The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 44

That night, the red lanterns had already been cleared from the Zhao Prince Estate. The whole affair had been a mere formality, a performance by Auntie Chunhua to put the two powers in the palace at ease.

Inside the bedroom, only a few bright lamps remained, casting a soft, amber glow. Xie Cheng reclined on the couch, draped in an outer robe. His knuckles, which held a pulp novel, were suddenly nudged by a Persian cat.

The cat that had jumped into his lap was snow-white without a single stray hair, plump and well-proportioned, with a pair of deep blue eyes like water-soaked glass.

A certain official had spent a fortune to procure this cat for Xie Cheng to play with, hoping to dispel his boredom.

The overly soft fur brushed against the back of his hand. Xie Cheng instinctively frowned. He didn’t pick it up; instead, he simply hitched his robe and brushed the cat to the floor.

It was as if he were brushing away a fallen leaf or a speck of dust.

“My Prince.”

Shui Shi entered the room just in time to see this.

The Persian cat was a clingy thing; despite the Prince’s obvious disdain, it simply curled into a small ball and huddled by his side.

Xie Cheng continued to ignore it, giving Shui Shi his orders: “Send the registry of all today’s candidates to the palace. Say it is my wish that Mother select suitable matches for them elsewhere. If they are unwilling, do not force them. If any already have sweethearts, I can personally petition for a decree to grant them marriage.”

“Yes, My Prince,” Shui Shi replied.

“Take this Persian cat away.” Xie Cheng nudged the cat’s chin with the tip of his toe. “Is the Zhao Prince Estate a place that just accepts any stray cat or dog?”

“This. where should I take it?”

“The Fifth Princess likes them. Give it to her.”

Shui Shi acknowledged the command, keeping his eyes on his toes. He quickly scooped up the cat, which had stretched out into a long white ribbon.

He didn’t dare say anything to Xie Cheng’s face, but he grumbled inwardly. The Prince is in such a foul mood; he clearly didn’t hear what Young Master Jiang said at the end.

True, the wind on the lake today had been loud; it was quite a distraction.

Xie Cheng, who in Shui Shi’s eyes was “sulking,” flipped through a newly arrived novel. He lacked patience; after a few moments, he slapped the book down on the couch and said flatly, “It’s no good.”

Shui Shi didn’t dare make a sound.

“Get me another one,” Xie Cheng commanded.

“My Prince, perhaps the candlelight is too dim at night, making it less interesting. Should I have the new guard read it to you?” Shui Shi asked tentatively.

Xie Cheng looked up, his gaze somewhat cold. “Since when does the estate have a new guard?”

“The people below assumed the Prince had agreed.” Shui Shi’s tone shifted. “Should I have the person expelled from the estate?”

The room fell into a heavy silence.

After a long while, Xie Cheng rose and walked behind the screen into the inner chamber. His steps were light and slow. He blew out several candles as he went, saying neither yes nor no, leaving the servants to guess everything.

Shui Shi was no amateur. Taking the hint, he clutched the Persian cat—which hadn’t even stayed for an hour and retreated out the door.

The Prince’s meaning was: Permitted.

No need to expel him.

As the night deepened, a light wind picked up, making the leaves in the courtyard rustle. Within moments, a pitter-patter of rain began to fall, soon turning into a steady rhythm against the window paper.

The rain wasn’t heavy, but a sliver of chill seeped through the cracks of the window along with the misty air, creeping into every corner.

On the bed, Xie Cheng rolled over and tucked himself deeper into the quilts, leaving only a few strands of silver-white hair exposed.

A moment later, he rolled the quilt into a tight cylinder.

Creeeak.

A tiny sound.

The bedroom door was pushed open just enough for a blurry dark shadow to slip inside. His steps were light, but the silver chains draped over his body inevitably made a faint sound.

Jingle, jingle.

The sound was kept low, but there was no real attempt to hide it.

