Tan Hua - Chapter 6

Song Liqing was thrown into a daze by the impact. Just as he caught his breath, he saw Jun Qiyu waving away his ceremonial robe, leaving only his inner clothes. Jun Qiyu then pounced on him and started kissing and caressing his neck wildly.

Dizzy and disoriented, Song Liqing instinctively resisted him.

“Qiyu!” Song Liqing gasped for breath. “Qiyu, calm down…”

Jun Qiyu paused and grabbed Song Liqing’s wrist, looking down at him condescendingly. “You wanted this wedding night. I’m fulfilling your wish. So why resist? I recall you begged me for this night, don’t pretend to be virtuous now.”

“It’s not like that…”

This wasn’t how he imagined their wedding night to be.

Crack—

Without warning, Jun Qiyu tore open Song Liqing’s clothes. His strength caused a tear in the ceremonial robe, leaving Song Liqing’s clothes loose and hanging.

Jun Qiyu saw his slender and pale body, usually hidden beneath layers of fabric. It was delicate and white, like a pure crane untainted by the world.

His skin exuded a delicate fragrance, like fresh grass or fragrant ink.

Jun Qiyu’s desire to conquer surged. His eyes turned red, and he recklessly leaned down, seizing the opportunity to indulge in Song Liqing’s beauty.

Tears welled up in Song Liqing’s eyes. He felt powerless.

The man before him was tall, strong, with a sculpted physique like a jade carving, handsome and valiant. If the gods were imagined by mortals, then surely Jun Qiyu would be their likeness.

Pressing down on Song Liqing’s body, their skins touching, the rain-soaked skin now felt smooth and steamy, creating a sultry atmosphere.

“Qiyu!”

Song Liqing’s voice trembled with tears.

Jun Qiyu paused for a moment, allowing Song Liqing to regain some composure. Song Liqing seized the opportunity to retrieve his scattered clothes, covering his trembling body.

Jun Qiyu watched his disheveled appearance with satisfaction, a proud smile playing at the corner of his mouth, as if he were admiring his own masterpiece: to dishevel a cold and proud person, giving him a sense of pride.

“You wanted this, didn’t you?” Jun Qiyu asked mockingly.

Tears glistened in Song Liqing’s eyes. Since the day of their marriage arrangement, he knew this day would come and looked forward to it, but not like this.

“Qiyu…” Song Liqing’s voice trembled as he humbly asked, “Are you treating me like this because you love me… or because you hate me?”

Jun Qiyu’s gaze turned cold for a moment.

“You know the answer yourself.”

Song Liqing expected this answer, but it still chilled him to the bone.

“I hope to live with you in harmony, to be one with you. I’m willing to endure whatever you do to me, but I hope it comes from genuine affection, not out of revenge, alright?”

Jun Qiyu, however, couldn’t understand this contradictory request.

“I want you, that’s all there is to it. Why so many words? If you’re unwilling, there’s someone else who’s willing to serve me. Hu Nu’er is waiting for me right now…”

Song Liqing’s heart was pierced once again.

“I never force anyone. If you’re unwilling, I’ll go back to the Pleasure Pavilion right now. I’m asking you, do you want to?”

Both in status and in affection, Jun Qiyu held all the cards.

Song Liqing had two conflicting thoughts in his mind. He could devote himself entirely to his loved one, but Jun Qiyu clearly didn’t love him. Yet on their wedding night, how could he let his beloved go to someone else’s bed?

Song Liqing felt a mixture of pain and bitterness. His lips trembled slightly, and as he closed his eyes, tears streamed down his cheeks.

He felt a deep sorrow, realizing that his soul and talent were not enough to be loved, and he had to use his body to hold onto the one he loved.

What was the difference between this and being a courtesan?

“I… I’m willing.”

Jun Qiyu asserted dominantly, “Then stop hesitating.”

“Qiyu… I’m afraid…”

Song Liqing didn’t know what he was afraid of. Perhaps he was afraid of pain, afraid of being hurt, afraid of giving everything only to be heartlessly abandoned one day.

All he could do was close his eyes and shut out the thoughts.

That night was like the creation of the world by Pangu, or like the collapse of Wushan Mountain into the sea. Jun Qiyu unleashed half a lifetime of pent-up energy and anger on Song Liqing.

The thunderstorm eventually ceased, and Song Liqing lay unconscious in the bed.

…

The next sound he heard was the chirping of birds outside.

Song Liqing’s head throbbed, and his body ached all over. He frowned, opening his eyes to find bruises covering his arms and body. The room still carried the lingering scent of last night. No one knew how he had spent the night.

It felt like he had just woken up from a hysterical dream.

Only the disheveled bedclothes, torn apart in his agony, testified to the reality.

Enduring the pain, Song Liqing got up. Jun Qiyu was still asleep beside him. In his sleep, his face showed a hint of innocence, quiet and obedient. His features combined the majesty of an emperor with the beauty of a queen, serene and beautiful.

Song Liqing couldn’t help but smile faintly, gently running his fingers over Jun Qiyu’s face.

“Qiyu… If only you could always be like this, calm and gentle, without turning into a ferocious beast when you wake up…”

Author’s note:

Damei damei…

This metaphorical comparison describes the intensity and tumultuousness of the night between Jun Qiyu and Song Liqing. 

1. “Creation of the world by Pangu”: In Chinese mythology, Pangu is a primordial being who created the world by separating yin and yang and forming the earth and sky from his body. This reference suggests that the events of the night were monumental, akin to the birth of a new world. It highlights the significant impact of Jun Qiyu’s actions on Song Liqing and their relationship.

2. “Collapse of Wushan Mountain into the sea”: Wushan Mountain is a prominent mountain range in China. The image of it collapsing into the sea evokes a sense of immense power and destruction. This comparison implies that the night was marked by overwhelming force and upheaval, as Jun Qiyu’s pent-up emotions and anger were unleashed upon Song Liqing.

Overall, these metaphors emphasize the magnitude and transformative nature of the events that occurred between Jun Qiyu and Song Liqing during that night.