Captured by the Emperor After a Successful Faked Death - Chapter 9

At this very moment, Zhu Yunyin was also flipping through storybooks in the palace. As one might expect from a youth, he adapted to new things far faster than Xie Chengyun. In just a few short days, he had mastered the arts of customization, promotion, and “pay-to-win” (spending to boost rankings).

He was now the biggest patron of the “Yun-Yun” CP, contributing both money and effort. Every now and then, he would use his authority to suppress other pairings, and suddenly, the “Yun-Yun” CP’s popularity almost eclipsed that of the “Zhou-Xie” CP.

The “Yun-Yun” CP fans clapped their hands in joy at this, while the “Zhou-Xie” CP fans insisted they were the “official couple.” They even claimed that others were just hotels passing guests and that only Zhou Biji was Xie Chengyun’s eternal home. It was enough to make people grit their teeth in irritation.

The very next day, however, the bookstores selling “Zhou-Xie” CP novels were raided and sealed.

In truth, Zhu Yunyin had also read the Changle Palace and Xie Chunshan storybooks after all, he had roles in them; how could the little Emperor miss out? The explicit content made Zhu Yunyin’s face flush a deep red. Hiding under his covers and pinching the corners of the pages, he thought: Is it really possible to do things like this?

Youths are prone to overthinking, and that night, he dreamt of Xie Chengyun. Kissing the lock of hair in his sachet, he experienced a nocturnal emission. When Eunuch Li cleaned the bedding and saw the white stains, he quietly sent someone to inform Xie Chengyun.

Xie Chengyun clutched his head and thought: The child is grown; it is time for him to choose a consort. He will soon reach his coming-of-age; let alone in ancient times, even in the modern world, he could date and hold hands.

That day, several princes and heirs came to the palace for their studies. After class, a group of them huddled together, chattering away.

“If we’re talking about beauty, the most beautiful in all of the capital are the girls at the Star-Plucking Pavilion.”

Another used a book to cover his mouth, savoring the taste. “The girls at the Star-Plucking Pavilion are indeed good, but I prefer the Shishui Building.”

“Pah! Do you think everyone likes men as much as you? Men are stiff and unyielding—what’s so good about that? Women are the true treasures of the human world.”

Zhu Yunyin, frowning in curiosity, asked, “What are you chatting about? ‘Shishui Building,’ ‘Star-Plucking Pavilion’… what kind of places are those?”

The heir of Prince Chen saw Zhu Yunyin’s bewildered expression and chuckled, “Your Majesty, surely you don’t mean to say you don’t even have a female attendant for your quarters yet?”

“What female attendant?”

At this, the heir of Prince Chen was certain. His eyes darted about as he put an arm around Zhu Yunyin’s shoulder. “Your Majesty, you will soon reach your coming-of-age. It is time you understood the matters between men and women.”

Zhu Yunyin had long lived in the deep palace; his sexual education had come from Xie Chengyun’s “little yellow books.” Although he had read a great deal of hardcore literature, it had all been theory without practice. Moreover, he was truly curious to see what it was actually like for a man to be with a man.

“How about this, Your Majesty: after class, my servant will come to pick me up. You claim to be ill to return to the palace to sleep, then swap clothes with my servant. I will take you to the Star-Plucking Pavilion to broaden your horizons.”

Zhu Yunyin hesitated. What if the Father-in-court finds out…

The heir of Prince Chen sensed his worry and laughed. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. My father said Prime Minister Xie has been busy lately checking for suspicious people in the capital for the Flower Festival, and barely even reads the memorials. I’ll send you back first thing tomorrow morning, safe and sound, without anyone the wiser.”

Seeing Zhu Yunyin still silent, the heir grew anxious. “Your Majesty, make up your mind; such an opportunity is not to be missed.”

After half an hour of hesitation, Zhu Yunyin finally agreed. Halfway through class, he started wailing, “Ouch, ouch!”

The Imperial Tutor was startled; if something happened to the Emperor in his care, the consequences would be severe. He hurriedly called the Imperial Physician, but Zhu Yunyin only insisted he had a stomachache, and the physician could find no cause. He prescribed a mild concoction for stomach pain and told Zhu Yunyin to go back and rest.

Sure enough, as soon as class ended, the heir of Prince Chen and his servant came to find him. After chasing away the palace servants, Zhu Yunyin changed into the servant’s clothes, took the heir’s carriage, and left the palace. The heir first took him home to change his clothes, then took several winding turns before arriving at the Star-Plucking Pavilion.

The Star-Plucking Pavilion was filled with wealthy young men, holding girls, drinking tea, and playing chess. Their clothing and accessories, even placed here, were top-tier. Those in the pleasure houses were sharp-eyed; the moment they entered, they were the center of the madam’s attention.

“Little masters, which girl are you here to see?”

The heir said familiarly, “We are here for A-Lian.”

“A-Lian…” The madam hesitated. “A-Lian is entertaining another guest. Wouldn’t the little master like to choose someone else?”

“I want A-Lian. No matter how much silver that guest paid, I will pay double!”

Zhu Yunyin followed behind the heir without a word, observing his surroundings. He hated places like this; the incense and strong liquor gave him a headache. The girls were beautiful, yes, but they were all half-dressed, clinging to the guests, acting coquettish and obsequious. How could anyone like this be compared to my Father-in-court?

Having been promised double the silver, the madam happily led them to a private room. The scent of powder and spices grew heavier; Zhu Yunyin covered his nose in discomfort. He was beginning to regret coming here; he wanted to find his Father-in-court.

In the room, strong liquor went down their throats. The heir flirted with another girl, leaving A-Lian for him. But he had no interest in these women, merely downing the wine. Zhu Yunyin’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t low, but for some reason, the more he drank, the blurrier his vision became.

