Strongly Spoiled by the Villainous Tyrant After Climbing into the Dragon’s Bed - Chapter 18

This posture was a bit dangerous.

It was even more dangerous than the first time the two of them ate an orange together.

At least back then, he had been a bit stronger than he was now, and Tan Huai’s frame had been smaller.

But now, this was the twenty-six-year-old Tan Huai.

It was a Tan Huai he had never seen before.

If it weren’t for the fact that this face had been handsome since childhood—handsome as if carved from the very same mold—he truly wouldn’t have recognized him.

“My blood cannot crack,” Zhan Yueqing thought the situation was getting more and more terrifying the more he considered it. He hurriedly searched for an excuse, saying words that others would find nonsensical, his voice low: “…Can, can you let me inspect the goods first?”

As the words fell, Zhan Yueqing clearly felt the hand stroking his leg come to a standstill.

“I mean, it doesn’t mean anything else,” Zhan Yueqing said with a bit of a guilty conscience. “I see that you have some dark circles under your eyes. If you have a kidney deficiency, maybe you should nourish yourself first? I’ll also nurse myself back to health; once I’m recovered, it won’t crack. It wouldn’t be too late to enjoy ourselves to our heart’s content then.”

In the darkness, Tan Huai narrowed his eyes dangerously, his voice sounding somewhat peculiar: “I… am deficient?”

For some reason, tonight’s Tan Huai was different from last night’s.

Zhan Yueqing felt that tonight’s version of him had more vitality.

Even though he had only spoken two words.

Presumably, men don’t like having this aspect of themselves questioned? After all, he didn’t like comparing sizes with others either.

“It’s not that I think…” Zhan Yueqing curled his toes slightly. “It’s what your complexion is telling me.”

Tan Huai paused.

“Besides, I have an exam tomorrow.” Zhan Yueqing was thinking very far ahead. “I don’t want to be unable to get out of bed.”

Tan Huai: “…”

Zhan Yueqing’s heart began to race. Soon, he felt his ankle being lowered.

He felt a sigh of relief in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, his palm was suddenly grabbed and placed onto…

“!!!”

With just one touch, Zhan Yueqing felt as if he had been burned. His earlobes turned red as he tried to dodge. “What are you doing?!”

“Didn’t you want to inspect the goods?” Tan Huai’s voice was icy.

Zhan Yueqing wrapped himself in the quilt and rolled to the innermost part of the bed, yet his palm still seemed to retain the sensation from a moment ago. It burned so much that not only were his ears red, but his face was flushing hot too.

Damn it!!!

Tan Huai really is a bastard!!!

“Between me and Royal Brother,” the bastard spoke again, “who is bigger?”

Zhan Yueqing: “…”

Zhan Yueqing bit his teeth. “I’ve never slept with him, how would I know? How about I go try? When the time comes, I’ll sleep with you on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and sleep with him on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday? And I’ll take Friday off to rest?”

He paused, intentionally trying to provoke Tan Huai, and added another sentence: “Anyway, he’s also quite handsome.”

“…” Tan Huai grabbed the quilt. Knowing he had said the wrong thing, he dragged the person together with the quilt back into his arms. “He’s not as good-looking as me.”

Zhan Yueqing hummed, frowning slightly, feeling more and more that last night and tonight were so different.

Am I dreaming? Zhan Yueqing reached out and pinched his thigh, thinking to himself that it didn’t even hurt.

Is it really a dream?

“You are pinching We’s leg,” Tan Huai’s cold voice rang out again.

Zhan Yueqing gave a light cough. “Tan Huai, you are so different tonight compared to last night.”

Tan Huai moved his fingers, brushing past Zhan Yueqing’s leg, creating a strange sensation.

“Why are you different?” Zhan Yueqing couldn’t help but shrink his leg. “Being hot and cold like this, are you trying to make me catch a cold? Can’t you say a few more words?”

He hesitated, wanting to ask if Tan Huai was being suppressed by a system, but then he thought of 997’s existence and didn’t dare ask.

He wasn’t sure if he could expose the fact that he and Tan Huai had known each other before in front of 997.

He would wait until tomorrow to ask about 997’s online schedule. Once he was sure 997 was away, he would exchange information with Tan Huai.

Tan Huai: “Tan Mingzhi stayed in the carriage with you for fifteen minutes today. What did he say to you?”

Zhan Yueqing was stunned for a moment and blurted out: “He pinched me!”

