RMACAUH Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Only Feeding Him Water, Acting Like I’ve Violated Him…

Chapter 21: Only Feeding Him Water, Acting Like I’ve Violated Him…

The Emperor remained composed, occasionally placing dishes for the Empress Dowager. As the family banquet neared its end, the Emperor casually mentioned, “In ten days, it will be Mother’s sixtieth birthday. Your son has been thinking for a long time about how I haven’t held a birthday banquet for you in years, and I feel truly guilty. This year, with peace and prosperity, why not take this opportunity of returning to the palace to hold a grand celebration? I wonder what Mother thinks?”

“The Emperor is thoughtful. These years, I’ve been chanting scriptures and managing Buddhist affairs, and no longer concern myself with these things. You all can decide.”

Hearing this, the Emperor smiled, “Then I will make arrangements and begin preparations.”

The Empress Dowager suddenly raised her eyes and glanced at Feng Yue, who was quietly eating. With the demeanor of a benevolent elder, she asked with concern, “Your second elder brother has even had a son. When will you marry?”

Feng Yue smiled, “Isn’t it that elder brother hasn’t officially married yet? As a younger brother, how could I be ahead of my elder brothers?”

The Empress Dowager said, “Royal offspring are the most important thing. This matter shouldn’t be held back.”

The Emperor smiled without saying a word. However, the Worthy Consort sitting below joked, “Our Guangling Prince favors *ge’er*.”

The atmosphere instantly became indescribably strange.

The Empress Dowager’s face lit up with joy. “There’s nothing wrong with *ge’er*. Which *ge’er* has Feng Yue taken a fancy to? I’ll make the decision for you here and grant you your wish.”

Empress Chen turned her head to look at her son, only to see him calmly take a sip of tea, unhurriedly saying, “Royal Grandmother, you’re too kind. Your grandson has only recently returned to the capital, and the dazzling flowers are too mesmerizing. I’m slowly picking and choosing, not in a hurry.”

The Empress Dowager didn’t give up. “Still, you must take it to heart. As a member of the royal family, you can’t be fickle and learn those bad habits.”

“Royal Grandmother is truly caring and considerate of your grandson, making your grandson feel overwhelmed by your favor.”

“With your personality, you should settle down and have a princess to keep you in check. Your father, the Emperor, and mother will also be at ease.”

Feng Yue’s fists clenched tightly under the table, veins popping out, but his face remained calm as he smiled. “How has elder brother’s health been recently? When I was marching, I passed through a deep mountain and accidentally obtained a century-old lingzhi mushroom. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone deliver it to you.”

Feng Chao raised his eyebrows slightly, meeting his third younger brother’s searching yet caring gaze. He said elegantly and calmly, “I’ve been nourishing myself in recent years, so there’s nothing major. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, third brother.”

“Elder brother must take good care of his health. What royal grandmother wants the most is probably for elder brother to have descendants for the royal family.”

“Alright!” The Emperor finally spoke to stop the situation before it spiraled out of control, “Today is a joyous day, so let’s not say anything that spoils the fun and upsets your royal grandmother.”

Feng Yue looked humble. “Father is right to reprimand me.”

The Empress Dowager appeared dispirited. “I’m a little tired. A-Chao, help your royal grandmother back to rest.”

“Yes.”

The family banquet ended in an atmosphere that was difficult to describe. Feng Yue bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress, then hurriedly left the palace.

Once the Prince’s carriage had driven far from the palace gate, Feng Yue wearily propped his forehead with one hand and coldly instructed, “Find a ginseng at random and send it to my sickly royal brother.”

Eunuch Yuan responded. After thinking about it, he felt it was inappropriate. “Wouldn’t that give people cause for gossip?”

Feng Yue scoffed. “It won’t. Given my royal brother’s suspicious nature, he won’t dare eat anything this Prince sends. He’ll either reward it or throw it away, a waste of things. Just do as I say.”

“Yes.”

After returning to the Prince’s manor, he changed into simple and neat casual clothes. Feng Yue took his Thunderclap Spear and found several watchmen in the manor to practice with, using it to vent the pent-up anger in his heart.

