This chapter contains mature content.
When it grows cold with chilly autumn breeze. With fall of leaves, the dews will frost, then freeze
The opening two lines are inspired by a poem by Cao Pi (曹丕), a Chinese emperor and influential poet of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period.
The name of the poem is Swallow Song (燕歌行 - Yàn Gē Xíng)
The original Chinese lines are:
秋风萧瑟天气凉，草木摇落露为霜
Qiūfēng xiāosè tiānqì liáng, cǎomù yáoluò lù wéi shuāng.
I took the translation from this website .
1 . In this desolate late autumn season, even within the Imperial palace, every sight and object could not escape the touch of decay and decline.
The name of the poem is Swallow Song (燕歌行 - Yàn Gē Xíng)
The original Chinese lines are:
秋风萧瑟天气凉，草木摇落露为霜
Qiūfēng xiāosè tiānqì liáng, cǎomù yáoluò lù wéi shuāng.
I took the translation from this website .
Since returning from the hunt, Hong Xu noticed ZiLi was clearly not in good spirits. Every day he was either spacing out or dozing off. Hong Xu feared it might be due to the palm strike from WanQi PengWei to ZiLi’s chest. Even though the soft armor had absorbed part of the impact, he worried it might have left hidden injuries. Because of this, Hong Xu had the ‘Holder of Panacea’ come to examine and treat ZiLi every few days. However, each time he only received vague answers, “Whether it is an illness depends on whether he wants it to be an illness. A heart illness still requires a heart remedy!” Although Hong Xu was displeased, he was helpless!
With a soft sigh, Hong Xu dismissed the others and stepped into the inner chamber, where he saw ZiLi sitting by the window in a daze. ZiLi’s frail body was wrapped in thick fox fur, his exposed face as pale and smooth as jade. His unfocused eyes, lightly pressed lips, and faintly furrowed brows all seemed entangled in endless sorrow. At that moment, the young man looked like an icicle frozen on a treetop, fragile enough to shatter at a touch, so delicate it made one’s heart ache.
“What are you thinking about?” Hong Xu walked over and wrapped ZiLi entirely in his arms, resting his chin against the other’s cool hair as he asked softly.
The person in his arms struggled slightly, but Hong Xu stubbornly held him tighter, and the struggle soon subsided.
“What are you thinking about?” Hong Xu asked again.
“……The autumn here is so cold.” Knowing that if he did not answer, Hong Xu would surely continue pressing him for an answer.
Finally willing to speak! Having achieved his goal, Hong Xu let out a soft, satisfied chuckle. He found ZiLi’s hand hidden in his sleeve, and indeed it was a bit cold. Stroking it lightly, he placed it against his own cheek. “So autumn is already like this? Then what will you do when winter comes?” Chu Jing has distinct seasons, but Bei Ling is like spring all year round!
ZiLi withdrew his hand and lowered his eyes.
“In a little while, the plum blossoms in the rear courtyard will be blooming. When the time comes, shall we go admire them together?” Hong Xu continued coaxing him into conversation. “Baby, why don’t you go pick peaches in the Imperial garden? The peaches there are almost all going to fall.”
ZiLi kept his eyes closed and did not respond.
“Baby, look at your two guards. They spend all day tinkering with gunpowder and have already blasted Xia He Palace full of pits and hollows. If you don’t manage them, they might blow up the whole Imperial palace!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 110 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Baby, are you getting sleepy again?” Hong Xu shook ZiLi gently. “Just consider it a reward for me coming back early to keep you company today. Look at me properly and talk with me for a while, all right?”“What is wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Hong Xu raised his hand to check.
ZiLi immediately turned his face away, avoiding the hand reaching toward his forehead. “I am fine!”
Hong Xu’s expression darkened slightly. His hand, still suspended in midair, withdrew in disappointment. “Baby, can you tell me why you are unhappy? Are you worried about your black horse? If that is the case, there is no need to worry. I have already sent people to look for it.”
“……It was never an ordinary creature to begin with. Without me, it is probably better off!” After a long silence, ZiLi said.
“Then, are you worried about WanQi PengWei’s misunderstanding? Don’t worry, I will definitely find the person behind this and make sure you are not wronged!”
“Are the schemes aimed at me still few? Forget it. Even if you truly caught that culprit, your ministers would not change their view of me. Relying on favor and being arrogant, bringing disaster to the country and causing suffering to the people, conceited beyond measure, vile and despicable, harboring evil intent…… such words have almost become synonymous with me!” ZiLi said calmly, staring at the lone withered leaf swirling in the air outside the window.
