My Arch-Rival Seduces Me Every Day - Chapter 1

Once June arrived, the capital was struck by one rainstorm after another.

The sudden downpour had just ceased. I was sitting in a private room on the third floor of the Smoky Pavilion, fanning myself. Before me sat a bowl of bayberries chilled with ice cubes; they were a vibrant, eye-catching red.

It was the fourteenth year of Zhaode. Exactly one month had passed since my rebirth.

My surname is Qin, my given name is Yeguang, and my courtesy name is Huanzun. I am the only son of the Marquis of Qingping.

In my previous life, I died at the age of twenty-three. That was the seventeenth year of Zhaode, when the tattered realm of Great Yong finally reached its breaking point and collapsed. As enemy troops reached the city gates, I held my long halberd and looked around blankly from horseback, only to be pierced through the chest by a stray blade whistling through the air.

When I slowly drifted back to consciousness, I had returned to three years prior.

The Imperial City three years ago was still as bustling as ever. Even if the world outside was teetering in the wind and rain, here, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, there remained a veneer of peace and prosperity.

Cao Xuan’s small eyes glittered with shrewdness as he glanced fitfully down at the street. Below lay the Imperial Way, the busiest street in the capital. A speck of bright red emerged from the far end, standing out sharply against the multicolored marketplace.

The sound of drums and gongs drew near. It was a bridal procession.

Cao Xuan tutted, “What a grand display.”

I looked down. At the head of the procession, the groom rode a magnificent horse and wore a red rosette, looking spirited and proud; he was a true young hero.

Seeing no reaction from me, Cao Xuan added, “The Chancellor’s Manor would rather defy the Emperor’s wishes just to choose a fine son-in-law for their daughter. They truly treasure her.”

I gave him a cool glance. I could see a hint of indignation in his eyes, but more than that, there was an irrepressible sense of schadenfreude.

This fellow has been getting far too bold lately.

The raucous blare of the suona gave me a headache. I had originally intended to find a quiet place to rest my spirit, but I had not accounted for this.

The only daughter of the current Prime Minister preferred military officers over civil officials. Consequently, as soon as word got out that the Chancellor’s Manor was seeking a groom, the entire capital began rubbing their hands in anticipation.

They were not eager to vie for the beautiful lady, however; they were waiting to watch me make a fool of myself.

Miss Xie was seventeen years old. That day, the Emperor had been lounging with his newest beauty in his arms. He said absentmindedly, “Oh? That’s perfect then. Young Marquis Qin reaches his capping ceremony this year; let’s just settle this marriage.”

My eyelid twitched. Before I could even speak, someone beside me had already knelt down decisively.

“Your Majesty, you must not!”

The moment I recalled those four resounding words, my teeth felt on edge.

Cao Xuan’s tongue was wagging fast. Feeling irritated, I barked, “General Chen is young and promising. They are a match made in heaven; it never had anything to do with me. If I hear any more of this nonsense, do not blame me for being unkind.”

Cao Xuan finally shut his mouth. I let out a long breath and picked up a bayberry to eat.

With so many talented young men in the capital, it was only natural she looked down on me.

For I, the Young Marquis, am the capital’s most famous profligate.

Cao Xuan waited submissively to the side like a wronged young wife. I gave him a kick. “Go, find me someone to sing a tune.”

“Right away!” He scurried off in a flash.

Chancellor Xie usually kept a low profile, except for this moment of boundless glory for his daughter’s wedding. The procession was so long the end was nowhere in sight. The matchmaker carried a blessing bag on her arm, tossing handfuls of sweets to the children. Half the city had turned out for the spectacle; I wondered if Cao Xuan would even be able to find a singer in this mess.

Water droplets still clung to the window frame. Perhaps because of the crowds, the air felt a bit stifling. I rose and pushed the window open a bit further. A cool breeze wafted in, making things much more pleasant.

This location was high up, and people on the street rarely noticed the movement above. Yet, when I looked down again, I locked eyes with a pair of eyes shimmering with a faint light.

The man had elegant brows and handsome features. He smiled at me from a distance.

I had never seen him in red before. Seeing him now, he possessed a sense of refined, restrained grace.

