Chapter 63: I Only Have Two Quarters of an Hour

Chapter 63: Mine Only Lasts Half an Hour

Recalling everything that happened between them in the Dabie Mountains, the Crown Prince felt a thrill creeping up from his tailbone to the top of his head, sending shivers down his spine.

This was fate’s arrangement—twists and turns, yet they were still drawn to each other. It was destiny, divine will, evidence of their shared love!

The Crown Prince subconsciously touched his chest, where the "best lot" (*shang shang qian*, a highly auspicious fortune often symbolizing exceptional luck or meeting one's true love) still rested.

Life's roads often diverge, yet meeting was already the best fortune. But they didn’t just meet—they understood and loved each other. Their first encounter in the Dabie Mountains happened to be with Yan Dai, happened to be her.

That night, under the full moon and gentle breeze, his dear Yan Dai had sat in his lap, rocking back and forth, weeping in his arms as she became pregnant with his child.

Remembering all this, a trace of nostalgia surfaced on his face. Not only was he nostalgic, but even his unruly member seemed to miss it too, trembling with excitement.

The Crown Prince’s steps paused slightly as he adjusted his stance, but his gaze remained fixed on Liu Yandai.

His Yan Dai must feel the same, forever etched with memories of that night.

——

Liu Yandai was engrossed in conversation with Liu Chunyu, completely unaware that someone stood not far behind her near the rockery and bamboo scenery.

The two young women were conspiratorially discussing such a topic for the first time, both nervous and excited. Leaning in close like thieves, Liu Yandai whispered, "I have a lot of experience in this!"

The Crown Prince behind them nodded slowly. Yes, he had indeed given Liu Yandai many pleasurable encounters.

"When picking a man, choose someone tall and strong, with big muscles. That kind is the most capable." Liu Yandai recalled her chosen Zhou Hai and gestured to Liu Chunyu. "Those types are really strong, really impressive."

Exactly. The Crown Prince behind them smirked with satisfaction as he assessed his own physique—tall and robust. Indeed, he had trained through winter’s coldest and summer’s hottest days, never slacking despite his high status. He deserved this praise.

"And you have to look at the nose. I’ve heard that the straighter a man’s nose, the longer he lasts. It’s addictive." Liu Yandai had chosen Zhou Hai based on this very point, and now, it seemed accurate.

Her mother-in-law had summoned Zhou Hai frequently for a time, and the maids in the Moon-Viewing Garden all praised Zhou Hai’s exceptional skills. It must be true.

Hearing this, the Crown Prince smirked with satisfaction. Yes, his nose was straight too. That was why Liu Yandai was so obsessed with him.

He could hardly restrain himself—part of him wanted to step forward right then, while another part wanted to keep listening to Liu Yandai’s praise. His boots shifted restlessly as he barely contained his impatience.

Liu Yandai remained oblivious to his presence.

"That amazing?" Liu Chunyu covered her face with both hands, her ears turning red. She said enviously, "Do you get to enjoy that every day?"

"Mine isn’t good." Liu Yandai had been describing her mother-in-law’s experience earlier. Now, thinking of her own, her enthusiasm waned. "Mine is really not good at all."

The boots behind her paused. The tall Crown Prince stared in shock.

How could that be? How was he not good? How?! He was clearly the best! Liu Yandai had always been the most satisfied!

The next moment, he heard Liu Yandai continue, "Mine only lasts half an hour—so short. Sometimes not even half an hour. He always makes such a mess, and he has so many annoying quirks."

The Crown Prince behind her started shaking.

Half an hour? He only lasted half an hour? During their encounters, he only lasted half an hour? Only?!

He had been so excited he couldn’t even keep track of time. So… was he really that quick?

In disbelief, he lowered his head to look at his longtime companion.

Is that really your limit? He asked.

His companion didn't know how to respond, merely lowering its proud head slowly and curling up quietly without trembling anymore.

Liu Yandai hadn’t stopped yet.

When it came to these "bad habits," Liu Yandai had a whole heap of curses to spew. She spat, "Two pumps and he's done! Two! Pumps! And! He's! Done! In that short time, he still insists on trying all sorts of tricks, never even getting close! So annoying! How dare he brag about something so short! Other women's lovers go all night long—with skills like his, if he were thrown into our Qin Family Army, he wouldn’t even make the cut as a gigolo! So embarrassing!"

The sound of boots behind her began retreating.

The Crown Prince couldn’t withstand such blows. Liu Yandai’s words cut like knives, reeling as if physically struck, unable to stand any longer, clutching his chest as he stumbled back.

The Crown Prince! He was the damned Son of Heaven! How could he—not satisfy Liu Yandai?

His normally proud, upright head began to droop, his body swaying as if he could barely stand, even bracing himself against the nearby rockery.

He was practically hyperventilating.

