Cai Huan could be regarded as a "phoenix" flying up the branchš, she naturally didn't need to serve him anymore. The new maids that were assigned to Xia Xi were both in their thirties or forties, and they were both Barbarians. Tall and burly, they were very clever and dexterous. The one who served as his personal attendant was a woman in her early thirties who had the typical look of a Barbarian. Her facial features included cheeks dyed with prairie red and thick, long braids that hung till her waist. Her name was Lan Duo'er and she could speak a bit of Chinese.
Her Chinese was fairly standard, but she had very few words. Unless it was necessary, she basically didn't talk. She waited by the outer hall when she had nothing to do or picked at some needlework for appearances. Xia Xi was used to Cai Huan's companionship. Although Cai Huan was a bit arrogant and spoiled by him, she talked a lot and kept chatting in every vacancy. As long as she was there, the room wouldn't stay quiet even for a moment. His past few days alone had been so quiet that Xia Xi couldn't adapt at all.
But he knew that he needed to work hard to adapt.
Although the status of Barbarian concubines wasn't high and far less pampered than the concubines in the Kingdom of Xia, Cai Huan was no longer a servant and wouldn't need to serve others again.
Xia Xi had just finished breakfast. Although he only ate a few bites he felt uncomfortable, as if there was a big rock in his heart, but he still tried his best to not show any abnormality. When the hour came, he arrived to participate in the canonization ceremony. The canonization was simple, but there was a supposed giving of gifts that included food, clothes, and jewellery. Chu Lan didn't even show up, so the two new concubines could only give their generous gifts to Xia Xi.
Although it was simple, the canonization officially ended in the afternoon. As the two new concubines left with joy surrounded by their entourage, the expression on Xia Xi's face broke but for a moment. He covered his face, his heart aching. He couldn't eat any dinner, so he ordered Lan Duo'er and said that he wanted to rest and didn't want anyone to come in and disturb him. Lan Duo'er obediently answered but suddenly asked: "What if it's the King that comes?"
Xia Xi was startled for a moment and whispered: "How can he come..." Chu Lan must go to the residences of the two new concubines tonight, although nobody knew which one would be chosen first. Xia Xi guessed it would be Hu Ji, after all, Chu Lan didn't seem to like Cai Huan very much... Xia Xi told himself to not think about it anymore. He wrapped himself in an overcoat and laid on the bed, taking a book from the table side to bring with him.
Lan Duo'er dutifully lit the candles and also moved the charcoal bowl to ensure that the windows didn't let the cold wind in. She warmed the tea with a small stove before saying: "Your Majesty, this servant will guard the outer hall. If you have anything to ask, just call this servant and I'll come in."
Xia Xi subtly nodded, "Alright."
This book was sent to him by Xia Hui last time. It was obviously stories collected from the common folk. The records weren't official history, but ghost stories. Xia Xi originally liked reading these kinds of books, but now he couldn't even focus on it. His mind started to wander as he stared at the words, his thoughts starting to chaotically drift towards Chu Lan. He thought, he must've already gotten back to the Palace at this hour, he was probably already inside Hu Ji's bedroom.
In the past, he always came to Xia Xi when this hour struck.
Chu Lan was a very diligent King. He gets up early every day to handle state affairs. In the afternoon, he goes to the yard or the racecourse to exercise. In the evening, he would be guided by the candle while reading at night. Xia Xi would've already bathed by that time, and if it was summer he would be sitting by the desk, waiting for him. If it was winter, he would wait for him in front of a brazier. Chu Lan's footsteps were always fast, as if he couldn't wait to see him. And every time he looked at him, he would smile like it had been an unbearably long wait².
Chu Lan was always like that, no matter how much he worried about state matters, he would hardly show it when with Xia Xi. He would often bring small gifts to Xia Xi, such as tributes from an official, snacks that Xia Xi hadn't tasted before, rare fruits... He was also very eager about the first set of swordsmanship that he learned from Tan Tianxia. He would practice the set of movesÂł for Xia Xi and then show a look of wanting for praise.
All of those beautiful things, Xia Xi had lost them.
Whenever he thought of this, his heart would become sour. He couldn't spare a look at the book in his hand, he simply put the book away and laid back on the too large bed. He blew out the candle next to him, and tried to close his eyes.Â
Xia Xi hadn't slept well these past few days. There was one less person by his side. He couldn't seem to get used to it at all. He turned over and over all night, like a pancake getting flipped. He often kept his eyes open until dawn, and then vaguely go to sleep only after a while. He never knew that the night was actually so long. Whenever he was with Chu Lan, he always felt that there wasn't enough time. It always seemed like the night spent only lasted a minute. Unlike now, he couldn't wait for the night to become shorter, the shorter the better. It was best for the night to never come so that he wouldn't have to face the darkness alone.
Tonight, there was another person sleeping next to Chu Lan.
Hu Ji looked so beautifulâ so beautiful and comely, she had a good figure, exquisite and full-bodied. Chu Lan would definitely like her, he had always regretted that Xia Xi's chest was too flat on more than one occasion. Chu Lan had already become very good at making love. He was no longer the teenager who thought that Xia Xi would become pregnant with his kiss. So they would probably have a wonderful time tonight, right? Chu Lan was vigorous, and he must've been holding back for several days already, he would definitely vent completely... Xia Xi thought about all of this in an almost masochistic manner, unable to contain these thoughts from drifting in his mind. He started thinking about Chu Lan and Hu Ji again, actually visualising the scene of them kissing...
There was another severe stab of pain in his heart. Xia Xi bit his lip and closed his eyes, but still felt uncomfortable. He simply covered himself under the thick quilt.
