The Strategy of Washing Clean a Slag Shou Chapter 27
The Prince's escaped fiancée (Arc 2-10)
It was dusk. The night lanterns were slowly lit one by one, illuminating the city and driving away the growing darkness. Night has begun encroaching on Jianzhou City. Su Yang was standing beneath the golden plaque of the Róng Qīnwáng's residence, tightly held in a certain someone's embrace, and was kissed till he nearly suffocated.
Thankfully, Jing Cheng still understood the meaning of propriety. After satisfying a fraction of his craving, he loosened his hold, grasped Su Yang's hand, and pulled him into the palace with wide strides.
Behind them, lay two neat rows of petrified people, all wearing similar ghastly expressions of having seen a ghost.
——What in the world just happened!!!!
After sluggishly returning to his senses, Deputy General Cao issued a stern order, “Guard your tongues well, do not let me catch wind of any gossip or rumour, else every single one of you will be punished!”
“Yes!!”
Faced with this sort of scene, Granny Wu drew herself up haughtily as befitting an elder of her years, threw them a scornful look which practically screamed ‘You ignorant peasants know nothing', and briskly followed the two into the palace.
That's right, what need for all the fuss! She has already weathered through an even bigger trauma than this, this little bit of distraction is simply In! Sig! Nificant!
Deputy General Cao cast a discreetly admiring look at her. Truly, old gingers were the spiciest!
T/N : The older, the feistier.
As Su Yang was pulled inside by Jing Cheng, he reached out and touched his own reddened lips which were still slightly numb and tingling. He privately wondered if Jing Cheng suffered from some sort of skin-hungry disease. Why was there the need to kiss, touch and hug at every turn? The man was more clingy than a small child.
The system: “You seduced him first.”
Su Yang: “……You talk too much.”
It's perfectly normal to flirt when faced with a handsome man!
The system which talks too much nagged at him again, “The current progress is 33%, the host should continue to step up his efforts.”
Su Yang silently rolled his eyes. After having played a sweet and stupid boy for close to two months, he was already sick to death of himself. But it seems that Jing Cheng really liked this sort of behaviour, was he deprived of affection as a child?
Sensing an opportunity for business, the system offered, “A complete manual on the history and background of the target costs only 200 points. Our shop offers sincere treatment to all and fair trade to old and young alike, it is definitely a good bargain for you.”
“…….” Su Yang replied earnestly, “Just shut the hell up, you scammer.”
Each world's mission only rewards him with 1000 experience points. For a bit of information to cost one-fifth of that, if he was that desperate, he may as well go ask Jing Cheng himself instead!
There were some impressions of Jing Cheng's history in the original host's memories, however. It seems that his origins were not particularly impressive. His mother had been a palace maid who, for reasons unknown, had passed away early. It could be that Jing Cheng did not receive any attention or care from the late Emperor because of this.
Jing Cheng had always had an air of cold indifference since young. He had no friends, no backing from his mother's family to rely on, and the Emperor had been scheming against him in all aspects. Within the Imperial Palace, he had struggled to create a path for himself with great difficulty. His current success and achievements could solely be attributed to his own hard work and perseverance.
The strategy for tackling this sort of person could be considered easy to figure out, but difficult to implement. He would treasure every bit of warmth and affection that you showed him, but his strong need for a sense of security was not something that an average person could provide.
Jing Cheng turned his head to look back at Su Yang, and saw those ivory fingers lightly stroking at his own lips, his thick lashes blinking as he seemed to be deeply pondering on something. Those delicate eyebrows were gently furrowed, and Jing Cheng was tempted to reach out to smooth them out.
He said, “You returned to your familial home today, did something cause you to be unhappy?”
Surprised, Su Yang shook his head, “No, just hungry. No one fed me at home, so I didn't want to eat.”
T/N : Fed as in, sending the food straight to his mouth, like how you'd feed a baby.
Granny Wu had just caught up with them, and heard her little Master shamelessly lie without batting an eyelid. No one fed him? Didn't want to eat? Then who was it who inhaled two bowls of white rice during noon today and still wanted more?
Jing Cheng did not realize that his little honey pot was actually a little barefaced liar. His heart softened at those words, and he gently kneaded at the soft little paw in his hand, “We will have more dishes for dinner then, I will feed you myself.”
Su Yang joyfully exclaimed, “Yu-er likes Fūjūn the best!”
Jing Cheng couldn't help hooking a finger teasingly under Su Yang's chin, “Who was it who said he hated me yesterday, today it's back to liking me again?”
Su Yang blinked innocently, “Yu-er will like when not being bullied, will hate when being bullied!”
Jing Cheng paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
“Everyone says you're an idiot, but I think you're actually smarter than all of them, you clever little imp.”
Su Yang pouted, “I'm not an idiot….”
They entered the dining room together. Jing Cheng waved at the serving maids to withdraw, and used a damp towel to personally wipe his hands for him.
Su Yang's soft little paws were enveloped in his own large hands. Jing Cheng's palms were rough and calloused, like those of a man well used to heavy labour, instead of a Wángye who had the power to topple cities and overturn governments.
Su Yang grabbed at Jing Cheng's hand, and lightly ran his fingertips over the Jing Cheng's palms.
“No wonder I couldn't bite it, it's so hard!”
Jing Cheng recalled how this little puppy had once tried to bite him, but couldn't even leave a dent on his skin, and ending up hurting his own teeth instead.
He chuckled, “Would you like to try again?”
Su Yang shook his head, but Jing Cheng did not give him a chance to refuse. He immediately gripped his lower jaw and stuck his finger into Su Yang's mouth, before saying teasingly, “Try using those little milk teeth of yours.”