Upon hearing this, Hong Xu turned ZiLi around and looked straight into those black agate-like eyes. “Is that why you are upset? Just because of this? But I know you are not like that, baby. Why bother lowering yourself to the same level as them? Your emotions are too easily swayed by others. This will only make you depressed all day!”
ZiLi pushed away his hands. “You are the Emperor, so of course, you can say that, because no one dares to oppose you. But I can’t bear the attacks from others. No matter how important I am in your heart, in the eyes of others, I am nothing more than a lowly thing who uses beauty to serve others in exchange for wealth and status, no different from a petty palace entertainer or a prostitute. This body is that of a Hostage Prince from another country, imprisoned in a foreign land without power or influence. Lower even than ordinary people. The soul inside is from another world, having nothing to rely on and not knowing which way to turn! But I have dignity. I care a lot. I am not the male pet people ridicule. No matter how precious you think I am, no matter how much you protect me, those words are a thorn in my heart that can never be removed! So if I stay with you, I will never be happy!”
Hong Xu felt a sharp pain in his chest. He is not happy? Could it be that everything in the past was just an illusion?
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 110 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“I thought…… as long as we loved each other, it would be enough!”“Yes, as long as we love each other, you think we can ignore everything else without care or consequence. Hong Xu, it is precisely this kind of self-righteous certainty of yours that has turned your love into a burden for me!” ZiLi’s tone grew sharp and rigid.
Hong Xu frowned, feeling that the person before him was being somewhat unreasonable. Suppressing the restlessness in his chest, he drew ZiLi into his arms and softened his voice, saying, “I am sorry. I promised to protect you properly and never let you be harmed again, yet I broke that promise. Whether it is your body or your heart, I have let you be hurt! So I can accept your anger towards me. But, baby, do not say things like you would never be happy with me. You know I am not a very patient man. Your words might make me lose control, and I could end up doing something that hurts you without meaning to. That is something I would never be able to forgive myself for!”
Meeting his clear eyes, ZiLi felt bitterness churning uncomfortably in his chest.
“Rest well. I still have to go to the Imperial study for some matters.”
Watching Hong Xu’s figure disappear through the doorway, ZiLi slumped onto the couch.
“You are wavering?” a languid voice suddenly asked.
ZiLi looked up at the person leaning against the window frame, who had appeared without him noticing. After a long silence, he shook his head, “Since I’ve already made my decision, I won’t waver!”
“I’m afraid someone will regret it and won’t be able to part with that person.”
“Even if I regret it, I won’t go back on my word!”
“Heh, wonderful! Then don’t forget what you said later!”
“You don’t have to be worried about that!”
“Then prepare yourself well. The day is coming soon!”
In the blink of an eye, the person was gone.
***
Time flew like an arrow, the sun and moon like a shuttle. When the plum forest in the rear court turned red overnight, people suddenly realized that winter had already departed in silence.“The plum blossoms have bloomed. Didn’t you say you would go admire the plum blossoms with me?” Looking at the entire pristine and pure scene, ZiLi took the rare initiative to speak.
Hong Xu was naturally delighted and affectionately tightened ZiLi’s collar, saying, “That was indeed the plan, but seeing how you have been so averse to the cold and so languid, I gave up on it. Since you have taken the initiative today, how could I possibly not be pleased? Just don’t start complaining about the cold later!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 110 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Then Your Majesty may rest assured. This servant will prepare a small hand warmer for His Highness, along with a warm, stomach-soothing flower wine,” Lin De said eagerly attentive.“Excellent!”
“Then let’s go!”
“No need to rush. Wait until they have everything ready before setting out. Come, put on this fox fur cloak!”
Accompanied by the early blooming plum forest, the frosty branches, and pink blossoms, sparse shadows slanting across the ground and a faint fragrance drifting in the air, the scenery was delicate, graceful, and pleasing to the eye! With every breath, a fresh aroma filled the mouth, seeping deep into the heart and spleen!
The pavilion in the plum forest was set with various exquisite pastries, and the stone benches were thoughtfully placed with soft cushions to defend against the cold.
“Cold?” Hong Xu asked with a light smile, looking at ZiLi’s slightly reddened nose.
“I am not cold!” ZiLi shook his head slightly as he looked out at the scenery beyond the pavilion.
“Drink some plum blossom wine to warm up first!” Hong Xu lifted the wine pot that had been kept warm in hot water and poured a cup of fragrant wine, offering it to ZiLi.
ZiLi looked at the plum blossom wine, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, drinking one cup will not get you drunk!”
Wouldn’t it be better if I got drunk? Glancing up at Hong Xu, who was smiling mischievously, ZiLi added the thought silently in his heart.
