Chapter 51

Qixue had never expected that Ji Yuheng would take the initiative to kiss him. Amid his surprise, a strange feeling stirred in his heart, making him realize more clearly than ever that Ji Yuheng admired him so deeply.

He did not dislike Ji Yuheng’s kiss—in fact, quite the opposite. The kiss quelled his anger, and suddenly, he was no longer so mad. He could not even explain why.

After waiting a moment and seeing no response from Ji Yuheng, Qixue lightly poked his arm. “Say something. Why did you kiss me?”

His tone was soft and light, without a trace of reproach. Instead, it carried a hint of shyness.

Ji Yuheng finally lifted his gaze, meeting Qixue’s shimmering eyes. His mind went blank, his face flushing from pale to red, then beet red. “I… I just wanted to do it, so I did.”

He had no defense for his presumptuous act and no desire to defend himself.

Moments ago, Qixue’s words had wounded him as if he had died once. But now, discovering that Qixue did not look at him with hatred, he felt like a man on death’s door granted a miraculous reprieve. He was so overjoyed that he had no need for explanations.

Watching the flustered Ji Yuheng, Qixue suddenly thought of a possibility. “You wanted to become the Crown Prince and stay in Shangjing… it couldn’t be for me, could it?”

These past few days, he had been too consumed by anger to seriously consider why Ji Yuheng had accepted the position as Crown Prince. Perhaps it truly had to do with him.

Ji Yuheng nodded and answered softly, “Yes, it was for you.”

With his guess confirmed, Qixue’s emotions were complicated. He was troubled, yet also a little happy. To be liked so much by Ji Yuheng actually pleased him. “You couldn’t bear to leave me?”

“It’s not just that I couldn’t bear to leave you.” Ji Yuheng gazed at him, his eyes as gentle as water. “It’s also to protect you.”

“The Great General was right. Because he wields such power over the court, he could become your favored consort. But I have nothing—a mere ordinary shizi. I have no right to stay by your side, let alone protect you fully. So I need to borrow the Crown Prince’s status to gain supreme imperial authority.”

“Only as Crown Prince can I contend with the Great General.”

“If the Great General forces you, you can come to me for help. I will never allow you to be coerced by him.”

“If His Majesty discovers the truth between you two, I can kill for you, destroy evidence for you. If necessary, even eliminate the Great General. Whatever you need, I can do it for you.”

Ji Yuheng said gently, “In the past, I chose to leave because I thought it was best for both of us. Now, I choose to stay because I can help you. I ask for nothing else—only that you are well.”

Qixue looked at him for a long time before saying softly, “You like me that much?”

“…Yes.” Ji Yuheng nodded shyly yet firmly.

“You’re like a little dog—so clingy and obedient.”

Qixue continued, “But I’ve treated you so poorly. What exactly do you like about me? Is it just because I’m beautiful?”

Ji Yuheng shook his head slightly. “I can’t deny that your beauty draws me, but it’s not the main reason. The first time I saw you, you were in your little rabbit form. I thought you were adorable—”

“Wait, hold on!” Qixue interrupted, stunned. “You knew I was a rabbit?”

Ji Yuheng paused. “So you thought I didn’t know? I’ve known from the start that you were the little rabbit. That night, I saw you in human form sprout rabbit ears and a tail with my own eyes. I even…”

He suddenly fell silent. Qixue pressed, “Even what?”

“Even…” Ji Yuheng found it hard to say, embarrassed. “Even touched your tail.”

Qixue eyed him up and down. “Yun Qi, I knew you were depraved, but I didn’t realize how much. I know you like small animals. Don’t tell me you don’t like pure humans—you just like people transformed from animals?”

Ji Yuheng’s face turned crimson, flustered. “I don’t know… I’m only devoted to you. I’ve never liked anyone else, but…”

Qixue suddenly sprouted two fluffy white rabbit ears and propped his cheek on his hand as he asked Ji Yuheng, “Am I cute?”

“Very cute…” Ji Yuheng could not deny it.

Qixue’s rabbit ears twitched playfully, deliberately teasing Ji Yuheng’s heartstrings. “You can continue. Why do you like me?”

Ji Yuheng was so flustered by the provocation that he had to look away, his gaze landing on the gauze canopy. “I thought you were cute, and because of that night’s intimacy, I never forgot you. I wanted so badly to find you and talk.”

“I searched for you for so long, nearly combing all of Nanping County, but I could never find you. The harder it was to find you, the deeper my obsession grew, and the stronger my desire to see you became.”

Qixue asked, “Once you found me, what did you want to talk about?”

Ji Yuheng said, “I wanted to discuss that night with you, ask if you’d come back with me. If you were willing, I’d take responsibility for you and marry you as my wife.”

