The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32

The flowers and grass in the courtyard of Changning Palace were coated in a layer of frost, significantly colder than a few days prior. Despite the chill, the sky brightened exceptionally early; just past the hour of the Tiger 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM, the world was already a vast, misty white. The cold gathered everywhere, surging in through the window frames in thick drafts.

Xie Cheng, lying on his side, woke up. His arm had been naturally draped over the tiger cub, pressing against that rolling ball of heat, but now he felt only empty space. He opened his eyes to see a bright, furry tail swishing back and forth. The “living heater” cub was sitting on his pillow, clenching a corner of the duvet in its teeth and pulling upward with all its might.

The duvet was thick and heavy, and the cub was so small that its total effort was largely futile. The sounds emerging from its throat turned into heavy, rhythmic grunts and whimpers.

What is he doing so early in the morning?

Xie Cheng’s gaze shifted down. The duvet that had covered him up to his neck last night had somehow slipped, now barely covering his shoulders and leaving a large area of skin exposed. No wonder he felt so cold upon waking.

Xie Cheng wasn’t entirely sure if he had a habit of kicking the blankets, but seeing the cub work so hard to cover him, the look in his eyes softened involuntarily. After a moment, the cub realized this method wasn’t working. It turned around and tried to use its small head to prop up the corner of the blanket, clumsily pushing it toward Xie Cheng. Its padded paws treaded lightly, careful not to make a scene.

“Are you a dummy?”

Xie Cheng sat up against the soft cushions and grabbed the cub’s tail—which looked as dorky as its owner and pulled the creature toward him. Being caught by the tail made the cub’s fluffy fur puff out even more. Its front legs pawed at the blanket twice; having its vital spot seized, it didn’t dare truly struggle, only turning its head to stare at Xie Cheng with round eyes.

Its gaze was filled with utter disbelief.

If it were just the tip of the tail, it might be one thing, but Xie Cheng had grabbed it right at the base the very root of the tail. In the cub’s eyes, the beautiful Prince had undoubtedly transformed into a Beautiful Evil Prince.

The cub looked up at him. The somewhat unkempt silver hair was scattered across his shoulders and the soft pillow, making his skin look even more pale and cold, like carved jade. A pair of long eyes looked down, harboring a hint of playful mockery. A man who was usually ice-cold rarely smiled, and when he did, he looked like an immortal who had descended to the mortal realm—yet he also looked a bit wicked.

The cub let out two “roar-roars.” He isn’t just a bit wicked; he is super, exceptionally, specially wicked!

Mean, beautiful Prince.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Xie Cheng’s fingers idly stroked the fur. “To have hidden in the palace for so long, you are remarkably human-like.”

Is  he praising me?

The cub stopped being angry. It actively arched its tail, using the tip to touch Xie Cheng’s chin. The furry sensation brushed against his lips, and a few stray hairs tickled his nose. Xie Cheng swatted the restless cub and continued his thought, “It’s rare to see one so intelligent. You wouldn’t happen to be a transformed spirit, would you?”

His tone was flat and calm, as if he were mentioning a trivial matter. Yet the cub was so startled its tail stood straight up. Its eyes darted around as it broke free from Xie Cheng’s hand, jumped off the bed, let out two “roars,” and vanished in a flash.

Xie Cheng stared at the cub’s retreating back. “I called you a dummy, and you really are a total dummy.”

Stupid brain. You don’t even know how to pretend you didn’t understand.

Just then, a knock came at the door. Jiang Shui’s voice appeared outside. “Is Your Highness awake?”

The smile in Xie Cheng’s eyes faded, replaced by his usual cold and distant demeanor. “Enter.”

The door was pushed open cautiously. Jiang Shui entered with a basin of hot water, handed a dampened towel to Xie Cheng, and stood to the side. “Earlier, Auntie Chunhua from Her Majesty’s side came with a message. She asks Your Highness to join Her Majesty for breakfast.”

Xie Cheng wiped his face with the towel, stood up, and changed into his daily robes. “Is anyone else with my Imperial Mother?”

“Your Highness, how would I know that?”

Xie Cheng paused and shot him a glance. Jiang Shui was a hidden guard from the palace, ordered by the Emperor and Empress to protect this “sickly weakling.” He was fiercely loyal, though he occasionally hid things.

Thinking of what was about to happen, Xie Cheng draped the wet towel over his face. My head hurts.

****

By the time Xie Cheng reached the Fengyi Palace, he could already hear the faint sound of laughter before even stepping into the front hall. He let out an imperceptible sigh, then lightly lifted his cloak, stepping up the stairs to bow to the elegant woman seated at the head of the room. “I pay my respects to Imperial Mother. May you be in good health.”

“Zijue has finally come! I’ve been worrying about you for so long. You vanished as soon as you moved out to your own manor. Have you forgotten your Imperial Father and Mother in the palace?”

The Empress rose from her seat and took Xie Cheng’s hand through his cloak sleeve, bringing him to sit beside her. Her tone was reproachful yet full of pity. She pressed the hand-warmer from her own lap into Xie Cheng’s hands and added, “I don’t even know what you’re doing outside the palace. It makes me so worried.”

“How could I forget?” Xie Cheng first answered her earlier remark. “I’ve simply been occupied with trifles.”

“If they are trifles, why must you do everything yourself?” The Empress sighed. “I asked your Imperial Brother, but he was evasive and couldn’t give me a straight answer.” Her voice softened as her gaze remained fixed on Xie Cheng’s face, trying to find some clue.

