Chapter 34: Mutual Understanding
“Ajun, I really regret it…”
Chu Lianmo continued to hold Qi Xiaojun, sobbing, tears wetting his clothes.
“If I had proposed to you earlier, maybe you would have agreed, and everything that happened later might not have happened…”
“I wouldn’t have agreed.” Qi Xiaojun shook his head wryly.
Having finally left Chu, how could he willingly return to the cage that had imprisoned him for eight years?
Moreover, he considered Emperor Chu Wen to be his mother’s murderer, believing that a blood feud existed between him and Chu Lianmo.
“Besides, in your father’s eyes, you and I are insignificant. Our marriage wouldn’t have changed the war between Chu and Qi.”
“I guessed that.” Chu Lianmo smiled wryly, “That’s why I lacked the courage to do it. I knew that this life, we could only miss each other, and I self-destructively married many others.”
“Fortunately…” Chu Lianmo suddenly cupped Qi Xiaojun’s face, showing a happy smile, “Heaven must have thought my first half of life was too miserable and finally sent you back to me. Ajun, this time I’ll never let you go!”
“Yes, perhaps this is fate.” Qi Xiaojun smiled, “We are destined to be together.”
“By the way, Ajun!” Chu Lianmo suddenly remembered an important question, “I’ve told you so much, but you haven’t told me yet, do you love me?”
“…You’re so stupid.” Qi Xiaojun’s cheeks flushed red, “I’ve already said so much, don’t you understand?”
“I just want to hear you say it again!” Chu Lianmo looked at Qi Xiaojun and smiled dotingly, “I also want to ask you the same question – when did you fall in love with me?”
“Um, about these past two months?”
“…” Chu Lianmo was slightly disheartened, “So it was really one-sided before?”
“Ah, I had to be wary of everyone in Chu. How could a hostage safely fall in love in Chu? Later, you distanced yourself from me, I didn’t know why, and I couldn’t love you. Please understand. But I truly considered you a close friend.”
“Good, good,” Chu Lianmo smiled sweetly again, “It doesn’t matter anymore. Now that you love me, I’m content!”
Chu Lianmo hugged Qi Xiaojun and was about to kiss his lips.
“…Let’s talk about important matters first.”
Qi Xiaojun turned his head, and the kiss landed on his cheek. After all, it was inappropriate to do such a thing in the courtyard.
“Your Highness, what are your plans regarding Yin Mei?”
“If Yin Mei’s matter is truly a conspiracy,” Chu Lianmo’s expression turned serious, “who do you think is behind it? I used to think Chu Wei De was the most hateful person, but who has the greatest conflict of interest with me?”
Qi Xiaojun was startled, immediately understanding Chu Lianmo’s meaning: “You mean, the Crown Prince?”
“Exactly.” Chu Lianmo nodded, “Over the years, Chu Ziqian has never openly opposed me, he didn’t participate in Chu Wei De’s bullying, but did he stop it? If he really wanted to, Chu Wei De is his own younger brother, wouldn’t he listen to him? I even suspect that he fanned the flames.”
Qi Xiaojun suddenly realized that Chu Ziqian was the more terrifying one.
Because Chu Wei De’s evil was obvious, while Chu Ziqian always played dirty.
Chu Wei De didn’t seem smart enough to have orchestrated Yin Mei’s scheme.
“Then, Your Highness, how do you plan to find evidence regarding the Wen family?”
“What about the Wen family?” Chu Tianlin unexpectedly interjected.
“None of your business.” Chu Lianmo didn’t expect Chu Tianlin to appear at this inopportune moment, and coldly glared at him.
But Qi Xiaojun had a sudden idea, “Lin’er, are you close to Wen Shan? Has anything strange happened to him recently?”
“Yes!” Chu Tianlin answered without hesitation, “I thought that kid was strange just now!”
“Oh?” Chu Lianmo understood Qi Xiaojun’s intention and became interested, “What’s strange?”
Chu Tianlin shrugged, “Fourth Uncle, you said it’s none of my business. I don’t want to say it, hmph.”
“…” Chu Lianmo had the urge to choke him, but he restrained himself.
Qi Xiaojun smiled, “If you tell us, Fourth Uncle will teach you a sword technique, okay?”
Chu Lianmo’s eyes widened, “Did I agree?”
“Okay, it’s a deal.” Chu Tianlin seemed to have grasped that Chu Lianmo would listen to Qi Xiaojun, “Just now, we were drinking and chatting, Liu Jun mocked him, saying that he might not get any inheritance from the Wen family, and he immediately said that the inheritance would all be his! But then he became silent, as if he had said something wrong.”
“…!” Chu Lianmo and Qi Xiaojun exchanged glances, both startled.
After a moment of contemplation, Chu Lianmo said, “Lin’er, help us again. I’ll teach you two moves, how about that?”
“Um, that depends on how difficult it is.”
Chu Lianmo smiled, “Don’t worry, it’s easy. You won’t lose anything if you fail.”
Then Chu Lianmo explained his plan.
“This is easy, leave it to me!” Chu Tianlin readily agreed after listening.
“Alright, it’s your bedtime, go back to your room.”
“No way, do I have to follow the rules of your Rui Wangfu?” Chu Tianlin stuck out his tongue, but dared not disobey Chu Lianmo, and obediently left.
“Now, it’s our turn,” Chu Lianmo looked at Qi Xiaojun with an evil smile, then unexpectedly picked him up, “to do something pleasant.”
