The chefs in Meiyuan are all sent from the palace, so their level is naturally unmatched. However, in the past, they only served the Crown Prince, Sui Heng, and the dishes they made were naturally according to Sun Heng’s taste.
Sui Heng was afraid that Jiang Yun would not be able to eat well, so he instructed Ji An, “Have them come by tomorrow and re-register the menu.”
Ji An responded with a hasty yes.
As for how to register, it goes without saying that it must be according to the tastes of this new little lover of this mansion.
Jiang Yun’s usual appetite was already small, and for dinner it was even smaller. He is almost full after eating a small bowl of congee with shredded meat and vegetables. Sui Heng admired his Wai Shi’s beauty for a while and said, “It’s already late today. When tomorrow morning comes, Gu will have the ceremonial officials from the Ministry of Rites come over.”
Jiang Yun put down the silver spoon and asked, “What’s the point of having the ceremonial officer come over for?”
“Naturally, to give you a register and accurately take in a concubine, Gu is a responsible person, one word worth nine sacred tripods1One word worth nine sacred tripods (idiom); words of enormous weight., Since Gu already brought you back, naturally, Gu has to give you a name.”
Jiang Yun didn’t expect that he was still thinking about this matter and said calmly, “No need.”
Sui Heng frowned.
“Why? Do you think a concubine’s position is too low?”
Jiang Yun said it’s not.
Sui Heng did not believe it.
He said, “Gu knows that making you a concubine is a bit unfair to you. It’s just that the position of Crown Princess has extremely high requirements for family background. According to national laws, outsiders cannot be accepted, and it must be agreed upon by Empress Mother, Emperor Father, and the entire court. It’s not up to Gu alone to decide. If it’s a big deal, Gu won’t accept a concubine in the future.”
He spoke naturally, as if eating and drinking water.
Jiang Yun is naturally not concerned about such boring issues.
He is also the Crown Prince, and naturally knows how strict the management of the people around the Crown Prince is in a great country like the Sui Empire. In addition to basic information such as family background and name, their height, appearance, and even the mole on their body will be clearly recorded. Once the register was made, it was inevitable that he would have to leave many identity marks.
This is ultimately a troublesome matter for him.
It’s just that this man is used to being overbearing and domineering, and it’s not a solution for him to push it.
Jiang Yun said, “I don’t like it.”
Sui Heng was taken aback.
“Don’t like it?”
“What don’t you like? Don’t like marrying Gu?”
Sui Heng couldn’t help but think of that hidden mark again.
His face immediately looked a bit ugly. “Be honest, are you out there—”
“It’s not.”
Jiang Yun looked at him quietly and said, “I just don’t like being bound by the rules in the palace. I want to… be more free.”
It’s because of this.
Sui Heng’s face looked a bit better, and he suddenly raised his eyebrows, smiled, and said, “Gu understands. Ah Yan likes the taboo and pleasure of being a Wai Shi, right?”
Jiang Yun thought he had thought it through.
Unexpectedly, Sui Heng continued, “Don’t worry, Gu is the Crown Prince. Even if Gu takes you as a concubine, you don’t have to follow any rules. All you need to do is follow Gu’s rules.”
He stood up and directly pulled the person right off his seat into his arms.
“Gu really doesn’t want to give you a hard time, it’s settled. Tomorrow, the people from the Ministry of Rites will come over.” He whispered.
Jiang Yun wanted to speak, but he was already being carried by him in a domineering manner towards the inner chamber.
Upon seeing this, Ji An instructed the palace attendants to withdraw their meals while also instructing the palace attendants in the inner chamber to prepare hot water.
The palace attendants in his private residence were also dispatched from the palace, they’re well-trained professional palace attendants. For a moment, only the rustling footsteps and friction of clothing could be heard indoors.
The inner chamber is extremely elegant, with a pleasant aroma of sweet pine. Pushing open the window, there is a large plum forest outside, with a bright moon and clear breeze. The courtyard and pavilions are all visible.
This is not at all like the residence of a person who is addicted to martial arts, but it is very suitable for the name “Mei Yuan2Plum Garden..”
Sui Heng carried the person directly to the bed by the window. Under the moonlight, his eyes were bright as if they’re on fire, staring inch by inch at the elegant and beautiful little beauty in front of him, as if he were rare jade porcelain.
He was like a wild wolf, finally bringing its prey back to its own territory, finally able to unleash his desires without restraint and achieve complete possession of the prey.
“Too thin.”
He had a solemn and serious expression, as if designing a meticulous and rigorous combat plan. “Since you have arrived at the Sui capital, Gu must find a way to take good care of you.”
“Of course, you can’t be too fat either, you won’t look good anymore.”
Jiang Yun’s shoulders leaned against the window, thin and silhouetted. His black eyes were clear and bright, and his hair hung down from behind his shoulders, quietly gazing at him. Let him babble ceaselessly and carefully compare their sizes with his palms.
After he finished speaking, he said, “The matter of the concubine ceremony is really not necessary.”
