TPATTHU Chapter 88

Chapter 88: This is the Last Time…

Chapter 88 This is the Last Time…

They sped along the road, arriving directly at the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Zhinian bypassed all the formalities and brought Shen Zhejiang back to Yanqing Palace. The hall had been decorated: “囍” (double happiness) paper cuttings were pasted on the outer room’s windows, dragon and phoenix red candles burned brightly, and a plate of jujubes and peanuts sat quietly.

Xiao Zhinian stepped into the inner chamber, placed Shen Zhejiang on the mandarin duck wedding quilt, and turned to take two wine cups from the table, placing one in Shen Zhejiang’s hand.

“Three years ago, I paid respects to your ancestors with you, Grand Tutor, but we were missing drinking the nuptial wine.” Xiao Zhinian gazed intently at Shen Zhejiang, as if he wanted to engrave every line of his face into his heart. “Let’s continue that today.”

With that, he took out a small bottle from his sleeve, filled Shen Zhejiang’s cup, and then poured himself a cup.

The clear liquid shimmered with small ripples in the candlelight.

Shen Zhejiang immediately felt uneasy. This wasn’t wine; there was no wine smell. He asked, “What is this?”

Xiao Zhinian grasped his wrist, forcefully entwining their arms. “Knowing you can’t drink alcohol, I added something else.”

He brought the cup to Shen Zhejiang’s lips, signaling him to drink.

Shen Zhejiang didn’t drink, staring at him and asking, “What is this?”

“…” Xiao Zhinian sighed inwardly. Shen Zhejiang was always like this, insisting on knowing everything. He paused for a moment, then leaned close to Shen Zhejiang’s ear, breathing hotly as he slowly said, “Something to let you and I enjoy tonight to the fullest.”

“What…”

The “what” and the liquid in the cup flowed into Shen Zhejiang’s throat, all landing in his stomach. Because it wasn’t wine, being colorless and tasteless, even being forced to drink wasn’t unpleasant.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhinian finished his own cup, casually tossing the two empty cups outside, where a loud crash could be heard, like a thunderclap out of nowhere.

Shen Zhejiang’s pupils widened slightly, and he raised his hand to claw at his throat, but Xiao Zhinian moved faster, twisting his wrist behind his back.

“I had Zhao Taiyi specially concoct this medicine. The effects are quite strong. Just a small sip will keep you playing until dawn, but it won’t worsen your illness,” Xiao Zhinian said. He had practiced martial arts for a long time, and his fingertips had a thin layer of calluses. He stroked Shen Zhejiang’s face from the corner of his eye down, causing Shen Zhejiang to tremble. “I trimmed my nails and prepared the medicine. If you cooperate, Grand Tutor… perhaps it will hurt a little at first, but it will get better and better.”

“I won’t do these things with you…”

With both hands restrained, Shen Zhejiang was incensed by these excessive and unbearable words, kicking out at Xiao Zhinian.

However, Xiao Zhinian didn’t dodge or evade, taking the kick squarely on the thigh. The pain that spread throughout his body made him reveal a satisfied smile.

He thought he was probably insane to actually enjoy Shen Zhejiang’s resistance.

“Beast!”

The gradually spreading fever caused a hazy mist to appear in Shen Zhejiang’s eyes, and his mind was in chaos.

No… he knew clearly that he couldn’t, shaking his head to drive away the wave that was about to drown his reason.

Xiao Zhinian, I am your royal uncle…

He grasped at this like a lifeline in a vast ocean, desperately chanting it, but pain and pleasure intertwined, searing him, and finally, a giant, towering wave crashed down on him.

He felt Xiao Zhinian lean over him, and then they both fell onto the bed, the dark red silk swaying like chaotic branches.

In the end, Shen Zhejiang couldn’t withstand the drug’s effects. He wrapped his arms around Xiao Zhinian’s lean, muscular waist, and in a daze, he wanted to find something to relieve the heat.

Then he saw Xiao Zhinian’s lips opening and closing, and without thinking, he proactively moved forward.

