Content Warning: Sexual Intercourse
“Chengjun, shall we do something else?” Lou Jing said, pulling open Xiao Chengjun’s powder blue underclothes. His hand wandered over Xiao Chengjun’s chest, gently kneading the soft flesh under his fingers.
“Some… something else?” Xiao Chengjun’s breath came in short gasps. He widened his dark eyes and stared at Lou Jing. He understood what Lou Jing meant. He frowned slightly and pushed himself into a sitting position with one hand, then circled an arm around the back of Lou Jing’s neck, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips. “I originally thought that we should only go all the way after I officially married you again. It would be unfair to you otherwise.”
Xiao Chengjun felt his heart turn to mush as he looked at Lou Jing. Of course he wanted to be more intimate with Lou Jing. It was just that… right now, he couldn’t give Lou Jing the status of being his wife. Wasn’t it demeaning to Lou Jing to do this?
Lou Jing stared at him in surprise. He had just realised that his husband still didn’t know what exactly he was fantasizing about. The corners of his lips lifted in amusement. “What nonsense is this about it being unfair? If two people are willing, then…” he bent forward and took a blushing pink ear between his lips. “We’re having an illicit affair now, remember?” he whispered naughtily into Xiao Chengjun’s ear.
“An… an illicit affair?” Xiao Chengjun trembled slightly, and his blushing pink ear turned bright red.
Lou Jing laughed gently as he reached out a hand toward the side of the bed and pulled out a small black box from the pile of outer clothes there. Plum blossoms could clearly be seen depicted on the exterior of the box. Lou Jing had developed the habit of bringing ointment for injuries with him everywhere he went from his days on the battlefield. After he left the Imperial Palace, this little black box had never left his side.
“Chengjun, let’s go all the way, shall we?” Lou Jing said softly, kissing that red little ear.
“Okay…” Xiao Chengjun replied in an equally soft voice. He changed their positions, pressing Lou Jing down below him. He couldn’t help smiling as he looked at Lou Jing’s gorgeous smile, that smile which could charm all of existence into doing as he said. For his future Empress to have to be the one to suggest this, he had really failed as a husband. He reached out to pull apart Lou Jing’s snow white underclothes, revealing his smooth, well-muscled chest. He planted a soft kiss on that fair skin.
Lou Jing had practiced his family’s Internal martial arts since he was young, and every inch of him was toned and well-proportioned as a result. The smooth lines of his muscles flowed gracefully into each other, and when Xiao Chengjun caressed them, he could feel how firm and supple they were, as if Lou Jing were a lithe snow leopard. It was incredibly enticing.
Xiao Chengjun slowly kissed his way down Lou Jing’s throat, and Lou Jing extended a hand, tracing a line down Xiao Chengjun’s back all the way down his waist. Lou Jing inserted his hand into Min Wang’s underpants and grabbed hold of those two round mounds that he’d had naughty fantasies about for some time. He caressed them gently, then kneaded them, the pressure he exerted increasing as Xiao Chengjun’s kiss became more and more passionate. Slowly, his hand slid toward that secret place between the two mounds.
“Nn?” Xiao Chengjun got a shock, and raised his head to look at Lou Jing.
Lou Jing smiled lightly, then flipped Min Wang over with force, pressing him under himself. In the split second that Xiao Chengjun’s legs were in the air, Lou Jing nimbly pulled off the hindrance that was Xiao Chengjun’s underpants and positioned himself in between Xiao Chengjun’s legs. He reached for the small black ointment box with a wicked little smile.
“Zhuoyu, you…” It was only now that Xiao Chengjun realised what his Consort meant by “going all the way” – Lou Jing wanted his body! “No, this won’t do – I’m the husband here!”
“Oh yes, Dianxia is the husband,” Lou Jing said, using a finger to dig out a gob of ointment from the black box. “It’s only… right now we’re not officially married, and if Dianxia wants to be fair to me, then this is how it should be.” After he said this, he kissed Xiao Chengjun, extinguishing any objection that he might have had. That well-lubricated finger moved to that secret part of Xiao Chengjun’s body, circled around it, massaged it gently, and finally extended halfway into that little opening.
