Chapter 52: The Fake Princess and His God of War Prince (Part 9)
Traveling continuously, the further north they went, the colder it became.
Before stopping in this city, Xiao Ji hadn’t rested in an inn for a long time.
Earlier, the carriage had been quiet, which suited Xiao Ji perfectly.
Later, whenever Xiang Yinnian passed a town, he would add things to the carriage. Now, the floor was covered in fur rugs, the seats had thick soft cushions, three or five waist and head pillows, a tea table with a tea set, and a small stove—it was packed full.
When it snowed on the road a few days ago, Xiang Yinnian even got a fox fur cloak and insisted on watching Xiao Ji wrap himself in it.
If Xiao Ji secretly took it off, Xiang Yinnian would nag in his ear for ages.
Now that Xiang Yinnian had finally gone out to drink, Xiao Ji relaxed significantly. He had the inn staff bring up warm water, let it cool slightly, and soaked in it for a full hour before his heart felt comfortable.
The inn floor wasn’t necessarily clean. Xiao Ji hesitated for a long time but finally lay on the bed.
Moonlight spilled onto the bed through the half-open window. Xiao Ji wore white sleepwear, his jet-black hair scattered over the bed. Two long, straight jade-like legs were blatantly exposed, shrouded in the hazy moonlight.
In his light sleep, Xiao Ji heard someone enter from the window and sit by his bed. Without opening his eyes, he said lazily:
“You’re back.”
His voice was slightly hoarse. Not the soft whisper of a woman, yet it carried a fatal seduction for Xiang Yinnian.
Reeking of alcohol, Xiang Yinnian reached out and grasped Xiao Ji’s cold ankle.
The warm, smooth touch filled his hand. Xiang Yinnian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “In the dead of winter… I think you are looking to get sick.”
Xiao Ji opened his eyes, meeting Xiang Yinnian’s drunken gaze.
“Before, you boarded my carriage in the middle of the night. You were wounded, so I tolerated you. Now you enter my bedroom deep in the night—if your brother knew, could he also understand you?”
Xiang Yinnian released the hand pinching Xiao Ji’s ankle and pulled the quilt from the side to cover Xiao Ji.
“I can’t hold my liquor. Don’t blame me.”
Xiao Ji didn’t want the blanket. He sat up from the bed, his loose sleepwear slipping to his shoulder. He asked Xiang Yinnian:
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Xiang Yinnian forced himself to look away from Xiao Ji. Reaching into his chest, he pulled out the wooden hairpin. Holding Xiao Ji’s wrist, he placed it in Xiao Ji’s palm.
“Passed a jewelry shop. Though the material is ordinary, the carving is superb. You would look good wearing it.”
Xiao Ji picked up the wooden hairpin and examined it carefully against the moonlight.
“A Phoenix in Flight, with rustling feathers. It signifies conjugal love and a perfect marriage. You are thoughtful.”
Xiang Yinnian grew up amidst swords and shadows, but he wasn’t an illiterate brute. He originally fancied this hairpin not just for its exquisite carving, but for this very meaning.
Alcohol rushed to his head. He felt a suppressed, wicked fire difficult to vent, and couldn’t help but regret the fake identity he had fabricated earlier.
But back then, he and Xiao Ji weren’t familiar. A Feudal Prince entering the capital without summons was a capital crime. If Xiao Ji took the chance to report to the palace, the consequences were unpredictable, and Xiang Yinnian dared not take the risk.
Right now, he wanted to do something to Xiao Ji.
He was afraid Xiao Ji would refuse, and also afraid Xiao Ji wouldn’t refuse.
If he refused, it meant that along this journey, he was the only one who had developed feelings, and Xiao Ji felt nothing for him—and might feel nothing for the Beichen Wang in the future.
If he didn’t refuse… his current identity was Xiang Siyou. If Xiao Ji went along with this behind his fiancé’s back, how would they face each other when the truth was revealed?
In the span of half an incense stick, Xiang Yinnian’s desire to probe, yet fear of probing, reached its peak.
To make matters worse, Xiao Ji wouldn’t let him off. He recklessly leaned close, resting his chin on Xiang Yinnian’s shoulder, whispering decadent sounds into his ear:
“What are you thinking about?”
The warm breath, carrying Xiao Ji’s unique scent, sprayed onto the base of Xiang Yinnian’s ear. He instantly lost his reason, pinned Xiao Ji onto the bed, and kissed those trouble-making lips fiercely.
Then, before he thought Xiao Ji had time to resist, he quickly pulled away and leaped out the window.
