Chapter 566: A Journey to the South Ocean (24)
Presumably because he had been cooped up in this hellhole where he had had nobody to talk with for too long, the old man, having struck up a conversation, seemed unable to stop speaking, and he was particularly enthusiastic about Ling Zhang, calling Ling Zhang “kiddo” every time he addressed him.
“Thank you,” said Ling Zhang.
“Much as I want to accept your gratitude, I know very well that I’m the one who should say thank you, because the halidom wouldn’t have presented itself were it not for you. You changed many people’s fates and put an end to the troubled times, which was really a meritorious deed,” said the former clan leader.
Ling Zhang shook his head. “It was my marriage partner rather than me who brought the troubled times to an end.”
Yuwen Tong, who had been silently walking side by side with him all along, did not interpose. Maybe because of the carry-over from the reverie, his spirits were not very high.
The former clan leader glanced at Yuwen Tong. “You two are supplementary to each other. Neither can thrive when separated from the other. Previously the bane of your life was at work, which was why things turned out that way in your last life. Fortunately the situation was not beyond redemption.”
Yuwen Tong still remained silent.
The former clan leader gave a little cough. Probably having perceived that Yuwen Tong was not in a good mood and preferred to be left alone, the old man felt somewhat bored and shifted his attention to Ling Zhang again.
“I daresay your destiny was entwined with that of the Phoenix Clan the moment you were born, kiddo. You have the Blood of the Phoenix Clan, and now everybody acknowledges you as an incarnation of a real phoenix. Your life is worth much more than mine,” added the former clan leader.
Ling Zhang, who had not bargained on him making such remarks, was at a loss for words, but then something occurred to him. “You should be able to tell that my father … “
“Oh, your father. Although I don’t know why he was reborn either, I think it was kind of a twofer,” replied the old man.
Ling Zhang, ” … “
A twofer?
The former clan leader, apparently amused by the flummoxed expression on Ling Zhang’s face, continued, “Maybe the halidom was grateful to you for helping it reappear in this world, so it gifted you with a father.”
Ling Zhang, ” … “
At this moment, Yuwen Tong asked, “What is this halidom?”
“Well, it’s right there,” responded the former clan leader. “See for yourselves.”
After walking for quite some time, they finally reached the end of the passageway. They had taken so many turns that Ling Zhang was almost disorientated. But the passageway inclined gently all the way downward, which meant that they had been going deeper underground from start to finish. Now they were probably at the lowest point of the island. Waves of scorching heat were billowing up towards them, and they finally saw some light, but the light was red in color.
“There are downward steps ahead. Be careful,” said the former clan leader before resuming progressing.
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong exchanged a glance and then followed in the wake of the old man. They turned out of the end of the passageway and were greeted by a cavern, high-roofed and enormous. The most conspicuous part was the fiery flowing magma at the bottom, which was slowly circling a circular platform in the midmost, and which was the very source of the scalding heat.
The circular platform had a hollow center where a giant egg floated on the magma. The magma beneath it was bubbling, but the egg, curiously enough, was floating contentedly on it, unscathed …
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong both stopped dead on the flight of steps. Neither of them had bargained on seeing such a large egg. In addition, there was nothing else special apart from this white egg in this cavern, which forcibly made them suspect that this egg had been the very thing that the former clan leader had been referring to by “halidom” and “the little guy”.
“Old Clan Leader, wh–what is this?” Ling Zhang felt his legs buckle slightly as his eyes alighted on that egg. This place was baking hot, but the heat was nothing compared to the shock brought to him by the sight of the egg.
Was it what he thought it was, by any chance?
“This is the Ma–Magnificence of our clan!” The former clan leader, for some reason, suddenly changed the form of address, and he sneaked a surreptitious glance at the white egg. Seeing that it was as quiet as always, he was secretly relieved. “It was also the creator of the reverie you mentioned. That was really not my doing.”
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong, ” … “
It was not the reverie that they wanted to talk about!
“This egg … Wh–What laid it?” asked Ling Zhang, his voice somewhat tremulous.