“Zwqt…” Wljb Jtfcupec ugbjcfv rboais jcv bqfcfv tlr fsfr klvf. Lf mbeivc’a gfoeaf ktja Obe Alcu tjv rjlv; tf kjr lcvffv atf teryjcv, jcv atlr kbeiv yf rb fnfc lc atf oeaegf. Lbkfnfg, tf kjr ecjyif ab ulnf Obe Alcu atf rajaer bo tlr ifulalwjaf klof cbk, jcv atlr kjr ecvbeyafvis ecojlg ab Obe Alcu. Ca atf rjwf alwf, tf cbcfatfifrr ofia ilxf rbwfatlcu kjrc’a delaf gluta.
Min Wang Dianxia might have felt that something was off about the whole situation, but his mind was in a haze and his reflexes were much slower than usual thanks to that finger that was stimulating his behind. He couldn’t form a cogent argument anymore, and could only let that finger move further into his body.
“Chengjun, someone spoke to me about making a profit from the Qinghe canal repairs. This isn’t anything aboveboard, and I’m afraid I might do things that are even more improper in future,” Lou Jing said. He gently wiggled the finger that was inside Xiao Chengjun, and leaned down to plant soft kisses on Xiao Chengjun’s chest. “I’m afraid that one day you will suspect me, avoid me, and lump me together with the unscrupulous ministers and traitors of the Imperial Court. I’m afraid that when you ascend the throne, you’ll marry someone else.”
Xiao Chengjun stared at him in surprise. So in doing this, Lou Jing wasn’t just giving in to the urges of the flesh, but was also pushing his boundaries, trying to confirm Xiao Chengjun’s love for him again and again. He couldn’t help smiling bitterly; it was true that he couldn’t give Lou Jing any solid confirmation of his love for him in this sorry state. Well, if this was what Lou Jing wanted, what Lou Jing needed, then he would give it, so that his love could have peace of mind.
Thinking this, Xiao Chengjun’s body started to relax.
Lou Jing’s lips curved into a smile, and he pushed a second finger in. At the same time, he took a pink little bean on Xiao Chengjun’s chest into his mouth, licking it and using his teeth to gently pull against it.
Xiao Chengjun’s brows knitted together, and he turned his head to one side, pressing his lips together to stop himself from making a sound.
Lou Jing didn’t have any prior experience either, and whatever he knew, he’d learnt from that book from the palace. He remembered what the first chapter had said: Great pain is felt by the receiving party during the first instance of sexual relations. The dominant party must proceed slowly and with caution…
Lou Jing didn’t dare to force his way in, and he focused diligently on expanding that tight little hole. At the same time, he trailed kisses from Xiao Chengjun’s ear all the way down to his lower abdomen, trying to soothe Xiao Chengjun’s discomfort.
Lou Jing’s tender ministrations were like a balm for Xiao Chengjun’s fears, and they slowly faded away. He stared at the fabric suspended between the posters of the bed. Having a foreign object invade his body was not pleasant, but his body was starting to feel hotter and hotter as Lou Jing continued to work his fingers in his rear end. He couldn’t resist reaching out to touch himself in front, but a slender hand prevented him from doing so.
Xiao Chengjun’s body could now take in four fingers, and Lou Jing dug out some more ointment from the box, taking care to spread it out evenly in that secret place. He caught hold of Xiao Chengjun’s wandering hand, which had been trying to reach toward the front of his body, then intertwined their fingers together and pressed his hand down next to the pillow. Lou Jing’s breath was a little ragged now. “Bear with it – this might hurt a bit,” he whispered.
Lou Jing was covered in sweat. Xiao Chengjun saw this and knew that he had also been suffering as he endured the wait. He bit down on his lip and nodded slowly.
Lou Jing reached out to remove that lip from his teeth. “Don’t bite your lip. If it hurts, bite me,” he said tenderly. As he spoke, he leaned down, positioning his shoulder next to Xiao Chengjun’s lips, thrusting into Xiao Chengjun’s body at the same time.
