Chapter Twenty-one, Feeding Wine

“Pah!”

Xiao Zuo turned blank, and lifted his eyes up to see He Xuan take back his hand in slight disbelief. He Xuan loftily looked at him in disdain, and indifferently spoke, “Have Ig pampered you too much? Do you still remember who you are? Have Ig shown concern for you a bit these days, so you thought Ig was some great and kind person? Manage that mouth of yours, don’t act recklessly all day.”

Other than this half year at Jin, who was not afraid that Xiao Zuo would fall from their hands, afraid that he would melt when held in the mouth- after being pampered for almost twenty years, it was the first time in his life he had met with this kind of hardship and that searing sensation was still left on the cheek. Unknown if he was hurt or stubborn, Xiao Zuo could not help but tear up, and forcefully propped up his reddened eyes and fiercely glared at He Xuan, firmly biting on the lower lip without making a sound.

“Heh, throwing temper tantrums too?” He Xuan saw this silent face of his, and instead laughed out of anger from him, and then grabbed his wrist and went out.

“What are you doing!” Xiao Zuo sniffled, his voice was a bit muffled, carrying a slight accusatory tone that even he did not notice. He Xuan felt like his heart was being scratched by a cat, and did not pay heed to him, except, his legs quickened up, and diverted his attention to instruct the maid that followed along, “You guys guard outside, without mygu orders, no one is permitted to come in.”

He Xuan pulled Xiao Zuo into his bedchambers, and kicked the door open. He Xuan normally practised in martial arts, so when he used a bit more strength in his hand, he ended up making Xiao Zuo’s wrist completely red. Xiao Zuo also held it in, and only at the time he let go, he then hissed a bit.

“Hurts?” He Xuan saw him like that, and knitted his eyebrows and searched for a bottle of ointment in the drawer, and rubbed some on his wrist, then saw the left side of his face was still left with a few marks, and rubbed some there by the way.

That ointment seemed to be mixed with a few fragrant herbs, it had a cold fragrance to it, and strangely created a calming effect between the two.

Xiao Zuo pursed his lips, and lowered his eyes and stared at his feet, He Xuan did not pay attention to him either, and sat down by himself. The table in the bedchambers was prepared with some wine, he poured a cup full for himself, and started drinking on his own. Xiao Zuo really did not blame him either- in these days since he came to Jin, he had certainly received much of He Xuan’s graces, although He Xuan’s temper was not too good, he did have a bit of sincerity towards himself.

He did not know if it was because of the deepness of emotions- after all to him, He Xuan was, ever since the country fell, the sole person he could rely and trust in this foreign place.

Or perhaps he was still assuming the airs of his position, so he would then so angrily question those words, but in reality…… in He Xuan’s position, he certainly had no reason to do these things for him. Xiao Zuo knew he had overstepped the rules, but because the other person was He Xuan, he still felt a bit sullen in the end.

With many thoughts at play, Xiao Zuo did not speak up either, and only distantly stared at He Xuan. He Xuan was also thinking to other things[1] too- the mouth drank wine, yet his thoughts were hung up on Xiao Zuo. No matter how good the wine was, it was tasteless in the mouth. He Xuan saw that his dampened eyes carried some grievance looking at him- he could not take this kind of expression the most, Xiao Zuo also had a face he liked the most too, thus, even his iron heart softened up. He Xuan sighed, and beckoned at Xiao Zuo with his hand.

Seeing He Xuan express friendship, Xiao Zuo then made his way over in small steps like going down a camel along the hump, and stared at him.

“Do you know where you went wrong just now?”

Xiao Zuo hung his eyes down without saying a word.

“This is Jin, not Nan Liang.” He Xuan peered at the few drops of tears hung on the corners of his eyes, then reached out and used his fingers to wipe it for him. Xiao Zuo got scorched by the warmth on his fingers that he shrunk back a bit, but in the end, let him wipe it, “Those words you said just now, if any one of it were known to others, it would lead to execution. Though my crown prince residence is quite a lot better than that ducal residence of yours, it is not impenetrable. The walls have ears, how…… could I let you die.”

