CH 13
Thousand Miles of Heaven
Ch 13 âThis King doesnât ask right or wrong, this King just follows his heart.â
At noon that day, the imperial driver returned to the capital ahead of schedule.
The matter of the Xitai Ying really came to an end. The commander and the deputy commander of the artillery battalion were reprimanded. Emperor Qianming naturally knew that someone deliberately caused his bad luck and didnât want him to be happy, but he couldnât grasp the handle, and he could only swallow this breath.
Dongshan Ying finally promoted a deputy commander from the inside to be the commander, and Emperor Qianmingâs reply was as Xie Chaoyuan expected, ordering all the princes except the youngest Xie Chaoyi to go to the court.
There were originally only the prince and Xun Wang Xie Chaorong at the court. The crown prince was now âin a comaâ, so Xie Chaorong was as pleased as punch, and the emperorâs decree goes on, so it is clear that it is to suppress him and Zhaoâs arrogance.
Not to mention Xie Chaoyuanâs incident, Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi, one is the adopted son of Empress Yuan and has been in military power, and the other is the son of the Empress Yuan, and there are old East Palace forces behind them. Now these two have officially entered the court, even without Xie Chaoling, itâs hard to say what the future will be like.
Not to mention how furious Xie Chaorong was in King Xunâs mansion. At King Keâs mansion, Xie Chaoyuan was trying out the official uniform that was delivered in the afternoon.
Xie Chaoling carefully helped him to tie the belt and straighten the corners of his clothes. Xie Chaoyuan was tall and straight. Wearing this ordinary public uniform on him, he was much more vigorous than the others.
He fixed his eyes on the person in front of him, Xie Chaolingâs eyelashes were slightly drooping, and his movements were meticulous and focused.
âYour Royal Highness has entered the court, so this temperament has to be restrained a little.â Xie Chaoling urged seriously.
Xie Chaoyuan suddenly pinched his chin and made him look directly at him. Xie Chaoling frowned, and quickly stretched it out again, without struggling: âIâve made Your Highness unhappy again? If you donât like to hear it, then I will take back the sentence I just said.â
Xie Chaoyuan rubbed the belly of his finger on his cheek, with a narrow smile in his eyes: âThe corner of your mouth has the crumbs of snacks.â
Xie Chaoling: ââ¦â
He did eat a piece of buddha hand pastry just now.
Xie Chaoyuan was still smiling: âLinlang is so childish.â
Xie Chaoling was secretly unhappy. Being actually called childish by this little highness, he coughed lightly and said solemnly, âYour Highness, donât make fun of me.â
Xie Chaoyuan dropped his hand and touched the short knife worn at Xie Chaolingâs waist: âIf you donât like to hear it, I wonât say it.â
Xie Chaoling said, âIâm going to feed Xiao Huang.â
Xiao Huang, the bird Xie Chaoyuan gave him, was brought from the palace and hung under the window.
Xie Chaoyuan smiled and didnât care.
Wang Rang came in to report a matter. Seeing that Xie Chaoling was there, he was hesitant to speak. Xie Chaoyuan motioned to him: âSpeak directly.â
âIn the early noon, His Majesty told the Ministry of Rites that His Royal Highnessâs injuries were not healed, and all matters concerning the wedding in the East Palace were suspended.â
Xie Chaoyuan snorted softly when he heard the words: âThere is only half a month left before the big wedding day. This king thought that His Majesty really planned to let the daughter of the Yang family marry into the East Palace like this.â
Of course, that is impossible. Not to mention whether the crown prince is really there in the East Palace, even if he did came back, seeing Emperor Qianmingâs secretive attitude and not letting anyone visit him, he knows that the situation is not good. At this time, if the daughter of the Yang family is married to be a widow, if the emperor really insists on doing this, then it will not be a marriage but an enmity with the Yang family.
Wang Rang lowered his head and dared not answer.
