The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 48

“Have you heard? The bed in Mingyu Pavilion collapsed.”

“Is the Prince truly that. vigorous?”

“You have no idea,” a servant whispered, leaning in. “The night watchman said the whole ground was shaking at midnight. When Young Master Jiang came out this morning, he could barely walk straight!”

“What a pity we didn’t see it for ourselves.”

“And yet, the Prince didn’t look tired at all this morning.”

Mingyu Pavilion was Xie Cheng’s private courtyard. The commotion from the night before had been significant, and apparently, some loudmouth had spread the word. By early morning, the entire manor was buzzing with the news.

As the morning mist still lingered, a few servants slacked off near the shrubbery to gossip, only to have their foreheads rapped one by one by the butler, who happened to be passing by with a duster.

“Is the business of the Master’s bedroom something for you to wag your tongues about?” The butler tucked his hands behind his back, his face a mask of frost. “If I hear another word of this, you’ll all be kicked out of the manor.”

The servants instantly went silent, shrinking back and scurrying away with their brooms.

On the other side of a rockery, Jiang Yi had Xie Cheng pinned against a jagged stone wall, peppering nips and bites around the Prince’s collarbone.

Jiang Yi’s hands were braced against the rock, acting as a cushion to ensure Xie Cheng wouldn’t get scratched lest the Prince get annoyed and stop the kissing session.

The sound of brooms sweeping against the bluestone pavement faded into the distance.

Xie Cheng pushed the man away with a look of mild irritation. He pulled a clean handkerchief from Jiang Yi’s own sleeve, wiped the saliva from his skin, and tossed the cloth back at him.

He truly couldn’t understand the appeal of repeating the same action over and over until everything was sticky and messy.

“Your Highness,” Jiang Yi looked up, licking his lips.

“Have you no shame? The rumors in the manor are already out of control, and here you are doing this in broad daylight.”

“No shame at all!” Jiang Yi replied instantly.

Certain people wanted nothing more than for the entire Imperial City to know exactly who belonged at the Prince’s side.

“Besides, it’s not even what they think,” Jiang Yi muttered under his breath.

Last night, after the bed collapsed, Xie Cheng had been forced to sleep in the side room with Jiang Yi. Although Jiang Yi had claimed that room long ago, he rarely slept there, and the decorative windows were seldom opened. The room was chilly and damp.

Even after moving their original bedding over, Xie Cheng couldn’t sleep. With Jiang Yi clinging to him like a vine, the unfamiliarity of the bed kept him wide awake.

Xie Cheng didn’t think he was being finicky. He simply decided that this was all Jiang Yi’s fault.

Consequently, after opening his eyes for the umpteenth time, Xie Cheng had kicked the clinging Jiang Yi off the bed and dropped a cold command: “Go fix that bed.”

Jiang Yi had spent the rest of the night working, leaving his back and waist aching by morning. And thus, the rumors were born.

Jiang Yi mumbled a few more things, but when he looked up and caught Xie Cheng’s narrowing eyes, his gaze began to flicker nervously. “It’s my fault, all my fault… My dear Prince, don’t be mad. I’m here to make it up to you, aren’t I?”

Jiang Yi almost repeated the sweet, nonsense talk he’d used to coax the Prince the night before.

“Make it up to me?” Xie Cheng glanced at the surrounding artificial rocks. “By bringing me to a corner like this?”

“We were just passing through!”

Who knew they’d run into gossiping servants? No matter how thick-skinned Jiang Yi usually was, he wasn’t about to walk out and face them right then.

Xie Cheng brushed his sleeves and stepped out of the narrow crevice. “Where are we going?”

Jiang Yi hurried after him, grabbing Xie Cheng’s arm. “Have you heard, Your Highness? A new restaurant called ‘The World’s Finest’ is opening. They say it’s going to give the Guangwei Restaurant a run for its money.”

“I haven’t,” Xie Cheng said.

“They say the owner has a huge reputation. They’ve brought back a bunch of lost recipes Double-stewed Dragon Soup, Jade Marrow Porridge… things you can hardly find anywhere else!”

“And?” Xie Cheng prompted.

“Well, today is their grand opening. Every guest gets a small bowl of Lotus Seedporridge. I’ve never tried such a rare thing; I wanted to go see.”

Xie Cheng was speechless. The boy had been living like a king in the Zhao Manor for months; what “rare thing” hadn’t he tasted yet?

“Look at you, acting like you’ve never seen the world,” Xie Cheng remarked. “When we get there, don’t tell people you’re from my manor.”

“I’m doing this to apologize to you! Naturally, I had to pick the very best place.”

Jiang Yi grinned brilliantly, taking Xie Cheng’s hand and pulling it toward the coin purse at his waist. It felt cold and metallic. Copper coins.

Xie Cheng looked down. The purse was bulging, stuffed with a mix of new and old copper coins.

He remembered their arrangement: for every hour Jiang Yi spent grinding ink for him, Xie Cheng would give him one copper coin. The boy hadn’t spent a single cent on his favorite braised chicken legs; instead, he had hoarded every coin until the purse was nearly bursting.

How stupid.

Xie Cheng felt the urge to say it out loud, but since Jiang Yi was right there looking at him with eyes full of devotion, he decided to summon his system, 222, instead.

How stupid,  he told the system.

Huh? 222 was baffled.

