SEHE Chapter 70

Red Attire 

At dawn, Pei Yanci woke at his usual hour.

Outside the window, a fine drizzling rain was falling. Wisps of cool air drifted in through the half-open window, dispelling the lingering atmosphere of intimacy in the room, leaving only the fresh moisture and a body scent that wasn’t his own.

Pei Yanci felt a bit cold and pulled the quilt closer. A deathly pale, bloodless hand reached over before him and pulled up the blanket, tucking in the corners securely.

Only then did he notice that it wasn’t just the wind making him cold—his back was also pressed against a large block of ice.

The absurdity of last night suddenly flooded back into his mind.

That agile and powerful tongue had tasted him from head to toe, inside and out, sampling every bit of his flavor.

In the end, that mouth kept calling him “Your Majesty” over and over, deliberately asking “How well did this servant attend to you?”

Having never experienced such things before, how could Pei Yanci withstand such stimulation? He released again and again, until Tang Xizhui, worried he might hurt himself, considerately placed his hand in front to pinch and block it.

He really should thank him for that.

Just thinking about it made Pei Yanci’s teeth ache with irritation, his eyes welling up with moisture and flushing red at the corners.

Tang Xizhui had been awake for a while, propping his head up with one hand, carefully admiring him. Seeing those eyes staring at him wetly, his gaze gradually deepened, and he smiled carelessly. “Does Xiao Pei’er want more?”

He could certainly oblige at any time.

“Too much will harm your body, Xiao Pei’er, you must restrain yourself.” Tang Xizhui nuzzled his face, speaking coquettishly, then contentedly stole a kiss.

“……” It was “Xiao Pei’er” now—last night, who was the one enthusiastically calling out “Your Majesty, Your Majesty”?

Pei Yanci felt utterly mortified, overwhelmed with shame and anger.

If he still had his identity from his previous life, he would never have debased himself to get entangled with a eunuch. But this lifetime’s status as a palace servant had freed him from many constraints, making him much more spontaneous.

Tang Xizhui was strikingly beautiful, and seemed to deliberately reveal different alluring expressions in his presence from time to time, stirring one’s heart unbearably. After so many encounters, it would be a lie to say he felt nothing for him.

In a moment of lust for beauty, he hadn’t guarded against this eunuch having long ago seen through his identity, hiding it and not speaking of it, waiting until they were in bed to embarrass him.

Thinking this, he angrily kicked Tang Xizhui hard.

With such a large movement, he finally realized that aside from feeling a bit weak, there wasn’t a single place on his body that hurt. Last night he’d indulged himself so thoroughly that he’d forgotten it might injure him, but now there was nothing wrong at all.

Having gotten the person into his mouth, Tang Xizhui was very agreeable, letting him kick as he pleased. He loosely embraced him through the blanket and smiled. “Now that you’ve kicked me, can you stop being angry?”

“I’m not the emperor. Don’t call me ‘Your Majesty’ anymore. If others hear it, they’ll think you’re lusting after the current emperor.” Pei Yanci said.

The matter of possessing another’s body had no proof—he wasn’t afraid this person would use it as leverage to threaten him.

It was just that hearing that form of address in such circumstances made him feel ashamed.

“Doesn’t Xiao Pei’er know me by now? Once I’ve tasted something good, I keep it very tight,” Tang Xizhui pinched his reddening ear tip poking out from the blanket. “Just like Xiao Pei’er’s little mouth—each time it clenches so tight I can barely move.”

“Don’t say that!” His shame spread like the intoxicating color of crabapple blossoms across his eyelids and cheeks.

“Won’t say it, won’t say it.” Tang Xizhui held him tighter, burying his face in the crook of his neck, carefully breathing in his scent, and sighed softly. “Xiao Pei’er, if one day I help you become a member of an aristocratic family, don’t forget the great merit I’ve established.”

Pei Yanci’s gaze paused slightly, then he laughed. “What, this isn’t a one-time transaction?”

“If it were only once, Xiao Pei’er’s appetite would be far too large.” His tongue, red as a snake’s, delicately licked the character “slave” branded on the back of his neck. The skin there, having been burned, had an uneven surface with a faint pink tinge.

When aroused, that spot turned even more beautifully red.

“I’m the one who broke out in sweat. You didn’t sweat once last night.” Pei Yanci sneered.

This person hadn’t even breathed heavily last night.

“If Xiao Pei’er wants to keep his body clean and pure, he can’t do without this mouth of mine to lick him clean.” Tang Xizhui chuckled softly, speaking suggestively. He kissed his earlobe, knowing full well that spot was sensitive, just enjoying watching his breathing become rapid again.

