Tan Hua - Chapter 5

Moments ago, the moonlight cascaded like a waterfall, but in the blink of an eye, low-hanging dark clouds obscured the jade moon. Thunder rumbled, mixing with Jun Qiyu’s angry shouts, making the courtyard feel increasingly oppressive.

 

Song Liqing stood at the bottom of the stone steps, silently facing the arrogant Jun Qiyu.

 

Jun Qiyu was waiting for him to retreat.

 

Hu Nu’er was waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

 

Only Xiao Di hoped he would simply turn and leave.

 

“If you can’t do it, don’t get in my way!” Jun Qiyu looked at him as if he were a disgusting mosquito.

 

“Qiyu… I know you mean what you say.”

 

Song Liqing struggled to get these words out, and then, under everyone’s gaze, he resolutely knelt down!

 

His knees hit the stone steps with a dull thud.

 

Xiao Di covered her mouth but couldn’t help letting out a cry.

 

“Prince Consort! You mustn’t…”

 

Jun Qiyu was also shocked and instinctively reached out, but his hand froze in mid-air. He only wanted to humiliate Song Liqing verbally to make him leave; he never expected Song Liqing to go to this extent…

 

For a moment, Jun Qiyu didn’t know whether he should help him up.

 

If he helped, Song Liqing would surely take advantage… Thinking this, Jun Qiyu retracted his hand.

 

Hu Nu’er’s face was filled with satisfied ridicule.

 

Xiao Di ran over and knelt beside Song Liqing.

 

“Prince Consort!” Xiao Di grabbed his forearm. “You can’t humiliate yourself like this. There are servants, musicians, and lowly slaves in this courtyard. You can’t endure such disgrace. You are the master of the Qilin Mansion. How will you face them in the future? If word spreads throughout the capital tomorrow, won’t you become a laughingstock to the entire world?”

 

Xiao Di spoke indignantly, glaring at the gloating Hu Nu’er.

 

Hu Nu’er Hu Nu’er.

 

“You are mistaken, miss. His Highness is the Crown Prince, and he is a courtier. It is not humiliating for a courtier to kneel before the Crown Prince.”

 

Xiao Di retorted, “When the Emperor bestowed the marriage, he said that regardless of status, the Prince Consort and His Highness could stand as equals!”

 

Song Liqing patted Xiao Di’s hand and gently shook his head to signal her.

 

“Xiao Di, that was just the Emperor’s favor. There’s no need to debate our differences in status.”

 

“But… but how can it be that on their wedding night, someone has to kneel and beg their husband to consummate the marriage? It’s the most absurd thing in history!”

 

Xiao Di couldn’t bear it any longer and dared to mix her grievances with the Crown Prince in her words.

 

Song Liqing raised his head and met Jun Qiyu’s eyes.

 

“Qiyu, if I kowtow a thousand times, will you come home with me?”

 

Jun Qiyu hated it when Song Liqing looked at him with such sincerity, as if questioning him. It made him feel guilty, as if he were in the wrong.

 

“You’re quick to claim your status. Is the Qilin Mansion your home? Your home is in the General’s Mansion! As long as I don’t acknowledge it, you will never be the master of the Qilin Mansion.”

 

Song Liqing’s heart was pierced.

 

A wave of panic spread through him. He had once been an orphan wandering from place to place, eating from many households. Though he was too young to remember, the sense of having no place to call home was deeply ingrained in his mind. His adoptive father, Song Qing, pitied him for his understanding, but in reality, he was just afraid.

 

Afraid of being a wanderer again.

 

He had already left the General’s Mansion. If the Qilin Mansion wasn’t his home either… where was his home?

 

Song Liqing closed his eyes in pain. Then, he bent down and his forehead heavily hit the stone steps.

 

“Please, Your Highness, come back to our room and complete the wedding—”

 

Jun Qiyu stood there, mouth agape, eyes wide, so angry that his body was tense and his knuckles cracked.

 

“Are you determined to oppose me?”

