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Sexy lingerie (or the guzhuang equivalent), sex toys, implied/referenced discussions of sex, intrusion on sexual privacy (by a third party towards the main couple), nonconsensual aphrodisiac administration (not between the main couple, but is done by a third party to one of the main couple characters), knocking someone out (to prevent non-consensual sexual activity), nightmares
Footnote for the title here1吃醋了 (chi cu le): literally means ‘to eat vinegar’. It is an expression that expresses that the person eating the vinegar is the one who is jealous. I’m assuming this originates from the fact that the expression you make when you’re jealous and when you’re eating vinegar looks very similar. But don’t take my word for it.!
When the two of them returned to the main hall, Hei Xuantang immediately got his attendants to present the gifts that he’d brought to Wu Ruo: “Dasao, quick, open the boxes and see what gifts I got you!”
Wu Ruo: “…”
To open gifts in front of the giver, that didn’t seem very appropriate2In Chinese culture (from what I understand, based on personal experiences and what I observe from others), it is considered impolite to open anything anyone gives you in front of them. This is not just limited to gifts, but also to red packets, etc..
“Quick, quick!” Hei Xuantang hurried him.
Dandan also curiously urged Wu Ruo to open the gift boxes: “Daddy, open it quick, open it quick!”
Wu Ruo looked towards Hei Xuanyi, asking him for his opinion3Just to clarify, it wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the text, but Wu Ruo is asking Hei Xuanyi through his gaze, not verbally..
Hei Xuanyi nodded his head: “Just open it.”
Wu Ruo tore off the outer layer of red wrapping paper from one of the gifts, then he opened the gift box. On the inside, there was a piece of red cloth.
He picked it up and looked at it suspiciously. It turned out to be a piece of red underwear trousers4Remember that in the era of the setting, people don’t wear underwear like we do. It’s more of a thin, innermost layer of robes. For men, these robes are split into a top portion and the trouser portion. I think women can wear two-piece underrobes or a one-piece, it depends on the era, probably. Again, don’t take my word for it, this is just my general understanding., it was just that—
“Si-shushu5四叔叔: similar to the way the Wu cousins address their uncles, Dandan is calling Xuantang ‘sishu‘ because Xuantang is fourth in absolute birth order (as Hei Xin informs us, via calling him Fourth Young Master) and he is a shushu because he is younger than Hei Xuanyi (although not necessarily younger than Wu Ruo). Why does he say shushu instead of just sishu? Because babies/toddlers always repeat their terms of address. My prevailing theory is that it helps them to learn the terms of address faster., why is there a hole torn into the back of the pants?” Dandan curiously asked the question that Wu Ruo, in his heart, had wanted to ask aloud. And it was obvious that the huge hole in the underwear trousers hadn’t been torn through by mistake, it had been especially cut out using a pair of scissors because the hole was as round as the moon on the 16th of the month.
Hei Xuantang grinned secretively: “Because this hole will make it more convenient for…”
Without waiting for him to finish speaking, with a ‘shua6SFX/onomatopoeia for cloth rustling.!’, the red underwear trousers were snatched from Wu Ruo’s hands by Hei Xuanyi. Then, with a dark expression, he handed the underwear trousers to Hei Xin: “Since the trousers are spoilt, then burn it.”
“Ah?” Hei Xuantang hurriedly said: “I especially cut those trousers like that! They aren’t spoilt, that’s for…”
Hei Xuanyi swept a cold look at him.
Hei Xuantang’s shoulders scrunched up and he rapidly changed his tune7Fun fact, in Chinese, it’s 改口 (gai kou) which also literally means ‘ to change (one’s) mouth’. : “It actually is spoilt. Hurry and burn it. Dasao, why don’t you take a look at the second gift?”
Wu Ruo was still curious, in his heart, about why Hei Xuantang would spoil the trousers by cutting them, but if they weren’t willing to let him know then there wasn’t any way about it. He could only open the second gift box. He had only just seen that there was some sort of white, cylindrical jade stone inside the box, he hadn’t even taken a good clear look at exactly what kind of shape it was when the box was rapidly snatched away by Hei Xuanyi and handed over to Hei Xin’s hands: “Put all these gifts properly in the storage.”
Hei Xuantang said unhappily: “Don’t be in such a rush. It won’t be too late to put them in storage after they’ve been unwrapped.”
Hei Xuanyi said indifferently: “No need.”
“Dage, don’t speak too soon8In Chinese, it’s actually 太满 (tai man), which literally means ‘too full’ rather than too soon. Although I have seen ‘太快 (tai kuai)/too soon’ being used as well.. I’m willing to bet that, one day, you’ll make use of all of them!”
Hei Xuanyi: “…”
Hei Xin smiled and replied: “When Master needs it, I will take it out for his use then.”
“These are all things that I painstakingly9千里迢迢 (qian li tiao tiao): literally ‘from a thousand li away’. I included ‘painstakingly’ into the translation just to include the exaggerated emphasis Xuantang is putting into his words. He doesn’t actually use this in the original Chinese. brought from thousands of li10里 (li): a traditional unit of length, 1 li is about 150 zhang, and is equivalent to 0.5 kilometres or 0.311 miles. away, you have to keep them properly!” When Hei Xin walked out, Hei Xuantang trailed after him hurriedly and caught up to him, asking quietly in a whisper into Hei Xin’s ear: “My dage and dasao haven’t done it yet, right?”
