Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 21

Drunkenness seemed to amplify emotions, whether they were of melancholy or something else entirely.

While he was bowing his head and crying so hard he could barely catch his breath, the cool back of a hand suddenly pressed against his eyelid, rubbing it gently. The owner of the hand sighed. “I have no sleeves left to wipe your tears.”

After a long silence, that person added jokingly, “What should we do? It seems to be raining non-stop in this room. Perhaps Master should go find an umbrella?”

“I do not know, ugh, do not go.”

He did not know what to do. He perhaps truly was too much of a crybaby; Master’s sleeves were soaked through again. He did not want Master to leave. He wanted to be trapped in Master’s embrace for the whole day, for a lifetime.

“My little ancestor.”

Master’s hair fell across Jiang Qiyan’s curled knees. Master’s voice was somewhat deep. “Then what do you want?”

“I do not know.” Jiang Qiyan sniffled, reaching out to push away the long hair that was tickling his face. “I want.”

Perhaps he wanted a bit of comfort, or perhaps a long embrace. But Master had already given him these things. He was held in those arms, listening to those utterly doting words. Why did he still want more? What exactly did he want?

He did not understand, so he simply sobbed and let the tears fall. “I want Master.”

He said he wanted Master. Pu Tingsong’s gaze flickered slightly, and a sliver of joy emerged from the depths of his heart. The little pet was starting to rely on him instinctively. Next, he only needed to continuously deepen this thought to obtain a perfectly submissive puppet.

Nothing could disrupt his plan. He had prepared for this for many years. Even if.

Pu Tingsong forcibly suppressed that bit of unwarranted softheartedness. That trace of softness, wherever it came from, was not worth mentioning compared to his hatred. The enmity of his father’s death was irreconcilable. Leaving Jiang Beiwang alive was only because his own wings were not yet fully grown and he feared Xu Jingwu entering the pass.

As for Jiang Qiyan? If he stayed obedient, what would be the harm in keeping him like a pet?

Jiang Qiyan did not know what Master was thinking. Having not heard a reply for a long time, he even stopped crying and asked cautiously, “I, I want Master. Is that alright?”

Master gave an ambiguous “Mmm,” the tone drawn out with a slight upward tilt at the end. “Do you really want me that much?”

“Yes.”

“Then I shall give him to you.” Pu Tingsong patted his head lightly and laughed. “If you are always clinging to Master, how can Master go and fetch the deed of sale?”

“No.” Not that kind of want. And besides, Master surely would not actually sign a deed of sale. That would be far too scandalous. Jiang Qiyan tilted his head back and saw Master laughing. So, he was just teasing.

Jiang Qiyan pouted. “Master, I am being very serious.”

“Mmm,” Pu Tingsong’s smile did not fade as he looked at the solemn child.

“Master, be serious.”

“Alright,” Pu Tingsong pressed down the corners of his mouth, but the smile in his eyes remained full. “How do you want to have me? Master is listening.”

Naturally, it would not be for nothing.

“I will use myself to trade with Master.”

That way, Master would have him, and he would have Master. It was very fair. The smile in Pu Tingsong’s eyes suddenly became a bit more genuine. How could this little thing be so amusing?

“Then you,” Pu Tingsong paused for a moment, as if giving him a chance to regret it. He waited a moment before continuing, “will belong to Master.”

“Alright,” Jiang Qiyan’s eyes were bright.

Master belonged to him now. Master could only marry him and could never take any other concubines in the future. Perhaps it was because he was drunk, but his thoughts were much bolder than usual. He wanted to monopolize Master all by himself. He did not want to share, not even a finger’s worth. Perhaps it was because Master was truly too good to him that such unwarranted thoughts began to sprout in his heart.

The sobering soup was soon brought over. Pu Tingsong fed it to him and carried him to the bed to sleep for a while. After tucking in the corners of the quilt, Pu Tingsong went out and gently closed the door. He looked up at the sky. It was clear for ten thousand miles without a single cloud.

The snow in the manor had mostly melted, leaving only a trace of chill in some dark, sunless corners. He could not help but wonder if he had miscalculated yesterday. Perhaps there would be no thunder tomorrow at all. If there was no thunder, he would have to make other preparations.

“Qin Shizhi,” Pu Tingsong took a sip of tea and frowned slightly. The tea was a bit strong and bitter, not to his liking. He still preferred fruit tea.

“No way, my little Master?” Qin Shizhi, his clothes loosely draped and appearing from nowhere, spoke up. “Is even a small matter like the tea not being to your liking worth calling this Pavilion Master?”

“What were you doing?” Pu Tingsong’s gaze fixed on Qin Shizhi’s open chest. “Does killing people require taking off your clothes?”

One could tell at a glance that he had dressed in a hurry after being called. How could a person as vain as Qin Shizhi appear before others improperly dressed?

“Look at what you are saying. What kind of person would this Pavilion Master be killing in the manor?” Qin Shizhi gathered his collar nonchalantly. “It was a scratch from a heartless little wild cat. This Pavilion Master kindly fed him fish, but he got a bone stuck in his throat and insisted on being angry with me.”

Pu Tingsong did not comment, merely saying indifferently, “Has Fang Wuming’s identity been uncovered yet?”