Sui Heng supported his chin with one hand and raised his eyebrows: “It’s not up to you. It’s up to Gu.”
Jiang Yun didn’t know what he was so stubborn for.
They are strangers that met by chance, to put it nicely, there’s no emotional foundation. To put it bluntly, they’re strangers who don’t know each other. He’s been cool and collected since he was a kid, he did not believe that Sui Heng, who held a high position and prestigious status and is the Crown Prince of the Sui Empire and has always gotten whatever he wanted from a young age, had a deep affection for him just because of his little beauty or physical pleasure.
Most likely, it’s just a temporary novelty.
How can a young man who grew up in a luxurious nest like him have such things as “loyalty” and “deep affection”?
Jiang Yun was not speculating about Sui Heng with malice, but because he was thinking from his own point of view, and he deeply felt that, as a Crown Prince, he’s got a mountain on his shoulders, such as the mountains, the populace, the country, and the common people… There are too many things, they were so heavy that they almost consumed all of his mental energy. He doesn’t have much energy to love another person.
What’s more, he is the Crown Prince of the Jiang Empire, a person that this person has always regarded as an old enemy, and between them, there is still an insurmountable abyss of countless hatreds and bones.
No matter what Sui Heng thinks, Jiang Yun knows that tonight he must stop this matter.
At the same time, it was also a way to stop Sui Heng from making an impulsive decision, lest he become the laughing stock of other countries in the future.
“Can I consider it for a few days, then?”
Jiang Yun ultimately adopted a compromise questioning method.
Sui Heng was so quick-witted, like a fierce beast with long antennae, pressing step by step. He narrowed his eyes and said displeasantly, “You seem very reluctant to marry Gu.”
“Is marrying Gu so difficult for you? Do you know—”
Sui Heng originally wanted to say, Do you know that in the entire Sui capital, everyone was waiting to climb onto Gu’s bed? The number of people who’d rather have no name and no title just to be in Gu’s mansion can be lined up from the center of the city to 18 miles outside, it can’t even count, not to mention those Sui nobilities who volunteered to offer their sons and daughters to be Gu’s concubines. Gu has condescended to take the initiative to take you in, and you still have to think about it?
But he thought that saying these words would make him look humble as the Crown Prince, so he swallowed them back.
But this cannot calm His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s displeasure mood. Because, in Sui Heng’s opinion, he’s honorable and strong. Apart from that hypocritical and ugly Jiang Rongyu, in the Jiangnan and Jiangbei kingdoms, there was no more noble Crown Prince than him.
But Jiang Rongyu couldn’t compare with him in terms of appearance and body.
When the Yellow River freezes this winter, he will take over the Jiang capital in one fell swoop, and he will be the most esteemed Crown Prince in the world.
Faced with such superior conditions and excellent lover like him, his little lover still hesitates and refuses to agree to be his concubine. He’s afraid that there’s only one way to explain it:
He does have other lover outside!
Sui Heng had already been jealous because of this matter. Now, his eyes immediately darkened, and his murderous aura shot out.
“Who exactly is that person? Tell Gu, Gu promises not to kill him.”
Sui Heng pretended to ask with magnanimity.
Jiang Yun frowned, he didn’t know where his mind had wandered off again, and he directly said, “I don’t want to answer this boring question.”
Such an important matter is boring to his eyes!
Sui Heng’s heart spasmed, and he took a deep breath, enduring, “You don’t have to act and keep it from Gu. Gu already knows everything and… have found the evidence.”
Jiang Yun: “…What evidence?”
Even at such times, he still pretends to be foolish.
Sui Heng felt a little annoyed for no reason and said coldly, “Don’t force Gu to tear off that last layer of cover. Gu doesn’t want things to turn out that way… If Gu really does it, your face won’t look good either.”
Jiang Yun lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, but he didn’t really refute him.
After a while, he whispered, “Actually, I still have another difficulty.”
Sui Heng immediately asked, “What difficulty?”
Jiang Yun looked at him seriously and said, “It is a custom in our Wei Kingdom to exchange Geng Tie3Geng Tie is a written marriage proposal on which it states the year, month, day, and hour of one’s birth.six months in advance before getting married, to see if the two sides’ eight characters are compatible, so as to avoid the situation in which one side will be a bad influence on the other. After the eight characters match, the two of them will try to get along for two months to ensure that they will not be incompatible by close contact, and then the fetching bride party will officially come to the door to propose marriage.”
Sui Heng’s mood inexplicably brightened, and he said, “So, you’re afraid to marry Gu because you’re afraid that you’re a bad influence on Gu?”
Jiang Yun had already guessed what he was going to say next and promptly added, “Not only that, but I am also worried that your Highness’s life is too precious for me to bear.”
Sui Heng: “……”
Sui Heng did not fully believe Jiang Yun’s words, but his little lover’s willingness to speak up for a reasonable reason still satisfied him.
Although the concubine ceremony was important, it was not so urgent that it was to be done immediately.
He is just afraid of wronging the other party, so he actively takes action.
