Chapter 24 This Is Blasphemy Against His Majesty

Chapter 24: You Are Disrespecting His Majesty

A different light seemed to flicker in Xie Xiao’s gaze. After a moment of silence, he asked, “How can I help?”

Yan Weichu’s fingertips lightly tickled his palm. “Just… like that.”

Xie Xiao remained seated, unmoving. “I don’t understand.”

“…”

That’s my line.

What do you mean? Still playing coy?

Yan Weichu lowered his eyes, unconsciously licking his lips with a determined, almost desperate resolve.

He reached out, hooked his fingers onto Xie Xiao’s belt, and gently toyed with the buckle.

Xie Xiao caught his hand. “What are you doing?”

Annoyed by Xie Xiao’s teasing, Yan Weichu steeled himself, yanked off the belt, tossed it aside, and leaned in close.

“Cousin, Cousin, Cousin—”

Xie Xiao couldn’t handle his neediness and snapped in a low voice, “Speak properly.”

Yan Weichu knelt before Xie Xiao, tilting his head up slightly, his eyes dark and bright. “Don’t be shy. What’s wrong with me helping you…”

This young man needed to be taught a lesson. Xie Xiao’s earlier irritation hadn’t been that intense, but now it was fully ignited.

He pulled Yan Weichu closer forcefully, clamping a hand on his waist. “Stop moving around. Behave.”

Yan Weichu fell against Xie Xiao’s embrace, and as Xie Xiao’s hand pressed against the small of his back, memories of that night resurfaced, and a shiver ran through him.

Xie Xiao’s hot breath ghosted over his ear as he let out a short laugh. “Can’t handle it already? And you still dare to tease people so carelessly?”

“I didn’t,” Yan Weichu whined, sounding wronged. “Cousin, you’re bullying me.”

“When have I ever bullied you?”

Xie Xiao’s voice was harsh, utterly fed up with Yan Weichu’s coquettish tone. He had no idea how Yan Weichu had developed such a personality. With this attitude, he still dreamed of becoming a general? He had never seen such a clingy, exasperating general.

Yan Weichu was also getting angry. Don’t you know when you’ve bullied me? You already found out about what happened at Fumengzhu that night, yet you’re still pretending…

He was wrong. His Cousin was no noble, upright gentleman—he was a beast in human clothing, a hypocrite.

In his anger, the Young Emperor turned his head and bit Xie Xiao’s neck, which was right in front of him.

He didn’t just bite; he held on, teasing and licking with the tip of his tongue.

Xie Xiao froze, the secret thrill of pleasure shooting straight to his head. His hand on Yan Weichu’s back tightened abruptly, pulling him even closer into his embrace, allowing him to retaliate—to tease him.

That one sip of wine hadn’t had much effect earlier, but now it felt as though the drug’s potency had multiplied endlessly. Xie Xiao was even feeling unbearably hot and restless. He roughly grabbed Yan Weichu’s other hand and guided it downward.

He didn’t want to indulge in lust during the day, didn’t want to do such things in a carriage on the street, but he couldn’t resist the instinctual desire that completely overwhelmed his reason.

And the source of this desire was Yan Weichu, who remained unaware, acting recklessly and offering himself up willingly.

The heavy weight in his hand made Yan Weichu swallow nervously, feeling tense.

It wasn’t his first time, but he still wasn’t quite used to it. He was forcing himself to please Xie Xiao.

Xie Xiao’s hot puffs of breath hit his skin, and even though Xie Xiao was trying to restrain himself, Yan Weichu could still sense his uncontrollable, chaotic restlessness.

The Xie Xiao before him was no longer the general who dominated the battlefield but merely a normal, vigorous man.

This realization also excited Yan Weichu. His movements went from clumsy and awkward to barely adapting, then to somewhat skillful.

He had always been a good student, able to teach himself and excel.

Xie Xiao reclaimed the initiative, biting him back. His warm, moist kisses trailed down Yan Weichu’s jawline, glided over his slender neck, and sucked gently on his Adam’s apple before giving it a light bite.

“Hmm…”

The sound that escaped Yan Weichu’s nostrils was muffled and sticky, exactly like the one Xie Xiao had relived countless times in his dreams.

