Chapter 39

The part-time worker brought a chair in. Zhou Mixing got up and gave up his seat. He said respectfully, "Please take a seat, Shizi."

Feng Ye waved his hand: "Oh, no need. Just sit down, Young Master Zhou. You can put the chair there." Feng Ye pointed at Yan Sikong's side.

Yan Sikong gently pushed away the woman who was snuggling in his arms and sat up straight.

Zhou Mixing exchanged a few pleasantries with Feng Ye before sitting back down.

After Feng Ye took his seat, the atmosphere was not quite right, and everyone became a lot more restrained.

Zhou Mixing couldn’t guess what Feng Ye was up to, so he could only take the lead in toasting: "We’re glad that we can have a drink with Shizi. This cup of wine shall…shall be toasted to Shizi for entering the wrong door but finding the right seat. How’s that?"

"Yeah, Let’s toast to Shizi."

Everyone raised their cups and toasted to Feng Ye. Feng Ye smiled and drained his cup with one gulp. After putting it down, he said, "In fact, I was listening to the wonderful sound of the qin playing in the room, which was pleasant to my ears. However, I couldn’t stay outside the room and clap along with the beat, so I simply came in to see who was the one playing the instrument.” Feng Ye’s gaze shifted towards Ye Li.

Ye Li hurriedly stood up and rose from her seat halfway*.

Zhou Mixing's expression was a little awkward, and everyone didn't know how to answer.

Feng Ye said with a smile, "I grew up in a military camp, and I was never influenced by rites and music, so my behavior is inevitably crude. I hope all of you will not be offended."

"Shizi must be joking. Shizi is bold and unrestrained. You are a real man."

Yan Sikong remained silent on one side, trying to figure out what Feng Ye was trying to do.

"Come, let’s drink." Feng Ye raised his cup. "I'll give everyone a toast. I hope all of you will take care of me in the capital in the future."

"You're welcome, Shizi."

Feng Ye suddenly turned to Yan Sikong and said with a forced smile, "Lord Yan has a good drinking capacity. You should down this cup of wine no matter what."

Yan Sikong said while maintaining his composure, "Shizi is right." Then, he simply raised his cup. Just as his lips were about to get close to the edge of the cup, there was a sudden stabbing pain under his ribs. He groaned and trembled violently once. Half a cup of wine was splashed on his body.

He was dressed in white today, and his front was stained with clear yellow wine*. He could no longer look elegant.

"Brother Yan, what's wrong?"

Yan Sikong could only feel a dull pain under his ribs. It must be Feng Ye’s doing. He gritted his teeth and said, "I think…I’m feeling a pain in my chest when breathing."

"What are you waiting for?" Zhou Mixing pointed to the young servant at the side, "Go and buy some clothes for Lord Yan."

"No need." Yan Sikong smiled bitterly and said, "In fact, I was already feeling a little uncomfortable today. It seems...it seems that I’m feeling more unwell now. I'd like to leave first. I’m really ashamed for dampening everyone’s spirits.”

"Oh my, dear brother should go back and rest early. I'll ask the coachman to send you back."

"Let me send him back." After Feng Ye finished speaking, before everyone could react, he helped Yan Sikong up from his seat, "Enjoy yourselves."

"Uhh..."

Everyone was at a total loss. This Shizi came in a haste and left inexplicably, so what did he come here for?

Yan Sikong was half dragged out of the Tinglan Pavilion by Feng Ye.

Until he got in the carriage, Yan Sikong pushed Feng Ye's hand away and said in a deep voice, "What the hell is Shizi doing today?"

Feng Ye's voice was cold: "You didn't open this brothel, right?"

What he actually meant was: he could come whenever he wanted.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. He could infer that Feng Ye was looking for trouble. Naturally, he would not fall into this trap. He calmly gave a nonsensical answer: "No."

There was an awkward silence in the carriage.

The two were like fighting with each other, and no one was talking to anyone.

The carriage passed through the street quickly. Yan Sikong suddenly shouted, "That's the wrong way. You should go east."

The coachman turned a deaf ear.

Yan Sikong glared at Feng Ye: "Shizi?"

Feng Ye glanced sideways at Yan Sikong: "How about I take you to ride a horse?"

"Why should we ride a horse in the middle of the night?"

"On the contrary, you had the idea of visiting a brothel in the middle of the night."

Yan Sikong couldn’t help but laugh: "What does that have to do with Shizi?"

Feng Ye was so speechless that he couldn't speak, and anger flashed on his face.

"Since Shizi is not sending me home, then we should stop here."

Feng Ye looked out of the carriage gloomily and didn't speak.

Yan Sikong was full of doubts, yet he didn't dare to conclude any kind of speculation. He said patiently, "Why is Shizi doing this?"

Feng Ye said in a deep voice, "We used to ride together when we were young. I thought you liked horseback riding."

"Whether I like horseback riding or not has nothing to do with what Shizi did today."

"Ten years have passed, and I can hardly find Yuan Sikong’s shadow in you."

Yan Sikong always controlled his emotions. When he heard this, he was like being stabbed by a knife. He was sad and angry. He whispered, "Shizi is of a noble lineage and leads a smooth life. I couldn’t help envying you for your ability to maintain your true character for 10-20 years.”

"Don't fucking ridicule me." Feng Ye said sternly, "I know you've had a hard time these last ten years. Now, I can treat you well and give you glory, splendor, wealth, and rank*. No one can hurt you, as long as you..."