“I’m sorry…”

He heard Xiao Zhinian, in extreme pain, panting and muttering these inexplicable words.

An apology? Why apologize?

Before he could think, Xiao Zhinian murmured again, “This is the last time…”

Love or hate.

This really was the last time.

Xiao Zhinian kissed Shen Zhejiang’s thin lips. It was clearly so forceful and greedy, but at the deepest part, it turned gentle, filled with unspoken love. Shen Zhejiang felt it and kissed him back, sometimes like rolling waves, and sometimes like a gently flowing stream.

An entangled night.

As everything was about to end, Xiao Zhinian still refused to let Shen Zhejiang go. He simply held Shen Zhejiang and changed positions, letting him sit on top of him.

This way, Xiao Zhinian could completely see the purple marks he had left on Shen Zhejiang’s skin, see Shen Zhejiang’s exhausted and enraptured appearance because of him.

“Mmm…”

Shen Zhejiang’s moist eyelashes drooped, and he glanced down at Xiao Zhinian, the tear tracks at the corners of his eyes not yet wiped away, shimmering with spring light.

Just this one glance made Xiao Zhinian curse inwardly and flip Shen Zhejiang over again, pressing him into the bedding.

–

When Shen Zhejiang woke up, it was two days later. The red candles were still burning brightly, but the space beside him was empty, without Xiao Zhinian’s figure.

He propped himself up, the soreness pulling at every part of his body. He covered his chest and coughed, and something cold touched his skin. He looked down.

On his finger was a dragon scale ring.

“…”

What was going on?

Wasn’t this Xiao Zhinian’s thing? How could it be on him?

As Shen Zhejiang was about to take it off, he heard Liu Bao’s inquiring voice from outside the bed curtains: “Your Majesty, are you awake?”

…Your Majesty?

Who was he calling?

Xiao Zhinian wasn’t here.

The confusion in Shen Zhejiang’s eyes kept him sitting on the bed for a long time, until Liu Bao carefully lifted the curtain, lowered his head, not daring to look at Shen Zhejiang, and said again, “Your Majesty has slept for so many days, you must be hungry. There is warm porridge in the kitchen. Should this servant bring it?”

“Xiao…”

Shen Zhejiang’s throat hadn’t been moistened, and it was dry and hoarse, as if smoking. He couldn’t even speak. Liu Bao quickly brought hot water and served him to drink.

Finally relieved, Shen Zhejiang pushed away the teacup, frowned slightly, and asked him, “Where did Xiao Zhinian go?”

Liu Bao stammered, “To the, to the Northern Borders. The Northern Barbarians are in fierce battle with our dynasty. He led the troops out, and fears that he will never return.”

Shen Zhejiang pressed, “…What do you mean, never return?”

The Northern Borders were such a dangerous place, where swords had no eyes, and a careless move could cost a life. Xiao Zhinian was doing well in the Capital City; why did he run so far?

Remembering something important, Liu Bao ran to the side to rummage through a cabinet, and then returned to Shen Zhejiang’s side, holding a roll of bright yellow silk with both hands, presenting it to Shen Zhejiang: “This is the abdication edict. He…”

Because it was so bizarre, and the Yan dynasty had never seen a junior abdicate in favor of a senior, Liu Bao didn’t know how to address Xiao Zhinian for a moment.

Shen Zhejiang seemed to guess it. Before Liu Bao could finish speaking, he snatched it, unfolded it, and looked.

This was an imperial decree that had been drafted long ago. Xiao Zhinian had publicly revealed to the officials that Shen Zhejiang was the child of the late Empress Dowager Jing, and had even lowered himself to enlist in the Northern Borders.

“!!”

Xiao Zhinian actually knew everything!

When did he find out about this?

Out of guilt, he refused to say anything, but deliberately pushed forward the date chosen by the Directorate of Astrology. Had he planned all this long ago?

Suddenly, Xiao Zhinian’s murmur in his ear echoed in his mind: This is the last time… He understood.

Shen Zhejiang’s knuckles turned white. He couldn’t help it and threw the edict straight out.