As a child, when Noble Consort Wan bullied him relentlessly, he never doubted himself. When Emperor Yongchang ignored him time and again, he never doubted himself. Through countless failures, he never doubted himself. But now, after just a few words from Liu Yandai, the Crown Prince was on the verge of complete self-doubt.

Was he really that pathetic?

"You know what's worse than a lousy lay?" she sneered.

Just as the Crown Prince turned pale, his chest constricted and head spinning, barely able to stand, Liu Yandai spoke again.

Hearing that indignant tone, the Crown Prince nearly fainted.

What could be worse than this?

What could be worse than a lousy lay?

"I have to pretend!" Liu Yandai pounded her knee in frustration. "With skills like his, I still have to act like I love it! And he has the nerve to ask—ask if he was any good! Think about it, what kind of performance can you expect in half an hour?"

I have to *pretend*!

Have to *pretend*.

*Pretend*…

And he has the *nerve* to ask.

The *nerve* to ask.

The *nerve* to *ask*.

*Ask*.

The Crown Prince reeled as if physically struck, unable to stand any longer, clutching his chest as he stumbled back.

Liu Chunyu, hearing Liu Yandai’s furious rant, gasped, shocked. "Ah? How could anyone be that bad?"

"Who knows why he’s that bad? He just is—what can you do?" Liu Yandai sighed. "What's done is done—no takebacks."

Liu Chunyu also grew distressed. Yes, before marriage, they couldn’t cross the line, and after marriage, even if he was awful, they'd be stuck.

Liu Chunyu and Liu Yandai sighed endlessly, chatting for a while longer before turning away and leaving to stroll elsewhere.

Only the Crown Prince remained, so devastated he couldn’t even stand, slowly sliding down the rockery to sit in disarray, staring numbly at his crotch.

What kind of performance can you expect in half an hour?

How good could he really be?

Where is this going?

Go—

Yan Dai, his lover, had always looked down on him, complaining that two hours were too short and that he wasn’t as useful as the Qin Family Army’s male concubines.

How could he not be as good as the Qin Family Army’s male concubines? How could he possibly lose to a mere concubine?

Impossible, absolutely impossible! He couldn’t accept it! He wasn’t some pathetic loser who couldn’t last two hours—he was the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince!

In a fit of rage, the Crown Prince socked himself in the groin, then hunched over in pain, his face contorted.

The Crown Prince was so furious he even hit himself!

After struggling to get up from the ground, the Crown Prince leaned against the rockery and gritted out a single word: "Summon the imperial physician for me."

"Get me some potency pills!"

He would definitely prove himself! He’d go find Liu Yan Dai tonight! He’d go all night long!

The nearby imperial guards didn’t dare speak, silently thinking to themselves, Damn, Emperor Yongchang only started obsessing over pills in his old age, but now their Crown Prince was starting in his prime.

What kind of idiot ruler was this?

This was even worse than Emperor Yongchang!

——

Liu Yan Dai was clueless about the Crown Prince’s meltdown—his self-pummeling or his upcoming pill binge.

She and Liu Chunyu had spent half the day browsing the temple, then strolled through the jade market outside for a while. She dropped a fortune on jewelry for Liu Chunyu as bridal gifts. As dusk approached, the two parted ways and returned to their respective residences.

By the time Liu Yan Dai arrived back at the marquis’s estate, night had already fallen. Amid the deepening twilight, she considered visiting her mother-in-law but learned upon reaching the Moon-Viewing Garden that the older woman had turned in early.

Liu Yan Dai glanced at the sky.

To the west, the sunset blazed, clouds burned crimson, streaked with thick, radiant beams. To the east, the moon had already risen, its ghostly sliver barely visible in the haze. It was the cusp of dusk, the sun and moon sharing the sky.

It was a bit late, but retiring—wasn’t that too early?

Lately, her mother-in-law had been acting strangely, growing increasingly lethargic. In the past, she’d been full of energy, bustling about every day—attending operas, banquets, juggling a million things, even finding time to slap around anyone who pissed her off.

But recently, she barely even left her chambers.

Though puzzled, Liu Yan Dai never bothered with overthinking. With a swish of her skirts, she returned to her own quarters to rest.

With November approaching and the cold setting in, she wanted to cozy up to the floor heater.

——

When Liu Yan Dai left, Qin Chanyue was resting in her chambers.

The previous night, Chu Hang had worn her out till sunrise, and she had slept straight through until now. When she woke, her lower back ached, and she could barely move a muscle.

Outside, the sunset blazed, its crimson glow seeping through the window and casting a hazy light across the room.

The luxurious lady on the bed slowly roused but remained motionless, curled in her blankets, mulling over her mess of a life.

