This chapter contains mature content.
By the time they arrived, Imperial Consort Lan had already been beaten unconscious. Hong Qiang was struggling wildly, kicking and striking the eunuchs restraining him. He wailed at the top of his lungs, while the Empress and the other Imperial Consorts sat off to the side, sipping their tea indifferently as if they were watching a performance.
When Lin De’s shrill voice rang out, announcing the Emperor’s arrival, that group of women instantly went pale.
“This consort greets Your Majesty!” They all immediately rose and knelt to receive him.
The Empress looked fearful. Although Imperial Consort Lan had fallen out of favor, there was no telling whether the Emperor might suddenly change his mind. Would her rash punishment provoke Imperial wrath and bring punishment upon herself? But on second thoughts, as the Empress, she held authority over the harem. Punishing an Imperial Consort for insubordination would not be overstepping her bounds.
“Our Empress, can you explain this to Us?” Hong Xu rarely paid attention to the harem’s disputes. These women were either scheming for their families’ interests or for their own wealth and glory. Flattery when times were good and needless cruelty when someone fell from grace played out almost daily. Those with backing, skill, and a talent for currying favor naturally survived, while those without support or means, clinging to their own pride, inevitably invited disaster. Imperial Consort Lan was the type who, when favored, did not understand or disdained forming alliances, and when out of favor, thought that not causing trouble would keep her safe.
“Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Lan harbored evil intentions. She instigated the Prince to insult this Empress, committing insubordination. In accordance with the law, this Empress punished her with fifty lashes!” the Empress answered, confident in her justification.
“Mother Consort, boohoo―― Father Emperor――” Hong Qiang, clutching Imperial Consort Lan’s hand, cried hoarsely. His small face, full of tear stains, as he looked at Hong Xu, yearning for comfort yet not daring to ask. A truly pitiful sight.
Hong Xu waved his hand, and Lin De immediately understanding, stepped forward to pick up the little boy who was crying so hard he could barely catch his breath. He then ordered the palace attendants to carry Imperial Consort Lan back to Lan Xin Palace and summon the Court Physician to treat her.
ZiLi walked slowly to Lin De’s side and looked at Hong Qiang, whose nose was red and who was sobbing in hiccups. Suddenly seized by a burst of fatherly instinct, he actually pulled the little brat into his arms and began coaxing the other softly.
Hong Qiang, clutched ZiLi’s lapels, sobbing, “The witch, the bad person... hit... hit Mother Consort!”
“Your Majesty, please listen!” The Empress said, as she pointed at Hong Qiang with a look of absolute certainty.
“This is exactly what happens when someone is determined to condemn another and any excuse will do!” ZiLi could not stand the Empress’s expression, so he spoke up as he wiped Hong Qiang’s tears, “After just a few words from a child, you’ve already determined that Imperial Consort Lan was insubordinate? Your imagination is really impressive!”
The Empress wished she could tear that unruly Hostage Prince, who relied on the Emperor’s favor, to pieces. She could not touch him for now, but one day he would pay for it! Though she was extremely angry, she could not glare at him with Hong Xu watching coldly beside her. So, she could only pretend not to hear and continue, “It's not that this consort intended to deliberately pick fault, but Imperial Consort Lan is truly too arrogant. If she had not instigated him, how could Qiang’er have said such things?”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 104 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“In that case, you have already determined her guilt and punished her. Why are you still gathering people here? Are you planning to add another charge, saying Hong Qiang was disrespectful to his elders and has committed insubordination, and then give him fifty lashes too?” Hong Xu said flatly, his gaze cold as ice. He was thoroughly disgusted with these women and their incessant scheming.“This consort has no such intention, please see the truth, Your Majesty!” The Empress, startled, immediately spoke with grievance.
Hong Xu flicked his sleeves, too lazy to take another glance, and led everyone back to the Palace!
ZiLi looked at Hong Xu in frustration. He had originally thought that at the very least, Hong Xu would order someone to give the Empress fifty lashes to avenge Imperial Consort Lan. Who would have imagined he would just drop a few meaningless words and walk off without a care!
