The Blood Crown - Chapter 109

Zhou Miexing was known for his loyalty and wide circle of friends, as well as his slight talent for poetry. However, due to his extravagant lifestyle and love for women, he was often labeled a “playboy.” This well-known libertine of the capital had calmed down significantly after falling for the famous courtesan Ye Li of Tinglan Pavilion and stopped his usual womanizing behavior.

Recently, Zhou Miexing tried to take Ye Li as his fourth concubine, but his father threw him out of the house in the middle of the night, making a laughingstock of him.

Yan Sikong had long known Ye Li’s background and was secretly glad that Lord Zhou didn’t let her into the house; otherwise, Xie Zhongren would have planted a hidden agent close to the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate, extending his reach even further.

When Ye Li walked gracefully into the room with a group of girls, Feng Ye initially didn’t pay attention to any of them but eventually focused his gaze on Ye Li, with an expression of curiosity.

Following Feng Ye’s gaze, Zhou Miexing was delighted and quickly signaled Ye Li to attend to Feng Ye.

Feng Ye had been back in the capital for more than two years, and many people tried to curry favor with him, offering everything from treasures and paintings to renowned beauties, but he remained indifferent to it all. If someone could finally please him, it would be a stroke of luck.

Ye Li smiled knowingly and, with the girls, bowed to everyone present before walking towards Feng Ye with graceful steps that mesmerized the onlookers.

Yan Sikong, however, knew what Feng Ye was observing. Feng Ye must have noticed Ye Li’s martial skills, as this wasn’t their first meeting. The last time, Feng Ye had forcibly taken him away while Ye Li was playing the qin.

Ye Li bowed to Feng Ye and said charmingly, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Feng Ye nodded and replied meaningfully, “Miss Ye Li.”

Ye Li sat down beside Feng Ye and smiled seductively at Yan Sikong, “Lord Yan, it has been a long time.”

Yan Sikong cupped his hands and replied, “It has indeed been a while, and Miss Ye Li remains as radiant as ever.”

Ye Li covered her mouth and laughed, “I’ve been reading Lord Yan’s poetry collection recently, but my shallow knowledge makes it hard to grasp the profound meanings. Would you be available to enlighten me sometime?”

“I’m not worthy of such praise. I merely let my thoughts wander while composing. But if we could discuss poetry and wine together, it would truly be enviable.”

Everyone at the table laughed and teased Yan Sikong.

Feng Ye coldly remarked, “Since Miss Ye Li loves Lord Yan’s poetry so much, you must think I’m just a crude warrior who doesn’t understand poetry and elegance?” He emphasized the word “Lord” clearly.

Yan Sikong’s expression remained unchanged.

Ye Li, unfazed by the situation, lightly laughed and coquettishly said, “Who doesn’t know that Your Highness is a young hero, both literate and martial, and exceptionally handsome? You’re usually busy at Jingshan Camp and rarely come to places like this or even return to the capital. My sisters were fighting to get a glimpse of you today.”

Zhou Miexing laughed and said, “It’s not just the ladies; even we are honored to see Your Highness.”

“Indeed,” added Liang Sui, “Your Highness and Lord Yan were once the most famous and handsome gentlemen in the capital. Now, Lord Yan is set to marry Princess Wanyang. I wonder which lucky lady will become Your Highness’s wife.”

Feng Ye merely smiled without a word, but his eyes remained cold.

Ye Li, noticing Feng Ye’s displeasure, quickly changed the subject, “Allow me to play a tune for everyone’s enjoyment.”

“Good!”

As the music started, people began drinking again. Some came to toast Yan Sikong, often wishing him and Princess Wanyang a harmonious and blissful marriage. Yan Sikong, without turning around, could feel Feng Ye’s piercing gaze.

As the drinking continued, the previously restrained officials and poets began to show their true colors, flirting with the courtesans.

Yan Sikong, used to such scenes, played along, chatting and laughing with the plump woman next to him, all while keeping an eye on Feng Ye. Knowing Feng Ye’s aggressive nature, he doubted he would leave after just a drink.

When most had drunk enough, Feng Ye suddenly stood up unsteadily. Ye Li, with her excellent tolerance for alcohol, got up to support him.

Feng Ye pushed her away and called out, “Come, someone!” Staggering, he seemed about to fall.

Yan Sikong quickly got up to support Feng Ye, but unexpectedly, Feng Ye pulled him into an embrace, grabbed his hair, and kissed him forcefully on the lips!

Yan Sikong’s eyes widened in shock, his mind going blank from the sudden turn of events.

Everyone else was also stunned, their glasses frozen mid-air, staring at the two.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” Zhou Miexing, slurring, called out, “Someone…” Not knowing what to do, he found the scene too awkward.

