Chapter 1: Transmigration and the Rain and Dew Period
It was high noon, the scorching sun hanging directly overhead.
At the Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs of the Mo Dynasty, ceremonial officials in magnificent robes knelt trembling upon the vast, open platform. No one dared to raise their head.
The ceremony that should have been the Mo Dynasty Emperor’s celebration of conquering the Western Xia was brought to a halt by a sudden assassination attempt.
As the chief planner of this sacrificial event, Chu Yi was currently kneeling before the Emperor. He had originally intended to use the chaos of the assassination attempt to pack his bags and flee.
Who would have thought that after running less than two li, his path would be blocked by the Imperial Guard? He was then unceremoniously dragged back before the Emperor.
[T.N: li : An ancient Chinese unit of distance, roughly 500 meters or 1/3 of a mile.]
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn ago, Chu Yi had transmigrated into this world.
This was a novel of political intrigue.
In the book, the three dynasties of Da Mo, Qianlin, and Western Xia were in a tripartite stalemate. The male lead was the emperor of Da Mo.
Although this male lead was the eldest son born after the late emperor ascended the throne, he was the child of the emperor and a palace maid. He grew up without any favor and was constantly mistreated by the Empress. Perhaps because the late emperor had only secured the throne with the help of the Empress’s maternal family, he turned a blind eye to her abuse of the male lead.
Thus, the male lead was locked away in the Cold Palace from a young age, where even the servants paid no mind to his status as a prince. Over time, the male lead developed a ruthless, cold-blooded personality, ultimately leading him down the path of patricide to seize power.
After his ascension, the male lead eliminated all treacherous officials from the previous court and executed all dissenters. To consolidate his imperial power, he personally led a military campaign and conquered the rebellious Western Xia in just one year.
Chu Yi had transmigrated into the body of the male lead’s military strategist, who shared his name. After the male lead took the throne, he had immediately enfeoffed him as the Prince Regent, granting him immense power to interfere in state affairs. However, as the male lead’s reign lengthened, the two drifted apart. In the end, due to the male lead’s suspicion and paranoia, Chu Yi was framed by a sycophantic official, sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, and his corpse was hung from the city walls…
Chu Yi had no intention of being this scapegoat. He quickly surveyed the room’s layout. Perhaps due to the tense situation, he felt incredibly thirsty, so he picked up a cup of tea that had already been prepared on the table and took a sip.
He tasted a slight bitterness but dismissed it as a result of the poor water quality in ancient times. Chu Yi found all the money in the room and quickly packed it. In his haste, a commotion outside caught his attention. Seeing everyone running around in a panic, he grabbed his bundle, found a small path, and left without a second glance.
He felt himself sweating profusely on the run, but he never expected to be caught.
Now, kneeling before the male lead, the sweat seemed to pour from his body even more uncontrollably…
Sheng Qianheng’s gaze fixed on the pale pink flush of Chu Yi’s neck. He couldn’t help but raise his hand, but then he remembered the rift that had grown between them since his coronation. The raised hand ultimately just settled on the other’s shoulder as he asked, “Chu Yi, the Imperial Guard said they caught an assassin. But why were you the one brought before Zhen?”
[T.N: Zhen: The royal pronoun for “I,” used exclusively by the emperor.]
Chu Yi didn’t know if it was from nervousness or some other reason, but he felt dizzy and light-headed. He managed to reply, “This subject… It’s understandable that the Imperial Guard doesn’t recognize this subject. This subject was patrolling the area for Your Majesty, hoping to find the assassin.”
Sheng Qianheng had a eunuch beside him relay a message, then led Chu Yi and the guard who had captured him into a nearby room.
Sheng Qianheng paid no mind to Chu Yi’s earlier words. However, upon entering the room, he seemed to catch the scent of a Kunze in the air. He stood up, raised his eyes, and asked the guard, “Are you a Zhongyong?”
The guard replied, “To answer Your Majesty, yes.”
