Tan Hua - Chapter 33

Ten days later, as soon as Song Liqing stepped into the Pleasure Pavilion, he heard Jun Qiyu’s hearty laughter.

“Hahaha… Hu Nu’er, it’s really something only you could come up with, such a playful game. Haha, let me have one more…”

“Ah… it’s so ticklish, heeheehee…”

Song Liqing paused for a moment, remembering their wedding night when Jun Qiyu had played and joked with Hu Nu’er until late at night. He couldn’t remember why he had kneeled and begged Jun Qiyu to return to their room.

Now, in a similar situation, Song Liqing surprisingly didn’t feel much bitterness.

He pushed the door open, seemingly indifferent to the absurd scene before him.

Hu Nu’er’s clothes were halfway off, sitting on Jun Qiyu’s lap, with a grape nestled in the crook of his shoulder.

Jun Qiyu was about to bite into the grape when Song Liqing, the uninvited guest, interrupted.

Jun Qiyu’s smile vanished as soon as he saw Song Liqing’s face, and he motioned for Hu Nu’er to leave.

Hu Nu’er slid down softly, leaning against Jun Qiyu’s legs, looking at Song Liqing with an innocent expression.

“What are you here for?” Jun Qiyu didn’t even glance at him. “Even if you kneel and beg me today, I won’t go back there.”

“I know.”

Song Liqing approached a bit closer.

“I know you’re still bothering me even in front of me? I’ve already said, from now on, you’ll be the prince’s consort living alone in an empty room for the rest of your life. I won’t favor you again.”

“Okay.”

Song Liqing lowered his head and replied softly.

Jun Qiyu, however, turned strangely and frowned, looking at his calm face.

Logically, Song Liqing, who had been neglected by him, should be crying and wailing by now.

But he just stood there quietly, responding lightly, as if he hadn’t heard a word of his punishment.

“Are you deaf? I said I won’t touch you again! You better not make a scene in front of me…”

“Qiyu, I want to discuss something with you.”

Song Liqing was tired long ago; he didn’t have the energy to plead anymore.

Jun Qiyu couldn’t see him suffering and crying, but instead, he was talking about something else, which made Jun Qiyu even more irritated.

What was this? 

Didn’t he take his punishment seriously?

Song Liqing spoke casually, “The day after tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of August. Can you accompany me back to the Song Residence for a day?”

“Back to the Song Residence? Why?” Jun Qiyu was annoyed that his strict punishment seemed less important than visiting the Song family.

Song Liqing explained, “My father is back from the northwest. I didn’t have a chance to spend a few days with them before coming to the Qilin Residence. I want to see my parents, let them know I’m fine, and reassure them.”

That was Song Liqing’s intention.

He just wanted to go home.

If he were to leave this world quietly without saying goodbye to his parents, it would be too unfilial and selfish.

“Oh, so you want me to accompany you and pretend everything is fine?” Jun Qiyu understood.

Song Liqing nodded, “Yes.”

Jun Qiyu smirked and bluntly said, “I won’t go.”

“Why?” Song Liqing was a bit anxious. “Or you can just accompany me without saying anything unnecessary, okay, Qiyu?”

“No.” Jun Qiyu’s face showed mockery. “Are you fulfilling your duty as a prince’s consort or serving your husband? Why should I pretend with you? Besides, how do I know you’re not going back to complain to the Song family? You have a way of saying one thing to my face and another behind my back… You’re not allowed to go anywhere.”

Song Liqing’s plea was on the tip of his tongue but he swallowed it back.

His eyes dimmed.

Well, he looked sickly and haggard now, it would be difficult for his father not to ask, and how could he deceive him and get away with it?

“I understand.”

Song Liqing slightly bowed, taking it as his farewell.

Jun Qiyu watched his retreating figure with a hint of disappointment, his once upright figure seeming somewhat stooped.

“Wait.” Jun Qiyu called out to him. “In another ten days, there will be a family banquet for the emperor’s birthday. Your father will be invited. If you want to see him, I can take you.”

“Really?”

A spark reignited in Song Liqing’s eyes.

Jun Qiyu nodded. “I allow you to go, but it comes with conditions. What can you do for me?”

“What can I do?” Song Liqing wasn’t sure of his usefulness. “I can… finish reviewing the memorials of the past few days, is that acceptable?”

“If the Emperor is not satisfied with the memorials I review, then I might as well not do them.”

“Well…”

Jun Qiyu lifted his chin.

“Hu Nu’er likes to eat fresh pine nuts, so you can start by shelling this plate of pine cones.”

Song Liqing breathed a sigh of relief. If Jun Qiyu just wanted to vent his frustration by ordering him around, he could endure it.

“Okay.”

Song Liqing walked to the table, about to reach for the pine cones, but then he heard Jun Qiyu say another sentence.

“Shell them while kneeling.”

Song Liqing raised his head in astonishment, meeting Jun Qiyu’s mocking smile.

Hu Nu’er giggled beside them.

“Don’t want to? Then you can go back. I won’t force you,” Jun Qiyu said.

“I… I’m willing.”

At this point, Song Liqing had no face or dignity left; they had been worn away long ago.

As long as he could see his father one last time, he was willing to do anything.

Under Jun Qiyu’s astonished gaze, Song Liqing didn’t say a word, bent his knees, and knelt beside the table.

He lowered his head and started shelling the pine cones, breaking the hard shells and picking out the pine nuts inside. Song Liqing wasn’t used to keeping long nails, so he had to pry them out with his fingers, causing his nail beds to swell painfully at the slightest touch.

“Qiyu, I’m done shelling.”

Song Liqing held the plate with his palms, presenting it to Jun Qiyu to avoid touching it with his fingertips.

“Oh…” Hu Nu’er pretended to be both surprised and delighted, with an exaggerated expression. “Only the pine nuts inside are edible. My lord, I just applied phoenix flower juice to my nails, look…”

Jun Qiyu looked at Song Liqing and said, “Did you hear that?”

Hu Nu’er giggled sweetly, “Then let the Crown Prince Consort work a bit more.”

Song Liqing remained silent, picking up a pine nut. The shell, the size of a sunflower seed, was extremely hard. He endured the prickling pain, pinching the hard shell with his nails. Song Liqing exerted all his strength, but there was no sign of the shell cracking.

With a small crisp sound, Song Liqing was in so much pain that sweat the size of soybeans dripped down his temples.

His thumbnail had detached from the flesh and turned over.

Song Liqing gritted his teeth in pain, veins popping on his forehead, tears welling up in his eyes but refusing to fall.

“Qiyu… I can’t do it,” Song Liqing’s voice trembled with tears.

Jun Qiyu saw his hands trembling, his eyes flickered, and he looked away.

Hu Nu’er, noticing Jun Qiyu’s slight reluctance, quickly interjected, “Oh, Crown Prince Consort, look at my forgetfulness. I have a wooden clip here. Would you like to try?”

Seeing Jun Qiyu not speaking, Song Liqing had no choice but to continue with the tool.

Although there was a wooden clip now, the broken shell of the pine nut was sharp and easily pierced into the soft, nail-less flesh. After shelling about a dozen, Song Liqing’s thumb was already a bloody mess.

Author’s note:

You can curse the scumbag, but please don’t involve the innocent. Thank you…

tl – I hate them both(qiyu and hunuer) they are made for each other