Xie Xiao bit him, increasing the pressure as if deliberately punishing him for running away after their last encounter.

“Stop biting…”

Yan Weichu pleaded softly, but Xie Xiao ignored him, sucking one lurid mark after another onto his neck, tearing open his robes, and letting his kisses slide further down.

Yan Weichu quickly couldn’t take it anymore, his voice trembling. “Cousin—”

Xie Xiao growled lowly, “Don’t act spoiled.”

You’re going too far.

Yan Weichu tried to pull his hand away, but Xie Xiao covered the back of his hand, instead guiding him to move faster.

“Why are you taking so long? My hand is sore…” Yan Weichu complained, his voice breathy.

Xie Xiao felt as though all his bones had gone soft. At the end, he bit down hard on Yan Weichu’s collarbone.

The carriage stopped, and someone outside informed them they had arrived.

Xie Xiao ordered gruffly, “Take the carriage through the side gate and stop in the main courtyard. All of you, leave. No one is allowed to stay in the courtyard.”

Yan Weichu bit his lip, stifling a moan in his throat, forcing himself not to let it out.

The carriage moved again for a short distance before stopping once more. The surroundings fell completely silent. Yan Weichu reached out to push Xie Xiao away but was pressed down instead.

Xie Xiao forced him to look up. “Was it you last time?”

Yan Weichu laughed uncomfortably. “What last time? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Cousin…”

“At Fumengzhu. If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll be punished.” Xie Xiao’s voice was cold, no longer beating around the bush, his gaze dangerous.

Yan Weichu hummed a few times before finally admitting, “It was an accident.”

Xie Xiao stated firmly, “So it was indeed you.”

“Cousin, how can you repay kindness with hostility?” Yan Weichu said indignantly. “I went in to help you that time. If it weren’t for me, you might have really been taken advantage of by someone else.”

Xie Xiao ignored his sweet talk and pressed, “How did you know I was there?”

Yan Weichu sighed and explained slowly, “I was drinking tea and listening to storytelling at the Longxiang Teahouse next door. By chance, my attendant saw you enter Fumengzhu. You know how much I admire you, so I had someone keep an eye out for a chance to get to know you. Later, when I found out you were affected, I didn’t want the servants to see you in such a state, so I went in alone…”

Xie Xiao stared at him intently, his emotions unreadable, leaving it unclear whether he believed him or not.

"Is that how you admire me?"

Yan Weichu's face gradually flushed red, his voice barely a whisper: "How?"

Xie Xiao stared at his expression for a long moment before suddenly reaching out, pulling him toward himself, turning and pinning him down onto the seat, leaning over him again.

Yan Weichu sensed danger: "You've already—"

"Not enough," Xie Xiao reminded him coldly, "What did I say back then? Since you’ve come to me of your own accord, don't think about getting away."

Yan Weichu’s belt was ripped off and tossed aside. He was genuinely scared now, whimpering pitifully: "No more…"

The desire Xie Xiao had stirred in him hadn’t been quenched by the earlier release. Instead, after Yan Weichu admitted to being the one from that night, it only burned more fiercely.

This young master put on an innocent face but had deliberately provoked him again and again. Xie Xiao never considered himself some upright, noble gentleman. Since that was the case, he might as well give him what he wanted.

When his robes were ripped open completely, Yan Weichu finally panicked… As the reigning Emperor of Dajing, was he really going to be taken right here in this cramped carriage?

The audacity!

Xie Xiao’s breath pressed closer as he snarled, "Don’t move."

Yan Weichu struggled, and his inner robe ripped open with a sharp sound. Xie Xiao’s hand touched him skin against skin.

Yan Weichu’s eyes reddened: "You’re just bullying me. I already said no… How dare you do this to me while still wearing your court robes? This is defiling His Majesty…"

Xie Xiao paused: "Defiling His Majesty?"

"Exactly," Yan Weichu rambled, "This is a supreme disrespect…"

Xie Xiao lowered his head and once again sank his teeth into his throat. Yan Weichu gasped, rendered speechless.

