Sickly Jade - Chapter 5

Qingyi paused for a moment before backing out of the room, dismissing the other attendants.

That fleeting glance had been enough to see Ye Shaoyun in his disheveled state. It took a while before he asked cautiously, “Master, what do you need your subordinate to prepare?”

“Where did you go just now?”

They returned at such an opportune moment. Ye Shaoyun suspected this might have been an intentional act.

A cold, icy voice came from the room. Qingyi and the attendants fell to their knees. Realizing his negligence, Qingyi trembled and said, “There was an attack by mountain bandits just now, and we… it was this subordinate’s negligence. I ask for Master’s punishment!”

“Mhm.” Ye Shaoyun responded, and immediately, the sound of loud slaps rang out from outside.

After about twenty slaps, Ye Shaoyun called a halt. “That’s enough. Qingyi, come in alone.”

Only then did Qingyi walk in, head swimming from the beating he had administered to himself. Ye Shaoyun was wrapped in a quilt from the inn, covering the mess of his body, the scarlet blood vessels in his eyes still shimmering.

Qingyi lowered his head instinctively, refusing to look at his master’s misery; the scent lingering in the room betrayed everything that had transpired. Ye Shaoyun did not look up, his eyes cold as ice. “Kneel.”

Thud!

Qingyi knelt without hesitation, shuffling his knees forward until he was within Ye Shaoyun’s line of sight. “I accept my punishment.”

Ye Shaoyun looked at his swollen cheek and commanded coldly, “Come closer.”

Qingyi moved his knees forward again, closer to the bedside. Ye Shaoyun seized his jaw, lifting that pale face, his fingers exerting force. Qingyi felt the strength that threatened to crush his bones; he let out a muffled groan, casting his eyes down, not daring to look at Ye Shaoyun.

“Qingyi, have I treated you poorly?”

Qingyi trembled: “Master’s kindness to your subordinate is as great as a mountain.”

Ye Shaoyun’s eyes flickered. He moved his thumb to wipe away the bloodstain at the corner of Qingyi’s mouth and released him after a moment. “Good. Go prepare water, and bring me a fresh set of clothes.”

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the door, and the sound of footsteps approached.

“Your Highness, you cannot enter!” Muyun called out, trying to block the way.

“Is the Grand Preceptor inside? Move aside, let me see the Grand Preceptor!”

It was Qi Chu’s anxious voice outside. He sounded as if he were about to break down the door.

Ye Shaoyun’s pupils contracted violently; he shrank back into the depths of the bed. Noting his master’s panic, Qingyi hurriedly got up to stop him. “Master, I will go intercept him.”

Ye Shaoyun lay limp on the couch, his lips as pale as death.

“You won’t be able to stop him…”

Qi Chu shouted loudly: “Yun’er, you’re inside, aren’t you? Let me in!”

Ye Shaoyun did not answer, merely wrapping himself tighter in the quilt. When Qi Chu burst in, he saw only a bundle of bedding.

Qi Chu, dressed in his magnificent robes, threw himself at the bedside, clawing at the quilt with utter desperation. “Yun’er, why are you hiding from me? Let’s go home, shall we?”

Ye Shaoyun didn’t answer, only trembling. Qi Chu hurried onto the bed, embracing the person inside through the quilt. “Yun’er, what’s wrong? Are you cold? Come out and let me see you. I’m so worried about you.”

Qingyi solemnly dismissed everyone else and retreated himself. The room was left with only the two of them, the silent, humid air feeling incredibly heavy.

Ye Shaoyun’s muffled voice came from within the quilt: “Your Highness, I am soiled.”

That short sentence left the person outside in silence. After a long moment, Qi Chu spoke, his voice vacant. “Yun’er, what does that mean?”

Ye Shaoyun released the quilt, exposing his wretched state to Qi Chu. He stared into Qi Chu’s eyes with his red-rimmed gaze, his voice ethereal and hollow:

“Your Highness, it is just as you see. It was mountain bandits. Your Highness, return home; I am not worth your…”

The expression on Qi Chu’s face froze for a moment. The next second, his eyes turned red, and tears spilled over uncontrollably. He threw himself into the National Teacher’s arms, sobbing—looking even more like the victim than the victim himself.

“It is my fault for not protecting you, Yun’er. I arrived too late! Don’t be like this. No matter what happens, you are still the Grand Preceptor I revere and cherish most. You are my Yun’er…”

Ye Shaoyun sat blankly on the couch, facing the Crown Prince who was weeping more miserably than he was—feeling a profound sense of helplessness.

