Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 5

He owed Master a debt that he could not repay in this lifetime.

Pu Tingsong simply waited in silence. He knew exactly what choice Jiang Qiyan would make.

After what seemed like a long hesitation, though it was only the time it took to write a few characters, the soft, small body leaned toward him. It carried a slight tremor born of both fear and excitement. It was, in a way, delightful.

Pu Tingsong continued to write slowly. He placed his left hand on the back of Jiang Qiyan’s neck, squeezing it occasionally as if as a deterrent or perhaps merely for comfort.

Jiang Qiyan had longed to be close to his teacher for a very long time. However, he did not dare. His guilt had a deeper origin. From the very moment Pu Tingsong agreed to take him in a year ago, a sense of apology had filled every moment they spent together.

Master’s father had died at the hands of the Emperor. The better Master treated him, the more uneasy Jiang Qiyan became.

It had been a midsummer afternoon when Pu Tingsong wore a red tasseled hat and a large red flower across his chest. That year, during the imperial examinations, his teacher had become the first person in the history of the Suiyang Kingdom to achieve the Triple First at the age of twelve. Being of the Imperial Preceptor lineage, he was immediately granted the title of Imperial Preceptor.

On that day, Jiang Qiyan had held no expectations. Pu Tingsong had just finished his period of mourning; it had been only three years since the elder Pu was buried.

Pu Tingsong’s gaze had been deep. Jiang Qiyan could not read the emotions within it; he only felt terrified.

“Why do you not kneel?” was the light inquiry. “You should kneel, should you not?”

That soft voice frightened him so much that his legs turned weak. Unable to stand, he knelt in fear. His small head did not even reach halfway up Pu Tingsong’s calf.

Just as he was feeling lost, a large hand stroked his hair. “You are very good.”

The touch was nonchalant. The way Pu Tingsong looked at him was like someone choosing a submissive pet.

“I like you very much,” Pu Tingsong said unhurriedly, seemingly satisfied with the obedience of his pet. “From now on, you may call me Master.”

How could this be the result? He finally had a teacher.

“May I hold you?” It was still a soft, polite inquiry.

“Yes, you may.”

In truth, no one had ever held him in all his years of growing up. Jiang Qiyan felt a profound sense of unworthiness. He trembled as Pu Tingsong lifted him onto his lap. This kindness was too precious and this embrace too hard-won; he almost did not dare to touch it.

He curled up in Pu Tingsong’s arms and did not dare to move. He wanted Master to hold him longer, so he breathed so carefully that it nearly stopped.

“Are you that afraid?” Pu Tingsong asked. Jiang Qiyan could not answer a single word; he could only shake.

Fortunately, Pu Tingsong did not require an answer. He rested his fingers on the boy’s belt and whispered, “May I?”

Was Master going to undo his belt?

Massive terror washed over him, but after three breaths, he gave the same answer as before. “Yes, you may.”

The belt was pulled out inch by inch. The moment his clothes fell open, Jiang Qiyan could not help but cry. He felt so sad and humiliated; Master had seen everything.

Pu Tingsong did not seem surprised. His fingers brushed over the mottled blue and purple bruises.

“I wondered why you could not walk steadily,” Pu Tingsong sighed. “You truly are injured.”

He placed the boy on the table and leaned over to find ointment in a drawer. Jiang Qiyan sat quietly, shedding silent tears. When Pu Tingsong looked up and saw him crying, he gave a helpless smile. “Be good. Give your teacher some time. I will not let you be bullied again.”

Half a year later, those words became reality. No one dared to hit him anymore; the physical abuse was replaced by cold isolation. He did not know how much effort Master had expended for this. He only knew that he owed Master a debt he could never repay.

“Why are you crying again? Do you enjoy crying that much?” A voice from above interrupted his thoughts.

Pu Tingsong gently patted his back. “My lap is soaked with your tears. If you keep crying, you will flood the study. What shall we do then?”

What indeed?

Jiang Qiyan sobbed quietly. “I will wash it for Master.”

“You will wash it?” Pu Tingsong seemed to consider this, then he chuckled. “I am afraid this garment would be ruined.”

“Oh.” Jiang Qiyan’s pupils dilated slightly, and his voice sounded muffled. “Then I will pay for it.”

“How does little Qiyan plan to pay? Will you go out and perform for money?”

Perform? He knew how to do nothing. He could not afford it even if he sold himself.

He wailed as he thought about how useless he was; the more he thought, the more heartbroken he became. “Then I will learn to do housework to serve Master. I do not want a monthly salary.”

Jiang Qiyan grabbed a piece of fabric in front of him to wipe his nose and eyes. “Master.”

Halfway through wiping, he froze. This fabric was. He let go in a panic and looked up, meeting his teacher’s half-smiling gaze.

Those peach-blossom eyes watched him. A low whisper came from Pu Tingsong’s throat. “Hmm?”