The last bits of fabric were stripped away, and his bare legs felt the chill. Yan Weichu shrank back involuntarily, pushing weakly against Xie Xiao’s shoulders.

Xie Xiao was a military commander, immensely strong. With Yan Weichu’s knees pinned and his body completely restrained, there was no escape—he could only submit to Xie Xiao's actions.

Truthfully, Xie Xiao hadn’t intended to take it this far; he only meant to teach this young master a lesson and make him remember. But his desire was still very real.

In the end, acting on instinct, he pressed Yan Weichu’s legs together and pressed against him forcefully.

Yan Weichu soon began to sob, whimpering in pain, but Xie Xiao paid no mind. He casually tugged off Yan Weichu’s hair ribbon, fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer as he kissed his neck, shoulders, and collarbone, leaving bite marks.

The carriage floor beneath them shook violently from their movements. Yan Weichu felt as if he were coming undone. When Xie Xiao took him in hand, he nearly lost his mind, his voice rising sharply: "Don’t…"

Xie Xiao was determined to torment him, and in the end, Yan Weichu lost himself and gave himself over completely.

*

In the steamy bathing chamber, Yan Weichu was half-submerged in the water, chin propped on his hands as he leaned against the edge of the pool. He tilted his head to look at Xie Xiao, who had already stepped out.

Xie Xiao’s back was to him as he pulled a clean inner robe from the screen and slipped it on.

The dim light of the bathhouse outlined Xie Xiao’s figure in a somewhat blurred silhouette. Yan Weichu’s fingers twitched, tracing the line from his neck down to his shoulders and back in the air.

Xie Xiao suddenly turned back and looked over.

Yan Weichu immediately lowered his hand and averted his eyes as if nothing had happened.

"It hurts," Yan Weichu mumbled, "My legs are all red, chafed raw…"

Xie Xiao narrowed his eyes, and Yan Weichu’s voice grew softer and softer until it faded entirely.

Xie Xiao reached out and pinched his chin: "If it hurts, behave yourself from now on. Stop bringing suffering upon yourself."

…How can you say that with a straight face?

Who’s the one acting like a beast?

Yan Weichu felt utterly wronged and aggrieved: "If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come…"

Xie Xiao’s fingers brushed over the young lord’s less-defined jawline before releasing him, in a pleased tone: "Too late."

What’s the point of saying that now that the lamb's already in the tiger's mouth…

Yan Weichu decided not to press his luck and prodded Xie Xiao's hard muscle: "Cousin, today is actually my birthday too."

Xie Xiao was somewhat surprised: "Really?"

"Really," Yan Weichu said mournfully, "But Father said it’s the Emperor’s birthday, so I should keep a low profile and not offend His Majesty or break taboos. He wouldn’t even let me have long-life noodles. I’m so pitiful."

Xie Xiao didn’t believe for a second that the Count of Anding was that cold-hearted—most likely, the young lord was making things up again. But he played along: "I’ll have someone make some for you."

Yan Weichu immediately beamed: "Cousin, you’re so good to me."

His face looked especially soft in the misty steam, a lazy, satiated glow lingering at the corners of his eyes and brows, tingeing the corners of his eyes red.

Xie Xiao felt an inexplicable dryness in his throat watching him and darkly thought that the wine’s effects were truly potent.

But as a general, he was accustomed to restraint. He averted his eyes without revealing anything, calmly standing up: "I’ll go out first. Hurry up and don’t stay in the water too long, or you’ll really faint in here."

Yan Weichu watched his retreating figure but didn’t move from where he lay.

It really did hurt, but it also felt really good.

The seduction plan… wasn’t difficult at all.

But to truly make Cousin his, this kind of relationship wasn’t enough. He needed to find a way to firmly secure Cousin.

As Emperor Jingchun Yan Weichu, there was nothing he couldn’t achieve and no one he couldn’t have.

His dearest cousin, Xie Xiao, would eventually become his most trusted advisor and closest confidant, joining him in composing a legendary tale of ruler and subject.

Yan Weichu delighted in imagining that day, unable to contain his joy and satisfaction.

Author's Note:

The term "closest confidant" originally referred to a privy counselor involved in confidential affairs.

Young Emperor's thoughts are really quite pure~