Chapter 28
IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE that the Prince of Jing was a shameless pervert.
Not only did he prefer to play with men, he would toy with them until they died. It was said that he took after his demonic concubine of a mother in that way. He was a succubus just as she was, born to drain the life force of men.
A little stunned, the eunuch felt his eyes involuntarily drift toward Huo Wujiu.
Though the man in the wheelchair was tall and imposing, his lips were pallid. His eyes were lowered, his expression blank. Despite his sharp and striking features, he looked almost pitiful sitting in Jiang Suizhou’s shadow.
There was even a wound on his brow, the eunuch noted with alarm. Could it have been inflicted by the Prince of Jing himself?
The eunuch quickly averted his eyes. He failed to notice the emotions churning beneath the lowered lashes of the pitiful man sitting behind the Prince of Jing.
“Th-this is…” The eunuch trailed off and bowed his head, somewhat troubled.
He hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and tried once more.
“Your Highness, this really goes against the rules.”
Jiang Suizhou’s expression hardened, but just as he was about to speak, a bit of movement caught in his peripheral vision.
A group of court officials were approaching from the steps below. They were clustered around a civil official dressed in vermilion court robes.
Vermilion robes meant upper-first rank.
The only person who could wear such robes was Pang Shao.
Jiang Suizhou’s heart lodged itself in his throat.
The eunuch could be easily fooled, but Pang Shao was a crafty old fox. If Jiang Suizhou tried too hard to keep Huo Wujiu by his side, Pang Shao might see through his act.
He took a moment to steel himself for what he was about to do.
The chattering group drew nearer and nearer, and when the moment was just right, Jiang Suizhou made his move.
In one fluid movement, he turned and roughly grabbed Huo Wujiu’s chin, lifting his face as if displaying an object. He threw an icy glance at the eunuch, a suggestive smile playing across his lips.
“Against the rules?” he said lightly. “Then tell me, what do I have here? A man or a woman?”
The swiftly approaching voices softened, indicating that the group had noticed the commotion ahead.
Jiang Suizhou’s hands trembled so badly with nervous energy that he feared he might give himself away. Hopefully they’d buy it quickly and move on, and Huo Wujiu would understand this was a temporary measure, just for show.
The eunuch looked at them in stunned silence as Jiang Suizhou, in all his sinister beauty, held General Huo’s jaw firmly in his delicate hand and forced the man’s face up to meet his own.
✦ ✦ ✦
General Huo kept his gaze lowered and his expression inscrutable. He said nothing, but as the prince moved his head upward, a terrible, half-healed scar became visible at his collarbone.
It stretched across his clavicle, scabbed over yet still tinged with red at the edges. Beneath the festive glow, it made for a ghastly sight.
The eunuch’s legs went weak.
“N-naturally, a man,” he stammered.
The Prince of Jing let out a harsh bark of laughter and abruptly flung aside Huo Wujiu’s head in release.
“Exactly.”
He leisurely took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly, deliberately wiped the hand that had touched Huo Wujiu.
“Honestly, sending him to sit with the women… You might not be afraid of the consequences of that, but I certainly am.”
His fingers were already spotless, but he meticulously wiped each one, then casually dropped the handkerchief to the ground.
“I dislike filth. You should know that,” he said indifferently, lifting his gaze.
“Y-yes, that’s… This is… Er…” The eunuch was at a complete loss.
Just then, Jiang Suizhou heard laughter ring out behind him.
“Who do we have here?” an imposing voice boomed. “Well, well! It’s His Highness, the Prince of Jing!”
Jiang Suizhou turned around to find Pang Shao standing just a few steps behind him.
Though this old fox had long schemed against him in the court, this was the first time Jiang Suizhou had personally come face-to-face with him.
In contrast to the distorted and ugly depictions in the portraits, the old man had a composed and dignified appearance. He was dressed in his court robes, and an air of profound grandeur hung about him.
Only his eyes were deep and unfathomable, glinting with an elusive light.
Jiang Suizhou’s entire body tensed.
He briefly glanced over at Pang Shao, then promptly adopted an air of disinterest.
“Minister Pang.”
His behavior was extremely rude. Though he was a prince, Pang Shao was the emperor’s uncle and held the rank of Grand Chancellor. In terms of status, they were nearly equal, not making mention of the immense power Pang Shao wielded.
But Jiang Suizhou knew this was the attitude the original owner of the body would have.
Sure enough, Pang Shao’s expression remained amiable, showing no trace of anger. Instead, he bowed and led the surrounding officials to pay their respects to Jiang Suizhou.
“Prince of Jing. What is stalling Your Highness here?” he said, smiling.
Jiang Suizhou’s expression turned even frostier. He glanced at Huo Wujiu, then quickly looked away, as if disgusted.
“Nothing,” he said as he turned slightly, like he was unwilling to discuss it further. “Please go ahead, Minister Pang.”
But Pang Shao didn’t move. Instead, he looked at the eunuch.
“It’s His Majesty’s joyous occasion. Why are you upsetting the Prince of Jing?”
The eunuch hurried forward and knelt.
“Minister Pang, it’s because His Highness wishes to bring…his companion to the banquet.”
He didn’t need to explain that, of course. Pang Shao had already witnessed Jiang Suizhou’s calculated display, exactly as intended.
He smiled and looked at Jiang Suizhou.
“Then let him. The prince and his companion are deeply devoted to each other. Are you trying to drive a wedge between them?”
He spoke slowly and chose his words very deliberately.
Jiang Suizhou’s expression immediately darkened, as if he had swallowed something vile, and he barely managed to conceal his disgust.
Even so, he couldn’t help but scoff quietly.
The eunuch did as Pang Shao instructed, bowing as he invited Jiang Suizhou to take his seat.
Jiang Suizhou didn’t spare Pang Shao another glance, seemingly disgusted by his words. He turned away with an air of arrogance.
Pang Shao stood still, watching him leave.
“The Prince of Jing is rather rude,” remarked one of the officials beside him, clearly displeased.
But Pang Shao smiled and shook his head, not the least bit offended. In fact, his eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
“His Highness is still young,” he said slowly.