 

Song Liqing continued kowtowing, ignoring Jun Qiyu. This lack of response made Jun Qiyu grit his teeth in fury.

 

“Fine, very well. If you want to kneel, kneel. If you want to kowtow, kowtow. Song Liqing, I’m telling you, I hate being coerced and threatened the most! Marrying someone like you is the worst luck in eight lifetimes! Hu Nu’er, let’s go inside and let him die from kowtowing here!”

 

Jun Qiyu stormed back into the room, leaving his words hanging in the air. Hu Nu’er peeked through the door crack, snickered, and then closed it.

 

Thud—thud—thud—

 

Song Liqing’s head repeatedly struck the bluestone, each impact producing a resounding noise.

 

But the sound was drowned out by the cheerful music and laughter inside the room.

 

Song Liqing felt immense pain, a pain that penetrated his heart. He was wrestling with himself, refusing to believe Jun Qiyu could be so heartless, or that he was so insignificant in Jun Qiyu’s eyes that their bond could be completely forgotten.

 

But Jun Qiyu never came out to check on him, and Song Liqing’s pain gradually turned numb, or rather, his heart turned numb, making the physical pain less significant.

 

It wasn’t until Xiao Di cried out that Song Liqing snapped back to reality.

 

“Master!”

 

Xiao Di knelt beside him, pointing at his forehead in horror.

 

A drop of warm liquid trickled into his eyes, making his vision turn crimson. He instinctively wiped it away with his hand, only to discover a gaping wound on his forehead, bloody and raw.

 

“Master, let me… let me wipe it for you.”

 

Xiao Di hurriedly pulled out her handkerchief. Her fingers were gentle but still caused pain. Seeing his brows furrow in pain, she began to cry.

 

“Silly girl, why are you crying?” Song Liqing took the handkerchief from her. “It doesn’t hurt.”

 

“You’re bleeding, how could it not hurt?” Xiao Di said through her sobs. “Master, let’s go back. I’ll get a doctor. Please, stop kneeling. I’m begging you… Look, the night wind is strong, and it’s going to rain. Let’s go back, alright?”

 

The courtyard was strewn with dry leaves, and Song Liqing shivered.

 

“Just wait a bit longer, there are only three hundred and thirty-five left… Once I’ve kowtowed a thousand times, Qiyu will come back with me. He always keeps his word.”

 

Thunder rumbled, and the night rain poured down, pelting the bluestone slabs and drenching Song Liqing’s thin frame. He continued to kowtow, clinging to that faint hope.

 

The capital, which had endured a month-long drought, was now swept by a thunderstorm.

 

Rainwater ran down his face, soaking the wound on his forehead, making it hard to tell if the wetness was blood or water, rain or tears.

 

Years of burning the midnight oil had damaged Song Liqing’s eyes. The blood and water aggravated his old ailment, turning his vision into a blur of overlapping images.

 

His lips grew paler, his strength waning, and his mind becoming muddled.

 

“Xiao Di…” Song Liqing’s voice was weak. “How many more?”

 

“It’s enough! Master!”

 

Xiao Di was also soaked, her hair in disarray, but she held the handkerchief, trying to shield him from the rain.

 

“And Qiyu…” Song Liqing forced a smile. “Did he come?”

 

Xiao Di shook her head. “His Highness never came out.”

 

Did he lose…?

 

So Jun Qiyu never liked him, not even a little?

 

“Not… not even a glance?”

 

Song Liqing knew the answer but still held onto a sliver of hope.

 

“Qiyu! I’ve kowtowed a thousand times.” Song Liqing used all his strength to call out, hoping Jun Qiyu would hear. “A gentleman keeps his word, please, Your Highness, come with me… cough…”

 

Song Liqing coughed violently, his whole body trembling.

 

Outside, the night rain was torrential, but inside, the room was warm and bright.

 

Jun Qiyu heard Song Liqing’s call, though he tried not to. He downed cup after cup of wine, but it tasted like ashes, his mind always drifting outside.

