Chapter 48 Crown Prince’s Forced Marriage with You

Chapter 48: The Crown Prince's Coercive Affection

Xi Jingqi looked back at Lou Han, who was taken aback by the commotion outside.

Lou Han pushed Xi Jingqi up.

Then he sat up smoothly, feigning a cough.

"Your Majesty, is there still a matter outside? If so, you should go take care of it."

Lou Han reached out and managed to push Xi Jingqi away easily.

It seemed that despite Xi Jingqi's earlier domineering posture, he hadn't braced himself firmly. With just a little effort, Lou Han could succeed.

Xi Jingqi narrowed his eyes slightly and then separated from Lou Han.

Xi Jingqi lowered his gaze; the warmth in his hand faded. Lou Han was withdrawing the hand that had been interlocked with his.

Lou Han retrieved his hand and rested it on his knee as he knelt up.

Lou Han's outer robe had been undone earlier, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he sat facing Xi Jingqi, placed his hands on his knees, and said softly, "I..."

I'll wait for you. Lou Han hesitated to say these three words aloud. After all, they had just been in the midst of their intimate moment. Saying he would wait might imply he was eager to continue with Xiao Jing.

Even if Lou Han truly didn't mind, for Xiao Jing in this ancient world, it was different.

He was afraid Xiao Jing would think him too forward.

But in Xi Jingqi's eyes, Lou Han was clearly trying to brush him off.

He rubbed his fingers together, pondering Lou Han's meaning in asking him to leave. Was he genuinely concerned about the matter outside, or... was it a case of playing hard to get?

Since discovering that Lou Han wasn't as naive as he had thought, Xi Jingqi had become curious whether Lou Han's every action held deeper meaning.

However, he was mistaken again; Lou Han had no such intention.

Lou Han's face flushed slightly as he began to tidy his outer robe, though it was hard to see clearly in the dim light.

The calls from outside grew more urgent.

That person's voice was calm; after Xi Jingqi told him to get lost, there was no further sound.

But he probably hadn't left and was still waiting.

Lou Han looked at the motionless Xiao Jing, feeling awkward, and poked his arm.

"Your Majesty? Please go and handle it first."

Before turning to leave, he still didn't forget to remind his A-Han, "Tonight's matter isn't over yet."

His voice was soft, but it carried a hint of intimidation.

Lou Han slowly looked at him and saw Xi Jingqi standing by the lamp, his sharp eyebrows sweeping towards his temples. He smiled and said, "A-Han, come out with me."

*Go out myself?* Under Xiao Jing's gaze, Lou Han nodded.

He immediately began to adjust his clothes.

His movements were swift; he had grown practiced at wearing these ancient garments.

And under Xi Jingqi's intense scrutiny, he showed not the slightest trace of *shame*.

He showed no shame, whether it was suddenly calling him 'Your Majesty' while naturally poking him, or tidying his just-undone clothes under Xi Jingqi's gaze.

A-Han actually possessed an unspoken familiarity toward him.

Noticing this, a wave of emotion surged in Xi Jingqi's deep eyes.

As Lou Han was fastening his sash, Xi Jingqi stepped forward and smoothed the hair pressed by his clothes.

His cool fingers brushed against the skin of Lou Han's neck—a brief touch. *When had the Son of Heaven ever done such "serving" tasks?*

Lou Han didn't notice. Perhaps he didn't think it was anything unusual.

Xi Jingqi had done many such things for him these past days.

Yet, Xi Jingqi couldn't help but think of a poem:

"In nights past, hair uncombed, silk tresses draped over both shoulders. Gently resting on my lord's knee, how could one not feel pity?"

*When would he ever experience this feeling...*

Lou Han looked up.

Xi Jingqi had reverted to the gentle, refined crown prince who was like an elder brother.

He gave Lou Han a warm smile.

"Let's go and see."

Lou Han gauged his attitude. It seemed Xiao Jing hadn't gone out yet but already had a rough idea of what was to be reported. *Could there still be issues with those corpses?*

Xi Jingqi turned and strode out first. Seeing him leave, Lou Han assumed his attire was presentable and followed.

Both were tall and long-legged, and they quickly stepped outside.

Outside, the mist over the Clear Splendor Pool had gradually dissipated as the sky began to brighten. A red glow of dawn peeked over the horizon.

Xi Jingqi was actually only twenty-one. Although Lou Han used to call him "elder brother crown prince," he was only a few years older.

The clear sunlight illuminated his figure, making him look as pristine as jade; he still appeared a young man.

One couldn't help but sigh, "What a handsome young man."

The chief eunuch, Zou Fengyu, stood bent like an old pine outside the hall. Seeing this, he beamed with joy.

*How perfectly matched His Majesty and the Crown Prince were.*

Among all the sons and daughters of the capital, His Majesty and His Highness possessed nine-tenths of the beauty.

However, recalling last night's events, Zou Fengyu's eyes quickly darted over the Crown Prince's face and gait.

His expression was calm, his walk steady and unhurried, not as if he'd angered the Son of Heaven.

It seemed the Son of Heaven had not punished the Crown Prince.

