Chapter 29: “We Are All Substitutes”
After Yin Mei was released from house arrest, he initially intended to behave himself for a while.
After all, Chu Lianmo was already very impatient with him. If he provoked him again, he might lose his life.
However, he was sought out by Chu Ziqian.
Chu Ziqian personally invited him to a private room in a restaurant.
He arrived in the evening, Chu Ziqian was holding a wine glass, elegantly taking a small sip of wine. The setting sun cast a golden light on his sharp features, causing Yin Mei to be momentarily mesmerized.
He never truly loved Chu Lianmo. Initially, he had found him handsome and relatively gentle, and had invested some genuine feelings. However, after repeated punishments, those feelings had long turned into hatred.
Chu Ziqian had taken advantage of this point and directly stated, “Do you want to join forces with me against Chu Lianmo?”
“Yes!” Yin Mei agreed immediately.
His agreement was too quick, and Chu Ziqian frowned suspiciously, “Aren’t you going to negotiate terms with me first?”
Yin Mei saw that this person was very suspicious and wouldn’t easily trust him, so he smiled charmingly, “People like me value money the most. I know Your Highness won’t shortchange me.”
Chu Ziqian also smiled, “Money will naturally not be a problem, but how much will depend on the extent of the damage your information causes to Chu Lianmo. If you can truly severely injure him, what’s wrong with giving you a thousand gold?”
“Hee hee, Your Highness is indeed generous. Can I make another request?”
“Speak.” Chu Ziqian was actually more at ease when the other party had requests.
Yin Mei unexpectedly got up and sat on Chu Ziqian’s lap, gently stroking his chest with his fingers, his laughter revealing his charms. “Your Highness, I not only want money, but I also want you.”
Chu Ziqian was startled. Yin Mei was indeed very handsome, but he wasn’t interested in him.
However, if he could possess him, he would definitely serve him more wholeheartedly.
While Chu Ziqian hesitated, Yin Mei had already started to take off his clothes.
“Get out!” Chu Ziqian couldn’t help but push him away forcefully.
If he were to have sex with him now, he wouldn’t have the energy later, and Jiang Yingnan might find out.
“Cooperation is cooperation,” Chu Ziqian straightened his clothes, and said coldly, “Don’t have other ideas.”
“…I understand.” Yin Mei had to give up for now.
Chu Ziqian found Yin Mei’s promiscuous behavior disgusting and quickly left the restaurant, returning to the Prince’s mansion and going to Jiang Yingnan’s room.
“Ziqian, you’re back.” Jiang Yingnan greeted him.
Since making amends with Chu Ziqian, Jiang Yingnan had resumed his former gentleness and consideration.
He also started greeting the Crown Princess a few days ago. The Crown Princess, besides verbally taunting him a few times, didn’t do anything to him, and Jiang Yingnan was relieved.
Chu Ziqian said happily, “Today, I approached Yin Mei, and he has agreed to cooperate with me. Chu Lianmo will soon suffer the consequences.”
Jiang Yingnan was just smiling and listening to this topic, but as he helped Chu Ziqian take off his coat, he suddenly noticed a strange and strong scent of perfume on Chu Ziqian.
Jiang Yingnan’s hand and his smile froze at the same time. “What did you do with Yin Mei?”
Chu Ziqian was startled, then reacted, “Nothing, his perfume is just too strong, and it got on me.”
“You’re lying!” Jiang Yingnan raised his voice, “Do you think I’m stupid? No matter how strong his perfume is, if it wasn’t for prolonged close contact, it wouldn’t have gotten on you!”
Chu Ziqian also became unhappy, “He tried to seduce me, but I resisted the temptation for you, what are you making a fuss about?”
Jiang Yingnan understood what he meant – he was tempted, but he ultimately resisted.
“It’s because you didn’t push him away immediately that your clothes have such a strong smell! Chu Ziqian, how dare you get angry at me?”
“…” Chu Ziqian now hated Jiang Yingnan for being too smart, “I hesitated for the sake of the greater cause, not because I like him!”
“The greater cause, the greater cause again! To hell with your greater cause!” Jiang Yingnan threw a pillow at Chu Ziqian. “Is this what you call living a good life? Get out!”
“Fine! Don’t regret it!”
Chu Ziqian turned around angrily and left.
From that day on, he didn’t stay overnight at Jiang Yingnan’s place for many days.
Now, the Crown Princess gradually changed her attitude.
This morning, when Jiang Yingnan went to greet her, she asked Jiang Yingnan to offer her tea. Jiang Yingnan could only kneel before her and offer her the teacup with both hands.
The Crown Princess, however, pretended not to see him and chatted casually with her maid, Chun Tao.
Jiang Yingnan knelt there with the teacup for a while. His arms ached, and he couldn’t help but tremble, and the teacup “bang” fell to the ground.
“Useless thing!” The Crown Princess shouted, “Why don’t you clean it up quickly?”
Jiang Yingnan got up to find a broom, but the Crown Princess stopped him, “Stop! Pick it up with your hands!”
“…” Jiang Yingnan had no choice but to pick up the pieces. His delicate fingers were soon cut by the sharp fragments, bleeding profusely.