Su Yang was so furious that he chomped down hard. However, his neat little rows of white teeth were truly meant for display purposes only. To begin with, he even avoided foods that were only a little on the tough side, how could he hope to break the skin on Jing Cheng's roughened hands? He ground his teeth with all his might, but Jing Cheng's eyes only curved in amusement.
With tears glistening in his eyes, Su Yang gave a muffled protest, “Wuwuwu (can't bite ah) !”
Jing Cheng knew that he was annoyed, and removed his finger. He lifted Su Yang up onto his lap and, spoonful by spoonful, began feeding him steamed egg.
The steamed egg was made according to Su Yang's preferences, with even a little honey added. Every mouthful was perfectly sweet. Su Yang was a sucker for desserts, and quickly forgot his displeasure as he ate happily.
At this time, the sky had already grown dark. The hall was dimly lit with only a few candles. The flames flickered and danced, giving the room a warm and intimate ambiance.
The serving maids standing off to the side had been terrified at first, then astonished, then finally began blushing.
The Wángfēi niángniáng had a small frame. When nestled in the Wángye's embrace, he looked like a delicate little porcelain doll, so fair and tender that it tempted one to reach out and give his cheeks a pinch. The look in the Wángye's eyes were also completely different from its usual unruffled calm in the daytime, they were now full of hunger.
Jing Cheng was indeed hungry, but he dared not eat. This little creature was much too delicate, to the point where a scratch on his skin could set him crying for half a day. Jing Cheng's love could very well leave him half-dead.
T/N : Sex.
The one feeding was full of restless thoughts, the one being fed was calm and contented.
Suddenly, there was a creak as the doors to the dining room were pushed open.
“Imperial Uncle, I've personally come to deliver the hundred copies of [An Explanation on Language and Classical Writings], you have to carefully…..” Jing Sheng pushed the doors open and stepped in, “check…. them…..”
Jing Cheng spared him a look of indifference, “Send them to my study.”
Jing Sheng did not move. He stared fixedly at Su Yang for a moment, rubbed at his eyes, then continued studying him from head to toe. After confirming that he had not been mistaken, he suddenly laughed out loud.
“Uncle, oh uncle, how can someone as shrewd and wise as yourself, be so blind when it comes to matters of the heart.” Jing Sheng waved his gold-lacquered fan, smiling as he shook his head, “And for the same person, no less. Tsk tsk. You can't really be as stupid as the rabbit from Waiting for Rabbits by the Stump.”
T/N : 守株待兔 – A rabbit dashed its head against a tree stump and died. A farmer took it home to eat, and decided to wait for more rabbits to kill themselves against that same tree stump so he wouldn't have to work to feed himself anymore. Also an idiom. Full story and meaning .
Su Yang felt that Jing Sheng was watching him with a particularly crafty glint in his eye, and subconsciously burrowed back against Jing Cheng's chest.
A ‘pfft' escaped Jing Sheng, and he burst out laughing again, “Tao Ziyu, that was great, you can really act. But just because you were able to deceive the Róng Wáng, doesn't mean you can fool me. Can there really be such a wonderful coincidence as you losing your memories on the same day the Róng Wáng stepped foot into Jianzhou City? Not even the concubines of the harem would use this kind of half-baked scheme, have you no shame?”
Su Yang gave him a confused look, then turned to face Jing Cheng, “Who is that?”
“My nephew. Also your nephew,” Jing Cheng replied.
Enlightened, Su Yang eagerly called, “Good nephew!”
T/N : hǎo (好) – Good. Generally when children greet their elders, the elders will respond with hǎo in acknowledgement. Which is a kind of praise to children for being polite to their elders. Tao Ziyu and Jing Sheng are of the same generation/age, so being treated like a younger generation is pretty condescending, but Tao Ziyu is, by virtue of marriage to Jing Cheng, his elder now.
Jing Sheng's expression twisted for a moment, then he sneered, “Fine, since you like acting so much, you can continue acting your whole life. Besides, the one who was tossed aside by you wasn't me anyway. Isn't that right, Imperial Uncle.”
As though nothing had reached his ears, Jing Cheng continued spooning up the steamed egg and held it up to Su Yang's mouth. Su Yang opened his mouth and eagerly swallowed it with a hum of satisfaction. He blinked and squinted at Jing Sheng as he continued eating.
Jing Sheng was momentarily stunned by the guilelessness in those eyes. Although he was not particularly close with Tao Ziyu, they were acquainted. This fellow was a sly fox, and his eyes had always been full of deceit and duplicity. Jing Sheng has never seen them be this pure and innocent before.
For a moment, his mind was filled with doubt.
Jing Cheng said, “The matters of my house are mine to handle as I see fit, Your Royal Highness should not concern himself with my affairs. Leave the copies here, Your Royal Highness should take his leave.”
Jing Sheng's gaze flitted back and forth between the two of them for a while, then he smiled, “Very well, then I will not disturb Imperial Uncle's meal any longer.”
After he left, Su Yang said solemnly, “I do not like our nephew.”
Jing Cheng looked amused, “Why?”
Su Yang answered righteously, “Because he is a bad person, I know he wants to bully me.”
Jing Cheng smiled gently, “I am also a bad person, I also want to bully you, did you know?”
Su Yang: “(⊙o⊙)…”
Note: The next chapter is 3 times longer than the previous chapters (and also has the largest word count in this entire novel). I haven't decided if I should split it up yet. If I decide to keep it in one piece, don't be alarmed if the next update takes longer to appear.