Mo Flower
Chapter 8 : Mo Shang Hua Kai Chapter 7(Teng Teng Teng *drum rolls*… An Empress Dowager finally appea

Mo Shang Hua Kai Chapter 7

(Teng Teng Teng *drum rolls*… An Empress Dowager finally appears. LOL… when the Emperor and his brother speak to the Dowager, they use “Hai’r’ which means I, used as polite term to address oneself in front of their parents.)

And..



Everyone held their own mountain of rumors in their heart ----

Third Rank Official Sir Zhang, I will secretly tell you something, you absolutely may not tell the others, if this matters were about to be heard by others, you will lose your head for sure. I heard that the Emperor and the a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites are engaged in a love affair, sssshh--- You definitely cannot tell the others!!

Is that true? You can rest a.s.sured, I wouldn’t dare to talk much about those kinds of affairs, I still haven’t been tired of living … Fifth Rank Official Sir Liu, just now I heard from the Forth Rank Official Sir Li a shocking news, in regards that we have been neighbors for a long time, I will secretly tell you, however, don’t you ever tell this to the others, your tongue will be pulled for sure…

Auntie Jian Yao, Third Rank Official Sir Zhang told me an unbelievable affair, you just give me more scallion as a bonus then I will secretly tell you.

You don’t have to say anything, isn’t it about the Emperor and the a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites? Housewives know better than you! You buy more radish, I will secretly tell you something more that any other has ever heard before, if you don’t tell the others about this, then you don’t have to worry that you will be taken away and fed to the pigs…

Gossiping and rumoring. Gossiping here and rumoring there.

Although to stop the rumor would be wise, contrary to the expectation, the ordinary people were unable to keep off from the charm of gossip. Everybody would say that they absolutely would never tell the others, but once they turned their head, their heart itch, teeth itch, and their tongue would be even itchier, couldn’t restrain to tell the other person and share the secret. One person told ten people, ten people told a hundred people, the gossip was spreading at an even faster speed than a seasonal febrile disease spreading, at an even wider-ranging extent. The upper cla.s.s, all high ranking officials. The lower cla.s.s, all common people and the peddlers. Everybody was happy while gossiping inexhaustibly.

Just like that, the grandma from the east family would secretly tell the sister-in-law from the west family, the sister-in-law from the west family would secretly tell the auntie from the north family, stealthily pa.s.sing from mouths to ears, not long after, the hearsay love affairs of the certain couple had caused a great clamor. To the point of: ‘the a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites is actually a woman disguised herself as a man’, ‘Leaving the Capital is a sham, hiding to give birth is the truth’ this kind of beyond reasonable limits theory was coming out of the steamer one after another, saying invariably without exception and argued with the courage of one’s convictions, splas.h.i.+ng their saliva and speaking as if it was the truth of the truth.

But the two rumored people were not admitting nor denying at all. Also, n.o.body dared to openly talk about the matter on the street without restrain. So, up until now, upon the words ‘I heard that…’, everybody would lengthen their ears, crane their necks in antic.i.p.ation of any breakthrough development.

“Third Brother, do you know? You and Li Cong Qing’s affair is already spreading outside?” Song Xuan especially came over to report this matter to the Emperor.

“I have heard about it.” The Emperor wore an indifferent look, not allowing any ripples to surface.

“There are also rumors that… khe khe, ridiculous to the utmost point.” Song Xuan was utilizing the cough to cover up his laughter.

“A woman disguise as a man to take part in the Imperial Exam?”

“Not only that, they also said that actually Li Cong Qing is the one who gave birth to the Little Princess. It is way too funny!”

“Heee, Is it?” Softly letting out a laughter, he said inwardly, if Li Cong Qing really could give birth, definitely he would make him give birth to eight to ten children, it will be best if all of the Princes and Princesses are from him. “Is there anything more? Tell me everything.”

“Third Brother, I feel that… you are rather happy.”

“This kind of amusing talk, it’s not like I can hear it every day.” The Emperor’s easy-manner admitted to it, those kinds of absurd beyond belief gossip not only didn’t enrage him, even to the extent that they served as a means to amuse him.

Song Xuan told him every single rumor that he had collected, even the extremely absurd to the point of impossible matters---

There was a rumor that Li Cong Qing was the peony plant from that year of an ox chewing peony event. Remembering with grat.i.tude the kindness of the Emperor for cultivating it, practiced asceticism to become a human, and devoted its life to the Emperor by pledging to marry him; Also on that year when the a.s.sa.s.sination event took place during the Spring Ceremony’s Banquet, afraid that the Emperor would be puzzled by an evil flower spirit, and wish to get rid of the people of evil, unexpectedly Li Cong Qing was not an evil spirit, he was the Flower G.o.ddess sent by the Lord of Heaven to descend to the human realm, by any means the celestial being must protect the Emperor, only then the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt could fail; also, Li Cong Qing was not a woman disguised as a man, but a hermaphrodite, that’s because he was a flower, and gave birth to a little Princess for the Emperor, fulfilled the merits and virtues satisfactorily, everybody was delighted and happy…  All sort of bizarre odd power random spirit which gave a forced interpretation and drew farfetched a.n.a.logies mostly centralized on Li Cong Qing, for the most part the rumor could be regarded as good.

