Jiang Yun naturally wouldn’t really argue with Sui Heng over this matter.
They were already in a hostile relationship, and from Sui Heng’s perspective, exchanging an enemy prince for a brave and powerful navy is a huge profit. To be precise, there is no cost.
Jiang Yun just finds it a bit strange. If Jiang Yuping’s family has an old grudge against him, that’s understandable. What about Chen Qi? Why does he also want to punish him? Just as he was thinking about it, suddenly a shadow fell from above.
Sui Heng smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you complaining because Gu went out to drink alone and left you in the carriage by yourself?”
Jiang Yun shook his head.
“There is none.”
“Then what is the point of making a cold face for no good reason? If you’re like this, it makes Gu think that Gu has done something wrong again.”
Jiang Yun put down his book and looked at him seriously. “Let’s talk about one more thing.”
Sui Heng sat down across from him, his arms domineeringly crossing the midline, asking him to speak.
Jiang Yun said, “I can go back to the Sui capital with you, but I won’t be your concubine.”
Sui Heng said, “Do you want to be the Crown Princess?”
“……”
Jiang Yun said lightly, “No.”
“Then why don’t you want to be Gu’s concubine?”
“I don’t need it.”
“Don’t need it?” Sui Heng frowned. “What do you mean? You despise Gu?”
He drank a lot of alcohol, and his gaze became more aggressive than usual. He approached a bit and asked, “So what do you want to do? A Wai Shi1外室 (Wài Shi) are women who are supported and cohabited by men outside the family in the context of Chinese society’s monogamy and polyconcubine system. Usually a single woman, legally without spouse status, similar to the contemporary term mistress. Some contemporary researchers regard it as a type of concubine.)?”
“……”
Jiang Yun endured shame and nodded.
“Up to you.”
Sui Heng suddenly laughed, he raised his hand and slowly rubbed over the snow-white neck with his fingers. He asked softly, “Do you know how to be a Wai Shi? Everyone’s Wai Shi are all learning on how to beat pleasure…”
Jiang Yun’s ears were hot, and he reached out to push him away.
“I am seriously discussing this with you.”
Sui Heng sat back in place, his gaze narrowed, and he said, “Gu is also seriously answering you.”
“It’s fine if you want to be a Wai Shi. Starting today, you must learn a new skill every day to please Gu. How about you take the initiative later?”
“……”
Jiang Yun took a deep breath. He picked up the book and ignored him.
So when doing things at night, Sui Heng also got a few more teeth marks on his right shoulder.
The kind that blood could be seen.
Sui Heng was in excruciating pain, he hissed and had to stop. He looked at the person in his arms in shock, “Where has Gu offended you?”
Jiang Yun remained silent, he opened his mouth and bit hard again.
……
Five days later, the carriage smoothly entered the Sui Empire’s territory.
Important Generals of the Sui army gathered to wait for the Crown Prince’s arrival, and in the meantime, they reported on the situation in the Jiang Empire.
“Jiang Rongyu has returned to the pass, now the Muyun Pass is guarded like an iron barrel. It will be even more difficult to launch a surprise attack.”
Sui Heng smiled lightly and said, “It’s fine. The other five countries have already signed surrender letters. Even if Jiang Rongyu is alive, the Jiang Empire will only be struggling to survive. When the Yellow River freezes this winter, it will be time for Gu to conquer the Jiang capital city and take control of Jiangnan.”
The Generals were overjoyed, and their spirits were lifted.
After arranging the garrison, Sui Heng set off directly to return to the Sui capital.
Two more days later, when Jiang Yun woke up, the Sui capital’s city gate was already in front of him.
His Highness the Crown Prince won the battle, and the people cheered on the streets. It was filled with a festive atmosphere everywhere. Sui Heng lifted the carriage curtain and showed Jiang Yun the scenery: “This is the place where Gu grew up. How is it? Isn’t it much more luxurious than your southern country?”
