My Frail and Vicious Little Husband - Chapter 2

Qin Zijin smiled and said, “We met at the Pear Garden yesterday; what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here. May I ask who you are?”

Seeing him look him up and down, Su Ce felt a bit embarrassed and didn’t know how to answer. On the day he married Xiao Huai, it had not been announced to the world that the new Empress was an actual man. Since that was the case, he didn’t know what identity to claim. He could only shrug and say, “I… I was invited by the Emperor to visit the palace…”

His voice grew softer as he spoke, and he hung his head, burying his hands inside his loose cloak and picking at his nails incessantly.

Seeing him wearing this year’s specially supplied cloud brocade, Qin Zijin knew he wasn’t telling the truth. However, he didn’t expose him and followed his lead, saying, “I see. It’s just that I’ve heard the Emperor is not very close to others, that he is arrogant, and occasionally flies into a rage over trifles. I didn’t expect him to have such a friend.”

Listening to Qin Zijin’s assessment of Xiao Huai, and recalling the scenes of their days and nights spent together, Su Ce said in a small, dissatisfied tone, “He is not that bad.”

Hearing this, Qin Zijin was momentarily speechless. A trace of a guess about the person before him flashed imperceptibly in his eyes, and he put on an apologetic face: “I apologize. My words were offensive. I saw you fall just now; should I have a royal physician called over?”

When Su Ce heard the words “royal physician,” a hint of panic flashed in his eyes. He took a half-step back, his whole body tense, and shook his head vigorously, saying, “No… no need… there’s no need to call a royal physician.”

Fearing he might fall again if he weren’t careful, Qin Zijin wanted to reach out and steady him. However, Su Ce dodged sideways, but instead of escaping the action, his cloak was pulled open, revealing the suggestive marks on his neck.

Yushu hurriedly stepped forward to fasten Su Ce’s loosened cloak. With a respectful expression but a clearly dissatisfied tone, he said, “I ask that this young master mind his manners and not overstep his bounds.”

“My apologies,” Qin Zijin said sincerely.

But Su Ce seemed immersed in his own world, muttering incessantly, “I’m fine, I’m really fine. No need to call a royal physician.”

Yushu took a porcelain bottle from his waist, poured out several brown pills, and handed them to Su Ce, whispering, “My Lord, if you take these, we won’t need a royal physician.”

Listening to Yushu, Su Ce took the pills with trembling hands, fumbling as he shoved them into his mouth. After a while, seeing that Su Ce’s emotions had stabilized, Qin Zijin noted that his eyes were filled with nothing but wariness toward him.

“I must go. We will… we will meet again next time…” Before his breathing had fully steadied, Su Ce pulled Yushu and left the Imperial Garden as if fleeing, not looking back even once under Qin Zijin’s bewildered gaze.

Watching him, Qin Zijin couldn’t help but feel a touch of curiosity. A grown man who was scared to such a degree by the mere mention of a physician—it could hardly be called normal.

Just as Su Ce’s figure vanished around the corner, a familiar voice sounded: “Zijin, I finally found you. How did you end up over here?”

Qin Zijin withdrew his gaze and said, “It’s my first time in the palace; it’s hard not to get lost.”

“What were you looking at just now?”

Qin Zijin did not answer Du Bai’s question but instead changed the subject: “Du Bai, you reside in the capital. Do you know which family’s young lady the current Emperor married?”

Du Bai pondered for a moment and replied, “It seems to be someone from the Su family.”

Qin Zijin’s footsteps faltered, and he raised an eyebrow slightly: “The Su family? Which Su family?”

Du Bai suddenly exclaimed, “Which other Su family could there be in the capital? Naturally, it’s the Su family from the previous dynasty that was ransacked and later cleared of their grievances!”

Hearing this, Qin Zijin felt a burning desire to verify the doubts that had just arisen in his heart.

“Zijin, why are you asking about this out of the blue? I just received an invitation from the Grand Tutor; we are to attend a banquet together tonight.”

Panting, Su Ce returned to the sleeping quarters, threw his cloak carelessly on the floor, kicked off his shoes, and curled up into the innermost part of the bed, covering his head with the quilt.

He couldn’t help but berate himself for his behavior just now. It was the other person who was at fault, yet he was the one who ran away!

Thinking of this, he threw off the quilt and tossed and turned on the bed for the duration of an incense stick.

Outside, hearing the movement from within, Fu Ning shook his head, gave a few instructions to Yushu, and walked toward the direction of the Qinzheng Hall.

At this moment, Xiao Huai was suffering from a splitting headache in the Qinzheng Hall, facing a crowd of court officials. He pressed his temples with his fingers and glanced down at the tea in his cup, which had become so pale it lacked all color.

He took a sip of tea, his tone flat but allowing for no room for negotiation: “I promised him a lifelong bond with only the two of us.”

“But men cannot bear children, Your Majesty!”

Having been on the throne for several years, Xiao Huai had long since shed the callowness of his youth, carrying the majesty of a ruler. He did not show his joy or anger in his expression. He lowered his eyes, swept a glance at the official who had just spoken, and tapped his fingers on the sandalwood desk.

Each tap was measured, pressing down on those present until they dared not breathe.

The scene remained silent for a long time.

Only then did an elderly official in purple robes tremblingly step out, speaking each word with resonance: “In the past two years, Your Majesty was young and it was understandable to be playful and attracted to male beauty. But now, it concerns the foundation of the state. The State of Yan intends to send a princess to marry into our court to maintain the bond between the two countries and promote economic ties; I implore Your Majesty to think thrice. Furthermore, heirs are the foundation of the nation; no matter how good this man is, he cannot continue the imperial line. I hope Your Majesty will weigh the vast mountains and rivers of the State of Jing carefully.”