Tan Huai clearly paused.

“…Wait a minute,” Zhan Yueqing realized that saying it like this sounded too much like tattling. “Why are you asking this? Are you afraid of what he might have said to me?”

Tan Huai stopped talking.

Zhan Yueqing said quickly: “Believe it or not, I’ll give you a ‘mute potion’ tomorrow and turn you into a real mute.”

Tan Huai: “…”

He had thought this would threaten him, but he hadn’t expected that in the next second, someone else would be beside him and his waist would be pulled in.

“Sleep.”

Tan Huai said, as if shifting the subject.

Zhan Yueqing frowned. “When did you transmigrate here?”

The hand on his waist tightened. Zhan Yueqing was entangled by the giant python once again, and this time, he was pressed into the other’s embrace.

“In the palace, be cautious in speech and action; outside the palace, do not run around aimlessly.”

Zhan Yueqing was startled.

Was he reminding him of something?

“If you don’t sleep, then fulfill your duties as a male concubine.” Tan Huai’s voice turned cold again, a faint threat.

As soon as these words came out, Zhan Yueqing didn’t dare say anything more. Tan Huai always meant what he said.

He subconsciously burrowed into Tan Huai’s chest, like a small animal relying on the king of beasts.

But just as he finished burrowing, Zhan Yueqing felt something was wrong again. He looked up: “I am the second son of the Grand Tutor. Where did I get ‘duties as a male concubine’? Which emperor sleeps with his own officials?”

The movement of looking up wasn’t quite right, and he bumped into Tan Huai’s chin.

In the darkness, the veins on Tan Huai’s forehead throbbed. His eyes shifted, and he simply grabbed him.

His calloused palm captured Zhan Yueqing’s lily-white wrist, and his voice sounded like he was at the end of his patience—

“Your hands, at least, won’t crack.”

Zhan Yueqing’s mind went blank.

…

The snowy wind howled, making the window lattices rattle and whistle.

The sand in the hourglass fell bit by bit, and the night grew deeper. Zhan Yueqing was so sleepy he could hardly keep his eyes open. His hands were soft, his legs were soft, and his waist was soft too. The hickeys on his neck were covered by large areas of purplish-blue bite marks…

Tan Huai was like a ghost that wouldn’t dissipate, clinging to his neck, breathing lowly.

“Call me ‘Gege’ (Brother).”

The low, husky voice coaxed Zhan Yueqing.

Zhan Yueqing gave him a pinch. “I won’t.”

“…”

The pleasant-sounding breathing suddenly stopped.

In the next second, a kiss bit down on him as if in punishment. Tan Huai seemed to be somewhat stirred with emotion. “…It’s almost the Hour of the Rabbit (5 AM). Say it once, or I’ll screw you to death.”

Zhan Yueqing was startled awake. “What about the Hour of the Rabbit…”

“The Hour of the Rabbit is five o’clock in the morning.” Tan Huai sounded as though he were explaining it to him.

Zhan Yueqing’s brows furrowed, and his brain began to turn slowly—what time did he come back?

It’s been this long, and Tan Huai still hasn’t…

“Say it.” Tan Huai’s voice urged him.

Zhan Yueqing seemed truly exhausted by sleepiness; he was responsible for the provocation but not for the aftermath. His breathing became even, and he fell asleep.

Tan Huai: “…”

At the same time.

As the night grew deeper, the Spring Orchid Pavilion grew dark. After the clamor faded, Shi Hua returned to his room.

However, there was already someone in the room.

Shi Hua’s brows furrowed. He pulled back the bed curtains and saw the dark shadow behind them—

That person wore a black mask in the shape of a flying bird, leaning against his bedstead.

“Pavilion Master…” Shi Hua murmured. “Why would you be here?”

The Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion gave a light chuckle, but pointed toward the sky—

“Young Master Shi, do you know how to read the stars?”

Shi Hua took a look and was stunned.

A guest star intrudes upon the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, signifying rebellion.

“Today, the swallows in the pavilion kept crying. As they cried, I discovered that a third ‘Emperor’s Destiny’ has appeared in this world—and it has landed in Xuanning.”

Shi Hua lowered his eyes and did not speak.

The Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion walked a circle around him, placing a hand on Shi Hua’s shoulder. “An Emperor’s Destiny, the blood of a Medicine Man… who do you think… the third person is?”

Shi Hua sneered: “It’s certainly not you.”

