Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 16

Another year of deep snow had arrived. Pu Tingsong watched the festive blend of crimson and snowy white outside the pavilion. Over the past four years, the Imperial Preceptor’s manor had been draped in white funeral cloths, regardless of whether it was a holiday or not. That piercing, cold white served as a constant reminder that his father had been persecuted to death.

This was likely the first holiday the servants had organized since that day. Pu Tingsong pulled two small silk pouches from his sleeve. One was smaller and more exquisite, while the other was larger and bulging. He tightened his grip; tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. The day after would be New Year’s Day, and by then, there would be no outsiders left in this manor. Furthermore, he was prepared to take the next step. He had observed the celestial omens and was certain there would be a massive thunderstorm on the night of the first.

Jiang Qiyan did not sense the danger slowly approaching him. He ran through the snow until a sudden sharp pain in his feet forced him to stop and rest. The Teacher applied medicine for him every night, and while he could run now, it still hurt if he overexerted himself.

“Yanyan, how did it go?” Fang Wuming supported him. “What was your Teacher’s reaction?”

“I, I don’t know,” Jiang Qiyan panted. “I ran too fast. I didn’t see clearly.”

“It doesn’t matter, don’t worry about it,” Fang Wuming patted his shoulder comfortingly. “A determined woman fears a persistent suitor. If he doesn’t agree, just hug him and cry whenever and wherever you can. Yanyan, do you really like him that much? If you have made up your mind, just go for it boldly. If he bathes, jump into his tub. If he sleeps, burrow into his covers. If he reads, climb onto his lap. With enough contact, there is bound to be some feelings.”

But then again, the little Crown Prince was so young; the Imperial Preceptor would likely just think he was messing around.

“I, Brother Fang, don’t disbelieve me. I have made up my mind. I have always liked the Teacher.” Jiang Qiyan grew anxious, feeling that Brother Fang didn’t believe in his feelings.

Fang Wuming slapped his own forehead and pulled Jiang Qiyan aside with a sudden gravity. “What kind of like is it? Do you even know what that word means?”

“I know?” Jiang Qiyan looked confused. He pulled two candies from his pocket. “This candy is a bit bitter, so I don’t like it as much as the other one, but since the Teacher gave them both to me, I like them both. I like the Teacher the most, but don’t be sad, Brother Fang, I like you too.”

It was over! Everything was ruined! Fang Wuming turned pale. “No, Yanyan, listen to me. While that is liking, it isn’t that kind of liking. Liking and liking are different. The person you like isn’t necessarily the person you like.”

What on earth? Jiang Qiyan became more confused as he listened. “Brother Fang, speak slower, I don’t understand. Liking is liking. I just like the Teacher.”

God, how to explain this?

“Well, it’s like, the like I am talking about means deciding he is the only one for you in this life.”

That was correct. The Teacher was already his only one. Only the Teacher wanted him; everyone else had discarded him.

“The Teacher is the only one in my life. I don’t need to decide it; it’s just a fact.”

“Uh,” Fang Wuming became increasingly flustered. “It’s, well, it’s about wanting to spend your life together. Are you willing?”

Was he willing? The Teacher had asked him that question long ago.

“Brother Fang, the Teacher likes me staying with him, and I am willing to stay with him forever. You know, the Teacher’s background is just like mine and yours; it’s not good. His mother died in childbirth, and his father left him when he was nine. He is very lonely. As long as he doesn’t despise me, I will spend the rest of my life with him.”

No, it was over. The more he explained, the worse it got! How could he not make this clear?

“If you two are really together, you will have to share a bed in the future. Are you willing to do that too?”

“We have already shared a bed,” Jiang Qiyan held up a finger and wagged it. “I have always slept with the Teacher. He is very gentle, and I think it’s very comfortable.”

The Teacher’s bed was so soft, much better than sleeping in the palace corridors. The Teacher would even hold him and gently coax him to sleep.

“We,” Fang Wuming’s pupils shook. “Are we talking about the same sharing a bed?”

He was so young! Could Pu Tingsong actually bring himself to do that?

“Did, did he take off your clothes?” Fang Wuming asked with uncertainty.

“Brother Fang, how did you know the Teacher helped me undress? Actually, I wanted to do it myself, but I was too tired yesterday.”

“No! He actually did it!” Fang Wuming’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Yanyan, you aren’t hurt, are you? You definitely are. I just saw you frowning like you were in pain! Come with me!”

Fang Wuming pulled the bewildered Jiang Qiyan into an empty room.

“Quick, lift your shirt and let me see. This kind of injury is no joke; it could be fatal!”

“I, I don’t have injuries up there. My injuries are down below. Why do I need to lift my shirt?”

“Why are you worried about modesty now? Lift it up so I can take off your pants.”

What? Jiang Qiyan gripped his belt tightly, a hint of displeasure appearing in his eyes. “I won’t. I’m not undressing. You aren’t the Teacher, so why should I undress for you? If you keep this up, I won’t play with you anymore.”

Look at how deep he had fallen! He was so small, how could Pu Tingsong have the heart? That old fox must have used a lot of sweet talk to coax this innocent prince into such a state! After doing all that to him, he still defended that old fox!

