The Blood Crown - Side Story 2: Waning Moon (Part 7)

Side Story 2: Waning Moon (Part 7)

 

Chen Mu’s kiss grew deeper, and tears streamed down his cheeks, mingling with their lips and teeth, salty and bitter. Yuan Nanyu felt a bit dazed. He wanted to push Chen Mu away, but his hands were momentarily powerless. Chen Mu’s tears felt like a swamp, trapping him.

 

In a haze, Yuan Nanyu felt Chen Mu tugging at his belt. At the same time, something hard and warm pressed against his leg. He suddenly snapped back to reality and grabbed Chen Mu’s hand.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Chen Mu’s drunken gaze was now filled with undisguised desire. Strangely, there was an innocence in his expression, as if what he was doing was as natural as eating or drinking, and Yuan Nanyu’s resistance confused him.

 

Yuan Nanyu felt frustrated enough to want to slap himself. While he did find Chen Mu somewhat pitiable, as a general, how could he afford to pity his enemy and give him an opening? However, looking at the teary-eyed, bewildered Chen Mu, Yuan Nanyu felt goosebumps all over.

 

The two were at a stalemate for a long while before Chen Mu buried his face into Yuan Nanyu’s chest again, sobbing softly. “Everyone flatters me. Why… do you resist me so?”

 

“Because I don’t covet anything of yours,” Yuan Nanyu replied, sitting up straight.

 

Still clutching him tightly, Chen Mu refused to let go. “I won’t let you leave… Never.”

 

Faced with a weeping drunkard, Yuan Nanyu couldn’t even muster his anger. He dared not leave Chen Mu on the cold floor like this—any mishap would be entirely his fault. Left with no choice, he lifted Chen Mu off the ground.

 

Whether intentionally or not, Chen Mu’s entire body was slack, constantly dragging downward while still clinging tightly to Yuan Nanyu. Yuan Nanyu struggled immensely, dragging and carrying him to the couch. By the time he finally managed it, he was drenched in sweat.

 

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Yuan Nanyu said, “Your Majesty, Eunuch Sun has prepared some hangover soup. Please drink a bowl.”

 

Chen Mu lay on the couch, clutching the corner of Yuan Nanyu’s robe, staring at him intently.

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“Don’t call me ‘Your Majesty.’” Chen Mu made a “shush” gesture. “I only allow you… to call me by my name.”

 

Yuan Nanyu held back his impatience. “If you don’t drink it, you won’t make it to court tomorrow.”

 

“Court.” Chen Mu sneered. “I won’t attend…”

 

Yuan Nanyu frowned, caught between staying and leaving.

 

Chen Mu blinked and whispered, “Feed me.”

 

“You…” Yuan Nanyu took a deep breath. “Let go of my hand first.”

 

Chen Mu held onto the corner of his robe stubbornly.

 

Yuan Nanyu thought that the hangover soup contained a sedative. Once Chen Mu drank it, he would fall asleep, and Yuan Nanyu could slip away. He said, “Fine, let go first, and I’ll bring it to you.”

 

Chen Mu shook his head. “You’re not allowed to leave.”

 

Yuan Nanyu had no choice but to turn his head and call out, “Eunuch Sun.”

 

From outside the door, Sun Mo pushed it open a crack and whispered, “General, how is His Majesty?”

 

“The Emperor is drunk. Bring the hangover soup in.”

 

Before long, Sun Mo personally brought in the soup. He glanced at Chen Mu, feigning concern. “Oh dear, Your Majesty, your health…”

 

“Leave,” Chen Mu said curtly.

 

“Yes, sire.” Sun Mo handed the soup to Yuan Nanyu, giving him several exaggerated winks before bowing and retreating.

 

Yuan Nanyu sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the dark brown soup in the bowl with mixed feelings.

 

Back then, he had been caught off guard and drank the hangover soup laced with aphrodisiac that Qi Manbi had given him, leading to everything that followed.