“A phoenix. Haven’t you guessed it already?” answered the former clan leader, looking bemusedly at him.
Ling Zhang took a deep breath, toppling backward as though on the verge of fainting.
Yuwen Tong flung out an arm to stop him from falling.
The large white egg floating on the magma suddenly stirred. At the sight of this, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were further stupefied.
“H–Her Magnificence seems to like you pretty much. Sometimes I have to keep talking to it for ten days or even half a month before it makes a reaction, but it jumped happily the moment you came here,” said the former clan leader.
Ling Zhang, however, felt somewhat giddy. He had thought that mythical beasts like phoenixes were only legends, that they did not exist. Why was there a hatching phoenix egg in this place?!
“Is it really a phoenix egg?” repeated Ling Zhang.
The large white egg jumped again as though in response to Ling Zhang’s words.
“Come down here and give it a stroke. It’s fun.” The former clan leader called to them. “Don’t worry. The phoenix egg is absorbing most of the heat of the magma. You won’t be scalded.”
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong walked down the steps, watching the white egg bouncing excitedly on the surface of the magma as they approached, astonished.
“Am I still in a reverie?” Ling Zhang asked Yuwen Tong in an undertone, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
Yuwen Tong thought about it for a brief moment. “If you are, whose obsession was it that created this?”
Ling Zhang twisted his head aside to look at the egg. “Well, I never dared think of getting myself a phoenix egg.”
Yuwen Tong said, “And I’ve got myself a treasure already.”
Ling Zhang looked confusedly at him. What kind of treasure?
Yuwen Tong said, “You.”
Ling Zhang, ” … “
The white egg was still bouncing.
The former clan leader said, “Try stroking it.”
Ling Zhang leaped across the magma, landed on the platform, stooped down and tentatively reached out a hand.
The egg, having sensed that he was about to stroke it, stopped bouncing, quietly waiting for Ling Zhang’s hand to touch it.
As his hand came into contact with it, Ling Zhang found that the egg was warm, its shell smooth to the touch. It was an amazing sensation. Ling Zhang could not help laying his hand on the egg and with that he heard a muffled thud as though there was heartbeat coming from inside the egg. He could feel that what was in there was alive, which struck him as incredible.
His hand slid on the shell in spite of himself, the egg quietly letting him stroke it. Ling Zhang felt a wave of mingled delight and thrill sweeping over him.
…
A couple of days later.
Twelve men – Ji Yin, Ling Zhaowu, Ling Maomao, Ji Xiaocong, Ji Yanlai, the couple of elders of the Millennium Pavilion and the former clan leader, were standing in the cavern, watching the white egg.
“So there are really such things as phoenixes in this world.” Ling Zhaowu found the scene unbelievable.
The couple of elders were so excited they directly dropped to their knees and kowtowed to the phoenix egg.
Ling Zhang felt somewhat guilty as he saw this, for during the past few days, when the others had been unconscious, he had been playing with the phoenix egg and petting it.
Yuwen Tong drew Ling Zhang behind him and said, “It’s okay. Nobody knows.”
Fortunately, the former clan leader, though talkative, was not big-mouthed and did not tell any of the others that Ling Zhang had been petting the egg for several days.
The phoenix egg was responsive to Ji Yanlai and Ji Xiaocong but irresponsive to all the others.
Eventually, Ji Yanlai, Ji Xiaocong, Ji Yin, the former clan leader, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong whose involvement in this matter was hard to define were the only ones left in the cavern. Ling Zhaowu, Ling Maomao and the couple of elders had all left. Nobody except for the twelve of them were aware of the existence of the phoenix egg. The elders transferred those who were still unconscious out of the underground palace. Most people slowly came to, but the others, what with their evil intentions, never woke up.
It took the King of the South Ocean and his son a long time to come around, but they were both okay. The couple of men from that mini-state were not so lucky.
And neither were some greedy attendants.
…
In the cavern.
“You lingered on this island for such a long time. How did you find this place?” Ji Yanlai inquired of his father.
The former clan leader did not seem to mind his son’s attitude towards him. “I deduced it with my divination skill, which I think you’ve realized is much better than yours. You’ve still got a lot to learn, kid.”