After the old official finished speaking, he bowed and knelt on the ground.

A crowd of people behind him followed, kneeling in place and saying in unison: “We implore Your Majesty to think thrice.”

Xiao Huai grew impatient, his gaze darkening, and he let out a “tsk” from his throat.

Who would have thought that the purple-robed official would continue: “If Your Majesty can make a man bear children, then we will hold our tongues from now on.”

Xiao Huai was almost amused by these officials; the idea of making a man pregnant was truly absurd. These old officials seemed to be offering him a solution, but in reality, they were leaving him with no way out.

He grabbed the tea cup from the table and threw it forward. The cup grazed the old official’s cheek and shattered the moment it hit the palace door, tea splashing everywhere.

The old official knelt straight in place, completely unfazed by Xiao Huai’s aura, and instead retorted: “If this can vent Your Majesty’s anger, please consider our proposal seriously. If Your Majesty has not yet vented your anger, I am willing to kneel here until Your Majesty is satisfied.”

Seeing that the old official would not yield an inch, Xiao Huai’s expression grew increasingly ugly.

“Threatening me?”

“We are not threatening you; we are merely asking Your Majesty to make the choice most beneficial to the foundation of the state.”

The palace doors were pushed open. Fu Ning walked respectfully to Xiao Huai’s side and whispered a few words into his ear.

Xiao Huai’s expression became even worse. He stood up and left the Qinzheng Hall, leaving behind one sentence: “I will consider this matter for a few more days; we will discuss it later.”

On the other side, Su Ce woke up from his nap, feeling much more refreshed. He suddenly remembered that he hadn’t seen the cat he picked up today, so he simply summoned Yushu to bring him the little cat, placed it on his lap, and groomed its fur with a wooden comb.

“You, how did you get so sturdy just two or three months after I picked you up? You don’t look like the skinny, bony thing you were at the beginning at all.”

As Su Ce spoke, he lifted the cat to his eyes, just about to tease it, when he heard Xiao Huai’s voice from outside: “If you could feed it a little less and eat more yourself, you would be as sturdy as it is. Then, when I hold you at night, it wouldn’t make my hands ache.”

Su Ce blushed instantly, muttering to himself, What is he saying in broad daylight? He has no shame.

Seeing Xiao Huai’s gaze drift down to the cat, Su Ce quickly set the cat on the floor. Xiao Huai hated him holding the cat, the reason being: he was in poor health.

If Xiao Huai found out he had called a royal physician because of the cat, he would ruthlessly send it out of the palace.

Xiao Huai saw him acting in a hurry, with his hands behind his back, looking like a child afraid of being scolded. The anger he felt from the officials earlier had dissipated by more than half. Seeing Su Ce, who was actually two years his senior, looking even more naive than him, he couldn’t help but think of how Su Ce looked at eighteen.

Seeing that Xiao Huai didn’t speak, Su Ce tentatively walked over to him, gently tugged at his sleeve, and tried to appease him: “I haven’t been holding it long, and you came. See, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I? Please don’t be angry, and don’t send the cat away…”

Xiao Huai lowered his eyes to look at Su Ce, whose face held an expression of confusion, yet he remained stubborn with a hint of appeasement.

He suddenly smiled sinisterly and said to Su Ce, “If you kiss me of your own accord, I won’t send the cat away.”

Su Ce stared at Xiao Huai in surprise, wondering what he was plotting to make such a simple request.

Seeing that Su Ce didn’t move, Xiao Huai sighed and said somewhat tactfully, “It seems the cat isn’t that important to you after all. Better send it away early. Fu…”

Su Ce instantly reached out to cover Xiao Huai’s mouth, whispering, “I… I didn’t say I wouldn’t.”

Xiao Huai raised an eyebrow, watching as Su Ce rose slightly on his tiptoes and placed a light kiss on his lips. Watching through half-closed eyes, he saw Su Ce’s face turn bright red and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Just as Su Ce was about to pull away, Xiao Huai turned the tables, capturing Su Ce’s lips, and wrapped his arms around his slender waist, lifting him up into his arms. Su Ce was clearly startled by his movement, wrapping his legs around Xiao Huai’s waist and his arms around his neck, whispering, “I’m still hurting; can we… can we not do it today?”

Xiao Huai did not respond to Su Ce’s plea, merely placing him on the bed. But as soon as Su Ce’s backside touched the bed, he let out a gasp of pain.

Xiao Huai’s expression went cold instantly, and he questioned: “Did you apply the medicine today?”

Before Su Ce could answer, Xiao Huai began to unfasten his waistband. Panicked, Su Ce hurriedly replied, “I did. I applied it right when I got up.”

“Since you applied it, why are you so guilty?” Xiao Huai clearly did not trust his words and insisted on verifying it himself.

Seeing that he couldn’t resist, Su Ce could only bury his head in the pillow, letting Xiao Huai check his body until his pants were put back on.

Xiao Huai tried pulling him, but he wouldn’t budge. His voice rose, his temper flared: “What are you being so difficult about today? I’ve seen enough when applying medicine for you in the past; what kind of madness are you having today?”

Seeing that Su Ce still didn’t answer, Xiao Huai lost all patience: “I see your injury is of no concern; we shall continue tonight.”

Clearly, this threat reached Su Ce, who turned over and sat up, his face filled with grievance. His fox-like eyes glared at Xiao Huai, and he pushed him, his voice laced with tears: “You just don’t believe me! I told you I applied the medicine!”

“Then what are you afraid of?”