Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Luo Qianyu froze for a moment, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Hm?

The Crown Prince?

Why bring up the Crown Prince, my brother, all of a sudden?

A pang of bewilderment shot through him, but there was no time to dwell on it. The situation was too strange. Wen Yu was never the type to block his way. For his own guard to act so out of character, blocking the front courtyard and refusing to let him leave… what else could it be for?

Luo Qianyu’s throat tightened. Could it be that Wen Yu wanted him to explain the fact that he tried to drug him tonight?

Had Wen Yu noticed when Que Xilan was doused with wine?

But now was not the time for idle talk.

His fingertips trembled slightly, feeling as if all his strength was slowly draining away. To explain the whole story clearly here and now, and to do so without arousing Wen Yu’s suspicion, was not only as difficult as scaling the heavens, but more critically… how long would that take?

He was afraid he wouldn’t last that long.

“Wen Yu,” Luo Qianyu sighed softly, his breath hot and labored, and was forced to change tactics. “I know you have questions, but now is not the time…”

The young man looked up at him, his tone softening slightly. “Let me through first. I have urgent matters.”

But Wen Yu remained unmoving. “What urgent matters?”

Luo Qianyu was momentarily at a loss for words.

He couldn’t very well say he was in a hurry to go to a brothel to find some peace, could he?

Wen Yu lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting shadows beneath his eyes, but his tone was unyielding. “Unless the Young Master clarifies who he is so urgently seeking, this subordinate cannot step aside.”

The Young Marquis: ‘…You!’

Luo Qianyu seethed with anger. Why was this block of ice opposing him so stubbornly today? Furious yet powerless to vent it, he could only grit his teeth. “Fine, so what if someone as monk-like as you knows?”

He lowered his voice. “I’m going to the Moon Perching Pavilion.”

The courtyard was silent save for the rustle of leaves and his own hurried breathing.

The Young Marquis’s brow twitched. He felt the air grow inexplicably colder, seeping through his clothes into his bones. Yet he couldn’t pinpoint where this chill came from.

“The Young Master is going to a brothel?”

Wen Yu’s voice was flat and devoid of emotion. The Young Marquis was secretly surprised. Did Wen Yu even know about this? So this big oaf wasn't totally clueless.

But then he suddenly remembered: the last time he appeared as the Mysterious Guest, when Wen Yu chased after him and he was cornered, the place he hid was precisely the Moon Perching Pavilion.

Luo Qianyu lifted his chin slightly, assuming a somewhat dissolute and rakish air. “So what if I am? This Young Master has already undergone the capping ceremony. Going to such places to have a bit of fun—do I need to report to you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, that feverish heat surged through him again, as if countless tiny flames were darting through his veins, making his forehead burn with fever and his limbs feel weak. He clenched his sleeve tightly, fingernails digging into his palm, barely suppressing a groan.

Fortunately, Wen Yu didn’t seem to notice his distress and pressed on. “Did the Young Master undergo the capping ceremony just for such matters?”

“So what if I did?” Luo Qianyu’s anger flared at the question. Didn’t he know he was drugged? That suppressed irritation welled up. “‘Only after the capping does one begin to frequent the pleasure quarters.’ Even the ancients said so. Besides, I’m already a seasoned patron of the pleasure quarters. You’re merely a guard—since when is it your place to control me?”

“I’ve been looking forward to the capping ceremony for a long time, just so I could openly go to these places. If you want to be a monk and remain celibate for life, don’t expect me to hold back like you.” The Young Marquis paused, not forgetting to deliver a harsh jab: “Long-term suppression can lead to impotence!”

“…”

The damage wasn’t great, but the insult was potent.

Wen Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t respond, merely changing the subject. “Who is the Young Master looking for?”

Luo Qianyu was taken aback. “…What?”

“Since it’s the Moon Perching Pavilion,” Wen Yu’s gaze rested on his face, his tone still cool and calm, “that place is two or three streets farther than the usual brothels. Why must the Young Master go there specifically? Is it for someone?”

The question struck precisely at the heart of the matter.

Luo Qianyu’s throat tightened. His cheeks didn’t flush, but his ears turned crimson first.