Ji Yanlai rubbed his forehead resignedly. “You should have sent me a message, which would have spared me the ordeal of coming here to rescue you in great haste!”
“I was worried! What if someone came and stole the little phoenix after I left? And I wasn’t trying to mislead you. This place is shielded by a barrier of enchantments cast by the little phoenix, which is why you can’t deduce anything about this island,” said the former clan leader.
“Old Clan Leader, Clan Leader, this matter can wait.” Ji Yin made an attempt to smooth things over. “What should we do now? Let Her Magnificence stay here?”
Ji Yanlai, his face still sulky, averted his face from his father.
“Grandfather.” Ji Xiaocong looked at the former clan leader, smiling.
The old man’s face creased into a beam as he saw his grandson call him with a sweet smile. “You’re so much more docile and considerate, Cong!”
Ji Yanlai pretended not to have heard these words.
“This is the perfect place for Her Magnificence to hatch out, so the egg should not be transferred elsewhere. I’ll stay here keeping guard over it. You may put your minds at ease and go back,” said the former clan leader.
With that he flicked a glance at Ling Zhang, opened his mouth but then closed it again.
Ling Zhang looked confusedly back at him. “Old Clan Leader, if you need any help, all you have to do is ask.”
“Can you stay here, kiddo? Her Magnificence seems to like you pretty much. The air about you strikes Her Magnificence as quite pleasant,” said the former clan leader.
Ling Zhang was amazed. Before he could make a reply, Yuwen Tong standing beside him knitted his brows and said, “He can’t.”
The former clan leader, ” … “
The phoenix egg gave a jump as though displeased with Yuwen Tong.
Yuwen Tong said, “As my consort, he’s supposed to return to the palace with me. There’s no way I’m letting him stay here.”
The phoenix egg floating on the magma was infuriated, turning from a white egg into a red one.
“Her Magnificence is angry,” said the former clan leader apprehensively.
All the others sensed it … The temperature in the cavern rose considerably in the twinkling of an eye. Everybody present found the heat somewhat unbearable.
Ling Zhang was astonished. This was his first time seeing the egg become red.
He walked up and tentatively reached out a hand.
The former clan leader cautioned, “Don’t!”
On hearing this, Ling Zhang intended to withdraw his hand, but the red egg quickly cooled down on its own initiative and became white again before it jumped up and touched Ling Zhang’s hand.
Ling Zhang really felt overwhelmingly flattered. “Th–Thank you for liking me, Your Magnificence, but I’m an empress, and I have children waiting for me at home. I can’t stay on this island for long. I hope you understand.”
The phoenix egg stopped bouncing, staying still in the magma, appearing to be heartbroken.
“Tell us how long it’ll take for the egg to hatch first,” Ji Yanlai said to his father.
The former clan leader said, “I don’t know that either, but I think it won’t take long – a couple of years at the most.”
A couple of years …
“The answer is no. End of discussion,” said Yuwen Tong immediately.
The others also lapsed into silence. That was indeed too long a time. It was not really necessary for Ling Zhang to stay here. If the egg would hatch in a week or two, they might be able to convince Yuwen Tong. It was impractical to have Ling Zhang stay in this place for a couple of years.
…
Ling Zhang could not stay to keep the phoenix egg company, but because of the imploring looks in the eyes of those from the Pavilion and the air of dejection about the egg, Ling Zhang eventually decided to stay for another couple of days.
“The food and supplies on the ships are running low. It’s about time we set off to return. Every day that we stays here causes our food supply to dwindle,” said Yuwen Tong. Lingering here for a couple of days was the best they could do. This was no laughing matter. Ling Zhang was his consort, not the large white egg’s playmate.
Though it was a phoenix, he would not allow it to take his consort from him.
The phoenix egg, as though having come to know that Ling Zhang would leave in a couple of days, was not as active as it had been during the past few days, but it still enjoyed Ling Zhang’s company very much.
Ling Zhang, feeling faintly guilty, naturally spent as much time with it as he could. Actually he was playing with the egg all the time except when he was eating, drinking or sleeping.
