Chapter 18: Climbing into Bed
Chu Yi considered that many people at this banquet would recognize him as the Prince Regent, so he had to cover his face with a light veil. He had no intention of paying attention to the envoys’ pleasantries, but the word “marriage alliance” caught his attention. He looked up at the woman from afar and was surprised to find that she bore a slight resemblance to him…
He looked up at Sheng Qianheng, only to see his gaze fixed on the woman, lingering for a long time.
He lowered his head and sneered inwardly. As expected, all men in the world love beauties, and Sheng Qianheng is no exception…
He withdrew his gaze and silently picked at the dishes, eating slowly.
Sheng Qianheng’s attention was indeed drawn to the woman presented as a tribute, but after a moment, his gaze shifted to the Dongying envoy. He picked up the wine goblet on the table, took a sip, and said, “Is the Dongying envoy trying to substitute a beauty for tribute? My Da Mo has no shortage of beauties. What do you say, my beloved consort? Should we accept this beauty or not?”
Chu Yi had been engrossed in eating the dazzling array of food and never expected Sheng Qianheng to ask for his opinion.
He quickly put down the corner of the veil he had lifted, sat up straight, and then replied, “Your Majesty, in this concubine’s opinion, if the friendship between two countries needs to be maintained by a marriage alliance with a woman, wouldn’t that become the most fragile of bonds?”
The smile on the Dongying envoy’s face instantly froze. He had the woman step back slightly and then questioned Chu Yi, “I never thought that this Consort Hui would be a man. No country has ever had a precedent for a male consort. Emperor Liwen is truly one of a kind.”
Seeing the gazes of all the Da Mo officials and the envoys from various countries at the banquet turn to him, Chu Yi broke out in a cold sweat.
Although he had entered the palace as a consort, Sheng Qianheng had never let him show his face in front of the officials.
On second thought, Sheng Qianheng’s insistence on him showing his face this time, was it to put an end to the envoys’ attempts to offer beauties? Or was it to take the opportunity to announce that he was the Prince Regent?
He slowly turned his head to look at Sheng Qianheng, not expecting to meet his eyes. Sheng Qianheng stood up and walked toward Chu Yi. Under everyone’s gaze, he slowly removed Chu Yi’s veil and said, “What does it matter to others whether Consort Hui is a man or a woman? As long as Consort Hui pleases Zhen, that is enough. What does it matter to Zhen whether other countries have a precedent for male consorts?”
Chu Yi stared blankly at the hand Sheng Qianheng used to remove his veil. Is he going to make it public?
As expected, the Da Mo officials below began to murmur among themselves. Seeing this, Chu Yi took the opportunity to bury himself in Sheng Qianheng’s embrace. He said in a low voice, “What are you doing? This is great. Now everyone knows I’m the Prince Regent, Chu Yi!”
Sheng Qianheng rubbed the back of Chu Yi’s head and whispered softly in his ear, “What are you afraid of? I am the sovereign. Who I love and marry is my business. Can they force me to divorce my wife?”
The Dongying envoy had long since recognized Consort Hui’s true identity and had specifically found a woman who resembled Chu Yi.
He continued, “I find that this Consort Hui bears a striking resemblance to the Prince Regent, Chu Yi, who tried to assassinate Emperor Liwen.”
The officials sitting below all chimed in in agreement.
Sheng Qianheng said sharply, “Oh? How so? Even if my Consort Hui is the Prince Regent, Chu Yi, so what? What does it have to do with any of you? Is the Dongying envoy trying to teach Zhen how to do things?”
The Dongying envoy immediately knelt, bowing his head. “This subject would not dare. Emperor Liwen is indeed as the rumors say. My Dongying has always submitted to Da Mo. The marriage alliance was merely to strengthen our ties. Since Emperor Liwen does not favor this woman, it was this subject’s presumption. I hope Emperor Liwen will be magnanimous…”
Sheng Qianheng did not respond to the Dongying envoy, but instead asked Chu Yi, “Beloved Consort, what do you think we should do with this woman?”
