Hua Hua You Long - Volume 2 - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Xiao Cang…..” After Lu Cang hurriedly sent the insignificant people off, Jing called out to him sweetly, subtly suggesting his desire. Without even checking for Lu Cang’s reaction, he already kissed him fiercely.

"No! I still want to read the…" There was still a “letter” word he hadn’t said, Lord Lu’s upper body’s thin and flimsy summer clothes was already being shamelessly  torn to rags. Jing used a strong force that made Lu Cang unable to revolt and pushed Lu Cang down on the long, old-fashioned narrow table in the middle of the room.  One of his hands had started to untie the knot on the belt.

Though he still felt unclear himself, how could the just now still a refined and elegant noble, brimmed with Emperor demeanor, Jing, in a mere moment became this of a hungry ghost countenance. Lu Cang could only dumbfoundedly watched Jing as he hoisted Lu Cang’s both legs and put them on his shoulders. A second later, he could feel Jing’s blazing with passion, hot and stiff-erected sex organ arrived at his lower body entrance.

“No…..” Even if this kind of posture since long ago, over the years, had become a normal behavior, but Lu Cang still had this mentality of couldn’t bear the moment he was being penetrated by another man.  Though his body already accustomed to the soreness ache : it was still impossible to get rid of his mental mortification.  Thus he couldn’t help but resist with a low voice.

Knowing that any sound of resistant  he made would only increase Jing’s desires, Lu Cang held in his breath, gritted his teeth, and waited for the indescribable shape of pain to begin.

“Don’t put this meat on the chopping block gesture, between husband and wife, what’s there to be afraid of….”  Jing didn’t let Lu Cang  hold his honor to keep on spoiling the fun, “Within these years, we’ve done this until we lost count, why do you still carry on with this first rain and dew grace?” (still so pure and innocent).

“Pei!!  Who is husband and …..” Lu Cang was embarrassed to say the word “wife” out loud. Lu Cang firmly summed up his fist, fiercely pounded on Jing’s back.

"Ai Yo!"  (Ouch!!)

The one who cried out of  pain was not the person that got hit, instead from the person that did the hitting, Lu Cang. ---- The entrance to his lower body was mercilessly pried open widely. No matter how he restrained himself, he still couldn’t hold the cry out of pain sound.

Jing paid no attention to his pained-shout. On the contrary, he vigorously twisted his waist in a swift thrusting to slide in and out. Slowly, the sound of their heavy panting intertwined and blended together. When they were close to reaching their peak of ecstasy, the absent-minded Lu Cang unconsciously gripped the unopened letter on the table. He grasped it tightly, harder….. until that piece of letter became like a wrinkle of worn out paper.

Lu Cang’s whole body was meekly enduring Jing’s entire body weight. The moment he heard that Jing’s panting suddenly became loud and sonorous, he firmly shut his eyes close.

At the very same time, in the depth of his body, a spasm of unexplainable hot and humid feeling burst in. He muffled a groan and held on tightly to the male body on top of him.

A thread of brightly shone sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the study room and reflected on their bodies. It made the beads of sweat on their bodies glistening with the golden color. Lu Cang shifted the pressing body on top of him a bit and slowly opened his eyes.

"Do you know, the beauty that came from the Western region is now pregnant…" Most likely, Jing randomly chose a casual topic to talk about. But the Emperor who listlessly caressed Lu Cang’s sweaty body chose the worst topic possible.
Lu Cang was speechless.

He didn’t know why Jing would bring this matter up. Although as time went by, Jing’s love towards him had never faded nor withered, Jing also had never been a loyal lover. ----  The imperial harem’s concubines within these 5 years had never ceased their pregnancies. Even though none of the concubines was able to have more than one child and no one was crowned to fill the void place of the Empress, Jing was already the father of five children.

"Tell me! Say that you don’t like me touching other woman, say that you don’t want to see my children being born!" Jing with a childish expression, shook Lu Cang who laid beneath him. He seemingly wanted to see Lu Cang expressed his jealousy so that he would be pleased.

