After the Pitiful Little One Seduced the Feudal Big Daddy - Chapter 17

In the days leading up to the holiday, Xie Yunqing experienced a rare period of peace at the Imperial Academy. Yu Chen had not returned, and with Pei Xuan and Cui Ji constantly studying by his side, he felt far less cautious and fearful than usual.

Soon, it was time for the Spring Hunt at the southern outskirts. As Pei Xuan had mentioned, all Academy students were permitted to attend, though the event was primarily for royalty, nobles, and the children of elite families. Xie Yunqing initially had no desire to go, but he couldn’t withstand Pei Xuan’s persistent nagging. Furthermore, after hearing Cui Ji describe the unique scenery of the southern hills, he was moved by the idea of surveying the landscape and drawing maps an opportunity to practice the skills his mother had taught him.

Thus, at dawn on the first day of the break, Xie Yunqing set off with Pei Xuan and Cui Ji in a carriage prepared by the Academy. Since the Academy was located at the southernmost tip of the capital, the journey didn’t take long; they arrived before noon. The royalty and most noble families, having started later and traveling from further away, were not expected until evening, so the official start of the hunt was set for the following day.

Upon arrival, the students gathered for a midday banquet arranged by the Proctor. It was a small-scale affair, after which they were free to do as they pleased. During the banquet, the Proctor raised his cup in a toast, and though Xie Yunqing had never drunk before, he didn’t want to seem out of place and took a small sip of rice wine.

He was initially anxious, fearing that if he became intoxicated, he wouldn’t be able to survey the landscape. Once the hunt began the next day, it would be difficult for students to move about freely. Fortunately, the wine was not strong; Xie Yunqing felt no adverse reaction after drinking it.

When the banquet dispersed, Xie Yunqing, with a rare sense of eagerness, clutched his prepared paper and charcoal pencils and headed toward the area Cui Ji had described as having the most exquisite scenery. Pei Xuan and Cui Ji had intended to join him, but Pei Xuan had “accidentally” drunk too much and fallen into a stupor before the banquet even ended, leaving Cui Ji with no choice but to stay and care for him.

Before Xie Yunqing left, Cui Ji explicitly warned him not to go deep into the forest and to stay on the outskirts. Although the large predators had been driven to a separate mountain for the hunt, the terrain was complex and the foliage dense; since it was Xie Yunqing’s first time, Cui Ji feared he might get lost.

Xie Yunqing took the advice to heart at first, but once he reached the site, those warnings vanished from his mind. The scenery was simply too magnificent almost otherworldly. Never mind the task of surveying and drawing; simply walking through it was enough to make one forget to return.

Unknowingly, he drifted further and further until he reached the heart of the forest. By the time he had filled a dozen sheets of paper, he looked up to see the first signs of the sun setting. Although his preliminary survey of the terrain meant he wouldn’t get lost as Cui Ji had feared, staying in the forest after dark could lead to unpredictable dangers.

Panic surged through him. While scrambling to pack his drawings, he accidentally smeared some leftover charcoal onto his face. Ignoring such trifles, he tucked the papers into his robes and hurried toward the edge of the woods.

The bright sunlight had turned a pale gold. The mountain wind picked up, bringing a chill. Following the path he had noted earlier, he walked along a stream for a while when he suddenly heard a short, sharp groan. He listened intently, but the sound vanished.

He continued forward, yet the feeling that it hadn’t been an illusion persisted. Unable to let it go fearing someone was lost or injured he turned back toward the source of the sound. He crossed the stream again, and as he walked, the groans grew louder and clearer.

Soon, only a thicket of brush separated him from the sound. Xie Yunqing stopped. The noise was strange it sounded like pain, yet not quite. Many possibilities flashed through his mind, and he finally concluded that someone must be drunk and unwell. Without further hesitation, he pushed aside the branches to look.

He was struck as if by lightning.

Xie Yunqing froze, standing motionless with an expression of shock and bewilderment. Beneath a nearby tree, two men with their clothes in disarray were locked in a tight embrace, one facing him and one with his back turned, engaged in an act of intimacy.

He knew he should leave quickly before being discovered, but his legs wouldn’t move. Because he recognized the one facing him instantly it was Ruan Ci. And the one with his back turned, based on his build, was clearly Yu Chen.

Ruan Ci and… Yu Chen. How was it possible? It had to be Yu Chen forcing him!

Xie Yunqing’s entire body trembled. He wanted to rush forward and save Ruan Ci from Yu Chen’s grasp. His movement startled the two under the tree. Yu Chen started to turn his head, but Ruan Ci pulled him into a kiss. Then, after Ruan Ci seemed to whisper something, Yu Chen’s movements became even more intense, and he paid no further heed to the disturbance behind them.

In the gaps between them, Xie Yunqing saw Ruan Ci glance toward him. His reddened eyes were filled with a silent, desperate plea, Ruan Ci was begging him to leave.

Was Ruan Ci doing this willingly?

Xie Yunqing felt lost, but he knew he could stay no longer. He turned and ran out of the forest. He didn’t stop until he reached the foot of the hill. Only then did he realize his back was soaked with cold sweat and his face must look terrible. Fearing that Cui Ji would notice something was wrong, he decided to stay in a pavilion at the base of the hill for a while, at least until his panic subsided, before returning to the camp.

He sat down in the pavilion, his breathing ragged and his thoughts a jumbled mess. After a while, half the sun had dipped behind the peaks. The warm yellow light shone on him with its final warmth, like a hand stroking his back. Gradually, he felt a wave of exhaustion and unknowingly slumped onto the stone table and fell asleep.

Or perhaps the wine had finally taken effect because a person truly asleep would have noticed someone approaching.

Xie Yunqing struggled to half-open his eyes to look at the visitor. He couldn’t see the face clearly, only that the figure was exceptionally tall. In his daze, it felt as if he had returned to when he was four or five years old. Back then, he would often lose track of time playing and be too afraid to go home; every time, his father would come find him and carry his sleepy self back.

“…Father,” Xie Yunqing murmured.

The figure seemed to pause, then stepped closer, but didn’t embrace him as usual. Thinking his father was angry, Xie Yunqing let out a small whimper. He struggled to sit up, leaning against the stone table, and lightly tugged at the corner of the man’s robe, swaying it gently. “Father… hug Yunqing…”

He believed that as long as he acted spoiled, his father would surely stop being angry.

However, this time, it wasn’t as effective. The figure still didn’t lean down to hold him. Xie Yunqing grew a bit afraid; he lifted his head to look at the man. He still couldn’t see the face, but he could feel a cold aura radiating from him.

Father is truly angry.

So, he reached out again and grabbed the man’s wrist, pulling him down to sit. Then, he scrambled with hands and feet to climb into the man’s lap. Where their skin touched, it felt warm and comfortable. Wanting more, he continued to wheedle: “Father… Father… please hug Yunqing…”

Finally, the man opened his arms and drew him into an embrace. Xie Yunqing pressed further, leaning against the man’s chest and nuzzling him. “Father, why did you only just come to get me?”

The figure said nothing. Was he still angry? Xie Yunqing hurriedly lifted his eyes, meeting a pair of downward-looking eyes.

With a jolt, Xie Yunqing was shocked awake. He realized this man was not his father at all.

It was Chancellor Pei Yanzhi.