 

Chen Mu seemed to have the same thought, gazing at Yuan Nanyu and speaking softly. “I didn’t instruct her.”

 

Chen Mu had said this more than once. Yuan Nanyu no longer cared whether it was true or not. Perhaps Chen Mu really hadn’t ordered Qi Manbi to do it, but he had still taken advantage of the situation.

 

Yuan Nanyu helped Chen Mu sit up and said coldly, “Drink it.”

 

Chen Mu opened his mouth.

 

Yuan Nanyu, holding back his frustration, scooped a spoonful of soup and brought it to Chen Mu’s lips.

 

Chen Mu stared at Yuan Nanyu with tear-filled eyes as he swallowed.

 

After drinking more than half the bowl, Chen Mu refused to drink any more. He pointed to the wine on the floor. “Give me that…”

 

“You can’t drink anymore.” Yuan Nanyu pressed his hand down. “You need to sleep.”

 

Chen Mu sneered. “Sleep… Even in sleep, I can’t dream of my mother. Ever since I ascended the throne, she hasn’t… come to me in my dreams. Why?”

 

Yuan Nanyu pursed his lips. “Perhaps the Empress is at ease about you now.”

 

“Really?” Chen Mu clutched Yuan Nanyu’s robe and pulled him closer.

 

“I think so.” Yuan Nanyu was still hesitant about getting close to Chen Mu, keeping his body stiff in an attempt to maintain some distance.

 

But Chen Mu wrapped both arms around Yuan Nanyu’s waist. “Stay with me.”

 

“Chen Mu…”

 

“That day at Xiangchan Temple, you stayed with me. From now on, you must always stay with me.”

 

“I want to go home!” Yuan Nanyu gritted his teeth.

 

Chen Mu was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll marry the princess to you, and you can settle in the capital.”

 

“Nonsense!” Yuan Nanyu grabbed Chen Mu’s shoulders, intending to push him away.

 

Chen Mu, however, used strength uncharacteristic of a drunkard. The two ended up in a struggle, one pushing and the other clinging, their bodies tightly intertwined. Chen Mu’s anger had yet to subside, and his arousal pressed against Yuan Nanyu, rubbing against him intentionally or not. Yuan Nanyu, both mortified and furious, became increasingly agitated.

 

Suddenly, they both froze.

 

Chen Mu felt Yuan Nanyu also react. The moment Yuan Nanyu realized the change in his body, his face turned completely red. His mind went blank, as though he had been caught stealing in broad daylight—he had never felt such shame in his life.

 

Chen Mu sobered up considerably. Before Yuan Nanyu could struggle to get up, Chen Mu grabbed his manhood.

 

“Chen Mu!” Yuan Nanyu roared in fury and embarrassment. “Let go… Are you out of your mind?!”

 

But with his life now literally in someone else’s grasp, the words carried little weight.

 

Chen Mu ignored him, rubbing through the fabric while leaning close to whisper in Yuan Nanyu’s ear, “Let’s see if the only thing hard about you is your words.”

 

“Chen Mu, you…” Yuan Nanyu shuddered all over. He could clearly feel his body heating up in Chen Mu’s hand. Desperately, he clenched his fists, wanting to strike him. But he couldn’t follow through—not just because he’d be attacking the emperor, but also because, in this battle of power, his most vulnerable point was firmly in the enemy’s hands.

 

It was as if Chen Mu had found the key to dealing with Yuan Nanyu. Growing bolder, he teased him even more, watching as Yuan Nanyu’s face flushed red with both shame and rage. Seeing him breathless and tense only made Chen Mu laugh softly. “You’re hard here too.”

 

Yuan Nanyu struggled fruitlessly to escape. Yet his body instinctively responded to Chen Mu’s touch. Emboldened, Chen Mu slipped his hand into Yuan Nanyu’s undergarments, pinning him down with his weight and kissing his earlobe and cheek.

