Although Chu Lan restrained a bit when it came to sexual matters, Xia Xi still couldn't keep up- at least he still couldn't compare with him in terms of stamina. Because he was tossed until late into the night, he was often left unable to get up the next morning. This became especially obvious after winter came. He often struggled to get up from bed to prepare himself two or three days out of ten. Sometimes when Chu Lan had already awoken, he was still in his sweet dreams.
Because of this, Xia Xi was very apologetic. The rules of the Barbarian royalty were different from that of Xia Chao's. There were no maids or eunuchs around Chu Lan who would serve him in groups. After getting married, Xia Xi should've take care of everything by himself. He should wake up earlier than Chu Lan, wash him, tie his hair and change clothes instead of letting him do this by himself. Although Chu Lan never blamed him, Xia Xi always warned himself to not be lazy in getting out of bed the next day before falling asleep. But because he was often tired to death from doing it with Chu Lan till midnight, he mostly still couldn't get up on time the next morning.
Chu Lan was extremely energetic. He wakes up very early every morning. He used to wait for Xia Xi to serve him. He liked the way Xia Xi seriously washed his face and brushed his teeth, and the way Xia Xi combed his hair and dressed him. But ever since he consummated his marriage with Xia Xi¹, Chu Lan understood that Xua Xi wouldn't have enough sleep. Not only would he not try to wake him in the morning, he was also light-footed and tried hard to not disturb his Queen.
When Chu Lan woke up at his usual hour, the candles in their room had already been extinguished. The light in the outer halls were still lit and dim light illuminated his surroundings, it was enough for Chu Lan to see the face of the person next to him.
Xia Xi slept very heavily though they finished early last night². The voice that had come from Xia Xi's throat was a bit hoarse, his skin was tender, his body was limp, and his eyes were covered with a layer of tears. He looked pitiful, but it made Chu Lan want to bully him even more. The young man used almost all of his self-control to suppress the thoughts of 'do it again', and fell asleep with his arms circling Xia Xi. At this moment, the person next to him still had his eyes closed. His features were delicate; his lips had probably been sucked too much, they were a little swollen and it looked like he was asking for a kiss.
When Chu Lan looked at him, he felt very happy. He still remembered the first time he saw Xia Xi. His uncle had arranged for him to marry Xia Chao's Princess. Chu Lan couldn't truly say whether he was willing or unwilling, but the first time he saw Xia Xi he already had an answer in his heart- he was willing.
Xia Xi was good-looking and seemed very gentle. In fact, he really was gentle. Chu Lan liked being with him very much. He still didn't know how to make love at that time, he just couldn't help but want to get close to Xia Xi; to touch his hand, to sleep together with him, and talk to him. Later, he grew up a bit but ridiculously thought that kissing was the so-called making love between real couples. He remembered when he kissed Xia Xi for the first time, he really hoped that he could plant two babies in his tummy. He even thought of the babies' names and how to educate them when the babies got older. He didn't know until a few months later that real husband and wife sex was like that and that his Queen was different from other men and women.
But so what?
No matter what Xia Xi's body is, he's still Chu Lan's Queen, he'll like him no matter what!
Chu Lan gazed at Xia Xi for a long time, watching him breathe evenly, watching his thick eyelashes flutter, taking in his fair and almost translucent skin. He couldn't help but lean over and kiss his lips. Because he was afraid of waking the other party, the kiss wasn't heavy. After kissing, he gently got up in a motivated mood. Chu Lan's movements of getting out of bed were gentle. He was worried that cold wind would come in and make Xia Xi cold, but when he was about to get out, Xia Xi suddenly moved and stretched out his hand to touch his arm. He asked vaguely: "Chu Lan, are you up?"
Chu Lan quickly said: "No, it's still early, you can continue to sleep," He tucked Xia Xi into the quilt and patted him lightly. Xia Xi was obviously relieved when he heard his answer, he fell into Chu Lan's trap and continued sleeping.
When Chu Lan arrived in the outer hall, he began to dress in the clothes he had chosen. He moved neatly and quickly cleaned himself up. Just as he was about to call on the maid outside to bring in water, the bedroom doors suddenly opened and a thin person respectfully walked in holding a pot of hot water, bowing in front of him, "Great King." The crisp voice belonged to the maid who was always next to Xia Xi, Cai Huan.
Chu Lan frowned and said in a low voice: "Keep your voice down," Then he said, "Why are you here?" Cai Huan especially served Xia Xi. Whenever Xia Xi sleeps in the Palace arranges a maid to serve Chu Lan, Chu Lan had picked an older woman.
Cai Huan whispered: "Mother³ Lan Yun isn't feeling well today, so this maid came to serve the King," She put the basin down next to her, soaked the cloth towel, and was about to wash Chu Lan's face. Chu Lan stretched out his hand, "I'll do it myself."
Cai Huan was stunned for a moment, she blushed and said: "My Lord, this maid, this maid, uh- for you..." Before she finished speaking, Chu Lan interrupted her a little impatiently, "I'll do it myself," Cai Huan was helpless, she had to pass the cloth towel to him. Chu Lan washed his face and brushed his teeth, when he threw the cloth towel back into the basin, he glanced at Cai Huan's clothes and his frown became deeper. He said in a cold tone: "You've been here for a few years now. Don't you understand our rules? Although my Barbarians aren't as sumptuous as the Xia, they still don't tolerate such clothes appearing on royal grounds."
His tone was too harsh, Cai Huan was taken aback. She knelt on the ground with a "poof", her face was red and she stuttered: "This handmaid- handmaid..." She didn't wear Barbarian clothes on purpose, its outer robes were much too thick. She had changed into a Xia dress that revealed half of her tender and plump breast. Kneeling like that, the gully between her two peaks was clearly visible.
