Chapter 101 "No...!"
Cui Yao looked up at him, her pale eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he had asked a stupid question.
It was taken for granted to the extreme, to the point that Ji Chengning even questioned whether it was perfectly natural for him to live in his cousin's room.
Ji Chengnin rubbed his sore neck and suddenly asked, "If I sleep in your room, where will you sleep?" He asked sincerely, "In my room?"
He's clearly pretending to be stupid, Cui Yao thought to herself.
He raised his hand and casually placed it on Ji Chengnin's shoulder, massaging it with just the right amount of pressure. "Does it hurt?"
Ji Chengning dodged his hand immediately.
I was utterly shocked, as if I had seen a ghost.
When did my cousin become so adept at touching him?
Cui Yao was startled by his misstep, but then realized what he meant and slowly lowered her hand.
Meeting Ji Chengnin's strange gaze, Cui Yao said softly, "I'm just worried that the general might not forget his official duties even after returning to his room at night, working from dawn till dusk and ruining his health."
Ji Chengnin pointed to the sky and the ground, "There is absolutely no such possibility."
It's absurd that someone as lazy as him, who even makes excuses to get up early to go to the government office for roll call and wishes he could take thirty days off a month, would be worried about working tirelessly for official duties. Ji Chengning couldn't help but laugh.
Cui Yao looked at him quietly.
Ji Chengning could only see disbelief on his cousin's face.
He wanted to leave, but was unwilling to offend his cousin. He stood silently for a moment, then sat down and picked up a book to read.
Ji Chengnin: "Stop, stop, stop! I'm going to sleep in your room, I'm going now."
Cui Yao then put down the document he had only read halfway through, saying, "Please, Your Highness."
She still spoke softly and gently, displaying a considerate and gentle demeanor.
Ji Chengning held his breath, knowing that Cui Yao was worried about his health. He took two deep breaths and strode out.
They remained silent the entire way.
Back at the barracks, Ji Chengnin, with extremely mixed feelings, pushed open the bedroom door. "Creak—"
Ji Chengnin was filled with trepidation, though he didn't know what he was trepidated about. He scanned the bedroom, which was small and even more cramped with two beds crammed in—wait, two beds?
Ji Chengning felt a sudden weight lift from his shoulders.
On second thought, Cui Yao certainly wouldn't be so inconsiderate, and he realized he had been overthinking things.
Cui Yao stared intently at Ji Chengnin, taking in his expression. Seeing that he was relieved, she couldn't tell whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
Anxin was pleased that the young marquis was a gentleman in matters of love and sex, but was disappointed that Ji Chengning had no desire to share a bed with him.
My feelings are hard to express.
A curtain was hung between the two beds, which completely covered both sides when it was lowered.
I hadn't felt tired while handling official business, but as soon as I saw the bed, I was overcome with drowsiness. After a quick wash, I got into bed fully clothed and went to rest.
He reached out and pulled the curtain open, instantly drawing a line between Chu and Han.
Cui Yao remained standing in the same spot.
"Ah Yao," Ji Chengnin's voice sounded muffled, "get some rest."
"……yes."
Cui Yao bent down and blew out the lamp.
The candlelight flickered for a moment before plunging into darkness.
Zhou Yu's barracks were not far away. Seeing that Cui Yao's bedroom had been plunged into darkness, he turned his head expressionlessly.
At least, he clenched his fingers so tightly that the back of his hand turned blue, and at least he managed to persuade Xiao Ning to come back.
Xiao Ning, he, of, Xiao, Ning.
...
Ji Chengning stayed in Cui Yao's room for five days. At first, he was worried that Zhong Mei would suddenly come looking for him, but whether it was because he was busy or because he was unusually understanding, Zhong Mei did not appear for five days.
Although he was spared the fatigue of dealing with people, Ji Chengning's brush left black marks on the documents. The two were very close, and a day apart felt like three autumns. He had to admit that he missed Zhong Mei a little bit, to the point that he was distracted for a moment.
It was Cui Yao who noticed his unusual behavior and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Ji Chengning suddenly snapped back to reality.
Meeting his cousin's worried eyes, which held a complex mix of emotions, Ji Chengnin touched his nose and said, "It's nothing."
lie.
