Tan Hua - Chapter 55

Three days later, the bustling noise outside the carriage woke Song Liqing from his light sleep as he leaned against the backrest. He gently held the baby, Guansheng, who was in his arms. Most infants at three months old either eat or sleep, but Guansheng was more spirited than other babies. He was awake and playing with one of Song Liqing’s fingers.

 

Feeling the softness of the baby’s hand, Song Liqing’s heart was filled with joy.

 

“Where have we arrived, Mr. Wu?”

 

“The capital of the Loulan Kingdom,” Wuer Shan replied.

 

So this was the capital of Loulan. Song Liqing couldn’t see what the outside looked like, but he could sense the foreign atmosphere through the sounds of the Loulan language. He also heard the sound of a huqin being played and occasional cheers. The air occasionally carried the scent of spices and the stench of livestock, which made Song Liqing uncomfortable for a moment, but he was still pleased.

 

It seemed like a place where people lived peacefully.

 

“My home is in the inner city of the capital, where the nobles reside. It’s not as noisy as the outer city. You can stay at my place,” Wuer Shan said as he looked closely at Song Liqing. Although he couldn’t see exactly what Song Liqing looked like under his dirty face, he could tell from his overall appearance. Song Liqing’s dark, bright eyes emitted a coldness untouched by the world, like a lotus on a snowy mountain. Wuer Shan couldn’t wait to see how stunning he would be once cleaned up.

 

“Would that be convenient?” Song Liqing wanted to find Pei Xingxu; he only trusted Pei Xingxu.

 

But he didn’t mention it.

 

Although Wuer Shan had been kind and generous throughout their journey, Song Liqing remained cautious.

 

“It’s no trouble. My house only has me and a few servants, and since you’re blind and will be teaching me Zhongyuan characters, I can’t just leave you in an inn.”

 

When the caravan stopped at Wuer Shan’s home, Wuer Shan offered his hand to help Song Liqing down from the carriage.

 

Song Liqing hesitated and pulled away, getting off on his own.

 

Disappointment flashed across Wuer Shan’s face, but he said nothing.

 

He led Song Liqing into his home and gave instructions to his servants in the Loulan language, which Song Liqing couldn’t understand.

 

After a short wait, Wuer Shan informed him, “Luckily, I have many Zhongyuan friends, so I often keep your traditional clothes at home. I had the servants pick out some that fit you. The hot water is ready too, so go ahead and take a bath, then change into some new clothes.”

 

Song Liqing hesitated.

 

Although Wuer Shan’s actions seemed reasonable, something felt off to him.

 

“I’ll wait until the evening,” Song Liqing tried to delay.

 

“The journey has been exhausting. A hot bath will help relieve your fatigue, and your clothes are no longer warm enough. Your baby is almost freezing.”

 

Wuer Shan’s reasoning left Song Liqing with no excuse to refuse.

 

“Mr. Wu, could you please find some clothes that fit Guansheng? A swaddle would be ideal.”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ve already instructed the servants to prepare everything. Now, give the baby to them so they can bathe him too. Otherwise, he might get sick.”

 

Wuer Shan smiled as he reached for the baby.

 

Song Liqing didn’t let go, still worried. Guansheng was so small that if they encountered any harm, he wouldn’t even have the chance to cry.

 

Thinking this, Song Liqing instinctively held him tighter.

 

“Are you worried that I’m a bad person?” Wuer Shan suddenly asked.

 

“No, I don’t doubt you, Mr. Wu. I’m just concerned that Guansheng hasn’t been separated from me since birth, and I’m afraid he might not be used to it,” Song Liqing suggested. “How about I bathe him myself?”

 

“You can’t even take care of yourself. My servants have also prepared freshly milked camel’s milk. It’s easy for babies to catch a chill in this weather, so give him to me.”

 

Before Song Liqing could stop him, Wuer Shan had already taken the baby from his arms.

 

Guansheng, who rarely cried, suddenly began wailing as soon as he left Song Liqing’s embrace. His little face turned red as he reached out with his hands, his feet kicking restlessly.

 

Hearing his cries, Song Liqing’s heart tightened.

 

“Mr. Wu… he’s crying. Let me comfort him!”

 

Song Liqing anxiously reached out and touched Guansheng, gently patting his chest. Guansheng grasped one of his fingers, slowly calming down.

 

“All babies cry. The louder, the better,” Wuer Shan said, turning to hand the baby to a maid. He added in Loulan language, “Take this noisy little one away! Don’t let him cry anymore!”

 

The maid obeyed, and Song Liqing could hear Guansheng’s cries fading into the distance. It was the first time he had cried so hard.

 

“Don’t worry. If I had bad intentions, why would I treat you both so well?” Wuer Shan laughed. “Go take your bath.”

 

A maid led Song Liqing to the bath. When she tried to help him undress, he quickly grabbed his collar.

 

“Leave. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

 

The maid didn’t respond.

 

Song Liqing guessed that she didn’t understand him, so he waved her away: “Leave.”

 

Only then did the maid step out.

 

Song Liqing took off his tattered clothes and submerged himself in the hot water. The hardships of his journey had left him both physically and mentally exhausted. The warm water gradually soothed his tired body, and Song Liqing began to relax, feeling drowsy.

 

Just as his eyes were drooping, a hand suddenly touched his shoulder from behind.

 

Startled, Song Liqing jerked forward.

 

“Who’s there?!”