Fang Wuming clenched his fist. “Then, did he apply medicine for you?”

“Yes, he rubs it on every day. It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”

“Sigh, you are so pitiful, Yanyan,” Fang Wuming sighed deeply. “It might be better if you stay this innocent. When you grow up and learn the truth, you will definitely hate your Teacher. No wonder he is so good to you; he is clearly trying to make it up to you. And here you are trying to please him. I don’t think there is any need for that.”

“Are you much older than me, Brother Fang?” Jiang Qiyan asked curiously. He sounded as if he were a dozen years older.

Fang Wuming’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly made an excuse. “Older is older, regardless of how much! Hahaha. By the way, have you ever built a snowman? Let me take you.”

Pu Tingsong finished annotating the last stack of reports. As he pushed open the study door, he saw a snow child smiling at him. His mood inexplicably brightened. “How did you get so much snow in your hair? Never mind, I’ll help you wash it properly tonight anyway.”

Jiang Qiyan, his head covered in snowflakes, held up his bright red little hands. Inside them lay a plump, gourd-shaped snow baby.

“This is?”

“This is the baby Qiyan gave birth to for the Teacher.”

Pu Tingsong fell silent for a long time. It was a strange, eerie silence. After a while, he suddenly leaned over, covering his mouth as he coughed a few times.

“Teacher, what’s wrong? Did you catch a cold?”

Jiang Qiyan immediately dropped the snow baby and hugged the Teacher’s waist. “Teacher, it’s cold outside. Let’s go in.”

Pu Tingsong gave a low sigh, placing his palm against Jiang Qiyan’s forehead to push him back. “Qiyan, you must understand, you are not a little girl. You cannot give birth to babies.”

Jiang Qiyan didn’t understand why the Teacher wouldn’t let him be close. He bit his lip aggrievedly. “I can. Does the Teacher think I am useless, and that’s why you’re pushing me away?”

“It’s not that you are useless, but only girls can have babies,” Pu Tingsong knelt down to meet his eyes. “I can’t either. And having a baby is very painful. You should know, being a girl is very hard work.”

“Then, can I not marry the Teacher either?”

“That’s right. I will only marry a lady.”

As the Teacher spoke, his hand remained on the boy’s forehead, seemingly preventing him from suddenly lunging forward.

“Wuu.”

The crying grew louder, and Jiang Qiyan’s face wrinkled in sorrow. “Wuaaa.” He pulled the hand down from his forehead and used it to wipe his tears. “I, I want to marry. Wuu, I, wuuu, I want to marry the Teacher. I want to give the Teacher babies. I can do it. The Teacher said nothing is impossible in this world as long as I work hard.”

He dropped the large, tear-soaked hand and grabbed the Teacher’s robes instead, tugging repeatedly. When the Teacher didn’t hug him, he cried even harder. “Won’t the Teacher hug me?” He had promised he would.

Pu Tingsong was at a loss; he didn’t even know where to put his hands. He wanted to wipe the child’s tears, but his own hand was already drenched. Hearing Jiang Qiyan cry more and more intensely, he eventually stood up helplessly and scooped the boy into his arms.

“It’s the New Year. Are you crying at a funeral for me?”

“Wuu wuu.”

“Can you stop crying? I’ll buy you a candied hawthorn.”

“Wuu wuu wuu.”

“If you keep crying, I’ll have to punish you.”

“Wuaa! Wuu!”

“Alright, alright, stop crying. I won’t punish you. I said the wrong thing. I’ll let you marry me, okay?”

“Okay,” Jiang Qiyan stopped crying instantly. “I want to marry you right now.”

“Now?” Pu Tingsong looked at the sky; it was already very dark.

“Is it not allowed?” Jiang Qiyan pursed his lips, looking ready to cry again.

Fine. He would just treat it as playing house with the child. Pu Tingsong sighed. “It is allowed. How could it not be? Go down and wait a moment; I’ll go find a bridal veil for you.”

He figured going through the motions would be enough. Pu Tingsong opened the innermost layer of a cabinet. Inside was his mother’s dowry. He brought out a large red bridal veil and stared at it for a long time. Finally, he closed the cabinet, walked out, and placed the veil over the child’s head.

This is truly ridiculous, Pu Tingsong thought as they bowed to Heaven and Earth. I really shouldn’t be indulging the child’s nonsense, he thought again as they bowed to the ancestral tablets. This is far too absurd.

But for some reason, Jiang Qiyan always managed to make his heart soften with his crying. Jiang Qiyan had this talent; making him compromise once wasn’t enough; he had to compromise a second time. This was not a good omen. In fact, it might be quite detrimental to his plans.

During the formal bow to each other, Pu Tingsong even had a moment of daze, not understanding how he had agreed to do something so bizarre. Simply because Jiang Qiyan cried so hard, he had led the boy into the ancestral hall to perform this grotesque wedding ceremony. He had even used his mother’s relic as a bridal veil.

What was he doing? He was supposed to be raising a puppet. Was there any need for such compromise? Had he gone mad? Pu Tingsong’s head throbbed painfully as a profound sense of absurdity swirled in his mind.

Support