The forbidden love between a G.o.ddess and the Son of Heaven, true love of the Heavenly and the mortal, truly touching to the depth of the soul, deeply moving and tugging the heartstrings, undulating the thoughts of love, beautiful without boundary…

The people in times of peace and prosperity without a doubt would be idle after filling their stomach, the power of imagination was enriching the romantic story from the other, made up an extremely brilliant rumor out of thin air, the plot was similar to ‘Flowers in the Mirror1’ adding in the ‘Romance of the West Chamber1’ with the ‘Romance of the Pipa1’, like a heavenly steed, the rumor was soaring across the sky1, each new high point would be replaced by another. To summarize it all, it would be sufficient enough to compose a Chinese novel1 and Chinese Opera, guaranteed it would appeal to the audiences and invite the shouting of ‘Well done’ applauded and chanted by the later generations.     

Of course, it was bounded to the chance for slander, mostly from the scholars and intellectuals whose belly filled with ink. Unmistakably, they were the nationalists who condemned Li Cong Qing for taking profit at others expense. Criticizing him for using his male body to mislead their Emperor, condemning him for offending the public morals, viciously criticized him for violating the heavenly principles, the crime is great and the evil is extreme, guilty of the most heinous, unforgivable! Certainly unpardonable!! And so on and so on.. Wait wait wait, this kind of wrath was as if Li Cong Qing had slaughtered their whole family and s.n.a.t.c.hed away their wives. Wasn’t he simply dating the Emperor only?

In short, the rumor was transmitting endlessly, the whole city was lively, then it began to gradually spread further to the outside of the city.

The Emperor couldn’t hold back his laughter, even added in: “This time Li Cong Qing is out from the Capital, actually because I dispatched him to go to Mount Kunlun, the mountain of immortals, to seek the elixir of life, in the hope that we could be everlastingly together for generations.”

Song Xuan on the contrary was not laughing as hard as him. “Don’t you worry that he will be unable to endure it once he hears about everything?”

“He would never feel wronged by that kind of unbearable thing, he only worried that things would be troublesome.”

“You really have faith in him?”

“He is not a woman, he wouldn’t let himself weep and wail over this devious matter.” Said the Emperor.

Song Xuan understood that his Imperial Brother had a well-thought-out plan regarding whatever affairs, he chose not to comment further on the issue.

Abruptly, an attendant hurriedly came in to submit a report: “Report, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has returned to the Palace.”

The Emperor immediately stood up, together with Song Xuan he stepped out of the Imperial Study to welcome the Empress Dowager. Just right at the time he stepped out, a woman in neat and refined silk, about forty something old, features and figures was of graceful yet reserve bearing, came forward to meet them.

“Your son respectfully greets our Mother.” Two people stepped forward, simply kneeling as a little part of a grand courtesy.

“My sons, quickly rise your body.” Empress Dowager helped them to stand up. Though she didn’t have the phoenix coronet as well as the embroidered ta.s.seled cape, she still revealed her extremely elegant and utterly poised.

“Mother, why didn’t father return to the Palace with you?” Asked Song Xuan.

“He made a detour to somewhere else to meet someone.”

The two brothers secretly looked at each other, they were well aware who he was about to meet.

“Come come come, we three mother and sons haven’t met for a long time, let mother have a good look at the both of you.” The Empress Dowager dragged them to enter the Imperial Study, dismissed the attendants, asking about her sons health condition, not even mentioning the rumor for a very long time.

They chatted until the time for dinner. The three mother and sons were having their meals together. The Empress Dowager was putting the dishes into their bowls in turns, displaying a plentiful of motherly love, unlike the usual solemn and strict stand on ceremony Imperial Family, warm and comfortable like the commoner household. Until, an abrupt sentence flew from a faraway distance: “Yu er, is the a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites as delicious as this red-cooked pork?”

Song Xuan who was in the middle of chewing the red-cooked pork nearly spouted it out, beating his chest from choking and coughing nonstop.

Song Yu did not flatly deny, using the same usual calm intonation to answer: “Much more lighter, however it suit my taste.”

“How long have you been eating?”

“Answer, mother. Six years.”

The Empress Dowager carefully looked at her son the Emperor. “You are serious about it?”

“Yes.”

“Since it is so, why don’t you give him a formal status? How could you treat him unjustly?” The Empress Dowager restrained her kind smile, changed it to a condemnation expression. “If not because the rumor has spread wide and wild outside, how long do you actually plan to cross the sea by a trick2?”

“Mother, it is not Third Brother who doesn’t want to give a status.” Song Xuan pa.s.sionately interfered, attempting to put in a good word for his elder brother.

“To properly say it, it is because he doesn’t agree to let others know.” Suddenly slapped the table, the loving and caring mother had changed into a strict and stern mother. “Say, was it because you lost your head over the l.u.s.t, so you took an ordinary man by force?”

The two brothers put down their bowls and chopsticks, obediently listened to the scolding. The two people who held the most power and influence in Dashao were not afraid of the Heaven and not afraid of the Earth, only afraid of their mother Empress Dowager.

“I wouldn’t dare to.” Song Yu was still as unperturbed as before.

“Wouldn’t dare to deceive superior and delude subordinate? Or wouldn’t dare to take an ordinary man by force?”

“Mother, Third Brother didn’t force him…”

“You shut your mouth! You too, actually dare to act as accomplice to the tiger3, helping the tyrant ruler in his oppression3, that a.s.sistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites is your wife’s second brother!” Swiftly s.h.i.+fted her gaze to glare at Song Xuan, head on right in his face she scolded him at once.

To be subjected to a trouble not of his doing, Song Xuan became speechless. He even didn’t have the courage to lift his head for a moment. 

Song Yu’s expression didn’t change, plainly speaking to sincerely and fairly admit to his mother: “Mother, he and I are harmoniously loving each other.”