 

The storm’s thunder and lightning made him even more restless.

 

Hu Nu’er noticed and snuggled up to him, complaining coquettishly, “My lord, it’s those people who don’t understand romance. They’ve ruined your good mood.”

 

Jun Qiyu savored the remaining wine in his mouth and asked, “Do you also find Song Liqing extremely annoying?”

 

Hu Nu’er read his mood and responded, clinging to his arm.

 

“Hu Nu’er’s likes and dislikes follow my lord’s. Whoever you dislike, I naturally dislike too.”

 

Jun Qiyu felt reassured, and seeing Hu Nu’er’s gentle and obedient manner, he pinched his sharp chin.

 

“You’re still the sensible one, knowing when to advance and retreat, and understanding boundaries.”

 

Hu Nu’er appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself, his entire body languidly draped over Jun Qiyu as if he had no bones.

 

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating half the night sky, followed by a rumbling thunderclap.

 

Outside, Xiao Di was knocking on the door, seeking an audience.

 

“Your Highness! Your Highness! The Prince Consort has already kowtowed a thousand times. He’s injured. Did you hear that, Your Highness? The rain outside is so heavy, no flesh and blood could withstand it. I beg you, please show some compassion…”

 

Xiao Di’s panicked voice irritated Jun Qiyu.

 

In this situation, he lost the mood to flirt with Hu Nu’er. Jun Qiyu stood up, annoyed, but Hu Nu’er clung to his arm.

 

“My lord…” Hu Nu’er looked at Jun Qiyu with pitiful eyes. “Are you really going to bother with that annoying person outside?”

 

Jun Qiyu, already upset, flung him off.

 

“If he really dies outside on our wedding night, can we hide it from the Emperor?!”

 

Though Hu Nu’er was reluctant, he didn’t dare provoke Jun Qiyu further.

 

As soon as the door opened, the torrential rain splashed onto Jun Qiyu’s shoes. Outside was pitch black, filled with thunder and lightning, with only Song Liqing kneeling at the steps. His back was straight, and his hair and robes were thoroughly soaked. Jun Qiyu was furious. Even while kneeling and kowtowing, he still maintained a lofty demeanor.

 

“See, he’s not dead yet!”

 

Song Liqing, hearing his voice, snapped back to consciousness.

 

He raised his head, his face, already as pale as a pearl, now completely bloodless, and his lips had turned blue. Jun Qiyu was startled and couldn’t bring himself to continue with his harsh words.

 

“Qiyu, I knew…”

 

Song Liqing’s lips curled into a faint, bleak smile.

 

“What?”

 

Jun Qiyu couldn’t hear him clearly; Song Liqing’s weak voice was drowned out by the wind and rain.

 

“I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless.” Song Liqing’s voice trembled, “You still have me in your heart…”

 

Even if it’s just a small place.

 

This made Song Liqing feel that his perseverance was worthwhile.

 

Jun Qiyu, feeling like a tiger whose tail had been stepped on, flew into a rage.

 

“What nonsense are you talking about?! Fine, since you ruined my mood, then use yourself to fill it!”

 

Jun Qiyu strode into the rain, stepping down the stone steps.

 

Without a word, he clamped his hand around the back of Song Liqing’s neck, almost dragging him from the ground, and made his way back to the main courtyard.

 

Song Liqing’s breathing was restricted. He clutched Jun Qiyu’s hand, looking like someone on the verge of drowning, a pained expression on his face.

 

Jun Qiyu didn’t care, completely indifferent to whether Song Liqing could withstand it.

 

Song Liqing remembered that Jun Qiyu was naturally strong, able to defeat everyone in the academy by the age of five. Now, Jun Qiyu had grown into a handsome and imposing figure, leaving Song Liqing with no room for resistance.

 

“Qi… yu…”

 

He couldn’t utter a complete word, almost suffocating to death, before Jun Qiyu finally threw him onto the bed…