Do you know what he looks like right now? Xie Cheng let out a short, amused huff. He looks like someone with a hundred bucks in his pocket pulling my hand and telling me he’s taking me to a Michelin-star restaurant.

Huh? 222 remained utterly confused.

Xie Cheng’s eyes softened. Utterly foolish.

Uh… okay?

That’s all. You can go now.

222: 

****

“The World’s Finest” was located on the most prosperous street in the city. At five stories tall, it stood like a crane among chickens compared to the surrounding buildings. In the daylight, its gold-plated plaque was dazzling and ostentatious.

Jiang Yi pulled Xie Cheng inside, and they were immediately hit by a wave of warmth from the charcoal heaters. A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air.

Waiters in matching robes scurried between tables and screens, carrying various platters. The restaurant wasn’t noisy; a musician was on stage playing the zither, the melody blending softly with the low hum of conversation.

As soon as they entered, an assistant greeted them with a smile. “Welcome! Which floor would you like to dine on today?”

Jiang Yi patted his coin purse. “What are the options?”

The assistant sized them up. Seeing their noble bearing, he lowered his hand to his mouth and whispered, “The private rooms on the top floor are elegantly furnished. There’s a row of windows overlooking the street where you can see the distant waters. It is the height of sophistication.”

A place fitting for a Prince’s status.

Jiang Yi blurted out, “The top floor it is, then! Hurry up and get it ready.”

“The top floor is always ready, sir!” The assistant bowed and gestured toward the stairs. “Please, follow me.”

Seeing Jiang Yi happily follow him, Xie Cheng grabbed his arm and asked the assistant, “How much is the cover charge?”

The assistant smiled and held up two fingers. “Not much at all.”

Jiang Yi leaned in, whispering into Xie Cheng’s ear, “Is it twenty copper coins?”

Xie Cheng: 

“Good thing I brought plenty of money today. Your Highness, let’s go up!” Jiang Yi said gleefully.

“Plenty of money?” Xie Cheng tried to warn him, but Jiang Yi gave his sleeve a sharp tug, dragging him up the stairs.

Logically, someone who had left home young and lived as a hostage should be more calculating, yet this boy was somehow completely brainless. Xie Cheng didn’t say another word. He would simply wait until the bill came and Jiang Yi realized he couldn’t pay even if he sold himself; then, he’d wait for the boy to look at him with teary eyes and beg for help.

The private room was exactly as described elegant, quiet, and with a great view. Once the tea was served, the waiter left.

The moment the door closed, Jiang Yi—who had been hovering at Xie Cheng’s side—sprinted to the window. He threw it open and leaned out, taking a deep breath of the cool air.

Xie Cheng blew the steam off his tea and took a small sip. “Well? See anything interesting?”

“I see the lake!” Jiang Yi shouted.

“Which lake?”

Jiang Yi turned around. “Now that you ask, I can’t remember the name. But it’s shaped like a crescent moon. If you have time, let’s go find it together.”

“Another apology?”

“No,” Jiang Yi said, bouncing back to Xie Cheng and starting to massage his shoulders. “I just want to be with you. Anywhere is fine.”

“Clingy,” Xie Cheng remarked.

“I am clingy! I’m the clingiest!” Jiang Yi wrapped his arms around Xie Cheng’s neck, swinging back and forth.

Xie Cheng nearly spilled his tea. He patted Jiang Yi’s arm. “Get off. Stop moving.”

“No! I’m apologizing!”

“Who apologizes like this?”

“You’re looking at him!” Jiang Yi laughed. Instead of letting go, he pressed closer, his nose brushing against Xie Cheng’s neck as he inhaled the Prince’s clean, cold scent.

A knock sounded at the door. “Sir, your dishes are served.”

“Down,” Xie Cheng commanded. He waited for Jiang Yi to stop acting up before patting his arm again.

Jiang Yi reluctantly pulled back a bit but still sat glued to Xie Cheng’s side. The waiter was professional; he kept his head down and his eyes averted as he deftly placed several exquisite small plates and a jar of warm wine on the table.

“You ordered wine too?” Xie Cheng raised an eyebrow.

“Good food deserves good wine,” Jiang Yi replied.

“Suit yourself.” Xie Cheng started eating. It wasn’t him who was going to be a teary mess later, after all.

However, as the waiter exited and the door was just about to click shut, Xie Cheng’s gaze caught a strange figure in the hallway.

The person was wearing a veiled hat and dressed entirely in black. They were walking hurriedly and slipped into the private room directly across from theirs. A stray breeze caught the veil for a split second, revealing a face that was about thirty percent similar to Jiang Yi’s.

Xie Cheng’s gaze sharpened instantly.

“Your Highness? What are you looking at?” Jiang Yi waved a hand in front of Xie Cheng’s face.

Seeing Xie Cheng still staring at the door, Jiang Yi turned around too, but the door across the hall was already tightly shut.

“Looking at you, you poor little thing,” Xie Cheng said, shifting his gaze back to Jiang Yi’s clean, handsome, and slightly dim-witted face.

The original version was much more pleasing to the eye.

“Poor little thing?” Jiang Yi pointed at himself. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else is here?”

“I’m not a poor little thing!” Jiang Yi flexed a sturdy arm.

Xie Cheng’s lips curled into a tiny smile. “Yes, you are.”

Support