Hei Xin nodded.
“I just knew it with one glance! Dage is too slow with taking action.” Hei Xuantang turned around and returned to the main hall.
Dandan immediately asked: “Sishu, what about my gift?”
Hei Xuantang picked Dandan up: “Dage didn’t tell me that I got a little nephew, so I didn’t prepare your gift. When we go out shopping tomorrow, whatever you want, shushu will buy it all for you. How about that?”
“Okay!”
“My nephew is still the cutest.” Hei Xuantang ducked his head to peck a kiss on Dandan: “If Dad and the others knew that dage had such a cute son, they would definitely be really happy.”
As Hei Xuantang said this, he snuck a glance over at Wu Ruo. When he saw that Wu Ruo didn’t seem to show any displeasure at all, then he finally relaxed.
Wu Ruo asked Hei Xuanyi: “Since your sidi11四弟 (si di): fourth younger brother. is here, do you still need to go back home in two days’ time?”
“No, we won’t go back for now,” Hei Xuantang answered in Hei Xuanyi’s stead: “Dage already promised me just now that he would accompany me and let me have my fun before we go back.”
Hei Xuanyi nodded his head.
Wu Ruo breathed a sigh of relief, in his heart; this was really great.
Although he didn’t understand why Hei Xuanyi, who had clearly been rushing to go home, would change his mind after Hei Xuantang arrived but he was still very happy that Hei Xuanyi could remain here.
“When that time comes, dasao will have to come home together with us.”
Wu Ruo asked: “How long do you think you’ll be playing around here for?”
“Probably about a year or so?”
One year was enough time for him to resolve all of his matters. When the time came, he would be able to relax and leave with Hei Xuanyi. The corners of Wu Ruo’s lips blossomed into a smile and he replied: “Alright, I’ll go back with the both of you after the year is up.”
That smile, untainted by any impurities, caused Hei Xuanyi and Hei Xuantang to briefly lose their focus.
Hei Xuantang couldn’t help but gasp with admiration: “Dasao, you look really great when you smile— Ah!”
Somebody suddenly forcefully stepped onto his foot.
Hei Xuantang looked towards Hei Xuanyi, who had a dark expression on his face, and immediately understood that his dage was being jealous12This is the 吃醋 (chi cu)/eating vinegar from the title!.
Wu Ruo asked uncertainly: “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, nothing! I was rushing all night long on the road, I’m exhausted! I want to go take a nap!” Hei Xuantang yawned, picking Dandan up and getting to his feet: “Little nephew should accompany me to sleep.”
Dandan usually took an afternoon nap, so he didn’t object to it.
When night fell, Wu Ruo returned to their rooms to sleep and saw that there were all different kinds of petals scattered across their entire huge bed. In addition to that, the petals seemed to emit a whiff of a very fragrant scent.
He raised his eyebrow, then turned around and yelled towards the outside: “Shi Yuan!”
“Madam, what’s the matter?” Shi Yuan entered the rooms.
Wu Ruo pointed at the petals on the bed: “Did you do this?”
Shi Yuan shook his head: “No.”
“Who did it?”
“I don’t know.”
Wu Ruo saw that Shi Yuan really didn’t know, so he let him leave. After that, he saw a red box that had been placed at the center of the huge bed.
Wu Ruo had just picked it up and was about to open it when Hei Xuanyi entered. Without another word, Hei Xuanyi kept the box into their cupboard and got Shi Yuan to clear away all the petals.
Wu Ruo asked: “Weren’t the petals scattered by you?”
“Scattered by Xuantang.” Hei Xuanyi said as he checked the bed and blankets for any other strange items. Only after he had verified that everything was alright did he let Wu Ruo onto the bed to sleep.
“Your younger brother is really strange.” Wu Ruo simply couldn’t understand why Hei Xuantang would scatter petals onto their bed and blankets.
Hei Xuanyi: “…”
Wu Ruo undid his outer robes: “Don’t you feel that the weather is a little hot today?”
That was strange. When he’d taken his clothes off to wash up, he had clearly felt a little cold. How come it was suddenly getting hot?
Hei Xuanyi glanced at him.
“It’s really very hot.” Wu Ruo exhaled. It was as if he was soaking in the medicated bath again, it was so hot that he felt terrible all over. He tugged on the under robes that he was wearing: “It’s so hot that I almost can’t bear it.”
He laid on the bed, panting endlessly: “Hei Xuanyi, get me a cup of water.”
Hei Xuanyi walked out, poured a cup of water, and returned to give it to Wu Ruo.
After Wu Ruo finished drinking it, he still felt that it wasn’t enough: “I still want more.”
Hei Xuanyi realized that something wasn’t quite right with Wu Ruo and lifted his hand to touch Wu Ruo’s forehead, yet it wasn’t hot to the touch. So it probably wasn’t some kind of sickness.