Chu Lan expression looked darker and his tone turned colder, "Or, did you dress like this to seduce who?"
Cai Huan was pierced through and her body almost lost strength, almost prostrating on the ground. Her voice shook as she said: "This maidservant dares not, I beg the King to atone me..."
Chu Lan said, "Don't ever let me see you like this again!"
Xia Xi naturally didn't know about this morning episode. It was already noontime when he woke up. A good night's sleep made the exhaustion dissipate from his body, and his only discomfort was the hunger in his belly. After he got dressed, Cai Huan brought hot water in, she waited for him to finish his wash and then took a comb to comb his hair. Xia Xi was originally still annoyed that he hadn't been able to get up early and lost face⁴ as the Queen. Suddenly he felt a little weird. After thinking about it, he realized that Cai Huan hadn't said a word except for her salutations for him after she came in.
This little girl had always been very jolly.
Xia Xi looked at Cai Huan's face from the bronze mirror. The bronze mirror was originally dull, and Cai Huan had her head lowered, so Xia Xi couldn't see anything at all. Xia Xi simply turned his head to look at her and asked softly, "What's wrong with you? Why haven't you said anything?" With one glance, he saw that Cai Huan's eyes were all red, as if she had cried. Stunned, he asked: "What's the matter? Who bullied you?"
When they first came to the country of the Barbarians, Cai Huan was bullied by other maids. She was too young and couldn't understand the language. Her personality was straightforward, when she was bullied, she cried and would have fewer words, just like now. However, she had grown up these past two years, and her personality had become sharper. She was the Queen's number one subordinate, so she was never bullied again. So Xia Xi wondered why she suddenly became like this.
Cai Huan heard his question, sniffed, and then whispered, "Your Highness, I'm fine."
Xia Xi was a bit helpless, "Why did you cry then? Tell me, who bullied you?" He left Xia Kingdom's Imperial Palace and came to this remote Barbarian country with only this girl by his side. So many years have passed, Xia Xi had never regarded her as an ordinary maid, but more like his own sister. He thought of her if there was good food and would reward her with good fabrics, he tried to take her along wherever he went and looked after her. Of course, he was a little worried.
Cai Huan heard his question and her eyes reddened again. She suddenly knelt down and sobbed: "Your Highness, I- I have offended the King..."
Hearing her answer, Xia Xi breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was just the Queen, this Palace was different from Xia's Palace where the Queen was just a spouse and had no real power. If Cai Huan had offended Chu Lan, Xia Xi could just persuade him. But he was also a bit worried that Cai Huan would do it again. He didn't doubt that she had been bullied but Chu Lan wasn't unreasonable, there must've been something that Cai Huan did wrong, or maybe she was misunderstood and made Chu Lan angry.
Xia Xi also found it strange. Chu Lan had never lost his temper with the other maids before, only to Cai Huan would he often show a stinky face to.
Xia Xi went to hold her arm and said warmly: "Chu Lan has a good temperament, he must've had a bit of temper because he got up early. Even if you were scolded by him, you probably didn't truly offend him. Tell me, how did you anger him?"
Cai Huan refused to get up. She kept kneeling down and suddenly said, "I woke up early and wore revealing clothing. The K-King said that I wanted to seduce him, so he scolded me..."
Xia Xi was stunned when he heard those words. Strength left him as his hand loosened, a string inside his heart seemed to have been harshly plucked. He suddenly felt a bit dry and dumb in the throat as he looked at Cai Huan. What he didn't notice was now clear.
Cai Huan was only twelve when she came with him, now she had grown to the delicate age of seventeen. If she had been born into an ordinary family, she would already be at the age to talk about marriage. Even in the Palace, although she couldn't marry while in the Palace, but she could also be selected as a court lady who could serve the Emperor.
The allure of the Emperor was so beautiful. There were many young and beautiful girls in his Palace and the other concubine's Palaces that often visited. If you had enough assets to catch the Emperor's eye, you could get lucky once or twice. If they could get that kind of assurance, a once ordinary Palace lady could fly up the branches to become a phoenix⁵. According to tradition, she would become a noble person, that is, the master, and would no longer be a servant.
Cai Huan had always followed Xia Xi. Xia Xi only treated her like a little girl since back then, not realizing that she had already grown up. Her facial features had matured, her figure was slim, even her breasts were plump. A girl at her age was one who would hide her favourite inside her heart.
There were no eunuchs in the Barbarian's Palace. There were only maids in the inner halls of the harem. The guards were stationed outside the hall, it was almost impossible to see them. Cai Huan was one of the people who frequently serves him, the most common man she sees was Chu Lan.
The King was also seventeen years old, tall, handsome, and full of momentum. Wasn't such a boy the target of a girl's fantasies?
Xia Xi heart suddenly seemed to empty. He was surprised that his tone could still be calm. He asked, "What about you? Did you really... seduce the King?"
The maid who was kneeling in front of him trembled, and after a while, she mustered the courage to raise her head. Her crying face looked like raindrops rolling off a pear, somewhat beautiful. Cai Huan trembled: "Answering Your Highness... yes."
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Notes:
1- Originally 'really married' but changed it 'consumed his marriage' to make it easier to understand.\n2- I'm sorry but I have no idea what Google gave me. Tried my best, hope it's enough.\n3- Not necessarily blood mother or relative, something used to call an older woman.\n4- Depends on context, either prestige, dignity, respect, entitlement, etc. Generally means someone embarrassed themselves in some way.\n5- Going from low status to high status usually by marrying someone of higher status.
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<b>PastTimer: I planned on a double update but... </b>