Jiang Yi walked barefoot across the icy floor. He took a deep breath, straightening the silver chains around his waist so that the tiny bells pressed firmly against his abdomen.

Even without a bright lamp, relying only on the meager moonlight leaking through the window, Jiang Yi’s pace was steady. He expertly rounded the screen and reached the bedside.

He stood by the couch, his gaze fixed on the blurred figure within. After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled back the curtain, slowly knelt on the floor, and rested his chin on the edge of the bed.

He looked over; the bundle in the quilts remained motionless.

He pressed his ear close; there was only steady, shallow breathing.

The Prince is still sound asleep. He hasn’t woken up.

Jiang Yi’s tense body relaxed slightly. He reached out to lift a corner of the quilt, and without warning, a brilliant light shone out, illuminating the stunned shock on his face.

His breath hitched.

He met Xie Cheng’s wide-awake eyes.

Those eyes reflected the brilliance of a pearl deep clear  and without a trace of sleepiness.

The Prince is awake! He’s awake!

Under the covers, a plump, large night-pearl cast a bright glow from the crook of Xie Cheng’s arm. Xie Cheng was lying there, using the light to quietly read his open novel.

The glow of the pearl washed over his lowered eyelashes, casting a small, butterfly-wing shadow beside the bridge of his nose.

Because of his prone position, several strands of long hair slid across his slightly open collar, revealing the outline of his collarbone.

Hearing the commotion, the fingers holding the book tapped near the pearl, and he turned his head. Jiang Yi froze as he looked over; he felt as though the corners of the Prince’s eyes had been stained a peach-pink by the warm light.

The Prince is so beautiful.

I want to kiss the stained corners of his eyes.

Jiang Yi swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“What are you doing?”

Xie Cheng tried to pull the quilt down, but Jiang Yi was clutching a corner. He pulled a few times, but it didn’t budge.

“My Prince,” Jiang Yi called out softly.

“Are you trying to”

Jiang Yi’s hand suddenly darted in and snatched the novel away. Xie Cheng’s gaze followed the book, his face expressionless. “Give it back.”

“My Prince, reading under the covers is bad for your eyes.” Jiang Yi hid the book behind his back.

Following the movement of his hands, Xie Cheng quickly noticed the boy’s unclothed torso, exposed shamelessly in the light.

It wasn’t the thinness of a frail scholar, but the powerful, healthy build of a martial artist.

His broad shoulders had smooth lines, and his chest was full and firm. With his slightly quickened breathing, the silver chains draped over his muscles rose and fell slightly.

His skin still carried the healthy flush of someone who had just been running. Under the warm light, it shimmered with a honey-like luster, flowing like ripples on water.

All of this was laid bare now that his clothes were gone.

Xie Cheng’s gaze moved down a few inches. There, several small bells swayed. Along with the silver chains, they dipped lower, abruptly disappearing beneath his cover.

“My Prince”

Jiang Yi was already embarrassed to have snuck in dressed like this. Under Xie Cheng’s scrutiny, his cheeks burned a deep red.

Xie Cheng withdrew his gaze. “Mhm?”

He offered no further reaction.

Jiang Yi felt a bit dejected. He leaned against the bed, looking at Xie Cheng with wide, bright eyes. “The Prince was unhappy today. I’ve come to coax you.”

“In the middle of the night? To coax me?”

Jiang Yi heard a hint of potential forgiveness in his voice. He crawled up bit by bit until half his body was on the bed, like a large dog cautiously approaching its master.

The light of the night-pearl fell upon his tight back muscles as the lifted quilt slowly covered them.

The silver chains chimed again, drawing close to Xie Cheng’s ear. A familiar heat pressed in.

“My Prince. let me coax you. Don’t be angry with me anymore, okay?”

Jiang Yi pressed himself against Xie Cheng, lowering his head to kiss the area near his collarbone, mumbling incoherently. “It’s my fault. I didn’t make myself clear.”

