it. It’s a promise.”

Chu Yi blurted out, “It’s a promise.”

Only then did Sheng Qianheng release his hand. Perhaps because Chu Yi’s skin was too fair, the red mark he left behind was slow to fade.

“Someone, bring a basin of water.”

Ruotao stood outside the hall door. After hearing the instruction, she immediately ordered someone to fetch a basin of clean water before entering the room.

Sheng Qianheng gently rubbed his chin, the affection in his eyes hard to conceal.

Seeing Sheng Qianheng’s inexplicably guilty expression again, Chu Yi couldn’t help but wonder if there was something wrong with him. One moment he was forcing him to give the answer he wanted to hear, and the next, he seemed to realize he had made a mistake.

Is he not schizophrenic?

After the maidservant brought the water, Sheng Qianheng personally washed Chu Yi’s hands.

Their four hands overlapped in the basin, Sheng Qianheng’s palm completely enveloping his. He scooped up water and poured it over the soiled spot, easily washing it away. But he didn’t stop there, not even sparing a single space between his fingers.

Chu Yi was not used to such intimacy. Every time he tried to pull his hand back, he was restrained by Sheng Qianheng. “Your Majesty, I can do it myself.”

Finally, Sheng Qianheng took a silk cloth and wiped away the water droplets from Chu Yi’s hands one by one. Then he raised his arms, wrapped them around Chu Yi’s waist, and spoke by his ear, “Beloved Consort, all clean now~”

Chu Yi felt goosebumps rise all over his body. He looked back at the tyrant and asked, “Your Majesty, would you like some iced fruit?”

Sheng Qianheng nodded.

Seeing that Sheng Qianheng had no intention of letting him go, Chu Yi had no choice but to drag him along, the two of them moving like a waddling duck.

Chu Yi took an iced grape, carefully peeled off the skin, and raised his hand to feed it to Sheng Qianheng’s lips. After eating several, Sheng Qianheng stopped.

The two of them stuck together like conjoined twins, only separating when it was time to bathe.

Before going to sleep, Chu Yi kept wondering why Sheng Qianheng’s arrival today had been so coincidental, and why he had insisted on washing his hands for him, as if he had been contaminated by something unclean.

The day of the nàzhēng was clear and sunny, the golden crow hanging high in the sky.

Chu Yi had gone to bed early the night before and was awake before dawn the next day.

He called for Ruotao to prepare the morning meal early and sat at the table waiting for Sheng Qianheng.

Chu Yi was getting truly impatient, rising several times to pace in the hall, only to sit down again. He had never felt that waiting was so long before…

When Sheng Qianheng arrived, he was shocked to see Chu Yi sitting properly at the table waiting for him. He had originally thought that Chu Yi would sleep until the sun was high in the sky as usual, and had been planning to fish him out of bed and dress him.

After the two finished their morning meal, Chu Yi prepared to depart.

Sheng Qianheng accompanied him to the palace gate, where the carriage was already waiting.

Fearing that Sheng Qianheng would become suspicious, Chu Yi threw his arms around him before getting into the carriage, burying his head in the tyrant’s chest. “Your Majesty, I’m not used to being separated so suddenly…”

Sheng Qianheng gently patted Chu Yi’s back, comforting him, “In three days, you’ll be able to enter the palace and see Zhen. According to the rites, a couple is not to see each other before the wedding. Zhen is also reluctant to part with you.”

Chu Yi took a step back and looked up into Sheng Qianheng’s eyes. Sheng Qianheng’s eyes were filled with him. Although he could see himself in Sheng Qianheng’s eyes every time they met, this time felt different.

At this moment, he and Sheng Qianheng were like a real engaged couple, reluctant to part.

Chu Yi didn’t know if he was too engrossed in his acting or if he was genuinely reluctant. He raised his hands, wrapped them around Sheng Qianheng’s neck, made him lower his head, then slowly stood on his tiptoes and leaned in for a kiss.

The accompanying servants quickly turned their backs. When the head eunuch saw that it was about time, he spoke up to remind them, “Your Majesty, the time is almost here.”