After being reborn, I still don’t know how it happened. I’ve already killed half my enemies—two of those Zhou scumbags are in their coffins, but Zhou Chiye is still alive. Then there’s Bai Yuning and the Second Prince. These three are still alive. The first two might still be possible to kill, but honestly, the last one—Qin Chanyue alone couldn’t kill him. After all, he’s still a prince.

Great Chen was a land of strict hierarchy. The lowborn bowed to the highborn, and a lowborn life was worth less than dirt.

Just as Qin Chanyue could relish crushing a servant to death, she enjoyed the benefits of oppressing those beneath her. But by that same twisted logic, she had to accept being oppressed by those above her. No one preached equality for those above her while enforcing hierarchy below.

So even though the Second Prince had tried to kill her countless times, she couldn’t be certain she could kill him.

But she wasn’t completely powerless.

Qin Chanyue’s mind wandered to the events that would soon unfold. With the twelfth lunar month approaching, in her past life, the Emperor Yongchang above them—

Chaos churned in her mind, but before she could form a concrete plan for revenge, she suddenly heard a rustling sound from the window.

She knew exactly who it was.

Qin Chanyue closed her eyes.

An even greater nuisance had come—more vexing than the Second Prince.

These past few days, Chu Hang had used every trick in the book on her. When she lashed out or cursed at him, he’d play the wounded puppy, gazing at her with pleading, begging eyes, refusing to leave her side.

He loved her so much—he loved her so much!

Seeing him like this, even she softened.

Qin Chanyue didn’t hate Chu Hang. She was just terrified, just unable to accept… her own brother becoming… her plaything.

Whenever Chu Hang looked at her like a beaten dog, desperate and stubborn, looking up at her with sorrowful eyes, Qin Chanyue’s heart would tremble.

She couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh to that face.

The moment she softened, Chu Hang would immediately pounce, clinging to her relentlessly.

He wanted to burrow into her body, into her chest, sink deeper into her heart—deeper, deeper, deeper—until she accepted him, until she embraced him.

And she, too, was gradually drowning in these emotions.

Who could resist being worshipped?

You ruled him, body and soul. A mere glance was enough, and he would eagerly kneel at your feet. You could control him at will. Give him the slightest signal, and he would crawl over, gazing at you with longing and supplication.

And this man was no powerless nobody.

He was a king standing at the pinnacle of Great Chen, with an iron will and a ruthless heart—yet for love of you, he groveled beneath you, using his lips and tongue to please you. If you felt a little wicked and pressed your foot against him, you could hear his choked moans, frantic gasps, filthy begging.

No one could refuse a Chu Hang like this.

At first, she had been dragged down by lust, but in the end, she was wrapped in his overwhelming love, sinking into a sweet quagmire. Though her lips refused, her hands betrayed her, tracing helplessly from his firm chest to his shoulders. Sometimes, after Chu Hang left, when she recalled these moments, she would bury her face in her pillow, burning with fleeting shame.

Occasionally, in her dazed state, she would think—this Chu Hang, who clung to her so desperately, was her adoptive brother. The moment this thought arose, a sickening shame would drown her, making her curl up. She couldn’t meet his eyes, her body trembling uncontrollably. In those moments, time seemed to slow, yet every sensation was magnified. It was as if she were drowning in him, helplessly letting out sounds she couldn’t control. And every time, Chu Hang would bury his face in her neck, begging her to say his name.

She refused, gritting her teeth, not letting out a single word.

As these memories flashed through her mind, Qin Chanyue closed her eyes slightly and buried her face in the pillow, pretending to be asleep.

It was at this moment that Chu Hang entered.

The moment he stepped in, he saw Qin Chanyue sprawled across the bed, seemingly deep in sleep. But listening closely, he knew she wasn’t asleep at all.

Her breathing had been steady while asleep, unlike now—faintly quickened, her heartbeat racing along with it.

Chu Hang gazed at her intently, then slowly shed his robes and slid into bed, moving to her side. He threw an arm across her, pulling her firmly into his embrace.

She was soft, smooth, and slightly cool, like a piece of mutton fat jade—so comfortable to hold.

Chu Hang wished he could crush her into his bones. He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the scent of her hair. His hot, uneven breaths brushed against her skin, as if trying to burn her up.

Qin Chanyue lasted only seconds pretending before giving up. If she kept it up, he would devour her.

She opened her eyes and slapped him—not hard, but not gently either—across the face.

Chu Hang didn’t even feel the pain. He rubbed his cheek against her palm, swaying slightly, and murmured, "You're awake. Would you like something to eat?"

He knew exactly how long he had had her tied up—Qin Chanyue probably hadn’t left the bed at all.

Qin Chanyue couldn't muster a reply. She merely turned to face him, her expression cold as she said, "You laze around here with me every day—don’t you need to keep an eye on the Second Prince? He tried to ruin me this time. Are you just going to ignore it?"

