Chapter 36: CH 36

Ye Zi was furious. He pressed on Gu Yan’s shoulders and fiercely bit the lips that made him angry. Prying open his lips, his tongue drove straight in, as if he wanted to vent all the grievances he suffered today.

The person beneath him did not resist. He opened his mouth and allowed him to “bully” him.

After spending a whole day with that Prince Jia Xiedan and being brought to such a place, he was already very angry. Who would have thought that he would actually meet this person here?

Were the prostitutes in the Smoky Cloud Pavilion that attractive?

Was it because they were good-looking, or was it because they knew how to sweet-talk?

Were these people……better than he was?

The more Ye Zi thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. Only when the taste of blood came out of his mouth did he become slightly sober. Ye Zi raised his head, there was a small cut on Gu Yan’s lips, and his lips were abnormally red.

Gu Yan licked his lips and spoke: “A Zi, you……”

“You’re not allowed to come here in the future.” Ye Zi interrupted him. Like a rabbit that went mad, he said with fierce red eyes, “I won’t allow you to come.”

Surprise flashed in Gu Yan’s eyes for a moment. He raised his hand to touch the other party’s face and replied warmly: “Mnn, I won’t come here anymore.”

“You can’t go to other brothels either.” Ye Zi continued fiercely, “If you still go to them, I’ll……I’ll go and tattle in front of Great Princess Rui!”

Gu Yan laughed. When this person threw his temper tantrum, he was illegally cute.

Ye Zi still hadn’t calmed down from his anger yet: “You still dare to laugh?”

“I won’t laugh, I won’t laugh anymore.” Gu Yan restrained the corners of his lips, begging for mercy, “I don’t dare anymore, really, trust me.”

Ye Zi’s anger came and went quickly. As soon as he heard him say that, he lost his temper immediately. He stared at Gu Yan’s lips which were still oozing blood and asked in a low voice: “Does it hurt?”

Gu Yan paused and nodded: “Yes.”

Ye Zi once again leaned down and went up to gently lick away the beads of blood on his lips, as he said in a soft voice: “That’s what you get for angering me……”

After licking the beads of blood off Gu Yan’s lips, Ye Zi was about to get up when he was suddenly pulled by Gu Yan.

Gu Yan put one hand on the back of his neck as the other hand clasped his waist. His palm was pressed against the skin on the side of his waist and it felt hot to the touch.

Ye Zi couldn’t help flinching before he saw Gu Yan kissing him without a second thought.

This kiss was different from the ones before, where they were only putting on a show. It was also different from the rewards that were as gentle as water and it wasn’t like Ye Zi’s unreasonable venting just now. Gu Yan kissed him deeply, with breathless intrusiveness, sieging him inch by inch.

The bed in Smoky Cloud Pavilion was soft and comfortable and the ubiquitous sandalwood fragrance seemed to contain some kind of aphrodisiac effect. The two of them were surrounded by the effect of love, as it burned away their rationalities.

Ye Zi was dizzy and his breath was filled with the faint scent of medicine on Gu Yan’s body, so he didn’t even notice when the two changed positions.

Ye Zi nestled deeper into the softness as his body gave way, allowing Gu Yan to undress him and explore inside.

At this moment, the door of the room was pushed open by someone.

Gu Yan’s action paused and he subconsciously closed the lapel for Ye Zi.

After that, a voice came lazily from outside the door: “Sorry to disturb you two, but if you guys don’t finish, I’m going to fall asleep soon.”

Gu Yan sighed soundlessly. He leaned down and kissed Ye Zi’s red and moist eyes, and tenderly and meticulously helped him tidy up his messed-up clothes.

A few moments later, Ye Zi followed Gu Yan around the screen with a reddened face.

Two extra lamps were lit in the outer room. Jia Xiedan unapologetically sat at the table as he quietly sip tea. Seeing them come out, he teased: “I was wondering why Mr. Ye hadn’t returned after a long time. Prince Rui, you were being unethical. His Holiness had asked Mr. Ye to give me a tour of Chang’an, how could you just kidnap someone whilst they were still performing their duties?”

Ye Zi wanted to explain: “Your Majesty, I……”

But Gu Yan interrupted, “All right, Prince, let’s get down to business.”

Jia Xiedan poured a cup of tea for the two of them respectively and sighed: “Truly boring. How could Mr. Ye like such an uninteresting person like you?”

Ye Zi blinked in confusion and his eyes bounced back and forth between them: “You guys……”

Gu Yan swept a glance at Jia Xiedan and explained: “It was me who asked the Prince to meet here.”

Jia Xiedan said: “Mr. Ye, now you understand, I am not a lustful person. I have never set foot in such a place in my entire life. It was Prince Rui who said that the Smoky Cloud Pavilion was full of people of all trades so it was easier and more convenient to cover up. This was why I reluctantly agreed to come here.”

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He paused for a moment before adding: “……But looking at Prince Rui’s appearance, it seems he is very familiar with this place.”

Gu Yan said in a cold voice: “Jia Xiedan.”

Jia Xiedan shrugged his shoulders and closed his mouth.

Ye Zi finally reacted and looked at Gu Yan: “That is to say, you aren’t here……to enjoy the brothel?”