Only then did Sheng Qianheng reluctantly release Chu Yi. Their eyes met, neither willing to look away first. Both of them had inadvertently lost their composure…

Chu Yi lowered his head. “Your Majesty, I’m leaving then.”

Sheng Qianheng: “Mm, go on.”

Chu Yi turned and got into the carriage. Only after he was seated did he realize that he had actually taken the initiative to kiss Sheng Qianheng…

He placed a hand over his chest, unable to help but think that he must be going mad.

With the sound of the driver urging the horses, the carriage began to move. Chu Yi tried his best to calm down. He stuck his head out of the window and watched as the palace gate and Sheng Qianheng’s party grew smaller and smaller, until they were out of sight…

Was he really leaving the imperial palace? So easily?

The carriage stopped steadily after arriving at the Chu residence. The moment Chu Yi stood before the Chu residence gate, it felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Ruotao had accompanied him this time. Seeing Chu Yi standing foolishly at his own door, she asked, “Young Master, what’s wrong? Aren’t you going in?”

Chu Yi looked at Ruotao. “I just feel that it’s been a long time since I’ve been back, and I can’t help but feel emotional. Now that we’re back at the residence, you should still call me ‘Your Highness’. You can call me ‘Young Master’ again when we return to the palace.”

Ruotao: “When we return to the palace, I’ll have to call you ‘Your Ladyship’.”

Chu Yi gave a faint smile. If all went well, he probably wouldn’t be returning to those palace walls. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was going too smoothly, too perfectly.

The large party entered the Chu residence. After resting for a moment, Chu Yi felt that Ruotao was sticking a little too close, giving him no chance to escape. He tested her several times but couldn’t find a good opportunity.

The eunuch who came to announce the imperial edict arrived at the Chu residence an hour later.

Over a hundred people in the Chu residence knelt to receive the edict.

The announcing eunuch: “Chu Yi, step forward to receive the edict.”

Chu Yi properly paid his respects and received the edict. “This subject is here.”

The announcing eunuch: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims. The Chu family has a son, Chu Yi, of noble birth and gentle temperament, of great beauty and generous nature, inherently soft and virtuous, warm and respectful in character, and well-versed in the rites. He has deeply won Zhen’s heart and is fit to serve by the sovereign’s side. He is hereby enfeoffed as a Consort, granted the title ‘Hui’, and will reside in Jingyang Palace.

He is specially bestowed with 200 taels of gold, 10,000 taels of silver, 1 gold tea canister, 2 silver tea canisters, 2 silver basins, 1000 bolts of satin, 20 fine horses, 40 leisure horses, and 20 sets of pack armor.

By Imperial Decree.”

The announcing eunuch walked up to Chu Yi. “Chu Yi, receive the edict.”

Chu Yi received the imperial edict with both hands. He then had Ruotao slip some silver to the eunuch. “Many thanks, Eunuch.”

The eunuch’s smile couldn’t be contained. “Aiyo, Young Master Chu is too kind. No, in the future, I should call you Consort Hui… This servant won’t stay any longer. I must return to the palace to report.”

Chu Yi: “Take care, Eunuch.”

Ruotao congratulated him, “Your Highness, His Majesty actually enfeoffed you directly as a Consort. With such a high rank, Your Highness’s good fortune is yet to come.”

“Ruotao, you’ve always been meticulous. Carefully count these imperial gifts.” After dismissing the other servants, Chu Yi instructed Ruotao, “After you’ve counted them, move them all to the storehouse. These cannot be lost. If they are, our heads will be on the line.”

Ruotao: “Rest assured, Your Highness. Ruotao will definitely count them carefully.”

Chu Yi pretended to inspect the imperial gifts with Ruotao, exclaiming in admiration from time to time. Ruotao focused on marking and counting each item with a register and a charcoal pencil.

Seeing that Ruotao was busy, he took the opportunity to leave the main hall and head toward the backyard. It took Chu Yi about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to find the back door.

But the area around the back door was full of maids busy with cleaning. He would have to wait until the dead of night to slip away quietly.

