Chapter 9: Attending the Bedchamber
Chu Yi was suddenly lifted into the air and could only cling tightly to Sheng Qianheng. Seeing that he was actually walking toward the rear hall, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled. “Where is Your Majesty taking this subject?”
Sheng Qianheng gave Chu Yi a slight bounce before asking, “Just now, in front of Jiang Xinrui, you referred to yourself as ‘concubine’. Now you’re back to ‘subject’ instead of ‘concubine’?”
Jostled by Sheng Qianheng, Chu Yi had to hold on even tighter. He pressed his lips together and continued to lie, “Weren’t there outsiders present? If I referred to myself as ‘subject’, wouldn’t that expose the fact that I was originally the Prince Regent? Besides, the wedding is in a few days. I will have to refer to myself as ‘concubine’ then…”
Sheng Qianheng slowly walked toward the rear hall. It wasn’t until they were nearing the bed that Chu Yi sensed something was amiss.
He tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, is there some private matter you wish to discuss with this subject in the rear hall…?”
Outsider~ So in Chu Yi’s heart, Jiang Xinrui is an outsider. It seemed he had been overthinking things. Then what place did he hold in Chu Yi’s heart?
Sheng Qianheng gently placed him on the bed, then raised a hand to touch Chu Yi’s lips. “Not at all~”
Chu Yi found Sheng Qianheng’s gentle tone at this moment rather unsettling. He stared at Sheng Qianheng in a daze, feeling that something was wrong… He hoped it wasn’t what he was thinking.
“Is Your Majesty tired from coming to the rear hall? This subject will serve you as you rest~”
Sheng Qianheng took Chu Yi’s hand and slowly placed a kiss on its back. “Does my beloved consort think Zhen is tired?”
“Your Majesty manages a myriad of state affairs and reviews countless memorials. You must be exhausted.” Chu Yi’s thoughts were completely thrown into disarray by Sheng Qianheng’s kiss. “Your Majesty must still take care of your dragon body.”
Sheng Qianheng watched as Chu Yi slowly shifted toward the inside of the bed as he spoke… This was a bed that only he ever used. Chu Yi’s presence added another layer of charm to a bed that had, until now, only been for rest~
Seeing that Sheng Qianheng didn’t seem to be listening to him, Chu Yi had no choice but to continue shifting toward the inner side of the bed. But after moving for a while, he realized that if the tyrant were to pounce on him, he would have no escape route.
Thus, he had to change his direction and continue moving toward the edge of the bed, farther away from Sheng Qianheng.
Just as Chu Yi’s knees reached the edge of the bed, Sheng Qianheng reached out and pinched his chin. He spoke abruptly, “Chu Yi, what am I in your heart?”
Forced to tilt his head up and caught off guard by Sheng Qianheng’s sudden question, Chu Yi’s mind went blank for a moment. “Your Majesty is naturally an important person.”
Sheng Qianheng’s gaze traced Chu Yi’s features.
Chu Yi’s skin was whiter than snow; the slightest pressure would leave clear finger marks. The contours of his brows and eyes were soft yet defined, his eyes as clear as spring water, full of spirit with every glance. His lips were of a moderate thickness, and as he spoke, their opening and closing seemed to bewitch the soul…
After seventeen years of acquaintance, this was the first time Sheng Qianheng had gazed at Chu Yi’s face with such focus. In just a moment, he felt his heart pound like a drum, unable to control himself. What was happening to him?
For some reason, Chu Yi felt that Sheng Qianheng’s gaze was too intense, as if its focus was fixed on his lips. “Your Majesty, what are you pondering? This subject can share your worries.”
Sheng Qianheng blurted out, “Attend me in bed.”
Chu Yi: “Yes… This subject obey…”
Chu Yi was halfway through his sentence when he realized something was wrong! Attend him in bed? He wants me to attend him in bed? Although he and the tyrant had already done it, but, but…
He knew that sooner or later, he would have to perform the duties of a husband and wife with the tyrant again. He had originally thought he could put it off for as long as possible. But this was too sudden; he wasn’t prepared at all.
