Chapter 12: CH 11

Yuejian was the top act at Banhua Tower, which meant that he couldn’t be purchased with just a few hundred taels of silver. The owner of the establishment shakily held up five fingers and said, “This, this amount.”

Sui Yan directly replied, “Deal, I will send someone to bring the money over later.” 

Yuejian stood in a slight curtsey behind Sui Yan. There was a smile on his face, and his gaze towards Sui Yan was filled with gratitude.

The owner clutched her chest, feeling faint. She hurriedly exclaimed, “Yuejian must have been extremely blessed to have gained Little Young Master’s interest!”

Yuejian forced a smile and nodded, “Yes, many thanks to Little Young Master!”

Sui Yan was amused by the sight of Yuejian suppressing his anger. He stepped forward and held Yuejian’s waist ambiguously as he smiled, “Don’t mention it. Since it’s your blessing, you will naturally experience what’s yours. Be good and wait for a while. I’ll send someone to pick you up later.” 

At that moment, Yuejian’s gaze could murder.

Sui Yan laughed and walked out of Wanhua Tower, leaving behind a crowd who stared at Yuejian enviously.

Sui Yan was in a good mood, but just as he stepped out of Banhua Tower, he ran into Duan Mingchong, who was carrying a small cage.

Sui Yan’s smile stiffened, and his arrogant aura instantly vanished.

Duan Mingchong seemed to have just gotten off his carriage. He glanced at Sui Yan coldly while the coachman behind him looked embarrassed.

Sui Yan’s smile turned even stiffer. He clearly knew that his actions had nothing to do with Duan Mingchong and that Duan Mingchong couldn’t control him, but as long as he saw this gentle and kind crown prince, Sui Yan couldn’t stop himself from turning into a quail.

The quail scurried over and bowed, “This subject greets Your Highness.”

Duan Mingchong indifferently asked, “What are you doing here? Did you come to eat steamed buns again?” 

Sui Yan nodded, “Y-yes”

Duan Mingchong replied, “You ate for six hours?”

Sui Yan, “……”

Duan Mingchong didn’t want to embarrass Sui Yan in front of the bustling entrance of Wanhua Tower, so he didn’t chastise him. He only said, “Come in, I’ll send you back to your manor.” 

Sui Yan mentally cursed, but he had no choice but to follow Duan Mingchong and climb onto the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly. Duan Mingchong lifted the curtain and looked outside carelessly, ignoring Sui Yan.

Sui Yan pondered for a while and felt that he had to explain what had happened.

“Your Highness……” 

Duan Mingchong looked over and lightly said, “You finished coming up with your excuse?”

Sui Yan, “……”

Can tricking people be considered an excuse?

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Duan Mingchong stiffened and hurriedly covered the cage with a red cloth. He unnaturally replied, “No-Nothing.”

Sui Yan had always had a restless temperament. The more Duan Mingchong didn’t want him to see something, the more curious he was, so he put down the hand warmer in his hands and moved over to see what was inside the cage. 

The cloth didn’t completely cover the cage, and through the wooden bars, a small brown creature could be seen shivering in a corner. The little bun looked like a mouse and was extremely cute.

Sui Yan was filled with excitement, “Your Highness, what is this?”

Duan Mingchong could only pull off the red cloth and say, “This was a gift from Master Gengxue. It’s a hamster, and it is said to be very popular in the Jiangnan area. It looked cute and pitiful, so I asked for it…..”

It seemed like Duan Mingchong wanted to say something else, but he hesitated. Sui Yan grinned and shamelessly asked, “Is it for me?” 

In an instant, Duan Mingchong’s face was filled with a pale red blush. He reached out for the cage and hugged it as he said, “…..No, I don’t want to give it to you now.”

Sui Yan felt that this crown prince was not as gentle and elegant as everyone claimed. But it made sense. No matter how high his status or how respected he was, the crown prince was still a child.

Sui Yan saw Duan Mingchong’s ducked head and red ears and felt a sense of happiness.

They soon arrived at the Sui Manor, and Sui Yan bowed to Duan Mingchong. Just as he was about to leave, he thought of something. His smile stiffened and he hurriedly sat back down. 

Duan Mingchong gave him a weird look, “What’s wrong?”

Sui Yan’s face was pale as he answered, “Your Highness just sai……said that you saw one of Sui Manor’s bodyguards at Wanhua Tower……”

Sui Yan clearly remembered that he hadn’t brought any bodyguards with him on this excursion.

Duan Mingchong was confused, “I did. He said General Sui was worried about your safety, so he sent someone to watch over you.” 

Sui Yan nearly collapsed.

Sui Xun didn’t like how wantonly he played, to begin with. Usually, if Sui Yan argued with Jiang Enhe on the streets, he would be glared at. This time, Sui Yan had even gone to a red-light establishment right under his brother’s nose and stayed there for most of the day. Sui Xun would definitely butcher him.

The more he thought about it, the more Sui Yan felt terrified. He trembled and looked towards Duan Mingchong, quietly begging, “Your Highness, save me.”

Duan Mingchong was so angry that he wanted to laugh, “You can still feel fear? I thought you weren’t afraid of anything.” 

Sui Yan carefully laughed along, “Wanggui is just a nobody, so of course, I’m afraid. Your Highness is kind and generous, so please help me this time. I will definitely repay you in the future.”

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Duan Mingchong looked at him helplessly. He seemed to have been scared by Sui Yan, and he waved his hand, saying, “Get off.”

Sui Yan thought that he had been rejected, and he immediately threw down any semblance of shame, holding onto Duan Mingchong’s waist with all of his strength.