“Ahhh!” Xiao Chengjun immediately tightened his grip on Lou Jing’s hand. His neck craned forward involuntarily, and his whole body started trembling uncontrollably. “It hurts… it really hurts… mmph… pull… pull out… ah…”
Lou Jing gently caressed the top of Xiao Chengjun’s head and rained soft kisses down on his face. “Yuanlang, Yuanlang, don’t be scared,” he said, trying to comfort the person below him.
On hearing Lou Jing address him this way, Xiao Chengjun slowly calmed down.
Lou Jing smiled and rubbed his nose against Xiao Chengjun’s. “Yuanlang…” he whispered, as he slowly pushed himself further in, burying himself completely in Xiao Chengjun’s body.
“Mmph…” Xiao Chengjun gripped the bedsheets tightly. When he was a young boy, his mother would call him ‘Yuanlang’ when he cried, and his Father Empress would also call him by this name with a warm smile. The comfort he felt on hearing himself being called by this name was carved deeply into his bones, and it was strangely able to ameliorate the pain he felt now.
Lou Jing looked at Xiao Chengjun’s face, which had gone white with pain. He hugged him tightly, feeling his heart ache for his beloved. He waited for the pain to pass, then started moving slowly and gently.
The initial pain Xiao Chengjun felt gradually subsided with the gentle caress of Lou Jing’s member inside him. After the pain reached its zenith, he no longer seemed to feel it any more, as if he were numb to the pain. What took its place was an inner heat that gradually built in his body, a heat that could only be soothed by Lou Jing’s gentle thrusts. As Lou Jing moved, he touched a certain spot within Xiao Chengjun’s body, and Xiao Chengjun shuddered involuntarily.
“Is it here?” Lou Jing asked, smiling down tenderly at him. He slowly sped up his movements, thrusting toward that particular spot.
“Mm… don’t… ah! Ahh!”
Xiao Chengjun didn’t know what he was saying any more. His mind was blank, and all he could do was let the person on top of him plunge again and again into the deepest parts of his body. It was as if he was having a long dream, and in that dream, he was a little boat, tossed around by big waves on a tempestuous sea.
The intense pleasure that coursed through their veins was nearly too much to bear. This was the first taste the two young men had of the ecstasy that could be had together, and they couldn’t resist the temptation of doing it twice more before they finally took a break.
By this point, Xiao Chengjun had no energy left to say anything. He trembled uncontrollably in Lou Jing’s arms as he lay lifelessly on the bed, and Lou Jing caressed him comfortingly over and over again, until his breathing slowed, became regular and his eyes closed in slumber. Just before Xiao Chengjun really allowed sleep to claim him, however, he mumbled something to himself. This was obviously also this person’s first time, how was it that he had such stamina?
Lou Jing couldn’t stop smiling as he observed his Min Wang Dianxia mumble himself to sleep. Le Xian was waiting on them that night and was standing outside their room. Lou Jing instructed Le Xian to prepare some warm water, and when the bath was ready, he carried the soundly sleeping Min Wang to wash up.
The next day, An Shun knocked on the door at the usual time. “Dianxia, it’s time to get up,” he said.
Xiao Chengjun opened his eyes tiredly. He tried to move a little, and couldn’t help grunting in discomfort. His body felt refreshed, and that part of him was not particularly painful, but his back and waist were aching very badly, making it hard for him to get up.
“Report to the palace that Min Wang Dianxia is not feeling well today, and will not be attending Court,” Lou Jing instructed An Shun in a clear voice. His eyes were closed, and he pulled the person who was valiantly trying to rise into his arms.
“I can’t do that!” Xiao Chengjun exclaimed, frowning and struggling to get up.
“Dianxia, if you go to Court like this, aren’t you afraid that people would know what we did last night?” Lou Jing said suggestively. He opened his eyes, then smiled as he licked the love bites on Xiao Chengjun’s neck.
Xiao Chengjun got a shock. He reached into the little chest next to the bed and pulled out a small brass mirror. The other parts of him were fine, but his neck had a number of red love bites. He glared irritably at Lou Jing, then flipped over and lay down on the bed with his back to the latter.