“Using your teacher’s clothes to vent your anger?” Pu Tingsong pinched the soft flesh on the back of his neck. “Little thing, you know I am a neat freak, yet you are quite good at taking revenge, are you not?”

No! That was not it!

Jiang Qiyan cried out in a panic. “I am sorry! I did it without thinking!”

How could anyone be this foolish? Jiang Qiyan’s eyes were red as he looked at Pu Tingsong. His gaze darted around, looking at Pu Tingsong’s expression, then at the sleeve smeared with mucus, and then at the paper on the desk with only a few words on it.

“It seems your teacher is the one who should cry,” Pu Tingsong said with a smile, using a handkerchief to wipe the boy’s tears. “You have done very little work, yet you have made a mess of me.”

Jiang Qiyan knelt up with his small hands on his knees and his head bowed low against his chest. He had not meant to make Master dirty.

Pu Tingsong did not use the word dirty. Instead, he tilted the boy’s chin up, forcing him to make eye contact. The unease in the boy’s eyes was plain to see. Pu Tingsong studied him for a long time before suddenly huffing. “Are you marking your teacher?”

What? Marking? Was it like a puppy marking its territory?

Pu Tingsong watched as Jiang Qiyan’s face turned as red as a monkey’s bottom. His cheeks were flushed like fiery clouds at sunset. The colors were quite cute.

Pu Tingsong pinched the crimson cheek. “The sun has not even begun to set, yet you are wearing the red makeup of the clouds?”

The child’s red eyes looked so much like a little rabbit’s. Other rabbits had upright ears, but his little Qiyan was like a lop-eared rabbit. He looked dejected and pitiful. It appeared his teacher was raising a lop-eared rabbit.

“Alright, stop crying so pitifully.” Pu Tingsong released the rabbit’s face once it was wiped clean. “You do not need to pay or wash anything. My estate does not lack servants; there is always someone to do the work.”

But if he did not work, what else could he do? Jiang Qiyan lowered his head again. He had no value to his teacher. Aside from staying by Master’s side and making him happy, he had no other use. Jiang Qiyan clenched his small fists, determined to do this one thing well.

As the sun sank in the west, Jiang Qiyan quietly accompanied Pu Tingsong while he handled official memorials. He consciously avoided looking at the content of the documents. He simply guarded the small ink slab, adding water and grinding ink whenever it ran low.

When the sky outside turned completely dark, his stomach let out a growl. Jiang Qiyan froze and looked down in embarrassment, staring at the ink as if he wanted to bury his face in it. Why is my stomach so inconsiderate? Master is not finished yet!

“Hungry?” Pu Tingsong reached a hand under the small table and felt the boy’s stomach. “Yes, it is very flat. It is clear you are hungry.”

“Not very hungry,” Jiang Qiyan said, stiffening under the touch. “I can wait a bit longer.”

Master’s eyes lowered, watching him for a few moments. Those few moments were enough to make him lose his nerve to act tough. Pu Tingsong extended a hand toward him. Perhaps to soothe the boy’s panic, his voice was very soft. “But your teacher is hungry. Will you accompany me for a meal?”

“Yes, alright.” The small hand rested gently in his.

“Let us change your clothes first. They are soaked with little Qiyan’s tears.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, I am sorry. I will help Master change.”

Pu Tingsong stopped walking and leaned down to look at him. “Help me change?” The amusement in his eyes was obvious. “Are you even as tall as my knees? You cannot even reach the belt.”

Jiang Qiyan felt very secure while his hand was being held. His tone lightened slightly. “I will help Master change when I grow taller.”

“Then you must work hard to eat more later. You cannot grow up to be a little bean sprout.”

“Yes!” Jiang Qiyan nodded vigorously. “I will work hard!”

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“My feet hurt.”

“Shall I cut them off and throw them out of the estate then?”

“No. I want Master to hold me.”

“Then I shall hold you.” Pu Tingsong leaned down and scooped up the soft little body. It felt very supple, like holding a rabbit.

Jiang Qiyan memorized the path from the study to the master bedroom. It was not very far, but there were many turns. One could easily get lost if unfamiliar with the layout.

Jiang Qiyan felt even more pity for his teacher. In such a large, empty estate, Master did not even have someone to talk to. It was no wonder the other courtyards were locked; he likely found the vastness too lonely and decided to seal them off.

Jiang Qiyan leaned his head on Pu Tingsong’s shoulder and whispered into his ear, “Master, do not be afraid. You will not be lonely anymore. Qiyan will stay with Master for a lifetime.”

“I have taught you that a gentleman must keep his promises and be true to his word,” Pu Tingsong said as he set the boy down and looked for clothes in a wardrobe. He spoke nonchalantly while browsing. “Can you do it?”

He could. He definitely could.

“If Master wants me for a day, I will stay for a day. If Master does not want me anymore, I will.”

If Master no longer wanted him, he would die. Everyone accused him of being a curse and told him to die so he could be buried with his mother. If not for Master, he would have lost the will to live long ago.

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