His bed was very warm. It was because every time before he went to bed, a maid would stuff several pots filled with hot water under it to chase away the cold, there were also water bags lying beside his feet.
The quilt was too thick, it covered everything and blocked fresh air from outside. Xia Xi soon felt his breath dull. Although he wouldn't suffocate, he was still a bit uncomfortable. But he didn't want to get out of the quilt at all. This uncomfortable feeling distracted him from his thoughts. What he needed the most now was to stop himself from thinking about all of it.
He shouldn't think about Chu Lan anymore, but begin to get used to this feeling. He was the Queen. Since he was married to the King, he had to be more open-minded than the average person, and he must never be jealous. What's more, he probably wouldn't be able to bear Chu Lan any children, so he shouldn't be so selfish.
His face gradually reddened due to poor ventilation; his ears were buzzing, and his toes tightened, Xia Xi didn't want to lift the quilt, he even hoped that he could pass out like thisâ not waking up, falling into a long sleep... His brain became muddy and he didn't feel good. The quilt really was too thick, making it truly hard for him to breathe. Xia Xi began to sweat, and he vaguely wondered if he would become suffocated just like that.
He didn't know how long it took, his thoughts started to become a bit blurred, but the quilt on top of his body was suddenly yanked away. A burst of fresh air greeted his face, pulling him back to the world.
He breathed almost instinctively, his chest rose and fell rapidly, and he was cold all over. Only then did he realize that he had sweated till his underclothes became half soaked. Xia Xi slowly opened his eyes and saw a figure approaching, he then heard a familiar voice shouting angrily: "What are you doing, stupid? Do you want to smother yourself?"
Xia Xi was a bit dazed. The candle on the table side had been blown out by him, but there were still many candles lit outside. A bit of light had penetrated through and he could clearly see who was standing in front of him.
Why did Chu Lan come here?
Xia Xi was a little confused. He looked at Chu Lan blankly, but Chu Lan shouted to the outside: "Come here!" When Lan Duo'er came in, he angrily said: "What are you doing giving him such a thick quilt? Did you not thinkâ´?"
Lan Duo'er didn't dare to answer, she just bowed her head as if she knew that she was wrong. Chu Lan roared, the anger in his heart only slightly dissipated, "Light the lamp and get out!"
The lamp by the table side was turned lit again, Xia Xi could finally see the figure of his young husband more clearly. When the others were gone, Xia Xi gradually recovered, he asked with doubts in his heart: "Why are you... why are you here?" He was so surprised that he even forgot to use honorifics.
Chu Lan yanked the quilt and glared at him, "What were you doing just now?"
Xia Xi panicked and said helplessly: "I- I didn't do anything... Why are you here? Tonight, shouldn't you be tonight..." Chu Lan interrupted him and said in a bad tone: "Why? Should the one I'm spending the night with be arranged by you too?"
Xia Xi's heart beat faster when he heard the words "spend the night with". He sat up and whispered: "I didn't mean that... I'll change your clothes for you..." The King's favour cannot be rejected. Always say yes, although Xia Xi didn't want to refuse it at all. He was even a little ecstatic that he could get close to Chu Lan again before leaving for the temple. He began to crawl off the bed as he said that, but Chu Lan held him down and didn't allow him to move. He asked someone to bring in hot water and tested the temperature before taking Xia Xi out of the bed and removing his sweaty clothes from his body. Chu Lan pulled back his long hair and guided him into the tub.
Xia Xi allowed Chu Lan to do all this for him. He was so surprised that he kept staring at Chu Lan with big black eyes halfway through, like a puppet doll. Not only did he not refuse, but he also didn't react. It wasn't until Chu Lan took off his own clothes to clean himself that he recovered, his face flushed suddenly, but he happily stepped back, offering more than half of the space inside.
This bathtub was specially made by Chu Lan, and it was more than twice the size of an ordinary bathtub, it was enough for two people to wantonly make love in it. Chu Lan raised his long legs and stepped in. When he saw Xia Xi sticking to the opposite side and staring at himself blankly, he said with embarrassment, "Do you want me to come to you?"
Xia Xi shook his head fiercely and his slender body leaned forward proactively. As soon as Chu Lan reached out and hooked his waist, he sat on his young husband's lap. Xia Xi's face was flushed, his eyes were bright, and his lips were red, with a sense of innocence and of temptation. When Chu Lan looked at him, most of his irritation over the past few days dissipated, but it was replaced by a new wave of anger and fear. "What did you just do? Covering yourself with such a thick quilt until your face was red. Do you want to suffocate yourself?"
"No, it's not..." In the Kingdom of Xia, the suicide of the Queen or Noble Consort was a felony and would be condemned by history. They wouldn't be buried after their death. Although the rules of the Barbarians were different, Xia Xi still wouldn't do it.
He never had the thought of doing it either.
Chu Lan was obviously still angry, his eyebrows were tight and he stared at Xia Xi with sharp eyes. Xia Xi didn't feel scared, his eyes were full of longing for this man at the moment, his arrival had temporarily rescued him from the pain so that Xia Xi completely forgot to cover up. The love in his eyes couldn't be hidden and overflowed. He even leaned forward to kiss Chu Lan's lips and sighed, "I missed you so much..." He grabbed Chu Lan's hand gently put it on his chest, "It hurts here..."
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Notes
1- Usually a woman that has greatly improved in social status usually with the help of others usually by marrying\n2- I'm not really sure, but I (don't) think I'm right\n3- Added a bit for continuity\n4- Not very sure\n<b>_____</b>