Lou Jing gave a low chuckle as he sent An Shun off to the palace. He then draped himself over Min Wang’s shoulders. “If you want to hide your capabilities and bide your time, you need to stop working so hard. Fish for three days and sun your nets for the other two is what I say. Otherwise the Emperor will start having suspicions again if you’re too hardworking,” he said lightly.
Xiao Chengjun ignored him and just closed his eyes. In all the years of his life, he had never been this irresponsible, but he now felt like skiving off after listening to Lou Jing’s cajoling. Since he wasn’t going to the Palace anyway, he decided he’d just catch up on the sleep he’d lost last night.
Lou Jing also lay down next to him after making sure that An Shun had left for the palace. He massaged Xiao Chengjun’s sore back and cuddled him to sleep before getting up, putting on his clothes and instructing Le Xian to watch Xiao Chengjun’s bedroom door. He then flipped over the wall and left.
“Shizi, you can leave from the side gate,” Chang En said, frowning as he tried to stop Lou Jing from leaping onto the roof.
Lou Jing raised his eyebrows. He hadn’t thought that Xiao Chengjun would even prepare a special entrance for him. “No need. I’ll just flip over the wall to avoid inconveniencing anyone,” he said. He turned back to look at the tightly shut bedroom door, smiled a small smile, and instructed Chang En to prepare his share of lunch. He then leapt over the wall and disappeared into the early light of dawn.
Lou Jing actually couldn’t bear to leave Xiao Chengjun at a time like this, but he had no choice; today was the day his Second Uncle and First Aunt were leaving the Capital, and he had to see them off.
In the Imperial Court, the Chunde Emperor held a submission in his hands. “Someone has suggested that Min Wang be the one to go to Qinghe and supervise the canal repairs,” he said in a deep voice.
The Minister of the Left Zhao Duan was stunned. He shot a furtive glance at where Xiao Chengjun usually stood, but to his surprise, it was empty. The industrious Min Wang had actually skipped a Court session? He heaved a sigh of relief nonetheless. If Xiao Chengjun had been here, there would have been no good reason to decline this suggestion, given the decisive way the Emperor had put it forward.
Content Warning: Sexual Intercourse
“Chengjun, shall we do something else?” Lou Jing said, pulling open Xiao Chengjun’s powder blue underclothes. His hand wandered over Xiao Chengjun’s chest, gently kneading the soft flesh under his fingers.
“Some… something else?” Xiao Chengjun’s breath came in short gasps. He widened his dark eyes and stared at Lou Jing. He understood what Lou Jing meant. He frowned slightly and pushed himself into a sitting position with one hand, then circled an arm around the back of Lou Jing’s neck, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips. “I originally thought that we should only go all the way after I officially married you again. It would be unfair to you otherwise.”
Xiao Chengjun felt his heart turn to mush as he looked at Lou Jing. Of course he wanted to be more intimate with Lou Jing. It was just that… right now, he couldn’t give Lou Jing the status of being his wife. Wasn’t it demeaning to Lou Jing to do this?
Lou Jing stared at him in surprise. He had just realised that his husband still didn’t know what exactly he was fantasizing about. The corners of his lips lifted in amusement. “What nonsense is this about it being unfair? If two people are willing, then…” he bent forward and took a blushing pink ear between his lips. “We’re having an illicit affair now, remember?” he whispered naughtily into Xiao Chengjun’s ear.
“An… an illicit affair?” Xiao Chengjun trembled slightly, and his blushing pink ear turned bright red.
Lou Jing laughed gently as he reached out a hand toward the side of the bed and pulled out a small black box from the pile of outer clothes there. Plum blossoms could clearly be seen depicted on the exterior of the box. Lou Jing had developed the habit of bringing ointment for injuries with him everywhere he went from his days on the battlefield. After he left the Imperial Palace, this little black box had never left his side.
“Chengjun, let’s go all the way, shall we?” Lou Jing said softly, kissing that red little ear.
“Okay…” Xiao Chengjun replied in an equally soft voice. He changed their positions, pressing Lou Jing down below him. He couldn’t help smiling as he looked at Lou Jing’s gorgeous smile, that smile which could charm all of existence into doing as he said. For his future Empress to have to be the one to suggest this, he had really failed as a husband. He reached out to pull apart Lou Jing’s snow white underclothes, revealing his smooth, well-muscled chest. He planted a soft kiss on that fair skin.