“Restrain yourself. Doing it again would harm your body.”

“Stay away from me.” Pei Yanci pushed him away, trying hard to calm the restless stirring in his body. He threw off the blanket and began dressing himself, grumbling as he did. “It’s all your fault.”

This person’s seductive skills were truly formidable.

Tang Xizhui lay on the bed, seeing his rapid breathing and knowing his interest had been provoked again. Watching the smooth white expanse of his back, his butterfly bones fluttering with his movements, his eyes darkened further.

How could this person know that he had entered the palace at thirteen, when his body had already developed enough to understand desire? In the decade and more since entering the palace, he was often tormented by such feelings, yet unable to relieve himself in the slightest, only able to endure it, waiting for the surging crimson tide within him to recede on its own.

So he also wanted others to taste this suffering, wanted those who looked down on him to be broken in body and mind, to torment their consciousness, destroy their reason, to enjoy watching them lose control, go mad, collapse in despair, and utterly render useless.

Until there was someone who didn’t fear his filth, his darkness and baseness, his cruelty and sadistic nature, who approached fearlessly, piece by piece gathering his broken bones, assembling a complete human form, telling him, “You are no different from Gu Jiuqing.”

In Pei Yanci’s eyes, he was an existence that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Crown Prince, one of the dynasty’s most noble.

He had never seen any contempt or disdain in Pei Yanci’s eyes, nor fear or terror, nor fawning flattery—sometimes he even joked with him.

Only when with Pei Yanci did he feel like a person—a normal person equal to everyone else.

“Blame me.” His finger lightly tapped his back. When he curiously turned his head, Tang Xizhui concealed the panic and fear in his eyes, revealing a bleak smile. “If one day I lose control and hurt you, don’t take it to heart.”

That wouldn’t be his wish.

Pei Yanci acted completely unconcerned on the surface, sneering, “First you’d have to be able to hurt me. If we ever reach the point of a fight to the death, who knows who’ll survive.”

His fingers held the two ties of his inner garment. The wounds on his palms from the reins had already scabbed over, making both hands somewhat stiff and clumsy. After struggling for a long time, he still couldn’t tie them, instead creating a dead knot, which frustrated him even more.

His heart was somewhat unsettled.

Two hands reached out from behind his waist, encircling his narrow waist. The fingers unhurriedly untied the knot and skillfully helped him tie it properly.

But those encircling hands didn’t leave.

The cool chest pressed against his back didn’t leave either.

The scorching hot breath spraying against the back of his neck made Pei Yanci’s own breathing quicken.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became silent and tense.

Having now tasted this beauty’s service, logically speaking, he should let go of that inexplicable notion that had arisen in his heart.

He wasn’t some deeply romantic fool, nor would he naively think someone needed to take responsibility, that giving his body to someone meant spending a lifetime with them.

But things seemed to be spiraling even further out of control.

“I……”

“Mm.”

As soon as he opened his mouth, Tang Xizhui knew what he wanted to say and withdrew his hands as if burned.

Pei Yanci blinked, his raven-black lashes fluttering several times, then nonchalantly stood up to put on his undergarments and outer robe.

“You should go.” He turned sideways without looking at him, his head slightly bowed, his snow-white neck curving into a graceful arc.

Tang Xizhui lazily stretched. His clothes were intact. With his index finger, he hooked up the outer robe that had fallen to the floor, catching it behind his back, and picked up the mask lying alone on the ground to put it on.

Pei Yanci heard the “creak” of the door opening. When he turned to look, that person had already vanished without a trace.

****

Pei Yanci dawdled for quite a while before going to the main hall. Gu Jiuqing was struggling to get out of bed, saying he wanted to watch the polo match, and no one could dissuade him.

It must be said, this Crown Prince was really quite determined at times.

He was seriously injured and couldn’t play, which was good news for the other competing teams. This way, they could at least play freely without having to worry about status.

“Your Highness, the Eastern Palace’s poor showing on the first day—might it not bring His Majesty bad luck?” Pei Yanci worried.

“You’ve thought of the same thing as this prince,” Gu Jiuqing sighed. “That’s why this prince must attend. Father Emperor is extremely fond of polo and has always firmly believed that the Dragon Boat Festival polo match is connected to the dynasty’s fortune for the coming year. This prince must show that I’m not seriously injured to ease Father Emperor’s mind.”

“Who will fill Your Highness’s vacancy?”