ZiLi’s deliberate distance had forced Hong Xu into nearly a month of abstinence. Yet now, with ZiLi’s smooth forehead and flushed cheeks, his cherry lips slightly pursed, long lashes over moist eyes, and a glance that was half reproachful and half coy, Hong Xu’s mind wavered. Then he saw ZiLi extend a soft, delicate tongue to tentatively lick at the rim of the wine cup, and with a deafening roar in his mind, desire broke free like a flood!
ZiLi set down the wine cup and, still wanting more, licked his lips. “The fragrance lingers in your mouth!”
Watching those moist cherry lips, Hong Xu felt he was about to go crazy in the next moment!
Fortunately, ZiLi did not continue that dangerously tempting behavior. Instead, he suddenly stood up, walked leisurely down the stone steps to a plum tree, and reached out to pluck a branch, examining it for a while, and said, “This color of plum blossom is rather rare, purple and white.”
Hong Xu suppressed the desire in his heart and walked over to ZiLi’s side as well, explaining, “This is merely the Jade Butterfly
玉蝶梅
Yù Dié Méi
Something like this I think:
2 type. Though it has its own unique charm, among plum blossoms the finest is still the
Golden Coin Green Calyx
Yù Dié Méi
Something like this I think:
金钱绿萼梅
JīnQián LüE Méi
Something like this I think:
3 , because its fragrance is rich and its petals are layered and complex.”
JīnQián LüE Méi
Something like this I think:
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 110 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“I see, then are there any Golden Coin Green Calyces here?”“Of course, there are a few planted over there!”
ZiLi followed the direction of Hong Xu’s finger and saw several cold plum trees standing there like frozen snow, their green calyxes and white blossoms contrasting with the slender, lush green branches. He walked over, circled the plum forest once, then carefully reached out to pluck a branch, bringing it close to take a deep breath. “It really is very fragrant, Hong Xu.”
Suddenly turning his head, his soft lips brushed against Hong Xu’s face, who had approached unknowingly. Their eyes met, and their hearts trembled.
The desire that had been forced down surged up again, boiling over like an uncontrollable flood. He immediately pulled ZiLi in by the waist and kissed the other’s lips fiercely, biting, grinding, and sucking at them. His rough, urgent movements looked as though he intended to devour the other person whole.
ZiLi wrapped his arms around Hong Xu’s neck, his clumsy yet passionate response drove Hong Xu nearly mad.
The scent of plum blossoms and snow filled the air, petals scattering all around.
The intense kisses continued without end. The belt few away, hair fell into disarray, and against ZiLi’s icy, flawless skin the crimson marks stood out all the more vividly. Covered in snow and ice, this young man with jet-black hair, jade like body, and moist eyes, could he be the Snow Lotus of Tian Shan
雪莲花
Yín Lián Huā
A rare flower that grows at high altitudes on the cliffs and alpine regions of the Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang.
Something like this, I think:
4 ?
Yín Lián Huā
A rare flower that grows at high altitudes on the cliffs and alpine regions of the Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang.
Something like this, I think:
Falling petals drifted gently down, and the exquisite branches trembled. The heavy, lingering fragrance of plum blossoms carried a coldness that made the person in his arms tremble faintly.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 110 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“No, I’m not going back. I will stay here!” His lips trembled, yet his tone remained stubbornly firm.A burning body pressed down over him, limbs entangled, passion blazing so fiercely it seemed to scorch the plum blossoms and melt the snow.
He let out a sharp cry, and the pain of being opened felt like a brand etched into his soul.
Harder, deeper! I want this pain to be carved deep into my heart.
Kissing away the tears at the corner of the young man’s eyes, Hong Xu thrust his fiery passion deep into the other’s body.
“I love you, baby!”
Tears streamed down as ZiLi held Hong Xu’s head, sobbing softly.
“Finished your farewell? Our time is very tight!” That person suddenly appeared, his black clothes and black hat looking especially out of place against the red plum blossoms and white snow.
ZiLi wiped away his tears, helped Hong Xu dress properly, and then half-dragged, half-supported the other onto the stone bench to lie him down.
“He will be fine, right?”
“He just inhaled a bit of my sedative incense. It won’t kill him. He’ll just sleep for a day or two and be fine.”
ZiLi looked at Hong Xu’s face, his heart aching.
“I am sorry, Xu!”
Hong Xu’s eyelashes fluttered faintly, and his relaxed lips curved slightly upward. In his dreams, was he still holding that pure, lotus like young man?
What is happening <(°∆°<)?!
Hopefully ZiLi has a well thought out plan that will also solve the inequality between Hong Xu and him!
This was the last chapter of this volume, but there is still an extra chapter, which you can find next.
Translation Notes
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