Lou Jing had practiced his family’s Internal martial arts since he was young, and every inch of him was toned and well-proportioned as a result. The smooth lines of his muscles flowed gracefully into each other, and when Xiao Chengjun caressed them, he could feel how firm and supple they were, as if Lou Jing were a lithe snow leopard. It was incredibly enticing.
Xiao Chengjun slowly kissed his way down Lou Jing’s throat, and Lou Jing extended a hand, tracing a line down Xiao Chengjun’s back all the way down his waist. Lou Jing inserted his hand into Min Wang’s underpants and grabbed hold of those two round mounds that he’d had naughty fantasies about for some time. He caressed them gently, then kneaded them, the pressure he exerted increasing as Xiao Chengjun’s kiss became more and more passionate. Slowly, his hand slid toward that secret place between the two mounds.
“Nn?” Xiao Chengjun got a shock, and raised his head to look at Lou Jing.
Lou Jing smiled lightly, then flipped Min Wang over with force, pressing him under himself. In the split second that Xiao Chengjun’s legs were in the air, Lou Jing nimbly pulled off the hindrance that was Xiao Chengjun’s underpants and positioned himself in between Xiao Chengjun’s legs. He reached for the small black ointment box with a wicked little smile.
“Zhuoyu, you…” It was only now that Xiao Chengjun realised what his Consort meant by “going all the way” – Lou Jing wanted his body! “No, this won’t do – I’m the husband here!”
“Oh yes, Dianxia is the husband,” Lou Jing said, using a finger to dig out a gob of ointment from the black box. “It’s only… right now we’re not officially married, and if Dianxia wants to be fair to me, then this is how it should be.” After he said this, he kissed Xiao Chengjun, extinguishing any objection that he might have had. That well-lubricated finger moved to that secret part of Xiao Chengjun’s body, circled around it, massaged it gently, and finally extended halfway into that little opening.
“Zwqt…” Wljb Jtfcupec ugbjcfv rboais jcv bqfcfv tlr fsfr klvf. Lf mbeivc’a gfoeaf ktja Obe Alcu tjv rjlv; tf kjr lcvffv atf teryjcv, jcv atlr kbeiv yf rb fnfc lc atf oeaegf. Lbkfnfg, tf kjr ecjyif ab ulnf Obe Alcu atf rajaer bo tlr ifulalwjaf klof cbk, jcv atlr kjr ecvbeyafvis ecojlg ab Obe Alcu. Ca atf rjwf alwf, tf cbcfatfifrr ofia ilxf rbwfatlcu kjrc’a delaf gluta.
Min Wang Dianxia might have felt that something was off about the whole situation, but his mind was in a haze and his reflexes were much slower than usual thanks to that finger that was stimulating his behind. He couldn’t form a cogent argument anymore, and could only let that finger move further into his body.
“Chengjun, someone spoke to me about making a profit from the Qinghe canal repairs. This isn’t anything aboveboard, and I’m afraid I might do things that are even more improper in future,” Lou Jing said. He gently wiggled the finger that was inside Xiao Chengjun, and leaned down to plant soft kisses on Xiao Chengjun’s chest. “I’m afraid that one day you will suspect me, avoid me, and lump me together with the unscrupulous ministers and traitors of the Imperial Court. I’m afraid that when you ascend the throne, you’ll marry someone else.”
Xiao Chengjun stared at him in surprise. So in doing this, Lou Jing wasn’t just giving in to the urges of the flesh, but was also pushing his boundaries, trying to confirm Xiao Chengjun’s love for him again and again. He couldn’t help smiling bitterly; it was true that he couldn’t give Lou Jing any solid confirmation of his love for him in this sorry state. Well, if this was what Lou Jing wanted, what Lou Jing needed, then he would give it, so that his love could have peace of mind.
Thinking this, Xiao Chengjun’s body started to relax.