Chu Yi glanced at the woman again, then withdrew his gaze to look at Sheng Qianheng, feigning the arrogant and domineering manner of a favored consort. “In this concubine’s opinion, if Your Majesty does not like her, then let it be. Let’s not waste this woman’s life…”
“Alright, I’ll listen to my beloved consort.” Sheng Qianheng kissed Chu Yi’s lips in front of everyone.
Chu Yi was stunned for a moment, standing frozen in place.
When he came to his senses, he raised a hand and gently squeezed Sheng Qianheng’s fingertips, giving them a little shake. He took a small step back, hiding behind Sheng Qianheng, and leaned close to his ear. “Your Majesty, this subject is tired and would like to be excused.”
Sheng Qianheng reached out and pinched Chu Yi’s earlobe. “Go on.”
In a corner, the envoy from Qianlin stared intently at Sheng Qianheng and Chu Yi…
Chu Yi quickly lifted his robes and left the banquet. The absence of the murmurs about him was a great comfort.
He wandered aimlessly in the imperial garden. The maids by his side had already been replaced by his personal maid and page from the Chu residence.
Personal maid Lianfang: “Your Ladyship, is something troubling you?”
Chu Yi shook his head. There was nothing much to be troubled about. Just as Sheng Qianheng had said, as long as he protected him, no one could touch him.
Lianfang guessed, “Is Your Ladyship worried about those envoys trying to present beauties?”
Only then did Chu Yi remember the woman’s appearance. He looked at Lianfang. “Do you think that Dongying envoy deliberately found someone who looks like me?”
Lianfang: “This servant does not know…”
Chu Yi: “Lianfang, you may withdraw. I want to walk alone for a while.”
Lianfang: “Yes.”
Just as Chu Yi was slowly walking to the side of the small hill in the imperial garden, he felt a hand grip his throat, making it difficult to breathe. He was quickly pushed to the ground behind the hill, in a dark corner.
Just as Chu Yi was about to shout, Jiang Xinrui spoke first, “A-Yi, don’t make a sound. It’s me.”
Jiang Xinrui released the hand covering Chu Yi’s mouth and nose. Chu Yi immediately started cursing, “Are you insane!”
The noon sun shone directly into the imperial garden. The sunlight, like golden silk, fell on Chu Yi’s cheeks, outlining the defined contours of his features.
Jiang Xinrui was momentarily stunned. His gaze was fixed on Chu Yi’s rosy, thin lips, and he unconsciously leaned down as if to pluck them.
Seeing this, Chu Yi raised his hand and slapped him. He saw Jiang Xinrui freeze in place and immediately pushed him away. “Vice Minister Jiang, what are you trying to do? Humiliate me?”
Jiang Xinrui covered his cheek with his hand. “A-Yi, don’t misunderstand. I’m here to take you away.”
Chu Yi was skeptical. He slowly stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes. “Do you have a plan?”
Jiang Xinrui shook his head.
“You don’t have a plan, and you dare to stop me in the imperial garden?” Chu Yi laughed in anger. He straightened his clothes, wishing he could kick Jiang Xinrui a couple of times. “If anyone saw us, I would be accused of having an affair in the palace. Can I ask you to use your brain when you do things? You’re not afraid of death, but I am.”
With that, Chu Yi pretended that nothing had happened and quickly moved away from Jiang Xinrui.
Jiang Xinrui stood frozen in place, his tongue gently probing the inside of the cheek Chu Yi had slapped…
After rushing back to Jingyang Palace, Chu Yi took off the cumbersome court attire. He instructed Lianfang to quickly bring a basin of clean water to wash his hands.
Seeing Chu Yi wash his hands several times, Lianfang couldn’t help but ask, “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong?”
Chu Yi sighed heavily. “I touched something unclean and want to wash it off thoroughly.”
After wiping the water from his hands, Chu Yi asked, “Where is Moshu?”
Moshu was Chu Yi’s trusted page, with an exceptional talent for gathering information.