“…” Qi Xiaojun’s cheeks flushed red, but he had no choice but to hug Chu Lianmo’s neck to prevent falling, allowing him to carry him to the room under the various gazes of the servants.
In the bedroom, Chu Lianmo placed Qi Xiaojun on the bed and eagerly kissed his lips.
The kiss was forceful and intense, making Qi Xiaojun feel like he was about to suffocate.
Chu Lianmo had been suppressing his feelings for too long.
His tongue pried open Qi Xiaojun’s teeth, their tongues intertwined, making Qi Xiaojun’s whole body weak and numb, completely losing strength.
But when Chu Lianmo went to undress him, Qi Xiaojun used his remaining strength to push Chu Lianmo away, “Lianmo, can we not be so hasty?”
Chu Lianmo paused, “Why?”
“…I… am used to taking things slowly…please understand.”
Chu Lianmo immediately understood. Ever since Qi Xiaojun became a hostage in Qi, he had built a thick wall around his heart. Anyone who wanted him to accept them wholeheartedly could only slowly cross this wall.
Now that Qi Xiaojun was willing to be intimate with Chu Lianmo, he felt satisfied.
“Okay, I’ll respect you.” Chu Lianmo kissed Qi Xiaojun’s forehead, “But let me help you undress tonight? You, a prince, have served me for so long, I feel guilty.”
Qi Xiaojun smiled and extended his arms, cooperating with Chu Lianmo.
Then, the two of them lay in bed in their undergarments, Chu Lianmo holding Qi Xiaojun in his arms.
“By the way, Lianmo,” Qi Xiaojun remembered something, “Tomorrow is a day off, shall I accompany you to see the Noble Consort? I haven’t seen her since my rebirth.”
Chu Lianmo sighed wryly, “Ah, Mother now rarely leaves the house, and almost never attends public events. It’s normal that you haven’t seen her. Even I only visit her once a month.”
“Have you been this month?”
“Not yet. Tomorrow would be fine. I want to introduce you to Mother, but…” Chu Lianmo hesitated, “Ajun, be prepared, Mother is not the gentle and enthusiastic mother you remember. She has a strange temper now.”
“It’s okay.” Qi Xiaojun said considerately, “She’s been through so much pain, it’s understandable that her temper has changed. I won’t conflict with her no matter what she says, don’t worry.”
“She won’t say anything to you,” Chu Lianmo chuckled wryly, “She just might ignore you.”
Sure enough, the next day when Chu Lianmo brought Qi Xiaojun to pay their respects to the Noble Consort, her attitude was cold.
“Greetings, Mother.”
“Greetings, Noble Consort.”
Qi Xiaojun was just a concubine and didn’t have the right to address her as “Mother.”
“Rise.” The Noble Consort replied impassively.
“Mother, let me introduce you, this is Ajun, someone I cherish. So I brought him to see you.”
“Someone you cherish?” The Noble Consort glanced at Qi Xiaojun after hearing Chu Lianmo’s emphasis, “Wasn’t your favorite Yin Mei recently? Changing every so often, your affection must be worthless.”
Chu Lianmo could only smile wryly. He knew his mother hated fickle men like his father, and she also hated him. “Mother, I’ve decided on Ajun, and I won’t change.”
“Heh.” The Noble Consort sneered, “You also told me you’d chosen Qi Xiaojun before, didn’t you? You easily find replacements.”
Qi Xiaojun was startled – Chu Lianmo had already told his mother about his love for him?
“Ajun,” Chu Lianmo whispered in Qi Xiaojun’s ear, “Can I tell Mother your true identity? She won’t tell anyone else.”
“Of course.” Qi Xiaojun smiled and nodded, “I trust your family.”
So, Chu Lianmo dismissed the servants.
“Mother, I want to tell you a secret…Actually, Ajun is not Zhou Jun, he’s Qi Xiaojun!”
“…What?” The Noble Consort finally showed a change in expression.
Chu Lianmo briefly explained the situation.
The Noble Consort stared at Qi Xiaojun for a long time, still in disbelief.
“You’re really the Second Prince of Qi? Do you remember anything I secretly gave you?”
“Ah, I remember…Your Highness secretly gave me a jade pendant.”
“It’s really him!” The Noble Consort smiled, “That was specially prepared for my daughter-in-law. When Mo’er told me he loved you deeply but hadn’t confessed, I secretly gave it to you.”
Qi Xiaojun blushed, realizing that he had been accepted by his mother-in-law long ago.
“Unfortunately, the jade pendant was probably buried with my body,” Qi Xiaojun felt the phrase “my body” was strange, “I’ll have to find a way to retrieve it.”
In fact, after Chu Wei De killed Qi Xiaojun, he proudly took his body as a trophy, intending to hang it at the city gate to humiliate Qi. Chu Lianmo persuaded his father not to agree.
Chu Lianmo said that humiliating Qi in this way might cause Qi De Di to fight Chu to the death, cutting off the possibility of a peaceful resolution. Emperor Chu Wen agreed and sent Qi Xiaojun’s body back to Qi for burial.
Chu Lianmo didn’t tell Qi Xiaojun about his efforts, only smiling slightly, “After I’m done with this, I’ll find a chance to accompany you back to Qi.”
Qi Xiaojun felt warmth in his heart. Chu Lianmo was truly considerate of him.