"As long as I what?" Yan Sikong raised his voice. "What the hell does Shizi want?"

"I want you!" Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong fiercely, and his eyes seemed to be glittering.

Yan Sikong was stunned.

Feng Ye said such arrogant and shocking words, yet there was no timidity shown in his expression. On the contrary, he had the complacency and ease of unloading his burden.

Yan Sikong could only feel his brain go blank. He had not been so shocked for a long time.

Feng Ye sneered and raised his chin: "Yes, I want you."

"Shizi... Are you confused from drinking...?"

"Do I look like I’m confused from drinking?"

Yan Sikong was confused for a moment. He shouted, "Stop the carriage, stop!"

"You order my coachman? Do you think he will listen to you? " Feng Ye mocked.

Yan Sikong forced himself to remain calm, but he couldn't look directly into Feng Ye's eyes: "Shizi, please don’t joke around."

"You are a clever person. You can tell if I'm joking or not." Feng Ye held his narrow jaw, forced him to turn his face around, and looked at him, as if he was looking at prey in a cage, "Be mine, Yan Sikong. I will treat you well."

Yan Sikong swatted away Feng Ye’s hand and said, "Shizi is really confused. I'm a man!"

"So what?" Feng Ye hooked his lips into a smile, "I just want you."

Yan Sikong couldn't resist moving back. He wanted to stay away from Feng Ye. He had the feeling of sharing a room with a beast. However, the carriage was cramped. Where could he hide? He said in a deep voice: "Shizi is really willful and unrestrained. Unfortunately, I don't have this fetish. I'm afraid I can't force myself into this kind of thing."

Feng Ye slowly leaned closer, stared at Yan Sikong's eyes, and said word by word: "Whatever I want, I will go and take it. You're no exception."

Yan Sikong took a deep breath: "Why is Shizi so absurd? You make me feel ashamed."

Feng Ye grinned: "I love to see you scholars who are full of benevolence and righteousness feel ashamed. It's very interesting." Under the moonlight, the skin of the person in front of him reflected a soft and glossy luster. His eyes were twinkling. He was different from the former days when he could handle things skillfully and easily. Now he was so helpless that he looked a little lovely and pitiful*, which made Feng Ye nervous just from looking.

Yan Sikong admitted that he had seen great storms and waves*. Back then, he was caught by the local authorities when he was selling smuggled salt along the coast. Beheading was his confirmed charge, yet he could skillfully escape the crime by maintaining his composure. Now, he was flustered by a young boy.

He underestimated Feng Ye. Feng Ye did not conceal his youthful character in front of him, so he really regarded Feng Ye as an immature person. He didn't know how to deal with such a wolf-like and aggressive side of him for a moment.

Feng Ye approached a little closer again. The bridge of his tall nose almost got into contact with Yan Sikong's face. He whispered, "You’re not allowed to go to the brothel again in the future. Otherwise, what you have done to those women, I'll do double to you."

Yan Sikong had nowhere to retreat anymore and could only press against Feng Ye's chest with his hand. Those hard muscles were like natural armor, containing a flourishing power.

Before he could figure out how to respond, Feng Ye suddenly embraced him. He was surprised and angry: "Shizi!"

Those arms were as hard as iron pliers!

"You hugged her today. Did you kiss her?"

“……”

"Speak." Feng Ye’s voice was threatening.

"...No."

"Mm." Only then was Feng Ye satisfied and let go of Yan Sikong. He said in a loud voice, "Xiao Liu, send Lord Yan back to his residence."

The coachman replied, "Yes."

Yan Sikong shrank into a corner of the carriage and calmed down after a long time: "Shizi..."

"Say my name." Feng Ye ordered.

"... Feng Ye." Yan Sikong closed his eyes. He omitted unnecessary nonsense and said straightforwardly, "I don't like men."

"You'll like me." There was a faint smile on Feng Ye's face.

Yan Sikong was very anxious. It's not that he hadn’t been harassed by men, but whoever dared to have this kind of idea of him had been fixed* openly and secretly, but Feng Ye was one that he couldn't fix.

He had his mind set on trying to borrow strength from Feng Ye by getting close to him deliberately, but he didn't expect to cause such trouble for himself.

The carriage soon came to a halt.

Yan Sikong lifted the curtain and saw that he had reached his home. He hurried to get off.

Feng Ye said behind him, "Yan Sikong, remember what I said today."

Yan Sikong paused but did not turn around.

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong in the carriage. He didn't show an arrogant smile until he entered the house.

 

----

PS: waaaaooohhhh such a direct confession A_A Time to date~~ <3

PS for Emzie: Bet Feng Ye was hoping he was going to say yes so that he'd have an excuse to kiss him haha

 

rose from her seat halfway* [欠身]--- to half rise out of one's chair (a polite gesture)

yellow wine* [黄酒]--- mulled rice wine, usually served warm

glory, splendor, wealth and rank* [荣华富贵]---(idiom): high position and great wealth

lovely and pitiful* [楚楚可怜]---usually use to describe the appearance of a girl, who looks delicate and a little bit miserable, which made others want to pamper/love tenderly to that girl.

great storms and waves* [大风大浪]---the turmoil/great changes to society

fixed* [收拾]----fix is a slang: to take revenge on or punish someone, esp by killing

 

Edited on 20 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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