Coming with such momentum and leaving so quietly, was really not his style, ah!
“Is my baby angry at me?” He picked up Hong Qiang, who had cried himself to sleep on ZiLi’s shoulder, and handed him to Lin De. Then, waving the others away, Hong Xu held ZiLi close, rubbing his cheek against the silent ZiLi, and asked.
“I am not angry, I just don’t understand. Knowing that the Empress was obviously framing her, why didn’t you stand up for Imperial Consort Lan? Is it because you no longer like her that you ignore her and let her be wronged and bullied by others?”
“That is kind of the idea. I naturally do not want to waste energy defending things I no longer like!” Hong Xu said frankly.
ZiLi glared back at him, "You really are cold-blooded!”
“You flatter me!”
“Cold-blooded animals are not allowed to touch me!”
“No! I want a kiss!”
“Damn it Hong Xu, I’m being serious with you! Your first wife is far too scheming. I’m sure more than half of your concubines were killed by her!”
“The harem has always been a ruthless place. Women who want to survive should not enter. If they do, they must be prepared to die at any time! Baby, this is the law of survival. I cannot correct it, nor do I want to!” Hong Xu said calmly.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 104 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“If one day, I am also framed like Imperial Consort Lan, what will you do? Will you also dismiss it like you did today?” ZiLi looked at Hong Xu and asked softly.Hong Xu was slightly taken aback, then smiled indulgently, “I really cannot handle what goes on in that little head of yours all day. There will never be such a day. Trust me, baby!”
“You are avoiding my question!”
“All right, all right. If such a day really comes, I definitely will not let my baby suffer even the slightest harm. I will even have the culprit tied up and whipped a hundred times. Does that satisfy you?”
“That's more like it!”
“Happy now?”
“Only a little bit!”
“Then let me kiss you!’
“……Hey, you said it would just be a kiss, now where are your hands going! Hong Xu, nghh, you are shameless……”
***
Imperial Consort Lan received about twenty lashes and had to lie in bed for more than half a month before she could get up again. One can imagine that if ZiLi had not brought Hong Xu in as a rescuer at the time, Imperial Consort Lan would likely have already perished!Ever since that day, Hong Qiang suddenly grew extremely close to ZiLi, running off to Xia He Palace all day long. Sometimes, he even refused to go back, clinging so much that it greatly displeased Hong Xu. Moreover, that little brat who used to fear and avoid him, now completely ignored his icy expression, acting as if it did not exist. It was as though Hong Qiang no longer regarded him, his own Imperial father, as someone to be taken seriously at all!
Just like now, no matter how Hong Xu glared and threatened, Hong Qiang calmly nestled in ZiLi’s arms. One hand clutched a piece of Hoof Cake
蹄子糕
TíZi Gāo
Some kind of cake in the shape of a hoof. However, when searching around, I found different types of hoof-shaped cakes, so I am not sure which one is meant.
1 , the other an almond pastry, while he chewed on chestnuts ZiLi had peeled for him. With wide, round eyes, he stared at Hong Xu across from him, who was glaring daggers at him whenever ZiLi was not looking.
TíZi Gāo
Some kind of cake in the shape of a hoof. However, when searching around, I found different types of hoof-shaped cakes, so I am not sure which one is meant.
“Open your mouth, ah――” ZiLi peeled a sweet chestnut and sent it to Hong Qiang’s open mouth, “All right, that’s the last one. You can’t eat too many snacks before dinner.”
“Hmm!” Hong Qiang nodded obediently.
“So cute!” ZiLi said, as he pinched Hong Qiang’s chubby cheeks.
“Baby, this little thing has already been staying with us for two days. Should we……” Hearing that ZiLi still wanted to keep Hong Qiang for dinner, Hong Xu could not help but remind him.
“Oh you’re right. Qiang’er, you haven’t gone back for two days. Your Mother Consort must be worried. Why don’t we let big sister Ming Yue take you back to Lan Xin Palace now, okay?”
