Ping Zhao Lu

Chapter 108 A gentleman talks but doesn’t do anything

The streets in the city are bustling with traffic, pedestrians are shoulder to shoulder, and the noise is endless.

A gorgeously decorated carriage was moving slowly on the road, the curtains of the carriage swaying slightly, vaguely revealing the scene inside.

Inside the carriage, Xu Zhouye leaned lazily against Chu Yunxiao, like a docile kitten. Chu Yunxiao gently held his hand, kneading it gently.

"How come Your Majesty has no time to accompany me out?" Xu Zhouye asked softly, his voice as gentle as the spring breeze, and at the same time he unconsciously rubbed his head against Chu Yunxiao's broad shoulders.

Chu Yunxiao smiled slightly, lowered his head and gently kissed the forehead of the person next to him, and said slowly: "The Mid-Autumn Festival will be in a few days. I specially arranged these days to take a break and accompany you."

Hearing this, Xu Zhouye raised his head, a smile as bright as a spring flower blooming on his face, his eyes bright and moving, like the stars twinkling in the night sky, "So where are you planning to go? It's not a secret visit, is it?"

Chu Yunxiao couldn't help but be amused by his playful appearance. He reached out and gently scratched Xu Zhouye's upturned nose, saying, "I'm just strolling around. Time is too short. I'm afraid I can't go south this time."

"Oh? So Your Majesty originally planned to go south with me!" Xu Zhouye raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a half-smile, "Could it be that you have to stay at my uncle's house?"

Chu Yunxiao didn't expect that Xu Zhouye could see through his thoughts so easily. However, he didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he asked with interest: "Why? Will the Duke of Dongping not welcome me?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhouye immediately sat up straight, crossed his arms over his chest, and said in a feigned anger, "Of course, my uncle welcomes Your Majesty!"

Seeing this, Chu Yunxiao's eyes flashed with cunning, and he continued to tease: "Could it be that the Queen is unhappy?"

When Xu Zhouye heard this, he immediately turned his head away from him and muttered, "Your Majesty almost scared me to death at that time."

"Isn't he still alive and well?" Chu Yunxiao raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a playful smile and said, "Now he has the nerve to contradict me."

After hearing this, Xu Zhouye was stunned for a moment, then he laughed dryly twice. His mind suddenly twitched, and without thinking about what he should or shouldn't say, he just blurted out the dirty talk in his mind: "Who is contradicting who..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Zhouye realized what he had said. His face flushed crimson, and he quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth. A sense of foreboding washed over him like a tidal wave. He turned his head tremblingly, looking cautiously at the emperor beside him.

As expected, Chu Yunxiao's eyes, which were originally smiling, were now staring at him, and his gaze gradually became a little subtle.

Xu Zhouye felt his heart tremble, and secretly said that it was not good. He subconsciously began to move his body to the side, trying to keep as much distance as possible from the emperor.

However, just as he was about to move, he suddenly felt a flash before his eyes, and then his whole body seemed to be pulled by a strong hand, and the next second he fell into a warm and solid embrace without any resistance.

Chu Yunxiao easily hugged Xu Zhouye tightly and sat him on his thighs. Then he slowly raised his head. His deep eyes met Xu Zhouye's gaze full of confusion and astonishment with a half-smile. His low, hoarse voice was as intoxicating as mellow wine. "Hmm? I'm curious, how did I contradict the Queen? Why don't you tell me and let me hear it?"

Xu Zhouye's face was flushed with shame, his cheeks were burning hot, and his heart was beating as fast as a drum.

He struggled desperately to break free from Chu Yunxiao's arms, stammering, "Your Majesty, please let me down first!"

But who would have thought that this twisting not only failed to escape, but because of the unintentional friction, his legs clearly felt the heat coming from Chu Yunxiao.

Xu Zhouye was stunned on the spot. He stared at the emperor standing so close to him with eyes wide open in disbelief. His lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time: "Your Majesty...you...you are..."

Chu Yunxiao took a breath and felt that the fire in his body was instantly ignited.

He couldn't help but move one hand to Xu Zhouye's slender waist and gently pinched it, as if he wanted to deeply imprint the soft touch in his palm; the other hand slowly moved along Xu Zhouye's back, caressing it gently.

"The road is still long, why not..." Chu Yunxiao's voice was low and casual, with a hint of temptation.

"No!" Xu Zhouye's face was full of resistance.

This is inside the carriage!

There were people coming and going in this carriage, and the people accompanying them were not far away. If they were on this trip... how embarrassing it would be!

Besides, they had clearly agreed to abstain from sex for three months, so how could they break the rules so easily?

Chu Yunxiao acted as if he didn't hear anything and continued to do as he pleased.

The pair of hands that were originally just gently stroking Xu Zhouye's back began to become increasingly restless at some point, and there was a hint of ambiguity in their movements.