By the xū hour, Chu Yi was already itching to make a move. He instructed Ruotao beside him, “Go prepare the bathwater. I’m tired and want to rest early.”

Ruotao: “Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go have the water prepared.”

Chu Yi moved to the bathing area and dismissed everyone. But Ruotao only withdrew to wait outside the screen. It seemed his guess was correct. This Ruotao was Sheng Qianheng’s spy. The sachet was probably also a trick to deceive him.

In that case, he would play along and continue to feign his escape.

He took off his clothes, tested the water temperature with his hand, and pretended to be scalded. “So hot? Ruotao, go get some cold water.”

Ruotao, with her back to him, said, “Your Highness, this servant will call someone to fetch it.”

Chu Yi said sharply, “What, now that I’ve been made a consort, you won’t take my orders?”

Ruotao quickly knelt. “This servant wouldn’t dare.”

Chu Yi: “Then hurry up and go!”

Sheng Qianheng peeked his head out from behind the screen and looked toward the door. After confirming that Ruotao had left, he quickly changed back into his clothes. He went to the window closest to the back door and stealthily took the nearby pole to prop the window open.

He tried to lift his leg to climb out the window but was tripped up by his robes, which covered his ankles. It took a great deal of effort to finally climb out of the window and leave the room.

The path to the back door was clear of any maids, exceptionally smooth. But when Chu Yi tried to push the door, he found it was locked…

He wanted to pretend to escape, but he couldn’t even get out.

He roughly surveyed his surroundings, went to a corner of the wall, and knocked on it, finding it to be quite sturdy. Chu Yi took a deep breath, grabbed onto a protruding brick in the corner, and pushed off with his toes, trying to leap up. But he was once again hindered by his clothes, which prevented him from climbing over the wall as nimbly as he usually could.

After several attempts, Chu Yi managed to climb onto the top of the wall, sitting on the narrow ledge. He looked down and saw nothing to break his fall. After much thought, he still couldn’t bring himself to jump.

He looked at the carriage parked not far away. He figured Sheng Qianheng must be sitting inside, waiting to catch him. Chu Yi found a comfortable position on the wall and sat down, waiting for the tyrant to lose his patience and get out of the carriage.

He took out the sour fruits hidden in his sleeve and started to munch on them. He was on his second one when he saw Sheng Qianheng lift the carriage curtain and look toward the back door.

Chu Yi whistled, which finally drew Sheng Qianheng’s gaze to the top of the wall. He waved a greeting, almost blurting out a “hello~”.

Seeing him sitting so leisurely on the wall, Sheng Qianheng was worried he would slip and fall. He quickly got out of the carriage and strode to the wall where Chu Yi was sitting.

“Beloved Consort, why are you sitting on the wall?”

Chu Yi, biting into a sour fruit, leaned forward slightly and replied, “This subject is enjoying the night view here. Why is Your Majesty here? Shouldn’t you be in the palace reviewing memorials?”

Sheng Qianheng coughed a few times. The head eunuch behind him took the cue. “His Majesty missed Your Ladyship and was afraid of breaking the taboo of meeting before the wedding, so he could only stare blankly at the door.”

“Oh~ His Majesty misses this subject that much?” Chu Yi threw the fruit pit down and continued, “Then why wait at the back door? If the carriage were parked at the main gate, His Majesty might be able to catch a glimpse of me from afar as I come and go, to ease your longing.”

Sheng Qianheng chuckled lightly, looking up at Chu Yi’s smug little expression. He had the others retreat five zhang away before speaking, “A-Yi, I came here this time to sneak into your bedchamber in the middle of the night.”

Translator’s Notes

1. Imperial Gifts: The list of gifts is a traditional part of the betrothal ceremony, signifying the wealth and status of the groom’s family and the importance they place on the union. The items listed (gold, silver, satin, horses, etc.) are all valuable commodities.

2. Consort Hui : “Hui”  is Chu Yi’s consort title, meaning “benevolent” or “kind.”

3. Zhang : An ancient Chinese unit of length, roughly equal to 3.33 meters or about 11 feet. Five zhang would be approximately 16.65 meters or 55 feet.