“Don’t do this, Your Highness! If you don’t help me this time, I’m afraid you will never see me again in the future.” 

Duan Mingchong had been in the East Palace for many years. Although his temperament was gentle, nobody had ever been presumptuous enough to hug his waist like this because of his status. He stiffened and looked at Sui Yan in disbelief.

Sui Yan looked up pitifully in his arms and begged, “Save me, Your Highness.”

Duan Mingchong, “……”

After a while, Duan Mingchong entered the Sui Manor, his ears bright red. He was followed by Sui Yan, whose head was down, looking like a quail. 

When his subordinate reported that Sui Yan had returned, Sui Xun walked out of the study indifferently. He froze for a second when he saw Duan Mingchong before he cupped his fists and bowed.

Duan Mingchong smiled gently and said, “You don’t need to be so polite. I happened to meet Little Young Master on the road, so I gave him a ride.”

Sui Xun’s brows furrowed, and he glared at Sui Yan, his eyes visibly burning with rage.

Sui Yan quickly hid behind Duan Mingchong. 

Sui Xun said, “I have troubled Your Highness to send my brother back.”

After he finished speaking, he coldly told Sui Yan, “Come over here!”

Sui Yan was so frightened that he trembled. He gently tugged at Duan Mingchong’s sleeve and whispered, “Your Highness……”

Duan Mingchong’s smile did not falter as he said, “Little Young Master is unrestrained by nature, and he is also at the age to be playful. Today he only forgot about the time while playing, so I hope the general isn’t too strict about it.” 

Since the Crown Prince had already said this much, Sui Xun could not scold Sui Yan right in front of him. He forced the corners of his lips up as he replied, “Naturally.”

Sui Yan finally let out a sigh of relief.

Sui Xun continued to exchange trivialities with Duan Mingchong, who pleaded for Sui Yan to receive a lighter punishment. Duan Mingchong did not leave until it was sunset.

Sui Xun respectfully escorted Duan Mingchong. As soon as the carriage disappeared, he turned around, his expression as fierce as that of a vengeful spirit. 

“Sui Wanggui!”

Sui Yan had wanted to escape to his own courtyard, but he had instantly been caught. Trembling, he turned around and laughed drily, “Second Brother…..”

Sui Xun coldly glared at him and angrily shouted, “You are so courageous! At such a young age, you even went to visit a red-light establishment. What? Have you gotten bored of all of your usual pastimes?! Did you want to try something new?”

Sui Yan pitifully replied, “Second Brother, just now His Highness said…..” 

Sui Xun laughed frigidly, “Heh, your wings have really hardened. You even know to use the Crown Prince to suppress me. No matter how high his position is, can he manage the affairs of a minister’s house? What is wrong with you? Sui Wanggui, do you really think that if the Crown Prince intercedes on your behalf, you can escape your punishment?”

Sui Yan panicked, “No, n-no!”

Sui Yan had gotten ahead of himself. He had planned everything out, but Sui Xun hadn’t acted according to common sense. As soon as the Crown Prince left, he became ferocious. He held Sui Yan down in the Ancestral Hall and violently whipped him three times before ordering him to copy the Four Books and Five Classics while kneeling. Sui Yan could not eat until he had completed ten copies.

Sui Yan had been beaten so hard that he was in tears. He was used to being pampered and couldn’t bear any pain. Even though Sui Xun had been concerned about his condition and had not used much force, Sui Yan had still screamed from the pain. 

The Ancestral Hall was brightly lit. Li Zhao stood next to him, tending to the charcoal basin. He frowned, his face full of worry, and said, “Young Master, what were you trying to accomplish? That red-light establishment is not a good place to be. If you went once or twice when Second Young Master isn’t home, nobody would care, but now that Second Young Master is back…..”

Sui Yan’s hand shook as he copied, and his voice was full of anguish, “Uncle Zhao, can you stop talking about it? I, I know I was wrong.”

Li Zhao was silent, but he still sighed.

Sui Yan knelt on the futon, his hands shaking as he copied the books, mentally cursing Yuejian with each word. Sui Yan only finished when it was late at night. 

Even though it was so late, the lamp in the study was still on. Sui Yan’s legs trembled as he knocked on the door and called, “Second Brother.”

Sui Xun said, “Enter.”

Sui Yan pushed open the door and walked inside. Sui Xun was reading a book under the lamp, and he did not even glance at Sui Yan as he entered.

Sui Yan didn’t dare to cause any trouble. He held the copied book in his hands and placed it on the desk, whispering, “I, I finished copying.” 

Sui Xun made a noise of acknowledgement and replied, “Go back and rest. Continue kneeling tomorrow.”

Sui Yan froze, “What? I still have to kneel?”

Sui Xun lifted his head and coldly gazed at him. Sui Yan immediately responded, “Yes.”

Sui Yan bowed, his heart like ashes. Just as Sui Yan was about to leave, Sui Xun curled his fingers and rapped on the red sandalwood desk. 

Sui Yan paused and blankly looked back.

Under the light, Sui Xun’s fierceness had faded, and his expression felt inexplicably warm. He stared at Sui Yan, deep in thought, before he suddenly let out a quiet sigh.

Sui Yan murmured, “Second Brother…..”

Sui Xun seemed helpless and worried as he asked, “Wanggui, have you ever thought about how you would support the entire manor if I also die in battle one day and you are left alone as the last member of the Sui Family?” 

Sui Yan froze.

“And how would you live a life without any worries?”

The author has something to say:

The Crown Prince is a real winner in life.

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