To Lou Han's surprise, he thought he had only been inside with Xiao Jing a short while, but now, coming out, the sun had already risen.

*His thoughts lingered on what exactly he and Xiao Jing had been doing.*

Lou Han glanced at the floor—it was the usual marble surface of the palace, pristine and without a trace of blood.

As if no struggle had ever taken place.

System: "It’s as if Xi Jingqi can make anyone vanish completely simply by willing it."

Lou Han: Don’t appear out of nowhere like that, you startled me.

System: …

The shrouded shadow guard nearby remained silent.

He bowed his head quietly.

After a moment, the guard heard the emperor speak to the Crown Prince beside him, "Let’s go meet those waiting outside the hall."

Xi Jingqi strode coldly out of the inner palace toward the front audience hall. Several middle-aged men in crimson court robes were kneeling outside.

It wasn’t yet time for court, so their presence here was clearly for a reason.

Xi Jingqi entered the audience hall. Zou Fengyu poured tea respectfully before retreating to one side.

Xi Jingqi smiled slightly at Lou Han, who had followed silently.

In a warm tone, he said, "A-Han, wait behind the screen."

Lou Han saw that this wasn’t about disposing of the bodies but rather dealing with other people. He really shouldn’t be watching directly from the side.

But why had Xiao Jing called him here?

And he had actually left the inner palace!

As Xi Jingqi had instructed, Lou Han obediently stood behind a nearby screen.

Xi Jingqi withdrew his gaze and looked coldly at the people outside the hall. "Summon them in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Today’s affairs hadn’t been handled well—completely unlike Xi Jingqi’s usual style. He wasn’t one to act so carelessly, yet word had leaked out, making these people come crawling in to beg for mercy.

Now he had to give them an answer.

But Xi Jingqi found it dull. Taming a fierce tiger might hold some thrill, but these people were nothing more than fish to him—usually just something to toy with.

Now he had to waste time that could have been spent with A-Han on them. What a waste.

Still, Xi Jingqi needed Lou Han to understand something.

The old ministers kneeling outside entered.

Xi Jingqi’s expression showed no abnormality. Seated on the high platform, his posture was arrogantly proper, though he usually pretended humility around these people, even adopting a modest demeanor as a junior.

In reality, the young emperor held full authority, and the Empress Dowager had withdrawn from politics since the late emperor’s passing, remaining in the inner palace without interfering in court affairs. There was no need for such pretense.

Speaking of which, rumors outside suggested the new emperor was pressuring the Empress Dowager to eventually take monastic vows, as she hadn’t been the type to stay completely uninvolved in the past.

These ministers could sense the emperor’s unusual demeanor but naturally attributed it to today’s incident.

They were filled with trepidation.

As previously discussed, they had ambitions for power but no intention of rebellion.

Seeing the emperor displeased and silent, they took the initiative to speak.

The foremost minister, the Prime Minister, was here to plead for these men.

"Your subjects are guilty."

The failure of the inner palace plot didn’t surprise them—after all, the current palace wasn’t easy to infiltrate.

What surprised them was that no news had come from the palace until this morning.

The emperor’s handling of the matter made them uneasy.

So they came early to gauge the emperor’s attitude.

Xi Jingqi clasped his slender left hand, hiding his injured right hand on the other side.

His gaze shifted from the Prime Minister in front to the trembling figures behind.

He curled his lips into a smile. "These esteemed ministers are elderly and frail. Bring them seats at once."

At his command, palace attendants brought chairs, and the men took their seats.

Then Xi Jingqi listened, utterly bored, as they finished speaking.

It was all apologies—no need for him to press, they confessed everything.

Xi Jingqi propped his chin on his hand, watching them.

Dull. Extremely dull.

But they didn’t know that at this moment, he was thinking of Lou Han in the inner palace—recalling the look in the youth’s eyes when he left. From a certain angle, Lou Han had gazed at him with a damp, pleading expression.

The emperor sat high on his throne, illustrious and commanding, with everyone bowing before him.

Even a few clowns were hardly worth mentioning.

His soul seemed split in two: one part looking down at Lou Han from the bed, the other gazing wearily at the court from the high platform.

He couldn’t quite grasp the feeling then, but a desire—like a starving dog seizing food, eager to bite down and swallow it whole—persistently occupied his heart.

Lou Han, standing behind the screen, realized it hardly concealed anything.

He could still see the scene outside quite clearly.

But those outside wouldn’t dare look toward the screens flanking the hall.

Lou Han listened distractedly to the animated voices outside.

He still didn’t understand why Xiao Jing had called him here.

Could it really just be to watch how he dealt with these ministers?

He passed the time slowly by reciting names to himself.

He had no interest in these ancient matters either.

Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing.

By the time he counted to twenty.

Lou Han heard the outside suddenly fall silent—an abrupt hush, as if all the ministers had collectively shut their mouths.

He couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen. Was it over?

Then, only the slow, utterly dismissive voice of Xi Jingqi echoed through the vast hall once more:

"We decree the heir of Prince Zhongxian be made Prince Consort. What say our esteemed ministers?"

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Author's note: A bit slow, my apologies.