Cui Yao thought coldly.
Is the Crown Prince perhaps thinking of Zhou Yu?
But he didn't ask.
As night fell, Cui Yao and Ji Chengnin returned side by side. Unfortunately, Chen Jian suddenly arrived, saying that he had something to ask Cui Langjun to come over.
Cui Yao looked at Ji Chengnin, who found it somewhat amusing. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Cui Yao then went with Chen Jian.
He then returned to his bedroom alone.
It was pitch black all around, and the bed curtains had been drawn at some point, making it so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
"Swish—"
Something made a noise.
Ji Chengnin turned around abruptly.
A tall, slender figure suddenly pressed down on his body!
Their clothes rubbed together, their bodies intertwined, and in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged several blows.
The man moved with lightning speed, raising his hand and pressing two cold fingers sharply towards the man's throat!
Ji Chengning raised his hand to block, but the hand seemed to have anticipated his movement. It instantly changed direction and covered the back of his head, its five fingers tightening to cushion him.
The next moment, he leaned down and pressed down.
They fit together perfectly, breathing in unison.
"Meimei," the fingers on the back of his head were restless, rubbing and pressing, even digging their way into his hair. Ji Chengning was half annoyed and half amused. "What's gotten into you today?"
The breath blowing on my cheeks is very itchy.
Zhong Mei's other hand traced down his neck, her voice low and eerie, "You've been staying at your cousin's place every night," she whispered, "have you already forgotten me?"
Ji Chengnin laughed in anger, "Yes, may I ask your name and what urgent business brings you here so late at night? I have neither money nor life."
"Hmph." Long, cold fingers tapped Ji Chengnin's chest through his clothes. "Really, heartless."
“Young Marquis, you’re heartless, yet you insist on coming to him,” Ji Chengning leaned closer, his nose almost touching the mask. “Then you must be…” He twisted a few strands of hair around his fingers and tightened them slightly, but he wasn’t annoyed. He leaned even closer, his voice laced with laughter. “I was just joking with you. Don’t make me angry, okay?”
Zhong Mei ignored him.
Head tilted to one side.
A damp, cold breath brushed against my earlobe.
Then, it continued downwards.
Ji Chengnin's eyes widened suddenly, "No...!"
He reached out to push him away, but Zhong Mei grabbed him and pressed him against his shoulder. The latter raised a pair of clear and enchanting eyes and asked in a soft voice, "Cheng Ning, don't you miss me at all?"
His breath was warm; even someone as cold as him could exhale with warmth.
Ji Chengnin looked up, panting and trembling, unable to bear it any longer.
Cui Yao could push the door open and come in at any moment.
This realization caused Ji Chengnin's cheeks to flush a wet red.
Zhong Mei then maliciously breathed on it, "You're trembling, Your Highness. What are you afraid of? Afraid your cousin will see?" He made a half-hearted, almost imperceptible touch, his breath damp and misty. "You care about him a lot?"
“I,” Ji Chengnin gritted his teeth, plunging his long fingers into Zhong Mei’s hair, and said fiercely, “I have a sense of shame!”
Zhong Mei chuckled softly.
After an unknown amount of time, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.
Zhong Mei pulled him aside and kissed him, but the young marquis pushed him away with a grimace.
How dirty is it!
Zhong Mei smiled again and touched Ji Chengning's face, "Young Master, don't forget me."
He left satisfied only after Ji Chengning kicked him in the shin.
Ji Chengning immediately took off the clothes he had just worn, quickly tidied himself up, rolled up his clothes, changed into clean nightgowns, and then sat down.
"Crunch."
The door opened again.
Ji Chengnin's body suddenly stiffened.
By the moonlight, I saw my cousin slowly walk in.
Ji Chengnin didn't know what he was thinking. After being glanced at by his cousin, he immediately tried to cover it up by asking, "Where, what were you doing?"
But Ji Chengning immediately realized how stupid his question was. Cui Yao smelled strongly of soapberry; if she hadn't gone to take a bath, where else could she have gone?
Cui Yao lit the lamp, and glancing at Ji Chengning out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed something and leaned closer to ask, "Your Highness's face is so red, are you feeling unwell?"