Once he had cried his fill, Qi Chu lifted his face, a flicker of viciousness flashing through his tear-reddened eyes. “Don’t worry, Yun’er. I will kill that person for you.”

Ye Shaoyun was expressionless. “How will you find him?”

Qi Chu’s mouth curved into a sinister arc. “If I cannot find him, I will kill everyone!”

He looked at Qi Chu, returning to his former obedient demeanor. “Yun’er, come back with me.”

Ye Shaoyun lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly, shielding the emotions in his gaze. “You should already know, I have resigned.”

“Why so suddenly? Why didn’t you tell me? Do you no longer want me?”

Qi Chu gripped the National Teacher’s shoulders, shaking them gingerly, his expression filled with deep grievances.

Ye Shaoyun shook his head numbly. “Your Highness no longer needs me.”

“How could I not need you? Ah Chu has always needed you. Let’s go back, shall we? What will I do without you? The First Imperial Brother and the Third Imperial Brother will bully me.”

Ye Shaoyun could never handle it when this man acted spoiled. His heart softened, and he reached out to stroke that furry head. “The First Imperial Brother is beyond the pass, and the Third Imperial Brother does not inquire about court affairs. How would they bully you?”

Qi Chu’s stubborn streak surged again. He hugged him tightly and wouldn’t let go. “I don’t care. In any case, you cannot abandon me. Wherever you want to go, we will go together.”

Ye Shaoyun shook his head again, his expression growing stern and indisputable. “You cannot. You are the Crown Prince; you bear the power to oversee the state. You cannot leave the capital.”

Qi Chu’s emotions became agitated. “Then I will not be the Crown Prince! Let whoever wants to do it do it; I only want you!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a slap landed on Qi Chu’s face. It was a heavy blow, one that made everyone outside the door catch their breath.

After delivering the slap, Ye Shaoyun’s breathing grew ragged whether from anger or exhaustion. “Scoundrel! Who gave you permission to say such things?! Cough, cough, cough!“

Aside from the Emperor, Ye Shaoyun was the first person in the current court to dare rebuke the Crown Prince so severely. His outburst ended in a fit of violent coughing. Qi Chu, disregarding his own numb cheek, rushed forward to steady him.

Just as he leaned in, he received another slap on the other cheek.

Ye Shaoyun glared at him with resentment, his eye sockets turning even redder. “Get out! Right now! Immediately! I do not wish to see you again!”

Qi Chu, having been slapped twice, hung his head. The muscles on both sides of his cheeks tightened slowly, and his gaze darkened, icy with cold when he looked up again.

“Ye Shaoyun, must you be this way?”

Ye Shaoyun paused slightly, his brow furrowing. As far as he could remember, this was the first time Qi Chu had addressed him by his full name. After hesitating for a few seconds, he resolutely spat out one word:

“Yes.”

“Why?” Qi Chu’s demeanor changed entirely; he seemed like a different person. No—to be precise, this was his true self.

Ye Shaoyun was not surprised. This was how a Crown Prince ought to look. He should not have personal affections, and he certainly should not have preferences, let alone a weakness. Today, Ye Shaoyun intended to snuff all of that out.

“Because I am disgusted by you! Qi Chu, you understand nothing. In my eyes, you are a useless piece of trash. I grew tired of you long ago. Can you not tell?”

Qi Chu stared into Ye Shaoyun’s eyes in disbelief, trying to find proof of deception, his voice rising abruptly. “You are lying to me!”

Even as he said this, his mind began to recall everything that had happened recently. Ye Shaoyun is disgusted by me. Yes, no wonder he was always indifferent when we were intimate, and always looked at me with such impatience.

I thought I was just being clumsy and annoying him. It turns out he really was disgusted by me.

He grabbed Ye Shaoyun’s arm again, pleading humbly: “I was wrong. I will change. Yun’er, give me one more chance, please…”

Ye Shaoyun scoffed coldly. “Fine. Then take a consort. The daughter of the Duke of Zhen is excellent. Accept this marriage.”

Having said this, he leaned in slightly. His charming eyes seemed capable of capturing a soul, yet the words he spoke were chilling:

“Use this opportunity to practice your skills in bed. Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?”

Qi Chu’s widened eyes began to bloodshot. He slammed his hand onto Ye Shaoyun’s wrist, wishing he could crush it, and said, word for word:

“Ye Shaoyun, what do you take me for?!”