The Little Crybaby Continues to Court Death as a Cannon Fodder - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“Prince, you shall die a miserable death!”

Beneath the glazed tiles and before the vermilion gates, a man dressed in crimson stood with his jet-black hair bound high by a simple white jade hairpin.

He paused his steps and glanced toward the source of the voice, revealing a delicate and captivating face.

The eunuch leading the way followed his gaze, and upon seeing Hua Jingshi’s flower-like features, he let out a silent “hiss” of admiration.

The overhead sun was fierce. Sweat beaded on the eunuch’s forehead, and his expression grew impatient: “Young Master Jingshi, we had best hurry. The Eastern Palace is not like your hostage manor; there are many rules waiting for you to learn.”

He scanned Hua Jingshi up and down as if evaluating merchandise, commenting, “Your looks are acceptable. But don’t get too ahead of yourself, Young Master Jingshi. His Highness the Crown Prince never lacks beautiful men. If you wish to capture His Highness’s heart, you will have to spend much effort learning how to please him.”

Hua Jingshi naturally sensed impatience and contempt. Before he could speak, his accompanying page-boy spoke up indignantly: “How can my master be compared to those men who serve others with their looks? Our master is known as the Number One Beauty of the Capital—”

“Ha.” The eunuch let out an exaggerated sneer. “Number One Beauty?” He glanced at Hua Jingshi with disdain and curled his lip, “He is not even a ten-thousandth as beautiful as His Highness.”

Hua Jingshi’s appearance was indeed extraordinary. His features lacked aggression, possessing a reserved and gentle beauty. Yet, he did not lack a certain heroic air; his eyes were deep-set and starry—a rare handsome man in this world.

Had the eunuch not been accustomed to the Crown Prince’s appearance, he would have surely lost his composure upon first seeing Hua Jingshi.

The Crown Prince’s beauty was beyond words, despite his perverse and temperamental nature. Even the scholars who had seen him were forced to grudgingly grant him the high praise of “Peerless Beauty of the World.”

“You—” The page-boy wanted to retort, but Hua Jingshi interrupted with a smile. In his eyes, which shone like stars, there was a hint of fawning: “Eunuch, I have not stepped out of the hostage manor for a long time. To have the honor of serving by His Highness’s side fills me with both surprise and trepidation. I hope you might offer me some guidance.”

He pressed a piece of jade into the eunuch’s hand and whispered, “If I receive favor in the future, I certainly shall not forget your kindness today.”

The eunuch glanced down at the jade. Though not of the highest quality, it was decent enough. His expression remained unchanged, but his movements were swift as he pocketed it. “Did you hear that noise just now?”

He was referring to the shouting that had made Hua Jingshi stop.

Not far away, the screams were relentless, mixed with the bone-chilling sound of whips striking flesh.

“That is a disobedient fellow who thought he could act willfully just because he had some looks. He actually dared to attempt an assassination on the Crown Prince.” The eunuch sneered, “He overestimated himself.”

“He is being punished now. Young Master Jingshi, you are a clever one; surely you know what should and should not be done.”

“Once you enter the Crown Prince’s Hall of Aides, put away those reckless thoughts. Serving His Highness with your whole heart and making him happy is your only value. Though His Highness has a bad temper, he is, after all, just a child—he is easily coaxed.”

“Since His Highness likes this face of yours, you should make the most of it. Remember, you must never make him angry. He hates those who do not listen.”

The Eastern Palace had a place called the “Hall of Aides.” Externally, it was claimed to be for the Prince’s advisors, but everyone knew it housed the male favorites the Prince had forcibly seized from all over.

Hua Jingshi didn’t have much luggage. Looking at the bright and spacious bedroom, his mind wandered. Beside him, his page-boy, Ling Xi, was still grumbling: “The Prince of the Qing Dynasty is just as the rumors say—audacious and lustful!”

His master was a hostage, but he was still a prince of a nation. The Qing Prince had actually ordered Hua Jingshi to be brought directly into the harem of the Hall of Aides.

Hua Jingshi shook his head: “Ling Xi, do not speak such words again. This is the Qing Dynasty, not the Jing Dynasty. Even in the Jing Dynasty, no one cared whether I lived or died.”