Jiang Yun remained silent and quietly surveyed the buildings on both sides of the street, which were completely different from those in Jiangnan style.
“Look! Look! Is that Young Master Yan Qi?”
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
The onlookers immediately turned their gaze to the young master dressed in a crimson official uniform riding on the horseback.
Yan Qi is a famous beauty and a great talent in the Sui capital. The line of scholars waiting for Yan Qi to comment on their essays stretches from the south to the north of the city, and immediately a young girl has the audacity to throw a flower at Yan Qi.
Jiang Yun propped his chin up while watching the play, he also examining Sui Heng’s face.
Sui Heng still had a carefree appearance, without any expression.
This is strange.
The two of them were childhood sweethearts. They had exchanged love tokens and were so familiar with each other’s habits. Why hadn’t they even said a few words along the way when they were clearly traveling together?
The carriage quickly arrived in a private courtyard.
According to the Sui Empire’s laws, the Crown Prince can only live in his own residence after his grand wedding. Sui Heng, as the Crown Prince, not to mention a grand wedding, he did not even have a Tongfang2In the old days, Tongfang refers to a personal maid who is a maid in name but in reality was taken as a concubine by the master.or a concubine by his side, so he naturally has not opened his own residence yet. Sui Heng’s formal residence was in the palace, but he had been training in the military since he was young. The timing of his military deployment did not match that of the palace’s. In order to facilitate entry and exit, he decided to spend a lot of money to build a private courtyard outside the palace. Apart from staying in the palace for a while during holidays and rest periods, he usually spends most of his time in this private courtyard. This is also the place where he discusses matters with his Generals.
In order to distinguish it from the Crown Prince’s residence in the palace, the palace attendants generally refer to this place as Meiyuan.
Sui Heng wants to go to the palace to meet Emperor Sui, so he asks Fan Qi to send Jiang Yun to settle in his mansion first.
There are now two stewards in Meiyuan; one was sent by the Empress to take care of her son’s daily life, and the other was sent by the Empress Dowager to take care of her grandson’s clothing, food, and shelter.
Sui Heng fought outside for years and spent half of the year living in military camp. The affairs in the mansion, big and small, were managed by these two stewards.
The two stewards, one named Gao Gong and the other named Ji An.
Gao Gong is the Empress’s person, and Ji An is the Empress Dowager’s person. The Empress Dowager and the Empress, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, compete with each other, so Gao Gong and Ji An also compete with each other, neither of whom is willing to submit.
Both of them were surprised to hear that their Highness had brought a beautiful little lover back.
Their Highness has already past his prime and is still unmarried. The Empress and the Empress Dowager are becoming increasingly anxious, they have resorted to various ways of stuffing people into the mansion. Both men and women have been violently rejected by His Highness. There was even a time where he almost killed someone as well.
He took the initiative to bring someone back from the trip to Jiangnan?
Fan Qi was usually closer to Gao Gong, so he directly handed Jiang Yun over to Gao Gong for arrangement. After the handover, Fan Qi went home to sleep comfortably. He has military merit and is also Sui Heng’s Deputy General. Although he has not married, Sui Heng has already purchased a house in the Sui capital for him.
Gao Gong was troubled.
There is no proper Crown Princess in the mansion yet. His Highness has suddenly brought back such a young lover, surely he can’t live in the main house. And even a concubine is required to be registered by the ceremonial officers, and they need to perform a formal ceremony of taking in a concubine. However, His Highness did not even offer courtesy and just directly brought the person back.
What is this?
“Just give me a guest room to sleep in.”
Jiang Yun opened his mouth first.
Gao Gong looked at the young master, who was tall and graceful, usually delicate in front of him. Even though he was an old man in the palace and had seen countless people, he was also stunned.
No wonder he caught His Highness’s eye.
It’s just that His Highness is a playful person. Bringing someone back without giving him a name or distinction is probably just a desire for a moment of freshness.
Gao Gong had his own considerations, and to a certain extent, he acted according to the will of the Empress. He nodded and took Jiang Yun to a guest room located in the west courtyard.
