Chapter 20: Spring’s Stirring
Xu Bingyuan prepared the Peony Courtyard in the north wing for Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an. It was one of the best courtyards, a top-tier residence.
After the afternoon rain, the change in climate didn’t cool the night down; instead, it became even more sultry.
The Peony Courtyard was said to be the best, so it naturally had a summer room. After bathing, the two of them went to the summer room, which the Xu family had spent a fortune on. The moment they stepped inside, they felt a wave of coolness wash over them.
Beneath the room’s floor was an ice cellar, and the cold air seeped into the room through the thin wooden floor tiles. They could also go to the cellar where the ice was stored to cool off and have fun.
Purple glazed tiles, a jade stone bed, and a circulating cold water source—water flowed down the four sides of the room, forming a water curtain. This was achieved by installing pipes on the four eaves of the courtyard to bring water to the roof. As the cool water circulated on the roof, the indoor temperature naturally dropped. With the roof and floor working in tandem, the heat of summer was completely imperceptible.
Feng Qi leaned back lazily on a long bench, enjoying himself with his eyes closed. Wen Ning’an watched him for a long time and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Huaitian, why did you have the jade made into a pair? Was it… a gift for someone?”
“Naturally.” Feng Qi didn’t open his eyes, just slightly curved his lips.
“A gift… for whom?”
Feng Qi patted the empty space beside him. “Come here, and I’ll tell you.”
Wen Ning’an smiled faintly, turned to the round table to get a small cup, intending to pour himself some tea and ignore Feng Qi. However, his belt was grabbed from behind by Feng Qi and pulled back. Wen Ning’an felt his whole body lose its balance and leaned back into Feng Qi’s arms.
The cup slipped from his hand and rolled onto the floor with a clatter.
Wen Ning’an was held in Feng Qi’s arms and said helplessly, “Stop fooling around.”
“Silly.” Feng Qi nibbled on Wen Ning’an’s ear. “Who else could I give it to but you?”
Seeing that Wen Ning’an seemed very happy but was trying to hide it, Feng Qi said, “Looking at you like this, no one would believe you’re a great general.”
Wen Ning’an was a scholar-general. Not just at this moment, but even when he was out and about, few people would associate him with a great general of the battlefield. Perhaps it was because his elegant smile and tone had long concealed his murderous aura.
“Looking at Huaitian like this, no one would believe you’re the emperor either,” Wen Ning’an said, breaking free from Feng Qi’s embrace and picking up the teacup from the floor.
Feng Qi saw Wen Ning’an’s prim and proper appearance, his back to him as he poured and drank tea. His body was tall and slender, his long, dark hair lay smoothly behind him, swaying slightly with his movements. He couldn’t help but stand up from the long bench and, out of mischievousness, poked Wen Ning’an’s waist with his index finger.
Wen Ning’an’s whole body flinched, and he let out a low growl. “Huaitian!”
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. Why does that sound so much like a coquettish complaint?
Wen Ning’an felt his head grow heavy and couldn’t help but close his eyes and rub his temples.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing Wen Ning’an’s slightly unsteady steps, Feng Qi reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist, letting him lean against him.
Wen Ning’an felt a wave of heat from his waist. An indescribable itch spread through certain parts of his body, a wicked fire rose within him, and his breathing became chaotic.
“Yixin, what’s wrong?” Seeing Wen Ning’an’s cheeks suddenly turn red and his breathing quicken as he leaned against him, Feng Qi thought his wounds might have acted up and said hurriedly, “Should I call the imperial physician?”
“Don’t call him!” Wen Ning’an nervously grabbed Feng Qi’s arm with one hand and clenched the other into a fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.
“What on earth is wrong?” Feng Qi was also getting anxious.
“It’s nothing.” Wen Ning’an took a deep breath and pushed Feng Qi away. “I’m going to the ice cellar to douse myself with cold water.”
Feng Qi was stunned. He looked down and saw the bulge below Wen Ning’an’s abdomen, instantly understanding what had happened. He narrowed his eyes at the tea set on the table, a cold smile in his heart. Drugging me with an aphrodisiac, the Xu family has some nerve. After losing one Xu Huayi, are they so eager to stuff a new one in?
Although the Xu family was just a clown in the eyes of the Li family and Feng Qi, they were still a powerful family with real authority. They shouldn’t have used such a blatant trick. Perhaps there was a more complex reason, but Feng Qi didn’t want to think about it right now. He had to deal with the matter at hand before settling scores…
Feng Qi reached out and embraced Wen Ning’an again, gently kissing his earlobe.
“Mmm…” Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but tremble, feeling all the strength to resist leave his body as he went limp in Feng Qi’s arms. Seeing this, Feng Qi pushed his advantage, picked Wen Ning’an up, and placed him on the stone bed.
The coldness of the stone bed did not soothe Wen Ning’an’s heat. Feng Qi’s rain of kisses and caresses, on the contrary, made him unable to suppress his amorous sounds.
“Don’t… don’t…” Wen Ning’an’s hand pressed against Feng Qi’s chest. “Huaitian, don’t.”
Feng Qi turned a deaf ear.
“Mmph… Huaitian!” Wen Ning’an panted, his chest heaving violently. The waves of pleasure washing over his body and the panic in his heart made the grip he had on Feng Qi’s hand gradually lose control, digging deep red marks.
Feng Qi didn’t mind, but instead grew more excited and said with a wicked smile, “Let me help you take care of it, isn’t that good?”
“Huaitian…” Wen Ning’an was almost pleading.
“Huaitian…”
“Huaitian, you promised me…”
…
Feng Qi stared at Wen Ning’an’s alluring appearance for a while and finally sighed.
“Yes, I promised you. I am not your monarch; I am your husband.”