"Can the Queen bear to see me travel like this?" Chu Yunxiao lowered his eyes, his expression full of loneliness and grievance.

Xu Zhouye looked at the man in front of him who was usually very majestic and now showed such an expression, and his heart couldn't help but soften.

But his mind told him that he must not compromise, so he shook his head with difficulty and said softly: "Three months, how long is it..."

Seeing Xu Zhouye's firm attitude, Chu Yunxiao sighed helplessly and finally stopped what he was doing.

For a moment, the carriage fell into silence.

Xu Zhouye looked at Chu Yunxiao's lost expression and couldn't bear it after all.

After hesitating for a moment, he took the initiative to move closer to Chu Yunxiao and coaxed in a low voice: "How about... using your hands?" After saying this, his cheeks were already red with shame, and he didn't dare to look into Chu Yunxiao's eyes again.

Chu Yunxiao smiled slightly, "A gentleman uses words, not fists."

Xu Zhouye was shocked, "Last time you said you couldn't bear to part with me..."

Facing his doubts, Chu Yunxiao smiled calmly: "I said I was reluctant, but I didn't say I couldn't do it."

*

"The sky and earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast and boundless. The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars are in a line. Winter comes and summer goes, autumn harvests and winter stores. The leap year is made up, the rhythm of the sun is adjusted. Clouds rise and bring rain, dew turns into frost. Gold is born in Lishui, jade comes out of Kunshan..."

Chu Heyuan's eyes were empty and lifeless as he mechanically repeated the action of copying the Thousand Character Classic, muttering to himself as if he had entered a state of self-forgetfulness.

The brush in his hand was seen moving across the paper like a dragon and a phoenix, but as time went by, the originally clear handwriting became increasingly blurred, like a dance of demons.

Shi An, standing nearby, witnessed this scene with a look of confusion on his face. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, is this calligraphy of yours... not something you created yourself?"

When Chu Heyuan heard this, he suddenly raised his head and glared at Shi'an fiercely, then raised his voice by a full octave and shouted: "The sword is called Juque, and the pearl is called Yeguang!"

Shi'an was startled by the sudden roar, but he quickly reacted and subconsciously followed Chu Heyuan's words and continued, "Fruits are precious, and the vegetables are mustard and ginger!"

In this way, the two of them started a fierce relay game, their voices echoing in the study room.

"The sea is salty and the river is fresh, the scales are hidden and the feathers are flying!"

"Dragon Master Fire Emperor, Bird Official Human Emperor!"

"When writing was first invented, clothes were put on!"

"Give up the throne and surrender the country, You, Yu, Tao and Tang!"

……

Before they knew it, they had exchanged over a hundred sentences, yet they showed no sign of fatigue. Instead, they became more and more excited, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Finally, after finishing the last sentence, Chu Heyuan could no longer contain his inner joy and burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that tears were almost flowing out.

Seeing this, Shi An also burst into laughter. For a moment, the whole study was filled with cheerful laughter.

After a long while, the two of them gradually stopped laughing. Shi An felt much more relaxed. Seeing that Chu Heyuan's mood had improved, he sat cross-legged on the ground without permission and asked with concern: "Your Highness, are you happier now?"

Chu Heyuan slowly put down the brush in his hand, nodded gently, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and said: "Well, this is the hundredth time! There are still five hundred to go..." As he spoke, he frowned slightly, as if he felt a little stressed about the remaining tasks.

Shi An, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight and said comfortingly, "Your Highness, there's no need to rush. His Majesty has given you a full two weeks."

Hearing this, Chu Heyuan quickly shook his head, holding his cheeks with both hands, and replied anxiously: "How can that be! I still want to finish writing as soon as possible so that I can go out of the palace to play."

After hearing this, Shi'an couldn't help but frown.

Seeing this, Chu Heyuan explained, "The Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet held in this palace is really boring. Although I haven't attended it many times, I always feel that it is too dull and boring, with no novelty at all. In comparison, the celebrations held by the people are much more interesting!"

Upon hearing this, Shi'an nodded in agreement and echoed, "Indeed, the palace family banquets only have a few fixed parts over and over again, which is indeed boring... But Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, you still need to make an appearance. Your uncles, aunts, and other relatives will all be attending the banquet. Even if you don't like it, it's reasonable for you to go and pay your respects to these elders."

"Of course I know that." Chu Heyuan curled his lips and muttered with a hint of dissatisfaction, "It's just a greeting to them. It won't take long for me to take the opportunity to slip away. Besides, I'm the crown prince, the heir to the throne of a country. What can they do to me even if I don't go?"

Shi'an was embarrassed and said in disappointment, "Your Majesty can..."

Chu Heyuan's heart tightened slightly when he heard the name of his father, but he soon thought of the Queen and raised the corners of his mouth again, "It's okay, with my father here, he will definitely not be able to do anything to me!"

Shi'an: "..." There is always a conqueror, right?