…
Three days passed and it was time for them to leave.
Ling Zhang went into the cavern to bid farewell to the phoenix egg and the former clan leader.
“You really can’t stay?” The former clan leader was still unwilling to see Ling Zhang leave.
Ling Zhang smiled an apologetic smile at him. “I really need to go back.”
The former clan leader sighed, “Okay. Come back here to see it again when you have the time.”
Ling Zhang did not dare make any promises, for this place was too far away from the capital city. A journey between the two locations took too long, and he had very little spare time. There was no doubt that he and Yuwen Tong would have to work their asses off to handle all the state affairs that had piled up during their absence.
Ling Zhang, when saying goodbye to the phoenix egg, was also very upset about him having to leave, for he had grown very fond of the phoenix egg in the past few days. It was really quite adorable.
Originally he had held the egg in awe and veneration, but now, looking at it, he felt as though he were looking at his own child.
When he reached out a hand to stroke the phoenix egg, the latter jumped, appearing a little anxious.
Ling Zhang said, “Sorry. I can’t stay here to keep you company any longer. I need to go back to the capital city.”
The phoenix egg emanated a crestfallen air. Were it able to speak, it would definitely have demanded that Ling Zhang stay. If it had had limbs, it was guaranteed to cling on to Ling Zhang’s leg, refusing to let him leave.
However, though unable to hold Ling Zhang’s leg, it abruptly jumped out of the magma onto the platform when Ling Zhang was leaving.
The thud startled both Ling Zhang and the former clan leader.
“Why did it jump out? Do you think the e–eggshell has … has cracked?” Ling Zhang, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up, hastened to the egg and picked it up to examine it. Having checked that the eggshell was still intact, he heaved a sigh of relief. “Be careful, little guy. Don’t jump too high. What if … “
What if the eggshell cracked? If that happened, the damage would be irrevocable.
The phoenix egg stirred in his arms. Ling Zhang held it for a while before he put it back into the magma and then reluctantly got off the platform.
Unexpectedly, he had just walked away when the egg jumped onto the platform again and followed in his wake, bouncing along. When it rolled to his feet, Ling Zhang was alarmed and, his heart now hammering against his Adam’s apple, hastily scooped it up again.
“I think it wants to go with us,” said Yuwen Tong, walking down the steps and looking at the egg. He did not look very happy about it, for this egg had hijacked too much of Ling Zhang’s time recently. If they took this egg with them, it would sure as hell eat away more of his time.
The former clan leader, looking at the phoenix egg in Ling Zhang’s arms, clapped a hand to his lap. “Yeah. Why didn’t I think of it? Now that Her Magnificence shows an inclination to go with you, let’s get out of here right away. Come on.”
“Ha?” Ling Zhang was bewildered as he saw the old man eagerly set off to leave. “Wait a moment. She needs to stay under the conditions in this place to hatch out. How is she supposed to hatch if she leaves with us?”
“It’s okay. A phoenix egg doesn’t have to stay in a place like this to hatch. It’s just that this place makes her feel more comfortable,” said the former clan leader.
Ling Zhang was dumbstruck. Was that true?
After the former clan leader made a decision, the phoenix egg was very happy, stirring constantly in Ling Zhang’s arm. Anybody could tell what the little phoenix meant.
Ling Zhang, ” … “
…
Thus, there was an egg on Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong’s ship when they set off to return. During the day the egg was only docile when Ling Zhang was with it. At night, it even attempted to follow Ling Zhang into his room. Yuwen Tong grabbed it and tossed it to the former clan leader.
The old man hastened to catch it, so alarmed that cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The phoenix egg seemed to be frightened by Yuwen Tong as well and did not dare to look for Ling Zhang again that night, but it appeared a bit down all night. It remained absolutely motionless no matter what the former clan leader said to it.
This egg added a lot of fun to their homeward journey. However, not many people knew about its existence. To keep it confidential, Yuwen Tong had the others move downstairs, so that only those privy to the fact that there was a phoenix egg on the vessel were on the third floor.