Sheng Qianheng spoke coldly, but his Qianyuan xìnxiāng was already so oppressive it made the man unsteady on his feet. “You reek of a Kunze. So fond of fooling around? Is this how you normally conduct your duties for Zhen? Scram!”
[T.N:xìnxiāng : The term used in this novel for pheromones. It literally translates to “trust/message fragrance.”]
Chu Yi followed behind Sheng Qianheng. A moment after entering the room, his legs grew so weak that he had no choice but to continue kneeling.
He tried to steady his breathing, his mind racing. Could there have been something wrong with that tea? Why do I feel weaker and weaker?
Chu Yi felt a faint fragrance drift past his nose, but he couldn’t quite place it. He could only shake his head, trying to clear his thoughts so he could deal with the male lead and then continue his escape.
The guard had already withdrawn respectfully from the room. Now, only Chu Yi and Sheng Qianheng remained.
But Sheng Qianheng could still smell the Kunze’s scent. He lowered his gaze to Chu Yi, squatted down in disbelief, and grabbed his collar to take a sniff, confirming the source of the smell. “Chu Yi, aren’t you a Zhongyong? Why do you carry the scent of a Kunze? Didn’t you swear an oath to Zhen that if Zhen did not take a consort, you would not marry either? Is it that you can no longer resist seeking pleasure, breaking your vow to Zhen?”
Chu Yi’s consciousness was gradually clouding over. Being pulled closer by Sheng Qianheng seemed to make him even dizzier. He could hardly comprehend the meaning behind Sheng Qianheng’s string of questions. He lifted his tear-filled eyes and murmured, “Hot… help me…”
Sheng Qianheng had rarely seen Chu Yi in such a state. He usually wore an expression of desirelessness, seeming to only show anger or annoyance when discussing matters of state with him.
In disbelief, Sheng Qianheng released his grip on Chu Yi’s collar. He carefully sniffed the xìnxiāng in the room; it seemed to be emanating from the back of Chu Yi’s neck. He was just about to part the black hair that cascaded over Chu Yi’s shoulders to check his nape.
But as Chu Yi watched Sheng Qianheng’s face draw near, he smelled the scent on him, a scent that seemed to soothe his own discomfort. His body was no longer under his control. Losing all strength, he unconsciously collapsed into Sheng Qianheng’s arms. Chu Yi only knew that the person before him could help alleviate the heat in his body, and he began to fumble messily with Sheng Qianheng’s collar.
Pushed to the ground, Sheng Qianheng still remembered to support Chu Yi carefully. He raised an eyebrow slightly, pinching Chu Yi’s chin. “Chu Yi, do you know what you are doing?”
Chu Yi nodded dazedly.
“Zhen asks you, why were you running away with a bag?” Sheng Qianheng probed, looking into Chu Yi’s unfocused eyes. “Did you hire someone to assassinate Zhen?”
Flashes of the novel’s plot crossed Chu Yi’s mind. The assassin wasn’t his doing; he was merely a scapegoat for the rebels. He pressed his hands against Sheng Qianheng’s chest and struggled to form a complete sentence. “It wasn’t me… You have to believe me…”
The moment the words left his lips, a teardrop from the corner of his eye happened to fall onto Sheng Qianheng’s cheek.
Sheng Qianheng helped Chu Yi sit up and raised a hand to wipe away his tear. Seeing the gesture, Chu Yi gently rubbed his cheek against Sheng Qianheng’s palm. “Believe me, I beg you…”
Sheng Qianheng, who had been half-doubting, instantly cast all his reservations aside. Though he didn’t understand why Chu Yi, a Zhongyong, was emitting the scent of a Kunze, he knew he couldn’t let the scent continue to spread.
He swiftly lifted Chu Yi into his arms. The moment Chu Yi’s head rested on his shoulder, the Kunze’s scent filled his nostrils, shaking his resolve.