“What was your mistake?” Xie Cheng asked.

“If I had known the Prince was on the lake then, I shouldn’t have rambled.” Jiang Yi moved to kiss his chin. “I should have just said it then. I want to be the one by the Prince’s side, the one in his bed, the one in his heart. Forever and ever.”

“My Prince, I am no coward.”

Jiang Yi’s voice trembled.

His hand stroked Xie Cheng’s shoulder. As he explored further, he nervously tugged loose the ties of the Prince’s snow-white inner robe.

That “bad dog” quickly lunged in, his hot breath brushing against Xie Cheng’s cheek before he began to kiss, nuzzle, and bite at his lips.

Outside, the rain grew heavier, the drops falling with more intensity.

It was like a jade mountain covered in light snow, suddenly brushed by a gale.

“Jiang Yi…”

A breath escaped Xie Cheng’s tightly pressed lips. His fingers sank into Jiang Yi’s messy hair, his grip tightening.

“Don’t be in such a rush.  Don’t be so impatient.”

“My  Prince “

Fragmented sounds were only uttered in moments of distraction.

Xie Cheng’s voice did nothing to restrain Jiang Yi.

He sniffed again.

“The Prince has another scent on him.”

“Is it that annoying Persian cat?”

Several gusts of wind blew past, and the rain softened slightly.

The soaked snow turned into flowing water, trickling down from the mountain ridge, quickly finding the source of that sudden gale.

Jiang Yi lifted his head, pushing the quilt aside slightly. “My Prince. does it feel uncomfortable?”

Xie Cheng didn’t speak. He just kept his lips parted slightly, staring at the layers upon layers of intertwined curtains above him.

“My Prince” Jiang Yi lowered his head again, smearing what was on his lips onto Xie Cheng.

“Filthy,” Xie Cheng finally managed to say.

“Not filthy. The Prince isn’t filthy.”

Jiang Yi moved to lick it away.

Back and forth they went, playing with abandon.

Xie Cheng finally reached his limit and smacked the top of the boy’s head. “Stop it, Jiang Yi.”

“I’m not playing,” Jiang Yi said piteously. “I’m just trying to make the Prince happy.”

“Get off.”

“My Prince. do you want to go again?”

Jiang Yi took Xie Cheng’s hand, placing it against his thin trousers. With a red face, he said, “I’ve learned a lot. I know how to serve the Prince well. I can definitely make you satisfied.”

“No”

Before Xie Cheng could finish his sentence, Jiang Yi spoke again. “I know the Prince is tired today. It doesn’t matter; the Prince doesn’t need to move. I can do it myself.”

Xie Cheng: “?”

“My Prince?”

“Jiang Yi.”

“Mhm? What is it, My Prince?”

“Turn around.” Xie Cheng grabbed his wrists, suddenly flipping over and pinning him into the quilts. “Don’t move.”

Xie Cheng bit the tip of his ear. “Truly disobedient.”

“My Prince! Disaster! The Crown Prince has been assassinated! He is gravely wounded, and his life hangs in the balance!”

As the sky began to pale, Shui Shi was already shouting outside the bedroom, looking as though he wanted to break down the door.

Xie Cheng snapped his eyes open, pushing away Jiang Yi, who was coiled around him. The boy was still sound asleep; losing all coordination, he simply went roll-roll-roll right off the bed.

“When did this happen?” Xie Cheng asked.

He had intended to call Shui Shi inside to report, but seeing the mess on the bed, he abandoned the thought.

“Just half an hour ago,” Shui Shi replied.

As Xie Cheng searched for new clothes to put on, he asked, “Where did the assassination take place?”

“In Peach Blossom Lane.”

“In the middle of the night? What was he doing in an alley?”

“They say Young Master Ye Shu has gone missing.”

It sounded like a disaster.

Xie Cheng cursed under his breath, “Troublesome.”

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