I nodded and did not hold his gaze for long before sitting back down.

In my previous life, my acquaintance with the Chancellor’s son, Xie Lingbi, was neither deep nor shallow. We had studied together at the Imperial Academy since childhood. He was outstanding and diligent, while I, the masters at the Academy saw me as a cat sees a mouse and dared not discipline me. Thus, I skipped more classes than I attended. Over those years, we were merely familiar faces. As we grew older, we moved even further apart.

Xie Lingbi appeared elegant and upright, but he was actually a man who knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm. Back then, when the Emperor wanted to betroth his sister to me, his protest was even more vigorous than his performance during the palace examinations.

Thinking of this, I could not help but feel a bit melancholy. Even if I was unlearned, my looks and family background were not lacking. I did not know how many girls in the capital dreamed of entering the Marquis’s gates, yet only his family dared to jump out and challenge me.

My mother passed away early, and my father is still far away at the border; I have not seen him yet.

Down below, the bridal procession finally clattered and drummed its way into the distance. Cao Xuan returned, drenched in sweat, bringing a girl with him. She had a fresh, youthful face and looked to be only thirteen or fourteen.

I stared at her for a long moment, then sneered, “Where did you find this little slip of a girl?”

Cao Xuan wiped his brow. “My young master, you have no idea! All the best songstresses in the capital were invited to the General’s Manor. I am lucky to have found anyone at all!”

All of them? That fellow Chen is usually so solemn; I did not realize he was such a romantic.

Feeling gloomy, I waved my hand. “Just sing a few lines.”

The girl was a new face, but her voice was like the warbling of an oriole. After one song, I asked, “Are you new here?”

She answered timidly, “Yes.”

“What is your name?”

“Kou’er.”

“Where is your home?”

“Daxiao Pass.”

I noticed a small mole on her cheek, and my heart suddenly skipped a beat.

“You, come back to the manor with me.”

Cao Xuan was startled. “Young Master, this is…”

“Just do it.” I did not feel like arguing with him. “Settle her in properly. If she loses a single hair, I will have your skin.”

Once Cao Xuan led her away, the room fell completely silent. I stayed at the Smoky Pavilion for another half-day, taking in the capital. Though it still felt somewhat surreal, I finally regained a sense of familiarity. As evening fell, I left the tavern. Before me was the twilight of the marketplace, and fireworks rose in the distance, bursting in many colors. The evening breeze was quite cool. I bought some pastries wrapped in oil paper from a stall and was about to turn the corner toward home when I suddenly saw a figure walking from the end of the long street.

Xie Lingbi usually walked with great decorum, his robes fluttering in the wind; he was a model of etiquette for noble sons. Who would have thought that after seeing his sister off, he, like his old man, would have a moment of losing his composure?

I came to a halt and looked at him askance. There were stalls selling revolving lanterns nearby, and the images of landscapes and figures flickered across his bright red sleeves. Xie Lingbi walked very slowly. He saw me as well and headed straight toward me.

By all rights, I should have mocked him with a few words.

But his pace suddenly quickened, and within a few steps, he tumbled right into me. I instinctively caught him. The package of pastries landed against his back; I wondered if the oil would stain his clothes.

My heart was beating unevenly.

This grandson buried his head in the crook of my neck, his warm cheek pressed against my throat. It was quite improper and entirely lacked decorum.

I could tell he was drunk, yet he did not forget to greet me.

“Long time no see… Young Marquis.”

It has indeed been a long time, I thought.

The last time I saw him was during the defeat on the Xianyang Road in my previous life. He was serving as an Investigating Censor at Li Pass. Speaking of which, when I died on the battlefield back then, he witnessed it firsthand.

Once Li Pass fell, the fall of the capital was only a matter of time. I did not know what happened to him afterward.

Xie Lingbi seemed quite intoxicated. I was not kind enough to escort him back to the Chancellor’s Manor, so I simply dragged over a long bench for him to sit on and signaled the owner of the herbal tea stall to bring some hangover soup.

Xie Lingbi leaned against my shoulder and took my hand, stroking it back and forth.