During this journey to the South Ocean, apart from a phoenix egg, they had also obtained large numbers of gemstones.
Yuwen Tong took all the gemstones but left the gold and other treasures to the others.
…
The homeward voyage took a long time. After they returned to the capital city, the phoenix egg was settled in the palace.
The former clan leader and Ji Xiaocong were accommodated in the Ling Mansion, standing guard over their Magnificence.
Ji Yanlai took the others back to the island.
Ji Xiaocong was supposed to go back as well, but with the pretext of guarding the phoenix egg and some help from the former clan leader who, whenever addressed as “grandfather”, became so happy as to be willing to grant Ji Xiaocong’s every wish, he managed to get permission to stay in the capital city, but Ji Yanlai still made it very clear that Ji Xiaocong must return to the island in three months, that he would not be allowed to leave the island again until he had his rite of passage.
What with this, Ji Xiaocong appeared depressed for quite some time, but Ji Yanlai, a hard-hearted man, was not hoodwinked.
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong stayed out of their business. Ling Zhang was still somewhat baffled as to what was going on. Yuwen Tong, however, had some time ago come to know about the chemistry between Ji Xiaocong and Ling Maomao, though he had never lifted the curtain.
Thus, the phoenix egg stayed in the imperial palace of the Great Wen for quite some time, and it was several years before the phoenix hatched out spontaneously.
Chapter 567: Daily Life (1)
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong, after returning from the South Ocean, entered a period of extreme busyness. Yuwen Tong, in particular, had a mountain of memorials to the throne on his desk. The moment Ling Zhang walked into the imperial study and caught sight of the intimidatingly high pile of memorials, he had a foreboding and promptly wheeled around with the intention to slink away.
Yuwen Tong, quick of eye and deft of hand, immediately grabbed him. “Where do you think you are going?”
Ling Zhang, with his wrist gripped by Yuwen Tong, was unable to free himself. His intention to sneak away thwarted, he felt somewhat guilty beneath Yuwen Tong’s penetrating gaze. “I–It occurred to me that they delivered tons of account books from the Chamber of Commerce to me. My father seems to be rather anxious about it. I need to go back and take a look.”
“Ooooh,” said Yuwen Tong. “Didn’t you assign Zhao Jiusi to handle those account books? You also told him to keep a close eye on Maomao to make sure he takes the learning seriously. A few moments ago, when I was on my way here, I saw that even Ji Xiaocong was stopped outside the hall. Don’t worry. With Zhao Jiusi supervising Maomao, he won’t dare slack off.”
Ling Zhang smiled an awkward smile. “You’re right.”
“Come on. Help me sort out these memorials first,” said Yuwen Tong.
With that he drew Ling Zhang towards the desk.
Resigned, Ling Zhang obeyed. At the sight of the pile of memorials as high as a mound, Ling Zhang felt his head pound and ache dully.
“Let’s get started,” Yuwen Tong said to him gently, but the look in his eyes brooked no argument. It was unmistakable that he would mete out the usual “punishment” to Ling Zhang if the latter dared make another attempt to slip away.
Beneath Yuwen Tong’s gaze, Ling Zhang felt his scalp prickle. What with this and the pang of guilt in him, he did not dare even think of decamping and had no choice but to steel himself and reach to the pile of memorials.
…
Ling Zhang stayed in the imperial study the whole morning and finally finished classifying the mountain of memorials into several categories. Before he could take a breather, Yuwen Tong drew him over, sat him in a chair and forced a writing brush into his hand.
“Those are yours,” said Yuwen Tong, smiling tenderly and pointing at the pile of memorials beside him.
Ling Zhang cast him a despairing glance and then, resigning himself to his fate, started reading and commenting on the memorials.
All the memorials beside him were about insignificant matters but required official, written replies from the emperor. Most of them could be handled by writing “Perused” or “Approved” on them. Only a few of them needed to be given some thought.
Those that Yuwen Tong had to deal with, however, were all troublesome enough to make Yuwen Tong frown. A mere glance at one of them gave Ling Zhang headaches and he never looked in that direction again.
…
Days ticked away.
