SEHE Chapter 67

Confession 

Despite Pei Yanci’s vast experience and knowledge, he couldn’t help but be startled by this unexpected declaration, momentarily stunned in the other’s embrace.

He couldn’t understand what could have possibly made Gu Jiuqing think he could marry him.

There had been no signs whatsoever before this.

“Your Highness, please don’t make such jokes.” Two breaths later, he immediately pushed against the arms confining him, only to be held even tighter.

What was this Crown Prince scheming now?

He didn’t believe for a moment that this person had developed genuine feelings for him—unless there was some advantage to be gained.

“Yanci, I’m being serious.” Gu Jiuqing’s breathing was labored.

The scorching breath fiercely washed over the tender flesh at the side of his neck, making Pei Yanci’s scalp tingle.

“After experiencing such intense emotional turbulence, Your Highness would do best not to make decisions lightly.” His tone was gentle, carrying a soothing quality, as well as an indifferent detachment. “Your Highness, you don’t favor men.”

The rare feelings of gratitude and attachment stirring in this person’s heart now were merely because he had saved his life in a desperate situation, nothing more.

“This prince does not favor men, but you are different.” Gu Jiuqing released his hold, forcefully suppressing the slight embarrassment in his heart, and looked earnestly into his eyes. “This prince is fond of you.”

In his pale-colored eyes, the eternal ice that had remained unmoved for ten thousand years now melted into water, suffused with threads of vulnerable helplessness and uncertainty, as if the hardest armor had been pierced through, rarely revealing the softness within.

“Because this humble one just saved your life?” Pei Yanci smiled faintly.

“No. Before this…” He wasn’t sure if there had been, and his voice inexplicably grew softer.

Pei Yanci remained noncommittal.

“Are you not happy about this?” He couldn’t help feeling somewhat puzzled, then turned cold and mocking. “You still have feelings for Wu Luo? What can he bring you? He’s your burden, your stumbling block. With him, you’ll never be able to turn your life around!”

“He’s already near death.” Gu Jiuqing slowed his tone, his warm fingers gently brushing aside the stray hair at his forehead. His rapid breathing wantonly invaded Pei Yanci’s nostrils and cheeks, also exposing that his inner state was not as cold and calm as his expression suggested.

“If you become this prince’s secondary consort, from now on you’ll be completely freed from your slave status. Isn’t this what you’ve always hoped for? Glory and wealth will be within easy reach. When you help this prince ascend to the throne, if you wish to be second only to one and above ten thousand, it won’t be difficult at all.”

“Whatever you want, this prince can give you.”

With his words, warm, soft lips lightly touched his nose tip, ear, and temples. He had never imagined that one day he would become feverish from these fleeting, barely-there pecks.

Others had always evaluated him as aloof and self-possessed, proud and cold as frost and snow. His body rarely generated desire for carnal pleasure, and he held lofty contempt for those dominated by such emotions.

The moment before he embraced Pei Yanci, it had merely been an impulsive desire for a bit of warmth.

Until the instant their bodies made contact, somehow, he blurted out those words.

Pei Yanci lacked a woman’s soft beauty, clearly carrying a man’s crisp and forthright masculine aura, with an upright and flexible physique. He knew full well that the person in his arms right now was a man—a man of unparalleled strategic wisdom. Sometimes he even had the illusion that he couldn’t fully control this person.

This instead further stimulated the desire for conquest within him.

Compared to conquering a woman, conquering a man strong in both martial prowess and intelligence was more difficult, more blood-stirring.

He wanted to conquer Pei Yanci completely and thoroughly, from inside out.

To make him his own.

“Since Your Highness promises this humble one a position second only to one and above ten thousand in the future, why not grant this humble one the position of principal wife now?” Pei Yanci tilted his head slightly, avoiding his advances, looking at him with calm eyes.

Gu Jiuqing stepped back some distance, lifting his eyes slightly. Stung by his slightly mocking tone, he countered, “Is secondary consort not enough?”

Had he given Pei Yanci too much power? Been too indulgent with him?

