The White Moonlight Turns Out to Be a Black-Hearted Lotus - Chapter 10

It was a rare occasion for him to return home only after dark, and as soon as he arrived, he saw Pei Xu standing under the veranda waiting for him.

Ji Yuanhui quickened his pace and stepped forward. “Why are you waiting out here? How long has it been? Are you cold?”

He took Pei Xu’s hands in his and pressed them against his own cheek. “Why are they so cold? Don’t come out to wait from now on.”

“It doesn’t matter if I come out for a breath of fresh air once in a while.” Pei Xu withdrew his hand and unfolded the fox-fur cloak draped over his arm. Ji Yuanhui instinctively leaned down to let him drape it over his shoulders. Pei Xu’s nose twitched slightly. “Has Your Highness been drinking?”

Ji Yuanhui lifted his sleeve to sniff it, scratching his cheek a bit sheepishly. “Is it that obvious? I only had a few sips; it likely just picked up the scent of wine from the banquet.”

Despite his words, Pei Xu still ordered the servants to brew some sobering tea.

After washing up back in their room, the sobering tea was brought in. Once Ji Yuanhui had finished drinking it, he went to embrace Pei Xu again. Having just bathed, his body was still radiating steam. He buried his face in the nook of Pei Xu’s shoulder and nuzzled him. “Is there still a smell of wine?”

Pei Xu chuckled at the rubbing sensation and turned his face to sniff him. “No more.”

“Drinking makes it easy to mess things up; I am very discreet when I’m out.” Ji Yuanhui released him and produced a small box from nowhere. Upon opening it, inside was a pair of high-quality ruby ear studs, their color as vivid as blood.

Pei Xu couldn’t help but smile; Ji Yuanhui seemed to have a great fondness for such brilliant and eye-catching colors.

“Let’s put official business aside; when we get home, we’ll talk about private matters first.” Ji Yuanhui held the studs up to the side of Pei Xu’s face to measure them. “Deep, lush colors truly suit you. You usually dress far too plainly.”

[In the past, Mother also liked to adorn me with these jades and gold ornaments.]

Pei Xu was momentarily dazed, but he quickly regained his senses and pushed Ji Yuanhui’s hand away with a smile. “I don’t have pierced ears.”

“I know, so I’m just measuring,” Ji Yuanhui put the items away. “I’ll have to take them to a craftsman to be modified later… Alright, back to business.”

Ji Yuanhui briefly recounted what happened after meeting the Eldest Prince. “…Essentially, the balance that has existed in the court for several years has been disrupted. With the Crown Prince overseeing the state, everyone’s good days are coming to an end. It is easy to defeat them one by one, but if they band together, they can drag things out even in death. Thus, my eldest brother wants to cooperate with us.”

Pei Xu asked, “What does Your Highness think?”

Ji Yuanhui rested his chin on his hand in thought. “There are a few people in the capital I can use. Eldest Brother has operated here for many years, and since we share a common goal now, he is a suitable ally.”

“So, Your Highness agreed?”

“How would I dare to agree directly?” Ji Yuanhui shook his head, frowning. “Among us brothers, he is the most like Father—his mind is the heaviest. Since he was a child, he loved to set traps for people while smiling. I’ve been tricked by him more than once; I wouldn’t dare be careless again.”

Pei Xu pondered for a moment. “Then, regarding the cooperation…”

“This kind of thing cannot be rushed, especially when the opponent is a slippery old fox like him. If you rush, he’ll have a hold on you, and once someone has a hold on you, you’re only fit to be ordered around like a dog.”

“He is quite pitiful in his illness, but what can be done? If we pity him, we might be the ones who end up as the pitiful wretches,” Ji Yuanhui sighed and continued. “He will come again. The current situation is already very dangerous for him. Verbal promises are too hollow to move anyone; I hope next time he brings his sincerity with him.”

Pei Xu listened intently, lost in thought.

“By the way…” Ji Yuanhui seemed to suddenly remember something. “I’ve been too busy lately to ask, but your birthday is in five days. Is there anything you want?”

One moment, they were discussing the political situation, and the next, it jumped back to family matters. Ji Yuanhui’s train of thought switched so fast it caught Pei Xu off guard. A smile spread from the corners of Pei Xu’s mouth. “Heaven has been kind. To be able to stay by Your Highness’s side is all I could ever ask for.”

He spoke these words with sincere emotion, his eyes shimmering like spring water as he gazed steadily at Ji Yuanhui, looking as though he had much more to say.

Ji Yuanhui felt the atmosphere was quite perfect—and it would be even more perfect if he couldn’t hear what Pei Xu was thinking.

[I want several heads of my enemies to liven things up, I want to swat all the buzzing flies surrounding His Highness, and I want to skin Wang Yin to offer as a sacrifice to the Head of the Academy…]

[I want too many things; let’s take them one by one.]

Ji Yuanhui rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.

He knew exactly what Pei Xu was thinking, but that didn’t mean he wanted to hear those things while Pei Xu was whispering sweet nothings to him…

He just wanted to enjoy his spouse acting spoiled and sweet without interruption. Being constantly cut off by those internal voices really ruined the experience.

He wondered how much of the medicine the old Taoist gave him he’d have to take for it to work.

“Since you won’t say clearly what you want, I’ll just prepare something as I see fit.” Ji Yuanhui pinched his chin to lift his face and gave his earlobe a tiny bite, rubbing the small red mole there with his thumb. “It’s a deal then—if what I prepare doesn’t suit your fancy, you aren’t allowed to throw a tantrum.”

“How could I…” Pei Xu felt an itch from the touch but didn’t pull away, his eyes dampening as he said, “Whatever Your Highness gives, I like.”