He was of lowly birth, the product of the Emperor favoring a dancer while drunk. Everyone in the imperial harem looked down on him and his mother; they lived worse than servants. It was ironic—the residence the Qing Prince gave him was more luxurious than his home in the Jing Dynasty.

“That eunuch too… taking your jade just to say a bunch of vague nonsense.” Ling Xi was still fuming. “Stinky liar!”

Hua Jingshi did not see it that way. That eunuch was clearly a high-ranking official. Based on the reactions of others, the eunuch was well-favored by the Prince. In such a position, one must be extremely cautious with words. That seemingly empty advice actually contained hidden meaning.

The Prince hates those who don’t listen. He likes being coaxed… does he?

Hua Jingshi had survived the treacherous Jing harem for years; he was no stranger to the art of observing people. When the eunuch spoke those words, his brow had relaxed, and his tone was casual, even carrying a hint of fond amusement. He wasn’t lying. In the eunuch’s eyes, the Qing Prince was indeed a child who was easy to coax.

But those screams, and the sound of the whip breaking the air… Hua Jingshi rubbed his fingers together. If he guessed correctly, that person was the famous heroic wanderer, Xie Xuanying.

…

“Dog Prince, you shall die a miserable death!” “Impudent wretch! Block that filthy, babbling mouth! Let’s see how you talk then!”

The man in front was dressed in black with embroidered cloud patterns. Behind him, tall, powerful guards pinned his back down. Though he was restrained, he fought with all his might to look up, his eyes beneath sword-like brows burning like a fierce fire.

“You pack dog-servants.” “Lowly slaves!”

Xie Xuanying’s vision was blocked by a shadow. Before he could see clearly who had arrived, his right cheek burned—Slap!—his entire face was forced to the side by a heavy blow.

Eunuch Lin looked down at him as if looking at a dead object: “I see you truly are tired of living.”

To be able to serve by His Highness’s side was a blessing many couldn’t earn in several lifetimes. Of all the people in the Hall of Aides, Xie Xuanying was the most troublesome, constantly causing scenes. Those things could be overlooked, but recently he had actually tried to poison His Highness. That was a capital offense!

“What a filthy mouth.”

From behind layers of attendants, protected within an impenetrable circle, a casual, crisp voice rang out like ice beads dropping onto the floor. The voice was clear and pleasant, wrapped in a unique coldness. Just by hearing it, one could imagine the speaker leaning back lazily, uttering the words with total nonchalance.

Eunuch Lin was overjoyed. He ordered the guards to strike harder, then hurriedly bypassed the protection, lifted the beaded curtain, and moved to the side of the seat.

Below the beaded curtain, tassels swayed with a ding-dong sound. Behind the gauze curtain, a person reclined on a consort’s couch.

Jet-black hair was bound in a white jade crown adorned with glazed glass. As the sunlight shifted, the glass reflected brilliant light onto skin as white as mutton-fat jade, shimmering with a dazzling luster. As the curtain was lifted, a breeze drifted in, causing the dark hair to flutter. The thick, long eyelashes trembled; it was a beauty beyond compare.

Yu Qing shifted his fingers, annoyed by Xie Xuanying’s screams. He frowned: “Enough, stop hitting him.”

“Your Highness, absolutely not!” Eunuch Lin said distressingly, “You have spoiled Xie Xuanying too much. Those previous little tantrums were one thing, but now he has attempted to poison you! This warrants the execution of his entire nine clans!”

“I’ve said it a hundred times, that wasn’t poison, it was—Dog Prince, I’m going to kill you!” Another powerful crack of the whip followed.

Yu Qing disliked noise. Hearing the harrowing screams and curses, he predictably frowned. Eunuch Lin quickly signaled for the guards to gag Xie Xuanying; they couldn’t let those foul words dirty the Prince’s ears.

By now, Yu Qing had been here for a month.

Xie Xuanying was originally a heroic wanderer—wild, willful, and free. The original Prince had once snuck out of the palace to play and was stopped by mountain bandits. Xie Xuanying, who hated evil, had stepped in to help. The Crown Prince, raised in the palace, was instantly smitten by Xie Xuanying’s heroic aura and ordered his men to drug him.