“No! Big sister Xiang Mei said Mother Consort is unwell and she always makes me stay quietly in the bedroom! I can’t see Mother Consort, and no one plays with me. I want to stay here with big brother!” Seeing that ZiLi wanted him to leave, Hong Qiang immediately dropped the pastries in his hands and tugged pitifully at ZiLi’s sleeve.
Hong Xu sneered. All right, little demon, you actually know how to gain sympathy! He knew that this tactic always worked on ZiLi!
Sure enough, Hong Xu heard ZiLi’s voice soften as he patted Hong Qiang on the head, saying, “All right then, you can stay here for a few more days! Once your Mother Consort is better, I’ll send you back.”
“I knew big brother was the best!”
Veins bulged on Hong Xu’s forehead. Damn little brat, where do you think you are grabbing with those grubby hands? And your face too, stop rubbing against my baby’s neck, or I will depose you!
“Alright, Qiang’er, it’s time for a bath!” ZiLi said, picking up Hong Qiang and heading towards the bath.
“Wait, baby!” Hong Xu said, forcing down his irritation and putting on a light smile. “Let Ming Yue bathe him! I want to talk to you! Baby, you have not looked at me properly for a long time!” He gazed at ZiLi like a man who had been utterly neglected. Playing for sympathy? He could do that too!
Just as ZiLi was about to agree, Hong Qiang protested. Wrapping his arms around ZiLi’s neck and pouting with teary eyes, he sobbed, “But I want to bathe with big brother!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 104 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“All right, all right, I will bathe with you!” Then he turned back and said, “We’ll talk later!”Hong Xu’s eye twitched with anger, but he refused to lose and quickly followed them into the bath.
In the spacious bath, ZiLi helped Hong Qiang with using bath beans
澡豆
Zǎo dòu
A powdery soap, that was a luxury for people in Ancient China, made from ground beans or peas mixed with spices such as cloves, eaglewood, various flowers, and even powdered jade.
Something like this, I think:
2 . Hong Xu lifted the curtain and came in. His eyes lit up at the sight of ZiLi’s bare back, which was glowing like pearls. He quickly stripped off his own obstructive clothes, stepped into the pool, and moved behind ZiLi, slyly brushing against the other’s slippery back.
Zǎo dòu
A powdery soap, that was a luxury for people in Ancient China, made from ground beans or peas mixed with spices such as cloves, eaglewood, various flowers, and even powdered jade.
Something like this, I think:
ZiLi twisted his shoulders to avoid Hong Xu’s devilish wandering hands, and turned around to whisper, “Behave in front of your son!”
Hong Xu gave a wicked smile, and had already pulled ZiLi between his legs, as he lightly nibbled at the other’s smooth shoulder and murmured near ZiLi’s ear, “He is busy playing with his little wooden boat, so he has no time to watch us!” Saying this, Hong Xu deliberately pressed his lower body against ZiLi’s buttocks.
ZiLi’s face turned red. This pervert, can’t he choose a better place to get aroused!
“Don’t mess around!” ZiLi tried to get up but was caught around the waist by Hong Xu, falling back onto the other’s lap, with that hard thing pressing right against his perineum.
Hong Xu chuckled triumphantly in his ear, “I want you, baby!” With that, he applied pressure with his hand, slowly pushing ZiLi down.
With the water’s lubrication, it was a bit painful but also felt good, and when finally fully entered, Hong Xu began to move slightly. ZiLi tightly covered his mouth, not daring to make any noise, while Hong Qiang was still enthusiastically playing with the little wooden boat ZiLi had given him, unaware of what was happening behind him.
This secretive lovemaking made both of them feel tense and excited. Hong Xu, unable to stop, wanted to go at it again, but ZiLi elbowed him back.
The reason was Hong Qiang’s sentence, “Big Brother, why is today’s bath taking so long, ah? The water is getting cold, ah!”
Not in front of the child (つω⊂* )
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