“Not to mention that an improper relation between two men would create the most disgraceful scandal, a ruler and his minister’s immorality is already the greatest outrage!” Empress Dowager’s manner of speaking was entirely strict when she angrily pointed at his fault. “You You You… You intend to anger me to death, don’t you?”

“Mother please calm your anger. I understand that for men loving each other will not be tolerable by the world, however we already love each other deeply, one body and soul. Wish you could understand.” Song Yu sincerely said in a composed manner.

The Empress Dowager glared at him with a taut face for a long time, then all of sudden giggled with a ‘pfft’ before bursting out into a laughter. Her expression changed in a split second. “Love each other deeply, One body and soul, even this kind of sappy corny words you have the nerve to say it out loud. Even your mother’s face blushes red in your place. Truly deserve to be called as my son.”

The two brothers heaved a sigh of relief. Their mother Empress Dowager was mischievous by nature. It so happened that she prefers to make fun of others, changed her expression as easy as flipping the book. All thirteen Imperial brothers and sisters whether she gave birth or not, each and every one of them had been played by her since small until they grew up. Actually, toward her they were respectful, loved as well as afraid.

“Mother, Third Brother and him do really love each other, even I envy them when I saw them like that.” Song Xuan hurriedly spoke to support his brother.

“What do you know! Go home and hold your own wife.” Empress Dowager gave him a quick-fried chesnut.

“Oh, That’s right! Mother, your son’s wife has conceived the second child!”

“So, why are you still poking your nose here? Go home now and wait on your wife!”

“Yes! I will go at once!” Song Xuan followed the orders. Smoothly made a clear getaway from the scene of crime.

The Empress Dowager s.h.i.+fted her attention back, then heaved a sigh. “Ai, How come I didn’t know that you like men before? You really hide it perfectly. Even the whole family has been deceived.”

“Before, I really never liked men, only until I came across him.”

“Do you still need a new pavilion at the southern of the harem?”

“No need. I just want him alone.” Song Yu said. “Mother, he and I genuinely want to be together forever. Absolutely not a momentary lost in sentiment feeling.”

The Empress Dowager could see the earnestness in her son’s eyes, firmly in her consideration, she asked one more time: “Is it because of this reason that you still haven’t enthroned an Empress until today?”

“Yes.” Song Yu spoke frank and sincere without concealing anything. “If he was a woman, I would be sure to confer him to be my Empress.”

“Just say you can’t confer him to be your Empress, you still can confer him a Shang Jun t.i.tle, can’t you?”

“I don’t want to force him to become a Shang Jun.”

The Empress Dowager nodded her head, solemnly said: “Whether it was to take an ordinary man by force, or harmoniously love each other, whichever is fine. Yu er, an Emperor has no qualification to have personal matters. Your each and every action is carrying the weight of the nation. Countless people entirely looking up to you. You are not only responsible for the a.s.sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites, but also in charge of the people in the world.”

“I understand.”

“How will you deal with it?”

“I will wait for his return.”

“When will he return?”

“Answer, Mother. I don’t know.”

The Empress Dowager pressed her beautiful eyebrows together. “Are you playing ‘let loose to capture’ game?”

“I am not.”

“You are still young yet experienced and prudent. Since five years old, compare to your father, you looked more like an Emperor than your father. No matter what you do, you don’t need people to meddle or to worry over you. You have your own reason. To put it in good words, it is to think deeply and plan carefully. To put it in blunt words, it is scheming and reserved. Mother will not care whatever game you are playing, just won’t allow if it produces a tragic ending.” The Empress Dowager admonished repeatedly exhorted tirelessly. “Remember, You are the Son of Heaven, an Emperor, not a mountain bandit King.”

“Mother, between he and I absolutely will never occur whatever kind of tragedy.”

Song Yu gazed at the outer window, gazed at a faraway place, his eyes penetrated through the thousands of mountains and ten thousands of torrents, gazed at the unseen figure of his beloved that had deeply taken root in his heart. He wouldn’t allow whatever tragedy to befall them. They would live for generations, be together with each other eternally.

The next day, the rumor had advanced to the point “The Emperor has admitted his relations.h.i.+p with the a.s.sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites”, the Capital had blew up the cauldron.

Due to the progression, man, woman, adult, young people, were holding the fiction book in their hands. Especially obscurity books that dropped a hint about The Emperor and the a.s.sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites were published like a swarm of bees. In short time it had pushed up paper prices in Luoyang4.

Dashao Dynasty’s control regarding the activity of the published literatures was not severe whatsoever, would not imprison or execute an author for writing something considered offensive by the Imperial court, even more would never burn the books and bury the scholars alive, as long as not initiated the unrest within the people or excessively directly mentioned on names, not affect the things as a whole, more or less would have one eye open one eye close, to turn a blind eye.

Li Cong Yin’s paper and book store certainly would seize the chance without neglecting even a stroke. He could tell you the story as if enumerating his family’s treasures5. Those best-sellers books were, “The Fate of Flower G.o.ddess”, “Romance of the Peony”, “Your Majesty, No” , The one on the top of the best-sellers was , “The Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon5 between His Majesty and Me”. Both t.i.tle and the content of the books, the more frank with erotic details, the sales volume would be even burning hotly looked up. Also, all of these books were written by the author whom he supported. All of you, who haven’t reached eighteen years old, please don’t read those books.

---------

Come, let’s s.h.i.+ft the time back to six years ago, the first morning court after the Lantern Festival. The beginning chapter of “The Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon between His Majesty and Me”.

