Chapter 93: Extra 3 – Side CP (Part 6)
Chu Rui had been troubled by the false pregnancy for these past few days. Every morning, he would feel a faint nausea, and his appetite was almost nonexistent.
He leaned against the dragon throne, rubbing his temples to relieve the discomfort. He looked up slightly and saw Suifeng standing outside the room.
He had explicitly forbidden Suifeng from entering the hall to serve him, lest he be distracted. But that Suifeng seemed to be deliberately causing trouble, not protecting his younger brother, Chu Yi, but waiting outside his hall.
He stood up and personally closed the window. Out of sight, out of mind.
At lunchtime, Suifeng entered the hall with the maids who were delivering the food.
Chu Rui pretended not to see him. Just as he sat down at the dining table and was about to pick up his chopsticks to get some food, a wave of stomach acid surged up.
He immediately turned around and dry heaved nonstop. Seeing this, Suifeng immediately ordered all the maids to withdraw. He served Chu Rui alone.
Suifeng poured a cup of tea and helped him drink a few mouthfuls. “Are you better?”
A lot of sweat broke out on Chu Rui’s forehead, and his face grew a little paler. “It’s fine. You can go out. Gu does not need anyone to serve me.”
Suifeng had repeatedly disobeyed orders and been insubordinate. He was not afraid of one more time. He picked up a mouthful of light vegetarian food and held it to Chu Rui’s lips. “The King does not need to drive this subject away. This subject will leave on my own after the King has recovered.”
Even if Chu Rui was furious, he could not drive Suifeng away. He said coldly, “Gu will not remarry. If you want to be Gu’s Royal Consort, Gu advises you to die this heart as soon as possible.”
Suifeng let out a soft laugh. Was he such a vain person in Chu Rui’s eyes?
He pinched Chu Rui’s chin, forcing him to look at him. “King, this subject has never had any intention of being the Royal Consort.”
Chu Rui was puzzled. Then why had he argued with him a few days ago? If he didn’t want the position of Royal Consort, what else could he want? Him?
He was already this old. What was there to covet? Or was he coveting the land of Qianlin under his feet?
He pinched Suifeng’s wrist and asked, “If you’re not coveting the position of Royal Consort, are you trying to seize my power?”
Suifeng’s gaze fell on Chu Rui’s hand. It was the first time in these past few days that Chu Rui had been so close to him. He only felt as if it were a nightmare, unbelievable.
Seeing that he was actually distracted by something else, Chu Rui immediately reached out and poked Suifeng’s chest. “You’re in my hall, yet I don’t know who you’re thinking of.”
Only then did Suifeng come back to his senses. He pinched Chu Rui’s palm, his fingertips unconsciously caressing it. He knew that his status was low, and in the end, he had been hoping for too much. “King, who else could this subject be thinking of…”
Chu Rui only felt as if he were holding a hot potato. He wanted to pull his hand back but couldn’t. He could only not look at Suifeng, his words already incomprehensible.
“You… what are you asking for, Gu… you… get out!”
Only Chu Rui’s intermittent whispers were left in the room. Suifeng carefully looked at his increasingly flushed face and couldn’t help but tease, “King, why are you so flustered? This subject won’t eat the King.”
Chu Rui turned his back, forced down the urge to dry heave, withdrew his hand, and said coldly, “In a few days, Yi’er will have to go back to Da Mo. You should not stay here with Gu either. You should protect Yi’er well.”
Suifeng reached out and pinched Chu Rui’s chin, slowly leaning in. He deliberately lowered his voice and said, “Why does the King always drive me away?”
Chu Rui pushed away Suifeng’s hand and quickly stood up. “Gu is just advising you not to neglect your duties.”
Suifeng was a little disappointed. “There are countless hidden guards by His Highness’s side. This subject is not needed to protect him at all times.”
Chu Rui was at a loss for words for a moment. He picked up some food and slowly forced himself to eat a few mouthfuls.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
It wasn’t until Suifeng really couldn’t stand this stalemate that he asked, “King, this subject wants to have a good talk with the King.”
Chu Rui immediately interrupted, “If you’re talking about the matter of the Royal Consort, Gu has nothing to say to you.”
Suifeng looked at Chu Rui’s unapproachable appearance in a daze, only feeling extremely hurt. He had figured out Chu Rui’s temper these past few days. He stood up, walked around Chu Rui, and walked to the entrance of the hall, his hand on the door. “Since the King does not like this subject, then this subject will leave… The King should still take care of your body.”
Seeing that Suifeng was actually pushing the door open, Chu Rui wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he could only stare blankly at his departing back.
He sat alone at the desk, looking down at the full table of food, but he no longer had any appetite.
After so many years, he was still alone. He had thought that one day, he would be better after Nianci had passed away.
But today, for some reason, he was irritable…
In the end, he still couldn’t eat. He locked himself in the council hall all day to stop himself from letting his imagination run wild.
