Feng Yu Jiu Tian Volume 2 Chapter 4-5

Portrait of General Tong…I’m sure there’s one of official Xia somewhere I’ll add that later.

Lin Dan is in Navy blue. 

The general’s grave tone squashed any hope in Feng Ming, the Prince resigned dejected with his head down casted as he returned to the prison like sanctuary of his carriage.

If I’d known earlier I wouldn’t have agreed to this trip, 

I will either get beaten to death by Fan Jia’s third Princess or if I am lucky bore myself to death before I get there.

It was quite the struggle to occupy his brain till nightfall, when evening finally set in the travelers stopped at a clearing, pitching up tents to spend the night.

Feng Ming was in a hurry to leave his cell, jumping out of his carriage and seeking the warmth of his tent.

Chiu Lan and the two other maids followed behind, and busied themselves with helping Feng Ming prepare his bedding.

Whilst amidst in her duties, Chiu Xing suddenly let slip, “I wonder how Lie Er is doing?”

Chiu Yue giggled and replied, “What’s this? Is this why you’ve been peeking out of the window every day? Did you want to catch a glimpse of him?”

Chiu Lan contributed to the friendly banter aimed at Chiu Xing, “Don’t blame her, it’s Lie Er’s fault for being born to be so attractive.”

“Bah!” Chiu Xing spat, her reddened face betraying her as she retaliated, “Who says that he is attractive? I certainly didn’t! When it comes to appearances, our Prince is winning in that department!”

The said Prince was slowly taking off the clothing items he could manage, starting with the muffler around his neck, hearing his servants ridiculing one another made him laugh. With a straight face he contributed asking Chiu Xing, “If you want to see Lie Er so badly, perhaps I shall summon him here.”

Chiu Yue also gasped, scurrying over to take a closer inspection before clicking her tongue, “Why do you look so thin?” she was genuinely concerned.

Chiu Lan concurred with the remark, “When I first saw him, I thought he looked much thinner than when he joined us. His eyes are hollowed with dark bags and his eyes are red. When I asked him about it, he refused to give me an answer.”

Hearing his maid’s comments, Feng Ming frowned, “Are you unwell, why didn’t you say anything?”

Lie Er kept still and did not say a word.

Lie Er offered the Prince a forced smile, shaking his head in denial, “I am from Ruo Yan as well as being a male slave it is only right that they bully someone like I.”

“Bastards!” Feng Ming leaped onto his feet and stomped around infuriated “I will teach them a lesson!”

 Although Chiu Lan was tender in years, she was amazingly wise. She quickly snatched Feng Ming’s sleeve and advised him otherwise.

“Prince, these attendants that serve you are all gifts from noble families of Xi Rei, if you impose punishment on these individuals, the nobles are likely to find out and be offended. Additionally, there is another resolve to the problem. If Prince permits Lie Er to sit in another carriage wouldn’t it be better?”

“That’s right. We still have to travel quite a distance so it would be inappropriate to punish anyone anyway. I’ll deal with them when we return to Xi Rei.”

He glanced over at Lie Er, pausing to think before asking, “Well, where is Lie Er going to take a seat?”

“How about he joins the carriage the three of you girls are sharing?” He suggested.

“We are all maids, and he is a boy! How can sharing a carriage with us be proper?” Chiu Lan laughed making her opposing point clear.

“Then we shall have Lie Er sit in a carriage by himself.” Feng Ming proposed.  

“That’s even worst, if he was issued his own carriage when the other servants see him they will be burning with envy, it will only lead to more bullying!”

Feng Ming was out of ideas, knitting his brows in thought, his eyes lit up with a plan “If he shares my carriage with me, then I won’t be bored senseless!”

This solution was the best, and the three women did not object.

Lie Er didn’t oppose, with a wry smile he looked at his Master.

Feng Ming felt the hairs down his back stand, it was better if Lie Er didn’t show him that smile, that smile reminded Feng Ming of their night together. His mind sending signals, reminding him that the boy was still a male slave. If they shared a carriage…Feng Ming may have to stay on guard, fighting off any attempts by the younger boy to seduce him.

The Prince cursed himself, however, he had already agreed to such an arrangement and he wasn’t the type of person to go back on his words. The more he stressed about it, it became apparent that perhaps it would be better to organise Lie Er’s personal space as early as tomorrow for his own sake.  

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Surprisingly once Lie Er joined him in his carriage, the youth remained obedient and sincere, occupying the corner of the confined space with a book in hand which held his attention.

Feng Ming had originally feared for the worst, and stayed on edge ready to guard against any flirtatious onslaughts from his servant. Instead he found himself slightly ashamed for thinking Lie Er was going to attack him. As the younger man remained harmless for the first half of the day they spent together, Feng Ming could truly gauge the heart of this gentleman with his own measure.

Determined that he wasn’t going to be torn to shreds by a sexual beast, he finally worked up the courage to prompt Lie Er to have a chat with him.

“Lie Er, what is interesting in Ruo Yan? I want to hear about the fun parts in the country.”

“No, I won’t be doing that!”

Chapter end