Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 20

Xu Zhengnian originally intended to fill the glass, but he caught a glimpse of the little Crown Prince’s soft, squishy face and, by some strange impulse, cut that thought short. A different kind of feeling surged in his heart. No, perhaps he should not let little Yanyer drink this stuff.

Wait, why am I thinking like this?

Think of him, the Young Marquis Xu, who had dominated the capital for five or six years. When he was as big as this little thing, he had already drunk his way through almost every tavern. Furthermore, he was never one for trivialities. He did things as they came and punched anyone who annoyed him. Why is it that facing this little thing, a ghost of tenderness actually rose in his heart, along with frequent thoughts of protecting something so delicate? Truly, he must have seen a ghost.

Xu Zhengnian steadied his wrist and poured only a small half-cup for Jiang Qiyan, barely covering the bottom. Jiang Qiyan looked down at the pitifully small amount of liquid in the cup and pursed his lips. Was his cousin looking down on him?

“Brother,” Jiang Qiyan gently pulled Xu Zhengnian’s sleeve. “Pour some more.”

Xu Zhengnian stiffened all over, as if struck by something. Wait, this voice was a bit too soft! It actually gave him an urge to bully the boy a little! Not the kind of bullying involving fists and kicks, but rather wanting to tease him, make him cry, and make him beg for mercy in that soft voice!

Am I truly possessed by some evil spirit today?

“Cough, well, um.”

Jiang Qiyan looked at Xu Zhengnian with confusion. Why was it that after he called him brother, his cousin could not even speak? Could this be the kind of spell Fang Wuming talked about in his stories, the ones used by women in brothels to make people lose their minds? Brothels must be mysterious places. Are the sisters there all wizards? If he had the chance in the future, he must go and see.

Xu Zhengnian felt his face grow hot for some reason, and his heart felt like it was melting. He gritted his teeth and thought that some bastard must be cursing him behind his back, causing him to be haunted by a vengeful spirit! He even had a fever! This fierce ghost was truly powerful!

Xu Zhengnian slammed a fist on the table and said hatefully, “Wait until I catch you and send you to the Western Heaven!”

Jiang Qiyan was startled by his sudden action, his pupils dilating slightly as he stared blankly and adorably at him. That feeling came again!

Xu Zhengnian coughed twice. “Little Yanyer, I suspect the profligate son of that old censor is cursing me. I plan to go beat him up in a moment. If you get drunk now, you will not be able to see the good show later. Drink less, drink less.”

“But.” Master did not allow him to go out anyway.

Xu Zhengnian waved his hand. “No buts. If that, cough, if your Master does not agree, I will simply snatch you away and carry you out. That way, he can only blame me and not you, right?”

“No.” But he did not want to watch the commotion in the first place. He was not a person who liked to join crowds, not to mention he was in a bad mood today.

Jiang Qiyan tilted his head back and took that mouthful of wine into his mouth. It was so spicy. Why did it taste so bad? But Fang Wuming said that wine could drown sorrows. Jiang Qiyan swallowed that small sip of wine and immediately felt as if a fire were burning through his internal organs. It was so uncomfortable. Why did he feel even sadder?

Xu Zhengnian was still boasting about how he would beat that boy until he looked for his teeth on the ground. When he turned around, he saw Jiang Qiyan with wide eyes, swaying from side to side like a fallen leaf. No way! He had only poured an amount barely enough to lick!

“Alas, what a pity. I can only go there alone. That boy seems to have been taken to the palace for the banquet. Tsk, hiding in the palace is useless.”

Xu Zhengnian picked up the sword leaning to the side and walked away. Passing the small curtain and the main banquet, he waved his hand. “Thanks for the hospitality. Farewell.”

Once he was far away, Minister Wen shook his head and sighed. “He is also a pitiful child, sent to the capital at such a young age, never to see Prince Xu and the Consort again.”

“Speaking of which, that was when the current Emperor held power. The Emperor is suspicious and even thought about making all of us send our legitimate sons into the palace to be raised.”

“Yes, if the Emperor had not suspected the late Empress, how could Her Majesty have suffered from depression during pregnancy, leading to the tragic end of taking poison to commit suicide?”

“And old Pu. Pity his life of hard work without ever having a second heart. Old Pu observed the ancestral teachings until his death, remaining loyal without a trace of dissatisfaction toward His Majesty. In the end, old Pu was likely.”

Li Xiuzhu was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly felt the atmosphere change. He realized he had misspoken and immediately shut his mouth.

It was common knowledge among these old men that the elder Pu favored the Emperor. Almost his entire life’s blood had been poured into Jiang Beiwan. The elder Pu waited until he was nearly sixty and saw Jiang Beiwan firmly on the throne before marrying a primary wife of similar age. He had not expected to have a child, yet she became pregnant six months later. Unfortunately, that short-lived woman passed away immediately after continuing the family line for him.