Mutual respect and love, not command and obedience. The two of them were currently trying hard to change in this direction. Feng Qi didn’t want to waste all his previous efforts, nor did he want to destroy this tacit understanding.
“We won’t go all the way. I’ll help you with my hand.”
The fat piece of meat that had finally reached his lips had just flown away. Feng Qi had to at least get a taste. He pulled Wen Ning’an up, making him lean back against the wall to face him, and reached his hand into that hidden place.
“Ngh…”
As Feng Qi’s hand moved, his gaze was fixed on Wen Ning’an’s face. Not a single subtle expression could escape his eyes. Under Feng Qi’s scorching, probing, and interested gaze, Wen Ning’an felt he was about to break down. He wanted to escape but couldn’t. Behind him was a wall, and in front, he was half-pressed and locked in Feng Qi’s embrace. It was simply…
“Mmph!”
After it was over, Feng Qi took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand, smiling. “I’m going out for a while.”
Now it’s his fucking turn to go to the ice cellar and douse himself with cold water.
Wen Ning’an was taken care of, but he…
Embarrassing, so embarrassing! As an emperor who holds the world in his hands, he was truly a failure!
Watching Feng Qi’s hastily retreating back, Wen Ning’an leaned against the wall, drained of strength, in a daze. Thinking back carefully, Feng Qi’s eyes had been full of excitement and enjoyment, dyed with lust, without a trace of disgust.
Feng Qi first took care of himself, then doused himself with several basins of cold water before he felt he had calmed down. Contrary to most people, the low temperature in the ice cellar made his mind much clearer and sharper. He had seen every one of Wen Ning’an’s expressions. That kind of reaction wasn’t one of not being ready or being shy, but…
For him, who had been reborn, the day of his coronation was a long, long time ago. But for Wen Ning’an, it was only two years ago.
Feng Qi closed his eyes, his hand clenching slightly into a fist.
After they both calmed down and returned to the room, no one mentioned the topic again, as if the amorous scene had never happened.
Seeing Feng Qi return, Wen Ning’an pointed to the teapot on the table. “There’s no problem with the tea, but the spout of the pot was smeared with a drug. The evidence is conclusive. We can use this to demand an explanation from the Xu family.”
“Evidence? Heh.” Feng Qi’s lips curved into a cold arc, his eyes dark.
Does he still need such a thing?
Seeing Feng Qi take the lead and walk out, Wen Ning’an lowered his eyes and followed silently.
The Emperor had summoned everyone late at night. Although the Xu family was dissatisfied, they had no choice but to obey. They all climbed out of their soft beds or from their gentle comforts and waited in the main hall.
Feng Qi’s seat was naturally the master’s seat, and Wen Ning’an sat in the seat of honor beside him. The rest of the Xu family looked at the two of them, not understanding. What is going on?
Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Feng Qi leisurely said to Xu Tongda, “Someone put a drug in the tea set I used. Beloved Minister Xu, do you know who did it?”
Xu Tongda was startled and said hurriedly, “This subject knows nothing. The Xu family guarantees that we have no connection to this matter. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!”
“Oh? So an outsider snuck into the Xu residence on the day I moved in and drugged me?”
Xu Tongda was speechless.
“Yuan’er, go and investigate! Investigate carefully!” Seeing that Feng Qi didn’t seem to be letting the matter rest, Xu Tongda turned and had Xu Bingyuan go and investigate. Xu Tongda was not afraid. After all, the main branch of the Xu family was not so foolish as to choose this moment and this method to provoke Feng Qi. Drugging him, to put it seriously, was a crime that could be linked to rebellion.
Xu Bingyuan had the butler bring all the servants who were on duty in the kitchen today.
About a dozen maids knelt in the center of the main hall. Hearing that the Emperor wanted to question them, they didn’t even dare to look at Feng Qi, trembling with fear.
Feng Qi asked impatiently, “My tea set was smeared with a drug. Speak, who did it.”
All the maids cried out their innocence, begging Feng Qi for forgiveness. Xu Bingyuan had been wondering how Feng Qi would conduct the investigation, but to his surprise, Feng Qi said next, “Men, give them the cane. Beat them until they talk. If they don’t talk, then just beat them to death.”
The Emperor’s authority was absolute. Even though these servants belonged to the Xu family, at this moment, they had no choice but to obey. A group of maids were thus pressed onto the green tiles of the hall and beaten. Their miserable screams were endless, and the rest of the Xu family felt a chill run down their spines.
Xu Tongda couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, why not ask clearly before administering punishment?”
Wen Ning’an also frowned slightly. This was truly the act of a tyrant, but he didn’t want to contradict Feng Qi, so he could only sigh inwardly.
One of the maids couldn’t take it after just two strokes of the cane and cried out, “Your Majesty! Young Master An! It was Young Master An who administered the drug, and he told this servant not to say anything!”
The maid knew in her heart that if she gritted her teeth and didn’t talk, even if they were beaten to death, Feng Qi wouldn’t stop them or care. It was better to talk early and suffer less. And the person who had bribed her was not some great figure who could protect her. No matter how much silver she had, what was the point if she had no life to spend it?
Feng Qi waved his hand for the servants to stop and shrugged with a smile. “See, isn’t this faster?”
Wen Ning’an asked, “Young Master An? Xu Binghua’s concubine, An Su?”
Xu Binghua, who had been sitting silently at the side, now looked a little pale. He stammered, “That’s… that’s right… my humble wife.”
“Where is he?”
Xu Binghua said, “My humble wife has not been feeling well recently, so he has not stepped out of his room and is currently resting in his room…”
Feng Qi said, “Have someone search An Su’s room.”
“…Yes.”