Xie Cheng remained silent. He was spacing out.

“In the end, it’s because our Zijue doesn’t have a close companion to look after him. You never take care of your own body.”

Here it comes. The main event.

“Your Mother has selected many excellent young ladies. Their family backgrounds, looks, and characters are all top-tier.” The Empress gave Auntie Chunhua a look.

A moment later, Auntie Chunhua bowed and presented several exquisitely mounted scrolls. The Empress took one and slowly unfurled it. On the silk surface was a painting of a refined noble lady with elegant hair and a graceful posture.

“This is the daughter of Grand Tutor Zhang. She is gentle and cultured, well-versed in poetry…”

“Imperial Mother,” Xie Cheng interrupted her, coughing a few times with a pale face. “With this body of mine, I shouldn’t burden a young lady. There’s no telling when I might…”

“Nonsense!” The Empress’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choking up. “My son is blessed by heaven. You are merely a bit weak right now; with proper care, you will surely recover. If you say such ominous things again, I… I shall certainly punish you.”

Xie Cheng couldn’t bear to see a mother cry like this. He took a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it over. “I shall not say it again.”

“Then, about this selection process?”

“Imperial Mother, it is not that I am unwilling to marry. It is simply that I do not like young ladies by nature.”

The Empress’s hand, which was about to take the handkerchief, froze in mid-air. The sorrow on her face solidified; it was as if she hadn’t heard clearly, or perhaps heard too clearly, and was stunned into a daze. She slowly retracted her hand, making sure Xie Cheng wasn’t joking. Her voice was very soft. “What did Zijue say?”

Xie Cheng repeated: “I do not like young ladies.”

“What does ‘not liking young ladies’ mean?”

“I like men.”

A massive shock seized the Empress. She gripped her sleeves. “There isn’t a single person in your chambers; how could you know.  how could you know you don’t like girls but like men?”

Xie Cheng lowered his eyes. Having coughed earlier, his voice was slightly husky. “I am impotent when facing a young lady.”

“When facing a man.  I am not.”

The Empress grabbed Auntie Chunhua’s hand for support. “How… how can such a thing exist in this world?”

“It does indeed exist.” Xie Cheng stood up, wrapped his cloak tighter, and bowed to the Empress again. “The selection process is truly unnecessary. There are matters at the manor; I shall visit you again another day.”

Staring blankly at Xie Cheng’s retreating back, the Empress murmured, “He likes men…”

“Chunhua, Chunhua, what kind of situation is this?”

“It seems the Prince already has someone he likes, which is why he spoke to you this way,” Auntie Chunhua said.

“A man?”

“Most likely.”

“Then why didn’t he bring him to see me?”

“Perhaps the matter is. not yet settled.”

The Empress slapped the table. “Outrageous! My son was born with the grace of a dragon and the elegance of a phoenix. He is brilliant and talented; which family would dare refuse him?”

Auntie Chunhua nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“No, this might just be Zijue’s excuse to stall. The selection must still go on,” the Empress decided.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” The Empress rubbed her temples. “Besides young ladies, find some… handsome men as well.”

“Yes.”

“Do it secretly. Search quietly first. On the surface, say Prince Zhao is hosting a poetry banquet at the selection and invite them.”

“Yes…”

*****

Behind a wall, a tiger cub was huddled in a hidden corner, its ears perked up and pressed against the wall. Xie Cheng’s voice came through clearly.

The whole tiger was dazed.

He doesn’t like female tigers. He… he likes m-male tigers! Likes male tigers, male tigers, male tigers.

The cub buried its stupid head in its fur and began to frantically lick its paws. The beautiful Prince likes male tigers! I’M a male tiger! And I don’t like those female tigers either; I like the beautiful Prince who is cold on the outside but holds me and touches my ears and tail in private.

The cub began to act shyly, its padded paw swatting its own furry face as it hid in embarrassment. Suddenly, a shadow fell over its head.

Xie Cheng looked down at the dummy trying to fold himself into a ball. He nudged him with his toe. “Don’t rub against the ground, it’s filthy. Get up. We’re going home.”

Home!

The cub immediately looked up, showing two beautiful tiny sharp teeth to Xie Cheng.

Xie Cheng looked at the living heater. “Your whole face is wrinkled; it’s hideously ugly.”

“Awoo-woo-woo!”

“What kind of sound is that now?” Xie Cheng chuckled softly. “It sounds like a little kitten trying to bark like a big tiger.”

The cub immediately changed its tune. “Roar.”

“That’s more like it.”

Leaving it at that, Xie Cheng turned around leisurely, his wind-blown cloak brushing against the cub’s face. He walked with slow steps. “The weather is nice today. Walk with me.”

The cub scrambled to follow. It was a rare sunny day; a few beams of sunlight filtered through the layered leaves, scattering across the bluestone path.

Up ahead, Xie Cheng spoke unhurriedly. “Normally, a forest spirit should have a clever heart. Even if pure of mind, one shouldn’t be so stupid as to crash a Mid-Autumn banquet and wound the guests.”

The cub didn’t dare make a sound.

“And even if you wounded someone, why didn’t you know how to flee? Staying there like a fool, waiting for a sword to hit you?”

The cub let out a soft, dorky protest. “Roar.”

“But then again, for a spirit to cause such a ruckus at a banquet. was it just to see the fun, or was there another plan?”

Xie Cheng suddenly turned around, staring fixedly at the furry bundle on the ground. “What do you think?”

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