And… although Sui Heng was naturally rebellious and fearless, looking at the delicate and fragile little beauty in his arms, he was really afraid that nausea and rational words would have an impact and hold him back.
But reason is reason, and it’s not nice to have a hot face on a cold ass4Idiom: one’s enthusiasm is met with another person’s cold attitude, be given the cold shoulder.. Sui Heng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his arm and lifted Jiang Yun onto his shoulder again.
“Since it is a custom in your hometown, Gu is not an unreasonable person.”
Jiang Yun listened to him talk sullenly.
Because their bodies were pressed together, he could almost clearly feel the tremor within his chest.
“It’s just—you didn’t lie Gu, are you?”
He suddenly asked coldly.
Jiang Yun naturally said no.
“It better be.”
As he carried him towards the bed curtains, he snorted, “Otherwise, see how Gu will deal with you.”
The palace attendants were tidying up their bedding when they saw Sui Heng coming and immediately retreated to the side in fear.
Jiang Yun was so embarrassed that he was being carried over like this in front of so many people. He buried his face in his neck and allowed him to carry him inside the bed curtains.
The palace attendants cleverly lowered the outermost curtain.
Inside the curtains was filled with sleep-aiding aromatics, which are very strong.
Although Sui Heng was angry in his heart, he calmly put the person down and asked, “Are you still having a hard time?”
Jiang Yun sank into the pillow, knowing that he was asking about the Qing Gu Xiang, and said, “It’s much better.”
“En.”
Sui Heng still had a cold face. “In the future, you are not allowed to secretly endure it on your own.”
Jiang Yun nodded.
“En.”
This kind of obedient and beautiful appearance of his made Sui Heng couldn’t help but soften his heart, and he began to reflect on whether his attitude just now was a little too harsh or not.
He finally softened his tone.
“Gu will go out to handle some things. You go to bed first. If you need anything, just call Ji An.”
“Of course, if you are willing to wait for Gu to sleep with you, Gu is also extremely happy.”
Jiang Yun had no such interest, but he still nodded in front of him.
In return, Sui Heng gave him a dominating kiss.
After sitting in the carriage for several consecutive days, even if the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu arranged the carriage in a comfortable and luxurious way, it was ultimately not as comfortable as the bed. After Sui Heng left, Jiang Yun lazily laid down for a while before getting up and leaving the bed curtains.
The palace attendants have all retreated, he wasn’t sure if it was specifically ordered by that person or the rules here.
Jiang Yun opened the door, and Ji An was standing in the corridor.
“Could you please prepare some hot water?”
Jiang Yun said.
Ji An quickly smiled and replied, “I’ve already got someone to boil it, just waiting for the Young Master’s order.”
“Thanks for the trouble.”
Jiang Yun stood up drowsily just to take a shower.
He hasn’t taken a good shower despite running around for days.
Ji An naturally understood and immediately instructed the palace attendants to bring the water and items such as bath beans and towels.
After taking a shower and reading for half an hour, Sui Heng still didn’t come back, so Jiang Yun went to sleep on his own first.
After an unknown amount of time, in the drowsiness, he suddenly felt something heavy pressing down on him.
Jiang Yun has always been a light sleeper, so he woke up immediately. When he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of burning and shining eyes hanging above him in the dark, staring straight at him.
“Woke you up?”
Sui Heng raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile.
Jiang Yun glanced to his side, he had clearly left such a large empty space on purpose.
And… Jiang Yun surveyed Sui Heng’s fully clothed jade belt and brocade robe, puzzled: “Do you still have to go out?”
Sui Heng shook his head.
“Not going out.”
“Then why don’t you undress and bathe?”
Sui Heng naturally wouldn’t say it was because he was too happy to sleep. He raised his eyebrows lightly, played with the sash of his little lover’s robe around his waist, and said, “Gu is willing.”
Jiang Yun: “……”
What’s his problem?
“It’s fine, you sleep, don’t worry about Gu.”
Sui Heng said slowly.
However, with a big living man like him staring at him, how could Jiang Yun sleep?
Jiang Yun frowned and pulled back the sash he had wrapped around his fingers, asking, “Are you sleeping or not?”
“Not sleeping.”
“……”
Jiang Yun turned over and turned his back to him.
“Suit yourself.”
Sui Heng laughed and admired his little lover’s thin and jade-like spine for a while. Suddenly, he grabbed him from behind and said, “Don’t sleep yet. Gu has something to ask you.”
Jiang Yun closed his eyes. “What is it?”
“Eight characters—the eight characters of your birth. Gu has thought about it already, and tomorrow morning, Gu will go to the Imperial Academy and have them merge yours and Gu’s eight characters into one.”
“……”
Jiang Yun didn’t expect that he hadn’t given up yet.
After a moment of silence, he said, “Can’t we talk about it tomorrow?”
“No, it’s not like there’s any need to think about it.”
Jiang Yun had no choice but to make one up as he went along. It is impossible for him to tell him his true birthdate and eight characters.
Sui Heng happily remembered them in his heart and said, “Alright, you can sleep now.”