It was not easy to have a son at an old age, and the child was born without a mother. But in those years, the elder Pu’s heart was still on Jiang Beiwan, and he was rarely at the estate. This child, Pu Tingsong, had been independent since childhood. These old men were very worried back then, thinking about taking turns bringing him home to raise for their old friend. After all, it was just an extra pair of chopsticks.

But the ability Pu Tingsong showed back then was enough to shock them. Perhaps this was the legendary child prodigy? Who had seen such a child? He was extremely well-read at such a young age and could take care of himself. What shocked them most was that the child was growing at a rapid pace, even developing internal energy at the age of seven. No one knew who had taught him.

It was not until the elder Pu was executed and the long-hidden Xunhua Pavilion appeared that they gradually learned it was the old Pavilion Master who had been teaching him in secret. After the old Pavilion Master retired, the new Pavilion Master, Qin Shizhi, had been by Pu Tingsong’s side, protecting him all the way. Now, although Pu Tingsong was still a youth under fourteen, he already had the qualifications to stand on equal footing with these old men. He could no longer be viewed as a junior. Pu Tingsong had grown to a height they could only hope to reach.

After three rounds of tea and five courses of food, everyone bade farewell; they still had to attend the evening banquet in the palace. Pu Tingsong saw off these old friends of his father, lifted the bamboo curtain, and walked in. At first glance, he could see his little rabbit’s face was flushed and his eyes were red.

“Qiyan,” Pu Tingsong sighed softly. “Why were you disobedient? Did Master not say that you are not allowed to steal a drink?”

Jiang Qiyan did not speak; he only tilted his head slightly and pursed his lips.

“Are you angry with Master?”

“No.” As soon as Jiang Qiyan spoke, he could not stop his voice from trembling. “I am not. I.”

“Can you walk steadily? Come closer.”

“No.” Jiang Qiyan shook his head gently. If he went closer, he would certainly be unable to stop crying. His head was dizzy and he was no longer clear-headed. If Master came over, he would lose his reason.

“Then stay seated. It is the same if Master comes over.”

He saw from the corner of his eye that Master walked over and knelt on the prayer mat beside him. “Master was too fierce. I apologize to you, alright? Do not be angry anymore.”

Where was he fierce? Even that question about why he was not good was spoken in a gentle voice. Before he realized it, he had already leaned into his Master’s arms, pressing half his body weight against him.

“Why did you not come?”

“Has Master not come now?” Pu Tingsong reached out to hug the trembling little person. “I am sorry. Master came late and made little Qiyan afraid.”

Whether that person came or not was not important, not important. Truly, not important. Because on the day he was abandoned, it was Master who took him away. Master came. Master took him home.

But.

“Why did you not come?”

He asked the question once more, burying his head against his Master’s chest and crying uncontrollably. How would Master answer him? Was it because his Imperial Father was busy? Was it because his Imperial Father had difficulties? Was it because his Imperial Father was so happy to have a new son that he could not bother with him? And then advise him to be understanding of his Imperial Father?

The lapel was quickly dampened by tears. Pu Tingsong rubbed that small, trembling head. “It is his fault. He does not know how to cherish. He does not even want Master’s little Qiyan when he is so good. He likely has some sort of foolish illness; his brain is broken.”

His lips were suddenly covered by a small hand. Jiang Qiyan looked up with eyes full of tears. “Master.”

How could these words be said? How could Master follow his whims so recklessly?

“No, do not let Master say these things.”

If his Imperial Father heard this, how could Master survive?

“Alright, Master will listen to everything Qiyan says.”

How could he be so spoiled? Master said he would listen to everything. He had clearly been able to hold back his tears just now, so why was it completely impossible now? The tears broke through the dam in an instant, and his soft, waxy crying voice was small and thin, sounding incredibly wronged.

“Waa! I want a hug!”

Pu Tingsong’s movement of patting his back paused. He said softly, “Be good, I am holding you.”

“Ugh, I want a hug!”

“How else would you like Master to hold you?” As Pu Tingsong spoke, he scooped up the boy’s legs and brought him onto his lap. “Is this kind of hug alright?”

“No, ugh, I want a hug!”

Pu Tingsong bent down somewhat helplessly and circled the boy in his arms. “Then like this?”

Jiang Qiyan wiped his tears with the back of his hand. He sat in his Master’s arms, his entire back pressed against him, with Master’s chin resting on the top of his head. It was a posture that felt very secure, but he still cried. Actually, it was a bit unreasonable, but.

“Ugh, waa.”

He just wanted Master to keep holding him like this. He cried very sadly. “I want a hug, waa! I want Master to hug me!”

Pu Tingsong was helpless and could only tighten his arms a bit more. “How much did you drink to get this drunk?” At the same time, it was accompanied by a sigh. “In this state, Master will never let you touch wine again in the future.”

The crying stopped for a moment, then immediately became several times louder than before. “Waa! Waa! I, I want to drink! I do not want to be bullied anymore! Waa! I just want to drink!”

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