Feng Yue had practiced martial arts since childhood, and was skilled with all sorts of weapons. However, after being confined to that one place for ten years, he suddenly felt a bit rusty.

But that didn’t matter. This body was at its prime in all aspects, with extremely strong adaptability and recovery ability. After practicing for nearly two hours, the ten or so guards were so tired that they lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

Feng Yue twirled the spear and slammed it into the courtyard with a clang, placing his hands on his hips and panting, “Let’s practice up to here for now.”

Before the guards could rejoice, they heard Feng Yue say, “Tomorrow, accompany this Prince to continue practicing.”

A chorus of wails rose and fell. Feng Yue smiled wickedly, then cheerfully took his spear and returned to his room.

*

It was late at night, and it was snowing lightly again.

After taking a bath, Feng Yue put on a black robe and stealthily snuck into the Rain Mist Pavilion again.

Fortunately, that eyesore, Sang Cai, wasn’t there. Otherwise… knocking him unconscious and throwing him out would be troublesome!

Feng Yue skillfully found his way to the bed and happily snuggled into the quilt. The moment he held Wei Xiaofeng in his arms, the grievances in his heart surged up inexplicably.

There were too many things he couldn’t help, couldn’t do.

“Coming back and taking another walk, I always feel like those familiar people and things have become strange. Xiaofeng, I often feel lonely. I don’t know which of the things I hold in my hand are real and which are fake.”

“I must climb to that supreme position. If I can’t succeed, either way, I’ll die. In this life, I can’t implicate you again.”

“Now my royal grandmother is back again, urging me to marry a *ge’er* now. If I marry you into the Prince’s manor now, I will lose the qualifications to compete for the position of Crown Prince. Regardless of whether Feng Chao or Feng Xiao ultimately sits in that position, they will not tolerate me.”

“Time is too tight, the layout must be slow and steady… Xiaofeng, wait for me for three more years. If I still don’t have confidence after three years, then…”

Then what should he do?

Let him find another man to marry?

Watch him marry someone else and have children with them?

Feng Yue couldn’t even think about it. It felt as if dense thorns had grown out of his bones, stabbing him until he couldn’t breathe.

“No! You can’t find another man!” The more Feng Yue thought about it, the angrier he became, suddenly turning over and getting up. With time so pressing, what was he sleeping for?!

So he put on his outer robe and went to the study, working late into the night.

Wei Xiaofeng smacked his lips, dreaming of eating all kinds of delicious food. Many *ge’er* were fawning over him, praising him for being beautiful, kind, and generous, all vying to be his friend.

After a good night’s sleep, Wei Xiaofeng ate a hearty breakfast again, and his mood was extremely good.

A chief maid hurried over from a distance and bowed to them. “Greetings to the two young masters. The carriages are already prepared at the back gate. Please follow me.”

Wei Xiaofeng was puzzled. “Where’s A-Yue *gege*?”

The chief maid stood to the side without speaking.

After a moment of stalemate, Sang Cai really didn’t want to stay in this strange place. He snorted coldly, “Then I’ll just go with her. Let’s see what tricks your A-Yue *gege* can play!”

If he dared to play any tricks, he would poison him to death.

Wei Xiaofeng smiled awkwardly, not knowing why these two were so at odds.

Following the chief maid, they turned seven corners and eight turns, finally arriving at the back alley of the Prince’s manor. Sure enough, there were carriages parked there, but there were two.

Just as Sang Cai was about to follow Wei Xiaofeng into the first carriage, he was stopped by the chief maid.

“Young Master Sang, please get in the carriage in the back.”

Sang Cai felt that they were up to something. “My young master and I are together. Why can’t we ride in the same carriage?”

“A-Cai, it’s nothing. You go to the carriage in the back.”

“But…”

Wei Xiaofeng patted his shoulder reassuringly, then took the lead and climbed into the first carriage. There was already someone sitting inside. Wei Xiaofeng didn’t look closely and was about to greet them with a bright smile.

But after seeing the person clearly, his smile froze on his face, and his legs went weak. He slumped down on the bench.