Feeling unwell?
He was so comfortable, it was almost too comfortable!
Ji Chengning cursed Zhong Mei in his heart.
Ji Chengning quickly brushed away from Cui Yao's hand. In the blink of an eye, Cui Yao's fingers, already calloused, brushed against his cheek, making Ji Chengning's back tremble as if bitten by an insect.
Cui Yao looked puzzled. He glanced at the clothes on the bed and, as if to break the awkward silence, said, "I'll send them out for the servants to wash."
"No need!" Ji Chengnin jumped up instantly.
Cui Yao stared at him in astonishment.
Ji Chengning knew he must be acting very strangely in his cousin's eyes, so he chuckled dryly and said, "Ayao, have you had dinner yet? I haven't either, so let's have dinner together."
Zhong Mei left swiftly, and is probably hiding somewhere watching the commotion now!
Cui Yao's expression became even stranger, but Ji Chengnin pushed her along, so she had no choice but to go out with him.
The lights were dim, and Ji Chengning was in a hurry to leave, so he naturally didn't see the silent smile that his cousin was giving him behind him.
At this moment, in a dark room.
A muscular man pointed to the map, “This is where Ji Chengning stays every night in the guardhouse of that Cui family’s escort officer. Ji Chengning doesn’t like to have guards on watch at night, so the guards are mostly…” He pointed to a courtyard not far away, “This is where the Crown Prince is guarded. Be extremely careful not to disturb the Crown Prince’s guards.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people present were somewhat strange, but they quickly became self-righteous. One of them lewdly grinned, "I've seen Ji Chengnin. That young marquis has a rare and handsome appearance. I was wondering how a grown man could be so good-looking. Turns out he's a rabbit..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted sharply by another voice, "Shut up."
He immediately shut his mouth, looking at the leader with some fear.
"I didn't spend 100,000 taels of gold just to listen to your gossip," the leader said coldly.
"Yes, yes, yes," the man nodded and bowed. "Don't worry," he said, reaching out and making a sharp slash across his throat. "Tonight at three-quarters past midnight, we will bring you Ji Chengning's head."
The leader sneered, "That's for the best."
At two quarters past the hour, inside the barracks.
Ji Chengning and Cui Yao had just finished their dinner and were about to blow out the lamp when a guard rushed over and said, "General! His Highness the Crown Prince has a fever."
Is His Highness ill?
Ji Chengning stood up abruptly and then subconsciously looked at Cui Yao.
I regretted it after watching it.
Why is he looking at A Yao for no reason?
Cui Yao noticed his gaze and, being very understanding, said, "Your Highness, please go quickly. Your Highness is a good medicine for His Highness. With Your Highness here, His Highness will feel happy."
Ji Chengning felt he should say something in this situation, so he said dryly, "Ah Yao is really understanding."
That's so strange!
They were almost inside Zhou Yu's courtyard when Ji Chengning realized something was wrong and he slapped his forehead.
Cui Yao is not his legal wife, and His Highness the Crown Prince is not a concubine he is vying for favor with, so why bother with all this!
"Cough cough cough—"
Ji Chengnin strode inside.
The curtains were drawn low, and the room was filled with the bitter smell of medicine. Ji Chengning quickly stepped forward and took Zhou Yulu's hand that was exposed outside.
It was scalding hot to the touch, yet so pale.
It was like a withered tree that had been stripped of its bark, leaving only a pale core, and then set ablaze.
Ji Chengnin's heart tightened.
“You’ve taken your medicine, don’t worry,” Zhou Yu said weakly, seeing what he was thinking. “I just want to see you.” He sat up slightly.
He forced a smile at Ji Chengning, the smile extremely bitter, "Xiao Ning, I can't even do this little thing well, am I very useless?"
Ji Chengning hurriedly took a cloak and draped it over him, tucking in even the corners. He stared intently at Zhou Yu, saying, "What are you saying? Everyone gets sick sometimes. I was doused with horse blood and had a fever for two days. Your Highness caught a cold from the long journey and you call it useless, but what do you call me?"
He reached out to touch Zhou Yu's face, which was also burning hot, bringing a touch of color to the Crown Prince's usually pale cheeks.