Lu Cang opened and closed his mouth to say something, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything. From the very start, he had realized that if he wanted to stay by Jing’s side, he had to accept the reality of Jing’s position as the Imperium supreme ruler. Though, once, he secretly wished for Jing to reserve himself and be loyal to only him, that wishful expectation, three years ago, when the second prince was born, was shattered and evaporated.

Lu Cang was almost 30 years. When he was alone, he thought about every possible circumstances when he aged and his appearance waned. No matter what he thought, he could never portray the image of Jing loving an old man. And the historical records also couldn’t give any references to such matter. ---- It was written in the record that if not the male favorites died in their youth and young ages, It would be the ones who loved and valued them who died first in their young ages. ; Either, they were out of favor or left before they grew old. There was no such precedent as an over 30 years old male favorite still could monopolize the favor of the Emperor.

Only Heaven knew for another 5, 10, 20 years in the future, what he and Jing would become. Perhaps within the next two years, he would have  become part of the past that Jing desperately wanted to forget.

If this love was destined not to be eternal, Lu Cang didn’t want to provide whatever reasons for Jing to leave him. He was willing to compromise and sacrifice, he would give everything within his might to lengthen their times together in each other company, no matter how long it would last, even for a little short while, or a moment was fine too.

"Say something!" Jing seemed like he greatly disliked seeing the looks of Lu Cang who endured and submitted to the humiliation. He was fixed to urge Lu Cang to lose his temper by provoking him.

To tell the truth, in accordance to Lu Cang’s nature, only after a great difficulty in restraining himself from emitting a grievance in his mind could he talked about such topic with Jing. There were also many times he seriously wanted to have a fit of anger, but he was afraid that Jing would break the relationship just like that. However…….

Breathed in deeply and absorbed what he actually meant, Lu Cang finally opened his mouth . :  “Congratulations!” His tone was calm and even, completely couldn’t be heard of any hint of his heart’s intense undulating, like a furious billows of the wind.
Jing’s face became cold and rigid. Without saying a word, he got up and began to put his clothes in order.

Lu Cang slowly dragged his clothes over to cover his own naked body.  Cocking his head, he bit his lips hard. He always doubted himself on how to get along with Jing. He was afraid if the situation was allowed to develop any further, the two of them would inevitably part ways.

To cover up his own unbearable misery and melancholy, Lu Cang unconsciously unfolded the letter in his hand, which had reduced into a crumpled ball. He swiftly swept his eyes on the line written in the letter, but then suddenly froze.

"Ah!" Lu Cang’s cried out in alarm voice made Jing who was just about leaving without saying anything, halted his step to the front door.

"What’s wrong?" Jing did not turn his head to look back, one of his hands already coldly placed onto the doorframe.

Lu Cang’s voice sounded at a loss. “Third Brother…Cao Xin, he’s seriously ill. He wishes for my quick return to Hangzhou to visit him.”

"The Northern Procession departs tomorrow." Jing muttered and pondered for a moment and remembered the initial purpose as why he wanted to seek out for Lu Cang.

"But…"

Lu Cang once again rolled the letter in his hand into a ball. It wasn’t like he didn’t know that Jing expected him to come along with him up North. And it wasn’t like he didn’t aware of the peril from a crack which appeared in their relationship during this separation. But he couldn’t dissolve the bond he shared with the brothers he spent so many years with. In his final analysis, if he did not follow Jing to the north, it didn’t mean it would be the last time he would see him. However, according to how the letter described the state of Cao Xin’s illness, if he did not hasten south to visit his brother, Lu Cang was afraid he wouldn’t be able to even see him one last time.

Jing let out a chilled groan. : “Go with me to the North inspection or travel alone to the south, You decide! The lucky time for tomorrow departure has been decided. If you can’t make it, assume that I want to wait for you, yet it can’t be held back to wait for you!”

Without waiting for Lu Cang’s reply, Jing waved his sleeves and left the room where the heat of their bodies intimately intermingled and mixed together only a short while ago.