Attendants quickly came to support Feng Ye. He bit Yan Sikong’s lip hard, then released him, pushing away the attendants, and looked down at Yan Sikong, saying unclearly, “Oh, Lord Yan?” He glanced at Ye Li, then said teasingly, “Both of you, all in white, and Lord Yan so beautiful. I was confused, hahaha—”

Yan Sikong’s face turned pale. He hadn’t expected Feng Ye to be so audacious.

Zhou Miexing was the first to laugh awkwardly, “Hahaha, it seems His Highness has enjoyed his drink.”

“Yes, the prince has had his fill, hahaha—”

Everyone laughed together.

Feng Ye looked down at Yan Sikong. “I need to use the restroom. Lord Yan, could you lower yourself to assist me?”

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye without any expression, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. After a moment’s pause, he stepped forward to support Feng Ye. “Your Highness, please.”

Everyone could see that Feng Ye was intentionally humiliating Yan Sikong, but no one expected Feng Ye to use such means. Zhou Miexing realized he had made a blunder today and likely offended both of them, but he had no choice but to order, “Prepare a room for the prince to rest.”

Yan Sikong supported Feng Ye out of the banquet hall, surrounded by several attendants. Even a slight injury to Feng Ye would be something they could not bear to take responsibility for.

After helping Feng Ye into a room, Yan Sikong quietly told the attendants, “Leave us.”

“We’ll be right outside, my lord. You can call us at any time.”

“Get lost,” Feng Ye suddenly growled menacingly.

The attendants were startled and hurriedly apologized as they retreated.

Once the door was closed, Feng Ye dropped his drunken act, grabbed Yan Sikong’s waist, and forcefully kissed him, sucking and ravaging his lips with aggression.

“Feng… Ye…” Yan Sikong tried to push Feng Ye away, but he was almost immobilized by the strong hold and couldn’t risk making too much noise here.

As Feng Ye kissed him and tore at his clothes, he taunted, “What’s the matter, Lord Yan?”

Yan Sikong’s eyes were filled with anger. He knew he was in the wrong and had been enduring it, but Feng Ye’s aggressiveness had reached a peak today. To kiss him in front of everyone and use such a poor excuse—if rumors spread, who knows what impact it would have on both of them? He pushed Feng Ye’s chin away and gritted his teeth. “Are you crazy? You’re not drunk, you’re pretending!”

“Whether I’m pretending or not, what’s the difference?” Feng Ye mocked. “Aren’t you always half-true and half-false?”

Yan Sikong stared hard at Feng Ye. “What exactly do you want?”

Feng Ye grinned and whispered ambiguously, “I want to fu ck you.”

“Feng Ye!” Yan Sikong trembled. “If you keep being so reckless, you’ll get into trouble sooner or later.”

“Reckless?” Feng Ye laughed loudly. “Reckless? It’s laughable! You, with your lies and schemes, dare call me reckless? You’re about to marry my cousin, yet you made a solemn vow to me to save the crown prince. Aren’t you reckless? You’re shameless!”

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye with a pained expression. Beneath Feng Ye’s drunken facade was clear anguish, and his heart ached.

“When you get married…” Feng Ye looked over Yan Sikong’s face, his voice hoarse. “Will you make vows to her, whisper sweet nothings? You will, right? You always know what to say to make people happy. She will fall for you, just like I did…”

Yan Sikong bit his lip, feeling waves of sorrow.

Feng Ye’s eyes were bloodshot. “Yan Sikong, do you know? She’s… my only sister, but I’m so jealous I could kill her.”

Yan Sikong felt a suffocating pain spreading through his chest. He gently touched Feng Ye’s face. “Feng Ye, I don’t want to argue, but in this life, my heart belongs to you alone.”

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong with struggling eyes, filled with hatred. “But you’re going to be my brother-in-law.”

Yan Sikong lowered his eyes, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly grabbed Feng Ye’s collar and kissed him fiercely, roughly sucking on his lips.

The kiss ignited a wild fire in Feng Ye. He lifted Yan Sikong, swept the tea set off the table with a powerful arm, and pressed Yan Sikong down on it.

Like ravenous beasts, they bit each other’s skin and tore at each other’s clothes. They both knew that words would only cause more wounds; only through physical closeness could they feel each other’s warmth and forget all the pain and struggle. In this moment, they immersed themselves in a world that consisted only of each other.

Yan Sikong murmured, “You said, no matter heaven or hell, you’ll stay with me…”

“Yes, yes.” Feng Ye grasped Yan Sikong’s long legs, frantically conquering him, as if only such depth could reach Yan Sikong’s heart.

Yan Sikong showed a bitter smile, his body assaulted by waves of pleasure, yet simultaneously engulfed by despair. They clung to each other tightly, not wanting to miss a single drop of sweat or warmth from the other. Their hearts had drifted too far apart, so they fought desperately to close the gap with their bodies, willing to be dragged into the abyss together.