After a moment of silence, he averted his face, his voice muffled, tinged with a hint of discomfort at being exposed. “Mm, I’m looking for Su Hongying, Miss Su.”

Saying it out loud wasn’t as difficult as he thought.

He mused internally; after all, when Wen Yu chased him to the Moon Perching Pavilion that night, he had clearly seen that peerlessly beautiful courtesan.

Yet Wen Yu still stood blocking his path, not yielding an inch. “Just because you’ve been drugged, you’ll vent your frustration on a brothel girl? Has the Young Marquis ever asked if she is willing?”

The Young Marquis said urgently, “Miss Su is willing! She’s hinted, both openly and subtly, that she longs to spend a night of passion with me…” He grew more self-righteous as he spoke. “It’s a matter of mutual consent. What’s improper about it? She’s willing, I’m willing, who are we bothering?!”

This seemed to genuinely stump Wen Yu.

The Young Marquis felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had rendered Wen Yu speechless. But he really had no mind to revel in it now. He reached out to grab Wen Yu’s wrist, trying to push him aside. “What are you still blocking for? Move!”

Unexpectedly, Wen Yu instead grasped his wrist. The grip was momentarily unbreakable. Then he heard the other’s deep voice. “The Young Master has just succeeded in the imperial examinations and is about to receive an official appointment. To visit a pleasure house at such a critical juncture—once word gets out, it will inevitably affect your career. Wouldn’t all the hard work of ten years of diligent study be in vain?”

The Young Marquis: “…”

Wen Yu looked down at him. “Even if the Young Master doesn’t care about his own future, if the Marquis and Madam were to learn that you ruined your career for a single night of pleasure, would they let the matter rest?”

The Young Marquis: “…………”

Now it was the Young Marquis’s turn to be speechless.

Right now, he couldn’t match Wen Yu in strength, couldn’t get out, and couldn’t win the argument either. Why was he so pitiful?

That burning heat seeped out from the marrow of his bones, making him dizzy and weak all over. He could no longer hold on. His head leaned against Wen Yu’s chest, hot breaths escaping his lips, one after another, growing increasingly frantic.

The young man gritted his teeth. “This won’t do, that won’t do… then think of a solution yourself…”

Wen Yu’s gaze fell on the person in his arms. The arm around his waist unconsciously tightened, and with a slight exertion, he lifted him horizontally.

As if to soothe, his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and he said in a low voice, “This subordinate has already sent someone to fetch Doctor Zhang. He is currently seeing patients on the neighboring street and will come as soon as he finishes. Doctor Zhang’s medical skills are profound, especially adept at difficult and complicated cases. He should have a way to counteract the drug the Young Master has taken.”

Wen Yu: “This subordinate will carry the Young Master back to the room.”

Only after being placed on the bed did Luo Qianyu snap back to his senses.

…

Doctor Zhang?

That Doctor Zhang who treated Wen Yu’s mother?

The same Doctor Zhang he had already met at the clinic, and who knew his identity was the Mysterious Guest?!

No way!

The Young Marquis's heart sank like a stone. Once Doctor Zhang arrived, since they hadn't coordinated beforehand, his identity as the Mysterious Guest was sure to be exposed right then and there!

The Young Marquis lifted his head, his voice urgent: "You can't call Doctor Zhang!"

Wen Yu's embrace tightened slightly, still maintaining the posture. His brow twitched lightly, a flash of confusion in his eyes: "Why not?"

The Young Marquis was at a loss for words, his cheeks burning with an unnatural flush, yet his voice was forceful and awkward: "Being drugged like this... is it something glorious? Besides, this is my private matter. How can an outsider know about it? What would it look like if word got out? It's downright embarrassing."

Luo Qianyu took a deep breath, a chill of impatience in his voice as he whispered: "...Get out."

He gritted his teeth, his intention to dismiss the guest now blatantly obvious: "Then close the door. This Young Master will handle it myself."

"If you insist on bringing an outsider here, from now on, you can forget about working for me."

Wen Yu's pupils contracted slightly.

.

A short while later.

The Young Marquis was utterly on the verge of tears.

It was no use, he just couldn't finish!!

What kind of insanely potent aphrodisiac was this?