It is said that after dismissing the morning court, His Majesty called in Li Cong Qing in private. Li Cong Qing was bracing his nerve, tightened up his b.u.t.tocks, in his ready to battle stance followed Wei Xiao Miao to the Imperial Study to have an audience with the Emperor.

“Report, Your Majesty. Sir Li has come.” Wei Xiao Miao led Li Cong Qing to enter the Imperial Study. Retreating to the Emperor’s side to wait on him, personally prepared the ink for brush writing for the Emperor.

“Humble subject respectfully greets Your Majesty.” Li Cong Qing stood so far far away. This was his very first time to be called to enter the Imperial Study alone.

“Come closer.” The Emperor’s eyes hadn’t left the doc.u.ment.

Because of his order, Li Cong Qing took a step forward, a very tiny step.

“Move closer again.”

Took another step forward, still a very small step.

“Come to in front of me, raise your head.”

Li Cong Qing sighed inwardly, lifted his pair of heavy legs to move to the front of Imperial seat, raised his head, but his eyelashes still hung low, didn’t dare to look directly at the Emperor.

The Emperor was looking at him now, looking at his whole face as if about to receive a punishment like, a smile floated up slightly, with a relaxed and unhurried manner of speaking, like having an idle chat, he said: “Don’t know why, in the past I didn’t feel that you are good looking, but why the more I look at you the more I feel that you are good looking? Xiao Miao, say, what do you think this is all about?”

“Answer Your Majesty. There is a popular saying, in the eyes of a lover appears Xis.h.i.+6 7, even if to be used on Sir Li is not quite right, but the idea is not that far apart.” Wei Xiao Miao answered respectfully.

Those words made Li Cong Qing awkwardly uncomfortable from head to toe, couldn’t restrain to rush his mouth to say: “Your Majesty, if you want to find someone to amuse and pleasure you, you ought to find a beautiful man like Scholar Lou who possess an unrivalled beauty so that you can be truly excited.”

“Minister Lou already became a Xis.h.i.+ in many people eyes. I have no intention to fight over him with the others.”

“As long as Your Majesty says a word, who would dare to vie for him against you?”

“Then it won’t be interesting.”

“There is no one who will compete with you for me too, isn’t it the same uninteresting?”

“No one to compete with me, I can be more spared from worried.”

So to say, basically, Li Cong Qing was the one and only he wanted.

Li Cong Qing was blocked up until could no longer retort, he was shouting at the Heaven in his heart. He was thinking to himself, whether he was good looking or not, whether he had some talent or not, the only explanation was his whole person’s best virtue was dull and colorless to the utmost. He really couldn’t understand what it was the Emperor actually saw in him? He honestly really wanted to advise the Emperor, call in the Imperial Doctor to check whether there was something wrong with his eyes.

“I wanted to give you a good official post, you actually became frightened.” Said the Emperor.

“Humble subject has no ability nor virtue, couldn’t shoulder such a heavy responsibility.”

“n.o.body expected you to shoulder a heavy responsibility.” The eyes of the Emperor were flas.h.i.+ng with a light of excitement. “Except your honorable elder brother who wanted to sell your b.u.t.tocks to me.”

Why would he mention this matter again! Li Cong Qing almost tumbled. Crying loudly inwardly, Big Brother really had harmed him and caused his b.u.t.tocks to be split!

“Li Cong Qing, do you agree to become my Xis.h.i.+?” The Emperor asked with a gentle voice.

Li Cong Qing’s heart was beating in a wild rhythm. Wanted to outright say do not agree, but also thought it would be useless so he ended up not saying a word. He didn’t have such strong determination as to rather die than a submit character, moreover, only towards the Emperor, there was some unusual weakness, made him helpless and unable to resist.

“Come to my side.”

Wei Xiao Miao put down the ink stick and retreated to the side. Li Cong Qing was hesitating for a while, then moved around the Imperial seat to come to the Emperor’s side.

The Emperor pulled him to sit on his lap, caressing his fresh and smooth lips with his thumb. “You are the first person to make me upset and excited. I have said, will not force you, but also will not let you off.”

The almost improper intimate touching caused Li Cong Qing to slightly s.h.i.+ver, rigidly he squeezed out his voice: “Your Majesty really wants my…ahem…my b.u.t.tocks?”

“At the present, it seems like that.”

At the present, so what about in the future? Li Cong Qing helplessly made a wry smile. “Please pardon humble subject’s audacity to speak bluntly, these words of Your Majesty are truly cruel.”

“You think that I only regard you as my plaything?”

“When loved, they would be held in the palm and be regarded as treasure. After not loved anymore, they would be cast away like a pair of worn-out shoes. Isn’t this like what they call as a plaything?” Li Cong Qing threw his words, the tone was close to questioning.

“Your outward looks is of a weakling, your inward actually conceal an opposite courageous. However, this side of you might be what really makes me fascinated by you.” The Emperor cupped his face, stared fixedly on his eyes. “In your eyes there is no monarch nor subject, no pa.s.sion nor plead. I want to know, the you who are not taking everything to heart, once you care for something, what would you look like? Li Cong Qing, have you ever really attached to something?”

Li Cong Qing was at a loss for words. Thinking back, ever since he was born until today, he had never shown any kind of absurd stubbornness. Towards whoever and whatever, he chose to get by however he could, to the extent of satisfied just to be able to get through, drank water if there’s water, ate porridge if there’s porridge. Without principle was his principle. This was the most relaxing way of living, but this way of living made his life seemingly empty and meaningless.