————
On the day that Chu Yi set off for Da Mo, Suifeng had never disturbed Chu Rui again.
The two of them were so anxious that Chu Yi was spinning in circles. He looked at Suifeng beside him and asked, “Are you really not staying and staying by my older brother’s side?”
Suifeng nodded. “Some things cannot be forced. Since the King is unwilling, this subject can do nothing.”
Chu Yi had originally thought that his older brother would at least see him off when he set off today. He had never thought that his older brother would actually refuse on the grounds of being busy with state affairs.
He squinted slightly at Suifeng, always feeling that the relationship between the two of them should be more complicated than he had thought.
Suifeng was a little awkward and smiled awkwardly. “Your Ladyship, why are you looking at this subject like that?”
Chu Yi crossed his arms and couldn’t help but ask, “What on earth did you do to make my older brother dislike you so much?”
Suifeng smiled faintly and did not speak. Lianfang leaned close to Chu Yi’s ear and whispered.
After Chu Yi found out, he covered his lips, his face full of disbelief. It was actually like this!
But on second thought, Suifeng was half a head taller than his older brother. It should be like this.
It was just that his older brother had been… straight for so many years? To be suddenly pressed down, it should be really difficult to accept.
It seemed that the two of them still had a long way to go.
Chu Yi got on the carriage to set off, and Suifeng escorted him all the way.
Chu Rui was unwilling to meet Suifeng. He could only stand on the city wall and watch his younger brother go back to Da Mo from a distance.
But for some reason, his gaze always unconsciously shifted to Suifeng.
Chu Rui’s false pregnancy symptoms lasted for nearly a month before they completely disappeared.
Everything finally returned to normal.
When Chu Rui had some free time, he would go to the Royal Consort’s hall and sit for a while, talking to himself in front of the portrait.
Seeing her father-king being so strange, Chu Mingzhao couldn’t help but worry.
She quietly stepped forward, tugged on her father-king’s sleeve, and asked, “Father-king, what’s wrong with you?”
Chu Rui rubbed Chu Mingzhao’s cheek and comforted her softly, “Father-king is fine. I’m just thinking of your mother-consort.”
Although Chu Mingzhao was still young, her mother-consort had been frail and had told her a lot of things. She led Chu Rui to her mother-consort’s bed.
She took out a handwritten letter from her mother-consort from a secret compartment.
Chu Rui unfolded it and looked at it carefully.
Greetings. By the time you open this letter, Nianci may have already left you. Nianci once instructed Zhao’er not to let you see this letter early.
Though I have a thousand words in my heart, it is difficult to find a beginning when I write. You have always strictly abided by the ancestral teachings and have been very self-disciplined. No matter how Nianci tried to persuade you, you have always been firm.
However, you should also have the right to live for yourself. Why must you be burdened by the title of the King of Qianlin all day? Nianci, as the Royal Consort, has long been trapped in this golden cage and cannot be free. Jingyan, if you still remember Nianci’s past feelings, then listen to Nianci this one time. Think more for yourself, do those things that truly move your heart, and love the person who can make your heart fall.
You and I are both members of the royal family and are not in control of our own lives. Nianci knows that you have deep feelings for me, only because you can only marry me in this lifetime. Jingyan, I love you, but you are not my everything, and I am not your destination…
Although we now have two children, and your feelings for me have also changed slightly, Nianci knows in my heart that you married me, not because of love.
Jingyan, Nianci begs you, for the sake of these many years of affection, to think more for yourself in the future. From the day I was pregnant with little An’er, Nianci knew that my days were numbered. Nianci only hopes to be free soon, and also to let you be free from this invisible shackle.
Jingyan, the ancestral teachings are an old custom. Since they have bound Nianci, don’t let them bind you anymore. Nianci has already let go. I hope you can do the same.
Nianci’s last words
Chu Rui didn’t know when his face had been covered in tears. Zhao’er reached out and wiped away the tear stains with her sleeve. “Father-king, don’t cry. Zhao’er was still young when mother-consort wrote this letter. Zhao’er doesn’t understand…”
Chu Rui pulled Chu Mingzhao into his embrace and sobbed uncontrollably.
Back then, neither he nor Nianci had a choice. He was forced to marry Nianci as his Royal Consort. At first, the two of them treated each other with respect. Even though they slept in the same room, they still slept under two separate quilts.
But for some reason, the news had actually reached the late king’s ears. He had actually had someone put a drug in their food to facilitate their consummation, and then she had gotten pregnant with Chu Mingzhao.
The relationship between the two of them had eased slightly due to the pregnancy. Over time, their feelings had grown deeper, and they had made many vows.
Chu Rui had thought that Nianci didn’t know these things, but he never expected her to see it so clearly. He had played the role of a qualified husband and father, but he didn’t know when he had lost himself.