“It feels good,” Wu Ruo suddenly grabbed his hand: “Hei Xuanyi, touch me more.”
He very quickly lost his self-awareness, only focusing on a way to find pleasure from Hei Xuanyi’s body.
Hei Xuanyi looked at that fawning face13媚态 (mei tai): refers to deliberately doing something to obtain someone’s favour, specifically by appealing to them with feminine charms. I would say something like ‘seducing’ someone, but not that obviously/directly., and his gaze darkened by several degrees. He very quickly caught on to what was happening. In an instant, his expression darkened: “Hei Xuantang, get out here now.”
Nevertheless, no one responded to him.
Hei Xuanyi spoke again: “I know you’re here.”
Suddenly, the clothes wardrobe made a ‘ga zhi’ noise and someone walked out from within.
“Dage, how did you know I was hiding inside here?” Hei Xuantang had already used equipment to hide all the traces of his presence14气息 (qi xi): technically refers to one’s breath/breathing, but it seemed awkward in English, so I changed it to ‘presence’ instead., yet he had still been discovered by his dage.
Hei Xuanyi held down the pair of hands that were wandering indecently over his body: “The antidote.”
“What antidote?” Hei Xuantang looked as though he had no idea what Hei Xuanyi was talking about.
“Don’t make me repeat it a third time.” Hei Xuanyi’s tone carried a thread of anger.
Hei Xuantang saw that dage was angry and hurriedly said: “This sort of aphrodisiac doesn’t have an antidote!”
Hei Xuanyi glared at him coldly.
“Dage, there really isn’t an antidote! I’m not lying to you.”
Hei Xuanyi lifted one hand and used it to knock Wu Ruo out.
Hei Xuantang’s eyes widened: “Dage, that was such a good opportunity, you—”
“Shut up. Get out.”
Hei Xuantang didn’t dare to refute him. He sighed; he was walking out of the room, but before he left, he heard Hei Xuanyi warning him: “Don’t let there be a next time.”
“I understand.” Hei Xuantang closed the door to the room.
Hei Xuanyi carried Wu Ruo to the bed, covering him with the blankets, and was about to pull away and leave, when the absolute beauty of the face beneath his body attracted his gaze. He couldn’t help but lift a finger and gently stroke it across that fair, tender face. Sliding to cherry red lips, he gently rubbed his finger back and forth over it. Following that, he felt his lower body beginning to react. He instantly pulled away, sliding off of the bed and leaving.
In his dreams, Wu Ruo was constantly in darkness. His whole body was so hot that it was extremely hard to tolerate. It was like in his previous life when he had been burnt alive by Ruan Zhizheng, the blazing flames burning his body. However, his body had no sensation of pain but it was very uncomfortable; he wanted to find a place to relieve himself.
“Dage, you can’t linger here any longer, come back with me quick.”
Who… who was speaking?
Everything suddenly brightened before Wu Ruo’s eyes. Then, he saw Hei Xuantang standing not too far away.
Wu Ruo’s gaze flashed with uncertainty. Where was this place? Why had he ended up here?
“Dage, are you listening to me?” The Hei Xuantang standing before him shouted, sobbing: “Dage, if you go on like this, you’ll die!”
When Wu Ruo heard the word ‘die’, his expression changed, and he hurried forward to ask: “What happened to Hei Xuanyi?”
It was as if Hei Xuantang couldn’t see him; he was pulling with all his strength at the person sitting on the ground: “Dage, you should be clearer than anyone else. People who have died cannot be brought back to life. Even if you keep torturing yourself like this, dasao won’t come back. Dage, are you even listening to me at all? Did you know that Dad, Mum, and all of the others are all really worried about you. Come back with me quick.”
Wu Ruo looked towards the person on the ground. The other person’s back was facing him as they sat down on the ground, and Wu Ruo wasn’t sure what they were doing but their shoulders kept moving here and there without stopping.
“Hei Xuanyi?”
Yet the person on the ground had no reaction at all.
Wu Ruo rapidly walked forward and squatted down, but he only saw Hei Xuanyi kneading a white lump in his hands. He asked curiously: “Hei Xuanyi, what are you doing?”
It was as if Hei Xuanyi hadn’t heard Wu Ruo speaking; he kept kneading the thing in his hands.
Wu Ruo felt that it was strange. Why were both of them ignoring him? Even Hei Xuantang who was standing to one side wouldn’t take one look at him.
He stretched a hand out in front of Hei Xuanyi and waved it a little, but the other party didn’t react even in the slightest.
“Dage, I’m begging you, I’m begging you, alright? I’m begging you to come back with me quickly, please? If you continue sticking around here, you’ll really lose your life.”
When Wu Ruo heard Hei Xuantang’s words, he raised his head uncertainly; where was ‘here’?
Wu Ruo hadn’t had the time to take a good, clear look at his surroundings when everything before his eyes suddenly turned black. When it brightened back up again, he was looking at the red curtains above his head.
Notes: No further translations notes, I’m just sitting here clenching my fists. This is just the beginning of this strange nightmare.
Also, I just want to give a shout-out to Jin Yuanbao for saying ‘no noncon/rape/sexual assault between my main CP’.