He'd barely managed to get off once with his hand, then trembling, he got up again. Going through the motions did nothing to alleviate the drug's effects. Instead, it became even more unbearable. The Young Marquis was practically on the brink of collapse, his eyes reddening from the discomfort.

He clumsily threw his clothes back on, stealing a glance at the person outside the door.

Wen Yu's figure stood right outside, his shadow thrown by the paper lantern.

During this time, occasional suppressed gasps came from inside the room—very faint, quickly stifled, as if someone was desperately trying to stay quiet.

Wen Yu lowered his gaze, the palm at his side trembling slightly, tightening unconsciously into a fist.

Luo Qianyu's heart raced wildly, but he collected his thoughts. With the screen blocking the view and a door separating them, and the protagonist shou's mind not on him, he was unlikely to notice his movements.

Since the front door was no good, then he'd escape through the rear window.

By the time Wen Yu noticed, he would already be at the Qiyue Pavilion.

On silent feet, the Young Marquis opened the rear window, tightened his cloak, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his ears burning hot. Just as he was about to leap out, an arm snaked around his waist.

Before a yelp could escape him, he was already pulled back into the room.

Moments later, the rear window was closed.

.

Inside the room, only a corner of candlelight remained.

Faint, fragmented sounds could be heard, indistinct and hazy.

"Bastard, who allowed you to look at me?"

"...Get behind me."

"Wen Yu...!"

The corner of his garment slipped from his shoulder to his elbow, revealing a fair, smooth shoulder and back, half-concealed by the robe, the fabric about to fall but not quite.

Luo Qianyu pressed his knees together, trembling slightly, trying to squeeze that hand out.

The effect was precisely the opposite, as if he were clamping down to prevent it from leaving.

Before long, even his kneecaps turned pink.

Luo Qianyu endured the shame, leaning back against the other's embrace.

They were both just using their hands, so why was this person's so different? Distinct knuckles, slender fingers, exquisitely carved like white jade, a noble bone structure yet not lacking in tension—even the faintly visible veins on the back of the hand exuded a sense of restrained strength.

He unconsciously lowered his gaze, seeing that place in the palm of that hand, which in contrast appeared helpless and pitiful.

The Young Marquis quickly averted his gaze, his earlobes red as pomegranates, dripping with blood.

"...Mmh!" The sound escaped the next second, his gaze involuntarily drawn back, no longer able to be suppressed.

Wen Yu's voice came from behind, close to his ear. The free hand parted the seam between his legs from below, pulling them to the person's sides, forcing them wide open. The sensation was scalding, impossible to ignore. The beauty whispered softly: "Don't close your legs."

Luo Qianyu grew even more flustered, because with this posture... it was as if he were sitting in the protagonist shou's embrace, his legs parted by the other's knees, dangling to either side, his delicate toes trembling.

Luo Qianyu pursed his lips slightly, turning his head to the side.

The scent on Wen Yu became more pronounced—clear, cool, and faintly cold, yet carrying an ambiguity not usually present.

Luo Qianyu felt as if he were being enveloped by this fragrance.

But if he remained silent, there were still other sounds, growing clearer and more audible in the quiet night. The noises varied in urgency and pace, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, provoking an inexplicable shiver. Luo Qianyu felt his face burning fiercely, so he simply turned his head away completely, refusing to let out even a hint of sound.

Wen Yu glanced down and caught sight of the bite mark on the Young Marquis's neck.

His gaze abruptly tightened.

Within his line of sight, on the jade-white side of the neck, an ambiguous mark was clearly visible. The bite mark still fresh, glowing with a suggestive redness under the candlelight, like red plum blossoms fallen upon snow—eye-catching and conspicuous.

The air was scorching, yet the Young Marquis inexplicably felt the person behind him growing colder, making him instinctively want to shrink away. Unexpectedly, the next moment, his chin was suddenly gripped.

Before he could react, his lips were fiercely captured.

"...Mmh!"

Luo Qianyu's eyelashes trembled, caught off guard by the kiss. Instantly, a layer of mist welled up in his eyes, mingled with shock and disarray.

Help.

He had actually kissed the protagonist shou!