He was now the King of Qianlin and could no longer live for himself as Nianci had said in her letter.
But were the ancestral teachings really as improper as Nianci and Chu Yi had said?
He held Chu Mingzhao tightly and said in a low voice, “Zhao’er, Father-king is fine. Father-king will definitely take good care of you and little An’er.”
For some reason, Chu Mingzhao also started to cry. He clearly remembered what his mother-consort had instructed her back then and said in detail, “Father-king, when mother-consort was alive, she instructed Zhao’er not to stop Father-king from finding a stepmother for Zhao’er… Mother-consort said that Father-king will still need someone to take care of him in the future, but she can no longer be with Zhao’er and Father-king.”
Chu Rui cupped Chu Mingzhao’s face and said, “Zhao’er, Father-king will definitely not let anyone wrong you and little An’er.”
Chu Mingzhao wiped her face randomly. “Mm, Father-king, don’t cry. Mother-consort will be unhappy.”
Chu Rui nodded.
Although Da Mo had moved its capital a long time ago, it was now only twenty li away from Qianlin.
But Chu Yi’s return to Qianlin to visit his relatives all depended on his mood. It had already been more than half a year since the last time.
If it wasn’t mentioned, Chu Rui had almost forgotten the mistake from half a year ago.
Recently, his Passion Tide Period had come again.
This time, he had locked himself in his bedchamber early…
But the maid serving him had actually written a letter and sent it to Da Mo on a fast horse.
The moment Chu Yi received the note, he summoned Suifeng. After giving him detailed instructions, he had him set off for Qianlin.
By the time Suifeng arrived at the Qianlin royal palace, he had entered the bedchamber with ease. He walked toward the bed, but he couldn’t find Chu Rui’s figure.
He searched the entire bedchamber from top to bottom but couldn’t find Chu Rui. He immediately pressed the maid, “Where is your king?”
The maid shook her head repeatedly. “This servant does not know…”
Suifeng was so anxious that he was sweating. If a Qianyuan in his Passion Tide Period was not relieved, at best he would faint, at worst he would hurt himself.
For the first time, he wished that he were a Qianyuan or a Kunze. This way, he could easily find Chu Rui by his xìnxiāng.
He ordered his men to search the hall one by one for Chu Rui’s figure.
In the end, he found Chu Rui in the hall where he had rested half a year ago.
He looked at the unconscious Chu Rui hidden in the wardrobe and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Suifeng reached out and carried him out, carefully looking for any signs of injury on Chu Yi’s body.
He wanted to pull off the clothes that Chu Rui was holding in his arms, but he never expected to wake him up. Suifeng whispered, “Are you alright?”
Chu Rui only thought that he was hallucinating. He had thought a lot in this half a year but couldn’t persuade himself to let go of his pride.
He thought that perhaps after a long time, his feelings for Suifeng would naturally dissipate.
But recently, when he was troubled by his Passion Tide Period, he couldn’t help but think of Suifeng. Unconsciously, he had found the hall where Suifeng had lived.
He took out any clothes that had Suifeng’s scent and sniffed them. But Suifeng was just a Zhongyong. After half a year, there was no scent left.
He hid in the wardrobe and couldn’t help but sob. When had he become like this…
He looked up at the Suifeng before him, let out a soft laugh, caressed his lips, and said, “You actually appeared in Gu’s dream? It’s been half a year, and you’re still pestering Gu. What do you want Gu to do?”
Suifeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He pulled down Chu Rui’s hand and asked, “King, do you know what you’re saying?”
Chu Rui leaned lightly on Suifeng’s shoulder and said, “Gu also doesn’t know what Gu is saying… Gu only knows that I can’t forget you no matter what.”
Suifeng suddenly felt his heartbeat become chaotic. He looked at Chu Rui’s hazy eyes, afraid that he would not recognize him again after he woke up.
He immediately cupped Chu Rui’s face, stared into his eyes, and asked, “King, are you thinking of this subject, thinking of this subject? Are you fond of… this subject?”
Chu Rui also didn’t know what liking was, what being fond of was. He had lived for so many years and had only had a relationship with Nianci, but in the end, it was forced. At first, although he had no feelings for Nianci, he had accepted it after a long time.
He only knew that Suifeng seemed to have taken up residence in his heart, and he couldn’t erase him no matter what.
He thought that he must be having a nightmare and unconsciously revealed the matter that had been buried deep in his heart. “So what if I’m thinking of you? Gu is the King of Qianlin and can only marry one person in my lifetime.”
Suifeng reached out and cupped the back of Chu Rui’s neck, leaned down and took his lips, tasting them carefully, not letting go of a single bit…
Chu Rui only thought it was a dream and thought, what’s wrong with being presumptuous for once?
The bed in the side hall was not as sturdy as the one in Chu Rui’s hall. The creaking of the wood sounded all night…