Lianfang: “Moshu went to inquire about the matters at the banquet for Your Ladyship, as well as the character of that Vice Minister Jiang.”
Chu Yi nodded. Moshu was indeed clever. He knew what he was thinking without him having to say it.
It was the hài hour by the time Sheng Qianheng finished dealing with the envoys from the various countries. He ordered the head eunuch to go and ask if Chu Yi had gone to bed.
He quickly bathed in Yangxin Hall, and only after making sure there was no smell of alcohol on him did he hurry to Jingyang Palace.
For some reason, Chu Yi couldn’t fall asleep that night, tossing and turning in bed. He only felt an unbearable heat on the back of his neck.
Hearing the movement on the bed, Lianfang asked in a low voice, “Your Ladyship?”
Chu Yi sat up. “Lianfang, get me a cup of water.”
Lianfang quickly stood up and poured a cup of tea. She lifted the bed curtain slightly and handed it to Chu Yi. “Did Your Ladyship have a nightmare?”
Chu Yi didn’t reply. He guessed he was probably having an allergic reaction again. Ever since he had transmigrated, the back of his neck had often been hot and itchy. If it wasn’t an allergy, there was no other explanation.
“It’s nothing. I’ve just been feeling restless all day.”
Most personal maids were Zhongyong; it was rare to have a Kunze.
Although Lianfang was his personal maid, she was actually a Kunze. However, her gland had been damaged from being beaten daily by her alcoholic, gambling husband, to whom her father had married her off. She had been sold to the Chu residence by that husband.
Lianfang had long since noticed the Kunze scent on Chu Yi, and that the mark of a permanent bond had already been placed on the back of his neck. But since the current emperor was hiding it from Chu Yi, she had no choice but to play along.
“Your Ladyship, let Lianfang take your pulse and have a look.”
Only then did Chu Yi remember that Lianfang knew pharmacology. He extended his hand for her to take his pulse. He always felt that Imperial Physician Xu was hiding something from him.
When Lianfang didn’t detect a pregnancy pulse, she breathed a sigh of relief, secretly happy for Chu Yi.
“Your Ladyship’s body is fine. I’ll go light some calming incense.”
Perhaps the calming incense really worked. Not long after lying back down, Chu Yi fell asleep.
It was almost the fifth month, and the weather was getting hotter. The temperature at night was pleasant. Chu Yi had shed his clothes until only a thin inner robe remained. The thin quilt that had been covering him had long since been tossed to the inner side of the bed.
Suddenly, the closed door of the bedchamber was slowly pushed open.
In a semi-conscious state, Chu Yi felt the bedding behind him sink a few inches. A pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around his waist, and the heat radiating from his back made him uncomfortable.
Hot breath fanned across his neck, making him whimper unconsciously.
Chu Yi knew that only one person could enter his bedchamber so quietly, so he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the person behind him.
He was truly exhausted. He reached out and unconsciously pushed at the person’s head, mumbling, “Sheng Qianheng, I’m so sleepy. Stop fooling around.”
The body temperature of the person behind him gradually rose. The scorching breath made Chu Yi uncomfortable. He tried to turn over, but the arms held him too tightly, making it impossible to move.
Chu Yi felt the hot breath on his neck, making him shrink unconsciously.
The person behind him didn’t reply. The wet sensation on the side of his neck became more and more obvious. He had to turn around.
But he was tightly restrained by the person’s arms and couldn’t move. The scent of Zhuǎnrìlián grew stronger.
Chu Yi felt the scent was like an aphrodisiac, making his thoughts gradually muddled. He said softly, “A-Heng, are you tired from dealing with those envoys at the banquet?”
Sheng Qianheng still didn’t speak. He hadn’t seen Chu Yi for half a day and felt an extreme emptiness in his heart…
Chu Yi felt Sheng Qianheng’s broad palm gradually lift the corner of his inner robe…
Translator’s Notes
-
Hài hour: This is the period from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the traditional Chinese timekeeping system.
-
Dongying: An old name for Japan.