“I am investigating it right now. Soon, soon. This Pavilion Master is working day and night on this matter and cannot take on other tasks for the time being. If the little Master does not care for me, then unless it is a life or death matter, do not call me in the future.”

Pu Tingsong was certain Qin Shizhi was stalling. However, it no longer mattered. “I called you here for his sake. Tomorrow, after the Crown Prince has a falling out with him, you are to take control of him. Then, frame it to look as though he broke into the study, stole an imperial decree, and fled out of fear of his crime.”

“Doing things so ruthlessly? Will not your little Yanyan cry a river of tears?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Once this is finished, I will give you a month’s vacation.”

Qin Shizhi’s eyes flickered a few times before he replied, “Well, that sounds good,” and vanished.

Pu Tingsong saw that his expression was off but did not pay much attention to it. No matter how ridiculous Qin Shizhi usually was, he would never joke about their schemes. Pu Tingsong’s mother was the old Pavilion Master’s biological sister. If Qin Shizhi dared to be careless in this matter, the old Pavilion Master would skin him alive.

As soon as Qin Shizhi returned to his own courtyard, a dark object not even as high as his leg rolled over, seemingly intending to perish together with him. He picked the thing up effortlessly. “Still not behaving even when tied up like this? Your reaction to a simple question is so big. You are making things very difficult for this Pavilion Master.”

His gaze suddenly turned cold. “One last chance. Tell me, was it you who appeared at Lengxiang Pavilion five years ago?”

Fang Wuming’s struggle was fruitless, and he let his limbs hang despondently. “The Pavilion Master’s reach is far too wide. Five years ago, Wuming was just a child of nine. Why would I go to such a place of ill repute?”

“Fang Hongxi,” Qin Shizhi used his folding fan to tilt Fang Wuming’s chin, speaking one word at a time. “Do you want to try the methods of Wenliu?”

Fang Wuming shivered, his teeth chattering. Wenliu was not the name of a person, but rather the most notorious interrogation organization of Xunhua Pavilion.

Damn it, he only redeemed a little girl. How did he get into such a big mess? Could that little girl be Qin Shizhi’s old flame? What a beast! That little girl was only seven or eight when she was sold, and Qin was already sixteen back then!

If he had known, he would not have meddled. If only that girl had not pulled his sleeve and cried, and the people of Lengxiang Pavilion had not threatened to beat her to death, and he had not happened to have a bit of pocket money from his father.

Fang Wuming said tremblingly, “I do not know, I really do not know. Pavilion Master, you are far too unfair to me. I, Fang Wuming, have always been law abiding. I have treated the laws of Suyang as sacred texts since I was a child and can recite them backward. How could I ever do such filthy things as visiting prostitutes or gambling?”

He had finally saved that little girl and sent her to a family of honest folk to be raised. Before the Fang family was destroyed, he had given the couple many banknotes so they would raise her as their own daughter. It had only been a few years of peace. How could she fall into the hands of a perverted living Yama like Qin Shizhi!

Fang Wuming refused to speak. “Wuming is ignorant. Why must the Pavilion Master make things difficult for me? If you do not believe me, Wuming can swear to the heavens.”

If Fang Wuming swore, what did that have to do with Fang Hongxi? Although he, the eldest young master of the Fang family, was a troublemaker who liked to act shamelessly, he still had a moral bottom line! He could not bring himself to do something unrighteous.

“Pavilion Master,” Fang Wuming’s eyes were tearful, “please spare Wuming.”

“Tsk,” Qin Shizhi held the boy further away. “The way you cry is quite disgusting.”

Damn it! I curse your ancestors! You are the one who cries disgustingly! I am giving you face.

Fang Wuming immediately switched to a smiling face. “Pavilion Master, my good Pavilion Master. I have elderly parents and young children to support.”

“This Pavilion Master does not recall any of your Fang family still being alive.”

“…”

They were gone. Even the domestic servants were beheaded by the decree of Jiang Beiwang. After all these days, he had also figured it out. This was the Emperor, unwilling to lose his power, collaborating with his uncle to frame loyal officials and then.

Jiang Beiwang naturally did it to regain the initiative from the Imperial Preceptor, who was on the verge of total power. As for his uncle, it was for the benefits Jiang Beiwang had promised. Interest blinded the conscience, even to the point of sacrificing the life and property of his own sister.

It was a pity his grandfather had been a veteran of three reigns and had performed great services for Suyang, only to have his family executed and property confiscated so unceremoniously. If the Imperial Preceptor had not saved him, he would have died too. Later, when his uncle found out he was still alive, he actually tried to trick his own nephew into assassinating the Imperial Preceptor.

Fang Wuming’s gaze gradually darkened. “Great Pavilion Master Qin, if you want to kill me, then kill me. Do not break my heart. If you say a few more words, Wuming really will cry.”

Qin Shizhi shook his head. “This Pavilion Master also wishes to stop talking. If you speak, will I not stop?”

If the person back then really was Fang Hongxi, then he would have to advise the little Master to show some mercy. But now the situation was unclear, and the boy surnamed Fang refused to say anything, which made things very difficult for him. He could only try to mediate for now.

The sky grew dark, and Jiang Qiyan was awakened by the sound of fireworks. He was mostly sober now. He climbed up, draped on his fox fur cloak, tied a casual butterfly knot, and prepared to go find Master to offer New Year’s greetings.

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