Lou Jing’s lips curved into a smile, and he pushed a second finger in. At the same time, he took a pink little bean on Xiao Chengjun’s chest into his mouth, licking it and using his teeth to gently pull against it.
Xiao Chengjun’s brows knitted together, and he turned his head to one side, pressing his lips together to stop himself from making a sound.
Lou Jing didn’t have any prior experience either, and whatever he knew, he’d learnt from that book from the palace. He remembered what the first chapter had said: Great pain is felt by the receiving party during the first instance of sexual relations. The dominant party must proceed slowly and with caution…
Lou Jing didn’t dare to force his way in, and he focused diligently on expanding that tight little hole. At the same time, he trailed kisses from Xiao Chengjun’s ear all the way down to his lower abdomen, trying to soothe Xiao Chengjun’s discomfort.
Lou Jing’s tender ministrations were like a balm for Xiao Chengjun’s fears, and they slowly faded away. He stared at the fabric suspended between the posters of the bed. Having a foreign object invade his body was not pleasant, but his body was starting to feel hotter and hotter as Lou Jing continued to work his fingers in his rear end. He couldn’t resist reaching out to touch himself in front, but a slender hand prevented him from doing so.
Xiao Chengjun’s body could now take in four fingers, and Lou Jing dug out some more ointment from the box, taking care to spread it out evenly in that secret place. He caught hold of Xiao Chengjun’s wandering hand, which had been trying to reach toward the front of his body, then intertwined their fingers together and pressed his hand down next to the pillow. Lou Jing’s breath was a little ragged now. “Bear with it – this might hurt a bit,” he whispered.
Lou Jing was covered in sweat. Xiao Chengjun saw this and knew that he had also been suffering as he endured the wait. He bit down on his lip and nodded slowly.
Lou Jing reached out to remove that lip from his teeth. “Don’t bite your lip. If it hurts, bite me,” he said tenderly. As he spoke, he leaned down, positioning his shoulder next to Xiao Chengjun’s lips, thrusting into Xiao Chengjun’s body at the same time.
“Ahhh!” Xiao Chengjun immediately tightened his grip on Lou Jing’s hand. His neck craned forward involuntarily, and his whole body started trembling uncontrollably. “It hurts… it really hurts… mmph… pull… pull out… ah…”
Lou Jing gently caressed the top of Xiao Chengjun’s head and rained soft kisses down on his face. “Yuanlang, Yuanlang, don’t be scared,” he said, trying to comfort the person below him.
On hearing Lou Jing address him this way, Xiao Chengjun slowly calmed down.
Lou Jing smiled and rubbed his nose against Xiao Chengjun’s. “Yuanlang…” he whispered, as he slowly pushed himself further in, burying himself completely in Xiao Chengjun’s body.
“Mmph…” Xiao Chengjun gripped the bedsheets tightly. When he was a young boy, his mother would call him ‘Yuanlang’ when he cried, and his Father Empress would also call him by this name with a warm smile. The comfort he felt on hearing himself being called by this name was carved deeply into his bones, and it was strangely able to ameliorate the pain he felt now.
Lou Jing looked at Xiao Chengjun’s face, which had gone white with pain. He hugged him tightly, feeling his heart ache for his beloved. He waited for the pain to pass, then started moving slowly and gently.
The initial pain Xiao Chengjun felt gradually subsided with the gentle caress of Lou Jing’s member inside him. After the pain reached its zenith, he no longer seemed to feel it any more, as if he were numb to the pain. What took its place was an inner heat that gradually built in his body, a heat that could only be soothed by Lou Jing’s gentle thrusts. As Lou Jing moved, he touched a certain spot within Xiao Chengjun’s body, and Xiao Chengjun shuddered involuntarily.
“Is it here?” Lou Jing asked, smiling down tenderly at him. He slowly sped up his movements, thrusting toward that particular spot.
“Mm… don’t… ah! Ahh!”
Xiao Chengjun didn’t know what he was saying any more. His mind was blank, and all he could do was let the person on top of him plunge again and again into the deepest parts of his body. It was as if he was having a long dream, and in that dream, he was a little boat, tossed around by big waves on a tempestuous sea.
