Chapter 9: Heart’s Delight
Wen Ning’an felt himself being thrown onto the soft Dragon Bed, and then Feng Qi loomed over him, pressing down.
“Huaitian! You…” His next words were blocked by Feng Qi’s lips.
Wen Ning’an’s eyes widened. Feng Qi first bit down hard on his lips, then his tongue swept into his mouth, scraping provocatively, invading and conquering. Wen Ning’an was kissed until he was dazed, his mouth hanging open powerlessly as Feng Qi ground against him relentlessly. He felt the air growing thin, and his cheeks gradually turned a deep red.
When Feng Qi was finally willing to end it, Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but take a deep breath, panting to ease the feeling of near-suffocation.
This kiss did not calm Feng Qi down. On the contrary, looking at Wen Ning’an’s flushed cheeks, his misty eyes, and the body faintly visible beneath the loose outer robe, he only felt his mouth and tongue go dry as the wicked fire in his belly grew stronger. His skin, soft and pink from the hot spring, was a torment to Feng Qi’s senses.
Seeing Feng Qi reach out and tear open his upper garment, Wen Ning’an was startled and subconsciously used his inner energy to strike Feng Qi’s hand away.
Feng Qi frowned and secretly circulated his own energy, using one hand to pin both of Wen Ning’an’s hands above his head, while the other continued to rip at the thin garment hanging halfway off Wen Ning’an’s chest.
Wen Ning’an’s inner energy was no match for Feng Qi’s. His hands were still pinned tightly, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of indignation. He had never once won against Feng Qi in their spars since they were young. And for the past two years, he had been practicing daily at the frontier, far more diligently than Feng Qi. How could Feng Qi’s inner energy still be stronger than his? To be able to hold back both of his hands with just one—it simply defied all logic!
Feng Qi put on a relaxed face, but in reality, a few beads of sweat slid down his temples.
During the stalemate, Wen Ning’an’s outer robe was torn open. He felt a sudden chill as his chest and its alluring peaks were exposed to Feng Qi’s eyes.
Wen Ning’an grew anxious and kicked out at Feng Qi. However, because he was nervous, he didn’t seem to control the force very well…
Thud—
Feng Qi sat on the floor, staring blankly at the equally stunned Wen Ning’an, who was half-undressed on the Dragon Bed. They looked at each other, caught completely off guard by the situation.
Coming back to his senses, Feng Qi’s face flushed red. He had suffered a huge shock. He had actually been kicked off his own Dragon Bed by Wen Ning’an…
Feng Qi felt that not even the tempting pink on Wen Ning’an’s chest could soothe his damaged male pride.
“Huaitian, I…”
“Wen Ning’an, you have some nerve!”
With a wooden expression, Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an, who was half-kneeling on his Dragon Bed, and tried to maintain the dignity of the Son of Heaven, suppressing his own embarrassment.
“This subject’s crime deserves ten thousand deaths,” Wen Ning’an said, lowering his head. He didn’t dare to go forward and help the man up, and he felt he had been truly foolish. He had definitely angered him. He was filled with regret and helplessness all at once.
Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an on the bed, stammering and holding back. Seeing that he couldn’t count on him, he finally spoke, feigning composure. “Help me up. I’ve thrown out my back.”
…
“…”
“Pfft.” Wen Ning’an covered his mouth.
Feng Qi’s face remained expressionless, showing no emotion.
After Wen Ning’an helped Feng Qi up, Feng Qi pressed down on him, making him sit on the edge of the bed, then said, “I’m going outside to cool down.”
Seeing Feng Qi leave the bedchamber with hurried steps, Wen Ning’an could no longer hold back and started giggling.
Feng Qi only returned to the room after Wen Ning’an had fallen asleep.
Feng Qi couldn’t understand why Wen Ning’an was so resistant to being intimate with him. Hadn’t they done it before? Although, after that, he had done many hurtful things to Wen Ning’an…
Feng Qi sighed. He thought to himself that it was only natural for Wen Ning’an to be unable to accept such an intimate act with him right now. It was all his fault for being a fool before. Now, being with Wen Ning’an like this, taking it slow, Feng Qi felt that his dull days had become bright and lively, filled with much more fun, excitement, and anticipation.
