Chapter 160 Qingqing

Chapter 160: Qingqing

The moon had risen above the willows.

The azure fine gauze bed curtains hung down, now like mist, enclosing the bed in a hidden world cut off from everything else, where only their breaths and heartbeats existed.

Their figures intertwined closely behind the gauze curtain, their breaths heavy and chaotic, mingling until they were indistinguishable.

Xiao Yan pressed Liu Qingci half onto the soft brocade mattress, one hand propped beside his ear, the other firmly gripping his waist, his fingertips through the thin nightclothes feeling the subtle trembling beneath that supple waist.

He lowered his head, seeking the pale neck that still gleamed white in the dim light, and pressed messy kisses onto it.

"Qingqing..."

The hoarse murmur was indistinct, muffled between their grinding lips and teeth, yet carried a tenderness that could drown a person.

Liu Qingci was kissed until his whole body went limp.

He barely mustered a shred of dazed consciousness, turned his head to avoid the trembling kisses, his voice soft and tender, with an unbelievable shyness: "You... what did you call me?"

Xiao Yan didn't stop.

He continued by kissing the elegant clavicle, his teeth gently nipping at the delicate bone.

"Qingqing..." He lifted his head, in the dimness, precisely meeting Liu Qingci's tear-misted amber eyes, and chuckled lowly, his voice hoarse and rough, "My Qingqing."

"In your world, this is how you address your beloved? Don't you like it?" Xiao Yan leaned in and asked.

"...I do." Liu Qingci's voice trembled slightly, answering honestly.

"During the time I was under house arrest in Prince Yu's mansion, I read many books to study. How about I let Qingqing test my progress?"

Xiao Yan lifted Liu Qingci up, setting him astride his own lap face to face, the hem of the gauze nightgown bunching at the waist.

He kept pestering: "Did I learn well, hmm?"

Liu Qingci was worn down past endurance, his voice tinged with tears.

"...Good."

Xiao Yan took advantage of the situation and whined, complaining to the person in his arms: "Qingqing, it's so hard to see you now. I miss you."

Liu Qingci's eyes were already glazed. He clung to Xiao Yan's shoulder, pressing his sweat-dampened cheek into the equally hot hollow of his neck, mumbling dazedly in response: "Mm..."

"And you still want to find a young lady who knows cold and warmth, who adds fragrance to sleeves, to become your wife." Xiao Yan's tone was full of grievance, unreasonably accusatory, as sour as vinegar, "Then what about me?"

"I don't... wah..." Liu Qingci looked completely innocent.

"How about I be your Mrs. Liu?"

"Wah wah..."

Xiao Yan's arms tightened a bit more, gripping Liu Qingci's waist, his voice hoarse as he continued: "Do I know how to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer? Can I add fragrance to Young Master Liu's sleeves?"

Liu Qingci's mind was hazy, answering almost on instinct: "Yes... yes..."

Xiao Yan kissed him contentedly: "So obedient."

The fine gauze bed curtains swayed gently, as if moved by no wind.

Moonlight quietly shifted, from one end of the window lattice to the other.

The next day, Liu Qingci left from there to attend the morning court.

Prince Yu's household also sent a set of a prince's court robes, since Xiao Yan was also to attend today's court session.

Although they departed from the same place, given their relationship, it was not suitable to go together.

Though reluctant, Xiao Yan understood the gravity of the situation.

He rose early and personally dressed Liu Qingci in the elaborate court robes layer by layer, fastened the jade belt, and adjusted the crown.

He also made sure he ate some light nourishing breakfast. Before departure, he specially ordered two more layers of thick soft cushions to be added inside Liu Qingci's carriage.

When everything was ready, the hour was already late.

Xiao Yan saw him off at the gate. Under the dim morning light, in the courtyard where servants kept their heads down, he ultimately couldn't resist pulling the person into his arms, lowering his head to kiss him thoroughly for a good while, until Liu Qingci was breathless, then reluctantly watched him board the carriage and leave.

Today was the first time since Prince Rui's rebellion that his case was formally discussed in court.

In the past few days, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review had already sorted out the documents. The facts of the rebellion were clear; how to handle it ultimately depended on the Emperor's will.

The morning court today was even more solemn and tense than usual.

On the dragon throne, the emperor's face was gloomy, imposing even without anger.

After the hundred officials shouted 'Long live the Emperor' and completed the rituals, the hall fell into a strange silence. Everyone knew the main event was coming.

Xiao Jing, dressed in white prison clothes but, to preserve royal dignity, free from shackles, was escorted by the Imperial Guard to the center of the hall.

In just a few days, he was already haggard beyond recognition, nothing like his former glory.

Bringing Prince Rui to court this time was both to intimidate the court officials and consolidate imperial power, and to purge Prince Rui's remaining partisans.

The emperor looked down from above, his gaze like cold ice and sharp blades, piercing the kneeling Xiao Jing: "Rebellious son, you..."

As soon as the emperor opened his mouth, Xiao Jing, kneeling below, started laughing quietly, "Hehehe..."

The laughter was dry and hoarse, especially eerie in the silent hall.

"Rebellious son, what are you laughing at?!" the emperor roared.

But Xiao Jing acted as if he hadn't heard, simply raising his head, his eyes searching the hall for something.

Others didn't know, but Xiao Yan knew that at this point Xiao Jing had gone mad. Having him appear in court wouldn't yield any answers, nor could they have a normal conversation.

Xiao Jing looked around, his gaze finally coming to rest on a certain spot.

His eyes widened instantly, like a provoked beast, and he sneered from his throat, hoarse and sinister:

"Hehe... Why won't any of you believe me? They are all fake! Even Liu Qingci is fake!!!"

Hearing Liu Qingci's name, Xiao Yan looked sharply in that direction. He saw Xiao Jing indeed staring fixedly in Liu Qingci's direction, and immediately became alert.

Liu Qingci, listening to Xiao Jing's words, only frowned slightly.

Xiao Jing seemed very dissatisfied with this reaction, and roared: "You are fake! Where is Qingci? Where is my Qingci?!"

In Xiao Jing's mind, Liu Qingci should belong to him, should be obediently by his side, always standing with him.

This Liu Qingci, who besieged him with troops and consorted with Xiao Yan, did not resemble Liu Qingci—he must be an impostor!

At this moment, Xiao K spoke hesitantly in Xiao Yan's mind: "Actually... although Xiao Jing has gone mad, he has, in a way, awakened his self-awareness..."

Xiao Yan felt nothing: "Too bad he went mad before awakening; he can no longer think straight."

The emperor on the dragon throne furrowed his brows and bellowed: "How dare you! On the brink of death, you still dare to utter heresies and falsely accuse court officials!"

However, the frenzied Xiao Jing was no longer listening.

In his eyes, there was only Liu Qingci's handsome face—a face that seemed to mock his failures and foolishness.

"Kill him! He must die!" Xiao Jing roared. "Only then will my Qingci come back!"

Xiao Yan had been enduring those words "my Qingci" for a long time. Just as he was thinking of an excuse to shut Xiao Jing up for good, Xiao Jing lurched to his feet.

As though unleashing the strength of a dying beast, he violently shoved aside the imperial guards beside him, who had been momentarily distracted by his insane rant, staggered toward the guard, and wrenched the saber from his belt.

"Protect the emperor!"

"Stop him!"

Shouts erupted from all sides. The palace guards reacted swiftly and drew their blades.

But Xiao Jing's target was never the imperial throne; he dashed straight toward Liu Qingci.