The intense pleasure that coursed through their veins was nearly too much to bear. This was the first taste the two young men had of the ecstasy that could be had together, and they couldn’t resist the temptation of doing it twice more before they finally took a break.
By this point, Xiao Chengjun had no energy left to say anything. He trembled uncontrollably in Lou Jing’s arms as he lay lifelessly on the bed, and Lou Jing caressed him comfortingly over and over again, until his breathing slowed, became regular and his eyes closed in slumber. Just before Xiao Chengjun really allowed sleep to claim him, however, he mumbled something to himself. This was obviously also this person’s first time, how was it that he had such stamina?
Lou Jing couldn’t stop smiling as he observed his Min Wang Dianxia mumble himself to sleep. Le Xian was waiting on them that night and was standing outside their room. Lou Jing instructed Le Xian to prepare some warm water, and when the bath was ready, he carried the soundly sleeping Min Wang to wash up.
The next day, An Shun knocked on the door at the usual time. “Dianxia, it’s time to get up,” he said.
Xiao Chengjun opened his eyes tiredly. He tried to move a little, and couldn’t help grunting in discomfort. His body felt refreshed, and that part of him was not particularly painful, but his back and waist were aching very badly, making it hard for him to get up.
“Report to the palace that Min Wang Dianxia is not feeling well today, and will not be attending Court,” Lou Jing instructed An Shun in a clear voice. His eyes were closed, and he pulled the person who was valiantly trying to rise into his arms.
“I can’t do that!” Xiao Chengjun exclaimed, frowning and struggling to get up.
“Dianxia, if you go to Court like this, aren’t you afraid that people would know what we did last night?” Lou Jing said suggestively. He opened his eyes, then smiled as he licked the love bites on Xiao Chengjun’s neck.
Xiao Chengjun got a shock. He reached into the little chest next to the bed and pulled out a small brass mirror. The other parts of him were fine, but his neck had a number of red love bites. He glared irritably at Lou Jing, then flipped over and lay down on the bed with his back to the latter.
Lou Jing gave a low chuckle as he sent An Shun off to the palace. He then draped himself over Min Wang’s shoulders. “If you want to hide your capabilities and bide your time, you need to stop working so hard. Fish for three days and sun your nets for the other two is what I say. Otherwise the Emperor will start having suspicions again if you’re too hardworking,” he said lightly.
Xiao Chengjun ignored him and just closed his eyes. In all the years of his life, he had never been this irresponsible, but he now felt like skiving off after listening to Lou Jing’s cajoling. Since he wasn’t going to the Palace anyway, he decided he’d just catch up on the sleep he’d lost last night.
Lou Jing also lay down next to him after making sure that An Shun had left for the palace. He massaged Xiao Chengjun’s sore back and cuddled him to sleep before getting up, putting on his clothes and instructing Le Xian to watch Xiao Chengjun’s bedroom door. He then flipped over the wall and left.
“Shizi, you can leave from the side gate,” Chang En said, frowning as he tried to stop Lou Jing from leaping onto the roof.
Lou Jing raised his eyebrows. He hadn’t thought that Xiao Chengjun would even prepare a special entrance for him. “No need. I’ll just flip over the wall to avoid inconveniencing anyone,” he said. He turned back to look at the tightly shut bedroom door, smiled a small smile, and instructed Chang En to prepare his share of lunch. He then leapt over the wall and disappeared into the early light of dawn.
Lou Jing actually couldn’t bear to leave Xiao Chengjun at a time like this, but he had no choice; today was the day his Second Uncle and First Aunt were leaving the Capital, and he had to see them off.
In the Imperial Court, the Chunde Emperor held a submission in his hands. “Someone has suggested that Min Wang be the one to go to Qinghe and supervise the canal repairs,” he said in a deep voice.
The Minister of the Left Zhao Duan was stunned. He shot a furtive glance at where Xiao Chengjun usually stood, but to his surprise, it was empty. The industrious Min Wang had actually skipped a Court session? He heaved a sigh of relief nonetheless. If Xiao Chengjun had been here, there would have been no good reason to decline this suggestion, given the decisive way the Emperor had put it forward.