Moreover, last time he was drugged, which was why he had willingly let Sheng Qianheng have his way with him. Now, if he had to actively serve and even please Sheng Qianheng, he simply couldn’t do it.
“Your Majesty, this subject…” Chu Yi’s thoughts were a tangled mess; he couldn’t come up with an excuse. “I… you…”
Sheng Qianheng could clearly see Chu Yi’s utter reluctance. He didn’t know what was wrong with him today; he kept wanting Chu Yi to prove something to him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what needed proving…
When Jiang Xinrui was present, he wanted to prove to him that Chu Yi could only be his. Now that Chu Yi was on his bed, he wanted to possess him even more, to make Chu Yi’s scent, inside and out, his alone!
But in the end, Chu Yi was not his…
Sheng Qianheng released his grip on Chu Yi’s chin and raised a hand to his forehead. It must be that his Passion Tide Period had arrived; the anxiety and restlessness of a Qianyuan were difficult to suppress.
“Chu Yi, look at me.”
Chu Yi looked up at Sheng Qianheng, his gaze fixed firmly on his hairline, not daring to look anywhere else. “Your Majesty, the wedding is in a few days…”
As Chu Yi spoke, his voice grew fainter, almost inaudible.
Seeing Chu Yi’s genuine reluctance, Sheng Qianheng had no choice but to give up. “Zhen brought you to the rear hall to try on the wedding robe. Did you really think Zhen would be so absurd in broad daylight? Or would you prefer to change your clothes while surrounded by all those maidservants outside?”
Chu Yi watched as Sheng Qianheng had the maidservants from the outer hall bring the wedding robe and place it on the bed, then he slowly stood up to change.
He noticed that Sheng Qianheng had turned his back before he reached up to gently untie the plain sash at his waist. Chu Yi felt that this was even more agonizing than attending him in bed…
He was currently undressing right under Sheng Qianheng’s nose. Although Sheng Qianheng was being enough of a gentleman to turn his back, it felt as if a thousand pairs of eyes were staring at him…
After placing the belt on the clothes rack, he reached up to undo the frog buttons at his collar. Perhaps because the bite mark Sheng Qianheng had left on the back of his neck was quite deep, a sharp pain shot through him whenever his hand inadvertently brushed against it.
Sheng Qianheng noticed the change in Chu Yi’s breathing and asked, “Are you changed?”
Fearing Sheng Qianheng would turn around, Chu Yi immediately stopped him, “Not yet, it’s just that the back of my neck hurts a little when I take off my clothes…”
“Speak properly. Don’t whine.” Sheng Qianheng coughed, his mind unintentionally flashing back to the image of Chu Yi’s coquettish moans in bed that day.
Chu Yi silently wrinkled his nose in disdain. “This subject never whines!”
“What you just said was whining. Weren’t you complaining to Zhen that it hurts?” Sheng Qianheng was so focused on refuting Chu Yi that he didn’t consider that he hadn’t finished changing.
Chu Yi didn’t reply, afraid that Sheng Qianheng would misunderstand his words again.
He was standing in front of a bronze mirror, so he noticed the moment Sheng Qianheng turned around. Chu Yi had just loosened the ties of his collar, and his top slid down like flowing water. He could only manage to cover the lotus-pink on his chest…
“Your Majesty, this subject hasn’t finished changing~”
Sheng Qianheng raised an eyebrow. Whether they tried on the wedding robe or not was no longer important to him. The robe was originally made to Chu Yi’s measurements, so it shouldn’t be wrong.
He reached out and gently hooked the garment, which was as thin as a cicada’s wing, and lifted it up to help Chu Yi put it back on. Then he took another step forward. “No need to change.”
Chu Yi had nowhere to retreat. Behind him was the bed, to his side was the bronze mirror, and the only way out was blocked by the colossal figure of Sheng Qianheng.
