Tan Hua - Chapter 29

For the first time, Song Liqing took the initiative to let go of Jun Qiyu’s hand.

Actually… it wasn’t that hard.

Song Liqing looked at Jun Qiyu’s slender fingers, hands that had wielded weapons and killed enemies—strong, firm, bony but not rough. He felt a slight regret that Jun Qiyu had never voluntarily held his hand.

At this moment, Jun Qiyu didn’t realize that it’s easy to let go of someone’s hand, but holding it again is difficult.

“Qiyu, are you still angry about this?”

Jun Qiyu retorted, “Should I be magnanimous and let you throw yourself into Pei Xingxu’s arms?”

After saying that, Jun Qiyu felt awkward. Why did he care so much about Song Liqing?

“At least… once you no longer belong to the Qilin Residence, I won’t care about you anymore.” Jun Qiyu forced himself to add.

Song Liqing looked at Jun Qiyu and said seriously, “I, Song Liqing, have only ever recognized you, Qiyu. If there ever comes a day when I truly… truly leave you, it will never be because I have a divided heart.”

Song Liqing didn’t have much time left to seek someone else.

“Leave me?” Jun Qiyu only caught these words and frowned, “Are you planning to leave me?”

“I…”

Song Liqing almost told him that his health was deteriorating, that birth, aging, sickness, and death were beyond his control, no matter how much he couldn’t bear it.

“I… might be forced to.”

Jun Qiyu didn’t catch the underlying meaning.

“Hahaha! Very well! The day you decide, go to my father and ask for a separation from me, haha…”

Jun Qiyu laughed heartily, genuinely happy, but as he laughed, the ease on his face faded. Somehow, he couldn’t feel cheerful anymore.

Instead, he felt a bit anxious and uneasy.

Jun Qiyu found it strange that the thought of Song Liqing leaving him would cause such anxiety.

“I don’t believe you can bear to leave me.”

Jun Qiyu’s tone sounded confident, but only he knew it carried a hint of guilty probing.

“I… can’t bear it.”

Song Liqing couldn’t express how much he was reluctant.

Jun Qiyu, however, gained confidence.

He straightened up, arrogantly saying, “I knew it, you can’t bear to leave the wealth and glory, nor the honor of your Song family. You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are, how could you give it up?”

Song Liqing used to dislike being misunderstood, but now he didn’t feel the need to explain.

“If Your Highness thinks so, then so be it…”

Song Liqing said calmly. He had let go a bit and lacked the energy to argue.

Jun Qiyu took in Song Liqing’s indifferent and calm expression. He felt that Song Liqing’s demeanor was strange today but couldn’t pinpoint the change.

He finally realized it was indifference.

Song Liqing’s enthusiasm for everything had dimmed, as if he had become indifferent to life and death.

Such a personality… was beyond Jun Qiyu’s control.

“Then swear now.”

If he couldn’t grasp it, he would force it. This was Jun Qiyu’s usual approach.

“What?” Song Liqing asked.

“Swear…” Jun Qiyu hesitated for a moment, then vented, “Swear that you won’t see Pei Xingxu again, and I’ll forgive your disloyalty this time.”

Song Liqing’s lips moved.

How could he possibly cut ties with Pei Xingxu? Wouldn’t that be ungrateful?

“But Pei Xingxu saved me. I owe him a lot and need to repay him.”

“What can he save you from? It was the imperial doctors in the palace who saved you!” Jun Qiyu said carelessly, “What did he give you? Medicine? I’ll repay him tenfold!”

It wasn’t medicine.

It was life.

Song Liqing felt deeply powerless; he couldn’t repay it himself.

“Besides, Pei Xingxu is in the capital and occasionally enters the palace. How can I avoid seeing him at all?” Song Liqing said despondently, “I can only swear not to seek him out.”

Jun Qiyu was reluctantly convinced.

“You’d better understand the meaning of loyalty.”

“Mm.”

Jun Qiyu’s satisfied smile reappeared.

“Actually, if you followed my wishes a bit more, you’d suffer less.”

Jun Qiyu’s fingers traced a line along Song Liqing’s jaw. Song Liqing was really too thin, appearing haggard, but amidst his weakness, there was a fragile pitifulness that made one want to cherish him tenderly.

Jun Qiyu stroked his face, then moved down his neck, pulling aside his collar and stripping his clothes to his shoulders, exposing his well-defined collarbones.

Sensing his desire, Song Liqing grabbed Jun Qiyu’s wrist.

Jun Qiyu was rough in bed, inherently wild, and his approach to love and desire was marked by a need to conquer. Song Liqing couldn’t bear it right now.

“Qiyu… I can’t…”

“Why not?”

Jun Qiyu stared at his snow-white skin, not just smooth and flawless, but the allure of that little mole was simply deadly.

“Let me… give me a few days to recover, okay?” Song Liqing tried to appease him.

Jun Qiyu swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving.

“I’ve already waited for several days.”

“You…” Song Liqing struggled to speak, “You haven’t, you haven’t been with anyone at Pleasure Pavillion?”

“Just once,” Jun Qiyu said bluntly. “I can’t bring myself to be interested in Hu Nu’er for now. Although you’re not charming and quite dull, at least you feel fresh.”

Jun Qiyu didn’t say that he had become a bit obsessed with his intimate moments with Song Liqing. In the past three days, Hu Nu’er had tried to seduce him, but he had grown tired of Hu Nu’er’s submissive and manipulative ways. His mind was filled with Song Liqing’s resistance and tears.

That sense of conquest was much more intense.

Song Liqing felt sickened by this “just once,” his stomach churning.

He didn’t want Jun Qiyu to touch him even more.

“In a few days…” Song Liqing begged, “Please, Qiyu, considering I’ve just recovered from a serious illness.”

Jun Qiyu clicked his tongue in annoyance, but he still had some reservations.

If Song Liqing fainted again, who knew how many days it would take to save him this time.

The wait would be even longer.

“Fine, this is really boring.”

Jun Qiyu waved his hand dismissively and turned to sit at the desk, looking at the thick stack of memorials, feeling even more irritable and bored.

Song Liqing straightened his clothes and fastened his buttons. Watching Jun Qiyu scratch his head with the brush, he was momentarily reminded of Jun Qiyu doing his schoolwork ten years ago. Back then, Jun Qiyu was mischievous but adorable.

Song Liqing looked at Jun Qiyu’s profile for a long time, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.

When Jun Qiyu looked up and saw him sitting there smiling foolishly, serene and beautiful, his heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.

Jun Qiyu shook his head. Was he going crazy? He liked noise, not quiet. How could he find the sight of Song Liqing sitting there quietly beautiful?

“What are you smiling at?”

Jun Qiyu was irritated, so his tone wasn’t good either.

“Hmm?” Song Liqing’s smile disappeared. “I just think you look… very good like this.”