 

Yuan Nanyu gritted his teeth, his ears burning red. Waves of sensations swept over him, leaving his body weak and unable to resist.

 

Chen Mu used his teeth to tug open Yuan Nanyu’s collar, biting gently at his Adam’s apple and collarbone while his hand moved faster. Hearing the muffled groans that escaped from Yuan Nanyu’s throat, Chen Mu could no longer hold back. He removed his own pants, straddling Yuan Nanyu and pressing their arousals together, stroking them both in unison.

 

Yuan Nanyu shut his eyes, unable to bear witnessing such debauchery. Yet the stimulation only grew more intense. His mind blanked as his body trembled violently.

 

Finally, they both reached release simultaneously.

 

Their bodies and the bed were left sticky and damp.

 

Chen Mu collapsed on top of Yuan Nanyu, his reddened eyes still visible, but the corners of his lips curved in a satisfied smile. “You enjoyed it after all…”

 

Yuan Nanyu stared blankly at the canopy above, unsure what he had just done.

 

Chen Mu nuzzled against Yuan Nanyu’s cheek. “What we did in the army tents was a hundred times better than this. Don’t you miss it?”

 

Yuan Nanyu abruptly shoved Chen Mu away. Chen Mu tried to pull the same trick again, but Yuan Nanyu was quicker, grabbing him by the throat.

 

Chen Mu felt the rough fingertips pressing against his artery. With just a little force, they could end his life.

 

Chen Mu looked up at Yuan Nanyu, stunned.

 

Yuan Nanyu’s eyes were red, his face full of shame and rage. His hand trembled as he gripped Chen Mu’s neck, yet the pressure never lessened.

 

“Do you think this is fun?” Yuan Nanyu said, his voice shaking as he pulled up his pants. “You have countless concubines in your harem. Men and women alike are at your beck and call. Why must you torment me? Just because… just because I’m Yan Sikong’s brother, because I’m a general of Feng Ye, I have to endure your humiliation a hundredfold?”

 

Chen Mu stared at Yuan Nanyu, his expression dark.

 

Yuan Nanyu clenched his teeth, feeling consumed by humiliation. How could he have responded to such revenge and torment? Was he not a man?

 

Chen Mu, enraged by Yuan Nanyu’s words, retorted, “You’re clearly enjoying this, yet you call it humiliation. I thought you were different from those hypocritical scholars, but you’re just as self-deceptive!”

 

“You’re asking for death!” Yuan Nanyu tightened his grip, his fingertips pressing against Chen Mu’s artery.

 

Chen Mu’s face turned red from the pressure, but he didn’t resist. Instead, he provoked him. “Do you dare… to kill me? If you do, who else will make you feel this… pleasure?”

 

For a moment, Yuan Nanyu was truly filled with murderous intent. His eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead, and he wanted nothing more than to drag Chen Mu to hell with him.

 

But a sliver of reason held him back, and in the end, he let go.

 

Chen Mu fell onto the couch, gasping for air and coughing violently.

 

Yuan Nanyu stood up and said coldly, “Let me return to Datong!”

 

Chen Mu glared at him. “Never.”

 

Yuan Nanyu swung his fist in the air in frustration before turning to leave.

 

“I never meant to humiliate you,” Chen Mu rasped.

 

Yuan Nanyu paused.

 

Chen Mu looked at his back, his chest tightening inexplicably. “Maybe at first… but not later. Later… I just wanted to do it. I wanted to be with you…”

 

Yuan Nanyu quickened his pace, pushed open the door, and left without looking back.

 

Chen Mu collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly.

 

Sun Mo crept in, whispering, “Your Majesty, are you…”

 

“Get out.”

 

Sun Mo still wanted to say something, but Chen Mu suddenly roared, “Get out—!”

 

Terrified, Sun Mo scrambled out in a panic.

 

Chen Mu covered his eyes with the back of his hand and remained motionless for a long time.