Without his internal power, Xie Xuanying was no different from a commoner. Under the heavy guard of the imperial soldiers, he had no hope of escape. He became the Prince’s male favorite. To lose his power and freedom was worse than death for him.

A while ago, this lustful Prince had actually snuck into his bed to attempt something untoward. In a fit of rage and shock, Xie Xuanying nearly strangled the Prince. The Prince was saved, and since then, the Emperor had forbidden the Prince from getting too close to him—a result Xie Xuanying welcomed.

But the thought of killing the Prince had taken root. Xie Xuanying still had some medicine hidden on him, but after searching his pouch, all the poisons were gone—only some “indecent” aphrodisiacs remained.

Just as he was in despair, the doors burst open, and he was seized and accused of “attempting to murder the Prince.”

Eunuch Lin continued to whisper advice in Yu Qing’s ear, rambling about how Xie Xuanying was ungrateful and that they could find someone better. Yu Qing felt himself drifting off, his small frame swaying slightly. His eyes grew misty and red with sleepiness. He licked his lips to stay awake; his small, moist lips were like ripe fruit. The surrounding maids and guards were dazed—His Highness was too cute…

Yu Qing asked 556: “Is that poison?” 【Let me scan… No poison. It is…】

Yu Qing immediately issued an order: “Since Xie Xuanying wished to poison Us, then let him taste his own medicine. Men, bring Us his poison. We shall feed it to him personally.”

Eunuch Lin was delighted but still dissatisfied: “Your Highness, you are of noble status. How can you touch such a savage brute? It will dirty your hands!”

If his mouth hadn’t been blocked by cloth, Xie Xuanying would have cursed out loud. You pack dog-servants!

As he cursed inwardly, his sense of smell became particularly sharp due to his mouth being blocked. A faint, ethereal fragrance drifted into his nose, causing him to daze for a moment. By the time he regained his senses, a slender, white finger had lifted his chin, allowing him to see the Crown Prince’s full appearance.

The Prince was dressed in purple robes today, standing before him as he knelt miserably on the ground. Looking down from above, the Prince’s expression was indifferent and his eyes were cold. It was as if he were not facing a human being, but a piece of dead matter.

The area of skin contact was no larger than a fingertip on a chin, yet the heat felt like boiling water. The scorching sensation spread to all sides, making Xie Xuanying’s whole body feel hot.

“Take it out.”

Take it out? Take what out?

Xie Xuanying, who should have hated the Prince, felt a storm roaring in his mind, turning his thoughts into a jumble. The guard obeyed and removed the cloth from his mouth. Drool fell from his lips without hindrance, some of it wetting that white-jade-like finger.

Sensing the abnormality, the finger pressed down with a hint of annoyance. The soft, white skin rubbed against the man’s rough skin, instantly turning a patch of the Prince’s finger red.

“So dirty.”

The heat at the fingertip gradually turned cold, and it was that cold touch that was most nauseating. Beside them, Eunuch Lin was nearly dying of anxiety—the noble Prince had been dirtied by this lowly man!

Xie Xuanying couldn’t see the scene of him dirtying the Prince, but he could feel the spot where the fingertip touched his chin grow wet and incredibly slippery. Thinking of what was on the Prince’s hand, his first reaction wasn’t disgust, but—unexpectedly—shame.

His handsome face flushed deep red. His throat bobbed as he looked up at the Prince’s expression. The Prince was undoubtedly beautiful—red lips, white teeth, and exquisite features. But now his brow was slightly furrowed, and his cold eyes held shards of ice, filled with obvious disdain and loathing.

It should have been a cruel expression, but because of that face, one could not bring themselves to feel repulsed.

The Prince reached out his other hand, and Eunuch Lin immediately handed over the “poison” Xie Xuanying had prepared. Without hesitation, Yu Qing stuffed it into Xie Xuanying’s mouth. Fearing resistance, he covered Xie Xuanying’s lips with his palm and leaned down.

The soft palm pressed against his lips. Without even needing to move his mouth, Xie Xuanying could kiss the Prince’s skin.

As the scent of medicine spread between his teeth, Xie Xuanying had no time to struggle. All his senses were wrapped in a strange, wonderful fragrance. It was coming from the Prince.

This damn Prince… How can he smell so good?