———-------

Years of Emperor Jing Zong’s reign was accomplished by the flourishing and peaceful life. Datong dynasty’s once a year routine’s procession to the Northern inspection was shifted to an earlier date this year, to May 15. Along with the chime of the bell which rang by the ritual officer to signal the most prosperous time to depart, the vast and mighty procession officially marched out. Following forth behind the dragon carriage, which symbolized the emperor, were a stretch long steady and unbroken line of various imperial phoenix carriages and chariots. With an unusual occurrence. Among those hundreds of chariots, the chariot of the Marquis wasn’t there. Also, His Majesty the Emperor’s face was stretched tight as if he was participating in funeral instead of a once a year northern up to away for summer holiday.

Several days after the grand ceremony of the Northern procession, two travellers, rode on fine steeds, stopped at the Hangzhou’s military governor’s big gate with their travel-worn and weary looks from enduring the hardship of a long journey.  ----  They were of course, one who gave up to go along with Jing to the Northern inspection and chose to travel south  to visit his close friends instead, Lu Cang and his personal attendant, Xiao Sang.

All along during the journey, Lu Cang’s poor mood was in a mess, so bad that it couldn’t get any worse. Although Cao Xin’s health condition indeed made him worry endlessly, but with Jing went Northward, and he went Southward, with both of them ran to the opposite direction he could have anything but a reassuring premonition.

Putting aside all sort of bothersome train of thoughts that related to Jing, Lu Cang decided to give his complete concentration to solely focus on visiting the sickly Cao Xin. He spent a whole full day preparing a consolation speech, yet the moment he saw Cao Xin and the other brothers, the speech was reduced to ashes.

"You guys…"

Entering the back courtyard, the first thing he saw was his brothers laughing, playing and arguing noisily amongst themselves like the olden days. Playing chess on the stone table against their great military adviser in the middle of it all was the person the letter described as gravely ill and on the verge of death, Cao Xin!

Cao Xin’s face was of a ruddy complexion as well as full of laughter. Even a fool could see that that was absolutely not a condition of someone who just recovered from their serious illness.

"Big Brother!"

Lu Cang immediately rushed over to question them when Cao Xin lifted up his head and saw him coming. A sudden burst of pleasantly surprised surged out from his eyes’ pupil. He pushed aside the chess game and took large strides to greet him a welcome.  Lu Cang was about to open his mouth to speak when Cao Xin hugged him.

All the brothers that were on the sidelines watching the chess game, came over one after another to surround them. Everyone seemed to be happily surprised.

"Third Brother, didn’t in the letter say that you were bedridden with illness? How…..?" Lu Cang, no matter how angry he was, did not let his anger to break out, but chose to use a low voice to ask for explanation.

Cao Xin let out a righteous air, perfectly bold and assured, like it was a matter of course. “If I did not write to Big Brother, would Big Brother be willing to come visit us, the brothers? Ever since, you’ve been bewitched by that Emperor Jing until you’ve completely forgotten about us!”

"True! True!"

"It has been a really long time since Big Brother came to Hangzhou! Not only do you always stay in Tongan that’s so far away, the Marquis mansion is also heavily guarded. So secured to the point that we don’t have the audacity to go and see you at all!" The brothers by the side were also echoing one another as if accusing Lu Cang despite he was the one who was actually being deceived.

Being told like that by everybody, Lu Cang naturally would understand that he was in the wrong. Besides, he couldn’t afford to spoil the happiness of this sudden meeting with the brothers after separated for long good years. He also could no longer push the blame on them. He yielded to their wishes and sat by the stone table, together with everyone chatted to fill the gap and removed the sorrow of separation.

While the brothers were having a lively conversation, a woman, married one, was hugging a swaddled baby and walking with deliberate steps by the edge of the winding corridor. Once Cao Xin laid eyes on her, he took her hand and pulled her over.

"Hong Er, come quickly to meet Big Brother! This person here is the one whom I told you about, Lu Cang the Big Brother Lu."

"Big brother, this is your brother’s wife."

