Tan Hua - Chapter 32

Hu Nu’er was still being punished, his eyes never leaving Jun Qiyu.

“Master! Since I followed you, I have always served you with all my heart… I am alone in Jing Country, with only you as my family. Even if you treat me like a pig or dog, I still belong only to you. How can you bear to let them… treat me like this?”

“Noisy!”

The eunuch shouted angrily, ordering the eunuchs to hit harder.

“Ah!”

Hu Nu’er screamed miserably, spitting out blood.

“Even if Hu Nu’er is beaten to death, I won’t be content without an explanation… I won’t die in peace!”

The eunuch said sharply, “You seduced your master with ulterior motives. The emperor sparing your life is already a great kindness. This punishment is to warn you to stay within your bounds and serve your master properly, or even the Crown Prince won’t be able to protect you next time!”

“Oh… so… it’s the Crown Prince  Consort who feels I’ve taken your favor. Crown Prince  Consort, if you think I’ve taken your favor, you could just order someone to beat me to death. I am a lowly slave, my life and death are in your hands. Why go to the emperor to complain?”

Song Liqing saw Jun Qiyu’s face like frost, and despite Hu Nu’er’s mouthful of blood, Jun Qiyu remained silent.

It seemed the emperor had given a death order that Jun Qiyu didn’t dare defy.

“Continue beating! Don’t let him make false accusations!” the eunuch ordered sternly.

The crisp sound of slaps continued, Hu Nu’er’s mouth swollen and bloody.

“Ah… Master, why aren’t you saying anything? Why aren’t you protecting me? Do you not care about Hu Nu’er anymore…”

Jun Qiyu finally spoke, his voice cold: “If I hadn’t defied Father, do you think you would only be receiving a few slaps?”

Hearing this, Hu Nu’er lost all will to struggle.

Song Liqing suddenly felt a deep sense of sorrow. Amid the noise, he felt dizzy and gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles white.

“Song Liqing.”

Jun Qiyu called his name, his tone icy, making Song Liqing shudder.

“It’s my mistake for having any expectations of you.”

Song Liqing’s breath hitched. He turned his head stiffly and said in a low voice, “Do you really think it was me who reported it?”

“Who else in the Qilin Mansion would tell Father that I let you handle the memorials? You must have long despised Hu Nu’er, right? What is this? Using someone else to kill him?” Jun Qiyu glared at him.

“Qiyu,” Song Liqing’s voice was hoarse, “if you understood me even a little, you’d know I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“If your heart matched your appearance, that would be something.”

The punishment finally ended. Hu Nu’er lay on the ground, sobbing quietly, unable to make much sound due to his swollen injuries.

The eunuch completed his duty and led the group to leave.

“Your Highness, the emperor’s decree cannot be defied. Please don’t take your anger out on this old servant. I must return to the palace to report to the emperor.”

“Get out.”

Jun Qiyu uttered just one word.

The eunuch didn’t mind, respectfully withdrawing.

Jun Qiyu stood up, walked over, and picked up Hu Nu’er.

“Song Liqing, listen carefully. From today onwards, I won’t set foot in the main courtyard again. You like being the Crown Prince  Consort? Fine, this place is yours. You can be the Crown Prince  Consort who stays alone… are you satisfied?”

“Qiyu!”

Song Liqing called him, but Jun Qiyu didn’t look back.

“Qi… Yu.”

In the courtyard, only Song Liqing was left sitting there, alone and desolate. The setting sun cast his long shadow, and the crows cawed twice before flying away.

“Young Master, let’s go inside.”

Xiao Di stood behind him, unsure how to comfort him.

“Okay.”

Song Liqing responded, his tone unusually calm. He staggered to his feet, grabbed the door frame, and stepped inside, disappearing into the dim light, seemingly untroubled.

But the calmer he was, the more Xiao Di worried.

“Young Master…”

Xiaodi followed in, only to see Song Liqing squatting in the corner, holding his legs, chin resting on his knees, his eyes blank.

He hid himself away.

Like a stray kitten or puppy abandoned on the street.

Song Liqing usually stood and walked with a straight back, so Xiaodi never thought he looked frail. But now he was curled up, bending over with his head down, and Xiaodi realized for the first time how frighteningly thin he had become, just a small bundle.

When Song Liqing passed the imperial examination, Xiaodi had heard everywhere about this elegant and handsome young master, but now, how did he become the depressed and dejected Song Liqing in front of him?

In just a short time, his brilliance was worn away, his bright eyes became dim, occasionally flashing with sadness, timidity, and inferiority.

“Young Master.”

Xiaodi didn’t know how to speak, so he could only sit beside him.

“I’m here.”

“I… I kind of want to go home.”

His voice was hoarse and weak.

Song Liqing turned his head slightly, and Xiaodi saw a tear slide down. Song Liqing lifted his chin, palm up to wipe away the tear.

“Young Master, what are you saying?” Xiaodi could only say, “This is your home.”

“No, it’s not. This is not home.” Song Liqing’s voice was so low as if talking to himself, “I haven’t been home for a long time. Father sent word asking me to come back and visit. I shouldn’t keep delaying, or Father will scold me for being unfilial. I’m afraid… I won’t have a chance to go home again.”

“Then you should go back to the General’s Residence for a while, and come back when you feel better.”

“But I dare not go back.” Song Liqing shrank and said, “I don’t want them to see me like this.”

Song Liqing became confused and fearful. He dared not tell his father about his ordeal, nor about his condition.

He wanted to go home but couldn’t.

“Xiaodi, what should I do? I’ve done everything I should… but he… still doesn’t love me. Do I have to tear out my heart for him to believe it?”

Song Liqing couldn’t hold back anymore, he bowed his head on his knees and burst into tears.

Although called crying, in fact, he had been enduring it for so long that even his sobs were suppressed and trembling, making only muffled sounds.

Xiaodi also cried along. She held Song Liqing’s hand, realizing that Song Liqing’s wrist was almost as thin as hers, with little flesh and mostly bones.

“Is this what I have to endure and persist for the rest of my life?” Song Liqing cried intermittently, “I studied hard for ten years, ruined my eyesight, just to earn a bit of respect from others, but now… I’m worth nothing. My father is a high-ranking general, and I was once the top scholar…”

Jun Qiyu, the person he loved to the bone, also made him suffer unbearably.

Song Liqing raised his head, unconsciously biting his lip until it bled, staining his dry lips red.

“Qiyu, I… I’m not someone who can’t live without you either…”

Author’s Note:

Made some revisions, hope it’s refreshing!