The Emperor’s words urged him to look back and reflect on his life. Even though muddle-headed and ignorant lifestyle was the most suitable for his negligent inactive temper, but it was truthfully an extremely boring life, hardly any difference with an utterly useless person. In simple terms, only drink and eat till the day he died.

He should change, shouldn’t he?

The Emperor wasn’t being impatient and just held him to make sure he didn’t fall down, but also not allowing him too much time for hesitating to find a way out. Whispering by his ear with a gentle voice to order him: “Tonight, head to the Summer Palace and wait there.”

The deep and low voice was filled with seduction. When the brilliantly handsome and fascinating His Majesty the Emperor wanted to seduce someone, who could withstand and stop him?

Li Cong Qing shuddered, his ear became very hot. “Your Majesty said will not force me.”

“If you say you do not agree, I definitely will not force you.”

Nonsense! Who would dare to say do not agree in front of you, the Son of Heaven! Li Cong Qing had an impulse to roll his eyes to let him see. However, he didn’t dare.

The Emperor let him go. “Go back to the Ministry of Rites first.”

“Humble subject retreats now.”

“Remember to wash clean your b.u.t.tocks.” He might as well coldly remind him.

The just walked for a couple steps Li Cong Qing fiercely stumbled so that he barely escaped from tumbling, utterly detested the mention of this body part, in a split second he flew into rage, and actually forgot the respect from a subject to a monarch, he turned his head to give a glare. Raising his head and straightened up his chest, he stomped away with a large and heavy step.

Looking at him like that, the Emperor was no longer able to restrain his clear and loud voice from a loud laughter. “Xiao Miao, this Li Cong Qing is a very interesting person, isn’t he?”

“Your Majesty said it correctly, lowly me hasn’t seen Your Majesty to be happy like this for a long time already.”

“Am I usually not happy?”

“Not at all, only not as relaxed and comfortable as when with Sir Li.” Wei Xiao Miao said sincerely. “I wish Your Majesty can be happy for all His life.”

The Emperor lightly laughed without saying anything.

The just went out from the Imperial Study Li Cong Qing really wished to throw away everything and make himself scarce. But in the end he still obediently returned to Ministry of Rites. Fidgety, unable to sit or stand still out of nervousness, tossed and flipped about the doc.u.ments, not even going through a single doc.u.ment after a long while.

The fellow officials in Ministry of Rites had never seen him as agitated and uneasy as today. Strangely he didn’t doze off as usual. The concerned colleagues one by one came to ask what’s wrong with him.

He managed with an effort to laugh and said no problem. Anxiously, he thought to himself, if just now he said do not agree to the Emperor, the ruling by virtue Emperor was not a fatuous and self-indulgent ruler at all, would never just because he refused him cut his head, at the worst he would end up losing his job. But why ‘do not agree’ these three words somehow lumped on his throat, he couldn’t say it outright? Could it be that, actually he is also expecting this?

Expect?! Pfft---- he spurted out a mouthful of tea. Which normal man would expect their own b.u.t.tocks to be split open! Li Cong Qing depressed and pulled his hair.

His fellow officials jumped and were sacred by his indescribable sudden bizarre movement. Today there was really something wrong with him. “Sir Li, are you not feeling well today? Do you want to ask for earlier leave to go home and have a rest?”

He indeed wanted to secretly run home, but he could only hide for a while, couldn’t escape forever. Moreover, defying a decree was a great crime. Ai ai, being forced by a powerful person, for a person hanging under the eaves, who would dare not to yield.

“No need. I will go out to take a walk.” With his feelings not in the slightest way peaceful, Li Cong Qing glided out. He was moving about in the flower garden outside the office. Thinking back to the interaction with The Emperor from the time he entered the court as an official two years ago, everything only started from the Spring’s Ceremony Banquet, several times during the autumn hunting, why didn’t he realize that the Emperor’s eyes, every time when he was looking at him he became more and more deeper, more and more filled with the desire to eat him up.

Unwittingly he recalled the savory roasted meat bestowed by the Emperor, so, the Emperor wanted to feed him to grow more fat, after becoming more delicate with fat, he would choose a fine time, the lucky day to slaughter and eat him… What do I do? What do I do? He didn’t want his b.u.t.tocks to split open, also didn’t dare to revolt…

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh So annoyingggggggggg! My head hurts to death, I don’t want to think anymore!” Li Cong Qing held his head in dismay and stamped his foot while shouting loudly.

“Sir Li, what’s wrong with you?” The next door Ministry of Revenue official, Geng Bai Zuo, accidentally just came out and saw that Li Cong Qing was by himself and looked out of his mind.

“Sir Geng… What do you think about me?” He couldn’t help but ask.

“What is that about you?”

“If you are a man, eh, you are already a man, will you like me?”

Geng Bai Zuo leaped and stepped back until three steps all of a sudden, his face was darkened like a waterfall of black thread. “Sir Li, You you you... I I I… my bad, I have nothing to say!”

Li Cong Qing was dumbfounded, then busily said: “You have misunderstood, I don’t mean…”

“Excuse me, I still have something to attend to, goodbye.” Geng Bai Zuo ran away as if flying.

This time it was Li Cong Qing who had a darkened like a waterfall of black thread face. Aiyaa, being misunderstood… Sigh, forget it. Whether it is fortune or disaster, a disaster couldn’t be avoided. Anyhow, it is hard to escape from calamity, no matter how much I troubled over it, it wouldn’t be of any use. It is better to go to sleep for a while, so tired to death.