It was as happy as when they were young, except now there was an added layer of ambiguity that hadn’t existed before…
The sky was just beginning to lighten at dawn when Feng Qi woke up early. His injuries had completely healed, so his leave was over, and the morning court session had resumed.
From his time in the army, Wen Ning’an had developed a habit of being constantly alert, so he was immediately woken by the rustling sound of Feng Qi getting dressed.
Seeing the maids changing Feng Qi into his court robes, Wen Ning’an asked, “Has the morning court resumed today?”
He had been with Feng Qi for the past two days and hadn’t received the summons from the cabinet. The Wen Residence must have known he was in the palace and thus hadn’t sent anyone to inform him specifically.
“Yes, but you don’t need to go to court today. I’m giving you a special pardon.” Seeing Wen Ning’an about to get up, Feng Qi added, “To avoid the storm.”
Wen Ning’an immediately understood what “storm” he was referring to. That day, Feng Qi had shown such blatant favoritism towards him, causing the Xu family to lose both Xu Ren and the Ministry of War. They would surely not let the matter rest.
Feng Qi smiled. “I’m not afraid of the Xu family causing trouble, but I don’t want you to be wronged.”
At this moment, Feng Qi was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, woven from the finest silk and peacock feathers with gold thread. A fierce-looking dragon was coiled on it, its head on the left chest and its tail on the hem. The waist and hem were adorned with colorful cloud patterns, making it look noble and luxurious. Paired with the haughty smile on his lips, it made Wen Ning’an lose himself in a daze for no reason.
Wen Ning’an got up, took the crown and belt from the maid beside Feng Qi, and said with a smile, “I’ll do it.”
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow.
Wen Ning’an leaned over and carefully fastened the belt for Feng Qi. Feng Qi saw that Wen Ning’an’s head was almost resting on his chest, his hands wrapped around his waist, as if embracing him.
“…Your Majesty!”
Feng Qi suddenly reached out and hugged Wen Ning’an tightly. Wen Ning’an was startled, and his cheeks immediately flushed red. The maids beside them all lowered their heads in unison. The servants attending to Feng Qi had all been carefully selected by Fu Che; they were all tactful, observant, and tight-lipped. Feng Qi wasn’t worried about any news leaking out and pushing Wen Ning’an into the eye of the storm.
However, even when it was just the two of them, Wen Ning’an was usually extremely flustered, let alone now. He tried to struggle, but Feng Qi held him very tightly.
“Your Majesty, you’ll be late for morning court. Don’t fool around.”
Feng Qi lowered his head and nuzzled Wen Ning’an’s neck. “I don’t want to go to court anymore. I want to be with you.”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
Hearing this, why do I sound so much like a disastrous beauty who brings ruin to the country…
Feng Qi continued, “The emperor and the general remove their battle robes, to spend a warm spring night in the hibiscus-curtained bed. If only the flying general of Dragon City were here, from now on, the ruler would not hold morning court.”
The maids beside them all blushed.
Wen Ning’an: “…”
“Huaitian… where did you hear that from?”
Feng Qi said, “From a popular little storybook. Fu Che gave it to me before, saying it could relieve boredom in my spare time. I even specifically asked him to find little storybooks about an emperor and a general.”
Fu Che, standing to the side, silently lowered his head.
“Stop fooling around.” Wen Ning’an smiled and shook his head, fastening the belt properly. He then stood on his tiptoes slightly to place the crown on Feng Qi’s head. After adjusting the jade hairpin and pearl tassels, Wen Ning’an said, “There.”
Before leaving, Feng Qi turned back. “Yixin, from now on, dress me every day, will you?”
Wen Ning’an just smiled, and the last thing Feng Qi saw before leaving the bedchamber was Wen Ning’an, dressed in a soft, loose white inner robe, sitting on the edge of the bed and smiling warmly at him.
And so, during the morning court session that day, the ministers of all departments were extremely puzzled. Why did the Emperor seem to be in a particularly good mood today?
Fu Che, standing to the side, lowered his head and thought, This… is also quite good.
Since Wen Ning’an was not attending court today, he asked a maid to bring Xingxing to him.