Even though he could allow him to interfere in Eastern Palace affairs and make those officials treat him with some courtesy, at the end of the day Pei Yanci was still just a servant—a government slave whose ancestors had committed crimes. Without the imperial family’s permission, he would be branded with the slave mark for life, never able to rise above his station.

Originally, considering his beauty, he had intended to grant him the position of male concubine, thereby firmly binding Pei Yanci to his side. Beyond having him offer counsel and strategies, he could occasionally have him submit and serve in the bedchamber—that could be considered bedroom entertainment. Since he had blurted it out in the heat of the moment, and a promise once made couldn’t be taken back, he couldn’t very well change it now. Of the Crown Prince’s four secondary consort positions, taking one for himself—what more could he be dissatisfied with?

“That’s certainly more than enough.” If you’re going to win someone’s loyalty, at least show some sincerity. Whether or not I accept is another matter, but you won’t even offer the position of principal wife?

“You’re dissatisfied?” Gu Jiuqing furrowed his brow, warning flatly, “Careful not to let greed consume you like a snake swallowing an elephant.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s instruction. Your Highness once also admonished this humble one that a man should act like a man, conducting himself uprightly and honorably, that a true man should focus on establishing his own great achievements. Therefore, whether principal wife or secondary consort, Your Highness should save them for someone else.” Pei Yanci disinterestedly extricated himself from his embrace and turned to leave, but saw a corner of a purple robe flash past the doorway.

His eyes flickered. Before he could look more closely, his wrist was grabbed, and immediately a great force threw him back toward the bed, his back pressed against the hidden pouch.

Gu Jiuqing coughed softly from this action, the severe pain spreading through his chest making his entire body tremble, yet he used even greater strength to grip Pei Yanci’s wrist, as if to bind him to his side forever.

“You don’t want this? This is your only chance to turn your life around!”

The previous joy vanished in an instant. His entire heart felt stifled enough to drip water, swaying with nothing to rely on, inexplicably panicked and uncertain.

“This humble one doesn’t mean that.”

Pei Yanci’s fingers slowly caressed up Gu Jiuqing’s arm braced beside him, lowering his head then slowly raising his eyes.

His crescent-moon eyes were like spring dust washed by rain, brilliantly bright and radiant. At this moment, with all sharp edges concealed, the flowing light rippled like playing snow and plucking ice, tinkling and strumming heartstrings.

Gu Jiuqing was instantly frozen in mid-air.

He knew Pei Yanci was extraordinarily handsome, but he hadn’t known this face could be so seductive.

“Your Highness’s earnest teachings from before still echo in my ears. This humble one often thinks—how could I allow myself to taint even a bit of such an upright and noble person?”

Gu Jiuqing circled this statement three times in his mind, his expression visibly softening.

Looking again at the person half-pressed beneath him on the bed, his cheeks gradually bloomed with a thousand clouds of rosy dawn under his gaze, those eyes full of unspoken words.

So Pei Yanci was worried about not being worthy of him. So he had long harbored secret affections.

Gu Jiuqing, unable to control his emotions, grasped back the hand on his arm. “Rest assured, you are fully qualified to be this prince’s secondary consort.”

“But this humble one is a man.” Pei Yanci stated the fact calmly. “If Your Highness ascends to that position one day, this humble one will become the first male consort in the historical records. Your Highness will suffer endless verbal and written condemnation because of this.”

“This prince will certainly protect you well.” Despite his serious injuries and limited strength, Gu Jiuqing still used all his might to clumsily embrace him. “It’s a pity you’re not a woman—otherwise, this prince’s principal wife position would belong to none but you. Even if it can only be this way, rest assured, this prince will never mistreat you. You are this prince’s only secondary consort.”

Pei Yanci rested his face on his shoulder, secretly yawned, blinked, and echoed with his mouth. “This humble one knows his place. Your Highness will certainly marry a noble lady from a prestigious family as principal wife in the future. Only by gaining support from more noble families will Your Highness’s chances of ascending to that position greatly increase. How could such a position be wasted on this humble one who has neither power nor influence?”