Feng Yue sat upright, his dark ink-like eyes fixed on him. In Wei Xiaofeng’s eyes, it seemed as if he was about to be skinned alive.

Shivering, Wei Xiaofeng suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly performed a respectful greeting. “Your Highness, may you be blessed.”

“Why are you so nervous?”

“Your, Your Highness’s divine power is unparalleled, making this commoner stand in awe, trembling with fear!”

“This is the second time you and I have shared a carriage.”

“Yes! Hic!” Wei Xiaofeng was so nervous that he hiccuped.

Feng Yue pulled the bell, and the carriage slowly started moving forward.

Wei Xiaofeng sat stiffly like a wooden sculpture, desperately suppressing the urge to hiccup, but he could only keep the sound to a minimum, completely unable to control himself.

Feng Yue sighed inwardly. He wasn’t angry at Xiaofeng, but rather at the distance between them, which made him feel helpless.

He poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. Wei Xiaofeng looked up at him with a pale face, at a loss.

Why would a Prince hand him tea?

Was he going to be poisoned to death?!

“Your Highness, spare my life!” Wei Xiaofeng knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the ground, his whole body shaking like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind.

Feng Yue couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration. He wasn’t angry with Xiaofeng, but with the gap between them, which left him helpless.

“What have you done that requires me to spare your life?”

Wei Xiaofeng’s breath hitched. He choked out, “Borrowing, borrowing your manor, Hic! Is, is no one else’s fault, Hic! Your Highness can punish me, don’t implicate others! Hic!”

“Others? Who are you referring to?”

“Ah?” Wei Xiaofeng was unsure at this moment. Did he know or not? Was he just teasing him again?

Feng Yue leaned closer to his ear and asked, “Is it your A-Yue *gege*?”

“What, what have you done to him? Hic!” Wei Xiaofeng was almost crying, once again uncontrollably hiccuping. He had to cover his mouth tightly.

“Put your hand down, don’t cover your mouth,” Feng Yue commanded.

Wei Xiaofeng lowered his hand with tears in his eyes. Feng Yue used his thumb and forefinger to grip his chin, feeding him the tea drop by drop.

The swallowed water trickled down the corners of his mouth to his neck, disappearing into his collar, wetting a patch.

Feng Yue’s lower abdomen tightened, and he released him with a burning palm. Only feeding him water, acting like he’s been violated!

Wei Xiaofeng slumped to the ground, wiping away tears. “What have you done to A-Yue *gege*?”

“You’re so concerned about him? Is he your lover?”

Wei Xiaofeng’s face flushed red. “Of course not!”

“Sit up. I don’t like you talking while kneeling.”

“Oh…” Wei Xiaofeng sniffed, sitting timidly on the stool. After a long silence, he mustered up his courage and looked up to ask him, “Then A-Yue *gege*…”

“I haven’t done anything to him. I just sent him out to handle some matters. This Prince has a very good private relationship with him. He is this Prince’s *death warrior*. It’s not easy to raise a *death warrior* who resembles this Prince. I won’t let him die unless absolutely necessary.”

Hearing this, Wei Xiaofeng broke into a smile through his tears. “Then does that mean he can live for a very, very long time?”

“If he died, would you be sad?”

“Of course!” Wei Xiaofeng said solemnly, “He saved my life, and I haven’t had time to repay him.”

“Is that all?”

“It’s not just that,” Wei Xiaofeng suddenly realized something and said in surprise, “I’m not hiccuping anymore!”

“Why are you being so silly?” Feng Yue’s words were filled with concealed pity and affection.

Hearing this, Wei Xiaofeng felt that this cold-faced King was scolding him for being stupid.

He also knew that he wasn’t very smart. If he was really that smart, he wouldn’t always be disliked.

“You just said that it’s not just that regarding him, continue.”

Wei Xiaofeng pursed his lips and thought seriously before saying, “Although I only spent a short time with him, he treated me sincerely and considered me a friend. Between friends, I only hope that the other person is well and that he can be safe and sound.”

“From what I know of him, he must like you. Otherwise, why would he risk his life to save you and hide you in the Prince’s backyard?”