Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Shengsheng Zhou’s brain crashed. Too stunned to react, she let Fusheng Duan roam forcefully between her lips and tongue as though he meant to devour her whole.
Only when Fusheng released her and a suggestive silver thread stretched between them did Shengsheng cover her mouth and retreat.
*Holy shit, holy crap, crap, holy shit, crap, holy shit, holy shit, holy shit–what the hell?!*
“Y-Your Highness! What are you doing?”
Shengsheng was frightened half out of her soul. Worse, because of that damned hip, she could not roll off the bed and put some distance between herself and this hooligan.
Fusheng’s crimson tongue emerged to lick away the lingering moisture. With perfect composure, he said, “Nothing. I was confirming something.”
*Confirming what? That you’ve turned gay and fallen for Weiqing Song? Is that it?!*
Fusheng fell silent. No.
But the feeling was right.
He had acted purely on instinct. Even now, he had not worked out why he had developed feelings for Shengsheng.
He was certain that before Shengsheng left with Siran Ming, he had not felt the slightest romantic longing for her.
At one point, he had even wanted to kill her.
These feelings had arrived far too inexplicably, forcing Fusheng to weigh, consider, and examine them carefully.
He had even wondered whether Shengsheng had used that inexplicable A-Pang of hers to place some kind of spell on him.
“Confirming something.”
What a perfunctory answer.
Shengsheng scrubbed viciously at her lips. Though embarrassed and furious, she remembered to preserve her persona and asked coldly, “Has Your Highness finished confirming it?”
Fusheng replied with complete righteousness, “No. Shall we do it again?”
Shengsheng fell silent.
*Get out!*
Naturally, Fusheng did not actually get out. Instead, imitating a certain Yong emperor’s grandiose tone, he declared, “One hundred thousand taels of gold for another kiss.”
Shengsheng fell silent.
Was this something money could buy?!
*Are you all right? Are you all right? Are you all right in the head?*
“Your Highness, the night is late. You should rest.” Pointing earnestly at the brilliant daylight outside, Shengsheng offered her sincere advice.
Fusheng stopped speaking. His pitch-black eyes watched her quietly.
Unable to do anything about him, Shengsheng wondered whether years of dressing as a woman had left the man so starved that he no longer cared whom he ate.
“Tail was clearly enthusiastic just now too. When we parted, your tongue clung to mine and refused to let go…” Fusheng said faintly.
Shengsheng stared. What bullshit! She had done no such thing!
*I was trying to push you away! Push you away, understand?*
This was going to be the death of her. Was she trapped in some adults-only nightmare?
How could Fusheng kiss her? Help!
Shengsheng stared without speaking while wails filled her heart.
“Does it still hurt?” he suddenly asked softly.
Shengsheng froze, failing to understand for a moment.
“…The imperial physician examined it.”
Fusheng nodded. “So it does hurt. Remember to use the ointment from last time. It works well.”
At the mention of the ointment, Shengsheng straightened. “Your Highness, that medicine is far too precious. How could you simply give it to this servant?”
Fusheng replied indifferently, “It’s only an ointment. How is it precious?”
That was true. The man spent money freely and lived extravagantly. It was perfectly normal for him to know nothing about prices.
Shengsheng tried to advise him, only for him to parry her in a few sentences.
Shengsheng: Damn it. She couldn’t outtalk him.
*No wonder his tongue is so nimble.*
——
“Oh, the palace? Follow this road to the very end.” The old candied-hawthorn vendor studied the exceptionally handsome, travel-worn young man before him and wondered whether some noble family’s young master had become separated from his servants and wandered all the way here.
The young man thanked him. Before leaving, he bought the vendor’s entire straw pole of candied hawthorns.
Watching the young man walk away carrying the pole bristling with treats, the vendor stared at the pebble-sized piece of jade in his hand and sank into thought.
How was he supposed to return empty-handed and explain to his wife that they were rich?
When Fusheng Duan returned to his room, he found Weiqing Song already waiting.
Taking advantage of the empty room, Weiqing sat in Fusheng’s favorite reclining chair, drinking tea acquired from some unknown source.
“How very leisurely of you,” Fusheng mocked.
Weiqing shook his head comfortably. “A-Sheng exaggerates. I am the benefactor who saved your chastity. Begrudging me one cup of tea seems rather stingy.”
Fusheng gave a derisive laugh.
Xunlan Liu? Save him from Xunlan?
“You traveled a thousand miles to find me. What exactly do you want?” Fusheng went straight to the point.
Weiqing set down his cup and finally turned to serious business.
After listening, Fusheng considered for a while before saying, “I see.”
“Oh? From A-Sheng’s expression, you know something again?” Weiqing asked.
Fusheng nodded and said unhurriedly, “The barbarian Holy Maiden vanished, supposedly because of someone from the Central Plains. That gave them an excuse to invade. They have likely spent years preparing troops, horses, and provisions.”
Weiqing raised an eyebrow. “They came prepared? Those barbarians?”
Fusheng’s gaze sharpened. “A few years ago, they wouldn’t have merited attention. Recently, however, a gifted young man has risen among them.”
Weiqing had no interest in this gifted youth. Instead, he focused on something else. “Was the barbarian Holy Maiden truly abducted by one of ours? Where is this ‘legendary’ maiden now?”
A languid, meaningful smile touched Fusheng’s lips. He replied with deliberate mystery, “Far beyond the horizon, yet right before your eyes.”
Weiqing’s tea paused halfway to his mouth, and his brow twitched.
In a complicated tone, he said, “A-Sheng, you may claim to be a woman in public, but that hardly means you should recklessly infiltrate the barbarians.”
For once, Fusheng was struck speechless.
Weiqing thought he had gone among the barbarians to serve as their Holy Maiden.
When Fusheng did not answer, inspiration suddenly struck Weiqing. He remembered someone else who had once ended up among the barbarians by accident.
“Xiaohong?”
Seeing that Weiqing had understood, Fusheng gave a noncommittal nod, then added, “Now that I know of this grave matter, there is no time like the present. Your Highness should return to the Zhen Kingdom today.”
“There’s no hurry. Before leaving, I want to ask A-Sheng for someone.” Weiqing smiled.
Fusheng refused without hesitation. “No.”
Weiqing fell silent. “I haven’t even said who.”
“Your Highness may ask her yourself. If she wishes to leave with you, I won’t stop her.”
With that, Fusheng leaned back lazily. “I’m tired, so I won’t keep Your Highness. It would be rather improper for the crown prince of one country to spend the night in another country’s consort’s room, wouldn’t it?”
At that moment, he truly resembled a bewitching consort capable of ruining a kingdom.
Weiqing had never expected Fusheng to agree, so he left without reluctance.
The barbarians’ intent to wage war was enough to shake the realm. Yet as the two men began discussing the whereabouts of a certain “Holy Maiden” and ownership of a certain “palace maid,” the matter was ultimately reduced to mere scenery in the background.