Sheng Qianheng glanced around, grabbed a cloak from within the room, and covered Chu Yi’s face as best he could, thinking that Chu Yi’s identity and scent must not be exposed…
After confirming Chu Yi’s face was completely hidden, Sheng Qianheng carried Chu Yi toward his own bedchamber. Before entering, he didn’t forget to give an order: “No one is to enter without being summoned. Have the imperial physician wait in the side hall.”
Chu Yi’s vision went black, and in a dizzying spin, he seemed to be placed upon a bed.
He felt an unbearable heat coursing through him, and everything before him was a blur. Chu Yi propped himself up on the edge of the bed and slowly sat up. He looked down at his clothes; apart from tearing them off to cool down, he could think of no other solution.
Through his hazy vision, he could barely make out a person standing before him. He spoke, “Help me, it’s so hot…”
The Kunze’s scent in the room made Sheng Qianheng’s entire body uncomfortable. He turned his back and closed his eyes, trying to resist the influence of the xìnxiāng for a moment. When he faced Chu Yi again, he was met with the sight of a breathtakingly seductive beauty.
Chu Yi’s robes were already hanging loosely from his arms, leaving almost his entire chest exposed to the air. His whole body was flushed a faint lotus-pink. His mind was a muddled mess, completely unaware of what he was doing. He slowly extended a hand, wanting to touch the person before him. “Hot… will you help me?”
Sheng Qianheng subconsciously raised a hand to take Chu Yi’s, but a moment later, he quickly pulled it back behind him. He was now even more certain that Chu Yi had differentiated and was entering his first Rain and Dew Period as a Kunze.
A Kunze’s Rain and Dew Period was almost entirely governed by their xìnxiāng. Any Qianyuan could help them relieve the heat of their passion. But he was unwilling to have an ambiguous relationship with Chu Yi, and he was even more unwilling for Chu Yi to be with any other Qianyuan. He asked again, “Chu Yi, do you know who I am?”
Chu Yi shook his head slightly. He tried to sit up on his knees but unexpectedly pitched forward. When his skin touched the silk of Sheng Qianheng’s robes, the heat on his skin subsided considerably. He leaned against Sheng Qianheng’s chest and, with what little lucidity he had left, said, “I heard them call you Your Majesty, so you must be my Your Majesty~”
Sheng Qianheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The scent of a Kunze in their Rain and Dew Period, a plea for love, was emanating ceaselessly from the back of Chu Yi’s neck. How could he not understand the unspoken seduction? As a Qianyuan in the prime of his life, he was about to lose control of his own wicked thoughts.
For some reason, in the years since his ascension, he and Chu Yi had grown distant. This was not what he wanted…
“Chu Yi, do you know what you are doing?”
Chu Yi reached out and continued to pull at Sheng Qianheng’s already loosened robes, but in the next second, his hands were restrained. He tilted his head, his vision slightly blurry, and replied, “I’m so hot. Can Your Majesty help me?”
Sheng Qianheng pinched Chu Yi’s chin, applying a bit of force in an attempt to make Chu Yi a little more clear-headed. “Do you truly know what you are doing? You won’t regret it?”
Chu Yi only knew that the faint scent on Sheng Qianheng was very pleasant, that the heat in his own body was deeply uncomfortable, and that Sheng Qianheng could help relieve it. “I don’t feel well, help me… I beg you…”
Sheng Qianheng, using his last shred of rationality, asked one more time, “No regrets?”
Chu Yi was confused. Why regret? Why would he regret getting help to cool down? He just couldn’t undo his own clothes; he didn’t even know what he was wearing. He couldn’t get them off at all; the three inner and outer layers were far too complicated.
“No regrets. Why would I regret it? If you don’t help me, I’ll find someone else…”
Before Chu Yi could finish, Sheng Qianheng silenced all his words with a kiss. As their lips and teeth met, he clutched at the other’s lapels, refusing to stop until he finally touched Sheng Qianheng’s skin.
Sheng Qianheng bit lightly on the corner of Chu Yi’s mouth, only letting go when he heard the other let out a soft whimper. “Chu Yi, who am I?”