Gu Yan shook his head: “Naturally not.”

“Then……” Ye Zi pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Why didn’t you tell me the truth a while ago?”

Gu Yan paused: “I originally sent a letter to Prince Jia Xiedan, asking him to bring you to see me directly. But who knew that after waiting in the room as promised, the two of you never came.”

Jia Xiedan coughed lightly and laughed dryly: “I was……just trying to see if Prince Rui and Princess Consort Rui really share the same heart and trust each other as the rumors say. Now it seems that this is indeed the case.”

Ye Zi: “……”

“So you purposely let me see Prince Rui here, trying to make me suspect him?” Ye Zi looked at him incredulously, “How could you——”

The matter just now was disturbed by this person and Ye Zi already had a suffocating anger in his heart. Knowing the truth at this moment, he was so angry that his teeth itched, and he wished to beat the person in front of him severely to vent his anger.

Jia Xiedan said: “Mr. Ye, as a Princess Consort, you must not attack others at will.”

Gu Yan pressed the back of Ye Zi’s hand: “A Zi, business comes first.”

Jia Xiedan quickly agreed: “Yes, business comes first, business comes first.”

Gu Yan calmly added: “After finishing with our business, it wouldn’t be too late to beat him up.”

A chill ran down Jia Xiedan’s back, but before he could say anything, he heard Gu Yan ask: “How has your harvest been in Chang’an City these past few days?”

Jia Xiedan curbed his playfulness and said seriously: “Not very good.”

“Emperor Jinghe is watching me very closely, making it very difficult for my people to make a move.” Jia Xiedan sighed, “Fortunately, you guys came back. With your help, our progress should be faster.”

Hearing this, Ye Zi already had some vague guesses in his heart. He paused and asked, “Your Majesty, what did you come to Chang’an for?”

Jia Xiedan seemed to hesitate for a moment and did not answer immediately.

Gu Yan said: “There is no harm in telling him.”

Jia Xiedan smiled and said frankly: “Sorry Mr. Ye, I have no intention of hiding, but this matter is of great importance. I am worried that you will be killed if you find out about it. But since Prince Rui has said so, then there is nothing to be concerned about.”

“I came here to investigate who in the court is secretly communicating with the Northern Barbarians.”

The Northern Barbarian King had two sons. The eldest son, Wu Jie, was exceptionally brave and was raised as the heir of the clan early on. As for Jia Xiedan, because of his frail body and Central Plains blood, his prestige in the clan was far inferior to that of Wu Jie.

Jia Xiedan said: “My brother is warlike and murderous by nature and he was the one who provoked this battle with the Central Plains. My father’s old injury has relapsed in recent years and I fear that time is running out. Wu Jie wants to use this war to prove to him that he is the right person to be the Northern Barbarian King. But I know him, he has courage but no strategy. If not for someone in the Central Plains army, he could not have won several battles and defeated the Central Plains without them being able to fight back.”

“……I had a guess in my mind, but was not sure until I received a message from Prince Rui.”

“Prince Rui told me that someone among the important ministers in the dynasty was collaborating with the enemy and the traitor was secretly communicating with Wu Jie. This was why I came here.” Jia Xiedan narrowed his eyes and snorted, “You guys don’t want war to be frequent and involve innocent people and I don’t want Wu Jie to inherit the throne, it’s that simple.”

“But……”

Seeing doubts on Ye Zi’s face, Gu Yan explained: “I sent Si Wei to go to the northern borders before. The commander-in-chief, Old General Shen, was once my father’s confidant. Old General Shen has fought on the battlefield for many years. After mentioning a few words to him, he immediately found out the spies in the army and turned defeat into victory.”

“As this went on a few more times, the morale of the Northern Barbarian army was demoralized, and only then did Prince Jia Xiedan get a chance to be sent here for a marriage alliance.”

Ye Zi asked: “So the marriage alliance is a cover-up and obtaining evidence that someone is collaborating with the enemy as well as cutting off their communication is the true goal?”

“Yes.” Jia Xiedan sipped his tea and smiled, “When this matter is out, I’m afraid Emperor Jinghe will no longer have the idea of a marriage alliance. That way, Princess De’an wouldn’t need to marry far away to the northern border. Not to mention……”

He smiled frivolously towards Ye Zi: “Mr. Ye, I have said before that I am interested in men.”

Ye Zi: “……”

Sure enough, he still wanted to beat him up.

Late at night, Ye Zi and Gu Yan went back to the Prince’s manor.

Ye Zi was still a little worried about Jia Xiedan’s matter, so while Gu Yan was washing up, he leaned against the bed and asked him, “How do you know that someone in the court is secretly communicating with the Northern Barbarians?”

Gu Yan’s movement paused: “I naturally have my method.”

Ye Zi refused to give up and continued to ask: “Since you know someone is secretly communicating with them, why don’t you directly tell Jia Xiedan who that person is?”

Gu Yan said: “If you were him and I told you everything directly, would you believe me?”

Ye Zi paused for a moment and shook his head: “……I wouldn’t.”