He took a deep breath and confessed to Qixue, “The jade bracelet on your wrist was my maternal grandmother’s treasured possession, also my mother’s dowry. Mother entrusted it to me, hoping I’d give it to the one I love as a token of betrothal. That’s why I gave it to you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand. If you don’t want it, that’s fine—you can return it to me. I won’t give it to anyone else later.”

“…”

Qixue looked at the jade bracelet on his wrist with a subtle expression.

So it was both a token of betrothal from His Majesty and from Ji Yuheng. And now, nominally, the two of them were still father and son…

Qixue immediately decided to keep this strictly secret. Only he could know—no one else. Otherwise, it would stir up a storm of blood, and he might not even keep the bracelet.

He gently covered the jade bracelet and said to Ji Yuheng, “Since you gave it to me, it’s mine now. Are you really that stingy, wanting to take it back?”

Ji Yuheng’s face lit up with intense joy. “You’re willing to keep it? I’m truly happy.”

Qixue twirled the jade bracelet, unable to resist teasing him. “Giving a token of betrothal to your stepmother—only you could do something so depraved. And you call yourself a gentleman. If all gentlemen are like you, Great Yong would be doomed.”

Ji Yuheng smiled bitterly. “I’m no gentleman anymore.”

Qixue said, “But I hate gentlemen the most. Scoundrels like you are more to my liking. Come here.”

He beckoned Ji Yuheng with a finger. Ji Yuheng obediently knelt by the bed. The palm print on his face was still vividly red, but he wasn’t afraid of Qixue hitting him—only of Qixue despising or ignoring him.

Ji Yuheng thought Qixue’s temper was unpredictable; perhaps he was about to be hit again. He lowered his head obediently, waiting. But instead, Qixue kissed his lips—not a light peck, but with a soft tongue pressing against his teeth.

Ji Yuheng’s body went rigid.

This was something he had not even dared dream of, yet it was happening for real.

Reason told him he should push Qixue away. Qixue was his mother concubine now; this was wrong, a violation of ethics and heaven’s principles. They should not continue.

But another thought surfaced: Qixue had kissed him first. His mother concubine needed him. As her son, wouldn’t refusing her be the real violation of ethics and heaven’s principles?

He found a justification for himself, then immediately rejected it all—he was no gentleman anymore. He needed no excuses. He simply followed his heart, wanting to respond to Qixue and kiss his beloved.

Even if it was all wrong, he would keep going wrong. From the night he met Qixue, there had been no turning back. He was destined to shatter to pieces, beyond redemption.

And he was willing.

Ji Yuheng embraced Qixue. Overwhelmed by excitement and tension, his body trembled slightly. His cool palms clasped Qixue’s slender waist. He parted his teeth and kissed back clumsily.

Compared to the experienced Qixue, he was too green, his kissing skills poor. Fortunately, Qixue did not mind, and as a quick learner, he soon mimicked well enough to leave Qixue overwhelmed.

“Mm…”

Qixue hooked his arms around Ji Yuheng’s neck, his body growing softer as they kissed, practically melting against him.

His original intent had only been to circulate the Dual Cultivation Technique, passing a strand of demon power into Ji Yuheng’s mouth to erase the slap mark on his face. He had not expected Ji Yuheng to kiss back—and worse, he was addicted to the kiss, unable to let go.

It felt too good. Ji Yuheng’s constitution drew him in so easily. A simple hug before had made him like it so much; now this kiss made his tail go numb with pleasure. He was about to lose it.

Qixue’s eyes grew wet and hazy, his chin slick with saliva, his face flushed as he clung to Ji Yuheng. His mind could hold nothing else; he could not release him.

In his last shred of reason, he pinned his hopes on Ji Yuheng to pull away first. But this time, he had misjudged. Ji Yuheng would never let go—he only kissed more fiercely.

“Haah…”

Qixue kissed until he was dazed, tears falling like pearls. He whimpered, grabbing Ji Yuheng’s hand and placing it on his rabbit ears. “Touch them… quick, touch me…”

“Mother Concubine.” Ji Yuheng pressed their foreheads together and murmured, “Who am I?”

“…Who are you?” Qixue echoed in a daze, his obsidian eyes misty. “You’re Ji Yuheng.”

“Yes, it’s me.” Ji Yuheng coaxed him softly. “You can call me ‘Yun Qi.’ Call me once, and I’ll touch you.”

“Yun Qi…”

Qixue threw himself into his arms, licking at his lips eagerly. “Touch me quick.”

“Okay.”

Ji Yuheng gently placed his palm on the snow-white rabbit ears.

This time, it was not “Seventh Brother,” nor anyone else. It was just him—just Yun Qi.