“Who told you I wanted to be the Emperor?” The Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion patted his shoulder. “The first Emperor is already on the throne. The second Emperor’s Destiny is under my control… I want you to help me find out who the third one is.”

Shi Hua paused. “The second one is under your control? Who is it?”

Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion: “Zhang Qiu.”

Information about the Zhang family instantly surfaced in his mind. Shi Hua’s eyebrows arched. “A disciple from a humble family?”

“Correct.” The Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion said: “However, appearing alongside it today was also a ‘General Star.’ The choice made by this ‘General Star’ is extremely important—those with the Emperor’s Destiny must have this person’s assistance.”

Shi Hua laughed. “So, you actually want me to find that ‘General Star,’ right?”

The Master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion looked up. “No. I will go find them personally.”

The next day, in the Palace of Embroidery, Zhan Yueqing was woken up very early.

He was in a daze when he got up, and Tan Huai’s voice came from beside him: “Get dressed. Follow me to the Imperial Prison.”

Zhan Yueqing was instantly startled awake. Clothes were thrust into his hands, and he looked at Tan Huai with a face full of confusion.

Just because he took a step ahead and fell asleep last night, he was being thrown into the Imperial Prison today?!

“Ma-ma-ma-majesty…” Zhan Yueqing hugged the clothes and clung to the bed like a koala. “You’re going too far! You just slept with me last night, and you’re throwing me into the Imperial Prison today?!”

Tan Huai: “…”

He glanced at the hourglass and gave a cold sneer. “Did We actually get to sleep with you?”

Zhan Yueqing hadn’t expected it was actually because of this. He opened his eyes in shock, his eyes reddening—

“…Not to the Imperial Prison, I’m taking you to see your father,” Tan Huai added helplessly.

Eh?! Zhan Yueqing blinked, and his eyes weren’t red anymore. He frowned in a bit of a daze: “Which father?”

“Zhan Jing.”

The moment the words fell, Zhan Yueqing felt the back of his neck being grabbed, and his whole body flew out—

“!!” He can actually lift me with one hand? Zhan Yueqing was slightly amazed, and in the next instant, he realized someone had caught him.

Looking up, it was Zhou Jiu bringing a few maidservants. In their hands was a set of white robes woven with gold.

“Dress him.” Zhan Yueqing heard Tan Huai say coldly: “Have him ready within fifteen minutes.”

Zhan Yueqing was stunned. He didn’t understand why he had to change into such nice clothes, but it didn’t take long for him to realize why—

Half an hour later, in the Supervisorate.

Outside, the wind and snow were freezing, while inside the Supervisorate, it was dark as night. In the deepest cell, drifting snow blew in through the window, swaying as it fell onto the table in the cell.

A person was huddled by the table.

It was Zhan Jing.

In such a short time, Zhan Jing’s complexion no longer looked human. His hair was disheveled and he was skin and bones, clearly having suffered greatly in the Supervisorate.

The ‘Ghost Uncle’ and the eighty-one types of torture in the prison were not just talk.

Among the eighty-one methods, there was one called ‘Ghost Hears Crying,’ which involved peeling off the prisoner’s skin.

It was said that these were the eighty-one tortures personally established by the tyrant Tan Huai, specifically to torment heinous criminals.

Zhan Jing knew that the mistakes he had made weren’t enough to warrant being tortured by such means, but other minor tortures were unavoidable. Now, his ten fingers were held in a finger-press, looking extremely pathetic.

“Yesterday you said you wanted to send a message to your son, Zhan Yueqing, wanting him to come see you because you have something to say to him…”

Mu Zhou’s voice suddenly rang out from the gloomy distance.

Zhan Jing’s eyes moved, and a hint of hope appeared on his aged face. He spoke with a hoarse voice: “Is he here… has he come?”

He had been tortured until his mind was unclear, and he murmured: “I know he will come. He has always been looking for his origins…”

Mu Zhou glanced at the Zhan Yueqing in front of him—

Zhan Yueqing paused, as if feeling pity for Zhan Jing.

“…He’s here.” Mu Zhou sneered, but in his heart, he added another layer of dissatisfaction toward Zhan Yueqing.

Senseless pity will be the death of you!

“…How did he become like this?” Zhan Yueqing frowned slightly.

Mu Zhou licked his lips, as if he were tasting blood, and a smile appeared on his face.

“For cheating in the Imperial Examinations, this is considered light.”