Chu Yi panted softly, his eyes hazy. He could recognize the person before him as the male lead from the book. “You are Sheng Qianheng…”
Only then did Sheng Qianheng give in, allowing Chu Yi to do as he pleased. Chu Yi straddled him, his hands fumbling messily with the other’s lapels, but his limbs were soft and had almost no strength.
With the movement, the hairpin in his hair teetered precariously. Fearing the pin would cause injury, Sheng Qianheng simply removed it. In an instant, Chu Yi’s full head of black hair cascaded down, brushing past Sheng Qianheng’s nose and leaving a faint fragrance…
The collar that Chu Yi had already pulled open himself had long since grown looser. A single glance revealed that his clothes barely covered his body, a sight that sparked the imagination.
Chu Yi took Sheng Qianheng’s hand, guiding it to his own waist. His eyes were already brimming with a watery mist. “Hot… why won’t you help me?”
The corners of Sheng Qianheng’s lips curved upward, and he let out an unconscious chuckle. The Chu Yi before him seemed to have returned to how he was years ago. “After we do this, will you truly not be shy when you’re clear-headed?”
“What?” Chu Yi tilted his head, staring blankly at Sheng Qianheng.
The room was already filled with the passionate xìnxiāng emanating from Chu Yi. No matter how firm Sheng Qianheng’s willpower was, he could not resist it in the slightest. His chest heaved. He grasped Chu Yi’s trembling arms, and with a sudden exertion of force, their positions were reversed.
Sheng Qianheng placed a hand behind Chu Yi’s head. Relying on his last ounce of willpower, he stared at the person beneath him and said in a hoarse voice, “Let me help you with your Rain and Dew Period, alright?”
Chu Yi didn’t understand what a “Rain and Dew Period” was, but since mere close contact with Sheng Qianheng could alleviate his discomfort, he nodded without the slightest hesitation.
The afternoon light filtered through the window lattice, spilling into the room. Faint sounds of breathing could be heard from the bed.
The sunlight slowly crept onto the face of the beauty lying on the bed. Chu Yi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and tears rolled from the corners of his eyes like pearls from a broken string.
No matter how Sheng Qianheng tried to soothe the person beneath him, nothing worked. The pad of his thumb rubbed the small mole behind Chu Yi’s ear as he kissed his earlobe. “Chu Yi…”
Chu Yi shook his head weakly…
Chu Yi pressed his hands against Sheng Qianheng’s chest, but his soft arms had no strength to push him away. He could only resort to biting down on the other’s shoulder.
Sheng Qianheng’s palm gently caressed the back of Chu Yi’s head as he slowly released his own xìnxiāng. He let out a sigh of relief only when Chu Yi, soothed by his scent, gradually began to relax.
This sudden onslaught made Chu Yi’s vision blur. He bit Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder hard enough to draw blood. Only after tasting the faint metallic tang did he let go. His tear-soaked eyes stared blankly at the beads of sweat dripping from Sheng Qianheng’s temple as he stammered, “It’s uncomfortable…”
Sheng Qianheng cupped Chu Yi’s face with both hands and kissed his lips, coaxing him, “It will feel good in a moment. Be good.”
Chu Yi didn’t know why Sheng Qianheng was so obsessively licking the back of his neck, but he liked this action very much. It made him feel comfortable.
But just a moment later, sharp fangs sank in instantly. A potent xìnxiāng was injected, slowly soothing the frantic craving of the Kunze in their Rain and Dew Period.
“Chu Yi, Chu Qingci, you’d better not run away again when you wake up…”
Translator’s Notes:
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Qianyuan, Zhongyong, Kunze: The novel’s terms for Alpha, Beta, and Omega, respectively.
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Rain and Dew Period: The novel’s term for a Kunze’s (Omega’s) heat.
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Chu Qingci (褚清辞): This is likely Chu Yi’s courtesy name (字, zì), a formal name given to men upon reaching adulthood in ancient China. Sheng Qianheng using it implies a deep, pre-existing intimacy that the transmigrated Chu Yi is unaware of.