Li Cong Qing who was even lazy to be worried went back to Ministry of Rites. Finally he resumed his normal sleeping habits, vented all of his grievance to Zhou Gong. Dozing off a not so peaceful afternoon nap until close to night time. When Wei Xiao Miao personally came again to call him up, he truly wished that he could just feign death, to end all the troubles when the main troubles end.

“Sir Li, please forgive me for talking too much. His Majesty has given you a day to ponder, if you do not agree to yield, this time you don’t have to go with me.” Wei Xiao Miao told him.

“I…” Do not agree, these three words once again choked. Weird, what was he actually conflicted at?

As the final result, he involuntarily went with Wei Xiao Miao. Pa.s.sing through the Imperial Flower Garden, facing towards the situated not so far from the Imperial Study Room, Summer Palace. Summer Palace was set up in the middle of the pond Yao Guang, a building of two floors high, elegant and refined in a tranquil remote place. When the Emperor was tired after managing the government affairs, he would just come to this place to have a rest, occasionally spent the night here.

Striding on the zigzag bridge which linking to the Summer Palace, Li Cong Qing’s legs were getting slower and slower with each step he made, crawling as slow as a turtle pace. Wei Xiao Miao didn’t hasten him, patiently went along with his pace.

Finally strode in the Summer Palace, they went up to the second floor where the Emperor usually used for rest.

The Emperor was not there to wait for him at all, he must be still busy with the government affairs. What was required to be a good Emperor, was the kind of a ruling by virtue Emperor required to do, not a person who just because of personal affairs would cast aside the Nation’s affairs. This little thought let Li Cong Qing to be slightly relived, at the very least, he wouldn’t bear the accusation of deluding an Emperor and caused him to neglect the affairs of the state.

But the Emperor sent the never part from his side Wei Xiao Miao to attend to him, from this it could be clearly seen the extent of his seriousness. Even though Wei Xiao Miao was a eunuch, but he was the Emperor’s most trusted attendant, as well as the Inner Palace’s Main Administer. Essentially, his position, strictly speaking, was higher than Li Cong Qing. But he personally waited upon him like a lower subordinate, completely didn’t show even the slightest amount of his annoyance to serve him. Gently and humbly waited upon him to have his dinner, bathed him and changed his clothes, piece by piece, each and every detail carefully done in utmost preciseness, making Li Cong Qing feel like bathing in pleasant spring breeze. Eventually Li Cong Qing relaxed little by little, and held a casual idle chat with him.

During the dinner, Wei Xiao Miao especially gave him a pacifying soup to drink, to let him be relaxed and loosened his stretched taut body and his strained mood. He also accompanied him talking, until he saw that Li Cong Qing showed his sleepiness. Softly he said: “Sir Li, you can go to bed and have some rest first.”

“His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet, how do I dare to sleep first?” Voice was weak and soft with strong sleepiness, body and heart had relaxed, he wasn’t aware that he was no longer anxious of the Emperor’s arrival.

“His Majesty wouldn’t blame nor punish you for this.” Wei Xiao Miao helped him to recline on the s.p.a.cious and comfortable Dragon bed.

The love to sleep Li Cong Qing, once his head had a contact with the pillow, his sleepiness became stronger, completely had forgotten the matter regarding his b.u.t.tocks was about to be deflowered. Leisurely made a long yawn, easily indulged himself in his little sleep.

After tucking in Li Cong Qing properly, Wei Xiao Miao went to the Imperial Study room to report to the Emperor. The Emperor had finished all of today’s government’s affairs since earlier. Calling in an Imperial Physician, he wanted the Imperial Physician to explain clearly what matters should be paid attention to during the h.o.m.os.e.xual joyous moment. More or less he had heard the matter about same-s.e.x coupling, also had seen a little from the book. But he had never personally experienced that. He didn’t want Li Cong Qing to be afraid and in pain in the midst of accepting him.

The questions that the Emperor asked were as if the questions out of a man’s wild and fanciful thoughts, but his face just the same solemn and calm as usual, not affected by shyness, absolutely not vulgar and perverted. The Imperial Physician couldn’t suspect him as well as wouldn’t dare to treat him disrespectfully, orderly and thoroughly from the structure of human body, how to prepare in advance, and the clean up afterwards, he explained all in detail. He also asked his attendant to go to the Imperial Physician’s quarter to get the lubricating oil and cream to be presented to the Emperor. He also added, when join together, the posture is the same when join with a woman, only the body of a man is not soft like a woman’s body, if being excessively bent and pulled, probably will cause the sprain of the muscles, and so on and so on, the etcetera about the should be learnt problem of the body.

Wei Xiao Miao waited until the Imperial Physician retreated, after that he moved to the Emperor’s side, in a low voice told him that he had helped Sir Li to go to sleep first.

The Emperor nodded his head, taking the two small porcelain’s bottles which were the present from the Imperial Physician, he went to the Summer Palace.

Li Cong Qing was still reclining on there, so comfortably serene and quiet. The Emperor couldn’t bear to disturb his sleep, sitting by the bed’s side silently staring at this normal looking ordinary face, but those lips were the color of spring’s flower man.

The Emperor had been patient for the whole day, forcefully restrained himself from the urge of going to the Ministry of Rites and executed Li Cong Qing. Letting his heart to have a good preparation. He also called in the Imperial Physician to explain about the things regarding the h.o.m.os.e.xual intercourse. This kind of thoughtful consideration had never before been given to any of his Imperial Concubines, but now he was giving it to a man, even he himself couldn’t help but feel rather unexpected, his heart had become this soft.