Gu Yan laughed: “Jia Xiedan’s mother is from the Central Plains, but he was still able to gain a foothold in the Northern Barbarian clan. Even after I revealed the secret communication to him, he was able to immediately make the Northern Barbarian King stop and promised to make peace, this shows that he has the means.”

“Such a person doesn’t need me to tell him, he can also find out on his own. We just have to wait and see what happens.”

Ye Zi pondered for a moment, and then asked: “But what if Jia Xiedan was the person they were communicating with? What then?”

Gu Yan paused, then lowered his eyes thoughtfully as a look of doubt flashed in his eyes. Soon, he collected his expression, wiped his hands with a silk handkerchief, and walked to the bedside.

Gu Yan stretched out his hand to circle Ye Zi around the head of the bed and traced the other’s beautiful lips with his fingertips: “Did you forget what I said to you? If you worry about side matters again, aren’t you afraid that I will deduct your rewards?”

Ye Zi’s ears reddened and he whispered: “All you do is bully me…..”

“I bully you?” Gu Yan chuckled and deliberately came closer, “Weren’t you the one bullying me today?”

Gu Yan pulled his hand and put it to his lips, gently touching the wound on his own lips: “You bit so hard that the wound on my lip probably won’t go down even after tomorrow. What am I supposed to do during morning court tomorrow? If someone asks me how this happened, what do you want me to say? I was bitten by my little plant?”

When this matter was brought up, Ye Zi was too ashamed to meet his gaze.

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Obviously, it was just a misunderstanding. If he truly thought about it for a moment, he would realize that Gu Yan wasn’t such a person at all. But at that time, something overwhelmed his brain. He couldn’t think of anything and his mind was full of grievances. It was……

Truly too humiliating.

Ye Zi didn’t say anything for a while. Just as Gu Yan wanted to say something, his hand suddenly felt light.

After the white light flashed, a small green plant squatted in the center of the clothing, curling itself into a small plant ball.

Gu Yan: “……”

It seemed that it was time to add another rule. If he changed back to his original form at will, he would also have to deduct his reward.

Gu Yan thought helplessly but didn’t dare to speak anymore since he was afraid of provoking the small plant ball.

If he were to say something, he was afraid that he wouldn’t even sleep on the bed tonight and would instead go directly to his flower pot.

Gu Yan extinguished the oil lamp and held the little green plant as he lay in bed.

The room fell into darkness and a moment later, Ye Zi got out from Gu Yan’s palm, squatted next to his face, and stared at him in fascination.

He already knew that there was someone in Chang’an City secretly communicating with the Northern Barbarians. But in his memory, things were not like this.

He remembered that it was the Northern Barbarians who started the war and the momentum was overwhelming. Years of fighting had forced the Central Plains to be powerless to resist so Emperor Jinghe could only propose a truce and marriage.

As a result, Jia Xiedan came to Chang’an in the name of peace.

But not long after his arrival, it was revealed that he had colluded with important officials who rebelled. Emperor Jinghe was angry that he imprisoned Jia Xiedan and sent a large army to the Northern Expedition.

The commander of that Northern Expedition was Gu Yan.

Gu Yan narrowly escaped death at the northern borders. It took three years to pacify the Northern Barbarians and to kill the Northern Barbarian King, forcing Wu Jie to agree not to invade the border of the Central Plains for 30 years. But Jia Xiedan died of a serious illness while being escorted back to the Northern Barbarians.

Gu Yan made a success in the Northern Expedition and became the commander of the three armies, which provided him with the greatest help in his future rebellion.

Ye Zi came back from his memories.

He knew that Gu Yan deliberately concealed information today. Since this person didn’t want to tell, he wasn’t going to force him to talk.

In the past, Ye Zi always thought that this person was doing nothing and didn’t care about anything, but now he found that it didn’t seem to be the case.

In order to have his current peace, he didn’t know how many things Gu Yan did.

But today, he got a glimpse of Gu Yan’s plan. Ye Zi had no idea what else this man was doing behind the scenes. But he could tell that this person was truly different from the person in his memory and his behavior was also completely different.

Ye Zi even vaguely felt that Gu Yan seemed to have known what would happen, so he chose to avoid the worst outcome.

And he once said something about the thing that he regretted the most.

Ye Zi didn’t think about it before, but now that he thought about it, he felt puzzled. He had been in the manor for ten years and this man had only come of age not long ago. What exactly had he experienced?

Ye Zi’s heart seemed to be in a mess. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t figure it out and could only sigh lightly.

When there was an opportunity, he must ask him about his doubts clearly.

Tiredness gradually hit and the little green plant stretched out its stems and leaves. It stood up and looked around, as if it felt uncomfortable no matter how much it slept.

Ye Zi tilted his head and thought for a while, and a ray of light flashed in the room after a while.

Ye Zi, who had turned back into a human form, quietly slipped into Gu Yan’s arms. He pulled the other’s arm and put it over his body, making it look as if the two were embracing each other in their sleep.

Gu Yan was in a deep sleep and didn’t wake up, allowing Ye Zi to do as he pleased.

Ye Zi snickered triumphantly. He found a comfortable position in Gu Yan’s arms and then closed his eyes contentedly.