Three months prior, during his visit, Cao Xin did mention that he recently had taken the daughter of a wineshop’s owner as his wife. But he said nothing regarding having a child. Looking at Hong Er’s baby, seemingly it was already about two or three months old. Obviously not long after their marriage, the baby was born. No wonder, when Lu Cang blamed Cao Xin for not inviting him to drink his wedding wine, Cao Xin offered every kinds of excuses. Saying that a daughter from a poor family couldn’t afford to arrange a wedding ceremony nor a wedding banquet. Saying that a Jiang hu man couldn’t be so particular about any customs or ceremonies. So, actually it was because they were engaged in a relationship for a while until became pregnant then hurriedly enter the household. 

This Cao Xin!

Unable to hold back the smile that threatened to spill, Lu Cang received the baby from the wife’s hands.

The baby was soft and fair. It rosy face was a bit wrinkled, clearly indicating that it was just recently born. Smelling the scent of a stranger, the tiny body slightly curled up. That small and delicate impression put Lu Cang at a sudden loss about what to do.

After thinking for a moment, he slipped off his hand a golden bracelet and wrapped it around the baby’s foot, smiling as he did so. “This is the first time we met and Big Brother could only give you something that’s of a little value. Can only request that this little nephew here will kindly accept it anyway!”

 "Big brother, what are you saying? You are the emperor’s man. There is no such as invaluable things on your body! On the behalf of my child, I thank you!" The outspoken Cao Xin said whatever in his mind straight out loud. But  what he said was the truth. This golden bracelet indeed was given to him by Jing when he was in a particular good mood. The bracelet was inlaid with precious stones rumored to be unique and matchless. Also, it was used to be the possession of the Empress from the past dynasty. Jing gave such thing to Lu Cang made Lu Cang feel awkward and uncomfortable.  Thus he was more than happy to find an opportunity to quickly give it away.

"Isn’t my son cute?" Seeing Lu Cang’s face blushed at his words, Cao Xin became cautious. He picked up his child and changed the subject of the conversation.

“Big Brother, when will you have your own children so that my family will have some companions?"  Yet, the immediate words Hong Er said without any intention had made the atmosphere tensed again.

Sang Er (Xiao Sang)  was the first one whose face color changed. He silently stole a glance at Lu Cang to measure his reaction. He saw that he looked completely embarrassed and presumably, he was also at a lost on how to handle the situation.

Seeing that Lu Cang declined to comment, Cao Xin handed the baby back to his wife. Then he used a deep and dignified tone to speak. : “Big Brother, it’s not me lecturing you, but at any rate, you should think about your plan for your own future. Day by day you grow older. Do you really intend to go on like this for your whole life, without reputation, without anything? The other party has his imperial harem, filled with women and children. Wait until you are old, useless and thrown away, at that time you will have no wife no child. Do you really mean to spend the rest of your life alone and lonely, without anyone to attend to your old days and send you off when you pass away?”

Cao Xin’s words was like a heavy hammer hitting Lu Cang’s heart and he couldn’t help but tremble from it. -----  This kind of matters, of course he has thought about it countless time, but every time he thought of letting go, Jing’s honey sweet words embraced him and the thought would dissolve like a puff of smoke. It allowed him to indulge in the current happiness and refused to face the troubles might come ahead in the future.

"Yes, Big Brother! Dragging it on like this day by day is not a solution! The reason Cao Xin pretended to be sick in order to make you come is because of this! Big brother, all the brothers are  worried on your behalf! " The brothers that stood on the sidelines one after another added and echoed the same opinion.

Lu Cang smiled bitterly, “This kind of problem…… This can only be your anxiousness.”

"Who said we can’t be anxious?! For this kind of matter, we still can assist Big Brother." Cao Xin came to his side and patted his chest to ensure Lu Cang. Then he dragged Lu cang. “Big Brother, come with me, together we go to see the great present we brothers have prepared for you."

"What great present?"

"You don’t need to ask, just go with me." Cao Xin’s dark face showed some sort of mischievous smile.