He stood up unsteadily, and somehow, he felt as if he had returned to Fayuan Temple. The low tables and chairs were exactly the same as in the temple, and the girls’ faces had changed into the faces of monks. The air was no longer filled with the scent of powder, but with the temple’s sandalwood.

If I am at Fayuan Temple, does that mean the Father-in-court is here too?

Zhu Yunyin stumbled down the stairs, ignoring the girls who tried to stop him. The heir waved his hand, saying, “Let him be; he is a distinguished guest, make sure you serve him well.”

The scenery around him shifted, but his Father-in-court was nowhere to be found. Father-in-court, A-Yun… where are you?

Finally, he found his Father-in-court inside a room. His Father-in-court was lying on a daybed, offering him an alluring smile and beckoning him with a soft call: “A-Yun, A-Yun.”

Zhu Yunyin approached like a puppet on a string. This “Xie Chengyun” seemed like a manifestation of a fox spirit. He grabbed his hand, hugged him, and not only allowed Zhu Yunyin to touch him, but raised his body and leaned close to his ear, whispering, “A-Yun, I am so hot, so very hot.”

He kissed his face, tore open his own robes, and kissed him downward, bit by bit. Zhu Yunyin didn’t dare move; he feared this was all a hallucination, and he feared exposing his own filthy desires, which would frighten his poor Father-in-court. After all, Zhu Yunyin wouldn’t even dare to imagine this scene even in his dreams. Seeing him frozen, Xie Chengyun gasped, his breath brushing against his neck, his eyes brimming with tears: “A-Yun, show me some tenderness; I beg you, show me tenderness. Your Father-in-court is in such pain, such pain.”

Zhu Yunyin was, after all, only a boy; seeing the person he had wanted even in his dreams appearing before him like this, how could he remain unmoved?

“Father-in-court, it is you who begged me to show you tenderness. Do not regret it, and do not be afraid.”

Zhu Yunyin reached out to touch “Xie Chengyun’s” flushed face and was about to kiss him, when someone grabbed his hand.

The person’s hand was ice-cold, instantly shocking Zhu Yunyin into sobriety. He took a closer look how could the person on the daybed be Xie Chengyun? It was clearly a girl from the Star-Plucking Pavilion! The girl was squirming in discomfort, calling to him incessantly, begging him.

Zhu Yunyin looked up along the hand that had grabbed his. White robes like snow, ethereal and distant, cold and dissolving—this was his true Father-in-court.

His Father-in-court was clearly angry, gripping his hand so hard it hurt.

Xie Chengyun was about to go insane. Was a teenager in puberty really this ferocious? When I asked him to choose a consort during the Spring Hunt, he clearly said he didn’t want one; why did he suddenly pretend to be ill to sneak into a brothel? He understood the boy’s curiosity about such matters, but wasn’t it a bit too soon to be visiting a brothel?

He strode in, the surroundings filled with people. Xie Chengyun’s brain was a tangled mess, yet he had to maintain his cold, detached persona: “Take this girl away and see that she is looked after. Find a physician for her.”

Two men came and led the girl away. Seeing that a crowd still remained, Xie Chengyun added, “All of you, get out, too.”

Zhu Yunyin knew his Father-in-court was about to settle the score. Sure enough, once everyone was gone, Xie Chengyun raised his hand and slapped Zhu Yunyin.

His cheek swollen and red, Zhu Yunyin kept his head bowed, expressionless.

“I taught you how to be a gentleman, to be a wise ruler who governs the world, and to observe the hardships of the people. Is this how you repay me?”

Zhu Yunyin remained as motionless as an old monk in meditation; Xie Chengyun’s skin was thin, and he was so angry his whole body was turning red. He stared in disbelief at the child he had raised with his own hands.

“The Hu cavalry is still eyeing our borders from the north, and the Marquis of Dingyuan is fighting a bloody battle in Naqu City. I, despite my chronic illness, dare not rest for a moment; we hope that you will bring hope to the world, so that there will be no more war and the people can live in peace and contentment. But Zhu Yunyin, what are you doing? The Emperor of a nation, lingering in a place of pleasure—how will posterity speak of you?”

Zhu Yunyin knelt: “Father-in-court, I was wrong. Punish me.”

Xie Chengyun grabbed Zhu Yunyin by the collar; his attitude of being impervious to persuasion filled his eyes with disappointment. Only then did Zhu Yunyin feel a belated sense of fear. He grasped Xie Chengyun’s hand, full of supplication.

Xie Chengyun hauled him up and threw him to the guards waiting outside. “Take him back. Have him stand before his father’s memorial tablet and reflect on his actions properly.”

With that, he turned and left. Zhu Yunyin tried to chase after him, but was blocked by the guards.

Xie Chengyun sat in the carriage, though his mind was clouded by rage, he still felt that everything was not right. Zhu Yunyin was not someone addicted to beauty, neither in the original book nor in his own personal experience with him.

But why did he suddenly appear here?

If I hadn’t sent men to keep a close watch on him, with immediate reports of any abnormality, would Zhu Yunyin already be in bed with that woman?

What would he gain from this? What could possibly be the benefit?

The little Emperor’s expression hadn’t been right, either. It was just a pleasure-house woman; why would he show such a look of obsession? Moreover, the moment he stepped in, the madam had vanished.

The girls at the Star-Plucking Pavilion had swarmed him one after another, trying every trick in the book to block him.

The original book said that most of the Cuckoo Blood followers were hidden among the commoners, well-informed and efficient.

This Star-Plucking Pavilion… there’s something wrong with it!

Xie Chengyun realized it in an instant, immediately saying, “Go back! Take me back to the Star-Plucking Pavilion!”