The Crown Princess wouldn’t let him use any tools; he could only put the fragments he picked up with his right hand into his left hand, resulting in his left hand also being injured.
When Jiang Yingnan had cleaned up all the fragments, his hands and his heart ached violently. He knew that this was just the beginning.
No, I can’t let the Crown Princess bully me like this anymore.
Jiang Yingnan applied medicine to his fingers while contemplating the future.
Finally, he made up his mind to abandon something in his heart.
That afternoon, he went to the Prince’s mansion’s study to see Chu Ziqian.
Chu Ziqian immediately let him in. Chu Ziqian didn’t want to keep arguing with Jiang Yingnan, but was waiting for Jiang Yingnan to be the first to admit defeat.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Jiang Yingnan knelt down to greet him.
Chu Ziqian said indifferently, “Anything?”
Jiang Yingnan lowered his head, didn’t complain about the Crown Princess, but said softly, “I’m here to apologize to Your Highness. I was rude the other day, please punish me.”
“You should have been so obedient earlier.” Chu Ziqian’s attitude softened, “I won’t punish you for anything else, just kneel here and wait until I finish this work.”
“…Yes.” Jiang Yingnan secretly bit his lip, but only answered softly.
Chu Ziqian had been wanting to adjust Jiang Yingnan’s temper and set some rules for him, so he took this opportunity to punish him slightly. He quickly finished the remaining two documents on the desk; it didn’t even take an incense stick.
“Alright, let’s go back to the room.” Chu Ziqian picked up Jiang Yingnan and carried him to the bedroom.
Chu Ziqian thought his method of giving a slap and then a candy was very clever, but he didn’t know that his little punishment had completely broken the thought in Jiang Yingnan’s heart.
That night, Jiang Yingnan went to undress Chu Ziqian as usual, but when he touched his waistband, his hand seemed to be pricked by something and quickly retracted.
“It hurts…” Jiang Yingnan looked at Chu Ziqian with teary eyes. “Can you have someone undress you today?”
“What’s wrong with your hand?” Chu Ziqian carefully held Jiang Yingnan’s hand to check the situation and found that his fingers were covered with many small scars.
Jiang Yingnan choked, “Today the Crown Princess asked me to offer her tea, and I accidentally broke the teacup, so she asked me to clean it up with my hands… But it’s my fault for being clumsy, the Crown Princess didn’t beat me or anything, and it’s right for her to teach me some rules because I couldn’t even offer her tea.”
“…” Chu Ziqian knew Jiang Yingnan was very dexterous. His hands could write poems and paint, as well as sew and embroider; he once embroidered a sachet for him, he could do both men’s and women’s work, how could he not even offer tea? It was easy to see that the Crown Princess was playing tricks.
“What good thing did that Liu Min do again? Don’t hide it; tell me the truth.”
Jiang Yingnan briefly recounted what happened.
Chu Ziqian was furious, “Someone! Slap that maid Chun Tao twenty times, and tell her to stop chatting with her mistress all the time!”
This was obviously a warning.
Although Liu Min was vicious towards Jiang Yingnan, she had always valued her personal maid, Chun Tao.
If Chu Ziqian directly punished Liu Min, because of Liu Min’s capricious nature, she might have an even greater feud with Jiang Yingnan. Therefore, this method is the most suitable choice.
Jiang Yingnan had won a round.
But he felt a bit sad – if he really got serious, Liu Min, that stupid woman, wouldn’t be his opponent, but he, a young master from a general’s family, had to lower himself and fight wits with a woman. This was his current daily life.
“Anan, you’ve suffered.” Chu Ziqian gently embraced Jiang Yingnan and kissed his lips.
Jiang Yingnan’s heart was calm, like a puppet, letting Chu Ziqian do whatever he wanted.
The person he had wholeheartedly loved had now become a tool for him to secure a peaceful life.
After that day, Chu Ziqian resumed his promiscuity, spending one day with Jiang Yingnan and one day with Liu Min.
After a few more peaceful days, Yin Mei finally found a weakness in Chu Lianmo’s house.
That morning, Qi Xiaojun went to Chu Lianmo’s room to find the jade bracelet he had dropped last night.
Initially, Chu Lianmo didn’t like anyone entering his room. When he stayed overnight with other people, he went to their place, but gradually, he no longer cared about these things with Qi Xiaojun.
As soon as Qi Xiaojun pushed open the door, he found Yin Mei rummaging through boxes and cabinets.
“What are you doing?!” Qi Xiaojun immediately became alert.
“Hee hee, actually, I found what I was looking for yesterday,” Yin Mei smiled, without fear, “I’m just confirming if there are any omissions. Guess what I saw?”
Qi Xiaojun said sternly, “You’ve just been released from house arrest, and you want to play tricks again!”
Yin Mei ignored his anger and said to himself with a smile, “I saw many portraits painted by His Highness himself, and they are all of the same person.”
“…!” Qi Xiaojun’s breath stopped.
“You should understand, right? That person is His Highness’ true love. As for us, I’ve studied it, and found that we were all taken into the mansion because of some feature that resembles that person, such as my eyebrows, your eyes…
“So, Zhou Yun, what are you proud of? We are all just substitutes.”