He swallowed. “Why… not change?”
Sheng Qianheng’s gaze fell on Chu Yi’s flushed neck and the bite mark on it. The wound was already slowly healing, but the xìnxiāng covering it would last for several more days.
“Chu Yi, in a few days, you will become my wife. Are you willing?”
Chu Yi shrank his shoulders and blinked blankly, not understanding what kind of answer Sheng Qianheng wanted for this question. Willing or not, it was already a foregone conclusion.
He looked into Sheng Qianheng’s eyes. “Sheng Qianheng, didn’t we say on the training grounds that day that I was willing? It’s just that this deep palace is full of schemes and deception, which I dislike. Moreover, the ministers in court are only happy for a moment that you are willing to take a consort. In the future, they will definitely submit memorials and remonstrances, urging you to select concubines and fill the harem. I can’t bear children, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to shut those ministers’ mouths for you.”
Sheng Qianheng had always thought that simply taking a Clear Heart Pill could suppress his desires, and that was how he had spent these years. But now, with Chu Yi standing before him, doing nothing at all, he could make him feel parched and consumed by desire.
“Chu Yi.”
Chu Yi: “What is it?”
Sheng Qianheng: “Chu Yi.”
He said nothing else, only repeating Chu Yi’s name.
Chu Yi was confused. What was wrong with Sheng Qianheng?
Chu Yi: “I’m here.”
Sheng Qianheng: “Chu Yi.”
Chu Yi: “Mm.”
Sheng Qianheng felt as if he had returned to his time in the Cold Palace, where only the mad and deranged abandoned consorts could talk to him.
It wasn’t until Chu Yi appeared that he had a playmate. No matter what nonsense he spouted, Chu Yi would always respond. He didn’t want to let go of Chu Yi; this was a wish that had been buried deep in his heart since childhood.
He raised a hand and wrapped it around Chu Yi’s lower back, pulling him into an embrace. The xìnxiāng on Chu Yi’s body was covered by his mark, so the scent was very faint, almost undetectable unless one was this close.
A faint medicinal fragrance rushed into his nasal cavity. Although it held no seductive meaning, it still made Sheng Qianheng lose his reason.
He kissed the side of Chu Yi’s neck, sucking gently. By his ear, Chu Yi’s breathing became ragged. Sheng Qianheng grew bolder. His broad palm lifted the hem of his top and slid inside, instantly feeling the line of Chu Yi’s waist~
Chu Yi was completely restrained in Sheng Qianheng’s embrace, with almost no possibility of movement. He raised his hands to push Sheng Qianheng away but found it was useless. In his panic, he shouted, “Sheng Qianheng… don’t…”
Sheng Qianheng seemed not to hear him.
Taking advantage of the moment Sheng Qianheng’s kisses shifted, Chu Yi managed to raise a hand and grab his hair, trying to make him clear his head. “Sheng Qianheng… I don’t want to…”
Sheng Qianheng only stopped when he felt the pain. He looked up at Chu Yi’s terrified eyes, which were as clear and innocent as a newborn child’s. “A-Yi, I want to. You once said that whatever I wanted, you would help me get it…”
Chu Yi stared at Sheng Qianheng’s wronged expression in disbelief. For a moment, he felt a pang of pity. But on second thought, a tyrant like Sheng Qianheng must have acted like this before seizing power to make others let down their guard…
Instantly sobered, Chu Yi could only think of a way to delay. “But… Your Majesty, I haven’t had time to adjust to the change in our relationship… You have to give me some time to adapt.”
Sheng Qianheng lowered his head and rested it on Chu Yi’s shoulder. “You know, I’ve never had much patience.”
One moment he was like a pitiful puppy, the next he had transformed into a predatory wolf…
Chu Yi knew that if he continued to defy him, he might really anger Sheng Qianheng. “Your Majesty… I… to attend the bedchamber, one must bathe. I was sweating just now, so I can’t attend you. Can I… after I’ve bathed…?”