Bending down, he affectionately kissed his lips, by his ear side mumbled jokingly: “Li Cong Qing, I will give you another opportunity. If you don’t get up, today, I will let your adorable small b.u.t.tocks off for now.”

Didn’t know that Li Cong Qing was fortunate or unfortunate, his sleep was not too soundly. The kiss from the Emperor woke him up to his half asleep and half awaken awareness. In his haziness, he heard that someone was talking by his ear, but he couldn’t hear clearly what he had said, a little while later he awoke and opened his eyes to form a line of crevice. Muddled-headedly looking at the closest to the extreme handsome face. Murmuring as if talking in his sleep: “Oh… Your Majesty, you have come.”

How could a sleeping to the point of muddled and hazed person remember the courtesy of a ruler and a subject. Not in the least on alert or in panic, completely naïve and cute. A light illuminated the brilliant eyes of the Emperor, burning fiercely to devour, said: “It looks like, you are destined to be mine.”

His lips landed on Li Cong Qing’s, hot and madly biting and sucking, taking the half conscious Li Cong Qing into a deep kiss.

Li Cong Qing went numb immediately, didn’t refuse or struggle. His body was still as feeble as when he was sleeping. But his heartbeat as well as his breathing felt like stopping out of nervousness, his body s.h.i.+vered and gave rise to the temperature.

The Emperor took off his loose and thin sleeping robe, to reveal his usually never met the sun fair and clear skin and muscles. Lips and tongue wriggled down, meticulous like the sprinkle of rain on the visible outline of the body, using a gentle but potent way to ignite the spark.

The lips and tongue flew to the lower abdomen, all of a sudden he flipped him to lie on his stomach, attentively bit and gnawed the top of the round fair and tender b.u.t.tocks.

Li Cong Qing was shocked to the point of become completely awaken. His waist was quivering in jolt after jolt, his mind on the contrary had become more blank, incapable of thinking, unable to stop the tremble from head to toe, to bear the earth-shattering l.u.s.t from spreading on his body, wave after wave of electric shock was raging in all directions.

The Emperor pried open his narrow crevice, to disclose a hidden valley between it. the color and l.u.s.ter was pinkish, the shape was of a flower pistil. “Who would have thought that this part of you is so pretty?”

Pretty? How can b.u.t.tocks be pretty! Li Cong Qing clamped instinctively, but was forcefully pried open again, an overview undoubtedly was exposed under the red hot line of sight.

“Don’t look…” Li Cong Qing buried his head in the pillow, he was ashamed to death. His body was heating up and became even hotter, it was as if he was roasted thoroughly by the eyes of the Emperor.

More than merely looking, the Emperor stretched his fingers to stir and touch, caress, rub, and knead.

Feeling that the finger made its way to enter, the jolt on Li Cong Qing’s waist became even more severe.

Know that he was afraid of pain, the Emperor suppressed the clamoring desire inside of his body, gently and lovingly caressed him, using a large number of lubricating cream to open him up, but the pain from the very first time bearing the l.u.s.t of course was unavoidable. When Li Cong Qing was being penetrated, he let out a pained shout.

To be honest, his body was not hurt to the point of unbearable at all, the pacifying soup and the sufficient amount of the lubrication as well as the loving caress, had made his body relaxed and limp. However, the feeling of a huge intruder piercing his body caused him to be terrified to death. So shocked that his soul felt like flying out of his body.

He loved to read random vulgar and miscellaneous books. Books that described about the obscene love between men naturally he wouldn’t let it slipped. What called as  “Unofficial History of h.o.m.os.e.xual” , “A Man’s Cap and A Woman’s Hairpin” , “The Forbidden Fragrant of Spring” and so forth, he had read quite a number. When he read, he felt that it was so amusing. But when it was actually befallen on his own body, it was not the slightest bit delightful at all.

The Emperor s.h.i.+fted in a very slow movements, patiently let him adapt to adjust to him.

The deliberately slow pace process, was as good as equally lengthened the tormenting time, by each of thrusting movements, Li Cong Qing would feel like a scalding hot iron was slowly stabbing in. When it was slowly pulled out, he could clearly feel that part of his body was opened up little by little, the inch by inch friction…

He bit down on his lips, firmly grabbed the Emperor’s arm. The ordinarily always half open half close pair of eyes were widely opened. The mist and fog was swirling and pa.s.sing, seemingly about to burst from the dike and bubbled up. He had never released such a big material, even more impossible to stuff in such a big thing …I will die! I definitely will dieeeeeeee!--------

The Emperor saw him afraid that his face had become so pale, he couldn’t help but pity him, unceasingly kissing to comfort him, softly spoke in his ear: “Lazily wrapped in thin clothes to sleep in the cold night, the pillow of spring flowers fragrance’ every night.”

Li Cong Qing was in a daze for a while, how familiar, seemingly he had heard of it somewhere.

“Of course have been forgotten.” The Emperor not in the least unexpected this. When Li Cong Qing recited this two verses he was in his utmost drunken extent, most probably had forgotten once he sobered up. He gave him a hint : “Last year, at the Spring Ceremony’s Banquet, it was recited from a mouth of a drunkard.”

“You saw that?” Li Cong Qing’s ears became hot from being ashamed.

“Also remember.” The Emperor kissed his eyes, ordered him with a gentle voice: “Close your eyes, don’t be afraid, you know by heart, I would never harm you.”

Li Cong Qing blinked his eyes, obediently closed his eyes, slowly relaxed his stretch tight body. Greatly shuddered, he accommodated the hot and firm as iron which entered his inner part.