Xie Chaoling, who was teasing Xiao Huang with his bird stick, tilted his head when he heard this, and asked Xie Chaoyuan, âWhat about Your Highness? Didnât Your Majesty tell you to marry?â
Xie Chaoyuan looked at him, his eyes paused: âGuess.â
Xie Chaoling didnât want to guess, so he turned around and continued to tease Xiao Huang. Xie Chaoyuan stepped forward, leaned against the window, and looked up at him.
Being stared at by those thick black eyes, Xie Chaoling felt helpless and put down the birdie stick: âI donât want to guess, and I canât guess, Your Highness will say it himself.â
âNo, crown prince elder brother is not married yet, so how could it be this kingâs turn?â He said while looking into Xie Chaolingâs eyes, as if he meant something.
Xie Chaoling felt that this was a little weird, but he didnât think deeply, âOhâ, and finally fed Xiao Huang with bird food before making him annoyed.
Wang Rang came over and continued to report the matter to Xie Chaoyuan: âAlso, Ning Wang went down to greet His Majesty today, and casually mentioned His Royal Highness Xun, saying that he went to Xun Wangâs mansion a few days ago and wanted to ask Prince Xun for potted flowers. He said that the flowers in his house were nothing, and the ones planted in the Eastern Palace were the best ones. His Majesty looked unhappy when he heard this, and asked King Ning if King Xun would often mention all kinds of things in the Eastern Palace to him. Afterwards, King Ning was probably influenced by His Majestyâs tone. Frightened, he hesitated and said neither yes nor no.â
King Ning, Xie Chaoyi, was the brother of King Xun, Xie Chaorong. He was also born to Concubine Zhao. He was only twelve years old. Although Xie Chaorong did not please Emperor Qianming, Xie Chaoyi, the youngest son, was quite popular with the emperor. But in the eyes of others and even Concubine Zhao Gui, Xie Chaoyi was far inferior to Xie Chaorongâs sense of existence. The two brothers seem to have a good relationship on the surface, but now it seems that it was not the case.
Xie Chaoyuan said with a smile: âThis kid looks innocent usually, but heâs also a conscientious person.â
Xie Chaoling already wiped his hands with the veil, and said casually, âYour Highnessâs brothers are so different from each other, but to say who is the most clever, it must be Your Highness.â
Xie Chaoyuan raised his eyes to look at him: âWhy?â
Xie Chaoling leaned over and tapped his finger on his chest: âYour Royal Highness knows what he has in mind, why do you need to reveal things? Even the matter in His Majestyâs Palace, Your Highness can receive news here, and Linlang admires it.â
This is the first time Xie Chaoling has called himself this way, and Xie Chaoyuan raised his eyebrows.
Xie Chaoling glanced at a group of servants who were standing with their heads bowed and respectful. He put his hand on Xie Chaoyuanâs shoulder, stroked it, and whispered, âItâs night, and Your Highness will have an early morning tomorrow. I will go back to my room and not disturb Your Highness.â
After he finished speaking, he turned to leave, but was pulled back by Xie Chaoyuan. Xie Chaoyuan gestured with a look, and Wang Rang asked Wang Jin to lead the group back, and along the way helped them put out most of the palace lanterns, leaving only a few dimly lit ones.
Xie Chaoling was helpless: âYou want it again tonightâ¦â
His Highness was too valiant, every night, he couldnât stand it.
Xie Chaoyuan looked at him silently, Xie Chaoling sighed: âYour Highness, you are still young and not yet married, so you must know how to control yourself.â
Xie Chaoyuan remained silent, just staring at his eyes.
Xie Chaoling was defeated by Xie Chaoyuanâs eyes, and reluctantly began to stretch out his hand to untie his clothes. If he didnât take it off for a while, he would be stripped off by Xie Chaoyuan, and he would waste a good shirt.
But Xie Chaoling was aggrieved, why did this person say that he must take off his clothes obediently? Thinking of this, when Xie Chaoyuan turned his head and kissed his cheek, he turned his face away.
Xie Chaoyuan was a little sluggish: âDonât want to?â
âYour Royal Highness cannot rely on his young age to indulge in this kind of thing and lose his health.â Xie Chaoling followed suit.