If a wolf cub isn’t trained and bonded with from a young age, it won’t be close to its master when it grows up and might even bite or attack them.
Wen Ning’an sat on the steps outside the bedchamber. Seeing that the wolf cub brought by the maid was tied up, he was about to untie it. Seeing this, one of the eunuchs standing beside him hurriedly reminded him, “General Wen, this cub hasn’t been tamed yet. If you untie it, it will attack people! A maid was bitten by it yesterday when she was feeding it.”
The servants Feng Qi had left to attend to Wen Ning’an were all terrified. If General Wen was injured, given Feng Qi’s temperament, they might not even be able to keep their lives!
“It’s alright, I’ll be careful.” Wen Ning’an shook his head inwardly. These servants probably thought of him as one of Feng Qi’s favored concubines. But he was a general who had fought on the battlefield, not a delicate woman in the deep palace. What could a mere adolescent wolf cub do to him?
After Wen Ning’an untied Xingxing, sure enough, it let out an “awoo” and opened its mouth to bite the back of Wen Ning’an’s hand. With a straight face, amidst the servants’ cries of alarm, Wen Ning’an grabbed the scruff of Xingxing’s neck and lifted it up.
With its scruff held, Xingxing was clearly less arrogant. It let out a few low “awoos,” glaring fiercely at Wen Ning’an, but its paws clearly didn’t dare to move.
Wen Ning’an chuckled and poked the soft belly that Xingxing was exposing to him with his index finger.
“Just like Huaitian.”
Wen Ning’an held Xingxing in one hand and, with the other, took a fragrant piece of meat from a servant and dangled it in front of Xingxing’s mouth. The angle at which he dangled it was very subtle; it allowed the aroma of the meat to drift into Xingxing’s nose, but didn’t let it reach it.
“Awooo—”
Xingxing’s cries were miserable, the volume echoing through the sky.
Seeing Xingxing’s wide, hungry eyes fixed on the meat in his hand, its claws flailing as it wriggled, Wen Ning’an placed the piece of meat on the steps and then let go of Xingxing.
Once free, Xingxing snatched the meat and immediately ran off.
Wen Ning’an used his lightness skill and easily leaped over Xingxing, landing in front of it. Xingxing was terrified and turned to run in another direction.
Xingxing ran very fast, afraid of being grabbed by the neck by Wen Ning’an again.
Wen Ning’an repeated his old trick, constantly blocking Xingxing’s path. The man and the wolf played a game of chase in the garden. After repeating this several times, Xingxing finally gave up, understanding that it was no match for Wen Ning’an. It reluctantly stopped and rubbed against Wen Ning’an’s leg.
Since I can’t outrun him anyway, I might as well suck up. Maybe there’ll be more delicious meat! If I anger him, not only will I get grabbed by my little neck, I might even get hit! Sob!
Wen Ning’an smiled, picked Xingxing up, and sat down on the steps. He gently stroked Xingxing’s head with one hand and fed it pieces of meat with the other. First, he subdued it with authority, then he won it over with affection. With both the stick and the carrot, how could he be afraid that this naive little wolf cub wouldn’t submit?
Wen Ning’an gently stroked the thick fur on Xingxing’s head and then scratched under its chin. Being petted and fed meat, Xingxing was so comfortable that it started purring. It then fawningly rubbed against Wen Ning’an and licked the back of his hand.
Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but laugh. How could this little thing be so shamelessly fawning? It had no backbone at all, completely different from a majestic wolf!
Just as he was affectionately playing with Xingxing, a servant came to report, “General Wen, Consort Xu has forced her way in.”
Before the words were even finished, a commotion could be heard not far away. When Wen Ning’an looked up, he saw a woman standing at the main gate of the garden, followed by a large entourage of attendants and maids, marching towards him in a mighty procession.
Wen Ning’an frowned.
The Emperor’s bedchamber, and a mere consort can just barge in as she pleases. The Xu family is truly lawless… Relying on the power of the Empress Dowager and the Xu family in the court, this woman was fearless.
Furthermore, knowing full well that Feng Qi was at morning court and not in the bedchamber, what was this woman planning to do by coming at this time?