Xiao Zuo pinched his own finger, and lifted his eyes up to quickly glance at him, then opened his mouth. He originally want to say something, but did not expect to have a hiccup, making He Xuan laugh out loud. He also laughed too, and said, “I was not angry at you. I was too impatient just now.”

“Since you understand what you did wrong, do you feel it’s over after speaking about it?”

“What does your Highness want to do?” Xiao Xuo got tired from standing at this time, and sat beside He Xuan, then asked him.

He Xuan did not respond, and suddenly changed the topic, “Were any of the maids waiting in your room disobedient afterwards?”

“No….. none.” It was not some thing that could see the day of light after all, so Xiao Zuo answered obscurely, not knowing what He Xuan meant.

He Xuan narrowed his eyes, and suddenly leaned in close and asked, “Has Li Nu ever summoned anyone in to serve the night?”

That wine seemed to be the pear blossom spirits of Jin- there was a clean and sweet scent to it, at this time, He Xuan carried an air of alcohol, and when his childhood name was recited with a pretty much sentimental tone on He Xuan’s tongue, Xiao Zuo immediately felt all soft inside, and then accepted the wine He Xuan handed over and took a sip, then slightly bashfully shook his head, “Never……”

“Oh?” He Xuan raised his eyebrows as though he did not believe it, “Doesn’t the imperial family prepare a maid early on to teach you about human affairs?”

“Logically, they would. But Queen Mother was afraid that I would be led astray by those maids, and had never arranged one for me.” Xiao Zuo paused, unknown if he was too shy to speak or if the alcohol surged up, and he spoke with his face all red, “Besides, I also think, this thing must be done with the person I love.”

“Is that so?” Like he heard some curious thing, He Xuan laughed, and finished the wine in the cup in one gulp. He leaned his body in and used a hand to hook up Xiao Zuo’s chin, and carefully looked at those few red marks on his cheek.

“Wh…… what?” Xiao Zuo was a bit nervous by this action of his, he withdrew back a bit, and asked.

“Don’t move.” He Xuan’s fingers seemed like it carried some divine power- when lightly whisking over his slightly warm cheeks, it brought up a stretch of numbness, making Xiao Zuo unnaturally shake a bit. He Xuan lowly laughed, and the lower lip lightly touched his left side of the face, then this inappropriate kiss instantly dissipated. Xiao Zuo froze immediately, and vacantly looked at his hanging eyes.

The sensation beneath the lips was just as he imagined it to be.

“It won’t hurt after blowing on it.” He Xuan’s eyes seemed to be like an evil god that came from hell, carrying a power that penetrated into people’s hearts. He lightly blew on the original spot like he was attempting to hide it badly, densely blossoming with the fragrance of the pear blossom spirit.

Xiao Zuo’s head seemed like rust grew on it- after allowing He Xuan to do all this, he could not come to, and it was He Xuan who got up and asked him, “Sleep here tonight, I will find a guest room for you.”

After he finished speaking, he seemed to have recalled something. He Xuan turned his head, looked at the blank Xiao Zuo, then curled his lips mischievously, “You weren’t finished apologizing just now, there is still a bit of this pear blossom spirit left, how about you feed it to me?”

One would be familiar at the second time with this sort of thing, and just as Xiao Zuo was about to nod his head, He Xuan first reached out and tapped his lips, then bent his waist, so close one could feel the breath of alcohol on him, “Use this place to feed.”

Xiao Zuo froze, and tasted a bit of a ridicule from his smile. In Nan Liang, only the lowest of prostitutes would do this kind of thing to please their customers. He Xuan brought that jar of wine and placed it in front of him, as though he was certain he would not reject it.