The regular movements of the sensual pa.s.sion from slow, gradually had become swift, from light to become weighty. Li Cong Qing felt that he was like a leaf which fell into a river, at beginning he was slowly drifted along with the flow, gradually flew into a harsher and swifter current, finally drowned in an intense billow of an ocean waves. Drowned into the waves, thrown out from the waves, drowned into the waves again, and thrown out again from the waves…

Each time he was drowned in and thrown out, when he was in the midst of the pain, a thread of unfamiliar pleasure was piling up. Piling up higher and higher and higher. Whose panting is that that has become more intense? Also, whose moaning is that which is pouring out?

“Nggh… Ahhh…”

When his certain part was triggered by the touch, when the piling up pleasure had drowned the pain, that pleasure suddenly became more acute, plundering on his even more sensitive senses, he wanted it but also didn’t want it, he wanted it to be finished but also didn’t want it to end.

“…Ahhh… No… Don’t want… Ahhh...”

“Yes, you want this.” Faster and stronger, deeper and heavier, finally resulting in a hysterical disorder, wantonly spurted out.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh…”

In the split second when he was in the peak of pleasure, seemingly he could see, the last night’s sky blooming with fireworks, that kind of splendid and glaring light, dazzlingly dizzied his eyes, emptying all of his thoughts.

“Ahh!”

Rolling in the surge forward waves, jolt by jolt trembling from the highest attainment of pleasure, two wet and moistened bodies were jerking spasmodically, mixed together to become one body, at the moment, it was unclear whose blood whose flesh.

Hu hu hu…  The heavy pants gradually calmed down, the intertwined skin and body didn’t want to loosen and let go, inseparable in a sticky embrace. He had the illusion that he was still pushed and squeezed by the last night’s crowd, he seized him, he leaned on him… Searching for him from the greatest extent of distant, when he suddenly turned around, that person had already been there, under the dimmed light of the lanterns…

After a long while, the Emperor softly asked him: “Are you a virgin?”

“No. On the day of my fifteenth birthday, my family brought me to the brothel to celebrate my coming of age.” Li Cong Qing honestly answered him, with the heavy nasal sound, dizzily.

“But your sensitivity is like never entered a person before.” The Emperor leisurely poked fun at the soft drooped down body part, fondly admired it, even this part was like its owner, adorably lazy.

“My back part indeed had never been entered.” Lazily shot a sideways glance, powerlessly disregarded the careless and haphazard position, fatigued and weakened, didn’t even think to make any move for a while.

After experienced it on his fifteenth birthday, in the beginning he would stealthily go to the brothel to drain himself. But after several times, he felt that this kind of thing was actually very tiring, so he didn’t go as often anymore. How about when he had the desire? The pair of hands could absolutely do everything, not only convenient, but also quick, the most important was he didn’t have to waste so much of his strength. However, this little detail was unnecessary for him to explain to the Emperor, so, he didn’t tell him everything.

“Was it painful?” The Emperor’s fingers crawled to his backside, lightly caressed the wet and slippery pistil, the sweet and luscious l.u.s.t had reformed afresh.

“A little bit.”

“Was it tiring?”

“Extremely tiring.” Li Cong Qing writhed away to resist from the fingers which tried to make its way to enter. The inactive him didn’t have such good endurance, he wouldn’t be able to stand the continuously intense motion. “I don’t want anymore.”

First time tasting the ecstasy of h.o.m.os.e.xual flavor, splendidly wonderful couldn’t be expressed by words. The Emperor really wanted to do it one more time, but couldn’t afford to harm the person who was already extremely tired upon the first time. He could only suppress another rising up desire. Pulling out the fingers and no longer disturbing him, kissing his lips while saying: “Go sleep.”

“Mm.”

The Emperor waited until Li Cong Qing was deep in his sleep, lightly took him in bridal style, taking him to the bathroom. Placing him into the comfortable warm water, personally cleaned and washed him, carefully fished out the male essence inside his body. Thinking to himself, this is the dragon seed that so many women dreamed and pleaded to have, however it is wasted on a body of a male that’s impossible to lay eggs.

Although not wounded to the point of bleeding, the Emperor still applied the ointment to reduce the swelling. After that he took him back to the dragon’s bed, sleeping neck to neck with him. Inwardly he said, looks like it will be necessary to properly build up the a.s.sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites’ physical strength.


End of Mo Shang Hua Kai Chapter 7

Notes:
1). Flowers in the Mirror: Novel of fantasy and erudition by Li Ruzhen; Romance of the West Chamber: A novel by w.a.n.g s.h.i.+fu; Pipa: A plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard; Like a heavenly steed, soaring across the skies (id): A powerful and unconstrained style of writing; Chinese novel: Novel in chapters, long novel with each chapter headed by a summary couplet.
2) Cross the sea by a trick (id): Practice deception, hide the truth.
3) To act as accomplice to the tiger: To help the villain do evil; Helping the tyrant ruler in his oppression (id): To take the side of the evil-doer.
4) To push up paper prices in Luoyang (id): Sensational popularity of a new book.
5) Enumerating one’s family treasures (id): To be overly familiar with the matter; Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon: Literally translated as I found it more fun to state it like this, it simply means: Love affairs. XD
6) Xis.h.i.+: Famous Chinese beauty, foremost of the Four legendary beauties given by King Gou Jian of Yue as concubine to King of Wu as part of successful plan to destroy Wu.
7) In the eyes of a lover appears Xis.h.i.+ (id): Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.