“You truly understand this prince best. Some things need not be said at all.” The corners of Gu Jiuqing’s mouth curved up, rarely showing a shallow smile.

As long as he was with him, he felt very secure. No matter what he said or did, there was always someone who knew him, understood him, comprehended all his suffering and unwillingness, and supported him wholeheartedly.

Pei Yanci gently patted his back, his gaze looking toward the doorway. After thinking for a moment, he turned his face, his nose tip intimately brushing across that face that surpassed frost and snow, lightly pecking at his earlobe.

Gu Jiuqing’s entire body stiffened.

“If Prime Minister Zheng and Her Majesty the Empress don’t agree, what should we do?” he asked worriedly.

Suppressing the stirring in his heart, Gu Jiuqing’s face remained calm. “You needn’t worry. This prince has his own considerations regarding these matters.”

“Will Your Highness truly marry this humble one?”

“Naturally.”

“Your Highness must not go back on your word.” Pei Yanci said, “As long as Your Highness never abandons me, this humble one will always stand behind Your Highness.”

He casually offered this coaxing phrase, and only then could he arduously extricate himself from the bed. Straightening his disheveled clothes, he tucked in the bedding corners for Gu Jiuqing, found an excuse, and left the sleeping chamber.

He hadn’t walked more than a few steps when he came face to face with a middle-aged man.

The man wore a purple robe, tall and thin in stature, with a narrow face, pale and beardless—something rarely seen on anyone except eunuchs, making it difficult to forget this person’s identity.

“This humble one pays respects to Minister Zheng.” He stepped aside to make way, taking the initiative to bow.

Zheng Qinglai didn’t pass him by and leave, but instead stopped in front of him.

“Does Minister Zheng have important matters to instruct this humble one?” He straightened and looked up to ask.

“If there are no important matters, I cannot give you instructions?” Zheng Qinglai’s voice was low and slightly hoarse, his tone unhurried, pleasant to hear.

“This humble one is His Highness’s close attendant. For his daily food, clothing, and living needs, His Highness cannot do without this humble one. Now that he’s injured, this humble one should stay by his side constantly, watching over him day and night. If Minister Zheng has important matters, instructing others would be the same.”

“These days, loyal servants like you are rare indeed. On the contrary, some people cannot see their own place clearly, harboring improper ambitions, ultimately meeting their death—which is only brought upon themselves.”

“What outsiders see as improper ambitions may, between them, be a symbol of love stronger than gold, breaking through worldly shackles. For someone as noble as His Highness, such things can be accomplished with ease.”

“Chief Steward Pei seems very confident.” Zheng Qinglai sneered.

“Minister Zheng’s methods are brilliant, with talented people under your command. You could try to separate us.” Pei Yanci met his gaze. “The result may disappoint Minister Zheng.”

“Do you know how worthless your life is?” Zheng Qinglai laughed in anger, not even willing to engage in pretense with him.

“I don’t know. What, does Minister Zheng want to eliminate me behind His Highness’s back?” Pei Yanci smiled.

“Insolent youth.” Zheng Qinglai’s eyes darkened slightly.

Just now he had come to check on Gu Jiuqing’s injuries, but inadvertently stumbled upon their sordid affair. What angered him even more was that Gu Jiuqing wanted to grant the position of secondary consort to a mere servant.

This was absolutely preposterous!

If Gu Jiuqing truly married a male secondary consort of lowly status, his political career would be finished.

What would all the years of painstaking planning and efforts from the Zheng family and the Empress amount to then!

“I heard His Highness and Minister Zheng have recently been quarreling irreconcilably over the newly drafted tax law strategy, seemingly on the verge of a complete break.” Pei Yanci said, “Minister Zheng may not know that the new tax law His Highness holds was drafted by someone I found.”

Zheng Qinglai instinctively took a step closer toward him.

“This is the traveling palace—it cannot tolerate Minister Zheng’s insolence.” Pei Yanci showed no fear, smiling provocatively. “In the future when I become the Crown Prince’s secondary consort, principal wife, male consort, empress, or emperor’s consort—Minister Zheng approaching me like this will be charged with the crime of disrespect.”