By then, the last golden streaks outside the window had faded, and the room gradually darkened. They lay on the same bed, facing each other, speaking as if they were a married couple sharing nighttime whispers.

Married. Married. They were married!

Chu Hang was drunk on this atmosphere, nearly overwhelmed by the quiet intimacy of the bed curtains. He adored this feeling—being surrounded by Qin Chanyue, talking with her—so much that his thoughts turned syrupy, unable to react, failing to respond to her immediately.

Qin Chanyue cut him with a look.

Just one glance at his spaced-out state told her he was lost again.

Every time he touched her, he became like this—as if deaf to all words, only panting after her like an animal.

Though her face wore an icy impatience, smug satisfaction curled within her heart.

This was something Zhou Hai could never give her. The sycophantic flattery born of mere power was nothing compared to this—this genuine, helpless obsession that came from the depths of his heart.

When he still didn’t speak, only staring at her with that intense gaze, Qin Chanyue felt a wicked idea take root. She had meant to kick him, but somehow, when she lifted her foot, it found its mark lower.

Chu Hang groaned, arching his back, one hand gripping her arm as he rasped, voice wrecked with need, "Chanyue, don’t—"

Qin Chanyue was determined to return the favor.

When he had tormented her, she had also said "don’t." Had he listened? Had he stopped? Now that she was the one wreaking havoc, his "don’t" was just as useless.

"I asked you a question," Qin Chanyue dug her heel in. "What about the Second Prince?"

What about the Second Prince?

The Second Prince—the Second—

How could he possibly care about the Second Prince now?

Chu Hang’s head swam, his back tingling, his entire body floating as if on clouds. He couldn’t speak—only strange noises escaped his throat, like a dog purring after being petted.

His silence only deepened Qin Chanyue’s displeasure. She let out a soft hum and shifted her foot slightly, making Chu Hang tense with a muffled groan.

"I asked you a question," Qin Chanyue repeated, tilting her chin imperiously. "What about the Second Prince?"

Chu Hang couldn’t possibly answer.

In the dimness of the bed curtains, he slowly slid down, pressing his forehead against her waist, or lifting his head to bite—whimpering before breaking into whispered begging.

Qin Chanyue only needed to reach out to cradle his head. Her fingers slid down his hair as she coldly chided him, "Answer my question."

If he stayed silent, she wouldn't allow him to rise.

She could completely control him—just a slight movement of her foot was enough to press him down. Spitefully, she returned all the frustration she had endured during this time, pushing Chu Hang until his eyes reddened at the corners before finally releasing him, permitting him to crawl back up.

His bones had been softened by Qin Chanyue's handling, leaving him like a loyal guard dog, first climbing to her knees before lowering his head in submission.

A dog must earn its master’s favor before being allowed to eat.

That night, the wind chimes beneath the moonlit garden's eaves swayed endlessly, drowning out the creaking from the chamber.

——

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace.

All attendants had been dismissed from the hall, leaving only a kneeling imperial physician, sweat dripping as he stared at the wooden grain beneath him, answering the Crown Prince.

Today, the Crown Prince had suddenly ordered the preparation of some potent tonics and aphrodisiacs, demanding they be delivered to him.

When the physician made these, he thought they were for Emperor Yongchang, thinking this was improper—but he dared not ask. Upon arrival, he obediently knelt and awaited the Crown Prince's instructions.

The Crown Prince held an erotic manual, his expression cold as he studied it.

As he studied, the Crown Prince suddenly asked, "How long does an average man last in bed?"

The physician hesitated before replying, "Your Highness, it depends on whether the man is a warrior or a scholar. Martial practitioners tend to last longer—some warriors may endure around an hour. If naturally gifted, they could last even longer."

The Crown Prince's face, already grim, darkened further at the mention of "an hour," as if he had been slapped. His gaze dropped dangerously to his own lap.

If this thing could be cut off and regrown, the Crown Prince might have already done so.

The physician, still not looking up, continued, "For bookish types, it’s shorter—maybe fifteen to thirty minutes."

At the mention of "thirty minutes," the Crown Prince flinched as if struck, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. For the first time, he felt restless, forcing himself to wait two breaths before gritting his teeth to ask, "What if—what if someone can last an entire night?"

The physician gasped, "That must be from drugs! No man can last that long—he’d die from exhaustion in three days!"

The Crown Prince slammed the erotic manual onto his knee and declared, "This medicine—a friend of mine needs it. Bring me—a dose for my friend."

The physician just offered it respectfully.

After obtaining the medicine, the Crown Prince paced excitedly before taking it as prescribed. That very night, he sought out Liu Yandai.

He’d prove his manhood again. He would make Liu Yandai understand that he, the Crown Prince, was the most formidable man in all of Great Chen! How could mere male concubines measure up to him? How could they?