Immediately, Xiao Zuo felt a penetrating hint of cold freeze over his limbs and bones. He pursed his lips and stared at the hand He Xuan was holding the jar with, went silent for a moment, then Xiao Zuo lightly sighed, and lifted his head up to look at He Xuan’s spuriously smiling eyes, “Your Highness, I may no longer be some noble now, but I am not some catamite that your Highness can randomly knead either. I’m afraid I will disappoint your Highness.”

The hand He Xuan was holding the jar of wine with froze for an instant, in front of his eyes, half of Xiao Zuo’s face was enveloped in the candlelight, making his skin fair like a delicate and fragile porcelain object. He half-closed his eyes, the slightly shaking neck was tender and slim, so frail like it could break with a reach of the hand.

[Makes him] really want to…… see what he looks like after being shattered. See the lashes stain with tears and the red on the corners of the eyes, as well as his slightly shaking back when he cries.

He Xuan’s throat couldn’t help but move once. He fixedly looked at Xiao Zuo’s appearance of heading to death, and suddenly curved his eyes and smiled, “Just playing with you, to think it would be worth being so angry over it.”

He Xuan then placed the jar down. Xiao Zuo saw his face did not seem worrisome, and then secretly let out a breath of relief, “Forgive me, your Highness.”

“Ig will have Ling Xiang tidy up the guest room, go with her.”

Xiao Zuo nodded his head, then got up to bid farewell. He Xuan did not look at him. He sat back again and played with the jar of wine in his hands, unsure if he really did not care about it or if he pretended to let it go. The hand Xiao Zuo hung by the side tightened, but in the end, he did not say anything, and followed Ling Xing outside the room and left.

“Duke, this servant will be leading you to the guest room.” Ling Xiang bowed, then walked ahead in small steps, “His Highness is quite caring for the duke, normally when guests come, his Highness would say it was not convenient to have them stay.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Zuo lowered his eyes, and silently followed behind her. Ling Xiang led him to a guest room not far from He Xuan’s bedchambers, and arrived once they turned past a corridor. Ling Xiang lit up the candle in the room, tidied the bedding for him, then retreated, “The blanket has already been washed, there is hot water just boiled on the table, is there anything else, Duke?”

“No, you can go back now.”

Ling Xiang responded, “Rest early then, Duke.”

Xiao Zuo closed the door, used some water to wash his face, and used the hot water to soak the feet, then laid inside the blankets. The blanket at the crown prince residence was a big red silk blanket, with gold threads used to embroider a four-clawed gold python soaring above the clouds spitting out mist. That glistening gold and red colour made Xiao Zuo’s eyes dizzy, he knitted his eyebrows and blew out the candle, then turned over.

Regarding the matter of Chang Fu Run yesterday, De Qing spoke to him about it again later on. De Qing persuaded him to make a good plan, if the crown prince was willing to help him, later when the crown prince ascends the throne, it was not like Nan Liang did not have any leeway to turn around. He also could not help but have this kind of thought- currently in the ducal residence, any random small maid serving could climb onto his bed, truthfully making people concerned. But if they had him use a catamite’s status to play up to He Xuan, he could not do it no matter what. But……

Xiao Zuo let out a deep sigh. What if it was through another position? Currently in the courts, the fourth prince also had some power, the intention of fighting for the position of crown prince was very obvious in Empress Liu’s faction, and the position of crown prince was not as stable as an impregnable fortress. If he could scheme for the crown prince, later on, when his Highness is victorious, exchanging it for Nan Liang’s peace should be more than enough.

The outside of the windows had wind rise up, blowing with a loud clamour. Xiao Zuo opened his eyes, then thought, he had learned that many ways of governing the country since he was young, the teacher spoke about that much tricks and military tactics, there was probably some use to it after all. No matter what, since he had promised Fu Run, he must do something. Let’s discuss with De Qing after going back, Xiao Zuo hazily thought.