âNot to mention that Your Highness is still wearing the official uniform. If it gets dirty, wonât itâ¦â
Xie Chaolingâs voice lowered, Xie Chaoyuanâs throat rolled: âHelp this king take it off.â
Their eyes met, and they competed silently for a moment. In the end, Xie Chaoling, who was still under the eaves, bowed his head and helped the little highness to take off the clothes that he had put on one by one.
When the last coat was left, Xie Chaoyuan suddenly held his hand, and when Xie Chaoling was caught off guard, he bent down and picked him up.
Xie Chaoling was used to it and was carried away by Xie Chaoyuan without struggling.
Xie Chaoyuan carried him to the bathroom. Lying naked in the bath, the man bullied him from behind and hugged his waist: âYou really donât want to?â
Xie Chaoling yawned and narrowed his eyes, ignoring him. Itâs not that he didnât want to, he was also at a young age, and it was hard to resist temptation, but he really couldnât stand it like this every night.
âIf I say I donât, will Your Highness let me go?â
âWonât.â
What more is there to say?
Xie Chaoyuanâs kiss fell on his wet shoulder. Xie Chaoling turned around and bit him hard on his shoulder.
Xie Chaoyuan didnât move. When Xie Chaoling was tired and his teeth were sore, he opened his mouth, and there was a circle of blood-soaked tooth marks on his shoulder. Xie Chaoling frowned: âWhy didnât Your Highness dodge?â
âIt is fine as long as Linlang is happy.â
Xie Chaoyuan didnât care, he picked up his loose hair, and washed his hair with his own hands.
Xie Chaoling tried to reason with him: âTomorrow morning, you will go to the court on the first day, so you have to make a good impression on your majesty and the officials, you have to enter the palace at Mao Shi (5-7am), so when do you think you have to get up? If you donât have a good rest tonight, recharge your batteries, are you planning to doze off at the court meeting tomorrow morning?â
Xie Chaoyuan lowered his eyes and didnât say a word. He was still rubbing his hair unhurriedly. His expression was a little blurry in the steam.
âAre you listening to me?â
âListening.â Xie Chaoyuan finally spoke.
âDoes Your Highness think Iâm right?â
âRight.â
âThatâ¦â¦â
Xie Chaoyuan raised his eyes, his eyes were calm but unbearable: âThis king doesnât ask right or wrong, this king just follows his heart.â
Xie Chaoling wished he could kick him to death: âYour Highness is too overbearing.â
Xie Chaoyuan bullied his body forward and lightly pecked Xie Chaolingâs red lips and the mole on the tip of his nose: âLinlang didnât answer me that day, that day you took me as someone.â
Xie Chaoling was taken aback.
In hindsight, he recalled that on the road to Xitai Ying that day, Xie Chaoyuan asked him who he thought he was, but he didnât answer, but this person remembered it carefully. Torturing him was unreasonable.
âYour Royal Highness is not only clever, but also has a heart smaller than a needle. Even ladies wouldnât be like this.â
Xie Chaoyuan looked at him silently. Xie Chaoling became even more helpless when he stared at him: âDoes Your Highness have to have me answer?â
After a moment of silence, Xie Chaoyuan lowered his voice: âFine.â
He got up and stepped out of the bath first, put on his coat and left the bathroom.
Xie Chaoling, who was left in the bathroom alone for the first time, was instantly stunned. This is⦠is he angry again?
A quarter of an hour later, Xie Chaoling returned to the main room. The lights here were all turned off. Xie Chaoyuan was not happy having people wait by his side at night. The servants had all retreated, and there was no sound in the room.
Xie Chaoling paused for a while, and when he was hesitating, the door behind him was swept up by the wind, and the familiar heat covered him from behind, hugging him in full.
He was carried inside and thrown onto the bed. After a hissing sound, the bed curtain slid down. The man had already bullied himself, and put his hands on his sides. The eyes staring at him in the dark were full of intense and boiling emotions, it told Xie Chaoling subconsciously to escape.
âYour Highness, didnât you leave firstâ¦â
Xie Chaoling wanted to turn his head sideways, but Xie Chaoyuan grabbed his chin with one hand, and let out a heavy breath.