Tan Hua - Chapter 4

“Qiyu…”

 

Song Liqing softly called out, trying to stop Jun Qiyu’s hand.

 

But Jun Qiyu had natural divine strength and had been trained on the battlefield for so many years. How could he resist?

 

Jun Qiyu, with drunken eyes, found a peculiar charm in the small mole on Song Liqing’s pure neck, making him have the impulse to tear off all her clothes and see everything.

 

His arms were strong and powerful, and with just one hand, he could render Song Liqing immobile, while the other hand tore at his clothes.

 

Song Liqing was usually a person who always maintained a dignified posture in front of others, so the sense of shame of exposing his skin to others was overwhelming.

 

“Qiyu!” Song Liqing pleaded weakly, “Stop…”

 

He was easily moved to tears, and two cold tears slid down his face with the slightest provocation.

 

Jun Qiyu was dumbfounded, looking at the disheveled and beautiful face beneath him, with its slender white neck bone, and a sense of protectiveness welled up within him.

 

But the more he felt this way, the more annoyed he became.

 

“Heh, Song Liqing, it’s been ten years since we last met, and you’re still so skilled at acting pitiful.” Jun Qiyu said bitterly, “But it’s useless… if you want the bridal chamber, I’ll fulfill your wish now!”

 

“No!” Song Liqing’s voice was hoarse, “You can’t do this, please…”

 

Song Liqing was terrified. With so many eyes watching, he wasn’t some animal to be exhibited to others. How could this be so absurd?

 

“Aren’t you the Crown Prince’s consort? Since you can’t bear children, what other use do you have besides pleasing me?”

 

With that, Jun Qiyu reached for Song Liqing’s waist, unfastening his belt and loosening his robe. Song Liqing bent over, unable to resist, and could only twist his body desperately to protect his clothes.

 

“Qiyu… you can’t do this…” Song Liqing couldn’t threaten him with words, so he could only say, “If this gets reported to the Emperor and Empress, they will punish you.”

 

Indeed, Jun Qiyu’s expression changed, deliberately pressing his weight down on him.

 

“Don’t use them to threaten me! Everyone in the Qilin Mansion is under my control. I can silence them all. Do you dare to speak out? I’d like to see if you have the guts to let the world know about your ** during the day!”

 

“Qiyu!” Song Liqing’s face was pale as he interrupted him loudly, “I… I only take these as your drunken ramblings.”

 

Jun Qiyu’s desire intensified even more.

 

“I want to see what you’re hiding under that noble appearance…”

 

During the struggle, Jun Qiyu’s palm touched something, and he looked down.

 

It was the jade pendant around Song Liqing’s waist, hanging with old-fashioned concentric knots tassels.

 

“What’s this?”

 

Whenever he saw the concentric knot tassels, Song Liqing felt a warmth in his heart, forgiving Jun Qiyu’s brutal harassment.

 

With tears in his eyes, he looked into Jun Qiyu’s eyes and said, “This is what you gave me. Do you remember? I regard it as a token of our love…”

 

This thing made Jun Qiyu’s blurred childhood memories clear.

 

This was something he casually gave to Song Liqing back then. How could it be regarded as a treasure? It was a cheap and ugly trinket, yet Song Liqing wore it as if it were precious, not caring about its ugliness.

 

“A thing worth three strings of coins on the street, and you call it a token of love? You’re delusional!” Jun Qiyu sneered and threw it away.

 

Song Liqing covered the concentric knot tassels, knowing full well that it wasn’t a valuable item.

 

The reason he cherished it so much was simply because it was given to him by Jun Qiyu.

 

“Qiyu… even if you treat me with harsh words, I still don’t believe you’re a heartless person.”

 

“So boring!”

 

Jun Qiyu’s dizzy head suddenly cleared up a lot, the malicious intent receded, and he released Song Liqing, getting up and waving his sleeve.

 

“You can leave, don’t bother me here, delaying my pleasure. Let the music and dance continue!”

 

Jun Qiyu staggered, wrapping his arms around Hu Nu’er, his big hands roaming over the exposed skin, while Hu Nu’er twisted his supple waist, dancing like a snake, his eyes intoxicated and blurred.

 

“Master~” Hu Nu’er cooed, “Someone is looking at me like this, it makes me uncomfortable.”

 

Song Liqing turned away, their intimate physical contact and licentious behavior were probably customs from the Western Regions.

 

For a moment, he felt envious that Hu Nu’er could be so close to Jun Qiyu.

 

“Didn’t you hear? Song Liqing.”

 

Jun Qiyu shouted at the dazed Song Liqing, who suddenly snapped back to reality.

 

“Qiyu…”

 

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say,” Jun Qiyu interrupted him, “Get lost.”

 

“What?”

 

In fact, Song Liqing heard clearly, he just couldn’t accept being told to leave.

 

The meaning of him standing here was only worthy of a “get lost”.

 

“I said, get out of here,” Jun Qiyu repeated slowly and deliberately, “Hu Nu’er said he doesn’t like you around. Can’t you understand human language?”