“I know you don’t like seeing those from the noble families, but your birthday banquet must be held, and guests must be invited,” Ji Yuanhui instructed in a low voice. “There are disasters in several southern prefectures this year, so it’s not appropriate to have a grand celebration at this juncture. However, since this is your first year at the manor, it shouldn’t be too simple either, lest people think you aren’t valued here and that I refuse to allocate funds for you.”

Seeing that Pei Xu didn’t seem very interested, Ji Yuanhui added, “If they see you aren’t valued, they might get crooked ideas and try to shove their Godsons or God-brothers into our household.”

Hearing this, Pei Xu grew more alert, though he still feigned composure. “Does Your Highness encounter such situations often?”

“Fairly often,” Ji Yuanhui nodded, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “I’ve seen it at the private banquets of my other brothers. The bribing officials are incredibly brazen, not even hiding it. Nominally, they are ‘God-daughters,’ but in reality, they are ‘thin horses’ purchased from Yangzhou. By giving them a relative’s title, it makes it seem like they aren’t selling people, but forming an alliance.”

Pei Xu’s brow furrowed involuntarily. He seemed to have much to say, but in the end, he only said, “They are all poor children… they are probably no older than thirteen or fourteen.”

“That is why these corrupt officials who lead the trade of young girls all deserve to die.” Ji Yuanhui gave a grim smile. “Every single one of them, I’m keeping track.”

Ji Yuanhui suddenly remembered another matter that would likely be quite troublesome. “Should we invite the people from the Pei family? If you really don’t want to see them…”

“Tearing faces openly would likely cause trouble; it’s not feasible,” Pei Xu shook his head. “If the Pei family were just the Pei family, then not seeing them would be fine. But the Crown Prince is behind the Pei family. Now is not the time to confront them directly.”

Ji Yuanhui pulled Pei Xu into an embrace, pressing his face against the side of his neck and mumbling, “Endure this, endure that—you’ve come to me only to suffer grievance. One day, when we can’t take it anymore, the two of us will go out in the middle of the night. You go set fire to the Crown Prince’s palace, and I’ll go kill people at the Prime Minister’s residence. When the capital is in chaos, we’ll take the chance to flee back to Longxi. We’ll find my uncle in Longxi and just lead the army to rebel against his father.”

Pei Xu couldn’t help but laugh, reaching up to touch his face. “Your Highness is joking again.”

“How is this a joke? I’m serious. This stifling life in the capital makes my whole body uncomfortable.” Ji Yuanhui caught the hand reaching for him with a resentful expression, gnashing his teeth and biting it twice. “We can’t just leave for nothing. I’ve been stifled for so long; before we go, I have to make them feel stifled too. I have to find a way to slaughter that old man, the Prime Minister.”

Pei Xu’s eyelashes fluttered as he looked at him. “Is Your Highness not afraid of the historians’ condemnation or the gossip of future generations?”

“It is but a few pages of history written in cinnabar; what is there to fear?” Ji Yuanhui said with a look of disdain. “By then, I’ll be dead; they can write whatever they want. It won’t stop me from rebelling and becoming Emperor while I’m alive.”

“But Your Highness, everything must be done with legitimacy…” Pei Xu thought for a moment and used an analogy. “It’s as if I were originally meant to marry someone else as a wife, but was forcibly seized by Your Highness. Even if Your Highness took me, you would be gossiped about for being of poor character and seizing another’s wife. And whenever others mentioned me, they would have to mention that I was originally supposed to be the wife of so-and-so.”

“But if Your Highness were to secretly eliminate that person first and then marry me with proper rites, no one would have anything more to say,” Pei Xu continued. “The court is the same. If the name is not right, the words will not be smooth; if the words are not smooth, the deeds will not succeed. If Your Highness leaves a handle for the censors, then even if a flood or drought occurs somewhere in the future, they will say it is because the Emperor’s position was gained illegitimately and Heaven is displeased. When hearts are unsettled, it allows those with ill intentions to stir up trouble.”

“Marry someone else as a wife?” Ji Yuanhui keenly caught the keywords and picked him up to walk toward the bed. “Marry who?”

Pei Xu pushed at him, struggling slightly. “I was only making an analogy…”

Then, in the next moment, Pei Xu was dropped onto the bed. Ji Yuanhui pressed down over him, playfully kissing him. “Tell me, who did you want to marry? My lips are sealed; I won’t tell anyone.”

Pei Xu’s clothes were ruffled by the rubbing, and he laughed while pushing at the other’s face. “Your Highness, stop fooling around…”

“Don’t like playing this one? Let’s change it then.” Ji Yuanhui kissed the hand that was pushing him and then pinned that hand above Pei Xu’s head. “How about my spouse discuss with me how to secretly get rid of your husband? That way, I can marry you.”

While one hand pinned him down, Ji Yuanhui’s other hand wandered around his waist. The waist beneath his palm was supple and felt wonderful, making it hard for him to let go.

Pei Xu was buried in the quilts, his face flushed from the heat. He corrected him, “Those who aren’t married are called ‘fiancés’…”

Ji Yuanhui’s attention was on his palm, and he absentmindedly changed his wording. “Oh, oh. Then, young master, tell me, how shall we get rid of your fiancé?”

Pei Xu’s cheeks grew even redder. He bit his lower lip and turned his head away, refusing to speak.

Ji Yuanhui brushed aside his scattered hair and kissed his cheek. Seeing Pei Xu close his eyes in embarrassment, Ji Yuanhui pinched his chin to turn his face back and gave his lip a little bite. “Why is my little lover not speaking?”

“One must avoid omens.” Pei Xu was panting slightly from the touching, his voice soft. “My… my fiancé and my husband, I have only ever had His Highness.”