 

“It’s me…” Wuer Shan’s voice creaked behind him like an old door, “You can’t wash your back by yourself, right? How about I help you?”

 

A shiver ran through Song Liqing. Wuer Shan clearly had ulterior motives.

 

“Mr. Wu, I can manage on my own. Please leave.”

 

“Eh…” Wuer Shan drawled, “Don’t be so tense. Here in Loulan, water is scarce. Except for the royal family and the wealthy, even those with money can only bathe once in a long while, and they have to go to a special place where everyone bathes together. It’s normal for men to help each other out.”

 

Before Song Liqing could speak, Wuer Shan had already jumped into the bathtub, causing water to splash everywhere.

 

Song Liqing felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He didn’t dare to move recklessly and could only hope that Wuer Shan’s intentions were as he claimed.

 

“This is fragrant soap from your Zhongyuan. Smell it,” Wuer Shan said.

 

But Song Liqing was in no mood to care about the scent of the soap. He crossed his arms over his chest, his body tense, as Wuer Shan applied the soap to his hair, gently and oddly washing it.

 

“Hmm… it’s osmanthus-scented.”

 

Wuer Shan lifted a strand of Song Liqing’s hair, brought it close to his nose, and sniffed it.

 

“It’s truly refreshing… just like you.”

 

Song Liqing felt Wuer Shan’s hand move from the ends of his hair to his shoulder, then slide down to grip his arm.

 

“Mr. Wu! I’m done bathing,” Song Liqing said, trying to extricate himself, but Wuer Shan held him firmly.

 

“No rush, we haven’t thoroughly cleaned your body yet…” Wuer Shan’s voice grew more sinister.

 

Song Liqing couldn’t bear it any longer and turned his head.

 

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

 

Wuer Shan froze when he saw Song Liqing’s profile. Compared to the people of the Western Regions, Song Liqing’s skin was astonishingly fair—whiter than the osmanthus soap in Wuer Shan’s hand, like Hetian jade or the snow of the twelfth lunar month.

 

To Wuer Shan, he seemed to glow.

 

With the dirt washed away, Song Liqing’s delicate features were fully revealed: his eyebrows were as elegant as distant mountains, and his lips as soft as a peach blossom in March. Though his thinness made him appear fragile, it added a pitiful charm to his demeanor.

 

Wuer Shan, transfixed, reached out to touch Song Liqing’s temple, but when he attempted to caress his cheek, Song Liqing slapped his hand away.

 

“I knew I wasn’t wrong, hahaha… You are indeed a one-of-a-kind beauty!”

 

Wuer Shan’s laughter revealed his true nature.

 

“You must know what I want… With looks like yours, who in the world could resist?”

 

All the gratitude Song Liqing had felt toward him vanished. It turned out Wuer Shan was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

 

“Please respect yourself.”

 

“No…”

 

Suddenly, Wuer Shan lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Song Liqing from behind.

 

The mere contact of their skin made Song Liqing’s hair stand on end.

 

“I saved you, treated you well, and brought you out of the pass. Now you’re staying in my house… Shouldn’t you repay me? Give yourself to me…”

 

As he spoke, Wuer Shan’s face drew closer, his teeth gnawing at Song Liqing’s neck.

 

The smell of him, the taste in his mouth, made Song Liqing almost gag.

 

He realized then that when you truly despise someone, intimate actions become unbearable. Song Liqing’s stomach churned.

 

He struggled to resist, but Wuer Shan seized him again, pinning him against the edge of the bathtub.

 

“I’m incredibly wealthy, wealthier than any noble in Loulan. If you give yourself to me, I can give you all my property and servants. I can treat you well forever!”

 

“Mr. Wu, with such wealth, why trouble yourself over a foreigner like me?! Let me go, and I’ll repay you with a thousand gold coins in the future!”

 

“I only want you!” Wuer Shan said madly. “I want to enjoy the same pleasures as the Crown Prince of Jing—this isn’t an opportunity just anyone gets. Even a thousand gold coins wouldn’t change my mind! Otherwise, I would have already handed you over to the Jing Kingdom’s soldiers to exchange you for those ten thousand taels of gold!”

 

Song Liqing’s heart trembled. So Wuer Shan had seen through him all along, and he had trusted him so easily.

 

Gritting his teeth, Song Liqing said, “Since you know my identity, aren’t you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself?”

 

“You’re in Loulan now, on my turf. Who would know?” Wuer Shan leaned in closer, eager. “Come on, you’ve served men before—it’s all the same… Who knows, I might make you feel even better!”

 

Wuer Shan pressed his rough hands against Song Liqing’s body, his heavy breathing spraying onto Song Liqing’s face, causing him to retch.

 

Feeling almost hopeless, Song Liqing could only bring up Jun Qiyu.

 

“Wuer Shan, I belong to the Crown Prince of Jing. He’s searching for me everywhere. If he finds even the slightest clue, even if you hide in the capital of Loulan, you won’t be safe!”

 

Wuer Shan hesitated for a moment, fear flashing across his face. The Crown Prince of Jing had fought many battles in the Western Regions. Although he was young, his reputation as a little demon was not just for show—it was earned through countless killings.

 

Wuer Shan’s expression hardened.

 

“You almost scared me, huh. You’re the former Crown Prince Consort. The Crown Prince of Jing has long discarded you. The bounty is probably because you committed some crime. He won’t rescue you… You’d better obey me if you want less pain!”

 

—

 

**Author’s Note:**

 

Goodnight~