This way, he got his advantage, and he didn’t have to find out if Xiao Ji was willing or not.
Excellent.
Xiao Ji lay on his side on the couch, watching Xiang Yinnian’s fleeing figure, and chuckled low.
037 clicked its tongue: 【I want to see how you’ll clean this up later.】
Xiao Ji was noncommittal: 【The one lying wasn’t me, and the one who made the move wasn’t me. Why wouldn’t I be able to clean it up?】
Facts proved Xiao Ji was right.
The one who couldn’t clean it up was indeed not Xiao Ji.
Because ever since that sudden kiss, Xiang Yinnian never appeared in front of Xiao Ji again.
He even vanished silently from the welcoming procession.
Regarding this, Xiao Ji never asked a single question.
Ten days later, the welcoming procession finally arrived beneath the city where the Beichen Wang’s manor was located.
Nearing the New Year, goose-feather snow had been falling for three full days, yet it couldn’t cover the lively atmosphere of the approaching joyous event in the city.
Because the Beichen Wang’s wedding was imminent, all shops belonging to the Beichen Wang waived one month’s rent, and grain and wine were sent to the homes of the guarding soldiers.
Red silk and red lanterns hung spontaneously by commoners everywhere in the city. From the Beichen Wang’s manor to the city gate, the ten-mile long street was empty of traffic but crowded with commoners waiting for the Ninth Princess to enter the city.
Xiao Ji had changed into the phoenix coronet and robes at the hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM) and applied his makeup. Now covered by a veil, though he couldn’t see, he could hear the noise that grew distinctly louder after entering the city.
Soon, the sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers approached from the distance.
After a long while, the carriage stopped. Someone lifted the carriage curtain and extended a slender, clean hand with well-defined knuckles towards him.
Xiao Ji recognized the owner of that hand at a glance and reservedly placed his right hand upon it.
He gripped Xiang Yinnian’s fingertips but had absolutely no intention of getting off the carriage.
Outside the carriage, Xiang Yinnian squeezed Xiao Ji’s hand and asked, “Is the Princess putting on airs?”
The voice was deep, bearing a fifty percent resemblance to before, but thicker and more natural—presumably, this was his real voice.
Xiao Ji found it amusing and deliberately said, “Putting on airs is hardly it. It is just that coming from the capital, the journey was long and I am extremely weary. Now at the door of the house, I cannot walk. I hope the Wangye will be considerate.”
Xiang Yinnian clearly paused upon hearing this. Then he pulled Xiao Ji, turned around, and presented his back to him.
“If you want to be carried, just say so.”
Xiao Ji had intended this. Naturally, he wouldn’t be polite now. He climbed onto his back and spoke grandly into his ear:
“The Wangye’s deep love, this concubine has no way to repay.”
As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around his neck, and his cold hands hidden in his sleeves began to mischievously reach into his collar.
Xiang Yinnian supported Xiao Ji’s thighs, hoisted him up, and under the gaze of everyone, carried Xiao Ji on his back all the way into the main gate of the Prince’s manor.
The commoners cheered, but the soldiers guarding outside the manor and the guests standing by the gate watching the excitement looked at each other in shock, whispering among themselves.
Xiang Yinnian wore a black python robe, his steps steady. Snowflakes fell on the crown of his head, and he completely disregarded the gazes of those around him.
But inside, he was dying of awkwardness.
Since that kiss ten days ago, Xiang Yinnian had ridden fast horses back to the Beichen Wang’s manor overnight, yet he tossed and turned every night. He felt that he had drunk too much that night and lost control of his words and actions, but Xiao Ji didn’t seem innocent either—he was clearly seducing him deliberately.
Just like that freezing hand reaching into his collar right now!
Xiang Yinnian couldn’t figure out what Xiao Ji meant. Now, with the heavy person on his back, the questions he wanted to ask couldn’t be voiced. The more he thought, the more unpleasant he felt, and the hands gripping Xiao Ji’s thighs used more force.
Passing through the guests, he finally couldn’t bear it and asked:
“Xiao Ji, although Ben Wang and you are to be husband and wife, this is our first meeting. Are you this unreserved with everyone?”
Unexpectedly, as soon as his voice fell, Xiao Ji suddenly laughed lightly in his ear:
“The Wangye is mistaken. When have I been unreserved?”
Xiang Yinnian had bitter suffering he couldn’t voice, so angry he wished he could dump Xiao Ji on the ground right there.
Fortunately, Xiao Ji didn’t wait for him to completely explode before whispering another sentence:
“Kissing and running—the one who was unreserved first, wasn’t it you, Wangye?”
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