It took Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong three solid days to finish dealing with all the memorials. After that, Ling Zhang refused to visit the imperial study again. Even when Yuwen Tong tried to coax him into going there in a tantalizingly low voice, he did not fall for it.
He would rather be faced with piles of account books than with those memorials.
When the two of them finally managed to get almost all the backlog dealt with, Ling Zhang’s birthday drew near.
Because of the tenth wedding anniversary celebration, they did not throw Ling Zhang a big birthday party. On that day, they just held a banquet in the palace and invited Yuwen You’s and Yuwen Feng’s family and those in the Ling Mansion.
All invitees were family, so the atmosphere at the banquet was relaxed. Everybody talked and drank freely.
After the meal, the youngsters gathered together to playing cards, while the elders sat down and started talking about the past, bragging about their respective feats. Ling Xingzhong, Ji Yin and Yuwen You were the eldest. Ling Xingzhong was mostly recounting his experience when he had been an official; Yuwen You shared what he had been through when on the battlefield with his elders as a youngster; Ji Yin related to them how he had earned his fame in the martial arts world, which was a story of a distinctive style.
Ling Zhang and some others, as juniors, naturally had to roll logs for the elders. Every time an elder finished a story, they had to give a response, otherwise the old man would toss them reproachful glances which would make them feel bad.
Thus, although it was Ling Zhang’s birthday, and this day was supposed to be all about him, he ended up becoming a member of the claque.
On the other side, of all the youngsters playing cards, Yuwen Yue was the most bossy one. She was a princess, the one Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong and almost everybody else doted on, and she had always been bluff and rather tomboyish. After learning how to play cards, she had immediately become an invincible card player. With Ling Maomao at her back and the help from Ji Xiaocong who had amazing extrasensory perception, she dominated all rounds, defeating the others by large margins.
“You lost! Give me the money!”
Ling Zhang, who happened to hear these words, slightly frowned and twisted his head around to look in that direction.
He saw Yuwen Yue standing there with her foot on her stool, one hand on her hip and the other on the card table. Her voice was particularly loud, her mien farthest removed from that of a princess. Compared with the girls from Yuwen You’s and Yuwen Feng’s families, she was virtually barbaric.
“Hem, hem.” Ling Zhang could not help but give a little cough to warn her. “Crescent.”
Yuwen Yue was filled with excitement. Having won several rounds in a row, she felt a winner of the game of life. Suddenly she heard her dad call her name in a dangerous voice.
Everybody in her vicinity lapsed into silence. Yuwen Qi sitting opposite Yuwen Yue winked at her frantically for a moment before Yuwen Yue caught on, quickly removed her foot from the stool and sat herself on it, instantly turning into a pretty teenage girl. Then she said in a soft voice, “Those who lost this round, give me the money.”
All the others, ” … “
Even now she still remembered the money.
As Ling Zhang sitting on the other side saw her dismiss the air of a bandit about her, he silently withdrew his gaze and let out a sigh. Neither he nor Yuwen Tong was a person of unbridled personality, and the palace ladies serving their daughter were all quite courteous. How come their daughter had become a girl like this? Wh–What would she be like when she grew up?
Ling Zhang was deeply concerned about his daughter’s future. Yuwen Tong sitting beside him squeezed his hand, appearing quite composed.
…
This palace banquet lasted until night. Ling Zhang overestimated his tolerance to alcohol and drank himself into a near stupor.
Yuwen Tong supported him towards the imperial bedchamber. Halfway to the destination, Ling Zhang suddenly straightened himself and asked, “Where’s Crescent?!”
Yuwen Tong was startled by his loud voice. “She’s returned to her own palace and probably has turned in by now.”
Ling Zhang was incredulous. “Really? Why do I remember seeing her playing cards a moment ago?”
Yuwen Tong said, “She played cards in the afternoon. It’s night now.”
Ling Zhang furrowed his brows, his scarlet face full of confusion. “What are you talking about? It’s not even dark yet. Y–You’re lying. I need to find Crescent. She must sit like a princess. She’s not allowed to act like a hooligan. That kind of conduct is so unbecoming to a princess.”