“His Highness has been in the military for a long time and there are very few guests in the mansion. These guest rooms have not been cleaned for a long time. Apologize to the Young Master, please make do with them for the time being.”
Gao Gong opened the door and invited Jiang Yun in.
The room was simply decorated, and there was indeed a lot of dust on the bed and table. Jiang Yun knew he was intentionally neglecting him and didn’t take him seriously. He nodded and said, “Thank you.”
What was good was that the room had bookshelves with some books on them.
Jiang Yun briefly wiped the table and then went to the bookshelf to pick up a book he was interested in. He sat down at the table and started reading.
**
Sui Heng only found out about Jiang Yun being arranged to stay in the guest room when he returned from the palace in the evening.
Sui Heng’s immediately drooped on the spot and lashed Gao Gong in the face, causing blood to flow down his face. He was so frightened that he kneeled down and dared not speak.
This is his territory.
The person he had carefully cared for all the way was suffering in his own territory.
Sui Heng let Gao Gong kneel in the courtyard and went to the west courtyard first.
The sky was already dark, and the corridor was pitch black, except for a room next to it where a light was lit. The slender and elegant shadow of the person in the room were imprinted on the window.
Sui Heng suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. When he pushed the door in, he saw Jiang Yun holding a book in his hand, his black eyes lowered and his expression calm as he sat behind the table, focused on reading the book in his hand.
Jade belt and green robes, elegant and graceful.
Even in a shabby room, he couldn’t conceal his dazzling charm.
Upon hearing the commotion, Jiang Yun looked up and wanted to discuss with him whether he could have dinner directly here.
This place is quiet, and he quite likes it.
It would be even better if there were more books.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak, he was picked up by his waist.
Jiang Yun frowned.
Carried him again.
Sui Heng whispered:
“Sorry.”
“It’s all Gu’s fault.”
“It’s because Gu didn’t arrange it properly, causing you to suffer such injustice.”
Jiang Yun wants to say that he thinks it’s quite nice.
He cannot stay in the Sui Empire for a long time. Once his internal strength recovers, he will find an opportunity to leave.
In terms of residence, the farther away from this person, the better.
Though from what he’s seen so far, someone clearly doesn’t think so.
Jiang Yun reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
“I’m fine. You put me down first.”
“Gu knows, you must be blaming Gu in your heart.”
Sui Heng hugged him tighter.
“Gu hates himself more than you do.”
“It’s almost like Gu can’t wait to beat himself up right away.”
Jiang Yun: “…I’m really fine.”
“You are not.”
“How about you beat Gu, is that fine?”
“……”
In the middle of the deadlock, there was a rustling sound of footsteps. Ji An and the palace attendants respectfully reported outside, “Your Highness, Weirui Hall has been tidied up. Your Highness and the Young Master can come and have a meal and rest at any time.”
Weirui Hall is a place where Sui Heng usually meets with the military Generals and discusses matters. Apart from Sui Heng himself, no one dared to step in.
Sui Heng’s eyebrows slightly relaxed, he directly carried Jiang Yun out of the room and said, “Let’s go. Gu will take you to dinner first.”
It’s a long distance from the west courtyard to the main courtyard’s warming chamber.
All of the palace attendants avoided them and kneeled and bowed down to salute.
After Ji An stood up, he instructed the palace attendants behind him to hang all the lanterns under the corridor in the west courtyard as well.
“It’s a great joy for His Highness to return in victory. This mansion needs to be more festive and lively to make His Highness happy.”
The palace attendants answered yes and went to light the lanterns.
Ji An pulls back his mind and is physically and mentally relieved.
He thought to himself, His Highness has his favorite young gentleman. Tomorrow, I need to quickly tell the Empress Dowager about this good news!
The author has something to say:
Jiang Jiang: On the first day in your country, I’ve helped the country’s Crown Prince settle the stewards’ dispute that has been left for years already.
Doggy Sui: Woof.