However, it was an ominous flush.
Ji Chengnin sighed, "You're always overthinking things."
But I couldn't help but let my mind wander.
Zhou Yu thought to himself.
Xiao Ning used to belong to him, and only to him. Time flies like water, and how come there are so many people around Xiao Ning after only a short time together!
Zhou Yu stared at Ji Chengnin's face, wanting to touch it, but the distance was just right, just too close for him to reach out and touch it.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yu lowered his head and coughed violently, "Cough cough cough cough!"
Heartbreaking.
Ji Chengnin grabbed him and asked, "What's wrong?" He immediately told the servant, "Quickly bring the medicinal tea!"
A servant brought over a cup of scarlet liquid, its bitterness overflowing.
Ji Chengning held Zhou Yu in one arm and took the teacup with the other, bringing it to Zhou Yu's lips.
A hazy heat rose up, blurring Zhou Yu's vision.
Looking up at Ji Chengnin, the latter's face seemed distant and uncertain, as if seen through clouds.
He finished his tea while Ji Chengning was supporting him, half-closed his eyes, and asked in a low voice, "You've come, Lord Cui isn't unhappy, is he?"
"Um?"
Ji Chengnin paused slightly in thought.
Seeing that he didn't understand, Zhou Yu couldn't help but laugh.
A beautiful woman rolls up the beaded curtain...
I don't know who I hate.
He leaned back wearily, his eyes meeting Ji Chengnin's handsome and sharp features.
This was quite different from his frail health.
He was suddenly filled with endless unease, which also seemed to be mixed with jealousy.
He was jealous of Ji Chengning's vitality and longevity, while he himself was destined to die young. In the decades or centuries that followed, as time passed, Ji Chengning would slowly forget him, until he could no longer imagine that there was such a person who so desperately resented and admired him!
Such injustice.
Zhou Yu stared at Ji Chengnin's crimson lips and suddenly said, "Xiao Ning, if I were to die," he looked at Ji Chengnin, "Xiao Ning, would you grieve for me?"
You said you could.
Even if it's just to fool me.
If he could convey the pain and despair he felt at this moment to Ji Chengnin for even a moment, just a moment, he would gladly die a thousand deaths.
“Your Highness,” Ji Chengning’s eyes trembled. He paused, then said, “You will not die.” His fingers clenched even tighter, as if he were speaking to Zhou Yu or to himself. “You are the Crown Prince. You have the best doctors in the world and the rarest medicinal herbs to treat your illness. You will not die.”
Yes, that's it.
Looking at Ji Chengnin's lips, which were gradually turning pale, Zhou Yu thought.
His hot, wet fingers gripped Ji Chengning tightly, leaving wet streaks on the back of his hand. "I will die, you're lying to me," he murmured, his low, husky voice brushing against Ji Chengning's ear, sounding just like a water ghost stretching out its arms to a person on the shore. "Xiao Ning, I will definitely die soon."
So, please have a little more pity for me.
Even if it's just a little, while I'm still alive.
Ji Chengnin stared intently at Zhou Yu.
His eyes were bloodshot, he trembled, then clenched his teeth and suddenly laughed out loud.
He said in a light tone, "Then I'm doomed. None of the princes like me now. No matter who succeeds to the throne, I won't have a good ending. Oh dear, who knows, I might be following in Your Highness's footsteps soon after you're gone."
He suddenly moved closer to Zhou Yu, their features magnified in front of each other in an instant!
Her tone remained gentle as she asked, "Ayu, how do you think they'll kill me? Behead me? Slowly slice me to death? Tear me apart by five horses?"
"You're not allowed to say anything more!" Zhou Yu's chest heaved violently.
This time, Ji Chengnin didn't indulge him. "You're not allowed to say it either!"
Ji Chengning's fingers trembled as he held Zhou Yu's hand. His breathing was rapid, but his face was as pale as paper. "You only know that my words are hurtful, but don't you know that your constant talk about your life and death hurts me?"
Zhou Yu stared intently at Ji Chengnin, and suddenly tears streamed down her face.
She murmured, "Xiao Ning, don't be angry with me. I will never, ever say it again."
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Author's note: A red envelope will be given out in this chapter. Goodnight!
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