Yuwen Tong hastened to stop him, holding him in his arms. “You’ve told her that already, and she’s changed. She sat there very meekly all night.”
“She’s changed?” Ling Zhang, immobilized by Yuwen Tong’s embrace, looked incredulously at him. His eyes, though still sparkling and limpid, were somewhat unfocused. He was limply leaning against Yuwen Tong’s chest, unable to stand straight.
“Of course. I saw it myself.” Yuwen Tong hastened to attest it, then scooped him up and strode through the gates of the imperial bedchamber for fear that Ling Zhang might catch a cold if exposed to the chill for too long.
“Where’s the Sobering Soup?”
“It’s ready, Your Majesty.”
A eunuch immediately served the Sobering Soup.
Yuwen Tong took a seat, sat Ling Zhang on his lap and took a bowl of Sobering Soup, intending to feed him. The moment Ling Zhang smelled the Sobering Soup, he knitted his brows and twisted his head aside with great fluidity. Clearly he was not inclined to drink it.
Yuwen Tong found his reaction both cute and amusing. “Be a peach and drink this, or you’ll get headaches.”
“No. It stinks,” Ling Zhang answered concisely.
The eunuch on the side, at the sight of the imperial couple doing this, flushed and then sensibly took his leave, not daring stand there any more.
“Be good. Drink this.”
“No!”
Resigned, Yuwen Tong had no alternative but to take a gulp of the soup, drag Ling Zhang over and press his lips onto Ling Zhang’s.
Ling Zhang let out a couple of muffled grunts and eventually had to accept the Sobering Soup from Yuwen Tong’s mouth, his brows knitted, trying hard to push Yuwen Tong away. “Let go … Let go of me. It reeks. Don’t kiss me.”
Seeing that Ling Zhang had red cheeks, red nose, red corners of eyes and an injured and stubborn look on his face and was too drunk to know what he was doing, Yuwen Tong felt aroused, waves of hotness sweeping over him.
Longing crept into his eyes in spite of himself, and his voice became husky. “I’ll stop kissing you if you drink this.”
“You’re lying,” demurred Ling Zhang without a second thought.
Yuwen Tong chuckled, “You’re drunk but not stupid.”
Despite Ling Zhang’s objection, Yuwen Tong forced the whole bowl of Sobering Soup down Ling Zhang’s throat with his mouth. Ling Zhang hated his guts, but no matter how hard he hit and cursed Yuwen Tong, the latter refused to stop. Eventually something occurred to him, which made him feel hard done by. The corners of his eyes became watery and he looked close to sobs.
The apple of Yuwen Tong’s throat bobbed quickly. Looking at his sweetheart in his arms whose face wore a hurt expression, he suddenly let out a long sigh, lowered his voice and said, “You little devil has filled my heart already, but you still won’t stop stuffing it. Here, take a look. See? Hasn’t my heart been filled with you already? You didn’t leave an inch for me.”
With that, he kissed the corners of Ling Zhang’s eyes. When he spoke again, his voice sounded somewhat dangerous. “Don’t cry. Seeing you cry only makes me want to make you cry harder.”
There was no telling whether or not Ling Zhang understood these words, but he did not dare push Yuwen Tong any more. However, he was still looking at Yuwen Tong with that injured expression. He blinked his eyes and a bead of tear slid down his cheek.
As a gleam of craving appeared in Yuwen Tong’s eyes, he craned over, kissed Ling Zhang, scooped him up and made towards the bedchamber.
Ling Zhang subconsciously put his arms around Yuwen Tong’s neck, buried his face in Yuwen Tong’s chest and said stiffly, “You’re bullying me.”
“I’m not bullying you.”
“You are. And you made me drink that stinky stuff.”
Yuwen Tong, without pausing, carried him to the bed, put him down onto it, stooped over him and, gazing at him, said, “You don’t have to drink any more stinky stuff. How about we do something that’ll make you happy?”
Ling Zhang looked back at him. After a few moments, he shifted his gaze to the bedside and said, “I’m not happy.”
Yuwen Tong chuckled dangerously, “You will be very soon.”
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