Lu Cang, half-puzzled, half-curious followed Cao Xin and sat in a carriage parked in the back courtyard. Starting from the backdoor of the town hall, they took turns into a few quiet streets and a few curves, before they stopped in front of a secluded courtyard with green roof and white walls and got off.

"Big Brother, come on!" Seeing Cao Xin took out a key, unlocked the padlock, and turned his head back to call out to him like he wanted to show him a precious treasure expression, Lu Cang was even more puzzled.

"Mei Yun, hurry and help your lady to come out!" The moment Cao Xin stepped into the parlor, he yelled out.

"Where is this…?" Lu Cang was puzzled and uncertain.

After a few moments, they saw a donned in green young maid hold onto the arms of a lithesome and graceful beautiful lady walking out. The face of this beauty was like the dawn of spring, Her pair of watery and stirring eyes were like the sheepish deer. From time to time she lifted her head up to look at Lu Cang, and when their eyes met, she would quickly lower her head again with a shy smile gracing her lips.

"Big Brother, allow me to introduce you. This is the Hangzhou’s government famous beauty, Luo Rong Rong. Because of her family financial predicament, she was sold into a brothel by wicked people. I could see that she is pure and from a proper upbringing, so I paid her ransom and brought her back here for the sole preparation of giving her to you, Big Brother!" Cao Xin’s words were as blunt as ever. He saw the young woman’s face turned instantly red.

"What do you mean you by prepared her solely for me…This is a foolish act!!" A flash of fear stoke Cao Xin’s face. Lu Cang found it both irritating and funny, yet he couldn’t loudly reprove him.

"Who says that I’m foolish! We Brothers have specially prepared this small courtyard. No one would able to find out that inside lives your woman. If fortunate enough and a baby is born, it will be our, your brothers, responsibility. I don’t believe the Emperor could find out about such a hidden secret."

"The problem is not whether he finds out or not…" Seeing Cao Xin’s expression, Lu Cang got the rough idea that Cao Xin really wished for him and Lu Rong Rong to become a several nights husband and wife, and had male heirs.

"Then what’s the problem? Big brother, don’t tell me that you intend to guard your chastity for the sake of that beautiful emperor!”

"This…" Lu Cang was suddenly unable to utter a word due to his anger. Although he never admitted that he seriously thought over whether he wanted or did not want to guard himself for Jing’s sake, the truth was, ever since for his very first time, with Jing slept with him, he never had another partner.

However, on the contrary to himself, Jing had never ceased to spend a romantic amorous night with many beautiful and elegant women either sent by other country as tribute or the ones that were selected to enter the palace. Then the unstoppable birth of the Emperor’s sons and daughters was a concrete proof that he did not monopolize Jing’s favor.

"Big Brother—" Most likely he could see that Lu Cang’s face was overcast by his wavering feelings, Cao Xin dragged Luo Rong Rong and pushed her to Lu Cang, with his loud voice he said , “Big Brother, What are you hesitating for? This is a good opportunity for a man to manage it with Miss Luo. If you just stay like usual in Hangzhou for a half to a month, I’m afraid that next year you won’t be able to hug a big fat baby!”  

("Big Brother, why are you hesitating? Men would take advantage of such a good day and take care of business with Miss Lu. Even if you only stay in Hangzhou for half a month to amonth, by next year you’ll be holding a big, fat baby!") (not sure how to translate Cao Xin’s words, so I left SilverBlossomBells translation as it is.. XD)

Lu Cang felt like an old man, that his skin and flesh had grown older. Also, he hadn’t the face to do as Cao Xin said. But for him to desperately saying that as an excuse to refuse them, his brothers certainly would ridicule him. ; however, even if he just half-heartedly yielded to their wish and took advantage of the situation,  who knew what kind of terrible bad luck would fall upon them if Jing happened to find out about this matter.

The awkward Lu Cang could feel that Luo Rong Rong’s face blushed red, similar like a piece of red clothes. She kept on secretly stole glances at him. When their line of sight came in contact, she would sheepishly lower her head, a mild and roundabout flirtatious bearing that a virgin would possess.

End of Ch 19