 

Hu Nu’er nestled against Jun Qiyu’s chest, looking down at Song Liqing with a triumphant and arrogant demeanor.

 

Pushed to the door, Song Liqing was shut out with a heavy slam of the door.

 

Xiaodi, who was guarding outside the entertainment chamber, immediately ran over and saw Song Liqing’s pale face, still stained with tears, and guessed what had happened.

 

“Prince Consort…”

 

Song Liqing looked up. The title of Prince Consort… now it seemed that he was unworthy of it.

 

“Xiaodi.” Song Liqing said softly, “You don’t have to call me that anymore.”

 

Xiaodi was surprised: “Why not? You’re the legitimate Prince Consort bestowed by His Majesty. You can’t blame yourself just because His Highness is reckless.”

 

“No.”

 

Song Liqing looked at her innocent and sincere face, perhaps he could confide in her with the suppressed words in his heart.

 

He sighed in frustration, saying, “Actually, I never expected to marry His Highness. In my heart, he is the most outstanding man in the world. I’m not worthy of him.”

 

“But that’s not true!” Xiaodi couldn’t help but argue, “You don’t know how well-known you are in the capital! Even I, a newly entered palace maid, know about your former reputation. They say you were the unparalleled talented scholar, and many young ladies admired you. They said if you hadn’t become the Prince Consort, you would have had a bright future ahead. You’re so handsome and talented, who is not worthy of you?”

 

Song Liqing looked at the room, but his gaze was distant.

 

Some people, though seemingly close, were as distant as if separated by the Milky Way.

 

Ten years had passed between them.

 

“It’s because you don’t understand Qiyu. He is the unrivaled pride of heaven. They say I have exceptional talent, but only I know that being the top scholar was achieved through hard study. Qiyu, on the other hand, has a photographic memory. I had to study many, many times to pass the imperial examination, while he only needed to glance at it casually. He just has too playful a nature and prefers martial arts over literature. Otherwise, who in the world can compare to his talent?”

 

Xiaodi saw from his eyes the admiration and deep affection.

 

“Do you love His Highness very much?”

 

Song Liqing was startled for a moment by her question. 

 

“I love him very much…” Song Liqing’s voice became choked with emotion, “But he doesn’t love me.”

 

Xiaodi’s still tender mind became sorrowful along with him.

 

“His Highness shouldn’t treat you like this. You’re so good… and you’ve sacrificed so much for him.”

 

This was Xiaodi’s complaint about the injustice. But Song Liqing shook his head, this was what he deserved.

 

“I know why Qiyu despises me. His Majesty’s favor, the honor of being the Prince Consort, sounds noble, but in the end, it’s just a prince’s appendage. I thought I had the demeanor of a literati and aspired to be a dignified man, but in the end, I still ended up in this subordinate position. It was my own choice, and Qiyu sneers at me, but it’s also what I deserve.”

 

Xiaodi immediately said, “Then I’ll call you Prince Consort in front of others, but I’ll call you Young Master privately, the unparalleled talented scholar.”

 

This little maid was clever and kind, good at comforting people, and the bitterness in his heart diminished, and Song Liqing forced a smile.

 

“Well then, Young Master, what do you plan to do now?”

 

Song Liqing silently walked to the eaves and stood with his hands hanging down.

 

Xiaodi admired the Young Master under the moonlight, his demeanor and appearance so pleasing to the eye, even better than those actors who played the role of handsome scholars. With a breeze, he seemed almost ethereal, causing her cheeks to blush involuntarily.

 

“Qiyu.” Song Liqing spoke loudly, “I’ll be waiting here for you, waiting for you to come back with me to our chamber.”

 

The door was rudely pushed open, and indeed, Jun Qiyu walked out displeased, the music inside stopped, and Hu Nu’er clung to Jun Qiyu like a bird.

 

“The Crown Prince disregards such a good person and prefers a whimsical creature, he must be blind…”

 

Xiaodi muttered as she compared the two.

 

“What do you want?!” Jun Qiyu pointed at Song Liqing angrily.

 

Although Song Liqing was heartbroken, his gaze was firm. “I want to escort Your Highness back and complete the wedding night ceremony.”

 

Jun Qiyu frowned and asked angrily, “If I don’t go, will you keep waiting?”

 

Song Liqing’s throat felt dry, but he answered, “Yes.”

 

Jun Qiyu laughed mockingly, his laughter cold and ruthless.

 

“Huh, I knew it. You’re the kind of person who only knows how to use these despicable tactics of pestering. Who are you putting on a show for?”

 

Different from Jun Qiyu’s furious outburst, Song Liqing always tolerated his temper and advised him kindly.

 

“Qiyu, it doesn’t matter how you judge me. I just plead with you to cherish the reputation of the Crown Prince…”

 

“You can’t threaten me, Song Liqing.” Jun Qiyu interrupted him, his brows already furrowed, “You better learn from those characters in the plays, who kneel for a long time and kowtow a thousand times. Then maybe I’ll consider whether to marry you and enter the bridal chamber!”

 

Author’s note:

 

We’ll update again next Friday on the recommended list~