I was startled. His thumb rubbed the back of my hand, and his other fingers tickled my palm, which was agonizingly itchy. Then, shamelessly, he felt every one of the five fingers on my right hand, one by one.

If his wide sleeves had not been covering us, I would have certainly pushed him away!

“Sir, the hangover soup is here!”

Perfect timing. I picked up the bowl, pinched his jaw to force his lips open slightly, and poured it in through the gap. Xie Lingbi did not struggle. His eyes were half-closed, his gaze filtering through his lashes, shimmering with a faint hint of moisture.

He was staring at me.

The liquid overflowed from the corner of his mouth, running over my hand and dripping onto his collar. The Xie family always dressed impeccably; even in wedding robes, his collar was perfectly aligned. Thus, the liquid soaked into the fabric, creating a wet patch.

To hell with this.

I slammed the bowl onto the table. “Drink it or do not. Who do you think you are, making this Young Marquis serve you personally?”

Xie Lingbi seemed a bit dazed. Ignoring the cursed hangover soup, he leaned back toward me and said softly, “Do not be angry.”

I almost laughed out of pure frustration.

I really wanted to call everyone over to see. What “great clan” or “noble son” would do this? Once drunk, he showed this frivolous side. To put it nicely, he was clingy; to put it bluntly, it was blatant seduction!

Xie Lingbi continued to hold my hand, repeating, “Do not be angry.”

I pinched the soft flesh of his cheek. “You say ‘do not be angry’ and I am just supposed to listen?”

He fell silent.

He had fallen asleep.

“…”

I accepted my fate.

I sent a nearby street-runner to the Chancellor’s Manor to call for someone. I sat there in the summer evening breeze while that Xie grandson slept soundly on my shoulder, his breath making me break into a sweat. The people from the Chancellor’s Manor must have had their legs cut off, as they did not show up for a long time. Could that runner have taken my money and run?

Xie Lingbi woke up again.

This time, he let go of my hand first.

“Young Marquis.”

“Oh, so you still recognize me?” I said grimly. “With so many people at the wedding feast to bother, you just had to come and torment me. You certainly have talent, Master Xie.”

The grandson put on an act. “My head aches terribly. I have been impolite.”

I told him, “It is a bit awkward. If I had been the one bowing to your sister in marriage tonight, I might have overlooked this for the sake of being your brother-in-law.”

“You and she were not a good match.” He paused, then added, “Young General Chen and she are in love.”

“They are in love, so you ruined my marriage?” I sneered. “You even dared to defy the Emperor. You are truly determined to look down on me.”

“I am not,” Xie Lingbi said quickly.

I pricked up my ears, waiting for his excuse, but instead, he brought up something else. “I just heard people saying you brought a singing girl back to your manor.”

“What of it?”

“What did you do with her?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but my heart suddenly gave a jolt.

In this current dynasty, eunuchs interfered in politics and factional strife was severe. The tall and beautiful golden halls of the Emperor were actually crawling with vermin. When ministers attended court, every word was a scramble for a piece of the pie; one rarely heard a sincere word about the nation.

The Emperor, the Emperor was an utterly debauched and incompetent ruler, surrounded by nothing but beauties and flatterers.

In my previous life, I was used to this. Born in the capital, I had seen much of it. But the Chancellor’s faction and a few old ministers who trembled when they walked would wear miserable expressions every day, saying the Great Yong was in peril. Yet the capital remained colorful and bustling with no issues at all. I once suspected they had lost their minds.

Until later.

Once my father died, the border defenses collapsed immediately. The Emperor issued panicked edicts, and I was forcibly thrust onto a horse, clad in armor, and sent to a battlefield engulfed in flames.

Those were the most painful three years of my life, grinding away the twenty years of wealth and gentleness until only a handful of cold, desolate ash remained.

If I did not want to live that precarious life again, I had to at least save my father’s life.

In my previous life, my father died because of a false accusation. I never managed to find out who was the mastermind behind it before I died. I only knew that when a general is abroad, the sovereign grows suspicious; with some vague physical evidence and a plausible witness, a conviction can be made.

That singing girl was that witness.

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