“Jiang Yi,” Gu Jiuqing said. “He’s the backup for our team. This prince was still worried that he’s young, from a poor background, and has never encountered polo before. Now we can only leave it to fate—there’s no other way.”

“This humble one was originally going to volunteer himself, but since young general Jiang has already taken the spot, this humble one won’t make a fool of himself.”

“You know polo? Are your injuries healed?”

Pei Yanci nodded. Originally, with him protecting him, his injuries weren’t serious. Last night, aside from a few ambiguous kiss marks left on his body, there was nothing else. Instead, because the long-accumulated frustration had finally been released, he felt refreshed all over.

He understood Gu Jiuqing. While others tried to dissuade him, he helped Gu Jiuqing into a sedan chair and accompanied him all the way to Jiangwu Pavilion.

In Jiangwu Pavilion, someone who hadn’t been there yesterday had appeared.

Between her cloud-like coiffure and raven-black hair was a large, brilliant gold-threaded peony inserted at an angle, with two crabapple pearl hairpins beside it. A ruby hung from the center of her forehead. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her lips rouge-colored, and her bright eyes outshone pearls and jade ornaments.

Seeing the newcomers, Gu Yueqian’s phoenix eyes paused in her conversation with a young man beside her. She adjusted the silk stole draped over one shoulder and stood up with elegant grace.

“It’s been so long, fourth brother. Imperial Sister has missed you terribly.” She walked over with a swaying gait, glancing up and down at Pei Yanci who was supporting him, a cold smile appearing at the corner of her lips. “This one looks somewhat familiar.”

The corner of Pei Yanci’s mouth twitched.

Before he could think much, he heard a whoosh of wind flash past his ear. He instinctively closed his eyes, but felt no pain on his face.

Gu Jiuqing had firmly caught her hand, his eyes full of freezing coldness. “Second Imperial Sister, he is this prince’s person……”

Smack!

Before he finished speaking, Gu Yueqian’s left hand delivered a slap across Gu Jiuqing’s face.

Taking advantage of his daze, she unhurriedly freed her restrained right hand, raised her beautifully shaped eyes, and looked at Pei Yanci with contempt. “That previous slap, we’ll let it go. As for the rest, I’ll settle with you another day.”

This was the first time Gu Jiuqing had been slapped, especially in public, and his eyes were as cold and sharp as icy blades.

“Since he’s your person, it’s only right that you take the punishment for him, isn’t it, fourth brother?” Gu Yueqian smiled like a corn poppy atop a high wall, dimples in both cheeks, sweet and seductive. “You won’t hold such a small matter against Imperial Sister, will you?”

Inside Jiangwu Pavilion, you could hear a pin drop.

In front of a group of important ministers and imperial consorts and ladies, Gu Jiuqing hadn’t anticipated this scene and didn’t speak for a moment.

He couldn’t argue with a woman, but that was the Crown Prince’s dignity.

Pei Yanci stepped forward, about to speak, when an announcement came from outside—the Emperor and Empress had arrived.

Everyone present immediately moved aside.

The light rain outside had gradually stopped, and someone immediately flattered, saying this was the Emperor’s achievement—as soon as he appeared, the rain stopped.

A group of people chimed in agreement.

Pei Yanci was bored, when out of the corner of his eye he suddenly caught a flash of brilliant red.

Tang Xizhui wore a golden phoenix crown. Today he wasn’t wearing his mask. His right eye was painted with crimson pigment depicting a phoenix dancing across nine heavens, with an exquisite phoenix head drawn along the bridge of his nose. Enormous phoenix tail, wings, and clouds covered the area around his right eye, the eyelid and phoenix feathers embellished with gold foil powder, extremely dazzling and eye-catching.

He wore a robe of pure red silk with wide sleeves, the collar and cuffs revealing the gold-edged inner lining beneath. Seated below the Emperor’s throne, he looked more like an empress than the actual Empress beside him.

Pei Yanci was momentarily dazed by that shocking red, as if returning to their first meeting, when Tang Xizhui wore gold and red like an androgynous divine immortal from heaven, cloaked in myriad rays of light, descending barefoot to his side.

Once he wore this red, no other person’s red garments in the world could ever enter Pei Yanci’s eyes again.

Seeing it a second time: What on earth is he wearing???

Only because the Empress didn’t make an issue of it—he had stolen the spotlight from all the officials and ladies present.

As if sensing the peculiar look in Pei Yanci’s eyes, Tang Xizhui condensed his qi to transmit his voice in secret.

“The bearing of the principal wife naturally requires wearing the color of the principal wife.”

“……” Did he have to be so brazen?

Zhen hasn’t even acknowledged it yet.